Baby Bump Week 14

Week Fourteen:

Baby
Baby Size: 3.4 inches /Lemon
Baby Weight: 1.5 oz
Your adorable little fetus is busy with thumb sucking, toe wiggling, and (not so cute but equally amazing) making urine and breathing amniotic fluid as the liver, kidneys and spleen continue to develop. Lanugo (thin, downy hair) is growing all over the body for warmth.

The baby begins to practice inhaling and exhaling movements. The eyes and ears continue to move and develop, the neck is still getting longer, and the baby's chin no longer rests on his/her chest. The hands are becoming functional, and the baby is beginning to learn to move/use them (probably more reflex than anything). At this point, our little one is receiving all of his/her nourishment from the placenta.

What they say my body should be doing and feeling:
By now, pregnancy hormones are leveling off. This means less nausea, less frequent urination and less exhaustion. What a relief! However, you may be experiencing some constipation since those darned hormones have relaxed your bowel muscles causing them to work slower and less efficiently. Your uterus is also pressing on your bowel. Be sure to increase the fiber in your diet if constipation becomes a problem.

How I'm feeling:
I am starting to feel better, more energy. My only problem is that if I forget to eat I feel sick. I have to remember to eat or just keep snacks in my purse.

Covered Week 14

Uncovered Week 14

Weekend with Family

A little late, but better late then never

Friday night we headed down to DeWitt, IA to celebrate Grady's baptism, we got there at 11:30pm and hung out with Chris and Karen for awhile. I headed to bed shortly after, but Josh stayed up for a while.

Sat morning Mitch headed over then went and got Jess and the boys from her parents. It was so nice to see them since we haven't seen them since Maddox's birthday.

Maddox loves the fish

We had to get Josh and I an outfit for the baptism and for the Theis family pictures.

We spent the rest of the day hanging out with the family and we ordered pizza so we could have Chad deliver it for us. Thanks Chad!

I think Pistol is getting prepared for the baby.

Sunday was Grady’s baptism and Josh was asked to be his godfather. (Which he was very excited and happy about). We had a great time, and took family pictures afterwards. After that we headed back to the Cleveland’s to hang out. It was a beautiful day to hangout outside and enjoy the weather.

Godmother Shayla, Jess, Grady, Mitch, Maddox, Godfather Josh

Top Left: Josh, Mark Chris, Maddox, Mitch
Bottom Left: Chad, Stevi, me, Jess, Grady, Emily, Avery Jamie
(In the belly's Stevi's Van, Mine ?)

Love this face!

Monday we headed back to Minnesota early so we could get back for the Theis family pictures and sushi night (I will post the family pics later). Sushi was wonderful and my wonderful sister made sure that there was baby friendly sushi for me.

Guys all hung out outside

The grandkids posing for pictures

Yummy Sushi

What a great weekend with family.

Baby Bump Week 13

Week Thirteen:

Baby
Baby Size: 2.9 inches /plum
Baby Weight: .81 oz
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.)

Your baby is shorter than a finger, but it's face is already showing individual features and characteristics! It's ears are now developed enough that she may be able to hear when you sing, hum, or talk. And it's vocal cords will form this week—soon it'll be able to sing back. Your baby spends it's time in your womb flexing it's new and developing muscles and joints. Bouts of prenatal hiccups are strengthening your baby's diaphragm, which is preparing it's respiratory system for breathing. Less glamorous but highly necessary organ systems for making hormones, absorbing nutrients, and filtering waste are also in place this week. The pancreas, gall bladder, and thyroid have developed, the kidneys can make urine, and it's bone marrow is making white blood cells to help fight infection after she's born.

What they say my body should be doing and feeling:
Good news—by week 13, you'll have more energy and less nausea (it could be gone entirely by weeks 14 to 15), as the placenta takes over hormone production. Your smell and taste aversions will probably stick with you for the rest of your pregnancy, but unless you're very unlucky, the spontaneous throwing up will ease. If you're starting to feel better, this could be a good time to try a new exercise. If you haven't tried swimming lately, check out why many care providers call it the perfect pregnancy exercise. Yoga is another low-impact activity that can help you feel better. Choose an establishment that offers a specialized prenatal yoga class.

How I'm feeling:
Still a little tired and nauseous, but not as bad. I feel like I told you everything with the doctor appointment so I am just going to leave you with pictures.

covered week 13

Uncovered 13 weeks

While I was taking the pictures Sophia came up and started touching my belly it was too cute.

Then while I was waiting for the timer on the camera she started talking to the baby "Hi baby I can't wait to meet you and I love you", then she kissed my belly and said "I think the baby kissed me back". She made me tear up it was so cute.

Week 13 Midwife Appointment Baby #1

I had my second doctor appointment this morning.

11 weeks pregnant

I had several question for her this time, and I decided to write them down this time so I would not forget the questions or the answers.

Question 1: I am cold all the time should I be worried?
Answer: Testing my thyroid (should get results tomorrow)

Question 2: I stopped taking my allergy med. can I take something else?
Answer: Try Claritin

Question 3: I stopped taking my prenatal, how many Flintstones can I take instead one or two.
Answer: take one, but if you want to take two you can

Question 4: I have been having lower back pain making it difficult to fall asleep is there anything I can do to help relieve this?
Answer: She prescribed Visaril ( I can pick it up if it gets to bad, but I think I will wait until I really can't handle it.) She also suggesting going to the chiropractor to get an adjustment, and to get a foam pad for our bed (www.overstock.com was her suggestion).

Question 5: When can we find out the sex of our baby?
Answer: Twenty weeks, she also ordered an ultra sound for the week of September 6th. I just have to call and set up the actual appointment.

Question 6: When do I come for my next appointment?
Answer: In five weeks. (Aug 23rd; 9:00am)

Week 13:
Blood Pressure 94/62

You can listen to little Cleve's heart beat. (bpm 152) The weird sound is just the machine, but you can still hear the heart beat.

Sinclair Lewis Days!

This weekend we decided to travel to Sauk Centre to enjoy Sinclair Lewis Days.

Friday night we got to Sauk and played cards with my parents and sister, then went outside to enjoy the fireworks. Josh took the kids and helped them into the back of the truck.

While we were playing cards Josh said " It is so nice to be home". I looked at him very perplexed, and he said I have 3 homes Richfield, DeWitt and here. It was the sweetest thing I have ever heard. It is so good to know that he feels that comfortable in my parents home.

Saturday morning Tara and I headed to get coffee, and walk through the craft fair. Always fun to spend quality time with Tara. I headed home just in time to send my parents off on their second honeymoon ( a boat cruise down the Mississippi in Iowa).

We were suppose to watch the parade at 7:00 pm, but the storm came in and the parade was cancelled. We were all very sad especially the girls.

Tara headed over around 8:00pm and Tara, Cathie, and I headed to the street dance while Josh and Kevin stayed to play "The Show' on the PS3.

We had a great time hanging out, and it was fun to tell people that were not family or close friends that we are expecting.

Sunday we decided to spend time with the girls and Kevin, it was so much fun to take them to the park and play with them. Josh did such a great job especially when I started to feel light headed and had to sit down.

After the park we headed to the grocery store to get some lunch and ice cream. Then we headed back to my parents to have lunch outside with the girls and Kevin.

We had such a great weekend, it was so relaxing. Can't wait to head to Iowa this coming weekend to spend time with the Cleveland family.

Baby Bump Week 12

Week Twelve:

Baby
Baby Size: 2.5 inches /plum
Baby Weight: less then .5 oz
This begins the age when the fetus starts to look really cut in those womb pictures. If you had a womb camera, you'd be able to see your baby's proportions changing, with the growth of the head slowing down to let the rest of the body catch up. Arms, legs, and fingers are also growing out and tapering to look more like a newborn's, and your baby's posture becomes less curled and more upright. As you move into the second trimester, baby shifts into the growth and maturation stage. After weeks in the critical development stage, almost all of her systems are fully formed. Isn't it amazing that every person in the world was once the size of your thumb? And for that matter, for every person alive, some woman went through a pregnancy?

What they say my body should be doing and feeling:
This is about the time the muscles of your stomach slow down, making your stools harder and drier and making you gassier. You uterus has gotten too big to fit in its usual spot—your pelvis. It's now pushing into your abdomen, though not yet in any uncomfortable way. Your heart rate may speed up because of the extra volume of blood in your body. Your hips are actually widening to make more room for your uterus to grow. With one week to go in your first trimester, you may feel more like your pregnancy is real. Take brisk walks, eat high-fiber foods, and drink plenty of water to keep your intestinal tract moving. The nausea, fatigue, mood swings, and bathroom dashes should soon fade, but (sorry!) headaches and dizziness will probably get more intense. The good news: You're about to embark on the second trimester, when mood and energy levels generally peak.

My Body:
This week is like night and day compared to last week. I have not been as tired, I love it. but I do struggle with getting comfortable at night to be able to fall asleep, my back really hurts it feels like my hips are uneven. I think I might need to get an adjustment so that my hips are even again. Just have to make the appointment. I am starting to enjoy being me again, just a little bigger. My pooch feels like it is popping out a little more, but it makes me finally really feel pregnant.

Covered week 12

Uncovered week 12

I have my next doctor appointment on Monday.
If anyone has questions that you think I should ask the doctor or things I should be thinking about at this stage let me know.

(I was also told that I looked pissed off in all of my pictures, so I tried to smile, but it seems so weird smile when you are taking a picture of yourself.)

Our Family

When we decided we wanted to get pregnant we wonder about whether or not our pets would be able to continue to be a part of our life.

Then I remembered how wonderful they are with our nieces and nephews and how great they was when Owen was here. Pistol even started to get protective of Owen when other dogs would come to close to Owen.


I know that we are those weird people that call their pets their kids, but to us they have been like our children for more then 2 years. We have learned so much from them and from each other because of them.

We have learned:

Cleaning up poop and
How to change litter and still make your house smell good

Feeding on a regular schedule or you don't hear the end of it


Unconditional love


That not everyone likes pets as much as we do


How sad they are when you leave, but how happy they are when you walk through the door.


Being scared and worried when the big dog starts to be a bully Dealing with the vet even in an emergency

Realizing that good friends are hard to find


How to celebrate Halloween


Packing for more then yourself

How to compromise on rules


Figuring out their favorite toy, and how to share it

How to relax

I know that there has been so many more things that we have learned from our pets, but all I know is we don't know what we would do without them.

However, the number one thing that we learned is that we are a good team, and can't wait for our little one to come. We also can't wait to watch the interactions our pets and children will have.

Worst Week Yet.

I wasn't going to write about this, but a wise person told me that every pregnant person goes through this and that I will want to remember this when I start to feel better.

For the last month I have not enjoyed being pregnant at all. I have been tired, bloated, most foods make me want to throw up, and did I mention tired. I have been so glad to have this time off, but have been so sad that I have spent most of it in bed. I keep thinking of the people that said I enjoyed every minute of being pregnant, I think they either didn't feel this shitty or they don't remember this part.

So this week has been the worst week yet.
Monday: I slept most of the day,
Tuesday: went to work for a 1/2 hour to work on schedules came home slept for 6 more hours woke up to go throw up, Josh came home tried to eat only to throw it up again.
Wednesday: Woke up at 4 am with the desire to throw up again. Threw up went back to bed. Woke up to go to work again to work on schedules again. Had to head home because I wasn't feeling so hot. Went home slept some more. Josh came home from work we tried to play spite and malice (he won) Went back to bed.
Thursday: I woke up at 9:30 only to find put we had no power, so Bridget and I went to the dog park then to the lake. All I could think about was this is going to be a good day.
WRONG! When I got home and threw up, laid down only to have to throw up again. Uggg! Then I couldn't get comfortable (this is a common occurrence) finally feel asleep.
Friday: Woke up today feeling alright but I haven't gotten out of bed yet.

I keep hearing it will get better second trimester.
Ohh please be true, I would like to hang out with my friends again.

Oh I almost forgot. On the plus side I have not had hives in over a week. I stopped taking my prenatals, allergy meds and stopped eating Strawberries (which have been my number one craving). Let's just pray that works.

Baby Bump Week 11

Week Eleven:

Baby
Baby Size: 2.4 inches /lime
Baby Weight: less then .3 oz
The baby's skin remains transparent until much later in the pregnancy, blood vessels are still visible at week 11. Also at this point, the fetus is exercising it’s new found movement capabilities by opening and closing it’s fists. Also, areas where the teeth will be will become swollen. The webbing between the toes and fingers is gone at week 11 and the fetus is reveling within the huge space it now has by moving and kicking around. This stage includes the most rapid changes the baby will ever undergo in life.

Although it is still not very apparent that the mother is pregnant, changes within her also include rapid growth. Fingernails and hair begin to grow at an increased rate and morning sickness gets closer to completely subsiding. This week marks the near end of the first trimester. The second trimester will involve about a pound of weight gain per week.

What they say my body should be doing and feeling:

Some things that might come up during this stage of pregnancy include varicose veins. Some women go into their pregnancy without varicose veins but develop them during the pregnancy. Others experience an increased amount of varicose veins, sometimes in places other than their legs. Although this is completely normal, sometimes the varicose veins can develop around the rectum. Vulvar varicosities develop because the amplified blood volume during the pregnancy and the weight of the growing uterus can add to the pressure in the veins in the vagina or vulva around the rectum. This can lead to hemorrhoids which are characterized by pain, itching, and bleeding. However, most topical creams and suppositories can make the pain from the hemorrhoids manageable. Family history and amount of weight gain during pregnancy can determine the risks of developing vulvar varicosities, however, after delivery the symptoms usually go away. Some ways to prevent or help minimize varicose veins include wearing maternity pantyhose which help sustain good circulation which prevents varicose veins. Also, exercise is an important way to stay healthy while helping to prevent varicose veins during the pregnancy. Short walks, elevating the legs while sitting or lying down, and not crossing the legs should also help.

My Body:

I am beyond tired, I also find that Tuesdays are my worst days. I keep hearing that the second trimester will be better, I can't wait. I have never felt as sick as I have felt in this last week. I am also cold ALL the time, you would think it was winter.
No varicose veins yet.

Covered

Uncovered

My baby bump on my phone isn't working so I had to find my info from the Internet.
http://www.pregnancyweektoweek.com/

Weekend with the Kittelson's

Carbles, Bags, Baseball and Fireworks
All equal great weekend with friends.

This weekend we had Annette and Sam down to go to the Twins game with us, which they won at the reception.

They came down sat afternoon and Annette and I went grocery shopping to make homemade ravioli with Chicken Alpfrado. Man that was good. Then we spend the next 6 hours playing Carbles (The game Annette and Sam bought us for our wedding). Girls won 3 out of 5 games.

The next day we headed to the Game.


We Loved our seats

Before the game we meet up with the Glasow's and they gave us our presents from Disney World. Annie wore Josh's Goffy ears for the game which helped her get 6 balls. (They had front row seats by 3rd base) After the game we meet up with the Glasow's and they gave both Annette and I a game ball. Thanks Guys!

After that we headed home to take showers. Played a couple games of bags and headed to the Richfield fair and waited for the fireworks to begin. Bridget and her family joined us, and we watched a great show. We headed back the boys wanted to try to get the winning title for Carbles back, but Anette and I held them off.

We had a great weekend, can't wait to do it again, next time we decided we might need Tara and Scott to hang out with us too. Hint! Hint!

First Camping trip with the Theis family in YEARS!

What a great week with the Family. We created so many memories. I loved watching the cousins play together and can't wait for ours to get to know it's cousins too.

Saywer

Max playing ring toss

Sophia being Sophia

All the kids in the camper watching Pink Panther

Morgan Running, can she get any cuter?

Roxxie

Calvin with his can opener for the fruit

Ash with his buddy Pistol

The kids hanging out with me in the cabin while the rest of the adults had some fire time. Man was I tired, to bad they weren't. I think my sibling were trying to prepare me for parenthood. I think it worked.

Fire Time!

Mom in the canoe with Curtis so proud, I heard their boat won.

All in all it was great week of family time, can't wait to do it again in 3 years.

Baby Bump Week 10

Week Ten:

Baby
Baby Size: 1.2in / prune
Baby Weight: .14 oz
The tenth week marks the beginning of a critical period of the baby's development when all of the vital organs have formed and are beginning to function. Your baby is also growing tiny nails on the fingers and toes as well as tiny buds for teeth.

What they say my body should be doing and feeling:
Your regular cloths might be starting to feel a little snug, but this may just be due to bloating, a common symptom caused by your slowing digestive system which is hard at work maximizing absorption of all the nutrients from the food you ingest.

By this week, if you have a prenatal exam your medical practitioner may listen to your baby's heartbeat using a Doppler stethoscope. Many woman have compared the rapid thumping sound to that of galloping horses.

My Body:
Nothing really that exciting or different this week, just still really tired.



p.s. even though the post is late the pictures are right on schedule