17 Weeks

Update:

17 weeks
23 weeks to go!
(160 Days!)

The baby is as big as an onion!   

Kermie Update:

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, and she's around 5 inches long from head to bottom (about the size of your open hand). She can move her joints, and her sweat glands are starting to develop.  Her heart is now regulated by her brain (no more random beats) to beat 140 to 150 times per minute — about twice as fast as yours! What else is up? She’s practicing the survival skills she’ll need at birth — like sucking and swallowing.  Body fat (baby's, that is) is beginning to form and will continue to accumulate through the end of your pregnancy.  By the time your baby is born, body fat will make up about two-thirds of his or her weight. Your baby is almost certainly listening up by now. In fact, loud noises (the dog barking, the doorbell ringing) will actually startle your baby (and also get him or her used to such noises; for instance, fetuses who regularly hear a dog barking will become babies who sleep right through Fido's outbursts).  Your baby's eyes (which have fortunately finished their migration to the front of his or her head) are making small side-to-side movements and can even perceive some light, though the eyelids are still sealed.  Within the next week or so, the pads on your baby's fingertips and toes will become adorned with completely individual swirls and creases (aka fingerprints).

SO cool!  chubby baby fingerprints!

Carin Update:
Still feeling good! (knock on wood!)   Backaches, headaches and itchy belly is the norm as of late.
Doctor's appointment went well last week, nothing major to speak of. Did a quick 'heartbeat check' (which happened very easily, thank you Kermie), and then she answered a bunch of my questions - that I keep a running tab of in my iPhone so I don't forget!  The biggest/most annoying one is that I am no longer "allowed" to sleep flat on my back - she said it's best to start training myself now.  I'm trying to get used to sleeping with this funny maternity/body pillow contraption I bought, and trying not to let myself get too used to laying flat on my back. (Explanation I found online:  When you lie on your back, your uterus presses on the vein that returns blood from your lower body to your heart. Lying on your back for an extended period of time could interfere with the flow of blood and nutrients to the placenta and your developing baby.  BOOO)
They say it's okay if you wake up on your back, to just adjust and go back to your left side.  It's going to take a while and my left shoulder and right hip sort of hurt, but I know it's temporary. Poor Doug is outnumbered by all the pillows in the bed now but it is pretty kooshy!

I then got a call that all of my recent blood work has come back "excellent" with little chance of anything to "worry" about (developmental problems, etc).  Glad to hear that, and they got back to me within 2 days - which is a nice change from the usual 5-7 day waiting game! (To be honest, I hadn't even thought they would call so I wasn't even thinking about it!)

Also, I bought some maternity clothes (as you can see from the previous post) and I'm waiting on some more to be delivered from Old Navy.  Hopefully these will fit, maternity clothes sizing is WEIRD.

Still feeling little bubbles of movement here and there - nothing crazy or significant, but I definitely feel it. Especially when sitting quietly (even sometimes at work!) or laying on the couch at the end of the day. 

Here I am today - I mean, I know they say black is slimming, but check this out:

where's the belly?  Innocent enough.

oh HI! there it is. TGFD!  (thank god for dresses!)

















Doug/House/Baby Gear Update:
Doug is leaving for VA tomorrow through Friday -- booooo -- but I find when he's home for a Monday it helps make the week a bit more tolerable.  Nothing like coming home to him after a long, annoying work day. It would be even nicer to enjoy a glass of wine together, but hey - you win some, you lose some.  We had a relatively peaceful and project-free weekend (even though we did make a trip to both Lowe's and Home Depot), and next on our list will be figuring out some landscaping for the backyard, although this time I will not have to dig any trenches or pull out any huge bushes like last fall, I am exempt!! I'll be the project manager.  Then we'll move on to indoor stuff....like maybe in September.  I think I get it now when people don't have their nursery ready by the time the baby arrives.  Lots of other crap to do first, or just major procrastination.  We'll see...

Also have been doing major baby-gear related research during my free time at work - its so CRAZY!  There are so many options out there for everything, and I don't want to necessarily waste money if we can help it (although I know some of it is unavoidable).  Cloth diapering, baby carriers, strollers, cribs, infant car seats.....my head spins!  Thankfully we got this "Baby Bargains" book that Christine recommended and it is very helpful to point us in a good direction.  Still need to poll some new moms to see what they love and hate, and I'll feel even better about my choices!

Who really wants zippers or buttons?

Saturday, I experienced another first of this pregnancy.  Elastic paneled shorts.

During summer I tend to wear a lot of sundresses as a habit, but I have been wearing shorts for the past couple summers fairly regularly for things like errands or casual lunches/dinners, etc.  Only lately I have been "afraid" to put anything on that has a button and/or zipper because my belly is certainly not allowing much of that anymore. After an hour or so, I want to unbutton and unzipper or just go home and take them off!

But I've had enough, and realized I won't make it through the entire summer without a single pair of shorts that fit, so I headed to Target to purchase my first maternity clothing yet.  I tried on a couple cute and casual dresses with some room to grow, a pair of jean shorts and a cute maternity top.  Everything looked great and fit well, I was so happy and didn't feel as dumpy as I thought I would. 

I have to say, these elastic paneled shorts are super comfortable. No button or fly whatsoever, just this huge elastic thing that comes up the entire length of my torso!! Why would anyone want to wear regular shorts ever again?  With a couple rolls at the bottom of the shorts, they won't even be half bad!

16 Weeks

Update:

16 weeks (officially 4 months)
24 weeks to go!
(168 Days!)

The baby is as big as a AVOCADO (YUM!!)

Kermie Progress:

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. And thanks to his developing facial muscles, your baby is capable of making a few expressive frowns and squints, even at this early stage. His eyes are finally working, making small side-to-side movements and perceiving light (although the eyelids are still sealed).The patterning of his scalp has begun, though his locks aren't recognizable yet. He's even started growing toenails and eyebrows, lashes, and hair are starting to fill in, and taste buds are forming. 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.

Carin Progress:

Still feeling good, with my fair share of aches and pains. Nothing too substantial (or anything a couple hours on the heating pad at the end of the day won't help).  Haven't (comfortably) worn a real pair of pants in a couple weeks, and after trying to wear some to work I regretted it after only a few hours.  Thank god for summer dresses, skirts and yoga pants in my free time :)   Mostly, I am just patiently waiting to get my full appetite back.  I still don't want to eat a lot of proteins (mostly chicken & pork) although it is hit or miss.  I could have steak and think it sounds good until its on my plate and then I can only force myself to have 5 bites. I try to eat the best I can, but I can't help it when my belly/brain is angry with the things I "should" be eating!  Until then, I continue with as much fruit as I can, yogurt, veggies wherever I can get em, and of course - vitamins. They have made my nails so strong & they grow so fast, its amazing.  I still can't get enough sweet things and try not to let myself buy skittles or starburst whenever I'm at the store.  I think my teeth will thank me too, although I feel like I'm guaranteed a cavity after all this.

Doug/Home News:

Doug back in Virginia this week til Thursday, preparing for an upcoming show in San Antonio.  I'm probably due to be alone all of this week, all of next week and then he goes to Texas on July 5.  Hopefully after that we'll get a break for a couple weeks.  And thank god for my mom, always feeding me and making sure I'm taking care of myself while Doug is gone...without those meals I'd be sure to have cereal for dinner (bad news bears). 

This past weekend Doug finished up his project in ONE DAY (very proud).  He worked super hard all day in the heat, and everything looks great.  He extended the downspout on the side of the house and buried it, and then ran some piping out to my garden for an easy watering system.  We'll have a fully functional faucet/hose set-up out there, so I don't have to drag tons of hose out there and back every morning/night to keep my crops fresh!  We're waiting on one piece of hose to full complete the job, so that won't be done till he's back from VA.  Until then I'll be dragging hose and getting eaten alive by mosquitos.  I think I need a beekeeper suit...

Next doctor's appointment is tomorrow after work, and thank god for that - today is shaping up to be a crazy one at work and there would be no way to get out on time.  The appointment should be fairly 'boring', I think they are going over some bloodwork/testing I had done a month ago, and I think we do a "heartbeat check" and probably MORE blood -which will make 2 times this week!  I have to go give more blood Wednesday or Thursday morning as a follow-up before my next scan on July 11 (that's the "big" ultrasound where they check on all body parts and make sure all is looking good, and if we wanted to know what we were having, we could find out then.)  This baby-process sure is time consuming ;)

Origin of Kermie

One thing I should probably explain, since most of you reading don't know where on Earth "Kermie" came from.  What an odd choice for a fetus name...

First, don't worry - we're not naming the baby Kermie.  Well, at least not at this point.  Since we haven't even gotten into the name discussion, we may end up saying "Fine, Kermie it is!" near the end - if I can see us and our 2 strong personalities battling it out.

Back when my parents were expecting me, they couldn't agree on a boys name.  'Carin' was settled on but nothing was a suitable boys name.  I think my mom liked Kyle but my dad didn't.  Finally they had the moment I'm dreading and said FINE - Kermit it is!  Thankfully, as we know, they had a Carin and all is well with the world.

Back in early May when we had our first ultrasound, we saw the baby bopping around on the screen, waving arms and legs and rolling side to side, it was amazing.  We went to see my parents afterwards to show them the pictures and Doug said "Isn't little Kermie cute?" and thus - a nickname was born! 

15 Weeks

Week 15 Update

175 days to go!
(or 25 weeks.... who's counting?)

Kermie Progress:
Kermie is about 4 inches or so long, and weighs about 2.5 ounces.  Some places say as big as a "large navel orange" and some say a "large apple".  Apples...oranges... who even knows.

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.  (I really wonder if this is true...do flashlights really shine THROUGH your tummy?)   By now, the ears are positioned properly on the sides of the head (they used to be in the neck) and the eyes are moving from the side of the head to the front of the face.   So all in all, Kermie is starting to look like a real live baby in there.

And in the most exciting news yet, I think I may have felt him on Saturday night!  Laying on the couch watching TV and out of no where I felt this little "flick" on the lower left side.  Just one flick and done.  Not a gas bubble (as those tend to move and migrate... and since I clearly feel those all the time, this felt different).  It was so weird!! Doug immediately sat up and put his ear to the belly to hear what he could (just more gurgling)  I can't wait to feel that more often, but I am relishing in the quiet time for now ;)

Carin Progress:
According to friends, I definitely have a "belly" although I am still just feeling chubby.  The growing belly is definitely ITCHY lately and I have been lathering up every night to try to help the overwhelming urge to scratch (which I have been refraining from).  Have also been getting some KILLER headaches lately, which feel like they are related to sinus pressure/congestion.  Have to start back in earnest on my NetiPot - that thing is sent straight from God.

Updated Photo of my end of day "belly" at 15 weeks

Doug/Home Progress:

Doug is home this week, and THE DECK IS DONE!!!   Well, we still need to do a few finishing touches, but no more crazy weekend-filled construction!  On to the next project, which I'm told is some sort of hose system for watering the garden.  Help us.

My first sober wedding

I have a feeling over the next 6 months I'm going to experience a bunch of new 'firsts' as a pregnant woman.  This past weekend I experienced my first sober wedding.

I'm used to getting to a wedding, hitting up cocktail hour for all the tasty food and drinks I can take in an hour.  This time, it was a little bit of a bummer.  Not only could I not have that delicious glass of chardonnay I was eyeing, but I couldn't really participate in the delicious antipasto table they had laid out.  It sometimes is still hard to think about the food I "can't" eat... and after a meal out somewhere when I'm starving, I wonder if I've "broken any rules".  To top it off, Doug ate many of the delicious antipasto goodies and then smelled like a garlic factory for 24+hours.  My super-sensor nose was not pleased with this, since I clearly had not had any garlic and it was overpowering!

The wedding was still fun for me.  I did miss having the little 'boost' of booze to get me on the dance floor and to feel comfortable doing so.  I was tired sooner, and didn't get to enjoy the chicken dish I had chosen months prior.  Unfortunately chicken breasts are just NOT on my "to eat" list since March.  I can't seem to get around it.  But I did get to have a big serving of mashed potatoes, and most of Doug's too - they were amazing! (and now I can't stop thinking about mashed potatoes...)

The only other downside is my "new" body seems to fall on the cool side (which is very rare for me), and the afternoon quickly turned cold and I could not get warm!  Inside the reception hall, which was beautiful, the temperature couldn't have been higher than 60.  Needless to say, I wore a suit coat for most of the night ;)

Overall it was a really fun night, and thankfully no more weddings are on tap through the end of the year.  I'll be able to go in to 2012 with a new, improved outlook on weddings - don't underappreciate the bar!!

Week 14 Update

Update:
14 weeks
26 weeks to go!
(182 Days!)

The baby is as big as a lemon!  (About 3.5 inches now)

YAHOO Second Trimester is officially here (according to all calendars/websites).... and hopefully this is when they say you start feeling "really good" (all things considered).

Baby Kermie Progress:
Your baby can now squint, frown, grimace, pee, and possibly suck his thumb! Thanks to brain impulses, his facial muscles are getting a workout as his tiny features form one expression after another. His kidneys are producing urine, which he releases into the amniotic fluid around him — a process he'll keep up until birth.  His body's growing faster than his head, which now sits upon a more distinct neck. By the end of this week, his arms will have grown to a length that's in proportion to the rest of his body. (His legs still have some lengthening to do.) He's starting to develop an ultra-fine, downy covering of hair, called lanugo, all over his body.  Not to worry — you won't give birth to a monkey; baby fat will accumulate over the next few months and take over the function of keeping your baby warm and toasty —allowing most of that hair to shed.   He or she is on the move almost constantly — and those movements are a far cry from those jerky twitches of last trimester (though you won't feel any of them for weeks to come). They are now ballet-like, smooth and fluid.

Carin Progress:
I am definitely feeling pretty good, and I don't necessarily want to go to bed at 9pm anymore and/or don't spend the whole day at work wishing for a nap. Have been feeling more "growth" or "stretching" going on, which also hurts into my lower back sometimes - so thankfully my heating bean bag is never far away.  Had my first (sober) wedding this weekend and it was a good time, although I really did miss a nice glass (or 2) of chardonnay.  I am still at my best 'fighting weight' (down 3 lbs), although not many of my pants fit very well if at all.  I'm enjoying wearing dresses and skirts to work which are nice and loose.  Also had a BIG WEEK where I finally told my bosses about the news of Kermie.  Thankfully they were both very happy for me and Ken didn't pout too much. I'm fairly certain his wife yelled at him, because the next day he told me he wouldnt make 1 more negative comment about anything!  (We'll see...)

Doug/Home News:
Doug traveled last week for a few days to VA and he got to tell his boss too.  Everyone is in the know.  AMEN to no more secrets.  Heading back to VA this Wednesday for a few.  I am getting to be an old pro at this now, sleeping in the bed every night and everything.  What a change from back in January! (I've likely jinxed myself now)  Hopefully this weekend Doug can finish the lattice work around the deck and we'll move on to one of the other 50 projects he's got lined up.
 
Next appointment is June 21, just a regular check-up. I'm sure they'll take more blood.  They seem to love that.