19 Week Update :)

Things have been going well so far. We did have a little scare today that led us to believe that my water may have broken, but the doctor said that he highly doubts that that is what it is and that I just need to monitor it to make sure it doesn't occur again - if it does, I need to go back into the office to get checked.

On Friday the 25th we went to go see our friend Sean who's an ultrasound tech to see if we could get a more positive answer on the sex of the baby. After looking for about 20 minutes, Sean said it's still kind of hard to be 100% sure, but he's about 90% sure it's a girl!!! He said if it were his baby, he would buy pink. :) He'd be completely surprised if the baby turned out to be a boy.

So I took all the boy gifts off my registry and made it all girl gifts!

On Tuesday the 29th (right at 19 weeks), the baby started kicking something fierce!! Not just the little taps and flutters I've usually been feeling - but STRONG kicks!! I was lucky to have my hand on my belly when she did it once... it took me by surprise!! It's happened a couple more times and actually takes my breath away because I don't expect it... but I love that feeling! It kind of feels like if you were to put your tongue against the inside of your cheek and then flick your cheek with your finger... that's how it feels! Even as I'm typing this now she's actively moving and kicking (I think it's because I just ate lunch).

I took another belly pic... I think I'm still pretty small for almost being 5 months. Part of me wants to get to the point where people will be able to tell I'm pregnant - but then again I don't want to get too big!



We went to the house of the fiance of a girl from my Nisei Week court, Akiko, this past Saturday - Gerald competed in the chili cookoff contest. I really liked Gerald's chili, but it was different than most people are used to - it is more of a sweet chili (probably why I like it!). Gerald came in last, but he got a little statue for last place! I thought it was cute... :)

I forgot to mention - around 17 weeks I noticed my belly button started changing. Most pregnant women's belly button completely pops out because the baby takes up that space... mine is moving outward, but hasn't come close to popping out yet. I just thought it was cool that I could see the difference as it meant the baby is getting bigger!

Just another milestone... :)

17 Week Doctor's Appointment

This week I noticed I'm starting to gain a little bit of weight consistently, which is good since I hadn't really gained any weight. At my doctor's appointment this week, he said I've gained about 4 pounds. Anything up to 10 pounds by this time is normal. Apparently at 5 months I should expect to gain a pound a week... yikes!!

We were supposed to be able to find out the sex of the baby at this appointment, but unfortunately the umbilical cord was in the way... BUT the doctor was leaning towards............

A GIRL!!!!


I swear I could tell it was a girl before the doctor said anything! It's amazing how much we could see in the ultrasound - we could see her little hands and fingers, legs, spine... it was awesome! She loves to sit with her legs STRAIGHT out, and kick me constantly - which is why I can feel her all the time! She even waived a little bit to us... and I think I could see her sucking her thumb! There was a point where she looked like she was blowing little kisses.... and I think she has Gerald's lips!

Although we'd be happy either way, I have to admit I was hoping for a girl. I know Gerald's parents were excited when our first doctor told us it was probably a boy since there are very few boys in the Wong family... hopefully this won't disappoint them too much. My dad was hoping for a girl, so if this turns out to be true I know he'll be ecstatic!

I almost finished our baby registry, except for the clothes and bedding... I want to wait until we get firm confirmation of the baby being a girl. :) Our friend, Sean, is an ultrasound tech and he's going to try to take a look next Friday to see if he can give us confirmation.

We went to Shiro's for dinner this week, and our friend (who manages the restaurant) said she could tell my face has changed a little bit - and therefore she thinks the baby is a girl!

My belly is a little more prominent, but I think people would still have trouble figuring out if I'm just over-carbed or pregnant. I have noticed that I get tired very easily.

I also found out that my boss and his wife are pregnant with their second baby! It will be kind of cool for our kids to be so close in age (she's due September 11th).

I talked to my boss this week, too, about whether he thought he would need me to move into a real office anytime soon. He told me that it will totally be my call, and if I want to continue working from home (even if our company grows and I have a staff to manage) then that's completely fine. I was so excited to hear this since it means that I won't have to worry about childcare (well, at least not in the very near future). :) So my boss had me install a company phone line in my home office to make it easier. We also moved our old printer and heavy-duty fax machine into my home office so I could be more productive!

Nicole & Gina's Store Opening!

Today our friends Nicole & Gina had the grand opening of their bridal boutique in South Pasadena! It really seems like 2008 is going to be an exciting year for everyone!

A lot of people showed up to celebrate. Nicole, Gina and their husbands Ryun and Sean really did an amazing job getting the store set up and decorated! It was so beautiful - and the gowns were exquisite!

They had some nice hors d'oeuvres set up - I felt so guilty because the baby was making me very hungry!! I tried not to clean them out of food... ;) But I was camped by the food for a while!

They really did a wonderful job with their store, and I can't wait to see how it does! They've already been very successful at booking appointments with brides who are interested in purchasing gowns!

To visit their store, please see http://www.theivorysuite.com/.

Check out my Slide Show!

New Year's Eve

Our friend Walter put together a New Year's Eve party that was thrown at our house... we had a wine tasting and video game night... it was a lot of fun! Obviously I didn't try any of the wines, but I had a lot of sparkling cider! :) We had two game systems set up, so of course most of the guys were glued to that for most of the night, while the rest of us sat around the dining room table and talked. It was great having people over to the house... I actually feel like the house is finally "done" being decorated, save for the baby's room. I'm glad we were able to get that done before the baby comes.

Yato, Walter, Traci and Gerald enjoying some wine!

Yuki, Wedge, Yato and Leiton getting the skinny on the next wine up for tasting.

Gerald's Tuna Tartare dish


Nicole and Ryun cuddling up for the camera.

Everyone toasting in the New Year!


That's "W" for "Wong"!!!

Steffanie and Nicole


One of the game rooms...

Gerald rocking out to Guitar Hero III.

Christmas!!!

We went to Vegas to visit my parents and Grandparents for Christmas. We were there for almost an entire week. It's always nice to go home and get my mom's cooking.... but I gained so much weight from the food! It sure was good though.... :)

We had Grandma and Grandpa over a couple of times... and played poker one night. I hardly ever beat them at poker, but this time I was lucky! I was the only one to win anything... and ended up doubling my money! I still have a ways to go though to make up for the money I've lost to them over the years... ;) It's all for fun though. It's nice to be able to spend that time with them.

Gerald and I brought our doppler machine so that everyone could hear the baby's heartbeat - I think my parents really liked that! My grandparents couldn't hear it (they were sitting a little farther away) but my mom could. We showed my dad the next day, and I think it made him feel closer to the baby. :)

We also gave my parents and grandparents our wedding photo albums.... only three years late, but better late than never!! :) My mom also bought me some maternity clothes from A Pea in the Pod - I was so excited! I've really wanted to buy clothes from there, but haven't been able to yet. They fit perfectly and were exactly what I needed!

New Doctor... 13 weeks, 1 day

Dr. Wang only treats patients up through their first trimester, so our ultrasound on 12/5 was the last appointment with Dr. Wang. I was referred to her by my physical therapist, and since I really loved Dr. Wang, I decided to also go with another referral my physical therapist gave me for the OB doctor.

Today was our first appointment with Dr. Matsuda... I really like him. He's very patient and thorough, and you don't feel like his attention is diverted or that he's trying to rush off to the next patient. He spent a great deal of time with us, first meeting with us to discuss our health histories and our views on the birth we wanted, as well as allowing us to ask him any questions we had. (I also like the fact that he's Japanese!!) :)

From this point on, Dr. Matsuda said that I will only need abdominal ultrasounds since the baby is now big enough to be seen abdominally. Once again, the baby was wiggling around like crazy and his/her heartbeat was about 160 bpm. I asked Dr. Matsuda if he could tell the sex yet, and he said it was too early - but maybe at the next ultrasound. I'm dying to know for sure if it's a boy or a girl... this waiting game is hard!