Extra Sonogram!!!

It's a GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!!

We paid for the extra sonogram and found out today. Super excited =)

17 weeks

So I went to the doc today, and I have to wait 4 more weeks to find out the sex of the baby. SUCH a bummer. We could have an additional ultrasound, at our own expense, to find out the sex, but I am cheap =)

They took blood for another round of tests...I feel like a pin cushion every time I go in there!! Pee in a cup, stab my arms/hands, weigh me....it is more like torture than a doctors appointment.....geezz. All of the other tests have come back normal so far, so hopefully this one will be the same. I haven't really gained any weight yet, and the doc said that is normal with first pregnancies...hopefully I won't balloon out at the end =)

I did get to hear the heartbeat again today....it is quite fast and fairly strong. That kiddo is pretty tucked back in there though, the doc has to maneuver around and push on my tummy to find it each time....I think *she* is sitting right on top of my bladder - man do I have to potty a lot!!!

I also went to the dermatologist today - no spots removed (yeah!!) but there are two spots that she wants me to monitor for the next few months. She said that with being pregnant, my chances of having some of my moles/spots change goes way up, and she wants to make sure no new melanoma spots come out. That would suck big time. At least we are watching them....which reminds me that I need to get Andy to look at them because they are on the backs of my legs and very hard for me to see....HA!

16-weeks

Well we have reached 16 weeks in the pregnancy and everything is going great. Right now, it is about the size of an avocado: 4 1/2 inches long (head to rump) and 3 1/2 ounces. Its legs are much more developed, its head is more erect than it has been, and its eyes have moved closer to the front of his head. Its ears are close to their final position, too. The patterning of its scalp has begun, though its locks aren't recognizable yet. It's even started growing toenails. And there's a lot happening inside as well. For example, its heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, and this amount will continue to increase as our baby continues to develop. (Taken from www.babycenter.com)

Here is the latest picture - Lauren has developed a slight baby bump, which I think is just adorable :-)

Only 4 weeks left until we know the sex of the baby!!

Remodel

Our remodel of the front room is almost done - yeah!!! We just have to finish painting the kitchen and then I will post pics =)

Next we are working on painting the rest of the house and rearranging the other rooms....can you tell the "nesting" phase has kicked in ;-)

12-Weeks - End of 1st Trimester

Well I have been a little lax in posting to the blog - since I intended to do it LAST Thursday at exactly 12 weeks. I did take another picture of Lauren last week in my efforts to chronicle the birth of our first child. Below is a picture of Lauren at 12-weeks pregnant:



There isn't much of a difference ... atleast not one that you would notice unless you live with Lauren 24/7 like myself. But to prove the existence of a baby growing in her stomach I present the ultrasounds we had on Monday, July 20th:












This was quite simply the most amazing thing I have ever seen! I was awe struck that Lauren and I helped create this little person growing inside of her! I am so excited (if you couldn't tell) and cannot wait to welcome this precious child into the world.

Our next ultrasound is not until 20-weeks (when we will finally find out the sex and can refer to the baby as "he" or "she") - so my next post will be Lauren at 16-weeks and we'll see where she has progressed!

Can't wait for a new week...

So, this past week has be awful.....too many crappy things to mention....I think next week should be better!!!!!

Andy took another picture Thursday to mark week 12. I don't think I look any different yet - I mean, my clothes still fit fine and I really don't feel like my tummy is being stretched or anything. Hopefully I will be able to wear my clothes for another 8 weeks or so....maternity wear is just not that cute (and the stuff that is more stylish is WAY too expensive). I am starting to feel a little better though- not everything makes me want to vomit now ;-)

Alex had to go to the vet again this morning. His eye was all red and he was squinty....I swear, you would think we don't take care of this dog by the way he looks, but he is one of the most spoiled animals you will ever meet! The vet could not find anything in his eye, so that was good. He may just have the start of an ulcer, so we have more medicine and he goes back for a recheck Friday. I would like a month to go by where we don't have to spend several hundred dollars on the dog!

8-Weeks

Well as many of you know Lauren is pregnant with our first child - and I honestly could not be more excited than I am right now. Nothing compares to the thought of having a child, with the woman that I love more than anything on this earth. I've had a pretty good year thus far - I will be an administrative intern at Moorhead Junior High and I was accepted into the Texas A&M University doctoral program for Public School Administration but neither come even close to the birth of our first child!

Now as many of you know I have a slight case of the OCD - I keep track painstakingly of all kinds of things - this pregnancy will be no different. I am going to be starting to take pictures of Lauren in 4 week intrevals to show the progression of her pregnancy. I started last Thurday, June 18, 2009 when she was 8-weeks along.



So check back for more information - I will defintely be posting again on July 6, 2009 after Lauren has her next doctor's appointment and another ultrasound. Then on July 16, 2009 when Lauren is at 12-weeks and at the end of the first trimester you will be able to see how she has changed since 8-weeks.