12 weeks photo

12 weeks

So, what's going to be happening this week?

Baby is just over 2" and almost half an ounce!  That's about the size of a plum.  

Their reflexes are developing and if I poke my tummy they are probably going to move in reaction to it!  Also, finger and toes are opening and closing, eye muscles are working, and the mouth is making sucking motions.

I have felt a little more nauseous in the last few days than previously, so that's kind of a bummer!  I am also exhausted!!  The gloomy weather we have had for a few days doesn't really help with that either.  It's been really nice being able to use the doppler at home, especially before announcing on Facebook (I wanted to make sure it still seemed ok before such a public announcement!).  Sometime this weekend I'll sit down and actually calculate the HR again and give an update on that.

My next appointment is Thursday the 4th at 2:30.  No ultrasounds or anything this time, just a check up to make sure everything seems good!  I think we're seeing the same midwife we saw last time, which we really liked her so that's a good thing :)

I also "told" at work this week.  It's nice to not have to keep quiet about it anymore!  I often found myself almost saying something about it totally on accident, especially since the wife of one of my coworkers just had their first baby a few weeks ago and babies have been talked about quite a bit around here!

Time is also finally starting to go a little faster :)  From finding out on July 31st to my first scheduled appointment 9/5 felt like eons!  This month though has actually gone by really quickly.  And I should be pretty busy at work in the next month too so I am imagining that October will fly by.  Looking forward to enjoying the fall - going to the zoo, hiking at Hocking Hills, warm meals, being lazy on the weekends, etc :)

199

As of today, only 199 days to go until my due date!
(only... haha that still seems like forever!)

We have a heartbeat!

Well, we had one already, but now I can hear it at home!

11 week update!

So we have been taking pics since the beginning - you can see in the first pic I was a little lumpy (!), and I think now at 11 weeks I am starting to actually get a little bit bigger because of baby instead of just being bloated... 

Yesterday I hit 11 weeks, which is approximately 1.5" (the size of a fig... the bump says lime but that seems like a pretty small lime??) and .25oz.  (1/64th of a pound!).  Baby is opening & closing hands into fists, tooth buds are forming under the gums, and there might be hiccups since the diaphragm is forming!

We have bought a few things for our nursery...

The basket was from Lynd's Fruit Farm - it's Amish made and was a great deal!  We think it's really pretty and will work nicely as a blanket/stuffed animal basket.  The wood ties in with the Hawaiian theme.  The glider was at a furniture outlet and is super comfy!  The music box was found on Etsy, it's from the 50s or 60s.  And the quilt can either be used as a wall hanging or as a blanket.  We bought it on ebay after looking for some good deals on Hawaiian quilts, and we really like this bird of paradise design!

And last but not least, here is a picture of Andy and myself a few days after we found out, after we were finally feeling like it was a little more "real"!

Doppler

So I did get it yesterday!  Of course, I had a rough time finding the HB.  I am pretty sure I found my Iliac artery on both sides, the placenta (whoosh, whoosh sounds like a windstorm), and I *think* found the HB twice for a fleeting second both times.  So I guess I'm a little too early!  Will keep trying :)

The hole in our baby's head

In case you are wondering what the heck the big hole in the back of their head/neck is (like I was!), I am pretty sure it's the brain.  From this site (http://www.centrus.com.br/DiplomaFMF/SeriesFMF/11-14weeks/chapter-04/chapter-04-final.htm): "The brain cavities are easily seen as large ‘holes’ in the embryonic head."

Sounds like what we've got going on!  I was worried that there was something wrong, but a) the tech/midwife woulda said something! and b) guess my baby just has a big ole' brain.  Preparing to stretch out the head to be a true "Baird" head.  Guess I'd better stock up on those newborn shirts with snaps on the shoulders since I've been told my head wouldn't fit through shirts otherwise as a baby...

Also, my doppler looks like it should get here in the mail this afternoon!  I know there is a chance it's too early to hear it through the extra padding I was already carrying around, but we'll see!

Me, worry?

Yeah so big shocker, my #1 theme so far has been worry. Mostly totally unfounded. It's just awful feeling so out of control and not being able to know at every moment that little keiki is growing like they should be in there and doing well.

So, today, I bought this little gem. It's a fetal doppler so I can hear the heartbeat at home! I should have it sometime next week, and hopefully by 10.5 weeks I should be able to find the little heartbeat whenever the worry kicks up, and it will help to quell my fears. I can't wait to get it!

10 weeks

Today I am 10 weeks pregnant! Which officially makes the last 8 weeks probably the loooongest 8 weeks of my whole life. I am not so patient. Anyway, so what is keiki up to this week? Their arm & leg joints are starting to work, vital organs are developed & starting to function, teeny tiny little fingernails are growing, and they are swallowing fluid!

I am starting to feel much better, nausea-wise. Sometimes I still feel icky after dinner (dinner has by FAR been the most difficult meal for me), but it's getting less and less. I am getting more tired though! I guess growing a baby is hard work!

... And keiki makes 3 (ok, 7 including the animals!)

We're having a baby! Due 4/12/2013, and we can't wait! I'm going to be keeping this blog to update friends & family on how things are progressing, belly pics, etc :) Ohana means family in Hawaiian, and Keiki means baby or child. You might know that we love Hawaii and Maui in particular! We plan on decorating the nursery with a Hawaiian theme - but not too cheesy. Hope you enjoy the blog!