a new ticker!

overdue for an update

I don't like going this long without an update, but truth be known on WHY I've gone a whole week:
MORNING SICKNESS, but it's not just morning sickness, it's afternoon sickness, evening sickness, midnight sickness, whenever the little bug decides to bite!
It's not THAT bad and I think I've learned how to control it *knock-on-wood*. The secret - always eat! Sounds simple doesn't it? It's not. Why? Nothing sounds good. Oh, wait, yeah, nothing. So, instead of just trying to come up with something to eat that sounds good, I decide to eat anyways. And even if it's not good or doesn't sound good, I make myself eat it, just to keep from feeling ill. Now, I could be one, sick, vomiting-projectile machine, and I'm not, so I am thankful. I'm just nauseous pretty much all day.
But a "Healthy baby and pregnancy = I'll take it"!

My spring break is over and I was dreading with everything within me on going back to school on Tuesday, but I managed. I eat two crackers an hour, drink 7-up relentlessly, and suck on jolly ranchers. So, I survived my first 2 days back to work, and I think I'll make it through the week.

I do have a difficult time sleeping through the night. I thought it was because I was napping during the day, so yesterday I tried to go without a nap and was still up between 2-4am. Is this called pregnancy preparation? I want to sleep NOW as opposed to trying to get some shut-eye in about a year! My arms fall asleep, my lower-back hurts, I have to pee. Geesh. I'm really hoping for all-nighter tonight, and I'm thinking an all-nighter of sleep, not reading =)

I have been putting alot of thought recently into when I'll tell my friends and others that I'm pregnant. I wonder if anyone has their suspensions yet?!? Not that they could tell by my size, but just intuition.

We did tell my parents, it was sweet. I sent them flowers that said
The price of these flowers $14.99
The price of this delivery $6.00
Knowing we are expecting...
PRICELESS!

I think they liked it. They called congratulating me. Yeah!

It feels weird. I feel like I know that I'm pregnant and have known for so long, that it's not a surprise anymore. Like when I tell people they won't be surprised because I've known for so long, that this is old news. Why do I feel this way? I mean, of course it is exciting, just no one knows yet! How will they react?!? Shocked? Excited?

I may tell next week, and I may decide to wait 3 more weeks. I'm leaving town in 2 weeks and maybe I'll wait until I get back to share the news. I have time to think about it.

1st appt

We had a successful visit at the dr's office for my 1st appt today. I'm glad that first step is over, all the worrying that I wouldn't make it this far, I feel much better. Visit recap: Set up and payment plan, had my blood drawn and urine sampled (I remembered the cup!), reviewed my medical & family history, had an internal pap, and visited with the dr. He gave me a book and told me to call if I have any questions or concerns. He reminded me that alot of people out there have opinions but none of them are pregnant with my baby! That was reassuring. He told me I could do anything I wanted as long as it wasn't sky diving, scuba diving, snow skiing, or water skiing, I think I'm covered in those areas =)

My next appt is April 16th, and they will check for a fetal heartbeat! Yeah!

1st dr appt

I have my first dr's appt tomorrow and the nurse just called me to remind me to bring in my FMU sample - oy! I better go put that cup in the bathroom so I don't forget =)

an overview

morning sickness - **knocks on wood** I really haven't been that sick, I mean, a little, but who doesn't get the bouts of dizziness and "I feel like crap" moments?!? I'm just VERY thankful, I have had more than my share of nausea pre-pregnancy with various health problems, and can honestly say, I feel good. Maybe I just know how to handle it better than I used to .

maternity clothes - I can't wait to start shopping for them and needing them. About 2 weeks ago I was really bloated and either the bloat has gone down, or I'm just used to it, either way, I'm much more comfortable now! Maternity clothes are so cute and I can't wait until I can wear them. I am however very particular on clothes and baby doll style shirts aren't my thing, so I may have a difficult time. Plus, I really don't think they are THAT expensive, so I plan to have a good selection so I don't get bored.

telling friends and family - We haven't told anyone outside of my internet world besides one cousin and his wife (actually I told his wife, she told him with my permission) I told her because she is going through a difficult time and we both knew we were TTC and I felt she deserved to know. After our first appt on Wednesday we plan to tell our families then keep it a secret for probably another month. I go in spurts, like I really want to tell people, then again, I like having a secret! Sometimes I get the urge (like I have a pg friend and I want to tell her so bad, but haven't) and then other times I'm like, it hasn't been too hard to keep the secret, I can keep it for awhile longer. I will have to tell a friend in about 3 weeks because we are flying together to Atlanta and I feel that she needs to know, so if something happens to me (God forbid) she can tell for medical purposes. Wow, I've really rambled!

baby names - We talk about it, but we can't agree. We both really like Molly, and we thought we would go with that for a girl, but I want other options too.

I'm just really excited to be pregnant!

This was my BFP pregnancy chart through fertility friend

Your pregnancy: 7 weeks

This is some information I got off of babycenter.com and I really like reading their information each week, I think it may be my favorite!

How your baby's growing:
The big news this week: Hands and feet are emerging from developing arms and legs — although they look more like paddles at this point than the tiny, pudgy extremities you're daydreaming about holding and tickling. Technically, your baby is still considered an embryo and has something of a small tail, which is an extension of her tailbone. The tail will disappear within a few weeks, but that's the only thing getting smaller. Your baby has doubled in size since last week and now measures half an inch long, about the size of a blueberry.

If you could see inside your womb, you'd spot eyelid folds partially covering her peepers, which already have some color, as well as the tip of her nose and tiny veins beneath parchment-thin skin. Both hemispheres of your baby's brain are growing, and her liver is churning out red blood cells until her bone marrow forms and takes over this role. She also has an appendix and a pancreas, which will eventually produce the hormone insulin to aid in digestion. A loop in your baby's growing intestines is bulging into her umbilical cord, which now has distinct blood vessels to carry oxygen and nutrients to and from her tiny body.

How your life's changing:
Your uterus has doubled in size in the past five weeks, and eating may feel like a chore — or worse — thanks to morning sickness, which by now may be in full swing. (If you're feeling fine, don't worry — you're lucky!)

You may need to pee more than usual, too, thanks to your increasing blood volume and the extra fluid being processed through your kidneys. (By now, you already have about 10 percent more blood than you did before you were pregnant. And by the end of your pregnancy, you'll have 40 to 45 percent more blood running through your veins to meet the demands of your full-term baby.) As your uterus grows, pressure on your bladder will send you to the bathroom as well.

About half of the women who feel nauseated during the first trimester will find complete relief by about 14 weeks. For most of the rest, it'll take another month or so for the queasiness to ease up. It's unlikely, though, that the need to pee more than usual will ease up. In fact, research shows that both the frequency and volume of urine tends to increase over the course of pregnancy.


I just can't believe that I'm 7 weeks pregnant, it's so exciting!

a few things to add

I have read through some 'pregnancy symptom' threads and they mentioned a few that I had but didn't think anything of it at the time because I was totally, NOT READING INTO ANYTHING!!! So, the kicked in the crotch feeling - yup, describes it well. But I must say that only occured a few times and very short episodes. Secondly, dizziness. I was dizzy I would say two times around dinner time on days 12 and 13 dpo. There you go...more symptoms!

bfp symptoms

A forum I post the question was asked bfp and pregnancy symptoms, here was what I wrote:
Truthfully, I felt exactly the same when I got my BFP as I normally do when my AF is coming. Although we were trying, I was not thinking we got it this month, so I totally wrote this month off and viewed everything as AF. I would say about 3 or 4 days after my BFP I noticed my boobs were getting fuller and my nipples looked different, but now, even at almost 7 weeks, I'm a little more tired, boobs still hurt, sometimes more than others (I think it's important to note that my boobs always hurt before AF and they did with my BFP also) and hurt is different, they are a little harder and fuller, I'm bloated and have slight waves of nausea (which I haven't noticed emensely and I think it's because I have bouts of nausea pre-pg). Seriously I feel great, different, I can tell I'm pg, but great, I can't complain.

terrible, terrible diet

Yikes! I have not ate well at all today, and I have a wedding shower to attend tonight and I know I will want to engorge in the sweets there too! This is what I've ate so far today (maybe I'll feel better about it all once I write it down!):

a strawberry granola bar
a glazed donut
half a bowl of ramen noodles and a few crackers
a carmel donut
2 jolly ranchers
2 cream-filled snack cakes
club crackers and cheese
a glass of milk (and water, and gatorade!)

Yuck, I need some protien in my diet, and for the record, I really don't feel much better about what I've eaten, even after writing it down :(

note to self: start eating healthier, you are growing a baby

I feel good

I can truthfully say that I feel really good right now with this pregnancy, I just do. Occasionally twinches and pinches and slight cramps but over-all I feel good. Now, I know it's early *knocks-on-wood*, but I'm really not sick. I get the occasional nasty feeling, but who doesn't?
On a side note, yesterday when I took Jake for a walk, my back was getting sore. I don't know if it's because I haven't been very physically active lately (hence the plump coming on!) or if it is the pregnancy. I will start walking more now that the weather is getting nice, I need sunlight, VITAMIN D is calling my name =)
Back to the topic at hand, I am very, very thankful that God has allowed me to feel this good this early on. I was nervous I would be a projectile-vomiting machine. If I do start feeling ick and if it MUST come on, I pray that it will be during spring break so at least I don't feel nasty at school.

6 weeks!

Wow, I'm now 6 weeks 1 day pregnant! Fun! Here's this week's guide to what's happening:

Fetal development in pregnancy week 6:
This is going to be a busy week for your amazing little embryo. Their brain is still growing remarkably fast; miniature hand plates are starting to develop and the early formations of what will be their fingers are already visible. Also, the lower limbs do not develop quite as fast, so they’re pretty much still flippers. Up until this point, your baby has been very curled up with the head and tail in close proximity, but this week their trunk and neck are beginning to grow and straighten as their tail recedes into its resting position in the back. Even though your little miracle is only 6 weeks old, they’re already capable of demonstrating reflex responses to touch!


And how's mom doing? It’s official (grumble): if you’re going to have morning sickness, you’ll be feeling the unpleasant symptoms starting some time this week. If you don’t, then chances are you’re in the clear-- but don’t blame us if we’re wrong! There are always a handful of women who are officially morning-sickness late-bloomers with anotherweek or two before the nausea sets in. There are several factors that can help you determine whether or not you you’re one of the unlucky ones. If you are having twins (or more), or had morning sickness with an earlier pregnancy, or experienced nausea or vomiting with birth control pills, then you might expect to have morning sickness with this pregnancy. To lessen your symptoms, you’re going to have to buckle down and focus on cleaning up your diet. Don’t eat fatty foods, drink lots of fluids, eat several small meals throughout the day, take plenty of naps, and don’t forget the prenatal vitamins! (Have you consulted with your doctor of nutritionist yet?) For those of you without morning sickness: don’t dwell on it,you're just one of the lucky 20% of pregnant women who never actually experience morning sickness.

March 5th, 2008

If this is the start of morning sickness, then I have ALL day sickness, yuck. I just haven't felt well at all today. I have no appetite. And while I haven't actually thrown-up, I'm so, so close. Nothing, and I mean nothing sounds good, but yet if I go to bed on an empty stomach it will be a hundred times worse in the morning, and yet, that's exactly what I would like to do - just crawl in bed and hope it goes away. Something not too far inside me tells me it's not that easy. Umph. And truthfully, I went to bed without eating last night before bed and I'm wondering if that's not the problem. I'm going to take a dose of vitamin b6 tonight and eat something, I'll gag it down and start the vitamin b6 supplements twice a day in conjunction with my prenatals and maybe I'll feel better.

March 1st, 2008

5 weks pregnant this is some info I got off of americanpregnancy . I am still trying to decide which I like better. I like to visit all of the websites in one week!

What changes are occurring with your body?

There are still not any changes noticeable to those around you at this time. You may begin to notice more pregnancy symptoms such as morning sickness. About 50% of pregnant women will experience morning sickness.

Morning sickness normally begins around the sixth week of pregnancy, but it is not too soon to begin preparing for how you will deal with it. Morning sickness can be experienced in the morning, throughout the day, or in the evening. For ways to help deal with the nausea that accompanies early pregnancy, read our tips for surviving morning sickness.

If morning sickness is so severe that you are constantly throwing up and not keeping anything down, consult with your doctor about the possibility of having hyperemesis gravidarum.*



What is happening with your baby?
Your baby looks more like a tadpole than a baby at this point. Your baby’s heart is beating at a steady rhythm, and the structures that will become the eyes and ears are forming. Your baby’s skeleton is also beginning to form.*

How big is your baby?
Your baby is still very small, but by the end of this week your baby will be ¼ of an inch long.*

What should you plan for this week?
If you still have not arranged an appointment for your first prenatal visit, then you should go ahead and do so. If you are still interviewing doctors/midwives, you would want to begin narrowing it down and choosing your provider.

Tips for making your pregnancy better:

You may be wondering how much weight you should expect to gain. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends a weight gain of 25 to 35 pounds during pregnancy for women who are at normal weight when pregnancy occurs. Underweight women should gain about 34 pounds, while overweight women should gain about 20 pounds. For more information see About pregnancy weight gain.

February 26, 2008

I'm going to add some tickers in here of my pregnancy, I'm 4 weeks 3 days today. EDD: 11-1-08, a November mommy, yeah!



This is a website that I got some information off of,
baby-gaga
I want to find one that sends regular updates, I'll look through them until I find the one I like the best.
Here's my baby at 4 weeks:

Week 4: Wag that tail!
Fetal development in pregnancy week 4:
By the end of this week the round and pointy ends of your little pear-shaped baby will be slightly more exaggerated and their body will look more like that of a miniature manatee. Despite your baby not looking particularly human without any eyes, ears or mouth, the earliest developments of what will become the larynx, internal ear, and eye lens are already forming, although you’d have to be a trained expert to recognize them for what they’re going to be in the future. Likewise, tiny bumps are forming on your little embryo which will eventually be their cute little arms, elbows, fingers, legs, knees and toes. What’s more your little swimmer will have a teeny tiny tail by the end of this week-- but don’t worry, it’s just the end of their developing spinal cord! A microscopic photo would reveal what seems to be their vertebrae filling out the spine and tail. Although they aren’t bones yet, but rather, the “bone seeds” that will give rise to your baby's tiny vertebrae, ribs and sternum.


And how's mom doing? This week is not unlike the previous weeks; your pregnancy symptoms may be increasing, as expected. In fact, the earliest symptoms of morning sickness may set in for some women at this time. The not-so-lovely symptoms run the normal flu gamut including: nausea and vomiting. Although this typically occurs in the morning and resolves itself by midday, morning sickness can come at any time, day or night, so—for some of you, you’ll just have to make frequent stops throughout the day to kneel before the porcelain throne. In general, most pregnant women don’t experience morning sickness until their sixth week, but it never hurts to know what vomit-y fate may be awaiting you.

Morning sickness is due to several changes that are taking place in your body. First, you are now pumping out significantly larger amounts of estrogen and progesterone than normal, and your body is not used to this. Interactions between the hormones and your stomach result in the less-than-wonderful nausea. Also, your GI-tract is much more sensitive and some doctors theorize that this sensitivity is potentially the whole reason for morning sickness: to clear your system of any toxic food by-products which—although fine for your adult stomach, could cause considerable harm to your baby’s newly forming digestive tract and other body systems . If it helps, you could always think of the morning sickness as a baby-facilitated body cleanse.

February 25th, 2008

This is a card I gave Jeremy on February 25th, 2008

I wish I could take all the beautiful words in the world and arrange them perfectly together in a love letter to you. I would tell you about how great we fit in each other's lives and each other's arms. I would go into detail about everyday moments- times when it's just the two of us talking, listening, laughing, and loving...My love letter would go on about how amazing you are and how great it is to have you to come home to, because home is the place in my heart where our love lives.
So even though I can't express my love with as much eloquence as I'd like, what I can do is go on loving you with all my heart and soul. And I will. Always.

Jeremy, I love you more and more each day. Thank you for being the best husband I could ever want. You already are the best husband and you will also be the best dad! I'm pregnant!!! Love, Me

A Bean in my Belly!

Hello! This blog is exactly as the title announce's - A Bean in my Belly! I am pregnant and we are expecting our first baby this fall, we are very excited!

I have been documenting my pregnancy on my private blog at another site, so I will be transfering alot of pregnancy related things to this site, so some things might be backdated. On the day I am writing this, I'm 6 weeks 1 day. However, my plans are to not make this public for a few more weeks, so if you are reading this, you are not reading fresh new things that I have written, you have just backdated yourself to the lastest date possible! And that's fine, I hope you enjoy following along as we document our journey.