kick?

I might have felt the first kick today! It definitely felt different than all the gas and bloating I've had. Caught me by surprise and made me think..."was that just a kick?"

13 weeks and a heartbeat!

What a week this has been! It sure seems like the nausea is fading, although I still get mild waves of it- but nothing debilitating like the last 7 weeks. Instead, I've discovered pregnancy headaches, lower back pain, and sleep deprivation. Thank goodness I can at least take Tylenol, and spending some time flat on my back on the floor seems to help a little (and my midwife recommended a great pregnancy chiropractor...going to try him out soon!). As far as sleep goes, I'm hoping getting back to the gym this week will help me be more tired, well I'm pretty tired every night...you could even say stupid tired most nights...but it doesn't seem to be enough to get me through the whole night. Somewhere between 2 and 3am I end up wide awake for about an hour or more. And everyone says...it's only going to get worse?!

Tuesday we had an appointment with out midwife and she had trouble finding Baby B's heartbeat with the Doppler, which is perfectly normal this early in pregnancy when Baby is so small and has so much room to move around in. BUT it still caused us some worry. I went back to the midwife on Friday, just to put our minds at ease and she found Baby B's heartbeat right away...going strong and even showing off by kicking a lot (kind of sounds like when you tap a live microphone).

Threat of miscarriage has always been a big concern for us considering my maternal history (both my mother and grandmother suffered multiple miscarriages) and not hearing the heartbeat Tuesday night made me really think...and do a whole lot of praying! First I was upset that I had made it so far but then also grateful that I was still in the first trimester and hadn't felt Baby B move yet. Speaking only for myself, I know it would be easier (not easy) to lose a baby early on rather than after "quickening". I know more than one person who has lost a child in the third trimester, after delivery or lost a young child and it may be selfish but I pray that I'm spared that particular pain. Second, I realized I do really want this Baby. I'm the type of person who keeps others at a safe distance (often a couple arm lengths away) until either I know they are safe or I love them enough to let them hurt me. And Baby B, who so far has only made me miserable, is slowly working his or her way closer to my heart. I really am looking forward to whatever other terribly painful or annoying side effects come my way- especially the kicking and crowding and later the pooping and crying. So...this is me, opening up my heart and trusting God...that no matter when he takes my child home, be it before my death or after, that He is a God of promise.

Jeremiah 29:10-14 'This is what the LORD says: "When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile."

12 weeks...and feeling good?

12 weeks today...and I've felt great yesterday and today! Hopefully more of that this week! I even felt so great this morning I got a yoga workout in before church! We took our first "belly" picture today...I'm not really showing but I want a good reference picture for when I do start showing. I can still button most of my pants and haven't gained any weight, although I expect that will start changing soon:)

Yesterday I went shopping to get some necessities: a body pillow, a Be Band (http://www.bebybellaband.com/), and a Be Band tank top...now I can wear my jeans without a belt and not worry about them riding low. Hopefully the body pillow will help my lower back at night. I also found a couple of great deals on maternity clothes at Goodwill, I don't need them yet but hard to pass up jeans for $5.99 and a shirt for $3.99!

Our next midwife appointment is Tuesday night...excited and nervous...we should be able to hear Baby B's heartbeat!

11 weeks

There is a light at the end of the tunnel. Most women I've talked to have said that between 12-14 weeks is when their nausea disappeared. Hopefully I won't jinx myself, but this has been a pretty good week! Not nausea free by any means...but better and no truly terrible days. I even got my first "workout" in- I swam about 600 yards and would probably have done more if some friends from high school weren't swimming in the next lane (we got to talking:)! Hopefully I can start getting some activity in, especially weights- I'm starting to feel quite squishy!

10 weeks- Easter

I am very thankful this Easter for all our blessings. A savior, an upcoming wedding, a great family, and of course- good food! Today marks the end of 10 weeks, 1/4 of the way there. Every passing day brings hope that the nausea and other unpleasant side-effects will start to fade. "This" (pregnancy & parenthood) is starting to seem more real...and exciting...and nerve-wracking. But mostly exciting. God is teaching me to trust him and let go of the worry and fear.

Happy Easter!

Matthew 28:5-6 "The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said."

ultrasound

We went in for our first ultrasound today. Our tech was super nice and graciously allowed us all the awe of first time parents. (He does this everyday!) Baby was waving and moving around, heartbeat was fast and strong, right in the normal range for first trimester.
The ultrasound tech moved our due date up four days to October 31, 2010 based on measurements.
Unfortunately, all the excitement didn't sit too well with mommy's tummy and breakfast was lost outside in the bushes:(

the belt

the belt has officially moved "up/out" a notch. I can no longer get it to the hole I started on:) But in reality, I don't think the belt will last much longer- too uncomfortable while sitting!