Beansprout

Here are some pictures of Beansprout from the twenty week appointment. 

A leg:

Profile with his hand and arm clearly defined:

Another profile (this one shows the heart, which is the black spot in the middle of his chest):

And a tiny little baby foot:

Twenty Weeks

How far along: 20 weeks as of Tuesday, February 14, 2012.  Halfway there!!
Size of baby: Beansprout is about 10 inches long from head to heel (they measure from head to toe now, not just crown to rump!), the size of a banana.  He weighs about 10 1/2 ounces.  He is continuing to practice swallowing, which is good practice for his digestive system.  He's producing meconium, a by-product of digestion.
Movement: I'm still feeling the thumps, which are either kicks or rolls.  They are more frequent now, and Beansprout sometimes responds when I put my hand on my belly by giving me a kick or a punch hello.  I've also felt him kick when I am using the fetal heartrate monitor, which is such a cool feeling.  I found out at my 20-week appointment that I have an anterior placenta, which can mean that I feel less movement than I would if the baby were in front, closest to my abdomen.  I'm still feeling him plenty, though, which is good.
Sex of baby: It's a boy!!  My suspicion was confirmed, and the Hiller tradition of first-born sons continues.
Sleep: Fine.
What I miss: Not having back pain!
Cravings: Italian food, Mexican food.
Symptoms: Back pain, which is sometimes pretty bad, fatigue.
What I'm looking forward to: Shopping and planning for a BOY!  When I see little boys on the street or in stores now, I imagine our own son at their ages.  Knowing the sex makes this experience much more real, and I am feeling a greater sense of attachment.  I can call Beansprout by name, which we have pretty much decided on.  There's a chance we may change our minds, but I think it's set.  We'll share with everyone once he's born!

Extras: My mom was here to take my 20 week picture, so Mark was able to be in one.  Here are the parents and Beansprout at 20 weeks:

Blueberries!!

On Monday night, February 13, we found out who will be coming to live with us in about 20 weeks.  We had my ultrasound appointment that morning.  Beansprout looked perfect!  Perfectly formed brain, heart, spine, kidneys, liver, etc.  And measuring right on target for 20 weeks' gestation.  I was so pleased, and relieved, to hear such good news. 

We had the technician write the sex on a card and put it in an envelope, along with a picture.  We went to Rasika that night for the big reveal.  When the waitress asked if we wanted dessert, I said, "Well, we actually have a request for you," and then launched into the request, asking her to take the envelope and bring back ice cream topped with blueberries for a boy and strawberries for a girl.

I was so excited and full of nervous energy in that five minutes while we were waiting for our dessert.  I have had my suspicions since week eight about who Beansprout is, but this was the real thing!  The waitress brought out a bowl covered with a plate, and I lifted the plate to reveal this:

It's a little hard to see because half of the berries had already been eaten, but they're obviously boy-colored!  I guess Rasika didn't have blueberries, because the ice cream was topped with blackberries.  The waitress brought a flute of champagne for Mark and a flute of ginger ale for me.  It was such a great way to find out! 

Here is the card that was included in the envelope.  I won't show the picture, out of respect for Beansprout's privacy, but trust me, it's a boy!

Nineteen Weeks

How far along: 19 weeks as of February 7, 2012!  Almost halfway there. 
Size of baby: Beansprout is about 6 inches long and weighs about 8.5 ounces, the size of an heirloom tomato!  His arms and legs are in the right proportion to the rest of his body now.  His kidneys are making urine, and hair is sprouting on his scalp!  Also, Beansprout's sensory development is really taking off.  His brain is developing specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch.
Movement: Still little pulses a few times a day.  Yesterday he was going nuts in the morning after I drank hot chocolate, I think because of the sugar rush.
Sex of baby: We'll know in five days!!
Sleep: Still fine.  Still always tired, no matter how much sleep I get.
What I miss: Not feeling tired all of the time.
Cravings: Italian food, salty foods.
Symptoms: Fatigue, back ache, some abdominal cramping, but it's not very frequent.
What I'm looking forward to: February 13!  Prayers for a healthy baby, please!

Extras: I am planning to register for some prenatal classes.  We'll take a birthing class at the hospital where we'll deliver, a breastfeeding class (for some reason it's for mom and dad?!), and a baby care class.  Boy, do we need the last one.  Mark asked me yesterday if I can plan on walking the dogs while Beansprout is napping at home.  I thought he was joking until I realized he wasn't.  We have a lot to learn!

Eighteen Weeks

How far along: 18 weeks as of January 31, 2012.
Size of baby: Beansprout is about 5.5 ounces long (about the length of a green pepper), and he weighs about 7 ounces!  He has begun flexing his arms and legs.  His ears are now in their final position!  A protective coating of myelin is forming around his nerves.
Movement: I am still feeling the pulsing movement, and it's more frequent now.  One night this week I even felt Beansprout in the middle of the night.  Sometimes it feels like he's doing flips in there, because I literally feel a wave movement.  It's so cool, and it gives me great reassurance.
Sex of baby: We find out soon!  I had a dream last night that I cheated and opened the card with the sex written on it in the car.  It was a boy!  Can't wait to see if my intuition is right!
Sleep: Fine.
What I miss: Soft cheeses and over easy eggs this week!
Cravings: Wendy's spicy chicken sandwiches (so healthy, I know), hummus (better on that front).
Symptoms: My back is starting to hurt, and I've noticed some leg cramps.  I'm trying to drink lots of water, because I heard they can be caused by dehydration. 
What I'm looking forward to: The ultrasound on February 13.  Can't wait!!

Two Weeks From Today...

We will find out who Beansprout is!  I'm so excited I can barely stand it.  I'm also very anxious to know that Beansprout's heart, brain, bones, etc. are all growing as they should be. 

I've been increasing my nursery planning lately.  We'll use the same furniture whether it's a boy or a girl, so we can re-use it later, but the bedding and decor will be unique.  I found an Etsy seller who makes awesome name letters for the wall above the baby's crib, and she makes them in both the colors I have selected for a boy and those I have chosen for a girl.

Seventeen Weeks

How far along: 17 weeks as of January 24, 2012.  Woo hoo, baby bump!  I made no effort to suck it in in this picture, so here it is in all of its glory.
Size of baby: Beansprout is five inches long, and he weighs about five ounces (the size of a turnip).  His skeleton is hardening from cartilage to bone, and the umbilical cord is getting stronger and longer.  I read that babies sometimes tug on the cords, so it better be strong!  Beansprout can now move his joints.
Movement: I think I feel Beansprout now.  It doesn't feel like nervous butterflies, like some people have said, but instead it feels like a pulse beating in my abdomen.  I will feel a couple or three beats, and then it stops.  I've never felt this sensation before, so I am chalking it up to the baby.
Sex of the baby: Our new discovery date is Monday, February 13!  As I said in the previous post, we won't find out until that night at dinner, as long as Beansprout doesn't make it too obvious during the ultrasound.  Once we know, we will send out a picture of the dessert with the blueberries or strawberries!  Mark now thinks Beansprout may be a girl.  He told me the other day that he is guessing there's a 35% chance we'll be buying pink rather than blue.  This is new for him, as he's said boy since day one.  I'm still convinced it's a boy.  My aunt and uncle told me they both think it's a girl.  Any other votes??  It actually would end the name wars if we find out it's a girl, since the girl name has been set since before conception (it's been my favorite for years, and poor Mark had no choice in the matter!)  I thought we had a boy name set, but Mark said the other day he's still not sold on it.  If it's a boy, we'll have to kick the name game up a notch.
Sleep: Still fine, although I'm still always tired.
What I miss: Well, this week I attended a work dinner where lots of wine was ordered, and the red wine smelled so good.  I missed red wine that night, but it's a fleeting desire.
Cravings: Food, food, and more food.  I am worried that I'm going to gain 50 pounds!  I have made an effort to eat more healthfully since my last doctor's appointment where I discovered I had gained 10 pounds by week 16.  I still eat when I'm hungry, which is much of the time, but I'm trying to make better choices.
Symptoms: Fatigue, some round ligament pain.
What I'm looking forward to: February 13!  While it will be exciting to find out the sex, I'm more looking forward to knowing that Beansprout is practically perfect in every way, to quote Mary Poppins.

Extras: I got brave and got a flu shot this week.  This has been a huge struggle for me since getting pregnant.  I'm not big on non-vital vaccines, especially those with any traces of mercury in them, and I have never gotten the flu shot before.  However, it's highly recommended for pregnant women to get the vaccine.  I knew I didn't want to risk it until after the first trimester, and I was considering not getting it at all, until I got so sick in Dec./early January.  I knew that if there was a chance of getting the flu, with my immune system so poor, I'd probably get it.  So, with much anxiety and fear, I rolled up my sleeve on Thursday and got the preservative-free shot.  I checked Beansprout's heartbeat yesterday, and he's still going strong in the high 140s/low 150s.  I'll check again tonight.  I am so glad I invested in the doppler monitor!