18 Weeks... Bring on the Blue!!

Wow! I just flipped to the 18th week in my book and realized that I have entered the fifth month of pregnancy!! How awesome is that! Now it is a little confusing because that would mean that out of 9 months I am over halfway there, but in reality I'm not, that's because whoever said pregnancy was 9 months, must have really meant it was closer to 10. Anyway, without arguing the numbers I am 18 weeks today!

Our baby is about 5 1/2 inches long and about 5 ounces in weight. The baby is filling out I am definitely feeling those twists, rolls and kicks that he is perfecting! I actually was even able to feel kicks from outside with my hand on my belly early this week! I think he's going to be a soccer player! It was sooo crazy! Of course, he didn't show off any more when I had Jake there trying to feel it. Another set of skills our baby is mastering is yawning and hiccuping, which I may be able to start feeling soon. Our baby is truly a one-of-a-kind baby now, complete with unique fingerprints on his fingertips and toes. The ears are completely formed and the baby can hear us talking (through a fluid-filled bubble of course).

This weekend we made the news official to our family members that we are expecting a little boy! Well, at least I am, Jake still wants to actually see it for himself on the ultrasound in two weeks and I hope that then he will be convinced, honestly I think he's just giving me a hard time. I actually thought I saw that it was a little boy about 3 weeks ago, but I wasn't completely convinced yet, then the next week I went back to thinking it might be a little girl. The week after that through some connections in OB where I work I had an ultrasound tech (yes, a professional!) do a quick scan and tell me that yes, the cord was right between his legs (making it tricky) but that we were expecting a little boy! It wasn't until this weekend that I felt convinced enough to make it official! I'm just hope Jake doesn't get to say "I told you so" at the ultrasound in two weeks (although it won't be the first or last time)!

The top pic is between the legs, the two white lines are the femurs. The other two pics are head and body shots.


Like I said, I had the excitement of not only feeling the baby fluttering around inside but I actually have felt about 4-5 palpable kicks on the outside. Granted with all the minutes in the day he probably spends a total of one minute (all added up) of doing movements that I can feel. So it takes a lot of diligence to catch these little moments, but anytime I am horizontal you can bet I have my had on my belly just waiting for that kick.

These are the pic's that the ultrasound tech did at 16+6 telling me it was a boy! The arrow points to the boy parts on the third one down!



Sorry it's so tiny but if you click on it they should get bigger!

Adorable!!

17 Weeks

Our baby is about the size of the palm of your hand this week, with a crown to rump length of 5 inches and a weight of about 5 ounces. Body fat is beginning to form, but the baby is still quite skinny, with skin that is practically translucent. This week the baby is practicing for birth. One of these important skills he or she is practicing is sucking and swallowing. The baby's heart rate is now being regulated by the brain (no more spontaneous beats) and is beating at about 140 bpm. The baby's skeleton is changing from soft cartilage to bone and the umbilical cord is getting thicker and stronger.



This weekend my mom took me on a much needed maternity clothes shopping trip. I got loaded up on all kinds of goodies and I am immensely thankful, especially after I saw that bill! There was a lot to chose from, but not necessarily things that I would say are my style. I guess this isn't the time to be picky, but I don't need to look too matronly just yet. I got a bunch of cute tees, a few tanks and two really cute dresses. I also got some jeggings that I am loving and a pair of jeans from the Gap. I feel much better and I didn't realize how nice it was to not be living in yoga pants! I think Jake appreciates me being out of the stretch pants too. I am somewhat back to normal, or at least as close to it is I can get for probably the next 6 months.

I am also one step closer to starting on the nursery! Jake's brothers took the queen bed that was in the guest room, soon to be nursery, off my hands making me all the more anxious to slap on some paint! I think I will start on the painting the trim tomorrow and just kind of take my time with that. We still have some things we need to clear out of the room, which has kind of been a catch all and is also where we keep the dog's cages. I'm not sure where their new home will be, but it won't be in there. I need to get the carpet cleaned but I will probably wait a few more weeks for that.

Also... I need some boy name suggestions! I can think of plenty of girl names, but I am coming up short on boys names! HELP!

16 Weeks

This week the baby weighs anywhere between 3 to 5 ounces and is 4 to 5 inches long! Muscles are getting stronger, especially the back muscles, as our little one straightens out even more. The baby's face is looking more and more adorable, complete with eyebrows and eyelashes and ears officially in the right place. Those pretty eyes are finally working too! The baby's eyes can make small side-to-side movements and can even perceive some light, though the eyelids remain sealed. With this fully functional face the baby can practice all sorts of facial expressions such as yawning, squinting and grimacing. The baby is also becoming more sensitive to touch and will even squirm if I poke my belly, which I have seen the baby do on ultrasound. The baby's skin is still translucent and wrinkly, but soon the baby will begin to develop some fat to help plump him or her up. The baby's heart now pumps up to 25 quarts of blood a day.

Last week I mentioned that I thought I felt little flutters or "quickening", but wasn't totally convinced yet, but this week I am convinced. Throughout the day I can feel our little baby fluttering around inside me. It's so quick that it is easy not to notice. If I am home I stop to see if I can feel it from the outside, which obviously I can't but a girl can be hopeful, right! It's such a strange but exciting feeling.

I had an odd thing happen last night, after 12 hours at work I was laying in bed waiting for Jake to come home. I had felt a flutter and just had my hand on my belly just in case the baby felt like kicking me and I was poking around a little and I could feel my uterus in a tight knot and my abdomen was rigid and much harder than usual. I thought it was really strange, but I had no one home to confirm the strange feeling with so after a few minutes my belly softened and the knot was gone. I could feel my abdomen tightening a few more times, but it wasn't painful and I doubt I would have even noticed if I hadn't been palpating my abdomen, like a good nurse (or a crazy one!). I realized I needed a bathroom break and after emptying a very full bladder it never happened again. So weird.

I talked to the NP about it this morning at our appointment and she reassured me that it was probably a combination of 12 hours of work and a full bladder that made my uterus unhappy enough to have some small contractions. Nothing to worry about, but she reminded me to take it easy and empty my bladder frequently (like I have a choice) and I plan on taking those orders very seriously :) This would probably make some people freak, but a lot of women contract throughout their pregnancy and I look at it as a good sign that the baby is getting lots of good practice for a smooth delivery, without a c-section :) The appointment mostly consisted of checking in with NP and talking about questions, concerns, etc. Everything seems to be in working order and the baby's heart rate is now running at about 140 bpm, which is great! The heart rate will continue to decrease in rate as the baby matures, but for now, the old wives tale would still be saying our little squirt is a girl. Only a few more weeks until we know for sure and I can hardly stand it!!

15 Weeks

This week the baby is measuring about 4.5 inches, weighs about 2 or 3 ounces and is about the size of a navel orange! The baby continues to look more and more like a baby with the ears positioned properly on the head and the moves closer to the front of the face. By now the baby has the coordination, strength and smarts (this is Jake's child) to wiggle his or her toes and even suck it's thumb. The baby can also breathe (or at least practice the movements), suck, and swallow-- getting ready for life outside the womb, but hopefully not anytime soon. And though it is unlikely to feel anything from our little one this week, the baby is certainly getting a work out- kicking, flexing and moving those arms and legs. Though the eyelids are still fused shut, the baby can sense light.

Last night I thought I felt this weird feeling low in my belly and I thought is my baby moving? It is so quick and so tiny I hardly notice it, but I can't help but ask if it is the baby moving. I know it is kind of early and it hard to describe (almost like a flutter), but maybe I am making it up in my head, who knows. I doubt I will be sure about it for a few more weeks, but even if it isn't the baby, it's still really exciting!

I also made my first baby purchase this week (other than diapers!). While in Nashville I had to stop and get the baby some Belmont duds. I really wanted to get the pink onesie, but the blue one will have to do for now, didn't want to jinx anything ;) I guess next time we are up in Lafayette I will have to search out a Purdue onesie, maybe by then I will know if I need a pink one!

No real body changes this week. Spent all weekend in Nashville in roomy dresses and leggings for the roadtrip. Maybe another belly pic next week...

14 Weeks=2nd Trimester!

I'm now in the fourth month of pregnancy (what?) and it's crazy think about all the milestone's our little baby has already achieved. It is around this time that most fetuses start growing at different paces, but all continue to follow the same developmental path. So, this week, the baby is about the size of a clenched fist, crown to rump. This is amazing to me, because I remember thinking of my baby as just a tiny little walnut. So big! The baby is getting longer and straightening out as the head becomes more erect. And on top of that little the head the baby may be growing hair. Eyebrows are also filling in as well as body hair, called lanugo, that is not permanent, but helps keep the baby warm until he or she begins to accumulate baby fat.

Honestly, now that my appetite is back to normal and my urinary frequency has decreased (still up from normal, but now I only need one bathroom break during a movie) it is hard believe I am pregnant. I am thankful for this everyday and I am going to enjoy it before I get to those last couple of weeks when I will probably start begging my doc for an induction! A few coworkers have noticed the little pudge in my scrubs (and the tightness at the chest)but I still have a few comfortable pairs left before I move on to maternity wear.

As far as my regular clothes go, unless I have to be away from the house all day running errands or shopping or whatever I am generally in yoga pants, a tee and maybe a sweatshirt. When I do squeeze into normal people clothes I pray it's warm enough and nice enough to wear a roomy dress or I put on my fat jeans with a nice roomy top. Luckily I've had some friends donate some maternity scrubs and Megan and I did do a little browsing at the maternity clothes store last week. I'm kind of stuck in the in between right now, some of my regular clothes fit, but I'm not quite big enough for maternity clothes yet. I am still triumphant over finding a bridesmaid dress for Megan's wedding at the end of July.

This week I decided that the time had come for my first belly shot. Now, please disregard the crazy, poofy, rainy day hair I am sporting. I wasn't thinking clearly when I decided to let my hair air-dry because it seemed too taxing to blowdry and straighten it. Big Mistake! Anyway Jake broke out the camera and kindly obliged to my request. I find this slightly embarrassing, but I know I shouldn't be so all I will say is, enjoy! The show has only just begun!



Thankfully, Jake was kind enough to photoshop out some of frizziness of my 'do and managed to give me a little bit better coloring, this girl needs some sun! Thanks honey!