18 Weeks Today! Baking a Potato!

From Babycenter:

How your baby's growing:

Head to rump, your baby is about 5 1/2 inches long (about the length of a bell pepper) and he weighs almost 7 ounces. He's busy flexing his arms and legs — movements that you'll start noticing more and more in the weeks ahead. His blood vessels are visible through his thin skin, and his ears are now in their final position, although they're still standing out from his head a bit. A protective covering of myelin is beginning to form around his nerves, a process that will continue for a year after he's born. If you're having a girl, her uterus and fallopian tubes are formed and in place. If you're having a boy, his genitals are noticeable now, but he may hide them from you during an ultrasound.

How your life's changing:

Hungry? An increase in appetite is pretty common about now. Make it count by choosing meals and snacks that are rich in nutrients instead of empty calories (chips, French fries, candy, and other sweets). Bigger, more comfortable clothes are a must now as your appetite and waistline grow.

Your cardiovascular system is undergoing dramatic changes, and during this trimester your blood pressure will probably be lower than usual. Don't spring up too fast from a lying or sitting position or you might feel a little dizzy.

From now on, when you do lie down, it's best to lie on your side — or at least partly tilted to one side. (When you lie flat on your back, your uterus can compress a major vein, leading to decreased blood return to your heart.) Try placing a pillow behind you or under your hip or upper leg for comfort.

If you haven't already had a second-trimester ultrasound, you'll probably have one soon. This painless procedure helps your practitioner check how your baby's growing, screen for certain birth defects, check the placenta and umbilical cord, determine whether the due date you're working with is accurate, and see how many babies you're carrying. During the exam, you might see your baby moving around or sucking his thumb. Bring your partner along, and be sure to ask for a printout for your baby's first photo album!

From Alphamom:

Your Baby:

• Is about the size of a baked potato — five-and-a-half inches long.
• Has actual cute little ears and working ear bones and can hear sounds through the amniotic fluid — similar to how things sound to you underwater.
• Is moving, moving, moving. The baby is still small enough that you may not feel every kick and punch yet, but the movements will start getting less “bubble-like” and more “holy crap, that was totally a foot” pretty soon, if they aren’t already.

You:

• May notice some dizziness from time to time, especially if you stand up too quickly or go too many hours without a good snack. Try to stay hydrated and remember to eat every few hours — good stuff like yogurt, nuts, fruits, veggies and cheese. Empty calories like chips and junk food will just make the dizziness worse, not better.
• Might be getting a little uncomfortable at night. The best sleeping position for pregnancy is on your side (when you lie on your back you compress the blood flow to your uterus), but as your pelvis changes and your abdomen gets heavier this can get awfully hard on your hips and legs. Try sleeping with a small pillow between your knees or lower thighs — I finally grabbed a small decorative pillow from our bed and found it made all the difference in the world without taking up too much room or making me feel too hot at night like regular pillows or those full-body maternity pillows did last time. (While very comfortable, trying to roll over with one of those big things was just a giant exercise in AWK-WARD.)
• Oh, and let’s discuss our bladders too. You might soon find yourself at that lovely stage when you just can’t seem to fully empty your bladder in a single bathroom run. I don’t know whether there’s just something baby-related blocking the exit or what, but I pee and then stand up and realize that I STILL have to pee. I remember hitting this point last time and using a trick Heather Armstrong described at Dooce — lean allllll the way forward while peeing, with your torso as parallel to the floor as you can manage. It really works, and now every time I pee I wonder how any woman ever managed to make it through pregnancy without the Internet.

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Me: I would say still on a gradual uphill climb towards improvement? More good days than bad. Nausea has all but subsided and the fatigue kinda just comes and goes. Monday was almost a completely 'normal' feeling day, in that I barely felt pregnant at all. Belly is still making it's presence known, but only more obvious is some outfits than others. No obvious discernible movement, but I will occasionally feel something akin to very very subtle bubbles in an area that I'm pretty sure is my uterus, and I'm thinking, Huh, is that it? Not sure....

Nausea may have subsided but still no appetite or serious cravings. I pretty much eat because I have to, because if I don't then I know I will be sick shortly. So no hunger pangs, ever, just some looming nausea that indicates.... Time to Eat Now. And then the looming nausea goes away. My standard, daily, fail-safe breakfast has been (for 3 months now): one scrambled egg with cheese on a slice of toasted sesame Ezekial bread with butter. Makes Baby Saltine Cracker happy.

Previous symptoms have waned, but now new symptoms have cropped up. The nightly Jimmy Legs are getting worse. No solution thus far!

Our Second Trimester Anatomy U/S is next week! Boy or Girl? Boy or Girl?! Boy or Girl!!!!

I get asked a lot if we have a preference, and I know the standard answer is "We don't care as long as it's healthy blahblahblah". And I am anything but Standard. Let me just say that my list for girl names is much longer than my list for boy names, if that means anything. Some women say that they just 'knew' or had a feeling, that it was going to be a xyz. At this point, to me that is like assigning a gender to your spleen. I think that 'premonition' is really just a mask for their 'preference'.

My brain currently is in a tug- of-war between 'Practical' and 'Pretty'. Since I don't know the sex yet, the nursery design in my head has been leaning towards aqua/brown, turquoise, cafe latte, etc. However, I come across a crib set in pink toile and I dissolve into a pile of weepy maternal, must-buy-this-now hormones. Oh, and owls have become my latest obsession. Boy or girl, this nursery will be decked out with some hooters. Ha.

Must have this bag from Etsy.

17 Weeks Tod....er Yesterday!! (17w1d)

From Babycenter:

How your baby's growing:

Your baby's skeleton is changing from soft cartilage to bone, and the umbilical cord — her lifeline to the placenta — is growing stronger and thicker. Your baby weighs 5 ounces now (about as much as a turnip), and she's around 5 inches long from head to bottom. She can move her joints, and her sweat glands are starting to develop.

Starting to feel a bit off balance? As your belly grows, your center of gravity changes, so you may begin to occasionally feel a little unsteady on your feet. Try to avoid situations with a high risk of falling. Wear low-heeled shoes to reduce your risk of taking a tumble; trauma to your abdomen could be dangerous for you and your baby. You'll also want to be sure to buckle up when you're in a car — keep the lap portion of the seat belt under your belly, drawn snugly across your hips, and also use the shoulder harness, which should fit snugly between your breasts.

You may also notice your eyes becoming drier. Using over-the-counter lubricating drops may help. If your contact lenses become uncomfortable, try wearing them for shorter stretches of time. If you still have discomfort, switch to glasses until after you give birth.

From AlphaMom:

Your Baby:

• Is about five inches long from head to rump, which is the EXACT height of the jar of salsa I am currently quadruple dipping into. Bowls are for suckers.
• Has begun to develop the all-important adipose tissue — more affectionately known as baby fat.
• Is hard at working transforming its skeleton from soft cartilage into solid bone. Get this baby a part on Heroes.

You:

• Possibly feel immensely huge and very pregnant, but your bump probably isn’t as noticeable as you think it is. People may hesitate to comment or miss it completely, like the woman last night who came up and handed me an alcoholic cocktail and seemed genuinely shocked when I politely refused it, despite the fact that I feel like my belly eclipses my shoes at this point.
• “Normal” weight gain at this point can be anything between five and 13 pounds, although y’all know how I feel about the word “normal.” One book I read this week advised any woman who has gained more than 13 pounds to see a nutritionist and “be more careful”, while my doctor COMPLIMENTED me last Wednesday on not managing to gain a single blessed pound yet. I want to stab the world in the eyeballs with a fork right now, a little bit.

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Me: 17 Weeks just MAY be the magic number for me (KNOCK ON WOOD! KNOCK ON WOOD! KNOCK ON WOOD! Murphy's Law Gods just ignore me and go about your day). I think I have not thrown up in the past 4 days or so. Not even the not-so-bad dry-heaving in the shower routine. It's now kind of like how the first few weeks were for me, the general just feeling bad, but not bad enough to actually throw up. And the ENERGY! That's certainly a new thing. Before hitting 17 Weeks, I had mostly bad days thrown in with the occasional Just OK day. Bad days consisted of dragging myself to and fro and practically having to prop my eyelids open to get through the day. Not to mention nausea thrown in. Fun times!

Last Sunday was my last Exhaustion Day. I had grand plans to catch up on housework and go grocery shopping. But as soon as I got out of the shower, it was WHAM! My body felt like lead balloons and all I could then manage to do was fall into bed and maybe wiggle a thumb or forefinger to operate the remote. Rolling over or lifting my head took serious conscious effort. Monday I was feeling a little better, and Tues, Wed and today? It's like suddenly someone has injected me with 5 cups of coffee without my knowledge. I am AWAKE! I can barely SIT STILL! I have fast-paced HIP HOP music stuck in my head! The difference between previous months' Exhaustion and this weeks' Energy is a-mazing.

But all this energy doesn't help with me trying to fall asleep in the evenings. Starting a week or so ago, in the evenings I would fall asleep watching tv on the couch and then eventually get up and go to bed. But then I would be wide-ass awake. My mind would be reeling and I just generally couldn't settle down. It's like my body was suddenly fighting the sleep. The worst part was the Jimmy Legs. No matter what position I would try to get comfortable in, suddenly my legs would decide they needed to flinch, over and over again. One night it was so bad, that I decided to get up and go sleep on the couch, as I didn't want to disturb Dear Sweet Hubs, with all my Jimmy Leg shenanigans. I started taking Unisom (Dr.-approved) to help settle me down in the evenings, as well as temper some evening nausea that had cropped up, and that seems to have really helped. It could be a coincidence, but I've noticed that when I started taking the Unisom in the evenings, that I stopped throwing up the following morning(s). Wish I knew this earlier!

Nursery construction has commenced! Dear Sweet Hubs has started the demo on the formal dining room.

16 Weeks Today

From Babycenter:

How your baby's growing:

Get ready for a growth spurt. In the next few weeks, your baby will double his weight and add inches to his length. Right now, he's about the size of an avocado: 4 1/2 inches long (head to rump) and 3 1/2 ounces. His legs are much more developed, his head is more erect than it has been, and his eyes have moved closer to the front of his head. His ears are close to their final position, too. The patterning of his scalp has begun, though his locks aren't recognizable yet. He's even started growing toenails. And there's a lot happening inside as well. For example, his heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, and this amount will continue to increase as your baby continues to develop.

How your life's changing:

The top of your uterus is about halfway between your pubic bone and your navel, and the round ligaments that support it are thickening and stretching as it grows. You're probably feeling a whole lot better as you settle into pregnancy, too. Less nausea, fewer mood swings, and "glowing" skin contribute to an overall sense of well-being.

Soon you'll experience one of the most wonderful moments of pregnancy — feeling your baby move. While some women notice "quickening" as early as 16 weeks, many don't feel their baby move until about 18 weeks or more. (And if this is your first baby, don't be too impatient — you may not be aware of your baby's movements until 20 weeks or so.) The earliest movements may feel like little flutters, gas bubbles, or even like popcorn popping. Over the following weeks they'll grow stronger and you'll be able to feel them much more frequently.

From Alphamom:

Your Baby:

• Is a little over four inches long and weighs a little over 2.5 ounces. The chocolate bunny that I swiped from my toddler’s Easter basket weighed 3.5 ounces. But considering I shared it with my fetus, I am a good mom AND a responsible eater.
• Has fingernails and toenails, all of which will be flesh-tearing talons by the time the baby is born. For serious, pack a teensy nail file in your hospital bag if you’d rather your baby’s first pictures NOT include giant face scratches.
• Is covered with fine, downy hair called lanugo. THIS will mostly fall out by birth, so rest assured you will not deliver a giant razor-taloned gorilla baby, or something.

You:

• Are leaving the more miserable symptoms behind in the dust, more or less. My gag reflex and appetite remained extremely sensitive until about week 16 last time, and the same held true this time around.
• Can feel your rock-hard uterus about three inches below your belly button (especially when you lie on your back). As your baby grows your uterus will continue to inch upwards out of your pelvis. Translation: YOU WON’T HAVE TO PEE SO DAMN MUCH.
• May be having very vivid but bizarre dreams. Some will be obviously pregnancy-related (the usual ones involve breastfeeding something other than a human baby or putting an animal or your baby in the oven or microwave to “cook” awhile longer), and others will be just plain weird or upsetting, like your childhood nightmares. They should be interpreted as nothing more than dreams stemming from nerves, hormones and your constant thoughts about the future. (In other words, you aren’t really going to give birth to a turtle with a full set of human teeth.)

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Me: Just more of the same. I keep reading and hearing that I'm supposed to be feeling Oh so much better, and whereas I do get a day or two here and there where I'm feeling pretty ok, usually then the yacking in the morning shower returns the next day. And wanting to hibernate in the master bedroom in the evenings, and then not being able to fall asleep. I know, I know WHINE! WHINE! WHINE! But it sure feels good to say all that. No discernible baby movements yet, and apparently I'm gestating an avocado?

Yesterday was the fifth year in a row that Dear Sweet Hubs and I celebrated our collective birthday(s) together. Yep, that's birthday(s), as in same day, same hospital, uh er different year. Lots of weird coincidences like that with us. For 'his' half of 'our' birthday I bought him two tickets to see Motley Cru and Poison at the Coliseum. I bought the tickets months ago, before we knew we were expecting, so I opted to let him take his oldest son with him instead. Afterwards, he said that it was the most awesome-est, spectacular, awesome-possum concert that he had ever been to (maybe not in those exact words). Despite missing seeing Tommy Lee drum upside down, I was glad to have stayed home and napped. The concert was last Friday.

Yesterday was pretty much a regular work day for me, with several well-wishes thrown in. I'm just glad a few people remembered, as most people don't. When I got home at the end of the day, Dear Sweet Hubs met me at the door with a surprise: a card and a pretty large gift wrapped in a velvet sack. It really was a surprise, in that I wasn't expecting anything. I had said earlier that I wanted my gift to be that he started on the nursery (next post will describe the plans). Anyway, first the cute/funny card. Then underneath there was another envelope, that had the Amazon packing list tucked inside. With the note to recipient: "To Mom From Baby: I hope this makes you more comfortable! I can't wait to meet you!" Isn't that the sweetest thing you have ever heard? Inside the velveteen sack was a pregnancy pillow, which kinda looks like a big twisty noodle. Or worm. It's designed to help with achy hips, joints and whatnot. I had already been price-shopping a few, so I already had my eye on them. How did he know? Smarty man, that guy I married.

I immediately brought it to the bedroom and took it for a test drive. Oh so comfy. And then didn't really leave the rest of the evening. We had tentatively planned to go out to dinner to celebrate, possibly Zea's to use up our Groupon, but I just wasn't feeling it. Maybe this weekend instead. More boxes had arrived from Amazon as well, which ended up being items off my baby registry from Aunt Sherri for my birthday. Hubs brought those to the bedroom as well, and I oohed and aahed over them, while perched in my new pillow. I'm pretty sure I fell asleep while The Office marathon was on.

First Significant Purchase

And I am just giddy. Nevernomind the 4 large Tupperware storage containers of baby clothes and other paraphernalia I have stored, acquired at garage sales over the years at $1 here, $.50 there. Probably the main reason I named my blog as such, as I was stockpiling onesies years before we conceived because, One Day I Will Have One Too! And by gawd, baby clothes are awfully pricey, so let's stock up now!

Thanks to Young House Love's recommendation, I am pretty sold on doing cloth diapers. I would think back in the day, that cloth diapers were mostly done for environmental or traditional reasons. They sure looked like a lot of work; with the pins, the folding, the stuffing, the fit, the laundry, etc etc ad nauseum. However, with the advancement in technology of cloth diapers (how is that in the same sentence?) , the use of cloth diapers today is nearly identical to those of disposables, except you simply launder and reuse them. Of course this depends on what brand and style you purchase, they all vary to an extent. Sure, I feel better about not filling landfills with yet another ton of disposable, takes-1000-years-to-decompose diapers, but that's not the main reason I'm going with this method. If it was the only reason, I certainly wouldn't be doing it. Cost and ease of use are the main motivation(s). Ok, and maybe cuteness as well.

The average cost of disposable diapers and wipes (of course, depending on the child) from birth to potty-trained is approximately $3000. You take a look at one box of swaddlers and the cost doesn't seem that significant, but when you consider box after box after box over the course of years, well then it surely can add up. I can't really give you an 'average' of what the investment of cloth diapers is, due to the fact that styles vary so much which affects the cost. But I can give you what my investment will be, based on my chosen brand and style: bumGenius Elemental Organic One Size All-In-One with Snaps.

I didn't pick the 'Organic' option because I'm one of those people that only buys organic everything blahblahblah (because I'm really not). I picked that one because it was the only style that was One Size AND All In One AND with Snaps (as opposed to Velcro). Cloth diapers in recent years came in 'sizes' (Sm-Md-lg), that you had to keep buying as the child grew. This kind of defeated the 'economical' and 'environmental' purposes to me, even though you still would be using less than will disposables. The 'One Size' has rows of snaps on the front that allow you to adjust as the child grew. I can't imagine a diaper that can fit a newborn AND a full-size toddler, but that's what it says it does (pounds recommendation: 7- 35 lbs), so we will see!

Also cloth diapers of the past had various degrees of 'stuffing'. Some had a separate interior layer with a plastic 'cover', and some were 'pocket diapers', where you had to stuff another soft layer on the inside. Sounds pretty taxing for a lazy person like me. Who would want to deal with that, with a brand-spanking new newborn or squirmy toddler? Not I. I can see exactly why some people throw in the towel after a month or two.

Enter the All-In-One. No separate covers, no layers to stuff. Functions just like a disposable, except after removal, instead of just tossing it into the trash like a disposable, you rinse out the inside briefly (with the use of a handy sprayer attached to your commode tank) and then toss into the laundry. From what I've read, then you do a load of cloth diaper laundry every other day or so.

Oh yea, the Snaps. Cloth diapers mostly come with velcro or snaps these days. I read many a review on various styles, and most people seem to prefer the snaps. The velcro usually ends up wearing out in the wash and pilling, and the snaps are harder for the child to remove than the velcro, once they gain dexterity.

And the cost? Well I shopped and shopped online, and it seems I found the best deal at ThanksMama. The average cost for the exact style I wanted was around $24-$25 per diaper. Plus shipping depending on the site. Thanks to an online coupon I found, I got a package of 6 for $20 per diaper, plus free shipping. In another month or so, I will probably order another 'stash' of 6-8, for a total of 12-14. I've heard a good number to have is 12. Total investment= less than $300. (versus $3K!) Of course, that doesn't take into account wipes and whatnot, but I could make them myself, but am not sure yet if I will.

I really like the colors that bumGenius offers (Sweet, Grasshopper, Twilight, Clementine, etc); they are mostly subdued nursery colors and gender-neutral. I went with the greens, yellows and oranges, as we won't find out the sex until next month, and I would want these to be able to be passed down to subsequent chill'rens (more savings!). Though it was hard to resist the 'Blossom' and the 'Zinnia'.

Now I'm not an entirely unreasonable person. I'm not thinking "I MUST cloth diaper I WILL cloth diaper". I know with a new baby that all bets are off and you just don't know what is going to work until well, they are happening. Got to roll with the punches. This may not work at all, he/she may not quite fit into the diapers yet, power outages, etc. Therefore, there will be a box or two of swaddlers as a backup. 'Cause you just never know.

By Popular Demand....

Finally, some belly shots. 15 Weeks, 2 Days.


Ok, moving along.... nothing to see here.....



Cue the naughty music..... (these are the target maternity pants that I am having a tawdry affair with.... I heart these pants!)



And some skin! And some belly! Git in mai bellae!



Of course, had to ham it up. I loathe posing for photos.



Front shot, with first child.



Classic, 'hands on the belly' shot.

15w1day

From Babycenter:

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.")

How your life's changing:

You've probably gained about 5 pounds by now (a little more or less is fine, too) and are well into the swing of your pregnancy, but you may still be surprised by an unexpected symptom now and then. If your nose is stuffed up, for instance, you can probably chalk it up to the combined effect of hormonal changes and increased blood flow to your mucous membranes. This condition is so common, there's even a name for it: "rhinitis of pregnancy." Some pregnant women also suffer nosebleeds as a result of increased blood volume and blood vessel expansion in the nose.

If you're having amniocentesis, it'll most likely happen between now and 18 weeks. This test can identify hundreds of genetic and chromosomal disorders. If you're getting very anxious while waiting for the results, it may help to know that most women who undergo amniocentesis get good news about their babies — bringing welcome relief from their worries.

Don't be surprised if you and your partner are feeling a little stressed out these days. Many pregnant couples worry about their baby's health and how they'll handle the changes ahead. But with physical discomforts on the wane and energy on the rise, this is also a wonderful trimester for most women.

From Alphamom:

Your Baby:

• Is as big as a…wait for it…beefsteak tomato! Doesn’t that sound deliciously substantial? Am resisting urge to go pinch some produce as I type this.
• Has started “breathing” amniotic fluid in through its nose and respiratory tract, giving those lungs some very early practice for the real thing. (Late in the third trimester, you can actually watch the fetal breathing on an ultrasound, and lo, it is very cool.)
• Can sense light and pressure from outside of the womb, so if you want to get a jump start on annoying the crap out of your kid, shine a flashlight on your stomach or chase it around with the doppler wand every night. Or gently caress your belly while singing lullabies in a variety of foreign language and mediating on the Zen-ness of it all. You know, whatever your personal parenting style goes for.

You:

• May be experiencing some of the weirder symptoms of pregnancy, many of which can start early in the second trimester. Including! For example!
• Sinus congestion! Runny nose! Stuffed-up nose! So much freaking mucus, and not in the places where you would ASSUME mucus would be involved. It’s called rhinitis of pregnancy and once again, they just blame it on “hormones.” Get yourself a humidifier or vaporizer, inhale steam in a fogged-up bathroom or try those saline nasal drops. Ask your doctor before taking any decongestant or medicated nasal spray.
• Bleeding gums! A side effect of all that extra blood you’ve got coursing through your system. (Nosebleeds are common too.)
• Skin pigmentation! The linea nigra, or that darkish line that runs down the center of your belly, sometimes shows up as soon as you start showing, sometimes much later. Moles, freckles and birthmarks can spread and/or darken. You might notice some melasma, or “mask of pregnancy” across your face, particularly if you spend a lot of time in the sun or have a naturally olive or darker complexion. A lot — but not all — of these changes will fade after you give birth. When in doubt, slather up on the sunscreen to increase your odds that they’ll be temporary.
• Forgetfulness! Pregnancy brain! Gestational amnesia! Whatever you want to call it, you probably know what I’m talking about. In the past week alone, I’ve 1) run a load of laundry without any detergent, 2) made coffee without a filter, 3) tossed a Ziploc of frozen chicken to defrost in the sink but forgot to actually seal the bag, and 4) stared at my husband for three full minutes while trying to remember his name.

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Me: I was kinda hoping that with the whole Morning Sickness and Exhaustion thing, when it would go away, it would go away in a flash. Like, wake up one morning and Wham! Feeling All Better Now! But Lo, it is not to be. Just incrementally less, I suppose. Instead of lots of stomach clenching at exactly 4.5 minutes after waking and dry-heaving 3 times (my normal morning routine), this morning I only dry-heaved in the shower just once! Progress!

And the Tiredness thing. Yes, it deserves to be capitalized. Before, I was tired in the morning, ok most of the day at work, and then would go home and crash and just want to sleep. Now, I'm dragging myself to get ready, dragging myself to work, dragging myself through the workday and come 3 or 4 in the afternoon, I'm suddenly peppier and practically skip home. Dear Sweet Hubs and I then have long conversations and discuss our day while I'm cooling off from the heat. Then I have to decide what I'm going to force-feed myself for dinner, because Appetite= Still Nonexistent, but I know I have to continue to eat or I will be even more miserable.

But no other symptoms beyond that, I would say. (knock on wood!) I have developed a strange affinity for ceaser salads, which suddenly taste delicious. Probably because it's something cold to eat, and it's currently only slightly cooler than the Sahara out there. And just plain damn tasty. Oh and crisp cold watermelon is pretty good, and it helps that it's in season and you can get them practically on every corner.

Had my 14-week checkup this week, which was the first regular appointment with Dr. Smiley since the Bleeding Incident. The usual thing: weight, BP, urine sample, wait to see the Doctor. He tried the dopplar again and got the HB right away, which is always reassuring. There was also alot of scratchy 'static' sounds, and he said that it was from the baby moving around alot. Bonus points!! Maybe I'll have a soccer player some day. Or gymnast. Who knows!? The next appointment (in 4.long.weeks) will include the Anatomy US, and hopefully the baby will be a in good position to ahem, 'demonstrate the goods'! Then we can finally start talking names.

Large scale plans are in the works for closing in the dining room and converting it into a nursery. Dear Sweet Hubs will handle the construction, and I will handle the design, at least the portions that are not construction-related. Like picking out paint color, wall decals, furniture, rug, etc. I had planned on taking a 'Before' photo this morning, to start the Before/During/After Series to see how it all pans out, and just plum forgot this morning. Another day I suppose! Currently the room is mostly Coyote's lounging area, and he loooooooves the current rug in the room (but will probably have to go, as it's not super-nursery-conducive) and the chaise lounge to slumber and bark at the trespassing cats in the yard.

Just the Facts, Ma'am

Gestation period: 14w6days

Energy: Occasionally, somewhat normal. Most of the time: exhausted or energy lackthereof. Putting away laundry can sometimes knock me on my butt.

Morning Sickness: Still persistent. Incrementally less?

Appetite: Nonexistent

Motivation: Nonexistent

Bleeding: Almost completely gone.

Mood: Despite all the symptoms, still pretty ok in the mental health department. But the past few nights I may or may not have laid awake thinking of all the things that annoy me about Dear Sweet Hubs.

Sniffer: Smells only slightly increased, while others have been altered completely. The formerly-lovely smell of coffee brewing now smells like tuna to me. WTH?

Belly: Still need to get around to those bump photos. Still somewhere in the range between too many french fries and prego-status.