Sleepy time over?

Missy seems to be less tired lately. Maybe the part of the pregnancy where she's always very sleepy is coming to an end!

Of course, now that my love is actually awake to hang out with me again past 9:30pm or so, I'm off to India for a couple of weeks on business! Hopefully things won't change too much while I'm gone!

Gobble gobble

Well, Thanksgiving has come and gone . . . our last one without you little bean!

For Thanksgiving we went to North Carolina to celebrate with Jon's family, and had a wonderful time (and lots and lots of pie). It wasn't super-warm, but still warmer than Michigan (where it snowed -- nah nah). Jon's cousin had a baby girl a few weeks ago, and it was pretty amazing to see this perfect tiny little baby and think that in a few months we'll be the mommy and daddy! Of course, the more I thought about that the more the baby looked hideously large, as I realized that something that size will have to come out of me. First thought: eww, icky. Second thought: ouch, that's gotta hurt. Third thought: I think I'll go into denial about how babies come into the world, at least for the next couple months. :)

Now that we're heading to the end of the first trimester the first pregnancy symptoms are fading. The seatbelt across my chest no longer makes me want to cry, and I have a lot more energy too. So Jon is actually able to come home from work and find a wife that is awake, not a woman in a coma. And I've managed to stay up past 10:30 for the last week and a half. Go me! What a party animal. Still hate chili and love pickles though. Speaking of, I haven't had my pickle today, hmm. I can hear it calling . . . I think I'll sign off now!

Ode to Pickles

Pickles could quite possibly be one of God’s greatest gifts to man. Or at least to this pregnant woman. My pickle binge all started last weekend, when I visited my cousins in Ohio. Some innocent looking pickles came with my sandwich, and by the end of the meal I had eaten everyone else’s pickles too!

Now, normally I am a pickle fan, but after that one meal I couldn’t stop thinking about pickles. Kosher, dill, spears, slices! I DON’T CARE WHICH; I JUST HAVE TO HAVE PICKLES. This might be my first pregnancy craving! Thankfully, Jon stocked the house for me before I got too hormonal (I thought I was going to have a meltdown when I didn’t have any pickles on Monday). If loving a pickled veggie this much is wrong, I don't wanna be right. :) The way I’m going through them though, we might have to restock soon. You’re turning me into a pickle-holic little bean! Is there a support group for that? :)

11 weeks -- officially a fetus!

Now that we're at the 11 week mark, our baby has officially moved from the "embryo" stage to the "fetus" stage! Pretty cool. Apparently the baby now has all life-critical organs formed; they just need to mature.

The detailed update, courtesy of babycenter.com: Your fig-sized baby is now fully formed — measuring 1 1/2 inches long and weighing in at a quarter of an ounce. His skin is still transparent, allowing many of his blood vessels to show through. Some of his bones are beginning to harden, and tiny toothbuds are starting to appear under his gums. His fingers and toes have separated, and he may soon be able to open and close his fists. He's already busy kicking and stretching, and his tiny movements are so fluid they look like water ballet. These movements will increase as his body grows and becomes more developed and functional. As his diaphragm develops, your tiny tenant may also start to get the hiccups. Because he's still so small, though, you won't feel any of his workouts or intrauterine gulps until sometime between weeks 16 and 20.

As a side note, pregnancy sure has some strange side-effects. It never occurred to me before we got pregnant that my lovely wife would ever be publicly posting about the state of her breasts! :-)

Flotation Devices

Well, I'm pretty sure that my boobs could legally be classified as flotation devices. They are getting ridiculously large (and really heavy -- I'm dragging around what feels like 10 pound weights here!). Of course if anyone actually tried to grab hold of these "flotation devices" they would have their head removed pretty quickly. :) I read in the books that they would be "tender" but I don't think that's really the best description. It should be something more like, "they will hurt so much that should your husband even cast a glance at them you will immediately want to get in the fetal position and cry." The doctor said that the pain will go away once I reach the second trimester. It better, or else I'm coming after her to show her what "tender" really means. :)

There's really something in there!

Well, we had our first ultrasound this week. No turning back now -- we're really pregnant!

Of course, before the ultrasound I "knew" I was pregnant, but it still was kind of an abstract concept. I was a little queasy sometimes, felt like I could hibernate instead of just sleep, and the little test stick and lab tests said we were pregnant, but it didn't feel real. All that changed in one instant though, when the doctor showed us our little blob on the screen. He/she was showing off for Mom and Dad -- squirming around, kicking, rolling over. What a ham!

It was very strange and humbling at the same time, to see our baby for the first time and see their little heart flutter on the screen. Life is such a miracle, and I didn't know I could love someone so much that I don't even really know yet.

The doctor took all the measurements and said our due date could possibly be moved up a few days, but she was content to leave it where it was. The baby was healthy and looked normal, which was good news. We got a picture that looks like a sideways snowman minus a section (my analogy) or two little sideways blobs (the nurse's analogy) -- either way, we have a picture of the back of the baby's head and their butt. So essentially, we have a photo of our little peanut mooning us! I'm sure it won't be the last time. :)

I think the ultrasound really made me aware that our baby is with me wherever I go. Rolling, kicking, and squirming, even though I don't feel it yet. For the next 7 months or so I'm never alone. I think the ultrasound really changed Jon's outlook too, but I'll let him post about that if he'd like. I'm just happy the baby looks healthy and pretty happy in there! And no, Mom, despite all your wishes, I'm not having twins. :)

9 weeks and counting!

Here is what's going on with our little bean this week -- he/she is growing fast!

Your new resident is nearly an inch long — barely the size of a grape — and weighs just a fraction of an ounce, but he's poised for rapid weight gain now that his basic physical structure is in place. He's also starting to look more and more human. His embryonic "tail" is now completely gone and his body parts — including organs, muscles, and nerves — are kicking into gear.His eyelids are fused shut and won't open until 27 weeks. He has earlobes, and by week's end, the inner workings of his ears will be complete. His upper lip is fully formed, too, and his mouth, nose, and nostrils are more distinct.

The tips of his fingers are slightly enlarged where his touch pads are developing. All major joints — his shoulders, elbows, wrists, knees, and ankles — are working, enabling your baby to move his limbs. As for his heart, it has divided into four chambers now, and the valves have started to develop. External sex organs are there, but won't be distinguishable as male or female for another few weeks. (Information from Babycenter.com)

On Screen

A couple of new TV-related experiences for me this week!

This morning, I just took part in my first videoconference. A few of my fellow developers and I were talking to a group of developers that we're working with in India. We could see and hear them via a flatscreen TV in the conference room, and they could likewise see and hear us. Near-instant audio/video group communication with the other side of the world, pretty wild.

On Wednesday, Missy and I have our first ultrasound appointment at the doctor's office. If we get to see our baby on the TV during that appointment, I suspect seeing that will be far more wild than seeing and talking to the guys in India. :-)

Preggers!

We're pregnant!! Well, technically we've been pregnant for the last 9 weeks, but we just told my family the news this weekend and it is beginning to actually feel real to Jon and I.

I'm feeling pretty good so far, just very very tired. I could sleep all day, wake up and eat and then sleep some more! Not much morning sickness, though I now have a pretty nasty aversion to anything that smells like chili or chili powder. Even the word "chili" makes me gag. Let the fun and games continue! The next months are going to be very very interesting. :)