Week 8 - a Kidney Bean!

Another week has come and gone and I really still don't have that "I'm Pregnant" feeling...except we have now told a few people - mainly our parents - so it should start seeming a little more real any day now, right?!?!

About Me:

I'm feeling great...besides a little tired, I really have nothing to complain about. I've lost a little of the excitement towards gallons of water to keep headaches away, but have survived by finding that one sparkling water a day REALLY helps! I didn't really write anything down this week to help prompt me at the blog, so I'm guessing that's why I don't remember much! Hmmm, better notes next week!

About Monster:

This week, Monster's head is proportionally larger than the rest of the body and the ears and eyelids are developing. Fingers and toes are forming from the arm and leg buds which now have wrists and elbow that can FLEX. WOW! Baby's heart is beating away!

Planning for Monster:

This week marked another visit to my NP for a pelvic exam. We will now be going monthly and at our next appointment we will have another ultrasound and get to HEAR the heartbeat. Wow, I already know that Rich's heart will probably skip a beat or two in excitement and I'll most likely pass out!

We are also in the hunt for an OB, as we have changed our mind from a family practice doctor. Main reasons for change are:
1. I have an awesome NP who will be with me the whole way
2. We want to have Monster's pediatrician close to us (and not in Bellevue)
3. It just feels right!

We feel very blessed that I haven't been HIT with morning sickness and are working with the power of positive thinking (and eating when Monster needs) to hopefully keep that at bay!

Week 7 - a Raspberry!

This was a BIG week...like every week, but this one was our BIGGEST yet! On Friday, March 16th, Rich and I headed to get Monster's FIRST Ultrasound. With bladders full (both of us), we waited and waited, until I could wait no more. I had to release a little water or I would explode. Guess what, I went overboard and drank too much and got to go again before the Ultrasound with the permission of our tech!

The Ultrasound was amazing...since Monster was a little camera shy (and too small for the regular Ultrasound), the tech had to do a vaginal ultrasound. Not nearly as awful as I thought it would be, but freaking amazing as WE GOT TO SEE MONSTER'S HEART BEAT! Are you kidding me?!?! It was simply amazing. I think that Rich and I were both in shock that we got to see that little heart beating...and that everything with Monster is going great!

The other news we got from the ultrasound was a NEW and "OFFICIAL" Due Date....seems like Monster wants to spend one more week in the womb, as our new estimated time of arrival is:

NOVEMBER 7th, 2012!!!!

In other news, we took our 1st hospital tour on Saturday at Swedish in Seattle. We are thinking that the idea of having a Family Doctor who can be Monster's Doctor post-womb would be really awesome. Rich and I both believe that Monster is going to be low-risk, so this is a great route. Of course, we are going to check out a few more places and then have to start talking to Doctor's. I'm lucky to be about to have my Nurse Practioner care for me until about week 20, so we aren't in a pinch to find someone!

About Me:

WOW! Pregnancy hit me like a ton of bricks this week and Monster told me "I'm HERE"! I learned the hard way, both Friday and Saturday, that if I didn't eat when Monster told me too...that I was going to be sick! Friday was definitely the better of the two, as I almost passed out and had to sit down on Saturday while on our tour at Swedish. Yes, I was the lady sitting/squatting in the hallway with her husband trying to get her to go to the bathroom. Embarassing and awful, but LESSON LEARNED! We stocked up on portable snacks today at Costco, so NEVER again will we be caught "with our pants down"!

About Monster:

This week Monster's upper lip is forming...but since this is Rich and my baby, we are thinking that Monster is just hanging out, since not much needs to be formed in that area. However, the nose and eyelids are starting to form, plus fingers and toes! Monster's little heart is beating away too...and from our ultrasound, it is approximately 116 bpm!


Planning for Monster:

Starting our hospital tours and hopefully settling on our ideal location soon....so that the search for the doctor can happen in the next few weeks! Also, this week, WE GO PUBLIC! We are planning to tell our parents this weekend! Holy cow! The time where Monster was our little secret is almost done...and we are so excited to share this special time with our family!

My cup runneth over...

and my luck runneth out!

Yes, it's true! The afternoon/mid-day sickness officially took over today. I noticed that things were not all roses when I got up. I had a difficult time getting all my vitamins down and then had a little gag when dishing up Chukar's tasty salmon kibble and venison raw breakfast! It was rough...and I didn't think that I was going to make it.

After that, the day progressed as follows:

Toast = Delicious!

Oatmeal = Gag!

Strawberries = Dry Heave!

String Cheese = Dynamite!

Raisens = OK!

PB&J Sandwich = Not Good!

While at my client this afternoon, I had the overwhelming sense that "I WAS GOING TO PUKE"...I kept repeating to myself, don't puke here, don't puke here, don't puke here. While discussing some important financial trends with the president of the company I was at, I actually GAGGED in her face! I had the total sensation that I might puke all over her. It was awful! I managed to keep it all in, but it was close!

After work, I had acupuncture and NOW feel great! I swear, it's a miracle what Jason does and I feel like the next time I get that morning/afternoon/evening sickness, I will run to acupuncture and see if he can help me again. Of course, after feeling so great...it made me hungry for so many things...a chocolate shake...jalapeno poppers...beef-n-cheddar....and I DID IT ALL. I probably shouldn't have, but I figured one spurlge is OK! I just can't make a habit of it, otherwise, my butt will get as big as my belly! No thank you!

The other parts of me that are already growing is my cup size...the cup is running over and it will be no time before a new bra is my first purchase.

On a serious note, my spotting continued on Monday and Tuesday...but tappered off yesterday evening after taking the afternoon off and getting some rest. I'm anxious for our ultrasound on Friday to make sure the Monster is in the uterus and that all things are coming along nicely.

Relax, I know, but it's a nerve racking time to say the least...

Just a little over a week until we tell our families...and then start sharing our news a little more freely!

Week 6 - a Blueberry!

Growing up so fast...already the size of a blueberry! Today marks 6 weeks 4 days and each day is special, unique, scary, emotional and different. We are 5 days away from our 1st ultrasound and just holding our breath that everything is going good. I had a little cramping and spotting this afternoon, so we are a little shaken up...but know that what is meant to be will be. I keep on reciting to myself to relax and know that our Little Monster is doing what needs to be done right now.

About me:

This week went fairly smooth. I had very tender breasts (understatement of the year), it felt like my nipples were going to pop off a few times this week, but I'm doing so much better now. I've been good on the nausea front as well, just a little tired during the week and then the cramps and spotting today. It's amazing how you can just feel your body change, even if no one else can tell, I can definitely tell something is going on. I've gained 1 pound, but to me it looks like I've gained about 15 in my midsection...things are shifting and moving all the time. Also this weekend, I went to my first pregnancy yoga class with a friend who is also pregnant and it was great. I can see how it will help with labor, delivery and also when I start to get bigger. I haven't had any food aversions or cravings, however, when I smelled Rich's wine the other night I thought it was the grossest thing imaginable. I guess the body knows what is good for it. Chukar is also starting to realize that something is different and is very protective of me. He seems to want to lay with me, on me, or by me all the time. It's amazing how intune he is with all the changes going on.

We did have our first night out where I had to mix up some "mock-tails" so that no one knew about our Little Monster. Sorry Jen, Alex and Aaron, but you will all know very soon!

About Monster:

This week our baby started to sprount limbs that will continue to divide and form hands, arms, legs, knees and feet. Also forming this week is our baby's mouth and tongue. It's amazing that just 6 weeks in, Monster is already a little person.

We are excited to see what this weeks brings and pray for the continued health and development of our little monster. Hopefully for our next update, we will have Monster's 1st picture from the ultrasound.

Planning for Monster:

This week we decided that we are getting close to start sharing our news and are trying to think of fun and creative ways to tell our family and friends. Right now, Rich and I have a few tricks up our sleeves, but the planning will continue this week. It's such an exciting and scary time...we want everyone to feel special when we tell them and share in the excitement that we feel.

Week 5 - Sweat Pea!

A few more days have gone by and I still don't have that "WE'RE PREGNANT FEELING"! The good news is that besides being a little more tired, I'm feeling absolutely awesome! I was able to get back to the gym today and will be planning on doing this through my pregnancy. Even if it is just 30 minutes on the treadmill, my acupuncturist told me that this will make labor and delivery so much better! ANYTHING to make that process better and is as easy as walking on the treadmill is definitely something that I can manage.

I took a base measurement for my belly and will be tracking how it grows each week...starting this week, I'm at 33.5 inches! I'm sure that it will be no time before it starts to expand. I already having feelings that things are going on "down there" and starting to prepare for the Little Monster that has made a home with me. WOW! A baby!

Rich and I have decided that we are going to do birthing center tours at both Swedish (Seattle) and Overlake (Bellevue) and make our decision from there. Besides that, no big plans were made this week. We are thinking YELLOW and GREY for the baby room, very gender neutral!