5 weeks

Your BabyYour baby's microscopic heart begins to beat this week—although it won't be detectable with one of those cool Dopplers for a few weeks, so you'll have to wait a little longer to hear that satisfying "whoosh-whoosh" you're so anxious for. Here's what else is under construction:

With the beating of the heart, blood will begin to circulate throughout the body. Your baby's first organ system will be up and running!

The beginnings of the brain; the cardiovascular, nervous and reproductive systems; as well as all other major systems are under way.

Your baby's new digs—the amniotic sac and the placenta (aka the hotel and the restaurant)—are still forming at this point. (Maybe you should send a housewarming gift.)

All that high-speed development and your baby is only 2 millimeters long—about the size of a sesame seed (check one out next time you're chowing down on a bagel—you won't believe how tiny it is!).

Children are a gift from the LORD; they are a reward from him. Psalm 127:3

Coming July 17, 2011

Your Body
This is when it all begins.

Once Mini Me or He implants in your uterus and that placenta starts to grow, your heart starts beating more quickly. You might be putting in an extra 15 beats per minute (even when Taye Diggs isn't onscreen). Until your blood volume catches up to all that extra pumping (which it won't do for a number of weeks), you're likely to feel tired most of the time. Sounds like a good reason to schedule a siesta!

A lot of that extra blood is heading straight for your breasts, resulting in tenderness and the tendency for your nipples to show ... through your down jacket. (Another early pregnancy sign: Your cervix is softening and changing color. But if this is something you're able to notice on your own, we don't want to know about it.)

Your Baby
Your microscopic embryo is already hard at work this week creating the placenta, umbilical cord and the basics of his or her body.

The embryo is now made of three layers that will transform into the different parts of your baby's body. The endoderm, or inner layer, will become your baby's intestines, liver and lungs. The middle layer, or mesoderm, will become your baby's heart, sex organs, muscles, bones, and kidneys, and the ectoderm, or outermost layer, will develop into your baby's hair, skin, eyes, and nervous system. Believe it or not, your baby is already starting to look like a tiny little being (not necessarily a human being) complete with a head, a mouth opening and a primitive brain and heart.

By the end of this week, your baby measures about 1/25 inch long, about the size of a period (like the one at the end of this sentence, not the one you just missed).

Weight check

Well week 16 has brought be in at 120 lbs. I guess that is a 6 pound weight gain thus far. I hope that isn't going to be the pace that I keep up though!

What week 14 entails for the baby

Swimming, tumbling around in that nice warm amniotic fluid, waving his little arms and playing with his tiny fists, kicking and stretching, yawning and sucking on his thumb, your baby is keeping busy. As long as he's not asleep, that is, because he sleeps most of the time. Did you know that he can move his fingers independently of each other already, because his webbing has disappeared? Too bad you can't feel that at all, because he's only about 3 inches (8,5 centimeters) long and weighs a mere 2 ounces (60 grams).

First check-up

I had my first check-up on March 11th. It went very well. The exam was relatively painless and I really liked the nurse practicioner that I saw. Best of all, I found out that the bad mid-wife that screwed up Kendall's delivery is not going to be there in September so I don't have to worry about her being on call! WOO HOO!
The NP decided to put in for a cardiology consult for me based on what happened with Kendall. She just wants a baseline so that if I start having problems again then we will have something to go off of. I am glad that she is playing it safe.
The baby's heartbeat remained in the 170's still leading me to believe that it is a girl!
My weight is 115. I have gained a pound so I guess that is good!
Next appt is April 11.

I am writing today to fill up my mind with positive things instead of worrisome! I am feeling much better in regards to nausea. Still pretty tired but hey Kendall tired me out when I wasn't pregnant! I am looking forward to getting my initial appt out of the way on Tuesday and of course hearing the sweet music of our baby's heartbeat again which I am hoping will reassure me after my fall last weekend. I find myself wishing that we could jump ahead to find out what the baby is but I know that only time will tell!

We saw the baby for the first time today. Little shrimp was about an inch long with a super strong heartbeat. The rate was 189. Ben got to be there for it so that was pretty special. I will be seen on March 11 for my initial physical and exam. We will see how that goes. Unfortunately, the midwife that I had so many problems with is still there. I am going to broach that subject at my appt as well. Keep praying for us :-)

Frustrated

*Weight= 111 pounds (Really tired of being unable to eat to feed this crazy baby!)
*I have now called 5 times in the last 3.5 weeks to schedule my initial visit (at 12 weeks along) to be told that they don't have the March calendar. GRRRR.....I guess we will try for #6 on Friday!

Feeling better

I am starting to come out of this cold funk. So thankful for that!! I am trying to schedule my initial exam but they keep telling me to call back on another date. Little bit frustrated with that but I am trying to be a little flexible. It should be the second week of March.

blah!

So nausea set in yesterday.....not sure if it is here to stay like my pregnancy with Kendall but it is just as miserable. I am starting out 10 pounds lighter with this pregnancy so losing a lot of weight like I did with Kendall is not optimal. Please pray that I snap out of this. The end product is so worth it but while you are going through the miserable phase there really isn't anything that makes you feel better.

Yesterday I made the appointment for my OB class and first ultrasound. It will be on February 11th at 0830. I will be excited to see this little peanut for the first time.
I had a good laugh today as 2 of my friends at Kendall's kindermusik class asked me if I was losing weight......ha,ha! The way that my appetite is going it is going to be just the opposite :-) I think that I am going to keep those pants and sweater on hand when I am feeling fat though!

Starting weight

114 pounds and I am starving most of the time so I expect that will go up in the upcoming months!!

Surprises

Ben came home excited today. I guess he likes surprise congratulations. He hasn't really told anyone at his squadron about the baby because he thinks that it is fun to get congrats when you least expect it. He got quite a few of those today so I know that he liked it :-)
He also was poking my belly last night when we were laying down saying"hey baby" Too cute! I think that it is so much better to have the boy's reaction than the girls!

The official word

I took my urine test at my family care clinic today. I of course had another positive. I will be scheduling a class through naval then I will begin the process of my visits there. (Funny how it changes in the little time since I had Kendall!)
I am following in my sister-in-law's footsteps again. Sarah is pregnant with their third right now. Our niece, Gabby, and Kendall were only 3 months apart & that is what the situation is looking like again for us. It is always fun to be pregnant with someone esp. when it is family!
I am feeling great. Just a little bit more tired than usual and I have been craving bananas. I don't know what it is with these kiddos making me want food that normally I wouldn't eat! At least it is not hot dogs this time like with Kendall!

Pregnancy test

I couldn't wait any longer so early this morning I took a pregnancy test while Ben was still sleeping. Low and Behold it was positive. I guess our newest journey will be that of parenthood again. We are both very excited. I am approximately 6 weeks along and with my calculations should be due about September 18th. I will of course verify the test tomorrow at my PCM so that they can send me to OB.

We have been telling Kendall all day that there is a baby sister or brother in mommy's belly but obviously the concept is a little vague for her right now! Stay tuned for our progress as we go along.