I spent most of this past weekend discussing my pregnancy concerns and hopes with my mother in law. She has already encouraged us to take more trips together whenever we want to leave baby with them in Minnesota. I think that's going to be a welcome treat some day in the future.

One thing on my mind is the name we will choose and of course you want your closest relatives to like it. She said they didn't have a name picked out for my husband Pete until right before they left the hospital. There had been a Peter in every generation of the Hutton family.

I would love to have some meaning behind the name but many of my side of the family names simply sound too dated or old to call a baby. During the long ride back to Wausau yesterday I had this idea: Tell me your middle names. Afterall, they are often names selected in honor of someone else. Who knows, you might even help me narrow my choices.

I dare you, what's your middle name?

Carrie

I don't have a clear focus for this post. My mind is still preoccupied with whether I've felt any baby movement and not known it yet. It's mango-sized so I think I should!

My mom and I went crib shopping last weekend and that was extremely overwhelming. All the cribs were beautiful so I guess it comes down to style preference really. I still don't know what theme I'll do and most of the bedding sets seem to lean toward the feminine side.

Finally, I am very anxious for our ultrasound on Tuesday, counting the days until baby puts on his/her next show! I'm still hoping that we can both agree to not learn the gender and just wait it out. According to the vein in the bottom of my right eye, my mom says it's probably a boy. Have any of you done any gender predication tests? She swears this one is very accurate.

Carrie

Hello again!

I've been so anxious to feel a kick or other movement from baby. I'm told it could happen anytime now. My husband and others have asked if I've felt the baby but it's really hard to know, never having gone through this before. I've had some stomach gurgling but it didn't seem to come from the right area. I'm hoping it will be very obvious to me?

I'm approaching Week 18 and the experts say the baby measures about the same as an onion. Yes, it has made me cry already! I always sob at predictable times, (when Forrest Gump is talking to Jenny's grave, the moment in "The Notebook" when the elderly Allie forgets Noah while they're dancing and when they execute big John Coffey in "The Green Mile"), but I do notice my emotions are especially sensitive lately.

Perhaps I can encourage him/her to move while I play music in my car. I hope baby likes my 80s tunes!

Carrie

My work hiatus is over now. The trip we decided to take was wonderful. The worst part was leaving the 80s in Barbados and coming back to the airport in Minneapolis and seeing the snow falling down on Monday night.

I think some stress relief was good for baby too! Not only was I brave enough to wear a two-piece and get some much needed sun on my belly, but I indulged in desserts. Also good for baby, right? I had the best coconut cream pie in my life at a restaurant called David's Place at St. Lawrence Gap in Christ Church. I also sampled some of my husband's carrot cake drizzled with rum and cream.

I read that your appetite does increase around Week 17 and I've definitely noticed that is true! When did your appetite grow? I have been able to eat during the whole pregnancy but now, I'm really interested in meals. Dessert anyone?

Carrie

Weeks ago, I read about couples taking trips alone together before the birth of a first baby. As this winter dragged on with below-normal cold and way too much snow (in my opinion), my husband and I decided we had to get out of here and find some warmth.

It might seem selfish to some but it's going to be very valuable time and hopefully a memorable experience for us. I'll be able to tell the baby he/she was in Barbados! My mom always reminds me I was in Key West, Fla., of course I was six months old then, so I have no memory of that trip.

I'd be curious whether other expectant mothers splurged a little on themselves or did you save, save, save every penny instead before baby came?

We had another pre-natal appt. yesterday and my blood pressure and proteins are were they should be. We got to hear even more of the heartbeat and the woman filling in for my doctor explained which noises were kicks. I’ve had some minor sharp tugging pain that doesn’t last long and she explained that is my ligaments in the uterus stretching out. Interesting!

Well, we're off to our "babymoon". I promise to enjoy it for the Wisconsin moms who can't get out of the snow quite yet!

Carrie