12 Weeks

How far along?  12 weeks

Total weight gain: down 2 lbs.

Baby is the size of: a Hot Wheels Car

12 WEEKS!!!  This is the growl/monster/Hulk face we've been seeing a lot of lately.

This is the sweetness I know and love!

Maternity clothes? None yet.  I sorted through the maternity clothes I wore with Cooper and almost threw up from the smell.  Don't get me wrong, they are clean and smell like fabric softener.  It's just the same smell they had when I wore them last time and it brings back vivid  head-in-the-toilet memories.  I'm trying to rewash them in super hot water with extra detergent and fabric softener.  If that doesn't work, I may just have to buy new stuff. 

Stretch marks?  no new ones

Sleep: Better.  I'm usually up about once in the night for a potty break (for both me and the dog).  But it's been much easier to get back to sleep lately. 

Symptoms: Pipsqueak must have done some serious growing this last week, because I was HUNGRY!  Even for me, this was excessive.   

Movement: Nothing yet, but I find myself resting my hand on belly when I'm laying down.  Excited to feels those little squirms again!

Food Cravings: Figured out that the coffee aversion was more about the creamer than the coffee itself.  A small cup of black coffee with just a little sugar has been yummy.  Grapefruit craving struck this week.  Sour, sweet, yummy!

Miss anything? I actually miss working out.  I just haven't gotten enough energy back to feel like doing anything in the evenings.  Hoping to get back to doing something at least 3 days a week.

We've found ourselves being very anxious to find out the sex of the baby.  I know we were excited to find out last time.  It just seems like a much bigger deals this time. Will we say "the boys" or "the kids"?  Last time it set the course for our family.  This time we could be in for a a very different life depending on the gender.  Don't get me wrong, we will be overjoyed either way.  I would almost be relieved if it was another boy; I feel I've grown accustomed to them.   However, I am intrigued (and petrified) at the thought of a girl.  I guess only time, and ultrasound, will tell.  I go back to the doctor on Thursday.  Can't wait to hear that little heartbeat!

In other news, Coop had strep (again) this weekend, hence the bed head in the pictures.  :)   That's twice in less than 6 months.  Not sure if that's normal, but with tonsils the size of ping pong balls, you're destined to get something growing on them occasionally.  Thankfully, he seems to recover remarkably quickly.   

10 weeks

Bump Watch 2014 is on!  There's not much of a bump to watch at this point, but we started take some pictures anyway.  It's so fun to have Cooper involved. He tells us he wants a brother; we'll see if that sticks.

At this point, Pipsqueak is about the size of Coop's yellow dinosaur.  This artifact randomly showed up at our house one day.  Cooper told us that his teacher at school gave it him.  I forgot to confirm the reality of the statement.  Sorry, Baby, your big brother may or may not be a clepto.

First Peak at Pipsqueak - 8 Weeks

We had our first visit to the OB/GYN to check out our littlest one.  I thought I would join the pinspired trend of monthly pregnancy updates by answering the same questions each month.

How far along?  Math says 8 weeks, 2 days.  Ultrasound says 8 weeks, 5 days.

Total weight gain: down 4 lbs.

Baby is the size of: a lego


I want to take a picture each month comparing the baby to the size of one of Cooper's toys.   
Let's face it...it's really not safe for him to have toys the size of this baby right now. 
So I stole an image from Google.  :)  
Baby is actually closer to the size of a four-peg brick, but I couldn't find a picture of one.

Maternity clothes? None yet, although I feel like certain undergarments will need to go up a size soon.

Stretch marks?  no new ones

Sleep: Oh, how I miss 8 hours of uninterrupted zzzzz's.  I have been waking up fairly consistently around 2 am and I'm not able to get back to sleep until around 4 am.  I've also been falling asleep on the couch by 8 pm more nights than not.  It takes serious amounts of caffeine at dinner to keep me up until Coop's bedtime.

Symptoms: Exhaustion, eating like a famished hobo, a little nausea, but no vomiting. 
Movement: only tummy bubbles, no baby.
Food Cravings: More aversions than cravings. Quit coffee cold turkey...just can't stand it.  Makes me a little sad.  I haven't craved sweets like I normally do.
Miss anything? Energy. Ready for the 1st trimester exhaustion to pass.

I had felt pretty anxious about this pregnancy up until our first appointment.  We announced the pregnancy sooner this time than we did with Cooper and I was still uncertain about that decision.  I just wasn't sure it was going to "stick."  It was such a relief to see that heartbeat and hear that Baby seems to be right on track (or maybe a little ahead - overachiever!). 

I saw the PA this visit and we discussed how Cooper's birth had gone a little differently than we had hoped.  She very quickly said we wouldn't adjust my due date just because the ultrasound measured and little big.  She also said we didn't even have to discuss an induction date.  I was very happy to hear that she understood my concerns and was willing to listen. 

I had briefly considered switching to a different doctor or maybe even using a midwife.  After lots of thought, staying with my same doctor just feels like what I need to do.  I almost feel a need for a do-over.  We may end up with same outcome.  We may spend our baby's first week running back and forth to the hospital.  I may fall apart preparing to leave the hospital with an empty carseat.  I may nearly have a panic attack walking into my child's room for the first time after he/she is born because they aren't there.  But at least, this time around, I know we can survive it.  I know NICU babies can grow up to be healthy babies..toddlers...preschoolers (yup - Cooper is about to be a preschooler {tear}).  I know that how something starts doesn't have to determine it's entire future.  I have a feeling the future is bright.