It's official! 13 weeks 6 days.

Thanksgiving was a couple days ago, and since all the families were together we took that opportunity to share the good news. And it was so great. It felt really good to tell everyone and see how surprised they were. My Grandma made a toast to us at her birthday party and announced it to everyone, which was really nice. She did a great job. The next day I announced on Facebook, which sounds totally lame but that actually felt pretty good also. No more secrets! Now if only the belly would pop out so I will actually look preggo...

I can actually feel some firmness in my lower abdomen now and some of my jeans are a little snug around the belly. I got this amazing stretchy/spandexy thing called a Bella Band that you put on over your unbuttoned jeans to get more usage out of your pre-pregnancy clothes. I tried it for the first time on Wednesday and let me tell you I have never felt so comfortable in my life! Oh man, it was glorious! I can't wait to get into maternity pants now - elastic waistbands, here I come!

We ordered our first big baby item online early Friday morning (Black Friday sale at BRU)! We will have our amazingly comfortable glider rocker in about a week, I can't wait!

The nausea is letting up a bit. I just have to watch myself and not eat too much and then I'm fine. It's only a matter of time before I start noshing all day long. I can't wait for that either. Still no weight gain but that will come with the noshing!

Nap time!
Ash

Silly wabbit.

I just read my old posts from week 7 and cracked up - I actually thought the nausea was fading five weeks ago! hahaha.... you wish, 7 week self!

Okay, that's all I have for now. Carry on.

It's alliiiiiiive!!! 12 weeks 2 days.

I had my 12 week appointment today! We got to hear the heartbeat via the doppler device, and let me tell you hearing the heartbeat never gets old. It took the doctor a couple minutes to locate the the baby but eventually there it was in my lower right abdomen. She said the heartbeat sounded strong and perfect, and of course we agreed. I could sit and listen to that woosh-woosh-woosh sound all day long. It's so comforting.

Since I haven't had any complications I've felt pretty confident since the 8 week ultrasound, but still cautious enough that I'm not spreading the good news to just anyone yet. I have to admit I went into this appointment today with a little trepidation after reading about ladies who have had missed miscarriages around this point in pregnancy. It's one thing to see blood and know what has happened, but to find out weeks later that the baby stopped growing but you never knew it has to somehow be more devastating. I was so worried we wouldn't hear the heartbeat and then the worrying would continue from there... Well I just have to stop worrying. I know it doesn't do any good - it's not going to stop anything bad from happening nor will it create only good things. I just need to be positive and think happy thoughts because a) I don't need anymore wrinkles, and 2) I want to enjoy being pregnant! I'm in the "safe zone" now so it's time to get that happy pregnant lady glow! Second trimester starts in 8 days... I cannot wait.

The nausea is getting a little better. I had a lot of energy and a good appetite yesterday, so why wouldn't I eat a two-piece and a biscuit (and mashed potatoes and some macaroni and cheese) for dinner? I totally noshed on my delicious home cookin' dinner and then proceeded to lose it all about 30 minutes later. It is so hard to slow down when you're starving and haven't eaten more than about 600 calories a day in the last 8 weeks. It feels so good to eat while I'm eating, but a few minutes later it's a whole other story. I know my limit, I just need to stick to it. I just ate a burger (and fries) and I'm really hoping I won't be revisiting that meal any time soon.

I still have to wait 9 days to tell my extended family! I have a strong desire to say something on Facebook right now. Not really sure why because I hate when people make dumb status updates like people really care what you're up to every minute of the day. I'm not assuming everyone on Facebook cares that I'm pregnant, but I think it will feel good to finally "out" myself and not hide my pregnancy anymore. I think I'll post it next week, the day after Thanksgiving when my whole family knows.

I really need to make some friends who have babies. Friends who understand this whole thing. My friends are very understanding but I know I'll need the support of fellow mothers pretty soon. I can already tell this little butter bean is going to drastically change my social life. I didn't have a wild and crazy night life to begin with, but I'm feeling pretty isolated at this point. I don't know if people think I just want to stay home all the time now or what but let's just say the phone has been quiet... hey, I don't have a baby yet! I need to get out and about before I'm waddling and my feet are too swollen to wear real shoes. I'm sure some of the isolation is in my head, but not all of it is. And some nights I do just want to stay home and relax. But I'm getting really sick of looking at the inside of my house. Something has to change or I'm going to lose it.

But right now all I feel is happy. I'm so glad the little butter bean is doing well and I have nothing to worry about. All is good.

Cheers,
Mama Bear

Lay off me I'm starving! 11 weeks 5 days.

Yesterday something strange happened - I was hungry. Like all day. I had to keep munching to keep the hunger pangs at bay. I thought I had turned a corner but today I didn't feel so great. I felt kind of full, dull stomach pains all day and yet still felt extremely hungry a few times out of nowhere. The nausea has gotten a little better from 5 weeks ago when I was so miserable I swore this would be our one and only child.

The big 12 week mark is coming up on Sunday! I have an appointment on Tuesday which I'm a little nervous about. I don't get another ultrasound until about week 20, so until then I guess they will be using a doppler to find the heartbeat. I've heard that it's sometimes hard to find the heartbeat this early with a doppler. Maybe the little butter bean will have a really strong, LOUD heartbeat and it will be no problem! I sure hope so, because I don't want to worry for the next four to eight weeks. Here comes Debbie Downer again...

I was almost outed on Facebook today. It was a total accident, and very subtle, and the comment was promptly deleted. Only one person found out as a result, and it was my Aunt Beth so I had no problem with that. And I swore her to secrecy. I want to tell as many people as possible in person and luckily I get to tell the whole family in two weeks! I can't wait!

Keeping it safe while keeping it real,
Smash

This fetus is kicking my ass. 11 weeks 1 day.

The baby is now the size of a key lime but it's doing the damage of a monster truck. I started to think last week that the "morning" sickness was subsiding, but oh - wait - not so fast there, mama bear. I can't wait for the day when I have more to write about than feeling queasy. What the heck, I'll give it a whirl!

...I bought a baby book last weekend. I filled in all the areas I could, glued in some pictures, and examined my work about 18 times.

...The pregnancy hormones are officially in full swing. I've had a few moments of rage, which strangely are quite therapeutic. Being direct and bitchy is fun sometimes, and can come in handy! For instance, when you are trying to turn left onto one of the busiest streets in Tulsa and the person behind you honks, you can give them the bird with no remorse. You can also hand out choice words to unruly football fans when they are trashing your team. Again, with no remorse. Pregnancy is quite liberating! On the flip side of that, poor Jimmy gets the wrong end of the rage every now and then too. Sorry shmoops.

...Not only do the hormones sometimes make me crazy, they often make me emotional. Even a particularly touching life lesson on "The Simpsons" can make me tear up.

...I'm down 10 pounds now. I've never lost 10 pounds in my life. Who knew that to lose weight all you have to do is stop eating? Quite a concept. Of course I'm not particularly excited to be losing weight at this point when I should be gaining. I know a lot of pregnant women lose weight in the first trimester, I guess this is normal. My concern is that I'm not getting all the nutrients the baby needs. I can't really eat vegetables, I haven't had more than 50 ounces of water in a day over the last six weeks (usually it's more like 20-30 ounces), and I sometimes have to skip my prenatal vitamin (it makes me barf). The food I eat isn't always the healthiest either. I eat a lot of carbs and other bland items. I'm definitely not getting enough fiber or leafy greens. The word on the street is that the "morning" sickness ends with the first trimester; if that's the case then I'm home free in two weeks! I cannot WAIT until food sounds good again and I'm chugging gallons of water every day.

...My Grandma's 75th birthday is the day before Thanksgiving so we're throwing her a giant surprise party Thanksgiving evening. I'm really excited about it because a) Grandma is awesome and deserves a kick-ass party, and b) I'm going to tell the family the good news that night! I don't want to steal Grandma's thunder but it's the perfect time to spread the news, when everyone will be together for the holidays.

Hey look, I did it! So there are other things going on besides feeling like crap.

TTFN, ta ta for now!
Ashers