The Reveal

Well, Baby Brink is finally Facebook official! I was so nervous to post our photo announcement -- for two reasons. What if something awful happens? That's a ton of people to untell. And also, what if no one comments or is happy for us?! (Why yes, I am a Paranoid Polly.)

Thankfully we received a ton of likes and comments in just an hour. Whew!
And here are some pics from our reveal session:

12 Weeks

Pregnancy is becoming more real. Or maybe it's hearing the heartbeat at this week's exam. I was feeling pretty guilty before this... like a robot for not feeling a bond with my baby yet. There are so many unknowns right now. As a Type A, planner type it's hard for me to plan ahead -- to know who this little person will be once on the outside. What will he/she look like? Act like? What kind of human will they grow to be? Will they be smart, athletic, funny, introverted, artistic? How will we be as parents? How will I survive the drawbacks of parenthood everyone seems to warn me about?

 It's sometimes easy to forget I'm physically pregnant -- I'm not quite showing, my symptoms are not strong, and no nursery or baby gear in sight. But when I find myself alone, I rub my belly and softly whisper to the little peanut. And it's then the overwhelming emotion washes over me.

The past two weeks I've been furiously buying maternity clothes. Getting dressed in the morning is my biggest nightmare anymore, so the more I can diminish that aggravation the better!

Hoping to get our reveal shoot done this weekend. If we do, our little peanut becomes Facebook official on Monday!

Baby's Hearbeat

Limes and Lab Work

I didn't pay much attention to the weekly fruit comparisons until 11 weeks, which puts my fetus at the size of a lime. A lime seems so much bigger than a prune! Yet when I hold the lime against my belly it seems so small. :-/  

Tomorrow I have my first physical with a midwife. I'm assuming they'll also try the doppler on me then to hear the heartbeat which is something we didn't do at my first ultrasound. I'm hoping the midwife won't mind if I pull out my iPhone to capture the sound of it. I want to play it again and again until the next time. I thought about investing in my own doppler, but based on my friends' experience, I think it would just make me more neurotic than I already am. Though I am MUCH more relaxed now than in early pregnancy. But now the labor and parenthood fears are cropping up. I assume that doesn't go away at any point.

First tri labwork I can check off my list! 9 vials of blood loss later, I'm actually feeling pretty good. I hear the next blood draw isn't until the glucose test, so my poor veins can rest easy for a bit. 

I had wanted to shoot our announcement photo this weekend, but the weather didn't cooperate. This may put my timeline a little back, but that's okay. As comfortable as I am about the viability of this pregnancy, I foresee some panicking after I hit "post." 

Early pregnancy fatigue is creeping back around; I'm exhausted by 7 pm. Also experiencing a little more nausea too. Those specific cravings have mostly subsided too. Maybe now I can finally eat more salads or something! :)

11 Weeks

One more to 12! I know technically second tri doesn't start until 13w3d, but somehow 12 feels more like a trimester. Plus 12 is when we planned to become "Facebook official." And that may have to wait longer than I wanted. I'm foreseeing some obstacles in my path to my planned reveal (I'm really making this more awesome than it really is, by the way).

At any rate, I've also semi-figured out my new tripod and found a place to start taking my weekly bump progress pics. (Hint: it's the nursery!) Let me put this disclaimer on the photo in this post: I know that is not a legitimate baby bump, but it is because of pregnancy that my belly looks twice the size it normally does, so let a girl try to feel good about her expanding waistline.

Symptom-wise, there really have been no new developments. Cravings lean more toward things with tomato sauce in them -- like Italian cheesesteaks, cheap pizza rolls, etc.

I thank God every day that I have not been graced with morning sickness or other tummy concerns. If my chief complaints are waking up 3x a night to use the bathroom and my outrageous appetite, then I'm doing well. The Negative Nelly part of me wonders what could lie ahead as payback. After all, I didn't have problems conceiving and my pregnancy so far has been 'easy' --- so when does the other shoe drop?

I've definitely been slacking on reading my pregnancy books, but I'm LOVING these BabyCenter videos. The whole development process really fascinates me.

10 Weeks

Double digits and one quarter of the way there! This week was a little surreal with getting our first peek at the baby during the ultrasound. My husband says he becomes even more shocked each time he looks the sonogram and can't get over how unbelievable it is that we created a life. Honestly it's a lot to grasp, even for me who has been housing the little thing. I can't believe there are little arms and legs just waving around in my body and I can't feel a thing! I assume it gets to feel a little more natural once my bump grows and when I feel the flutters and kicks.

Symptom-wise, no changes. Though I think the specific cravings are toning down a bit. I notice if I go too many hours between eating I get acid reflux. I'm really trying to work in more healthy items into my day -- not only for the sake of my baby, but also because my increasing size is troubling me.

Next weekend we're doing a little mini photoshoot for our official announcement. It will feel good to be "out"! Not that I'm too shy about telling people in person lately, but I'll feel a little less censored. :)

I did  buy a few maternity items last week including a pair of work pants. The full belly panel is a little tricky to get used to, especially because my blump doesn't fill it out!

Baby's First Photo!

Today was the big day -- our first ultrasound and first time we got to see our little peanut! From what I could tell, it looks like everything is on schedule and going well. The heartbeat was 176 bpm. He/she was bouncing around waving arms and legs  -- so crazy! I had half convinced myself there was no baby there but I was thankfully proven wrong. How is it possible it can have all its little body parts and organs and be an inch big?! 

Best of all -- there was only one little baby in there. I would have fallen off the table if it had been twins! Seeing the little bean has reduced about half of my pregnancy anxiety, and I'll feel a little more safe in telling people, buying maternity clothes and maybe even picking up some baby items! Now here's hoping the next 10 weeks until I have my next ultrasound don't creep by too slowly!

9 Weeks

Still in the single digits, but I'm getting there. The most wonderful part about 9 weeks is this week we get to see the lil gummy bear! Tuesday can't come soon enough. I just pray everything is on track and that it goes smoothly. I really think (provided things go well) this will really make it more real for both of us, especially W.

my blump

Symptoms this week are maintaining steady - no new ones. I think the food cravings are getting moderately better. I'm not ragingly hunger at all hours of the day now -- just a few. I'm working on making better choices (as much as I can) because I'm afraid to gain a bajillion pounds.

At this stage, most of my close friends (including work friends) know. I can't be sure how many family members know since our parents have loose lips. The day after our u/s we're having a birthday dinner for my gram. I'm NOT hijacking the dinner, but I'll flash the sonogram pic to any of them who don't know already. The plan is to make it Facebook official the end of April when I'm 12 weeks. I'm completely nervous to make that step just in case something awful happens, but I can't live in fear this whole pregnancy, right?

I'm going shopping this weekend because my closet is the most frustrating thing in my life these days! I really thought many of my dresses would see me through the first half of pregnancy, but I underestimated the boob/ass gain. I'm not ready for maternity yet, but maybe I can find some roomier empire dresses to see me through. Wish me luck! And happy Friday!