Practice Makes Perfect

Tom and Lois came over today to spend some time with me, since I've been sick and Mark's been working so much.  They brought the travel system, and Tom took some pictures of the bump.  Oh, and they also brought food!  I'm so lucky to have such great family nearby.

Testing out the stroller on an unwilling participant.  Rowan's ready for Beansprout to arrive so that she doesn't have to be the model anymore.

Beansprout at nearly 16 weeks.

To add to the excitement of the day, Beansprout's armoire arrived!  I spent some time folding the clothes we've bought so far and putting them in the drawers.  And that little lobster outfit hanging on the door?  It's so cute I don't even want to put it away!

Mark keeps commenting that it all seem so much more real now that we have a stroller hanging out in the dining room.  We're going to be parents!

Fifteen Weeks

How far along: 15 weeks as of January 10, 2012.  I took Emily's advice and posted the sign on the fireplace so you can see the bump better.  Horrible picture of me, but oh, well.
Size of baby: Apple.  Beansprout is now about 4 inches long and weighs about 2 1/2 ounces.  He is moving amniotic fluid through his nose and upper respiratory tract, which helps the primitive air sacs in his lungs develop.  His legs are now growing longer than his arms, and he can move all of his joints and limbs!  He can also sense light, even though his eyelids will be fused shut for a few more months.  He's also forming tastebuds!
Movement: Still haven't felt anything.  Hope I will soon!
Sex of the baby: We find out in five weeks!
Sleep: Still fine.
What I miss: Not having to worry about everything I do and its effect on Beansprout. 
Cravings: Maybe I'm past that point in the pregnancy, because I don't find myself craving anything specifically, other than lots of food!
Symptoms: Fatigue, heartburn.
What I'm looking forward to: Next week's doctor's appointment.  We will be testing for neural tube defects, so please pray that that is normal.  I also have a litany of questions for the doctor, since my last visit was a month ago.

Strollin' with my homies!

Couldn't resist the cheesy post title!  We made our second major purchase a couple of weeks ago.  We bought this beauty:

And this to go with it:

I knew that I wanted a lightweight stroller, since I will be the one most commonly lugging it in and out of the car.  I had read great reviews of the Britax car seats, which are supposedly one of the best around safety-wise.  Since the seat fits so well into the Britax B-agile stroller, we went with this system.  You just click the seat into the stroller, and once the baby can sit up on his own, you can just use the stroller. 

What I really like about the stroller, other than the fact that it is lightweight, is that it is streamlined, with the three-wheel design, so it will be easy to maneuver on sidewalks.  It's also capable of being folded with just one hand.  Beansprout will be riding in style!

The funny thing is that we had the system delivered to my aunt and uncle's house, since we live off of a busy street, and I didn't want to take any chances with a possible theft.  Right after we told my family our baby news, I said, "And by the way, you'll be getting a stroller delivered to your house in a couple of days!"  Since my aunt and uncle don't have kids, they'll get to experience a little of the baby-buying experience through us!  Watch out, Lois and Tom, the crib is next ;-)

Fourteen Weeks

How far along: 14 weeks, as of January 3, 2012 (our 15 month anniversary!).  I cheated a little in this picture by pulling on the bottom of the dress so it would be more form-fitting and you can see the "bump" better.  I definitely have bump envy.  I'm sure I'll be singing a different tune in about 5 months when I'm huge and nothing fits, but for now, I want definitive evidence that Beansprout is growing!
Size of baby: Lemon.  Beansprout, who is about 3.5 inches, can now squint, frown, grimace, and possibly suck his thumb!  His brain impulses are causing many facial expressions.  Can't wait to see what those are in a little less than 6 months!  By the end of this week, his arms are in proportion to the rest of his body (his legs are still a little short!).  He is developing lanugo, a fine protective coating over his body that will keep him warm.  His liver starts making bile, and his spleen starts helping in the production of red blood cells.
Movement: Still nothing that I can feel.  Hoping to feel the first little flutters in the next month or so.
Sex of baby: Six more weeks!
Sleep: Fine, although I'm up once or twice a night to use the bathroom.
What I miss: Nothing this week.
Cravings: Really, food in general.  I am always hungry, and everything sounds good!
Symptoms: Fatigue, some abdominal pain.
What I'm looking forward to: Finding out after the 16 week appointment (fingers crossed, prayers accepted) that the baby is healthy and does not have neural tube defects.

Thirteen Weeks

How far along: 13 weeks as of December 27, 2011.
Size of baby: Medium shrimp.  As of this week, fingerprints have formed on Beansprout's fingertips.  The veins and organs are clearly visible through his skin.  His body is starting to catch up with his head, which is now just a third of his body size.  Beansprout is about three inches long.
Movement: Still none that I can feel.  I did purchase a fetal heart rate monitor, and we have been able to listen to Beansprout's heartbeat a couple of times.  It is a little anxiety-invoking each time I use the monitor, because you have to search for the baby, but when you do find the heartbeat it's so cool to hear.
Sex of baby: We have a date to find out: February 16!  Counting down!
Sleep: Fine.  I'm still pretty tired, so I fall asleep easily.
What I miss: Not much this week.
Cravings: Chocolate milk.  I'm definitely on a milk kick during this pregnancy.
Symptoms: Fatigue, but it is better than before.
What I'm looking forward to: Just progressing well in the pregnancy, and knowing that with each passing week, we're closer to meeting Beansprout!  He needs to hang around for at least 23 more weeks, though; I do not need a repeat of my own early arrival!

Happy Holidays!

I had been looking forward to Christmas this year for weeks.  I had decided to wait to share the baby news with my grandmothers, aunts, uncles, and cousin until Christmas, as a fun surprise.  I broke the news by giving them cards from the baby and telling them that I had not gotten the chance to send them their holiday cards.  Beansprout gave each person a card, and inside was the "Happy Holidays" ultrasound picture and a little poem I wrote from the baby.  The reactions were priceless! 

My mom's sister, my aunt Lois, knew right away.  Her jaw dropped, and she was speechless for a minute.  Then she started crying and came over to hug me.  It was so sweet.  Meanwhile, my grandmother and my uncle Tom had no clue what they were looking at.  I believe my grandmother's words were, "What is this supposed to be?"  Ha.  I'm not sure she's ever seen an ultrasound.  She got it after we told her to read the card, which was addressed to 'Great-Grandma.'

My dad's sister, my aunt Missy, had a similar reaction to Lois.  Her jaw dropped, too, and she had to cover her face so my grandmother couldn't see her reaction!  My nana took a minute, but then realized what she was looking at.  They were both thrilled, as well.

It was such a fun way to tell people.  I was glad that I waited, rather then telling them earlier without everyone there to witness it.  Beansprout is lucky to have so many people who already love him/her!  I can't wait until next Christmas, when we will have a six month old crawling around.

Twelve Weeks!

How far along: 12 weeks as of December 20, 2011!
Size of baby: Lime.  That seems so substantial (and is validated by the fact that I can still wear only about two pairs of pants)!  Beansprout's reflexes are developing this week.  His fingers begin to open and close, his toes curl, his eye muscles clench, and his mouth makes sucking movements.  Apparently, if you prod my abdomen, he will squirm away in response!  His intestines begin to move into the abdominal cavity, and his kidneys begin producing urine. 
Movement: Still can't feel anything.  I think it will be a month or so.
Sex of baby: We'll find out in about seven weeks!
Sleep: Still fine. 
What I miss: Well, with having a miserable cold this week, I miss being able to take medicine!  I was limited to tylenol (and I limited myself to one a day, only when my temperature reached 99) and ricola cough drops.  It was awful, and it lasted longer than it would have otherwise.  Crossing my fingers that I won't get sick again during this pregnancy.  Still debating about the flu shot.
Cravings: Well, I had a dream--apparently weird dreams are more common during pregnancy?-- in which I was eating cheese doodles.  I woke up and asked Mark to get me some.  I can't remember the last time I ate those.  It's so strange what I have craved. 
Symptoms: Just fatigue, which has been worse with the cold.
What I'm looking forward to: The end of the first trimester and the beginning of what is supposed to be the best trimester.