Baby Bump shots 18 weeks Preggers

Here are two more baby bump shots.

Exactly one more week until we find out if it's a boy or a girl! What do you think we're having? Craig says boy, I say something different each day :)

Maintaining

I've received a few requests for "Baby Bump" pictures so Craig took a couple of me this weekend. There's not much of a bump yet, but it's getting there. I've only gained a couple pounds so far and my pants have just started to get snug. It's definitely much more comfortable wearing my new maternity pants!

Tip to all my girls: If you're ever frustrated trying to find the perfect jeans, go to the maternity department and you'll get a huge boost of confidence! Everything fits perfect and is soooo comfortable when sitting for long periods of time. I might have to keep these around for my long drives! ;)

...and more blood work

Craig and I went to the doctor again today for routine blood work. I had to google the names of the things they were testing for because I can barely remember the names let alone how to spell them. So, pasted below is what I had done today. We will find out the results on Nov 1st.

AFP (Alpha-Fetal Protein) or Serum Triple Test

The AFP blood test is done at 15 to 20 weeks of pregnancy. It is designed as a risk estimate for Down syndrome and certain chromosomal abnormalities, such as neural tube defects, spina bifida, trisomy 21 and trisomy 18. AFP does not detect all cases of these birth defects. Down syndrome detection rate is age-dependent. Most women with a positive test are carrying a healthy baby.


While we were there we got to hear the baby's heartbeat again....as well as...hear the baby move! I haven't felt any movement yet, but the Dr. said that's normal this early. Maybe next month, fingers crossed! I tried to joke with the doctor about my recently developed "sweet tooth" and he wasn't having it. All he kept saying was, "Sweets are bad, don't eat them" BOOOOOOOO! I want a second opinion! I was sure that I had gained 5 lbs from eating cupcakes at Kim's, dessert every night (and sometimes morning), and all the rest of the junk I feel like I've been consuming, but luckily I LOST A POUND. Thank goodness. I definitely had some fun the past couple weeks eating donuts, cupcakes and anything else sweet I could get my hands on, but now it's time to get serious again. Back to the gym and time to research some delicious sugar free desserts to keep around the house. (Stupid Halloween candy is calling my name in EVERY store) Anyone have any good recipes besides yogurt and fruit? (Hate that answer by the way) :)

So overall everything is great, blood pressure's good, weight's good, no sickness, pants still fit (kind of), etc. More to come on November 1st when we find out the sex of the baby!

Quick follow up

Craig and I went to the doctor today about the cramping and all is well! Just my body adjusting to the drastic changes. While we were there I went ahead and got my flu shot. My body's always done well with flu shots and the doctor highly recommended it. Since you can't take any good medication when you get sick, it's best to avoid it as much as possible.

I also think it's pretty funny...and sweet...that each time we go to the doctor, they ask me a new question I know nothing about. I think they're questions that are helping them create my "birth plan" but all they do is boggle me. For instance, today, the doctor says, "by the way, would you want a blood transfusion if you need one?" and I'm like, "uhhhhh, Craig?". I understand the general idea, but I thought the only reason you wouldn't want one is because of religious beliefs. Turns out, it's mostly safe, only 1 in 250,000 transfusions contract Hepatitis B and 1 in 2,000,000 contract HIV. It think I'd rather contract a disease than die so I said, "Sure".  :) So many new things to think about!

Another funny thing the doctor said to us is that I'm only 15 weeks and 3 days pregnant instead of 16 weeks. Each time we get a new doctor within the practice, we hear a different due date- either March 24th or March 27th. SOOOOOO, I guess we don't know the exact date. What's the chance the baby will be born on that date anyway? I figure the result will be way off anyway since I was a month late for my parents. I guess the baby isn't quite the size of an avacado yet then :( We're still on for finding out the sex on November 1st though! Thank goodness!!!

Oct 6th Update

Well, that title makes it sound like there's news, but not really. We haven't been to the doctor in a while so we don't have much to report. I will have an update tomorrow afternoon though as I'm going to the doctor because while we were on vacation last week I was having some cramping under my ribs and below that seemed odd...and before you ask, no it's not just gas :) I'll update you tomorrow and let you know what the doctor says.

Craig and I had a wonderful vacation on Freedom of the Seas last week. We went to Coco Cay, Bahamas, St. Thomas and St. Maarten. It was very relaxing. I think I got 12 hours of sleep EVERY night as well as a 2 hour nap each day...which is very unusual for me! Craig must be rubbing off on me. After lunch (and my 3rd ice cream cone of the day) I would lay down to read and then wake up 2 hours later. It was a very different experience not drinking on a cruise. At least there was ice cream to replace it! My Mom and Dad were sweet enough to send a bottle of non-alcoholic champagne (and it was a brand I sell called Fre) to our room for sail-away so that made me feel "pretty cool" :) Besides taking naps, I also experienced something else unusual...I wasn't feelin' the lobster! Normally I would have eaten at least 3 lobster tails, but this trip I wasn't in the mood for any seafood...but of course I still ate one. The baby needs to taste some lobster! Here are some pictures from our trip...

 I stole 2 cookies from Windjammer and put some soft serve between them :)