Getting ready for our kernel to pop

Today starts our 24th week. The baby is about 12.5 inches long of the size of the average ear of corn. I thought this was a very odd vegetable to compare the baby too! He/She is weighing in at 1.25 lbs. The baby's respiratory system is growing at a fast [ace, the lungs are developing and moving amniotic fluid in and out. The baby is getting it's oxygen through my placenta.

I felt my uterus move up in the last few days....it was below my belly button for such a long time and now its just above it. The baby is now swimming up and around my ribcage. He/She moves all of the time....seems to like the upper left side of my belly.

We have a OB appointment this Friday and an ultrasound. Fingers crossed we get a better look at the baby this time!

Our Yummy Mango

Today starts our 23 week! I can't believe that we are over half way there!!!! So much has been going on in the last week or so. Our sweet baby is about 11.5 inches long and now weighs just over 1 pound! It seems like it took forever for a pound to come around. The baby has been very active...anytime I find time to sit and rest I can feel him/her moving around, usually in the same spot...just below and to the right of my belly button.

Last night I was sitting on the couch and for the first time I saw my belly move when the baby kicked around. It was the most amazing thing so see...actually at this moment he/she is awake and kicking :o)

Pregnancy brain has taken control of me. I am forgetful and more clumsy than usual....it that is at all possible. I seem to trip over things on a daily basis and just plain forget what I was doing.

Plans are coming along on the baby's room. I finished registering at Target and Babies R' Us....so glad that is over. The room with be a light purple on top and a eggplant purple on bottom. The furniture will be black with silver accents. The accents around the room will be a lime green and the bedding will be black & white. 

I think we have settled on one name if the baby is a boy, Jackson Michael and if it is a girl, we have Savannah Marie and Molly Grace...I can't begin to imagine what it going to be like to see this sweet baby face to face.

I have Jeff & I registered for 6 weeks of baby classes at St. Johns Hospital. They cover ever area of birth, child care, breast feeding, first aid, Lamaze etc....we both are looking forward to taking them.

So far I have yet to gain any weight with the baby. My only pregnancy symptom at the moment is slight swelling if I am on my feet for long periods of time.

We go for our 24 week appointment on April 29th and will have another ultrasound. Fingers crossed we will get to see his/her face!

Happy Feet

We went for our 20 week ultrasound yesterday and are sweet little baby decided to hide from us. We were able to see an arm & fist, both legs and both feet. The baby was fast asleep upside down :o) We did get to see him/her yawn and move an arm a few times, but that was it. The baby weighs 13 ounces and is about 7 inches long....still so tiny!

I haven't been able to blog for the last two weeks because I was on vacation in Rome, Italy. Vacation was great, exhausting and fun all rolled up in one big ball. My only down fall was a down fall...I was walking down some steps in Positano and fell down a few steps, I heard 3 pops or snaps in my ankle...I go to see an Orthopedic Doctor on Monday to have it looked at. I managed to fall on my side so this sweet bundle was safe & sound.

We go back on April 29 for another ultrasound to get a better look at the baby's heart and maybe a look at the face. Dr. Mueller says everything looks great...the baby's heart rate was about 156 bpm. I haven't gained any weight as of yet...most women will have gained between 10-13 lbs by now, but I have managed to loose and gain, so I am balancing my weight where I started for the most part.

I thought I had been feeling the baby move for the past two weeks here and there, my belly would get really hard just below my belly button, it would last for about 30 seconds and then go away..I figured it was the baby pressing against me. Dr. Mueller said it was contractions, very normal and nothing to worry about. I have felt a few flutters as well....she said I should start feeling movement in the next two weeks.

The baby will almost double in length in the next week which seems so crazy to me!

My Heirloom

We are in our 18th week now and getting bigger every day. Our sweet little thing is 6 inches long and weighs 6.7 ounces, about the size of a large heirloom tomato. This week the baby is working on hearing. Many of the bones are starting to harden and one of the important ones is in the inner ear. This is why the baby may react to the sound of my belly growling, or my heart beat. I notice when I do feel a flutter, I am always asleep and wake up just as it is passing. I look forward to when it will be constant...I am sure I will eat my words later.

I leave for Italy in less than 48 hours for a 16 day adventure with this little bundle joining me the whole time. I am very excited and a little nervous at the same time, however my OB assures me it is ok. I am really looking forward to getting out and walking and enjoying some good food and fresh air. I think it will help pass some time.....Can't believe we will have our 20 week appointment the day after I get back....I wanna see this little thing so bad!

Belly flutters.....

Well after waiting and waiting, I finally felt it! The flutters!!!! I was asleep on the couch Tuesday night

 (March 8th ) and I woke up out of my sleep with the feeling of a butterfly in my belly. It was just below my belly button to the left and it was a feeling I have never had before...it was so strange and amazing at the same time. So I went upstairs and laid down hoping I would feel it again....to my disappointment, nothing. From what I have read and been told, it comes and goes...they will become more frequent in the next few weeks.

Our Little Sweet Potata

Today marks the beginning of the 17th week. I had a OB appointment last Friday, March 4th, for my 16 week or 4 month check up. Everything is great! The baby continues to have a strong heart beat. I haven't really gained any weight...I seem to lose then gain, lose then gain etc....The Dr. says that is just fine, since my belly is already getting big :o)

The baby is about 5.3 inches long and weighs about 5.9 ounces....about the size of a sweet potato...I like the pick of food this week :o) This week the baby is working of simple reflexes like swallowing, sucking and blinking. The baby may even have hiccups at this point...seems so strange to me....

The baby is starting to develop fat, which will help prepare the baby for the temperature change when he/she is born.

My left hip is still giving me problems, the Dr. said it is normal and there isn't much we can do about it...boo!

Jeff's Mom and I are leaving for Italy in 9 days! The Dr. suggested that I take a baby aspirin before each flight, drink plenty of water and get up and walk around the plane as much as I can. This should help me avoid any chances of blood clots during such a long flight.

We have our 20 week or half way point, appointment the day after we get back from Italy, April 1st. Jeff is still holding out on finding out what we are having....not sure if he will change his mind at the Dr.'s office or not....we shall see.

Im popping in the 16th week

Today starts our 16th week! The baby is about 4.6 inches long and weighs 3.5 ounces....he/she is about the length of an avocado...and my belly is quickly becoming the shape of one!

This week the baby's limbs are more developed, legs and arms are longer and becoming more controlled in movement. The baby's skeletal system is developing more as calcium is deposited onto the bones. Over the next few weeks the baby's weight will double.

My belly really popped this last week. The skin is starting to itch from the stretching but lotion has helped. So far I haven't felt any fluttering yet....they say by week 20 I should start to feel some kicking.

The morning sickness seems to be gone 100% and I can brush my teeth without problems...yay me! My back tends to get achy and I get short of breath at times. It is hard to believe that I have 50% more blood in my body. My hips have been hurting from them rotating outward, by my lovely chiropractor has been helping me with this. Sleeping is getting better, which was much needed.

I have a OB appointment this Friday, we get to hear the heart beat again....very excited about that!