18 weeks

How your baby's growing: Head to bottom, your baby is approximately 5 1/2 inches long (about the length of a bell pepper) and she weighs almost 7 ounces. She's busy flexing her arms and legs — movements that you'll likely start noticing more and more. Her blood vessels are visible through her thin skin and her ears are now in position and stand out from her head. Myelin (a protective covering) is beginning to form around her nerves, a process that will continue for a year after she's born. If you're having a girl, her uterus and Fallopian tubes are formed and in place. If your baby is a boy, his genitals are noticeable, though he may hide them from you during an ultrasound.

This week has been really good. I'm feeling the baby move more and more. The feelings are getting more distinct now too. And I swear I actually saw a couple kicks the other day when I was lying in bed! Tuesday is U-day! I hope this babe cooperates.

17 weeks

How your baby's growing: Your baby weighs 5 ounces now (about as much as a turnip), and he's around 5 inches long. He can move his joints, and his skeleton — until now rubbery cartilage — is starting to harden to bone. His sense of hearing is also developing. The umbilical cord, his lifeline to the placenta, is growing stronger and thicker.

I've been feeling the baby move now for more than a week and it's really helped me feel closer to him/her. Jared is really cute and talks to my tummy now too. Having a baby is such a bonding experience. Seeing how excited Jared is makes me love him even more.

the ultrasound

will be March 4th!!! That's less than two weeks away! I can't wait to see my baby and hopefully find out whether I can start buying pink clothes or blue clothes.

So any guesses on the gender?

baby update

I went to the doctor's yesterday and things are looking good. I have officially gained one pound! We heard the heartbeat again nice and strong. My doctor also measured my belly, and I'm a little on the small side for 16 weeks, but nothing to worry about. It's funny because in order to justify the ultrasound to the insurance company the doctor has to say you are either "too small" or "too big". The ultrasound is then used to check the baby's development. So she put me down as "too small" but said I'm probably fine. I will find out today when I'm having the ultrasound. It will be in 2-4 weeks! We are so excited to find out if this little baby is a he or she!

Here is a little visual update of the growing tummy. We took this on Monday night:

We also took a little trip to Costco last night and splurged on a couple things. I will have pictures of those tomorrow. And...I went to Motherhood Maternity to try on their "Secret Fit Belly" jeans. Let me tell you, if you are pregnant you must try on these pants! They are the most comfortable things ever! It seriously feels like you are wearing nothing. They didn't have a huge selection at the store so I ordered some online. The best part is I can wear them now and even after the baby because of how they fit. Motherhood maternity has them for very reasonable prices. Mimi Maternity also them but they are more expensive. I can totally still wear most of my pants but it is like heaven to have nothing pressing on your belly, which is how these pants feel. The stretchy part over the tummy is quite thin and soft and feels delicious.

16 weeks

How your baby's growing: At 4 1/2 inches long (head to bottom) and 3 1/2 ounces, your baby is about the size of an avocado. In the next three weeks, she'll go through a tremendous growth spurt, though, doubling her weight and adding inches to her length. Her lower limbs are much more developed now. Her head is more erect than it has been, and her eyes have moved toward the front of her head. Your baby's ears are close to their final position, too. Some of her more advanced body systems are working, including her circulatory system and urinary tract. Her heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, circulating her total blood volume through her body many times. (By the end of your pregnancy, this will increase to about 190 quarts.) The patterning of her scalp has begun, though her hair isn't recognizable yet. Although closed, her eyes are moving (slowly), and she's even started growing toenails.

Well the big news this week is definitely that I felt the baby! I'm convinced that I did. It really makes it all feel more real. I feel more of a connection with my baby. It's not quite so abstract now that I've felt my little one move. Pretty cool stuff. My next doctor's appointment is on Tuesday so hopefully they'll find everything is progressing nicely.

what's up, baby?

photo from birth.com

I think I felt my baby move. I have no way of knowing for sure. I've been questioning every little gurgle in my belly for the past couple weeks. But this definitely felt different. My first clue is that it was in the area of my uterus. Duh. And at first it felt like something turned. It didn't really feel like a flutter. I can't describe it. Then about 5 minutes later I felt something again. This time more fluttery. Could it be the baby? How the heck am I supposed to know?

For all you ladies who have been pregnant, how did you know it was the baby moving? When did you first feel it move? What did it feel like?

pregnancy is weird

It really is. It is a bizarre thing to be inhabited by another living person. And it is strange to see your body morph as that person grows. And I'm just getting started! I'm starting to show a bit more as my tummy expands. But this is what I don't get: I haven't actually gained any weight. The scale is not changing despite my growing midsection. Which leaves me to conclude that other parts of me must be shrinking. Jared pointed out yesterday that my pants are baggier in my butt and legs. And I think my arms may be a bit smaller too. Has anyone else experienced this? I'm the type that has always gained and lost weight all over my body, so to only be getting bigger in my belly is kinda weird to me. Of course, that is the way I'd like it to be since I am pregnant and not just getting fat, so I am NOT complaining. It's just a little strange to me that I haven't gained weight yet. I keep thinking one of these days I'll get on the scale and will have gained 5 pounds overnight. I'm waiting.

15 weeks

How your baby's growing: Your growing baby now measures about 4 inches long, crown to rump, and weighs in at about 2 1/2 ounces (about the size of an apple). She's busy moving amniotic fluid through her nose and upper respiratory tract, which helps the primitive air sacs in her lungs begin to develop. Her legs are growing longer than her arms now, and she can move all of her joints and limbs. Although her eyelids are still fused shut, she can sense light. If you shine a flashlight at your tummy, for instance, she's likely to move away from the beam. There's not much for your baby to taste at this point, but she is forming taste buds. Finally, if you have an ultrasound this week, you may be able to find out whether your baby's a boy or a girl! (Don't be too disappointed if it remains a mystery, though. Nailing down your baby's sex depends on the clarity of the picture and on your baby's position. He or she may be modestly curled up or turned in such a way as to "hide the goods.")

My baby is looking more and more like a real baby!

advice wanted

Ok, folks, I need some pregnancy/baby related advice, and I have faith in all of you out there to help a girl out in her time of need.

1. What are some good snacks that I can take to work? I'm getting sick of pretzels and almonds and yogurt. Yesterday I started feeling really not good because I got so hungry and had already eaten the big fat orange I brought for my afternoon snack. I need some new ideas! The hunger monster is getting worse!

2. So I won a $35 amazon gift card from a little contest Nicki had on her blog last week. Yay for me! Thanks Nicki! Now I am trying to decide what to spend it on. I'm thinking of getting a Bella Band or it's less expensive equivalent. I'm in that awkward stage of getting too big for my normal pants but can't fit maternity yet. Has anyone out there tried these? I'd like to know what you think.

3. I've also been looking ahead to when this baby arrives and thinking about getting a sling. There are a couple that I like, and I'm wondering if any of you have tried these or something similar. The first is the Peanut Shell Sling:And the second is the Moby wrap:Both can be used from infant through toddler and are around the same price on amazon. I'm just curious if you all have any opinions, or if there is another sling/wrap style carrier you love more. Please share!

That's it for now. I'll take any other 2nd trimester suggestions you might have though too!

Thanks!

14 weeks

How your baby's growing: This week's big developments: Your baby can now squint, frown, grimace, pee, and possibly suck his thumb! Thanks to brain impulses, his facial muscles are getting a workout as his tiny features form one expression after another. His kidneys are producing urine, which he releases into the amniotic fluid around him — a process he'll keep up until birth. He can grasp, too, and if you're having an ultrasound now, you may even catch him sucking his thumb.

In other news: Your baby's stretching out. From head to bottom, he measures 3 1/2 inches — about the size of a lemon — and he weighs 1 1/2 ounces. His body's growing faster than his head, which now sits upon a more distinct neck. By the end of this week, his arms will have grown to a length that's in proportion to the rest of his body. (His legs still have some lengthening to do.) He's starting to develop an ultra-fine, downy covering of hair, called lanugo, all over his body. Your baby's liver starts making bile this week — a sign that it's doing its job right — and his spleen starts helping in the production of red blood cells. Though you can't feel his tiny punches and kicks yet, your little pugilist's hands and feet (which now measure about 1/2 inch long) are more flexible and active.

Wahoo! Second trimester here I come! It feels good to have made it to trimester number two. I'm feeling quite good. I definitely count myself as landing on the luckier end of the sickness spectrum. It hasn't been too bad. Now my pants are just getting tighter. I've been unbuttoning the top button on some. I also had Jared take pictures of my now growing belly for the first time. Nicki, this is for you:

I mostly just look fat unless you know I'm pregnant. And at the end of day (when this was taken) I do feel like my belly needs more room. It feels so good to let it hang out there. I can totally stick it out far too. This picture is just me trying to remain neutral.

As all you moms out there know, when you are pregnant it's really wonderful to have friends going through pregnancy with you. I have been quite blessed to have 3 friends all due within days of myself. Rachel, my dear college friend/cousin-in-law, is due July 31st. Emily, who I've known since age four, is due August 2nd. I am due August 3rd. And Katie, another college friend, is due August 4th. Any takers for August 1st? Apparently November was a very fertile month.

13 weeks

How your baby's growing: Fingerprints have formed on your baby's tiny fingertips, her veins and organs are clearly visible through her still-thin skin, and her body is starting to catch up with her head — which makes up just a third of her body size now. If you're having a girl, she now has more than 2 million eggs in her ovaries. Your baby is almost 3 inches long (the size of a medium shrimp) and weighs nearly an ounce.

I can't believe I only have one more week left in my first trimester! This past week I didn't feel as well as I had for the past couple weeks. Wednesday night I got terrible cramps. It was a bit scary, but I wasn't spotting or bleeding at all so I wasn't too worried. Jared gave me a blessing, and I was able to go to sleep. The next morning, the cramps returned but milder and lasted through Friday. Friday I didn't go to work because I woke up with a headache that wouldn't go away and just felt crappy all day. That night I was seriously craving a hamburger so we went out to a local restaurant, and I had a very delicious burger! Sometimes I just need meat I guess. Or maybe the baby does! Saturday the cramps were gone, and I felt quite good. I think the cramps were just my uterus growing because my tummy seriously got bigger over night! All of a sudden my pants are tight and to the observant eye I have a bit of a belly now.

there really is a person in my uterus

Well it's officially official. I have heard the heartbeat! Someone is growing in my uterus.

We went to the doctor today and they used the Doppler to listen for the heartbeat. It was beating nice and strong. I thought this would make it feel a lot more real, and it does sorta. But it also still feels very strange to know that a little person is inside me. My abdomen is starting to grow a bit, but I don't look pregnant. Perhaps once I do it will feel more real. Or when I feel the baby for the first time. That will be nice.

The doctor says I am looking and feeling good and my blood test was normal and all that. I go back in 4 weeks and then in March we will have the ultrasound and get to find out if we are having a boy or girl! I'm REALLY excited for that visit!

(btw... isn't that photo amazing! I can't believe how developed a 12 week fetus is! It really is miraculous.)

12 weeks

How your baby's growing: The most dramatic development this week: Reflexes. Your baby's fingers will soon begin to open and close, his toes will curl, his eye muscles will clench, and his mouth will make sucking movements. In fact, if you prod your abdomen, your baby will squirm in response, although you won't be able to feel it. His intestines, which have grown so fast that they protrude into the umbilical cord, will start to move into his abdominal cavity about now, and his kidneys will begin excreting urine into his bladder.

Meanwhile, nerve cells are multiplying rapidly, and in your baby's brain, synapses are forming furiously. His face looks unquestionably human: His eyes have moved from the sides to the front of his head, and his ears are right where they should be. From crown to rump, your baby-to-be is just over two inches long (about the size of a lime) and weighs half an ounce.

This past week as been really good! I think I am definitely over the worst of being sick. I feel SO lucky that it didn't last very long and wasn't that bad. I'm definitely hungrier than usual now, and I still feel mildly icky if I don't eat soon enough, but other than that I feel great. I'm also not as tired as I used to be. And now only two more weeks until my second trimester! We are going to the doctor on Tuesday, and I am really excited to hear the heartbeat.

push presents?

Have you heard of "push presents"? Several weeks ago I read this article in the NY Times, "A Bundle of Joy Isn't Enough?", about the growing trend for new moms to receive gifts from their husbands after giving birth, usually in the form of jewelry.

Quoting the article: That’s “push” as in, “I the mother, having been through the wringer and pushed out this blessed event, hereby claim my reward.” Or “push” as in, “I’ve delivered something special and now I’m pushing you, my husband/boyfriend, to follow suit.”

“It’s more and more an expectation of moms these days that they deserve something for bearing the burden for nine months, getting sick, ruining their body,” said Linda Murray, executive editor of BabyCenter.com. “The guilt really gets piled on.”

A recent survey of more than 30,000 respondents by BabyCenter.com found that 38 percent of new mothers received a gift from their mate in connection with their child. Among pregnant mothers, 55 percent wanted one. About 40 percent of both groups said the baby was ample reward.

I remember first hearing about this idea years ago when Angie Harmon appeared on Oprah after the birth of one of her kids. She was a wearing a big fancy ring and said it was her present for giving birth. Her husband gave her a piece of jewelry for each kid. At the time I didn't think much about it other than, "That's nice." But now it seems that this trend is catching on and becoming an expectation for some new moms.

So while the idea of getting a gift for going through nine months of being inhabited by an alien and then getting that baby out seems justified, I also feel that this is becoming just another way for us to be materialistic. I mean, a baby is pretty great gift for all that work right? What do you think? Did you get a special gift, jewelry or otherwise, from your husband after having a baby? Do you think this sounds like a great idea or just another marketing ploy to get us buying even more stuff?

Do tell me what you think, and have a wonderful 3 day weekend!

*ring pictured from sundancecatalog.com

new documentary

Watch the trailer! I am so interested in watching this new documentary about childbirth in America. Fortunately, it's being released on DVD February 12, and I already have it on my Netflix queue. Anyone who has had or will have children will find this very interesting. As I am preparing to have my first, I have started thinking about how I want my birth to go. Obviously, I still have a lot of time, but it doesn't hurt to start thinking about these things now. My doctor is going to play a large part in that, and I want to make sure we are on the same page from the start.

Did you know that the US has the second highest infant mortality rate among developed nations? #1 is Latvia. Crazy! If you want to know more check out this CNN article. And for a review of the film check out this article from the New York Times.

I'm sure I'll have a lot more to say about this after watching the film and of course after I experience childbirth for myself, but I'd love to know what you all out there think. How do you feel about natural childbirth, hospitals, epidurals, midwives, c-sections, etc? If you've given birth, are you happy with your birth experience(s)? What surprised you most? The question posed on the film's website is this: "Should most births be viewed as a natural life process, or should every delivery be treated as a potentially catastrophic medical emergency?" I really am interested in what you think, so please comment!

10 months, pregnant celebrities, katie's hair

First off, 10 months ago, Jared and I were married! Fun, fun! It's crazy how fast it goes. Marriage is fantastic! And I sure do have one fantastic husband! He's been taking such good care of me. Basically I come home from work and proceed to lay on the couch for the rest of the night while he makes me food and smoothies and whatever else might be of utmost necessity. He even watches Project Runway with me.... and likes it! I love you more, babe!








Secondly, there is something about being pregnant that makes you intensely aware of all pregnant women in the world. Like suddenly, every third woman you meet is also knocked up. And with our culture's obsession with celebrity, it suddenly becomes imperative to know which famous ladies out there are also expecting little ones. Suddenly, you feel a bond with women you will never, ever meet. It's weird. There is even a whole blog about celebrities and their babies! On that note, I thought I'd share a few of my current favorite pregnant celebrities.

• Nicole Kidman (I am so happy for her!)
• Halle Berry (Still as gorgeous as ever!)
• Jennifer Lopez ( Also still looking super hot)
• Giada De Laurentiis (She's a chef on Food Network whom I've recently started watching sometimes. She also guest co-hosts on the Today Show sometimes.)
• Cate Blanchett (She's so classy and stylish. Love her!)
• Toni Collette (I didn't even know she was pregnant until just now, but I think she's great and very pregnant.)

Of course there are lots more out there too, and there will be even more in the next 7 months. Ah, babies, there will always be more babies.

Thirdly, I am in love with Katie Holmes hair at the Critics Choice Awards the other night! I know she's had this cut for awhile, but I especially loved it that night. I am planning on chopping my hair off this spring to donate it, and I'm thinking I will do something similar to this. What do you think?

Question: Am I totally gonna regret having short hair during my last months of pregnancy when I get super fat, or will it be nice to have all that extra hair weight gone for the hot months of summer? Just so you know, this isn't a rash decision at all. I have been planning on cutting my hair for months. I'm just letting it grow a bit more to give the layers a chance to grow out some.

*In case something crazy happens with this photo, like the last one, I got it from InStyle.

pregnancy and politics

I still need to upload pictures in order to do a satisfactory recanting of our holidays. I have a feeling though that I didn't take nearly as many pictures as I could have because the pregnancy sickness finally hit while out in Utah during week 8. Lame. I didn't throw up, but I definitely had some bad days. And some good ones too I must add. I just never know. Since we've been back, I've actually felt the worst yet. And I did finally throw up for real yesterday. My entire eggs and toast breakfast. (I'm not counting the mouthful of water and stuff that I "burped" up on Saturday after walking off the plane.) Sorry, that is gross. I'll stop. Suffice it to say that I have felt rather lousy. But I know many of you have had it MUCH worse, so I'll stop complaining.

Monday we had a pseudo-doctor's appointment. We met with the OB nurse who went over medical history and the plan for the next 7 months of visits. I go back the 22nd for my first real visit with the OB. I'm excited to hear the baby's heartbeat!

On an entirely different note, what do you all think of all the presidential campaign stuff? I have been obsessed with watching CNN. There's only so much you can do when you feel nauseous every time you stand up. The presidential race is fascinating. I have my favorites on both sides, so it's fun to keep track of. I was really surprised Hillary pulled off a win yesterday in New Hampshire. She is definitely NOT my favorite. I really thought Obama was gonna beat her decidedly. McCain winning was not so surprising, but it was good to see that Romney wasn't that far behind. Oh the craziness that is politics! It's good entertainment.

10 weeks

How your baby's growing: Though he's barely the size of a kumquat — a little over an inch or so long, crown to bottom — and weighs less than a quarter of an ounce, your baby has now completed the most critical portion of his development. This is the beginning of the so-called fetal period, a time when the tissues and organs in his body rapidly grow and mature.

He's swallowing fluid and kicking up a storm. Vital organs — including his kidneys, intestines, brain, and liver (now making red blood cells in place of the disappearing yolk sac) — are in place and starting to function, though they'll continue to develop throughout your pregnancy.

If you could take a peek inside your womb, you'd spot minute details, like tiny nails forming on fingers and toes (no more webbing) and peach-fuzz hair beginning to grow on tender skin.

In other developments: Your baby's limbs can bend now. His hands are flexed at the wrist and meet over his heart, and his feet may be long enough to meet in front of his body. The outline of his spine is clearly visible through translucent skin, and spinal nerves are beginning to stretch out from his spinal cord. Your baby's forehead temporarily bulges with his developing brain and sits very high on his head, which measures half the length of his body. From crown to rump, he's about 1 1/4 inches long. In the coming weeks, your baby will again double in size — to nearly 3 inches.

9 weeks

How your baby's growing: Your new resident is nearly an inch long — about the size of a grape — and weighs just a fraction of an ounce. She's starting to look more and more human. Her essential body parts are accounted for, though they'll go through plenty of fine-tuning in the coming months. Other changes abound: Your baby's heart finishes dividing into four chambers, and the valves start to form — as do her tiny teeth. The embryonic "tail" is completely gone. Your baby's organs, muscles, and nerves are kicking into gear. The external sex organs are there but won't be distinguishable as male or female for another few weeks. Her eyes are fully formed, but her eyelids are fused shut and won't open until 27 weeks. She has tiny earlobes, and her mouth, nose, and nostrils are more distinct. The placenta is developed enough now to take over most of the critical job of producing hormones. Now that your baby's basic physiology is in place, she's poised for rapid weight gain.

8 weeks

How your baby's growing: New this week: Webbed fingers and toes are poking out from your baby's hands and feet, his eyelids practically cover his eyes, breathing tubes extend from his throat to the branches of his developing lungs, and his "tail" is just about gone. In his brain, nerve cells are branching out to connect with one another, forming primitive neural pathways. You may be daydreaming about your baby as one sex or the other, but the external genitals still haven't developed enough to reveal whether you're having a boy or a girl. Either way, your baby — about the size of a kidney bean — is constantly moving and shifting, though you still can't feel it.