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.