Pregnancy Week 17

BABY:
-This week the baby is about 5 to 6 inches from crown to rump, but if he or she was stretched out from head to toe they would measure a whopping 9 inches! Crazy! No wonder my pregnancy belly has popped in the last 3 weeks, this baby is growing like mad!

-The baby weighs about 5 ounces and is beginning to develop fat, this will continue until birth.

-The baby's eyes are facing more forward and the ears are now close to their final position.

-The baby is more flexible with ability to move head, mouth, lips, arms, wrists, hands, legs, feet, and toes.

-The baby's sense of hearing is now developing, and he or she consumed with listening to the sounds it's mother's heartbeat.

-The urinary tract, brain, muscles, nervous and circulatory systems are now functioning, and the baby breathes in the amniotic fluid to get the lungs ready for breathing air.

MOM:

As mom, Im doing great :) puked today but meh..it's old news anymore, I gag most days..puke at least every few days. It's like my gag reflex is super sensitive, brushing my teeth can send me into full blown dry heaving. I know, sounds like fun huh!? haha...but I will say it..It's totally worth it, I will say it over and over and over again until you hate it but it's the truth. Obviously, I love this little child more than I knew possible, Ill go through as much morning sickness, aches, pains, migraines & constipation as it take to create this beautiful child of mine :) If I know anything though, I have really popped in the last few weeks. I went from looking a little bit pregnant to "holy crap, Im pregnant!"...people notice now and I like it! haha...I feel like ive been pregnant for an eternity so it's nice to be getting some credit. I have been feeling the baby move quite often now too. I feel little nudges and flicks most days, sometimes every other day. I love it though, it's really amazing to be able to just know and feel that my child is in there! I think every mom can attest that it's a crazy and awesome experience when you first start feeling your child with in you. It's definitely been my favorite part of this pregnancy so far.

In other, less important news...Ive changed my mind on what travel system Im getting. Originally I was going to go with one by Cosco, but found out that it really wasnt that safe, was super heavy and it went up in price. My sister found this really neat stroller and carrier by Graco that were set on..it is very safe, not too spendy, plus it does this neat flip around trick where you can push it and look at your child sitting right there in stroller. It's also that martha stewart blue color I love (matches my kitchen!) and dark gray so it will be good for both a boy and a girl for future Abbott babies. See it here. There's also a video at the bottom that shows how the 'flip it' part works.

Pregnancy Week 13

The baby:

This week my sweet little baby is about 3 inches long, that's the size of a peach! Ive started calling him/her my little peach :)

The baby may be able to put a thumb in his or her mouth this week, although the sucking muscles aren't completely developed yet.

Bone is beginning to replace cartilage and the ribs are appearing

The nose and chin are now well defined

The external genitalia are well defined making it is possible to determine the baby's gender

I can't feel it yet, but the baby can move in a jerky fashion, flexing the arms and kicking the legs

The kidneys and urinary tract are beginning to function

Even though the baby is swallowing amniotic fluid, all nourishment is being provided by the placenta now.

The mom:

this mum is very happy to finally be 13 weeks! I am now officially in the second trimester and thankfully at this point, chances of a miscarriage drop drastically. The second trimester is considered the 'honeymoon period" of pregnancy. I like that...and ya know, I am feeling pretty dang good these days. My morning sickness comes and goes every once and while but as a whole it's pretty much gone. And the constant worry has really subsided as well since I have made it to my 2nd trimester. Although the one thing that hasnt changed is the fact that I still require a lot of sleep. At least 10 hours a night, sometimes (actually most the time) more. I still have my up and down moods but Im not as down as I was in the previous weeks. I purchased (well my mom did, her gift to me...thanks mom!) my first pair of maternity jeans at Motherhood Maternity this last week and I love them! So comfortable plus they're cute! I will admit, I was very excited to go buy my first pair of maternity jeans. Im excited to really start showing, I know it probably wont be until late February, probably more March but that will be here before we know it! All in all pregnancy is going just wonderfully, I cannot wait for my next appointment (this coming Monday) where I will get to hear the heartbeat again. This little peach is so loved already, I cannot wait to meet my sweet baby.

Life other than pregnancy is going just lovely. School and work keeps Tony and I incredibly busy these days so much that our little time together is very much cherished. I miss my husband pretty much all day everyday but one nice thing is that we get to cuddle and go to bed together every night, I love that...it was worth waiting for too. We made reservations for the Jacksonville Inn for dinner on Valentines Day! I cant wait, we havent been there since 6 months before our wedding, & yes...we actually went and celebrated 6 months left of our engagement! It was also our 4 year 6 month dating anniversary so that counts too..what can I say, we really like to celebrate things. We also love getting dressed up, Tony would wear his Alfani suit every single day if he could...and I wouldnt mind either because he looks amazing in it :)

and OH! did I mention that LOST will be back in less than a week...NEXT TUESDAY people! Tony and I are sooo excited, and what's awesome about it.. Tony's one week night off from work just happens to be Tuesdays! We have been recording and watching it online for years, now we can actually snuggle up and watch it together when it airs...oh the joys!

2nd Trimester & Career

Hooooray!

as of Sunday (the 24th) I am FINALLY in the 2ND TRIMESTER!

It feels great to be here. My nerves are just a little less on edge now that I am officially out of the 'danger zone'. I will be having my next OB appointment next Monday (February 1st). I wont get an ultrasound this time but I will get to hear the baby's heartbeat on the fetal doppler. My mom will be coming with me to this appointment because Tony cannot make it due to it conflicting with his hardest class this term. I am excited for my mom to be able to be there though, she is going to video when they find the heartbeat on the doppler and I plan to post it on here so you all can see and hear the amazingness of it all :) It feels and looks as if my uterus has really grown & gotten fuller in the last few days. Although you probably wouldnt be able to tell that much, I sure can...it's very exciting for me! I have started to measure my lower belly each week in about 10 days it has grown a little over an inch! Everytime I am in the bathroom I turn to the side and see that it's just a little bit rounder than normal. I dont expect to really start showing until probably early March..but just being able to feel that little difference has made me very happy.

Apologies for not posting the 12 week pregnancy blog last week, I was not only very distracted and busy with getting my cheerleaders ready for competition but also I was very sick with a nasty cold (which thankfully I am almost completely over). But no worries, there will be a 13 week pregnancy blog this week! The baby is the size of a PEACH now! I am calling it 'my little peach'. Sound lovely right?

The competition up north was a success! I was so proud of the girls...it truly just overjoyed my heart to see them bust out their routine with solid stunts and so much spirit. Some teams crack under pressure and I was worried that might happen, it gets nerve wracking out there and sometimes it's hard to not just totally lose your focus. But they had no problem at all, in fact the pressure seemed to help them perform even better! It was a wonderful experience for the team and for me as their coach. This was the first time I have ever taken my own team to competition. I have taken other teams to competition but I was an assistant coach at that time. Coaching is SO incredibly rewarding. It's not just about cheerleading at games, the routines and stunts...that makes up like 30% of my job. The rest is the really amazing part. You watch these girls grow, mature and learn right before your eyes. You see them over come things and learn valuable lessons at such an important time in their lives. My heart and passion has always been to be an active role model in teen girls lives, someone who can lend a helping hand, a shoulder to cry on or just someone to vent to, I have known for a long time now that that is exactly the career that I want. That is one of the many reasons I remained a virgin until marriage, I never did drugs or partied. I thank God that I was able to live above the influence in high school and after because now I can say to these girls & my children someday that it IS possible to wait until marriage, to not do drugs and to not be in the party scene...& let me tell you, it is so worth it. For a long time I have thought that the perfect route for me would be to become a high school counselor. But I have slowly realized that if I want to live out my passion then where I am right now is the best place I can be. Coaching puts you in a mentoring position, even more so than an high school counselor. On the way home from the competition Tony and I were having a deep conversation about career and purpose and I just really realized in those few hours that God had put me exactly where I have always longed to be. He has given me a real peace about where I am...like this is the best place to be a role model for young girls while at the same time teaching them life lessons that team sports really seem to instill in teens. It's been quite a blessing to be given this opportunity to coach cheerleading and I can honestly say I just really love it. I really do.

I plan to keep going to school to get a degree that can be put towards coaching, possibly something in athletic training, physical education, teaching etc ...Im still praying about that part. But at this point, my career isnt being put on hold until I get my degree, Im already living the career I feel I was created for and the degree will just be an added bonus in the long run, something that will qualify me more in the future. Through lots of prayer I have decided I will finish out school through spring term and then I am going to take this next year off. The baby will be born in August and I just really want that time with my precious child. I feel really good about doing it that way, as does Tony and my family. I will keep coaching for sure. It's a real blessing to have this job because I can take the baby with me to games and practices no problem, plus if I really need it I have family member that would be more than happy to babysit. I just feel a real sense of clarity and peace about all of it...it's really something Ive never experienced before. Ive always stressed about this but God has really hit home and reassured me and there is no little lingering doubt or fear. Im so happy this is where I am, my heart is so full of joy and all the glory goes to Him.

"Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for Him to act."

-Psalms 37:7

Pregnancy Week 11

The Baby:

-this week the baby is about two inches or just a little bit more, measuring about the size of a large lime!

-The baby's fingernails and hair follicles are forming this week.

-External genitalia are beginning to show distinguishing features and the development of male or female will be complete in three weeks.

-The baby is now able to swallow. The urinary system functions. The baby swallows and urinates the amniotic fluid and the fluid is continually replaced, this will help the baby know how to swallow come time he/or she breastfeeds for the first time...amazing.

-All vital organs are formed and, for the most part, function normally. From now on, they will grow in size and efficiency.

-From this week until week 20, the baby will be growing rapidly — increasing in size from about 2 inches (5 cm) to about 8 inches (20 cm) from crown to rump. To accommodate all this growth, the blood vessels in the placenta are increasing in both size and number to provide the baby with more nutrients.

-The facial expressions of the baby are already similar to the facial expressions of the parents (is that not the most amazing thing you have ever heard?!)

-The baby's brain now has the same structure it will have at birth; it's just smaller in size.

-between now and week 16, the mechanism that enables the baby's sense of smell (the olfactory system) is developing.

The Mom:

I just cannot believe I have a little lime already! It seems like yesterday this baby was as small as a tiny grain of rice! Time seems slow in the moment but when I look back on all the progress our baby has made, I realize how much of this pregnancy has just flown by. As of today I have 200 days left of this pregnancy, and I have completed 80 days! Of course about 20 days of those 80 the egg was being fertilized and I had no idea I was going to be staring at a positive pregnancy test the day after Thanksgiving! But man am I glad I am here...almost to my 12th week now. It's scary telling people you're pregnant when books, magazines and some people's advice tell you that you MUST wait until your out of the risky part of your pregnancy (that being the first trimester, especially the first 8 weeks) to tell friends. I would read that or hear people say that and worry that I didnt do the right thing...but the Lord kept reassuring me with two very positive ultrasounds where we heard and saw the baby's strong heartbeat. So now that I am here, nearly done with my first trimester...and the baby is healthy, I am absolutely happy that I told everyone. I know everyone's prayers have helped me and our growing child in phenomenal ways...I truly believe that. & I have faith that those prayers and the hand of God will continue to be with my child throughout the rest of pregnancy. Im so thankful for a relationship with Jesus Christ...I would be nothing & this child would be nothing with out Him.

Some good news I thought I would share..I went to see my kidney specialist on Tuesday, as most you know I have kidney disease that we discovered back in 2007, my mom has the same kind although hers in much more severe. While I was at my appointment they took my blood pressure and I couldnt believe it but it was only 120/60! That is like AMAZING for me...I usually have pretty high blood pressure but I must be doing something right because it's definitely gotten better. I guess that for some women their BP goes down with pregnancy, that may be the case with me. My kidney specialist explained the of the risks associated with having kidney disease and being pregnant...you have a risk of preeclampsia, toxemia ( which I think is the same thing?) and other issues.. but he assured me that with the history of my kidney disease and how it is looking now..he does not feel that there is will be problems during my pregnancy due to my kidney disease! Of course there's always still a risk of it so he is going to monitor me closely throughout the pregnancy but just the fact that he feels good about it puts me at great ease. That appointment definitely made my week. Im very thankful for that good news...and like my kidney specialist, I am very hopeful about this pregnancy being healthy.

Ive decided to start doing this pregnancy quiz every couple weeks! I thought it would be a more fun way of keeping people up to date with my progress :) Enjoy!

How far along? 11 weeks and 3 days!
Weight gain/loss? Ive lost a couple lbs because of my lack of appetite due to the morning sickness... but I know I will be gaining it back in the second trimester, I have no doubt.

Maternity clothes? I have been wearing some maternity jeans that dont even look like they are maternity at all. The waist is just a little stretchier and the button is lower so its not constrictive. I plan to get more maternity clothes next month :)
Stretchies? Im assuming that means a bella band type thing. No not yet, but when I get one THIS is the brand Im going to go with, Ive heard really good things about them.

Sleep? starting this week Ive been having night sweats. Sound disgusting right? ...I dont literally get really sweaty...I just wake up super, super hot unable to sleep. It's because of all the hormones...the same reason women get hot flashes during menopause! yaay.

Best moment this week? Sunday 12 am. Every Saturday night when it turns to Sunday Tony and I pull out the baby books and read about what development the baby is undergoing this week & what will be happening with my body as well... Tony reads it aloud to me :) The reason we do it then is because that is when I switch over to the next week, so this week I will be switching to 12 weeks! We have done this since we found out I was pregnant, every single Sunday around 12 am...it's very special to us.

WORST MOMENT THIS WEEK: filling out the OHP application. We are trying to see if we can get OHP as a secondary insurance. We have insurance through Tony's work...it just like covers hardly anything. But you honestly have to fill out years worth of paper work for OHP and it's very frustrating all the hoops you have to jump through.
Movement? none yet. I probably wont feel the baby until sometime in March most likely.
Food cravings? taco's at mucho gusto...mainly the chipotle salsa...Im drooling as I type this.
Gender? I think it's a girl...I really do, I just have this feeling. and my mom also thinks so because she says I am 'glowing' ...even though she thought it was a boy before....I guess we will see!

Labor signs? none of course.
Belly button in or out? definitely still in!
What I miss? enjoying food...although this week has gotten alot better, I only get grossed out like 50% of the time.
What I am looking forward to? February 1st- my next OB appointment! and definitely finding out the sex in March!!!

Weekly wisdom? I read this in my pregnancy journal: Don't be discouraged if your children reject your advice. Years later they will offer it to their own offspring. ~Oscar Wilde... that is SO true. My parents shaped how I will raise my children in every way. I hope I can do as good as a job as they did with my sisters and I.
Milestones? There's definitly a change in the way my abdomen feels, I can feel my uterus as crazy as that sounds. It's very exciting for me :)

Pregnancy Week 10

The Baby:

-The baby is about 1 and half inches now, about the size of a kiwi or a plum :)

-The most critical part of the baby's development is complete. Now he/or she is headed into a period of rapid growth.

-The eye color is also determined by this point.

-The baby’s brain is forming 250,000 neurons every minute!

-The head is upright and the baby can turn their head, open their mouth, smile and practice breathing.

-The intestines begin moving from the umbilical cord to the abdomen and all the vital organs are formed and starting to work together. The lungs are continuing to develop.

-The arms and legs are well formed and fingers and toes are not webbed any longer. All of the baby’s joints are formed, so they can bend their fingers and make a fist. They can kick and curl up their toes!

-Tooth and taste buds start to form inside the mouth.

-If the baby is a boy, his testes will begin producing the male hormone testosterone.

-The embryonic heart is completely developed.

The Mom:

Not much is new here! Morning sickness has been about the same...some days its bad others days I barely notice it. The symptoms havent really gotten worse or less, pretty steady these days. Im so excited to be 11 week pregnant on Sunday! Just one more week after that and it will be the last week of the first trimester! God has been faithful and He has heard my prayers for this child...I love this baby so much, I cannot WAIT to find out if it's a boy or girl. Im torn about what I want...I always wanted an older brother, and I think that relationship is very special. I think an older brother to love and protect his brothers and sisters would be amazing. BUT I also have two sisters, girls are what I know...and I love little girls, dressing them up...little girls are just so special. I would love to see Tony his little girl...I cant wait to see the love between those two. So either way I will be happy...although I really, really feel it is a girl. I even thought before I was pregnant that my first child would be a girl...Tony even feels like it's a girl. But honestly, I know we could be totally surprised and it could be a boy! and we will be SO full of complete love and joy no matter boy or girl...we just love this child so much already. God is so good.

Pregnancy Week 9

The Baby:

- The baby is now 1 inch long, about the size of a strawberry!

- at week nine, the baby has ended his or her embryonic stage and is entering the fetal period.

- The baby’s ears, nose tip, and tongue have also formed.

- The head has straightened out and is more fully developed.

- The digestive system continues to develop. The anus is forming, and the intestines are growing longer. In addition, internal reproductive features, such as testes and ovaries, start to form this week.

- The baby will begin to make tiny movements as the muscles start to develop.

- By this time of the baby's development, the hands have defined finger ridges and the tissue between them will die off to leave separate fingers.

- The heart has divided into four unique chambers and the baby's muscles and organs are able to move independently.

- The baby is being nourished by the placenta, rather than the yolk sac. The placenta is an amazing structure, as it provides nutrients to the baby, along with providing a filter for the baby’s waste.

- The baby's eyes are fully formed, and the eyelids are now fused together at 9 weeks of pregnancy and will remain that way until about 27 weeks.

- The baby is now fascinated with their hand, and he/or she actually has a grip. If you were to place a very small object in their hand, they would wrap their little fingers around it.

- The baby’s fingerprints are forming, and they are like nobody else’s.

The Mom:

by this point I can definitely say that I am very excited almost be in the double digits. Day after tomorrow I will be 10 weeks pregnant! That is SO exciting for Tony and I. The bigger this baby gets the more exciting the pregnancy seems to be, and less worrying I do too.

The morning sickness is still lingering around, some days are better than others but I'm pretty much grossed out and nauseous all the time. Still no throwing up yet though so that's great! I'm still very, very tired all the time, but it is reassuring to know that it's nothing to do with my iron. I have had low iron before but I had it recently checked and its at a normal number. So the tiredness is blamed solely on the pregnancy. But of course it's all worth it...100% and even when I feel absolutely miserable I am still so over joyed to be pregnant and I am SO thankful God has given Tony and I this wonderful gift. The symptoms are a tiny price to pay for a life long blessing. I will never be one of those people who hates pregnancy, or at least I hope I never do. I just think pregnancy is so miraculous and amazing! Sure, there are some pretty intense and unattractive symptoms but it's still an amazing experience that only lasts 9 months out of what.. an 80 to 90 year lifetime! I just feel incredibly blessed to have this ability to grow a person, It sounds kind of funny saying that but really, that is exactly what it is...it is such a gift, an honor even. I'm doing be best to cherish this whole experience, I journal on here about it and I have also started a journal for the baby, Tony has written in it as well. It will be something special to help us remember back and also for our child to read someday too. So even though sometimes it seems like I am complaining, I assure you I am not. I just like to keep all the lovely people who read this blog updated on how the pregnancy is going :) And thanks to God's hand in all of this, it is going great!

A mother's joy begins when new life is stirring inside... when a tiny heartbeat is heard for the very first time, and a playful kick reminds her that she is never alone.

- Author Unknown

8 weeks pregnant

The Baby:

-The baby is growing at an amazing rate — about a millimeter every day — and now is the size of a large raspberry or a grape!

-Up until this point in time the baby had a small tail... that starts to disappear this week! Yay! no more dino baby :)

-Even though I can't yet feel it, the baby is now making spontaneous movements as he or she twitches their tiny trunk and limb buds.

-Eyelid folds and ears are forming and the tip of the nose is actually present at this time as well.

-The tubes that lead from the throat to lungs are branching and the baby's torso is getting longer and beginning to straighten out.

-Just a few weeks ago, the baby's arms were tiny buds. Now the elbows are actually present and the arms and legs extend forward and have grown longer. Fingers and toes are becoming visible also.

- The eyes are becoming more obvious because they’ve begun to develop pigment (color) in the retina (back of the eye).

[Can you believe how much development and growth occurs in just one short week?! I cannot begin to express how amazed I am at all of this, each stage is perfectly intricate and miraculous.]

The Mom:

well, the mom is very happy this week! Not only because it is the week of Christmas! ...but also because I have accomplished two months of my pregnancy! Our child's due date is just about 7 months away! Can you believe it? And that also means that I have less than a month left of the first trimester...yipee! Although, even with all the excitement of being closer to the 2nd trimester, I am still savoring every second of this pregnancy. It is all a beautiful, beautiful blessing. And it's been such a joy to celebrate it with my family and friends. I can honestly say that I am full of joy :) The Lord has really blessed my husband and I.

Starting today I have felt a little better as far as the morning sickness goes, I was actually able to go out of the house for most the day. But who knows if that will be the same tomorrow. Each day is a little different but I have definitely been very nauseous lately. I have had to cancel plans with friends twice now because of the morning sickness. I feel bad but I know my friends are understanding so that helps. Ive been lucky though... no puking yet! Although sometimes it seems like I would feel way better if I would just throw up! It has been very hard to eat anything. Smelling anything can set me totally over the edge...even seeing a sign for a restaurant or thinking of a certain food makes me feel like I am going to puke everywhere. haha. It's pretty crazy...kind of funny actually. Luckily this week and next week I am off work and school for Christmas break so I can curl up in a ball in my dark cool room all I want (that's all that seems to help with the morning sickness)...it's been very nice. Plus I can sleep as much as I need to too. I have been sleeping SO much lately...I slept 12 hours yesterday and was still tired when I woke up. Things are just a little bit harder to do, Im sluggish these days...but like i've said.. it is 100% worth it!

Something interesting I read today. My uterus (pre pregnancy) was about the size of a plum, but now that I am 8 weeks pregnant it has grown to the size of a large grapefruit! Crazy! My tummy definitely feels fuller and harder these days, I can see a slight difference, in fact Tony was the first to notice when I was lying down for my ultrasound. But we are the only one's who can tell the tiny difference at this point :) sometime soon though every one will notice my baby bump and I cannot wait for that! I already want to go buy maternity clothes, I am going to be on that as soon as possible! And yes...Ive already started an antique golden book collection for my little one :) This child is going to have so many wonderful little things by the time he or she is born! A very blessed baby indeed.

Pregnancy Week 7

[what the baby looks like as of now, week 7]

The Baby:

-The baby is about the size of a blueberry or a small bean this week! Measuring at about an half of an inch. Most of that growth is concentrated in the head as new brain cells are generated at the rate of 100 per minute...I find that absolutely amazing. What a miraculous God we have.

-The arms and legs of the baby are growing longer this week as they develop into shoulder, leg, knee and foot segments.

- The eyes are formed and sealed shut until the 28th week of pregnancy. Eyelids are beginning to form.

-Ear indentations and the semicircular canals begin to form in the inner ear to help with balance. The brain is close to completion at this point and is growing at an amazing rate.

-The nose is developing and the beginning of the face can be seen.

-The baby's abdomen is developing quickly and the appendix and pancreas are already present. Your baby's digestive tract is beginning to form and the hind gut is present.

-By the end of this week, the baby will more than double its length, growing from approximately 4 to 5 millimeters to 11 to 13 millimeters.

The Mom:

This week I have definitely started to feel the pregnancy symptoms more. For the past few days I get strong waves of nausea whenever I eat lunch, it usually lasts the rest of the day. Even now I feel nauseous, but no vomiting yet (knock on wood) so it's been bearable. The fatigue has slowly but surely gotten stronger and so far this week all I want to do is sleep. I slept a good 10 hours last night and I good fall asleep right now...even with all the hours I got. Im still experiencing all the other symptoms...peeing all the time, mood swings, headaches and a lower back pain here and there... I wont indulge into every little detail but I am definitely feeling everything a little bit stronger this week. Which, as crazy as it sounds, is exciting to me! Im excited to feel like crap..yaay! haha. but really it is all because I understand why its happening, and to be honest, it is totally worth it.

Since I have kidney disease and high blood pressure because of it, I will most likely be considered a 'high risk' pregnancy. This means a lot of things but mainly that I will be watched more carefully. My doctor informed me last week that he doesn't want me doing anything high impact, no jogging or even power walking. I need to be careful not to stress out my body...just take it easy I guess. Which is totally fine with me since all I want to do lately is sleep with this crazy fatigue!... Even though being 'high risk' can be a scary thing, I am not too worried about it. My mom has the same kidney disease as me, as well as high blood pressure...and all her pregnancy's were successful. I also know that I am under the care of an incredibly experienced, intelligent and Godly doctor. He has delivered over 5,000 babies! Is that amazing or what? I am putting it all in the Lord's hands, He has it under control...all I can do is have faith in that...and as hard as it is to just simply have faith...more than anything it puts my fears at rest and gives my heart peace.

Thank you everyone who has been so happy and joyful for our pregnancy just like Tony and I are. I definitely believe that the creation of a new life is a time to celebrate! We are sooo excited and it all gets better each week as our baby grows. In less than two weeks I will be having my second ultrasound and I will get to have my first 'real' appointment with my doctor. I cannot wait! It is the Monday after Christmas so that's something to look forward to :) I ask that you all continue to keep our baby and my health in your prayers. We really do appreciate it, God hears every prayer, I very strongly believe that.

Pregnancy Week 6

I can't wait to see this movie, it looks very insightful and fun...plus you cant go wrong with 'focus' films, they are my favorite...

So starting this week I am going to start doing a weekly blog post on the baby's development & also on what I am experiencing being pregnant! So, here we go!...

The Baby:

-By this week the baby is ten thousand times larger than the fertilized egg, it measures around .25 of an inch, so about the size of a sweet pea :)

-The baby already has a beating heart! By the middle of this week, the cardiac muscles have formed and begun fluttery little flexing movements. This mini -version of the human heart is the baby's first working organ.

- Tiny arm and leg buds have appeared. Just below them is the attachment point of the umbilical cord, slender as a thread. The cord connects the fetus to the growing placenta, the life-giving organ that has formed to supply the growing baby with the blood supply and nutrients needed for survival.

-Starting next week the baby will start to look like, well..a baby! This week it kind of resembles a tiny dinosaur or a tad pole...very cute still none the less :)

-Inside the body, the central nervous system, the circulatory system, and organs like the liver and pancreas are developing. Along the baby's "back" is a row of small bony blocks called somites. These will become the spine and ribs, among other things.

- The brain is beginning to grow, and the face is forming, with a mouth, a lower jaw, and dark circles where the eyes will be. The heart is beating and is pumping blood around the developing blood vessels.

The Mom:

so far this week has been great! I experience a little nausea here and there, no full on puking morning sickness yet, or I might not have it at all (fingers crossed), some women dont! I am definitely a lot more tired than usual, all I ever want to do is sleep, like today..I took two naps and got a good nights rest yet I am still tired. My sense of smell has gone nuts! I smell everything now and it only seems to be getting stronger. Oh and ya..I pee like ALL the time now, at least twice as much as I did before I was pregnant. and obviously I have other symptoms but I wont give every detail as that would just be weird...haha

My first doctors appointment is December 28th with Doctor Thomlinson, I will be about 9 weeks then. Although, I am on a list so I can get in right away if anyone cancels, the one upside of having kidney disease I guess..ha, not really actually. I am very glad to be seeing Doctor Thomlinson as I trust him very much. He is already my gynocologist, he delivered all four of my niece and nephews and he is totally on fire for God! Which is SO awesome. He prays with you at your appointments and totally see's everything from a spiritual point of view. Im so glad he will be delivering our baby :) Many people are surprised that I didnt get into the doctor like right away but many OBGYN's wont see you until you are at least 8 weeks. I know it took my sister 6 weeks to get in and I am only having to wait 4 (if I dont end up getting called in earlier). Sooo I am really, really trying to be patient. It can be hard because the thought of "what if" is often on my mind, much like Im sure it is on every pregnant woman's mind. I will admit, I have taken 4 pregnancy tests since I found out I was pregnant! It sounds kind of crazy (and it kind of is! lol) but sometimes you need reassurance...and of course they always come up positive...it's kind of a rush to be honest! haha... But I have vowed (to myself) not to take anymore. I need to trust that the Lord is protecting this little baby. I have also vowed not to go on 1st trimester forums anymore, you hear so much negative stuff and it's just not healthy. I need to be positive and have faith in the Lord. So with that said, from now on I am going to: stop taking pregnancy tests (just for the reassurance of it), stop going on forums, and Im going to start walking in faith with this pregnancy, trusting God with every step :)

with that I ask for prayer, I will be asking for prayer a lot so bear with me! Specifically prayer for the safety and development of our sweet tiny baby & prayer for this pregnancy as I may end up being considered "high risk" because of my kidney disease. Many people already have told me that they are praying for the baby and the pregnancy, I am SO thankful for this you guys! It really means so, so much to us.

I am so thankful God has brought Tony and I to this wonderful place in our lives. It really is very special to us, we are cherishing every second of it.