Things Are Just Peachy!

Our Lil' Baby B,

We are quickly zipping through our 13th week! You are now the size of a peach (which is Papa and Grandma's favorite fruit):

On Thursday, we had our first trimester screening. Daddy had to work so Grandma came along for the ultrasound and boy was she happy to get to see you! It's amazing how much you've grown since our last ultrasound. We were able to see your legs, feet, head, tummy, and even saw you moving your arms! A couple times it looked like you even hiccuped or yawned 'cause you were bouncing around! It not only teared up Grandma's eyes, but made Mommy's heart melt! Here are just a few snapshots that they let us come home with:

 It's also starting to get more and more obvious that Mommy's pregnant. As some clothes are starting to get a little bit snugger, my tummy is growing and we're starting to put on those few extra pounds.

On Thursday, Daddy and I are going for our next doctor appointment so I'm sure we'll have updates then! We're keeping our fingers crossed to hear that heart beat! It's getting faster (at the ultrasound they were able to count it at 156)!

OH! One more thing Baby B! Last night, Mommy and Daddy brought home someone who is sure to be your first playmate and best friend as you grow up together. Meet our new puppy Chip!

All of Mommy & Daddy's Love,

Mommy XOXO

Getting Bumpy

Baby B,

This week we are at 11 weeks, meaning we're now in the 12th week of pregnancy and almost through the 1st trimester! Wow! You are now the size of a large plum:

And as you are starting to grow, so is Mommy's belly:

There is the bump that Daddy and I have been waiting to see! It is amazing how that tiny, little bump can be so reassuring to us that you are growing, growing, growing! Something that will be even more reassuring is when we hear your little heartbeat at our doctor visit next week (September 2nd). This week we have an ultrasound scheduled for Thursday for our 1st trimester screening. Hopefully we'll get some great pics since you've grown so much over the last 3 weeks. We'll see soon enough.

This weekend you received your first baby gift! Uncle Fran and Angela came over to visit and brought this beautiful blanket that Angela made for you:

It's so soft it will surely be one of your favorites once you arrive. For now it's stored away in your closet in the soon-to-be nursery.

Well until later this week when we post your new pics...

Mommy loves you!

<3 Mommy <3

Weekly Confusion

Hi Baby B,

It's me again, Mommy! Not much to update on today, but that's kind of a good thing. I'm definitely start to feel better, and a little more like myself again. Knock on wood, the nausea appears to have subsided for the most part! The tiredness still comes and go, however, it is much better. I actually have the motivation again to get things done around the house here; and Daddy's happy because I feel up to cooking again.

After thinking about it, I think that my weekly pictures have been a little off. This weekly thing gets kind of confusing. Yesterday made 10 weeks for us, meaning you have reached the size of a prune:

Your bones and cartilage have formed and your arms can already flex (although your little arms are as small as this number "1"). Crazy! Stuff like that just amazes me!

Now, although we are 10 weeks, we are entering week 11 (again so confusing). But this week you are growing to the size of a lime:

This week you are almost 2 inches long and 1/4 oz, it's amazing how fast you are growing! You are starting to form hair follicles and nails are starting to grow. Although I can't feel you moving yet, the books tell me that you are moving in there; doing things like stretching, somersaults and forward rolls. Lastly, this week you are starting to develop your sex organs, although it isn't apparent to us yet.

Which brings up the good old topic of will we or won't we find out. For those of you who don't know yet, I have always said that we were going to be surprised and I am sticking to that! Daddy doesn't voice a strong opinion one way or the other on the subject so he's agreeing with me. It may just be that he knows how stubborn your Mommy is and he wouldn't win this battle anyway :) I just like the thought that for a few minutes only you, me & Daddy will know if you're a boy or girl and then Daddy will be the one who gets to share the great news with everyone! I get so excited just thinking about it!!

Plus it will keep everyone guessing for the next 30 or so weeks! I will say that I have had 2 dreams that have had little girls in them, but Daddy had a dream about a little boy. So who really knows - only God and maybe you! We've had people tell us both boy and girl, although it seems like more have felt girl as of now. But I know that will go back and forth as I start to show more and more.

Speaking of which, here is our 10 week "bump" picture. Not too much to brag about, but Daddy and I think there's a little something there.

I truly haven't gained any weight yet, but my clothes are now starting to feel a little snugger. And now that I am not quite so nauseous my appetite is definitely increasing. So until our next update Baby B - Mommy and Daddy love you!


Love,

Mommy XOXO

Grow, Baby, Grow

Baby B...

Growing is definitely something that you're doing. We had another ultrasound done at the doctor yesterday and you are definitely bigger than you were just 10 days before. Here's our latest peek.

The doctor saw no reason to change your due date from what they originally stated, so we are back to a due date of March 11. Which is just fine with Momma and Daddy, cause that means we can expect you sooner (not that you'll necessarily come sooner, but we'll see). Someone that may be here a little sooner than that is yet another new cousin you'll have around the same age as you. Your Auntie Jenni and Uncle Todd are having another baby and they are due March 3! We're so excited for them!

So with a March 11th due date, that made me 9 weeks yesterday. So you're now the size of a green olive (Daddy and Auntie Jenni's favorite garnish).

It was still too early to hear your heartbeat yet, but we did get to see it beating this time; and boy was that pretty cool! Not sure if it was seeing that beating heart or the fact that I ate half a container of Kaukauna spreadable cheese last night, but Mommy definitely feels preggers now! And it's such an amazing feeling!

Our next doctor's appointment is September 2nd. In between then we will have another ultrasound in 2-3 weeks for the first trimester screening. Doctor doesn't see anything of concern, but they highly recommend everyone go for this screening. So that's what we'll do; and how can we complain if it means getting another picture of you! You're just so easy to look at already!!

Love you Baby!

Mommy

Snowflake

Hey Baby B!

Oh what a crazy busy week we have had in this house! And it all started with some fantastic news about you! I'll get to the details in a minute, I just can't wait to share your first picture:

There you are! At a tiny 6 weeks and 6 days, and according to Momma's family, you look like a snowflake. So that's what we've taken to nicknaming you lately. :-) If you do the math, you'll realize that they have moved your due date back by four days (at least according to the ultrasound tech). So now we are expecting you to arrive on March 15; which honestly, Mommy thinks is more accurate.  Aside from getting your first picture last Monday, they were also able to track your heart beat - nice and strong at 132 beats! Although it was still a little too early to hear. Maybe at our appointment on Friday...we'll see.

So today actually marks 8 weeks for us. Which according to our picture time line that Uncle Fran sent us, you have now reached the size of a raspberry.

And let me tell you, you must be doing some major growing this week because Mommy is absolutely exhausted! I'm actually planning a nap after writing this letter. :-) The nausea kind of comes and goes, but hasn't been anything too terrible; and the feeling of being bloated has become the normal. No bump yet, but I am so anticipating that day. Although, as I told your Daddy, it is getting a little harder to suck in my "gut."  Here's our 8 week pic together.

Additionally this week, your Papa (my daddy) had surgery on his back, your Auntie Lisa had her c-section, your cousin Brooklyn Hope was born, and she had her surgery as well, and we spent a couple days living with your cousins Emma & Kendall. Thankfully everyone is doing great. Papa is recovering on the inpatient rehab unit and will hopefully be home Friday. Brooklyn is out of the NICU and recovering beautifully as well and will hopefully be home in 2 weeks! Speaking of beautiful...isn't she???

So that's all for now (and that's enough isn't it)! Friday we go to the doctor and for my glucose test. Let's keep our fingers crossed we pass that one, cause Mommy won't survive without her sweets! We're also hoping to get another glimpse at you because that was the original plan.

We love you Baby!

Mommy (& Daddy too)

On Our Toes

Dear Baby B,

Everyday you are growing and growing inside of me, and currently you are the size of a blueberry!

This week your brain has been growing at a phenomenal rate of 100 new cells a minute and both hemispheres are formed. You are also starting to grow your arms and legs and even form joints. And you now have a permanent set of kidneys! You're also going through a growth spurt in size; going from approximately 0.16 to 0.2 inches all the way to 0.5 inches. Maybe this could explain why Mommy has been so tired! 

Aside from the exhaustion, the nausea has begun to set in as well. Although it hasn't been terrible, it definitely comes and goes in waves. But I can't complain because it's reassurance to me that you are continuing to grow inside; although not much on the outside yet. Here we are at 6 weeks:

Well last week we had our first trip to the Doctor, or rather the Nurse and the lab. We went through lots of paperwork and had some blood drawn. Everything came back good and they even confirmed a due date of March 11, 2011 (unless the ultrasound shows differently); which makes me 7 weeks as of tomorrow. However, Saturday night you gave Daddy and I a little scare as I had some spotting at work. Thankfully it immediately went away and other then being a ball of emotions, I felt good. Frustrated that I couldn't call the Doctor at that moment or even the next day, I waited it out til Monday. The office was not overly concerned but they did bring me in for blood work and a Rhogam shot. Turns out that Mommy has a rare blood type (A-); apparently only 15% of pregnant women are Rh negative (figures I fall into that little number). 

We got good news the next afternoon that my HCG levels were very high. The nurse's response when I called was actually "Whoa, you're definitely pregnant." So we thought that was the end of it, but nothing is ever that simple when it comes to us Baby B. The next day the nurse called back to let me know that although my HCG levels were very high my progesterone hadn't risen to where the doctor was comfortable with it being. So she started me on Progesterone and moved our ultrasound up to Monday rather than waiting til Aug. 6. 

So needless to say, you've kept Daddy and I on our toes this week. It has been a glimpse into how life will be from here on out I guess. Always thinking and worrying about you and what we can do to love, protect, and help you - our number one priority! 

Love You Always,

Mommy

PS: Daddy and I are SO SO SO excited to get our first glimpse at you on Monday morning!! :)

You, Me, & Daddy Make Three!

To Our Baby B,

Three - that's how big our family will be once you arrive, and that's how many tests it took your Daddy and I to believe you were really on your way!

It was the 4th of July and we were nearly on our way out the door when a little voice in my head told me - "you may be taking someone else along with you." So I quickly decided to take that test I had been saving for this special day; and much to my surprise and trembling hands, after 3 long minutes I saw those two pink lines! I quickly ran downstairs to find your Daddy, trying to decide how exactly I was going to be clever and tell him in a unique way. Well cleverness went out the window and nerves took over. I sat there staring at him and he just knew something was up; at which point I confirmed that I thought we were going to be parents and showed him the test. He couldn't believe it either, but let me tell you the smile that lit up his face was unforgettable. Daddy didn't need any more convincing, but I still couldn't believe it, so on our way out, we stopped at CVS for another test. And to no surprise, it was another positive; as was the test I decided to take a couple days later before calling the doctor's office.

Since taking that test we have filled in all your grandparents, aunts, and uncles...and a few other important people in our lives. They are all so excited to meet you! Everyone else can wait a little longer - for now, you will just have to be a little secret among the ones who will grow to love you the most!

Speaking of growing, here's our first picture together just a few days after we found out. Although you're not obviously making your presence known yet, after all you were only the size of an orange seed in this picture, you are making it known to me. From the way thoughts of you have consumed my every free moment (and even the moments I'm overly busy) to the physical changes I can feel my body starting to going through. It's an amazing connection that I feel with you now and can't even imagine how that will grow. I'm so excited for the day I wake up and you've decided to make your first appearance to everyone as a tiny little bump in my belly. That will just be the beginning of Mommy and Daddy showing you off to the world!

All My Love,

Mommy