14 Weeks

I know I'm a day early, but we are leaving for Thanksgiving tomorrow and I don't know if I'll have time to update. I don't know why it matters because no one has access to this blog yet. I'm still feeling yucky most of the time and easily gag. I'm starting to think that maybe I'll be sick during the whole pregnancy. It's hard because I really want to be healthy and eat well, but most healthy stuff makes me gag. It's a good thing I can still take my vitamins. Brandon says it's all in my head, he's probably right.

Even though my face and hair are super greasy, the rest of my skin is shedding a layer a day. I don't wear black because I'm afraid of evidence showing on my clothes. It's starting to crack and itch, which is hard for me to resist. I need to get some mineral oil for in the shower and start using Xander's steroid ointment (I got the doctor's okay on that).

I bought my first maternity shirt last week. I needed something new to wear to Thanksgiving and all the regular shirts made me look fat instead of pregnant. It's really cute and comfy and I'm excited to wear more maternity clothes as the baby, and I, grow.

Break out the dactyloscope -- your sweet sprite finally has fingerprints! His arches, loops and whorls are just one of the many ways in which he will establish himself as a completely unique being. And, he’s increasingly responsive to external stimuli: if you poke your belly, he’ll wriggle away!

He’s also starting to practice his breathing, learning the inhalation and exhalation movements. You probably won't be able to feel all that moving around, though. At just 3.5", he's just barely as big as a peach -- so he still has lots of room to stretch out, or swim around as the mood strikes him.

Even though his eyelids remain fused shut, Baby is able to move his eyes around, and can finally make a fist. His neck is lengthening and his chin no longer rests on his chest.

Cute Alert!Your little mime is making faces now: he might alternately grimace, squint and frown!

The placenta is still Baby's source of nourishment, so remember that when making your food and drink choices. In the next few weeks, his tiny bones will start to ossify, or harden, so it's still very important to take your prenatal vitamins and folic acid. You will be scheduled for an ultrasound in the next couple of weeks and at this appointment, you should be able to find out if you are having a boy or a girl. If you don't want to know the baby's gender until you deliver, let every doctor and technician you come across know to keep it a secret!

2nd Doctor's Appointment

I had my second appointment today. It was a very short visit. I got to hear the heartbeat for the first time. The baby was hiding behind a big muscle, I think she meant a big layer of fat. Every time she found it, the baby would move. But, I did hear it for a few minutes. The heart rate was 160, which I think is a little above average, it's definitely a boy. I asked a few questions and that was it. We don't get to have an ultrasound next time, so I have to wait until the middle of January! She said we could try next month, but we may not be able to tell for sure what it is. I wanted to know before Christmas, but I think this way we will have something to look forward to after Christmas and it will make the time go by faster. Besides, I'm 90% sure that it's a boy, and I'm always right!

13 Weeks

I've had a nasty cold this week, so I'm even more stuffed up than normal. I think that's why I've been so tired because I can't sleep at night because I can't breathe. Now that I'm in my 2nd trimester I'm feeling much better. I still get a little nauseous and nothing sounds good to eat, but I'm doing better. I'm getting sick of the weird dreams. That's one bad thing about blogging, I dream about people from High School against my will. My sister just had a baby and when I went to see them it made it more real that I'm actually pregnant. I'm getting excited to hold our little one in my arms so fresh from heaven that he/she still smells like it.

Though it will be a while before you hear them, little Pavoratti's vocal cords are already developing, preparing to belt out that first anthem of childhood: the healthy wailing that accompanies him into the world.

His cozy home in the amniotic sac continues to expand along with him -- he’s a whopping 3” in length at this point, which is about the size of a large lemon. He’ll start to develop a covering of fine hairs known as lanugo this week, and his senses of taste and smell are even further refined. Also being refined are the whorls and loops that make up that unique identifier we all have: fingerprints. His pancreas is functioning as well (which means he's secreting his own insulin), and he's even developed the villi in his intestines that will help him digest food.

And finally this week, his intestines will make the move into his abdominal cavity -- previously they lived in the umbilical cord as they waited for room in his abdomen. With all this work going on, make sure you continue to take your prenatal vitamins to keep your little one on the right path as he continues to grow!

12 Weeks

Xander informed me the other day that the baby's name is Colter. I asked what its name will be if it's a girl and he said, "Anna, no Nana". He has been so good while I'm not feeling well. He just plays with his toys and watches cartoons. He'll come and get me if he needs to go potty or sometimes he'll bring his toys in on my bed and we'll play together. Brandon has also been so great. He never complains if the house is a mess or if he has to cook dinner for himself and Xander, thank goodness for corn dogs and chicken nuggets.

Nearing the end of her first three months, the Lilliputian inside you is now fully formed. She's still tiny, though -- at about 2.5" she's the length of an iPod Nano. Her job for the next six months is to strengthen all the systems the two of you have worked so hard to set in place. Brain configuration is nearly complete as her synapses start forming. The pituitary gland is starting to produce hormones: growth hormone, prolactin and more. Her heart is hard at work, pumping several quarts of blood through her body every day!

In addition, her kidneys are developed enough to start filtering liquid -- which means she's getting a head start on those dirty diapers. Her urine will actually become part of the amniotic fluid. She's starting to look more human now as well: her eyes have moved closer together on her face and her ears are nearing their final resting places on the sides of her head.All this development means she can now respond to external stimulation -- she may squint at a bright light, open and close her mouth or give you a show of jazz hands.

And one more thing: the genitalia have finally developed their distinguishing characteristics, so chances are good that at your next ultrasound appointment, you could find out what you are having!

11 Weeks

The doctor put me on some serious vitamins when I went in. I addition to my two prenatal vitamins every night, I also have to take 3 Folic Acid and 1 Omega 3 Fatty Acid (Fish Oil). I've never had a problem taking a handful of pills in one swallow, but these pills are really big! I have to put the fish oil in the freezer so that they dissolve slower and don't make me as nauseous. They also have a lovely after taste.

I've decided that whoever came up with the term "pregnancy glow" was being very kind. I like to call it "pregnancy grease". I've never felt so greasy in my life. I feel like I need to wash my face and hair three times a day!

I suggested to Brandon the other night that we not find out what we are having. He said no. He would rather save money by being prepared right now. I don't think I would be able to not know anyways!

On Monday I got done throwing up and came out of the bathroom. I laid down on the couch and Xander walked over to me and said, "Mama, I real real sorry you sick". It was really cute.

This week the bambino splashes his way into the fishbowl -- at 1.5 inches he’s the size of a betta, that colorful fishbowl favorite. Your betta baby's transparent skin currently resembles Slim Goodbody's signature bodysuit. His skin will remain transparent until you are nearly full term. His fingers and toes have lost their amphibious characteristics and have separated into definite fingers and toes. And the feet that hold those tiny toes? They are small enough to fit on one of your fingernails! Little tooth buds are developing in his gums and in the next week or so, blood will start circulating through that tiny body. But the really cool part? Some of his senses are already developing, like touch and smell. In fact, from this point on, he’ll be really interested in touching his face and mouth as he learns to use those senses. In a move not unlike the Wizard of Oz pulling the curtain closed, your baby's eyelids have fused shut while the iris and other essential parts develop. Remember to keep taking your prenatal vitamins and folic acid -- they are essential to your tadpole's development!

10 Weeks

We are so bad at keeping secrets! We told immediate family this week that we are having another baby. A few people were so excited that they actually cried, which made me cry of course. I'm extremely grateful to be blessed with two great families. They have been praying for this little baby along with us and I know that their faith, added to ours, made this miracle happen.

Our ward had Super Saturday last week. They had a holiday food cooking class. I was so sad that I was only able to sample a few things because it all looked so good! At least I didn't loose what I did eat! I think that staying healthy during pregnancy is so hard, especially for me. I wake up in the middle of the night almost every night starving to death! Of course I don't snack on an apple or carrot sticks, it's more like cupcakes, cookies, or ice cream. I'm going to be huge by the time May comes along!

Your sprout’s spurt continues this week -- finally, her weight is measurable! She’s a mere 4 grams (equivalent to just 4 paperclips!) and is the size of a pretty little strawberry. This week, her heart is strong enough for the beat to show up on a Doppler reading done by your doctor. Don’t panic if her heart sounds like it’s about to explode -- in utero, babies have a heart rate of about 140 beats per minute, compared to our 80 beats. Her brain is also moving like Greased Lightning: every minute it develops a quarter of a million new neurons. She'll be outpacing Einstein in no time at all! As if all that weren't enough, your baby's heart is now pumping blood throughout her body; if you're lucky enough to catch it, you might see the blood flow on your next ultrasound, since her skin is parchment-thin right now. With all this work going on, it's hard to believe she's still so tiny!

First Doctor's Appointment

Yesterday I had my first doctor's appointment. I had an internal ultrasound done. I've never had one of those done, and I liked it more than the embarrassing stomach one. The ultrasound was so quick, and we only got one picture. They found an umbilical cyst, but the doctor said it shouldn't be anything to worry about. They will check it again at the next ultrasound at 20 weeks. Everything else looked good and I am right on schedule. The baby is an inch long and I got to see it move around and see its heartbeat.

Our little baby!!