13 weeks - Second Trimester

It has been an eventful week folks.  I had a birthday.  I met my Nestie nephew.  I switched OBs.  Hmmm...am I forgetting anything?  I hope not...

First, my birthday.  My sweet baby gave me a wonderful birthday present; although a tad belated, I am beyond impressed with his ability to gift from inside the womb.  Are you all itching with curiosity?  Gabe gifted second trimester!  As of today I am officially in second trimester, and I could not be happier.  Thank you Gabe  :-)

Second, I met my Nestie Bestie Meg's son, Ryan Edward, over the weekend.  He is the tiniest, sweetest baby I've ever met.  It was so amazing to hear Meg's birth story and meet her little guy; I cannot even imagine the day we meet our little peach (and its only six months away)!

Third, my OB.  After much thought, I've decided to change doctors.  While I really love the practice I started with, their location and hours are not convenient for me at all.  Now that I am working in Downtown Phoenix, it is not reasonable to drive back to North Scottsdale at least once a month for the next six months.  I did some research, and I found an OB less than five miles from my office, that delivers at the hospital near my office and also at the hospital near my home.  Now I'll be covered if I go into labor at work or at home, and it will be very easy to schedule appointments without having to miss much work.  I'm scheduled to see my new OB on Monday, and I cannot wait.  I'll have an ultrasound, and this will be considered my "first official prenatal" visit.  Yayayay! 

Baby is now the size of a:  Peach!  His ears have developed to the point that he can hear me when I talk or sing; he apparently has the hiccups very often - this strengthens his diaphragm to prepare for breathing; he now has fingerprints.


How I'm feeling:  I want to go ahead and say that the bodily functions of pregnant women are absolutely disgusting.  I won't go into detail - no, I'm not talking about bathroom habits - but this is just nasty and uncomfy.  I'm still tired, nauseous, and my food aversions are suddenly on overdrive.  Apparently around week 14 or 15 the placenta will take over the hormone production, and my nausea and fatigue should disappear completely.

Physical differences from last week:  Just feeling fat and wide as usual.  My wonderful mama and mama-in-law bought me some maternity clothes, and let me tell ya, they are heavenly.  I just love not feeling like a sausage, squeezing into my non-maternity clothes, when I get dressed in the morning.  Here is a picture (I need to figure out the side-by-side comparison):

What's been on my mind:  The sex of our baby.  I am really, REALLY hoping that at this next ultrasound we will have a wonderfully talented technician, and our baby will be positioned ever so conveniently, and the technician will say, "Would you like to know the sex of your baby?" 

What I'm looking forward to:  Meeting my new OB.  Seeing the bambino on the big screen again.  Getting a real baby bump (not just a bloated, I ate too many Flaming Hot Cheetos bump).  Shopping for gender appropriate clothes - that unisex stuff is just terrible.

12 weeks

Baby is now the size of a:  squash ball, awww!  His crown-to-rump length is 2-2.5 inches.  His most dramatic development this week:  Reflexes.  His muscles clench, and his mouth is making sucking movements.  I read that if I poke/rub/prod my belly, Gabe will actually squirm in response.  That image is just so cute, and it reminds me of those videos I posted last week. 

How I'm feeling:  Extremely nauseated; I made the mistake of saying, "I haven't vomited once in the past twelve weeks" and I totally jinxed myself, its like my body just has to prove me wrong.  Other than that, all other symptoms seem to be slowly disappearing (except my trips to the bathroom, no, those have also increased - very embarrassing).  I'm still tired (I blame my schedule, not Gabe), but the bloat seems to have decreased.  My belly is hard as a rock now!  

Physical differences from last week:  We're not in Kansas anymore!  My uterus has officially left my pelvis, oh my!!!  That means that that bump is not just bloat anymore, its Gabe too!  Wahoooo!  Side note:  it is just embarrassing to wear fitted clothing; I look like such a chunker.  Also, my blood volume is significantly higher (it doubles throughout the duration of pregnancy), and my hips are widening (oh joy, as if they weren't wide enough before...).  Here is a pic for your viewing pleasure:

What's been on my mind:  Telling my supervisor that I'm pregnant.  Every day I walk into that office, and my pregnancy is on the tip of my tongue.  It is (was) so hard to not tell her.  Even though I've only known her for three short weeks, I really like her.  She is very sweet, and we talk a lot.  Also, there are two other pregnant ladies in the office; an underwriter and a fellow underwriting assistant.  And it is just no fun being the closet pregnant lady!  So I finally told her today, and holy God it feels good to have that off my chest.  She was very supportive and excited, she even hugged me.  Here I thought she'd be furious about losing two UA's to maternity leave a mere three weeks apart, but she promised it wouldn't be a problem and not to worry.

What I'm looking forward to:  Going to the doc.  Now that my supervisor knows, I can schedule an appointment (since I'll have to leave work early and make up the time).  Telling her also gave me a reason to get our insurance situation organized.  I'm also looking forward to finding out the sex, but I know I've got at least another month before that happens.  Boo!

Random thoughts:  I am really looking forward to next week's post about Gabe's birthday present to me, yayayay!

11 weeks - waaay late!

Good morning peeps!  I'm sorry for another late post.  I really hope I can get a hold of my time management, and make work, school, and blogging all fit into my schedule. 

Baby is now the size of a:  large lime!!!  Gabe is almost fully formed; his fingers and toes are no longer webbed, his bones are hardening, and hair follicles, tooth buds, and nail beds are forming.  He's also becoming very active!  He is kicking and stretching like a mad man; unfortunately, I won't be able to feel all of his little somersaults and hiccups for at least another month or two.  I found these amazing videos on the baby's development, and I think you will all enjoy them, they are so interesting.  Each video is only a minute or two long, so your attention spans are not in jeopardy, I promise.  The second video focuses on his growth this week through week 14:

http://www.babycenter.com/2_inside-pregnancy-weeks-1-to-9_10302602.bc?scid=mbtw_preg07:986&pe=2Uz0WBl

How I'm feeling:  Well lets see...I have more energy, more nausea, and my hormones are off the charts.  Only one more week until second trimester, and all this first trimester nonsense will be behind us - except for the hormones, they'll be on overdrive for a long while.  Oh, note to self - and any other pregnant ladies - avoid tear-jerker movies like the plague.  I watched Dear John last night, and I cried at least three separate times.  Not cool.

Physical differences from last week:  You tell me  ;)

What's been on my mind:  I really, REALLY want to know the sex.  Every old wives tale points to boy, and I know that really isn't the most reliable guide, but I just want to know!!!  I can't wait to start shopping for little boy or girl clothes, and start planning the nursery. 

What I'm looking forward to:  Finally telling my supervisor that I'm pregnant.  I'm more looking forward to having this secret off my chest, than actually physically telling her.  There's another underwriting assistant that is also pregnant, I think she is 3-4 weeks ahead of me, so it'll be really fun to get to know her more and go through this together. 

Random thoughts:  We bought  a fetal heart rate doppler!!!   I am so glad we did, it is just the most amazing feeling to hear your baby's heartbeat.  The first time we used it, it took us a good ten minutes to find the heartbeat, but now we're practically pros!  The heartbeat has been under 150 bpm every time, another indicator that its a little boy in my belly  :-)

10 weeks

Oy ve!  I'm a little late with this post, but my week has not left much time for blogging.  I started my new job on Tuesday, and my evenings have been consumed with classes and lots of homework.  Needless to say, TGIF!!!

So anyways....I'd like to call your attention to a fun little fact:  we have reached double-digit weeks, people!  Yayayay!  For some unknown reason, this feels very substantial to me; its not like we're clear of first tri yet, but hey, its progress. 

Baby is now the size of a:  Plum, and weighs approximately 0.2 ounces!  Awwww  :-) 

How I'm feeling:  Ummm bloated.  I haven't weighed in for 3 weeks (because I'm scared), but I know I've gained.  I know this because today was Casual Friday in my office; i.e.:  I had to wear jeans (and maternity jeans were not an option).  My jeans were verrry uncomfy.  A few pairs wouldn't even go over my butt, a few pairs buttoned but gave me a muffin top - very sexy; alas, one pair buttoned...barely...like I said, uncomfy.  

In other news, I'm still exhausted, still getting killer headaches - that I can't treat, and still having random stints of morning sickness.  Oh ya, and still not complaining  ;-)

Physical differences from last week:  Feelin thick...

What's been on my mind:  Fetal heart rate dopplers.  I really want one.  I probably won't see my OB until November (insurance reasons), and I'd just really like to be able to hear Gabe's heart beat and know that he's okay in there until then.  Those bad boys can be pretty pricey though, so we'll see if I get around to making that purchase.    

What I'm looking forward to:  Finding out the sex (I think this answer will become pretty standard until that big ultrasound). 

Random thoughts:   The Phoenix Zoo/Fisher-Price is hosting an event for expectant mommies next Saturday at 9 and 11 am.  I want to go, but I don't have anyone to go with  :-(

9 weeks

I'm 9 weeks along as of yesterday, and I'm happy to be yet another week closer to double-digit weeks.   Second trimester, here I come!


The baby is now the size of a.....large green olive. Keep growing, baby!

How I'm feeling:  Mostly bloated and exhausted, but I'm used to both of those feelings now.  I have very little nausea, mostly its my prenatal and calcium vitamins that make me sick.  Seriously, those pills are *huge*.   

Physical differences from last week:  Um nothing new here...  Still bloated like I just finished eating a Thanksgiving dinner - and let me tell ya, that feeling never gets old (insert eye roll).  

 What's been on my mind:  I get very stressed, very quickly, when I start to focus on the fact that I am pregnant.  I am reminded of how much we need to accomplish before the baby arrives, and just how little we actually know about pregnancy.  Thankfully we have some time to become prepared, and I have a book on pregnancy, and of course my great friends and family are very supportive and tolerant of my never ending questions and concerns.

What I'm looking forward to:  My next prenatal visit.  The first visit was unplanned, and completely last minute.  I had an ultrasound, but it was not considered my first official visit.  I've delayed scheduling the next visit, because I'm starting a new job and I'll have new insurance.  Additionally, Scottsdale OBs think its really clever to operate only during regular business hours.  This means that my next visit, and every visit for the rest of this pregnancy, will require that I either get to work late or leave early.  I wasn't exactly looking forward to breaking the "I'm pregnant" news to my new boss, but now I'm really dreading it.   

Random thoughts:  I really need to dye my roots.  One could say, I am "rootastic" at the moment.  But I'm really procrastinating dying my hair, because the first ten weeks of pregnancy are the most crucial to the development of the baby.  I don't want to jeopardize his health for the half inch of growth.