Week 13: Into the 2nd trimester!

I am 13 weeks and 1 day today! A few fun facts about Baby O. he/she is the size of a peach, has fingerprints now and vocal cords are finishing their development. Tuesday we had our fourth prenatal appointment, it seemed mainly just a check up but then Alex asked if we were going to see the baby again and the doctor said, no, but that we would get to hear the heartbeat via a fetal doppler. At first I was a little bummed, we had been so lucky to see the baby every week, but hearing the heartbeat so loud and clear was equally such a thrill! We both waited (Alex had his phone ready to record the amazing sound) until the doctor got a clear sound and when we heard the strong 'woosh whoosh' we looked at each other in amazement that that was our baby! The heartbeat was 149bpm and by that the doctor predicts a boy! PREDICTS! We are not going to find out the sex of Baby O. until he/she makes their appearance sometime in March so we have to make sure that we let every ultrasound tech know! Again, I could have laid there all day and listened to my baby's heartbeat all morning, in fact every morning when I check my emails, I replay the recording and listen with a huge smile on my face. Hearing the fast little beat made everything seem so much more real and again it just reinforced my want to do everything as perfect as I can for them. I was SO emotional Tuesday, so happy! Hearing that heartbeat took away every worry and concern. That became my focus and I hope Baby O. could feel how happy he/she made me and their father. That afternoon I was doing some work on the computer and listening to my ipod and every other song that came on made me feel like crying! I tried to not let Alex see me because I didn't want him to think something was wrong and then...Silver and Gold (from Rudolph) came on and I lost it! I was just overwhelmed with happiness, thinking about holidays with Baby O. and how excited I was to bake with them, shop, decorate the tree and all the fun Christmas-y things I have been wanting to do with my children. Then again I started thinking about my love/hate relationship with time and I just got overwhelmed. Baby O.'s not even born yet and I don't want them to grow up! This could be really bad.
With my first trimester finished I feel a bit sad, like it's all going so fast. I am feeling much better, getting my appetite and energy back and for that I am extremely thankful. I am still having a few food aversions and cravings...this weeks cravings: beef and broccoli, grapes (only from a specific booth at the San Dimas Farmers Market though), mashed potatoes and still salad and fruit. Food aversions continue to be sandwich meat, pizza/marinara sauce and anything fried... I also feel like by hitting the second trimester it is a bit of a triumph. 1/3 of the way there! I don't know of the nesting phase is hitting me early or if it just because I haven't spent too much time cleaning and organizing lately, but I have (happily) been cleaning the last two days. I am ready to start making room for baby and start showing if my slight bump. Time is already flying and I just want it to slow down!

We're Having A Baby, My Baby and Me!

I cannot describe how excited I am! Alex and I found out we were expecting June 29th, I wrapped up the pregnancy test in long jewelry box and gave it Alex on his break at work. He was ecstatic and surely wore a huge smile all day. A loooong three and a half weeks later we had our first ultrasound along with blood tests and paperwork. I was so nervous at the first appointment, my blood pressure was unusually high and I was shaking. When the little bean came up on the monitor and we heard the whoosh whoosh of the heartbeat (169 bpm) I was put at ease and began to cry. It was so small yet already had a heart! I just wanted to listen to the heartbeat all afternoon! We got our first baby picture and I pinned about five of them all over the house.
As far as morning sickness goes, I guess I should consider myself pretty lucky...I get a "gaggy feeling" most of the time, like something is tickling the back of my tongue and I feel like my nose has super powers. Many smells bother me, I haven't had a sandwich since about June 29th because deli meat sounds and looks disgusting! My main favorite foods have been toast, bagels with cream cheese, cantaloupe, cheese and crackers, applesauce and apple juice.  Keeping my tummy full or at least content has been a challenge, especially because hardly anything sounds good and when it does sound good, I need it NOW! Alex has been so cooperative during this crazy time. He's willing to eat anything I want to eat, has gone as long as I have without morning coffee (I used to not be able to start my day with it, now it stinks!) and has been the housekeeper, cook and counselor. As soon as I am feeling better, can stand to look at raw meat and take the heat in the kitchen I am making him a wonderful dinner! You know me, I LOVE to cook and bake and now and then the thought and urge comes on but then quickly dissipates...Hopefully when the baking season hits I will be ready!
I have been EXTREMELY tired, more like EXHAUSTED! I normally would wake up around 7am, start my day (with that warm cup of coffee) run errands all over town and then work on household chores, now....ha! I can barely make my own breakfast and I'm lucky if I can complete one load of laundry! Forget grocery shopping, that gets done when Alex can go with me. After breakfast I'm ready for a nap! Really. Napping- never used to partake. Now I must or I am a grumpy zombie.
My emotions have been high, I try not to think too much about the future or how fast my baby will grow up because then I will ball my eyes out. I think about all the joys of becoming a mother, watching who our baby will be, what they will be interested in, who they will take after and it makes me cry. I want nothing but the best and everything for our little baby. It is so small now and has no sense of evil or sadness and I wish he/she could just stay that way. I know that could never be but I hope they experience as little as possible. I try hard not to cry or be sad because I know the baby can sense that already. I write letters to him/her a couple times a week and always promise to keep them protected. I already feel like a Mama Bear. I am already proud of him/her, for growing so strong, I can only imagine the pride I will feel for their 'firsts', school awards and other accomplishments.Sometimes I place my hand on my belly and wonder if he/she can sense my thoughts.
I have so many "can't waits" but really I can wait, I know time is going to fly by so I am cherishing every moment, even feeling like I'll never be normal again. I remember these are my first sacrifices for my baby! I would endure so much more if I knew he/she would benefit! It is worth it. I know Alex and I's life will never be the same but in the best way possible, I think. I know in about seven months I will be walking around waiting for him/her to fall asleep and I will probably be even more exhausted than I am now, but I will again try to cherish those moments.
Well, today has been such an amazing day that I will remember ALWAYS! Now, I think I will celebrate with the rest of my slice of Coconut Cream Pie.

6 weeks 5 days

11 weeks