13.5 weeks

Over the weekend I majorly grew! I thought it was going to happen because I kept feeling my ligaments stretch, but I didn't realize it would be an overnight growth. Crazy! One of the 8th graders (whom I taught when he was in 5th grade) saw me today and said, "Mrs. Garton, you're getting fat!" LOL Good thing I am a confident person or I would be feeling really bad about myself right now!

I had Roy take the above pics tonight, and Cleo kept begging, so I asked her if she wanted me to take her picture, and she kept posing, so I took one. I guess she thought she needed some of the attention I was getting.

My next doctor's appt. is Thurs. the 9th. I guess it's just a normal appointment - urine test, weighing in, etc. I feel funny because I can't really think of any questions to ask the obgyn except a couple about labor and delivery, but it seems too early to ask about that. I have been reading parenting and baby magazines, and I also get the daily and weekly pregnancy updates, not to mention all of my friends have had babies, so I feel like I know most of the major stuff, and now it's just a matter of experiencing it. I have started registering online with Target and Baby's R Us. That's all kinda fun, but it gets old after a while. I am noticing that with several baby things - like the daily update emails. Even I can only take so much baby talk.

Something exciting other than the fact that we're having a baby (in less than 6mths, by the way!!!) is that I got an order for debbeads (www.freewebs.com/debbeads) for a wedding! The bride wants me to make the bridesmaids' jewelry. I am so excited! What a great free advertisement, too. I will be sure and post the pics on my site when I have them finished. I haven't actually made jewelry since summertime because things have been so busy, so it will be fun to get back into it.

Twelve Weeks and Counting...

I am officially twelve weeks along today. Crazy how time flies! I got butterflies in my tummy Friday on my way home from work when I realized I only have 6mths to go! I just feel so lucky that I have not been sick. I really haven't even been that tired or emotional either, not more than usual, that is. LOL I have had lots of air in my tummy and sometimes I notice being out of breath, but still, I just don't feel pregnant most of the time. I have recently been wanting potato chips and salty snacks, esp. Sour Cream and Onion Pringles. No weird cravings yet. I bought fourteen used maternity shirts for the fall for only $56. Most were from Motherhood Maternity, so they are in good condition. I think I am set on clothes for a while. Probably till around Christmas when I'm 6mths. I just can't wait until my next ob/gyn appointment; I have been dying to hear my baby's heartbeat again. It was just so exhilarating! I saw a little Doppler thing in a magazine for sale that I could use at home to hear the heartbeat, but I knew I would get obsessed with listening to it, so I just turned the page - though I've thought about it a hundred times since then! Not much is going on other than the normal school stuff, but I thought I would type a quick post to update everyone. Roy and I have been able to spend much more time together this semester than last year, which has been wonderful. Our school is going well, and we are just plugging away with normal life and routine. I better stop typing now, I think we are going to go to Starbucks with Cleo ... Baby needs a pumpkin spice Frappuccino!

Thanks, Mom!

I heard my baby's heartbeat!!!! It was awesome! So strong and loud and fast. I was just grinning from ear to ear, with a tear trickling out, and then I giggled when the doctor asked if I could hear it which totally messed up the Doppler thing (from my tummy moving when I giggled) and it made a real loud fuzzy noise. I wish I could hear it again.... We set all my appointments through December. My ultra sound will be the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. The cool thing is my parents are coming into town that morning, so my mom is going to go with me and Roy to get the ultra sound. I invited my dad too, but he said it's a "girl thing," so he'll wait in the waiting room.

My appointment went well otherwise. All the blood work from my first visit came back normal, I found out my blood type is A+, and I had only gained 2lbs (though my scale at home says 5lbs!) The doctor confirmed that all the cocoa butter in the world will not prevent stretch marks, because the come from deep inside, not on the surface, and that it is more of a heredity issue. If your body doesn't have as much collagen then it can't stretch as well. Anyway, I got stretch marks when I was about ten, so I imagine I will be a zebra before all of this is over... but here's to hope!

My mom heard I had bought some maternity clothes, and she just wouldn't have that, so she sent me some money to go shopping! I was able to buy 3 pairs of pants, 3 shirts, one nightgown, one coverup, and two bras for only $135!!! The best part??? I have graduated from a 34A to a 36B!!! Yipeeeeeeee! I had Roy take some pics of me in my new clothes...

I have been feeling great. Tired this week, but that's not too unusual for me, even when I am not pregnant! School is going well, though I must admit I am a bit overwhelmed with all the extra paperwork and stuff. My kids keep patting belly and telling me I am getting bigger. They are so sweet! LOL

Nine Weeks Belly Pic

During the past two days, I have had adults and kids telling me they can see my "little belly" now. I am not sure whether to say "thank you" or to sock 'em in the eye!!!! I have decided to admit the inevitable and embrace my new "little belly." I do see a difference, and I don't think it is just bloating (that's what I was telling myself!). I only have a few pairs of pants/shorts that I can still wear, and two of those are preggo pants! I can also feel my uterus now, esp. when I am lying on my side, and my tummy feels a tiny bit harder than normal. Roy is playing it safe; he's neither admitting nor denying that my belly is any bigger! LOL He's so smart!

One fabulous benefit of all these extra hormones is that my nails are just beautiful! You know what my normal chewed up nails look like, so this is a huge difference for me, and of course I had to put it on my blog!

Just in case you didn't notice, the ticker on the right says the baby's genitals are forming right now! I am so anxious to find out if we're having a boy or girl. I think I will go buy an outfit for the thing after we find out!