Week 30--Changes and Developments

Welcome to week 30 of our baby's development. Yesterday was a pretty crazy day with the ultrasound surprise, and this morning I got a call from my Dr. office that said that the due date interpreted from the ultrasound was February 21!! Despite all of that, I'm going to stick with my original due date, and if he/she comes earlier, then great!! I guess though that this means I'm back to having to use he/she and the baby to explain things since we really don't know what to expect! Now that I've got that out there, on with the show!! This week there are a few developments still being made:

• The baby's head is getting larger.
• The early lanugo is disappearing. There are still patches on the back and shoulders.
• The eyelids open and close. But usually the baby should have its eyes open and looking around.
• The bone marrow is now responsible for making red blood cells.

So that's what's new this week. Sorry it's short today, but I'm still pretty freaked out after yesterday!! Who knew that we would become less sure of what we were having and even WHEN we were going to have it as the time got closer. Ugh!

Ultrasound #3---Utter confusion

So today has been a SUPER crazy day for us. We went in for our 3rd ultrasound and my were we surprised. We went in expected only to see some growth in our baby girl...but found one that we definitely were NOT expecting....a potential penis! That's right, my daughter may be my son. We're REALLY confused and not sure what to expect now, so we're back to not really knowing what the sex of the baby is for sure. Damn the confusion. I'm very glad that most of what I have got so far is pretty neutral, and it looks like it will stay that way until our little one arrives. My cousin is also planning a baby shower for the end of January, but I'll post more on that when I know anything else. I'm ready for bed now because it's been a CRAZY day.

Ahh the confusion

Week 29--Developments and Changes

Wow..29 weeks!! It seems like only yesterday I was peeing on a stick for the third time in utter disbelief. And now Christmas is literally days away. It's amazing how time flies sometimes. I got myself graduated, so that's one more thing off my list. We're in the homeward stretch!! Now for the important stuff. This week there is still growing and developing happening:

• The baby will be able to turn her head to find the source of a bright light and is continuing to become more sensitive to sounds, tastes, and smells.
• The fat layers will continue to form.
• The head is in proportion to the rest of the body.
• The eyes can move in the sockets.
• The bones are fully developed, but they are still soft and pliable.
• She will also begin to store iron, calcium, and phosphorus.

Tomorrow we head back west to see the family, and then on Monday we have our "final" ultrasound so we can check where the baby is and make sure everything looks good. I'm super excited. So I'll have another update for you on Monday!

Week 28 -- Developments and Changes

Week 28. Oh how fast time goes. Finals week is almost over and graduation is approaching, which gives me little time to think about all the great things that the baby is accomplishing this week. While I am putting on my cap and gown, she will continue growing and stretching, not to mention:

• Brain tissue continuing to develop
• The folds and grooves of her brain will continue to develop and expand
• Her very first dreams can begin
• She'll be blinking and batting those newly present eyelashes.
  
• Eyebrows are present...unless she looks like me..then they'll be nearly invisible forever.
• gaining more and more body fat, while increasing her muscle tone

She's working out in there in order to be a healthy baby once she comes out of there. Let's just hope she behaves well while I finish up my finals, graduate, and finish (err...maybe start) my Christmas shopping! Our next Dr. appointment is December 23rd and then we will schedule the next ultrasound. That's what's happening in our neck of the woods. Let us know how you are all doing!

Week 27--Developments and Changes

Welcome to the 3rd and final trimester of this thing we call pregnancy! So far I have loved nearly every moment of this trip, and can't believe we're getting so very close to the end already. The baby is moving more and more, and is definitely getting stronger. The muscles should be developed enough now to allow her to suck her thumb, and do other small refined movements. Other developments this week:

• The network of nerves to the ear is completed
• The baby takes some practice breaths to strengthen the lungs
  
• Eyelids begin to open, and the retinas begin to form
• She may be also able to recognize me and Seth's voices. How cool is that??

So that's about all I have this week. Sorry to cut things short, but it's finals week so I have a TON of stuff on my plate. Have a great week!!

December 3 Dr. Appointment

So this morning I went to the Dr. Poor Seth is at home sick, so I drug Ashley out of bed and made her go with me. It was nothing too exciting as usual. They weighed me and I lost 2 pounds (booyah Thanksgiving!!), took my blood pressure (good), measured my belly (which was perfect), took my blood sugar (good), and then let Ashley listen to the heart beat. The next appointment will be 12/23/08 so we'll check in on her again right before Christmas. They said that at the next one they will probably schedule one last ultrasound to check in on her size and development for the last time. I can't believe how close we are getting to the end already!!!

Week 26--Developments and Changes

Wow. We're already at week 26, meaning next week will be the beginning of the 3rd and final trimester!! I can't believe we've made it this far this quickly. During week 26 there are not too many developments, which seems to be the pattern from this point on. Our little one will continue to put on weight and look more like a "normal" baby. Her retinas will also continue to develop, so she's in there looking around and blinking, between her naps of course. Speaking of naps, I could really use one for sure!! I'm really tired, but school will be finished in just over 2 weeks so hopefully I'll have a little time to relax after that (haha, yeah right). Other changes that should be happening in there:

• The baby will begin to make breathing movements
• She will be able to respond to touch

That means that even though Seth is constantly telling me I'm going to dent our poor baby from poking her, she may actually start to poke back! How exciting. Also, now that she can see, people say that if you put a flash light to your belly, she may respond. I may have to try that one out tonight after we get home. Tomorrow we have another Dr. appointment as well, so I will try to update you on everything then.

Week 25--Changes and Developments

Welcome to another exciting week within our baby's development. I'll tell you right now, she must be practicing to be either a gymnast, or the female Chuck Norris (that's right, I'm saying round house kicks!!). Either way, she's moving around a lot and it's very exciting, even if it is somewhat distracting at times. Other than that, there are a few developments for this week. They include:

• The structure of the spine beginning to form
• Taste buds are forming
• The hands are fully developed -- fingerprints and all!
• The blood vessels of the lungs are developing
• The nostrils are beginning to open

Not a lot is going on, but that means that she is mostly done! I also have a feeling that in only a couple weeks, my now nearly non-existent belly button will be turning from an inny, to an outie! Tonight we head back toward North Platte for a long weekend of food and family. It's always entertaining, but exhausted. I'm excited to see the family though. Hopefully it all turns out well. Happy Thanksgiving!!

Week 24--Developments and Changes

Ok, so I'm a day late again. I know, I'm terrible. With work, school, and all of those super exciting things I have had NO time! Anyways, welcome to week 24! YAY!! All of the websites I've looked at argue about which month that makes it. I've seen some that say that I'm 5 months (which kinda makes a little sense with my due date 4 months away), but I've seen others that say I'm at 7 months, so I think I'll stick with weeks. No one argues about that at least. The baby finally has all of her senses-- vision, smell, touch, hearing, and taste. I kinda feel bad because I'm sure things don't taste so yummy in there, but who knows. Other developments include:

• Blood vessels in the lungs are developing
• Almost fully developed eyelashes
• She is starting to produce white blood cells, which fight disease and infection
• Her inner ear is now completely developed which means she has a sense of balance.

So that's it for another exciting episode of "Developments and Changes." Turn in next week when we jump right into week 25. I'll try not to be late!

November Dr. Appointment

Nothing says HAPPY BIRTHDAY like going to the doctor right? Ok, so today isn't my b-day but yesterday was. That's close enough right?? Anyway, we went to the Dr. this morning. I've gained a little bit of weight, but it's only four pounds so it's no big deal at all. They checked my blood pressure (which was good), my blood sugar (which was good too), and one nurse even told me my pee looked good. That's the weirdest compliment I have ever gotten. They were mean though and gave me a flu shot (and I HATE needles!!). They also checked in on the little one and her heart beat was 150 bpm. At least she didn't protest this time! So everything looks good. From this point on Dr. appointments start being every 3 weeks. Just when I thought I couldn't go to the Dr. anymore they up the ante and make me go more often. Meh. So anyway, everything is good, my baby is healthy, I'm healthy, and everything is PERFECT! Who would have thunk it?

Week 23--Developments and Changes

So welcome to week 23. The little gymnast inside of me is going crazy with excitement at this point. She's moving enough that even Seth can feel her wiggles on occasion. This week she does have a few things of her own going on in there:

• Eyebrows and eyelashes are forming
• Lips are becoming more distinct
• Eyes are becoming more developed, but they still lack color
• The bones of the middle ear begin to harden
• The pigment that colors her skin is being deposited this week
• Her body is also becoming more proportioned.

So there you have it folks. This week I'll be nice and keep my ramblings short and sweet.

Week 22--Developments and Changes

This week in baby development says that she should be able to hear and respond to sounds at this point, meaning we can have her jamming out to music with us! Ever seen the dancing baby?? That's what I'm imagining.

Other fetal development that is occurring when you are about 22 weeks pregnant includes the following:

• The eyelids and eyebrows become well developed.
• The development of fingernails is completed.
• Taste buds have started to form on the tongue.
• The uterus and ovaries are in place and the vagina is developed. At this point, a girl will have about 7 million eggs in her ovaries, which will drop down to about 2 million when she is born.
• The liver is starting to break down bilirubin, which is a substance found in red blood cells. Once broken down by the liver, bilirubin is removed from the body through the intestines.

Other than that we just sit and wait for the baby to grow. Say it with me now...Grow baby grow!!

Week 21--Changes and Developments

Welcome to week 21! From this point on, most of what is happening involves the baby getting longer and heavier. The only things really going on are:

• The continued maturation of body parts, tissues, and organs
• The heart grows stronger and the legs reach their relative proportions
• Vernix caseosa -- a protective skin covering -- is still being produced by your baby's oil glands
• The brown fat that the baby started producing back in the 4th month of pregnancy is now beginning to build up in places like the chest, crotch, and neck; this will help maintain body temperature
• Buds for permanent teeth are beginning to form.

As you can see, it's pretty uneventful, but VERY necessary. Other than that, the baby is pretty much just a wrinkled, wiggly little thing right now. On the home front, we hung up the wallpaper border in the baby's room and I think it looks great! We're still picking up little odds and ends as we see them, but I'm not sure we'll ever be completely ready for our baby. Hopefully!!!

Quick Ultrasound Update

I just wanted to let you all know that I got a call from the Dr. this morning and everything on the ultrasound looks great, as expected. So woohoo! I was excited and thought I would share. We have a healthy little baby girl.

Special Thanks to a special set of grandparents.

Last weekend Seth's dad and his wife Barb came up to Lincoln to take us shopping for baby stuff! I was super excited to finally be making some strides in the baby gear. They ended up getting us a GREAT swing that can be used as a baby seat and a toddler rocker as well as a car seat that can be used for a LONG time. We had a really good time hanging out with them, but I don't know that they understood how grateful we truly are for them. So David and Barb, this is especially for you! Thank you so much for all the love and support you have shown us through the last couple months. You have gone above and beyond our expectations, and have skyrocketed past our highest hopes of what grandparents should be. We didn't expect anything from you except your love for our child, and yet you were determined to help us get items that are SUPER important when it comes to our baby. Thank you, thank you, thank you for the great gifts, but most of all, thank you for being amazing during this entire experience. You have made this pregnancy even greater than either Seth or I could have even imagined it. We really don't know how to show you how much we appreciate everything you have said and done, so this is simply a small way that we can show a fraction of our appreciation. I know you will both be amazing grandparents to our little one. She will be lucky to have you in her life. Thank you again!

Week 20--Developments and Changes

Half way done. That's right, you heard it here first!! Today marks the official mid-way mark of this baby's development, and possibly the count down toward the end! We just had the ultrasound yesterday, so we know the weight is about 14 ounces! The length is about equal to a soda can. Not to mention, that baby can MOVE! There are still a few things that are happening this week though:

• Hair on the head may start to grow (that is if our baby isn't going to be a cue-ball!)
  
• A protective, waxy skin covering is forming to protect the baby's skin from the amniotic fluid
• Delicate eyebrows are forming
• The baby's uterus is starting to form. That's right, uterus in my uterus. Weird huh?
  
• Her skin is also thickening and developing layers, including the dermis, epidermis, and subcutaneous layer
• Nail growth begins.

So that's where we are. Have a great week!

Ultrasound--What will baby be?!?!

This morning Seth and I went to the hospital for our 2nd ultrasound. Nothing says "I love my baby" like spending 45 minutes with a full bladder and someone pushing and prodding on your gut! Anyway, we got to see the baby's brain, heart, stomach, bladder, feet, hands, and even it's little "gender." From as far as we can tell there is no "doodle" so that makes the baby-to-come a GIRL! That's right folks. We will have a little girl in a few short months. We still have to hear back from the actual radiologist to make sure everything is "normal" but from as far as we can tell she looks perfect! We even got to see her nose and lips. She was definitely a naughty little girl this morning though (takes after her daddy already!!). Every time the ultrasound tech would try to get a picture lined up for something, the baby would move away or even put her hands up to hide whatever we were trying to look at. There was even one point where she rolled over, crossed her arms in front of her face, and balled up her knees so all we could see were knees and elbows. While it was pretty freaking adorable, it made it difficult on the tech to get all the pictures she needed to get. After 45 minutes of poking and prodding she finally managed to get her to uncross her legs long enough to sneak a peak in there (although a rather quick one) to show us the lack of doodle. So there you have it folks...there is a little tiny uterus in my uterus. There's a thought for ya! Have a great day.

Ultrasound Pics

Here is the baby. The head is on the left, with the spine up along the top running toward the baby's little butt.

Here is the baby's face. She's beautiful already. Also, notice, NO HORNS! Booyah to all those that predicted horns!!

Another face picture. I love my little baby.

Each time we tried to get close the baby would try to push away. These are the feet pushing back.

This is the "gender" of the picture. There is no "doodle" sticking out, so they tell us that means that our little one is a GIRL.

October Dr. Appointment

We went to the Dr. again this morning, and it went quickly and very uneventfully. I still haven't put on any weight, but at least it stayed the same this month instead of dropping (not that I can complain about losing weight!). My blood pressure was normal. We listened to the baby's heart beat again which was strong and healthy sounding. Like I said, it was very routine and pretty damn uneventful. Monday we have our ultrasound. That will be much more exciting hopefully. I'm super excited to see the baby is healthy in there.

Week 19 -- Developments and Changes

Welcome to another exciting week in "As your Baby Grows." What will happen this week?? Will the baby grow to enormous proportions, or develop herculean muscles?? You'll have to tune in to find out. Oh wait, this isn't a soap opera. What am I doing?? Anyway, here's the real news:

This week the baby is 6-7 inches long and weighs about 7-10 ounces. Baby is now able to make intentional movements, such as thumb sucking. The other developments occurring this week:

• The baby is developing millions of motor neurons, which are nerves that connect the muscles to the brain
• Parts of the leg have now grown in proportion to the rest of the body
• The skin is developing but is still transparent, appearing red because blood vessels are visible through it
• A creamy, white, protective coating called vernix begins to develop, which protects your baby's skin from its aquatic environment and helps prevent delicate skin from becoming chapped or scratched
• The placenta continues to grow and nourish the baby.

Tomorrow we also have another checkup so I'll update you on how that went tomorrow. So there you have it folks. Another exciting week of "As your baby grows!" Join is next week as we hit the halfway point of this exciting adventure!!

Week 18--Changes and Developments

Welcome to another week in the marvelous development cycle! This week the baby has grown significantly and measures between 5.5 to 6 inches from crown to rump and weighs about 7 ounces!
Chalk that up to one more step in becoming a real baby (instead of those tiny creepy doll ones). The baby can now also yawn, stretch, and make facial expressions, not to mention that he/she is starting to make poop already and storing it in the colon! Are we all excited yet?? Here are a few other changes to expect this week:

• the skeleton can be clearly outlined in the ultrasound of the fetus
• Ears stand out from the head
• Lanugo (soft, fine hair) covers the entire body
• Pads (the fatty, soft parts) are forming on the fingertips and toes
• The eyes are looking forward rather than out the sides of the head
• If the baby is a boy, his prostate gland is beginning to develop
• The baby's bones begin to harden
  
• The baby's taste buds are beginning to develop, allowing him/her to distinguish sweet from bitter

The part I am most excited about: baby is hearing fairly well during week 18, because the bones in the inner ear and the nerve endings from the brain will have developed. This means that the baby will hear sounds like my heartbeat and blood moving through the umbilical cord! I am so excited to not feel crazy while talking to myself anymore.

So there you have it. Those are the changes for week 18. Have a great week.

Week 17--Changes and Developments

Sorry this is a day late this week. I stayed home from work yesterday and completely spaced it off. I know, I suck. Anyway, this week should be pretty mellow, even though I start classes again tomorrow, but not too much is happening with the baby either:

• White fatty material, called myelin, begins to enclose the nerve fibers of the spinal cord.
• Lanugo (a soft, fine hair) covers the baby's shoulders, back, and temples (so it looks more like a monkey).
• Your baby's lungs are beginning to "breathe" the amniotic fluid (although the placenta will still supply the necessary oxygen until he/she is born).
• The circulatory and urinary systems are working.
• The reflexes are quickly developing. These reflexes will allow the baby to swallow, suck, and blink.

The only things I'm really excited about are the potential for feeling movements, and the baby's hearing should be developed enough in the next week or two to actually hear the world around him, so I won't just be crazy if I talk to my stomach anymore! Woohoo

Week 16--Developments and Changes

Another week has passed, so here we are again discussing what changes and developments can be expected this week! This week Peanut should be between 4. 3 and 4.6 inches long and weighs about 3 ounces. S/he can open his/her mouth, move the lips, and swallow. There are also a couple other things that are going on this week as well:

• The baby may be sucking his/her thumb
• Facial muscles may lead to various expressions, such as squinting and frowning
• The heart is beating 117 to 157 times per minute
• The stomach is producing digestive juices
• The kidneys are producing urine
• For females, millions of eggs are forming in the ovaries.

Also, any time now I should be able to start feeling the baby moving about. Poor Seth will have to wait a while still before he'll feel much of anything though. So not too much is happening, except for the wiggling and moving about that is expected to start, but that's enough to keep me entertained!

Nursery 101

So Seth and I have been discussing nursery design since we moved into our house well over a year ago, however, now that we actually have a REASON to change the room we've began looking into it. We would really like to stick with a somewhat "neutral" room because even if you find out the sex of the baby, you can't always be 100% sure that it is accurate. After searching for hours upon hours, and many many discussions, we have finally found the nursery set that we both love. I am super excited, and look forward to starting to get pieces of this amazing set. (It's called Jungle Tales by NoJo so you can google it and find TONS of stores that have it.) The bottom half of the walls in the nursery are a dark blue, and the top half are a pale blue, which are somewhat masculine but the wallpaper border is trucks and tractors, which is a little overboard and definitely needs to be replaced (I don't plan on painting the room, because, heck even if we had a girl the room wouldn't be pink so it doesn't matter to me) but I do want to neutralize the room a little bit so the first thing I want to get is the border from this set. So here is the bedding for the set we love:


So here are a couple stores that sell it if you're interested in seeing the rest of the set (valances, hampers, lamps, border, etc).

JC Penney's

Toys R Us

Baby Super mall

Let me know what you guys think of it. I absolutely LOVE it!

Doctor's Appointments are fun!!

This morning Seth and I had a Dr. appointment with Dr. Sellon. She is a really nice lady, and made me feel really confident, so I think I'll be ok whether it is Dr. Sellon or Dr. Manning that is there for the actual delivery. Anyway, now to the information you REALLY care about. My blood pressure was great, I've lost more weight instead of gaining it (is it weird that I tried to lose weight for a year and not much happened, but now that I'm pregnant and "supposed" to be gaining weight, it's just falling off instead??), and everything looks good. We heard the baby's heart beat again, which was sitting at about 160bpm (which is perfect!). I am ecstatic that everything sounds and looks good. We have our next Dr. appointment on 10/15 and then the next ultrasound at 10/20. I'm really happy that everything is going so well at this point. Not to mention that I feel better than I have in a long time, and never had morning sickness at all. If my biggest complaints are being sleepy and hungry, I totally think I can handle this. So that's what's happening in our neck of the woods.

Week 15--Developments and Changes

It's that time again folks, time to check in on our little one to see how he/she is progressing. To start with, the baby should be 3.7 to 4.1 inches long and weighs about 1.75 ounces. The baby is starting to become a lot more mobile and flexible and could possibly lead to me feeling movements within the next few weeks!! The baby can now bend the elbows and wrists as well as make a fist. There really aren't too many changes left for the baby to go through at this point, so most of the development from this point on should just be growth, but there are still a few, so here they are:

• Blood vessels can easily be seen through your baby's skin, which is thin and translucent
• The legs are longer than the arms
• Eyebrows and scalp hair may appear
• Hair follicles will begin to produce pigment
• The bone and marrow of the skeletal system continue to develop.

So those are the major things happening with our little one right now. We have a doctor's appointment tomorrow with the 2nd doctor (there are 2 that rotate for deliveries, and they want me to be comfortable with them both, so Dr. appointments will rotate back and forth between the 2 from now on.) I'll give a little update on what we find out tomorrow. Have a great week!

Random Thoughts from Insano the Prego

Last night while sitting at home, Seth and I were discussing the next ultrasound, which will be around week 20, and it made me realize that in six weeks---a mere month and a half---we will be half way done already. In some ways I can't believe how quickly it is going, but it also seems like it will be forever before. I'm not sure if that makes any sense at all, but some days I feel like not much I say makes sense. I am so happy to finally be starting a family of my own, even though I feel like a paranoid freak sometimes because of how much I worry that something will go wrong.

Yesterday we found a childcare center too, so it was a good day. The center is actually in Milford, so it's close to home, and I really like that. The program manager is really friendly and put my mind at ease about letting some stranger care for my child. I'm so glad to have found someplace that I am comfortable and confident with.

I've also decided that I have the greatest husband ever. I know that probably sounds random, but it's been on my mind and I had to share. I don't know that any other man has ever been so supportive and involved as he is and wants to be. He checks this page out and if I don't post by 10am he's calling me "where's my blog??" He goes to all of my Dr. appointments, even if I say he doesn't have to. He doesn't get upset when I am overly emotional or when I forget where I left my wallet. Needless to say, I love him more and more each day. Most of the time the dad kind of gets left out in the cold when it comes to pregnancy (we've noticed, just ask Seth's dad) but I want to thank him for everything. So Seth, this is for you...thank you for being the most amazing man I have ever met, my best friend, my pregnancy coach, and my biggest supporter. I don't think that I could do all of this without you. I love you.

Week 14--Developments and Changes

Today officially marks the start of the second trimester (some resources say week 13, but all agree that by week 14 you are definitely in the second tri). The baby now is between 3.2 to 4.5 inches long and weighs between 1 and 2.5 ounces. This week, apparently, my child will start to look like a monkey, as it develops a soft, fine hair over its body called lanugo. Lanugo provides protection to the developing skin and should be shed before he or she is born. The baby's sex is also well defined at this point, even though we're still not sure if we'll find out the sex or not.

Other fetal development that is occurring around week 14 of pregnancy includes the following:

• The ears have moved from the neck onto the head
• The digestive glands are complete
• The vocal cords are complete
• The thyroid gland starts to produce hormones
• The baby begins to practice inhaling and exhaling
• The baby's chin no longer rests on his or her chest
• For boys, the prostate gland is developing
• For girls, the ovaries move from the abdomen into the pelvis
• The hands are becoming functional.

The baby is now receiving all of its nutrients from the placenta, which has also taken over all hormone production from the ovaries. So that's what is happening with our little one. It's still hard to believe that there is a life growing inside of me, but I'm sure it will become more real once I can start to feel some movements (although Dr. appointments where we hear the heartbeat and ultrasounds help too).

Week 13-- Development and Changes

Today marks the start of week 13, which is the last week of my first trimester. Woohoo!! The baby is now between 2.6 and 3.1 inches long, crown to rump, and weighs in at 0.5 to 0.7 ounces. The baby can now also flex his/her arms and kick the little legs, so baby movement will be felt in the next few weeks (hopefully!).

Here are some other developments that should be happening this week:

• The appearance of fingernails
• The beginnings of fingerprints and footprints
• The appearance of tooth buds for all 20 baby teeth
• The start of vocal cord formation
• The movement of eyes (closer together) and the ears (to a normal position)
• The appearance of visible ribs
• The development of the trachea, lungs, stomach, liver, and intestines into their final functioning form.

So that's what's happening this week. Hopefully before too long I will be able to feel some of the tiny movements. I'm so excited.

Child Care is the Devil

During the last couple days I have started checking into child care centers. It still seems really early to me, but I don't want to be left someplace I don't want to be, especially when I've worked in child care and know how difficult it can be to find a good place for infants since centers can generally have fewer infants than they can toddlers and preschoolers. So far it's already been frustrating and I'm not sure what my next steps should be. I've only been contacting places that have a website so I can have some knowledge of them before I bother contacting them. I found one place that I was really impressed with, plus was the cheapest place I've found so far, but it doesn't look like she will have openings when I need them. Other than that I have only found a few places that I am not really that impressed with, or places that seem nice but are super expensive. I'm sure everything will turn out for the best, but at this point I'm just extremely frustrated. UGH!

Week 12-- Developments and Changes

So apparently this week is the week that I am supposed to start "glowing." This is due to an increased blood supply. That's about the only change I should experience, but the baby has a lot more going on, so let's check in.

The baby should be 2.5 inches long and weigh approximately 0.3 to 0.5 ounces.

Fetal developments that usually occur during week 12 include the following:

• A skeleton of cartilage is forming
• The gallbladder secretes bile from the fetus
• The lungs are completely formed
• The thyroid gland and pancreas are now complete
• The liver is functioning to make blood cells
• The liver accounts for about 10 percent of the entire weight of the fetus
• The baby's first urine is made and eliminated into the amniotic sac
• The baby's intestines can now fit into his/her abdomen instead of stretching into the umbilical cord.

Also, the fetal muscles are sufficiently developed to allow spontaneous twitches, so if you touch it's forehead it will turn it's head away. So before too long the baby should start wiggling around all by him/herself. Yay!

Week 11 -- Developments and Changes

Week 11 marks another big step on the baby development, because it is the week that the baby switches from "embryo" to "fetus". I'm sure no one is as excited about that as I am. The baby should grow very quickly this week and will be approximately 2 inches long.

At week 11 there aren't a lot of developments, mostly because all of the major systems have already been developed, however, there are a few of them:

• The eyelids have fused and will stay that way until week 24
• The external genitals move outside of the body
• The hair follicles of the skin are forming
• Teeth are beginning to form.

I've been told that most women will actually gain weight (usually about 4-5 pounds) by this point in their pregnancy, however, I have actually lost about 5 pounds in the last month. Usually this only occurs in women with really bad morning sickness, but since I have had none, it is most likely because I'm watching my diet better, and having the baby suck all of the nutrients from me. So that's what's happening this week...not to mention that we're out of the "danger" zone for the baby, so I am MUCH less concerned about the day to day monitoring. Yay!

Doctor's Visit #2

Today we had our second doctor appointment and it went off without a hitch, for the most part. I found out that I am O+ for blood type, and that all of my other tests came back great. The only "bad" thing I guess is that I have poison ivy and am SUPER itchy all over. The doctor gave me a prescription though so hopefully that should help out. Other than that, the BEST part of the visit was that we got to hear the baby's heart beat. It was amazing!! It was so reassuring to hear that and know that this is actually happening. Since I'm not sick or anything (Believe me, that's not a complaint) it's really hard to "feel" pregnant, so this helped make it more real for me. Week 11 starts tomorrow so we'll have another update then.

Week 10 - Changes and Development

Ten weeks is finally here, which means we're 1/4 of the way through this process! WOOHOO! So far no morning sickness (only slight nausea). My biggest complaint is that I'm hungry all the time at the moment, but I suppose it could be much worse.

During week 10, my baby is starting the process of becoming a genius, by developing 250,000 neurons every minute!! Peanut is also 1.25 to 1.68 inches long and weighs approximately 0.18 ounces (which is about equal to the weight of a quarter). Week 10 is supposed to be a big milestone because nearly all of the body plan for the baby has been laid out and most things are present--it's just all in miniature form still.

Here are some more developments for this week:

• The baby's eyelids are no longer transparent
• The outer ears start to assume their final form
• Tooth buds begin to form
• Your baby will have fully separated fingers and toes
• The embryonic tail will have disappeared completely
• The bones of your baby's skeleton will have begun to form
• The eyes have moved from the sides of the head closer to the front of the face
• The palate and the roof of the mouth form
• The stomach moves into its final position
• Taste buds begin to form
• Neck muscles are forming
• The clitoris appears in females, and the ovaries begin to descend
• The testes will start producing the male hormone testosterone in males
• The two lobes of the lungs extend into many tiny tubes (bronchioles)
• The diaphragm begins to separate the heart and lungs from the stomach.
  

So that's what we can expect throughout the next week! We also have our next Doctor's appointment on Monday, August 18. Hopefully everything goes well there and I will be able to give you an update after that!

Week 9 -- Developments and Changes

It's that time again folks. Time to review the changes and developments that will be happening to the tiny life that is being formed. So, without further ado:

• Nipple and hair follicles begin to form
• The abdomen and chest cavities become separate
• Eye muscles and upper lip develop
• First fetal movements can be detected using an ultrasound
• The nerve cells of the retinas form in the eyes
• The semicircular canals of the ears form
• The nasal passages open to the outside
• The nerve connections from the retina to the brain are established
• A distinct neck connects the head to the body
• All fingers and toes are present
• The urinary and rectal passages are completely separate
• The intestines start to move out of the umbilical cord and into the abdomen.

Also, the baby is now about 1 inch long and weighs about one-eighth of an ounce (which is about equal to the weight of a paper clip). The tail at the bottom of the baby's spinal cord is shrinking, and the head is now nearly half the size of its entire body. Seth is sad that the baby is losing the tail this week. I think he was secretly hoping for a monkey...or at least a baby with a tail.

At least week 8 went much faster than week 7. Let's hope the rest of the weeks to come follow that trend.

Baby Dreams

So for the last couple weeks now my dreams have been very vivid (even more so than normal) and are weird. Most of them are good dreams, or just silly, but a few of them are scary (at least at the time. They are ridiculous now). I know that people say pregnant women have weird dreams, partly because of all they have on their minds, and partly because of the changes in hormone and body. Anyway, the greatest part of my whacked out dreams is that I have remembered at least one of them every morning for the last week, so I've decided to share some of them with you, at least brief descriptions from inside my crazy brain.

Monday night:
I had a dream that the baby was born as a 2 year old, so instead of going from no kids to watching a baby grow and develop, we had to deal with the terrible twos right away! The entire dream was me chasing the kid around the hospital trying to keep it out of trouble instead of holding and snuggling like you'd think you would after being born. At least the little boy was cute!

Sunday night:
The dream on Sunday really didn't have anything to do with babies, but it was weird all the same. I was practicing playing the flute (No I don't play the flute) so that I could do a flute duet with my cousin Sylvia. Since I was just learning how to play, I was trying to ask her with help on some of the notes because I couldn't remember the fingerings. She refused to help me so I told her she could just do a solo because I was never going to learn the music by myself in time. She got mad at me and told me that I was fat and ugly and that she didn't want to be my friend anyway (yeah she acted like a 5 year old). She stomped off and I threw my flute at her, and then woke up.

Saturday night:
I was at some fancy dinner party visiting with a bunch of people I didn't know when I started to feel a pressure in my abdomen. I reached down and was able to feel the baby's foot pressing against my stomach (which wasn't any bigger than it is now). I could actually grab my baby's foot and hold onto it. I was convinced that I was much further along than I was being told, and was trying to convince Seth of it. The weird part was that I didn't have the normal pregnancy belly. Instead, on my lower abdomen I had a "lump" about the size of an orange that I could grab and feel the baby moving in. It was really weird.

Friday night:
I was outside on our front porch in a pair of shorts when this squirrel ran up to me. It got closer and closer and then all of the sudden ran up my legs into my shorts, and began attacking me. The damn thing tried to tear its way into my body so it could eat the baby. Apparently they have a good nutty flavor or something. Who knows. It was really scary at the time, but now looking back it is just plain nutso!

So those are some of my dreams. I've had more but at least you can see what's going on in my brain a little bit. I hope you enjoyed!

Week 8 -- Changes and Development

Today marks the first day of week 8! It's about time, that's all I have to say! Now, after two months, lets see what new changes we can expect during the next week:

• The leg buds divide into thigh, leg, and foot units
• The arm buds divide into hand, arm, elbow, and shoulder units
• The arms and legs move
• Cartilage and bones begin to form
• Eyelids begin to form
• The ears, upper lip, and tip of the nose become recognizable
• The tongue begins to develop
• The intestines grow so long that they start protruding into the umbilical cord
• Teeth develop under the gums
• The gonads (testes or ovaries) are forming
• Nerve fibers connect the olfactory lobe of the brain, laying groundwork for the sense of smell.
• Also, the heart is more developed and the beat will increase to 150 bpm.
  

So Peanut should be about 0.56 to 0.8 inches long, from crown to rump, sometime this week, which is about the size of a pumpkin, and my uterus is now the size of an orange. Sounds yummy right?? So this is what we can expect this week. YAY!

First Ultrasound Results

So I just got off the phone with the Dr. office again and it looks like everything on my ultrasound looks great, so there is nothing to worry about! My ovaries look good, the baby looks good, and everything else as well, so that's one less thing to stress about. Next doctor appointment is August 18th. Man I don't want to wait that long!!

Ultrasound

It's a Little Baby!!

Our First Ultrasound!

Today Seth and I went to the doctor for our very first ultrasound. As far as the tech could tell, everything looks good and my doctor should have the "official" report from the radiologist by Wednesday. The due date is March 11, 2009 so we are sitting right about where we thought it should be. Also we got a picture of the baby, even as small as he is. It is tiny and I cried like a baby, but it was amazing. The heart rate was 132 bpm. So in other words, we have a baby growing and healthy! I will post the picture as soon as we have a digital copy made.

Week 7--Potential Changes and Developments

During the 7th week of pregnancy a lot of things happen. Here is a list of the major happenings:

• The heart becomes completely formed
• The limb buds are present; arms now resemble tiny paddles
• The eyes appear as dark spots, and the eyelid folds are forming
• The tongue begins to form
• Permanent kidneys begin to form
• The trunk of the body elongates and straightens
• The pituitary gland is forming in the middle of the brain
• Spleen and liver ducts are forming, and the intestines are elongating
• The cerebral cortex (the part of the brain that directs motor activity and intellect) is now visible
• The stomach and esophagus begin to form
• The umbilical cord, which is the link between your baby and the placenta, is now clearly visible.

Isn't it exciting!!!

First ultrasound!

So I know this is a quick update, but bare with me. I just got off the phone with my doctor, they got my blood tests back and everything looks great, so they have scheduled an ultrasound for Monday, July 21st! Usually they are not done until 18-22 weeks, but my doctor likes to use them as a more accurate way to measure a due date than just guessing from the last menstrual cycle. I am SUPER excited. I didn't expect to have one done for at least another month or so. I will get to see my baby on Monday....yeah I know it looks like a kidney bean or something right now, but still, it is MY baby!!

At last the time has come!

My name is Amber and this is my story. It will start at the beginning of my pregnancy (at least where it started for me) and who knows where it will end. I hope that by journaling all the information, it will not only help me to understand what is happening to me, remember how it felt after the fact, and keep track of things, but a way to help my family see where I am and how things are going, and maybe even help out some other geeky mommy in the future. So anyway, with that information lets get started!

For a while now, my husband Seth and I have been trying to start a family of our very own. We tend to be very geeky people, and look forward to raising children to be geeky, intelligent, and proud of who they are. After several years of not being successful at having children I went to the doctor and she prescribed some fertility medicine. We were supposed to start on these last Monday (July 7 for anyone who really cares) but something didn't feel right to me. Just to be safe I took a pregnancy test, even though I completely thought it would be negative. I took the test at work and initially it looked negative, so I threw it in my bag (didn't want to leave it in the work trash can) and headed home. When I got home I took it out of my bag to throw it away and, low and behold, the damn thing was positive. Of course, too much time had passed to be sure of the results so we took another test, fully expecting the first positive to have been a cruel lie by modern technology. To our surprise that test was also positive! I cried like a little baby, but refused to get too excited until we got things confirmed with my doctor, where I fortunately had an appointment made already for a little over a week later. The next day we took another test, just to be sure. This was positive too. After several days of suspense and keeping the secret to ourselves, I took ANOTHER test, which was also positive. I went to the doctor yesterday where they took my blood (my doctor referred to the lady who took it as a vampire, which was awesome!) to run all the initial tests, and told me I was 6 weeks 6 days pregnant! Seth and I could not be happier! Of course we went home and made the first phone calls to our parents, which is very time consuming since we're both from divorced families. All of our parents are ecstatic since this will be the first grand child for every single one of them. And seriously, what child doesn't want 8 grandparents to spoil them? So that's where we sit so far. I have another doctor's appointment on Monday, August 18th so that we can check and see how things are going!