Baby Update {16 Weeks}

Baby is 16 weeks today, and is the size of an avocado. He or she is about 4.5 inches long and weighs about four ounces.

I think I *might* have felt the first flutters of movement over the past few days, but I can't be sure. When I am sitting or lying still, I will get a vibrating feeling low in my abdomen, although it has been happening pretty frequently and lasts for quite a while at a time, so I can't be sure that's movement. However, there have been a couple of times while this was happening that I've gotten that brief, fluttering 'fish in a bag' feeling, which I'm pretty sure were limbs moving about. (And no, it wasn't just gas bubbles ;)

At any rate, I'm not really expecting to feel much for a little while still.

A couple weeks ago, my Centering Pregnancy group met for the first time at the clinic. These group meetings will take the place of regular check-ups, although we still get weighed, blood pressure taken, and measurements, as well as listening to the heartbeat. Baby is very active, and won't stay still long enough to hear the heartbeat for long. As soon as the doctor finds a heartbeat, the little stinker has to go and move!

Anyway, I think I'm really going to enjoy the group. There are six of us who are due around the same time, and we basically sit in a circle and discuss various pregnancy related things. Plus, there are snacks ;)

Today, we finally got around to kicking the cats out of 'their' bedroom, which is now the future nursery, and scrubbed down every square inch (except the walls, since we'll likely re-paint). It had been a little while since we'd cleaned in there, and it was pretty gross. We also kicked Loki out of our room last night, since it's starting to get even more difficult to sleep with her in the bed. Then at some point, we'd have the other cats come in during the night, and a ruckus would ensue (Loki still hates those two!).

the future nursery

But we couldn't just shut them out of the room, because they just spend the night pawing at the door, which is incredibly annoying. So we ordered a can of compressed air that has a sensor attached, and whenever they get close enough, they get sprayed with air. It feels really mean, but it didn't take long and they stayed away. Boy, did we get some sleep last night!

In other news:

The day after my last update, Karissa's little Eloise was born. She was 15 weeks early, and so very tiny. She's been fighting really hard, though.

And then several days later, Caitlin's baby girl Maryelle arrived. It sounds like everyone is doing well. Although we've seen photos, we can't wait to meet the two new nieces in person! I will refrain from stealing any of their pictures, so we'll just have to wait until we get to visit before sharing any pictures of them!

Also, our new living room tables were delivered this week. Our living room is finally starting to come together! There's a coffee table, entertainment console, and two end tables, which you probably can't really see...

What will 2016 bring?

With the beginning of a new year comes an abundance of experiences to be had. Every year, I can't help but wonder what we'll see and do throughout the next twelve months. I'm sure it's the same for so many others.

This year is no different...but that's not to say we have no idea what the year has to hold. We know of three things that are expected to happen just in the first half of the year.

What? Oh, enough with the mystery, you say?

Okay, then. The three things are actually three babies that are due in 2016. First, Caitlin has a baby due any day now. Karissa's baby will be arriving sometime in the next couple months.

And...last, but not least, our baby is due in July.

!!!

Yes, that's right--and it's due exactly six months from today.

I got the positive test on November 9th, at exactly 4 weeks and 2 days. Dan was out of town for work, so that night when he called, I sent him this picture:

Of course, he was excited, but cautiously optimistic. After all, it's our third pregnancy, and obviously it hasn't worked out in the past. However, it's the first time we've made it to the second trimester, which is why it's no longer a secret.

We kept it to ourselves for over a month. But after the first ultrasound, I had to tell someone, so we decided to tell our parents... (Although, if it was up to Dan, we'd have waited until the baby was born.)

Baby at 9.5 weeks

We waited another week (until Christmas) to tell the rest of our family. Still, we didn't want to say anything to anyone else until after my next appointment, which was yesterday. I was measuring right on track and baby had a heartbeat of somewhere in the range of the 150's-160's, so everything looks promising.

For the first twelve weeks, I felt pretty awful at times, although I can't really complain because I know others have it much worse. Mostly, I was just plain exhausted.

A couple weeks ago:

I've started feeling better, but still get random waves of nausea, plus various fun, new symptoms. To be honest though, no matter how miserable they are, they are very reassuring.

Today, baby is exactly 14 weeks and about 3.5 inches long. I'm at the stage where I just look fat to most people (I'm sure everyone at the gym this morning was thinking I really need to work on that pudge). Although I get a little achy at times from stretching and growth, mostly it's hard to believe there's a tiny human in there--at the moment, anyway.

I plan on updating every couple weeks, mainly for myself, since this blog is the only type of diary I keep anymore. And of course, you're welcome to come back for the weekly updates!

Happy New Year {2016}

Whew. Now that the holidays are over, life can get back to normal.

Let's start with Thanksgiving...

We went back to MN and spent most of the weekend with Dan's family, and went to see my family in Thief River Falls for one of the days. We had a 4-day weekend, which was nice but tiring since we were traveling so much.

Grandpa & Grandma with all the grandkids

Grandpa Harold with all his grandkids

Isabelle opening her birthday presents

We also traveled back to MN for Christmas, but only had a 3-day weekend. We spent a few hours on Christmas Eve at Dan's brother's house in Glyndon then moved on to Menahga to see my family on Christmas Day.

Selena with the pony we gave her

Vera

Jeremy

Sydney

Visiting Grandpa & Grandma

I had to work on my birthday, and was really too lazy to do much afterward, so we ate at Godfather's and chilled at home while we waited for Dawn & Jake to get here. They were here for a couple days...

Helping Dan shovel snow

Playing Boggle

With the afghan I made them for Christmas

I don't remember if I ever posted a picture of my birthday present, but I got it a couple months early. It's a bench with storage (I'm planning on upholstering the bench, or at least painting the ugly wicker top). We also - finally - got the coat hooks done so now we can keep our coats by the back door.

This is the end of our second 3-day weekend. Sadly, we have to go back to work tomorrow and won't have any long weekends for a while now. :(