17 weeks

Just like the age of 17, i7 weeks seems very...insignificant. BUT, it gets me that much closer to meeting our baby!!

I am VERY much looking forward to a long weekend with family and hopefully getting some time to kick back. Plus, it's my 31st birthday on Saturday!

Today we celebrate our son's 3rd birthday. Let's see...at 4:13pm on the day he was born, I was in a good labor pattern and around 5:00, I remember finally asking what time it was because I thought, "Gee, this is taking a while!" He wasn't born until 10:27pm. Maybe I'll toast my hubby with some sparking cider tonight at that time!

So here's this week and YES, it seems like we're both growing--and that's before the turkey and pie!!



Your baby's skeleton is changing from soft cartilage to bone, and the umbilical cord — her lifeline to the placenta — is growing stronger and thicker. Your baby weighs 5 ounces now (about as much as a turnip), and she's around 5 inches long from head to bottom. She can move her joints, and her sweat glands are starting to develop.

How your life's changing:
Starting to feel a bit off balance? As your belly grows, your center of gravity changes, so you may begin to occasionally feel a little unsteady on your feet. Try to avoid situations with a high risk of falling. Wear low-heeled shoes to reduce your risk of taking a tumble; trauma to your abdomen could be dangerous for you and your baby. You'll also want to be sure to buckle up when you're in a car — keep the lap portion of the seat belt under your belly, drawn snugly across your hips, and also use the shoulder harness, which should fit snugly between your breasts.

You may also notice your eyes becoming drier. Using over-the-counter lubricating drops may help. If your contact lenses become uncomfortable, try wearing them for shorter stretches of time. If you still have discomfort, switch to glasses until after you give birth.

Almost 17 weeks and lovin' it!

Here's me at Andrew's 3rd birthday party, Sunday, November 23rd.

Don'tcha love the "May Baby" shirt?? I like how it answers the two most-asked questions: "Are you pregnant?" and "When are you due?" Fabulous. Thanks, Nana!!

My friend/neighbor/boss was there and said, "Wow, you're really looking pregnant! You never wear anything tight to work!" I'm a baggy T-shirt kinda gal from 9-5. Or 8 to 12, as it were! :) So the bump is somewhat of a mystery!

So, yeah, lookin' pregnant here. And lovin' it!!

16 weeks

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I have to admit...this pregnancy is going by quickly. I mean, 16 weeks?? Where has the time gone?? It seems like I was just at the 12-week mark! Phew, even the last week flew by and this week is equally busy so I expect it to go by super-fast, too.

With a total of 37 to 40 weeks, 16 is a nice chunk! I'm actually glad it's not going any faster and I am trying to enjoy each phase.

The nausea has definitely subsided but I do still have a very delicate tummy. I feel hungry, I eat, and about mid-way through, I have to force myself to keep going. I know I have to eat and I know the baby needs it but, man, sometimes it's hard to get it down! And I have a lot of achy feelings and little pains all over now, too. Mostly in the belly and back. I keep thinking it's baby movement, but...nothing yet!

Here's me today at the completion of 16 weeks. I swear, I'm gonna be half way before ya know it!





And here's my belly at 16 weeks with Andrew, just for for fun!



Here's the info. for this week. I do fully expect a growth spurt any time now.

Get ready for a growth spurt. In the next few weeks, your baby will double his weight and add inches to his length. Right now, he's about the size of an avocado: 4 1/2 inches long (head to rump) and 3 1/2 ounces. His legs are much more developed, his head is more erect than it has been, and his eyes have moved closer to the front of his head. His ears are close to their final position, too. The patterning of his scalp has begun, though his locks aren't recognizable yet. He's even started growing toenails. And there's a lot happening inside as well. For example, his heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, and this amount will continue to increase as your baby continues to develop.

OB appointment update

Today was my third OB appointment at 15.5 weeks and it was a quicky!

I am finally up about two pounds according to them, although my scale has barely budged. It's probably that huge Bunco meal from last night!

My doctor did find the baby's heartbeat, low just like last time. She could only hear it through the cord, because the baby was laying "far back." No wonder I haven't felt any flutters yet!!

The heart rate was 150, just like Andrew's usually was. Maybe we have another boy???? :)

Everything else came back fine! No worries, no concerns. I feel much better, too, over all.

My next appointment is actually for the "big" ultrasound on Dec. 22 and my next OB appointment is Dec. 23rd! I'll be at the half-way point then!!

Thankfully there's a lot to keep me busy to make the time go by faster!!

It was definitely reassuring to hear the heartbeat--there's a baby growing in there!!

Here's to another great month!

P.S. The number 11 carries a lot of significance for our family and today marks 111 days completed!! YEAH!

At my 31st birthday party

As a sidenote, the past two days have seen a let-up in the nausea department. Yeah!!

This is me at my cupcake themed birthday party, holding the cupcake mug my mom got me for my birthday and wearing the cupcake necklace my hubby got for me!!



The belly at 15 weeks. This is after three cupcakes and two cups of coffee! :)

15 weeks

Well, the second trimester hasn't brought as much relief as I would like but it's still tolerable and only occasional so I won't complain.

I still hover around having gained only 1 or 2 lbs. My doc wasn't worried when I hadn't gained last time so we shall see. I definitely have to force myself to eat most of time, unless it's pickles. Those go down real easy. I swear, it's because I'm not eating sweets and drinking coffee like I did before getting pregnant--that's a lot of calories!! I ought to stick to that post-pregnancy!

Any day now, I expect to feel the baby move. They say it's usually between 16 and 21 weeks but with Andrew, I felt the first flutter at 14 weeks! Then nothing until 19. But still! With all the aches and jolts and weird sensations going on with my belly, I feel like at any moment, I'll feel that little "swish!" I can't wait!! That'll hold me over to the ultrasound! I'd just like to start bonding with this baby and being reminded that it's in there!!

I'm sleeping great, despite all the thoughts whirling around in my head, surprisingly NOT baby-related! More related to all the birthdays coming up, the holidays approaching, the gifts I'm going to make....so it's a good distraction!

**Side note. It amazes me that you could find out the gender this early! It seems way too soon for that kind of detail, but...as my pregnancy journal says, most everything has already formed, now it's just maturing and growing! Amazing! Good thing the next several weeks are jam-packed with activities so I'm not on pins and needles, waiting for the ultrasound on Dec. 22nd!!

Here's this week's info.:



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.")

So here's me tonight in a maternity tee and my new pants. So comfy!! This is at 15 weeks.



And here's one with a little perspective.



And I'm being brave now and posting a naked-belly shot, just to compare with Andrew's...and to warn any first-time moms that, YES, your body looks different the second time! I wasn't doing any crunches or anything, either, though!

Here's me now at 15 weeks...



...and at 15 weeks with Andrew! PHEW, those stretched-out muscles are obvious!! BUT, I always wished I looked more pregnant, so...be careful what you wish for!

Take a guess!!!

Check out the "ExpectNet" poll at the top of the right sidebar.

I haven't tried it yet but it should let you guess our baby's gender, the day and time of the birth and the baby's vital stats.

Please be a friend and participate!! :)

End of first trimester wrap-up

My mother said to me yesterday as I was modeling some new maternity duds, "Are you sure you're not having twins??" Gee, Mom, thanks. heehee

I know it's a second pregnancy thing. I'm already all stretched out! I'm hoping the same concept will apply to my birth experience!!

So my boss surprised me with a big ol' box from Old Navy yesterday that I thought was for Andrew. Boy, was I surprised to find a bunch of brand new, super-cute, majorly comfy maternity clothes inside!!!

I haven't bought much...in fact...I don't think I've bought anything!! And with temps in the 50s and 60s at work in the morning, I needed something to wear!! With Andrew, I was pregnant in hot weather but for the last, oh, week?? So I don't have any cool weather clothes.

She got me black yoga pants with a band that sits low below the belly and are sinfully comfortable, plus these lil' blue shorts, perfect for spring weather and post-baby



...this tee in black and white (which is actually quite chic on)



a cute top in my favorite shade of blue and a super-cute royal blue and black top that I can even dress up for holiday parties.

Andrew got a jacket and sweat pants and the new baby got two OWL onesies and matching socks!! So cute! Poor Andrew needed a jacket Monday and wanted to wear mine!! Oops.

In other news, I'm back to the all-day-sickness of early pregnancy. It comes and goes, though. I can feel fine all day then WHAM! A wave of nausea washes over me and I'm done for the day and headed for bed. It often starts at my head and works its way down until I feel like all I can do is lay down. I'm hoping it's just a phase.

Evidently, the start of the fourth month means major growth for the baby so it may just be sapping me more than usual. And I do seem to be growing! I measure my belly at the belly button for my pregnancy journal and I've grown a total of three inches so far, two inches just since Halloween! No wonder I look bigger! I'm only up a pound or two, though, so it's not like it's fat. It's just a baby accentuating the fat I already had!

My next OB appointment is a week away and after that, the next appointment is when we find out the gender of the baby!! Woo-hoo!! Five weeks away!! I need to get a poll going.

In a word? "UGH"

I have felt lousy for the past three or so days. Achy in the belly area, plus nauseated and just "icky." Like a stomach bug coming on, only nothing happens!! It's like when you eat too much candy when you were a kid. Well, except with a backache, too. It's not fun and I really don't remember feeling like this with Andrew.

UGH!!!

Having miscarried, I worry, of course, that I'm feeling "cramps" but it's really just aches and pains. Not dehabilitating, just annoying!

I'll take any and all prayers I can get! At least the weekend is coming!

14 weeks, second trimester and 6 months to go!!!!

HUGE milestones this week!! I consider pregnancy 40 weeks, so technically, three 13-week trimesters. And I've completed my first 13!!

Heeeeelllloooo second trimester!! The middle one is definitely the best and I've got tons of fun stuff to keep me occupied, hopefully making the time until our ultrasound go by faster!!

PLUS, November 6 will mark 6 months until my due date!!

From me:

Yes, the nausea is still much less but does hit full force somewhat frequently, especially at night. I often wake up feeling sick, but can usually fall back to sleep. I still feel tired some, too, and nap with Andrew a lot!

I feel like I do look pregnant now but I swear, it's just fat!! There may be a little bit of a baby tummy but mostly, I think my growing uterus is just pushing the fat higher and making it more prominent! I'll be glad when I actually have a round, pregnant belly instead of just a flabby belly!!

From the experts:



This week's big developments: Your baby can now squint, frown, grimace, pee, and possibly suck his thumb! Thanks to brain impulses, his facial muscles are getting a workout as his tiny features form one expression after another. His kidneys are producing urine, which he releases into the amniotic fluid around him — a process he'll keep up until birth. He can grasp, too, and if you're having an ultrasound now, you may even catch him sucking his thumb.

In other news: Your baby's stretching out. From head to bottom, he measures 3 1/2 inches — about the size of a lemon — and he weighs 1 1/2 ounces. His body's growing faster than his head, which now sits upon a more distinct neck. By the end of this week, his arms will have grown to a length that's in proportion to the rest of his body. (His legs still have some lengthening to do.) He's starting to develop an ultra-fine, downy covering of hair, called lanugo, all over his body. Your baby's liver starts making bile this week — a sign that it's doing its job right — and his spleen starts helping in the production of red blood cells. Though you can't feel his tiny punches and kicks yet, your little pugilist's hands and feet (which now measure about 1/2 inch long) are more flexible and active.

Belly progress--13 weeks and 30%!

Here's me on Halloween at 13 weeks along. I believe you're seeing a shadow there.



Here I am at 13 weeks with Andrew. Just a little rounder this time.





We'll blame it on being ten pounds heavier and having stretched-out muscles! But I love looking pregnant so I'm not complaining.

I'm so excited to be 30% done!! That seems like a nice chunk, thank goodness. When I complete week 13 and hit 33%, I'll officially be in the second trimester! Woo-hoo!!!

The time is all at once flying by and dragging on.

When I think about my "big ultrasound" being only 7 weeks away, I get super-excited! Thankfully, there will be a lot of distractions between now and then!

I'm feeling pretty good for the most part. Just cranky every once in a while and definitely more tired than usual. I still have some aversions and cravings and mostly have to force myself to eat but it's all good. I think I may have finally gained a pound!