17 weeks

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Hope you all had an awesome holiday! Here is the Penney family on Thanksgiving day (post dinner). I'm usually a bit bigger after I eat, but this is close enough to what I look like every day.

We just got back from our 3rd appt. and thought it was going to be an ultrasound appt. but it wasn't, we were bummed. But I did have to give more blood work (my least favorite part) and we did get to see the doctor and hear the heartbeat. He said its around 140 bmp now which is perfect. My blood work also came back from my last appt. and everything looks healthy and great --- we're a low risk pregnancy. My weight has bumped up to 136 pds. (2 pds more than last check-up) and its starting to even out. In two weeks, we'll be hitting the middle-mark of the pregnancy and I should be gaining a pound per week at this point on. Fun times! Overall, still feeling great just bigger and my doctor reminded me this is the "enjoyable" part of the pregnancy --- there is no more risks such as miscarriage, not as much discomfort, the baby is growing more slowly, more settled and sickness goes away even though I never really had that --- minus my smell issues.

More info on the baby, haven't felt any moving around yet but that should happen between weeks 20-24. Babycenter.com says that typically at 17 weeks the baby's skeleton is developing from soft cartilage to bone. Baby's weighs in about 5 ounces, length 5 inches from top to bottom and is now considered "turnip" size. Not sure if I like calling my baby a turnip, but hey what can you do! Sweat glands are also starting to grow and he/she can now move their joints which is pretty cool. Frank always jokes (but secretly serious --- its one of those "jokes" if you know what I mean haha.) that he hopes the baby gets his reflexes and NOT mine because, to him, mine are horrible! And his judgment is based only on my softball skills which I never played before the age of 25 yrs old so cut me some slack! Jeff & Tina, not a word! I keep reminding him that we'll be happy with whatever kind of kid we get, even if our son can't hit a baseball and starts a love for dancing, then we'll have to go with it. He wasn't too pumped about this thought, but, of course, will be very supportive and accepting either way. The joys of parenting! LOL

Next appt. on Dec 14th at 3:30pm is an exciting day for us! This is when we will find out the gender. We're actually going to see if the ultrasound tech can write down the gender on a piece of paper (christmas card actually), put it an envelope for us to take home that day with us. Ideally, we want to find out on Christmas morning just the two of us, then we'll share with family and friends later on. Don't worry no one will be left out, and it'll def be posted!! More **bigger news** to come!!

15 weeks

We're moving right along, 15 weeks and 2 days! The baby is now 4 inches long, grew a whole inch since last week, weighs 2.5 ounces and is the size of an "apple." He/she can move limbs, and legs are growing longer than arms right now. Eyelids are still shut, but they say the baby can be sensitive to light so if you flashed a flashlight onto the stomach then the baby will move away from it. Taste buds are also forming, and the gender is just about "complete" --- we technically can find out the sex this week but we are waiting until 18th weeks to make sure that we can get an accurate reading. Don't want to make a mistake on this one!

As for my body changes, been feeling fine and can still be somewhat uncomfortable/crampy at night. I do a lot of tossing and turning when sleeping, sorry Franko! Babycenter reports:

"You've probably gained about 5 pounds by now (a little more or less is fine, too) and are well into the swing of your pregnancy, but you may still be surprised by an unexpected symptom now and then. If your nose is stuffed up, for instance, you can probably chalk it up to the combined effect of hormonal changes and increased blood flow to your mucous membranes. This condition is so common, there's even a name for it: "rhinitis of pregnancy.""

Well, I'm WAY over 5 pounds, I'm actually 15! Whoops! But my doctor has told me time and time again (because I keep asking) that I'm fine and if he was worried about my weight gain, then I would know. It's scary though, I just wonder why so much and why so quick? I'm nervous that it will be hard for me to lose the baby weight afterwards. I'm sure I'll be fine, I live an active life-style esp with my job, but its a constant stress of mine --- and I'm sure I'm not the only one. As for the cold, that's about 95% gone. I def have the "stuffed up nose" they mentioned above --- its clear when I blow my nose but I still feel congested in the morning and throughout different points in the day. It doesn't help that this past week (Wed. & Thurs. mornings) were 35-37 degrees outside either. Makes it so hard to get out of bed. Grrr to the cold!

Please don't judge me on this, but I'm really craving a nice glass of red wine --- and just A glass not several. It's hard. Of course I won't, but I do miss coming home on a cold Friday night after a hectic work week, opening a bottle with Frank, sitting by the fire, feet up and watching a movie. How do the Europeans do it with so much great vino floating around them constantly? Ivy or Lizzy Bizzy? I'm not going to mimic, just really curious. This is the season for lots of relax time and hyphenation. . . so I think this is why I'm thinking of it so much. It's my end-of-the-week-relaxing-treat that is GONE. Along with my morning coffee. But, of course, 6 months is going to fly right by (3 months already has!) and it will be all well worth the wait :)

Well, that's all to report for now. Next blog will have new ultrasound pics --- we have our next check-up appt. on Monday, 11/30 at 6pm!!

P.S. Random note, but for any readers out there, I HIGHLY recommend reading the new Julia Child's bio "My Life in France" --- great, great book. I read Julie & Julia last year, and that's a great read, too, but this takes it a step further into Julia's life and journeys in France and throughout Europe. She's a truly remarkable woman. I'm anxious to see the movie!

14 weeks - Welcome to 2nd Trimester

Well I'm officially 14 weeks today (first week of 2nd Trimester), and woke with the start of yet another cold :( Didn't think I would experience a cold again, but, unfortunately, it has somehow made its way in. Right now its just stuffy nose, sore throat at night and sneezing, minor stuff. Luckily my Mom made me some homemade kale noodle soup last week (my favorite) and that what helped me conquer the last cold, so I think it will do the same this time around.

This week is already feeling like its going to be a "quick week" because I have lots of fun activities planned for the kids I nanny for, Kiernan and Bridgette (thank goodness). Today is story time at the Melrose library, tomorrow play-date at Bonkers in Peabody, Thursday another play-date with a new friend we met at the Reading library and Friday Museum of Science. More of a reason that I'm still happy that I got vaccinated two weeks ago, so I can go to all of these places with the kids and not feel so worried of getting sick --- anything beyond the cold, at least.

In other news, babycenter.com reports that a 14 week baby is the size of a "lemon" or measures 3 1/2 inches from top to bottom. This week's big developments: squint, frown, grimace, pee (awesome, like I don't have to go every 5 minutes already!), and possibly suck his/her thumb! Oh man, I would love to see that on an ultrasound! The baby is also stretching out, but I can't feel any kicking yet. They say that is suppose to come later in the 2nd trimester or 17-18 weeks I believe. I REALLY can't wait for that "fluttering" feeling. . . just to know that the little one is movin' & grovin' in there! Along with finding out the gender, those are two things I'm looking forward to the most :)

P.S. Another quick update that I forgot to mention earlier. . . my sense of smell is now totally wacky! Frank isn't too happy about it because one particular smell affects his favorite thing in the ENTIRE world. . . cologne. So, yes, I'm asking Mr. Penney not to wear ANY cologne for the next 6 months. If anyone knows my husband, he's obsessed with his cologne and doesn't leave the house normally without spraying at least 20 times, no joke. Another "smell issue" was my shampoo and conditioner. I had to get rid of it because it was making me feel so sick. Last time I used it, I seriously almost passed out in the shower and I typically don't have a weak stomach. It was awful. I've since changed hair products, but had to get the non-scented kind. Keep it safe. This smell issue is interesting because its just one of those things that you don't know until it hits you, can happen anytime and anywhere which isn't fun. So I'm sorry to anyone in advance! And I can smell anything from a mile away, too!

13 weeks

How quickly 13 weeks can pop right up! I had my 2nd ultrasound/3 months last Tuesday 10.27.09 at 8AM and everything went great (minus the wait-room time). The baby's heartbeat was perfect at 164 BPM and he/she did lots of moving and bouncing around which allowed me to see an arm and tiny fingers. It was amazing! The baby "should" be a little past 2 inches now, which, according to fruit-size has advanced to a fig. . . no more blueberry and, sorry Mary, no "fig newton" size! Babycenter.com measures in fruit only, not cookies or pastry snacks!

As for my health, I've been feeling fine as usual. I was probably a bit more hormonal this week with my moodiness, which I know Frank would nod a big "YES" to but probably would never say anything because he's a good man. I also have been getting really uncomfortable at night time, usually right around 7-8ish before bed/after dinner. I asked my doctor and he said that my body is doing a lot of moving around to make room for the baby and this could be the cause. I've also felt some cramping which is part of expanding my hips, etc. My belly is pretty round, I think, and at the doctors I weighed in at 134 pds. I'm officially 14 pds. over my usual weight, that I think/hope (fingers crossed) is a healthy growing rate. Staying away for candy and goodies have been tough these past few weeks given Halloween preps and my Mom's bday party hosted at our condo over a week ago. We had lots of yummy leftovers and CHEESECAKE!!

Anyways, here's an update picture of my belly with the ultrasound. First picture of Momma with baby, makes me so proud. Can't wait to meet the little one in May! Post more in a few weeks!

P.S. Got the H1N1 shot during this appt. too --- was a little hesitant at first but now I'm glad that I did. Just being in public places and hearing a person cough or sneeze freaks me out!