By the way . . .

I think I've failed to mention this, but we have felt Peanut moving around!! I started feeling it about 3 weeks ago, but I wasnt' sure it was really the baby . . . but Clint felt it Friday night and again last night. It feels like a very slight muscle spasm in my lower left side . . . I feel it mostly after dinner when I'm relaxing, or in the car, when the seat belt is against my belly.

We have also decided to go ahead and do the early ultrasound . . . So, assuming Peanut cooperates, we will find out gender and have some new photos by Saturday afternoon!!!!

18 Weeks and Counting

So, I've been trying to take photos in the same shirt every two weeks or so, but this morning I snapped one really quick just to get one . . . I will try to get a pic in the right shirt later this week.

As you can see, I've gained quite a bit of girth over the last two weeks . . . I'm wondering if I should start taking photos every week now??

My emotions have become almost unbearable over the last several days. Everything makes me cry. I'm afraid to watch dramatic shows or movies. My friend's sister died this week, and I am afraid to go to the funeral (I've never met her, but have been considering attending for the sake of said friend).

They say morning sickness is worst in the first trimester . . . well, once again, I go against the flow. I've vomited more over the last week than I have in my entire life! I'm sure you were curious about that . . . but it's true.

I still have 2 weeks to go before we find out the gender, and it is absolutely killing me to have to wait. Plus, I have a friend who is 6 weeks behind me in this pregnancy ordeal, and she's had 3 ultrasounds already!! And her doctor told her she could find out gender in 3 weeks!! But there's this place nearby that does 3D/4D (I assume 4D is sound, but I don't really know) and for $60 they will give you photos and identify gender anytime after 16 weeks . . . Clint doesn't seem that thrilled about it, but I think it would make me feel so much better.

After all, I shouldn't be giving the baby a stressful environment to live in, right?

There seems to be deals everywhere on seasonal clothing . . . but alas, I cannot buy any. How fantastic would it be to buy everything on sale??? (Actually, it wouldn't mean that I would be saving money. It just means that Peanut would have twice as much stuff).

I also discovered that very few Target stores carry the Classic Pooh bedroom stuff in their stores -- most of it is online only. This will make it very difficult to paint the baby's room the right shade of sage . . . which is something I wanted to get done this weekend.

So . . . . I'm back!

I've been away from a solid internet connection now for two weeks, but I am finally back.

I took a photo of my 16-week belly, but the website is not accepting my photos for some reason . . . I will continue to try and upload the update.

Not much is new, except for the size of my belly. I have gained significant inches in the pelvic region, but not really anywhere else.

My food intake is frightful. I am always hungry. No constant cravings . . . I mostly want something different every five minutes. Last night, I wanted apples. Today, I want bananas.

I still feel tired, but that could be because I have been sick for the last week and a half. Sinus infection. Bleh. And now my ears are aching. Dr. Kathy gave me some weak antibiotics, but they'll only get me so far.

The holidays were spectacular, and throughout the entire season, I kept thinking about how next year we'll have a little one to tote with us to the get-togethers!!

For New Year's Eve, we took Peanut to its first concert. It exhausted me. And I cried for absolutely no reason. But that's getting more typical.

I am sooooooo wanting to feel the baby move. I think I felt it a week ago, but it was surely not definitive enough to rest my worried mind (My mind is always in a state of worry). Maybe our next visit with Dr. Dedelow this week will help (Thursday at 4:30, central time). I don't think we will get an ultrasound or find out Peanut's gender, but by February we should know!!

I've looked at every single gender myth I could find, and signs are generally pointing to boy. However, the Chinese gender calendar (which is over 90% correct -- and I tested this!) says it's a girl. Mom says I would be better with a boy. I can't argue with that. Everyone on my side of the family thinks it's a boy . . . I just want 10 fingers, 10 toes, 2 eyes, a nose, and a mouth. Well, and everything in-between.

Peanut is sitting very low still (which you would be able to tell on your own, if I could upload the pic), and so visits to the bathroom are increasing in number.

I am starting to really think about what we have to do before Peanut gets here (which is only 5 months from now!!!) . . . we need a new vehicle, because Natalie and Peanut cannot easily fit into the Honda. We have lots of little projects around the house that need to be finished up . . . and we still have to remove the spare bedroom furniture and prep Peanut's bedroom. Yikes!! I am trying not to get overwhelmed, but it seems like there is a lot on my plate these days.

For Christmas, my mother gave us money to prepare the new bedroom (and also a stuffed animal and receiving blanket for baby), so that will help quite a bit.

That's all for now. Let me know if you have questions!! And expect to see a new photo soon!

My Second OB visit!

All good news here, the day after my 2nd visit. Heartbeat is at 150 (fluctuation is normal and will tend to decrease throughout the pregnancy); all tests were normal . . . but weight gain is a little high, according to doc. 5 pounds over 12 weeks! I'm sure he knows more than I do, but I was kind-of impressed it wasn't more (and it looks like more. About 15 more.).

I also received my H1N1 shot. Awesome.

Next appointment is January 7th, and I think I will be taking some screening tests during that visit (CP, CVS, etc. etc.).

So, we'll just keep on truckin'.

(8 weeks until we can find out the sex of the baby!)

By the way, the chinese gender calendar says it's going to be a girl. Hippocrates says it's going to be a boy.