Daytona Beach...

Sunday was Easter and it was a beautiful day. So after we went to church in the morning, we went to Daytona Beach with the family. It was me, Phil, her brother Jason, his 2 children, and their 2 friends. Like I said the weather was perfect. The sun was shining bright, the crowd was light, and the surf was cool, not too cold like when we went to Coco Beach.

Phil was again in Heaven as she took to the water almost immediately. Me however, well I decided to toss around the football with the young bucks. I realized, I still can slight a football. Next thing I knew, we were in a football game with some other guys, young, fit, healthy, muscular, no shirts, tattooed, college guys...oh and a 7 year old and a 47 year old :). We played a couple games. In the end, there was one pulled hamstring, Jason, and 1 strained instep muscle on both feet, me.

After the game, which was a lot of fun, minus the injuries, I took to the water with Phil. Cool not cold and really refreshing. A really nice Easter evening out with the family.

Check out some of the pictures.

Peace Out Folks

Chris C

Babies R Us Registry...

This morning, early in the morning, Phil, Phil's Mom, and myself set out to Babies R Us for our Scan and Go workshop. The workshop was for those couples who were looking to do a baby registry at Babies R Us. Well, we got there, like I said before early, only to reach there and the doors be locked. Ummm this is not right. Were we there on the right day? Well, the paper we had said yes. The number Phil called to put us on the workshop list said yes. But the store and doors said no. Well, what to do? Well, we sat there until someone came to go to work. It was funny.

The store manager, or assistant manager, one of them, came to the door and when we explained our predicament, she apologised cause well the workshop was cancelled. Cancelled?!? Yup, cancelled. We didn't get even a call. She was cool though. She let us in before the store opened and set up our baby registry account. A short while later, an associate for that department came and gave us our own personal workshop.

Over all, it was great. We spent about 2 hrs or so scanning and dreaming and bonding. We laughed, we agreed, we disagreed, but it was a lot of fun. And apparently our "Lil' Monkey" was enjoying itself because it was moving around enough for Phil to feel it. Here are some of the pictures from it. Check back later for more things. Next week is when we get to go on tour at one of the hospitals. That should be loads of fun :)

Peace out Folks

Chris C.

Week 16 Belly Shot...

Folks, it's that time again, Philippa's belly shot. Cute huh? Well, we are at 16 weeks now and counting, and all's well. We are anxiously awaiting the big ultra sound around week 20. We still have a a little bit more time to go and we can't wait. I think we have a couple of things to help pass the time till then. We have a baby registry workshop at Babies R Us this Saturday. This is going to fun. It'll be me, Phil, and her mom. Basically, we'll be going there and they'll be guiding us on how to do the registering and some key items to get. Okay, all this stuff is what I'm thinking will happen. Then on Wednesday we are going on a tour of one of the three hospitals where we can birth at. We'll be touring Winnie Palmer Hospital. From what we heard, this is the place to give birth. They are recently remodeled and everything there is like new and just great. We'll see. We'll let you know how that goes. Then, well, nothing till the next doctor appointment :)

So, how's Phil doing now? She's doing very well. She goes through these periods of just craving somethings. One moment it's meat, then candy, then grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup. It's really funny. We'll be adding her waist measurements with each of the belly shots now, so you can have an idea and see her belly growth. She also says she's feeling the little baby moving around. How cool is that!!! Wow!

Lord, this is the time we remember your sacrifice and Blood shed for us on Calvary. Lord, because of Your Blood, we were set free and we are healed and covered. Lord, I just ask for Your Blood to cover Phil, the baby, and myself. I ask for Your help, strength and health over Phil and the baby, and we claim You as our Savior, Healer and Provider and Protector. Amen.

35 inchs

Peace Out Folks
Chris C.

My Body Week 16

Time is moving by much faster now and it is great. I can't believe that 16 weeks is already here. Our next milestone that we are looking forward to is the 20 week mark. So much stuff will happen then. But there are still exciting and new stuff happening with us now.

Here is what the babycenter.com has to say about week 16. Baby is getting big.

As for me:

My belly is getting so much bigger now. I have noticed more and more now that my stomach is much bigger and you can certainly tell I am pregnant now. Along with that is the feel of the baby also. I am starting to feel the pressure or resistance when I am bending over or stretching now. It is amazing and uncomfortable at the same time. I like to feel the baby that way, just don't like the idea that I won't be able to easily bend and do stuff any more. But it is worth it.

I am starting to gain the right amount of weight now. Before I was pregnant (thankfully I used Wii Fit the day before I supposedly conceived so we know my real weight) I weighted in at 131. I am now at 141 and growing steadily. I am suppose to gain another 15-20 before my due date so hopefully I can progress like I have been so far. Good thing is though since I have been working out and keeping in shape we believe the weight is going where it needs to, right to the baby and I am staying fit.

Oh I am starting to feel what they call round ligament pain. ... It is a brief, sharp, stabbing pain or a longer-lasting dull ache that pregnant women commonly feel in the lower abdomen or groin. The round ligaments surround your uterus in your pelvis. As your uterus grows during pregnancy, the ligaments stretch and thicken to accommodate and support it. These changes can occasionally cause pain on one or both sides of your abdomen ... I started to have some of those pains at the start of my second trimester. It would just come as a pinch that would last only 2 seconds and would come ever so often for about 2-3 hours then stop. I wouldn't feel them again for a few days. But they would come as I moved around (sat down, stood up, twisted). I wouldn't even really call it pain, just a slight pinch. I had read somewhere once that it was just a sign the uterus was growing with the baby so I haven't worried about it at all.

Fun Stuff!!!

Well that is where we are today. Stick with us for more exciting developments with our baby boy/girl/monkey.

Peace Out,
Philippa Channer

FOOD!!!

I hear you go through a huge memory loss after the baby is born and you tend to forget all the different in's and out's of your pregnancy. So my hope with this blog is to be able to document as much as I can so that the next time we think about having a child I can look back and see what I experienced and could possibly go through again. One thing I want to remember is the different 'happy' foods that I have found.

There are a few items that I have been enjoying lately and tend to have at least one of these every day. I wouldn't necessarily call any of these cravings but they just seemed to really taste good now.

1. Fruits & Veggies: If you have known me, you know I have always enjoyed my fruits and veggies but I have been really seeking them out now. There is no one item that I want more but if I had only one of each to chose from here on out I would say corn for the veggie and watermelon for the fruit.

2. Grilled cheese sandwiches: I used to love these as a kid and then just stopped eating them. Chris and I went to lunch a few months back in Winter Park and I had soup and a good ole grill cheese with ham. It was the greatest. Now I would say I have a grilled cheese sandwich at least 4 days a week. Chris has almost perfected the art of the grilled cheese.

3. Popsicles: One thing I noticed that has changed (I thought it would be fixed with the 2nd trimester) is that my taste buds are really different now. Things I used to drink and love just don't taste the same to me any more. There are times even water has a bad taste to me. I have found that Popsicles though tend to taste the same and are a great thirst quencher when I am thirsty but don't want any of the drinks in the house.

4. Juicy Juice: The one drink brand that I found that I just love is Juicy Juice, any flavor. It doesn't have those artificial flavors and added sugar. It just taste smooth to me. I just hope when our little one is old enough to drink it also that I don't drink it all. :)

5. Candy???: I noticed right away that sugar has a whole different effect on me now. I tend to feel uneasy when I eat too much sugar so I haven't eaten as much candy as I used to, but I will occasionally have a snack. The few candies I have enjoyed are: push pops, cookies n' cream chocolate and peanut M&Ms.

6. MEAT: I have always loved meat but man do I want it now, more then ever. If I had to say I had a craving it would be for any type of meat. I think I have wanted a hamburger at least every other day. Which it seems is my bodies way of telling me something because at our last doctors appointment the RN told us that my protein levels were off and I need to get more daily protein. So bring on the meat.

I think that is about it. Besides those I just eat when I need to and whatever is available. I haven't found anything yet that I just don't want to eat. I was never really a picky eater before and that hasn't changed much. Maybe something will come up with time.

Peace Out,
Philippa Channer

Wii Fit & More

So when I am not at a doctors appointment or looking for a job what does this pregnant girl do .... I exercises.

I think I mentioned here that we brought out the Nintendo Wii Fit to help me stay in shape for the pregnancy right. Well it has been working ... and extra good too. I am on almost every day (5-6 days a week) and for at least 30 minutes each day sometimes up to an hour depending on my energy. It is awesome. The work outs include Yoga, Strength, Aerobics and Balance games. I really enjoy the balance games and try to do those often because I hear how unbalanced my tummy is going to make me in the months to come. I am convinced that if I start training myself from now it won't be so bad. There are a few workouts that I can't/won't do now with the baby ... but I know I will to help get my post baby body in shape.

Other then that, Chris and I have been going on walks in the afternoons and whenever I can I like to go swimming. The good thing is that I am still steadily gaining the weight that I need to for the baby so it is all still safe and not excessive. I am sure in the months to come I will have to slow down a little, but I hope not too much.

Peace Out,
Philippa Channer

My Body Week 15 ... oops

Hey folks, so with the excitement of last weeks appointment I completely forgot about my weekly update ... so here it is. I am so relieved and excited to be in the 2nd trimester for many reasons. The obvious, now at 15 weeks my chance of miscarriage now is like 3% ... AWESOME!!! I am starting to finally really enjoy the pregnancy and looking forward to the new baby. I have been hesitant for so long and not really allowing myself to really enjoy the adventure. But I think I can finally relax and start dreaming.

According to babycenter.com our baby pretty much has all it needs now to function, now we just have to let it cook and develop some more. Here is what they say is special about week 15.

As for me ... I am still feeling pretty good. No complaints really. I am starting to get a real tummy now and feeling the effects the addition to me mid-section. I know it will get much harder but I am already starting to feel the problems I will have with simple acts of bending over, sitting down and standing up.

Oh I do have one major problem ... I have a tooth that needs to be seriously removed. The added blood to my system seems to go straight to my head and has cause my problem tooth to go crazy. It is causing some serious head aches and keeping me up at night. I haven't received all the details about the Medicaid coverage I have so I don't know yet if I am covered for something like this. Good thing is I at least have a letter of approval from my OB/GYN to go a head and have it removed. I am hoping to have it solved by next week ... if not I think Chris is going to have to watch some YouTube videos and learn how to remove my tooth for me ... SCARY!!!

Besides that I am good. Looking for some awesome friends and family members with pools that will allow me to take advantage of their water haven for the summer. :)

Peace Out,
Philippa Channer