Go Cougs!

My Mom came up with a great idea for a tee shirt. I think she might really score big if she actually sold these! Thanks Mom!!!

Belly picture around 12 weeks...nothing much has changed but I'm sure it will start to grow soon.

Ultrasound Video

Today we had our more hi-tech ultrasound and it was really cool because we got to look at the baby moving around while they took all of these measurements for about 15 minutes. It is amazing how much can be seen at this stage of pregnancy. We got to see tiny fingers, toes, brain cavity, nasal cavity, heart beating (which was some crazy number like 196 beats per minute, which is about twice what ours is...the tech said this was totally normal), the belly where the umbilical cord goes into the baby and we got to even see the baby drinking or swallowing for awhile which was pretty cool to watch.

Our baby is now the size of a plum (The average fetus at 12 weeks is about 2.1 inches long and .49 ounces.)

Most of the babies critical systems are fully formed!

It is about to enter the growth and maturation stage, in which the organs and tissues will grow and develop rapidly.

The baby is now developing it's reflexes -- if you poke it's body, it will likely move.

The baby is opening and closing it's fingers and curling it's toes, too.

The brain is developing fast!

In the video the flickering on the screen is the heart beat. You can also see the babies hands and feet moving around.

12 Weeks

Finally!!! We get to tell all of our friends and family (no Facebook yet though...still need to work up the courage to tell my boss before I start showing). I think my mom had more fun than Charles and I when telling everyone. She could not wait for that chance. My pants are starting to get tight and I have a new love for stretchy pants! This will come in handy around the holidays with all of the yummy food especially now that food tastes good and is staying down. No cravings yet.

We had our first ultrasound at the doctors office on 11/11/11 (it was a lucky day for us). The doctor told us our baby looked healthy, happy and was very active. The baby is defiantly keeping my bladder active. I have to go to the bathroom 3 times as much as before I feel like and it sucks waking up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom 1-3 times per night. I assume this only gets worse and it is preparing me for little sleep to come. Next week we go in for the more hi-tech ultrasound and should get better baby pictures. I also will have all of my blood screening work done for any abnormalities or potential for disease. Hopefully everything will come back negative. The doctor says she likes mixed races because Caucasians typically are carriers of certain diseases and vice versa in African Americans...good news for us!

Expected Due Date (LMP) May 14, 2012
Expected Due Date (ultrasound) May 26, 2012

Wednesday, we should have a more official due date with the fancy ultra sound or as close as possible. I will post will an update soon!

Our Baby Story

We were planning on starting a family this Fall and it came sooner than expected! We conceived sometime at the end of August or early September. Before we left for Mexico on vacation I took a pregnancy test which came up negative. I thought great, more fun to be had! Little did I know we had a baby cooking in the oven. (Luckily the doctor says this happens all the time so we have nothing to worry about) When we got back from Mexico, I was at work and suddenly felt sick to my stomach and had to run to the bathroom. I thought to myself, oh no. I immediately left work and went to the closest drug store because the suspense was killing me and I had to know. I took one test at work which gave me a positive reading!!! I thought this was not right and when I got home I took TWO more just to be sure, before telling Charles the good news.

We both agreed to no tell anyone until we made it to at least the 12 week mark. This was one of the hardest things to keep secret especially when hanging out when friends and alcohol is involved. Unfortunately, my parents called me out when we were at dinner and I had not even thought about excuses at that time so I got caught off guard. My mom said, "Michelle what kind of wine should we have tonight?" I said, "I am fine for right now." "Wait your not drinking?...You’re not drinking!!!" At that point all I could do was smile and I had to tell them. Both of them were given clear instructions of not to tell ANYONE! Within 5 minutes, my dad told someone that he knew without me knowing. My dad's friend came over to our table and said, “I hear congratulations are in order." At that point I was shocked. How did she already find out? Needless to say, my dad kept our secret to himself until he was given the green light.

As for how I am feeling, weeks 6-10 were the hardest for me. I felt sick most of the time and nothing sounded good. I also was extremely tired during these weeks and it was very hard to be at work. I found that if I ate every 2-3 hours that it seemed to help with the sickness. The more hungry I got the more sick I felt. This was so tough since NOTHING tasted good expect for milk and yogurt. Another symptom is my nose that will not stop running and everyone keeps thinking I am always sick and I am not.