12 weeks 4 days

Just wanted to update quickly by announcing that WE FINALLY HEARD BABY RITTMANN'S HEART ON OUR HOME DOPPLER!!! Yaaaaay :) I'm so flippin' happy right now, I can't wait to do it again! Why, then, don't I go ahead and do it again, you ask? Because after two weeks of trying daily, I am currently OUT of Aquasonic gel! I had just enough to barely hear it. I ordered some on the 27th, so I should be getting (a gallon!) of it on July 3rd. That's when I'll call my grandparents. I only managed to let my mom and dad hear over the phone. Nonny, of course, got to hear it (you should have seen his smile!). I had to try my mom back twice, 'cause Li'l Turkey moved out of the way just as mom picked up the phone the first time. I tried to get it again so that I could call my brother, but it was really hard to hear, once the gel got too thin. Maybe I can buy some KY or something to hold me over until the 3rd...maybe that'll work! Ha-ha-ha.

XOXO

12 weeks 1 day

I had a good visit at the OB yesterday! Dr. B didn't even bother trying to use a doppler for Baby's heart beat, he just wheeled in the sono. Baby had it's foot in the "air", but looked to be sleeping. I wish Dr. B had awakened baby! It would have been awesome to see her (uhhh, or him) moving! I also forgot to ask what the heart rate was, as I could see that tiny heart flickering away on the fuzzy screen. He gave me a good little profile picture, which I've been showing off to everyone :) Now, however, the dreaded 30-day wait till the next visit begins. Uggghhhh. We'll be checking for Down's & spinal abnormalities...more stuff to worry about! Until then, I can hardly wait the few weeks until I'm really showing; I also am crazy to feel my little one move! Only a few more weeks. This is so exciting!

XOXO

11 weeks 6 days

Today is my last day on progesterone and my next visit with Dr. B is tomorrow at 3:40...it's going to be a loooong day at work for sure!

I've noticed that my symptoms have started to go away, so much so that for a few days I was frightened that I didn't feel pregnant at all anymore. My mind was set at ease after reading tons of similar experiences and feelings around this time in pregnancy. Thank goodness for the internet! I've still had absolutely NO luck with my doppler, so I'm wondering if the OB will even be able to hear Li'l Turkey's heartbeat tomorrow or not. If they can't get it, I hope they will scan me instead of making me wait another week to come back in! I'd pay out-of-pocket for another scan to keep from having to worry more than I already have. I wish I could rent an sonogram machine and not just that dumb ol' doppler. I guess I should be grateful that there even is such technology, but hey...I'm spoiled. :)

If everything is well tomorrow, I am finally going to send my grandparents a copy of the last sono that I had done. I think that my dad has a scanner, so I might see if he can scan it so I can finally post it! Also, pending a good prognosis from Dr. B, I want to start a belly pictorial. Nonny has even mentioned that we should do it. I'm just kinda leery, you know? I don't want to jinx myself, but I need to relax. I think the 12 week mark is a good time to do so.

XOXO

10 weeks 4 days

Bummer...

I received my doppler yesterday at work and I couldn't wait to get home to try it. Now, I know it's still early and that a tipped uterus makes it even more difficult to hear the heart so soon, but I hoped I could anyway. So, I tried it with a full bladder. I tried with an empty bladder. I tried contorting myself to achieve the position which would make my belly absolutely flat! And after nearly an hour of smearing ultrasonic gel all over my lower abdomen and pushing the transducer into my skin hard enough to make me have to go potty - NOTHING. Grrrrr. I'll try again on Monday, but I still think I'll have to wait for another couple weeks.

On a lighter note, my next OB appointment is in 10 days. Waiting a month between visits is tough! I'm excited to start going every 2 weeks. In fact, there's a lot of things I'm excited about:

Hearing Little Turkey's heartbeat.

Feeling a kick in the bladder (and lungs. And kidneys. And...).

Having Nonny feel the baby move.

Finding out the sex (I think it's a girl).

My belly becoming unmistakeably pregnant.

Getting the nursery ready.

And, of course, having this little one! I'm even looking forward to labor, even though I'm planning to do it sans medication.

It's fun. It's scary. It's the most incredible thing that's ever happened to me. To think that, right now, I have a tiny human inside me that's the size of a kumquat.

I'm in love...

XOXO

10 weeks 1 day

13 days until my 2nd OB appointment and it's nearly an unbearable wait! So - against my better judgement - I ordered a fetal doppler to rent. I thought that perhaps I could let baby's grandma & grandpa (or "mo-mo" and "pa-pa", as they've asked to be called) hear that wonderful sound. Maybe I'll record it so that my grandparents in Kentucky and Michigan can hear it, as well. It should be here on Thursday, so we'll see if it works okay...I've heard/read mixed reviews.

So far, I have been doing well. I have occasional morning (noon and/or night) sickness, but really haven't thrown up much (thank you GOD!). Going pee at 2am has been the norm for the last 6 weeks, my body is covered in blue veins, and, afore-mentioned veins aside, my breasts look better than ever :) I'm having issues fitting into my pants, so I decided that I'd rather look pregnant than just fat; I've been in maternity clothes for a week or so. I can't wait to have a big belly, so long as everything else stays relatively normal...fat chance, right? Meat in general now gross me out, but I've found chicken in particular to be exceptionally icky. I can't even look at it on the TV. Nonny would tell you that I've been moody (to put it nicely - sorry, my love!). I've quit smoking, having a mere 2 cups of coffee every couple days, have an abundance of hormones flooding my system, and have been stressed (as I've lost every pregnancy to date). Under the circumstances, I don't think I've been that bad, but I'm sure he'd disagree! Really, my pregnancy so far has been great. Vomit and all, I'm ridiculously happy.

When I have some time, I'll post some photos & other things I'd like to share. Right now, however, I have steak marinating and some potatoes baking. I'll update soon.

XOXO.