13 Weeks

Our Baby: Baby is the size of a Peach (2.9 inches, .81 ounces). Can you believe he/she's forming vocal cords and teeth?!  And even though still teeny, he/she already has fingerprints. Intestines are moving from the umbilical cord to their more permanent place, in their tummy.

Cravings: It’s the week of Christmas… Christmas cookies and anything else I can get my hands on that is sweet!

Highlights: Listening to your heartbeat daily, it’s 150-155 bmp. You aren’t even here yet and already received some gifts from family for Christmas.

Symptoms:  Still feeling a little nausea, a few headaches and still pretty tired. This week the round ligament pains were in full force, I had only had a few each week until now.

My body: I am up 5 pounds total and 6 whole inches in my belly! I am wearing maternity pants everyday now and I love it; they are so comfy.  

For what you have done I will always praise you in the presence of your faithful people. And I will hope in your name, for your name is good.

Psalm 52: 9

12 Weeks

Our Baby: Baby is the size of a Plum (2.1 inches, .49 ounces). Most of the critical systems are fully formed! He/she's about to enter the growth and maturation stage, in which her organs and tissues will grow and develop rapidly. He/she's now developing reflexes - if you poke his/her body, they'll likely move. Can open and close their fingers and curling their toes, too. The brain is developing fast!

Appointments: On 12.16.11, I had a follow up with 2^nd blood draw from our ER visit and GBS urine test (test confirmed negative again!) at my clinic. After that appointment, I went for the 12 week NT scan at North Memorial, the ultrasound and blood work have confirmed our baby is HEALTHY! The Dr. on duty indicated that I might have been bleeding a few days prior because the placenta is still pretty low and it is touching my cervix but that it will move up as my pregnancy continues. She recommended that I go on pelvic rest until our next ultrasound at 16 weeks and take it easy all together for the next week.

Cravings: Cottage cheese, cheese, pickles

Highlights: Seeing our little one during the NT scan, hearing yet again that everything looks good with our baby! A 4 day weekend was planned and I watched the whole first season of glee, and part of the second season. I didn’t do much outside of that, which is what the Dr. ordered! Telling some extended family that we are expecting in June! Praising God that this little monkey is doing well and I am almost out of the first trimester!

Symptoms: Spotting/bleeding, a little nausea, a few headaches and still a little tired – I can tell the first trimester is coming to an end.

My body: I am up 4 pounds and 6 wonderful inches on my waist! I have definitely popped as of this week, which brings a HUGE smile to my face. 

Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.

2 Corinthians 12:9

11 Weeks

Our Baby: Baby is the size of a Lime (1.6 inches, .25 ounces). He/she's moving fluidly and gracefully in there. His/her skin is see-through, but they are on their way to looking more like a baby. His/her fingers and toes aren't webbed anymore. Tooth buds, hair follicles and nail beds are forming.

Appointment: A visit to the ER on 12.14.11 – I started bleeding heavily and passed some clots so Chris brought me to the hospital. I had an exam, blood work done and an ultrasound. Our baby was squirming all over the place, and the heartbeat was 163 bpm consistently for 15 minutes during the ultrasound. It was nice to have reassurance that everything was ok with our little one after losing so much blood. I was discharged with paper work for Vaginal Bleeding during 1^st Trimester and Threatened Miscarriage and a lot of positive reassurance from the Dr and Nurse that things looked really good and that I should be on rest for a few days. So time to get some more rest and drink lots of fluids!

Cravings: Fruit and pizza

Highlights: Getting an unexpected peak at our baby. During the ultrasound, it was confirmed that our little one is measuring 5 days ahead of schedule (due date will not be changed yet)!

Symptoms:  Spotting/bleeding, some nausea, daily headaches and still pretty tired

Total weight gain: +4 pounds

Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.

2 Corinthians 12:9

10 Weeks

Our baby: Baby is the size of a Prune (1.2 inches, .14 ounces). Baby has working arm joints, and her cartilage and bones are forming. Vital organs are fully developed and they're starting to function. Fingernails and hair are starting to appear, too. Plus, he/she's swallowing and kicking in there.

Cravings: Fruit and yogurt

Highlights: I couldn’t handle keeping the secret anymore so we shared with our families! We showed them the 7 week ultrasound video and they couldn’t be more excited! Another highlight is being able to hear the baby’s heartbeat anytime I want for my own piece of mind – this week, the heartbeat was around 165 – 170 bpm on our home doppler.

 Symptoms: Some nausea, daily headaches and still pretty tired

Total weight gain: +4 pounds

Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.

James 1:27

Weeks 7 - 9

Week 7: you are the size of a Blueberry (.51 inches) 
Appointment on 11.11.11:  The last ultrasound, the baby was measuring so small to see anything but a little white fleck on the screen. Today however, I was able to see our baby, he/she had a strong heartbeat –  which is music to my ears. The Dr. says I get to repeat week 7 because the baby is measuring at 7 weeks today so we will see what this next week brings. Next appointment 12.16.11 for 12 week NT scan.

Here is a video clip of the ultrasound. Not the most steady video but I got it while it was happening and I was crying! 

Cravings: Kraft Macaroni & Cheese, Campbell’s Chicken Noodle Soup

Highlights: Getting to hear the baby’s heart beating at 150bpm during the ultrasound! I ordered a doppler for at home so I can listen to your precious little heart beating anytime!

Symptoms: Spotting, lots of nausea, headaches, excess saliva, very tender chest and still very tired, having a hard time making it through the days even with much more rest each night. Dr. called and I have GBS so I will start on an antibiotic and get retested in one week.

Symptoms week 7 - Take II: Tender chest and getting some energy back but might be because I am sleeping about 10 hours at night and grabbing naps when I can. I secretly love the down time and the slower paced life! I know it’s God’s way of preparing me to refocus my time and energy on the baby and my hubby!

Total weight gain: +2 pounds 

You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.
Psalm 139:13-16

Week 8: you are the size of a Raspberry (.63 inches, .04 ounces)

Appointment on 11.23.11: Appointment is only to leave a urine sample to retest for GBS.  

Cravings: Popsicles

Highlights: Dr. confirmed GBS is gone. We were able to keep you a secret on Thanksgiving so we can do something special at Christmas! Now what to do…?

Symptoms: Some nausea, daily headaches, tender chest and very tired.

Total weight gain: +3 pounds

So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.

Hebrews 10:35-36

Week 9: you are the size of a Green Olive (.9 inches, .07 ounces)

Cravings: Popsicles

Highlights: For the first time, I was able to hear your heart beating on our home doppler on Sunday! That sound is music to my ears and it will forever bring me a smile when I hear it.

Symptoms: Some nausea, daily headaches and very tired.

Total weight gain: +4 pounds

For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go.

Psalm 91:11

Weeks 4 - 6

Week 4: you are the size of a Poppyseed

Highlights: On October 19^th we found out God has blessed us with another baby. We can’t wait to meet you in June 2012! I am so excited to begin this journey with you, your daddy and our heavenly Father. I suspected that I might be pregnant so I went to Target to purchase a kit with one basic test and one digital test. I took the basic test and the lines were dark almost immediately. I waited to take the digital test until the next morning which indicated +YES!!! I told your daddy right away after the first test. We are praying for a happy, healthy and full term pregnancy!

Symptoms:  Tender chest

You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.

Luke 1:45

Week 5: you are the size of an Appleseed (.13 inches)

Highlights: Bought a new car so mommy has something safe to drive you around in!

Symptoms: I started spotting (dark brown) and passed a few small clots and had a scary experience where I thought, I might have lost you. Some mood swings, nausea, tender chest and very, very tired!

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.

Matthew 11:28

Week 6: you are the size of a Sweat Pea (.25 inches)

Appointment on 10.31.11: I had my first appointment with Dr. L at 6 weeks 1 day to discuss my scare from last week. He recommended an ultrasound to look and see how you were progressing. During the ultrasound we saw a sac and a embryo measuring pretty small to see anything. Dr. L. wanted to perform a series of blood draws and to come back next week for another ultrasound. I opted not to do the blood work but to wait for the ultrasound. Next appointment scheduled for 11-11-11. I can’t wait to see how much you’ve grown and to see and hear your heart beating!

Highlights: Getting to take naps and reading a couple of pregnancy books.  

Symptoms: Spotting, lots of nausea, larger and very tender chest and still very tired – naps are a good thing!

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7