Tuesday, December 28, 2010

21 Weeks

Once again, I'm sorry this is a few days late, but I was busy relaxing with my family last week ;).  I'm now at 21.5 weeks and I'm getting more and more excited :).  I'm feeling Mr. Baby more and more... he's an active little guy!  I got a phonecall from my doctor while we were in Oregon and she said that I need to get another ultrasound so that they can get a better picture of his heart and the umbilical cord.  She said that doesn't mean anything is necessarily wrong, they just couldn't get a good picture last time because he was moving so much.  I don't have a problem with it at all... just means I can see my little guy again :). 

We flew up to Boise on Tuesday and that was a different experience.  We didn't have to go through the new xray machines, which was good (I wouldn't have anyway), but I had a head cold and it zapped every bit of energy that I had left.  We also had to deal with the time change on top of our trip taking about a total of 18 hours.  It was rough :P.  My family was great about letting us sleep in and relax while we were there, though.  I just hope we didn't take advantage too much ;).  Our trip back to GA was even longer (about 20 hours), but it's more of the same (sick, tired, etc.) so I won't go into it :).  Spending Christmas with my family was really awesome, though, and if necessary I would've driven the entire way just to be there :).

Besides having a head cold, I've been feeling pretty good.  The only problems I'm still having are hip and back pain.  I'm not sure if I can do anything about them, but I'll try just about anything (safe) at this point.

I had my first baby shower the day after Christmas and it was so much fun!  There were only about 8 or 9 people total, but that didn't matter... we had some good conversations and they more than blessed us with gifts!  We got lots of adorable baby clothes, blankets (made by my mom & sister), a monitor, gift sets, bibs, a diaper bag, etc. etc. etc.  Our kid is going to be the best looking boy in Georgia! :)  Now that I know we're having a boy, it's going to be really hard to resist the cute clothes whenever I go into Target.  Maybe I'll allow myself to buy 1 outfit per month or something ;).

Jason and I have been discussing name possibilities and I think we came up with a solid choice this afternoon.  I really want to tell people, but we're going to sleep on it and see what we think in the next day or two :).  As soon as I can, I'll let everyone know :).  I'm so excited to start using his name when I talk to him :).

Anyway, here are the growth/development details of the week:
  • Your baby continues to grow and develop inside of you. He now measures approximately 7 inches long and can weigh up to 10 ounces. In the coming weeks, your baby will continue to grow and mature at a fast rate.
  • The hair on his scalp is more visible and by week 21 he has probably developed eyelashes and eyebrows!
  • He is waking and sleeping in regular intervals, which you may be able to tell from his movements. He is also swallowing amniotic fluid to help his digestive system mature for life in the "outside world". His intestines also start slowly relaxing and contracting this week.
  • Notice any small, repetitive movements in your abdomen? It may be his first case of the hiccups! Usually, these movements occur for a few minutes at a time. As your baby grows larger, these movements will feel stronger. And remember, all babies are different, some hiccup multiple times a day, and others, only once in awhile.
I think that's about it for now.  Please be praying for our name choice and for the upcoming ultrasound.  Thanks for stopping by! :)

Monday, December 20, 2010

Ultrasound - It's a BOY!!!

What a great experience :).  While quite uncomfortable, the ultrasound was amazing!  It's hard to know where to start :).  The ultrasound technicians jumped in and started right away, which is much different than my regular checkups.  They started by taking measurements of the organs, bones, skull, brain, etc. and yes, they even counted to make sure he has 5 fingers on each hand ;).  The baby was being extremely difficult, though, because he kept moving the entire time!  Every time they would try to freeze the screen to take a measurement, he would move.  It was pretty funny.  They seemed to get a little frustrated a couple times, but we just laughed because we're the ones who get to raise him ;).  I always knew our kid would be stubborn!  It was so much fun to see the baby moving around, putting his hands in front of his face, kick, and everything else.  I had to laugh because I had told Jason quite a few times that it felt like the baby was doing log-rolls in my tummy... well, I was right!  He was sure having fun in there :).  Anyway, the technician said that all the organs and everything look like they're about 20 weeks along, so I guess my due date hasn't changed (I'm 20 weeks 3 days today).  We got quite a few clear looks at the sexual organs and it's definitely a boy.  Jason was very excited to find out his instinct was right ;). 

We would've been happy even if it was a girl, but just knowing is great because now we can focus on one gender and plan accordingly.  I can pick out cute little boy clothes for him to get dirty, toys, nursery decor, and best of all - a name!  We'll be working on picking it out while on the plane to Oregon tomorrow :).  Once we decide, I'm sure we'll share... but in the meantime, if you have any ideas, please let us know!  Just don't go too crazy ;).  Thanks to everyone who voted and I'll try to come up with another poll soon :).  Have a great Christmas!!!!

20 Weeks

I'm officially officially halfway there! :)  Since this entry is 3 days late (and I have to post info on my ultrasound), I'm going to make this brief-ish :).  This week was a pretty good one.  I'm feeling the baby more and more, which is awesome.  It's always comforting to feel it move around.  I keep telling Jason it feels like the baby is doing log-rolls in my tummy, ha :).  He has been trying to feel some movement by touching my bump, but it's still a bit too early for that.  I'm hoping he'll be able to feel something soon.

My biggest problem this week has been hip and knee pain at night.  I'm still using my Snoogle pillow, which really does help me to get comfortable, but I keep waking up with achy pains that won't go away no matter what position I'm sleeping in.  I'm sure that's pretty normal during pregnancy, so I'm just trying to deal with it as much as I can.

Ok, here's the development information for this week:
  • Your baby is now about the length of a banana (thebump.com says the size of a cantaloupe!). Can you believe it? He is now around 6 ½ inches long and weighs almost 10 1/2 ounces!
  • Your baby can also hear sounds. At 20 weeks, he can cover his ears with his hands if the sounds are too loud and he may even "jump" inside your womb if any sounds startle him.
  • He is also moving around a lot inside you. Remember, if this is your first pregnancy or if you have a larger frame, you may not yet feel these movements. If you haven’t felt anything yet, you should in the coming weeks. Many times, these first movements are described as a flutter, or may feel like bubbles or gas. If you can feel your baby moving and shifting inside of you this week, you may be becoming aware of his sleep cycles.
I'm still amazed by the miracle of life and I pray every single day for a strong and healthy baby :).  Next up:  THE ultrasound :).

Friday, December 10, 2010

19 Weeks

Wowwy, I'm halfway through the pregnancy!  Of course, 20 weeks is the official halfway point, but an email I got this week said so and I may not last the entire 40, so I'm claiming it anyway :).  I've been feeling pretty good this week with the exception of some morning nausea.  I don't know if it's because of anxiety (I've always had a nervous stomach) or if it's morning sickness, but it's worse when I brush my teeth and then when I make my breakfast (or even think about eating).  I haven't gotten sick since last week, though, so I think I can deal with it.  Oh, also my knees have been aching because of the cold weather... I know, I'm old... so sleeping has been kind-of tough again.  My back and hips have been ok, but I don't know what to do for my knees... gah!  Maybe I should just wrap my body in an ice pack :).

There are only 10 days left until the big ultrasound and I'm so excited! :)  Jason says we can come up with some solid baby names after the ultrasound.  I told him we need a backup just in case, but he said if the baby comes out the opposite of what we're told, we'll just name it "Surprise!".... yes, with an exclamation point :).  He came up with a girl name that he really likes, but we're still pretty undecided on both boy and girl names.  Hopefully we'll have one figured out by the time he/she gets here ;).

I got a few new items of clothes this week:  3 sweaters and 2 bras (thank God)(sorry if there are any guys reading this).  I just love maternity clothes.  I think I could wear them forever, but Jason probably wouldn't really like that.  Maybe I'll just hold onto them for future Thanksgivings ;).  Anyway, I don't have much else to write about so here are the development details for this week:
  • Your baby is now around the size of a mango or large tomato. He is approximately 6 inches long and weighs almost 8 1/2 ounces now!
  • This is a very important time in terms of sensory development. Inside your baby’s brain, certain areas are being specialized for smell, touch, taste, hearing and vision.
  • Another big development in the last week, hair may finally be sprouting from his scalp.
  • By 19 weeks, the uterus is developed in the female and the testes and penis are easily identifiable in males. It may also be time for your ultrasound, so if you don't wish to know the sex of your baby, be sure to make it clear to the ultrasound technician to avoid any unwanted information!
 I'm still not feeling baby movements every day, but I do feel them, which is good enough for me :).  It's always a nice surprise to feel him/her doing somersaults.  It's a bit inconvenient when I'm at work, because I stop what I'm doing so I can concentrate on the movements, but I really don't mind :).  I can't wait until Jason is able to feel the baby too.  Hopefully that will come soon!

I'll post my week 20 update next week and then hopefully I'll have time to write a special post after our ultrasound on Dec. 20th... I'll have lots of pictures and info to share! :)  Have a great week, everyone :).

Sunday, December 5, 2010

18 Weeks

 I can't believe how fast these weeks are flying by :).  It seems like I have to write a new entry as soon as I'm done with the previous one!  This (last) week was a pretty eventful one.  I'm pretty sure I've said in previous posts that morning sickness hasn't really been a big problem for me.  I was pretty nauseous for most of the 1st trimester, but other than that I was feeling pretty good.  Well, that changed on Monday.  I was about to leave for work and wasn't feeling very well.  I fed the dog and all I could smell after that was dog food.  Then Jason came down to leave for work and he pulled some barbecue chicken out of the fridge.  I took one look at it and it made my stomach turn... *gag*.  He left for work and I stood in the kitchen for a few minutes until I smelled dog food again, then I had to make a mad dash to the bathroom.  Ugh.  It was horrible.  Now that I've experienced real morning sickness, I appreciate even more that I haven't had to deal with it much.

Sleeping has been a little better this week.  My Snoogle pillow came on Tuesday (yay!) and I think it really has helped.  I have less hip and back pain at night and the main problem right now seems to be adjusting my position with the pillow when I want to turn over... which I really don't mind :).

Work has been going pretty good.  I'm learning a lot and it's becoming a lot less confusing.  Most of the work I'm doing is "busy work", but I really don't mind :).  I heard back about the Motherhood job and she said she needs someone who can work the week of Christmas, which I can't.  We'll be in Oregon and there's no way I'm canceling that trip ;).  If the position is still open after Christmas, she'll call me, but we'll see.  God is in control :).

I've felt the baby moving around a few times this week, but I haven't really felt anything the past few days.  I'm sure I'll start feeling it all the time soon enough, but I want it to happen now!  Jason says it's just a lazy baby... thanks, babe ;). 

Anyway, here are the development details for this week:
  • Your baby is now roughly the size of a bell pepper (or sweet potato). He is about 5 1/2 inches long and weighs almost 7 ounces now!
  • If you are having a boy, his genitals are now noticeable, if he isn’t curled up and hiding them during the ultrasound. If you are having a girl, her uterus is fully formed and in place, along with her fallopian tubes.
  • Your baby’s skeleton, which up until this point has been made up of flexible cartilage, is now hardening into bone. Myelin, a protective covering around his nerves, has begun to form. Myelin plays an important role in the communication between neurons and it will continue to develop through his first year of life.
  • At 18 weeks, your baby’s skin is still thin and transparent, so to help protect him, something called the vernix caseosa develops. This is a greasy, cheese-like substance that not only insulates his developing epidermis and dermis from the amniotic fluid; it also makes him nice and slippery for an easier delivery!
We've been talking more about names this week.  Jason has a girl name that he likes and it's starting to grow on me too :).  We're still pretty undecided on boy names, though.  I'm sure it will take us a lot longer to settle on a name, but at least we're coming up with ideas.

Oh, we also started registries at Target and Babies 'R Us this week.  We just chose basic/neutral items, but it was exciting to finally walk through all the aisles and look at the fun baby stuff :).  Once we find out if baby is a boy or girl, I'll have to go back and pick more stuff :D.  If you have any registry item recommendations, please let me know!  I hope everyone has a great week :).