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

January 25, 2010 - Week 8

Our baby is growing! He/She should be about the size of a raspberry this week. Fingers and toes should now be developing from the arm and leg buds so he/she is starting to appear more and more like a baby instead of a tadpole. The baby is also starting to acquire a human face—eyelids, the jaws, the tip of the nose, and ears.  Keep on growing little one!!

I am feeling still just okay. Some days (like yesterday) I felt really good all day long and had quite a bit of energy. Other days (like today) I have the wonderful sickness feeling and fatigue. Joy-joy! I did get my house cleaned so I am super excited about that—it was in dire need of a good cleaning! I might be on my butt the rest of the week but at least I have a clean house to come home too!!  I can't complain too much because I have heard/read horror stories about pregnant women.  My symptoms are all manageable so I can deal with them.  I know they will or should get better in the next few weeks so I am looking forward to that.  I am just happy to be starting a family and think of how this is all a blessing so I cannot complain!!

George and Matty are super excited (NOT) about having a brother or sister in the house. Poor pups aren’t going to know what hit them. Their perfect little dog lives are not going to change much—they will still be spoiled rotten and loved by us. They don’t require that much attention anyways—they just want to be in the house with us and go with us (when they can). They want to be part of the family, which they are a BIG part and that will not change!!  George and Matty are my babies and they always will be my babies!!  I love these new pictures of them snuggling with each other—they are so sweet!!

Today I am 8 weeks and 1 day along in the pregnancy.  It is still early on but so far-so good.  I have my next ultrasound and doctor's appointment in about 4 weeks- on February 23, 2011.  I told Bryan to take my weekly pregnancy pictures and this is what I got....

(It is actually the best picture out of all of them because my pudgy-ness is not showing all that much!!!)

 8 weeks

 8 weeks belly shot

 For fashion purposes let's get both sides of that baby :)

January 18, 2011 - Week 7

Over the past weekend we told everyone we were expecting a little bundle of joy!! It feels so much better now that everyone knows. I’m awful at keeping secrets and didn’t want to keep this a secret but wanted to make sure it was real (speak to a doctor) before we spilled the beans. Mom said “I guess that is why you are sleeping so much lately, huh?” I laughed. I’m so thankful we have such a wonderful family that supports us. Thank you all!!

I had my first sonogram today. They did not change the due date so it is still September 5, 2011. I got two pictures of the baby (which is about 1cm) and saw its heart beat! The heartbeat measured at 153, I believe, which they said was good! Dr. Darby checked everything out and everything looked good to him. Even though the baby looked like a little peanut, it was very neat to actually see our baby and the heart flutter. It will be neat to see how much he/she has grown whenever I get another sonogram.

Our baby is about the size of a blueberry or a grain of rice this week.  He/she is getting bigger every day!

I have a doctor’s appointment with Dr. Laurette Smith on Tuesday, January 25th.

Baby 7 weeks

Baby 7 weeks

7 week photo

7 week stomach picture

7 week belly

January 11, 2011 - Week 6

Today I went to my first doctor’s appointment. It wasn’t too exciting but it helped to make this life changing event more real. I met with a nurse and we went through family history. I also had to go to the lab for some blood test (they took 6 tubes of blood)!!! It appears my due date is September 5, 2011!!! I have my first ultrasound scheduled for next week (Tuesday 1/18 at 10:30am). This is to determine a more accurate due date. I believe I should hear the heart beat too!! I also have my first appointment with Doctor Laurette Smith on Tuesday 1/25 at 1:45 pm.

I am feeling good for the most part. In the mornings, I feel a little nausea but once I get moving I am fine. I am still tired, but not too terribly bad. I have been going to sleep around 8:00-8:30 pm during the week (only a little earlier than normal). I also get hungry quickly and when I’m hungry I’ve got to eat something quick or I get a little grouchy!

Our baby is going to triple in size this week. Wow!! The baby is about the size of a small sweet pea.  How sweet!!

I am getting more and more excited and just praying for a healthy pregnancy and baby! That is the most important thing – health!! Also, thinking ahead, the whole delivery thing is scaring me just a bit, but who isn’t scared by the whole birthing experience?!?

Week 6 Photo

Week 6 stomach photo

Week 6 belly

January 4, 2011 - Week 5

I’m going to be a mom! I found out on January 3, 2011 when I was about 5 weeks along. What went through my mind? Excitement but I was also SCARED TO DEATH. Lots of changes are coming our way but I know they are for the best. I am still in shock but so happy for this next chapter of my life. I took two home pregnancy tests (just to be sure). …one in the evening on Monday, January 3, 2011, and another the morning of January 4th. They both said the same thing—“Congratulations, you are going to be a parent!” Afterwards, I don’t think it really hit me or sank in. I think it is going to take a little time for reality to really hit me.

How am I feeling? I got sick on Christmas Eve with the flu, I am almost certain. It took me a good week to feel half way back to normal. I was in bed for days!! I haven’t had any real symptoms-I feel normal really besides my cough still from being sick. My stomach has been hurting a little but nothing really extreme. I have had minor cramping that is a little uncomfortable. I have been tired too, but this is a normal thing for me. I went to bed at 6:30 pm on January 3rd because I was so tired! Okay, it isn’t quite normal for me to go to bed at 6:30 even though I do go to bed early (around 9 pm). Therefore, I guess the symptoms I have are cramping and exhaustion but nothing too painful.

The baby weighs less than .04 oz at five weeks old and is about the size of an orange seed. Our little person!
I have my first appointment with the doctor on Tuesday, January 11 at 10:30 am. Stay tuned….

(Before you look at the pictures below- WARNING: I am like 20 pounds overweight so BEWARE!!  I AM GOING TO LOSE ALL THE WEIGHT AFTER THE BABY FOR SURE (or at least I hope so)!!!

5 weeks belly shot

5 weeks

5 weeks

5 week belly shot