The "before" of Gia's nursery!

Here are some pictures of Gia's crib and changing table.... there is so much stuff in the room right now it is a mess. We have to really get started!! I wanted to take a "before" picture of the room before we paint and decorate it into a magical vintage fairy garden for our little love.

WEEK 23! We are still in papaya stage!

It is time for Gia to get her chub on and start packing on the pounds! Gia's saggy skin will start to fit her frame as her fat deposits fill things out. I could not believe that Gia will, at the end of the month, double her weight! Gia is also the size of a small doll and her heartbeat can be heard not only by the doppler now, but also a standard stethoscope. Dr. Giordano (my sister in law where are you? LOL) Currently, Gia's organs and bones are visible through her skin, which has a red hue due to her developing veins and arteries. But once those fat deposits settle she will become less transparent. Also, Gia's little face is fully formed...minus the baby fat LOL! Gia's next task at hand: sprouting two teeny-tiny nipples!

The Linea Nigra- emblem of pregnancy- is here... it is the "dark line" that runs from my belly button to my pubic area. What else is new? Well I am just a forgetful as ever! I feel like such an air head, so I am writing literally everything on post-its! Gia is moving more than ever. I feel her little kicks and prods and just LOVE IT!! I actually saw my stomach move it was amazing. That could be Gia hiccuping.... Daddy Sal has not felt the kicks yet, but I am sure he will soon enough... he also needs to talk to baby Gia so she can get used to his voice too! No matter what pillows I use, I am still not getting a good night's sleep because of the pain in my hips.. but whatever it takes for baby Gia and I love watching myself grow and judging from the weight Gia will be packing on this month, so will I and I love every minute of it! This is the best experience in my life!

WEEK 22 Belly Shot!

Excuse the frog pj's , here is my 22 week belly shot! Boy is the belly getting big!! LOL!

Gia's new dresses and shoes!

OMG! My sweet co-worker Mina who has always been very motherly to me, could not resist she said in getting Gia these darling dresses and a pair of shoes. They are the cutest!! Gia will look adorable in them and the colors are perfect!! Mina, thank you so so much and I can't wait for you to see Gia in them!! xoxo

WEEK 22! Gia the papaya with the bright white hair!

This is week 22 already!! I can't believe it and boy is my tummy growing. I officially look like I have a little volleyball in front of me...People I know have been rubbing and kissing my belly (over shirt) all the time now... I have been wearing low rise maternity jeans, but I bought my first pair of full panel maternity flare jeans and they are soooooo comfortable!!!!

This week I read that about the swollen feet and ankles/pregnancy edema...it happens because of the relaxin, the pregnancy hormone that is loosening the ligaments and joints in my pelvis to push Gia out LOL! Relaxin can make feet loosen and spread.. so, time for new shoes?? LOL My uterus is about a inch above my belly button and is growing... growing... growing.. which can turn my "innie belly button" to an "outie."

Gia is finally over 1 pound! Her little eyelashes and eyebrows are now formed and hair is now growing on her head. But, her hair on her head is bright white right now because there is no pigment yet at this stage of her development, no doubt it will turn dark! Gia has also developed her sense of touch and her sight sense is getting more developed. Gia is kicking away but sleeps for 12-14 hours, so I was told to pay attention as to when she kicks because that might mean that she is awake...I am so in love with that feeling.

Sal and I went to a "Future Parent" show/class this weekend and it was awesome, we learned so much, it was a bit long to sit through at the end, but well worth it. Then we went to Honey Bears because "Gia" felt like short ribs with that delicious Honey Bear's sauce. Sal just asks Gia what she wants to eat now, he always says, "I am no longer in charge!" We are off into week 22!!

WEEK 22!

WEEK 21 BELLY SHOT!!

I am coming right along with my belly, I am amazed at the changes from week to week. Gia is kicking and moving all the time... feels so cute! Onto week 22!!

Daddy Sal's pillow for Gia

Sal and I were out and about this weekend and when we got home he showed me this adorable pillow. He said it is something Gia will always have to remember when she enters our world. Gia is so lucky and blessed that she will have a Daddy like Sal. Honey, I love you, this is an incredible time for us and I am enjoying every minute of it with you!

21 weeks! Our baby banana Gia!

This is week 21! Gia is about the size of a banana and boy is she kicking away. I swear it is the cutest feeling! I love it , love it , love it!!!! Gia's digestive system is busy creating meconium (a tarry black substance made of swallowed amniotic fluid, digestive secretion, and dead cells), which will be in her first diaper after birth.

It is also stretching time, where my belly maybe getting itchy and maybe some stretch marks which will fade after delivery, so far none of those, been slathering on the cream all my life and this time is no different! LOL!

Gia is also developing her taste buds this week, so whatever I eat she may taste as well. I am still craving meat like an animal LOL! Some researchers say that whatever a soon to be mom eats now, sometimes, that is exactly what the baby will have a taste for when they start eating... Meat, green peppers, apples, bananas and have to get some broccoli in there Gia!! LOL

I did not know this, but Gia sleeps in the womb for give or take 12-14 hours a day...crazy because I always feel her kicking... maybe trying to get comfortable?... Me, well the hip issues are still an issue.. some nights are better than others, but I do not mind at all and we are into week 21!!

20 week belly shot and finally... Gia's Nursery theme!

Tomorrow, Sal and I are going to peruse Babies R Us and then go to Home Depot to get some paint swatches for Gia's nursery! So excited!!! We picked a theme for the nursery and it is going to be magical vintage fairy garden. I am not talking.. Tinkerbell fairies... the real old beautiful vintage pictures of fairies. Like the style in the pictures...we will choose accent colors as soon as we pick a wall color and we are leaning to a pretty soft shade of green. Exciting!

Here is my 20 week belly shot in my maternity jeans which are the only jeans that are comfortable to wear! From the front my belly looks like a little volleyball LOL! Gia is kicking more and more. I love the sensation of the kicks, I feel our little girl is trying to communicate or get comfortable!! Mommy and Daddy love you soooo much already!!!

Presents for Gia

In a past post one of my former students who is a senior at Paradise Valley High School hand- painted me a picture to hang in Gia's nursery...today she got Gia the cutest clothes and little pair of shoes. I could not believe my eyes, which of course were welling up with tears. I am just speechless from the thoughtfulness and love from my former student. I am truly blessed.

OMG!!!! Gia's first kick!! AND Kick Kick!!

So, I was just sitting at my computer typing away and all of a sudden I feel this little pop feeling, like a little gentle bubble on the right side of my belly. It happened 3 times over about 10 minutes and this is the time in my pregnancy that I should start to feel Gia move. I immediately called Sal at work and told him the news!! WOW, what a feeling as I am sure those little kicks, twists, and turns will get stronger and stronger from our little baby Gia!

Week 20!! Half way mark with my little cantaloupe Gia!

Gia is about 6.5 to 7 inches this week weighing around 10 ounces! Gia's uterus is fully formed this week and her vaginal canal is starting its development. Already?!!! Gia also has primitive eggs in her tiny little ovaries now, seven million of them — by the time Gia is born, that number will be down to two million. Gia will be born with all the eggs she'll ever have. Crazy fact huh?

Gia swallows down several ounces of amniotic fluid every day, both for nutrition and to practice swallowing and digesting. Her little taste buds actually work!

For me this halfway mark means.... increased blood flow to the pelvic area.. a resurging libido(hmmm!) and here comes the baby weight gain!!

4th OB appt today!

Went for my 4th OB appt. today and everything went well. Gia's heartbeat is good and my Dr. was pleased with all the reports from last week's ultrasound in the fetal Dr.'s report. Gia is doing great!! I spoke to my Dr. about my exercise routine and he said I can still do all that I am doing as long as I am comfortable. I did discuss also the pains in my hip from sleeping on my left and right side and the 2 pillows I bought etc., he said it is ok to take tylenol and that it is the nerves that are being pressed on from Gia and as Gia gets bigger unfortunately the pain and soreness will continue...he said I am doing everything I can do. LOL, I get out of bed in the morning like I am 100 years old... the soreness in that region of my body is as if I did 200 squats with major weight LOL!!

I was also told that the weight I have gained so far is a little less than half of what they expect for me to gain. I am at the half way mark this week 20 weeks already!!! I can tell ya all the weight is in my belly and boobs! My mother tells me that is exactly where is should be LOL!! It feels wonderful as I am sure as time progresses I will feel the same way. Just knowing baby Gia is inside of me growing is still so amazing to me. Our little wonder, our little gift from God.

More on week 20 tomorrow!!! YAY!!

Sal's NEW DIAPER DUDE BAG!

What a surprise today in the mail!! Tami sent Sal his own diaper bag, it is called a "Diaper Dude" bag. Tami knows Sal so well that she got it in camouflage just for him. Her reasoning was when he takes Gia out on his own he should have a diaper bag he feels comfortable with!! Good thinking Tami, you really do know Sal very well. He loves it and the smile on his face and chuckle when he finally figured out what it was...was priceless. We love you Tami!!!

19 week belly shot!!

Aunt Tami sent this for Gia!! Tami knows how much I LOVE owls, actually I kind of have an obsession with owls. The meaning behind the owl is actually very symbolic..

• Wisdom
• Mystery
• Transition
• Messages
• Intelligence
• Mysticism
• Protection
• Secrets

Thank you so much Aunt Tami I love it and I am sure Gia will adore it as well. Love you!!!! Currently, I am working on the nursery... colors, theme etc. very exciting!!!

Also, is the weekly belly shot! I have my 4th OB appt. on Monday! Can't believe I will be 20 weeks! The half way mark already?!!! WHERE HAS THE TIME GONE!!? Loving every minute!!

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Greenway Mommy's to be!!

Here is the newest belly shot photo of my friend Melissa and me! We love the fact that we are on this journey to motherhood together! It has been such a blast sharing stories and getting excited together because this is both our first child! AND... we are both having baby GIRLS!!! Future friends! Can't wait to schedule those playtimes!! Melissa is due 4/13/11!! I am so excited to meet baby Presley as I am sure she is as beautiful as her mommy!! Melissa..xoxoxo!!!!

WEEK 19! Large Mango!

Gia is weighing 9 oz and about 6.5 inches or so long! Here comes the kicking and body surfing and from what Sal and I saw yesterday on the ultrasound our little one loves to dance, like her mamma! LOL. Gia also has a protective covering around her, kind of a cheesy waxy substance called vernix caseosa, which means waxy cheese in Latin. The primary purpose of this coating is to protect Gia from the surrounding amniotic fluid.

My new pillow I ordered to help my hip pain has helped! I have been sleeping more at night except for the increase in waking to pee :) Leg cramps are normal now also because of my growing uterus. I usually am all over my classroom when I teach so, I really have had to slow it down and sit more, which is hard for me, but necessary at this point. Also, boy have I popped out! So, awesome and loving every minute of it!

Some pictures.. Gia's Aunt Camille and Uncle Ron got Gia the cutest bibs and outfit and AUNT TAMI pictures of me in clothes so you can see my bump! Belly shot comes Friday!

INTRODUCING...... Gia Patricia Mastropolo!!!

I had my 2nd ultrasound today! Sal and I went... and below is our little love, our daughter Gia!! We are so excited!!! I can't express what I am feeling right now and either can Daddy Sal. We were both emotional when the tech told us we are having a girl. We had a feeling we were but you are never sure until you actually see and hear it. The tech checked 4 times!! Gia is healthy and growing wonderfully the fetal Dr. said! The tech said she already is posing LOL!!! All Sal and I keep saying is,"We are having a daughter!!!" The pictures below are 4D and we have a full CD with the entire ultrasound! What a special day.... really beyond words. We have no words for the amount of love we feel already for baby Gia!! xoxoxox Mommy and Daddy LOVE you so much!! YAY!!! What a way to ring in 2011!!! 19 weeks here we come!!

18 week belly shot!!!

Here it is the weekly belly shot at 18 weeks!! Feeling better with my hips and back. I think I finally figured out how to sleep without pain in those areas!!

2 more days until ultrasound and hopefully we will see if we are having a baby girl or baby boy!!