Fetus

Today, the baby is officially a fetus and no longer an embryo!

Week 10 -- Belly Shots

[ 10w5d]

Well, here it is. Ten weeks, five days, and no pooch yet. Part of me is enjoying the fact that I can still hide the pregnancy, and part of me feels ready to see a real manifestation of this child's growth. I started checking a 1st trimester message board on webmd.com and read that a lot of women are outgrowing their regular clothes as early as six weeks. I did a little research this weekend to prepare for maternity clothes shopping, and I'm anticipating that it won't be easy or cheap. My plan is to take stock of all of Adam's and my clothes to see what I can get away with wearing (I have lots of cardigans and blazers -- I hope they'll make it through), then make a list of what I'll need. I'll be mid-sized through the winter but huge when it starts getting warm again. Thankfully, though, I won't need any large items like a new winter coat (like I would if we were in the North).

This week was more exhaustion, some running and walking Penny around the neighborhood, and a lot of boredom with food. I guess I've just been eating too much of the same things, so we got some different types of foods when grocery shopping. Adam already made chili, a good way to usher in fall.

I also found out this week that I won't be able to teach next semester because the baby is due to be born before the end of the semester. USA won't make exceptions for people who can't be there a whole semester, so I will be returning next fall. Honestly, I'm disappointed but quite glad to know that I will be able to relax after work everyday. Adam will still be in class, and I'll certainly be bored and pulling out my hair, but I'll be relaxed. Perhaps, I will take a community class to keep myself occupied.

First Ultrasound -- Week 9 (Really)

Today, we saw the first pictures of the baby via ultrasound. Everything looks good, and we even got to see it wiggle around. According to the measurements, I am 9 weeks 3 days today. This changes the due date to April 21. I figured I wasn't as far along as they had calculated, and I'm kind of relieved to find out I was right.

[ The baby is facing us. See its arm and leg buds? Just imagine it shimmying side to side. :) ]

[ This second picture is in 3D. It's supposed to give a more realistic perspective of the baby. ]

A Wild Week

This week was a wild one. It started pretty slowly, with a very lazy weekend where I did little more than lie on the couch watching TV, but by midweek I was a hormonal mess and spent all day Wednesday trying to hold back tears. This was the first day I've felt this way -- crazy, scared, tired, crabby, and weepy. It was much like have PMS, all the irrational feelings. Even after a good cry at home during lunch, I didn't feel better. But Adam was very kind to me and a friend met me for coffee after work. I eventually felt better, especially on Thursday when I called in sick to work so I could stay home and rest. I'm expecting more days like that in the months ahead.

I've been trying not to be worrisome, but it's hard knowing that we aren't making a lot of money because Adam is in school, that most days I sit at my desk at work and daydream about being able to stay home and teach part-time, and that I have no clue how we're going to make it. I often wonder how everyone else does it -- has a job they don't love and kids when they're broke. And I know I shouldn't worry and that God will take care of us, but some days that's harder to accept than others. This year has been, perhaps, the worst of my life, but it occurred to me just yesterday that because this year has been so difficult, I know God in a totally different way. Maybe that's the point. All I know is that ultimately I do trust God, and I have hope that things will get better.

I ran a lot this week -- four times for a total of 12.5 miles -- and walked Penny to the library one night. I also ate a lot of ice cream (don't tell!).

Week 9 . . . We Think

Well, I figured it would be good to get a shot of my belly pre-baby. Hopefully, it will look like this again (post-baby). This week marked the ninth week -- or at least, we're guessing it did -- and we're on the downward slope through the first trimester. Two weeks from today is the ultrasound that will give us a better clue as to how far along I am.


This week has been more of the same: exhaustion, hunger, tenderness. Hurricane Gustav blew through without as much drama as was expected. Adam was supposed to go to Louisiana to help with hurricane recovery, but the trip was canceled at the last minute. I enjoyed a short week of work. I didn't exercise as much as I wanted because of the hurricane, but I managed to get a 2.6 mile run in and a 2.2 mile walk with Adam and Penny.

I'm looking forward to my next doctor's appointment and the changes that are coming. Right now, the pregnancy is boring. It hasn't really set in that this is really happening. But it will, I'm sure.