BUMP REPORT – Week 17

PREGNANCY WEEK 17

My age: 27

How far along: 17 weeks

How big is baby: the size of a pear (or a turnip or an onion depending on the source).  Baby is 5.1 inches long and weighs 5.9 ounces (big growth spurt!)

Exercise/Activity Level: I love working out.  It makes me feel collected and under control.  Pregnancy hormones can leave you emotionally drained, but it’s nice that exercise helps keep my sense of sanity and stability.  This past week I got in 6 days of workouts.  Three of those days were outdoor running, one day was stair climbing at Red Rocks Amplitheatre (talk about SORE calf muscles for days) and two of the days were cardio/weights at the gym.  One of my running days was a heavily snow run (thanks crazy Colorado weather in late April!) and one of the runs this week was running the Rock ‘N Run 5K in sunshine and 70+ degrees….talk about opposite weather patterns.  (The other run was a gorgeous weather day too, can’t complain.)

Me at the 5K race over the weekend.

Maternity clothes: I have been wearing a lot of the items I purchased at Ross last week.  I really like the clothes I bought.  I feel so much more comfortable when I wear maternity vs. non-maternity clothes.  I can still easily pull off non-maternity with the use of my belly band, but it’s just not as comfortable.  The belly band tends to shift around, PLUS, it’s just weird to me walking around with unbuttoned pants on!  I have had a few offers for borrowing maternity clothes from friends, so I’m excited to see some of those start coming through.  It will be nice to have a better selection of clothes to wear.  It’s sometimes sad to walk into my closet and look at all the clothes that don’t quite work anymore.  I might have to put them out of sight…we will see.

Stretch marks: None.

Belly button: Innie.

Sleep: I’ve been sleeping like a rock this week.  I feel so lucky!  My crazy dreams are endless though.  Every night I’ve got some bizarre chain of events occurring in my brain.

Best moment of the week: Getting to hear our baby’s heartbeat at our O.B. appointment the other day.  It is so exciting to hear him/her!

Food cravings: Fruits.  I often have a delimma where I just “DON’T KNOW WHAT I WANT” and it drives me (and my poor husband) insane.  I’m starving but cannot figure out what I’m starving for.

Food aversions: I still can’t stand the idea of chicken.  Eric told me he missed chicken and I told him it’s okay for him to eat it, just don’t think I’m going to share any of it!

Symptoms: I was getting a stomach ache every evening about 6pm for several days.  My doctor said that it’s probably that I’m not eating frequently enough.  She said eat something small every 2 hours.  So I’m trying to eat a peice of fruit or string cheese or something to keep my stomach working.  It has helped.

Movement: None yet.  I am keeping my eyes peeled for it though.

Gender: Unknown.  We scheduled our anatomy ultrasound though….only 2 weeks away!

What I’m looking forward to: I’m looking forward to our ultrasound!  It will be so fun to see our baby.  I think it will make everything feel more real!  Somehow it still hasn’t quite HIT ME that I’m having a baby.  I definitely know I’m pregnant and the end result is a baby, but that reallly hasn’t hit me over the head yet.  Maybe seeing the baby on the ultrasound will give me that realization.  Plus, it’s exciting to be able to find out the baby’s gender too.

What I’m nervous about: My emotions have me up and down about my body changing.  I just want to stop feeling nervous that I’m going to be as big as a house.  This is going to be a never ending battle for me.

What I miss: Nothing comes to mind!

Next appointment: Tuesday, May 14 at 9:00 a.m.!  The BIG DAY!

17 Weeks (from thebump.com)

Crazy to think that I’m nearing closer to the halfway point of pregnancy.  This week thebump.com talks about not getting freaked out by weight gain and growth.  I can definitely see GROWTH in my belly this week.  It’s rounding out and pushing forward!  Sometimes it is hard to watch your body grow and change, but I know it’s all for baby.  Can’t wait to see Baby L on the ultrasound in a couple of weeks! -Katy

Try not to get freaked out by the numbers on your scale. At 17 weeks, baby’s working on getting stronger, and your body’s working on getting bigger. That means putting on some pounds and — we hate to break it to you — getting some stretch marks. Make sure you document your growing bump by taking lots of photos. Sure, you might not always feel so pretty, but one day you’re going to look back at pregnancy and reminisce (really — we promise). You’ll also want to start figuring out some plans, like whether or not you’re going to find out baby’s gender (you should be able to soon!), and what kind of childbirth class you’d like to take. As you start making these decisions, the pregnancy will feel even more real, which is probably super exciting, but part of you is probably feeling a little nervous. After all, you’re at week 17; that’s almost halfway there and there’s still a lot left to do. Chill! You’ll get it done. Just remember not to try to do it all yourself — ask for help!

your baby’s the size of an onion!

Baby continues to beef up. Now she’s about 5.1 inches long and weighs about 5.9 ounces.

your baby at 17 weeks

• Her rubbery cartilage is now turning to bone.
• And she’s growing some meat on those bones — putting on some fat.
• She’s growing a stronger, thicker umbilical cord, too.

Doctor Appointment

Today we went to the O.B. for our monthly prenatal visit.  It feels like each month passes by slowly in between visits.  Today’s appointment lasted longer than last month’s appointment, which was nice.  Last time the appointment was literally about 5-10 minutes and that was it.  We listened to the heart beat, and bam, done!  Today, we spent a lot of time talking and then we ended up getting to hear baby’s heartbeat (or “babe’s heartbeat” as the nurse practitioner kept saying).  We could instantly get a good read on “babe’s” heartbeat, and then he/she squirmed away.  The baby kept moving around, but she was able to pick the heartbeat up on the doppler a few more times.  Little L’s heartbeat was 150 bpm.

We asked about our 20-week appointment.  She said that we could schedule the 20-week anatomy ultrasound for 19 or 20 weeks.  Of COURSE we chose 19 weeks!  So in only 2 and a half weeks we will finally get to see our baby!!!!  So exciting.  We will also be able to find out the baby’s gender at that time.  I’m thrilled that it’s only a few weeks away!!!

BUMP REPORT – Week 16

PREGNANCY WEEK 16

Week 16, wow!!  40% complete!  I must say I am getting REALLY excited that I’m finally looking pregnant (at least to me!)…up until now I have feel insecure about my changing body.  But now that my baby is growing and making my belly more pronounced, it makes me feel more excited and less “fat” feeling.  Eric and I are also getting excited to find out if baby Lute is a girl or a boy in just a few weeks.  I’m going to see if my doctor is willing to budge on the 20-week mark and see if we can try for 18 or 19 weeks.  I doubt it, but here’s for trying!  We have our 16 (and a half) week appointment this week, so I will ask.  -Katy

My age: 27

How far along: 16 weeks

How big is baby: the size of an avocado.  He/she is approximately 4.6 inches long and weighs 3.5 ounces.  That’s an entire ounce growth since last week!

Exercise/Activity Level: I did a booty scupt workout (DVD at home) that involved a bajillion squats one day this week…and let me tell ya, I was sore for DAYS!!  lol  My quads were so sore that I felt as if I were walking like an old lady!  Because of my soreness, I took a day or two off this week from working out, but I made up those days over the weekend.  So I still got in 5 days of exercise this week.  On Sunday I was running and thought I had a runny nose…NOPE!  It turned out to be a bloody nose!  Apparently nose bleeds are a normal part of pregnancy.  I started turning on our humidifer again, so hopefully that will help me avoid nose bleeds!  I don’t need a bloody massacre in the middle of a public park, that can raise some eyebrows!

Maternity clothes: I went to Ross this past week on a mission.  I accomplished my mission in STYLE!  For $80, I got: 2 pairs of skinny jeans (one dark wash, one medium wash), 3 well-cut t-shirts (the white shirt I’m wearing in my pic this week is one), 1 pair of black skinny capris, 2 pairs of leggings and one dressier shirt/sweater.  I feel like a scored big time!  Now I know my quest isn’t over as I will need more clothing later, but I’m still hoping to be able to borrow maternity clothes from some friends to fill in the gray areas.

Stretch marks: None.

Belly button: Innie.

Sleep: Sleep is fairly good.  I occasionally wake up at 3am and just lie there wide awake though.

Best moment of the week: Talking with a family member from back home and having a great talk.

Food cravings: Still eating a ton of fruits!!

Food aversions: I saw a chick-fil-a bag on a movie the other night and just about gagged.  Seriously, it was just a bag, and it was on TV, not even in the room!  No chicken for this chick.

Symptoms: Got my first nose bleed this week while running outside.  I also notice that my back starts to get uncomfortable when I am sitting for too long.  This weekend I had a headache that was unbearable for on-and-off 24 hours, that was MISERABLE!  My belly is growing, so I am noticing I get out of breath easily now…all that crowding of my lungs is making it harder to breathe!

Movement: None.  Hopefully soon, though!  They say 16-20 weeks is when most first time moms will feel movement for the first time.

Gender: Unknown.  We are supposed to find out at our 20 week visit.  It’s close yet so far away!

What I’m looking forward to: Watching my baby grow and grow.  It will be fun when people start to actually NOTICE I’m pregnant.  At church yesterday, there were two ladies (and I’m sure others) who probably are wondering if I’m pregnant or not.  But they probably won’t ask until I’m bigger, just to be safe!

What I’m nervous about: Nothing.  I feel happy and content!

What I miss: Not much.  There was one time this week I really wished I could have a drink, but I think that desire is pretty rare for me since I’ve never been a huge drinker.

Next appointment: Friday, April 26th, this week!  Then we will schedule our 20 week ultrasound…the BIG REVEAL!

16 Weeks (from thebump.com)

From thebump.com about 16 weeks pregnant… I’ve hit 16 weeks, which makes this pregnancy 40% complete!  I can’t believe that soon I will be feeling baby’s kicks!  In just a few more weeks we we find out if Baby Lute is a he or a she!  -Katy

Stay on the lookout for some fluttering sensations in your abdomen. It might not be right at 16 weeks, but pretty soon you’ll start feeling baby moving around in there. At first those moves might feel like gas or a muscle twitch, but over time, as baby gets bigger and stronger, they’ll be unmistakable. Of course, feeling those movements comes with other issues, like having your lungs crowded by your growing babe. That could make it seem tough to catch your breath from time to time. Don’t worry: There are some positive symptoms you might be having at week 16. For example, some moms-to-be find their hair and nails grow faster. (Your hair might actually look thicker and more lustrous and your skin might look radiant, too. Woo hoo!) Another cool fact? Baby’s starting to be able to hear your voice — and she’ll recognize it at birth — so feel free to chat her up.

your baby’s the size of an avocado!

Now, she’s about 4.6 inches long and weighs about 3.5 ounces, and she’s big enough that your doctor may be able to hear her heartbeat.

your baby at 16 weeks

• She’s listening to your voice, thanks to tiny bones forming in her ears.
• She’s growing hair, lashes and eyebrows.
• And she’s forming taste buds.

BUMP REPORT – Week 15

PREGNANCY WEEK 15

My age: 27

How far along: 15 weeks

How big is baby: the size of an apple (or a naval orange, depending on the source I looked at) – approx 4 inches long and 2.5 ounces

Exercise/Activity Level: I feel great about my level of fitness and working out.  This week I exercised 5 days, plus on a 6th day I did a 3.5 mile walk/hike around the lake.  We have been having alternating weather of 60-70 degree days and then days of snow.  This past week it was snowing really heavy, but me and Koda (the dog) huffed outside in the “blizzard” and logged a nice 3 mile run.  I felt accomplished!  This past weekend was closing weekend for majority of the Colorado ski resorts, so we did ski one final time at Araphoe Basin.  I must say that my energy was quickly zapped while skiing, so I didn’t ski for too long that day.  I was wiped out.  There is still one resort that will remain open until May, but I doubt I will log any more ski days this season.

Maternity clothes: I think I’m going to start making a quest for purchasing maternity clothes.  It feels that my belly has sort of “popped” out a bit in the past one or two weeks, so it feels more comfortable to wear maternity items.  I have a few things I have picked up from thrift shops, but I hope to start building more of a selection.  I also hope to borrow items from friends who have offered.

Stretch marks: None.

Belly button: Innie.

Sleep: My sleep has been much less broken in the past week or two.  I feel RELIEVED since I was getting pretty grumpy from inhibited sleep cycles.  I hope that my sleep continues to be like this for a while!

Best moment of the week: Church on Sunday was just a GREAT day.  I always love going to church and hearing a great message and entering into a time of worship, but this week it felt like a memorable night (yes, we go to church at night, not morning).  We took communion and we were challanged to make the worship time 100% about focusing on gratitude for Christ and what He has done for us.  Forgetting our individual battles or requests and laying down sweet thanks and adoration to our heavenly Father made for a very moving worship time.  So that was my best moment of the week!!

Food cravings: FRUIT, FRUIT and more FRUIT!  I eat at least 10 servings per day of fruits.  Grapes, peaches, apples, bananas, cuties, oranges, strawberries and the occasional smoothie.  I must say, I can’t get enough of fruit!  (It’s also really good at keeping the constipation at bay- TMI?)

Food aversions: Still feeling repulsed by chicken.

Symptoms: I am feeling very good, although I struggle with body image sometimes.  It is emotionally hard to see the changes in my body, so sometimes I get down on myself and feel overly emotional.

Movement: None.

Gender: Unknown.  I don’t want to jinx anything, but my strong inclination is that it’s possibly going to be a girl….?

What I’m looking forward to: Looking forward to more and more spring weather and less and less winter (go away, snow!).  I am ready to start going to the pool and getting a bit of sun.  Just playing outside is what I’m looking forward to.

What I’m nervous about: My emotions.  I don’t like being emotional, and I feel nervous at the way it affects others.

What I miss: My small waist that I used to have:)

Next appointment: Friday, April 26th.

15 Weeks (from thebump.com)

15 Weeks!!  My baby is now the size of a navel orange (or an apple according to babycenter.com).  So exciting to see changes and growth occur!  -Katy

your baby’s the size of a navel orange!

The average fetus at 15 weeks weighs 2.5 ounces and measures 4 inches — and his proportions are becoming even more normal, since his legs now outmeasure his arms.

your baby at 15 weeks

• You probably can’t feel it yet, but she’s squirming a ton!
• She might even be hiccuping in there.
• She’s making lots of progress: her joints and limbs can all move now.

pregnancy symptoms at 15 weeks

• Nosebleeds, thanks to increased blood volume and sensitive nasal passages.
• Heartburn, gas and/or indigestion. More to blame on the hormones.
• Frisky! Take advantage of the increased libido.
• Swollen gums, another pitfall of those pregnancy hormones. Make sure you’re taking care of your teeth, and see your dentist for your regular checkups.

BUMP REPORT – Week 14

PREGNANCY WEEK 14

My age: 27

How far along: 14 weeks

How big is baby: the size of a lemon (which in my opinion seems smaller than a peach) – baby is 3.4 inches long

Exercise/Activity Level: This week I have continued with working out everyday without missing! I feel great when I run, so I try to get in two days of outdoor running in and at least 3 days of gym time. We will probably ski one or two more days before the ski resorts start closing for the season. Over the weekend Eric and I went for a struous STRAIGHT UPHILL hike and I was huffing and puffing.

Maternity clothes: For work I wear my maternity dress pants (I have two pairs) with a regular top. For non work, I try to wear my regular jeans/clothes with my belly band.

Stretch marks: None.

Belly button: Innie.

Sleep: Eric and I switch which side of the bed we sleep on fairly regularly. I found that sleeping on the left side of the bed (which is actually MY side) gives me better nights of sleep this week. I think I’ll stick to that side.

Best moment of the week: Sharing our pregnancy news publicly on facebook was amazing. The feedback we got blew us away! We got over 150 “likes” and over 50 comments of such nice words. It feels great to share with our friends and family.

Food cravings: Cheerios and grapes. Also let’s add orange pop to the mix. Although I’ve only caved ONCE to orange pop. I try not to drink any pop.

Food aversions: Chicken. I went to Chick-Fil-A the other day and only ate fries and lemonade:)

Symptoms: I am feeling great!

Movement: None.

Gender: Unknown.

What I’m looking forward to: Getting more and more of a baby bump. I feel like I’m finally starting to show. Only a little, but I think it’s there. It’s exciting and makes this feel more real overall.

What I’m nervous about: Nada.

What I miss: My family.

Next appointment: Friday, April 26th.

P.S. Eric wanted a picture this week too:)  Here is my handsome husband in all his glory!

14 Weeks (from thebump.com)

I was reading through my weekly thebump.com update today, and I have finally entered the 2nd trimester officially!!  Yay!  -Katy

Hungry much? Now that you’re not feeling so queasy, you’re probably enjoying eating. A lot. Plus, you’re fueling baby’s growth — which is happening at super speed at 14 weeks. Be sure to keep plenty of healthy snacks by your side just in case you get the munchies. It’s important — for you and for baby — that you don’t indulge in too many greasy, fatty foods, so you’re both getting the right nutrients. (Of course, the occasional bowl of ice cream is totally okay.) And we just wanted to remind you: eating for two doesn’t mean doubling your calorie intake. Not only have you gotten your appetite back at week 14, but you’ve probably also gotten some of your energy back, too. If you found yourself shying away from exercise during trimester one, it’s time to get back on track. Go take a walk!

your baby’s the size of a lemon!

At week 14, your baby is 3.4 inches and 1.5 ounces, he’s almost doubled in weight since last week and keeps on growing.

your baby at 14 weeks

• He’s probably sucking his thumb and wiggling his toes in there!
• His kidneys are making urine, and his liver and spleen are doing their jobs, too.
• And he’s growing lanugo, a thin, peach-fuzz-like hair, all over his body — it will help him keep warm!

pregnancy symptoms at 14 weeks

• As you emerge from the nasties of the first trimester, you’re probably getting your energy back.
• You’re probably feeling some aches and pains, as your muscles and ligaments stretch to accomodate your growing baby.
• Hungry! Once the queasies of the first trimester subside, you might find your appetite on overdrive.
• You might notice your hair getting thicker and shinier, one of the (few) attractive side-effects of pregnancy.

It’s nice (and weird at the same time) to be “out”

Well, I’m pretty sure most everyone knows about our pregnancy now.  We told a lot of family and friends Easter weekend.  Then this week we went ahead and made a facebook post.  Facebook is a great way to tell the masses of people who you want to know, but don’t have the time to call every single person.  Eric and I both agree that we feel overwhelmed with love and support from our family and friends.  We have 150+ “likes” and 50+ well wishes/comments when we posted our announcement.  We feel very blessed to have so much love and support.

I must admit, it feels a tad weird to be “out” since we have been in secrecy for several months.  All of the sudden it’s open news and people talk to me about the baby and the pregnancy.  It’s a 180 from being in a world of secrecy to a world of being “out!”