Sixteen Week Update

How far along? 15 weeks (The size of an avocado.)

 

Total weight gain/loss: Down two pounds down from pre-pregnancy weight.
 
Maternity clothes: Nope but I have started going through all I have.  I HOPE I'm not in them until after we move.
 
Have you told family and friends?  Everybody knows now :)

Have you started to show yet? I can but people still are telling me daily that I don't look pregnant and my clothes aren't tight yet.

Sleep:  Sleep has been better, which is SO relative but I am tired of complaining about it.

 

Best moment this week: I THINK I felt the baby move.  I haven't felt confident enough to talk about it (except with M obviously) and I haven't felt it again but if the "butterfly movement" is an accurate description then I definitely did.   Whether I did or I didn't, it was such an exciting moment that it definitely qualified for the best moment!

Miss Anything? Worry free days.  The devil is really playing with my minds and dreams about the baby's health and I am pretty much ALWAYS fighting the urge to worry myself sick.

Movement: Refer to best moment this week :) 

 

Food cravings: Food.  I'm just hungry.  A lot.  More accurately, all the time.  Still not really into sweets though.

Anything making you queasy or sick? Nope!

Gender prediction: Boy.  Boy by the Chinese Gender Predictor, Boy because I haven't been that nauseous, Boy because I only want salty, sweet disgust me, Boy because Ellie has been overly clingy to me lately and varied other reasons people have given me that they think it is a boy.  Not one single person has guessed girl, every single person that has guessed has guessed boy.  So, it's probably a girl.

Labor Signs: No

 

Symptoms: I feel so good right now that it would just be wrong of me to complain.  

(I KNOW I didn't take a picture last week.  I. Know.  I'll do better tonight!)

Fifteen Week Update

How far along? 15 weeks (The size of an apple.)

Total weight gain/loss: Down three pounds down from pre-pregnancy weight.
 
Maternity clothes: Nope but I have started going through all I have.  I HOPE I'm not in them until after we move.
 
Have you told family and friends?  Everybody knows now :)

Have you started to show yet? Yes!  In clothes you can't notice but this morning M and I were looking at my belly and it is definitely ROUND, not looking pudgy but ROUND.  Clothes still aren't tight though.

Sleep:  Sleep has been better, which is SO relative but I am tired of complaining about it.

Best moment this week: On Mondays our week changes over and we get this long email telling all about what the baby is doing and I read it out loud to M before we get up.  The last one said that the baby can definitely hear now and it is important that we talk to it and what we sing to in now, it will recognize after it is born.  So M will get down there and talk and sing and it is MY FAVORITE!

Miss Anything? Sleep and feta cheese.  Both equally here recently.

Movement: Nope. 

Food cravings: Not exactly a "craving" but when I am looking through recipes or picking a restaurant I will usually choose Mexican or spicy.  Weirdest thing because I have NEVER tolerated ANY kind of spicy and my family wore me out on Mexican food about seven years ago to the point that when they go, Matt and I usually won't go.  

Anything making you queasy or sick? Nope!

Gender prediction: Boy.  Boy by the Chinese Gender Predictor, Boy because I haven't been that nauseous, Boy because I only want salty, sweet disgust me, Boy because Ellie has been overly clingy to me lately and varied other reasons people have given me that they think it is a boy.  Not one single person has guessed girl, every single person that has guessed has guessed boy.  So, it's probably a girl.

Labor Signs: No

Symptoms: I'm pretty over the acne that has accompanied every minute of this pregnancy.  

Fourteen Week Update

How far along? 14 weeks (The size of a nectarine.)

Total weight gain/loss: Down four pounds down from pre-pregnancy weight.
 
Maternity clothes: Bought a few more at a consignment sale but my pants aren't even tight yet so definitely not.
 
Have you told family and friends?  Everybody knows now :)

Have you started to show yet? My belly is DEFINITELY getting round, although not sticking out much so nobody can really tell when I'm in clothes.

Sleep:  The cooling mattress is NOT extremely cooling and M has an Upper Respiratory Infection so sleep is hard to come by these days.  On to ANOTHER option...

Best moment this week: We moved up the gender sonogram from October 17th to October 3rd, meaning it is only two and a half weeks away and we planned a little gender reveal for our families :)

Miss Anything? Sleep.  I miss sleep.

Movement: Nope. 

Food cravings: Not exactly a "craving" but when I am looking through recipes or picking a restaurant I will usually choose Mexican or spicy.  Weirdest thing because I have NEVER tolerated ANY kind of spicy and my family wore me out on Mexican food about seven years ago to the point that when they go, Matt and I usually won't go.  

Anything making you queasy or sick? Nope!

Gender prediction: Boy.  Boy by the Chinese Gender Predictor, Boy because I haven't been that nauseous, Boy because I only want salty, sweet disgust me, Boy because Ellie has been overly clingy to me lately and varied other reasons people have given me that they think it is a boy.  Not one single person has guessed girl, every single person that has guessed has guessed boy.  So, it's probably a girl.

Labor Signs: No

Symptoms: Oily skin and still pretty tired.  Definitely nothing to complain about!

I DON'T KNOW WHY these stupid pictures keep uploading sideways!

Some Highlights (and Lowlights) From This Past Week

On Thursday we had our twelve week appointment.  We had already been told that BCBS only pays for two sonograms.  One at 8-12 weeks (we had ours at eight weeks) and the next would be the "gender reveal" at 20 weeks.  We had already scheduled a 4D ultrasound (that will have to be paid for out of pocket) at 28 weeks so we figured we would only "see" the baby those three times.  But, we were really excited because at this appointment they said we should be able to hear the heartbeat!  So, that is the mindset we had going into to our appointment.

(This is going to get a little graphic so I am only going to warn anyone with no girl parts or a queasy stomach to skip this paragraph....read ahead at your own risk.)  I woke up that morning with a good set of cramps.  It was VERY similar to menstrual cramps and  Dr. L had warned me about them and said as long as they were no heavier than menstrual cramps then they were nothing to worry about.  I figured I would mention it though since we were going anyway.  Our appt was scheduled for 11:00 and, of course, the first thing they always have you do is pee in a cup.  Knowing that, I went to the restroom when I first woke up and purposefully didn't go again until we got to the Dr office.  As soon as I went in the restroom I was alarmed because I found a good bit of blood in my panties.  How my Dr office is laid out is Dr L (one of five Dr's in the practice) has her own hall.  Off that hall is a little lab (first doorway on your left), right across from that is the little waiting room, the next door on your left after the lab is the restroom and across from that, next to the waiting room is the room where they weigh you, take your bp, etc.  The rest of the hall is made up of exam rooms.  So, as I walked out of the restroom Dr L was walking out of the lab area to one of the exam rooms.  She said "Hey Love!" (Side note:  Dr. L I know is a big fan of Spark and AdvoCare products in general but I question how many sparks she must have a day to constantly be at the perky level she is!) and immediately (I'm guessing responding to the look on my face) stopped and said, "What's wrong?"  I told her and she immediately went into calming mode and said that she was sure it was just implementation bleeding but we were here and she would get us immediately into get a sonogram.  I can't even describe the panic that struck me.  She immediately turned around and I heard her tell them to get me back to the ultrasound room immediately and I know that in reality I couldn't have waited more than three minutes but I almost threw up or passed out one.  Matt was wonderful and calming and said all the right things which was just what I needed.  And real soon I was laying on the exam table having the ultrasound jelly squirted on my belly.  The tech had turned the screen where I couldn't see which made it even worse but before any time elapsed she turned the screen towards me and showed me the little heart beat.  What a perfectly wonderful site!  Then, as if to do all it could to assure us, our little shamrock literally turned a flip, kicked and momentarily took it's hand out of it's mouth to raise it's little arms like, "I'm good Mom and Dad!  Hi!!"  It was amazing how fast I went from the worst feeling to the best SO quickly!  The tears flowed pretty steadily for the next few minutes and she printed out our sweet little, unexpected pictures for us!  The baby is still measuring perfect to the day and Dr. L isn't worried at all!  For the next 2-3 weeks she doesn't want me to life ANYthing and no hanky panky just to be safe but we are considering it a great appt!  All's well that ends well :)

Now for the awkward segments from the week!  Earlier in the week I had gone by to see a customer who, when I told her, looked down at my stomach and said, "Oh yeah!  I can see your pooch!"  I did not like it at all.  Jerk.  ;)  Then Louise and Leigh took me excitedly to a consignment sale where my sweet baby sister also mentioned my pooch.  Double jerk ;)  Then, at church on Sunday morning one of the sweet ladies asked me how I was feeling.  When I mentioned that I thought I was entering the second trimester bliss another lady standing beside her said, "YOU?" and preceded to put her hand on. my. stomach.  She said something to the tune of, "It's about time!" and some other stuff but I couldn't concentrate on anything but her hand STILL on the area between my hoo ha and my woo wah's!  Who does that?!?  She just kept it there!  It. Was. So. Awkward.  Louise gave me the great tip to walk around with my arms crossed, kind of blocking them!  She just caught me SO off guard!  I am NOT at all looking forward to the aspect of pregnancy where strangers and mere acquaintances randomly touch, rub and, most awkwardly of all, just lay their hands on this part of my body not often touched by anyone but my husband!  Maybe it will get less weird when it sticks out more??

Thirteen Week Update

Goodbye first trimester!!  Welcome to what my (wonderful, amazing, God-sent) OB calls, "the honeymoon phase"!  I have a few things to post about from this past week so I am going to just fill this in and then do another post :)

How far along? 13 weeks (The size of a lemon!  About three and a half inches long and finally weighs more than an ounce- actually about an ounce and a half.)

Total weight gain/loss: Down five pounds down from pre-pregnancy weight.
 
Maternity clothes: Nope but I did get together with Louise and Lisa and went through Louise and Michelle's maternity clothes so I now have a bunch at my house!  My friend Amber gives birth THIS WEEK and in a month or so I will go over and visit her and borrow some of hers and then Lisa will give birth in October and we will make a trip over to Atlanta and get the ones she has bought for me and borrow hers too so I should be just about set. 
 
Have you told family and friends?  Everybody knows now :)

Have you started to show yet? Definitely when I'm not in clothes I can tell and Matt says he can too.  I wish I had been using a tape measure so I could prove it! If you look back to last week I added a twelve week (that would more accurately be described as a 12 week, 4 1/2 day picture) and you can totally see that little bump showing but most people say they can't see anything in regular clothes.

Sleep:  Who needs sleep?  I ordered a very expensive mattress topper that is supposed to be like a cooling mattress like they use in hospitals.  If that doesn't work M is definitely leaving me for another bed :(

 Best moment this week: We got to see the baby again!!!

Miss Anything? Still REALLY missing Spark! I can officially start back TODAY and I. Can't. Wait!

Movement: Nope.  Although when Dr. L did the thing where you can hear the baby was very active and during our ultrasound it actually flipped, kicked, pumped it's little fist in the air and sucked it's thumb :)

Food cravings: Still no.  But my appetite has returned in full force! 

Anything making you queasy or sick? I have felt really great the past five or six days!

Gender prediction: Boy.  Boy by the Chinese Gender Predictor, Boy because I haven't been that nauseous, Boy because I only want salty, sweet disgust me, Boy because Ellie has been overly clingy to me lately and varied other reasons people have given me that they think it is a boy.  Not one single person has guessed girl, every single person that has guessed has guessed boy.  So, it's probably a girl.

Labor Signs: No

Symptoms: Really oily skin and hair and I am broke out worse than....anything.  Still pretty tired by the days end but definitely can already tell a difference and I fully expect the addition to a Spark a day to rock my world!

(You know the way this works by now....I will never get up early enough to take my picture in the mornings so I WILL do it tonight and post tomorrow.  From here on out we WILL be better at it!)

Twelve Week Update

Yay for almost being done with the first trimester!  I am already starting to feel better (although compared to all the horror stories, my first trimester was pretty easy I think!) and have a tiny bit more energy!  I DID NOT however ever get an eleven week picture :/  I AM going to try to do better this week!

How far along? 12 weeks (The size of a peach!  About three inches long.)

Total weight gain/loss: Down to six pounds down from pre-pregnancy weight.
 
Maternity clothes: No.  Bought the cutest dress though!
 
Have you told family and friends?  Everybody knows now :)

Have you started to show yet? Definitely when I'm not in clothes I can tell and Matt says he can too.  I wish I had been using a tape measure so I could prove it! Definitely not showing in clothes though.

Sleep:  The pregnancy pillow hasn't been all I wanted it to be but I think I just am having to train myself to stay on my side because at night I chunk that thing on the floor or on Matt.  It doesn't help that it just makes my skin feel hotter too :/

 Best moment this week: In the mornings Matt talks to the baby and those moments are some of the best of my life.  I also had my nieces spend the night Sunday night and hearing them talk about their baby cousin was a pretty great moment too :) 

Miss Anything? Still REALLY missing Spark!  

Movement: Nope.  Although my book says that when I press on my abdomen that the baby responds back I just can't feel it :)

Food cravings: Still no.

Anything making you queasy or sick? I am starting to get a really quick queasiness when I see something gross or even hear people talk about something gross.  My sweet MIL made dinner for us yesterday and started talking about pulling the membranes off the ribs and, out of nowhere, I thought I might actually pass out at the table and I have never been real squeamish about stuff like that. 

Gender prediction: Boy.  Boy by the Chinese Gender Predictor, Boy because I haven't been that nauseous, Boy because I only want salty, sweet disgust me, Boy because Ellie has been overly clingy to me lately and varied other reasons people have given me that they think it is a boy.  Not one single person has guessed girl, every single person that has guessed has guessed boy.  So, it's probably a girl.

Labor Signs: No

Symptoms: Fatigue, really oily skin and hair and I am broke out worse than....anything....I can't even think of anything to compare my forehead and back acne to.  Gross!!!











(In all fairness, this picture is more like 12 weeks and four and a half days but see the pooch?!?)