17 Weeks Pregnant and IT'S A BOY!!!

Baby's skeleton is hardening, changing from rubbery cartilage to bone, and fat is finally accumulating around it. The umbilical cord is getting thicker and stronger, and those little fingers and toes are now topped by one-of-a-kind prints.

Baby is now the size of an Onion!!!










Total weight gain/loss: No weight gain this week. Whew! The weight that I have gained has been all in my tummy(obviously), and hips. A lot of weight in my hips! I'm starting to look pregnant from the back. Yikes. Still 7lbs total.
Maternity clothes: I'm starting to look better in my maternity clothes. More pregnant, Less chubby. Yay!
Sleep: This week was a bad sleep week. Dan had a very bad cold. Not just a very bad cold - a "man cold" (that is what Sophie calls it). Loud, raspy, phelmy coughing all night long. It makes it very difficult to get good sleep. Poor Dan but I think he is finally feeling better. Maybe good sleep is on the way. :)
Other symptoms: So one of the more embarrassing pregnancy symptoms is hair growth in strange places. I am developing this thin layer of blond peach fuzz all over my tummy. It's lovely. I also am getting dry patches on my skin which a good moisturizer does seem to help. On the plus side, my hunger has subsided a little this past week. I've read it comes and goes though, so it will probably be back.
Best moment last week: The best moment for last week is that we found out that we are having a BOY!!! We are thrilled and I think Dan is particularly excited to have a son. For some reason, a boy seems more of a challenge to me. The task of raising a Godly man has been given to us. I know the Lord wouldn't give us this challenge if He didn't think we could do it. I'm sure we will need His help and guidance everyday!
When we found out baby is a boy we were having an ultrasound (of course). The tech said to picture the baby sitting on a glass top table and we are looking up at the underside of the glass top table. Well, baby was sitting perfectly for us to see him in all his glory. There is no doubt that it's a boy. :)
Movement: Yes!!! The movement that I felt last Thursday at exactly 16 weeks was the baby. He continued to move around a lot over last weekend. Sometimes it just felt like flutters but sometimes it was full on limbs sweeping across the inside of my uterus. I love it! What an awesome experience!
Food cravings/aversions: Nothing really this week. I haven't been as hungry so that is probably why.
What I miss: Nothing this week. I'm a content and happy pregnant lady.
Other thoughts: I am feeling a little disconnected to this pregnancy. I thought - Once I feel the baby move, then I will feel like it is real. Then, I thought - Once I know the gender, it will feel real. Well it still doesn't feel like this is really happening. I think this is ok and normal for me. I'm not too worried about it right now because I think becoming more connected will just be baby steps for me (pun intended). Little by little I think it will feel more real and if it doesn't, I think it will when my little one is here. I have waited so long for this time in my life and it's normal to have a hard time believing that this really is happening. I've built these walls around my heart and it will take some time for this little guy to break down those walls and make it inside. :) I'm just trusting in the Lord. He knows exactly what He is doing. His plan is perfect for me and I know He will help me overcome this struggle.
What I am looking forward to: My mom is coming home to visit this week! We are having a joint birthday celebration for my sister-in-law, brother-in-law, Dan and myself. My 32nd birthday is this week. I am so happy to be pregnant on my birthday this year. Every year since I turned 27 my birthday has been kind of bittersweet for me. It was just another year without children and I would get very sad about that. Not this year Praise the LORD!!! So much to celebrate.
Milestones: Lots of movement and finding out the wonderful news that we are having a BOY!!!
17 Week Belly Picture: Getting bigger and bigger!

16 Weeks Pregnant!!!

Watch what you say... tiny bones forming in baby's ears mean the little one can now pick up your voice. Eyebrows, lashes and hair are starting to fill in, and taste buds are forming. And, if you're interested, an ultrasound might be able to determine gender.

Baby is now the size of an Avocado!!!


















Total weight gain/loss: Gained 2 lbs this week. Yikes! I'm still right on track but it is a little weird knowing that I gained 2 lbs in one week. 7lbs total.
Sleep: Still having good nights and bad nights. My nose and sinuses are stuffier and drier than a normal winter which I read is normal. However, it does make it hard to sleep sometimes. I'm colder than normal too. I think it is the extra estrogen that makes me colder. I have warm jammies, socks, flannel sheets, a thick blanket, a comforter and another thick blanket on top - just enough to keep me warm and sleepy. :)
Other symptoms: Really emotional this week. My Dad's Dad past away this week and although I did not know him very well, I am very sad for my Dad. I've been really weepy when I think about my Daddy. All my grandparents have past now and it is a little hard to believe. It brings the reality of the eventual death of my parents a little closer. Then I get all weepy when I think about that. Here is Hope: I get to bring a new life into this world. Part Shepardson, part Siegfried! I just got all teary thinking about it. I'm a basket case.
Best moment last week: Dan's 33rd birthday was this week. I made a nice dinner at home and got him a couple gifts. It is such a great feeling to know that next year we there will be 3 of us celebrating his birthday.
Movement: I think I felt something just this morning. However I can't get too excited because I'm not sure what it was. It felt like there was a limb of some sort that kind grazed the front inside of my uterus. Hmmm.....
Food cravings/aversions: Cottage Cheese??? I must need the calcium.
What I miss: We are going out to dinner this weekend to celebrate Dan's birthday and I think we are going for steak. A cocktail and some red wine would be so nice...
What I am looking forward to: Feel the baby move and being confident that I know for sure that was it. OB appointment on Tuesday - Hopefully we will find out the sex!
Milestones: Reached the end of my 4th month of pregnancy!
Week 16 Belly Picture:

15 Weeks Pregnant!!!

Continuing the march towards normal proportions, baby's legs now outmeasure the arms. And, finally, all four limbs have functional joints. Your baby is squirming and wiggling like crazy down in the womb, though you probably still can't feel the movements.

Baby is now the size of an orange - Perfect for winter!





















How far along: 15 weeks..man it starting to go by fast!
Total weight gain/loss: No weight gained this week so still holding steady at 5 lbs.
Maternity clothes: I can still wear most of my pants with the bella band but my maternity pants are more comfortable. I just feel kind of fat and frumpy in my maternity clothes. I think as I look more pregnant and less fat I will feel better in my maternity clothes
Stretch marks: No stretch marks yet. I hope I don't get any but I probably will because I have them on my knees from when I was a little girl and I grew too tall too fast.
Sleep: Good nights and bad nights. I'm starting to have problems getting comfortable. Poor Dan, when I am tossing and turning, I know he doesn't sleep very well either.
Other symptoms: Still get waves of nausea and I am very hungry. I have been working out more though so that probably also contributes to my hunger. I try to eat something small with protein every 3 hours or so. That seems to help my hunger and nausea but I really can't go longer than 3 hours without feeling sick.
Best moment last week: A semi-stranger noticed that I am pregnant! It probably sounds dumb to most people but I was so excited about it. I was a church and when Dan and I go to church we usually sit in the same place in the sanctuary every week as well this nice older couple. We see them almost every week and say hello but we don't know them per say. The woman came up to me at church last week and said that she noticed that I had a little belly and just knew that I was pregnant. She hugged and congratulated me. It was so sweet and just made my week.
Movement: Baby is moving but I can't feel him/her yet. Waiting patiently....
Food cravings/aversions: Last weekend Dan and I went out for Mexican food. I was a little worried because restaurant smells have been getting to me lately. I was pleasantly surprised when we got there and it wasn't too smelly. We ate our dinner and both had leftovers that we asked to be boxed up. We get in the car to drive home and I am holding the leftover boxes. The food smell quickly filled the car and I started to get sick. So here I am, head out the window on Saturday night, 20 degrees out driving down the road. You gotta do what you gotta do I guess.
Gender: I am thinking a boy but who knows??? If baby cooperates, we will get to find out the sex at our next OB appointment which is on 1/26/10.
What I miss: A good, hard, "blood sweat and tears" kind of a workout. I miss the adrenaline rush so much. It really helps to regulate my moods. I see all my gym friends in the boot camp classes I used to go to and wish I could be there with them but I know moderate exercise is best for baby so I'm sticking to the cardio machines.
What I am looking forward to: My next OB appointment. I should have an ultrasound, quad screen and hopefully find out the sex of baby.

Milestones: A stranger noticed that I am pregnant!

15 Week Belly Picture:

14 Weeks Pregnant

Your adorable little baby is busy with thumb sucking, toe wiggling, and (not so cute but equally amazing) making urine and breathing amniotic fluid as the liver, kidneys and spleen continue to develop. Lanugo (thin, downy hair) is growing all over the body for warmth.

Baby is now the size of a lemon!!!

















Total weight gain/loss: Gained 1 lb from the last time I weighed myself. That is pretty good considering it was before the Holidays. 5 lbs total since I found out that I am pregnant.
Sleep: Still sleeping well most nights. I went back to the gym this week after a 3 month forced break which was not fun. I'm so out of shape now, I have no stomach muscles so even though all I did was walk on the treadmill, my back is so sore. Last night I got no sleep. :(
Best moment last week: Went to my OB appointment. Baby is still growing healthy and well. I got to hear that precious heartbeat. I'm so thankful that so far everything is going well. Most days it still doesn't seem real so I love having an ultrasound to make sure there is actually a baby inside there. :)
Food cravings/aversions: I love Campbells Tomato Soup right now. Strange but true. Also sandwiches!
What I am looking forward to: I just can't wait to feel the baby move. Maybe that will help it feel more real.

14 Week Belly Picture: