Baby's Heartbeat

Pat and I just got back from the doctor's office...again. :) This time, we heard the baby's heartbeat! It was pretty cool and crazy. I have to say that the ultrasound wins out because you can actually see the baby but hearing the little person living in there was awesome. More confirmation that this actually is happening!

First Ultrasound

On Friday, Pat and I went in for our first ultrasound! It was absolutely amazing. I really have never seen anything so cool. The visual confirmation that there is a little person growing in me was great. We couldn't believe how much the baby was moving around. The little thing looked like it was doing water aerobics or something. You could also see the little heart beating and it looked like a little flashing light on the screen. It was a great experience. I can't wait to see her again in a few months!

Belly Pictures

Ok, for the peeps requesting pregnant belly pictures, here they are. I finally took some pictures and you can definitely see the belly. There is no arguing that it has gotten bigger over the past few weeks. :) You can't really tell much when I am wearing jeans because the belly gets mashed but the stretchy skirt helps. Anyway, Pat and I went to Port Townsend yesterday and enjoyed the beautiful weather in the NW. We did lots of walking around on the beach and at the fort and had rock throwing contests. It was a good day. Here are some pictures.

Baby at 10 Weeks

A few big dates are coming up. I have my next dr visit on 8/20 and then 8/24 marks 12 weeks! In other news, I did get lined up with an OB doctor, so I will move to that doctor after the visit on 8/20. His name is Dr. Henderson and has something like 100 years of experience. :) My initial visit with Dr. Henderson is Sept. 4th about 2 weeks after my 8/20 visit.

I can definitely tell that my belly is growing though I don't know how noticeable it is through a shirt. I am sure that it will quickly become much more noticeable.

Here are the baby stats for this week (starting last Sunday). The highlights for me included that the baby will grow fingernails this week (shout out to Juno), we hit the "fetal" period, he is kicking somewhere inside my belly, no more finger webbing, and his little mini wrists can bend! It is pretty amazing to read about the progress of our little person and to know that it is the perfect design of the Lord working within my body. It is a blessing to be a steward of such a gift!

From Babycenter.com:
Though he's barely 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.

Feeling Much Better

Hi Everyone, I just thought that I would post that I am feeling much better these days. That crazy cough is gone which is such a relief. Now I just have the tired and eating thing which is just fine to deal with. I also get to work from home today. The extra sleep and no commute is enough to make my day! 2 weeks until the heartbeat appointment!

Our inch long little baby

Well, here is what is happening with our little baby this week. She (I am just going to pick a random gender with each blog so that I don't have to continue to write he/she) is an inch long now for starters though my belly feels like she must be bigger than that. :) I am also definitely starting to feel the affects of pregnancy more and more. I am still really tired and eat fairly consistently in order to avoid the nauseas feelings. I also managed to add a bad cough to the fun which has made my chest start hurting in the evening. The cough is definitely slowing though not going away and the nurse thinks that I have aggravated my ribs thus the hurting chest. I am thankful that I am feeling well today though!

I will post some more pictures shortly. My good friend Sarah has requested a belly pudge picture, so I will have to comply. :)

From BabyCenter.com
Your new resident is nearly an inch long 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.