26 - 29 weeks

My parents and I went to Mexico, it was a much needed vacation. It was very relaxing and I ate mostly local cuisine which is very limited in salt. As a result, I lost a lot of the water retention in my feet. They are still a full size bigger but I can see my ankles now!

My doctor visits have been going well. I have slightly elevated blood pressure but since I'm not getting headaches or have proteins in my urine, he says it's probably due to stress. I've gained just 9 pounds but the doctor is not concerned. My tummy is measuring properly and I've started feeling him move on a regular basis. Next week is my last monthly visit. Once at 30 weeks I start to go in every 2 weeks. Once at 36 weeks, I go every week until baby comes.

I'm still very much determined to have as little intervention as possible - meaning no induction and no drugs! I suspect that he is breach right now which in NV, requires a C-section. I'm confident that he will turn when he is ready. I have chosen Hypnobirthing for the method I will use to have a natural delivery. It uses guided imagery and deep relaxation techniques to keep the laboring mommy peaceful and calm. My first class is next week. I will also hire a doula to assist on birthday. Unlike a midwife, doula's do not deliver babies. They simply act as a coach for labor or even just an advocate to make sure the doctor and hospital are respecting my birth plan. If you are pregnant, or plan on becoming pregnant - I highly recommend you watch the documentary "The Business of Being Born."

Here's the latest pic of my ever growing tummy. Due to high demand, I'm showing my bare belly this time!

22 - 25 weeks

I have to admit, this month was the most difficult so far. In talking to other women and reading the what to expect when you are expecting books, I expected to feel the best I've ever felt at this mid-way point. I'm not complaining since I didn't suffer in the first trimester but I certainly didn't expect to feel worse. I'm more emotional than I'm used to and honestly, I don't know how to deal. Jimmy certainly isn't used to it either and he's not sure how to handle me.

My feet are so swollen. They grew a full size in just a weeks time. I've resorted to wearing crocs to work which are not very professional and I actually had to cancel some of my presentations because the tightness around my ankles made it very painful to walk or stand. My own mother teased me about how fat my feet were! She made up for it though...her and my brother came down from SLC and helped to complete the new office/guest room to help make room for baby.

Stay tuned, I'll get out of my slump! I'm looking forward to vacation next week and we'll try to get a 4D ultrasound in about three weeks so we should have some exciting updates soon.

18 - 21 weeks. IT'S A BOY!

We are so excited to announce that we are expecting a baby boy! I had a feeling pretty early on that it would be a boy so I wasn't too shocked. Jimmy on the other hand, really wanted a girl first. When the technician told us it was a boy, his response was, "Are you sure?" He asked the tech if she could be looking at the arm and mistaking it for a penis! In the pic below, "P" marks the spot!

I mentioned earlier that the first ultrasound looked like a duck...now I'm giving birth to Skeletor! Here's some pics of me and baby at 21 weeks.

14 - 17 weeks

Exciting news, we graduated to a regular OB/GYN! My progesterone levels were a little low at first so I stayed under the careful watch of my fertility specialist. I was required to take supplemental pills, get weekly blood tests and ultrasounds but after week 13 we are in the clear. It was a bit of a transition for me to go from having frequent visits to the doctor and being treated very attentively to being just another pregnant woman. It worries me a bit that I will only have three ultrasounds my whole pregnancy when I had three ultrasounds in my first 10 weeks! On the other hand, it feels good to be a "normal" patient. Our new doctor is really cool and friendly and approachable. Most importantly, he is in full support of my birth plan to have as little intervention as possible.

My baby bump is developing, I can't wait until I look pregnant and not just chubby!

13 weeks

This marks the end of my first trimester! Since I found out I was pregnant just about 5 weeks ago, it really went by quickly. Other than the shock of finding out I was expecting, the first trimester was rather uneventful. Fortunately, I didn't have any nausea or any of the other first-tri woes. The only difference was I started craving vegetables and chocolate tasted horrible! I actually wouldn't mind if that stuck with me even after the pregnancy! Here's baby and I as we head into the second trimester...

It's a....duck?!

Our first ultrasound was scheduled the day after the positive pregnancy test. The concept of being pregnant was still so enormous to me. While I was very apprehensive, I felt comfort that we would soon have visual evidence. We were led into the imaging room, as we were many times before. Routinely, I get on the table, feet up and that little paper towel on my lap. As if I didn't already feel confused and vulnerable, the nurse goes on a tangent about how amazing it is that I didn't know I was pregnant - Your breasts aren't swollen? You haven't been nauseous? You didn't notice light headiness? You don't taste metal? You're not sensitive to smells?

All these questions seemed to be rhetorical because she didn't wait for me to answer a single one. The only words I could get in was that I was "allegedly" pregnant! All the same, I couldn't help but start to develop a complex about what else I don't know if I didn't even know I was pregnant and what kind of mother would I be if I couldn't feel the presence of my developing fetus. I wanted to take my foot right out of the stirrup and kick her in the face. Luckily, she was saved by the entrance of my doctor. Here it is, the moment of truth.

The first black and white images flashed across the monitor. I didn't know what I was looking at but it certainly didn't resemble a baby. At just 8 weeks old, it was so small - a speck - a mere centimeters. Not quite the visual confirmation I was anticipating. That little speck could have been my stomach contents, a blood clot, a pending bowel movement. How am I supposed to know that speck is alive? The doctor pointed to a rapidly flickering area and told us that was the heartbeat. On the way out, he gave us our first picture. I couldn't find a way to rationalize that little flutter so the possibility of me being pregnant started to absorb as I studied the photo. I had the evidence I needed, a visual, the proof is in the picture. I'm pregnant and I'm having a....duck! Take a look for yourself!

I hate to admit it

I was so taken back that I had to repeat the words out loud, a heart beat?! I had a Jessica Simpson moment thinking to myself, even if I was pregnant, how could he hear the heartbeat from the blood test. Luckily, he spoke before I actually said that out loud. What he was saying was that the pregnancy hormone level was so high he calculated that I was at least 6 weeks pregnant and that we could see the heartbeat on the ultrasound he scheduled for me the following day.

I hung up the phone and the nurse was hysterical. The assistants had all gathered in the treatment room and were crying and clapping. I was numb. Literally, because the medicine on my legs was in full affect. Figuratively, I didn't know what to do. I wondered if I should tell Jimmy or wait until after the ultrasound in case there was a mix up. Considering he can read me like a book, I rushed to his job to tell him the news.

He was shocked to see me. I have never shown up unannounced. He could tell I had been crying. He asked if I wrecked the Expedition. I shook my head no. He smile, pulled me close, kissed my forehead and said, "You're pregnant". There was no inflection in his voice to indicate he was asking a question like "are you pregnant?" There was no quiver in his voice to indicate uncertainty like "you're pregnant?" It was a statement. YOU ARE PREGNANT. As if he was telling me, I told you so!

I still wasn't so sure. Convinced the Dr. confused my blood with another patient, I took a home pregnancy test. I stared at the stick in disbelief. Two straight pink lines. Excitement and terror washed over me. Excited that our dreams of parenthood are coming to fruition. Terrified that I have to admit that like usual, Jimmy is right!