10 Weeks

How Far Along: 10 Weeks 6 Days              

Total Weight Gain/Loss: I weighed in at 192 at the Dr.’s office but it was the middle of the day so I don’t feel that was very accurate.

Maternity Clothes: Wearing maternity pants or my old pants with a bella band.

Stretch Marks: The originals from Gracie

Sleep: Pretty good but still taking Unisom

Movement: I swear I keep feeling flutters but not sure it’s possible yet.

Food Cravings and Aversions: Anything chicken is good. Sweets are ok but not very appealing. I’ve started getting heartburn this week so Tums have become my friend.

Gender: I feel like it’s a girl.

Belly Button In or Out: In

Labor Signs: No thank you

What I Miss: I miss my old Dr.’s office. I didn’t realize how great they are in comparison to the AHEC clinic.

What I Am Looking Forward To: I have an ultrasound scheduled for April 7^th. I’m ready for another look at my baby!

Weekly Wisdom: Stand up for yourself especially when it involves your healthcare. People treat you differently on Medicaid.

Best Moment This Week: Cindy was able to get a pretty decent look at the baby this week with ultrasound so I’m feeling more at ease. Andrew and I passed part of our National Board Exam so we’re also excited to have that behind us. We also celebrated our 1^st wedding anniversary so it has been a great week minus the hateful nurse at AHEC. 

What's Going On In The Uterus This Week

Baby at 10 weeks

• Baby has working arm joints, and her cartilage and bones are forming.
• Her vital organs are fully developed and they're starting to function.
• Her fingernails and hair are starting to appear, too.
• Plus, she's swallowing and kicking in there.

8 & 9 Weeks

I realize I'm behind. We've been busy studying for national board exams and doing school work. I've also just been trying to deal with my anxiety the best way I can so working on my updates has taken a back seat. After I can get some confirmation that everything is going well I'll be better. 

How Far Along: 9 Weeks 6 Days

Total Weight Gain/Loss: I weighed in at 188 this morning.

Maternity Clothes: I’m wearing maternity pants and some of my regular pants with my Bella Band.

Stretch Marks: The originals from Gracie

Sleep: Good as long as I’m medicated. My dreams are getting really strange but I guess that’s ok as long as 

I’m sleeping

Movement: Me constantly getting up to pee.

Food Cravings and Aversions: Loving chocolate chip cookies and ramen noodles lately. Bacon bits haven’t tasted good but not much has bothered me this week.

Gender: I just want a healthy baby.

Belly Button In or Out: In

Labor Signs: No thank you

What I Miss: Peace of mind

What I Am Looking Forward To: I’m going to the doctor tomorrow and I’m not sure what to expect with a new doctor and building.  

Weekly Wisdom: Sometimes getting blunt helps you when it comes to getting your health care. I’m not proud of getting rude but I finally have insurance.

Best Moment This Week: The victory of finally being able to make a doctor appointment and not having a long wait.  

What's Going On In The Uterus This Week

Baby at 8 Weeks

• You can't feel it yet, but she's moving those arms and legs like crazy!
• Her fingers and toes are now only slightly webbed, and her tail (yes, she had one) is gone.
• Your baby's taste buds are now forming.

Baby at 9 Weeks

• This is a milestone. She's no longer an embryo -- now she's a fetus!
• She's developing more distinct facial features.
• And she might now have a strong enough heartbeat to be picked up by a fetal doppler.

7 Weeks

How Far Along: 7 Weeks 6 Days

Total Weight Gain/Loss: I haven’t weighed any this week.

Maternity Clothes: Thoroughly enjoying my pants.

Stretch Marks: The originals from Gracie that are already pink again.

Sleep: Pretty good actually…but daylight savings time is really messing with me

Movement: Unfortunately it's just gas

Food Cravings and Aversions: Hot wings, ranch dressing, and salt & vinegar chips have been my favorites.

No real aversions this week but I can't eat too much or get too hungry without getting sick. Nausea has been more of a problem this week.

Gender: I’m still leaning towards a girl.

Belly Button In or Out: In

Labor Signs: No thank you

What I Miss: Strange but I’ve been dreaming about daiquiris and mixed drinks so I guess I miss them.

What I Am Looking Forward To: Still ready to see a doctor. I’ve started harassing people and leaving 

lengthy voice-mails.

Weekly Wisdom: There are no clothes left that will mask the pudge/bump. It’s time to come out of the closet with this pregnancy

Best Moment This Week: Telling immediate family. I hate keeping good news to myself. 

What's Going On In The Uterus This Week

• She's generating about one hundred new brain cells each minute!
• Not only is her brain becoming more complex, but her heart is too.
• Also important: She's developing a permanent set of kidneys
• Her arm and leg joints are now forming.

6 Weeks

How Far Along: 6 Weeks 5 Days

Total Weight Gain/Loss: I actually lost weight. I haven’t experienced as much nausea and food aversion this time so I’ve ate more but I’m still down to 180 as of this morning.

Maternity Clothes: I started wearing maternity jeans. I was tired of being bound up and having to unbutton my regular jeans.

Stretch Marks: The originals from Gracie have started to turn pink. I think the hormones have angered them.

Sleep: I finally picked up some Unisom so I’m resting a little more peacefully but still making noises/talking in my sleep a little.

Movement: Just a little gas

Food Cravings and Aversions: This week I’ve loved ranch dressing and hot wings. I’m still not loving sweets like normal but I did enjoy some chocolate milk and ice cream this week.

Gender: No idea but I’m ready to get an ultrasound so we can see this baby. Everyone is joking that there's more than one since I've blossomed so quick this time. 

Belly Button In or Out: In

Labor Signs: No thank you

What I Miss: Right now I’m missing warmer weather, we’re sitting here listening to sleet fall and thunder in March. Pregnancy related…I’ve actually craved beer a few times so I’m gonna have to miss out on that.

What I Am Looking Forward To:  I’m still desperately looking for insurance paperwork in the mail so that I can get a Dr. Trying to be patient but that isn’t always my best quality.

Weekly Wisdom: Sometimes the slimming powers of black isn't always enough. People are starting to question the bloat/bump.

Best Moment This Week: Getting to go to Motherhood Maternity in Little Rock. I got two new pair of jeans and 3 clearance church dresses for this spring/summer.

What's Going On In The Uterus This Week

• She's  circulating blood with her increasingly more sophisticated circulatory system.
• She's about to get cuter too, since she's starting to sprout a nose, eyes, ears, chin and cheeks.
• And she might even be wiggling her (paddle-like) hands and feet

5 Weeks

How Far Along: 5 Weeks 4 Days

Total Weight Gain/Loss: I think I’m still holding steady with my weight. I feel the urge to eat more often but not much sounds good.

Maternity Clothes: I brought all of them in from storage and should be washing them as we speak but it feels good to sit here after working so hard yesterday. I also managed to score a new Bella Band from Ebay for less than half price. I hope it’s here soon because this bloat is so uncomfortable in my regular pants.

Stretch Marks: The originals from Gracie and I don’t think it’s going to take long to expand this time. I’m already terribly bloated and having round ligament pains like crazy.

Sleep: Not so great, it looks as if I’m going to have to start taking Unisom again. I wake up to pee and never go back to sleep. I also have started talking in my sleep which is really aggravating for me and Andrew. I wake him and myself up throughout the night.

Movement: A lot of gas

Food Cravings and Aversions: I’ve enjoyed hot wings, chocolate covered pretzels, and breakfast food this week. Still not craving sweets that much but they aren’t totally disgusting either.

Gender: I’m still stuck on girl but if the old wives tales have any truth to them maybe it’s a boy with all of the different cravings.

Belly Button In or Out: In

Labor Signs: No thank you

What I Miss: Kind of missing coffee which I know I could have but would rather not start the habit again and I miss sweets. I really want to eat chocolate but then it just isn’t satisfying.

What I Am Looking Forward To: I’m still waiting to get insurance straightened out so no doctor appointments have been scheduled yet. I know the longer I wait the better the ultrasound will be but I’d like to have a date to look forward to.

Weekly Wisdom: Wear stretchy pants…seriously made me feel so much better not being bound up and trying to suck in my gut all day.

Best Moment This Week: Going through all of my old maternity clothes and reliving a few memories from being pregnant with Gracie. 

What's going on in the uterus this week

The embryo doesn't look like much more than a tadpole right now, but at five weeks, she's already starting to form major organs (heart, stomach, liver, kidney) and systems (digestive, circulatory, nervous)

4 Weeks

How Far Along: 4 Weeks 4 Days

Total Weight Gain/Loss: I’m starting out around 189 which is a little lower than normal since I just got over 

the flu.

Maternity Clothes: Thinking about bringing them in from storage and washing them up.

Stretch Marks: The originals from Gracie

Sleep: Hit or miss… some nights have been good but I usually wake up between 3-5 am and can’t go back to sleep.

Movement: A lot of gas

Food Cravings and Aversions: So far I’ve wanted salty food and more filling foods like meat which is the total opposite of my first pregnancy.

Gender: I have no strong feelings either way but Andrew is sure that we’re having a girl.

Belly Button In or Out: In

Labor Signs: No thank you

What I Miss: There is nothing I miss right now. I’m just so thankful to be pregnant.

What I Am Looking Forward To: I’m looking forward to seeing a doctor. I think I will rest easier once I get good news from blood tests and ultrasounds.

Weekly Wisdom: I don’t think I have any wisdom… This is my third pregnancy and it’s no easier on my nerves than the first one. I’m trying really hard to relax and enjoy myself but anxiety is getting the best of me.

Best Moment This Week: The onset of all the symptoms has really reassured me that this is real. I’ve been afraid since I saw the second line on the test and even put off testing. I’ve had really tender breasts, nausea, and bloating. I know the nausea will grow old but for now I need comfort. 

What's going on in the uterus this week

• The ball of cells is splitting into the embryo (your future child) and placenta.
• Baby's neural tube, the building block of his spine, brain and backbone, is already formed.
• The amniotic sac and fluid are forming into protective cushioning for your baby.

2 Weeks

Gracie,
The time is flying and dragging by at the same time. I'm in a half asleep daze most of the time but can't seem to fall asleep through the day either. Everyday we learn something new like when it's better to just put the diaper back on you and let you finish your business or if you are really awake or just making noises in your sleep. So far we've experienced several good laughs about the hair on your ears or just how loud you are when you're gassy and a few good cries because I've just been so tired and well you... aren't. It already makes me want to cry when I see how quickly you are growing and everyday that passes is one less that you're my tiny baby. You've already gained a whole pound since you were born and you look different everyday to me. You hate a pacifier, love to eat, and I can't keep socks on your feet because they are so long and slender you just kick them right off. Even though they say a baby your age doesn't really smile I can't help but melt even in the middle of the night after only getting an hour of sleep. Speaking of melting it really makes me so proud when I see you curled up on your Daddy's belly asleep and how much he loves you too. We should be making your 1st and I'm sure it won't be the last trip to Pumpkin Hollow this weekend. I know you won't remember it but we'll be taking plenty of pictures.

Love,
Mama