Baby is now the size of a banana. For the remainder of the pregnancy, measurements are now taken from head to toe as opposed to head to rump. Head to toe, baby is about 10.5 inches long and weighs about 12.7 oz. Eyebrows and lids are present now. If the baby is a girl, she has a lifetime supply of eggs; presently she has 6 million but this number will decrease to 1 million by birth. The baby's digestive system is creating meconium, a tarry black substance that will make the first diaper changes quite fun.
Sunday, January 30, 2011 ~ I didn't meet my exercise goal last week. I walked twice for a total of 10 miles and planned on taking my last walk Friday or Saturday, however got sick Thursday night. Based on still not feeling well today and my schedule this week, I'm not going to meet my exercise goal again. I'm okay with that. I'm certainly not going to push myself when I'm not feeling well. I know I'll get two walks in this week so maybe when I am feeling better I'll try for 6 mile walks instead of 5 miles.
I'm looking forward to our last ultrasound on Tuesday. I'm hoping that the ultrasound tech will take some time with us despite the doctor's orders only asking for a view of the outflows of the heart. We didn't get a good look at the baby last time because he was so active and since this is probably our last one (barring complications), I'd really like to get one last good look. Neither of us want to get a 3D ultrasound. A few of my friends have paid to get them done but we both feel like it would just ruin the surprise. We want everything to be revealed on the baby's birthday!
This week we will start researching items for the registry. Dan got us a Consumer Reports online membership so that we can do this. I hope to have the registry complete by the end of February. I went to the Baby Depot at Burlington Coat Factory on Thursday and was quite overwhelmed! I guess we'll just take it one thing at a time.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011 ~ We had our last ultrasound yesterday. Four weeks ago the tech couldn't get good pictures of the heart so we had to go back yesterday. This was a quick appointment and the tech kept the pictures from the waist up to make certain that there would be no surprise ruining for us. He got very clear pictures of the heart this time and we saw the baby have some little hiccups again as well as a cute profile picture. The baby's a fiesty one I think - he punched upward and both the tech and I saw and felt it. I think he was saying, "Get that loud noise out of my womb!"
I'm still pretty congested and the crazy wind is not helping anything out. I haven't exercised since last Wednesday. If the wind has calmed down tomorrow, I hope to walk 3.5 miles and then hope to feel well enough by Saturday to walk 5 or 6. My appetite is virtually nonexistent. I'm sure it has to do with the congestion.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Monday, January 24, 2011
Week 20: January 23-29
Wow, I can't believe we're halfway! Baby is now the size of a cataloupe, about 6.5 in long from head to rump and weighing about 10.6 oz. The baby's taste buds are developed and studies show that she will respond best to tastes she's already been exposed to via amniotic fluid. Time to eat lots of vegetables. Oh, and mushrooms and Mexican. I've gotta have somebody on my side! If they are going to happen, I can look forward to stretch marks beginning to develop soon.
Monday, January 24, 2011 ~ I'm a little overwhelmed with our to-do list over the next several months. I've had a few busy weeks in a row and really just want some time to do nothing; I know we won't have much of that for a long time starting this summer. But things must be done. I think we're going to subscribe to Consumer Reports online so that we can use it to research strollers, car seats, etc. Dan's going to look into that tomorrow. Regsitering is going to be a fairly large task, I think. I also need to start looking for birth classes. Hoag has several classes that I'd like to take including a breastfeeding class and a baby safety class. I don't know that I want to take their "Prepare for Labor Class" though because I know I'll get more out of a natural birth class. I plan on discussing options with my doctor when I see him in two weeks. And we need to start interviewing pediatricians soon. We both agree that we'll meet with Sean & Sandi's pediatrician and, unless we get a bad vibe, we'll go with him or her. However if Sean & Sandi like him I'm sure we will, too. They gave us our dentist recommendation when we moved here and we are both very happy there! Ugh, and finding daycare is going to be the most emotionally challenging thing I think. Oh boy, quite a to-do list!
Friday, January 28, 2011 ~ Oh the milestones: two nights ago I got my first crazy pregnancy Charley Horse, last night baby was kicking a lot stronger, and today might be the beginning of my first pregnancy cold. Well, at least one of them was fun!
Who knew that wake-you-up-in-the-middle-of-the-night-Charley-Horses were a pregnancy symptom? I didn't think I'd get any because I'm exercising, stretching, and eating a lot of bananas but I guess I was wrong.
I know that the baby's kicking is going to get a lot stronger from here but last night was quite remarkable; the kicks were a lot stronger than what I've felt up to this point.
I'm not sure if I have a cold or my allergies are finally kicking up after all of the wind but it really doesn't matter; the only thing I can take is Claritin anyway. I started feeling yucky last night and then woke up in the middle of the night with a very sore throat. After drinking some water it felt much better when I woke up but I still just didn't feel right. Throughout the day I've begun to feel worse. I took Claritin, which helped, but of course it made me groggy like always. I'm hoping that rest this weekend will make this yucky feeling go away for good!
In the last few days I've found out there will be some changes to my schedule when we start the new semester on Tuesday. First, Wednesday I found out that one of my Basic Algebra classes (the third semester of Basic Algebra) was going to switch to a Precalculus class, which meant I was going to have only one low level class period! Then yesterday I found out that the remaining low level class was going to change to the lowest level class on campus. Ugh! Kids who failed the first semester of Basic Algebra at least one time. I will be the first to admit that I am not the best teacher for these kids. I just don't know how to connect with them because I don't understand them in the slightest. I can understand the ones who struggle and come in for help, do their homework to get their grade up as much as possible, and try. But the other 50% (or more) who do absolutely nothing and don't have any drive... I just don't get it! Monday is a professional growth day during which we have meetings all day long. I'm hoping that I can get some planning done without staying too late afterwards.
Monday, January 24, 2011 ~ I'm a little overwhelmed with our to-do list over the next several months. I've had a few busy weeks in a row and really just want some time to do nothing; I know we won't have much of that for a long time starting this summer. But things must be done. I think we're going to subscribe to Consumer Reports online so that we can use it to research strollers, car seats, etc. Dan's going to look into that tomorrow. Regsitering is going to be a fairly large task, I think. I also need to start looking for birth classes. Hoag has several classes that I'd like to take including a breastfeeding class and a baby safety class. I don't know that I want to take their "Prepare for Labor Class" though because I know I'll get more out of a natural birth class. I plan on discussing options with my doctor when I see him in two weeks. And we need to start interviewing pediatricians soon. We both agree that we'll meet with Sean & Sandi's pediatrician and, unless we get a bad vibe, we'll go with him or her. However if Sean & Sandi like him I'm sure we will, too. They gave us our dentist recommendation when we moved here and we are both very happy there! Ugh, and finding daycare is going to be the most emotionally challenging thing I think. Oh boy, quite a to-do list!
Friday, January 28, 2011 ~ Oh the milestones: two nights ago I got my first crazy pregnancy Charley Horse, last night baby was kicking a lot stronger, and today might be the beginning of my first pregnancy cold. Well, at least one of them was fun!
Who knew that wake-you-up-in-the-middle-of-the-night-Charley-Horses were a pregnancy symptom? I didn't think I'd get any because I'm exercising, stretching, and eating a lot of bananas but I guess I was wrong.
I know that the baby's kicking is going to get a lot stronger from here but last night was quite remarkable; the kicks were a lot stronger than what I've felt up to this point.
I'm not sure if I have a cold or my allergies are finally kicking up after all of the wind but it really doesn't matter; the only thing I can take is Claritin anyway. I started feeling yucky last night and then woke up in the middle of the night with a very sore throat. After drinking some water it felt much better when I woke up but I still just didn't feel right. Throughout the day I've begun to feel worse. I took Claritin, which helped, but of course it made me groggy like always. I'm hoping that rest this weekend will make this yucky feeling go away for good!
In the last few days I've found out there will be some changes to my schedule when we start the new semester on Tuesday. First, Wednesday I found out that one of my Basic Algebra classes (the third semester of Basic Algebra) was going to switch to a Precalculus class, which meant I was going to have only one low level class period! Then yesterday I found out that the remaining low level class was going to change to the lowest level class on campus. Ugh! Kids who failed the first semester of Basic Algebra at least one time. I will be the first to admit that I am not the best teacher for these kids. I just don't know how to connect with them because I don't understand them in the slightest. I can understand the ones who struggle and come in for help, do their homework to get their grade up as much as possible, and try. But the other 50% (or more) who do absolutely nothing and don't have any drive... I just don't get it! Monday is a professional growth day during which we have meetings all day long. I'm hoping that I can get some planning done without staying too late afterwards.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Week 19: January 16-22
Baby is now the size of a mango, about 6 in long from crown to rump and weighing 8.5 oz. Vernix caseosa, a greasy white substance made of lanugo, oil, and dead skin cells (yum) now coats baby's skin, shielding it from the amniotic fluid. (Picture yourself after a nine-month bath, and the need for protection makes sense.) It's typical to get nasty leg cramps around now, although (knock on wood) I haven't had them. Baby's brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch.
Sunday, January 16, 2011 ~ Now that I've had a day to relax and do a whole lot of nothing, I'm feeling the baby a heck of a lot more so I think my theory about not feeling him when I'm active is correct. Dan and I walked to Main St, picked up sandwiches, and ate lunch at Pier Plaza today. We got gelato on our way back. Afterward sitting on the couch I felt the baby moving around a ton! I even felt him from the outside but still haven't been able to get Dan to feel it. I think it's easier for me to feel because I can feel it from both the inside and the outside.
I've been shopping online for furniture for a while and tomorrow I'm going out to try to get the big stuff done: crib, dresser, and some kind of shelving/storage unit. We cleaned out the upstairs closet and moved some furniture out yesterday. Were not sure if we'll move the bed and couch out. We'll see what we can fit up there. It's going to be crazy to have a crib in the house!
Saturday, January 22, 2011 ~ It's been a busy but productive week. After a ton of time shopping around online, I found all of the furniture that we'll need for the baby's room! We'll have a crib, changing table with shelves, dresser, glider, and ottoman. I'll post pictures once things are assembled and the room starts coming together. Hopefully we'll have a furniture assembly pizza party at our house in the next few weeks.
My shoulder hasn't been bothering me as much this week, although the pain isn't completely gone. It's the worst when I walk and I've walked 15 miles two weeks in a row. I'm trying to average 14 min miles. Sometimes I look at my watch and find that I'm walking a 13:20 pace and other times it's tough to stay under 14. I'm not pushing it too much. I still hope to add a day of yoga to my weekly exercise.
I guess when I'm feeling really good, I don't have as much to report. I'm still feeling the baby move and I can feel him on the outside very sporadically but Dan still hasn't been able to feel anything. Other than that, I feel good, am sleeping well, and my appetite is back to normal or maybe even a little smaller than normal. I've gained a total of 8 pounds and 8 inches around my waist. I'm under the weight gain that I read I should be at last week but I was a little over my ideal weight when we started so it's nothing to be concerned about.
Sunday, January 16, 2011 ~ Now that I've had a day to relax and do a whole lot of nothing, I'm feeling the baby a heck of a lot more so I think my theory about not feeling him when I'm active is correct. Dan and I walked to Main St, picked up sandwiches, and ate lunch at Pier Plaza today. We got gelato on our way back. Afterward sitting on the couch I felt the baby moving around a ton! I even felt him from the outside but still haven't been able to get Dan to feel it. I think it's easier for me to feel because I can feel it from both the inside and the outside.
I've been shopping online for furniture for a while and tomorrow I'm going out to try to get the big stuff done: crib, dresser, and some kind of shelving/storage unit. We cleaned out the upstairs closet and moved some furniture out yesterday. Were not sure if we'll move the bed and couch out. We'll see what we can fit up there. It's going to be crazy to have a crib in the house!
Saturday, January 22, 2011 ~ It's been a busy but productive week. After a ton of time shopping around online, I found all of the furniture that we'll need for the baby's room! We'll have a crib, changing table with shelves, dresser, glider, and ottoman. I'll post pictures once things are assembled and the room starts coming together. Hopefully we'll have a furniture assembly pizza party at our house in the next few weeks.
My shoulder hasn't been bothering me as much this week, although the pain isn't completely gone. It's the worst when I walk and I've walked 15 miles two weeks in a row. I'm trying to average 14 min miles. Sometimes I look at my watch and find that I'm walking a 13:20 pace and other times it's tough to stay under 14. I'm not pushing it too much. I still hope to add a day of yoga to my weekly exercise.
I guess when I'm feeling really good, I don't have as much to report. I'm still feeling the baby move and I can feel him on the outside very sporadically but Dan still hasn't been able to feel anything. Other than that, I feel good, am sleeping well, and my appetite is back to normal or maybe even a little smaller than normal. I've gained a total of 8 pounds and 8 inches around my waist. I'm under the weight gain that I read I should be at last week but I was a little over my ideal weight when we started so it's nothing to be concerned about.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Week 18: January 9-15
Baby's now the size of a sweet potato with a head to rump length of 5.6 inches and a weight of 6.7 oz, although based on our last ultrasound baby already weighs more than that. She is moving around a ton, hiccuping, yawning, punching, kicking, twisting, rolling, sucking, and swallowing. My center of gravity is changing and hormones are loosening up my ligaments and joints.
Saturday, January 15, 2011 ~ Man oh man it's been a busy week. But now I have a three day weekend and time to start working on baby's room and go furniture shopping! I've experienced a fun, new pregnancy symptom this week. After having more sodium than I probably should (darn restaurants!), I got a cankle and a pretty swollen foot on the right side. Yesterday I was actually limping as I walked to my car because the pooled fluids hurt so badly. Dan was nice enough to help try to rub some of the fluid out of my ankle and this morning it feels much better, although I gained a pound and a half overnight from retaining all of this water. Now I am very apprehensive about eating out at all.
I had a couple nightmares last night, one about what's happening to my body. In the dream, things were far worse and VERY ugly. I have been having the classic pregnancy vivid dreams for a long time now but not really any nightmares until last night.
Overall I'm still feeling really good and am sleeping so much better than a couple weeks ago. My appetite has decreased again but I've been wanting a lot of sweets in the evening.
I haven't felt the baby as much this week but I think it's because I haven't been still as often as last week. She's still not decisively kicking so I have to be still to feel it. Last night I felt a pretty good bump from the outside, although now that I think about it that might have been a dream. She must know I'm "talking" about her because all of a sudden I'm feeling a little movement.
Saturday, January 15, 2011 ~ Man oh man it's been a busy week. But now I have a three day weekend and time to start working on baby's room and go furniture shopping! I've experienced a fun, new pregnancy symptom this week. After having more sodium than I probably should (darn restaurants!), I got a cankle and a pretty swollen foot on the right side. Yesterday I was actually limping as I walked to my car because the pooled fluids hurt so badly. Dan was nice enough to help try to rub some of the fluid out of my ankle and this morning it feels much better, although I gained a pound and a half overnight from retaining all of this water. Now I am very apprehensive about eating out at all.
I had a couple nightmares last night, one about what's happening to my body. In the dream, things were far worse and VERY ugly. I have been having the classic pregnancy vivid dreams for a long time now but not really any nightmares until last night.
Overall I'm still feeling really good and am sleeping so much better than a couple weeks ago. My appetite has decreased again but I've been wanting a lot of sweets in the evening.
I haven't felt the baby as much this week but I think it's because I haven't been still as often as last week. She's still not decisively kicking so I have to be still to feel it. Last night I felt a pretty good bump from the outside, although now that I think about it that might have been a dream. She must know I'm "talking" about her because all of a sudden I'm feeling a little movement.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Week 17: January 2-8
Baby's now the size of an onion. Wait, we were an orange a couple weeks ago; aren't most onions smaller than oranges? Oh well. He weighs about 5 ounces and is about 5 inches long from head to rump. Baby's skeleton is hardening, changing from rubbery cartilage to bone, and fat is finally accumulating around it. The umbilical cord is growing thicker and stronger.
Sunday, January 2, 2011 ~ Alright you've probably already read this on facebook but I thought it was so funny, I had to post it here, too. Dan stopped at Starbucks and got us both hot chocolate. I'm sitting on the couch enjoying mine and he sits next to me, empty handed. I look at him and say, "Where's your hot... burp" and then start laughing hysterically. I have no control over my body these days but what can I do besides laugh?
New Years Eve night, while enjoying crab legs with Dan, Marty, and Caren, I felt the strongest kick yet. Baby either really loves drawn butter or crab. I felt another very strong kick on the couch this morning. I'm hoping that soon, Dan will be able to feel the little bubs.
I'm also hoping that the past two days are a sign that the growth spurt is over. I haven't been as hungry but things change so quickly that I can't really count on anything to be consistent. In the first 15 weeks I gained a total of 3 pounds (although I gained more than that during my starving week and then lost some). In the last two weeks alone, I've gained another 3 pounds! I'm really going to focus on eating more whole foods and trying to incorporate more vegetables back into my diet. Yesterday I had corn with dinner and was a little queasy afterward so apparently that's still too difficult to digest. I'm still astonished by my absolute disgust at the thought of bell peppers.
Tuesday we have what might be our last ultrasound. I am very excited because it is the fetal anatomy ultrasound; the doctor said the tech will go over the baby's anatomy from head to toe. We will get to see the brain, vital organs, fingers and toes, etc. I'm actually hoping that the baby isn't cooperative when it comes to determining the gender. The first ultrasound tech has me paranoid that somebody might slip up and tell us the gender on accident so I would like it if nobody knows! From what I hear, it will be our last ultrasound unless there are complications. Stay tuned for the video!
I still need to get my blood draw to finalize the chromosomal screeing and have another regular check up a week from Tuesday.
I've cleaned out my closet and have a HUGE storage container of clothes that I can't wear anymore. My regular shirts are quickly becoming too short as my belly grows so I was quite limited for the last couple weeks. But I finally have more variety with clothes! Shelley has lent me a good amount of stuff and I went shopping on Thursday.
Sunday, January 2, 2011 ~ Alright you've probably already read this on facebook but I thought it was so funny, I had to post it here, too. Dan stopped at Starbucks and got us both hot chocolate. I'm sitting on the couch enjoying mine and he sits next to me, empty handed. I look at him and say, "Where's your hot... burp" and then start laughing hysterically. I have no control over my body these days but what can I do besides laugh?
New Years Eve night, while enjoying crab legs with Dan, Marty, and Caren, I felt the strongest kick yet. Baby either really loves drawn butter or crab. I felt another very strong kick on the couch this morning. I'm hoping that soon, Dan will be able to feel the little bubs.
I'm also hoping that the past two days are a sign that the growth spurt is over. I haven't been as hungry but things change so quickly that I can't really count on anything to be consistent. In the first 15 weeks I gained a total of 3 pounds (although I gained more than that during my starving week and then lost some). In the last two weeks alone, I've gained another 3 pounds! I'm really going to focus on eating more whole foods and trying to incorporate more vegetables back into my diet. Yesterday I had corn with dinner and was a little queasy afterward so apparently that's still too difficult to digest. I'm still astonished by my absolute disgust at the thought of bell peppers.
Tuesday we have what might be our last ultrasound. I am very excited because it is the fetal anatomy ultrasound; the doctor said the tech will go over the baby's anatomy from head to toe. We will get to see the brain, vital organs, fingers and toes, etc. I'm actually hoping that the baby isn't cooperative when it comes to determining the gender. The first ultrasound tech has me paranoid that somebody might slip up and tell us the gender on accident so I would like it if nobody knows! From what I hear, it will be our last ultrasound unless there are complications. Stay tuned for the video!
I still need to get my blood draw to finalize the chromosomal screeing and have another regular check up a week from Tuesday.
I've cleaned out my closet and have a HUGE storage container of clothes that I can't wear anymore. My regular shirts are quickly becoming too short as my belly grows so I was quite limited for the last couple weeks. But I finally have more variety with clothes! Shelley has lent me a good amount of stuff and I went shopping on Thursday.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011 ~ Today was our fetal anatomy ultrasound. It was really cool because we saw everything from the brain, the four chambers of the heart, and the kidney to the hand, arm, and leg bones that are developing! The baby was moving around so much that it was really hard to get any good looks, if that makes any sense. It was mostly a blur except with the tech was able to catch a quick snapshot of a bone or an organ. We were able to see a cute profile of the baby, although it wasn't as clear as the last ultrasound. We also saw the baby's little chest and head bobbing a bit from a bought of the hiccups. Unfortunately we weren't able to take video ourselves but the tech gave us a CD with super short clips of video and several snapshots. She wasn't able to see the minute details of the heart so she wants me to go back for another ultrasound in three weeks. She was surprised that my doctor had me come in at 17 weeks because usually they do this ultrasound at 20 weeks.
The most shocking thing is that the baby is measuring 18 weeks 1 day!!! The lab tech said that it's great but I'm nervous that we're going to have a huge baby (hence, a more difficult labor). Based on my knowledge of my body (which I'm pretty confident of), we are 16 weeks 6 days. Based on the ultrasound at 7 weeks (and my due date), we are 17 weeks 1 day. Based on the ultrasound four weeks ago, the baby was measuring a day ahead. And now the baby is measuring 6 days ahead!!!
I would love for the baby to come a couple weeks early so that I can have more time with him before I have to go back to work. I'm hoping all of this measuring ahead means he will come at the end of May. I'm ready to meet the bubs now!!!
Oh, one more thing. The baby is weighing in at 8 ounces according to the ultrasound, not the typical 5 ounces mentioned above. I've heard that the ultrasounds aren't accurate when it comes to weight but still!
Saturday, January 8, 2011 ~ Wednesday I felt the baby kick... from the outside! She's not active enough for Dan to feel it quite yet unless we happen to have really good timing (which I'm hoping will happen this weekend). The kicking is getting stronger although still feels like a little muscle twitch or flick from inside. The stronger it gets, the more sure I am that what I've been feeling for weeks and weeks was really the baby and not gas. (Everything I read says if you think you've felt your baby move before a certain time, most likely it's gas, but I think I know my body a little better than that!) I felt the first little flutter at about 10 weeks while lying down in bed and it was such a distinct, new sensation that it literally stopped me in my tracks. Around week 14 I felt a pretty strong rumble and ever since I've been feeling the tiniest little flicks from inside. I notice it the most when I'm eating. I must have some feel good chemicals going through my body because I like eating so much!
I'm still not really having any cravings. I'm eating peanut butter and bananas like they're going out of season or something but mostly because they make me feel really good and keep me full longer than most foods. I've also still really like the taste of anything vinegary, including ketchup, which I'm sure I'm eating too much of. Sooo much sugar! I have been sleeping really well for about a week now and not waking up starving anymore.
Basically, I finally feel like the pregnant woman I always thought I would be. Despite minor discomforts (my shoulder is still bother me), I feel great! It also helps that I've had four people at work tell me how great I look in the last week. One said I don't even look pregnant from behind, which is the greatest compliment I could ask for. I'm sure that will change as the pregnancy progesses but I'm doing the best I can at eating healthy and keeping my weight gain minimal, not just for me but also for the little bubs!
I keep buying sweets when I'm out shopping, making them, eating one or two pieces, and then leaving the rest for Dan. I never used to buy sweets before the pregnancy. I hope Dan doesn't gain more weight than me!
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