Week 14

Symptoms:

So our appointment last week went good, we heard the heartbeat with the doppler, we even heard the baby kick a few times. The little one kept moving around so the doctor had to keep chasing it around. It was wonderful to hear the heartbeat and I think I slept a little better that night.

She told me to stop sleeping and exercising on my back, the reason has to due with lack of oxygen to the baby. So it's just side and tummy sleeping for me, although the belly sleeping may not last too much longer. I have been loving my body pillow, it feels good and helps sleeping on my side more comfortable. Oh, and no pilates.

My energy level has gone down a little. We went to Washington for a few days and saw some friends, I seriously was falling asleep by 10 pm and sleeping until 8 or 9 am. I felt like such a party pooper but I could not keep my eyes open for the life of me.

I am still liking vegetables, celery to be specific. I know that doesn't have a lot of nutritional value but hey, it counts. Steak is not so appetizing, which is weird for me. It's not that it sounds gross, but it just doesn't sound good. Brian swears his kid will like steak though.

Brian thinks the baby is a boy, and I think it may be a girl. Although I did have a dream last night that we found out it was a boy, we'll see if my dream was accurate. 5 more weeks and we find out! We really don't care either way, we are just praying for a healthy baby and can't wait to start the nursery.

Baby:

Your growing baby now measures about 4 inches long, crown to rump, and weighs in at about 2 1/2 ounces (about the size of an apple). She's busy moving amniotic fluid through her nose and upper respiratory tract, which helps the primitive air sacs in her lungs begin to develop. Her legs are growing longer than her arms now, and she can move all of her joints and limbs. Although her eyelids are still fused shut, she can sense light. If you shine a flashlight at your tummy, for instance, she's likely to move away from the beam.

Belly pic (it's getting big! Please excuse the crazy hair)

Update

I scheduled our big ultrasound, the one where they make sure baby is healthy and we get to find out the sex!
Mark your calendars people, it's a big day......October 2nd, 2008.

6 more weeks, don't forget to cast your votes (points to the left)!

Oh, and I want a green olive.....like now. Gotta love cravings.

Week 13

**Note: I think I'm kind of doing the whole week thing a little late. When I am 13 weeks-13 weeks 6 days, I update that as week 13, when in reality that is actually week 14. I realized this awhile ago but didn't want to change it. I'm thinking I may try and adjust it so it's accurate, we'll see, either way I'm updating weekly. :)

Symptoms:

We have our 2nd appointment today!! I am of course thrilled, I really want and need to hear that little heartbeat. I wish I got an u/s every time but I'm trying not to be greedy :) Seriously though, is it so unreasonable to want a picture of my baby every 4 weeks?!

I am feeling great (knock on wood), seriously. Although my gag reflex is sensitive, my nausea is non-existent, my headaches have subsided, and I'm starting to get a little energy back. So far I really like the 2nd trimester. I'm getting a little belly so it's a good thing I finally told work. My boss was very sweet and asked nothing work related, she just talked about her pregnancies, asked how I was feeling, and told me to tell her anytime I wasn't feeling well. My co-workers were all very excited for me. Whew, so glad to get it out in the open.

My favorite thing to eat right now is toast with raspberry jam, yum. I'm still doing a good job of drinking water, especially while I'm at work. I am going to make sure I go on walks with MJ at least 4 times a week, which I started doing last week. Also I started pilates last week and am hoping to do that at least 3 times a week. I did notice my lower back was sore the day after I did pilates so I think I need to do the modified version, guess my old back just ain't what it use to be ;)

Baby:
Fingerprints have formed on your baby's tiny fingertips, her veins and organs are clearly visible through her still-thin skin, and her body is starting to catch up with her head — which makes up just a third of her body size now. If you're having a girl, she now has more than 2 million eggs in her ovaries. Your baby is almost 3 inches long (the size of a peach) and weighs nearly an ounce.

Baby:

*Last week I used week 13 information for week 12, I went back and adjusted. I got a little ahead of myself!

Week 12

Symptoms:
I'm so tired I can barely keep my eyes open to write this. I want to sleep all.the.time. I've also started to get headaches which sucks, Tylenol is not my pain reliever of choice, but of course it is while I'm pregnant.

Felt a little nauseous in the beginning which I wasn't expecting, that's ok though, it's worth it. I did crave vegetables on Tuesday! All day at work I was thinking about celery, broccoli, carrots, and dipping them in yummy ranch. I had carrots and cucumbers at home so I stopped by the grocery store and picked up the rest. I got home and vegged out, it was awesome and I'm thrilled to be craving healthy stuff. Talking about it makes me wish I brought some to work, dang.

Tuesday was also the day I took out my belly button ring. It was time, even though I'm sad that chapter of my life is over, it is more than worth it and I'm so happy for the next chapter. One week until our 2nd appointment yay!

I still haven't told work, eeks. I'm not sure why I'm delaying so much, I'm not afraid of their response as I'm sure they'll be happy for me. I don't know, I just need to tell them because I think I'll feel relieved.

Time seems to be going slow these days, and I hear it will only get worse in my 3rd tri. Since I'm not really showing (although my layer of fat and bloat makes it look like a baby belly) and my symptoms are lessening it just feels surreal. Also we aren't purchasing any baby stuff until we find out the sex so I think that adds to the feeling of, "Is this real or am I dreaming?" Soon enough I'm sure I'll get that belly and it will feel more real. In 3 days (13 weeks 3 days along) I'll be in my 2nd trimester, yay! The first trimester has definitely been a stressful rollercoaster, every odd symptom was scary to say the least. I know that will continue and I will stress about different things as the pregnancy goes on, but hey, one trimester down, woo woo!

Baby:
The most dramatic development this week: reflexes. Your baby's fingers will soon begin to open and close, his toes will curl, his eye muscles will clench, and his mouth will make sucking movements. In fact, if you prod your abdomen, your baby will squirm in response, although you won't be able to feel it. His intestines, which have grown so fast that they protrude into the umbilical cord, will start to move into his abdominal cavity about now, and his kidneys will begin excreting urine into his bladder.
Meanwhile, nerve cells are multiplying rapidly, and in your baby's brain, synapses are forming furiously. His face looks unquestionably human: His eyes have moved from the sides to the front of his head, and his ears are right where they should be. From crown to rump, your baby-to-be is just over 2 inches long (about the size of a lime) and weighs half an ounce.

Baby:

Week 11

Symptoms:
Started out pretty uneventful, which is good. My nausea is definitely lessening, although my energy has plummeted as well. I go to bed by 9 pm every night (sometimes earlier) and I'm still tired. I still have a bland appetite, no more real cravings, although Burger King and McDonalds sound good most the time.
On Wednesday night I was absorbed in Breaking Dawn (so good it's not even funny) so I only took time to eat a quick bowl of cereal. At 9 when we crawled in bed I realized I was VERY hungry, normally when I get hungry I feel nauseous so I was excited I actually had hunger pains. Brian asked what I felt like and I told him scrambled eggs and toast, do you believe he went downstairs to make it for me?! I couldn't believe it, so I joined him to help because I felt so guilty. He said next time I can stay in bed and he'll bring it to me. ?!?! I could get use to this, although I hear it's not the same when you're pregnant with your 2nd so I'll try to enjoy it while I can. Either way, he's a sweetie and I was very appreciative.

I have seriously been slacking on belly pictures, I will get better. Not a lot of change, just more lovely bloat. I can suck it in though so I know the baby is not showing yet, it's just a nice cushion around my mid-section, gotta love that ;P I do have a week 9 belly picture on my camera that I'll post.

Baby:
Your baby, just over 1 1/2 inches long and about the size of a fig, is now almost fully formed. She's already busy kicking and stretching, and her tiny movements are so effortless they look like water ballet. These movements will become more frequent as her body grows and becomes more developed and functional. You won't feel your baby's acrobatics for another month or two — nor will you notice the hiccupping that may be happening now that her diaphragm is forming.

Little One:

Belly Picture:

Week 10

Symptoms:
I had a little bleeding in my nose, started in the morning and continued all day. It wasn't dripping out or anything, but everytime I stuck a kleenex up there it came out red. Nauseous, very nauseous. I can't tell if my boobs aren't sore anymore or if I'm just use to them being sore, I'm leaning towards the latter.

I'm starting to "feel" pregnant, especially when I bend over, it's a subtle change but I feel it.
I had my first craving: McDonalds. Now, normally I am a Burger King girl, but Wednesday I was driving home from work -- hadn't eaten a real meal since Saturday (the day before we caught the bug/food poisoning) -- and a flat cheeseburger and fries from McDonalds sounded so good. I got a happy meal so it was a little smaller at least. It tasted pretty darn good, although the nausea came back shortly after I finished my meal, oh well. I still motivated Brian and I to go on a walk with MJ, it was a short one as the nausea started to take over, but it still counts!
Towards the end of week 10 I started to feel a little better, still rough in the evening but much more manageable.
We have shown pretty much everyone our u/s pictures, we're proud parents :) We started telling friends that we're pregnant and I LOVE that, it's so fun to share our wonderful news with our loved ones.

Next appointment: August 25th.


Baby:
Though he's barely the size of a kumquat — a little over an inch or so long, crown to bottom — and weighs less than a quarter of an ounce, your baby has now completed the most critical portion of his development. This is the beginning of the so-called fetal period, a time when the tissues and organs in his body rapidly grow and mature. He's swallowing fluid and kicking up a storm. From crown to rump, he's about 1 1/4 inches long. In the coming weeks, your baby will again double in size — to nearly 3 inches.

Little one:

Week 9

Our first appointment was today!!!! We had an amazing appointment and found out I'm a little ahead of what I originally thought, what great news :-) I thought I was 9w 4 d today, but I measured at 10w 1d. We saw our little one moving about and oh what a sight that was. Then we got to hear the heartbeat, hands down best sound ever. We both got a little teary when we heard that heartbeat beating away, music to our ears. The heartbeat was beating at 158 bpm. It's real, we're having a baby!
We got pictures from the u/s that I'll have to scan at my mom's and then I'll post. It was the greatest day.

Symptoms:
Alright, so week 9 as it would've been went pretty smoothly, I was feeling good. Then Sunday came (which would be the end of week 9) and I got the flu along with many others from our fun family reunion in Arizona.
Honestly, the reunion was a blast, just not getting the flu ;) So I was throwing up all day Sunday, as were Jenny and Kyle and other members of our extended family. Jenny, Kyle, Brian, and I all had to fly out that night which we of course were not looking forward to. So we are in the security line and luckily Jenny brought a big ziplock bag with a brown paper bag inside it. She needed it. She started throwing up in it so the 3 of us stood around her to cover her up. As she was finishing up I realized I was about to pass out and started walking towards the garbage, Jenny pushed me the rest of the way and I began throwing up. So the 3 of them now covered me up. At this point we were kind of laughing (well after I finished violently throwing up my stomach bile) because we couldn't believe what a mess we were. We debated trying to catch another flight but decided we wanted to be home. So we pressed on and made it home. What a memory it was!
Monday was pretty bad, I didn't throw up but I was incredibly nauseous all.day.long. And today is the same, I feel so sick. I'm wondering if it's morning sickness though since Jenny and Kyle are doing better. I haven't really eaten the last 3 days because food sounds disgusting. But I'm trying to stuff down crackers and wheat chex and luckily I can still stomach my prenatal vitamin. The family at the reunion was so excited that we were pregnant and gave us lots of congratulations. I told them how good I was feeling and I'm thinking that's why I'm nauseous now ;)

Baby:
Your new resident is nearly an inch long — about the size of a grape — and weighs just a fraction of an ounce. She's starting to look more and more human. The embryonic "tail" is completely gone. Your baby's organs, muscles, and nerves are kicking into gear. The external sex organs are there but won't be distinguishable as male or female for another few weeks. Her eyes are fully formed, but her eyelids are fused shut and won't open until 27 weeks. She has tiny earlobes, and her mouth, nose, and nostrils are more distinct. The placenta is developed enough now to take over most of the critical job of producing hormones. Now that your baby's basic physiology is in place, she's poised for rapid weight gain.

Little One:

Belly Picture:

Week 8

Symptoms:
Earlier in the week I was feeling pretty rough, very nauseous. On Tuesday the 15th (our 2 year anniversary) I started dry heaving very painfully. Up until this point I have not dry heaved, I don't care what I said, I was merely just gagging. But last Tuesday, I was actually dry heaving, my nose was running into the toilet and I couldn't stop, it was so painful. I finally got a little to come up and felt better which was a relief. The funny thing is that while I was bent over the toilet the only thing I could think was, "This is so worth it, as long as our baby is ok I will do this as much as I need to." Call me crazy but that is what I was thinking.
The weekend went great though. We went camping at Detroit Lake with my Mom & Randy, and the Jensens, we had a great time. I didn't feel sick at all, just really tired. Of course I started to worry that something is wrong because I'm feeling fine, but I think I just need to thank my lucky stars :)
Jenny made the cutest tank top for me for the reunion. Our reunion this year is Pirates of the Caribbean so she thought we could announce our pregnancy by doing a shirt. I got a white tank and she ironed on a little thing that says: "Lil matey coming soon..." It is absolutely adorable and I'm so excited! Thanks sis, you are the best. I'll post a picture of it later.
Our appointment is 1 week and 1 day away, I am so flippin' anxious to see the little one.

Baby:
New this week: Webbed fingers and toes are poking out from your baby's hands and feet, his eyelids practically cover his eyes, breathing tubes extend from his throat to the branches of his developing lungs, and his "tail" is just about gone.

Little one at 8 weeks:

Belly picture (coming soon...)

Week 7

Symptoms:
Nauseous off and on throughout the day, the evening being the worst time. I avoid dry heaving as much as possible because let's face it, that's not exactly fun. Sometimes it sneaks up on me though while I'm at work, thankfully no one has seen this yet. Sore boobs still, cramps every once and awhile, not nearly as often as weeks 4 and 5 though. Food doesn't generally sound good, but I force myself to nibble on crackers or something as that helps the nausea lessen. Water seems to be helping as well, I've increased my water intake this week and hopefully will continue that. Bloating, I feel very bloated especially after I eat.

When we told my Dad we were pregnant, we had Brian take a picture of us and my sisters and Brian said, "On the count of 3 say Lou Lou's pregnant!" It was awesome. Here is that picture:
The girls didn't really get it so we told them after :) I love that we were able to capture it!

I also wanted to post the pictures from Shasta. These were taken the morning we found out, my Mom pulled out the champagne to celebrate with mimosas :) I just had orange juice of course.


Baby:
The big news this week: Hands and feet are emerging from developing arms and legs — although they look more like paddles at this point than the tiny, pudgy extremities you're daydreaming about holding and tickling. Your baby has doubled in size since last week and now measures half an inch long, about the size of a blueberry.

2 1/2 weeks until our 1st appointment, yay!!!

Week 6

Symptoms:
Boobs are still sore and still have the occasional cramping, bloating. Spotting, ick. I spotted brown on Friday the 4th which really scared me. Everything I've read says it's pretty common, my sister had it, my mom had it, one of my friends had it, but seeing it is a different story. I called my mom and Jaime right away. Jaime was able to calm me down so much (I knew she would) and I was able to just relax and not stress. Fortunately the spotting was NOT accompanied by extreme cramps or anything and by Saturday it was almost completely gone. I still had sore boobs and felt a little nauseous so I thought that was a good sign as well.
Sunday I was very nauseous and dry heaved in the toilet for awhile after my shower. Nothing sounded good to eat but I needed to make the nausea go away. I ate cheddar and sour cream Ruffles and pickles and drank a coke, healthy. But I am definitely not complaining, I welcomed the nausea and took it as a sign that our little one was healthy and doing well.
Today I am better than yesterday, but still not excited about food. We'll see what the rest of the week brings. 3 weeks and one day until our first appointment, I seriously cannot wait!

Baby:
This week's major developments: The nose, mouth, and ears that you'll spend so much time kissing in eight months are beginning to take shape. His heart is beating about 100 to 160 times a minute — almost twice as fast as yours — and blood is beginning to course through his body. His intestines are developing, and the bud of tissue that will give rise to his lungs has appeared. His pituitary gland is forming, as are the rest of his brain, muscles, and bones. Right now, your baby is a quarter of an inch long, about the size of a sweet pea.

Little one:

Belly bloat picture: