15 weeks!

So, I haven't been the best about blogging the last few weeks. Sorry! (But is anybody out there reading anyways????) I was evaluated by the state at work and we were busy with the holidays. David's brother and his family were here for 2 weeks from New York, so my internet time was limited to some degree.

We had a great Christmas. David found the baby a few things for Christmas, and my mom did as well. I also got some of the clothes that were made for me when I was a baby, and some blankets and booties that my grandma made before she passed away a few years ago. These will probably be the most treasured things in our nursery!

I did the biggest no-no for my body on Saturday. I sat in straight back chairs most of the day. I didn't even think about it. We were sitting and talking with my parents. At some point, I went to get up, and my back was a little sore. It only got worse. 2 chiropractor visits, a prenatal massage, and a trip to the OB later... I'm still sore, was given Tylenol 3 to use sparingly, and keep laying as flat as is comfortable as much as I can. And rotate heat/ice to help keep the muscles calm.

Anyways... onto the 15 week update!

From BabyCenter: 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. There's not much for your baby to taste at this point, but she is forming taste buds. Finally, if you have an ultrasound this week, you may be able to find out whether your baby's a boy or a girl! (Don't be too disappointed if it remains a mystery, though. Nailing down your baby's sex depends on the clarity of the picture and on your baby's position. He or she may be modestly curled up or turned in such a way as to "hide the goods.")

How far along: 15 weeks

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Still down 2 lbs

Maternity Clothes: Lovin' the pants! I can still wear my regular shirts. I have the "Is she pregnant or fat?" look going on right now. Most of my shirts are long enough to cover the "lack of" waistband. But, the pants are SO comfortable!

Stretch Marks: None that I've seen

Sleeping: I'm getting my energy back, so fewer naps. I wake up 3-4 times a night to go to the bathroom, and because of my back, I wake up tossing and turning a little more than usual. Once that's back to normal, I'll be back to my normal 3-4 times and right back to sleep!

Best moment of last week: Christmas with the family. The baby stuff is SO cute!

Symptoms: Extra trips to the bathroom, itchy/sore boobs, increased appetite

Food cravings: Mexican, salad, and cottage cheese & pineapple

Gender: It's still a mystery! If we decide to find out, it will be at our February 4th appointment.

What I'm looking forward to: Even though I got an ultrasound today just to check on baby with my back... My OB does quick ultrasounds at every visit, free of charge. So, we will get to see the baby again!

And pics...

15 weeks -- Fat or pregnant?? The top "flab" can still be sucked in -- the baby bump is the bottom "flab."

A progression from 6 weeks to today!

12 weeks!

From BabyCenter: 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.

How Far Along: 12 weeks

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Well, yesterday's weigh in at the OB was up a little, but still down 2 1/2 lbs from pre-pregnancy. This morning's weight (I weigh every Thursday morning before my shower), I was down from yesterday morning. If I go by that weight, it was 4 lbs down from pre-pregnancy.

Maternity Clothes: No, but I'm wearing the bella band every day! I'm having issues with keeping it low enough to keep my pants comfortable, but high enough that it won't roll up my butt. So, I may be going to maternity just for simplicity! I have lots of clothes now though!

Stretch marks: Nope!

Sleeping: Still lots! I'm hoping to start getting my energy back soon.

Best moment of last week: First OB appointment and first external ultrasound! And picking up the baby gear and bag of maternity clothes from friends.

Symptoms: Exhaustion, mild constipation, HORRIBLE mood swings

Food Cravings: Mexican, big salads with lots of goodies on it, cottage cheese with pineapple; today: fried pickles, which is NOT unusual for me. It's actually unusual that this is the first time in 3-4 months that I've wanted them!

Gender: Still too early to tell. David still says boy. The nurse at my OB's office said my early symptoms indicate girl -- and she said, "I've only been wrong 2 times in 6 years."

What I'm looking forward to: Getting my 2nd trimester energy! Next OB appt is January 7th

Oh, and here's the latest belly pic. I think it "shows" more because it's a close up - I gave up waiting for David to be home at the same time as me to take the picture!

Baby Gear Score!!

A friend of mine has a friend who is cleaning out their basement and getting rid of baby stuff! Guess who scored? ME!!!!



Bouncy seat - I love the toy bar, and the music is really cool and fun. Pattern is alphabet blocks.


Graco Travel System with 2 bases! It's grey and a really dark purple.


This swing can change orientation. So, if baby wants to go back and forth, s/he can! Or we can go side to side. Music, lights, nature sounds, etc... We tested it out last night and we could probably fling baby across the room on the highest speed!

This AWESOME pack & play has wheels on one side, storage pockets on the side, and a removable bassinet AND changing table! Perfect for the living room when baby first comes home and I'm too tired to go upstairs to change diapers and can't get down on the floor yet!

I also got some really nice clothes - my friend is a stay at home mom, so she only needed a handful of dress clothes. I tried the jeans on tonight, and the inseam is too short, but another friend of mine will be able to wear them. The other pants I still need to try on, and if nothing else -- just the cost of the tops alone, I STILL saved money!

11 week update

From BabyCenter: Your baby, just over 1 1/2 inches long and about the size of a fig, is now almost fully formed. Her hands will soon open and close into fists, tiny tooth buds are beginning to appear under her gums, and some of her bones are beginning to harden.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.

How far along: 11 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: Still down 4 1/2 lbs (gained 1/2 lb this week)
Maternity clothes: Not yet! One pair of work pants were tight after lunch, but a bella band will solve that problem next week I wear them again! I did buy 3 pair of pants this week, just to have when I need them! They were on sale and they had some long enough for me in the store - couldn't pass them up!
Stretch marks: Nope! Hoping I can keep the marks down to a minimum. :-)
Sleeping: Still really tired. I'm taking less naps during the week, which is nice, but going to bed between 9 and 9:30. Last night I didn't get to bed until 9:45 and today was NOT fun.
Best moment last week: Scoring a bunch of almost-new baby stuff from a friend at over 1/2 the price of brand new in the store! I'm picking it all up on Sunday, so be prepared for pictures!
Symptoms: Boobs are still sore, but not as often - more just when I get cold; nausea is getting better, but still there, especially when I'm hungry; still tired; constipation is starting to come, but still clears itself out within 24 hrs.
Food cravings: Mexican, cereal, and waffles with peanut butter
Gender: Way too early to tell, but I don't want to find out! David does, so we'll have to see what happens... The Chinese gender predictor says boy. I say boy because what girl would take away Mommy's sweet tooth?
What I am looking forward to: I'm starting to tell my students and parents, which is fun. We also have a doctor's appointment on Wednesday - I don't know if my OB does ultrasounds every visit or not, but I hope so! I want to see my little squishy again!!!!

10 week update

From BabyCenter: 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. Vital organs — including his kidneys, intestines, brain, and liver (now making red blood cells in place of the disappearing yolk sac) — are in place and starting to function, though they'll continue to develop throughout your pregnancy.If you could take a peek inside your womb, you'd spot minute details, like tiny nails forming on fingers and toes (no more webbing) and peach-fuzz hair beginning to grow on tender skin.In other developments: Your baby's limbs can bend now. His hands are flexed at the wrist and meet over his heart, and his feet may be long enough to meet in front of his body. The outline of his spine is clearly visible through translucent skin, and spinal nerves are beginning to stretch out from his spinal cord. Your baby's forehead temporarily bulges with his developing brain and sits very high on his head, which measures half the length of his body. 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.

How far along: 10 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: Down 5 lbs
Maternity clothes: Not yet! My mom bought me a pair of jeans and some long-sleeve tops, but I'm not needing them yet!
Stretch marks: Nope! Hoping I can keep the marks down to a minimum. :-)
Sleeping: Exhausted doesn't cut how I feel! Most days, I take a nap in the afternoon when I get home from work, and then still go to bed at 9:00! But, I'm up 2-3 times to pee.
Best moment last week: Seeing the baby on u/s again, AND being released from the specialist!
Symptoms: Sore breasts, exhausted, crabby, nausea
Food cravings: Depends on the day, but anything Mexican is definitely on my mind most of the time! Oh, and baby seems to like toaster waffles with peanut butter!
Gender: Way too early to tell, but I don't want to find out! David does, so we'll have to see what happens... The Chinese gender predictor says boy. I say boy because what girl would take away Mommy's sweet tooth?
What I am looking forward to: today is Thanksgiving. All our family knows, but I am so looking forward to spending the day with them pregnant!!! I'm also excited for my "first" OB appointment December 8 - only 2 weeks away!

Graduation Day!

We had our almost-10 week appointment today. I promise the new ultrasound picture soon -- David has a couple days off work, so no access to a scanner.

Everything looked great. When the ultrasound started, Squishy was moving around like s/he was saying "Hi Mommy! Hi Daddy!" Then he settled down and behaved for the rest of the scan. All my bloodwork came back good, so I get to stop the Progesterone today!

They offered me the appointment to check the risk for chromosomal problems with the baby. Basically, it's blood work and another ultrasound. David and I decided to opt out of the testing - it IS covered by insurance, BUT there are so many false positives AND false negatives that I'm not willing to take that chance for a scare that turns out to be nothing....

So, since we opted out, I was released to my regular OB! I called today and set my first appointment up for December 8 - I'll be 12 weeks on the 9th, so it's perfect timing! Happy Graduation Day to me!!!!

Growth spurt?

I've been tired since about 6 days after our IUI. I take evening naps 2-3 times a week, stay awake for another hour, maybe 2, and go back to bed.

Yesterday, I reached an all-time low. Friday night, I went to bed "late" (read: 10:30 instead of 9:00). Saturday morning, David called me because he was getting off work on time and wanted to go to breakfast (he NEVER gets off on time, so this was a reason to celebrate and he knew I've been craving Village Inn's multigrain pancakes!).

So, I had to work at the shop all day yesterday. I did okay when I was busy - I was tired, but functioning. It quieted down, and after lunch, I started getting some heartburn. I *think* I fell asleep for a few minutes during one of the bridal appointments when I was the only one in the design room!

David's mom had planned dinner because there was a football game on. I went to her house, ate dinner, and went to lay down for a few minutes. I laid down a little before 7:00. I woke up at 9:00 to go to the bathroom. David came to give me a kiss and tell me he was going to work a little before 10:00. I was planning on getting up and going home when he went to work.

Um, yeah... I went back to sleep and didn't wake up again until 11:30! EEK! Sad part... I drove home and went right back to bed! The poor dogs were locked up from 5:30 until I woke up this morning. I didn't wake up until 8:30!

I couldn't believe it! I'm not as tired today, but feel like I could lay down and probably take another nap - and I haven't even been up for 2 hrs yet! The "rumor" is my energy will come back during 2nd trimester, and to just listen to my body and if I need to rest, I need to rest. But, I kinda feel lazy. Like, I have no energy. I feel like I physically can't do anything, but sometimes I don't feel like I could sleep if I tried.

We get to see the baby again on Wednesday. I'll be 10 weeks on Thursday! I can't wait to see if my baby looks like a baby yet!!! Until then... tata for now!