Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice

Ok, I know, I know. I'm super late posting. Sorry.

But this week has been huge!! I've been a liiiiiittle distracted figuring out the rest of my life. I know that sounds really dramatic, but holy cow, one little piece of information goes a long way!!

Early last week (Monday) Jason, Peanut and I had a very good doctor's check up! We got to hear Peanut's heartbeat, and even see her on an ultrasound. Now don't get me wrong - 16 weeks is a great time to find out if its a girl or boy --- amiright --- but the ultrasound machine that the doc used on Monday is typically used for very early pregnancies. Pretty much a "is there somebody in there, or is this going to get really bad really fast" kind of screening. So, while we weren't able to see our Peanut's secret baby parts, we were able to see how big she's gotten! And this kid is seriously huge! As in, "my whole body doesn't even fit on the ultrasound screen" kind of big. Here's what we saw:

Whats Up Baby Spine!?

For anyone confused at what you're looking at, Peanut is facing straight down, head on the left, butt on the right. Spine curving along the top. The legs don't even fit on the screen! 

So, even though we were super happy to hear that Peanut was doing well, we were still itching to know if baby is Peanut, or Peanutte. Boy, or girl. Firetrucks, or glitter. You get my drift. Welllllp, it was a good thing that we made a backup appointment at Baby Imagine, just in case!! 

Yes - we had a backup appointment scheduled at a 3D/4D ultrasound clinic, just in case we didn't find out on Monday. Seriously, the best idea we've ever had. We had an AMAZING experience with them - they were so so nice, and we got exactly what we were hoping!! For $99, we found out the sex of our baby, received slew of printed pictures, along with a DVD of our entire ultrasound set to music. If you're looking for a great experience with great results, I can't recommend them any higher!! 

As soon as the ultrasound technician put the wand to my belly, the very first view was a total up-skirt shot. We knew within 10 seconds of the ultrasound that Peanut is a GIRL!!!!!! Our little Peanut suddenly became so so real, with a huge story ready for us to enjoy. I lost it (obviously) and hubby sat in amazed shock for a moment, before jumping up to hug me and joining me in staring at the TV screen with ear-to-ear goober smiles. We both had been hoping and praying for a little girl, and all our dreams have come true!!! 

Here's a few shots of our little lady! 

Waving Hello!

 

Little Hands

Already the Drama Queen, Posing for Pictures!

Playing Peekaboo… by Herself.

There are simply no words to describe what its like to truly see your baby for the first time - even via ultrasound. We were able to watch her move and squirm in real time, and I've never been filled with more joy. Having my husband by my side, my little girl waving hello and sucking her thumb, its amazing I was able to even see anything through the tears. This little girl is already bringing me so much happiness, I can't wait to meet her! 

The ultrasound tech told us she's already gaining her baby fat! Usually babies at 17 weeks are still very skeletal, and a little alien looking. Our baby already has some chubby cheeks, and baby fat sticking to her bones. From what our technician is predicting, Peanut will be tall, have my nose, and be a little chunker when she's born! And after hearing about our family genetics for eye color, she has a pretty good chance getting my blue eyes :) 

We're on our way into week 18, where I'll pick up my weekly report. But in the meantime, Jason and I will be celebrating our little Lucille Marie! See ya'll soon! 

Mommy, Daddy & Little Lucy!

Sweet Sixteen

WHATS UP WEEK 16!?!?!? 

Is this enough of a reason to throw myself a Sweet Sixteen Party!? Because I'm pretty sure I'm excited enough to blow like a million dollars on a badass entrance, a custom-made dress or two, some fire breathers, choreographed dancers, and make my parents buy me a new car. PRETTY SURE. 

Wanna know why!? Well let me enlighten you, my darling friends. This week has been awesome for two gigantic reasons: 

1) I FELT KICKS. On Wednesday evening while lounging with the hubby, I felt a super fast, super light little fluttering in my belly. It went by so fast that it took me a second to realize what it was. I actually wasn't even convinced they were kicks until I felt them again Thursday night. Then again Friday morning. Then again Saturday afternoon. I'm still waiting for my little hello for today, but it makes me insanely happy. I can't get over it!!! So weird, but so amazing at the same time. Makes me fall in love with this little peanut over and over again. (Until he/she is kicking me straight in the bladder or ribcage - then it the emotion might be a little different than love.)

2) WE FOUND A NEW PLACE TO LIVE. Hubby and I went apartment hunting all day on Saturday, and honestly everywhere we went was terrible. We hated all of them. None of them were as good as the place we're in now, and some were even more expensive and literally half as nice. It blows my mind the craphole units that these Bay Area complexes are renting. So, we checked in with our current complex  for pricing, walked a GORGEOUS 2 bedroom unit, sucked it up and put down a deposit. Finances will be tight, but we'll make it work. Its wonderful, bigger than what we have now, has a washer/dryer in unit, wonderful amenities, we feel safe here, and its nearby both our parents. Everything is workin out!! (Thank goodness!! Cue the baby-stuff-hoarding!) 

UPDATE! 16 Weeks! FOUR MONTHS, PEOPLE!

Baby is the Size of:  An Avocado!! This just makes me giggle, imagining the hundreds of avocados that grow in Tanya's tree in the backyard. All I imagine is a tree full of babies. (I know - a little weird). Baby is about 4 1/2 inches long, and weighs in at 3 1/2 ounces. 

Baby’s New Developments (According to Baby Center): Baby is getting a little more human looking! Baby's head is more erect than ever, the eyes are moving in towards the front of the head, and the patterning of the scalp has started. Oh yeah, and don't forget that Peanut is starting to grow toenails. 

Food Cravings: Fruit and high protein meats! Kiwis are delicious - I'm not sure if I could really call them a craving, but I'll definitely never turn one down. 

Food Aversions: I'm getting really tired of pizza. I don't have it that often, but its just boring. 

Most Common Symptoms: This week has been pretty good! My energy is coming back, and my morning sickness only showed up twice this past week. I'm taking it and running. My face is still breaking out, and my back looks horrendous (in my opinion), but at least my hair isn't falling out in major clumps anymore. Again - whoever told you that pregnancy is glamorous - they LIED. 

What’s New: Just those sweet little fluttery kicks!! I can't even describe how exciting they are. These tiny little 'hellos' from my sweet little bebe.

Hopes: Tomorrow (Monday) I have a doctor's appointment for a baby check up! Hoping all goes well, and really hoping I don't have to do another blood draw. Seriously, guys, the whole blood draw thing is getting old. I think I'm up to giving up 8 vials now? I kinda need my blood IN my body right now.

Intuitions: Gah. I don't even know.

Best Moment of the Week: First kicks, thats for damn sure. 

I just realized I didn't take a full shot this week, but here's a fun one from my point of view! 

Only 167 days to go (till my due date)! 

But hey, who's counting. 

The Apple of My Eye

Week 15! Only one more week until the mile marker of 4 months, and I really don't have a whole lot to update with. So... sorry if you were expecting brand new information that would just blow your mind. This week has flown by so fast that I can barely think of anything "new" to tell ya'll!

Uh…. Here's an awesome video to make you happy? 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2LiFsdrXF4 

Jimmy Fallon = Happiness. 

UPDATE! 15 Weeks!

Baby is the Size of:  An apple!! Little sweet apple of my eye…. errr… uterus. Baby now measures about 4 inches, and is a total fatty at 2 1/2 ounces. 

Baby’s New Developments (According to Baby Center): Baby is full blown 'breathing' amniotic fluid through his/her mouth and nose, which helps the lungs continue to develop. Baby's eyelids are still fuzed shut, but apparently can sense light. If I shine a flashlight on my belly, baby will run/swim/jerkily move away from it. Basically this kid is a sleestak & hates the light. (…I googled "creatures that hate light" and it literally came up with the definition of a sleestak. Do it yourself and feel as geeky as I do. Don't forget to click "images," so you can really get a visual)

Food Cravings: Still nothing crazy. Sorry. 

Food Aversions: Chicken is still super lame - all hail the high protein red meat!! 

Most Common Symptoms: I had another weird skinny week. Although on Friday my bump was back with a vengeance. And then Saturday it was gone. And today its kind of there? I think this kid is trying to play hide and seek with me, but I can't tell who's winning. 

What’s New: Apparently I've lost weight?? I volunteered to be part of the PETALS study through Kaiser (studying how my environment/lifestyle/eating habits/etc effects my pregnancy. Kaiser will later use my data along with thousands of other preggo's results to help future mommies have a happier, healthier pregnancy.) Anyway they weighed me in at 151 pounds on Saturday morning. My first appt at 6 weeks I weighed in at 153, my 8 week appt was 153 (weird) and about 2 or 3 weeks ago I weighed myself at my folks at 155. And now I'm back down to 151. Tanya & Ashley reassured me (they're the best) and told me lots of women lose weight, and it varies so much with timing of the day, etc. I guess its a good thing I haven't gained 10 pounds or anything, but it was still alarming! 

Hopes: Hoping this upcoming week will fly by like this past one! On March 17th we have an appointment for Peanut, (standard monthly visit) but I'm still excited to hear his/her little heartbeat on the doppler. 

Intuitions: Still thinking pink! Almost purely out of spite at this point. 

Best Moment of the Week: The clothes swap!! Every few months or so I'm lucky enough to be included in a huge clothes swap with a bunch of girlfriends. Ashley opens up her home to about 20 to 30 girls that bring in all their clothing they no longer wear, but is still in good shape. Its basically free shopping - leave your unwanted, take home new-to-you treasures! This clothes swap was like gold for me and two other preggos in attendance, we had several moms bring in their maternity clothes! Needless to say my closet got a HUGE face lift!! So grateful for a fun night with girls, closet refresh, and feeling good! All the leftover clothing is donated to Goodwill or another charity when all is said and done. Best. Tradition. Ever. 

Here's muh semi-little belly this week: 

Officially the work-bathroom-outfit-selfie.

And thanks to Ashley for the clothing swap maxi dress!! Obviously already getting put to work! 

See ya at the 4 month mark!

This Kid Better Be Adorable So He/She Can Distract People From My Bald Head

A whole new month, a whole new week! 

February flew by super fast for us, and March is going to be insanely busy. Hubbs & I will need to find a new place to move to in April (curtesy of our apartment rates getting jacked up when our lease ends, and needing a second bedroom for the peanut & peanut's furniture/playthings/everything baby that won't fit in a closet), so the hunt begins now. I've been looking for weeks to figure out pricing, good locations, etc, but now that the 30 day notices of tenants will be trickling in, and options will now be available for a move-in date in April. Please please keep your fingers crossed for us because to be honest, I'm panicking a little. Moving is stressful enough, now I have to figure out how to do it with hormones raging, and belly growing. At least I won't have to help move the couch. 

Anyway, onto the good stuff!! 

UPDATE! 14 Weeks!

Baby is the Size of:  a LEMON! Didn't we already do lemon? Maybe this time its a bigger lemon. Baby is about 3 1/2 inches long, and weighs 1 1/2 ounces. 

Baby’s New Developments (According to Baby Center): Baby is starting to get more proportional looking, with the head sitting on a more distinct neck, and arms and legs really growin out! Babe is making a bunch of facial emotions, from grimacing to smiling to looking confused. They aren't connected with emotions yet, but baby is in sarcasm training... Eyebrow raise. Oh! And sucking his/her thumb is happening now too! And peeing. Thanks, kid, glad you're sharing.

Food Cravings: Still nothing crazy. However dark chocolate after my hawaiian pizza was delicious tonight. 

Food Aversions: Chicken is still the most boring food on the planet. There's no way to make it taste fantastic, its all just mediocre.  Otherwise, mustard is still gag-worthy, and I'm not sure why cumin is a thing.

Most Common Symptoms: Still pretty tired. Not as bad as last week, but I'm still ready to knock out at the sight of a reclining chair. This week has been the week of the small belly though - its kinda funky. I woke up this morning and literally didn't look pregnant at all - the kid disappeared on me. After eating breakfast and lunch my belly slowly showed up again, but it was a little freaky to see a flat stomach for the first time in months. 

What’s New: My hair is falling out. Like, in an alarming "how am I not bald right now" rate. I'm taking my vitamins, I have "vitamin enriched" shampoo, and my hair is still falling out. I heard its a bit of a phase, it all falls out then grows back with a vengeance. So, lets just look forward to that. Oh, this might be way too much info, but my libido is back. Thankgod. Somewhere my husband is smiling.

Hopes: Hoping my kid doesn't keep disappearing. I like having the reassuring big belly in the morning, not an awkward "if I turn to the side, its like I have a bloated six pack." I'm also hoping that I can continue to get good sleep! Last night I was out like a brick and only woke up once. That would be awesome to continue! 

Intuitions: Still thinking pink! Although I'm completely up in the air if its a girl or boy, I still have my fingers crossed. I also just really, really want to be able to use an all-sequin table runner or table cloth as a dresser drape in a nursery. So girly, so cute, I can't handle it.

Best Moment of the Week: Last night I didn't take my anti-nasuea meds, and I woke up this morning not feeling like death!!!! I got a little queasy smelling the breakfast burritos my husband was cooking for us, but as soon as it was in front of me I was right back on track scarfing it down. I have about a week left of pills, (I really have 2 more months of refills but I'm trying not to refill it) so I'm hoping that I can stay off them! It will be interesting to see if it effects me in any other way to not be on them. Maybe I'll get more heartburn? Less heartburn? Have more energy? Less energy? I've been living on them for about 5 weeks, so let's see what happens!

Until next week, here's me & my little peanut!! 

Belly Bump is Officially Bigger than Boob Bump.

I'm off to live another week! Keep your fingers crossed for not having to buy a wig, for keeping this baby bump happy, and finding a new place to call home. I know its a lot to ask for one week, but hey - shoot for the stars, right?