The size of our baby this week is the size of a lime... which just makes me want to sing island-inspired songs and sip a (virgin) pina colada for some reason. :-) Here is what is happening this week:
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.
In other news, I am feeling much better with more energy. Eliot has noticed my extreme mood-swings though, and I feel bad for him. Sometimes I don't know if I am laughing or crying and he just thinks it is funny that I can't decide. :-) I can't WAIT till our doctor's appt on Friday, I am hoping we get to hear the heartbeat!
Monday, November 30, 2009
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Weekly survey- Week 11
How far along? 11 weeks, 6 days
Total weight gain/loss: I'll let you know next week when I get weighed!
Sleep: Takes about a billion trips to the bathroom before I can get to sleep around 4am (after lots of high-protein snacks). Sucks to be up so late still.
Best moment this week: Seeing the cat and Eliot curled up together asleep.
Symptoms: Skin breaking out, HUNGRY, get tired and dizzy easily, mood swings, food cravings (particularly salty foods), light cramping on and off, vivid dreams/nightmares
Symptoms I DON'T have: Morning sickness since I sleep till noon to avoid it!
Gender: Hm... Girl? Boy? I go back and forth. Leaning more towards girl this week.
What I miss: A great big Lemon Drop cocktail. Do they make virgin lemon drops?
What I am looking forward to: Our next appt on the 4th when we may get to hear the heartbeat and CHRISTMAS TIME! What a great time of year!
Weekly Wisdom: Don't be like Scarlett O'Hara.
Milestones: Symptoms starting to decrease and I feel a bit better as we head towards the second trimester!!
Total weight gain/loss: I'll let you know next week when I get weighed!
Sleep: Takes about a billion trips to the bathroom before I can get to sleep around 4am (after lots of high-protein snacks). Sucks to be up so late still.
Best moment this week: Seeing the cat and Eliot curled up together asleep.
Symptoms: Skin breaking out, HUNGRY, get tired and dizzy easily, mood swings, food cravings (particularly salty foods), light cramping on and off, vivid dreams/nightmares
Symptoms I DON'T have: Morning sickness since I sleep till noon to avoid it!
Gender: Hm... Girl? Boy? I go back and forth. Leaning more towards girl this week.
What I miss: A great big Lemon Drop cocktail. Do they make virgin lemon drops?
What I am looking forward to: Our next appt on the 4th when we may get to hear the heartbeat and CHRISTMAS TIME! What a great time of year!
Weekly Wisdom: Don't be like Scarlett O'Hara.
Milestones: Symptoms starting to decrease and I feel a bit better as we head towards the second trimester!!
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Maybe it's me...
Everything seems to irritate the heck out of me these days. I've had to resort to telling myself to calm down and breath before I retaliate against something... I mean, people don't know that they are being irritating, right? And it's probably just the pregnancy hormones, right?
*SIGH*
Little things set me off, like insensitive comments, flaky people, my dropping something 3 times in a row, etc. I can't even explain WHY some things irritate me, they just DO. I mean, it's just really, REALLY irritating. Ugh!
On the other side of things, I cried at what I think was a Lowes commercial the other day when it showed a family member coming home for Christmas and surprising her family because they thought she couldn't come. I also tear up every time I see Disneyland ads with the whole family together having fun and making memories. Those people really know their audience! I can't wait till it is our little family going to those places. :-)
I would also like to point out that I am still having my food aversion to butternut squash (ugh, makes my stomach turn just to write it) so please please please nobody mention it to me this Thanksgiving. Thanks!
*SIGH*
Little things set me off, like insensitive comments, flaky people, my dropping something 3 times in a row, etc. I can't even explain WHY some things irritate me, they just DO. I mean, it's just really, REALLY irritating. Ugh!
On the other side of things, I cried at what I think was a Lowes commercial the other day when it showed a family member coming home for Christmas and surprising her family because they thought she couldn't come. I also tear up every time I see Disneyland ads with the whole family together having fun and making memories. Those people really know their audience! I can't wait till it is our little family going to those places. :-)
I would also like to point out that I am still having my food aversion to butternut squash (ugh, makes my stomach turn just to write it) so please please please nobody mention it to me this Thanksgiving. Thanks!
Sunday, November 22, 2009
11 weeks! Little fig!
Our little one is 11 weeks today! I overdid it yesterday with am 8-hour choir rehearsal and a long drive back to Springfield, so I am completely exhausted today to the point of not wanting to get off the couch. It's ok, though, since I don't have anything planned for today besides relaxing!
I have been feeling lots of what I think is round ligament pain from the uterus stretching... when I move too suddenly or stretch my legs out while lying down I get an uncomfortable pulling sensation and I have to curl back up. It's not crippling and from what I read it's completely normal, so I am not worried. I'll mention it to my OB doc on the 4th of December when I have my next appt.
Here is what will be happening this week:
Your baby, just over 1 1/2 inches long and about the size of a fig, is now almost fully formed. Her hands will soon open and close into fists, tiny tooth buds are beginning to appear under her gums, and some of her bones are beginning to harden.
She's already busy kicking and stretching, and her tiny movements are so effortless they look like water ballet. These movements will become more frequent as her body grows and becomes more developed and functional. You won't feel your baby's acrobatics for another month or two — nor will you notice the hiccupping that may be happening now that her diaphragm is forming.
I have been feeling lots of what I think is round ligament pain from the uterus stretching... when I move too suddenly or stretch my legs out while lying down I get an uncomfortable pulling sensation and I have to curl back up. It's not crippling and from what I read it's completely normal, so I am not worried. I'll mention it to my OB doc on the 4th of December when I have my next appt.
Here is what will be happening this week:
Your baby, just over 1 1/2 inches long and about the size of a fig, is now almost fully formed. Her hands will soon open and close into fists, tiny tooth buds are beginning to appear under her gums, and some of her bones are beginning to harden.
She's already busy kicking and stretching, and her tiny movements are so effortless they look like water ballet. These movements will become more frequent as her body grows and becomes more developed and functional. You won't feel your baby's acrobatics for another month or two — nor will you notice the hiccupping that may be happening now that her diaphragm is forming.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Boy or Girl?
Eliot and I have been discussing whether we think it is a boy or girl in there... we are both undecided. I was thinking girl, but all the "old wives tales" signs I've heard point to boy (liking salty foods instead of sweet, not having really bad morning sickness, etc). We will be happy no matter what, but it still is making us wonder...
I've redone the poll to the right for everyone to guess what we are having since we know now we won't have twins! What do you think we will be having? Vote! :-)
I've redone the poll to the right for everyone to guess what we are having since we know now we won't have twins! What do you think we will be having? Vote! :-)
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
10 weeks!
Our baby is 10 weeks this week! WOOHOO! We've finally entered the fetal stage and left the embryonic stage in the dust! Here is some more info on our little one's development:
Though he's barely the size of a kumquat — a little over an inch or so long, crown to bottom — and weighs less than a quarter of an ounce, your baby has now completed the most critical portion of his development. This is the beginning of the so-called fetal period, a time when the tissues and organs in his body rapidly grow and mature.
He's swallowing fluid and kicking up a storm. Vital organs — including his kidneys, intestines, brain, and liver (now making red blood cells in place of the disappearing yolk sac) — are in place and starting to function, though they'll continue to develop throughout your pregnancy.
If you could take a peek inside your womb, you'd spot minute details, like tiny nails forming on fingers and toes (no more webbing) and peach-fuzz hair beginning to grow on tender skin.
In other developments: Your baby's limbs can bend now. His hands are flexed at the wrist and meet over his heart, and his feet may be long enough to meet in front of his body. The outline of his spine is clearly visible through translucent skin, and spinal nerves are beginning to stretch out from his spinal cord. Your baby's forehead temporarily bulges with his developing brain and sits very high on his head, which measures half the length of his body. From crown to rump, he's about 1 1/4 inches long. In the coming weeks, your baby will again double in size — to nearly 3 inches.
Though he's barely the size of a kumquat — a little over an inch or so long, crown to bottom — and weighs less than a quarter of an ounce, your baby has now completed the most critical portion of his development. This is the beginning of the so-called fetal period, a time when the tissues and organs in his body rapidly grow and mature.
He's swallowing fluid and kicking up a storm. Vital organs — including his kidneys, intestines, brain, and liver (now making red blood cells in place of the disappearing yolk sac) — are in place and starting to function, though they'll continue to develop throughout your pregnancy.
If you could take a peek inside your womb, you'd spot minute details, like tiny nails forming on fingers and toes (no more webbing) and peach-fuzz hair beginning to grow on tender skin.
In other developments: Your baby's limbs can bend now. His hands are flexed at the wrist and meet over his heart, and his feet may be long enough to meet in front of his body. The outline of his spine is clearly visible through translucent skin, and spinal nerves are beginning to stretch out from his spinal cord. Your baby's forehead temporarily bulges with his developing brain and sits very high on his head, which measures half the length of his body. From crown to rump, he's about 1 1/4 inches long. In the coming weeks, your baby will again double in size — to nearly 3 inches.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Waiting
I know everyone says this pregnancy will fly by and I will miss this special experience, I am having a hard time being patient... I want to see our little one in our arms, safe and sound. I know that God is in control of all of this, and He will hold our child in His arms until he hands them to us (and then of course He holds us all).
This song I heard on the radio this morning has been going through my head all day... how fitting for me in this time of life when I am anxious for the next step but so very thankful for the current blessing I've been given today. I am SERVE and WORSHIP in this time of waiting, not be obsessed about baby gear, finances or the million things that can go wrong. My job is to simply SERVE and WORSHIP. How succinctly put.
"I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am peaceful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it's not easy
But faithfully, I will wait
Yes, I will wait
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve you while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting on You, Lord"
~John Waller
"I am waiting for the Lord, my soul is waiting for Him, and my hope is in His Word." Psalms 130:5
This song I heard on the radio this morning has been going through my head all day... how fitting for me in this time of life when I am anxious for the next step but so very thankful for the current blessing I've been given today. I am SERVE and WORSHIP in this time of waiting, not be obsessed about baby gear, finances or the million things that can go wrong. My job is to simply SERVE and WORSHIP. How succinctly put.
"I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am peaceful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it's not easy
But faithfully, I will wait
Yes, I will wait
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve you while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting on You, Lord"
~John Waller
"I am waiting for the Lord, my soul is waiting for Him, and my hope is in His Word." Psalms 130:5
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Time to vote!
Eliot and I have been brainstorming baby names and here is a list of some possible choices we are considering (some more than others). This isn't a complete list, and we have by no means limited ourselves to only these names. I know there are a lot on the list, but it is early after all! Click on the link below to vote!
Our baby's first hometown
Springfield, Oregon is celebrating 125 years in 2010, so I thought I would pay a little tribute to our fine little town with some fun facts. After all, this is the first place our little peanut will live... Springfield Pride!!
Springfield began with Elias and Mary Briggs taking up a land claim and building a cabin on the east bank of the Willamette River in 1859 for 640 acres.
The Briggs' claim included a spring in a field. The town of Springfield was named for that spring that still exists on the corner of 2nd and B streets. It is now capped and covered to protect it.
Many of the early settlers of the area included members of the ill-fated Lost Wagon Train of 1853.
In 1892, George and Lulu Dorris planted filbert (hazelnut) trees from Spain, sold their crops and shipped trees throughout the US, initiating the nation's filbert industry.
Weyerhaeuser (paper company) opened its Springfield mill complex in 1949, granting Lane County the title of Timber Capital of the World," and Springfield was dubbed "Lunch Bucket City."
Clint Eastwood lived and worked in Springfield at Weyerhaeuser for about one year when he was 19 years old.
Author Ken Kesey (of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest) grew up in Springfield.
Matt Groening was inspired by our little town to create the Simpsons (the town has a plaque signed by the man himself with a sketch of Bart saying, "Yo to Springfield, Oregon... the REAL Springfield! Your Pal Matt Groening, Proud Oregonian 2007).
In other news besides my hometown pride, not much new to report except I am alone this weekend with Eliot in Ireland for the William Kennedy Piping Festival. I am hoping he makes it there and back ok... and brings me some of those delicious roast chicken flavored chips! Yum! Luckily, lots of people are coming over to keep me company... Mom, Grandma and Pappy, Jodi and Jake, and I'll go see Nathan and Lindy on Sunday. Yay for company!
I feel pretty sick in the mornings right now, especially if my stomach is empty. I try to eat all throughout the day to keep the "morning" sickness at bay, but sometimes it gets the better of me. It's not too bad usually, but it can get worse if I don't eat/sleep/drink well.
I am just happy that everything seems to be going well with this pregnancy so far... what a blessing this little one is to our family! :-)
Springfield began with Elias and Mary Briggs taking up a land claim and building a cabin on the east bank of the Willamette River in 1859 for 640 acres.
The Briggs' claim included a spring in a field. The town of Springfield was named for that spring that still exists on the corner of 2nd and B streets. It is now capped and covered to protect it.
Many of the early settlers of the area included members of the ill-fated Lost Wagon Train of 1853.
In 1892, George and Lulu Dorris planted filbert (hazelnut) trees from Spain, sold their crops and shipped trees throughout the US, initiating the nation's filbert industry.
Weyerhaeuser (paper company) opened its Springfield mill complex in 1949, granting Lane County the title of Timber Capital of the World," and Springfield was dubbed "Lunch Bucket City."
Clint Eastwood lived and worked in Springfield at Weyerhaeuser for about one year when he was 19 years old.
Author Ken Kesey (of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest) grew up in Springfield.
Matt Groening was inspired by our little town to create the Simpsons (the town has a plaque signed by the man himself with a sketch of Bart saying, "Yo to Springfield, Oregon... the REAL Springfield! Your Pal Matt Groening, Proud Oregonian 2007).
In other news besides my hometown pride, not much new to report except I am alone this weekend with Eliot in Ireland for the William Kennedy Piping Festival. I am hoping he makes it there and back ok... and brings me some of those delicious roast chicken flavored chips! Yum! Luckily, lots of people are coming over to keep me company... Mom, Grandma and Pappy, Jodi and Jake, and I'll go see Nathan and Lindy on Sunday. Yay for company!
I feel pretty sick in the mornings right now, especially if my stomach is empty. I try to eat all throughout the day to keep the "morning" sickness at bay, but sometimes it gets the better of me. It's not too bad usually, but it can get worse if I don't eat/sleep/drink well.
I am just happy that everything seems to be going well with this pregnancy so far... what a blessing this little one is to our family! :-)
Sunday, November 8, 2009
9 weeks! Little grape!
I am 9 weeks pregnant today... and I feel it! Here is what is going on with little baby Grasso this week:
How your baby's growing:
Your new resident is nearly an inch long — about the size of a grape — and weighs just a fraction of an ounce. She's starting to look more and more human. Her essential body parts are accounted for, though they'll go through plenty of fine-tuning in the coming months. Other changes abound: Your baby's heart finishes dividing into four chambers, and the valves start to form — as do her tiny teeth. The embryonic "tail" is completely gone. Your baby's organs, muscles, and nerves are kicking into gear. The external sex organs are there but won't be distinguishable as male or female for another few weeks. Her eyes are fully formed, but her eyelids are fused shut and won't open until 27 weeks. She has tiny earlobes, and her mouth, nose, and nostrils are more distinct. The placenta is developed enough now to take over most of the critical job of producing hormones. Now that your baby's basic physiology is in place, she's poised for rapid weight gain.Friday, November 6, 2009
1st Doctor's appt!
We had our first appt. today... Eliot was a HUGE help because I was up half the night nauseous and didn't feel like doing anything let alone going to the appt to be poked and prodded. He filled out all my paperwork and did a great job being supportive, even when I got sick (luckily in the bathroom) halfway through the appt. It seems my morning sickness had come about in full force here in the 8th week of pregnancy!
They took a urine sample, weighed me (astonishingly I only gained like 3 or 4 lbs so far), and then I met our doctor, Dr. Betterton. She was very nice and was patient with me even in my illness. She checked out all the normal things to check and then discovered (as I had already known) that I have a retroverted uterus (tilts to the back). So, to do an ultrasound to make sure everything is a-ok with the baby, she had to do a transvaginal ultrasound instead of the traditional "stomach" kind (yes, it is as fun as it sounds!). Here is what she found:
I am pretty sure the plus sign is at the head... and you can see little arms and legs! There is only ONE baby in there (yay!) and it's little heart was beating away!! The doctor said everything looks great, but the baby is measuring small (which I had suspected because I know I ovulated late).
Here are a few more pics, though you can't see much. Our little gummy bear is still growing!
Other than that, I got my H1N1 shot (the last one in the office!) and they drew a LOT of blood for the pregnancy blood panel. But it's official... healthy little baby gummy bear living inside me!
We are going back in 4 weeks, and I am hoping by that time I won't feel so sick. The only reason I am even able to type this now is due to my Seabands and some ginger I took to help the nausea. I plan on curling up in a little ball and sleeping for the rest of the day. The cat has joined me purring in the bed and we THREE are enjoying a lazy afternoon hearing the rain on the roof. If only Eliot could be here then it would be perfect. :-)
They took a urine sample, weighed me (astonishingly I only gained like 3 or 4 lbs so far), and then I met our doctor, Dr. Betterton. She was very nice and was patient with me even in my illness. She checked out all the normal things to check and then discovered (as I had already known) that I have a retroverted uterus (tilts to the back). So, to do an ultrasound to make sure everything is a-ok with the baby, she had to do a transvaginal ultrasound instead of the traditional "stomach" kind (yes, it is as fun as it sounds!). Here is what she found:
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| From Baby stuff! |
I am pretty sure the plus sign is at the head... and you can see little arms and legs! There is only ONE baby in there (yay!) and it's little heart was beating away!! The doctor said everything looks great, but the baby is measuring small (which I had suspected because I know I ovulated late).
Here are a few more pics, though you can't see much. Our little gummy bear is still growing!
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| From Baby stuff! |
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| From Baby stuff! |
Other than that, I got my H1N1 shot (the last one in the office!) and they drew a LOT of blood for the pregnancy blood panel. But it's official... healthy little baby gummy bear living inside me!
We are going back in 4 weeks, and I am hoping by that time I won't feel so sick. The only reason I am even able to type this now is due to my Seabands and some ginger I took to help the nausea. I plan on curling up in a little ball and sleeping for the rest of the day. The cat has joined me purring in the bed and we THREE are enjoying a lazy afternoon hearing the rain on the roof. If only Eliot could be here then it would be perfect. :-)
Thursday, November 5, 2009
7 is the New Midnight
It seems that everyone in the Grasso household have taken to falling asleep on the couch around 7pm every night... me from fatigue and Eliot from just plain exhaustion from his busy day. Luckily we find our way back off the couch for our evening activities. For example, to night Eliot teaches a lesson, I'm working on Christmas gifts and we both meet back at 9pm for The Office. It works.
Tomorrow is our first doctor's appt! YAY! I can't wait! I am so nervous I wonder if I will sleep much tonight. I have also been short of breath (another symptom of the rising progesterone in my body), which makes it uncomfortable to lay down and try to sleep. I hope that gets better in the next trimester.
I can't wait for tomorrow... I hope we get an ultrasound so we can see our little one!!
Update to follow after our appt!
Tomorrow is our first doctor's appt! YAY! I can't wait! I am so nervous I wonder if I will sleep much tonight. I have also been short of breath (another symptom of the rising progesterone in my body), which makes it uncomfortable to lay down and try to sleep. I hope that gets better in the next trimester.
I can't wait for tomorrow... I hope we get an ultrasound so we can see our little one!!
Update to follow after our appt!
Monday, November 2, 2009
8 weeks, 2 days baby bump!
I took a few new pics today of the bump... I like the first pic more, but then I realized it was backwards from the first pic taken at 4 weeks, 3 days, so I included the second one for comparison purposes. :-)
Here is the one from 4 weeks ago...
I think I see a difference! Either I am pregnant or just getting fat from eating too many Halloween goodies. :-)
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| From Baby stuff! |
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| From Baby stuff! |
Here is the one from 4 weeks ago...
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| From Baby stuff! |
I think I see a difference! Either I am pregnant or just getting fat from eating too many Halloween goodies. :-)
For those who are curious...
Some people have inquired about a baby registry for us since Christmas is right around the corner... I started one at Amazon with a universal button so I added items from many different stores, including Walmart, Target, Babies-R-Us, etc. This also means that the bulk of items on the registry are under the general "universal registry" category and not separated into their own sections, so keep scrolling down to see everything! I also registered for mostly gender neutral stuff at the moment without a theme since we don't know what we are having!
Here is the link: Our Baby Registry
I will probably add and alter things later as our little one grows, but for now I've done a fair amount of research about the items I put on the registry and everything we have on there will be useful.
To be quite honest, the things we need the most are the All-in-one cloth diapers and the bigger ticket items on the registry, but anything and everything helps! We will end up needing just about everything on the list, and any gift is of course welcome and much appreciated. Thanks everyone for putting up with my shameless promotion of our registry!
Here is the link: Our Baby Registry
I will probably add and alter things later as our little one grows, but for now I've done a fair amount of research about the items I put on the registry and everything we have on there will be useful.
To be quite honest, the things we need the most are the All-in-one cloth diapers and the bigger ticket items on the registry, but anything and everything helps! We will end up needing just about everything on the list, and any gift is of course welcome and much appreciated. Thanks everyone for putting up with my shameless promotion of our registry!
8 weeks! A little kidney bean!!
I am 8 weeks today... here are some developments happening this week:
New this week: Webbed fingers and toes are poking out from your baby's hands and feet, his eyelids practically cover his eyes, breathing tubes extend from his throat to the branches of his developing lungs, and his "tail" is just about gone. In his brain, nerve cells are branching out to connect with one another, forming primitive neural pathways. You may be daydreaming about your baby as one sex or the other, but the external genitals still haven't developed enough to reveal whether you're having a boy or a girl. Either way, your baby — about the size of a kidney bean — is constantly moving and shifting, though you still can't feel it.
I am feeling better this week... some fatigue still, and cramping on and off as things are growing, but overall pretty good. I am also HUNGRY all the time, always looking for something to eat! :-)
I will try to take a belly pic this week as well and post it when I find a moment.
Also, FRIDAY is our FIRST APPT! YAY!!! I can't wait! It will be so nice to have some reassurance that things are progressing as they should, and hopefully, see our little bean! Or at least hear a heartbeat! :-D
New this week: Webbed fingers and toes are poking out from your baby's hands and feet, his eyelids practically cover his eyes, breathing tubes extend from his throat to the branches of his developing lungs, and his "tail" is just about gone. In his brain, nerve cells are branching out to connect with one another, forming primitive neural pathways. You may be daydreaming about your baby as one sex or the other, but the external genitals still haven't developed enough to reveal whether you're having a boy or a girl. Either way, your baby — about the size of a kidney bean — is constantly moving and shifting, though you still can't feel it.
I am feeling better this week... some fatigue still, and cramping on and off as things are growing, but overall pretty good. I am also HUNGRY all the time, always looking for something to eat! :-)
I will try to take a belly pic this week as well and post it when I find a moment.
Also, FRIDAY is our FIRST APPT! YAY!!! I can't wait! It will be so nice to have some reassurance that things are progressing as they should, and hopefully, see our little bean! Or at least hear a heartbeat! :-D
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