Active Baby!

This weekend we went camping with my Mom, Vince, Sandy, Shane, Branden, and our dogs. It was such a great time. Food was excellent, and the company was even better! We played games around the campfire, relaxed and played in Lake Michigan, and did a whole lot of laughing. Pacey and Riley even got to go swimming for the first time. Great memories!

We are just over 11 weeks pregnant. Today we got to hear baby's heartbeat for the first time via doppler, then we had another ultrasound and were again amazed at what we saw. Baby was kicking and waving its arms all over, and moving up and down and side to side in the amniotic fluid. It was so cute. The doctor was having a hard time getting baby's measurements; she kept saying "Oh my gosh, this is such an active baby! Slow down baby!". I'm sure at this rate baby will be exhausted by the time (he's) born, and just want to sleep all through the nights! (Haaah!) The heart rate was 162. The length matches up to a due date about 5 days earlier, so he's doing very well. Along with our doctor, we have decided to skip our next two week appointment and go back in four weeks for our next visit.

"Worth the Wait"

Wow- today was rough! I was SOOO tired at work and nauseated too. The best way I've heard this feeling explained is that it's like taking a sleeping pill when I wake up and then having to stay awake and work. I felt good all last week, with some nausea here and there and periods of sleepiness, but I was not taking naps after work. This week, I'm back to napping. The good news is that my cravings for junk food are not as strong. I've been craving fresh fruit and healthy sandwiches. Although, around lunch I'm still wanting veggie pizza. Today I had the most amazing grilled cheese ever! It had fresh tomato, mushroom, and bacon! YUM!

When I got home, I had such great surprises waiting! I got an adorable card from The Maryanski Family congratulating us. And then Christian went to the door and found two packages addressed to us also. The first was from Pam, a great pregnancy journal that details each days progress for mom and baby. It also gives some helpful hints and cute quotes. I love it! The other book I'm reading gives weekly updates and I always want to peek ahead, but this one will give me something to read every day- Thank you Pam!

The second gift is from Jessica and Kevin- the picture speaks for itself. When Christian pulled this out of the gift box, I struggled to hold back the tears; it just hit me! It says, "I was worth the wait". Oh, I cannot wait to see our baby in this adorable outfit! Thank you... I couldn't imagine any phrase more perfect!

Last week, Sue K. came back from Italy and brought baby a beautiful teal colored Rosary from Vatican City and a pendant. It is very special to us, and comes from a very special place. Thank you Sue and Ray for thinking of us while on vacation.

Tracy and Joe Volkmar were here this weekend to celebrate Dad's retirement. It was great to see them after so long and their adorable son Chase. Tracy's card said it best... "The best days of your lives are still to come". I have to believe she's right!

Knees and Elbows

So we met one of our new OB docs yesterday. He was great. He walked us through what to expect over the next months, explained tests, and was very reassuring. I have my next 3 appointments scheduled, each two weeks apart. During that time we will meet a few other doctors as well. By the end of the pregnancy, the hope is to have met each of them so when it comes time to deliver, we are familiar with each doctor. He gave very thorough explanations, and really took his time with us.

Baby has grown in two weeks from 1.4cm to 3.2cm, just under an inch and a half. That's what they call the CRL, crown-rump length. It is the measurement of babies head to butt, so we aren't counting the length of those itty-bitty legs. Actually, baby's length is a few days ahead of what was expected, so when it comes to growth we're doing really well. (Me and baby!!) The heart beat was just as beautiful as the first time we saw it. We're 10 weeks pregnant on Saturday. At ten weeks, baby is about the size of a prune. Bones and cartilage are forming and small indentations on the the legs are developing into knees and ankles. Unbelievably, the elbows on baby's arms are already working! Tiny buds of baby teeth are forming under the gums. The stomach is producing digestive juices, the kidneys are producing larger quantities of urine, and if it's a boy... the testes are producing testosterone.

We are thrilled to see baby is doing well, I'm feeling really good, and I look forward to getting some energy back. I'm still very tired, but the nausea has subsided greatly. Christian is so amazed that there is TWO heartbeats within one foot of each other- all within one body!

Thank you to Eric & Angela, Ron & Susan, Melissa, and Mom for your adorable cards. And thank you to each of you for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers. Everyone at work has been SO supportive- keeping an eye on me, and being so willing to help me with whatever I need. Thank you Julia for the "Got Milk" bib, and thank you mom for the baby sheet set too.

Baked goods and muffin-tops!

We've made it through two whole weeks without a doctor appointment! It's just a taste of what's to come. It was difficult at times since we're already used to checking in on baby at least once a week. Every time I start to feel good I get a little nervous, but then I get nauseated and exhausted, and I'm kindly reminded that baby is doing just fine. Tomorrow's a big day; it's our first appointment with our OB. I called yesterday to verify the time and address of my appointment, and learned that my OB-gyne who did all my preliminary tests, fertility drugs, intra-uterine inseminations, and my surgery back in November is no longer delivering at CDH. Everything happens for a reason though; I was just commenting to my mom that I was considering switching to another doctor within the same practice but felt Dr. Weeks knew me so well I should stick with him... Well, I don't have a choice anymore. The doctor I've chosen was one who during one of my intra-uterine inseminations last year insisted on giving me a shot of lidocaine into the cervix- his theory is "why should my patients be in any unnecessary pain?". Well, isn't that who I want to deliver my baby?! Yes! So I'm excited to see him again tomorrow. I'm more excited/anxious to check in on the baby and see that (he's) doing well.

So, I have a belly on me. I'm sure I can attribute a bit to the routine of eating every 90 minutes. This is the only thing I've found to keep the nausea controlled. The last 4 days or so have been much better for me. I've gained about 4.5 pounds so far with just over 2 weeks to go in the first trimester. We've taken pictures every week since week 5; it's funny to see the change- slight but definite. The old 'hair rubber band through the button hole and around the button' trick is keeping me in my regular clothes. Otherwise, I've got serious muffin-top going on with a hard time breathing in those tight pants, and sooo uncomfortable. Christian took me to Target, (big spenders we are) and we picked up some casual loose fitting tops. I got brave yesterday and threw on a long tank top with one of my not so old tops over it. OOOHHHHH NOOOOO she didn't!! Ripped that puppy right off and put on my new Target top! It was a sight. I know people are noticing my habits... today a patient brought in a huge assortment of fresh baked goods from their family bakery. Why did TWO co-workers march right over to let me know about "all the baked goods in the back room"?! (Love those cherry turn-overs).

I already have all my parts!

We had our last ultrasound at the fertility clinic today... My first appointment with our OB doc is on Wednesday July 16th. Baby's grown to just over 14mm, about 3/4ths of an inch. However, don't let that small size fool you! Baby has all the organs and body parts we do; they just need to develop more! The hands and feet are still slightly webbed, but in a few days they'll have developed into tiny fingers and toes.

In this picture, you can see the back view of the baby. The head is at the top, the spinal cord can be seen, and those round spots on the sides are the arms and legs!!! There's still a little tail but that will be gone by next week! The black area around the baby is the amniotic sac. All this in just under EIGHT WEEKS!

This last shot is a side view that shows where the umbilical cord attaches to the placenta. I think baby is waving hello to us! At first I thought my amazement came from this being OUR BABY, but this is just plain amazing no matter how I look at it. At less than an inch, my baby has arms and legs, hands and feet, a beating heart, eyes, lungs, kidneys... and so smart (he) already knows how to wave! WOW! Oh, and I should mention, we are not going to find out the sex of our baby until birth. I've been asked that a lot.