Week #24 - 6 Months

I was supposed to have a checkup this week, but due to the office being locked (and, I'm assuming, closed for the holidays) I was unable to see a doctor.  Weird.  I guess I'll have to call them after the holidays and reschedule.

Only 4 months left!!

My excitement level has been increasing with each passing week - and each kick.  The little guy has been having a jolly time just cruising around in my belly and has been making his presence felt more each day.  He still won't kick on demand, but his repetitive motions (while I'm lying down) has enabled Kevin to interact with him a little more.  And he loves Glee music!  I wasn't sure initially because on Christmas Eve I was singing along with a Karaoke CD with my niece and he started kicking up a storm.  Then after returning home, I bought some albums on iTunes and he kicks whenever I listen to it.  How fun is that?!

I've been feeling great this week!  I even went for a crazy long walk with a friend on Tuesday night; granted, by the end of it I was nearly limping, but otherwise it was fantastic to get out and do something!  I also had an amazing lunch date with two of my favourite ladies; everyone has been so crazy-busy with work and Christmas, so it was lovely to catch up.  And by the way, I'm incredibly jealous that everyone seems to be joining a gym, but it would be useless for me to even bother (except for walking on the treadmill).  Due to the fact that I need gym buddies to bother going, this would have been perfect for me!  I'm looking on the bright side: after baby is born, if everyone is still going, they'll be in a routine which will make it even easier for me to go regularly. Yay!

I also think that I'm going to start posting pictures of my growing belly every week.  If I remember.

Baby K now measures 30 cm (11.81 inches) in length - the length of a standard ruler - and weighs in at 600 grams (or 1.32 lbs).  He is also considered "viable" at this stage; meaning, he would survive - with help - if he were to be born now.  My uterus now sits 5.1 cm (or 2 inches) above my belly button.  My baby's face and body are starting to fatten, so that now he looks like a newborn - albeit a tiny one - with most of his weight gain being in his muscles, developing organs and bone mass.

Due to changing hormones, the blood vessels in the nasal passages can swell causing more frequent nasal stuffiness or even nosebleeds.  Luckily, I've only been stuck with a slightly runny nose; however, it is winter, so I don't really notice.  But, if I were suffering more, a good way to cope would be to have a humidifier in the bedroom or to use nasal decongestants.

How am I feeling?  Great!  My lower back does get sore when I'm sitting for too long, but I almost think I'm getting used to it now.  I've been sleeping better this week too (and getting up less at night) so I'm just peachy!  Except for last night; last night I was up almost every 2-3 hours.

What am I craving this week?  Peaches!  Not all the time, but enough that I went and opened (and then consumed half of) a can of peaches.  I still eat my mandarin oranges and I still like my spicier foods.  Oh, but when we were buying ice cream, I wanted something with strawberries in it, not just a strawberry flavour, so that was a picky choice.  It's a good thing Kevin is such a good sport about my pickiness, lol.

Mood swings?  YES.  I had a mini-meltdown over Christmas, which, in hindsight, wouldn't have been that dramatic if I wasn't pregnant.  I still would've been super pissed off, but I wouldn't have broken down like I had.  On the flip side, when I find something funny it's a full on laugh that doesn't stop.  Maybe it wouldn't have been that funny if I wasn't pregnant, but if I have to be super emotional at least I get the perks of a really good laugh.  It was totally at Kevin's expense, but I think he was just so pleased that I was laughing so hard that he went along with it.  He was probably laughing at me laughing so hard.

Any baby purchases?  No, but we received a Diaper Genie from Kevin's brother (and his family), so that was super awesome!  We also received a couple other smaller items from my mom, and some cash from my brother (and family) for the baby.  With the cash and some gift certificates, we plan on buying a play yard that has an included bassinet (not pictured) and change table.

I think this play yard is fantastic!  It has everything we were looking for, plus the colours look like they would match either the nursery or stroller combo.  And! If you look closely, the mobile has a moon and stars!  Just perfect!  We plan on setting this up in the nursery and I'm going to stay in there until he's outgrown the crib and hopefully has a more established sleeping pattern.  Initially I wanted him in our room, but I don't want to disturb Kevin since he'll have to work and need his sleep.  On the other hand, I didn't want Kevin's alarm clock to wake the baby if I had just put him down! 

What about the nursery?  We still haven't put up the curtains/blinds yet, but that will be a quick job so we aren't feeling rushed about it.  Now that the painting/set up is finished, it is such a huge relief and the incoming baby is becoming more real.  I still get giddy when we walk past his room and I've starting imagining what he'll look like and who he'll take after in personality.  Having spent Christmas with 3 of my nieces and then Boxing Day with the other 2, all of who have such different personalities, it is really exciting to think about.

Oh, so I have this theory about pregnancy.  I believe that forgetting things (all the time) is a side affect of not sleeping enough, but I do truly believe that being pregnant makes you "stupid".  Combined with the kicking and "momnesia", all you can think about is your growing baby.  On top of that is an increased dependence on your partner (if you are fortunate enough to have one) as the growing belly makes it more difficult to perform easy tasks, such as tying your shoes.  When you think about it, there is no evolutionary advantage to a pregnant woman being so vulnerable; nor for the newborn to be so helpless.  All other creatures lack this aspect during gestation, and most newborns are capable of moving independently within hours of being born.  Therefore, it is my belief that the woman's dependency draws her and her partner together during pregnancy to create a stronger family unit leading up to the baby's birth.  The baby's vulnerability then leads the mother and father to take care of the baby which forges a close bond between all involved. 

What do you think?  Yea/Nay?

Week #23

Due to the fact that I can no longer sit straight up from a lying position, I have been forced to roll out of bed the past couple weeks.  Roll.  Ditto that for going to bed too.  And if I happen to be sitting on the floor, I have to maneuver myself onto my knees to stand up.  I feel like a damn turtle.  I've also been forced out of my favourite t-shirts: the bottom keeps riding up exposing my underbelly, so I've been wearing longer ones.  I'm still hoping to avoid the maternity shirts for a while longer.

The kid has been kicking up a storm lately - and Kevin was finally able to feel him!  It's my understanding that this kicking is going to become more frequent and much, much stronger until he no longer has enough room to pull back so far to wallop my insides.  So far he spends most of his time kicking my lower abdomen (the underside of my belly) on the right side, which makes me wonder how he's positioned in there: is he lying on his back or tummy?  Is he vertical or horizontal?  Curled in a ball or arms and legs splayed?  I've never given it much thought until this week.

This week my little guy is around 28 cm (11.4 inches) long and weighs in at 501 grams (or 1.1 lbs), with my uterus sitting about 3 cm above my bellybutton and 23 cm above my pubic symphysis.  My total weight gain should be about 12-15 lbs, and I ring in at around 10 lbs (compared to my pre-pregnancy weight).

The boy's body will start getting plumper and more wrinkled now, with his lanugo hair (if any) will start to darken.  His eyelids and eyebrows have finished forming and he will double in weight over the next month.  With the hardening of his inner ear bones (anvil, hammer and stirrup) his hearing is now functional; however, that doesn't mean he will be able to understand (or interpret) what he hears, since his brain may be too immature at this point.  His organs that develop hormones are developing nicely, particularly insulin production from his pancreas.

Some pains that I may be experiencing right now are round ligament pain (which has decreased dramatically recently) or sciatic nerve pain.  Protein is really important during the second and third trimesters, so I should aim to get about 75 grams of protein per day.  I should also watch my sodium levels to prevent water retention; foods to avoid include pickles, chips and salted nuts.  I'm so screwed.

How am I feeling?  I've been hard pressed to find a comfortable sleeping position at night, despite a pillow under my belly.  Also, the baby's kicks have been making it harder to sleep, as well as the multi-night visits to the bathroom.  Surprisingly, I still feel rather chipper during the day.

What am I craving this week?  Still mandarin oranges.  In fact, Kevin and I plan on bringing a box of them to my in-laws this weekends so I can snack without feeling guilty about eating all their food!

Mood swings?  No, but I've been sososooo excited about the nursery being finished!

Any baby purchases?  No, but that is mainly because I have no idea what I still need.

What about the nursery?  DONE!  Or at least I'm finished setting up what I already have (except for the drapes).  However, the astronomy theme sort of flopped.  I still plan on getting the Twilight Turtle and the Solar System mobile thingie, but I'm not sure if pictures of space anomalies will make their way on his walls - unless I find some already done up.  Kevin & I have donated some of our things to the nursery, so it definitely isn't strictly astronomy anymore - but it is oh so cute. 


(Left: nursery from hall; right: crib, complete with trundle storage drawer)



(Nine cubicle storage unit that currently holds his odds and ends)

(Left: nursery as seen from the left side of the room; right: close up of sign hanging beside crib)

(Left: close up of stars on closet door; right: my old twin bed that will come in handy when I have to pull all-nighters!)

   

(Left: twin bed with storage cubicle at foot and glow-in-the-dark stars; right: close up of stars)

(Play mat that sits in front of crib)

Finally, MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! <3

Week #22

I'm feeling heaps better this week, mainly due to the progress I've made in the nursery (read below for details!) and since the weather cooperated by being warm, I was able to do some painting with an open window.  I've been trying to eat better this past week (and succeeding most of the time); considering how active the kid is, I try to keep in mind that I don't need to make him MORE hyper by feeding him so much sugar.  It is difficult to keep him in mind when I eat, but I think I'm making some progress.  It's also hard to ignore something that kicks so often.

My little guy is now 27.8 cm (or 11 inches) in length from crown to heel and weighs about 430 grams (15.17 oz) - so he's roughly the size of a Barbie.

My uterus is now 2 cm above my waist line and about 22 cm above my pubic symphysis (pubic bone) this week.  Although, to be honest, I don't really know if that's where mine is at the moment.

My baby's brain is rapidly developing this week and that will continue until he's 5 years old.  It is now possible to wake him up via external stimuli (like loud noises or my movement) while he sleeps, and even though his eyes are still fused shut, he'll still make blinking motions.  Since we know that he's male, his testes will hopefully descend all the way into his scrotum.  His other internal organs are becoming more specialized now: for example, his liver.  Bilirubin is produced when blood cells are broken down; in an adult liver, the liver functions to help break down bilirubin.  However, since blood cells have a shorter lifespan in a fetus, their liver actually helps to produce bilirubin.  His bilirubin will then be passed to me, via the placenta, which will then be broken down by my liver.  If he were to be born with a high bilirubin count, he would have a yellowish tinge to his skin - jaundice - and would be treated with phototherapy.

Although dizziness is not uncommon during pregnancy, due to the strain placed on the body, if it happens frequently, a doctor should be notified.  Increased fluid intake is extremely important - and not just to replace the amniotic fluid.  Fluids help to process nutrients, develop new cells, maintain blood volume and to regulate the internal body temperature.  Since calorie needs increase, it stands to reason that fluid volumes would need to increase too.  Drinking water also helps to relieve headaches, uterine cramping and bladder infections.  FYI.

How am I feeling?  Great!  I've managed to get some things done in the nursery so I feel better about that part.  I find that I'm tired, since I get up once or twice a night to use the bathroom; however, I find it hard to fall back asleep when I am awake.  It can be difficult to find a comfortable sleeping position at times too.  The Little Stinker's kicks are stronger and a little more frequent, but not enough for Kevin to feel them - I think I just happen to be in the right place at the right time.  I also think he's been camping out under my ribs on the right side.  You know that feeling when you sit crooked (as in, lean to one side for too long) and it feels like you've been leaning on your ribs?  I've been feeling that a lot lately.

Any weird cravings?  I should just change this to "what am I craving this week?" since that is more appropriate to me.  This week I've been addicted to mandarin oranges; I loved the because they are sweet and juicy at the same time, and they make a perfect mid-day/late-evening snack. 

Mood swings?  Just the usual sensitivity.  Kevin & I have been getting along really well lately, and I find that when things are peachy between us, I'm in the best mood.  We've been talking more and depite our desks being back-to-back, I feel like we are still hanging out, not just hanging in the same room together.  I've been doing more to keep me busy, like working on the nursery or getting outside a little more often, and I think that's been helping my mood immensely.

Any baby purchases?  I found the coolest night light at Home Depot for $6 (pictured below)!  Isn't that adorable?!  It fits with the astronomy theme and is also ECO Options Certified.  I also finally bought the paint for the nursery.

What about the nursery?  On the weekend, Kevin & I finally cracked down and moved our office into our spare room.  Moving the office was an ordeal, since the new office wasn't wired for telephone or internet, so that had to be done first, followed by moving all the furniture out of the new office to make room for our office furniture.  After discovering that the nursery would be big enough to hold my twin bed (for me on late nights), it is currently waiting to be placed in the room after it has been painted.  The nursery itself has painted walls - to be followed by trim and doors. 

Before ---------------------------------> After

 

We have some black-out panel drapes (from Sears), which, coupled with the curtain rod we have chosen, should look super cute.  The design on the curtain rod was initially what set my heart on a fantasy themed nursery for a girl; however, I think this design should also go nicely with our astronomy theme. 

       

In case you haven't noticed, I am loving the fact that I can just paste pictures from websites into my blog!  Sooo much easier than taking pictures myself, plus there's an artistic quality that I just can't quite capture in my own photos.

I'd like to take a moment to say "thanks" to my lovely tenants for the Christmas gifts for the baby.  We received a beautiful bear dressed up like Indiana Jones (sans hat), an adorable black toque with the word "Dude" stitched on it, some white socks, tablets that turn into wipes when added to water (!!), as well as some Rockin' Green laundry detergent for the baby's stuff.  The gifts are awesome and so are you!

Week #21

Physically, I feel great this week and emotionally I've accepted that my life is going to change and I've embraced the little boy who will make his mark on our lives whether we like it or not.  In hindsight, it feels like the past 5 months have flown by and now that the half way mark has passed, I've gone into panic mode about his imminent arrival.  We haven't set up the nursery, or even cleared out the room we're going to use for the nursery; the walls aren't painted; the crib, while it has arrived, is not set up.  I have not taken any baby classes, I have not taken a tour of the hospital and I have not written a birth plan.  In short, this kid is coming in less than 5 months and I'm. Not. Ready!

In all honesty, it's a good thing that the gestation period is 10 months - otherwise the baby would arrive before the parents have fully adjusted to the idea of becoming parents.  At my 20 week doctor appointment, Dr. Fredeen had asked me if I had signed up for prenatal classes.  And all I could think of was why would I have? I still have 5 months to go.  Oh, shit.  I only have 5 months left!  Or less: my sister-in-law gave birth 3 weeks early with her first, so it is a distinct possibility. 

I'm the kind of person who likes to be prepared.  For trips, flights and hotels booked on the day our vacation has been given the green light, transportation to/from airport taken care of and maybe even have some sights mapped out.  When going into unfamiliar territory, I like to be in control and to even have a backup plan, just in case.  And this, my friend, is why I'm freaking out: unless a planned C-section is in order, the baby will show up regardless of my wants, wishes or outright demands.  After his arrival, he will sleep and eat and poop when it damn well pleases him, not me, and the only thing I can do is go with the flow. 

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Baby K is now measured from crown to heel, so he's a whopping 26.7 cm (or 10.5 inches) and he weighs in at 360 grams (12.7 oz).  Originally I had thought that the baby was going through a growth spurt at this point in the pregnancy, but the growth comes from finally including the legs in the measurement.  My uterus should now be 1 cm above my waist line, thus heralding the death of my waist.  I should now be visibly pregnant to everyone, including strangers, so now everyone can stop whispering about how fat I've gotten.

Baby K has taken to swallowing his amniotic fluid to exercise his digestive system, which helps improve the condition of his digestive system after birth.  This week his stubby little legs will become more proportionate to his body (which is still stubby compared to when he becomes mobile).  His heart is growing stronger and it should now be possible to hear the heart beat through a stethoscope.

It is important to stay hydrated now, to replace the amniotic fluid that is being taken up by the baby.

How am I feeling?  Really great this week!  I feel less tired and my joints hurt less.  I've been getting more tummy action lately so that can be distracting, but every kick makes me think of my baby - even though sometimes I want to tell him to knock it off!  Especially when it's 2 a.m. and he kicks my bladder.  It feels like a jolt of electricity, by the way.  I do feel like I'm losing the strength in my legs, since I can no longer hold a lunge in dance.  Actually, I have to sit out of most of the warmup and strength exercises now since my belly gets in the way.

Any weird cravings?  Weird cravings, no; but lately I've been a nonstop eating machine and it feels like I can't help but stuff my face until I feel ready to burst.  This is bothering me because I have an immense fear of gaining 40+ lbs and thought I was doing really well in the first half of my pregnancy.  Sometimes I can even feel full, but I'll still want to snack on junk food.  I guess finding healthier snack food options are in order.

Mood swings?  I had a couple yesterday: one was a pity party which started out with me thinking about how my life changed so quickly right after I found out I was pregnant, which turned into "I haven't accomplished anything" as of yet.  The second one...I'm still not too sure what brought that one on.  Well, I do, and it all worked out, but I was still really upset about it for quite a while last night.

Any baby purchases?  No.

What about the nursery?  Well, the crib has arrived, so that's a relief, but I'm starting to really feel anxious about the nursery not being cleared out yet, so that might end up a priority.  If it weren't for the fact that most of the items in this room were too large to haul out by myself, I would totally do it.

Oh, and PS, I've decided Baby K is a misnomer: The Little Stinker is a more suitable nickname.

Week #20

Bon Jovi said it best when he sang:

"We've got to hold on, to what we've got
It doesn't make a difference if we make it or not
We've got eachother and that's a lot
For love - we'll give it a shot

Woahh, we're half way there
Woahh, livin' on a prayer
Take my hand and we'll make it - I swear
Woahh, livin' on a prayer!"

The past couple weeks have been really eventful: we've been preparing for the arrival of Baby K, who, incidentally, is a boy, and I had my 20 week doctor's appointment.  We cleared space in the closet of our future nursery, our stroller/car seat combo is assembled and we've been talking about clearing out our spare room so we can move our office in there.  After that is finished, we can paint the nursery and set everything up for our little guy.

He's also been cruising around a lot more lately - last night I felt a jolt in my lower abdomen that could only have come from him.  I had assumed, incorrectly, that I wasn't feeling much movement because he was more laid back; apparently, he just wasn't using both feet simultaneously when he was kicking.

This week, Baby K's crown to rump measurements are 16 cm (~6.5 inches) and he weighs about 300 grams (10.6 oz).  My uterus should be in line with my belly button this week and will grow about 1 cm per week!  If this size increase doesn't happen, there is a possibility of intrauterine-growth restrictions, which could be caused by: smoking & drinking, low weight gain, pre-eclampsia (high blood pressure), infections, anemia and/or a history of previous growth-restricted babies.  Diagnosing this problem is difficult since the baby's growth is only measured during the doctor's visit; however, treatment may include bed rest, eating properly, stopping smoking/drinking and induced birth (if the baby is far enough along to survive outside the womb).

Baby K's skin is now growing in two layers: the epidermis and the dermis, and vernix is still being produced (vernix is a slimy layer to protect the skin and provide insulation).  Actually, the vernix may even been seen at birth!  As his bones continue to ossify, his movements will become stronger and more noticeable.

Fun fact: this week the placenta weighs more than the baby!

How am I feeling?  Less tired, but my back still gets really sore.  I've been feeling really good when I dance (but I can't do body rolls anymore!) and since it's warmed up, I've even been walking more.  I gained another 3 lbs, bringing my total weight gain (from week 12) up to 10 lbs. 

Any weird cravings?  I noticed the other day that salty foods (like chips) don't appeal to me.  There have been times too when the smell of something didn't appeal all that much, but eating the food was fine.  I was out walking the other day with a friend and started craving Cadbury Creme Eggs.  So, when I was out shopping yesterday at Shoppers, I figured that I'd finally be able to indulge that craving; however, I nearly had a panic attack/melt down when I couldn't find them right away!  I had searched the first till area then the rest of the snacky aisles before deciding that maybe I couldn't have them after all, only to find them at the next till station.  Whew!  Disaster averted!

Mood swings?  I think I've been ok this week - but I've also gotten out more often. 

Any baby purchases?  No, but I returned an outfit since it was meant for a girl and got a boy one instead.

What about the nursery?  Our crib is due to arrive anytime now, so when we got the call from Sears that a gift parcel had arrived, we thought it was the crib.  Imagine our surprise when the clerk returned with a small plastic bag!  Joan had thoughtfully arranged to have crib sheets sent along with the crib, so now we have 2 of them!  On the plus side, Kevin is all over the Twilight Turtle idea (as shown at the bottom of this post) and we're going to get a motorized solar system for the ceiling of the nursery (seen below)!

How cool is that?!  And yeah, it is meant for older kids, but he just won't get the remote till he's older, lol.  The remote causes the planets to rotate around the sun, so it will act as a mobile.  I really like the idea of this toy since it is something that he can grow into, and it includes a guided tour CD, so it is an educational toy as well.  Plus, Kevin and I both enjoy astronomy, so it is something that will encourage questions as Baby K grows up.  We've also finally decided on a feel for the kid's nursery: I want it to be either like sitting under the stars or like walking in space.  To achieve this, we are going to download and print pictures off of the NASA website of either constellations, planets, nebulae or other space wonders.  We want to keep it consistent and we aren't too interested in the cutesy aspect of an outer space theme like aliens, astronauts or rocket ships.  Essentially, not this:

I'm hoping that a rich wall colour combined with the jewel-toned bedding and vibrant space photos will create a beautiful contrast with the white furniture and black curtains.  I scanned the colour card since taking a picture of it didn't bring out the colour properly:

The colour is called "Taking the Plunge" and it is the second colour from the top on the C-I-L Clean & Playful card.  If you've ever seen my living room, you know that I love colour with depth, so it took a lot of talking on Kevin's part to convince me to not go as dark.  Originally I had a much deeper colour in mind, but the room that we've chosen for our baby doesn't get as much light, so the room would always seem really dark.  While a dark room is perfect for sleeping, it won't go over as well for playtime, so I chose a colour that would seem bright in the sunshine, but still dark enough to allow for a darker sleep area in the middle of summer.

Doctor Appointment #6

I really like the doctors that I've been seeing for my prenatal visits, have I ever mentioned that?  Dr. Fredeen is such a cool guy and he also happens to play basketball in the same rec league as Kevin.  I feel like when my doctors are meeting with me that they genuinely care about how things are going with me and the baby, and that they aren't rushing through my appointment.  And if I bring up a concern, no matter how abstract, they take the time to listen and talk to me about it. 

Above all, they make me feel important and safe.  So if you live in the area and need a baby doctor, I highly recommend him.  Dr. Cosio and Dr. Breckman (who share the office with him) are absolutely wonderful too.  And! I found a "Rate Your M.D." link that has nothing but wonderful things to say about Dr. Fredeen, so if you can't take my word for it, have a read. :)

I had a normal appointment today: Dr. Fredeen asked how things were going and I mentioned the hip pain.  He suggested that it was round ligament pain and I said that I had thought as much.  On the plus side, he said that it shouldn't be bothering me as much the further along in the pregnancy that I got, which was good to hear!  And once I thought about it, I did realize that it takes more for it to bother me - I thought it was just because I was getting out more often, but I guess it's just my body adjusting.  He measured the baby's heart rate, and though it was higher than last time (at 160 bpm), it was still in the normal range.  I mentioned that during the ultrasound the heart rate was at 150, so I hope that the boy was moving around a lot at that point and that it isn't anything bad.  I imagine that I would hear back about the results of my ultrasound (whether good or bad) within a few days.

My next appointment is December 28th and I'll be nearly 24 weeks at that point.  I'm going to do the glucose screening test which will determine whether or not I'm at risk for gestational diabetes.

Ultrasound #2

I'm so pleased to announce that Baby K is male!  This morning I psyched myself up by telling myself I was having a boy so then that way I could get used to the idea.  In my head I was having a girl.  I could put her in dance, put faery decals on the wall and have my little princess.  Until she became a teenager.  I wasn't really looking forward to that part.  However, now that I know that I'm having a boy, I can think of the joys (and challenges) of having a male.  Having grown up with 2 brothers, I think I'll be better equipped to raise a boy than a girl.  I'm assuming I'm having a mini-Kevin and he said that he loved running around a lot as a child, so I guess there's my exercise!  I love the idea of Kevin playing sports with his son and the dad-son bond that they'll develop.  Now I've got 2 main men in my life. :)

During the ultrasound, he was kicking and squirming all over the place, which made me laugh, which made the technician's job more difficult.  She literally had to chase him all over my uterus trying to take pictures!!  He has the perfect baby profile (which I forgot to purchase....smrt), 2 arms, 2 legs and 2 eyes.  His internal organs were pointed out to us as well: his kidneys, bladder, stomach, brain and heart.  His spine and femur were clearly visible, as were the bones in his little hands and feet.  I was so amazed.  His heart rate was measured at 150 bpm, putting that old wives' tale to rest.  Granted, he was moving around so much that I think Kevin is now worried we'll have a hyper baby, lol.  The technician said that all that kicking in utero was good for strengthening muscles so he's definitely healthy! 

Our nursery will still be the same colour that we've picked out (a light bluey-green), but instead of the whimsical theme I had thought of for a girl, we're going to go with an astronomy theme: so stars, planets, etc.  Maybe even a mobile of the same theme.  We have glow-in-the-dark stars, plus 3 reflective mirrors in the shape of stars, so we don't need to start completely from scratch.

PS - I just found the coolest toy online: Twilight Turtle.  It projects constellations on the walls and ceiling!

 

Week #19

I've been noticing that the baby moves most when I'm just relaxing, whether it's in bed or on the couch.  I was asked the other day in jazz whether or not the baby moves during dance and the answer is no.  Feeling Baby K move is less of a fluttery sensation and more of a full-stomach-gurgle feeling...under my ribs.  One morning I felt an irregular spastic motion in my side and had Kevin feel it - we're not sure whether it was the baby or not, and that, so far, has been the only time we could feel it from the outside.  However, it was nice to share that moment with him. 

Baby K is around 15 cm (~6 inches) and weighs 240 grams (8.5 oz).  The baby will gain weight 15 times from now till birth.  If Baby K is female, she will already be forming egg cells in her ovaries!  Over the next few days, a creamy protective layer of cells made up of dead skin cells, oils and lanugo will form, called vernix caseosa.  This layer will protect the baby's developing glands and sensory cells.  Fat deposits will form around the baby's neck, chest and crotch to act as insulation to keep my baby warm.

Apparently the baby is sleeping as much now as a newborn, which is AWESOME since it seems like the baby is always asleep!  Even a favourite sleeping position (chin tucked in or head back) has been established.  Other new developments are formation of the eyebrows, fine scalp hair and, if Baby K is female, the rest of her uterus will develop.

And on to me!  My uterus will be about a 1/2 inch below my belly button (but seems higher) and my weight gain will be between 8-14 lbs (I'm at 6 lbs since week 12).  However, only 7 oz of this is the baby!  Apparently, most of my weight gain will be over the next 3 months, averaging about 1 lb per week (so 12 lbs over the next 3 months).  They go on to say that some weeks will be a higher weight gain that will even out a lower weight gain - which explains my inconsistent weight gain.  Exercise will have to be a little lighter now, since the baby's demands are putting pressure on my heart, lungs and kidneys.  While feeling dizzy is common (due to hypotension - low blood pressure) it is still important to tell the doctor about it.

How am I feeling?  Sore.  I danced last night, plus shovelled the driveway during the day, then proceeded to lie on my side on a futon that has no give to it.  So, after 2 hours of that, I couldn't walk.  Seriously.  I hobbled with Kevin providing some support (the rest of the support came from walls and door jams).  After moving around a little, I was able to put weight on my right side again without falling over.  My back gets sore easily, but dancing warms up and loosens my muscles so I feel pretty good until I sit down for a while. 

Any weird food cravings?  No, but we bought Honey Nut Cheerios and I've been eating that almost every night since we bought it.  It probably isn't that healthy but better than chips!  Plus I end up drinking milk, which is good for the calcium.

Moodswings?  I'm ok as long as I feel heard and appreciated.  I get upset if I'm asked to do something when I feel sore and it isn't understood that I'm really not up to it; like in an "I can barely walk" sore.  I think he's becoming more understanding (I hope!).

Any baby purchases?  Nope. 

What about the nursery?  We moved the stuff from the closet of the future nursery (currently acting as a pantry and recycle area) into the closet of the current spare room.  We added shelves and just reorganized everything.  The closet in the spare room is also much bigger, so it was easier to make it work.  I then moved the baby's stuff into the other closet which cleared up the spare room (which is where it was stored).  At some point in the near future we'll have to move the bed and boxes out of the spare room and move the items from the future office into the spare room.  Then we'll be good to paint the nursery!  When we moved in, we just placed items in a convenient spot, and never moved it, so it'll be nice to reorganize everything.

Ultrasound on Tuesday!!! <3

Week #18

There is definitely some movement going on!  Before I could only feel movement if I were lying on my back, but now I feel it while I'm sitting up as well.  Occasionally, it will even feel like my stomach is (lightly) flicked from the inside!  I'm finding that my belly is getting in the way now.  It's still small enough that I just reposition myself to do what I need to do (like tie my shoes) but I find that I have to rethink how I do it.  I'm having a really hard time accepting my body growing and I have to continually remind myself that I'm supposed to get larger.  I started keeping a log of my weight gain at 12.5 weeks and this week I'm exactly 4 lbs heavier (and 1 lb lighter than last week); since I was nowhere near petite when I found out I was pregnant, I really only need to gain 15-25 lbs (instead of 20-30 for average sized women).

This week Baby K measures in at 14.2 cm (5.6 inches) and 190 grams (6.7 oz).  The baby's finger- and toeprints are starting to form, signalling my baby's individuality.  Meconium (early fecal matter) is starting to accumulate in the baby's bowels, and it is made up from dead cells, digestive secretions, amniotic fluid and all that jazz.  In the middle of this week the baby's eyes will (finally) be facing forward and the ears will be in their final position as well. 

At this point, my uterus is about the size of a cantaloupe, with the top being just below my belly button.  My website has figured that by now I've gained about 10-13 lbs, but like I said, I'm at 4 lbs.  And by the end of the week, my heart will start working 40% harder than before!  Oh, back pain is mentioned: I just figured it was due to my being lazy (which probably doesn't help!), so it's nice to know that I should expect more of it.  Some tips to keep back pain at a minimum are to watch your weight gain (check), exercise regularly (check), sleep on your left side (...), use heat pads on sore spots (nope), and talk to doctor about pain medication (nope).  Due to the energy demands placed on my body, these last 2 trimesters are going to require me eating a bunch of carbs, which is awesome since that's what I eat!

How am I feeling?  I have a sore/achy back, which feels like I slept wrong - which is entirely possible - but it could be normal, judging by what I just read on sore backs during pregnancy.  I'm uncomfortable sitting and a little grotesque since the bottom of my belly can rest of my thighs when I am sitting up straight (or leaning forward).  I went to 3 out of 4 dance classes and made sure to take it easy stretching in jazz, so my inner adductor (muscle possibly identified by Judy!) isn't as sore as it was last week.  I was also told by my ballet teacher to stop doing crunches!!  Apparently, as the belly gets in the way, the abdominal muscles (?) will actually split in the center to create a shorter path along the sides of the abdomen.  Once the belly is gone, a chasm is left and it can take a while to re-knit itself.  Instead, she suggested some breathing exercises to work the core and will actually help during labour!  Unfortunately, I suck at describing thing, but it is essentially deep breaths and while exhaling you tighten your abs at the same time.  Make sense??  I've also been getting acid reflux, and there have been times when I've felt nauseous, so at night I make sure to prop myself up higher by adding an extra pillow under my shoulders.

Any weird food cravings?  No, but I was craving cherries the other day and unfortunately they're out of season now. :(

Mood swings?  I still get teary seeing emotional things on tv and totally lost it watching The Doctors the other day!  But, it was an episode on babies born to drug-addicted moms, so I probably would've cried (just not as much) even if I weren't pregnant.  I'm still emotional when Kevin's being a dick, but that is legitimate, not just hormones.

Any baby purchases?  No, seems like we've slowed down.  However, once we find out the baby's sex (1.5 weeks!) we'll probably pick out more stuff that is suited to gender.

What about the nursery?  We bought some glow-in-the-dark star stickers while at West Edmonton Mall, but that's it.

Week #17

I am nearly 100% sure that I can feel the baby move, but it usually only happens at night when I'm trying to get comfortable to sleep.  It feels like my heart is racing when it happens, so I don't know if the baby's movements are speeding my heart (is that possible?!) or if my racing heart is making me think that I'm feeling the baby move.  Another good visual is a muscle spasm: you know that twitch when a muscle is spasming out of control?  It's like that, but on the inside.  Kevin isn't able to feel it yet, but I googled time frames and it is usually between 20-30 weeks that someone else can feel movement.  Some have felt it as early as 17-19 weeks, so I'm hoping he'll be able to feel it sooner rather than later. 

We don't really have a nickname for our baby (e.g., spud, peanut, viper, etc) but whether our baby is a boy or a girl, the name is going to start with "K" so I may just start referring to it as Baby K instead of just baby or it.

This week Baby K is 13 cm from crown to rump and about 140 grams (nearly 5 oz), which is double what it was 2 weeks ago.  My uterus is about 2 inches below my belly button and is definitely visible.  I'm still not in maternity clothes, but my jeans are snugger and it's just more comfortable to wear stretchy pants.  I did try on a maternity shirt on Sunday, but it made me look twice as big as I am, so I'm going to put that away until my belly is bigger.  Plus, air was blowing up my shirt and making my belly cold (which it usually is, btw).  I haven't gained the 5-10 lbs that my website has hypothesized, but I've definitely gained at least 3 lbs (I weighed myself a couple days ago - and I've been tracking my weight and measurements out of curiousity).

Baby K keeps looking more and more human and its weight will increase 6 fold over the next several month.  Fat deposits (AKA adipose tissue) will become more evident, which is great since fat tissue helps aid metabolism and heat production.

One of the major symptoms of this stage in my pregnancy is fatigue - but it should improve over the next few weeks.  Thank goodness.  Moderate exercise should help, but due to sore joints I've missed my classes this week and will probably only do drop-in dance, starting December.  That's going to suck, but it'll be cheaper since I'm usually missing one class per week anyway.

How am I feeling?  Mainly tired, but this past week I've also been feeling sore.  My right hip socket (along the bikini line) has been feeling tender, so I googled it and it is most likely round ligament pain.  And my lower abdomen has been a little sore too, but that's normal as well.  Between the two ailments I feel uncomfortable sitting for too long and walking can be painful.  Twisting side-to-side is definitely out of the question.  All in all, I feel like an invalid and am so thankful that I'm not working right now. 

Any weird food cravings?  No, but I wouldn't mind going to Than Vu or out for butter chicken. :-)

Mood swings?  If I had written this last night, I could've said "no".  But, I think the problem is that I'm home all day and don't get out as much as I used to.  Plus, I didn't dance at all this week, so I didn't get my talking fix in then, which led to me feeling super isolated and alone.  And fighting with Kevin about it.  So, to solve this problem, I need to get out more or at least do more at home (not just watching tv!).

Any baby purchases?  ... no?  But we're going to West Edmonton mall tomorrow so that may change.

What about the nursery?  No change.  My mother-in-law offered to buy us a crib with an attached change table (instead of the one posted last week) but we declined.  We weren't going to buy a change table anyway and most people just use their floor (with a change mat, of course) out of fear of the baby falling off.  One of these days we'll have to get that nursery started though - preferably before I'm 8 months along.

Week #16

This week the baby is 11.6 cm (4.5 inches) and weighs in at 100 grams (3.53 oz)!  That was a 30 gram weight increase!  I think I felt the baby move!  But I've been so psyched up for it that it might be my overeager imagination.  I was telling Kevin that I thought it would be hilarious if someone blew a raspberry on a pregnant woman's belly and got kicked in the mouth for it.  He didn't think it was so funny.  Maybe my sense of humour has changed?

By now the baby's head is covered with lanugo, and has fully formed fingernails.  So now it's catch up time for the toenails!  And from now on the body is growing faster, so that the head will start to look more proportionate to the rest of its body.  The head and neck muscles are growing stronger now so the head is now held more erect.

The website then goes on to talk about Alpha protein being measured.  However, unless this is a specially ordered test or only done in the States, I have no idea where I'm at in terms of this protein.  Since I know the monthly urinalysis looks at proteins, it is possible that my checkup yesterday would involve this test.  The Alpha protein test is done between 16 and 18 weeks and an accurate test involves knowing the exact gestational age and weight.  Elevated levels of Alpha protein could mean that there's something wrong with the baby: spinabifida, anecephaly or Down's Syndrome.  If high levels of protein are found, a careful ultrasound will look for signs of the abnormalities.

This week my uterus weighs in at 3.73 kg (8.75 oz) and is 3 inches below my belly button.  One of the perks is supposed to be less pressure on my bladder, which may be why I haven't woken up at 4:30 am the past couple nights.  Oh, something to look forward to: leaking.  This is not colostrum, but rather a buildup of fluids.  This pregnancy thing just keeps getting better and better!  Another perk: nasal congestion.  Last week they mentioned a perpetually runny nose and this week it's congestion.  They did mention headaches as a symptom, and I had a hell of a time with headaches last week, so maybe that's why?? 

And finally, if I were an older mother (35 years or older) I would be scheduled for an amniocentosis any week now.  For this, they suck out amniotic fluid and examine it for signs of genetic abnormalities (such as chromosomal problems, fetal sex complications, skeletal diseases, fetal infections, hematologic diseases, and inborn metabolism complications).

How am I feeling?  Tired, more often than not.

Any weird food cravings?  Not really.  Maybe going back to spicy food!

Mood swings?  Still yes!  But I like to think that I'm getting a little better and more open about why I'm upset so then my husband can understand.  Poor guy.

Any baby purchases?  I think we managed to restrain ourselves this week, but my mom called the other day and said she bought tons and tons of stuff!  I'd feel guilty, but there are so many pregnant women right now (my sister-in-law is due a week or 2 after me) so it isn't like my mom is spending all of her hard-earned money on just my baby.

What about the nursery?  My mother-in-law just offered to buy us a transitional crib the other night!  I was not expecting that at all and I feel a little overwhelmed by her generosity.  The crib is pictured below and we were thinking of getting it in white.  It is a 4-in-one, so it changes from a crib into a toddler bed, then a day bed and finally into a double.  Crazy, hey?!

Oh and PS, I'm going to post another belly picture, but under the "Belly Pictures" tab.  I would have uploaded one already, but my camera battery was dead, so definitely later!  Originally I was only going to do one picture a month, but already my belly has gotten larger (noticeably, to me at least) and so maybe I'll update every 2 weeks.  :)

** Update: 16 week photo is now up **

Doctor Appointment #5 & Fetal Heart Rate #2

Today was just a routine checkup and Q&A with the doctor.  I had a medical student in today, and she seemed pretty nervous (but trying to hide it) so I ended up feeling even more comfortable chatting with her.  The doctor I had today was Dr. Breckman and she was really nice too.  Under her supervision, she had Anamaria (the student) feel for my uterus.  And I was able to learn how they do it!  She said that she feels along the pelvis until she reaches a "ridge" or "drop off" and that's how she knows.  Cool, hey?  And apparently my uterus is 18 inches from pubic bone to top. 

We did another fetal heart rate today and baby must've been sleeping since the heart rate was 144 bpm.  However, it is my understanding that the larger the baby, the slower the heart rate, so it makes sense.  And over 140 bpm is considered a girl, lol.

My ultrasound is scheduled for November 30th (yay!) and my next doctor's appointment won't be until December 2nd, which is the same week.  And at that point I'll be 20 weeks (or 5 months).

Week #15

There are times when I'm really glad I started this blog.  Like now, for instance.  I would have already lost count of how far along I was were it not for my weekly updates.  So, 15 weeks down, 25 more to go!  It feels like I'm already so close to half-way...until I realize that those extra 5 weeks are equivalent to one month and one week.  And then I start to wonder how I'll ever make it to the end.  I've never been the most patient person, and being pregnant truly does affect everything I do.  I always assumed that it was something that I could toss into the back of my mind until I was further along, but this kid really doesn't let me!  First, it was nausea; now my stomach is gradually expanding and making it uncomfortable to sleep at night or to even sit upright.  And finally, it'll be the monstrous belly with the kicking to keep me occupied.

My baby has grown another 1.4 cm to top it off at 10.1 cm long and it now weighs in around 70 grams and is approximately the size of a softball.

I keep commenting on how fast the baby is growing, and the highest rates of growth will occur over the next few weeks; more specifically, weeks 20 and 25.  As my uterus starts to thin, I'll be able to feel the baby flutter about!  Actually, it should happen any day now, but most first-time moms aren't able to distinguish the difference between baby movements and stomach rumbles until it happens more frequently.

My baby's skin is thin and is covered with lanugo, which is fine hair, and, interestingly enough, the baby's hair development pattern will be determined this week.  After birth, the baby's hair will grow at a rate of 13 mm (1/2 inch) per month.  The eyes are still moving, and though the ears are already placed, they will start to grow externally now and nearly look normal.  The bones are getting harder and harder and would even be visible if I had an x-ray.

My uterus is about 3-4 inches below my belly button and sleep is going to only become more difficult from now on.  A pillow is recommended for between my knees (and I use it to prop up my belly too since all of the weight slides when I'm on my side) to alleviate round ligament pain.  Sleeping on the left side is preferred since the weight of the baby and uterus can put pressure on the inferior vena caver, which takes blood from the lower body to the heart.  And I guess I need to start eating an extra 300 calories a day, which shouldn't be too hard since we have tons of Halloween candy left, lol. ;)

How am I feeling?  Still exhausted.  Weekends are usually better, but I find that I usually wake up when my husband gets up for work and have a difficult time falling back asleep.  However, since I'm still super tired, I try anyway and wake up really late.  And still feel tired.  One day over the weekend I started putting the pillow under my belly and slept really well that night, so at least I'm a little more comfortable now. 

Any weird food cravings?  Hmmm.  I haven't satisfied this one yet, but lately I've been wanting chocolate covered almonds.

Mood swings?  Yes.  And I imagine I'll have them for the rest of the pregnancy.  I find that little things irritate me and if not dealt with quickly, it gets bottled up and I have a meltdown.  I also find that things are bothering me that shouldn't and it really freaks me out that I'm mis-interpreting what people are saying.  I've always thought of myself as having a lower estrogen count (this is my theory, it may be wrong) and so I've never really had PMS.  I'd get more irritable during the leadup to my period, but the rest of the time I was usually laid back.  Now, my estrogen and progesterone levels are high due to pregnancy (and, if I'm carrying a girl, I imagine they're higher still) so it's really messing with my head.  I'm trying to not let things bother me, and if they do bother me, to say something or to find out if what I interpreted is right.  It's really stressful for me.

Any baby purchases?  We went to this super awesome toy store and found an inflatable booster seat that will definitely be well used when we visit or go on trips.  This handy gadget is compact and straps to any chair so it's perfect for situations where we can't bring our home high chair (or whatever we use).  The only thing is that it doesn't have a tray, but considering how small it is compared to the rest of them, it's ok.  Maybe we'll just bring our own placemat to prevent too much spillage to the host's table.

What about the nursery?  My mom had a used cradle at her house that she kindly gave to us.  We plan on leaving this in the living room for naps.

It really hit me the other day that I'm going to be a mom.  And not in a glowy kind of way.  In a this-is-for-the-rest-of-your-life commitment kind of way.  And it terrified me that I'll be losing some of my freedom.  I also found a hot topic that can be just as controversial as talking about religion!  And it really set me off that I'm already facing this kind of pressure when I'm not even 4 months along.  It's a personal decision and no one else's business.  My husband finally relented but not after a huge fight and some tears (mine).  He still disagrees, but has finally ceded to "we'll see what happens when the baby is born."  And it isn't as though I disagree wholly with his side, I just refuse to be trapped by it, especially if there are uncontrollable situations.  Plus, as a science major, I don't understand how it is such a miracle cure-for-all and how it can prevent adult health problems.  So, with the suggestion of my husband, I'm going to research it. 

Week #14

So that's my belly at 14 weeks.  I wasn't sure if it was noticeable yet, but 2 of my good friends commented on it last night, so I thought I'd start posting a picture every month or so.  This way ~I~ have a record of my growing belly and anyone with a dying need to watch my belly grow can do so.  I'm also hoping to photoshop a little, either with a side-by-side comparison, or something similar so then it's more obvious how much I've grown compared to the last picture.

This week my baby is 8.7 cm (crown to rump) and weighs around 43 g (1.5 oz)!!  I am always amazed at how quickly this thing is growing!  Originally only growing millimeters per week, this kid has gained a centimeter and doubled its weight in 7 days!  (Since I'm a nerd and love Excel, I created a graph on how quickly its growing.  View it here.)  With that size, that puts the kid about the size of my fist!  (And for whatever reason, Blogger won't let me upload that picture.  Technology failure trumps all.  Again.)

The ears are now in their proper position, but the eyes are still travelling.  And all I can picture are halibut with their goofy eyes.  A juvenile halibut has eyes on either side of its head, like a normal fish, but as it matures, its eyes move to the same side as the body flattens.

The baby's hands are still developing, with the baby starting to learn how to use them, and its mouth is in various stages of development.  The roof of the mouth is finished, and sucking muscles are developing.  The salivary glands will not only be completed this week, but they will also be functional!  Sucking, swallowing and breathing motions will also be present at the end of the week, now that the esophagus, larynx are present.

Fun fact: hemorrhoids often plague pregnant women and usually get worse later in the pregnancy.  Just one more symptom to make this a joyous time.  One cause of hemorrhoids is constipation, so eating properly, exercising and drinking tons of water will help keep a body regular and hemorrhoid-free.

How am I feeling?  This week I've been feeling really, really good.  Like, back-to-my-old-self good.  And I'm loving it.

Any weird food cravings?  I bought some strawberries the other day, and they're like the best thing ever right now.  And, unfortunately, it seems like my love of cheese has come to an end.  At least on its own.  I've already switched from medium to mild cheddar and it seems like even eating mild is too much.  If I eat it on something or in something it's ok, but just a slice of cheese?  Yuck.

Mood swings?  I had a bad bout of them last weekend, but for the most part I'm ok.  I still get teary over something sweet and I think I'm more likely to be offended than before, but (so far) I'm not a raging psychotic.

Any baby purchases?  Only for the nursery!

What about the nursery?  I bought the 9 cubicle shelving unit that I mentioned last week (and there's a picture on that post too) and even bought the 4 fabric drawers in brown and turquoise that is pictured.  We've narrowed down the colours that we want for the nursery, but still haven't completely decided yet.

And that's it for this week!

Week #13

Wow, this kid is growing insanely fast!  This week it gained 2 cm in length to total 7.4 cm and nearly doubled its weight (again!) to 23 grams (nearly 1 ounce).  Now the baby is the size of a peach.

At this stage the baby's head is still roughly half its body length, but should start slowing its growth so that by the 21st week its head should only be 1/3 the total length.  Good news!  My baby's face is starting to look human!  The eyes are moving closer together and the ears are moving to their proper place on the side of the head.  If needed, it would be possible to determine its sex by now and its intestines are finally in the body - instead of the umbilical cord.  And my baby will start to urinate inside the womb. Yay? 

At this point the website goes on to say that I need bigger clothes but I'm actually still wearing my normal ones - even my jeans.  The belt, to be honest, is uncomfortable when I sit, but since I want my pants to stay up I still wear it.  Stretch marks: the physical evidence of a growing body and the bane of every woman's existence.  There is no "cure" for stretch marks and you really can't prevent them, unless you've got amazing genetics.  Creams, lotions and oils don't actually help, but if it makes you feel better to use them, by all means go ahead!  It has been mentioned that these things help alleviate itchiness, so there is a perk to their useage.  But, aside from slowly gaining the weight, stretch marks are inevitable.  And we'll see if I'm still objective about this after I get some.  Another thing to watch for are bladder infections, which are common during pregnancy.  Due to the growing baby inside, it is best to talk to a doctor about it rather than treating yourself with over the counter medication.  I've mentioned in the past that my boobs are huge now (for me).  Pre-pregnancy, the average breast weighs 7 oz and during can weigh between 14-28 oz.  That means they can double, or triple, in weight! 

Since excessive caffeine during pregnancy has been associated with low birth weight and smaller head sizes in babies, doctors have come up with the magical number of 200 mg maximum daily intake. Broken down, it looks like this:

• Coffee, 5 oz = 60-140 mg
• Tea, 5 oz = 30-65 mg
• Baking chocolate, 1 oz = 25 mg
• Chocolate candy, 1 oz = 6 mg
• Pop, 12 oz = 35-55 mg
• Pain relief tablets, standard dose = 40 mg
• Allergy and cold remedies, standard dose = 25 mg

Unfortunately, there is such high variability that it doesn't tell you what is in the low end (decaf?) and the high end (medium roast?).  Luckily for me, and my baby, I don't drink coffee and even pop rarely appears in my diet (now).  Chocolate, on the other hand, does, so it's just as well that I don't drink pop often, otherwise that would cut into my chocolate intake.

How am I feeling?  Lately I've been alternating between not being able to sleep at night and exhaustion.  I've been having more headaches this past week than I did in the past, plus heartburn has been making itself comfortable.  I'm technically feeling better because nausea isn't as big of an issue, but I'm still not feeling like myself.

Any weird food cravings?  This isn't really weird, but I've been eating a lot of peanut butter this week.  I've also been all about the sandwiches, but that could be because they're easy to make and don't require cooking.

Mood swings?  YES.  Even after I wrote the last blog, my first major mood swing hit.  I was reading a book, which was quite funny, so I was laughing really hard, like tears were rolling down my cheeks, and then it switched to sobbing.  I've been finding this odd and annoying.  Even my laughing isn't restrained!  I'm almost laughing TOO hard for what the situation warrants!  And it makes my belly hurt.

Any baby purchases?  I went to Zellers the other day and they had some value pack stuff on for $10!  So I got a 10 pack of bibs, 6 pack of receiving blankets and 30 pack of wash cloths.  Plus my mom came up yesterday and brought me some stuff for the baby: socks, onesies, sleepers, and diapers.  And then we went to the mall and she told me to pick out 2 outfits: 1 for a girl and 1 for a boy and she did the same.  I have the receipt so when I find out the baby's sex I can return the ones for the wrong sex. 

What about the nursery?  I have a vision of what I want the nursery to look like, colour-wise.  I want the walls teal, white furniture and jewel-toned bedding/decorations/etc.  I mentioned this to my mom and I think she's offered to make the bedding since I want just solid colours: emerald green, navy blue, dark brown, even white.  For a boy, more tones in blues, but for a girl, plum purple and rich pinks.  I dunno if that'll happen since you can't actually buy that stuff for babies, but for now that's my vision. 

I also plan on using the above cubicle system for the baby's clothing until they're older, at which point they'll get a real dresser and use the cubicle for toys.  The fabric drawers come in a variety of colours and I'm planning (hoping?) to get a white organizer.

Whew!  Long post!

Oh!  One last thing: my husband's coworker's wife has offered me the use of the clothes that she and her sister-in-law collected while pregnant!  How cool is that?  I've only ever met the guy once and have never met his wife, so I find this generosity to be a little overwhelming!

Cristina's Book Blog: The Girlfriends' Guide to Pregnancy

Cristina's Book Blog: The Girlfriends' Guide to Pregnancy: "It's been a while since I've blogged about a book and I feel a little guilty. One, it isn't like I have stopped reading - quite the opposit..."

Week #12

12 weeks down, 28 to go! 

This is the time that most women finally come out of the pregnancy closet and annouce to everyone that they're expecting.  Having kept this a secret for several weeks now, it feels funny to just email someone up and say, "by the way, I'm 12 weeks pregnant"; but to leave most friends and family in the dark is not very nice either.  Sure, they could hear from other friends, but maybe the other friends assume that they knew too or they don't have someone to tell them.  So, I'm going to post this blog link on my Facebook profile. 

Now on to the baby!

The baby is now 5.4 cm and 14 grams (nearly 1/2 an ounce).  I was lucky enough to hear the heart rate yesterday (with a doppler - the recording is on the previous post), but if the baby is sitting funny - e.g. placenta lying across its tummy - it won't be possible.  The baby's skeleton is hardening into bone now, with the fingers and toes separating and growing nails.  Hair is even starting to grow on the body.  The digestive system is developing nicely and the baby's pituitary gland has started producing hormones.  By the end of this week, my uterus will be too big for my pelvis and I should be able to feel it above my pubic bone (AKA pubic symphysis).  I'm really hoping this will be the end of morning sickness; 6 weeks was enough, thank you very much.  A pigment change that I may or may not experience is the linea nigra, which is a dark line from the navel downwards.

How am I feeling?  Today?  Pretty good.  Yesterday I had the worst case of morning sickness that I've ever had and I just felt gross all day.  I find that when I'm moving around, I get really warm and my face will even turn red - and it's especially bad when I dance.  I felt super lazy all week so I only went to one class out of 4 (bad!) so I'm hoping next week I'll be more motivated to go.

Any weird food cravings?  No, I'm really hoping that I never get any weird ones either.  Since we're creeping up on Halloween, I've been having sugar cravings, but I'm almost thinking my morning sickness yesterday was caused by eating too much sugar the night before.  Lesson learned.

Mood swings?  Nope.

Any body changes?  My belly is bigger.  I'm thinking of buying a tape measure just to mark on the tape how big I was and where in the pregnancy I was at the time.  Then that way when I look back, I can see how huge I actually was!

Any baby purchases?  We bought a couple small items (a bib and wash cloths) the other day but since we don't know the sex yet it makes it difficult to really buy anything.  Most items are more obviously masculine or feminine with the unisex stuff looking kind of boring in comparison.

What about the nursery?  I went and bought some reflective stars the other day, which I think will look really cute in there, but again, without knowing the sex it makes it difficult to decorate.  Not that anything has been moved or anything.

Next Doctor's Appointment: November 4
Ultrasound Appointment: November 30

Doctor Appointment #4 & Fetal Heart Rate #1

I heard the heart beat today. *loves!*  According to Dr. Fredeen, the average speed was 155 beats per minute and he even said that he could hear the baby moving around.   Also, according to this website, I'm having a girl based on the heart rate!  LOL!  Anyone want to change their guesses for the baby pool?  ;)  I'm getting my 18 week ultrasound done on November 30 (which would actually put me at nearly 20 weeks. /lame) but we've requested gender identification.  Actually, having it done a little later might mean that it'll be easier to tell - unless the kid squirms a lot, lol.

I nearly had to do another round of blood testing, since the lab didn't send the clinic my results.  I would have been really upset if I had to go back, considering how much it hurt last time.  Luckily, the receptionist was able to find it all.  The results of the blood work were that everything was normal; I'm HIV negative (no real doubt, but it's always nice to know for sure!) and I'm producing tons of rubella antigens, which is good since I was vaccinated against them when I was younger.

(Oh, and PS - I asked the Dr how fast the heart rate is, but it was very faint in the video, so that's what the 155 is when he answers).

All around, excellent day, except for the horrible bout of morning sickness this morning. :(

Week #11

I'm sooo excited!  If I'm lucky, first trimester annoyances (fatigue, morning sickness - all that fun stuff) should go away around the 12th week.  If I'm not lucky...well, we'll just hope for the best.

By the end of this week, baby will be 4.1 cm in length and weigh 7 grams!  And the baby will be around the size of a large lime.  Ho-lee.  I did not think it was that big already!  Explains the bulge though....

Over the next 3 weeks, the baby will double in length and its external genitalia will become distinguishable.  This week the iris will develop and over the next couple days the eyelids will meet and fuse closed (which is only temporary).  My baby now has a head that is half its length - so...2ish cm? - and its brain is the same structure that it will have at birth.  The reflexes are developing and apparently if its face is touched, it will open its mouth.  Honestly? That sounds adorable!  Some nearly completed organs include the pancreas, gall bladder and thyroid, with the small intestines moving from the stomach into the umbilical cord.  This week carbs are my friend!  Which is good since that's what I've been eating: bagels, bread and pasta.

How am I feeling?  Actually, pretty good!  I still get tired during the day and still feel a little nauseous at night, but for the most part, this is the best I've felt in a long time.  It could also be due to the fact that I'm not working and can therefore gets heaps of sleep.

Any weird food cravings?  No, still the usual stuff.  I've found that staying at home has really limited the cravings since I can't smell anything cooking.  Case in point: last night I went for a walk with a friend and I smelled jam (she could too - it wasn't just me!) and I wanted a scone with jam on it.  So I'm really thinking that smell plays a huge role in the cravings of a pregnant woman.  Another culprit?  The imagination. 

Mood swings? Nope!  Like I said, I've been feeling really good lately, so if anything I've been a little bored, but my cats keep me occupied.  I swear they're training me to be a mom already....

Any body changes? Bigger belly!  Last week I just thought it was bigger and this week I know that it is.  Under clothes it could look like just fat, but when I look at my stomach I know that its my baby who caused it.  And seriously?  If the kid is the size of a lime its no wonder!  It's funny though, I always assumed that women didn't start showing until later in their pregnancy - but it must just be that they don't start looking pregnant until later.  Before then it just looks like a big tummy. :-S

Any baby purchases?  I've already mentioned the stroller, but shortly after I found out I was pregnant, I went and bought some receiving blankets - it's my understanding that I'll need them in abundance so gradually buying them isn't such a hardship.  My mom has also given me a soft yellow-green blanket as well.  And the other day my mom called and said that Extra Foods was having a huge sale on diapers, so she bought me some!  I hadn't even started to think about diapers yet!  I'm starting to think that I'll get a huge shipment of clothes, diapers and blankets when this kid is born, lol!

What about the nursery? Our nursery will be where our office is, for those of you who know our house.  Before I even became pregnant, we installed new windows and Kevin had bought new blinds and drapes for the room.  Well, he bought them for our room too, but bought extra for the nursery.  We (I) plan on painting it teal with fantasy-themed decor.  I want the silhouette of a castle on the wall, with maybe some figurines or decals to match.  I found some fantastic patterns the other day for cross-stitch, but since they're so time-consuming, I hope it'll get done before the baby makes an appearance.  "Or turns 18." <--- So says Kim.  As of yet, we haven't bought paint and haven't moved anything around, but I still have 29 weeks to go.  That's plenty of time...right?

Oh!  Next Dr's appointment is on the 7th and we'll get to hear the heartbeat!  I'm hoping that I'll remember to bring a camera or use my phone to capture the moment and if possible, I'm going to upload it on here.  :)