Welcome to Your 16th Week of Life, Sweet Baby!

So what's up with Baby Swyers at Week 16? It's news to me, too, so let's find out:

Stay on the lookout for some fluttering sensations in your abdomen. It might not be right at 16 weeks, but pretty soon you’ll start feeling baby moving around in there. At first those moves might feel like gas or a muscle twitch, but over time, as baby gets bigger and stronger, they’ll be unmistakable. Baby’s starting to be able to hear your voice -- and she’ll recognize it at birth -- so feel free to chat her up.

Avocado-Sized!

Now, she's about 4.6 inches long and weighs about 3.5 ounces, and she's big enough that your doctor may be able to hear her heartbeat.

Baby at 16 Weeks

• She's listening to your voice, thanks to tiny bones forming in her ears.
• She's growing hair, lashes and eyebrows.
• And she's forming taste buds.

Pregnancy Symptoms

• You might start feeling baby move!
• I'm not sure, but I thought so the other day when I was sitting quietly at my desk.... felt like a muscle twitch to me!
• Back aches, another effect of pregnancy hormones. Make sure you're exercising, that you're sitting and standing up straight and do some stretches.
• First nasty back ache yesteryday.. I move around enough at work and stretch everyday so hopefully I can minimize this.
• Shortness of breath, as your lungs continue to get more crowded.
• Even bigger boobs -- they should be ready for breastfeeding by the end of the second trimester.
• My balance has been off lately when I bend over to pick things up... 'nuff said :)
• Forgetfulness (a.k.a. pregnancy brain). No one knows for sure what causes this!
• I would describe it as my brain feeling like it's in slow-motion...
• Faster hair and nail growth (a great excuse for a new cut and manicure).
• Dry, itchy, sensitive eyes. Blame the hormones once again.
• Glowing skin (finally -- that pregnancy glow that people are always talking about!)

I think it's absolutely amazing that Baby can hear my voice already!! I've been saying funny things to him/her for a while now... like, "Please be like me, please be like me" (kidding, of course) whenever Michael does something ridiculous. The second trimester has been smooth-sailing so far... more energy and able to eat normally again! I can't wait to feel Baby move and know that it was really Baby moving in there. I'm not positive what I felt the other day was movement, but the thought was super exciting!

In other news... Michael is off to El Centro for 3 weeks again. He left this morning and all I could think was that when he comes back he'll probably want to know who this huge woman is in his house... I expect to be showing a bit more in 3 weeks! Here's my bump (or lackthereof) now:



One of the many things I do to keep busy when Michael is gone is to try out new recipes... Here's a few that I plan to whip up on a Saturday or Sunday morning while catching up with all my DVR'd shows that I "can't" watch when he's home (Grey's Anatomy, Dr. Phil, Millionaire Matchmaker, etc):

Cinnamon Roll Cake

 Buttermilk Blueberry Breakfast Cake


YUM!

Weekend Update - Almost 16 weeks

This weekend was soooooo nice...

Friday we went to Doc's on Padre Island for a dinner party for Michael's squadron... it's a looooooong drive from Kingsville, but Doc's is a fun, yummy place and it was nice to chat with some people we hadn't seen in a while. I ordered a cranberry & sprite so it at least looked and felt a little more festive :)

Saturday was for cleaning, cooking, and football! Huskers won in an awesome/not-so-awesome game against Ohio State. We enjoyed a low key evening with BBQ pulled chicken from the crockpot and pumpkin pudding, which I also made in the crockpot. BTW, I found both of those recipes on Pinterest and they were delicious!

Sunday we went to church then headed to Corpus for shopping/dinner date. Michael was sweet enough to accompany me during a much-needed (and dreaded) trip to shop for some maternity clothes. The lady was very helpful so all Michael had to do was read all the post-game Huskers articles and give me his approval whenever I stepped out of the dressing room :) The belly pillow you put on to see how clothes will fit you a few months was a fun thing to see! I ended up with a couple pairs of jeans, leggings (ehhhh... not so sure about those yet), and a couple tops. Then we headed to Water Street for a late lunch/early dinner... it was pouring outside and we really enjoyed a leisurely meal watching the storms blow through.

Now it's back to work... and what a suprise this morning! I think I felt the first movements - little flutters almost like muscle twitches! Can't wait for our ultrasound appointment next week!

Hungry, Hungry Hippo!

I don't know if it's because I've been working out in the mornings the past 2 days or what, but my appetite has suddenly cranked it up a notch (or two, or three, or four....)

I got up at 5:15... hit the gym from 5:30-6:30...

My Momma-To-Be Workout looked like this:
10 Minutes on Stairstepper at a Level 5 (my HR was somewhere between 130 and 145)
Lat Pulldowns x 12
Tricep Pulldowns x 12
Seated Row x 12
Squats w/ Bar x 20
Plie Squats w/ Bar x 20

Repeat all x 3 (So 30 minutes on stairstepper, and 3 sets of each exercise). Whew!
Bye bye 500 calories... time to refuel..

For breakfast I had a small veggie omelet (from Schwan's),  1/4 C. cottage cheese, and a mini bagel around 7:30
 +   +

At 9:15 I dove into the cup of grapes I brought to work...

At 10:00 my tummy was rumbling again so I reached for a handful of oven roasted dark chocolate almonds stashed in my desk...

It's now 10:55 and I am starving! Lunch isn't for another hour.... my choices are: Peanut M&Ms, Swedish Fish, or more almonds.... I wish I had some of that eggless cookie dough I made last night :)

My sweet, sweet husband stopped at the store for me to pick up some chocolate chips because craving #2 kicked in... not cookies, just the cookie dough! You can find the safe-to-eat recipe here.

Uneventful Week 15

This week has been pretty eventful, but I suppose that's a good thing. Work keeps me busy so I'm more focused on that rather than headaches and being hungry all the time. I have to eat about every 1.5 to 2 hours otherwise I'm so hungry I get nauseous. I have been getting a lot of headaches (behind my right ear) and am trying not to take Tylenol (or any unnecessary meds for that matter). Hot water with lemon helps, as does exercise, but that's always been my go-to cure-all (and it's not always feasable, like at work).

Running has always been my 'release', my time to myself, and my way to relieve stress (AKA 'running it out'). Keeping my HR at 130 or below has become increasingly frustrating - if I really, really stick to that it means no running at all anymore. The other day I alternated between 5 minutes of running with 2 minutes of walking for 3 miles... it was decent but I still didn't feel that relief after my workout. I need to find a new release or stress reliever ASAP.... suggestions welcome!

Michael is leaving next week for 3 weeks. I feel more dependent now than I ever have (and I despise feeling dependent)... with my emotions running high, he's been great at making me feel okay. I'm going to miss my hugs and my cry-out sessions. At least it's not a deployment... I'm grateful for that.

Only 15 days to go until we find out if we're having a BOY or GIRL! Whaddya think? My vote is for GIRL - I've said it from day one... I just feel it.. and I even had a dream about how beautiful she is. I'll eat my words if I'm wrong :) And ultimately, I don't care either way... I think a boy would be great, too (Hello, Darthvader commericial!)

Baby's the size of a navel orange!

The average fetus at 15 weeks weighs 2.5 ounces and measures 4 inches -- and his proportions are becoming even more normal, since his legs now outmeasure his arms.

 

Baby at 15 Weeks

• You probably can't feel it yet, but she's squirming a ton!
• She might even be hiccuping in there.
• She's making lots of progress: her joints and limbs can all move now.

 

Pregnancy Symptoms: What you might be feeling at 15 weeks

• Nosebleeds, thanks to increased blood volume and sensitive nasal passages.
• I don't think I've had a nosebleed in my entire life and I have one about every other day!
• Heartburn, gas and/or indigestion. More to blame on the hormones.
• We don't need to go there... let's just say Michael would agree..
• Frisky! Take advantage of the increased libido.
• See above. TMI?
• Swollen gums, another pitfall of those pregnancy hormones. Make sure you're taking care of your teeth, and see your dentist for your regular checkups.
• Nope! So far, so good..
• Shortness of breath. As baby grows, your lungs start to get crowded.
• YES! An odd, odd feeling... even just laying down for bed at night I'll get a sudden feeling like I can't catch my breath.

2nd Trimester

Today marks the beginning of my 2nd trimester - I am exactly 14 weeks. I had an appointment this morning, nothing new or crazy... listened to the heartbeat which in turn led to listening to a movin & groovin baby again. Yes, Dr. said she could hear baby moving, just through the heartbeat! We are going to have our hands full... Oh, and have I told you how much I love my OB? I LOVE HER!

Your baby's the size of a lemon!

At 3.4 inches and 1.5 ounces, he's almost doubled in weight since last week and keeps on growing.

 

 

 

 

Hungry much? Now that you’re not feeling so queasy, you’re probably enjoying eating. A lot. Plus, you’re fueling baby’s growth -- which is happening at super speed at 14 weeks. Be sure to keep plenty of healthy snacks by your side just in case you get the munchies. It’s important -- for you and for baby -- that you don’t indulge in too many greasy, fatty foods, so you’re both getting the right nutrients. (Of course, the occasional bowl of ice cream is totally okay.) And we just wanted to remind you: eating for two doesn’t mean doubling your calorie intake. Not only have you gotten your appetite back at week 14, but you’ve probably also gotten some of your energy back, too. If you found yourself shying away from exercise during trimester one, it’s time to get back on track. Go take a walk!

What's Baby up to?

• He's probably sucking his thumb and wiggling his toes in there!
• His kidneys are making urine, and his liver and spleen are doing their jobs, too.
• And he's growing lanugo, a thin, peach-fuzz-like hair, all over his body -- it will help him keep warm!

Week 14 Symptoms

• As you emerge from the nasties of the first trimester, you're probably getting your energy back. (YUP!)
• You're probably feeling some aches and pains, as your muscles and ligaments stretch to accomodate your growing baby. (YUP!)
• Hungry! Once the queasies of the first trimester subside, you might find your appetite on overdrive.
• You might notice your hair getting thicker and shinier, one of the (few) attractive side-effects of pregnancy.

 (courtesy of thebump.com)

What's Going on in Week 13??

Your Baby: Week 13

Your fetus is forming teeth and vocal cords... savor this, their non-functional phase. Baby is approaching normal proportions, with a head now only one third the size of the body. Intestines are in the process of moving from the umbilical cord to baby's tummy. (Much more convenient.)

13 wks, 5 days

We are expecting our first bundle of joy in March 2012!

It has been a very, very exciting month or so since we found out we are expecting...

Michael and I were enjoying a quiet weekend afternoon doing some reading... I had taken a pregnancy test (the one with either one or two lines) earlier in the day and forgot about it in the bathroom. I went back to check, not expecting much since we had many negative tests in the months prior... but to my surprise there were TWO lines! I had envisioned telling him in a fun, surprising way.. but I couldn't wait to plan something. I immediately went back to the bedroom and curled up next to him with the stick in my hand, he looked... squinted a few times.... and.... didn't believe me. UGH! Way to ruin the moment! He insisted we purchase a test that was a "little more black and white", meaning, the test that is idiot proof and says, "Pregnant" or "Not Pregnant". So, off to WalMart we went....

A little while later... "PREGNANT". We laughed, I cried, and he still wasn't convinced.... until my bloodwork the following Monday. Finally, it's really, really, really official :)

My first trimester has been full of ups and downs! Most food made me nauseous.... cooking dinner was a miserable experience and most nights I couldn't eat what I had made. Michael has been nothing but sweet in helping to cook dinner, do things around the house, and make sure I'm comfortable and have whatever I need. He's even had a crying, emotional wife (yup... crying for no reason!) on a few occasions to which he has responsed, "Want to just cry on me? That's what I'm here for!" And cue: Awwwwwwwwwww!

Maternity clothes: My wonderful mom sent me my first maternity shirt! It's super cute and I'm actually wearing it right now :) All of my pants still technically fit, whether or not they are comfortable is a different story. Things are definitely feeling tighter and I'm looking forward to making some maternity purchases.

Sleep: Getting up, on average, 4 times a night to pee... once every 2 hours is a little ridiculous! I'm looking forward to this getting better.

Total weight gain: 8lbs. Believe it! Hahaha...

Movement: None yet.... although in our first ultrasound, Baby was movin and groovin!

Food cravings: Macaroni & Cheese and Captain Crunch Berries (I have a bowl every night!) My first real craving was chocolate chip cookies... I absolutely HAD TO race to the grocery story to buy what I needed to make them. I also had a weird craving on Saturday.... refried beans.... sorry, Michael..

Symptoms: Exhaustion, Frequent trips to the potty, Nausea is mostly gone... except if I let myself get too hungry! Frequent (healthy) snacking is a MUST.

 Exercise: I've been keeping my workouts just as consistent as before baby... but one of our Dr.'s three rules is to keep my heart rate at a max of 130 when exercising. I normally wear a heart rate monitor when exercising anyway, so I know my heart rate during a workout/run is 165-180. Uh-oh. Keeping my HR at 130 has been challenging.... my 8:00/mile pace has turned into 12-12:30/miles... painstakingly slow! So I've been mixing it up on the elliptical and continuing my total body weights routine. Even lunges and squats can crank my HR up to 145 or so!

Gender: Uncertain.. Dr. says several signs point to boy. No way to be 100% sure yet!