16 weeks pregnant- 4 months!

My body- This week something odd happened…my belly started itching, I mean really itching. Turns out, it’s not odd at all but it sure did seem odd to me. I have been diligent about lotioning several times a day, but that is only moderately successful. My belly continues to grow and for the past few weeks, people at work can tell I am pregnant (Not that they haven’t know since practically the second it happened! In workout clothes, though, I just look like I’ve been hitting the Twinkie aisle one too many times. This week I had to ask the question, “What happens when your maternity clothes get tight?” Are you kidding me? I only bought these pants a few weeks ago. It is so weird to only gain weight in your belly (at least any significant weight.) Did I mention that I have gained 8 inches to my waist? I remember when I would put my hands on my waist…and actually feel a waist. This is only a memory now... If I sound like I am complaining, I am not. I am happy for the changes that mean the baby is growing happily inside me!

The baby Length: 4.5 inches
Size- About the size of an avocado.
Weight- 3.5 ounces
Interesting fact: This week, the baby starts squinting, yawning and grimacing. Also, his/her little heart now pumps about 25 quarts of blood per day.
To see a 3D picture of the baby’s progress: http://3dpregnancy.parentsconnect.com/calendar/16-weeks-pregnant.html

Baby names: Still searching for a boy name!

15 weeks pregnant

My body
I feel like my belly is ballooning! I did not feel quite as “stretched” this week as I did last week, which is good. It is such a weird feeling to be hungry and like you can’t fit one more thing in your body- all at the same time. I am not complaining though, I like my new bellyJ
The baby Weight- 2 ounces
Length: 4 inches
Size- The size of an apple.
Interesting fact: Any day now, I could feel the baby kick. It may not happen for a while, but it wouldn’t be discounted as something else if it happened this weekJ Also, the baby could get hiccups, that I would feel (how weird is that?) He or she is beginning to grow eyebrows and eyelashes this week. Lastly, the baby is able to sense light now. His/her eyes are still fused shut, but may be squinting from all the fluorescent lights that I am exposed to- darn school lights.
1-19-2010 doctor’s appointment: Yesterday morning, my husband, my mom and I got to hear the baby’s strong heartbeat again! To add to the excitement, the baby was kicking and punching and making all kinds of movements. I couldn’t feel it, but we sure could hear it and it was wonderful! It was an unexpected surprise which made it even better! The baby must have sensed that we were paying extra special attention to him/her because the excitement even sped up the heartbeat a tiny bit. In short, the doctor said we have a healthy, active baby in there, which is all we wanted to hear. We will be having an ultrasound in 2 months when I am 22 weeks.
Boy or girl? We have decided to wait until the big day to find out what we are having. What a wonderful surprise it will beJ This being said, over the past week, I got a strong sense we are having a girl, so we will see if I am right. Sorry, but you will have to wait 6 more months for confirmation. Since it is still a strong possibility (about 50% chance) that we are having a boy, we would really like to come up with a boy name, but are struggling. Any suggestions?
Weird food changes…Before I was pregnant, I hated black olives….suddenly (on pizza) they are quite delicious.
This last week, I really wanted sour gummy candy, which if you know me; you know I am chocolate girlJ
When I made Reuben’s for my husband, I actually liked the smell of corn beef. I am kind of embarrassed to even admit this because of how gross I thought it was before.
Still missing- coffee, a turkey sandwich and a cherry diet coke from Frisch’s..but still worth it!

14 weeks pregnant

Second trimester, here I am!

My body: This has been the biggest week of changes for my body...I am showing now and not just a little bit:) It is unbelievable to both my husband and I how this time last week there was the tiniest hint of a pregnant belly, but now there is no denying I am full-fledged preggo! As they say, "a picture is worth a thousand words."
In other news...this week was exhausting. I attribute most of the exhaustion to the fact that I had been off work for 3 weeks (more or less) and was trying to get back into a routine. I realize though that it was in part because a baby is forming inside my belly:)

The baby:
Length- 3.5 inches...tripled in size from 3 weeks ago (wow!)
Size- About the size of a flip phone
Weight- 1 ounce
Interesting fact- The baby now has fingerprints and is gaining control of voluntary movements.

This baby is worth the sacrifice, but there are a few things I really miss...
1. Coffee- mmmmm. Nearly every morning, I wake to the smell of coffee being made by my husband. This makes for cruel and usual punishment for a pregnant woman choosing to forgo caffeine during pregnancy:( I am sure you want to tell me that small amounts of caffeine will not have any effect on me or the baby, but I have decided to avoid caffeine as best I can
2. Subway/Quiznos, etc.. Packing a lunch for work is a lot more difficult when lunchmeat is off the menu!
Those are the top two.

Sweet story: A couple of nights ago, as I slept, my husband had his hand on my belly (unbeknownst to me.) The next morning he told me he thought he felt the baby move and was thrilled. He waited and waited for it to happen again, but it was a one-time shot. There is no way of telling if that is actually what he felt, but I believe that anything is possible. We are so excited for when this little guy or girl starts to really make themselves known by his/her movements!

13 weeks pregnant

Every Thursday, I get to add one more week to the question "how far along are you?" It makes every Thursday feel like a really special day for my husband and I:)

About me- This week passed very quickly, probably because of the eventful snow that we have been having. I have really enjoyed getting my walk in early, thanks to the snow days that have keep me from work:) I have continued to walk almost every day since I found out I was pregnant. I do miss my Saturday morning Zumba class, but that just seems like too much shaking for that little tiny baby. On another note...the growing tummy:) Something I was not prepared for was the way I look a tiny bit pregnant in the morning and then REALLY pregnant by the end of the day. I can only figure that my stomach is stretching in prep for what is to come...it is really crazy though:)

Interesting facts taking from 3-D pregnancy.com-
"Your baby is able to swallow this week and practices on the amniotic fluid he or she floats in. "
Size- Apx. 3 inches long (The size of a peach)
Weight: about 20 grams
"Your baby can make a fist and even suck his or her thumb this week."
"Your baby's eyelids are fused shut to protect his eyes as they develop. His bones and skull are solidifying and soon itsy-bitsy ribs may appear"
Click on this link to see a 3-D picture of a baby at 13 weeks pregnant
http://3dpregnancy.parentsconnect.com/calendar/13-weeks-pregnant.html

12 weeks pregnant

Yeah- 12 weeks:) I feel like I can breathe a little easier after passing the 12 week mark. We are so happy to be rounding the end of the first trimester because every day that passes is one day closer to the day we meet our son or daughter.

About me- Things are still pretty uneventful for me and I consider myself pretty lucky. I have had very little sickness but have been very tired. I will take the tired though, considering some of the horror stories I have heard about morning sickness! My stomach does seem to be growing rapidly and I am transitioning from my "normal" pants to maternity pants. I am a big fan of Gap Outlet b/c they have a large maternity section and the pants top out at $9.99.

Interesting facts taking from 3-D pregnancy.com-
"Your baby is able to swallow this week and practices on the amniotic fluid he or she floats in. "
Size- Apx. 2.5 inches long
Fingernails and toenails are forming this week
Click on this link to see a 3-D picture of a baby at 12 weeks pregnant

6 weeks pregnant

At 6 weeks, we had our first ultrasound to make sure our bundle of joy was happy and safe in my belly. He or she was doing just fine in there, and we heard the heartbeat for the first time. The nurse told us that if we had been there 12 hours earlier, we would not have been able to hear the heartbeat. Isn't that amazing? We went into that appointment thinking I was 8 weeks, but left being told I was only 6 weeks...It felt like I was going backwards:) Also, we were able to take our baby's picture for the first time today. It is barely a speck in the picture but I have been told "she" is beautiful none the less:)
The baby- At 6 weeks is the size of a piece of rice. Can you imagine something that size having a heartbeat? It is a miracle and I am amazed every day by the changes.
About me- I had experienced extreme fatigue, some days sleeping 13 hours throughout the night. I had not had much sickness at this point and was keeping my fingers crossed that things would continue that way!

We are having a baby!

A few important dates dealing with my pregnancy include...
November 1- Day we found out the good news
November 19- First ultrasound and first time we heard the heartbeat!
December 24- 11 weeks and we heard the heartbeat for a second time...so exciting!
December 31- 12 weeks
January 7- 13 weeks
January 14- 14 weeks
January 20- We heard the heartbeat and the baby moving!!!
January 21- 15 weeks
January 28- 16 weeks- 4 months
February 4- 17 weeks
February 11- 18 weeks
February 17- Next appointment

July 15th, 2010- Due Date!!!!!