First Belly Shot

Here it is... yes, it is kind of weird seeing me with a baby bump. I have to keep reminding myself that it's a baby and I am not just getting fat, because really that is kind of what it looks like. I am kicking myself for not taking pictures of my bump before, when it was small and cute. But, here it goes... And, for those people who think headless baby bump pictures are weird, here is the whole picture...

Week 13

Fingerprints have formed on our baby's tiny fingertips, the veins and organs are clearly visible through the still-thin skin, and the body is starting to catch up with the head — which makes up just a third of his/her body size now. Our baby is almost 3 inches LONG (the size of a medium shrimp) and weighs nearly an ounce. (Some people have commented on the pictures not making sense, but this picture doesn't show the baby as the size of a shrimp, but the length of a shrimp.)

I am still have bouts of throwing up continuously, but it alternates with a severe hunger. It is the strangest thing. Everyday I wake up and I feel like I am a little bigger! I officially have a baby bump! For Christmas I received maternity clothes and bellabands, which are lifesavers right now. I am still in my old jeans, I just can't button them and wear a bellaband over the top. Maternity tops or at least bigger tops are a definite necessity, now, thanks to my growing chest and now my growing baby bump too! I ceaned out my closet yesterday, packing up all my small clothes, and there isn't much left. But, I don't need too much I guess. I will post my first belly picture here after a bit.

Mark and I are going to Big Baylor in Dallas for a Nuchal Translucency Test on Friday. All it really is, is a high-tech ultrasound, where the doctor measures the fluid around the neck to test for a down-syndrome and other deffects. Mark and I pray everything goes well. We are really excited though because by the 13th week, the doctor can usually tell the sex of the baby. We hope that the baby is laying the correct way so we can see the sex.

Week 12

The most dramatic development this week: reflexes. Our baby's fingers will soon begin to open and close, his/her toes will curl, eye muscles will clench, and mouth will make sucking movements. In fact, if I was to prod my abdomen, my baby will squirm in response, although I won't be able to feel it. His/her 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/her kidneys will begin excreting urine into his bladder. Great our baby can pee!

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

Your uterus has grown to the point where you can now feel the top of it low in your abdomen. Yes, I can say this is true. I have a very very small baby bump right now. By everything I am reading says I should be in maternity clothes by now or very soon. Woohoo stretchy pants!

This week I have been so sick. I have been throwing up everything. Finally, the doctor gave me a prescription, but it just knocks me out. At first, I thought it wasn't morning sickness because my stomach hurts really bad too. But, now I think that it has something to do with motion sickness. Every time I get in the car, even if it is just around the block, I get sick. Hopefully this will pass before the end of my first trimester, which is just days away.

Week 11

Baby Moore is between 1 1/2-2 inches long and about the size of a fig and weighs about 1/3 of an ounce. He/she is now almost fully formed. His/Her hands will soon open and close into fists, tiny tooth buds are beginning to appear under his/her gums, and some of his/her bones are beginning to harden. Also this week, our baby has been growing hair follicles, fingernails, and ovaries (if she's a girl). She/he has distinct human characteristics by now, with hands and feet in front of the body, ears nearly in their final shape, open nasal passages on the tip of his/her tiny nose, a tongue and palate in the mouth, and visible nipples. Yay- our baby no longer looks like an alien but has graduated to a tiny 2-inch human. Well, a tiny human with a head the size of the rest of his/her body.

He/She's already busy kicking and stretching, and his/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. I won't be able to feel the baby's movements for another month or two — nor will I notice his/her hiccupping, yep that's right Baby Moore can hiccup!

Things to look forward to in the next week: no more morning sickness!!! Eating!!! More energy. :) Heart burn? Gas... what???... yeah no one ever tells you this part of pregnancy! Gaining a pound week :/. ut-oh.

Yeah, I can definitely say I have been eating more, and I have been constantly hungry (probably because I was so used to not eating). I love the pregnancy book that tells me now is the time to start eating healthier, it suggests I try to avoid "fried foods, soda, and sweets." Umm... yeah, I would have to say that those are bad for me, thanks for the tip What to Expect When You're Expecting.

Week 10

Baby Moore is officially a fetus! He/she is about the size of a plum or a kumquat (whatever that is--pictured above) and weighs less than a quarter of an ounce or approximately five grams. Baby Moore has now completed the most critical portion of his/her 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.

Baby Moore can taste and should be kicking up a storm (although I can't feel it). I saw this really cute/funny video of a 10 week old fetus jumping around, click here to see it. Maybe this is why I have sudden urges to pee, Baby Moore seems to want to jump on my bladder? Vital organs — including his/her 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 the pregnancy. Even minute details are in place, like tiny nails forming on fingers and toes and peach-fuzz hair beginning to grow on tender skin. In the coming weeks, our baby will double in size to a little over 3 inches.

As for morning sickness, the last two days haven't been bad. I have been able to eat! I am starting to be more and more averse to some foods which I might just crave hours later. Maybe this is Baby Moore's taste buds forming? :)

In other news, Mark and I are in full finals mode. Mark already took one of his finals today. He has four left over the 8 days. I have only 2 finals and 2 projects due. We have both been hard at work studying. I am working at the Law firm for Mark this week and next so he can have more time to study. Today was my first day, lets just say I really don't know what I am doing. Mark doesn't need to worry about me stealing his job... I'm sure Mark's boss will be happy to have him back.

Anxiously Awaiting

I felt like I passed a milestone today, not sure what that it. Last night I got excited because I noticed my uterus has been growing. I know it sounds a bit silly, but I had noticed that it was beginning to pooch out a little. Then, last night when I rolled over on my stomach I was shocked to feel my uterus pressing back up against the mattress. My muscles around the uterus have been hurting a lot lately, so I knew they were preparing to stretch so it could allow for room to grow.

I don't know how much longer I will be in my new (fat) jeans. Which is too bad because I just bought them 2 weeks go. When I drive to school and back I have already got in the habit of unbuttoning them. I am going to purchase a Bellaband soon so I can wear all my pants unbuttoned. I know I don't need this yet, but boy does it feel more comfotable! I am not looking forward to getting fat, but I am looking forward for people to know that I am pregnant. There are a lot of people in my everyday life that don't even know yet. It is always so fun to see people's expressions when they first find out!

All day today I was just so excited about the Baby. I spent quite a bit of time dreaming about what he or she will look like. I can't wait to take care of such a small person. I just picture myself sitting in a glider with a boppy pillow holding my baby. I can't beleive how much I already desire to hold my baby, and I have 30 more weeks to go before I will get a chance. I read in my book that you can first feel the baby kick/move between week 16-20. My sister-in-law says its not all that exciting the first few times because I probably won't know what it is. Being pregnant brings an abuandance of new feelings, I don't really ever know where my new pains are coming from.

I will post a belly pic the first day I really feel like I have a good pic. Right now I just look bloated and poochy. But, in just a few short weeks, I will have a full fledge belly.

Oh, if I haven't yet told you, I am getting really tired of this whole morning sickness thing. It should stop around week 12-14, only 2 more weeks hopefully!



This is what a Bellaband is for those who don't know. You can wear you pre-pregnancy pants unbuttoned and with the band over it. It holds them up and smooths out the top of the pants. Supposedly they are really comfortable and allow you to stay in your pre-pregnancy clothes for longer.

Week 9

Our baby is about an inch long, which is about the size of a grape, and he/she weighs just a fraction of an ounce. He/She's starting to look more and more human; the essential body parts are accounted for, though they'll go through plenty of fine-tuning in the coming months. While the baby's heart has formed four chambers, the valves are now forming and his/her teeth and forming. Our 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. His/Her eyes are fully formed, but her eyelids are fused shut and won't open until 27 weeks. He/She has tiny earlobes, and his/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 our baby's basic physiology is in place, he/she's poised for rapid weight gain.

I can't believe that the baby is already an inch and soon will begin doubling in size! I have been feeling really ill lately and haven't been able to eat very much. Once I finally eat something it is a chore to try and keep it down. I keep telling myself only 3 more weeks before the morning sickness should be over. I am in full pregnancy mode now, food aversion, morning sickness, cravings, and mood swings. Poor Mark! He must think I'm crazy because sometimes I do.