20 weeks!! Half way!!

Well, today marks the 20 week mark... we're half way (give or take). It is soooo exciting!

Our baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. She's also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom and about 10 inches from head to heel — the length of a banana. (For the first 20 weeks, when a baby's legs are curled up against her torso and hard to measure, measurements are taken from the top of her head to her bottom — the "crown to rump" measurement. After 20 weeks, she's measured from head to toe.)

She's swallowing more these days, which is good practice for his digestive system.

How far along? 20
Total weight gain/loss: I'm on record for 6, but I think I've gained maybe now 7 or 8 (total) in the last 2 weeks.
Maternity clothes? Pants... and some shirts (if I want to look pregnant hehehe)
Sleep: Some days good, some days... eh... not so good. But I have found that on days when I'm tossing and turning it's a great time to pray over our baby girl. Her health, her life... just everything. I feel like it's a good bonding time. So... I don't usually get too crabby that I can't sleep (anymore), as long as I can get a nap in at some point the next day.
Best moment this week: Seeing amazing ultrasound pictures of our little princess... and finding out that she is indeed a princess (and not a prince). It was soo cool. The last picture we had of her was when she looked much more like a jelly bean than an actual baby. Everything checked out great! So... we were very pleased! A healthy baby... and now we know it's a healthy baby girl!!
Movement: Usually at night when we're laying down, or watching tv. She lets me know she's there.
Food cravings: Ehhh...nothing in particular... just food in general. I am enjoying decaf unsweetened iced tea like there's no tomorrow.... Also, I have found that if someone mentions a food... I typically have it on my mind, and will seek it out!
Gender: Girl! (Or so they tell us!!)
Name: Haven't really talked toooooo much about it. We've thrown out a few ideas, but we will probably wait til she's here (to confirm she really is a girl...) to announce it!
Labor Signs: Nope! (Which is good!! We like 'em well done, not rare.)
Belly Button in or out? In where it's been forever!
What I miss: Drinking diet coke at leisure....
What I am looking forward to: finishing the registry... and having baby showers!!
Weekly Wisdom: I don't know that I have any... does anyone have any they'd like to share?
Milestones: 20 weeks I think is a great milestone!!

That's it for now...
The princess and I need to go take a nap! We've got an exciting night down at the Indian's game!! Sooooo... here we go... nappppptime!!

K

Which team??

Well... at 19 weeks 3 days the above picture is of Baby Girl Flatt! Yes folks that's right. We're headed down the road of cutsie pinkness, pretty dresses, and amazing frills! Hehehe...

Jer and I are very excited. But more importantly we praise God that she is a beautiful HEALTHY little girl as far as the ultrasound goes. So thank you Lord for our precious little one!

As the psalmist David wrote in Psalm 139:13-16
¹³ For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
¹⁶ Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.

We love you Baby Girl!! Go team pink!

Priorities....

Well folks... it is the eve of our big gender revealing ultrasound. My mind is racing. But as I sit here going back and forth with "I think it's a boy.... nah, it's a girl for sure" type of thoughts... I keep coming back to the same thing....

Lord, we don't care what the gender is... we just want a healthy baby! That is my prayer. Even if Jellee decides to be camera shy, or perhaps is in that uncomfortable position (see the link in the last post)... it really doesn't matter. And honestly, I don't even know that I would be disappointed... as long as everything else comes back as he/she is healthy. :-D

So, that is our prayer. A healthy baby who can be a blessing to those he or she meets. One who we can train to love God and love others. Besides, not like we won't figure it out in a few months anyway.

Well... I guess, we'll just have to wait and see what tomorrow brings! But, I am mentally going over my priorities.

Have a good one! Stay tuned!!

19 weeks!! 1 week shy of half way!!

At 19 weeks... our baby is about the size of a mango (or so the websites tell me).

Now for a ridiculously uncomfortable picture... according to the other website I check regularly... our baby looks someone like this at 19 weeks. click here (poor baby! I hope he or she is in a little bit more comfortable position than that.)

And now I will give you the regular weekly update according to babycenter.com. (Please note, I have made it gender neutral, because some people have pointed out that this website usually refers to one gender... and they --ehem.... Katie H.... ehem--- do not like that hahaha)

Your baby's sensory development is exploding! His/Her brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. Some research suggests that he/she may be able to hear your voice now, so don't be shy about reading aloud, talking to her, or singing a happy tune if the mood strikes you.

Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces and measures 6 inches, head to bottom — about the size of a large heirloom tomato. His/ Her arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of his/her body now. His/Her kidneys continue to make urine and the hair on her scalp is sprouting. A waxy protective coating called the vernix caseosa is forming on her skin to prevent it from pickling in the amniotic fluid.

So, there you have it folks... please ask before you decide to speak directly to my belly... otherwise, it may be a little awkward. :-D

We find out on Monday (if Jellee cooperates) the mystery of his/her gender!! So, if you haven't voted on the poll on the right, feel free to get their vote in. Right now, between the poll I have put on facebook, and the poll on here (which I'm sure there is some over lap...but I don't care hehehe) the poll is leaning towards team pink!! So... guess we'll wait and see now won't we!! Stay glued to your facebook and this blog for more exciting updates!!

K

The sounds Jellee makes....

Today we had a great doctors appointment. Everything came back great. The urine test came out fine, my blood pressure was fine (and for those of you who know me well, know that at a doctors office, that is rare), and my weight was fine.

Baby Jellee did well too! He/she had a mighty fine heartbeat at 156 beats per minute!! (Of course, it was so quiet at first I actually thought it was just my heartbeat echoing from afar. That did send a little bit of a panic... but the midwife laughed it off and said "nope, that's your baby!")

Now... if I do this right... hopefully this video will upload and you too can hear the amazing sounds of baby Jellee. (Yes, the video isn't amazing quality, but it's from my phone... what do you expect? ) Thanks for the prayers! Today was such an answer to prayer. With great reports all around.

18 weeks!!

Head to rump, your baby is about 5 1/2 inches long (about the length of a bell pepper-- or a sweet potato as the site above suggests) and s/he weighs almost 7 ounces. S/He's busy flexing his/her arms and legs — movements that you'll start noticing more and more in the weeks ahead. His/her blood vessels are visible through his/her thin skin, and his/her ears are now in their final position, although they're still standing out from his/her head a bit. A protective covering of myelin is beginning to form around his nerves, a process that will continue for a year after s/he's born. If you're having a girl, her uterus and fallopian tubes are formed and in place. If you're having a boy, his genitals are noticeable now, but he may hide them from you during an ultrasound.

Of course, Jeremy and I are hoping there will be no shyness in a week!!

This week, we have been fairly uneventful. Although, the exciting news on the homefront, is I'm pretty confident that last night while we were watching TV that I definitely got a swift uterine kick from our little "Jellee." So that was kind of fun!

We go on Monday to the midwife for another check. The one week from Monday we go to get our ultrasound... 'the' ultrasound. So I'm praying for a very bold little one whether it's a he or a she... I don't care. But it sure would be great to know a little bit more about him/her. :-D

So, we'll keep you posted. And maybe we'll start posting some weekly pictures.

How far along? 18weeks
Total weight gain/loss: I will not be sharing that.... sorry folks.. I stick with yes.
Maternity clothes? Mostly still pants/shorts... but I'm not opposed to maternity shirts. I just have other shirts that still fit, so I'm enjoying.
Stretch marks? nothing new to report so that's good.
Sleep: This week I've had a bit of sleep disturbances due to some unsettling dreams. They usually start off fine, but then I end up being caught in some FBI raid, (I'm always on the good side) but I really don't like seeing guns point at me, people I love, or my dog! Soo.. I wake up. This week, I also didn't take a nap 3 days in a row.
Best moment this week: Feeling a good kick last night.
Movement: I'm pretty sure
Food craving: Anything....
Gender: We hope to find out in a week.
Name: Haven't even started the list.. but maybe we'll start after next week
Labor Signs: Definitely not. (Which is good!)
Belly Button in or out? In... the way it's always been
What I miss: a good night's sleep... and diet coke & diet dr. pepper
What I am looking forward to: Gender ultrasound

Have a great week everyone! Remember... you still have a week to vote... so let the votes flood in!! haha

17 weeks

Your baby's skeleton is changing from soft cartilage to bone, and the umbilical cord — her lifeline to the placenta — is growing stronger and thicker. Your baby weighs 5 ounces now (about as much as a turnip), and she's around 5 inches long from head to bottom. She can move her joints, her sweat glands are starting to develop and those little fingers and toes are now topped by one-of-a-kind prints.

Well... that's what the books/internet resources say. As far as things go... we're still fairly normal, and uneventful. I have suspicions that a few nights ago, while sitting on the couch, I felt the baby "flutter"/kick. So that's very exciting. All the books say between now and the next 6 weeks there should be some kicking action. So if this wasn't the real deal, then we'll feel something soon.

We have our next doctors appointment next Monday morning. I'm hoping to hear a nice, delightful, strong, healthy heartbeat.

Now for a little survey to remember this time by:
How far along? 17 Weeks
Total weight gain/loss: definitely not sharing.
Maternity clothes? mostly pants... things are just way to uncomfy otherwise.
Sleep: depends on the night. This week we're baby sitting my parents dog... and so we've been getting up super early to go outside and take a potty break... to which she wonders around for 15-20 minutes without any "action"... so that makes me crabby... especially if it's raining.
Best moment this week: People still finding out, and getting the excited congratulations!
Movement: I suspect we have had some baby flutters!!!
Food cravings: Nothing in particular, just food in general. Definitely no weird combos
Gender: We still don't know, but we hope to find out in about a week and a half!!
Name: We haven't even started
Belly Button in or out? Same as always... it's an innie
What I miss: diet coke with wreckless abandon
What I am looking forward to: hearing his/her heartbeat next week, and hopefully finding out the gender
Weekly Wisdom: I don' t know, anyone have any they want to share??
Milestones: feeling potential kicks!!

Anyway, don't forget that the poll is still up. Apparently the world definitely believes that we're headed down the road of amazing pink frills and cute dresses!! Both the poll on Facebook, and on here are suggesting team pink! Guess we'll see. Won't we?

And lastly, I have an appointment next Monday (as mentioned earlier). Please say a prayer for me. The last time they detected glucose in my urine, which could be a sign of gestational diabetes. But after talking with me, it was determined that I had just eaten too soon to my appointment. So, we've been praying that that is the case. Please say a prayer with me that all checks out great at the next appointment. This time, I will not be eating right before I go in... so as to get a better screening. But, those who know me well, know that both my parents are diabetic, so this is of particular concern to me. (Also, the stat for women with gestational diabetes is that they have a 25-50% likelihood of developing diabetes as an adult later on. Fooey!!) So please, say a prayer.

ok, that's it for now!!