Pictures from the Gender Share

Our Facebook Announcement Picture

                                     

Getting Ready to bite into the cupcakes...

It's a girl!

 The gender reveal cupcakes that Sarah of "Sarah's sweeTcakes" made for us.  Everyone loved them!

Pink inside to signify a girl on the way.  :)

Our little....

girl!  There's no guessing involved--you did what looked like a hand stand with a split during the ultrasound, and showed everything.  We'll still call you Peanut--we're not ready to share the name we chose.  We do love you very much.

I think there was a little disappointment (and guilt from feeling disappointment) when we found out.  Even though a healthy baby is most important....and we decided before marrying that we wanted two or three children....there was a hope that our first child would be a boy.

However, girls can play sports, climb trees, enjoy Legos, and look great in overalls, just like a boy.  I think, maybe, I'm just worried that well-meaning people will shower Peanut with girly, frilly, pink stuff that none of us (Jared, me, Peanut) will really like.  I want Peanut to grow into someone who's told, "You're funny, you're kind, you're smart" a whole lot more than, "you're pretty".  Worth comes from so much more than a "cutsie" or "girly" outfit.

So, Jared and I have instated a ban on ruffle-butt clothing and placed a limit on the amount of pink allowed in the house.  We'll make plans to go to the circus or the rodeo instead of "Disney Princesses on Ice".  And with God's help, Jared and I will raise a daughter in a way that's honoring to Him.

Start of twentieth week

Peanut, you are 19 weeks and a day, today.  Jared and I know your gender, and will share it with family tomorrow and the rest of the world on Sunday.  At your anatomy scan, we got an "all clear" on your brain, heart, stomach, kidneys, spine, facial features, and number of limbs, fingers and toes.  You are measuring on target for the first time--not four days older, like it has been.  You are about the size of a large heirloom tomato, or a small cantaloupe--9 - 10 ounces and 6 - 6 1/2 inches long.  If you're a girl, your uterus is fully formed.  If you're a boy, your testicles have started dropping from your abdomen.  This week, your brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. You're now able to hear voices, and Jared and I have started speaking to you.  You're moving often, although I haven't "officially" felt it.  This is because, as we found out at the anatomy scan, I have an anterior placenta--that means the placenta is adding an extra cushioning between your kicks and my nerve endings.  We love you very much.

I have been feeling some abdominal pressure and some brief pain called round ligament pain--it's just the uterus and muscles in that area growing and pulling.  And I have noticed that my belly is growing a lot faster, now.  I am still tired and cranky, but trying not to let it affect me too much.

Jared and I have made a few purchases--a crib, a pack n' play, and a breast pump.  And we started working on our registry this past week.  It's hard work!  A lot harder than our wedding registry was--so many choices and items that are needed.  I'll update again as we tell our family and friends Peanut's gender!

Eighteen!

A full 18 weeks and starting week 19, Peanut!  This week you will grow to a half-pound, and six inches long--about the size of a large mango.  You are growing a white, greasy covering called vernix that will protect you from the amniotic fluid you're living in.  If you're a girl, your uterus and fallopian tubes are formed and in the right place.  If you're a boy, your genitals are now noticeable.  I really hope you make it clear what you are at our next ultrasound!  We love you very much.

I got sick twice this morning--I got sick last Thursday, too.  It's still happening once every 7-10 days, and I'm still tired of it!  I have some aches in my abdomen and I get headaches.  It takes more effort to get out of a low car or to walk quickly.  My balance is off, too. 

We had a monthly appointment this week, and Peanut's heartbeat was between 120 and 130 beats a minute.  The midwife said Peanut was "bouncing around", which is also good.

Jared and I started asking for guesses on Peanut's gender today.  About 80% of people seem to think they are a girl.  Most of the little "old wives' tales" and "predictor tests" would claim I'm having a boy.  I hope we'll find out at the ultrasound and not have to continue waiting.  

18th Week!

Seventeen full weeks and starting week eighteen, Peanut!  You are 5-5 1/2 inches long, and 5-5 1/4 ounces heavy.  You are practicing more reflexes and movements, like yawning, hiccups, stretching, swallowing, and frowning.  Your taste buds are developing and can distinguish sweet from bitter.  Also, your skeleton is changing from soft cartilage to bone.  Your sweat glands are developing and you have unique fingerprints on your fingers and toes.  We love you very much.

I am getting sick once every 7-10 days, it seems.  It's still annoying.  I feel okay--just tired, and I can lose my temper or patience a lot easier than I used to.  I'm not really having symptoms, it feels like.  I see a little belly, but I'm not feeling movement that couldn't possibly be gas, hunger or digestion.  It's a little disconcerting, and then I get sick again, and hope that that means everything is okay.

The next regular appointment is 5 days away, and our next ultrasound is some time in the next month.  Before the next gestation week starts, we'll start asking for guesses so we can record what everyone thinks Peanut is.  I really hope Peanut will make it clear--it's very possible that they'll be feeling shy and we won't have a clue.   

Start of Week Fifteen, and Another Appointment

Merry Christmas, a few days ago!  Jared and I had a nice holiday, staying in town.  All our family is here, too.  We received many gifts and were able to spend time with the people we care about.

Yesterday, I had another appointment at the Birth Center.  They want me to come once a month.  They checked vitals, we had question and answer time, and we listened to Peanut's heartbeat.  The heartbeat was a consistent 160 bpm, and it was obvious that Peanut was moving, because the sound kept getting fainter and then louder.  I was surprised to find out that I had lost 4.5 lbs in the last month or so.  I am now 1.8 lbs below my PRE-pregnancy weight.  It's weird, because I am wearing a bigger size of pants now, and more "flowy" tops (my regular ones are starting to stretch), so I don't know where I am losing the weight from.  The midwives/nurses didn't seem concerned, for now.  They did tell me to start a walking regimen, starting with 10 minutes a day and moving up slowly to 30 minutes, 5 days a week.  They also advised me to take papaya enzyme to combat my nightly sickness, and extra vitamin D for my deficiency.

Well, today is the start of week fifteen for you, Peanut!  You are comfortably into the second trimester.  This week you will weigh around 2-3 ounces and grow to 4.5 inches--maybe the size of a naval orange, or a regular sized apple.  You can kick, flex, and move your arms and legs all around.  You have enough strength, smarts and coordination to wiggle your fingers and toes and suck your thumb.  Your brain impulses allow you to squint, frown, smile, and form other expressions, as well as "breathe", suck and swallow.  Your ears are now in their proper place--and your eyes are moving from the sides of your head to the front.  We love you very much.

As for me....I'm still throwing up the last thing every night.  I felt okay for a few days straight, and now I'm back to being nauseous for most of the day and getting sick right before bed.  I am more than a little annoyed with it.  My belly is visibly poking out, and I still go to the bathroom an awful lot.  I am also lethargic.  I really hope to have more energy and less nausea in the coming week!

Our next regular appointment at the Birth Center will be towards the end of January, and Jared and I have made the decision not to announce when our anatomy ultrasound will be.  That way, we may have less pestering on what Peanut actually is.  I think we will probably share the news within a couple of weeks after we know, but we would like to have the time to revel and bond in the knowledge as a couple, and to share when we're ready for the world to know.  

NT Ultrasound, and Week 14

Today marks 13 full weeks and the start of week 14!  Peanut, you might start to sprout hair on your head and eyebrows this week.  You are also straightening out--your neck getting longer, your head more erect.  You are three inches long and weigh about an ounce.  We love you very much.

Two days ago, Jared and I went to Rex for the nuchal translucency ultrasound, which is an end of first trimester screening tool to check for the probability of things like Downs Syndrome.  Again, we went to the same place, sat in the same room, had the same ultrasound tech as when we had this down with Angel and found she was gone.  I was nervous up to the point where Peanut came on screen and immediately pushed out his/her little legs--like they were a frog's.  It was amazing to see Peanut moving so much.  He/She turned over constantly; a "roller", like mom. :)  Also, he/she got the hiccups towards the end of the ultrasound.  Peanut measured exactly three inches long and was estimated to be 3 -4 days of growth ahead of schedule.  The ultrasound showed great numbers and no concern for any defects.  I am still waiting on blood test results for further numbers, but I'm not worried.  With how much movement Peanut made (and none of it exactly in the right angle), there's no way to even guess what the gender might be.  We'll have to wait!

I am still throwing up--the last thing at night, almost every night.  I am more than tired of it.  Also, I've been exhausted this last week at work.  Partially due to the Christmas crazies infecting everyone at school, but also due to pregnancy.  I've told people that I know I'm just not myself, and it bothers me.  This past week I found a discernible "baby belly" on me, and Jared could tell the difference too...that was kind of exciting. :)  

In the remainder of this developmental week, some of Jared's family is coming in from out of state to visit for Christmas.  We're trying to finish buying a few last gifts, say hello to family, celebrate Christmas with my family, celebrate it with Jared's family, and hopefully have a few days to breathe before I go back to work for another six weeks.       

Gender Guessing

Peanut, there's not a 100% way to know if you are a boy or girl until you are born, but it's sometimes fun to guess.  The lack of morning sickness early on said you're a boy.  I have had two strangers in two different countries proclaim you to be a girl.  The baking soda test said you are a boy.  The Chinese calender prediction says you are a girl.  The Shettles Method says you're a boy.    My cravings--salty food, meat and cheese--say you are a boy, too.  I am planning on trying to use the Nub Theory at our next ultrasound, and will post if I can get results, but the jury seems to be out!  We won't have a decent chance at knowing until around 18 weeks.