So...we finally find out the gender!!!

...and much to the delight of Anand and I, its a GIRL!! I had my 20th week ultra sound yesterday and that's when we found out. My parents arrived yesterday from India and they accompanied me and Anand to the screening. After close to an hour of probing, everything is checked and we were able to see our girl.
She is slowly growing big! Just like me...LOL.

My appointment with OB is not until 28 weeks.

Here are some fun facts as it stands now.

The fetus now weighs about three-quarters of a pound/ 360 grams and is approximately 10.5 inches/ 27 centimetres long from crown to heel. The eyebrows and eyelids are fully developed and the fingernails cover the fingertips.

""""There's a saying: 'Little pitchers have big ears'. If you talk, read, or sing to your baby, expect her to hear you. Some studies have found that newborns will suck more vigorously when read to from a book they heard frequently in utero. If you want to try, pick a book now and read it out loud. Make sure you won't mind reading it over and over once the baby is here. It may be your baby's favorite bedtime story for a long time after birth""""

Our Nephew is turning a BIG ONE today!

Our little nephew is turning ONE today. It only feels like yesterday that I received a call that my SIL's labor has started and that they will be heading to the hospital shortly. And shortly enough, its one year already! We were badly stuck in the rush hour traffic and couldn't reach there on time. He arrived before we reached there. We received a call that he is here when were on road.

Swaddled in a blue blanket, he was looking absolutely adorable. Now he crawls and almost walks ALL by himself, much to the delight of everyone who sees him!!
During my SIL's pregnancy, I was researching a lot about what consists of a hospital bag, what to take etc. That's coming in handy for me now. Just this morning Anand was mentioning that we need to buy a hospital bag. The cheapo that I am, think we can use one of our suitcases and it would serve the purpose just fine :)
My parents would be here by this time next week and I cant wait to see them! Its been an year and half since I had last seen them.

Anyway, many Happy returns of the Day to our nephew.

I am feeling well...

In the initial weeks, all that I was thinking was, "is it bed-time yet?" Now, things are improving and I can manage to stay awake until the train leaves the station (to and from work). Before, as soon as I sit in the train I used to fall asleep.
My appetite has also gone up sooo much. I am always hungry lately. So, I am packing healthy snacks like carrots, fruits etc. So far I have been successful in keeping the cakes at bay.

I also finished my 18 weeks as of yesterday! Time sure flies by. I am able to distinctly narrow down the baby movements from indigestion. Though I look more like 6 months pregnant instead of 4 and a half, I dont really feel 6 months. I also feel the 'weight' of the fetus now. Needless to say, my tail bone hurts ALL the time. Anand is telling me that he would recount this tail-bone-pain to our kid as pain-in-a** when it grows up :)

Anyway, here are a few updates about how our fetus should be developing:
Baby is approximately 6 inches/ 14.2 centimeters long from crown to rump and she weighs about 7 ounces/ 190 grams. Chest moves up and down to mimic breathing but it's not taking in air, only amniotic fluid.

I have my third ultra sound coming up on 27July. I am so exited as we can then find out the gender of our baby. I would also like to add that we have started gathering a few things for our baby. I bought a few cloths, bib's, booties, mittens, toys etc. Of course bought only few because I am 100% sure that both sets of grand parents want to buy these things anyway, as the date approaches. My SIL kindly dropped off the crib, bouncer/swing and a few more things.

So yes, things are moving along.

One Fish Two Fish - Red Fish Blue Fish

Today I turn 16 weeks and 2 days. I know its waaaayyy too early to introduce rhymes to the little one. Bah! he/she has not even born yet! But many people I know told me that a happy mom = a happy baby. One of the things which make me happy (these days) is listening to rhymes; and so I started listening to them. One of my favorites is by Dr. Seuss, One Fish Two Fish. Here goes the rhyme.

One Fish Two Fish, Red Fish Blue Fish
Three Fish Four Fish, Old Fish New Fish
Five Fish Six Fish, Here comes more fish...

what next?

Another close favorite is:

One two three four five
Once I caught a fish alive
Six seven eight nine ten
But I let it go again
Why did you let it go?
Because it bit my finger so.
Which one did it bite?
The little one upon the Right.

I went to my regular prenatal appointment last night. It went good. I have increased 1 KG in one month, my doctor was happy. We also heard the heart beat again. Awesome...

Different ways of parenting...

I am sure every single parent under the sun have gone through what I am talking about. There are multiple ways of teaching, loving, disciplining (etc) a child. Just yesterday A and I were taking about a few baby-proofing-home things which we might consider doing for the benefit of the little one.
At the end of day, we all have nothing but the best interest of the child in our minds. So where do we draw the line when it comes to protecting a child vs letting him/her do what seems right to the child? Where does baby-proofing the home (inside AND immediate outside like backyard) start and ends? How to decide when is the right time to allow the kid to experiment and/or explore something which might potentially hurt him/her in the beginning but in the long run, perhaps its for the kid's good?

At 6 months? At 12 months? When?

How does all the new parents reach middle ground about parenting techniques? The stress...is this a common scenario amongst every new mom and dad? Is it common to doubt myself whether or not I will be a good mom?

I am feeling overwhelmed today. Is this emotional state common too and will this phase pass too?

My First Yoga Lesson

Today I went to my first Prenatal Yoga session. It was nice. This is my first ever lesson in Yoga and I didnt know what to expect. I just vowed to myself that I will just go with an open mind...yeah that should do it. And it did!

Our instructor was sweet spoken and gentle. She assured me that most women start yoga for the first time only after they fall pregnant and that I should not worry. I guess yoga is one thing which is safe to start amidst all those "don't do this and don't do that's" during pregnancy.

The lesson started and we were asked to just lie down or sit in any position we are comfortable. I just sat and closed my eyes. While the instructor started on some gentle breathing lessons, I could actually feel myself relax. After that some stretching started. I have been having severe shoulder aches and I tried to relax them. Some of the stretching really helped. It lasted for 1 full hour and I think I can easily say that I like it!

I booked for 10 sessions, once a week. Once that is done, I am planning on taking more. That's all for now...too tired to write anything :)

Orange+Apple = Oraple

We went to our cottage last weekend and just like every day, A started making fresh fruit juice for me. Only after we started did we realize that we only had 2 oranges (he usually makes juice with 3). Now, in order to bridge the gap, he decided to mix 2 oranges and 1 apple and called it Oraple :)

It was awesome! If you have not tried it already, I suggest that everyone try Oraple!

We also had a chance to taste sugar cane juice (ganne ka ras) for the first time this year. But neither the taste nor the color were like what we get back home. Specially the ones which feel like 'Manna from Heaven' on a hot summer day.

Some interesting things this baby Reddiar would see here :)