We can breathe a sigh of relief!

Last Friday evening, around 6 p.m., I tripped on a step and fell.  I landed on my left knee first, and then belly flopped right on my stomach. (probably looked just like a beached whale if I had to guess).   Anyways,  as soon as I fell, I had a sinking feeling that I had hurt Skylee.  I decided to monitor her movement for the next couple hours, and just see how things went.  I felt her move shortly after my fall, which was kind of relieving, but as the minutes went by I began to have lower back pain and I'd go through periods of my stomach having this weird tightening/pressure pain sensation.  After about an hour, I called my doctor's office and got answering service.  The doctor called me back right away.  He said he figured I was fine, that these things happen all the time, but just to be on the safe side, I should go in to the Labor & Delivery department and get monitored.   As soon as I got to the hospital, they hooked me up to the machines and gave me lots of water to drink.  About 45 minutes had gone by, and the nurse told me that things were looking really good and I'd probably be going home soon.  5 minutes later she checked the monitor again, and my body had started having contractions.  They decided to keep me another hour and monitor the contractions, as some contractions are normal in pregnancy. Rule of thumb at this stage is not to have more than 6 in an hour.  About half an hour after she restarted the hour of monitoring, she came in because I had already had 9 or 10 contractions.  They gave me a pill and a shot in my arm to stop the contractions.  The shot was probably one of the most painful shots I've ever been given, but the medicine worked and I stopped having contractions.  They sent me home on bed rest orders, and told me to call if I had more than 4 contractions in one hour.

I woke up Saturday morning feeling absolutely miserable. I felt like I had been run over by a train. Crazy how a simple fall effected me so differently being pregnant!  I stayed on the couch all day, and about mid-day I noticed that I had started having sporadic contractions. I kept a close eye on it, and around 6 I decided to call my doctor again because the past half hour I had 6-7 contractions.  They brought me back in to the hospital, and gave me Procardia right away (a pill) to prevent contractions.  Then they sent me for an ultrasound (which I must add how relieved I was to see little Skylee jumping around doing alright).  Everything came back looking good on the ultrasound.  I had several sporadic contractions after the ultrasound, and they decided to keep me overnight to monitor me.  I got absolutely NO SLEEP that night!  Every time I'd get comfortable and fall asleep, somehow I'd mess up the monitor and the nurse would have to come in, wake me up, and readjust them.  Fortunately, I didn't have any more contractions.  Daniel got off work around 7:30 a.m. and came right over to the hospital to sit with me. Around 9 the nurse came in and told me they were going to let me go home, but that I was to be on strict bed rest till the following day when I saw my regular OB doctor.  They prescribed me the Procardia pill which I have to take now every 6 hours to prevent contractions.  As soon as I got home, I went to bed and the rest of Sunday is kind of a blur! I was so exhausted.

Monday I got up and my doctor had me come in to get checked out.  Thankfully, she said everything looked good with our little Skylee and that it seemed as if she was finally getting the message that it WASN'T TIME to come!!! She took me off of complete bed rest (which I am so incredibly thankful for, as it would have broken my heart to be away from our families for Christmas) and told me to just stay on pelvic rest for a week or two.

I am very, very thankful that Skylee is still safe and snug inside my tummy.   While I know that at 28 weeks it's very possible for babies to survive, I would much rather her stay inside cooking for a little while longer :)

28 Week Photo :)

Skylee's Growth for Weeks 25-28

25 Weeks: How your baby's growing

Head to heels, your baby now measures about 13 1/2 inches. Her weight — 1 1/2 pounds — isn't much more than an average cauliflower,  but she's beginning to exchange her long, lean look for some baby fat. As she does, her wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out and she'll start to look more and more like a newborn. She's also growing more hair — and if you could see it, you'd now be able to discern its color and texture.

26 Weeks: How your baby's growing:

The network of nerves in your baby's ears is better developed and more sensitive than before. She may now be able to hear both your voice and your partner's as you chat with each other. She's inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid, which is essential for the development of her lungs. These so-called breathing movements are also good practice for when she's born and takes that first gulp of air. And she's continuing to put on baby fat. She now weighs about 1 2/3 pounds and measures around 14 inches (about the size of a head of lettuce) from head to heel.

27 Weeks: How your baby's growing:

This week, your baby weighs almost 2 pounds (about the size of a rutabaga) and is about 14 1/2 inches long with her legs extended. She's sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing her eyes, and perhaps even sucking her fingers. With more brain tissue developing, your baby's brain is very active now. While her lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with a lot of medical help — if she were to be born now. Chalk up any tiny rhythmic movements you may be feeling to a case of baby hiccups, which may be common from now on. Each episode usually lasts only a few moments, and they don't bother her, so just relax and enjoy the tickle.

28 Weeks: How your baby's growing:

By this week, your baby weighs 2.6 pounds (about the size of a large eggplant) and measures 14.8 inches from the top of her head to her heels. She can blink her eyes, which now sport lashes. With her eyesight developing, she may be able to see the light that filters in through your womb. She's also developing billions of neurons in her brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world.

26 + 27 Week Photos

25 Week Photo :)

24 week photo :)

Skylee at 24 weeks!

How your baby's growing:

Your baby's growing steadily, having gained about 4 ounces since last week. That puts her at about 1 1/3 pounds. Since she's almost a foot long (about the size of a cantaloupe), she cuts a pretty lean figure at this point, but her body is filling out proportionally and she'll soon start to plump up. Her brain is also growing quickly now, and her taste buds are continuing to develop. Her lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" as well as cells that produce surfactant, a substance that will help her air sacs inflate once she hits the outside world. Her skin is still thin and translucent, but that will start to change soon.

Skylee's Growth at 23 Weeks

How your baby's growing:

Turn on the radio and sway to the music. With her sense of movement well developed by now, your baby can feel you dance. And now that she's more than 11 inches long and weighs over a pound (the size of a grapefruit), you may be able to see her squirm underneath your clothes. Blood vessels in her lungs are developing to prepare for breathing, and the sounds that your baby's increasingly keen ears pick up are preparing her for entry into the outside world. Loud noises that become familiar now — such as your dog barking or the roar of the vacuum cleaner — probably won't faze her when she hears them outside the womb.

23 Week Photo :)

21 + 22 week photo

Haven't posted in a while!

I always tell myself I'm going to start posting more, but life gets so busy, and I continuously forget!  

Update on our little Skylee Rae:

On Saturday night, October 12th, (18 weeks 5 days) I was laying in bed texting Daniel goodnight (as he was working a night shift) and I clearly felt our little one for the first time. It was incredible feeling her move like that. I was so excited.  After I felt her that first time, it felt like she was turning flips or kick-boxing!  She suddenly became very active.  She moved most of the night, and then when I was ready to start my day, she decided that was her time to sleep.  We had a nice, long conversation while in the shower that morning, that she was going to have to rearrange her schedule before she arrives.  She needs to sleep when Mommy sleeps, right????? :)

Daniel would continuously try to feel her moving, but the little stinker would suddenly stop being active whenever he would put his hand on my belly.  On October 25th, (20 weeks 5 days), I went to wake up Daniel for his night shift, and I crawled into bed and snuggled next to him.  As he was slowly waking, I felt Skylee jumping around so I grabbed his hand. That was the first time he was able to feel her moving :) It was such a special moment knowing he could finally feel the life we've created together.

SINCE THEN, she has turned into a sumo wrestler or something! She loves kicking her mommy in places that aren't exactly comfortable! :) It's only going to get more pleasant as she gets bigger lol.  I am enjoying every minute of feeling her move, though.  It's such an empowering wonderful feeling knowing that I am protecting and "helping grow" a life inside of me.


Update on my school:

We have less than 5 weeks this semester.  It's definitely had alot of ups and downs (well mostly downs, if I'm honest), and I am so ready for a break.  2 more exams and we will have a month free.  I am counting down.



Wednesday I am flying to Orlando for the weekend.  I'm super excited about that. Haven't seen my family since Skylee started moving, and I'm hoping she will keep up being as active as she has been, so they can all feel :)  

22 Weeks :)

How your baby's growing:

At 11 inches and a little over a pound (about the size of a papaya), your baby is starting to look like a miniature newborn. Her lips, eyelids, and eyebrows are becoming more distinct, and she's even developing tiny tooth buds beneath her gums. Her eyes have formed, but her irises (the colored part of the eye) still lack pigment. 

If you could see inside your womb, you'd be able to spot the fine hair (lanugo) that covers her body and the deep wrinkles on her skin, which she'll sport until she adds a padding of fat to fill them in. Inside her belly, her pancreas — essential for the production of some important hormones — is developing steadily.

Our little Skylee at 21 Weeks

How your baby's growing:

Your baby now weighs a little over a pound and is approximately 10 1/2 inches long — about the size of a pomegranate. You may soon feel like she's practicing martial arts as her initial fluttering movements turn into full-fledged kicks and nudges. You may also discover a pattern to her activity as you get to know her better. In other developments, your baby's eyebrows and lids are present now, and if you're having a girl, her vagina has begun to form as well.

Half way there!!! 20 Weeks

How your baby's growing:

Your baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. She is also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom and about 10 inches from head to heel — about the size of a banana! (For the first 20 weeks, when a baby's legs are curled up against his torso and hard to measure, measurements are taken from the top of his head to his 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 her digestive system. She's also producing meconium, a black, sticky by-product of digestion. This gooey substance will accumulate in her bowels, and you'll see it in her first soiled diaper (some babies pass meconium in the womb or during delivery).

20 Week Photo :)

19 Week Picture!

19 weeks :)

Your baby's sensory development is exploding! Her brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. Some research suggests that 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 mango! Her arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of her body now. 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.

Our Ultrasound Experience - In Detail :)

I wanted to take some time to write in detail about the experience we had at the elective ultrasound last week.  I know in the years to come this will be a beautiful memory to come back and read about.

Friday, the 4th, I drove to Miami and met my Mom and my sisters.  My sisters had absolutely no idea. :) They thought they were coming for a convention they had been chosen to represent for, but they soon found out that there was no convention to be had.  After we ate lunch together, we checked in at a motel (that my Dad so graciously used his reward points for.....which he had been planning to use for a date weekend with my Mom).  We stayed in the hotel for a couple of hours and then decided to hit the mall.  We looked at lots of baby clothes, and I remember starting to feel little knots in my stomach and thinking, "Will I be starting to purchase pretty pink and sparkly clothes, or will I be switching gears and looking at little firefighter outfits and overalls?"  Over the course of the evening, I gradually started feeling more and more anxious!  I anticipated having a difficult time falling asleep that night, but I was exhausted from our retail therapy and it didn't take me long to knock out.  I actually got a very good night's rest, ASIDE from my mom being a blanket thief!

The next morning we got up and ate breakfast at the hotel.  As I started thinking about the fact that I was going to find out what this little one was gonna be in just a matter of hours, I started feeling more and more antsy.  Daniel, his Mom, his Grandma, and his sister Eba were all on there way to Miami as well so that they could be there for the special occasion.  The more anxious I got, the more I watched the clock for when he was supposed to arrive.  I felt anxious and just needed him to calm me down. :)

When they arrived in Miami, we decided to meet at the ultrasound location, despite the fact that we were still 2 hours early for the appointment. We just wanted to make sure we knew where we were headed.  All of us had difficulties finding the address, and I started to panic that I had signed us up for a scam!!! Daniel called the phone number and quickly got directions, and we were able to find the location without an issue.  That made me feel world's better!  After we figured out where it was,  we decided to run to Wendy's for lunch and to kill time.

Someone had given me the advice to make sure I ate lots of sweet stuff right before the ultrasound, so that the baby would be active and moving around alot.  So I got a Strawberry lemonade and a chocolate frosty hoping that would do the trick!

When we arrived back at the ultrasound location, all nine of us filed in and sat in the waiting room.  My Mom then informed me that my Dad was trying to get Skype to work so that he could see when they told us the gender of the baby. We had difficulty getting that to work, so I felt myself getting more and more anxious about everything!  Finally we got the Skype up and running, and we told my Dad we would Skype him as soon as everyone else came into the room.

When it was finally our turn, the tech took Daniel and I back by ourselves because we wanted to share a special moment before the rest of the family came in.  When I laid down, the tech asked me if I was nervous.  I told her yes I was, because I wanted a girl, and he wanted a boy, so I was anxious to finally see what it was!  As soon as she placed the wand on my stomach,  the baby was upside down with butt directly facing the camera.  The tech immediately said "okay, well are you ready to know?"  Daniel squeezed my hand tight and we both said we were ready.  She smiled, and said, "Congratulations you're having a baby girl!"  I honestly don't quite remember how exactly things went after that.  I know that I covered my mouth with my hand, because I didn't want our family members to hear me and get a clue of what we had just found out.  My tears started coming and I just couldn't stop them!  I remember asking the tech multiple times, "Are you positive?"  And she kept snapping more photos and reassuring me that she was 100% sure.  At one point, I got overly excited and Daniel told me "Be quiet they're going to hear you!!!" When I finally regained composure, he went out to get the family, and the tech gave me a cloth to lay over my face because I knew if they saw my face I wouldn't be able to hide what the baby was.  They all filed in, and nothing was happening.....so I peeked out to figure out what was going on, and I could see that Daniel was having issues getting my Dad on Skype.  He finally got him on, and pointed the phone at the screen so Dad could see the baby.  The Skype only lasted about 10-20 seconds and shut off because the phone lost signal. :( So my mom called my Dad and put him on speaker phone, and the tech asked everyone if they were ready to know.  They quietly waited, and when she finally told them our baby was a girl, you would have thought we were at a football game from all the cheering. :)  I started crying all over again.  I wish my Dad could have been there in person, but it was nice to have him on the phone and be able to talk to him right when I found out!   After we finished the session, they gave us a DVD of the session, and also a CD with 52 images.  We also were able to choose 2 pictures to be printed.

Our original plan was not to tell anyone else until we took my planned reveal photo, but I knew that wouldn't work. While we were walking back outside, we were all trying to figure out a cute and simple photo to take so that we could reveal to all of our friends and family and not keep them waiting.  As soon as we got outside, my Mom went to her van and handed me a beautiful pink dress, with a white sweater, and a headband with a huge bow (that she made for me).  Somehow she just knew :) (or she really was hoping hard!!!)  When she gave me that, we quickly figured out an easy and cute photo to take so that we could reveal the baby's gender to the world. :)

It really was quite an experience. Definitely worth paying the money for.  I don't think either of us will ever forget the incredible feeling of seeing our baby on the big screen and being told we were having a little girl!!!

Mommy and Daddy can't wait to meet you, Little Miss Skylee Rae Hester.

18 Week Photo

18 Weeks!

How your baby's growing:

Head to rump, your baby is about 5 1/2 inches long, and she weighs almost 7 ounces (about the size of a sweet potato). She's busy flexing her arms and legs — movements that you'll start noticing more and more in the weeks ahead. Her blood vessels are visible through her thin skin, and her ears are now in their final position, although they're still standing out from 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 she's born. If you're having a girl, her uterus and fallopian tubes are formed and in place.

Meet Our Little Princess!

Introducing Skylee Rae Hester!!!

17 Week Picture :)

17 weeks :)

How your baby's growing:

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 big as an onion), and she's around 5 inches long from head to bottom. She can move her joints, and her sweat glands are starting to develop.

Such a slacker :)

I know, I know.  It's been weeks. Literally.  At this point in my pregnancy though, things have gotten slightly boring and there isn't too much to write about yet. :)  I think that's a good thing.  I should be finding out sometime this month whether this little munchkin is a boy or girl :)  I think we are pretty set on our names.....if it's a boy, it will be Oakley Carter Hester.  And if it's a girl, her name will be Skylee Rae Hester.

School is going okay for me.  This month has kind of flown by.  Things are quite disorganized at my school still, so I'm wondering if when they finally get it together, we will get hit with a load of assignments that should've been done all along but weren't assigned because they were forgotten about. :/ I'm kind of nervous about that.

I've been looking around online and doing some baby registries....just for fun at this point. When we find out if it's a boy or girl, I will definitely get more serious about it because then I will know exactly what I want.

I still haven't felt the baby move, but I am thinking it will happen in the next few weeks.  The other night I was laying on my belly, and I got these pressure feelings in my lower tummy. It didn't hurt, but it was enough to make me roll over. I think that was the baby finding a way to tell me I was squishing him/her lol. :)

I'm a little nervous about my ultrasound.  I've just gotten my heart set on having a girl, and even though I know I will adore my little man if it is a boy, I think initially I'm going to be disappointed and it will be hard to hide that I'm not feeling ecstatic right at that moment.  However, after losing two sweet babies,  I know I will be grateful if I can just carry this little one full term and deliver a strong, healthy baby.  I have alot to be thankful for.

Our baby at 16 weeks :)

How your baby's growing:

Get ready for a growth spurt. In the next few weeks, your baby will double his weight and add inches to his length. Right now, he's about the size of avocado: 4 1/2 inches long (head to rump) and 3 1/2 ounces. His legs are much more developed, his head is more erect than it has been, and his eyes have moved closer to the front of his head. His ears are close to their final position, too. The patterning of his scalp has begun, though his locks aren't recognizable yet. He's even started growing toenails. And there's a lot happening inside as well. For example, his heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, and this amount will continue to increase as your baby continues to develop.

Belly Photo of the Week :)

15 Weeks! :)

How your baby's growing:

Your growing baby now measures about 4 inches long, crown to rump, and weighs in at about 2 1/2 ounces (about the size of an apple). She's busy moving amniotic fluid through her nose and upper respiratory tract, which helps the primitive air sacs in her lungs begin to develop. Her legs are growing longer than her arms now, and she can move all of her joints and limbs. Although her eyelids are still fused shut, she can sense light. If you shine a flashlight at your tummy, for instance, she's likely to move away from the beam. There's not much for your baby to taste at this point, but she is forming taste buds. Finally, if you have an ultrasound this week, you may be able to find out whether your baby's a boy or a girl! (Don't be too disappointed if it remains a mystery, though. Nailing down your baby's sex depends on the clarity of the picture and on your baby's position. He or she may be modestly curled up or turned in such a way as to "hide the goods.")

14 Weeks :)

How your baby's growing:

This week's big developments: Your baby can now squint, frown, grimace, pee, and possibly suck his thumb! Thanks to brain impulses, his facial muscles are getting a workout as his tiny features form one expression after another. His kidneys are producing urine, which he releases into the amniotic fluid around him — a process he'll keep up until birth. He can grasp, too, and if you're having an ultrasound now, you may even catch him sucking his thumb.

In other news: Your baby's stretching out. From head to bottom, he measures 3 1/2 inches — about the size of a lemon — and he weighs 1 1/2 ounces. His body's growing faster than his head, which now sits upon a more distinct neck. By the end of this week, his arms will have grown to a length that's in proportion to the rest of his body. (His legs still have some lengthening to do.) He's starting to develop an ultra-fine, downy covering of hair, called lanugo, all over his body. Your baby's liver starts making bile this week — a sign that it's doing its job right — and his spleen starts helping in the production of red blood cells. Though you can't feel his tiny punches and kicks yet, your little pugilist's hands and feet (which now measure about 1/2 inch long) are more flexible and active.

First official baby bump picture :) 14 weeks

My Little One's Growth This Week ~ 13 Weeks ~

Fingerprints have formed on your baby's tiny fingertips, her veins and organs are clearly visible through her still-thin skin, and her body is starting to catch up with her head — which makes up just a third of her body size now. If you're having a girl, she now has more than 2 million eggs in her ovaries. Your baby is almost 3 inches long (about the size of a peach) and weighs nearly an ounce. 

Time to update :)

I know it's been a while.....I can tell how long it's been because I have a bunch to update on.  First things first......I made it to 12 weeks. :)  Almost out of the first trimester. I think that's a good sign.  I checked baby's heartbeat yesterday. It was 174.  I have an OB appointment on September 3rd.  Just a checkup.  But, since I have my home doppler and I've been able to hear the heartbeat almost on a daily basis.....I'm not too worried about the checkup. Everything should be just fine.

Next on the news table.....we're moving into a 3/2 condo the first week of September. :) I'm super excited.  When we moved down here, Daniel's parents very kindly walled off part of their home and made us our own little studio apartment.  It has been great living here, financially, because they didn't charge any rent or anything like that. They really have been very, very good to us. However, now with the baby on the way, we definitely need some more space. I'm very happy that we've been able to upgrade a little bit so that the baby can have a room on its own.  Apartments and condos are very expensive down here, so we signed the lease with Daniel's buddy that he works with.  His buddy has been looking to upgrade out of his employee housing as well, so it worked out perfectly.  He won't be there all the time, though, due to working two jobs and now about to go to fire school.....but him living there has helped us to be able to afford it so we are very thankful!

Now for the super EXCITING update......:) tomorrow as soon as Daniel gets off work, we are headed for Orlando until Monday. :) Daniel is in a wedding on Saturday, but the rest of the time we will get to spend with my family. I am so looking forward to seeing everyone.  I haven't seen any of them since June and it's been REALLY hard for me emotionally. :/ guess it's just these crazy pregnancy hormones lol.

Oh.....let me throw in an update about school.  Week 2 of nursing school and we still have yet to meet one of the instructors, our lab/clinical day has yet to be posted, and it has been canceled both weeks so far. :/  Everything is kind of chaotic and confusing, but I am hoping that after a couple more weeks maybe everything will smooth itself out.

I think that's it for updates. :)  Maybe I will take some pictures with everyone in Orlando and post them this weekend.  We will see :) Ta Ta for now. <3

Little Gummy Bear's Development This Week ~ 12 Weeks ~

How your baby's growing:

The most dramatic development this week: reflexes. Your baby's fingers will soon begin to open and close, his toes will curl, his eye muscles will clench, and his mouth will make sucking movements. In fact, if you prod your abdomen, your baby will squirm in response, although you won't be able to feel it. His intestines, which have grown so fast that they protrude into the umbilical cord, will start to move into his abdominal cavity about now, and his kidneys will begin excreting urine into his bladder.

Meanwhile, nerve cells are multiplying rapidly, and in your baby's brain, synapses are forming furiously. His face looks unquestionably human: His eyes have moved from the sides to the front of his head, and his ears are right where they should be. From crown to rump, your baby-to-be is just over 2 inches long (about the size of a plum) and weighs half an ounce.

My little gummy bear's growth this week

How your baby's growing:

Your baby, just over 1 1/2 inches long and about the size of a lime, is now almost fully formed. Her hands will soon open and close into fists, tiny tooth buds are beginning to appear under her gums, and some of her bones are beginning to harden.

She's already busy kicking and stretching, and her tiny movements are so effortless they look like water ballet. These movements will become more frequent as her body grows and becomes more developed and functional. You won't feel your baby's acrobatics for another month or two — nor will you notice the hiccupping that may be happening now that her diaphragm is forming.

Just a quick post :)

Figured I'd update you guys about my schooling.....everything starts back tomorrow. I just finished sewing the school patch on my scrubs, got them all ironed, and ready to go in the morning.  I'm a little bit nervous.......I know this semester is going to be more difficult then everything I've done so far so it's kind of nerve wracking not knowing what you're walking into.  I should know more about my semester schedule tomorrow.....up until this point all we have been told is that there's class on Monday from 9-12, but no idea when our labs and clinicals will be. Anyways....just thought I'd give a quick update before I crash. :)

P.S. Baby's heartbeat was a strong 177 today. :)

Bought a Fetal Doppler :)

I finally caved and paid the $60 bucks online to get a doppler so I could check for the baby's heartbeat here at home.  :)  Tried it the day before yesterday, and thought I found the heartbeat, but then Mom told me that what I found was my own heartbeat. So today, I decided to try again.  Took me about 5 minutes to find this little munchkin's heartbeat, and I could only hear it for a couple secs and then it would disappear.  I can already tell this baby's gonna be difficult like his/her daddy ;)   Anyways, heart rate came in at 168.  Here's the video:

10 Weeks ~ My Little Gummy Bear's Growth This Week

Though he's barely the size of a kumquat — a little over an inch or so long, crown to bottom — and weighs less than a quarter of an ounce, your baby has now completed the most critical portion of his development. This is the beginning of the so-called fetal period, a time when the tissues and organs in his body rapidly grow and mature.

He's swallowing fluid and kicking up a storm. Vital organs — including his kidneys, intestines, brain, and liver (now making red blood cells in place of the disappearing yolk sac) — are in place and starting to function, though they'll continue to develop throughout your pregnancy.

If you could take a peek inside your womb, you'd spot minute details, like tiny nails forming on fingers and toes (no more webbing) and peach-fuzz hair beginning to grow on tender skin.

In other developments: Your baby's limbs can bend now. His hands are flexed at the wrist and meet over his heart, and his feet may be long enough to meet in front of his body. The outline of his spine is clearly visible through translucent skin, and spinal nerves are beginning to stretch out from his spinal cord. Your baby's forehead temporarily bulges with his developing brain and sits very high on his head, which measures half the length of his body. From crown to rump, he's about 1 1/4 inches long. In the coming weeks, your baby will again double in size — to nearly 3 inches.

9 Weeks ~ My Little One's Development This Week (Forgot To Post This Last Week)

Your new resident is nearly an inch long — about the size of a grape — and weighs just a fraction of an ounce. She's starting to look more and more human. Her essential body parts are accounted for, though they'll go through plenty of fine-tuning in the coming months. Other changes abound: Your baby's heart finishes dividing into four chambers, and the valves start to form — as do her tiny teeth. The embryonic "tail" is completely gone. Your baby's organs, muscles, and nerves are kicking into gear. The external sex organs are there but won't be distinguishable as male or female for another few weeks. Her eyes are fully formed, but her eyelids are fused shut and won't open until 27 weeks. She has tiny earlobes, and her mouth, nose, and nostrils are more distinct. The placenta is developed enough now to take over most of the critical job of producing hormones. Now that your baby's basic physiology is in place, she's poised for rapid weight gain.

I know I know......it's been forever!!!

For some reason I keep getting behind on my blogging.......I assume it's because I'm still not feeling well and I'm tired all the time.  (at least, that's the excuse I am going with) :)

I had my first prenatal doctor appointment today.  I saw a midwife.  In this particular doctor's office, there are two female midwives and one male doctor. The doctor will only be delivering my baby if there is an emergency or if I need a c-section.....otherwise I will have one of the two midwives.  I was very disappointed to learn that I don't get another ultrasound until 21 weeks. :/ I don't think I can wait that long to see if my baby is okay.....so I may be paying for one out of pocket somewhere. We will see about that.

I'm on quite a few mommy support forum boards, and there is one in particular that has already blown up with arguments between moms about what they feel is the right decision for their baby. (for example, medicated vs. unmedicated birth.  Breastfeeding vs. formula feeding.  Vaccinations vs no vaccines).....the list goes on and on.  While I have found alot of their arguments humorous, it has snapped me into reality that there really is SO MUCH to think about and decide.  As far as medicated vs. unmedicated births go, I am not opposed to having pain medicine if/when I need it.  It is my desire to have the baby without an epidural, but being a first time mom and never having experienced child birth before, I am not naive enough to know that I can definitely handle the pain of bring a child into the world.  I have decided to give it my best shot, and if my body simply can't handle the pain, I'm not going to beat myself up for getting the epidural.

I went on a date night with Daniel.......feels like we haven't gone out (just the two of us) in a very long time.  It was only to Dairy Queen and for a nice walk by the water, but it was nice just the same. :) I'm very thankful for the good husband he is and how he is taking such good care of me and our growing little one.

Okkkkkayyyy.......I think I'm done for the night. Feel myself getting sleepy :)  Goodnight world.

A little behind on posting, yes???

I'm sure you must have noticed how behind I've gotten on posting anything these days!  Most of the time lately, I don't feel up to doing much of anything.  :/  I am very ready to be past the sick stage, but I know that if I am sick, my baby is doing well, so that makes it seem more worth it!  Sunday I woke up miserable....running a fever and everything. I'm not sure if I had a virus or if that was just part of this whole morning sickness ordeal. Luckily I'm feeling much better today than I was Sunday.

Since I posted last, I had my first nursing orientation.  We need 7 books for one class, scrubs, a nurse pack, and a whole lot of motivation to get through this semester!!!  :/  I'm a little bit nervous but I know I can get through it.  My biggest concern is next semester. With this little one being due in March, and my semester not ending till May 5th, I'm very worried about how it's gonna happen.  I definitely don't wanna leave my newborn :'/  I'm hoping that when next semester starts, I can talk to my instructor and see if she will work with me and allow me to work ahead while I can to make provision for the baby being born.

Classes start August 19th.  I went today and got my drug screen done and got fingerprinted.  Waiting on my scrubs to get here.  They told me at orientation that I needed to order an XS, because scrubs run big.  I ordered S though, because I'm hoping that will give me a little growing room.

First real prenatal appointment with the doctor that will be delivering the baby is on August 8th.  I'm curious to see when my next ultrasound will be. :)

Okayyyy I think this is a long enough post for the day.  :) I will post more soon! <3

Announcing our pregnancy :)