So much to update

Wow, it's been so long! Where to start...

We had another doctor appt yesterday- 17 weeks. Didn't really hear the heartbeat well but the doctor wasn't concerned. Apparently, gas can be in the way! I think his intern/job shadower measured me as well, but they didn't say. My next appt in 4 weeks is the big one- the 21 week ultrasound! I asked if it was necessary to get it then or if we could wait and he said I'm the first to ever ask him that! I explained I've always been a bit creeped out about a baby growing inside of a woman (I know, not very nice, but keep in mind, I couldn't even touch my sister's belly when she was pregnant with my nephew!), and one of Jesse's cousins told me at her ultrasound she thought the baby looked quite a bit skeletal and alien-like; that isn't something someone already creeped out wants to hear, or see. I'm a little concerned about how I'll react seeing something alien-like inside of me. I truly didn't know how I'd react at my 9 week ultrasound, however, at that point the baby looked like a peanut so I was fine. After the doctor told me I could inform the tech of my nervousness and she could turn the monitor and not give us the pictures or show us anything, I realized I definitely wouldn't want that. I'm sure in the moment I'll be very excited, especially to find out what we're having (even though it still hasn't been 100% determined that we will find out!), so on Jan. 26th we'll have our ultrasound, and hopefully find out whether there's a baby boy Von Behren or baby girl Von Behren in here. :)

I started reading "The Girlfriends' Guide to Pregnancy" today and love it. I had to read parts to Jesse, partly because they were funny, and partly to make him understand I'm not crazy or different than other pregnant women. ;) So far, my favorite quote from the book is in the "I think I hate my husband" section- "There is something so infuriating about lying in a hospital bed with your uterus contracting like a bucking bronco and seeing your husband eating something from the cafeteria and watching television. Life's just not fair sometimes." :D I had to read that to Jesse and he laughed. I also had to read him the part about "I want it, and I want it now!", to make him understand if I say I have to pee, I HAVE TO PEE so don't argue with me about having to stop (on the way to the farm, which sometimes seems to be the only time he's in a hurry)! Don't get me wrong, he's been pretty good so far (he's afraid I'm making him sound like a prick and I do not think he's been one, so please don't think that). However, he has commented on when I'm eating again and that really irritates me! So I read him the other part in this same section about when a pregnant woman is hungry and there is no food within immediate reach. "A pregnant woman's hunger is no small appetite." Although I don't feel I've really started eating a lot more or feeling more hungry, sometimes I find myself wanting to eat a random bowl of Tootie Frutie cereal, Cheetos or Fritos, and I justify it by being pregnant; baby wants Cheetos! :) And, I do not want to hear anything out of Jesse about it! :P I did ask the doctor about not feeling an increase in my appetite. He said not to worry about it, and I'm afraid that only means, be patient, the weight gain will come. ;) So far, I've only gained about 3-4 pounds.

This is the bump at 16 weeks. I don't think it looks much different than the 13 week bump! I've still been feeling fine, other than the occasional stomach soreness due to stretching, and sore hips during sleep due to stretching. I'm still reading my daily, weekly and monthly books to get an idea of what's growing in the baby and what's to come. I can't really wear any of my jeans anymore- I wore a couple last week and was very, very uncomfortable. I don't know if I can even wear my dress pants anymore since the last time I did was almost 3 weeks ago! I received my sister's maternity clothes this week so hopefully I can wear a pair or two of her pants. If not, my next shopping trip will be for maternity pants!

Now to Christmas- we had a good Christmas. My favorite gift would have to be our baby bedding that I asked for (and the matching lamp). Click the link to see what they look like :) The room is a light lime green color, so I think it matches the bedding perfectly.

We had wonderful times, first with Jesse's family in Muscatine on the 19th, then my family on Christmas Eve in Ottumwa and in Des Moines on Christmas Day, and finally in Olin with the Von Behren's Christmas night. Someone told me once we have a little one we may not travel to all the Christmas gatherings we are lucky to be able to get to now; Jesse and I believe we will. We're lucky they are all in Iowa and not more than 2.5 hours away. We have always gone to all of them and will do everything we can to continue that.

Well, we're about to enter a new year, with new blessings ahead. We're both excited, but definitely in no hurry, and hope to just continue enjoying the pregnancy. Some people ask if I think it's gone fast or slow; I don't really think either. I also, for those of you wondering, don't have any incling whether it's a boy or girl! Guess we may find out Jan. 26th...

Sorry...

...for not posting recently. I haven't had anything going on really and didn't want to just post about nothing.

I'm still feeling great. Got signed up for birthing classes, but of course had to fit all 3 of them in during my 3rd trimester rather than spread them out over the 2nd and 3rd, all because of basketball season! ;) I'm not going to them by myself and they are mostly offered only on Tuesday nights, which are game nights through the middle of March. So I might be the fattest one there for one or two of the classes! :)

I'll be 15 weeks on Wed. the 15th, weird! Our next doctor appointment isn't until the week after Christmas. At this point of my pregnancy I try to read a couple books that great friends gave me about what I'm experiencing or what the baby is doing each day, week and month (I have a book for each- daily, weekly and monthly "expectations"). That's fun to read and learn about.

Besides reading about what I can expect to feel and what's developing with the baby, I still wonder how big I'll be at Christmas... :) Oh, I did have to buy one of those bands to fit over my unzipped and unbuttoned pants to keep them up because my dress pants are now too tight to button or zip up! Maybe my next post will be about shopping for maternity pants!

Jesse brought to my attention a heart-wrenching, tear-jerker of an article in the Des Moines Register called Eric's Last Wishes: A story of faith and love in three parts. Read it here http://www.desmoinesregister.com/. Part 1 is called Eric's Last Wishes, Part 2- Pray, and pray often, and Part 3 comes tomorrow. It's so sad, and so hard to imagine going through what Eric's wife had to. You'll see why Jesse thought of me and brought to my attention the story. I only wish and hope that Jesse is driven by God to do the same that Eric was. Check it out.

Until next time, hope everyone is staying safe and warm.

The baby bump

Here it is, the 13 week, almost 14 week, baby bump. What do ya think? ;)

Jesse and I bought our Christmas tree today and decorated it tonight. We have a 'First Christmas' ornament and when I hung it up I realized, next Christmas will be baby's first Christmas! :)

Questions

I don't know how often I'll post, most likely not everyday, but today I wanted to let you know the answer to probably the most popular question I've received so far --we aren't sure yet if we'll find out what we're having, however, I can't imagine not knowing for my first baby, me being such a planner and all. Jesse kind of doesn't want to find out so I began negotiating with him- if we can find out for the first, I will let him have the surprise of the second! :) Only time will tell who "wins" this one. ;) We have a few weeks yet.

Recently I've been wondering when the time will come that I will start really looking pregnant, or will "pop". I realize it's early still, but I really have no idea what's normal here so my mind wonders about all kinds of things. And not that I want to look big! I do have to say that I feel I've grown a bit just since making our announcement. It was like I literally grew a little overnight. A few say I'm crazy, I don't look big/bigger at all and a few say I look bigger than anyone else they've seen this early. Not sure what that means, but maybe I'll post a picture [soon] and let you be the judge...just maybe. :)

Week 13

So I finally decided I was ready to have a baby! Happy birthday Jesse! :) Actually, ready to have a baby, I'm not so sure about. But ready to accept the unknown of having a baby, ok. So far, not so bad. I'm 13 weeks today. I'll catch you up on the "fun" up to now.

At 7 weeks I went to the OB b/c they thought I was farther along than I was. The doc discovered I was only about 9 weeks so he thought, so he said to come back in 2 weeks. Showed up for the next appt. and he couldn't hear a heartbeat. Since I was only 9 weeks by then (11 he thought) he wanted me to have an ultrasound. Back to the OB clinic I go the next day for my first ultrasound. Jesse attended the first appointment, but then was not able to make the next one or the ultrasound b/c we were right in the midst of high school football playoffs and Coach VB needed to be prepping with the team for their 2nd round playoff game, which they won. ;) Anyway, I got to see the teeniest life imaginable and faintly hear a very fast heartbeat so we were good to go at 9 weeks, 1 day and a due date of June 8th. Which brings us to today-my next appt.

Today's appt. is why I decided to start a blog. I'm not much of a writer so don't expect anything fancy! I just thought this would be easier to let everyone that cares follow our journey of our first baby.

Anyway, so today I'm 13 weeks and we got to hear the heartbeat loud and clear at the doctor's appointment. It was pretty cool and exciting! It really made this all so real to me. I had been nervous before this appt. b/c I wasn't feeling anything, didn't think I was really getting bigger and just didn't know how I was supposed to feel. I didn't know if that meant something was wrong and I shouldn't be telling everyone our exciting news. Needless to say, after my appt. I went ahead and sent my previously drafted email to some friends to make the announcement! :)

I've been feeling fine- no sickness other than a few nights here and there feeling a little crappy before bed. I only feel a little tired at night every once in a while. Thank goodness I wasn't sick b/c traveling for work could have been pretty miserable. I'm still working out, just a bit slower now I've noticed. I noticed that change right away actually. And so far I've only gained about 2 pounds.

So...let the fun begin!