Bumpdate: 18 weeks

Not much to talk about this week. Symptoms have been next to nothing and I have been feeling really good! Over the weekend my mom, aunt, and sister came over to paint the owl mural on the wall of the nursery! They did such a great job and I so much appreciate what they did. Baby is so lucky to have such a great family! Here is the finished product!

I feel really good with the progress we are making with the nursery. We still have a ton to do, but it seems we are on schedule! I am still on the look-out for a cheap dresser, but if I don't find one I am more than willing to buy a new one from the store.
 

• How many weeks are you? 18 weeks

• What fruit size is your baby? Baby is the size of a sweet potato

• Cravings/Aversions? Ice cream has been somewhat of a craving, but not too bad. No aversions this week!

• Any big milestones or updates? At 18 weeks her reflexes are fully developed. She hiccups, yawns, and moves around inside the womb. Soft cartilage-like bones are starting to harden, making calcium and Vitamin-D.

• Symptoms? Still getting heartburn, but it wasn't as bad this week. I still have not felt movement, but have felt a few flutters here and there. My belly is getting harder.

Bumpdate: 17 weeks & Gender Scan!

I had a really great week! I was feeling good and really looking forward to our elective gender scan that was yesterday! It took the tech awhile to determine the sex, but we found out that we are having a little GIRL! I can't believe that my instinct from the beginning was right! We are so thrilled and we cannot wait to meet our daughter!

Her heartbeat was 160bpm and she measured 6 ounces...right on track! Baby is very lady like; she had her legs crossed the whole time. Although she wasn't cooperating with us, the tech said she was 100% sure that our baby is a girl!

I found out that I have an anterior placenta which means that the placenta is in front of the baby (in between my stomach and the baby) so movement probably won't be felt for a little longer. No biggie! Also, since my doctor is concerned about my weight, I have to take the GD test TWICE! I have to take it before my next appointment at 21 weeks and then again at 28 weeks. Hopefully there will be no problems.

• How many weeks are you? 17 weeks 

• What fruit size is your baby? Baby is the size of an onion (which isn't even a fruit!). She is 6 ounces according to my appointment yesterday.

• Cravings/Aversions? No cravings or aversions this week. 

• Any big milestones or updates? At 17 weeks she can begin to hear sounds, like my heartbeat and the sound of my voice. Organs are now well developed. The kidneys create urine and the liver is starting to produce bile.

• Symptoms? Heartburn! I get is almost everyday now (especially in the evenings). Other than that I am feeling great! Getting a little more hungry these days, but not by much. 

We have our anatomy scan in 4 weeks on May 14th when I will 21 weeks along. I have to drink that GD test 30 minutes before the appointment and then they will take my blood when we get there. We then have the a/s which I am very excited about! Then I will have my regular monthly check-up!

First big purchase for baby!

My parent's had graciously offered to buy our travel system as a gift for us. When I let them know that on a particular day it was 20% off at Babies R Us they jumped on the deal. They ordered it and within 3 days it was on our front porch! We received it last night and put it together in under 15 minutes. It was awesome how easy it was to set up!

We registered for the Graco Modes Click Connect Travel System which included the SnugRide 35 Infant Car Seat and base. I did a TON of research on the perfect travel system for us starting around 8 weeks. I knew this was one of our biggest decisions to make (in regards to our registry) so I wanted to give myself plenty of time to do proper research. After looking up information online, watching YouTube videos, reading the "Baby Bargains" book, and talking to my friend's who are mothers, Marcus and I decided on this system.

I feel great having this portion of my registry over with. Now we can focus on the other things that we'll need! We will probably end up registering around weeks 18-20 weeks. 

Bumpdate: 16 weeks

Only 1 month to go before I am half way done with the pregnancy! Time is flying by! We are finally getting nice spring weather here in Ohio and I am loving my evening walks with Brutus! I can't believe in less than a week we will know the sex of this baby. Crazy!

Week 16 has brought on a few new pregnancy symptoms. Although I did not throw up at all in my 15th week, I have been getting heartburn. I have only had it 2 times and both were in the middle of the night. I hate heartburn and the way it makes me feel. I am going to need to keep a bottle of Tums on my nightstand.

Also, another strange thing happened to me on 15w5d. I was taking a long walk with my dog and at the end of the walk my stomach started feeling uncomfortable. Then everything tightened up: my belly and uterus. This happened twice and both lasted about 20 seconds. Once I got home I laid down and got a glass of water. I was looking this up on Google and everything was saying that I was experiencing Braxton Hick's contractions. Apparently, a woman can start feeling these sporadically at this point in pregnancy. Who knew!

• How many weeks are you? 16 weeks 

• What fruit size is your baby? Baby is the size of an avocado! (Yuck!)

• Cravings/Aversions? This week all I want is a Jimmy John's sub which I know I can't have! So instead I get a hot sub from Subway, but it's just not the same! No aversions this week. 

• Any big milestones or updates? At 16 weeks baby is about 4 inches in length and weighing 4 ounces. Baby's chest expands and contracts, drawing amniotic fluid into the lungs to prepare the lungs for breathing.

• Symptoms? I did not throw up at all in week 15, but there were moments when I thought I might. I am feeling pretty good this week. I have been sleeping well (even with the heartburn and boob aches).

Bumpdate: 15 weeks

• How many weeks are you? 15 weeks 

• What fruit size is your baby? Baby is the size of an orange!

• Cravings/Aversions? I am craving Gummy Bears! Yumm! They always sound good when I need a little snack. Nothing has been grossing me out this week.

• Any big milestones or updates? At 15 weeks baby is demonstrating more purposeful movements, such as thumb sucking. Although its eyelids are still closed, the eyes themselves may now perceive light and begin to track light in unison.

• Symptoms? I threw up twice in week 14. I am guessing this isn't the end of morning sickness, but we shall see! Other than that I have been feeling pretty good! My energy is coming back and my sciatic pain is definitely lessening. I kept waking up last night with really bad breast pain. This is the first time I have had any kind of breast pain (other than the typical nipple sourness) this whole pregnancy. 

Last night Marcus and I cleaned out the rest of the nursery and put the crib up. We have had this crib unassembled in our closet for years and we weren't going to set it up for awhile, but Marcus really wanted to last night so we did! We love how it turned out!

We cannot wait to find out the sex of this baby; less than 2 weeks away!

Bumpdate: 14 weeks

This week has been pretty boring (except for yesterday) and I haven't really had any symptoms or problems. I have been cruising through this pregnancy so far *knock on wood* The only exception was yesterday; I threw up for the first time this pregnancy! It wasn't fun and it came out of nowhere! I am not sure what came over me, but today I am feeling better and I hope that yesterday was just a fluke. We'll see!

• How many weeks are you? 14 weeks / 1 day 

• What fruit size is your baby? Baby is the size of a lemon!

• Cravings/Aversions? Again, I have been craving water, especially at night right before bed. No aversions this week.

• Any big milestones or updates? At 14 weeks hair is starting to sprout on the baby's head, which is about the size of a gumball. The head is now in better proportion to the body size. Simple facial gestures may now be visible on an ultrasound, including grimacing and squinting.

• Symptoms? Except for yesterday I am still feeling very good! My sciatica pain seems to be lessening (although it might be because I am driving less) and my energy is finally coming back! 

I think I might have felt baby flutters for the first time last night! I had just ate dinner and was laying on the couch and I felt something right in the middle of my belly just above my pubic bone (right where baby is!). I know it wasn't gas since I was having some gas along with the flutters and I was able to distinguish both the feelings. It's hard to explain, but it felt like little taps from the inside. Very cool! 

Also, we have scheduled our appointment to find out the sex of this baby! It will be on April 16th (I will be 17 weeks pregnant). This is the same day as my regular OB check-up so we are paying extra to find out early what we are having! I am so so so excited, I can't even wait! Less than 3 weeks until we find out! 

When I was 13w2d I woke up with this huge belly! I don't know where it came from, but it was fun to actually look pregnant. Even though it has lessened since then I still have a noticeable bump! Even Marcus has pointed out that he can see my belly growing! So much changed from last week! I also feel like I am carrying low!

Bumpdate: 13 weeks. Hello 2nd Tri!

I am in my 2nd trimester! I am 1/3 of the way done! I can't believe I've made it this far! We had our 3rd OB appointment yesterday. I thought it was going to be a boring appointment until my doctor took out the doppler! I kept thanking her since I didn't think we'd be doing that yesterday! Did I ever mention how much I love my OB? She put the doppler about an inch above my pubic bone dead center of my belly and the baby's heartbeat popped up right away! I couldn't believe how fast it took, I think even my doctor was surprised. The first thing I said was, "Good job, Dr. Chan!" She says, "No, good job baby!" I will never get sick of hearing my baby's heartbeat! Such a wonderful sound!

She also said my blood work from a couple weeks ago came back all normal and I have an O+ blood type. Also, my blood pressure yesterday was at 132/80 which we were all happy about! I asked her later what would be the "perfect" bp she would like to see from me and she said anywhere from 120-130/80 bp so she was very happy with my results yesterday! She was also happy that I have not gained any weight so far (I am actually down 2 lbs from the very first weight-in). I asked her when would be the appropriate time for me to start noticing weight gain and she said anytime after 20 weeks. So I need to keep it up and make sure I am not gaining any weight for another 7 weeks!

• How many weeks are you? 13 weeks! 

• What fruit size is your baby? Baby is the size of a peach! 

• Cravings/Aversions? No cravings this week! If anything it would be salads and water. The only aversion I am having to towards wings. They sound and smell so gross all the time!

• Any big milestones or updates? At 13 weeks baby is now 3 inches long. Tiny vocal cords are developing, However, sounds will not be produced for about 7 more months. The pancreas begins to produce insulin, and the intestines move from inside the umbilical cord to their permanent home in the abdomen.

• Symptoms? Still feeling really good! This weeks brings a new symptom however. If I sit in the car or at my desk for too long my Sciatic nerve acts up and I get a pinching feeling in my butt. It's quite uncomfortable! The doctor reassured me that this is completely normal and the only way to help the discomfort is to make sure I am getting up and walking around/stretching as often as possible. Other than that I am feeling not as tired (although I don't feel like I have 100% of my energy back) and my nausea is still completely gone! 

My next appointment is in 4 weeks on April 16th when I am 17 weeks pregnant! This will be a basic check-up where they will take my weight, bp, urine, and listen to baby on the doppler! This is the longest stretch of time I have had in between appointments so hopefully it won't drag on!