One track mind!

I went to the used/trade-in bookstore today with a small stack of books and list of the ones I've been wanting to read. And really good intentions, I brought those too. So I really have no idea how these are the two books that ended up in my bag.



I admit I don't have the highest hopes for the writing, but they're about babies so how bad could they be? I swear, they just jumped off the shelf into my bag...

13 weeks

Yay for the second trimester!! Today has been such a fun day, because we started sharing the news with everyone (next step- Facebook reveal!) The baby is almost 3 inches, and now the head is more proportional to the body size. I don't have much new to share, since I just did the little questionnaire yesterday. Here's my 13 week picture, with me still looking like I've eaten too many cheeseburgers.

1st trimester questionnaire

So this should be my last post of the first trimester! Yippee! Even though the doctor said that 1st tri ended sometime last week, I still have had 13 weeks in my mind as the start of the second trimester. I found this questionnaire on lots of pregnancy blogs; most people fill it out every week but I think that gets a little tedious and redundant, so I'm just going to do it once per trimester.

How far along? 12 weeks 6 days
Total weight gain/loss: I still refuse to weigh myself at home, so I'm not really sure. Last Tuesday at the doctor's I had gained 3 lbs since the start of the pregnancy.
Maternity clothes? Not quite yet. Still wearing loose dresses and stretchy skirts. I've also come to the conclusion that all affordable maternity clothes are ugly.
Sleep: Not sleeping well. I wake up at least twice to pee. Have started sleeping with a pillow under my head, one between my knees, and one over my head to drown out the cricket that has taken up residence outside our window. I really want one of these, but I don't think that the three of us (me, Stewart, and the Snoogle)would fit in our full sized bed.
Best moment this week: Getting some answers about the doctor and hospital bills (so I could stress about it just a little bit less.)
Movement: I've come to the conclusion that I wasn't really feeling the baby move a few days ago. I know he or she is moving around a lot in there (we saw it on the ultrasound) but I just don't think I was feeling it. Must have been gas.
Food cravings: Not really.
Gender: Still no instinct one way of the other. I would like a girl and Stewart would like a boy. We should find out in about 5 weeks, and of course will be thrilled with either!
Labor Signs: Nope!
Belly Button in or out? In
What I miss: Fitting into my size 6 clothes.
What I am looking forward to: Telling everyone that I'm pregnant (tomorrow's the day!) Finding out the gender, and feeling the baby move.
Weekly Wisdom: Exercise really does help with energy level.
Milestones: Last day of 1st trimester!

It can't be! (Can it??)

Everything I read says that I should expect to feel the baby moving between 16 and 22 weeks. Some googling turned up responses on various message boards from women who felt movement at 12 or 13 weeks, but for most of them that was not their first child. So, I know I should not even be considering that the sensations I've been feeling all day could be the baby moving. But I am. Because that's what it feels like! I woke up this morning lying on my side, and immediately I could feel fluttery, rumbly feelings in my lower belly. I've been pretty gassy on an off during this pregnancy, but this felt different from gas. I layed there for about 15 minutes, and it kept right on going, and has continued on an off throughout the day. I only feel it when I'm sitting or lying down, always exactly in the exact same spot in my abdomen. I am trying not to get too excited, because I know it's highly improbable that I'm feeling the baby at 12 weeks. But maybe I'm really in tune with my body (yeah right) or I have a super baby who's training for the Olympics! We'll see if it continues...

***Update: Someone on the Bump just posted something similar to the above, and she got semi-flamed. Everyone said it was gas. My bubble has officially been burst.

12 weeks

Look at this, over 2 inches, about the size of a plum! Grow baby, grow! I'm right on the cusp of 2nd trimester....it depends on what you read or who you ask about the end of the 1st trimester. Some say 12 weeks and some say 13 weeks. I asked the doctor on Tuesday when he considered the end of the 1st trimester to be, and he said basically the end of the week (i.e. now!) Only one more week until we tell the world! I can't wait to let everyone know, but it still makes me feel kind of giddy/nervous to think about everyone finding out. I told my supervisor at work this week because of some contract issues that my pregnancy will impact. She was very supportive, but we have some decisions to make about my job status for this coming year (insurance, contract options, etc.)

I'm feeling slightly less nauseous this week (except when brushing my teeth), but the bottomless pit of hunger continues. Stewart and I split a LARGE pizza tonight, and I honestly felt like I hadn't eaten a thing. So weird. Here's my 12 week picture....I'm kind of wishing that I had waited to start taking pictures until after the bloated, blobby stage. The picture thing will be so much more fun when I actually have a little bump, and not just flab. But I started, so I guess I can't very well stop now.


Look, Stewart is farther along than I am!

Unexpected ultrasound!

Today was our latest doctor's appointment. Last night and when I first got up this morning I wasn't really nervous at all, but on the way there I started getting more and more worked up. For some reason this felt like this was a really important appointment; maybe it was because it was the first time meeting the doctor, I don't know. I was nervous about getting in there and not seeing a heartbeat, or something else being wrong. I kept taking deep breaths in the car to calm myself down, but when we pulled into the parking space I just stated crying from nerves (or hormones, I suppose.) I finally calmed down, had another (quiet) mini freakout in the waiting room after dealing with some unpleasant billing realities, and at last thought I had it all pulled together. But when the doctor finally came in, he introduced himself and shook Stewart's hand very professionally, and then came over and shook my hand and gave me this huge grin that to me said "Congratulations! Yay! You're pregnant! Isn't this exciting??" (I know, that's a lot just from one smile, huh?) Anyway, it just sent my nerves/emotions into overdrive and I started crying AGAIN! I just admitted that I was nervous and excited, and he spent the next 20 minutes reassuring me, answering all my questions, etc. I really liked him and the way he interacted with both of us. When I asked a question about over-the-counter vs. prescription prenatal vitamins, he gave his opinion and then even asked for Stewart's input, as a soon-to-be-pharmacist. Overall I felt very comfortable with him and was very pleased (thanks to my friends for the recommendation!) He decided to do an ultrasound, instead of using the doppler like the nurse had told me. Not sure why, but I wasn't going to argue! I have a feeling it was because I had been so nervous, and he knew that seeing the baby would help calm my nerves. And he was right! It was SO cool to see how much he/she has grown! We could see so many details: both brain hemispheres, spine, fingers, facial features. Plus a couple times the baby moved around a lot, and it was awesome to watch the arms and legs moving all around in there! The measurements and heartbeat all looked/sounded good. It's still way too early to make any judgements on the sex of the baby, but the doctor said it was fun to try, so he took a stab at it. At first he said he thought he saw boy parts, but then he changed his mind and said girl. By the end he said he would wager about 60% in favor of girl. But again, it is still waaay too early to put any real stock in that prediction. Around 18 weeks is when we should be able to find out for sure.

So I bet you're ready to see the baby, huh? We were able to see so many great angles and shots while watching on the monitor, although he didn't really catch still images of some of the best shots. Hey, that's why he's a doctor, not a photographer, right? Anyway, here are my two favorites.

In this one you can see the head on the left with one hand up by the head (and if you look closely you can see the fingers on that hand.) I know the head still looks gigantic, but apparently that is normal at this stage.


And this one is a shot of one leg, with the foot on the left hand side. I think that looks like a mighty long leg, so we might have a dancer or basketball player on our hands!


Oh, I almost forgot! I guess my weight worries were unfounded. I've only gained 3 lbs since I first went in May, and the doctor said that's right on track, definitely not gaining too fast. Whew!

11 Weeks

Yay, a lime! So much better than a prune! Hair follicles and nail beds are forming, and there's lots of kicking and stretching going on (not that I can feel any of that, of course.) I'm still having on and off nausea, but the big change this week has been the insatiable hunger. I'm SO hungry, almost all the time. And if I try to ignore the hunger, that's when I start feeling really sick. Today my mid-afternoon "snack" consisted of a huge plate of spaghetti! I wouldn't say I've had any major cravings, but I have been enjoying a few things that I don't usually eat a lot of. Diced peaches, for one thing. And fruity, icy things like popsicles, slushies, etc. This hunger thing is kind of pissing me off, because my clothes are starting to get tight, and not just in the belly area. I've worked hard the past couple years to stay at a weight I'm happy with, and so it kind of stinks to put on an outfit and realize I just can't wear it. I had hoped that I would just get a cute belly and not gain weight in other places, but I'm now not sure that's realistic. I admit that I haven't worked out in quite a while, but the nausea and fatigue has made it hard to get up the motivation. When I get back home I'm really planning to try to get back into a workout routine. Hopefully that will at least make me feel a little better about myself.

I'm feeling really good about being 11 weeks along, and am really looking forward to the end of the 1st trimester. I'm still wanting to wait to spread the news until about 13 weeks, but I'm starting to get REALLY excited about telling people. Most people who know me are aware of how badly I want children, so I know that everyone is going to be really excited for us. We're deep in baby name discussions, even though it will still be a while before we know if it's a boy or a girl. Both Stewart and I tend to be really indecisive, so I'm sure it will be quite a while before we settle on names.

Here I am, in all my bloated, post-dinner glory!

Attack of the pregnancy hormones

I keep hearing about how pregnancy hormones can make a woman overly emotional, but I haven't noticed a big difference up until now. Let's face it, I'm a pretty emotional person to begin with, so getting weepy at sappy songs and commercials is nothing new to me. I might have been a little snippy now and then (sorry, Mom), but no major breakdowns until today. I had just dropped of Mom at physical therapy and was on my way out of the parking lot. There's a weird intersection in which half the cars have a stop sign and half don't. I was already frustrated because I was trying to wave another car on and he was just sitting there. A couple cars were starting to get backed up, so when I thought it was clear I started to go. I didn't see the woman BARRELING down through the intersection, and so brakes were slammed, tired screeched, horns honked. (No crash, but it was close). I knew technically I was at fault since she had the right of way, but she literally was going 50mph through a parking lot and came out of nowhere. Anyway, I threw up my hands at her and mouthed "SORRY!" Got out of the parking lot to the next red light, and proceeded to fall apart. Literally. I could not stop crying! I mean, head in my hands, shoulders shaking, sobbing! And I could not stop! It went on for at least 5 minutes, all the while I'm thinking to myself "This is ridiculous! You are fine! Stop crying!" It almost felt like I was not in my own body, like I was sitting next to myself watching me weep like a little girl. So bizarre. I've convinced myself that it's the hormones, and I'm not becoming a real crazy person.

Over-analyzing

I know from the comments on the message boards that I'm not the only pregnant woman who over-analyzes every symptom/lack of symptom. I actually think I've done pretty well with not freaking out about things. But this morning I admit I'm a teeny bit worried about my disappearing symptoms. For several weeks I've been having to get up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom; that hasn't happened in the last two nights. When I get up in the morning, I'm usually either nauseous or starving; this morning I was neither hungry nor nauseous. Our next appointment is a week from tomorrow, which can't come soon enough. I'm told they won't do an ultrasound, but will use a doppler to check the heartbeat and make sure everything is ok. I know my husband thinks it's ridiculous and over-the-top, but I find myself wishing that I had one of those home dopplers that lets you listen to the baby's heartbeat anytime. I think most people start to be able to pick up the heartbeat at home around 10 weeks, which means I may be able to find it now. That would obviously make me feel much better. I think it costs around $100 to order one from Amazon....not exactly in the budget (especially with my new save-for-a-DSLR plan.) I wish I could find someone to borrow one from, but a) I don't think any of my friends are as obsessive as me and therefore probably don't have a doppler, and b)we are still planning to wait about three more weeks before we tell friends and the rest of our family. Mom and I have a busy day today (she has a haircut and physical therapy, which is quite a full schedule compared to the endless days we've spent lounging on the couch) so hopefully that will help take my mind off the worrying. At least it will keep me away from the internet and the ability to google all my fears.

Feeling better for now!

Whew, yesterday was not fun! I was terrified of going to sleep and waking up to the same thing today, but instead I really felt great all day. (The two hour nap didn't hurt either!) Here's my 10week1day picture...the bloat has gone down slightly due to a full day of puking and a slightly smaller appetite today. But it sure looks different than last week's picture, at least to me!

10 weeks (AKA The week morning sickness REALLY kicked in)

A prune? Really? Not the cutest fruit so far, but I'm excited that the baby is over an inch long!
I'm also psyched that we're in double digits for weekly progress (remember when you turned 10 years old and it was SUCH a big deal?) It also means that I'm a fourth of the way through the pregnancy. Today's the Fourth of July, and I had planned to sneak in and decorate my mom's walker with some patriotic garland. BUT those plans got somewhat sidelined by the fact that I've spent all morning day throwing up. All I keep thinking about is how I would be handling this if I was at work; thank goodness for summer vacation. I hope this is short lived!
I can't bring myself to take a picture today....I'll either take one tomorrow if I feel better, or just wait until 11 weeks. Happy 4th of July!