17 Week Update

17 Weeks already??

I finally feel pregnant -- something about not fitting into my clothes and feeling this little baby kick me all day long makes it seem more real all the sudden (At least being pregnant feels real...still not sure about actually having a baby and being a parent. Yikes.) I am also starting to feel human again, which is a-maz-ing. I forgot what it felt like to feel good....and it is awesome. So long as I take zofran before bed every night, I am pretty much feeling like my old self during the day. I even like eating again!

I also can't believe how large my belly is! Look at that thing! My first thought when I wake up every morning is either "Oh, wow, it's still there!" or "Oh geez, did it get bigger??" In fact, I think my belly button's days are numbered. It's not an "outie" yet, but it is getting mighty shallow.  Let me tell you, though: getting fat is a lot more fun than throwing up!

Other than all that, nothing big is going on around here. Paul has been working a lot, including most Saturdays. He's been traveling a lot, too. He was in Alabama for awhile, got stranded in San Antonio for a weekend, spent a week in New York... and between now and Thanksgiving has trips lined up for San Diego, Colorado Springs, Spokane, and Yuma.

As for me, now that I am feeling good again (yay!), I am going to go back to work. I signed up this week to be a substitute at the school I taught at last year. I have subbed before, and it isn't exactly my favorite job, but I think it is the best option for me right now. This way I can take off days when I need to without any hassle, and I think that it should be better since I already know the students and staff. Plus, no planning or grading! I start next week, so we'll see how it goes.

Anyway, here are the stats for week 17:

How Far Along: 17 weeks

Size of baby: About 5.5 inches, head to bum

Total Weight Gain/Loss: I'm up 7 lbs

Maternity Clothes: Still scared of anything with a full elastic panel, but I am running out of options. Before, I could fake it with my regular shorts, but not so much any more. Any non-maternity piece of clothing with an elastic waist band is my best friend.

Movement:Yes and I love it!!!! At first it was just a subtle fluttery feeling, but I am feeling solid kicks and rolls now. It is the best feeling!! I can't wait for Paul to be able to feel it, too.

Sleep: Still not sleeping through the night. I guess I should get used to it.

What I miss: Fall weather! It has been a few years since I've lived somewhere with cool fall weather and I miss it.

Cravings:I don't tend to have a lot of cravings. In fact, my whole life I have LOVED sweets...and now that I have an excuse to eat them, I don't really care for them. I mostly like crunchy, healthy foods... salad, carrot sticks, cucumbers, pita chips, green pepper slices.

Symptoms: I feel like I can't complain much any more. I'm usually mildly uncomfortable in about a dozen ways at any given point in time, but I feel SO MUCH BETTER than a few weeks ago that I am a pretty happy camper. The nausea is almost entirely gone, which is the greatest feeling. I still sleep a lot, but I can make it through the day without a nap and still be alright. I've got some weird issues going on with my gums, but my dentist is awesome and that is getting better, too.

Best Moment this week: Feeling really solid little baby kicks!

15 week update

How Far Along: 15 weeks

Size of baby: About 4 inches, not including the legs.  Baby is hanging out about two inches under my bellybutton.

Total Weight Gain/Loss: 5lbs!! I didn't even think that it was possible to gain weight on an exclusive yogurt diet, but...apparently it is.

Maternity Clothes:I bought three maternity shirts at Target and wear them every day; they are super loose and kind of disguise my awkward belly. I also bought one pair of maternity shorts, but they frighten me, so I just wear my regular shorts unbuttoned.

Gender:????

Movement: I think so...maybe...??? Sometimes when I am laying down, I feel a little funny, tickle-y, fluttery feeling. It usually only lasts a few seconds, so it is hard to be certain. Can't wait for real kicks!

Sleep: Tired all the time but having a terrible time sleeping. I usually wake up 2-3 times a night to pee, eat, or barf (sometimes all three). I have slept through the night exactly four times since my "morning" sickness kicked in at five weeks. They were four of the happiest days of my life. (I've already informed this baby that s/he will be forgiven no matter what...but that it would really speed along the healing process if s/he would just be a really good sleeper after birth). 

What I miss: Feeling good

Cravings: Do Sweet Tarts count? I go through a pack a day. Sucking on them helps with the nausea a lot, especially if I am someplace where I am unable to eat immediately.

Symptoms: Super swollen gums, sore hips/tailbone, fatigue, nausea, bloody noses, etc. etc. At least the headaches and acne are gone.

Best Moment this week: Had a doctor's appointment and heard that little heart beating away in there. Everything looked and sounded good! And I scheduled the big anatomy scan for the second week in October! Things are going fast all of the sudden.

Introducing Baby Fry

Say what?

So who is Baby Fry?

Well, for starters, Baby Fry is the main reason I haven't blogged in months--it is hard to type when your face is in a toilet. But now that our little monkey has decided to give me a little bit of relief (and also my midwife doubled my dosage of Zofran), Paul and I decided we should make some introductions. So here are a few things you should know about Baby Fry:

First and foremost, Baby Fry is a strict vegetarian. Baby Fry is very, very passionate about this. Daddy Fry is not thrilled and has begun a rigorous campaign to change Baby Fry's stance on the issue, but despite his enthusiasm he has met with little success. In all fairness, though, it should be noted that on a several occasions Baby Fry has had some mean cravings for raw steak, but Daddy Fry has been a big party pooper on that front every time.  In this battle of the wills, Baby Fry's secret weapon --projectile vomiting via Mommy Fry-- has given him/her a distinct advantage.

Which leads us to the second thing you need to know about Baby Fry:

Baby Fry has a condition known as Neonatal-Onset Anorexia*. Friends, family, and medical professionals alike have assured us that the condition usually self-corrects at the beginning of the second trimester, but so far Baby Fry has proved that s/he doesn't live a life confined by the expectations of others.

To date, Baby Fry's favorite foods are: yogurt, Rice Chex, lemon sorbet, and plain peanut butter sandwiches dipped in milk (hold the crust). If these sound like foods more suitable for a toddler, you are correct; Baby Fry is just advanced like that. Baby Fry used to like oatmeal, too, but after Mommy Fry vomited that up simultaneously through both her mouth and nose, she enacted her right to a lifetime veto. Baby Fry is very closed minded about trying new foods, and will not hesitate to use the secret weapon (see above) on anyone who tries to change his/her mind.

Baby Fry's birthday is supposed to be on or around the 4th of March, 2013. Currently Baby Fry is at 14 weeks gestation. The sonogram pictures were taken at 11 weeks, so Baby Fry may look either more or less monkey-like at this point in time. Mommy and Baby Fry have their next appointment on September 14th, but their next sonogram isn't scheduled until the beginning of October.

The big question, of course, is whether Baby Fry is voting republican or democrat a boy or girl. Mommy Fry is convinced that Baby Fry is a girl, but doesn't care either way. Daddy Fry doesn't have a prediction, but uses masculine pronouns; Mommy Fry uses feminine ones, thus covering all the bases (they hope).

Check back soon for Mommy Fry's complaints about how awful her 1st trimester was more updates.

Beginning of a bump

*I made that up. Doctors call it "hyperemesis gravidarum," but I'm pretty sure they stole that from a Harry Potter book.