12 weeks

12 weeks- wow! I have noticed an amazing difference in the last week in how I am feeling, and I LIKE it. I am only peeing 2 times at night instead of 5, feel much less sick, and I have enough energy that yesterday I finally noticed how trashed our little house was and went to town helping Eric clean up. Hopefully it will continue this way until the home stretch!
This week baby has reached nearly 3 inches in length and weighs about an ounce, which dad cleverly pointed out is as big as a full grown mouse (eww). Next week will mark the beginning of the second trimester.

The sweetest sound...

Hi guys... today we finally got to HEAR our baby's heartbeat! It was surprisingly easy to find, too. How cool is that? Pretty amazing!
We have also decided to announce this pregnancy officially. We're going to tell our extended family next week at Thanksgiving.

Chub

Today we haved reached 11 weeks. Only one more week until we reach the miraculous 12 week mark and the risk of miscarriage virtually disapears! Very exciting.
I have started noticing a wee bit of chub around my middle that wasn't there a few weeks ago... baby and uterus are pushing my gut out and making my usual jeans uncomfortable to button. It's a very strange sensation, it feels sort of like I ate a giant Thanksgiving dinner (and looks that way too) except I don't feel full. I can hardly wait for a real belly that looks like something more defined than dinner!

Midwife

Today was our first prenatal appointment with our midwife. I have been having a little trouble deciding how and which provider to choose for our care, but today's appointment went really well and I feel very comfortable with this group so far. Mostly it was lots of talking, and a quick exam. We decided not to do the quad acreen that would have included an ultrasound, so we didn't get to see baby this time.

Unfortunately we couldn't find the heartbeat with the doppler, which the midwife told us she would not expect to hear consistently at this point. Usually 11-12 weeks... which is so unfair because 10 and a half weeks seems so close to that! I was really hoping for that little piece of reassurance. Anyway, we'll go back next week for another quick try at the doppler just for fun. I'll keep you posted...

10 weeks

Today feels like a bit of a landmark. Baby has become a fetus now, over an inch long, swallowing amniotic fluid, moving around lots and with details emerging like hair and fingernails. My usual jeans are a wee bit tight when buttoned... I have definitely gained a few pounds already.

This week we have our first appointment with a group of midwives in our neighborhood. I am praying that we can hear a heartbeat with the doppler, although it may be a tad on the early side to be able to do that for sure. I just hope.

Soon I think we'll be ready to announce this pregnancy to the world at large!

Babies!

Thanks for the wonderful comments, everyone! I love to see that you are checking in on us...

Yesterday Eric and I went to church in the morning, which we don't usually do, and we came in at the last minute so we sat in the back. Apparently this is the time and place where all of Seattle's cutest babies also hang out on Sunday morning... it was unbelievably distracting, but also very fun!

Today I got to babysit my coworker Julie's 6 week old baby Kate, who is really precious. That was really fun to get some hands on baby time, too. We had a wonderful snuggly hour or so while Julie was at the dentist.

This week has been full of cute babies for me. Kinda makes things hit home in a whole new way!

Flailing Grape

This week, baby is as big as a grape and beginning to move around in there. Crazy! Maria made me laugh when I told her about these latest developments... she told me I should post it on the blog- "post about the flailing grape!". Hee hee. It is pretty amazing the amount of development and size increase that can happen in one week at this stage.
The latest symptom I have been experiencing has been a little bizarre- very vivid dreams. I read about this happening in pregnancy. This week I had crazy dreams every night, very vivid and memorable, and even a nightmare. Yikes!