We're Back...

Sorry it has been so long since we've updated this blog.  It has been a good week so far.  Last week we got our results back from the blood work/ultrasound and everything looks really good (Yay!).  And this past weekend I finally entered the 2nd trimester so I was able to get my hair colored and as an added bonus I got a manicure and pedicure with Jess.  I haven't pampered myself like that in so long. 

String bean has been a good baby lately.  I haven't had any nausea and I'm finally getting my appetite back.  String bean seems to really love oranges.  I eat about 3 a day, which is good for me and baby.

Over the weekend String bean got his/her first piece of mail!

Grandma and Grandpa (official name to be finalized later) Vinco sent String bean his/her first gift!  You can see a peach right next to the onesie.  String bean is the size of a peach this week.  You can see that String bean has a lot of growing to do!

According to "What to Expect When You're Expecting," baby's head is about half the size of her crown-to-rump length.  By the time I give birth, String bean's body will catch up, measuring three-quarters of his/her total size.  In addition, tiny bones are beginning to form in his/her arms and legs, the intestines are beginning to move from the umbilical cord to the abdomen, and the vocal cords are well under construction.  And because String bean can move his/her arms and legs in a jerky fashion, she may be able to get her thumb into his/her mouth.

I still don't have a noticeable bump, but I can feel where String bean lives.  It was kind of a strange feeling at first because it's so hard, but I like to talk to him/her and touch the spot where String bean is.  I feel closer to our baby now that I can feel where s/he is at. 

It's so hard to believe how big our baby is getting and s/he is only 13 weeks old!  I have already been pregnant for 3 months and only have 6 more months to go.  It really doesn't seem like that much longer when you think about it.  Joel and I are getting more excited every day and we can't wait to meet our little baby.

We can't wait to share our adventures with you next week!

Baby Vinco at 12 weeks(ish)

Well, today's appointment went really well.  The ultrasound tech said all of my measurements look good and the baby looks healthy.  String Bean was a perfect baby!  S/he was laying on their back with their arms by their head and the feet crossed in the air.  Just like relaxing on a hammock!  When ever the tech needed baby to move s/he would suddenly jump around.  What a perfect angel!  We got to listen to the heartbeat again and today it was beating at 167 beats per minute.  My lunch must have gotten string bean excited :-)

Here are some pics we got to take home today.  They are a little blurry, but you can get the general idea.

The top two pics are a profile view of string bean.  The bottom left pic is taken from the bottom and showing string bean crossing his/her legs.  The bottom right pic shows the baby looking at us.

Here are some additional profile pics.  It's still too early to find out the sex (not that we are going to find that out).

These past 2 days have just been so exciting.  It's going to be hard to wait another 4 weeks to hear the heart beat again, but we'll just think back to yesterday and today and that will get us through.

We will keep you updated on all things baby,

Joel, Nicole, and String Bean

The heart of rock 'n roll is still beating...

What an exciting day!  We went to the doc today and heard our baby's heartbeat.  S/he had a heartbeat of 157 beats per minute.  While we were listening to the heartbeat, we could hear string bean moving around.  So far everything is looking good.  We have an ultrasound tomorrow and WE ARE SO EXCITED!!!!  It's so fun to see our baby.


On another note, I told my boss today and she was super excited.  I wanted to wait a little while, but since I've had so many doctor appointments lately I didn't want her to think I had something seriously wrong with me.  As I guessed, she suspected I was pregnant but didn't say anything.  I guess it can be kind of insulting to be asked if you're pregnant when you're not.  haha.


Yes we are listening to Huey Lewis & The News while we are typing this! Nicole is dancing in the kitchen and the cats are staring at her its cute! It was awesome to hear beanies heart beat. The appointment was quick and to the point, no waiting around or big questions from us this time. Looking forward to pics of baby Vinco tomorrow I'm sure you will see the pictures too if they give us copy



till tomorrow,
Nicole, Joel, baby Vinco

It's been a while...

Sorry it has been so long since we have posted anything new.  I have been TIRED! And Joel has been working the strangest hours.  We are also trying to decide if we want to buy a house, rent a new apartment, or stay in the apartment we currently live in.  So many decisions, so little time. 

Last week, our baby was the size of a prune.  With bones and cartilage starting to form and vital organs beginning to function, baby is making major progress. Body length will almost double in the next three weeks, and arm joints are now working. (Soon, legs will too.)

This past week I was still getting over a cold (which I gave to Joel-Sorry!) so I haven't been feeling too many pregnancy symptoms until a few days ago.  Now, I'm starting to feel better but I still want to sleep a lot.  I only have 2 more weeks and then I am out of my first trimester and I hear I will have my energy back.

This week (week 11), our baby is the size of a medium lime.  After much discussion, the general thought is that String Bean is the size of a medium key lime, since they are still pretty small.  String Bean currently enjoys a 1:1 ratio between body and head, and has skin so transparent that blood vessels show right through. But, fingers and toes are no longer webbed, and hair follicles, tooth buds and nail beds are forming -- setting up a significantly more attractive future.

This upcoming week we have TWO doctor's appointments.  On Wed, we meet with our OB for a general check up and hopefully we will hear the heartbeat.  On Thurs, we go to Riverside hospital for our 1st trimester ultrasound.  I'm so excited to see our little one again.  I can't believe how big Baby V is getting and I can't wait to see the difference between the last ultrasound and this one.

Daddy here,
I have been talking to string bean through Nicoles belly button. I was explaining to string bean that the reason that we call it a belly button was because it was on your belly and it looked like a button. Nicole decided that belly button was a stupid name for it because it doesnt look like a button at all and has now decided that it should be called a Belly Hole. We had a good laugh over that and talked about now that she is a Vinco she can create silly words! Maybe string bean will decide that they want to be called skinny legume!  Looking forward to the appts coming up and hopefully we will have a new pic of Baby V to show you.

Love you all,
Joel, Nicole, and String bean

O-live you!

It seems like the time is flying by.  I can't believe I'm already 9 weeks and 5 days pregnant!  According to The Bump, String Bean has officially graduated from an embryo to fetus-hood.  Our baby is getting bigger and bigger everyday.  He/she is now the size of a medium green olive!  Adding to the excitement, a Doppler ultrasound device might be able to pick up the beating heart. With basic physical structures in place and increasingly distinct facial features, baby is kind of starting to look like...well...a baby!

This week has been a pretty busy week.  I've been sick with a horrible cold since Friday and it doesn't seem to be letting up yet.  Joel has been the best husband I could ask for.  He has been waking up early to scrape my car for me so I don't have to be in the cold longer than necessary.  Also, I came home from work yesterday and he had cleaned and vacuumed the apartment.  I am so lucky to be married to him!

This past weekend Joel and I started to go through the spare bedroom and get rid of all the junk we've been holding on to.  It's a pretty daunting task, but we're so excited to get the nursery ready that we don't really mind.  This up coming weekend we are going to get rid of the desk and move his childhood dresser into the spare bedroom.  I think we'll take this opportunity to buy a nice new dresser for us :-)

It's funny, because on the one hand we are so excited to meet our baby in September, but on the other hand we are really enjoying our remaining days of just the two of us.  I know our days of sleeping in and going to the movies are limited and we are trying to enjoy every single one of them.  We are really thankful that we are having such a pleasant pregnancy and I couldn't ask for more.  We have 2 more weeks until the next doctor appointment and we're both really excited.

Until next week, Mom, Dad, and String bean say Bye!