Week 20

Halfway There!

I can't believe I'm 20 weeks already! The baby moves all the time now! On Sunday he/she was going crazy. I pushed down on my belly and he/she pushed back! It was so strong Joel could feel it with his hand on my belly! It was so amazing... our first interactions with our baby! My mom (and every other mom out there) described to me how it would feel, some said "butterflies" some said "waves" but nobody can really tell you how it feels. Until you get to experience it yourself words fall short in trying to describe that feeling. It's simply wonderful! 

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Your baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. He's also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom and about 10 inches from head to heel — the length of a banana. (For the first 20 weeks, when a baby's legs are curled up against his torso and hard to measure, measurements are taken from the top of his head to his bottom — the "crown to rump" measurement. After 20 weeks, he's measured from head to toe.)

He's swallowing more these days, which is good practice for his digestive system. He's also producing meconium, a black, sticky by-product of digestion. This gooey substance will accumulate in his bowels, and you'll see it in his first soiled diaper (some babies pass meconium in the womb or during delivery).

Week 18

Whoa Belly!

We went in for our 17 week check-up and got to see the baby again. He/she was moving constantly and we couldn't get over how big he/she had gotten! Unfortunately, the baby was sitting breech with his/her legs crossed and we couldn't see any goodies! We couldn't believe how much kicking and punching was going on inside my belly...and although I have felt movement, I couldn't feel any of what was going on on the screen. It's nuts!

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Head to rump, your baby is about 5 1/2 inches long (about the length of a bell pepper) and he weighs almost 7 ounces. He's busy flexing his arms and legs — movements that you'll start noticing more and more in the weeks ahead. His blood vessels are visible through his thin skin, and his ears are now in their final position, although they're still standing out from his head a bit. A protective covering of myelin is beginning to form around his nerves, a process that will continue for a year after he's born. If you're having a girl, her uterus and fallopian tubes are formed and in place. If you're having a boy, his genitals are noticeable now, but he may hide them from you during an ultrasound.

Thanksgiving!

Family

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Rocco couldn't wait to see his grandparents! They spoil him rotten!

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Thanksgiving was better than ever! Joel and I are so blessed to have such great family. They filled us up and sent us home with plenty of left overs! Our baby will be so loved... and spoiled... by all those crazy people. I hope he/she is prepared...!

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16 Weeks 1 Day

I've been feeling so much better these last couple of weeks. And my appetite is in full force! My tummy rumbles at me every two hours demanding to be fed. I've started packing snacks to help me get through the work days... on top of my regular meals! But I'm careful that my snacks are healthy... it's been really easy since the only foods I have been craving lately are fruits and veggies! I just can't believe how much our bean has grown... and I've been told to "get ready for a growth spurt" so there's more growing to come!!

In the next few weeks, your baby will double his weight and add inches to his length. Right now, he's about the size of an avocado: 4 1/2 inches long (head to rump) and 3 1/2 ounces. His legs are much more developed, his head is more erect than it has been, and his eyes have moved closer to the front of his head. His ears are close to their final position, too. The patterning of his scalp has begun, though his locks aren't recognizable yet. He's even started growing toenails. And there's a lot happening inside as well. For example, his heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, and this amount will continue to increase as your baby continues to develop. 

Almost 14 Weeks!

13 Weeks 5 Days

My belly has officially "POPPED"! I woke up one day and there it was! Other people can now tell that I am pregnant and not just chubby!! We got to hear the heartbeat for the first time this week! It was simply amazing. The best sound I've ever heard. I'm starting to have more energy which is nice. But I have to be careful with standing too long or too much up and down movement. I get really light headed... which they say is because of all the extra blood now in my body! I'm so relieved to be through the first trimester! Now I can relax and enjoy my pregnancy!

Since I'm just about 14 Weeks in this picture I decided to share some info with everyone as to what exactly is going on inside that belly. It's pretty amazing how quickly our bean is growing!

This week's big developments: Your baby can now squint, frown, grimace, pee, and possibly suck his thumb! Thanks to brain impulses, his facial muscles are getting a workout as his tiny features form one expression after another. His kidneys are producing urine, which he releases into the amniotic fluid around him — a process he'll keep up until birth. He can grasp, too, and if you're having an ultrasound now, you may even catch him sucking his thumb.

In other news: Your baby's stretching out. From head to bottom, he measures 3 1/2 inches — about the size of a lemon — and he weighs 1 1/2 ounces. His body's growing faster than his head, which now sits upon a more distinct neck. By the end of this week, his arms will have grown to a length that's in proportion to the rest of his body. (His legs still have some lengthening to do.) He's starting to develop an ultra-fine, downy covering of hair, called lanugo, all over his body. Your baby's liver starts making bile this week — a sign that it's doing its job right — and his spleen starts helping in the production of red blood cells. Though you can't feel his tiny punches and kicks yet, your little pugilist's hands and feet (which now measure about 1/2 inch long) are more flexible and active.

Halloween '08

Garfield & Odie

We like to make our costumes the day of... it makes it more exciting!

Carving Pumpkins!

And the finished product:

My best girls!

Brianne & Krista

Krista was visiting from Chicago. It was really great to have her for a few days! At least this time we only have to wait a month to see each other again! I miss you lady!!

ROCCO DANGER

I am slightly obessed. And by slightly... I mean very.

He thinks he is a cat... this is where he makes sure nothing enters his backyard! He is very protective and will not tolerate any birds, stray cats, or squirrels in his area.

Beware!

He's fierce!

Room of Living

I was messing around with the new camera the other day and snapped some photos of the living room! Just wanted to share them with you! This is where we spend most of our time, we love it!

Week 11

This is at 11 weeks... I think I got sick two nights this week. Not too bad! I had my first craving on Tuesday! I was unable to think of anything else but... Louisiana Lickers from Quaker Steak! And luckily it came on an all-you-can-eat night! Even though Joel's stomach has been upset all week he still managed to put down some wings with me! What a good man! 

Week 10

Week 10... feeling better for the most part.  I still get sick but it seems to be coming every two to three days now.  I still think it mainly looks like a just have a beer guy but I can definitely see and feel a big difference.  All in my uterus. Most of my pants still fit but I've been closing them with a rubberband because it really cuts in on my new gut.  I got to go home and see all the future grandparents this weekend and spend some time with them.  Mom and I went shopping and bought some maternity clothes! I've never been so comfortable! We stopped by to visit with Aunt Pam, Amy, and Aliyah and Sean came out too. It was really good to see everyone finally, we had been trying for weeks, but the baby had other plans for my body!  I also haven't seen 9 p.m. in a while, I fall asleep almost immediately after eating... I'm exhausted all the time!

Week 9

This is at 9 weeks.   I'm still sick most days, more in the morning and at night.  I'm feeling better than last week, though.  I must have caught a virus from one of my lovely children and had to leave work early on Wednesday.  By Thursday I still couldn't keep anything down and I was so dehydrated my doctor was worried about the baby and recommended I go to the ER.  So Joel took me over and I got a three bags of saline, some meds to help me stop losing my cookies, and some potassium pills.  We ended up spending six hours there and it was pretty awful.  So at least I got through that and am back to just nausea!