I'll be impressed if you read all of this post.

This past week has been fairly uneventful.  I'm not gonna lie - I'm 93% happy about that.  No drama, no stress, nothing to worry about.  All of that is good. However,  I AM a little impatient to feel the baby move.  But word on the street is that I may still be waiting a few weeks for that.  Oh well.

Monday I went out to Falls Church.  I cannot describe how much I hate going out there!  BUT - they are home to the best music store around and I needed to pick up some things for my piano students.  While there I went to Old Navy who was having a sale.  Unfortunately, their maternity section was lacking.  I did find 3 tops that I really like- two of which I'll be able to wear now (on warm days) and until the baby gets here.

On Tuesday, I visited my friend Kate.  She's lending me a bunch of maternity things.  Since she was due in January, there's not a ton for me to borrow, but there were a few things that should take me through most (if not all) of my pregnancy.  Mostly though, I was really happy to have a couple of sweaters.  The weather went from sunny and 70s/ 80s to cold and - well, I have no idea what the temperature is.  But I've been extremely thankful for a wider selection of clothes - including some warmer ones! 

This past Thursday, all I wanted to do was clean the house.  And that's what I did.  I scrubbed the bathrooms, dusted, did 4 or 5 loads of laundry, cleaned the kitchen, vacuumed, sorted through things.  It was a very productive day.  By Friday, I had no interest in anything to do with cleaning.

You're still reading all of this boring stuff?  Wow.  I am impressed!  Surely you have something more entertaining to do!  I'd reward you when I see you by sharing my Vlasic dill kosher pickel spears, but let's be honest, I've eaten 1/2 a jar in 24 hours.  I'm not likely to share.  Sorry. 

Alright - on to the good stuff!

Baby Stats:
-Size of an onion (5.1 inches; 5.9 oz)
-Cartiladge is turning to bone
-Gaining muscle and fat
-Growing a thicker, stronger umbiblical cord

16 Weeks and All Is Well

This past week has been great.  Outside of our appointment there is really nothing to report.  I don't "feel" pregnant - other than this growing belly on me.  I've had no 1st trimester-like symptoms, but I can't feel the baby moving yet. 

Our 16 week appointment went great.  Juli (the midwife) had me lay on my back and showed me how to feel where the baby is since I can't actually feel the baby moving yet.  It seemed so obvious (and in the past I kind of wondered if it was the baby I was feeling) but it was nice to have her confirm it.  We also got to hear the heartbeat (a strong 158).  I never, never get tired of hearing that.  I understand why so many women buy home dopplers to listen to the heartbeat.  But those dopplers can be unreliable and cause you to stress out when there is no reason to worry.  And who needs that?

The other news from the appointment was that we got the results of the NT scan.  That's the ultrasound that tests for the likelihood of Down Syndrome.  Well - baby scored a 1.1.   Juli told us that 1.8 was basically the average of a "good report".  2.5 is when they consider you at (high?) risk.  So basically, 1.1 is really, really good.  So excellent.

This is probably a good time to explain why we keep seeing a midwife.  Our practice is "Physicians and Midwives".  At each appointment they try to schedule you with a different doctor or midwife so that you rotate through and see most everyone.  Assuming everything is going well through the pregnancy and delivery, a midwife actually is the one who is there in the delivery. The midwives spend more time with you and basically do most of the work.  However, if there are any complications, a doctor steps in.  In the time that I've been going to this practice, I've had appointments with 4 different doctors and 2 midwives.  Overall, I have been really happy with the practice. 

Time for my belly picture.  Now, before you think "well my goodness, NOW she looks pregnant," I would like to point out that my belly really hasn't a lot in the last week.  It's just that this outfit shows it off much better.  Also, I would like to point out the one thing that a few people have now said to me that really irritates me.  It is "You're not even showing yet."  You know what I hear when people say that?  "Honey, you've always looked that fat."  Ahhh!  Alright - here it is!

I realize that it's nearly impossible to read this sign.  I liked the idea, but I didn't want to buy a chalkboard and chalk.  I hate chalk.  It makes my fingers itchy.  But the whiteboard - especially when we're outside - is SO hard to read.  This one just says that it's week 16 and I'm feeling happy.  (Not only was it a great appointment - but check out what's going on in there!)

Time for Baby Stats:
-Heart rate at time of appt: 158
-Size of an avocado (4.6 inches; 3.5 oz.)
-Tiny bones are forming in ears - so s/he can listen to me now
-Growing hair, lashes, and eyebrows
-Forming tastebuds

Sleep, Glorious Sleep!

I do believe that I was the one person in America that was excited about last week's time change.  At 8 PM on Saturday night I was completely exhausted.  (I blame it entirely on the process of registering - more on that later.) But - I couldn't go to bed, it was only 8.  I decided to get ready for bed and then read for awhile.  Well, at 8:40, I suddenly remembered the time change.  Oh yes, you know what that means... It was the same as 9:40 - which is almost 10 - which is a perfectly acceptable time to go to bed.   Happy.

Joel was sick this week and spent a few days home.  Since he slept in, so did I.  It was SO nice to get so much sleep.  I don't even know the last time I felt so well rested.  That said, I am very ready to get back into a regular routine again this coming week. 

So - the registry - wow.  Joel and I spent 2 hours at Babies R Us and added a whole 9 things to our registry.  At least it was some of the bigger stuff.  I think I was ready to be done before Joel was, but then he got the toys.... I mean the scanner and he got to look up things online.  We'll obviously have to go again, but we knew this would be a multiple trip process, so that's why we started so early. 

Here I am at 15 weeks.  Joel and I have decided, though, that I need to wear solid colors in the photos.  And perhaps lay off the dresses.  I look so much more pregnant in real life than I do in the pictures and these dresses haven't really done justice to what my belly looks like.  However, it was 80 something degrees when we took the photo - so that explains the sundress in March.  I wish I had been measuring my belly.  I have a feeling I'm gonna be huge.

Baby Stats:
Size - 2.5 oz and 4 inches. 
-Proportions becoming much more normal
-And squirming a ton (although I can't feel it yet).

The First Picture Day

I'm back!  And in theory, will start posting weekly - or more.  We'll see how that works out.  But for now, lets just look at fun pictures, shall we?

So there you have it.  Baby Fortner - 13 weeks and 1 Day old. (Yes, I know - the picture is a week old now!) This little one caused Mommy to "pop" this week.  All of a sudden I found myself with a belly and a closet full of clothes that *almost* don't fit.   Guess who went shopping today?  Thankfully, I'll be able to borrow or buy (for cheap!) most of my maternity stuff from friends.  But I wanted to get a couple of things before I really did run out of clothes to wear. 

Yesterday was the start of week 14.  I'm officially into my 2nd trimester and feeling fantastic - most of the time.  The past couple of days I've been ravenous.  Two weeks ago the midwife told me I should start gaining about a pound a week.  Well, I haven't so far.  But if this hunger trend continues, I am sure I will.

Baby Stats:
-About the size of a lemon - but not the weight.
 (approximately 3.4 inches and 1.5 oz)
-Able to suck thumb and wiggle toes

Happy Day

Yesterday was a fantastic day.  Joel and I went to my 12 week appointment and got to hear our baby's heartbeat... for a second time.  With that appointment past, I felt a huge sense of relief and excitement.  I'd been excited prior to the appointment, but with a side of worry and stress.  That appointment wiped all the stress completely away. 

Last year we went through a couple of miscarriages.  Consequently, this pregnancy has been accompanied by many visits to the doctor to have my blood drawn again and again to make sure everything was progressing properly.  Prior to each visit, I'd be incredibly nervous, but with each result, I became more relaxed and confident.  Now that we've had a successful ultrasound, a great 12 week appointment, and we're nearing the end of the first trimester, I finally feel like this is really going to happen - and I'm really excited! 

As for this pregnancy, it's been pretty easy.  Weeks 9 & 10 were a bit rough - especially with the nausea.  But thankfully, that seems to be improving.  I'm still exhausted fairly easily and I've already experienced mood swings.  However, I've had more energy than I expected and am able to work out most days.  I really haven't had too many cravings, but I have developed a much bigger sweet tooth.  And with one exception, I've had no food aversions.  The only thing I can't stand the smell of?  Wine.  Since I'm not supposed to drink it anyway, I suppose it's just as well.

Next week will be our second ultrasound already!  Stay tuned for pictures...

MB