October 3, 2007 - Week 32: Doctor appointments and more...
It occurred to me that I don't even bother writing about my doctor appointments anymore. We had another doctor appointment last Monday and everything seems to be fine. They measured me, listened to the heart beat and off we go. We'll go every two weeks until week 36 and will start going weekly afterwards.
October will be busy with childbirth and child care classes. It's a lot of classes as we're a month away and didn't take a single class yet. We don't know how useful they will be to tell the truth, but we are taking them so we wouldn't miss it. He he...
The plantation shutters for the little boy's room will be installed this Friday. Then we'll clean the room and start decorating. I'm also starting to go crazy not to buy all the little things but I've been very very good so far for my standards. I couldn't help last week anymore and went out to get a bunch of newborn stuff. Cute little socks were our favorite.
The little guest in my tummy seems to like his hotel room more and more everyday. He started falling asleep for longer periods. It scares me everytime he stops the activity. He's going from a nonstop turner and tosser to a 'I kick you bad once in a while' baby. I saw something like a little feet coming out of my skin the first time last Saturday. It was quite amazing to feel.
October 1, 2007 - Who's the happiest baby on the block?
I think it is pretty much all privileged babies around with lots of love and support around them. So we're not going to worry too much about what kind of parents we will be and if we are going to be able to make him happy. BUT parenting matters!
So we decided to pick up some books here and there and start learning. Then I noticed that it is not the easiest thing to do. There are many books with so many different reviews. It is a bit confusing. Fellow parents out there: Any recommendations? Other than that what to expect book I see on everyones bookshelf...
Finally... right before the academic year, the wall is finished. After days off building, sanding, painting, putting in the crown moldings, etc.. it is done. Raymond has done an amazing job. I love it!
The day was finally here. We went to The Ultrasound Experience with excitement and he didn't want to show himself for the first 15 minutes! They were so nice and patient with us and showed us techniques to wake him up. Finally he turned around.
We have edited the good parts of the video and here they are from Rayman Productions!
If you'd like to get a 4D ultrasound for your baby in San Diego, we recommend The Ultrasound Experience. Tell them you were referred by us (Ilkay A.) and they will give you a free framed color picture. We got one as our friends referred us.
I've been waiting for this day like a little kid. It's been 10 weeks since our last ultrasound and I can't wait to see him again. Hope we'll get good images! We'll put them up on the blog asap.
We're getting more and more excited as time progresses. The baby room is getting in shape, the baby care is being resolved, and many other preparations are in order. The only worry is the baby name! Still need to find one...
Ilkay got her energy back and she's in a bit of a nesting mode. Work is also picking up for her and she's trying to use the time between now and the baby to work as hard as she can. (Yes she stopped traveling like a mad woman! ;) She's planning to take six weeks off during the holidays.
Raymond is at hard work as well between the baby room and the academic year starting. He has a full travel schedule and wishes that the baby won't decide to show up during his travels.
The little boy in the womb himself started being a good kicker. Since a few days, the kicks are quite substantial. Maybe we'll name him Maradona after the soccer giant. He he... We had a prenatal visit last week. Looks like he is developing well. We're looking forward to our 4D ultrasound appointment this week. We'll put up some new baby pictures after that.
There are also many exciting things happening around us. The Olsen twins are born and they are so adorable. Our dear friend Ayako is visiting us from London. It's always nice to see her and catch up again.
September 8, 2007 - Finishing touches on the wall... Day 4
The wall for the baby room is almost done. Raymond started painting and texturing it. He says it will be finished this weekend. Yay! I can't wait. I'm not going in that room because of the smell. He's using a quick dry paint with less odor. It still smells a little bit.
We ordered the wall paper and border for the baby room this morning. Nice to see it's all coming together finally. Then we'll focus on the decoration, etc...
Everday is different. I'm one of the luck pregnant women who feel good most of the time. Still some days are hard. I'm starting to really show it. I feel like I can't get any bigger and find my pregnant body very funny. It is so round! I 'm living with the hope that it will all come off after the delivery in a few months. Don't tell me if you think it won't.
The baby seems to be comfortable in the womb after the weather cooled down The heat wave last week was hard on both of us. I noticed he was moving less and I was hot all the time. We have a prenatal visit coming up next week.
In addition to building the wall, we started working on child care We signed up with an au pair agency and will start looking for possible au pairs in their database. We hope to match with someone by sometime in November so the au pair can join us mid-January.
Most of you asked for a recent picture of the bump. Here's a picture from Raymond's phone a little after sunset. Sorry for the image quality. I promise to put up a better one soon.
A very specical day to celebrate our promises to each other and remember our wedding in Istanbul. We decided to take it easy, spend a lazy day together and do whatever the day brings to us. We had a great lunch, saw a great matinee movie, watched a great San Diego sunset (4th time in a row this week!) and went out to celebrate. It was very memorable! We will miss being spontaneous after the little one arrives.
Here 's a picture at the beach right after sunset. Thanks to all the family and friends who called. We can't believe you remembered!
It is hot and humid! San Diego hit record breaking highs this weekend. So it's even more impressive to me that Raymond worked on the wall for hours. He finished the drywall by filling in the joints and putting in plaster. A lot of intricate work and had to dry and be sanded before adding in new layers. I think the wall already looks good. Can't wait to see it textured and painted!
All the screws and joints have to be filled in multiple times...
It's so much work that it's easy to lose it like my hubby after a litle while!
It has to be sanded an finished to be all smooth after it dries.
It's not the baby I'm talking about, but my own chubby cheeks. Here's a recent picture of me in La Jolla: larger than life and still growing... Let's hope that the baby is starting to have as chubby cheeks inside. Here's to the third trimester! A glass of non-fat milk that is...
August 25, 2007 - Daddy-to-be works on the baby room...
Yes. He's actually creating one in our bedroom. We decided that we didn't need all the space in our bedroom and could fit a reasonably spacious baby room there. So Raymond started building a wall this weekend. It is very exciting to see it all coming together. Here are some before pictures with "the-man-in-action". He spent 14 hours on Saturday and finished the dry wall. I'll put up more pictures showing the progress and finally the room... Yay!
All happy in the beginning... Setting up the frame...
It's a serious job to use the drill. Not a joke you know! Once you drill it, you have a hole in your ceiling forever. He he...
August 21, 2007 - Visits to BabiesRUs: A whole new shopping experience
Lots and lots of baby stuff. Armies of car seats and strollers and cribs and sleepers and everything else are waiting orderly to be picked up by that perfect family. All with the same promise of keeping your baby safe and making your life more comfortable. We decided not to worry about most of them and buy things when we realize that we absolutely can't leave without them. That said, the temptations are strong. Everything is so little and cute!
Our first visit to BabiesRUs resulted in a purchase for a car seat... very appropriate if we want to take the baby home from the hospital after birth, which is something we want to do... Today's quest was to find a co-sleeper for the baby to sleep on the first couple of months. We managed to find a basic one between all the fluff they have for bassinets, cradles, etc. It was fun. A different kind of fun... LOL!
Being pregnant makes one contemplate more on having children and life. I recently came across again the poem below by Khalil Gibran. It is beautiful. I wish everyone could read this and more importantly cherish their children & loved ones for the unique person they are...
On Children
And a woman who held a babe against her bosom said,"Speak to us of Children" and he said:
Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself. They come through you but not from you, And though they are with you, yet they belong not to you.
You may give them your love but not your thoughts. For they have their own thoughts. You may house their bodies but not their souls, For their souls their dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your drems. You may strive to be like them, but seek not make them like you. For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.
You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth. The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite, and He bends you with His might that His arrows may go swift and far. Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness; For even as He loves he the arrow that flies, so He loves also the bow that is stable.
August 14, 2007 - Visit to the doctor and diabetes test
We had our appointment for a regular check up this morning. Hearing the heart beat is always fun. What was more fun is that the baby kicked multiple times in the time the nurse was trying to get the heartbeat. It is a bit like bongo playing some weird tunes.
Ilkay had the blood draw for the diabetes test. A simple blood draw turned into a painful experience as the lab technician broke the needle and kept trying for three times. It left a big bruise in Ilkay's arm making everyone wonder what type of drugs this prenant woman is on.
Summer is progressing fast. To our luck, San Diego hasn't been too hot this summer. We are having fun dreaming about the baby boy as we get used to the idea that it is happening.
It's fun and exciting, but it would be a fair statement to say that growing a belly is a hard business. Especially when there's a baby inside it. Ilkay has gained 22 pounds already and feels hungry all the time. She loves feeling little kicks getting stronger day by day. She makes sure she gets enough exercise by walking every day.
Raymond is getting excited as well and started the plans for the baby room. He has a lot to do! Apart from building the room and painting it, he needs to set up the furniture coming in in a month. At least it's summer and he doesn't have to teach yet.
And in the womb, the exercising program is progressing in full speed. There's a lot of fitness activities, especially kicking and turning, going on. The best way to wake him up is to drink ice cold water. He directly starts moving!
Two weeks ago, we had a lovely visit by Annemiek from The Netherlands and sent back some pictures of the bump with her to Raymond's brother Paul. We are looking forward to his visit in fall. We're also expecting some more visitors from The Netherlands and Turkey in the next couple of months. Lots of excitement!
The twins joining the Karlinda and Chris Olsen family were celebrated with a wonderful baby shower. It's so nice to know that the twins are almost there and they will be the same age with our baby. We're looking forward to the good news on their birth.
This picture is of the organizers Nadia, Gordana and Ilkay with mom-to-be Karlinda. Karlinda is the second one on the left.
Ilkay (23 weeks at the time) had to pose to Raymond for a goofy shot with the super nice party favors Nadia had brought all the way from New York.
The 20 week ultrasound was on July 10th. Raymond had a lot of fun watching the baby move. Here are some more ultrasound pictures... one of them shows it's a boy. Watch the arrow!
I couldn't help last week anymore and went out to get a bunch of newborn stuff. Cute little socks were our favorite.
