Weeks 11 and 12: March 2-15

It is official, I missed a week! I was waiting for pictures from my friend Ashleigh and then I just... didn't post. Oops. So let me think back.

I know that starting on the first day of week 12 my nausea magically disappeared! It was amazing. I still can't handle turkey lunchmeat (not even just the smell) so Brian is stuck adding it to his own sandwiches for now. Outside of that I'm often very hungry all the time, which is actually a nice change. The insomnia continues and the ligament pain is getting worse. I had an OB appt on 3/13 and she assured me it is totally normal, including acting out how it feels (or how you look when experiencing it) and even Brian agreed that looked about right. Sprout's heartbeat was a steady 150-155, doing great!

Weight: I am still -2lbs on my pre-pregnancy weight. Rita (the OB's assistant who did our appt) says that means I get to eat my way through my upcoming trips. Score!

I am also cleared for flying next weekend and doing the cruise in May, which is awesome since both are non-refundable at this point.

Today is the beginning of my second trimester and I am looking forward to the supposed energy boost, since I am exhausted all the time.  I caught a cold from Kian which is probably not helping at all. Thank goodness it's Friday and tomorrow I get to sleep in!

Sprout is the size of a peach, about 3 inches long! Sprout's intestines are moving from the umbilical cord into his/her abdomen. Fingernails are there, and the head is starting to be proportionate, so more and more all the the time it looks like there's a tiny human in there instead of a big-headed alien embryo with a tail. XD

I have a lot coming up - Vegas next weekend which should be awesome. An adult trip, with no Kian, and lots of time to have a leisurely meal or sleep in as late as I want. I got some "grown up coloring books" on Amazon today and I plan to make good use of those too.

Now, for some pictures! All from 12 weeks - 3/11/12

Ultrasound #1 - February 17, 2012

If you click on these pictures, you will see a larger version.

Today was rainy and cool. We've had an unseasonably warm winter, and today we finally had a day that felt like February. Hooray for wearing a snuggly sweater and going to Mimi's Cafe for French onion soup before our appointment! Brian left work to do lunch with us and we brought Kian with us to the appointment.

We arrived a little early, but they were in a meeting so we didn't actually go back until about 1:10. At that point it all went really quickly because they took us straight into a sonogram room and the tech wasted no time in getting started. It was cool because there was the ultrasound unit but also a big TV on the wall, so Brian could sit in a chair with Kian and still see what was going on.

I got all settled on the bed and she said, "You're about 9 weeks along? Is this because the doctor thinks you are less than that?" My first clue that maybe I am not as huge as I think I am. To be fair, I was laying on my back at that point!

The tech was really good and found the Sprout with no problem. Even I could see right away where the head was, where the rump side was, and that there was clearly only one baby in there. Cue a rush of relief mixed with maybe a tiny bit of disappointment. I prepared myself too well! But then I could see the little heart fluttering away and I teared up and reached for Brian's hand. She pointed things out even though the view was  so good there really wasn't any need. The measurement showed Sprout to be 9 weeks, 1 day where my count had me at the day before 9 weeks. So I've adjusted things to compromise and made Friday my week switch over day (so the due date is Sept 21). Not that these things /really/ matter except to help me think about them. As Brian said, "So... now the due date is still late August?" Pretty much.

She also checked my ovaries and said there is indeed at least one cyst on my left ovary. I haven't had any pain at in that area for a few days, but it's kind of nice to know that there is one on there, that I  might have more discomfort from it but it probably will not be anything to worry about. And that it wasn't just gas pain or ligament pain when I was insisting it was sharper, different, and more intense. Knowledge is good!

She could also see the corpus luteum graviditatis on that side, which she implied meant that the egg came from that ovary. I am not totally sure how accurate that is (as in, I'm not sure both sides don't have one - need to do some more research) but if that is true, that's kind of cool to know.

Brian took the ultrasound snapshots to work or I would have posted them yesterday. He's like a kid with a cookie! After coming home last night, he did admit that he felt "a little cheated" because he was all ready for twins too. I admitted that there were some things about the prospect that seemed like they would be fun. But I had focused too much on the lack of sleep when Kian was newborn, not to mention the logistics of space and a second crib, and the additional expense, and needing an extra bedroom unless they were same sex as they got older and and and *pant*.

So mostly I felt relieved. And glad to meet Sprout and see that there really is a healthy little baby with a strong heartbeat in there. Brian grabbed the pictures and said, "Honey! There is a human being in there!" with a big grin. Pretty much! It makes it all much more real.

I talked to Kian ahead of time about what we would see, and he seemed to enjoy it though I'm not totally sure how much he really understood. He was very upset that Brian took the pictures with him and has asked to see them a ton since Brian brought them home. He calls Sprout "my baby" and asks to see "the pictures of  my baby". So adorable. I guess My Baby is better than 'beezee' which is what he was suggesting we should name the baby earlier in the week. XD

Week 8: February 9-16

Fetus at 8 weeks

From MedicineNet.com (the picture is from this article as well):
The baby is now about the size of a grape - almost an inch in size. Eyelids and ears are forming and even the tip of the nose is visible. The arms and legs are well formed. The fingers and toes grow longer and more distinct.

My weight: Still -3 lbs in spite of the visible bump and my uterus being larger than usual at this stage. Nausea, I guess!

Since I did a mid-week post and the ultrasound changed my due date a little, this post will be pretty brief!
My goal is to do a recap like this once a week regardless of other midweek posts. Reading back over the blog when I was pregnant with Kian I really like the recaps. And as much as I thought "OMG I was crazy to post my weight the whole time," it's kind of nice to be able to see it and possibly compare. So for now, I'll be tracking that too. Yikes.

2/17/12 - end of 8 weeks

2/17/12 - bare belly end of 8 weeks

This was truly a week of ups and downs. The cyst pain diminished considerably but I started having more general ligament pain. It is hard to articulate but the difference in the sensation is very obvious. On Thursday, the phone rang while I was laying down and I rolled over to get it and the sudden pain was enough to bring pain to my eyes. Even though it's not every time I bend or stretch or roll over I am trying to be more careful now.

I continue to crave fruit but have added salty things back into the mix. Pickles are fantastic right now (no, not with ice cream) because they are crunchy and juicy but also sour and salty! What a great invention. I am still experiencing some nausea but it's a lot less frequent and seems to happen mainly in the morning and anytime I let myself get hungry - so snacks are good! Other than that, smells are getting more and more pronounced and it's starting to affect my sense of taste a little. This is hard to explain too though I remember it from last time. Some things just don't taste quite like I expect them too, and I am pretty sensitive to salt. So even though I want salty things they can't be too salty. And I want fruit, but some of it tastes like the refrigerator and then it isn't good. Don't ask. Yes, in other words I am a totally picky pain in the butt. At least I am buying, fixing, getting my own food so it's not like this whole thing is bothering anyone else.
Other symptoms: Occasional headaches, peeing all the time, tons of fatigue and insomnia. The insomnia started in earnest this week, leaving me awake in bed for half the night. I told Brian I think maybe it's my body reminding me that four hours of sleep is plenty, in preparation for the Sprout's arrival. Oof.

After our appointment on Monday, I spent a lot of time first worrying about and then trying to prepare myself for the possibility of twins. I am going to do a post with ultrasound info next, but suffice it to say that was a big waste of time :). I also did some web surfing for other pregnancy blogs and things, which is fun. I should have been working on organizing stuff (since I have tubs of clothes and bags to go to Goodwill in my room from last weekend) but the fatigue is killer. I admire all of you pregnancy buddies of mine who are working full time! I have no clue how you do it.

2/12/12 New "pointy hair"

Kian had his Valentine's Day party at school and had a great time. I got him a Valentine's sock monkey that talks and he loves it and cracks up at everything it says.

Kian quote of the week:
After eating a huge lunch, I asked him if he was going to explode. He looked at me with very serious, big eyes and said:

2/12/12

"If I exploded, my body would go *kaboom sound effects* and there would be goo and blood everywhere! My skin would come off and you would see down to my bones, and I would probably be dead. So no, I am not going to explode." Right!

Pregnancy Week 8 (Feb 11-17 2012): Showing Already?

8.5 weeks - 2/15/12

Over the weekend my belly officially started popping out. On Friday (2/10), one day before 8 weeks along, I decided my normal jeans were finished. My belly was already starting to curve but beyond that I was just so uncomfortable. Brian dragged my bin of maternity clothes out of the attic, and even though I thought my butt was going to be too big, all the early stuff fit! We also went to Ross and got a pair of yoga pants and an extra pair of jeans. Sweet relief.

Speaking of relief, every time I think I am getting some I end up being mistaken. Reading back over this blog I see that B is right and I did suffer from a lot of nausea last time too. I keep feeling like it was only the first few weeks and then it was really intermittent, but maybe I am wrong! It's that thing where your memories are all rosy and happy so that you'll go through this whole pregnancy thing again. So this time I have been dealing with major fatigue and nausea, and more vomiting than last time. Any time I get even a little hungry? Nauseous. Lots of smells, sometimes just the thought of food - nauseous. And of course in the morning, and sometimes all day, and even sometimes after I feel fine and eat and get happy and full and then... nauseous. I am looking forward to the second trimester.

Comparison photo - 12 weeks along last time

Which might be sooner than I thought! Like I said, this week I've already started showing quite a bit. The picture posted here (from today 2/15 - 8.5 weeks) is early morning before breakfast, so it's as small as I get. Food/bloating/evening all makes it more pronounced. Come to find out, it's not just my opinion! We had our first OB exam on Monday and he agrees that my uterus is high/large. So there's an ultrasound scheduled for Friday to determine exactly why that is. Could be that I am further along than I think, that things didn't shrink all the way down after Kian, or of course the big doozy that it could be twins. I am not going to freak out until we know for sure, but really anything but the not shrinking version would have its share of difficulties. I know we'll get through anything though!

On the plus side, the cyst/ligament pain is almost completely gone now, other than an occasional little twinge and I am having more good periods and even whole good days with more energy and less stomach upset. We've started chatting about names a little, though B doesn't want to get down to the nitty gritty until we know if it's a boy or a girl.

Kian is very excited and is already telling people he is a big brother. He talks daily about the baby and things he will teach him/her when it arrives. He wants a baby girl and has asked for butterfly wings and a sparkly pink headband if it is a girl. Of course he also asks for two babies (I want TWINS) several times, so hopefully he understands he may not get what he wants.

He is getting so big! We went to get his hair cut this weekend and he requested 'pointy hair' so I have been styling it with a little bit of product since then. It's a big hit but he looks like he's about 8 years old! I get that twinge of 'my baby is getting so grown up!' and then I think again that the timing of this pregnancy is good.

Ultrasound pics in a few days!

Pictures!

No time for a good update just now, but I put up pictures! We're all doing well, Kian is getting so big! New pictures can be found at http://kianogrady.shutterfly.com

A better update should be coming shortly.

Pictures, For Real! Weeks 32 and 33

Hmm. It appears the picture difficulties may have been a Mozilla problem. It occured to me this morning that it's probably because the pic upload thing is a pop up. I'll have to mess with that.
In the meantime, here are the pictures reluctantly brought to you by Internet Explorer :).

For comparison's sake:

Week 32, taken June 28th

Week 33, taken July 5th

Week 32, front view
Week 33, front view

Yikes. I guess I really am growing as fast as I think I am. And for some reason my belly button continues to be all skewed to one side bizarrely. Silly baby, center yourself! Hee.

The plan is to take another set this week and every week hereafter so we can watch with amazement as I manage to not explode.

Week 29 Pictures!

Pictures, as promised!

First, a front on shot. Brian took these, so the angle is realistic. I am getting huge.


Next, a side view.


And finally, just for old time's sake. This is me at 12 weeks. Hee! Seriously, I am already wearing maternity pants and feeling like I have a 'bump'. Little did I know!

Week 19: March 23-30

So I'm a little late on this post, what else is new? At least I am consistent!
I have now spent some time babysitting a 3 month old baby boy, and I guess babysitting is sort of like riding a bike. It was no big deal really, and I even managed to make a bottle one handed while holding a fussy baby. Score! Hopefully I won't need that particular skill for my own little one, as the plan is to breastfeed, but we'll see how that goes.
It has made me really anxious to meet my own baby boy. I mean, don't get me wrong, I am totally not ready or prepared for his actual arrival, and of course he's nowhere near baked, but somehow it made the whole thing a little more real. At any rate, now I am firmly picturing snuggling up with a little cuddly ball and chewing on chubby cheeks.
The realization that I'm almost halfway there has also spurred lots of shopping for baby stuff. I don't know when the last time you went into a Babies 'R' Us was, but there is a lot of stuff. So now I'm working on researching all the minutiae and trying to figure out what we actually want. Hopefully in the next week or so I'll be registered. Er, maybe in the next 2 weeks. My parents are coming for a visit in about a month (HOORAY) so I really need to get things at least organized enough that there is a guest room for them to sleep in. It'll happen, I'm not too worried.
The main difference this week is a sense that I really, really like being pregnant and I'll be sort of sad when I don't have this little person inside of me. He's kicking more often and harder now, especially when Brian's watching hockey. There was a day when he was quiet and I was a little worried, but he more than made up for it the next day.
I am also still getting bigger every day. I swear these pictures don't do it justice - I feel way bigger than this. Still, here they are - the belly pictures.

Maybe if the pants were down a little more. I dunno', just trust me, it's huge.


And the stats: I have now officially gained about 6-7 pounds. Which is still about a pound a week in this trimester and right on track. Supposedly. :)

Pictures, Take Two

So, I tried a different way of uploading the pictures and I think it worked this time. Please scroll down and have a look, then comment and let me know if you can all see them now. Sorry!

Ultrasound Pictures!

So... it's always going to take me longer to post things than I think, apparently :).
In this case it is partly Brian's fault because he took the pictures to work and left them there. And also, my scanner takes an ungodly amount of time to scan pictures in... when I am doing it wrong. Hee! Today I finally got them all scanned in and downsized enough to email to myself, so I could use the computer I actually have graphic editing software on to crop and trim and rotate, etc. Phew! It's more work than I thought. If anyone is totally nuts I do have a few more pics that I'm not posting here because they look basically like these ones. Lemme know and I can always email them to you (or you can see them when you come to visit, dad). Also, the doc was too busy explaining what we were seeing to actually get a snapshot of the all important 'it's a boy' view. It was the first thing he did and the Pea was wiggly, although he quickly settled down afterwards. He must be shy. Honestly it's probably best, because I can't imagine the damage having the entire internet see your unborn privates might cause the poor little guy. Lord knows he'll have plenty of chances for embarassment to come! There also aren't shots of some of the 'cooler to see' bits of the ultrasound, which likely wouldn't have captured terribly well. We got to see the hemispheres of his wee brain, and the doctor pointed out hypothalamus and cerebellum. Insanity! We got to see his tiny stomach - he is swallowing fluid so it was a dark little bubble. The heart was beating and we could see the septum that divides the two ventricles. And at one point he was moving his mouth like he was sucking or chewing and we could see that. Apparently Dr Decker is well known for having an amazing touch with the ultrasound probe - lucky us!

Without further ado...
The PeaBaby!



I think this one is pretty self explanatory. That's head on the right, butt and legs on the left. His hand is up by his mouth. At one point around here he waved!

Daddy likes to refer to this one (and 2 similar other shots) as the "scary Halloween face" pictures. He was driving the doc crazy because he kept looking at the probe and he couldn't get a good profile. If you picture him with like, flesh, I guess he's kinda cute? The profile is better. And also, he needs more time to bake!

This is the hardest one to really see- it's his head on the lower right and then his spine. Mostly it's just cool to see the spine and realize that I'm growing something inside of me and it has bones! Er, he has bones!

Crazy.

Week 16 : March 2-9 2007

This week I started to feel the baby move! People always describe it in so many different ways. My mom said it would be like butterfly kisses, a faint sensation of something moving across my stomach from the inside. This is so unlike what I felt I thought for sure I was having weird gas or something instead. It felt more like someone gently poking me with the tip of their finger. Even from the very first time I noticed it, it was much more pronounced and definite than I was expecting. Brian has felt faint movements himself! I am finally no longer skeptical, as the sensation is totally different than anything I've ever felt before, and (maybe moreso, since there are kinds of totally weird things going on in my body) it keeps happening.

I continue to grow at what feels like the speed of light. Some days I just feel SO PREGNANT and yet I know that I am barely scraping the surface here. My center of gravity seems to be shifting and I feel even more clumsy than usual - which is pretty stinking clumsy. Sometimes I really need Brian to help me get up, especially if I'm sitting on the floor. If he's not home I go through some pretty hilarious contortions and cling to the coffee table, and heave and grunt. Surely it's too early for all of this! Seems not.

Pictures!
Week: 16
Weight: +3 pounds. It still seems crazy! I swear this belly weighs a lot more than that.


This one doesn't look that much different - I think it's partially the angle.


Holy smokes! This is how pregnant I feel.

Week 12 Belly

Geez dad, way to make posting to the blog a job! :)
No, actually I have just been really busy so far this week. Hopefully today I will get all caught up. I do also want to just note that I said I was hoping to make weekly posts. So there.

Anyway! I forgot to put this in my 1st trimester post, so here they are. The first belly pictures!

Week 12
Weight: Right at pre-pregnancy weight (weird)
Pictures:

and