I'm almost half way there! Amazingness! Actually, I *am* halfway to full term, so that's quite something! Baby is about 10" long already, which is hard to imagine.... but I could feel a bum bump the other day, which was exciting! He didn't like me poking him and moves away when I do, but I can't resist. :-) It is becoming increasingly hard to do certain things, though nowhere close to as hard as it will be in a few months. But things like reaching the floor in front of you when sitting- nope! No toe touches, rolling over or getting up normally, and it's wonderful because it means that there is a little person in the way, and how amazing is that? Seriously, I'd have given almost anything for this little person, and now here he is! I can't wait for the 23rd when we get the ultrasound and can confirm that he is healthy and perfect. I know he's fine, but still there is that Mommy part that worries. I know he's active and growing, but to know all his little toes are there, to know that his chin is where it belongs, all those little details, lol!!! Bonnie said they gave her the ultrasound pictures on a CD and I am hoping they will do the same for me! That would be so nice!! I have a list I got offline (google "what to buy for baby" if you want one!) on things to get before my fella puts in his appearance. I might be able to think of a lot of them, but I'm the kind that likes a checklist to go through and make sure, especially with my amazing ability to forget lately. Now I can start getting things and checking them off the list... diaper rash cream, crib sheets, shampoo, diaper bag.... FUN!!!!!!!!
I also just read a birth story that made me bawl. Which is a lot easier to do lately, I'm afraid... I don't usually cry over things, but the last month or so I cry over silly things, like listening to "If This is Austen" on the radio the other day. Anyhow, this one really had me in tears. At first glance you wonder how a mother could think like that, even if it was just for the first few hours, but really, it depends on the why's... I think I would be devastated if my baby had downs, not because I couldn't love him but because I want the best for him, I want perfect health and no problems for him. I would be devastated if I found he was missing an arm, but I wouldn't love him any less. And that baby was sooooooo sweet and beautiful, and she loves her so much now! I don't know if I should post the link, I know the two of you who mostly see this blog are also pregnant and prone to the same emotions I am and may end up crying as well. But it really is a beautiful story! So here you are, just don't say I didn't warn you: http://www.kellehampton.com/2010/01/nella-cordelia-birth-story.html

Of course, that is another thing I'll be glad to see is okay at the ultrasound. :-)
Oh, and I found a great pregnancy workout video!! It's Lindsay Brin's video series, she has one for each trimester and since she's actually had kids she actually makes it things that we can really do while pregnant! It feels really good to do, nice and worked-out, yet not bone tired. She also has a 20 minute cool down yoga section. Yoga is something I never tried before, and I'm not sure the ins and outs, but she uses it as a stretch and cool down, and I have to say it feels really, really good. There is an "open child" position in particular baby and I like, very comfortable!

18 weeks, 1 day!! I an definitely feel baby moving now, he wiggles and squirms, and I think I'm beginning to figure out his favorite times of day for activity as well! So far he seem to like afternoons, through about 8:00 PM best.. sounds good to me!!! I read that the uterus is now a little larger than a cantaloupe, which gave me pause when I was cutting up a cantaloupe the other day. Along with the cannibalistic feelings (though not as much since we're talking uterus size here, not baby), I also decided that it wasn't too surprising after all that lying on the stomach is completely out of the question. It feels like there's a cantaloupe in there! But he seems to be doing well, and relieves Mommy's mind whenever she feels him moving around. :-)

15 weeks and counting!

Okay, 21 days between posts is pretty bad.I plead not being able to get online during the whole mess with the car... Anyhow, I reached 15 weeks, and baby is now between four and four and a half inches long, CTR!! I can't believe how fast he is growing! I also realized that I'm over a third of the way through... good heavens! Baby can make faces and suck his thumb already, and is doing crazy things like pump blood and make his own hormones and the like! I think I've been feeling him a few times, but since it's a totally new sensation I'm not quite sure. I did find that laying on my stomach is OUT! Yeesh, it's nothing like laying on top of a lump, because the 'lump" is in your gut! Besides, I'm still worried about hurting him, even though I know it's irrational. Seat belts worry me too, but I know realistically not having a belt would be even worse... Anyhow, I asked Siobhan if she would bring her doppler with her so I could borrow it, and she said yes!! I am so excited about being able to use it! I'll try and be good and not do it too often, but four weeks between hearing my little fellow, especially since I can't feel him move and know he's okay (not that I'm sure it's him), is a long time! We need everyone to cast their gender vote before too long though, since there is no way to guarantee not knowing after the ultrasound. Besides the fact that we may succumb to temptation and ask anyhow, lol! But yes, we are having an ultrasound. Because some steroids (though not prednisone, that we can find, and especially not at low doses) have been linked in rare cases to downs, and because there is a case of downs on Jimmy's side of the family, and because downs usually comes with heart trouble, the midwives said they would feel a lot better if we had an ultrasound just to make sure the heart is fine. None of us feel like there is a problem, the chance is incredibly remote of anything at all, but it's better to know than otherwise. Downs is not a problem, but heart trouble could be. Anyhow, I really can't say I'm sorry they are reccommending it, since I want so badly to see my baby!!!! I am super, super excited about it!! And there is a little part of me that hopes so much they'll do the ultrasound and find twins. :-) Yeah, not likely. But hope springs eternal, right? lol! I don 't have an appointment for the US, but it would be around 18-20 weeks, so not for another 3-5 weeks. But I get a midwife appointment on the 8th of this month, so that'll be fun!! And they'll give me the official recommendation and referral and all that when we go, so we can make an appointment. YAY!!!
In more boring, but related news, my morning sickness seems to be getting better. Knock wood. I still get a little queasy in the mornings and in the car, but overall it's much better and I can get a lot more done now! I still can't eat eggs, but I'm working on protien other ways. :-) I tried some soy protien powder in milk.... gag me with a maggot!! I tried it in OJ and in ice cream, and the simple fact is that it is nauseatingly disgusting. And it's not just me and my pregnancy wierd tastes, because Jimmy, who ate marmite and said it was "fine", also thought this stuff was gross. I have no idea how anyone downs it! I think we're going to try the other stuff. Even the slimfast stuff, which is 'low calorie' (still 200) has 15 grams of protein per serving, which compares well to this stuff at 20. And I'm getting calories, just not as much protein as I should. Cheese, ice cream, beans, meat, peanut butter... but I don't think I'm getting the 80-100 grams I'm supposed to, though it's getting better as I can actually eat more. But I don't think we'll get the slim fast, just something more palateable. On the subject of food though (annoying how much that occupies my thoughts!), I amazed myself by downing an entire polish sausage dog, a la Costco. Don''t remember ever doing that before! Also, I have my very own bag of Doritos cool ranch chips. :-) Lest it sound like I'm eating a lot of junk, those are highlights, lol! I have not given into the Doritos urge at all, only had chips once or twice since I got pregnant, but Jimmy said I should get one thing I wanted really badly to eat, and that was definitely it! Wow..... I'm rationing it the way Shannon used to ration her subs. :-) But otherwise it's been burritos, chicken, potatos, bread, lots of cheese, milk, and cottage cheese...
Enough of food talk though, anyone want to brave the drive and come to the ultrasound appointment when we make it? :-) And what are the votes, boy or girl?