And looking at the baby from the outside:
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
18 Week Ultrasound Pictures
Here are some snap-shots of our baby girl!
Profile #1
Profile #2
Profile #3
Foot
Fists
Fingers
Profile #1
Profile #2
Profile #3
Foot
Fists
Fingers
2nd Ultrasound (18 Weeks)
IT'S A... GIRL!!!
On Tuesday morning (5-29-07) we had our second ultrasound. It was absolutely amazing! As for the important things - all looks well. The doctor wanted to check for spina bifida which appears to be a negative. Her spin and all other organs looked good. I'm not sure how they knew what spots were kidneys, liver, or bladder, but they seemed confident. As for the spine, brain, lungs, and pumping heart - those we could distinguish!
Mom:
It was amazing to see this little person on the ultrasound screen. I guess I knew she was in there, but to see her making fists, grabbing her hands, crossing her feet, and wiggling about... It is really one of those credit-card "priceless" moments. It is so - REAL. I still can not feel her move yet, but it was obvious that she was enjoying her little "space". Her back legs were even crossed a lot of the time, making her look like a frog! (You all know I love those!) When it came right down to it, I just wanted to know the sex! Was this a little boy or little girl doing flips in my belly?!?! Now we know.
Dad:
This is how I felt when I saw the baby moving around (without the whole nerd thing.....well I guess I'm kind of a nerd anyway, so it fits). I'm an optimist, but Sarah's nervousness Monday night and Tuesday morning was really starting to get to me. When we saw the little one squirming and bouncing around, it was really a relief. I'm just happy that the baby's healthy and developing on track.
On Tuesday morning (5-29-07) we had our second ultrasound. It was absolutely amazing! As for the important things - all looks well. The doctor wanted to check for spina bifida which appears to be a negative. Her spin and all other organs looked good. I'm not sure how they knew what spots were kidneys, liver, or bladder, but they seemed confident. As for the spine, brain, lungs, and pumping heart - those we could distinguish!
Mom:
It was amazing to see this little person on the ultrasound screen. I guess I knew she was in there, but to see her making fists, grabbing her hands, crossing her feet, and wiggling about... It is really one of those credit-card "priceless" moments. It is so - REAL. I still can not feel her move yet, but it was obvious that she was enjoying her little "space". Her back legs were even crossed a lot of the time, making her look like a frog! (You all know I love those!) When it came right down to it, I just wanted to know the sex! Was this a little boy or little girl doing flips in my belly?!?! Now we know.
Dad:
This is how I felt when I saw the baby moving around (without the whole nerd thing.....well I guess I'm kind of a nerd anyway, so it fits). I'm an optimist, but Sarah's nervousness Monday night and Tuesday morning was really starting to get to me. When we saw the little one squirming and bouncing around, it was really a relief. I'm just happy that the baby's healthy and developing on track.
18 Weeks
Well we've now made it to 18 weeks... Here is how we're doing:
Baby:
She is about 5.5-7.5 inches long and weighs anywhere from 5-10 oz. She will continue to grow over the next few months, however the rapid pace she's been growing will start to slow down. She is now in "human" form with critical organs and circulatory systems formed. They will continue to develop and mature as the due date approaches.
Mom:
I'm slowly getting more round and am now noticing that bending over at the waist isn't comfortable so I'm learning to use my knees more. Adam says that is more lady like anyway! That will come in handy with my new maternity dress... With all these weddings, a girl has to have something to wear!! :) I should probably give Adam credit for helping me shop this past weekend. For someone who HATES shopping, he was a trooper and even found some shirts for me to try on!
I got adventurous last weekend and rode my bike around City Park. It was a lot of fun, but if I try it again, I'll have to raise the handlebars. At this stage, I'm not big enough to throw myself off balance, but the slight bending at the waist wasn't exactly comfortable. It felt great to get out and do something since I've kind-of "babied" myself during the past few months. I know - scaredy cat...
I've also done some research on swim suits. Skippy has informed me her sister loved feeling weight-less in the water during pregnancy so I figure why not try it! Plus with the warmer weather it will be nice to swim a few laps at the end of the day. Maternity swim suits aren't really that flattering, nor are they cheap. Fortunately, Target has some "tankinies" in the store which should cover me for the next few months!
Dad:
Besides the ultrasound, this week was pretty uneventful. Hopefully, we'll be able to feel the baby moving around pretty soon. That's something I'm really looking forward to. Everyone just wants to know about the ultrasounds, so I'm not going to write anything more and work on getting the pictures scanned in.
Baby:
She is about 5.5-7.5 inches long and weighs anywhere from 5-10 oz. She will continue to grow over the next few months, however the rapid pace she's been growing will start to slow down. She is now in "human" form with critical organs and circulatory systems formed. They will continue to develop and mature as the due date approaches.
Mom:
I'm slowly getting more round and am now noticing that bending over at the waist isn't comfortable so I'm learning to use my knees more. Adam says that is more lady like anyway! That will come in handy with my new maternity dress... With all these weddings, a girl has to have something to wear!! :) I should probably give Adam credit for helping me shop this past weekend. For someone who HATES shopping, he was a trooper and even found some shirts for me to try on!
I got adventurous last weekend and rode my bike around City Park. It was a lot of fun, but if I try it again, I'll have to raise the handlebars. At this stage, I'm not big enough to throw myself off balance, but the slight bending at the waist wasn't exactly comfortable. It felt great to get out and do something since I've kind-of "babied" myself during the past few months. I know - scaredy cat...
I've also done some research on swim suits. Skippy has informed me her sister loved feeling weight-less in the water during pregnancy so I figure why not try it! Plus with the warmer weather it will be nice to swim a few laps at the end of the day. Maternity swim suits aren't really that flattering, nor are they cheap. Fortunately, Target has some "tankinies" in the store which should cover me for the next few months!
Dad:
Besides the ultrasound, this week was pretty uneventful. Hopefully, we'll be able to feel the baby moving around pretty soon. That's something I'm really looking forward to. Everyone just wants to know about the ultrasounds, so I'm not going to write anything more and work on getting the pictures scanned in.
Monday, May 21, 2007
17 Weeks
Well we are now at a full 17 Weeks and this is our update:
Baby:
The baby is about 4.5-6 inches long this week, weighing in at about 3.5 ounces. His weight has nearly doubled since 2 weeks ago, with most of this weight comprising of water! He'll start gaining fat tissue this week which will eventually play an important role in the body's heat production and metabolism. The bones and nerve endings of his ears will soon be formed allowing him to hear loud noises like car alarms and music. Shortly after that, he will be able to hear our muffled voices!
Mom:
Well, I'm still getting bigger which seems to be a good sign that the little one is also getting bigger. I'm getting the hang of this new sleeping arrangement (same pillows, just swapped them around) and am only getting up twice during the night to visit the little girl's room! Believe it or not, that is a vast improvement from a month or so ago. If I haven't mentioned it before, a night light in the bathroom is a MUST so you don't wake yourself up too much or stub your toes!
Unfortunately, even I am now noticing my moodiness... It comes and goes and I haven't really figured it out yet. For Adam's sake, I am really trying but I have to give him brownie points b/c he is taking it in stride. I think it helps that he can now see my belly, reminding him that it isn't personal! :)
The BIG thing on our minds now is do we, or do we not find out the sex of the baby. The ultrasound is scheduled for next Tuesday. All along, Adam has wanted to know and I have not. For me, I love surprises and this just seems like the ultimate surprise! But to be honest with everyone, I'm starting to reconsider. For whatever reason, hearing the baby's heartbeat last week, moving from one side to the other made me really want to know if it was a little girl or boy flipping around inside of me... More to come on that one! Oh, and no, I can't feel him or her just yet. :( They say soon... anywhere from now to week 22 the "quickening" should start.
Dad:
I can't think of anything really humorous to report, so I'll just write what's on my mind. Will we find out the sex of the baby? This past weekend was a college buddy's (Brad's) bachelor party. Five of the nine guys present have kids. I asked all of them if they waited to be surprised with a boy/girl at birth or if they found out the sex ahead of time. I was hoping they might have some insight for me...but 2 waited to find out, 2 found out ahead of time, and 1 guy waited with one kid, but not the next...and all were happy with their decisions...didn't help me out much. Personally, I still want to find out so Sarah and I can start preparing ourselves by thinking of names, getting a room ready, etc. I know this could still be done if we didn't know the sex, but I really want to know. More than anything, putting a sex along with knowing you are having a baby just makes it more "real". Maybe we'll just have the doctor write it down so Sarah and I can look at it when we are both ready. Time will tell.
Baby:
The baby is about 4.5-6 inches long this week, weighing in at about 3.5 ounces. His weight has nearly doubled since 2 weeks ago, with most of this weight comprising of water! He'll start gaining fat tissue this week which will eventually play an important role in the body's heat production and metabolism. The bones and nerve endings of his ears will soon be formed allowing him to hear loud noises like car alarms and music. Shortly after that, he will be able to hear our muffled voices!
Mom:
Well, I'm still getting bigger which seems to be a good sign that the little one is also getting bigger. I'm getting the hang of this new sleeping arrangement (same pillows, just swapped them around) and am only getting up twice during the night to visit the little girl's room! Believe it or not, that is a vast improvement from a month or so ago. If I haven't mentioned it before, a night light in the bathroom is a MUST so you don't wake yourself up too much or stub your toes!
Unfortunately, even I am now noticing my moodiness... It comes and goes and I haven't really figured it out yet. For Adam's sake, I am really trying but I have to give him brownie points b/c he is taking it in stride. I think it helps that he can now see my belly, reminding him that it isn't personal! :)
The BIG thing on our minds now is do we, or do we not find out the sex of the baby. The ultrasound is scheduled for next Tuesday. All along, Adam has wanted to know and I have not. For me, I love surprises and this just seems like the ultimate surprise! But to be honest with everyone, I'm starting to reconsider. For whatever reason, hearing the baby's heartbeat last week, moving from one side to the other made me really want to know if it was a little girl or boy flipping around inside of me... More to come on that one! Oh, and no, I can't feel him or her just yet. :( They say soon... anywhere from now to week 22 the "quickening" should start.
Dad:
I can't think of anything really humorous to report, so I'll just write what's on my mind. Will we find out the sex of the baby? This past weekend was a college buddy's (Brad's) bachelor party. Five of the nine guys present have kids. I asked all of them if they waited to be surprised with a boy/girl at birth or if they found out the sex ahead of time. I was hoping they might have some insight for me...but 2 waited to find out, 2 found out ahead of time, and 1 guy waited with one kid, but not the next...and all were happy with their decisions...didn't help me out much. Personally, I still want to find out so Sarah and I can start preparing ourselves by thinking of names, getting a room ready, etc. I know this could still be done if we didn't know the sex, but I really want to know. More than anything, putting a sex along with knowing you are having a baby just makes it more "real". Maybe we'll just have the doctor write it down so Sarah and I can look at it when we are both ready. Time will tell.
2nd Doc Apt - 16 Weeks
We had our 2nd Prenatal Appointment on Wednesday, May 16. We weren't exactly sure what to expect since our regular doctor was on vacation and we'd have to see one of her "partners". Truthfully, it was much more simple and short than expected! We talked with two nurses and decided to do the testing for spina bifida which simply consists of taking a sample of my blood and a more detailed ultrasound in a couple weeks. They will also test for a fatal chromosome problem and down-syndrome b/c it is just part of the "package" test. I guess they stress it is only a screening, not an accurate science and if our dates are off even by 3 days, it can easily be a false positive. Those are some sensitive numbers!
Probably the best part of the exam was hearing the baby's heartbeat again! It was easy to find, loud & clear! 140-147 beats per minute. And apparently the little guy/gal was playing gymnast b/c he kept moving about and the nurse had to re-search for the heartbeat only to find it on the other side of my stomach! She said the static we heard in between was the baby moving around! I can't even describe how that felt! Even though I can't feel her moving about, she is active and real and alive inside of me! Amazing!!!
After that the doctor came in and asked if we had any questions. She assured me sleeping on my back wasn't the end of the world, told me I can switch back to my Zyrtec (allergy meds) since Spring is in the air, and said we'll see our regular doctor in 4 weeks! Just like that, we were out of there!
Probably the best part of the exam was hearing the baby's heartbeat again! It was easy to find, loud & clear! 140-147 beats per minute. And apparently the little guy/gal was playing gymnast b/c he kept moving about and the nurse had to re-search for the heartbeat only to find it on the other side of my stomach! She said the static we heard in between was the baby moving around! I can't even describe how that felt! Even though I can't feel her moving about, she is active and real and alive inside of me! Amazing!!!
After that the doctor came in and asked if we had any questions. She assured me sleeping on my back wasn't the end of the world, told me I can switch back to my Zyrtec (allergy meds) since Spring is in the air, and said we'll see our regular doctor in 4 weeks! Just like that, we were out of there!
16 Weeks
We've made it to a full 16 weeks now. Here is how we're doing:
Baby:
Our baby has grown some, but rather than gaining length, she is gaining weight. She is still about 4-6 inches in length, but now weighs just under 3 ounces. She has well formed fingernails, is starting to grow toenails, her legs are longer than her arms, and both sets of limbs are moving. Rumor has it her taste buds are fully formed and she can taste what her mother eats... Poor girl is probably already hooked on chocolate and pickles!
Mom:
Things are going just dandy... I'm starting to sleep better with a puffier pillow between my knees. And I'm still growing! I spent the weekend watching chick-flicks while Adam went to Washington DC to visit JJ. Seriously, I watched 4 movies and read a book from cover to cover in just 2 days! It was very nice... :)
Dad:
So my trip to DC was probably the last long-distance trip (non-work related) I'll be able to make by myself without feeling guilty. I'm sure Sarah wouldn't forbid it, and might even give me the "sure, that's fine with me" line, but I'm not falling for that again. I'm starting to figure women out. Basically, do what they want, not what they say. But that only works sometimes. We men are supposed to be mind readers. Come on ladies, we're simple creatures, don't make it so frickin' complicated!
Baby:
Our baby has grown some, but rather than gaining length, she is gaining weight. She is still about 4-6 inches in length, but now weighs just under 3 ounces. She has well formed fingernails, is starting to grow toenails, her legs are longer than her arms, and both sets of limbs are moving. Rumor has it her taste buds are fully formed and she can taste what her mother eats... Poor girl is probably already hooked on chocolate and pickles!
Mom:
Things are going just dandy... I'm starting to sleep better with a puffier pillow between my knees. And I'm still growing! I spent the weekend watching chick-flicks while Adam went to Washington DC to visit JJ. Seriously, I watched 4 movies and read a book from cover to cover in just 2 days! It was very nice... :)
Dad:
So my trip to DC was probably the last long-distance trip (non-work related) I'll be able to make by myself without feeling guilty. I'm sure Sarah wouldn't forbid it, and might even give me the "sure, that's fine with me" line, but I'm not falling for that again. I'm starting to figure women out. Basically, do what they want, not what they say. But that only works sometimes. We men are supposed to be mind readers. Come on ladies, we're simple creatures, don't make it so frickin' complicated!
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
Monday, May 7, 2007
15 Weeks
We are now at a full 15 Weeks. It is approximately 3 1/2 months into the pregnancy and here is how we're doing:
Baby:
The baby is now about 4 inches long, weighs as much as a grapefruit, and to diverge from the fruit references, is about the size of a softball! It is too soon to feel him moving but rumor has it he is doing flips already and testing out the flavor of his thumb. He has very thin skin and as mentioned before, all essential organs are there. However, his eyes and ears are still moving to their proper location as he grows, and he is just starting to get eyebrows! His sex organs are forming on the outside now and via an ultrasound, should be visible in the upcoming weeks. He is even starting to form a little skeleton...
Mom:
I am doing well. I no longer have a single pair of jeans or slacks I can button, but thanks to the bella band no one has to know! I still have periods of nausea, but they are few and far between. As for skipping meals - yeah right! I am hungry ALL the time. I think I eat about 6 or 7 times a day - no joke! During the first trimester I craved a lot of cheese and milk products. Now, I eat salads with almost everything which is weird for the carb-loving girl... But they sure taste good!!!
I'm not near as "foggy" as I was during the first trimester, but have to admit I still have to re-walk through a lot of things. I guess an easy way to put it is my "multi-tasking" skills are suffering. Once my brain moves on, it shuts the door on the way out and dang it if I can find the key half the time! The post-it note creator deserves props... I wonder if a pregnant woman invented them?!?!
I'm also noticing enough "pooch" these days to effect my sleeping which doesn't really make for a happy Sarah or Adam... I've read not to sleep on my back after week 16, so I'm practicing. (Apparently it puts pressure on your main artery and can block blood/oxygen to your legs and uterus.) Feel free to comment on this b/c a co-worker told me she slept on her back a lot during her pregnancy and all was well. What are your thoughts? For me, my back and tummy are the most comfy so this side sleeping thing is a chore. I sleep with a pillow between my legs to relieve hip/back pressure (BTW: not working) and a pillow at my back to keep me from rolling over. (Adam suggested sleeping with a ping-pong ball in the back of a sports bra, but I vetoed that idea!) I'm currently looking into pregnancy body pillows to see if there is something simpler that will help my hips. After all, Adam needs to fit in the bed too...
I'm getting excited for our next doctor appointment (next week) to see how things are progressing. They seem to be going well as far as I can tell. I have enough "symptoms" to know I'm still pregnant, but few enough to still feel "good" most days!
Dad:
So I went on a shopping trip today (by myself) to get veggies for tonight's pot roast. Sarah was kind and made me a list of things to get so I wouldn't screw things up. Everything was going great until it came to the pickles. Fareway didn't have the Claussen Kosher Dill Pickle Spears that Sarah loves and explicitly told me to get. So there I was in a pickle (sorry for the pun). Do I A) get Claussen brand dill pickles, but not in spear form; B) get spears, but from a different brand; C) get both and have a crap load of pickles that no one will potentially eat; or D) do none of the above because we already have a ton of food. I went with D......Whoops! The correct answer, if anyone is wondering, was A. This whole pickle quagmire would have gone unnoticed since I put the food away, but I had to open my big mouth and tell her "Sorry for not getting the Claussen Kosher Dill Pickle Spears." Of course, Sarah instantly wants a pickle. I explain the story with puppy dog eyes, and got out of the situation with only a "next time I might REALLY want a pickle and you'll be in trouble!" Man, I got to stay on my toes!
Baby:
The baby is now about 4 inches long, weighs as much as a grapefruit, and to diverge from the fruit references, is about the size of a softball! It is too soon to feel him moving but rumor has it he is doing flips already and testing out the flavor of his thumb. He has very thin skin and as mentioned before, all essential organs are there. However, his eyes and ears are still moving to their proper location as he grows, and he is just starting to get eyebrows! His sex organs are forming on the outside now and via an ultrasound, should be visible in the upcoming weeks. He is even starting to form a little skeleton...
Mom:
I am doing well. I no longer have a single pair of jeans or slacks I can button, but thanks to the bella band no one has to know! I still have periods of nausea, but they are few and far between. As for skipping meals - yeah right! I am hungry ALL the time. I think I eat about 6 or 7 times a day - no joke! During the first trimester I craved a lot of cheese and milk products. Now, I eat salads with almost everything which is weird for the carb-loving girl... But they sure taste good!!!
I'm not near as "foggy" as I was during the first trimester, but have to admit I still have to re-walk through a lot of things. I guess an easy way to put it is my "multi-tasking" skills are suffering. Once my brain moves on, it shuts the door on the way out and dang it if I can find the key half the time! The post-it note creator deserves props... I wonder if a pregnant woman invented them?!?!
I'm also noticing enough "pooch" these days to effect my sleeping which doesn't really make for a happy Sarah or Adam... I've read not to sleep on my back after week 16, so I'm practicing. (Apparently it puts pressure on your main artery and can block blood/oxygen to your legs and uterus.) Feel free to comment on this b/c a co-worker told me she slept on her back a lot during her pregnancy and all was well. What are your thoughts? For me, my back and tummy are the most comfy so this side sleeping thing is a chore. I sleep with a pillow between my legs to relieve hip/back pressure (BTW: not working) and a pillow at my back to keep me from rolling over. (Adam suggested sleeping with a ping-pong ball in the back of a sports bra, but I vetoed that idea!) I'm currently looking into pregnancy body pillows to see if there is something simpler that will help my hips. After all, Adam needs to fit in the bed too...
I'm getting excited for our next doctor appointment (next week) to see how things are progressing. They seem to be going well as far as I can tell. I have enough "symptoms" to know I'm still pregnant, but few enough to still feel "good" most days!
Dad:
So I went on a shopping trip today (by myself) to get veggies for tonight's pot roast. Sarah was kind and made me a list of things to get so I wouldn't screw things up. Everything was going great until it came to the pickles. Fareway didn't have the Claussen Kosher Dill Pickle Spears that Sarah loves and explicitly told me to get. So there I was in a pickle (sorry for the pun). Do I A) get Claussen brand dill pickles, but not in spear form; B) get spears, but from a different brand; C) get both and have a crap load of pickles that no one will potentially eat; or D) do none of the above because we already have a ton of food. I went with D......Whoops! The correct answer, if anyone is wondering, was A. This whole pickle quagmire would have gone unnoticed since I put the food away, but I had to open my big mouth and tell her "Sorry for not getting the Claussen Kosher Dill Pickle Spears." Of course, Sarah instantly wants a pickle. I explain the story with puppy dog eyes, and got out of the situation with only a "next time I might REALLY want a pickle and you'll be in trouble!" Man, I got to stay on my toes!
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