March 29, 2011 - Week 17

Week 17 is here and things are going well. I have some energy this week and was able to do a lot of preparing over the last weekend. Mom and I cleaned out the baby room and play area so it is ready to move some baby stuff in!! Next week is the anatomy sonogram so I am so excited to find out if I will be having a little boy or little girl!! I’ve been having some gag-reflex issues in the morning, especially when brushing my teeth. I am hoping this stops soon! My sides hurt some from time to time but I am sure that is just due to the baby growing. Overall, I am still feeling good and can’t believe how fast time is flying. I am ready to do some decorating and shopping so after next week the preparation can begin!

Baby is about the size of an onion and weighs approximately 5.9 oz. Our baby’s body fat is beginning to form and will continue to accumulate through the end of the pregnancy. This helps prepare baby for the temperature change from inside the womb to the outside world. I find it very interesting that baby is ‘listening up’ now. He/She could be startled by loud noises such as the dogs barking or the doorbell ringing. Within the next week or so, Baby’s fingerprints will form which make each of us truly one of a kind and unique. Our baby now has taste buds so can now tell the difference between something sweet and something bitter. What type of food is he/she going to like? We know momma likes Mexican food, will my baby?

I was told this week that I look pregnant—I popped. Was it just the shirt I was wearing that day or did my belly grow???

Week 17

 One big momma :)

 Baby Bump, Week 17

Getting Big at Week 17

 Baby, Week 17

 

March 22, 2011 - Week 16

We have made it to the four month mark! Baby is about the size of an avocado and weighs approximately 3.5 oz. Baby’s arms and legs are longer and are becoming more controlled in movement. His/Her skeletal system is starting to develop more as calcium is deposited onto the bones. Over the next couple of weeks, Baby’s weight will double. Yay! I should be starting to feel Baby move sometime between this week and week 22. I have felt something that could be Baby but I’m not 100 percent sure if what I am feeling is our baby moving or not. It is slight pressure for a second and then it disappears. Sometimes I feel this numerous times back to back, but usually it is in the evenings and mornings when I am sitting up. It is also very possible that Baby can hear our voices when speaking now. I’ve got to start talking to our little one so he/she will recognize mommy’s voice when she meets us for the first time! Hmm, maybe I will sing to him/her? He/She would be scared to come out after hearing my singing voice!

I went to the doctor on Tuesday (3/22) and met with my doctor, Dr. Laurette Smith. They weighed me (what fun), took my blood pressure, found and listened to the baby’s heartbeat, and pushed on my stomach. I have gained 4 pounds so far but I feel huge!! Dr. Smith said the baby is growing out so that explains my back pains. The heartbeat was in the 150’s, which they said was also good. Overall, they said everything looked normal and I would see them in a month. However, I have a sonogram on April 7 scheduled with Dr. Darby. I think Bryan and Eva are going to go with me to the anatomy sonogram.  I can't wait!!

I feel like I am getting so big already. My stomach feels enormous, especially compared to other people who are due just a little while after me. I guess I am so short that when Baby grows, he/she has to grow out! I’ve been told I am going to be ‘huge’ by the time I deliver. I’ve also been asked if the baby shower we had for a friend was for me (this was this past Sunday so I was just 4 months pregnant). Therefore, I know I am showing to others too. Oh well, if I gain a ton of weight then I just do; it is what it is :) I don’t eat a ton more than I did before but when my stomach is growling I do eat!

Baby is growing at 4 months, take a look.

 My bump makes me look so fat!

 Wow, 4 months and I'm huge!

 My stomach is big!

 I look like I could deliver already :)

 Sweet Baby, 4 months!

March 15, 2011 - Week 15

It is already week 15-unbelievable! I still have some lower back pain but besides that I am feeling good. I am sure I have gained weight because I am always hungry but I don’t go to the doctor until next week so the mystery remains until then. I have been putting tummy butter on my stomach every evening after I shower so I am hoping the tummy butter helps me to have no stretch marks. I’ll let you know how well it works later but at this point I am willing to give anything a try. It makes my belly really, really soft that’s for sure!

At week 15, Baby is getting bigger. He/she is about the size of a navel orange and weighs approximately 2.5 oz. What keeps Baby busy all day? Research shows the baby is in rehearsals—practicing, practicing, practicing! Baby is practicing breathing, sucking, and swallowing so that when he/she leave the womb and moves into our comfy house, he/she will have the skills necessary to survive. Therefore, I say keep practicing!

I’m continuing to grow. Here are week 15 pictures…

Me

My Growing Belly

Our Baby is Getting Bigger and Bigger Each and Every Day

Look at that stomach

And now a comparison:

My Week 9 Stomach...

And My Week 15 Stomach...

March 8, 2011 - Week 14

Another week is here and it is so hard to believe how fast the weeks are flying by. I haven’t had much change since last week. I am still feeling good (for the most part). My lower back and feet do hurt more and more by the end of each day. Also, lying on my side at night to watch tv is starting to cause some side pains, which is just no fun at all! Heartburn still comes and goes. I still have energy and feel really good in the morning. Once I crave a specific food, for example pizza, after I eat it then the thought of it makes me sick for the next few days. After that I start all over and crave it again…so strange! Overall, I am feeling good and just so happy that I am not sick-sick!

The baby has grown to about the size of a lemon and weighs about 1.5 oz. This week our baby may have started growing hair on his/her head and face, such as their eyebrows. Baby should be on the move too, moving almost constantly. It is possible that our baby is now sucking his/her thumb-I can’t wait until my next ultrasound to see if our baby might be a thumb sucker!

My sister (and Preston and Adriel) were so very sweet. This week I got a whole bunch of stuff for our baby. They got the baby 3 nightgown sacks with ducks on them and another onesie that says, “My Aunt is the Best!” They also got Baby a farm shape sorter (which is adorable), some wooden trucks (yes my boy or GIRL will love these trucks), an adorable family picture frame, and some books for the bathtub. I LOVE it all and know our little boy/girl will love it all too! THANK YOU VERY MUCH! Y’all are awesome! I got so excited looking at all the stuff-before I know it I will be a mom to a sweet little bundle of joy! The thought melts my heart!

Here are my week 14 pictures; the presents that Baby got from his/her Aunt, Uncle, and Cousin; and Big Brother and Big Sister!

The headshot

Week 14

Week 14: I'm Growing and Growing!

My Tummy Poking Out!

Week 14

I'm Getting Big

Wow, Look at that Baby Growing!

Our Baby, Week 14

So cute!

These will be perfect!

I LOVE this duck sleepy!

I can't wait to play with this!

These will be fun for bath time!

Trucks-who doesn't love trucks!?!

Big Brother George (he's trying to get ahead on his sleep)!

Big Sister, Matty (Miss Princess)

March 1, 2011 - Week 13

Overall, I am feeling great! I have energy and most of the time I feel good. I still feel sick on occasions, but not often, and heartburn still appears from time to time. I do get tired in the evenings so I usually go to bed around 9 pm now (which is basically normal since I wake up so early). I hope I continue to feel great for the rest of my pregnancy; my little issues/sickness is not often, so not bad at all. I now have maternity clothes so I am ready. I went through my closet and pulled out other pants and tops that still fit and should fit for a while so I can mix those in with the maternity stuff. The maternity clothes are so much more comfortable at this stage so I am pretty sure I will start wearing them completely by the next week or so. I am tired of wearing tight clothing that barely fits—it just isn’t comfortable around the waist line!! I just have to realize I’m getting bigger and bigger!

Our baby is about the size of a peach and weighs approximately .81 oz. Up until this point, our baby’s head has been proportionally larger than the rest of his/her body. But now the body will start to catch up and grow more proportional to the head. Also developing this week is baby’s vocal chords. Of course we won’t be able to hear any sound since he/she won’t have an air supply to enable him/her to make sounds until after delivery. We will be getting lots of sounds (crying) before we know it though!!

I have started looking a little for a crib, dresser, and rocker. No purchases have been made yet but I am getting an idea of what my options are at each store. Who knew that JCPenny’s has a great selection of cribs/dressers with good reviews!!

Ready for Week 13 belly pictures? Here you go…I feel so much bigger than before, what do you think?

Momma-To-Be's Face Shot Taken By Daddy-To-Be :)

 Week 13

 Week 13 Snapshot

 My Growing Belly, Week 13

Week 13 Belly

Our Baby at Week 13 

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