17 Weeks

We had an appointment with the midwives this morning and I must admit that I love the sense of relief I feel after every appointment. Having a chance to get answers to the questions that have been building in my mind and hearing Baby V's wonderful heartbeat (145 beats per minute) brightens up my day. At 17 weeks I still don't look very pregnant (unless you see me at the end of the day and after dinner :)) and I have only put back on 2.5 lbs of the 6 I lost in the first trimester. These things bring a bit of worry to my mind....until I hear that wonderful sound and am offered reassurance from the midwife.

She went over my blood work and testing results...everything looks excellent. No problems with my blood work and the genetic testing we had done after the last appointment turned out perfectly and I won't need to go back in for any more tests. I have been having dizzy spells everyday over the past week or so which she said was fairly normal in pregnancy because a woman's blood pressure has a tendency to get on the low side (I was at 90/50, normal is 120/80). It's just becoming an annoyance and is starting to interfere with day to day activity. Unfortunately there isn't much I can do except stay well hydrated and don't change positions too quickly. This too shall pass.

I have been having a lot of 'growing pains' over the past week or two. Nothing painful, more like quick bursts in my lower abdomen where my uterus is beginning to do some serious stretching. I was also able to finally feel the top of my uterus the other day, just below my bellybutton. Very strange sensation! As the belly gets bigger, I am noticing that I am having to starting to adjust certain activities. Leaning against the counter to do dishes or put on make up is a definite no no and sitting straight up from a laying down position is becoming uncomfortable and puts a lot of pressure on my uterus.

We go back to the midwives on October 19 for the big 20 week appointment. Whoa, almost half way done!!! At that time, we will have an ultrasound and get the final say on Baby V's gender (as long as he cooperates) and then let the baby shopping begin :) Can't wait to see our little bean again!



Your baby's skeleton is changing from soft cartilage to bone, and the umbilical cord — her lifeline to the placenta — is growing stronger and thicker. Your baby weighs 5 ounces now (about as much as a turnip), and she's around 5 inches long from head to bottom. She can move her joints, and her sweat glands are starting to develop.

Lindsey

Have you seen my friend?

We used to be really good friends...in fact only a few short weeks ago we couldn't get enough of each other. Now he seems to have abandon me. If you see him, tell him I miss him terribly. Oh and by the way his name is Sleep.

Apparently, my body has decided that is it enough to have to wake me up at least 3 times a night to use the bathroom but now during one of these trips I should have to lay in bed, wide awake for an hour or two. Ahhh, I miss the days when half of a Xanax would set me back into a peaceful slumber. Oh well, guess I am preparing for things to come.

Sweet dreams....

Lindsey

16 Weeks

It's like someone flipped a switch in me! The second trimester is such a blessing and much needed reprieve. My energy is up and so is my motivation. There are lots of little things I want to get done around here before Baby V's big arrival and we are no longer left with any free time. We started to paint the baby's room last weekend. Yes, I understand it may be a bit premature but if you have ever met me, you understand that I hate putting things off until the last minute and I like to have a plan. And this plan works even if Baby Boy Voigts turns out to be Baby GIRL Voigts! I will put up pictures once we have 'phase 1' done.

My dad is driving out in a few weeks (thank you, thank you, thank you!) to bring us some furniture and among said furniture is the crib my parents used for me when I was a baby. I am well aware how old this crib is and we are going to check it over thoroughly to make sure it is safe and that the slats aren't too far apart. But I am very hopeful that we will be able to use it because that is $200-$300 we won't have to spend on a crib!



Get ready for a growth spurt. In the next few weeks, your baby will double his weight and add inches to his length. Right now, he's about the size of an avocado: 4 1/2 inches long (head to rump) and 3 1/2 ounces. His legs are much more developed, his head is more erect than it has been, and his eyes have moved closer to the front of his head. His ears are close to their final position, too. The patterning of his scalp has begun, though his locks aren't recognizable yet. He's even started growing toenails. And there's a lot happening inside as well. For example, his heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, and this amount will continue to increase as your baby continues to develop.



Lindsey

15 Weeks

Wow...we are moving right along!!! I can't believe I am at 15 weeks already. Just five more weeks until the half way marker and we get the official say on Baby V's gender.

This week has been fairly uneventful, which I must admit I am happy to report! I have been a bit stuffy for the past week or so, hoping that I was not getting another cold. Low and behold, nasal congestion is just another wonderful side affect of pregnancy! When they say that pregnancy is total body experience, they weren't kidding! Oh well, I would take this any day over being nauseated everyday!

We have spent some time starting to plan our holiday season...I know it's only September but when your extended family lives 1000 miles away, advanced planning and logistics is a must. All I can say is what a friggin' nightmare. And I am well aware that holidays are only going to get more complicated once we have Baby V. I am just hopeful that over time Justin and I will be able to work out a 'holiday routine.'

Unfortunately, I don't have any other big news to report this week :( Ooooh, I forgot, we did receive our 'travel system' Baby V this week. Premature, yes. Nonetheless, exciting! The travel systems (otherwise known as a stroller and car seat) was a gift from my mom and grandma...Thank you, thank you ladies, I LOVE it!!!









Here is Baby V's 15 week update! Your growing baby now measures about 4 inches long, crown to rump, and weighs in at about 2 1/2 ounces (about the size of an apple). She's busy moving amniotic fluid through her nose and upper respiratory tract, which helps the primitive air sacs in her lungs begin to develop. Her legs are growing longer than her arms now, and she can move all of her joints and limbs. Although her eyelids are still fused shut, she can sense light. If you shine a flashlight at your tummy, for instance, she's likely to move away from the beam. There's not much for your baby to taste at this point, but she is forming taste buds. Finally, if you have an ultrasound this week, you may be able to find out whether your baby's a boy or a girl! (Don't be too disappointed if it remains a mystery, though. Nailing down your baby's sex depends on the clarity of the picture and on your baby's position. He or she may be modestly curled up or turned in such a way as to "hide the goods.")

Too bad we don't have a doc appointment this week!



Lindsey

14 Weeks

Happy Tuesday...Hope everyone had a wonderful Labor Day Weekend!!! Well I have officially entered into the second trimester and the rumors about this trimester are true...kind of :) The second trimester is supposed to be when most expectant mothers start to feel like a normal person again and I have definitely noticed a change in the past week. I am still ready to call it a day by 9 pm but my daytime fatigue has pretty much disappeared and my motivation level has increased significantly. My super sensitive sense of smell is still very much present however the nausea caused by this is beginning to lighten and food is starting to look appealing again. In fact my appetite is BACK! Great for Baby V, unfortunate for my waistline. Oh well I knew that gaining weight was an inevitable part of being pregnant, but I suppose the 6 lbs I lost in the first trimester will give me a nice buffer ;)

Despite still having a bad day or afternoon occasionally, I AM feeling better and I feel like my attitude has improved greatly. I think that the appointment at the midwives office last week helped to ease a lot of fears that I had buried deep down. I have not allowed myself to focus too much on the 'bad stuff', but that doesn't mean the fear of a miscarriage or something else going wrong with me or the baby wasn't in the back of my mind all the time. Now that I have heard his heartbeat and seen how much he has grown, I just feel more at peace with pregnancy. I am finally allowing myself to be completely open to this experience and our child. It's almost as if I had built up a wall, not permitting myself to get too emotionally involved with this pregnancy but the sound of a heartbeat tore that wall down and I'm in love.

So I told myself when we found out that Baby V is most likely a boy that I would refrain from shopping until the 20 week, 100% confirmation appointment. However, I never realized that baby shopping would be so much fun! My mom was out last week and we went a little crazy ;) (I did save my receipts, just in case!)





Love, Love, Love the little overalls and flannel shirt outfit!



Mom and I found this great baby consignment store nearby. On top of the bibs for a buck and the amazing little stocking caps, we also found this bouncer and baby carrier for a steal....love a deal!!!



And Baby V got another care package from Cathy this week which was full of adorable onesies that she made! And FYI, 'Opa' would be Grandpa Schrof ;)

Here is the Week 14 update...This week's big developments: Your baby can now squint, frown, grimace, pee, and possibly suck his thumb! Thanks to brain impulses, his facial muscles are getting a workout as his tiny features form one expression after another. His kidneys are producing urine, which he releases into the amniotic fluid around him — a process he'll keep up until birth. He can grasp, too, and if you're having an ultrasound now, you may even catch him sucking his thumb.



In other news: Your baby's stretching out. From head to bottom, he measures 3 1/2 inches — about the size of a lemon — and he weighs 1 1/2 ounces. His body's growing faster than his head, which now sits upon a more distinct neck. By the end of this week, his arms will have grown to a length that's in proportion to the rest of his body. (His legs still have some lengthening to do.) He's starting to develop an ultra-fine, downy covering of hair, called lanugo, all over his body. Your baby's liver starts making bile this week — a sign that it's doing its job right — and his spleen starts helping in the production of red blood cells. Though you can't feel his tiny punches and kicks yet, your little pugilist's hands and feet (which now measure about 1/2 inch long) are more flexible and active.



Lindsey

The Sweetest Sound

This should not have been so difficult but I FINALLY figured out how to get this up on the blog! Hopefully, everyone can access this...



Lindsey

13 Weeks

Today was one of the most amazing days in my life. We had an appointment with the midwives this morning and I went in not really knowing what to expect. At our last appointment we had talked about doing some of the early genetic testing but nothing was set in stone...which was driving me crazy! The appointment was a peek into what future appointments were going to be...very quick and painless. They checked my weight (down 6 lbs from 5 weeks ago), felt my tummy to check uterus growth, asked how everything was going and if I had any questions. And then we got to hear the baby's heartbeat for the first time. As soon I heard that wonderful, rapid beating I burst into tears. It was such a relief and the most amazing sound I have EVER heard. Makes me tear up just thinking about it. That made it real for me...

And then my day got even better! The midwife said I would have to go to the perinatal department in the hospital for the 1st trimester screening and luckily they were able to squeeze me in an hour later. The test consisted of a blood draw (luckily I'm starting to get used to this part) and an ultrasound. The test primarily checks for Downs syndrome but also other chromosomal abnormalities (for more info feel free to check out this link http://www.americanpregnancy.org/prenataltesting/firstscreen.html ). I am trying to remain positive about the outcome of the tests. I don't want to stress myself out worrying about 'what ifs', I'll cross that bridge if I need too.

I will have the results of my blood work back in 5 days. During the u/s, they measure the back of the baby's neck to determine the amount of fluid present. I'm not a doctor so I'm not going to get too technical explaining why. But the doctor said that everything in the u/s looked good so we are hoping for a good results in the blood work too. I'll keep you updated.

The baby was in a bad position for the test and apparently also sleeping. They did a external and an internal sonogram to get a better view and after some poking to my belly Baby V finally woke up and started to move. In the last u/s, the baby was just a little bean but this time around was a different story. Baby V looked a little alien (as you can see from the u/s pictures) but we could see eyes and a tiny nose and chin in the profile. We saw little feet, the heart beating, and the baby was waving it's hands around....seeing it move it's arms was the most incredible thing I have ever experienced.

So I went out on a limb and asked if they could maybe determine the baby's sex. It is still early but I have read that it is possible for them to tell just not with 100% certainty. And the woman doing the u/s said it shouldn't be a problem!!! So after a few seconds...it's a...BOY!!! I asked how sure of the that she was and she said 90%. She made the comment that generally girls are a little swollen down there but they are never THAT swollen and she would be "very surprised if it was not a boy." I'm going to hold off going crazy buying blue until our 20 week appointment (October 19th) when the sex can be seen more clearly BUT it felt amazing to get this bit of information today. Justin and I were both hoping for a boy (I have just always felt that it was going to be a boy) and a lot of our family members were predicting and/or hoping for a girl. Sorry to disappoint but I'm THRILLED!!! What an awesome experience I am going to have...with my son.

Today has been such an emotional day and I am exhausted. Getting to hear HIS heartbeat, seeing him move his beautiful little hands, and finding out that my intuition of it being a him (with 90% accuracy ;)) has made this a very, very memorable day. As I said before, today's excitement made it real for me. I am looking forward to the weeks, months, and years of watching my blond haired, blue eyed, kind hearted little boy grow up (I'm guessing on the blond hair and blue eyes but J and my dad were toe heads so I'm thinking there is a good chance Baby V will be too.)



In the above picture, Baby V's body is on the left and head on the right (he's looking to the left) with his hands up by his head.



This photo is the same straight on picture as shown above...yes he totally looks like an alien but he is all ours :)



And in this one, his back is towards us but you can see his hand and tiny fingers at the top of the photo.

Sorry to go on and on but I want to have the memories of this day. Now on to your weekly update...

Fingerprints have formed on your baby's tiny fingertips, her veins and organs are clearly visible through her still-thin skin, and her body is starting to catch up with her head — which makes up just a third of her body size now. If you're having a girl, she now has more than 2 million eggs in her ovaries. Your baby is almost 3 inches long (the size of a medium shrimp) and weighs nearly an ounce.



(Is it just me or does the shrimp seem smaller than last weeks lime??? We go back to fruit next week ;))

Love you all!

Lindsey