13 Week Stats

Baby Size: Gas cap! (Yeah I know these are all weird and you can blame this guy but I agree--the fruit and vegetable comparisons are just much less interesting than gas caps!)



Mama Size: There is no tactful way to say this other than I am.....thickening. I am still only up a pound but in the mirror, my stomach, above my belly button, looks different. I would take a picture but I know no one will be able to see anything. Peter rolls his eyes.

Cravings: I think I am going to stop this header because I don't crave anything weird. Just fruit and water.

Symptoms: I think I've had to pee more often which is kind of weird since nothing is pushing down on my bladder yet. And my butt pain has subsided. I went to a physical therapist this week and that helped a lot. Peter got me a bike trainer for my birthday so even if I can't run, I should be able to bike and do yoga or pilates.

Other updates: This week we focused on getting our house finished so I really didn't do anything baby-related. My parents were here though so it was funny to think that by the time they move out here, their 14th grandchild will be here.

New!
Question for the readers: We go in to find out what gender we're having in 2 or 3 weeks. What do you think it is? I think boy.

13 Weeks

Dear Baby,
We are officially into the second trimester! And you are much more likely to be a sticky baby now. I hope you are healthy in there! I have firm expectations that you will be a chunky baby with an over-sized head for a looooong time but I am really trying to eat well for both of us.
You received some very sweet gifts this week. Your grandma gave us your father's old baby blanket and one-eyed teddy bear. I was never attached to an object as a kid but I see all your cousins carrying around blankets and I think maybe I was the abnormal child :)
Your other grandma taught me how to crochet. My first attempt was a rather ambitious grey elephant stuffed animal. Your dad thinks it looks like a shrew and ok, the nose did get a little out of hand.
We are having a party tonight with all of our childless friends and a get together Sunday morning with some neighbor couples and their dozen or so children. I guess we're starting to transition over.
Love you,
Mama

12 Week Stats

Baby Size: Small measuring tape!



Mama Size: Up a pound! And although I can see a bump, my ob wasn't too impressed.

Cravings: Maybe I should soon change this to aversions. The smell of Peter's steak and garlic mashed potatoes tonight had me gagging. Also, I can't handle jalapenos :( Not the heat, the flavor.

Symptoms: If it weren't for my protruding stomach, I don't think I'd even feel pregnant. Other than some small issues, I feel completely fine. I am very grateful for that.

Other updates: I'm so happy to be at 12 weeks and still pregnant. Oh and I found a secondhand stroller set and car seat that I love.

12 Weeks

Dear Baby,
Today I had my 12 week appointment with my doctor. I didn't get to see you but I heard your heart beating like a hummingbird.
Everything was normal. I think my doctor knows how much I love hearing that.
Love,
Mama

11 Week Stats

Baby Size: Golf Ball!



Mama Size: Lost all the "weight" (let's be honest=salt!) gain from my trip and am back down to normal. I have a small bump in the mornings now (not just at night anymore which is seriously so weird).

Cravings: That honeymoon second trimester feeling has already kicked in for me because my nausea and cravings are gone. I can eat anything! But I can't eat a lot of anything because for some reason my stomach feels like it has shrunk. I will eat a half sandwich and feel really full.

Symptoms: Feeling great! Feeling so great that I don't feel pregnant anymore :) Oh and still bleeding a little...every day for the past week. Seriously, this was supposed to be over for 9 months! Oh and also, I have stayed up past 10pm for the past two nights! Haha I didn't actually realize that was unusual until last night when I was shocked at the time

Other updates: When to tell work? What to tell work? When to stop working? I feel like the time is rapidly approaching for when I should tell my boss and I should give her the courtesy of knowing about it before it becomes obvious. The problem is I have no idea what I'm going to say other than, "I'm pregnant". I really don't know if I will quit my job or not, although I do know that I don't plan to keep working past the 6 month mark. I guess I will just tell her the truth and explain that until I know more facts (e.g., will our child even be suited for a short stint in daycare?) I won't know what I will be doing.

11 Weeks

Dear Baby,
Things I didn't know before I got pregnant:
1. The uterus starts to grow early on in pregnancy. I never thought about it but I always thought the reason women started to "show" early was due to poor abdominal muscles. I honestly thought that most women looked the same until the baby began to grow to like, 6 inches or so. I am nowhere near showing yet but my uterus is starting to make her appearance.
2. That I wouldn't be able to keep running or walking. Posterior pelvic pain=as much bed rest as possible. I haven't tried biking yet but I am thinking about buying a trainer or stationary bike very soon.
3. That I would have a "period" while pregnant. THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE GONE MOTHER NATURE!
4. To be continued.....Obviously this will not be a final list by any means
Love,
Mama

10 Week Stats

Baby Size: Hammer head!






Mama Size: So we ate a ton of fatty foods on our little excursion (buffet one day, chicken tenders another) and I can't tell what is uterus and what is fat :) Furthermore (probably due to all the sodium) I started to bloat like CRAZY at night. So after jumping the bones of all the fruits and veggies in my house, I think I can say that I've probably only gained about one or two inches in my stomach. Also I think I've gained a pound but I need to get back to my regular scheduled diet to really tell.

Cravings: Still fruit and now baby carrots. Some times veggies make me feel sick and some times I have to gag down some protein but that usually doesn't happen unless I haven't eaten a lot of fruit.

Symptoms: Pelvic pain still but nothing too worrisome. It goes away if I take it easy and wear flat shoes. Sigh. No Victoria Beckham pregnancy for me.

Other updates: That puking was either an anomaly or the pinnacle of my morning sickness because after that I've had barely any nausea ever. I am for sure very grateful for that. The tiredness has started to subside as long as I go to bed by 10. I am getting impatient for the next 6 weeks to fly by so that maybe we can see what gender this baby is! We went window shopping on our trip and I was surprised how many stores carry baby clothes. I had to keep repeating, white onesies, white onesies, because regardless of which gender this baby is, I want to get through the first 3 months in just onesies. Is this doable? Am I setting myself up to fail? :) I just think having the same bleachable outfit every day would make laundry easier..... Also, Peter keeps reminding me, babies are not dolls! It's just, it's so hard to remember that when Juicy sells tiny velour track suits or I see animal hats at Gap! I mean, look at these and tell me you don't just want to die from the cuteness

10 Weeks

Dear Baby,
Oh my, what a week. We unexpectedly got to see you again, due to my body deciding to start bleeding and cramping after doctor hours and right before your dad and I were about to go on a trip. We went to the hospital and for a few hours, really thought that we were losing you. Thankfully it was just some random occurrence and so we left for our trip with instructions to take it easy. You are so cute right now. You look like a tiny teddy graham; all head and tiny appendages. I felt like I was seeing a baby for the first time, despite all the ultrasounds we've seen so far.

You haven't felt very real to us yet but the force of our emotions after that experience made it clear that we know you are part of our life now. I think I got my first glimpse of how much your father will love you.

Kiss Hug,
Mama

9 Week Edit

Threw up three times this morning and want to go do the same thing now that it's lunch time. I think I jinxed myself....

9 Weeks Stats

Baby Size:
Marble!



Mama Size: Oddly enough I have lost weight, probably due to my no-candy rule and trying to eat as well as I can. The ONE time that I ate fast food gave me the worst worst worst night of my life. Never again! Also, my tummy is getting a definite pooch that stays with me all the time, so I know it's not just bloat.

Cravings: Most of my food is fruit and sandwiches

Symptoms: The one that's worrying me is tailbone pain. Yes, my coccyx hurts. I have a strange body. I haven't called my doctor yet but google seems to think it's nothing serious. I have it mostly when I walk a lot or sit a lot. Also, nausea has let up and I know I'm super lucky for that. Still low energy and it totally shows in my house right now.

Other updates: Briefly looked at diaper bags this week and can't stand the in-fashion styles. Petunia Pickle Bottom, I'm looking at you! I think I will just get a roomy purse instead. Also, my doula specializes in hypnobirthing and my homework assignment was to research labor/delivery methods and which one I want. Am really unsure of where to start

9 Weeks

Dear Baby,
I was right about my perception of time. It has begun to speed up again and I am sitting here, surprised that it's time to write you another post.
I keep thinking about September next year. By then, you'll be out of your "fourth" trimester. I know the first three months after you're born will feel like a dazed dream due to poor sleep quality but surely, surely by September we'll see you giggling and fatter and ready to endure mama poking you into Halloween costume after costume. I am thinking a woolly lamb....
I am truly lucky to have had such an easy pregnancy so far. I went through a few weeks (days?) where I had nausea all day. I still always feel sickly at night but nothing major. Really, eating something almost always helps. Hmm...you must be just like your parents! We never say no to food!
I think we are going to start telling the rest of our family about you this week. You have two MORE cousins (well, twice removed? Offspring of your dad's cousins) coming a month before you do. Holidays are going to be really fun in a few years.
Off to go eat some more food
Love,
Mama