Baby's first trip to the Ocean...

So, despite my previous blog, we did have an amazing time at the beach as well as the ALIVE Festival. Although we are happy to be back home and getting back into the swing of things. I think the baby really enjoyed its first trip (in utero) to the beach!! Here are some pictures of our vacation!!

Not everyone gets to wear a cute maternity swimsuit...

Baby & I spent lots of time under the umbrella

listening to the waves...although I couldn't help but think

that being in the womb probably does sound a lot like the ocean...

My 15 week belly picture...who could ask for a better background?!

Family Photo

Keeping Mommy & Daddy on Our Toes...

Well, we have had a more eventful return from our two weeks of vacationing/ALIVE Festival than we had hoped for...but I am happy to say that all seems to be fine now and the baby is as healthy and happy as ever. Praise the Lord!!

I seem to have somehow developed about a centimeter tear in the lining of my uterus, causing some very scary and unwelcomed bleeding. But after seeing the doctor and getting a full ultrasound done, it seems this is something that will heal on its own over the next day or so and the pregnancy will continue like normal. So far, it has been about 24 hours, and the symptoms seem to have almost completely gone away.

And, on the bright side, we were able to get some cute pictures of the baby, which we will get posted here in the next day or so when I am able to move around more and get to a scanner. The heartbeat was steady at 150bpm and the baby measure at the exact same due date as originally planned.

We have an appointment for another complete ultrasound and a meeting with the doctor for this coming Wednesday to see if the tear has gone away or grown at all. I will be sure and post an update following that visit as well.

In the meantime, please keep the three of us in your prayers that all continues to go well with the pregnancy and that God keeps our little one safe and healthy...and thank you for all of the visits and phone calls, we love you all!!

Beach-bound...

So, we had a 14 week checkup this past week, which even the nurse was perplexed about since we have to come back in two weeks for our 16 week checkup, however, it was a good appt. We were able to hear the baby's heartbeat loud and clear through the external monitor...no ultrasound this time. Baby's heartbeat is strong...and just for the record, the nurse thinks it is a boy.

I am now 15 weeks along so baby should be about the size of a softball, amazing! This week's reading was full of interesting facts, like the baby's body is now covered in little tiny hairs, it is able to swallow some of the fluid it is floating in (ew...) and it has gained enough muscle control to completely stretch out its body flat if it wants to...so interesting. I kinda wish I could just watch it through a little camera...

I seem to have popped so I am now in ALL maternity clothes...they are so comfy!! I'm loving them, plus the summer clothes are really cute! Tony and I are heading to the beach tomorrow...well, I guess today technically...with my mom and Randy and I'm all excited to wear my new maternity swimsuit. A perk of being pregnant over summer. This week should be a great time for Tony and I to just relax and take a breather from the hustle and bustle of home.

Plus, Spencer and I needed a break from each other...absence makes the heart grow fonder...I'm hoping. Either that, or he is going to become the mascot at the kennel and take up permanent residence there...

Well, I can hear the waves calling my name...or maybe that's my pillow...zzzzzz...

Thank God for Second Trimesters...

My week 13 bump...

It's like a little slice of Heaven...no more nausea, welcome back energy, and bring on the baby bump! I feel SO much better, I'm actually able to do housework again and I have a little bump to show the world why I haven't felt so great for the last 12 weeks! I'm loving week 13!! Still not sure about my wardrobe and moving into the next stage of clothing, so, for now, I'm down to 3 pairs of pants I can wear to work, which is definitely testing my creativity of outfits each day. Tony and I are leaving for the beach in about two weeks, so my next challenge will be finding some "beachy/vacation" clothes and a swimsuit...yikes! We'll see how that goes...

Baby seems to be growing and growing, I find myself getting anxious for baby to get big enough that I can feel it moving, it'll be so exciting! One of my books says baby is about 3 inches long and about the size of a peach...we've come a long way since the olive stage!

I went to the doctor this past week to have my throid levels checked, which was the initial reason we weren't able to have children right away...and everything is perfect! I have to go in for continuous checks every 6 weeks until the baby is born, small price to pay to be able to carry this little miracle! What a blessing!!

Baby's 12 Week Pictures...

Baby is taking up lots more room than the first set of pictures...growing!!!

An interesting picture of the bone structure of baby's head/face

This one is my favorite, you can see baby's little arms and legs...

but the best part is, baby did a flip between pictures, now baby's head is on the right which it definitely wasn't in the first two...pretty amazing!!!

12 Week Checkup!

Well, Tony and I went in for our twelve week checkup yesterday and we have all good things to report!! The doctor had a hard time finding the baby's heartbeat at first, which was a little scary. Tony and I probably had looks of horror on our faces, even though I have read in EVERY pregnancy book I have that it is not uncommon to not be able to pick up the baby's heartbeat externally at 12 weeks. Still...we were slightly panicked.

So, having a difficult baby pays off, because we got an ultrasound out of it! Nevermind that we will get billed for that later, what matters is that the baby is happy and healthy...yes, happy, we saw it with our own eyes. Our little one was moving around like CRAZY, it was the coolest thing to watch. The nurse got us some great pictures, and we did hear the heartbeat finally...at 154 beats per minute, baby is doing just fine!!!

As far as mommy is concerned, they did have to take my blood pressure twice, no worries, thank goodness, but the first time was a little higher than they wanted it to be, but by the time I left both numbers were below the normal standards. Whew!

I've also managed to gain 8 lbs, which I'm pretty happy with, I've been eating SOOO much lately, and the doctor seemed okay with it. So that was good too!! And...I managed to polish off a whole box of Scooby Doo Macaroni & Cheese all by myself for dinner tonight...impressive!!

Tony and I are headed to Hocking Hills, OH tomorrow for a couple of days to celebrate our upcoming 4 year anniversary. We had no idea when we booked the cabin I would be 3 months pregnant...so much for me enjoying the hot tub! But, I do get a pregnancy massage out of the deal, which I am stoked for, so that will be nice! It'll be good to get away just the two of us, we'll appreciate this time we have now more and more as November 28th gets closer and closer...

All good things to report!!!

How big is mommy...

Week 8

Week 9

Week 10

Week 11