February 22, 2011 - Week 12

I can’t believe this is the 12th week of my pregnancy already. Time is flying by and I am nearing the end of the first trimester! I have been feeling great! I still have some heartburn (but just on occasions now) and I have noticed my face/back is a little more sensitive to breakouts. I’ve always had a clear face/back but now from time to time I get breakouts—which is so not enjoyable! It isn’t too terribly bad but definitely a change I have noticed. I have been feeling huge lately and really ‘fat’ feeling instead of the ‘pregnant’ feeling but everyone tells me that is a stage of pregnancy—the fat feeling stage! I can tell my stomach is getting bigger but I am still able to wear normal clothes—they are just getting tighter and tighter every minute. I’m not sure how much longer I will be able to wear normal clothes—my guess is just a couple more weeks.

Tuesday (2/22/11) we had a sonogram appointment. Bryan was able to go with me, which I was very excited about. We got to see the baby and the heartbeat was a good rate at 150. Dr. Darby said everything is looking good and on track. Baby has two legs and two arms. Its feet were crossed at the ankle. We saw brain material so our baby has a brain—yeah! You know we are going to have a super-smart baby!! Baby was bouncing around too! We go back Thursday, April 7th at 10am for the anatomy ultrasound. This will be right at the 18th week of my pregnancy. Will it be a boy or a girl? April 7th is the date we should know the sex!!

Wednesday (2/23) I had my monthly check-up appointment at Dr. Laurette Smith’s office. I met with a Nurse Practitioner and got to hear (not just see with the sonogram) the heart beat with the Doppler. They estimated the heart beat around 160, which they said is normal. I got to weigh in (what fun) but surprisingly, even though I am eating us out of a house and a home, I have not gained any weight. My stomach is definitely starting to show a little bit but my body must be re-forming and using the pre-existing fat!! I LOVED hearing my weight gain since my last visit was zero! I know the weight will be coming on shortly and they did say that it was okay that I haven’t gained any weight. Believe me, it’s not because I am starving myself and the Baby!

Baby is about the size of a plum this week and the features on our baby’s face are becoming more defined. Baby weighs as much as half an ounce now. Baby can kick, curl his/her toes, make fists, bend and stretch. The baby also can make faces, such as frowns, squints, and can even wrinkle its forehead. Of course these movements lack purpose at this point; there is no specific correlation between stimulus and response. Baby is growing and growing each and every day—AMAZING!!

Below are sonogram pictures of the Baby and Week 12 stomach pictures.

Our Baby at Week 12 (you can see the head and the feet crossed)

 Week 12 Sonogram

 Week 12 Baby

 Of course the head shot :) We can start a photo shoot without one!

 Pregnancy Week 12 (my stomach is growing)

 Baby, Week 12

 Big Belly at Week 12

 Week 12 Baby Bump

February 15, 2011 - Week 11

I don’t have much (if any) change to report from last week. I am still feeling pretty good. I have most of my energy back but still tend to go to bed early at night. I’ve determined I need my rest at this stage in the pregnancy. By 8 pm, I am so tired it is best if I get a good night’s sleep. This way in the morning I feel great! I still have some heartburn. I am still able to fit in most of my clothes. The jeans that were tight to begin with or really tight but the jeans that fit comfortably still fit pretty comfortable. I have not one maternity anything in my house yet so that is something I am going to have to start getting pretty soon. I’m scared one day I am going to wake up and none of my clothes fit and I have no maternity clothes to wear. That would be awful! In the next couple of weeks I will be moving maternity wear in the house so I will be ready! The only other real change is my fingernails have gotten strong and long. I love that!! I love having longer nails but in the past they would break super easy. Now I have some pretty tough nails from the prenatal vitamins which is a huge plus!

Our baby has grown to about the size of a lime and is expected to double in size by next week. Our baby should now be able to stretch, do somersaults, and forward rolls. Also the ‘manly’ or ‘womanly’ parts are developing now even though you can’t tell the baby’s gender at this point. All major organs are present and the circulatory, respiratory, and digestive systems have been laid out. From this point until delivery, development is mostly about growth and integration. I thought it was very interesting from this point until delivery, our baby’s weight will multiply up to 1,000 times. It’s incredible to me all the changes taken place inside my stomach!

Next week I have a sonogram and checkup, so I will have more to report. Bryan’s funny and jokes I am eating us out of a house and home. What do you think from the week 11 pictures?

Head Shot - February 15, 2011

Week 11

Week 11, Stomach Picture

 Stomach at Week 11

 Our Baby, Week 11

 Here are a few pictures of our Baby's Big Brother and Sister.  George and Matty want to make sure they are still going to be feed when their brother/sister comes along.  They keep telling us to PLEASE not forget about them--they love us too.  I keep saying no worries, they are my babies too!  There will always be love for George and Matty!

 Matty, February 15, 2011

 George, February 15, 2011

 Matty and George

 Matty and George (love George in this picture)!

February 8, 2011 - Week 10

Ten weeks down and only 30 more weeks to go!! At ten weeks, the baby is about the size of a prune and approximately an inch and a half long. The tenth week marks a critical period in baby’s development because all the vital organs have formed and are beginning to function. Baby is also growing tiny finger nails and toe nails as well as tiny buds for teeth. It amazes me that at only 10 weeks so much is happening!

My energy level has improved and the nausea has gone away for the most part. Every now and then I feel a bit nauseous but overall I love how I am feeling. It is so much better than a few weeks ago when I felt sick all day long. I am still tired some but again that has also improved. I use to almost fall asleep at work but during the day I am feeling pretty good. By 9 pm I am beat though and usually hit the bed (week day or weekend). There are still days when I get tired early at night and go to bed even earlier. If I can stay feeling like I do this week than I will be good and happy!! I do have heart burn in the evenings, which is no fun, but being a little tired and heart burn are all manageable! Overall, I give my body a thumbs up!

At this point, I haven’t really done much (or anything) to get ready for the baby. I have some ideas in my head but I am waiting patiently to find out if we are going to have a boy or a girl before I start buying and re-arranging the house! I am looking forward to this, but I am trying not to rush anything. I just want to enjoy the pregnancy and take it week by week because who knows I may only experience this once.

Our baby has already received its first gift—an early Valentine’s present. Mom and Dad sent a package in the mail and I (and the baby) was so very excited. Baby got some bath towels, wash cloths, burp cloths (Mom made them), and a super sweet card telling the baby to continue to grow and they can’t wait to meet him/her. Thanks Mom and Dad—y’all are the best!!

Well is the baby growing? Let’s find out with week 10 pictures!

Instead of a head shot this week, Bryan started with a body shot!

Week 10

My Belly, Week 10

Our Baby Growing - Week 10 Baby

Baby's First Presents- Towels and Wash cloths

Aren't this cute burp cloths?

Traditional burp cloths

February 1, 2011 - Week 9

Wow—We made it to week nine and I am actually feeling so much better overall. I am still tired (but not as much) and I still feel nauseas from time to time but again that has decreased from prior weeks too. I am feeling so much better but still am not quite my old self. I feel like I am running to the restroom constantly and at night I wake up a few times now. I miss being able to sleep through the night but I know those days are gone for a long, long time! Me having to wake up and run to the restroom at night is preparing me for waking up with our little one. All my clothes still fit at the moment but I am sure my days are numbered! I haven’t had any real cravings yet—I have always craved Mexican food and that hasn’t changed! Well, I have been craving Girl Scout cookies for a few weeks now but my mother-in-law fixed that by giving me a box of Thin Mints—yum! I know, I know I need to start eating healthier…I'm working on that.

Our baby is about the size of a green olive and weighs approximately .07 oz. Even though the baby is so small it is amazing to me that 99% of all the muscles can be identified and every internal organ is present (but not fully developed).

This week I do not have any appointments, which actually feels great since I feel like I have been sitting in doctor’s offices or at the labs for weeks now. No one is poking at me this week-thank goodness! Actually my next appointments (checkup and sonogram) are the last week of February so I have a few weeks to be left alone :) Those who know me know that I rarely go to the doctor’s office so this has been a little bit of a change for me!

Here are some pictures from week nine!

Again, Bryan always starts off with a head shot!

Week 9

Week 9

Stomach Picture, Week 9

My Big Stomach, Week 9

Our Baby, Week 9

Speaking of babies, big brother, George, and big sister, Matty, are ready to meet their brother/sister already.  They keep asking when they will get to play with him/her, but we have to let them know the baby has to stay 'baking' for quite a while still! Here are the cuties....

Precious Pups!

George

Matty