The Delivery and Coming Home

So our little man is FINALLY here. We arrived at the hospital on Tuesday morning for the C-section at 8:45 am and by 10:42 Leo was with us. It was so surreal to walk into the OR knowing I was moments away from meeting my son. Here is my final Belly Shot:

From Belly Shots

The C-section went great and there were no real complications. Now, everyone I knew that has had a C-section told me I would feel some pressure during the procedure. So there I was, laying in this ice cold room, waiting to feel something going on in my abdomen. Charlie was peering over the drape so I told him I couldn't feel a thing and asked if they had started yet. He told me no, they were still prepping me, but I could tell from the mischievous look in his eyes that he was lying! Sure enough, a few minutes later I heard Leo's first cries. The doctor had to use forceps to get him out though - he was jam packed in there!! They even tried using a vacuum, but his head was too big and the seal kept popping off.

The first thing I said when I saw Leo, was "Look at all that hair!!". The second thing i noticed were his perfect little pouty lips. It was literally love at first sight.

He measured in the 90th percentile for length and weight. All of his initial tests showed nothing less than a perfectly healthy baby boy; talk about a blessing!

We stayed at the hospital until Friday the 14th. Leo did lose a bit more than 10% of his body weight at the hospital (at discharge, he was down to 7 lbs, 15 ounces. the majority of his weight loss happened the second day he was here, he had amniotic fluid in his tummy and was not very interested in eating), so we were ordered to see our pediatrician on the following Monday. Otherwise, everything looked great. It was so exciting to bring our son home.

The first weekend went well. We were very lucky to have Charlie's parents here to help with meals (For those of you that don't know, Charlie's mother, Tami, is an EXCELLENT cook). My parents came by on Saturday to take Leo's first professional pictures (which turned out quite adorable!) and a number of friends came by to visit the newest member of the Schreiner family.

Charlie and I are just in heaven. Of course, we are sleep deprived, but it's all worth it. Leo is amazing and it's fun to watch him growing before our eyes each day. We know we are blessed to have our little bundle of joy here in our arms. Welcome home Leo!

From Leo - 1st month

From Leo - 1st month

From Leo - 1st month

40 Weeks Pregnant - We are having a baby!!!

So, I guess my first lesson as a new mommy is to listen to my instincts. We went to the doctor today for my 40 week appointment and met with a different doctor since mine was out of town. Alas, there was no cervical change yet again. I told her that we were concerned with Leo's size and that we would really like an ultrasound to check on it. She was a bit resistant and I pushed, telling her that it would make me feel a lot better to have a grasp on his size. She then agreed to the ultrasound.

Thank goodness we listened to my gut and pushed for the ultrasound! Leo is measuring over the 90th percentile. Based on his measurements, his estimated weight is 10 pounds 6 ounces!!! Now, keep in mind, those projections are usually a pound off and can even be more, but the point is that this baby is a monster!

They think that there is likely a chance that he simply can't get himself into the birth canal to create cervical change because of his size. With all the strong contractions I have had he should be lower than he is. We could try an induction, but I would only have a 20% chance of success and would likely end up in a c-section after 2 grueling days. So, we are having a scheduled c-section at 10:00 am on Leo's due date!

While a c-section wasn't what I had hoped for, I am totally at peace with it. With his size and my body this seems like the best option for both him and I. We are still in a bit of shock that our big day will finally be here tomorrow, but we are so so so excited. I will finally get to hold Leo in my arms, see his (likely chubby) little face and tell him how much I already love him. Charlie has been dying to finally meet him and keeps telling me that he gets 9 months of holding him now since I already had my 9 months.

We will post pictures and delivery details as soon as possible. That might be tomorrow, but most likely Wednesday. For anyone that wants to visit us, we will be at Memorial Hermann in the Woodlands.

Thank you to everyone for your love and support! We are so excited for y'all to meet Leo!

39 Weeks - No Induction...

We had our 39 week check up this morning and there is still no real change to report. He's a bit lower, but there is no cervical change, so we are a no go for a 39 week induction. For now, we have been told just to sit tight and see if he comes on his own. If I hit 41 weeks they will induce then.

The great news is that my weight is holding steady, my swelling is minimal, my blood pressure is normal and Leo is still moving around like crazy. We are both healthy as can be. Of course, it would have been wonderful to have him in my arms tomorrow, but he will be here before I know it.

The other great news is that today is my last day in the office! Yippee! Maybe a little more R&R is what Leo needs. Charlie's parents will be arriving in Houston tonight and will spend their time between now and baby between us and other family members in the Texas area. This way they will be close by and able to be with us the day Leo arrives. (For those of you who don't know, Charlie's parents live 12 hours away in a town with no airport, getting to Houston is no small feat)

So, for now I am a bit disappointed, but also excited to have a little more time to myself . I know that he will get here right when he is meant to. If it's like most things in life, I'll understand why it happened the way it did once it's all done.

38 Weeks Pregnant - Tick Tick, I'm a Time Bomb

Yesterday's check up went fine. No change in dilation, but Leo and I are still healthy, so that is the important part. I am truly finding it hard to believe that I will ever not be pregnant. I feel like he will never get here!

Last Friday (37 weeks and 3 days) we had another run to the hospital. I woke up around 6:00 and realized that my contractions were somewhat regular and getting stronger. For the first hour they came every 6-10 minutes, then for the next two hours they were every 3-6 minutes. I tried relaxing, changing positions and walking and none of it made the contractions get any better so we decided to go to the hospital. The nurse hooked me up to the monitors, checked me out and gave me pain meds. We gave it a couple of hours and the contractions spaced out to every 7 minutes. Since they were more than 3 -5 minutes apart and I wasn't dilating more I was sent home. Talk about frustrating!!

At this point, they have scheduled an induction for Tuesday, August 4th, but it's not a definite go. I'll visit the doctor again on Monday to check my progress. If my body is ready, then we will get to move forward with the induction, if not it will be cancelled. Keep your fingers crossed!! I am so ready to not be pregnant anymore :)

37 Weeks - I have a full term baby!

My 37 week checkup went great. My blood pressure is still normal, Leo is thriving and (drum roll please...) I am 1 cm dilated!! Leo still hasn't dropped all the way yet, but he's a bit lower than the week before. We will see what my progress is like next week and then determine if my body will be ready for a 39 week induction. Keep your fingers crossed!

We also had another ultrasound to double check his position. He's still head down and both of his feet are up in my ribs where they should be. (Previously, he had a foot up next to his head). We got a picture of his chubby little face. Poor guy, he looks so squished in there.

I am still having contractions but either they are slightly regular but not intense, or intense and not regular. Emotionally, I am pretty good but by the end of day I am usually pretty exhausted and just done. I am trying very hard to stay positive and enjoy these last couple of weeks. It will be the last time that it's just Charlie and I, and I am trying to cherish that. On the other hand, Charlie and I are so anxious to meet our little guy. We can't wait to hold him in our arms, tell him we love him and see this little creation that has been growing inside of me for the last 37 weeks.

We will keep you posted with updates as we have them!

36 Weeks!

My 36 week checkup was great. Leo has moved down and a bit but has not officially "dropped" into the birth canal. He is also still head down. I am still 50% effaced, but not dilated. Since I have now hit the 36 week mark, I can resume normal activity and just wait for my body to get ready for labor. The contractions are still happening, but not with the same intensity or regularity that they were the night we went to the hospital.

Since Leo dropped a bit, my uterus is actually measuring 36 weeks, instead of measuring big like it has the last few times. We are totally on track now for a full term delivery! We won't find out till my 38 week appointment about the induction.

I'll have another update on my progress next week!

35 weeks, 2 days....a trip to the Hospital

So, I was off work on Thursday, and decided to really try and take it easy. I worked on a few small items that needed finishing up for the baby shower I was throwing on Saturday. Charlie and I visited with Leo's pediatrician for the first time (Dr. John, who we loved!). But I spent a ton of time just catching up on my Tivo and taking it easy. I did not spend the day as I usually do, running around like a crazy woman trying to accomplish a million things in one day.

Charlie and I decided to go out for a steak dinner. Before we left I started complaining that my back was really hurting and noticed that my "braxton hicks" felt a bit stronger than usual. I brushed it off and we went out. Over dinner my back continued to hurt and I had 4 more contractions strong enough that I had to stop talking when they happened. Charlie insisted that I call the doctor at this point (Also, if you have more than 4 braxton hicks in an hour, the books say call the doctor). The on call doctor told me to head to labor and delivery and get my cervix checked.

We arrived at labor & delivery around 10 pm. They hooked me up to a fetal monitor that monitored both my contractions and Leo's heartbeat. Leo was doing great and I was indeed having real contractions. They also confirmed that I was not yet dilated. Around 2:00 in the morning they decided to give me medicine to stop the contractions and sent me home an hour later.

The next morning we visited my doctor's office (my new doctor was out,so I got to meet the other doctor in the practice). We confirmed again that I am not dilated and I am about 50% effaced. My uterus is measuring 37 weeks. An ultrasound showed a very healthy, robust boy. He's estimated to be about 6 lbs 7 ounces and he is in the 64 percentile overall (this puts him about a week bigger than avg.) We got to see his face and his cheeks are all chubby and sweet. He has also moved head down finally but hasn't officially "dropped" yet. I have a bit extra amniotic fluid, which combined with his size helps to explain my bigger measurements. They think my contractions have started earlier because I am measuring bigger and my body thinks it's time to get things started.

So, until I hit 36 weeks on Tuesday, I have been ordered to take it easy (grrrr...) They gave me medicine to stop contractions if they get bothersome again. I was already scheduled to be at the doctor's on Tuesday, so I'll have an update then. For now, all is fine, I am just trying to relax and keep Leo "baking" a bit longer. :)

My Baby Shower - June 20, 2009

Yea!! After attending and throwing many baby showers over the last few years, it was time for my own! The theme was Leo's Safari and it was hosted by Laura, Melissa and Lauren. I had such a lovely time, got a ton of much needed items for Leo and was thrilled to have so many of my friends with me in one place. It was a perfect day!! Thanks again ladies!

Here are some pictures!

Diaper Party - May 2009

From Diaper Party

My wonderful girlfriends, Niki, Pat, Chandra & Shannon threw Charlie and I a diaper party at the end of May. It was so much fun! They had cake with raspberry filing from my favorite cake lady in Spring (Lindy's Country Cupboard) a taco bar and ice cold margarita's and pina colada's (virgins of course for me and my other pregnant girlfriends). We ended the party in the pool which was perfect. All in all, it was a great way to spend an afternoon with some of our favorite people. Here are some pictures of the festivities. Thanks again to Niki, Chandra & Shannon for throwing us a party in the middle of their own pregnancies. And a big thanks to Pat & Eric for having the party at their house!

Here are some pictures! I was around 29 weeks in these pictures.

From Diaper Party

Charlie figuring out where Leo is!!

From Diaper Party

Mommy & Daddy!

From Diaper Party

Me and my lovely hosts: Shannon, Pat, Chandra & Niki.

From Diaper Party

Ridiculous!!!

35 Weeks - My midwife left me!

Yikes!! The baby will be here so soon! Charlie and I are so excited. The nursery is nearly done, the bassinet is set up in the bedroom, his clothes are clean and hung and all exposed electrical outlets are covered. (Those little things are Cynthia-proof too, I can hardly get them out!!) Of course, there are still things to do, finish the curtains, write in his baby book, etc, but I think we are close to having it all ready.

Around 32 weeks my midwife called to tell me she was leaving the practice. I was so bummed. Charlie and I really liked Karen and we were excited to have the "midwife experience". Of course, she is going to a completely different setup at another hospital, so following her wasn't even an option. I am now seeing Dr. Reed who is the head doctor of the practice. She has a great reputation and luckily we had met her a couple times before. She was the doctor who saw me in the hospital during the kidney stone incident and I had one appointment with her when Karen wasn't available.


My 34 week appointment was my first with Dr. Reed as my official doctor. She was wonderfully sweet and we were instantly happy with her. Unfortunately, she leaves for vacation on August 6th (my due date is the 11th). I didn't want to have to make yet another change, so as long as my body is ready and Leo is ready, it looks like I will be induced around August 4th or 5th. (a little past 39 weeks). At first I wasn't sure if that was what I wanted, but the more I think about it, the more I am ok with it. With Charlie's parents living out of town, it will give them the opportunity to actually be here the day Leo is born and it's nice having a "game plan". Of course, Leo could still come on his own sometime in July if he feels like it. ;)

As of 34 weeks, Leo was still breech, but he has some time to turn. I am not dilated yet, but my body is making changes already to start that process. Our next appointment will be at 36 weeks. We will have a possible ultrasound and hopefully be able to schedule the induction!

I have a ton of pictures from my diaper party and baby shower that I will post soon!

Camping - South Llano State Park

Well, everyone thought I was crazy, but for our last trip before baby, Charlie and I decided to spend 5 days camping at South Llano State Park in Junction, TX. We had played around with several other ideas for a Babymoon, but in the end, having longer than a weekend to relax in our camper, fish, walk and play with Cooper, sounded better for us than our other ideas.

South Llano is an exceptional campground. Located in the hill country (one of our favorite places to be), the landscape turned beautiful long before we had even made it to the campground. When you pull into South Llano State Park, you immediately go over a low river bridge and pass the beautiful South Llano River. This ended up being a great spot for fishing, and the view is breathtaking.

Speaking of views, the whole park offers wonderful views. We hiked daily and saw different parts of the river. There are also bird blinds all over the park where I saw some of the prettiest birds I have ever seen in the wild. We also trucked up to the scenic overlook. It was a BIG hike for the prego, but it was certainly worth it. Here's a picture of Cooper and I at the scenic overlook.

From South Llano State Park May 2009

This park also has a TON of wildlife. Besides the deer, birds, lizards, snakes (ewww!) and fish we saw tons of wild turkeys. South Llano is actually a protected Turkey Roost and parts of the park close down for months each year to give turkeys some privacy during mating season. It was amazing to see the turkeys just walking by our camp site in the early morning and evening hours. Cooper also loved looking at the turkeys, and I am sure, given the chance, he would have tried to catch one him self. Unfortunately, we forgot to charge the camera before leaving, and never managed to get a good turkey picture.


We fished every day as well. Our first few attempts at fishing were nothing short of frustrating. There are a TON of fish in this river, and it's so clear you can literally see the fish swimming right by your lure. Once, while fishing from a small cliff, I watched a fish run into my lure without giving it a second look. Charlie managed to hook a Guadalupe bass, and then nothing after that. I suggested that we run to town for live bait. We got one container of nightcrawler worms and went back to the river...in retrospect, we should have done this MUCH sooner! The first day with worms we caught probably 30 little perch. They weren't really large enough to keep, but they were so fun to catch on our ultralight rods. Those suckers strike hard and then fight so they were a blast to keep pulling in. It was semi-ridiculous though, we literally couldn't have our line in the water for more than 5 seconds before another one would strike.

From South Llano State Park May 2009

From South Llano State Park May 2009

Day 2 with worms proved a bit more lucrative. We returned to our original spot to catch a few more of the perch (you know, to build our confidence). Charlie managed to pull in a bass there that we were able to keep. Then we moved spots and caught a perch big enough to keep, more bass (I accidentally lost one off my hook when I was trying to pull it in), and then I caught a 16 inch Carp. That was a really big fish to pull in my ultralight rod, lots of fun!

Cooper also got a few opportunities to swim. We slept in some mornings, ate in town at a cute little restaurant that been open for 30 plus years, cooked a ton of great food and relaxed a ton. It was without a doubt one of the most relaxing trips I have ever taken! Here are a few more pictures:

From South Llano State Park May 2009

From South Llano State Park May 2009

From South Llano State Park May 2009

From South Llano State Park May 2009

From South Llano State Park May 2009

28 Weeks - Welcome to the 3rd Trimester

I had my 28 week appointment on Wednesday. The ultrasound showed a very healthy and big boy! My midwife called him a beast! Leo is weighing in at about 2 lbs 13 oz and his measurements put him about 5 days ahead of average. We got a great shot of his face at the ultrasound, so I will try to figure out how to scan that in. My parents were able to be with us for this ultrasound which was super special.

All in all my progress report was good. My blood pressure is still normal and weight gain is fine. The reason for this ultrasound was to check that my placenta had moved up like it was supposed to, and it has. They took blood to test my glucose and iron levels and we should have the results back early next week. I'll start visiting every 2 weeks from now on until 36 weeks, then I will be in the office once a week.

From Belly Shots

26 Weeks Pregnant

I am 2 weeks shy of my third trimester, which is completley mind boggling! I am definitly getting bigger, and I am seeing more and more restrictions in what I can do day to day. On the up side, Leo is getting much bigger and I can feel him moving all the time. He is kicking so hard at times that it startles me! Charlie finally got to fell him kick which was really special.

My next appointment is at 28 weeks. I'll have a glucose test and an ultrasound at that appointment so it should be an interesting one. They give you a bottle of red juice type stuff to drink before your glucose test. It's in the fridge now and Charlie keeps eyeing it, he thinks it looks yummy :) Thank goodness I remembered to tell him what it was before I put it in there! Can you imagine that phone call "ummm....my husband drank the stuff you gave me for the gestational diabetes test, can I have another one?"

I also wanted to mention a few babies that entered the world in the last few months. Our dear friends, Melissa and Sean, welcomed twins in March. Brynlee and Chance are two sweet little babies, and they are too cute!

From Babies

From Babies

Also, Doug & Felicia had baby Asher last week, who is also so adorbale!

From Babies

20 Weeks and My Trip to the ER (3/19/09)

A few days shy of my 20 week mark I had my 20 week ultrasound. All ultrasounds are exciting, but this one was extra special because Charlie's mother, Tami, was in town and would be coming with us. Things have really changed since she was pregnant and she was so excited to get a sneak peek at her Grandson.

The ultrasound went great. Leo is developing perfectly. The tech struggled to get some of his measurements because he just wouldn't stop moving! It was so great to see our little guy and to know that he is healthy. It was also nice to have the sex confirmed again! (And he is definitely a boy!)

After the appointment, we did a little shopping, went to lunch and looked at nursery furniture. We took it easy for the rest of the day, and as usual I went to bed early.

Around 11:00 pm, I woke up with an awful pain in my lower abdomen and back, all isolated on my right side. After an hour of trying to go back to sleep and doing anything I could think of to stop the pain, I called the OBGYN's office to speak to the on call doctor. By this time I did have a very low grade fever and the pain wasn't getting any better. After telling her that I had a kidney stone about 8 years ago, she agreed that I should visit the ER to rule out another stone or a kidney infection. THANK GOD we had just seen Leo that morning. I think I would have been freaking out so much more if I had not just seen him moving around so happily that morning.

Of course, I was still freaking out, and I was in a ton of pain. Charlie was great, he really kept me calm. When we arrived at the ER they got us in immediately. A urine analysis showed blood in my urine and with my history, they concluded that I was indeed trying to pass another stone. We had another ultrasound that showed an enlarged right kidney, and of course, they looked at Leo again, who was doing fine. (YEA!) I figured he would have calmed down for this ultrasound since I had already had 2 doses of morphine, but he was still a little wiggle worm. :)

The ER doctor tried to send me home, but I refused to leave without seeing someone from my OBGYN practice (the on call doctor said I needed to see someone from there before I left). They admitted me to the women's floor where I passed the stone and started feeling much better! After visiting with the Urologist and OBGYN I was released and allowed to go home.

There is a chance of course that I could have another one, and since I can't have any X-rays done right now, I don't know if there are any other stones in my kidney. Since I passed the stone at the hospital I was able to have it analyzed and it looks like extra Vitamin C will help dissolve the type of stone I passed. Chances are good that I should be able to avoid another one during the pregnancy.

So Mommy and Leo are healthy and fine. It took me about a week to catch up from the sleep I lost that night, but otherwise I was back to normal by Saturday. The ultrasound at the hospital did report a low placenta (completely normal at 20 weeks) so I will get to have another ultrasound at 28 weeks.

Here are some pictures that Tami took of me while she was in town. I was about 2 days shy of 20 weeks in these.

From Belly Shots

From Belly Shots

From Belly Shots

Camping - Bethy Creek - March 2009

On a whim, Charlie and I decided to go camping one sunny weekend in March. It was so on a whim that all of our usual spots were booked up! After a little research, we (no really, I) found an open spot at Bethy Creek resort on the north side of Lake Livingston. And while it wasn't our usual type of camping spot, we had a great time! Bethy Creek is on the north side of Lake Livingston, about 20 minutes east of Huntsville. It's a privately owned camp ground, so it's a much different feel than the state and national parks we typically frequent. But for what we were looking for, which was to relax and totally take it easy, it was perfect. Our spot was right on the lake and the view was lovely.

From Bethy Creek

At the time of this trip, I was just shy of 18 weeks pregnant. The trip was quite relaxing for me, but I did start to notice my limitations. It's much harder to crawl around in the camper when we are breaking it down!

From Bethy Creek

The person who had the MOST fun though was Cooper. Since we were right by the lake we went to the camp store and found a water toy that floats. Charlie would launch the toy out there and Cooper would thrust himself into the water to retrieve it. That dog was so happy, but he was so tired too! By the time we got home Sunday night he was barely standing and I don't think we heard more than a peep out of him for the next 2 days. Here are a couple of pics and a video of Cooper retrieving:

From Bethy Creek

From Bethy Creek

To view more pictures: http://picasaweb.google.com/cynthia.schreiner/BethyCreek?feat=directlink

Camping - Feb 2009 - Huntsville State Park

We took our first trip to Huntsville State Park in February 2009. Tish, Aaron and their two sweet kids joined us and we were all really impressed with the camp ground. We had a wonderful view of Lake Raven from the back of the camper



Huntsville State Park is located in the Sam Houston National Forest off of I-45 North. From Houston it takes about an hour to an hour and half (depending on the part of Houston you start from) to get to the park. The park is heavily wooded with a small lake and the camping areas are clean and the staff is quite freindly. We didn't catch anything, but the lake is rumored to have a ton of fish. Our favorite part was the trails. There was miles and miles of trails to walk or bike making the park great even for a day trip. Here is a picture of the whole family on one of the trials.



This weekend was also the first time I felt Leo move. I was a bit tired Saturday morning and decided to lay down in bed with my book. No more than a few minutes after I had laid down I felt him flip by belly button, it was truly magical! This is a picture taken shortly after:



Cooper had a blast too. Johnathan wore him out playing tug of war all weekend. We were so proud of Cooper. He played so well with both of the kids. It was so heartwarming to see him be so gentle with the kids. We know Cooper will be a great
Big Brother! Here is a picture of Cooper at the end of the day:


Charlie and I usually camp alone, so it was a nice change to have some freinds with us. Tish and Aaron were wonderful camping buddies; we had a blast playing Cards and eating. (There is so much good eating when you camp!!)

Here is a link to some more pictures of the trip.
http://picasaweb.google.com/cynthia.schreiner/Camping09HuntsvilleStatePark#

IT'S A BOY!!!!!!

The little Cookie is a BOY! Yea!! We are so thrilled. :)

We visited the Fetal Maternal Specialist yesterday and were able to see his kidneys, arm and leg bones, developing lungs, all 4 chambers of the heart, and the brain. He is developing perfectly! When the doctor said "it's a boy" Charlie stood up out of his chair and said "shut up!". He was so excited.

Charles Leo Schreiner V will go by Leo. We are so excited to meet him, but knowing who is growing inside of me makes everything that much more real. We could not be happier!

Below are some pics. We were able to get 3D shots yesterday too!

It's a boy!


Little Feet


Trying to Suck his Thumb


Body Shot


Another 3D Shot

15 Week Appointment

My 15 week appointment with our midwife, Karen, went great! It was so cute, the nurse found the heartbeat and all of a sudden you heard this funny "shoop gurgle" sound and heartbeat was gone. Turns out the little cookie is a busy bee! The sound was the baby moving around. So the nurse would have to try to follow it around with the Doppler and find the heartbeat again. We finally found it long enough to get the heart rate which was 160.

Karen is really happy with my progress. We talked about my diet and weight gain. I have only gained about 9 pounds so far, 5 of those since my last appointment 4 weeks ago. My blood pressure was good, everything is great!

We meet with the specialist next week to go over my lab results. Keep your fingers crossed, we might find out the sex at that appointment!! If not, we will find out March 23rd.

2/10 - 14 Weeks Pregnant

Well, here I am at 14 weeks. I am officially in the second trimester and I am definitely feeling that "second trimester bliss". And I am definitley SHOWING!! (pics below are at 14 weeks 4 days) My nausea is gone, I don't have to fight to stay awake at my desk (well, most days) and my mood swings are down to a minimum. It's so so so nice!!

A few people have asked about cravings. So far there hasn't been any crazy combinations but some things sound better to me than they ever have. Pancakes make me hum with excitement, that first bite of syrup is like pure heaven. For about a month I ate Peanut Butter & Jelly sandwiches almost daily. I think I am over the PB&J thing, but we will see. (Charlie isn't convinced). I also have a inclination towards sweets that I don't usually have, particularly cookies. YUM YUM cookies! I have baked a lot in the last 3 months. Other than that there have been a few isolated incidents of Taco Bell Bean Burritos, Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches and STBX Caramel Fraps (decaf of course) but only a few....

So far, pregnancy has been pretty good to me. I was a bit uncomfortable in the first few months, but it wasn't so bad. Hopefully the next 6 months will be awesome!

The Names

Here are the names we have chosen:

For a boy - Charles Leo (the 5th) He will go by Leo

For a girl - Lily Christine (The middle name is still up for debate, but this is what we like best)

Choosing the boy name was easy since Charlie is the 4th Charles Leo. Naturally our little boy would be the 5th. All the other Charles Leos have gone by various versions of Charles (Charlie, Chuck, Chaz). Leo will be the first to go by the middle name.

Lily is actually my mom's maiden name (moms was spelled a bit differently, but I figured the common spelling would make Lily's life a little easier). The middle name has no origin, it just came up in a brainstorming session with Laura. So far it's the prettiest combination I have found, but I am always open for suggestions.