It's really a baby!

It's amazing how unreal this whole pregnancy has seemed to me, until today at least! I was finally able to get in for an ultrasound and some first trimester screening (albeit a little late!).

J, unfortunately, had to work, so after dropping him off at 6 am, I went to my appointment alone. It was absolutely incredible!! Here's the low down on little Froggie.

Froggie:
*is 6.72 cm long (about 3/4 of an inch)
*measured at 13 wks 1 day (about 4 days ahead, maybe we will have a Christmas baby!)
*loves to move all around, kicking legs, pumping arms, rolling around, and pushing up to arch his/her back (incredible to watch!)
*has all of the major organs although they are still refining
*has fully formed limbs (no more webbed fingers and toes) and is working on growing nails
*can swallow and process liquid and was happily drinking amniotic fluid, fascinating!
*has a steady, normal heartbeat of 147 bpm (music to my ears!)
*was annoyed with the pressure of the ultrasound and would not cooperate to measure the space behind the neck (took almost an hour!)
*finally got annoyed and ended the session by a little thumb sucking! (adorable!)

Here are some pictures!


Heartbeat! If you look at the white line across the picture, the heart is right under the break in the line, beating away!


Good profile shot, head to the right, legs up on the left, arms by side. Look at that little nose and belly :D Keep in mind, Froggie is less than an inch from crown to bum, about an inch including the legs!


Wriggling and arching, Froggie has crossed legs here, so you get to see the bottom of the right foot!


You can just see Froggie bringing the right hand up, thumb sticking out to place in the mouth! Froggie's mouth is open too if you look close enough! For the rest of the pictures, Froggie had that thumb firmly in the mouth!

I hope you enjoy those! It is an absolute miracle how God forms children in the their mother's wombs! Froggie is the size of a large olive, and yet looks very much like the newborn he/she will become.

As far as the screening goes, it is two part, ultrasound (which Froggie passed, all normal there) and blood work from me, which we will hear back on in about a week, but we aren't worried, it's a formality!

Momma is feeling good, much better! I am getting my energy back, slowly but surely, and have been getting more done and getting out to explore Albuquerque more! I am still losing weight despite attempting to eat more proteins and carbs, but the belly is sticking out there! They are not concerned at this point, but are hoping I will put on some pounds by my next appointment. How many times do doctors tell you to eat more? :D

Here's what to look forward to:
In the next five weeks before my next appointment, Froggie will have a fully functioning liver and kidney, will have four fully developed heart chambers (operating on two right now), will be covered in a soft, downy hair and have eyelashes, eyebrows and some hair, and will be about six inches long!


Much love to you all!
J & C

Welcome!

Hello all,

After much encouragement from several grandparents-to-be, we have decided to blog about our adventure with our first little one on the way! I hope to update frequently with pictures and information so that you all can be involved, no matter where we are living at the time!

A little update on Daddy and Mommy for those who may not know: in the middle of May we moved from Fort Rucker, AL to Kirtland AFB in Albuquerque, NM. J completed his second phase of training on the UH-1/TH-1 in Alabama and received his wings. He is officially a pilot and can rent any small plane or helicopter on his own! We are supposed to be in New Mexico for just about 4 months while J completes specialized training on the Huey, however the flightline is backed up and I anticipate we will be here until at least October, and who knows how long after that! I am continuing with my scrapbooking business, although it's somewhat difficult with moving so often, I am looking forward to really focusing in on it in North Dakota. Besides that I am spending my time making things for baby and working on the announcements/thanks you notes (which will all be hand-made with Close To My Heart products!).

As far as the little one goes, I am now into the second trimester, yay! Despite the fact this is my first pregnancy (and thus should show later) at about 9 weeks I stopped fitting into all of my pants as my belly started to round out. By 12 weeks I was into maternity clothes :D

J and I spent the day yesterday walking through Babies-R-Us and Target registering for the huge amount of stuff a tiny little baby needs! He made it through 2 hours and BRU and a half hour at Target before I lost him to more interesting things, I was impressed! It still needs some refining, but I am glad to get the bulk of it done! We are waiting until the baby is born to find out whether we will will have a boy or a girl, which makes registering somewhat difficult, so neutrals it is. Everyone can vote and we'll see how it turns out, haha!

My last appointment was at 6 weeks, back in Alabama, where we got to see the little heartbeat on the screen, which was thrilling! Due to moving, changing insurance cover zones and needing referrals, it will be about 2 and half months between appointments, but I hope to get another ultrasound then that actually looks like a baby!



6 week blob!




And 12 week bump!


I hope you enjoy this blog and the chance to stay involved! We figured out the other day that this little one has 6 grandparents, 13 great-grandparents, and 2 great-great-grandmas, not to mention tons of aunts, uncles, great-aunts and uncles and cousins. We know this baby is very, very loved!


Much love,

C & J