Hallelujah!

I'm in my 2nd trimester! Whooooo! I feel like I've waited a long time to get here. I'm 14 weeks this week, however, once I hit 12 weeks, I started feeling alive again. No more sickness and no more feeling like I have to take emergency naps (although I've kept my palate in tact in my car just in case). My cravings are Cuties oranges (I eat at least 3 or 4 a day) and green beans...mmmmm...

This week's big developments: The baby can now squint, frown, grimace, pee, and possibly suck it's thumb! Thanks to brain impulses, it's facial muscles are getting a workout as it's tiny features form one expression after another. The kidneys are producing urine, which the baby releases into the amniotic fluid around it — a process the baby will keep up until birth. He or she can grasp, too, and if I had an ultrasound now, I may even catch the baby sucking it's thumb.
In other news: The baby's stretching out. From head to bottom, it measures 3 1/2 inches — about the size of a lemon — and weighs 1 1/2 ounces. The body's growing faster than the head, which now sits upon a more distinct neck. By the end of this week, the arms will have grown to a length that's in proportion to the rest of it's body. (The baby's legs still have some lengthening to do...and boooy will they lengthen coming from his father) It's starting to develop an ultra-fine, downy covering of hair, called lanugo, all over his body. The baby's liver starts making bile this week — a sign that it's doing its job right — and the spleen starts helping in the production of red blood cells. Though I can't feel the tiny punches and kicks yet, little lemon's hands and feet (which now measure about 1/2 inch long) are more flexible and active.

Next appointment is April 13th. I think I'm developing a little baby bump! I'll post pictures when I update from the next Dr's appointment.

Music with a hint of lime

Isaiah and I are huge Gavin DeGraw fans and last night we got the opportunity to go to his concert at a place we've never been to downtown called Marathon Music Works. It was standing room only but we got there early enough to stand 3rd row (which was a blast). I'm convinced the baby enjoyed it too :)

p.s. Just as the car mirrors read, these objects were closer than they appear. I could've reached out and touched him. Sorry the pictures are so blurry...if you've ever been to a concert, you understand.

...and surprise! Karina Smirnoff was there (Gavin's Dancing with the Stars partner) premiering Monday the 19th. 

In baby news:

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

SWEET!

The baby's face looks unquestionably human: The eyes have moved from the sides to the front of the head, and his ears are right where they should be. From crown to rump, the baby-to-be is just over 2 inches long (about the size of a lime) and weighs half an ounce.

Baby Fig Newton

10 weeks

I had my second check up Friday (the 2nd), which I rescheduled from what was previously March 16th because I was going to visit my sister in Missouri for a week and wanted to make sure everything was A-Ok before I left. This stage is rough because the baby is still so small that I can't feel it. I love my doctor's appointments because, although slightly invasive, they put my wandering mind at ease after my doctor says "everything looks wonderful!"

Isaiah and I got to hear the heartbeat at this visit which was a VERY pleasant surprise. I'm just lying there like a pencil and all of a sudden my doctor pulls out a tiny microphone and starts feeling around on my stomach. At first, my doctor said she couldn't hear anything (which completely freaked Isaiah and I out) but then, after instructions to bend my knees for a better position, there it was! I wanted to sit there and listen to it all afternoon. All day after that Isaiah and I looked at each other and went "whomp whomp whomp" mimicking the sound of the baby's heartbeat.

For celebration of a healthy heartbeat, Isaiah and I went to the Pancake Pantry in Nashville. This place is one of the historic "must see" spots in Nashville and, rain or shine, it always has a line out the door (which goes surprisingly fast). For this reason, Isaiah never wanted to go because he thought it wouldn't be worth it. After convincing him to go, we split blueberry pancakes and Isaiah said they were the best pancakes he's ever had...HA! Told ya so ;) Now I think we're going to have to go once a month to fulfill his goal of trying all the pancakes...maybe I created a monster...

I'm extremely grateful to my sister for lending me an extensive amount of baby knowledge during this week I've spent with her. It's also been super helpful to get lots of practice on my 5 month old nephew. Thank you Lindsay for all of your help!

So the update for this week:
At 11 weeks, our baby is now the size of a fig. He or she is just over 1 1/2 inches long and is now almost fully formed. The hands will soon open and close into fists, tiny tooth buds are beginning to appear under the gums, and some of the bones are beginning to harden.
He or she is already busy kicking and stretching, and it's tiny movements are so effortless they look like water ballet. These movements will become more frequent as the body grows and becomes more developed and functional. I won't feel my baby's acrobatics for another month or two — nor will I notice the hiccuping that may be happening now that the diaphragm is forming.

Until next time!