Prayers for Mandy

My friend Mandy recently had a baby girl...a week and 1 day ago to be exact!!! Mandy had a C-section last Wednesday due to her high blood pressure. We were hopeful that everything was smooth sailing after that (or as smooth sailing as having a newborn can be), but unfortunately Mandy has had some additional complications. She had to be admitted to the hospital again because of her blood pressure. She was to be released from the hospital today, so hopefully everything will be great from this point forward. Please keep Mandy, Kevin and Baby Emma in your prayers.

Is Fall in the air???

Is it finally going to cool off??? The temperature wasn't suppose to get over 74 ° today, but when I got in the car it was registering 81°!!! Do the meteorologist really know what they are talking about? It is almost October...are we still going to be wearing shorts? Fall is my favorite time of the year. The brisk air, the changing colors, and all the fabulous craft fairs!!! There are a couple of craft fairs that are my absolute favorite and I like to be able to wear sweatshirts when we go....not T-shirts and capris!!!!

13 Weeks

Did you know...The placenta weighs about an ounce. It will weigh about 1.5 pounds at birth.

~Your infant is about 2.91 inches (7.4cm) and weighs around 0.81 ounce (23gm) - This is about the same weight as 4 quarters.
~If you could peek in again you may spot your baby as he begins to practice inhaling and exhaling movements
~Eyes and ears continue to move and develop
~Baby's neck is getting longer, and the chin no longer is resting on his chest
~Her hands are becoming more functional - Your baby may find it comforting to start playing with her fist.
~At this point all nourishment is received from the placenta

Love to All!!

12 Weeks

A lot has been going on this week!!! My friends Kevin and Mandy had their beautiful little Emma yesterday. I was lucky enough to get to see the 3 of them today. Emma is absolutely gorgeous. She looks so tiny compared to Garrett. She came into the world yesterday morning weighing a massive 5 pounds 14 ounces!!!! Check out a few pictures on their blog...there is a link on the side.

It is hard to believe that I am already 12 weeks. My maternity clothes are really starting to fit, although I have a feeling that some people probably look at me and think to themselves, "I can't believe she hasn't lost any of her baby weight yet." I am sure there will be more strange looks the larger I get. It is amazing to think that as fat as I feel, I have only gained about 6 pounds!!!

12 Weeks

~Vocal cords begin to form - While perhaps not quite ready to be introduced to the nearest opera stage, your infant will use these immediately following the moment of birth. Bet you can't wait to hear that first cry!
~Those precious eyes begin to move closer together - Are you wondering if he will have mommy's crystal green eyes, daddy's laughing brown ones, or maybe out of the gene pool will emerge grandma's clear blue!
~Ears shift to their normal place on the side of the head
~Intestines move farther in to your child's body
~His or her liver begins to function - Responsible for cleansing the blood, storing nutrients, and providing needed chemicals, this is an important event!
~The pancreas begins to produce insulin
~Guess what? Your baby's average size is now at a whopping length: 2.13 inches (5.4cm) and weight: 0.49 ounce (14gm)

167 BPM

That is how fast our little beans heartbeat was going today when we heard it!!!! It is amazing knowing that there really is something growing inside my belly!!!! Thank goodness there is, or how would I explain the pudge that I have developed??? We had our first appointment with the doctor today and it went great!!! She has been my doctor for a few years, but imagine her surprise when she found out we were having a baby!!! She said she has been thinking about us since she found out....the day after we found out. She keeps telling us that we "are doubly blessed". We go back in 4 weeks for another checkup and then we get to the BIG ultrasound....will it be a boy or will it be a girl??? Let us know what you think!!!!

Love to all!!!!!

11 Weeks

Every week I have a hard time believing that I have made it another week. I continue to get a more pronounced "bump" on my belly!!! I have always heard that you don't start to show until your are about 14 weeks...I sure think I have had a bit of a "bump" for a few weeks now!!! My mom said she always started showing early on...I guess that is where I get it!!!

Garrett is doing great. We got his 1 month pictures delivered to us yesterday!!! He is so cute. I will try to scan some of them in and show them off in a day or two. He is sleeping pretty well at night. Joel usually gets up with him around 3:30-4:45, and then I get up with him when he gets up next. He usually gets up again around 6:45 or so!!! If I am lucky, I can get him to lay down for another couple of hours!!! Believe it or not, he is asleep right now and he has been asleep since 10:00am. He has slept through driving to town, going to the bank, going to the beauty show, eating lunch, and now blogging!!! I think I am going to have to go wake him up as soon as I am finished here!!!!

11 Weeks

~Nearly all structures and organs are formed and beginning to function.
~Fingers and toes have separated - Take a glimpse at how incredibly precious your child's tiny feet are at this point.
~Hair and nails begin to grow
~The genitals begin to take on the proper gender characteristics - It will be just a few more weeks before your ultrasound can show if you are having a boy or a girl! Have you been dreaming of pink or blue?
~Amniotic fluid begins to accumulate as the kidneys begin to function - This fluid, consisting primarily of water, helps provide a cushion for your baby while she's nestled within your womb.
~The muscles in the intestinal walls begin to practice contractions that digest food.
~Your baby is about 1.61 inches (4.1 cm) long and weighs 0.25 ounce (7gm).

Love to All!!!

Dreary Monday

Today has been quite a dreary day!!! It seems like it has been rainy for weeks now!!! I do believe fall is in the air though. I am happy about that since fall is my favorite time of the year. I love the crisp air, the changing colors, and the fall holidays!!! There is nothing better than orange, red, and yellow leaves on the trees, a cool breeze, and the smell of apples and cinnamon candles burning. That smell was of course before I was pregnant. I lit an apple candle yesterday and had to quickly put the lid back on it!!! I don't know how I am going to make it through fall and winter without the warm smell of apples!!!! Hopefully it will pass!!!

Garrett is growing like a weed. It seems like he has doubled in size!!! I don't notice it as much when I am holding him, but when someone else is holding him and I see him across the room, he looks HUGE. I am anxious to hear how much he weighs!!! I really need to take him to the hospital and have him weighed...I will be surprised if he isn't over 10-12 pounds!!!! Maybe I am exaggerating, but he sure feels that heavy...or I am just getting weak!!!

Do you know how difficult it is to find that "perfect" pair of jeans??? Imagine trying to find pants that you think you look good in, that fit your body, that don't make you look fat...when you are pregnant. I tried on a couple pairs of pants today at a maternity store and I thought I could just cry!!!! I wanted to sit down on the dressing room floor, put my head in my hands and cry and scream!!!! The next time you are trying to find the perfect pants, think about how bad you really don't have it!!! At least you don't have a belly to try and make look cute while you are trying to make your butt look cute!!! ;)

UPDATE:
Let's just say I am breathing a HUGE sigh of relief right now!!!! My friend Laura just called and gave me the best news!!!!! Her husbands mom babysits in her home and she agreed to take Garrett!!!! Finding childcare has been the biggest worry for Joel and I. Trying to find someone that you trust your most prized possession with, someone who is trustworthy, someone who is kind, someone who is wonderful...is not an easy task!!! Thanks to Greg and Laura, we have a great home to take Garrett to while we are at work!!!!! We OWE you guys!!! Love you guys!!! Thanks for everything!!!

Oh My Toe!!!

Quite a title huh?? Can you believe I think I broke my toe??? So...I have a 6 week old, I am pregnant, and now I have a limp!!! I walked out of the bathroom last night (with the light on) and walked right into the quilt stand in our room!!!! I heard a pop and then I felt excruciating pain!!! Joel heard the "thud" and then the moan and then the fall to the floor!!! My toe is now purple, swollen, and sore!!! It hurts to walk, to put pressure on it, to let a blanket fall on it...basically to have the toe attached to my foot is utter misery!!! I guess if it doesn't fall off, it will get better!!!

Joel and I had a great anniversary. We ate at our favorite restaurant, had wonderful dessert and decided we didn't want to go home!!! It was Garrett's bath time and Joel's mom said she would give him a bath. So...we decided to do something other than going home. We both thought at exactly the same time the exact same thing, let's go play mini golf. That was the excitement of our 5th wedding anniversary!!!! It was a great day!!

Can you believe I am 10 weeks already? I can't!!! We are 1/4 of the way there!!! My clothes are really not fitting now!!! My mom took me Friday and bought me a couple pairs of pants and some great tops. My mother in law then took me Saturday and bought me some more great tops!!! I am now living in my maternity denim capris!!!!! Luckily I have not had any morning sickness. I have had a few mornings after getting up to feed Garrett (about 4:00am) that I have felt like I was going to vomit, but luckily a handful of pretzels kept it away!! Pretzels have become my newest love!!! The make my tummy feel better anytime I feel a little yucky!!!

10 Weeks

~Baby is now called a fetus in "medical terms". You, however, may have chosen the name "peanut," "angel," "jumping bean" or simply "miracle."
~The most critical part of your infant's development is complete. Now you are headed into a period of rapid growth.
~While a bit strange to envision, your baby's head is now about half its length - Soon the rest of the body's growth will catch up but this area is prepared to keep up with the rapid brain development!
~Eyelids fuse shut and irises begin to develop - Eye color is also determined by this point.
~Placenta begins to function this week or next - The placenta is the organ responsible for both the provision of nutrients along with the removal of waste to keep your baby growing strong!
~Your baby will be about 1.22 inch long (3.1cm) and weigh 0.14 ounce (4gm) at the end of this week

Love to all!!!