~8 Weeks~

2 months!  We are officially 1/5 of the way through this pregnancy.  Right now Bebo is growing webbed fingers and toes.  Breathing tubes now extend from the throat to the developing lungs.  Our little tadpole's tail is just about gone at this point.  Nerve cells are branching out in the brain to connect to one another making neural pathways. Our little Bebo, now the size of a kidney bean, is now shifting and moving like crazy (I just cannot feel it yet). 

I have been in denial in taking a picture of my belly by my chalkboard.  I have been growing in every angle way too quickly and don't really want to document that.  I will start taking pictures of me when I actually look pregnant and not fat... deal?

Anyway, this week is really pretty much the same as last week.  Nausea throughout the day, all day (and sometimes night).  I am realizing that I feel sick after every time I eat.  (No worries it doesn't stop me from eating... lol.)  Fatigue is definitely at its best.  I cancelled my plans this weekend just to rest, and I have done just that.  As soon as I wake up from my nap, I want to take another.  I just can't kick this exhaustion.  Its like a constant merry-go-round of nausea and fatigue!  If I am not nauseous I am incredibly fatigued. If I am not fatigued, I am incredibly nauseous.  Just a few more weeks and I will finally be out of the first trimester! 

Since nothing has really changed from last week to this week I have decided not to do a questionnaire.  Maybe next week!

On a side note...

Has anyone tried these?  My new sweet & salty obsession. Problem is I can't stop when I start.  I highly recommend that you temporarily step away form your computer right now, grab your keys, drive to the nearest convenient store and buy some peanuts and candy corn.  DO IT! Trust me, you wont regret it... unless you can't stop eating them like me and end up in a sweet and salty food coma.

7 Weeks

It is so hard to find time to post! The first three posts I wrote the first two days I found out I was pregnant.  This is the first chance since then I have had to sit down and write a post.  Week five consisted of no morning sickness so I was worried that I felt so "normal".  That quickly changed by week six.  It feels like a constant hangover.  Not fun.  I have been able to resist nausea meds and just suck it up but I have gotten very close.  I have it in my purse in case I really need it.  It is hard to teach full time and then go to work part time, followed by Junior League or bible study in the evenings.  Not much time to feel bad, blog or breathe.

Right now hands and feet are emerging from Bebo's developing arms and legs.  He/she has doubled in size since last week and now measures half an inch long. Bebo's eyelid folds are partially covering her eyes, which already have some color.  Tiny veins are below his/her very thin skin.  Both hemispheres of the brain are growing, and liver is churning out red blood cells until bone marrow forms and takes over this role.  An appendix and a pancreas have already formed which will eventually produce the hormone insulin to aid in digestion.

So much is going on inside baby Bebo.  No wonder I haven't been feeling all that well lately.  The sad thing is the only thing that makes me feel better is very bad foods.  I need to find a different remedy or I will be the size of a blimp in no time.

I found this questionnaire online and thought it was a cute way to keep everyone updated.

Pregnancy Update/Questionnaire (7 Weeks)
How far along? 7 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: Ugh... about 4 lbs.  (Too early to start gaining weight, but this is due to not changing my diet and not running for three weeks.  Hopefully this will change quickly since I have slowly started running again).

Maternity clothes? Nope.

Stretch marks? Nope. Not even showing yet. 

Sleep: So tired ALL THE TIME!  Wake up to use the restroom at least once a night!  

Best moment this week: hearing my baby's strong heartbeat at our first visit. Such a sweet and touching moment for both mommy and daddy. 

Have you told family and friends: YES! We told them early.

Movement: Nope, again still too small (size of a raspberry by the way!)

Food cravings: As of now, burgers, carbs and cheese! (NO GOOD!) Oh and pumpkin makes me very nauseas... WHAT?

Anything making you queasy or sick: Oops, jumped the gun there.  PUMPKIN. Just thinking about a bunch of different things... so weird.  Coffee BLAH! (I suck it up and drink a cup in the morning anyway for my sanity).

Have you started to show yet: Well possibly, but I think I am just getting fat.  Very bloated no doubt.

Gender prediction: we will find out (if baby cooperates) the week of December 10th!  No telling right now.  We would be thrilled with either.

Belly Button in or out? in. Hopefully it stays that way but I hear there is not much I can do about it. 

Wedding rings on or off? On! :)  Hopefully it will stay that way too. 

Happy or Moody most of the time: Well I have my days of feeling really down about my changing body, but then I remind myself that I have a sweet baby inside of me and it will all be worth it. I can worry about my body after. All the matters right now is that I have a healthy baby.  :)  Happy most of the time though.

Weekly Wisdom: Listen to your body.  It knows what it needs and doesn't. 

Milestones: We met baby Barnes for the first time last Wednesday.  Healthy heartbeat and baby!! We decided to take the chance and share our excitement with the world that night!  Everyone is so excited for us and cannot wait to meet baby Barnes! :)

5 Weeks!

It has been so hard to keep everything on the hush hush!! Andrew and I finally (a little over 24 hours after we found out... yes it was hard for me to keep it from them that long) told our parents and family about our sweet little Bebo the Embryo (that's what we are calling baby Barnes right now) on Sunday evening.  I am so glad that our families are "in the know" because all I want to do/think/breathe lately is baby.

Right now, Bebo is very tiny, the size of an apple seed.  Its heart, spinal cord, muscle, and bones are beginning to develop.  The placenta, which nourishes Bebo, and the amniotic sac, which provides a warm and save environment where Bebo can move easily, are forming too.  The umbilical cord forms and connects him/her to my blood supply.

It is so weird to think  that all of this is happening inside me right now.  So far the only pregnancy symptoms I have had up to now are: fatigue, frequent urination (kind of annoying), bloating, sore (and growing) breasts, and heightened sense of smell.  I know it is really early in the pregnancy (most people don't even know they are pregnant yet), but I have not felt queasy at all.  The heightened sense of smell relates to everything I smell, smells like a baby. It is so odd, almost like my body is trying to send some kind of subliminal message to take a pregnancy test if I hadn't already.

Andrew turned on a song the other day that brought tears to my eyes.  He said that all day (the day we found out) he kept thinking about the lyrics to this song.  So today, baby Bebo, your daddy and I dedicate this song to you.  We love you more than words can explain and cannot wait to see and feel you grow.

http://pl.st/s/788011281

                                                    "With Arms Wide Open"--CREED

Well I just heard the news today
It seems my life is going to change
I close my eyes, begin to pray
Then tears of joy stream down my face

With arms wide open
Under the sunlight
Welcome to this place
I'll show you everything
With arms wide open
With arms wide open

Well I don't know if I'm ready
To be the man I have to be
I'll take a breath, I'll take her by my side
We stand in awe, we've created life

With arms wide open
Under the sunlight
Welcome to this place
I'll show you everything
With arms wide open
Now everything has changed
I'll show you love
I'll show you everything

With arms wide open
With arms wide open
I'll show you everything ...oh yeah
With arms wide open..wide open

[Guitar Break]

If I had just one wish
Only one demand
I hope he's not like me
I hope he understands
That he can take this life
And hold it by the hand
And he can greet the world
With arms wide open...

With arms wide open
Under the sunlight
Welcome to this place
I'll show you everything
With arms wide open
Now everything has changed
I'll show you love
I'll show you everything
With arms wide open
With arms wide open

I'll show you everything..oh yeah
With arms wide open....wide open

Love,
Your Mommy and Daddy

Telling Andrew I'm Pregnant

It was 4:00 am Saturday morning and I woke up to my cat, Mali,  pawing me and meowing at me like crazy.  At this point I had to go to the bathroom but it was just too far away, and I was just too tired.   Mali was begging for attention from then on.  At 5:00 she started pawing at my very tender chest (sign one). I pushed her away and she started pawing at my clock (why, I have no idea).  Suddenly (both of us pretty annoyed with her) we heard "LOOOOONG NECK BOTTLE..." She had turned on my iTunes on my iPhone which was hooked up to the iHome, volume set very loud.  We both wanted to hit her but started laughing instead.  I am convinced that Mali thinks it is her job to make sure that we get up in the mornings.  Lo and behold, sleep conquered all and I slowly fell back into a deep sleep.

6:30 this routine starts over, sans the DJ attempt.  At this point I had to SERIOUSLY use the restroom. I was a day late on my period and thought, why not? I pulled out a pregnancy test.  "Lindsay its probably going to say 'NEGATIVE' don't be upset".  It took less than a minute for the results to appear. LESS THAN A MINUTE!!! I used to stare at those tests for like ten minutes thinking... oh just give it time, it will change. In less than a minute there was a definite "+" sign. I seriously had to clear my eyes thinking I was just seeing things.  I stared at myself in the mirror and started to cry.

I always knew exactly how I would tell Andrew when I first saw a positive sign. I was going to go to the grocery store and buy a pink and blue helium filled balloon and put it in a box. I would wrap the box with normal wrapping paper and when he got home from work I would be like, "That box was sitting on our front door step with no tag.  I wanted to wait for you to open it." When we opened it together the balloons would fly out and we would be so happy.  Well that was quickly thrown out of the window when excitement took over. I ran into the bedroom and JUMPED on him (yes he was still in a deep slumber)! He quickly jumped up and the first thing he said, "Its not even seven yet!" He looked a little mad at me. "It's positive! It's positive!" I EXCLAIMED.  He quickly turned that frown upside down.  I told him I didn't believe it so I took another test.  Well what do you know, it was positive, too.  BRING ON THE PREGNANCY SO THAT WE CAN WELCOME BABY BARNES INTO THIS BEAUTIFUL WORLD!

First Letter to our sweet Baby Barnes--4 WEEKS

September 15, 2012

Our Sweet Angel,

Today is a very special day, because today is the day we found out that God has blessed us with a very special gift, YOU! We have been on cloud nine since we found out.  I keep wanting to grab my phone to call and tell the world our wonderful news.  I want to share our excitement SO MUCH with everyone it is just eating me up inside.  Your daddy and I agreed that we are going to wait and tell everyone in our family on the same day so that no one feels left out.  I know everyone will be filled with joy and happiness when we tell them!

It took lots of prayers and patience for you to bless us in this world, but now that you are here it is hard to believe it is true.  Your daddy and I are beyond thrilled that you are growing right now and we cannot wait to meet you.  We truly believe that God has a plan for everyone.  We prayed about it every day and night, and we believe that God thinks we are ready to be parents!  From this moment on, I solemn vowel to try my hardest to be the best parent I can be and never let you down.  You are only the size of a poppyseed and I already cannot believe how much love I have for you.  I know it will just grow and grow.

My biggest fear is losing you. Studies show that anywhere between 10-25% of pregnancies end in miscarriage during the first trimester.  I pray that you are a strong and healthy poppyseed.  We need you to hang in there so that we will be blessed to finally meet you in May 2013.

We love you so much!

Love,
Mommy and Daddy