Boy or Girl?

Well, we will finally get the answer to that question on Friday, September 22. That is exactly three weeks and one day from today. I will be 19 weeks and 2 days when they do the sonogram. Everyone keep their fingers crossed that our baby cooperates and doesn't keep his/her legs crossed!

We had a good dr. appointment yesterday. The baby kept "running" away from the doctor, so he had a hard time getting a heart rate. He was finally able to get it at around 138. This is quite a bit lower than last time, but he said everything is fine as long as it is in the 120-160 range.

I still haven't technically gained any weight since I am nowhere close to my pre-pregnancy weight, but I did gain one pound between my 12 and 16 week visits. Kurt took my 16 week pictures last night. I will post them below. I don't know how my stomach got that much bigger and I only gained one pound! I have a new intern from A&M that started on Monday and today, Thursday, when I got to work she actually said, "I think you get bigger every day." Doesn't she know I decide her grade??? ;) Anyway, I thought that was funny. I just keep telling myself that I am just going through a growth spurt. I am probably kidding myself, right?

Fifteen Weeks

I am fifteen weeks today! I am definitely enjoying my second trimester. My nausea is almost completely gone, and I now have my appetite back. Unfortunately, I am not craving the healthiest foods. I love sweets! My biggest craving so far has been lifesaver gummies. I just can't get enough of them! I am trying to eat lots of fruits and veggies, but that is not what I want to be eating.

Our baby is really growing. This week the crown to rump length is 4 inches. The baby now weighs 2 1/2 ounces. Even though the baby's eye lids are fused shut, he/she can sense light. I think I have felt the baby move a few times, but I am not sure yet. Several times I have felt "bubbles popping" or a very light "tapping" in my lower abdomen. This is usually when I am laying down. A few times when I am sitting up I have felt a very fast fluttering that lasts for a few seconds. It almost felt like I had a butterfly in my belly. So, I guess we will just have to wait and see. Hopefully in the next week or two they will get stronger and more often.

I go back to the doctor a week from today. I can't wait to hear our baby's heartbeat again! I am hoping the doctor will schedule my big ultrasound where we get to find out the sex of the baby. I don't know how much longer I can wait!

I will take pictures again next week after my appointment.

Second Trimester

I have been dreading taking pictures of my belly, but since I am now 13 weeks and into my second trimester I guess it is about time. Last week, people started to notice my "bump". Kurt and I have been able to see it for a while now, but you can finally see it through my clothes. It really depends on what I wear right now. Some things make me look bigger than others. People that do not know I am pregnant probably just think I am gaining weight, but if you know I am pregnant, you can definitely tell.

These pictures were taken last night at exactly 13 weeks.

160 bpm

I never thought today would finally get here. I am so glad we had our appointment in the morning because I don't think I could have waited all day. Well, we get to the doctor and surprise, surprise the doctor is running late because he is at the hospital. They said it will at least be an hour before he gets there. Kurt wanted to reschedule, but I had waited three weeks already and I was not about to wait another day. We didn't have to wait long before the nurse called us back. She said since we were just there to find the heartbeat, she would do it for us.

She warned us ahead of time that it may take her a while to find it because even though I can't feel it yet, the baby is moving all around in there. She put the doppler on my belly and we heard the heartbeat immediately. I have never been so relieved. She said the heart rate was really good. It was right around 160 bpm.

The old wives tale says anything over 150 is a girl, but as the baby grows their heart rates slow down. So, when are you supposed to count?

Kurt and I both think we are having a girl. We will be shocked if they tell us it's a boy! Of course, like any other parents, we just want a healthy baby. I am exactly 12 weeks today, so we should be able to find out the baby's gender in 8-12 weeks.

Since I am almost done with my first trimester, I am hoping the nausea will slow down sometime soon. I have now lost 18 pounds. At some point it has got to start going in the other direction!

Kurt and I have been married for three years today. Hearing the baby's heartbeat was a great anniversary present!