15 & 16 Weeks

I guess I have some catching up to do. I have been sick with allergies/sinus stuff for the last two weeks so I haven't really felt like blogging. A lot has happened though so I guess I need to fill you in. Kyle and I celebrated our 10-year anniversary on September 9th. What an accomplishment! Since I was sick, we postponed our weekend getaway until this past weekend. He surprised me with a very nice two-night stay at a bed and breakfast on Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs. There was even a Sweet Babymoon package attached to the deal. We both got 60 minute massages, I got a 30 minute facial, and he got 30 minutes of reflexology. It was a very relaxing weekend that was much needed for both of us. A special thanks to my mother-in-law for keeping Brady for us. :)

I still haven't felt much definite movement from baby lately. I'm so ready for that daily movement so I know everything is alright in there. My belly is growing though so I know that is a good sign. My next doctor's appointment is Monday. I will be doing the quad test where they test for various birth defects. Since I'll only be 17 weeks 1 day, I'm not sure if she will try an ultrasound in her office or not. I know the measurements won't be done for another month which is where they usually determine gender, but hopefully we can take a peak at baby and see some girl or boy parts. The suspense is just too much!

Another battle that I've been fighting lately is these crazy hormones. I'm up and I'm down, I have energy and then I don't...it's just a roller coaster. I'm supposed to be happy since I have been blessed with this opportunity to have another child, but all I can do is worry and cry and sleep. Ugh...not fun! I knew there was such a thing as postpartum depression, but is there really such a thing as prepartum depression?? Hopefully  this is not something that is going to stick around long because I want to be able to enjoy being pregnant. I have things I want to do before this baby comes and I need the energy and the desire to do it. So I'm praying extra hard for God to help me through this and send someone my way to be of some support. Even though the hubby tries to understand, he just cannot relate to what I'm going through.

Here is the last two weeks of information from Babycenter.com on how baby is growing and developing.

                                     

Your pregnancy: 15 weeks

How your baby's growing:

Your growing baby now measures about 4 inches long, crown to rump, and weighs in at about 2 1/2 ounces (about the size of an apple). She's busy moving amniotic fluid through her nose and upper respiratory tract, which helps the primitive air sacs in her lungs begin to develop. Her legs are growing longer than her arms now, and she can move all of her joints and limbs. Although her eyelids are still fused shut, she can sense light. If you shine a flashlight at your tummy, for instance, she's likely to move away from the beam. There's not much for your baby to taste at this point, but she is forming taste buds. Finally, if you have an ultrasound this week, you may be able to find out whether your baby's a boy or a girl! (Don't be too disappointed if it remains a mystery, though. Nailing down your baby's sex depends on the clarity of the picture and on your baby's position. He or she may be modestly curled up or turned in such a way as to "hide the goods.")

Your pregnancy: 16 weeks

How your baby's growing:

Get ready for a growth spurt. In the next few weeks, your baby will double his weight and add inches to his length. Right now, he's about the size of an avocado: 4 1/2 inches long (head to rump) and 3 1/2 ounces. His legs are much more developed, his head is more erect than it has been, and his eyes have moved closer to the front of his head. His ears are close to their final position, too. The patterning of his scalp has begun, though his locks aren't recognizable yet. He's even started growing toenails. And there's a lot happening inside as well. For example, his heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, and this amount will continue to increase as your baby continues to develop.

14 Weeks...

So a week into my second trimester and things are so much better. The nausea is hit or miss which is a great relief. I still feel pretty tired but I can handle that...I just take a nap when I can. My appetite is back which scares me somewhat because I don't wanna gain too much weight. There is barely room in my belly for a baby...don't need any extra pounds crowding things. Oh well...I'm trying to eat as healthy as possible but since I've been so sleepy it keeps me from wanting to cook much. Hoping that will get better before I get too big to stand at the stove. ;)

Not much else going on these days except that we are definitely enjoying some cooler weather. I like to get outside with Kyle and Brady and actually be able to breathe. School is in full swing for me as well. This nutrition class will hopefully keep me aware of what I'm eating and help me make better decisions while I'm pregnant. So far I have enjoyed it very much.

I cannot wait to feel some consistent movement from baby. I laid on my back the other day and purposely tried to feel something...anything...that I didn't think was gas. After pressing on my belly for a while I know I felt a flutter. It was such a nice feeling to know that my tiny little person in there is doing okay. He or she has been doing a lot of growing this past week. It is so unreal all that goes on in there...check out what babycenter.com says baby has been up to. My little counter on the right of the page says baby is 4" long and weighs about 2 1/2 ounces...so either way there has been some growing going on in there. :)

How your baby's growing:

This week's big developments: Your baby can now squint, frown, grimace, pee, and possibly suck his thumb! Thanks to brain impulses, his facial muscles are getting a workout as his tiny features form one expression after another. His kidneys are producing urine, which he releases into the amniotic fluid around him — a process he'll keep up until birth. He can grasp, too, and if you're having an ultrasound now, you may even catch him sucking his thumb.

In other news: Your baby's stretching out. From head to bottom, he measures 3 1/2 inches — about the size of a lemon — and he weighs 1 1/2 ounces. His body's growing faster than his head, which now sits upon a more distinct neck. By the end of this week, his arms will have grown to a length that's in proportion to the rest of his body. (His legs still have some lengthening to do.) He's starting to develop an ultra-fine, downy covering of hair, called lanugo, all over his body. Your baby's liver starts making bile this week — a sign that it's doing its job right — and his spleen starts helping in the production of red blood cells. Though you can't feel his tiny punches and kicks yet, your little pugilist's hands and feet (which now measure about 1/2 inch long) are more flexible and active.