Update on spot & I – Week 15

How far along: 15 weeks, 1 day!

Baby size: An orange or a pear by some sites. 🙂 “The average fetus at 15 weeks weighs 2.5 ounces and measures 4 inches — and his/her proportions are becoming even more normal, since his/her legs now outmeasure his arms.”

• You probably can’t feel it yet, but he/she’s squirming a ton!
• He/She might even be hiccuping in there.
• He/She’s making lots of progress: her joints and limbs can all move now.

Symptoms: I’ve been gagging out of the blue sometimes lately. I don’t really feel nauseated, but sometimes I cough or I smell something and it makes me gag suddenly. Brushing my teeth usually causes that, as well. No puking (yet). Feeling great though! Just peeing a lot and feeling kinda tired, as usual.

Food Cravings: I have been on a pickle frenzy again this past week. I ate quite a few in the beginning, but then I began to prefer pepperoncinis or spicier things. I tried fried pickles for the first time last weekend, and OooEmmGee! They were amazing. I won’t make a habit of that though. Still loving lots of veggies, too. I also want to eat more meat now. I had a slight aversion to it in the beginning. Especially chicken (which is weird because I LOVE chicken normally), but now I like it again. It still looks gross when it’s raw though, lol. I’d rather not be the one to cook it..

Emotions: Great! I’ve been in a wonderful mood. Things are going so well, and I’ve been able to relax more. I do still get tearful easily. I think it’s partly hormones but partly because I’m just happy and so excited.

Weight: 3-4 lbs total. Seems to fluctuate between the 2. I haven’t gained any since like week 10, I think. My docs say that’s totally fine.

Something I’ve done to prepare for baby’s arrival: Nothing really this past week, other than preparing for the gender reveal party and I also bought a couple new maternity tops, bras, underwear, and comfy yoga pants. I feel so much better in bras that fit! Wow, what a difference. And I can’t believe how much “the girls” grew already, LOL.

What I am most excited about: Of course, seeing spot TOMORROW (Thursday) and finding out the gender!! I keep wanting to cry thinking about it. There aren’t even enough words to describe how I feel about it! And I can’t wait to tell everyone!! I still wish I could share it with you all sooner than March 9th, when we have the party. I can’t risk one of my family members seeing it though. Another big thing I am soooo looking forward to, is feeling movement! I cannot wait! 😀 I don’t think I’ve felt anything for real yet. I have an anterior placenta, so it may take longer.

Belly pics: It’s growing! 😀 This is the first time you can see it from the front. No one has noticed that I’m pregnant yet. My scrubs at work kinda hide it. All my main coworkers already know I’m pregnant. I’m waiting for someone else to notice. I’m looking forward to my bump being unmistakable! 🙂 I think it will be soon.

Great OB appt yesterday!

14 weeks, 3 days 😀

I’m so relieved things are continuing to improve with my OB’s office! Dr. Kwak-Kim seems to be receiving all the reports and information she needs. AND all the staff have really changed their attitudes! Maybe we got off on the wrong foot. I believe they were confused or didn’t look thoroughly at all my information in the beginning. Anyway, whatever factors there were, things are better now. It seems like my OB did talk with everyone last week, like she said she would. I’m glad I can rely on her!!

I went in yesterday for labs and a quick check up. I knew my OB would be on vacation and that a different one would be covering. I was a little worried it would be a confusing, disorganized visit again – but it wasn’t at all!! I was glad to see that the covering OB was so kind and soft-spoken. Really cool guy, and he took his time with me. He said he felt like he knew me because my OB had been talking a lot with him about my case. I didn’t realize it before, but they are actually very fascinated with my history, diagnoses, and the fact that I am progressing so well. Previously, I felt like everyone there was indifferent or annoyed by it all. The covering OB told me a couple stories from different offices he worked at, about women with similar cases that were successful. I always love hearing stories like that.

He checked spot’s heartbeat on the doppler and said it sounds like a boy, LOL. 🙂 Heart rate is at 150bpm! My uterus and baby have moved all the way up into my belly now – right below my belly button! Well, I guess it’s a little lower than that – but it seems high! Definitely a lot higher than before, even from a week ago. He showed me where to feel for the baby and uterus. It’s amazing how the body changes!! I am measuring exactly at 14 weeks per fundal height. He said, “Ooh, you’re starting to show a little bit!” 😀

Upcoming Appointments/Plans: Next Thursday the 28th is the gender scan – not that anyone has forgotten, LOL!! I can’t wait to see spot again, even if they can’t see the gender that day! But like I said, there’s a money back guarantee, and they will let me return within 2 weeks to check again. I’m working on finalizing plans for the gender reveal party – March 9th or 10th (just waiting to hear from everyone). I go back to my OB’s office next week, just for labs. Then I see her again in 2 weeks on March 7th for a quick check up. Other than that, I just realized – Holy crap, I need to go shopping for bras, underwear, and comfy yoga pants! Especially bras and yoga pants! My boobs are hips are growing, LOL! Things are really rolling along! I want to cry, just thinking about where we are now – compared to weeks, months, and years ago! Sorry, I know I’m a broken record, but I can’t help it. 🙂

And as always, thank you all for your continued support, lovely comments, and advice! xoxox

Update on spot & I – Week 14

How far along: 14 weeks, 1 day!

Baby size: A lemon. 🙂 Some sites say an orange. “At week 14, your baby is 3.4 inches and 1.5 ounces, she/he’s almost doubled in weight since last week and keeps on growing.”

• He/she’s probably sucking his/her thumb and wiggling his/her toes in there!
• The kidneys are making urine, and his/her liver and spleen are doing their jobs, too.
• And he/she’s growing lanugo, a thin, peach-fuzz-like hair, all over his/her body — it will help him/her keep warm!

Symptoms: Frequent urination, still some fatigue, stretching and other sensations in my hips. Nothing too noticeable or a bother though. Yesterday was strange – I almost threw up as I was getting out of my car to go to work. Then I got really nauseated last night and almost got sick again! It felt like motion sickness. I haven’t really had that, so it came as a suprise (especially at 14 weeks). I know some people getting morning sickness at all different stages though. I’ve been lucky so far, so we’ll see how it goes. 😉

Food Cravings: Veggies!! Still Lucky Charms, too. There’s a lot more variety of things I like now. Like I mentioned in my other post, this cravings section is just for fun. I don’t live off of my cravings. I eat healthier now than ever, probably!

Emotions: I’ve been tearful, happy, and relieved ever since last week – all those great appointments and wonderful news. I’m thinking ahead to the future, but also trying to savor every moment right now. I don’t want this to go too fast! I don’t feel as worried as I did before. Like this week, I don’t have an ultrasound, but I am totally fine with that. I have really come a long way.

Weight: Holding steady at 3 lbs total (scale at work). My OB’s office scale says 2 lbs total. I thought I had gained another pound a couple weeks ago (so 4 lbs total), but I lost it again. Must have been water weight. I am right on track weight-wise.

Something I’ve done to prepare for baby’s arrival: I did start a registry, but I have only added a few items. I’m not sure what we need. I also want to wait until we find out spot’s gender to put a few more specific items on there. I need to research some items, as well. I can’t believe I started a registry!

What I am most excited about: Seeing spot next Thursday the 28th! Finding out the gender (hopefully) at that appointment! And my 18 week anatomy scan is now set up for 3/21/13 with the MFM specialist! It still blows my mind that all this is happening. I’m so thankful and excited! I’m definitely feeling more shock again since hitting the 2nd trimester. There are even more emotions now that this is becoming even more real. But it still doesn’t quite seem real, LOL! It’s hard to explain how it feels to realize I’m not dreaming.

Belly pic:

Gender Reveal Party ideas!

Please check out my last post for great news & updates! 😀

Thank you, Pinterest and Google! I’ve found some fun, cheesy, cute ideas for the gender reveal party! 😉 I’m probably going to do the party the 2nd weekend of March — so Saturday, March 9th. My gender scan is February 28th, so that leaves us plenty of time to be prepared. I wish I could go ahead and do it that weekend (March 2nd) — BUT if spot doesn’t show “the goods” on the 28th, we’ll have to return to the private ultrasound place the following week and (hopefully) find out then. We’ll either be waiting a little over 1 week to tell everyone (if all goes well on the 28th), or we’ll only be waiting a few days (if we have to return). I’m going to diiiieee while trying to keep my mouth shut, LOL! It will be so worth it to wait and surprise everyone & have some fun though!!

So, I have a pretty good idea of everything I want to do. We will do the cake with pink or blue inside. 🙂 I know there are some other cute, more unique ideas, but no one in my family has ever done a gender reveal party — and most never even knew they existed! I know they will all get a big kick out of it.

When the guests arrive, they will cast their vote — team pink or team blue! Could be a white board or chalkboard, whatever works. We could also place an ultrasound photo here for people to look at — as long as it’s not too telling. I don’t think most people can guess for sure anyway. It’s hard to tell what you’re looking at exactly.

I’d like everyone to wear some sort of indicator, after they vote, as to what team they are on. I found these cute buttons. If not these, then perhaps pink or blue beaded necklaces or even a homemade pin with a pink bow or a mustache.

Another fun thing to do is have everyone write down their favorite boy and girl name. It doesn’t have to be one of our names choices, it can be anything — weird, silly, or whatever they like. We will read them all later on to see what everyone came up with.

The set-up will probably be fairly simple. I don’t want to go all out, because we will have a baby shower at some point. This is just for fun. I want to go with pink and blue colors, decor, candy, baked goods, etc. There are other themes to choose from, but I like the classic pink and blue. These are just a few ideas we can use for inspiration. 🙂

I kind of like this idea of a cravings section on the table! Cute! I do crave a few things that others would like. There would be a list on display.

Possible Games!

Jellybean Jar:

Fill a jar with blue and pink jellybeans/jelly babies. Ask the guests to guess how many blue jellybeans/babies are in the jar and how many pink jellybeans/babies are in the jar. The two guests that guess the closest (one for the pink side and one for the blue side) will get a small prize around the $5 – $10 mark. (Or maybe a candy bar or some sort of party favor).

What am I?: I’m not sure if I like this one, but it would be good for our families to mingle a little.

For “What am I?”, write different baby items, such as diapers, bottles, pacifier, etc on index cards. As your guests arrive, pin or tape the card to their backs without them seeing it. They then have to ask other of your guests yes or no questions to figure out what they are. First 5 to figure it out gets a prize.

Old Wives Tales Gender Reveal Party game: I guess for this one, we would answer the questions & tally them up — and then the winning “team” members get a prize.

1. Can people tell you are pregnant from the back?  Or are you pregnant all over?

Just from back:  Boy

All over: Girl

2. Which breast is bigger during pregnancy? <– I don’t know if I want to answer that in front of our families LOL!

Left: Boy

Right: Girl

3. Eating more or sick/nauseated?

Eating more: Boy

Sick: Girl

4. Do you crave the heals of bread or the middle?

Heals: Boy

Middle: Girl

5. Hands Chapped/Dry or Softer?

Chapped: Boy

Softer: Girl

6. During the pregnancy, have you been clumsy or graceful?

Clumsy: Boy

Graceful: Girl

7. During the pregnancy, have you been crabby or happy?

Crabby: Girl

Happy: Boy

8. Carrying low or high?

Low: Boy

High: Girl

9. Who was more aggressive at the time of conception? <–Another one that *might* not be appropriate, but it would be funny!

Husband: Girl

Wife: Boy

10. Is the heartbeat high or low:

High: Girl

Low: Boy

11. Which side do you lay on when resting:

Left: Boy

Right: Girl

12. Pick up a single key.

Picks it up by the long narrow part: Girl

Picks it up by the round part: Boy

13. Consider the Mother’s age at conception and the year or conception.

Both even or Both odd: Girl

One is even and one is odd: Boy

14. Show me your hands.

Shows them palms up: Girl

Shows them palms down: Boy

15. Do you crave sweet foods or sour/salty foods?

Salty/Sour: Boy

Sweet: Girl

16. Has the husband put on weight during the pregnancy?

Yes: Girl

No: Boy

I found this as well, which I like for tallying up the old wives tales:

Here’s a couple funny ideas I found, but we probably won’t use them.

Party Favors: The pink team members can win the pink bar, and the blue team wins blue, maybe? And I’m not sure what other party favors/prizes to use yet. I can always look and see what they have at stores for that kind of thing. Probably little goodie bags with candy and other things. I suppose we could do a couple $5 gift cards for iTunes or Starbucks, too – but not for all because that would add up!

And then all we need is a cake!! 😀 Yay!! I hope we can video it to get everyone’s reactions! And of course, we’ll take lots of photos!