16 Weeks

Week 16 (Holy Cow 4 months)

I know I already said this, but holy cow! I can't believe I am already 4 months pregnant! I am definitely starting to have some belly now. If you know me, you can tell I'm pregnant. I've had a few people even grab my stomach already and tell me they see a baby bump. But, if you didn't know me before you might just think I've gained some weight and am a little heavy. After I eat my stomach definitely sticks out much more than when I wake up in the morning. Most of my clothes are still pretty good but getting much tighter around the belly area. Getting into our bed is beginning to be a problem. If you've ever seen our bed, you know why... basically when we bought our bed we really liked the look of a higher bed, so we have 2 box springs beneath the mattress (which is thick already). If I'm standing next to it, the bed is up almost to my belly button (maybe 3 inches below). I'm not very tall in the first place, but still that's a high bed. So I think we're going to have to take out one of the box springs or get me a stepping stool. It's easy to get out, I just slide out, but getting into bed is not always the easiest. Especially when it's the middle of the night and I just have to go to the bathroom.

I had my sixteen week appointment today! :-) I got to hear the baby's heartbeat again. The little rascal decided to play hide and seek in my stomach for a little bit though. I had to reposition myself so that the baby was sticking up more. The NP went over my belly like 5 times and then finally he/she decided to say hi. The heartbeat was strong still. It was good to hear it again though! Such a cool and reassuring thing.

Well, I think that's about all for now... so on to the 16 week quiz.

16 Week Quiz


How far along: 16 weeks today

Weight gain: I weighed myself on my scale this morning and it said I was up about 7.5 pounds. When I wen to the doctor today, they have me as being up 4 pounds. But you have to remember that the doctor first weighed me when I was already 10 weeks and I have been weighing myself since I was 4 weeks.

Maternity clothes: The belly band is good, but still trying to wear some of my old pants from when I weighed a little bit more. That way I don't have to start maternity clothes yet and I can still button pants and not have anything on my stomach.

Stretch marks: Nothing that I've seen. Still trying to keep them away.

Sleep: Sleeping is okay, but not the greatest. I began using a body pillow to help me sleep at night. In some ways, I feel like I've got my old stuffed animal that I used to hug at night back next to me. I do have some trouble as I mentioned earlier getting into bed, well, let's just say it's getting much harder. I now shouldn't be laying on my back, but I tend to find myself roll onto my back in the middle of the night and then I wake up in a panic that I'm hurting the baby.

Best moment of the week: Getting to hear the heartbeat again... although I was getting a little nervous there for a minute when she couldn't find it.

Movement: Haven't had anything that I could say was movement definitely. They say it's supposed to feel like fluttering or gas bubbles. Haven't had either. I can really feel my pulse in my stomach now though.

Food cravings: I just like food right now!

Gender: No guesses this week, not sure!

Labor signs: No!

Belly button in or out: Still in.

What I miss: I miss feeling skinny. I know, I'm pregnant and I'm supposed to gain weight, but all my life I've worked hard (okay maybe I took a couple years off in college) but after that, I've worked really hard to keep weight off and look better, feel better, and be really athletic, in shape, and toned. So it's hard to not feel that way right now, although I know this will be very rewarding in the end. And running is always there for me to go back to. Maybe I'll train for a half marathon after the baby is born! :-)

What I'm looking forward to: I know it's 4 weeks away, but I am really looking forward to our 20 week ultrasound appointment. I just scheduled it today and it is at the end of October.

Weekly wisdom: If you go to bed and the laundry isn't folded it's not the end of the world!

Milestones: 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.



16 week belly shot!

Some more belly shots

Belly shots Weeks 11 - 15




Week 11 Week 12




Week 13 Week 14




Week 15

Belly shots! Weeks 4 - 10

(to the left) This is the day
I found out. 4 weeks!


This is 5 Weeks!

6 Weeks along on the left
and
7 Weeks on the right! It was
3:30 in the morning and we were heading to the airport to
fly to NY. I was a little tired. It doesn't
look like it at all :-)

8 Weeks! We were headed to
my parents house from Artie
parent's house.
9 Weeks! At Wulamat! Okay, the
bathing suits weren't looking
that great!

(Below) 10 Weeks! Back at home!

In response to my last week's quiz when I hadn't weighed myself... I am up about 6 1/2 pounds this week. I have taken some belly photos, but just haven't posted them yet. I will start posting some of them and then finish them off later.

15 Weeks

15 Weeks

15 weeks is craziness!!!! I'm still doing pretty good. I've gotten lots more use of the belly band. I am having some trouble with missing Artie. I know that sounds pretty stupid, but I don't want to leave him in the morning, and I want to be with him when he's home. I know we all want that of our husbands, but this seems to be more than that. It's hard to explain though! Other than that though I'm doing still doing good. Slightly more emotional than before. Although I used to cry at sad and happy things, it seems that it happens much more often now.

Artie's birthday was this past weekend and it was probably the best weekend I've had in a really long time. (Isn't that supposed to be my birthday weekend?) lol! On Friday night we went to watch our niece ride in a bike race where Artie works. It was so much fun. She speeds around the corners, sees you and then kinda slows down with a cute face as if she's posing for you! Then speeds up once she's past you! We might need to teach her about competition when she gets older :-) Not really, she is so much fun to watch though. On Saturday, Artie's birthday, we both tried to sleep in, but by 7:30 both of us were wide awake. We enjoyed a restful morning and then went for a bike ride together. It was great, we went on the trails by our house and rode for almost two hours. Then after lunch I took a nice long three hour nap! Yep, I can do that since I'm pregnant! :-) We went out to dinner for Artie's birthday, went to Dave and Busters (got free $10 play cards for doing a survey), and then went to see the movie Harry Potter. It was a later showing, 10:00 pm, but we were the ONLY ones in the theater. It was fun! We would whisper to each other and then say, "why are we whispering?" Sunday was relaxing with not much during the day and a birthday party at night. Monday I had off from school so I got errands done and chores around the house completed. Overall, it was a nice weekend!

Well, here's my weekly quiz update.

15 Week Quiz


How far along: 15 weeks today

Weight gain: I actually didn't weigh myself on the scale this morning I was rushing to get to work. I'll do it tomorrow and make sure I post it on here.

Maternity clothes: Definitely using the belly band much more often. I can still wear most of my clothes though. I have started to wear some baggier tops and that seems to work pretty well too.

Stretch marks: Cocoa butter, I hope it works!

Sleep: Ehh.. sleeping is okay although I do get up, but I can feel that it's getting harder to sleep on my stomach and I shouldn't be sleeping on my side. Got a body pillow I think I'm going to start using.

Best moment of the week: The weekend that I got to spend with my husband!

Movement: According to books I'm supposed to begin feeling movement in the next few weeks. I have had some stretching feelings from the inside, but that's about it.

Food cravings: I don't know if I mentioned this, but Cheese Its at 11:15 are a must. I did really want Bonefish Grill this weekend (so I took Artie there for his birthday)

Gender: I have no clue... I could be having a girl or a boy. We don't know and won't find out!

Labor signs: No!

Belly button in or out: Still in.

What I miss: I miss feeling okay to leave for work without struggling to leave.

What I'm looking forward to: We have our next appointment in one week and I am excited for that.

Weekly wisdom: Love on your hubby whenever you can! He needs it too!

Milestones: 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.")

Gender

Just thought I'd let everyone know... we aren't finding out the gender for Babyfredi. We are going to be having a mystery baby! So in my weekly quiz when I write that I think it's a boy, I have absolutely no clue... that's just the gut feeling for the day! Artie thinks it's a girl right now, so we've each got a 50% chance of being right. It changes all the time though. We actually don't even have a preference since both boys and girls are wonderful (as we've found out from my brother). Just thought I'd clarify that fact in case anything thinks we really are having a boy.

14 Weeks

14 Weeks

I'm still feeling good. I've got a lemon!!! Another book that I read this morning said it was the size of my fist. My stomach is doing okay. I do have to wear the belly band a little bit more and the top button of my pants undone. I'm definitely showing a little bit more this week too. When I stand and look in the mirror, I don't feel like it's gotten that big, but I definitely have more of a belly than before. After I eat my belly sticks out a lot more. The people at work have started to point to my belly and I've had a few rub it. It's pretty funny! My appetite has tuned down a little. Although I do need to eat my solid three meals a day, I don't necessarily need the in between snacks. I do get hungry around 11:15 at school every day. I eat stuff in front of the kids and they're always like "no fair"... but I tell them too bad. Anyway, here's my weekly quiz.

14 Week Quiz


How far along: 14 weeks today

Weight gain: I'm up 5 1/2 pounds according to my home scale this morning.

Maternity clothes: Most of my clothes still fit although I do need to wear the belly band a little bit more with some of my pants.

Stretch marks: Still using cocoa butter, so none yet!

Sleep: Sleeping is okay. I do wake up every morning around 3 a.m. just to pee, but it's at least good knowing that I can still get three more hours of sleep.

Best moment of the week: Getting to see my cousin and hang out with Artie. It's really great to be able to spend time with him.

Movement: Not yet... but I've heard it should be coming within the next few weeks.

Food cravings: I don't think so. I haven't HAD to have something, but certain foods still taste really good.

Gender: I'm saying boy.

Labor signs: No!

Belly button in or out: Still in.

What I miss: I miss not needing to go to bed at or before 9 p.m.

What I'm looking forward to: I'm really looking forward to this Friday. I have a half day at work because I've been working late for conferences. I am going up to Boulder to the Cycling Center to watch the kids race. I get to see Anita cycle in a race. Then we also have Monday off from work, so I'm excited for the long weekend too.

Weekly wisdom: Enjoy all your time with your family!

Milestones: 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.

13 Weeks

We now have a baby the size of a shrimp (or another book said it was the size of a peach). I am still feeling really good, although I feel like I've gained a lot of weight. Even though I have only gained about 5 pounds, my body is just changing. I'm still feeling pretty exhausted, but it's no longer exhausted sleepy tired, but more physically tired. School is also in full swing too, so that's also making me more tired. This past weekend was great though. On Friday night, I went to Boulder Indoor Cycling to watch one of the professional races. It was really cool watching the bike riders fly around the track. On Saturday, Artie and I cleaned the house all day and enjoyed some down time. (I actually fell asleep in the chair for a couple hours.) Then we had some friends over on Saturday night. On Sunday, we went to church in the morning and then met an old friend of mine from RI. She used to live down the road from me and we went to the same school K-8th grade, although we weren't in the same grade. And we also went to the same high school. We met in Boulder and went for a hike. We did one of the Flat Iron hikes. It was really great, but it certainly tired me out a lot, but it was really great to do it. Then Anita and Kaleb spent the night that night. We had a great time with them. Scott and Meggan came over on Monday and helped us out in the yard all day. (SOOOO thankful to them for that!!!) Artie and Scott worked on the irrigation system, then we worked on a bunch of other smaller projects. So the long weekend was great!!!! Anyway, on to the baby stuff. Here is goes...

13 Week Quiz


How far along: 13 weeks today

Weight gain: I'm up 5 pounds according to my home scale.

Maternity clothes: My clothes still fit, but they are definitely getting a little tighter.

Stretch marks: Still using cocoa butter!

Sleep: Sleeping is still okay. I can sleep on my belly still. I haven't yet had to use the body pillow.

Best moment of the week: Going on a hike an realizing I can still do it!

Movement: No

Food cravings: I still am not really craving anything. Certain foods taste really good though.

Gender: I still think it's a boy, but I really have no clue!

Labor signs: No!

Belly button in or out: Inny!.

What I miss: I miss being able to stay up later at night, but getting a good nights sleep is WAY more important now!

What I'm looking forward to: I'm really looking forward to a good nights sleep :)

Weekly wisdom: Keep all your relationships strong!

Milestones: 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.

12 Weeks

12 Weeks

I think it's absolutely insane how our baby has gone from the size of a poppy seed (have you ever looked at a poppy seed, just one of them?) to the size of a lime in a short 8 week period. It's pretty crazy that this miracle is pretty much a tiny human. I mean, all the parts are there, all the organs and functions are there. I just think it's such a miracle.

I've been pretty lucky with this child. I haven't had much sickness. I actually have not had an sickness, however I have been slightly nauseous a few times. But nothing more than the "that really doesn't sound good" or "that really smells, get it away from me". Haha! I have had a ubber sensitive nose though. I could probably replace one of the K9s that searches people's luggage.

I have had a tendency to be slightly more emotional than I was before. Like last night, my niece rode a strider bike in a race where Artie works. I was cheering her on and basically crying watching her because of was so proud of her. It's more when I'm happy.

I don't feel like I'm showing, but I've definitely gained weight. And if you know I'm pregnant you might be able to pick out a bump. Although a lot of times it's my belt that sticks out.

Telling everyone has been a lot of fun! Artie and I have come up with some pretty inventive ways to tell people. My parents got to see Anita and Kaleb wearing shirts that said, "Big Cousin", Artie's parents got a card that said, "Do you know what Grandparents are good for?". Most other family members we played a fun game of Mad Gab (our own version of it) and it said "Chase Ease Praque Net". That was Artie's idea. Then the other day I got to tell my students. They might have been the most fun to tell. They all screamed and cheered...even the boys! Now I have one girl who says, "Hi Mrs. Manfredi, Hi, Baby" to me every time she comes into my room. Other kids have been congratulating me. The word traveled pretty quickly once my class knew. Even to my kids from last year. My 6th graders came back to say hi to me and find out if it was true that I was pregnant. It was sweet! Well, here's my weekly quiz and then some information about how the baby is growing from a website.

12 Week Quiz
(thanks for letting me steal this from you Kiley!)

How far along: 12 weeks 3 days

Weight gain: I'm up 4 pounds according to my home scale.

Maternity clothes: My clothes all still fit pretty much. Some of the stuff that was tight before is a little more tight now though. I did buy a belly band - pretty neat idea.

Stretch marks: Only marks from an earlier time in my life. I'm using cocoa butter!

Sleep: I sleep pretty well. Only the bathroom trip once a night.

Best moment of the week: Getting to hear Babyfredi's heartbeat was pretty awesome. He/She wouldn't stop moving though. The doctor kept on having to refind it.

Movement: Nope!

Food cravings: Well, nothing really craving, but things have definitely sounded really good. I bought myself a whole vegetable tray (the small one) and ate it. Fruits are awesome. And last night I really wanted Red Robin, so that's where we went. I am still really turned off by any kind of Brats right now though.

Gender: I think it's a boy, but that's only a feeling. I've felt that way once I got pregnant.

Labor signs: No!

Belly button in or out: Belly button is in.

What I miss: There's not really much that I miss. I've pretty much been able to do most everything I could before. I don't really care about the alcohol. Sushi is the only thing, but I can still have the cooked stuff.

What I'm looking forward to: This three day weekend. I know it's probably what everyone else is too, but I am just glad to have a break off my feet.

Weekly wisdom: Savor every moment!

Milestones: The most dramatic development this week: reflexes. Your baby's fingers will soon begin to open and close, his toes will curl, his eye muscles will clench, and his mouth will make sucking movements. In fact, if you prod your abdomen, your baby will squirm in response, although you won't be able to feel it. His intestines, which have grown so fast that they protrude into the umbilical cord, will start to move into his abdominal cavity about now, and his kidneys will begin excreting urine into his bladder.

Meanwhile, nerve cells are multiplying rapidly, and in your baby's brain, synapses are forming furiously. His face looks unquestionably human: His eyes have moved from the sides to the front of his head, and his ears are right where they should be. From crown to rump, your baby-to-be is just over 2 inches long (about the size of a lime) and weighs half an ounce.