Peanut Tracker: Week 13 Recap -Finally, Sort of, Starting to Feel Better

The past few days have been much better for me. I have been able to eat, sleep, and move around like a normal person instead of being tied to the couch. The doctor gave me a new prescription that seems to work much better than the other 2 that I've tried. I came home early tonight because I am super emotional and a rude customer got me all worked up, causing me to get sick again. Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day.


Tomorrow is Eric and my 1 year anniversary! We celebrated yesterday with a wonderful meal and a trip to the Improv (which was one of our first dates). So I guess that was the peanut's first experience with comedy too! I'm still enormous and getting bigger, but at least I'm entering my second trimester, so I'm starting to feel less subconscious about it. Considering I've lost 14 lbs at this point, I don't know how I can be so big. But I guess that means the baby is growing and not phased by my problems! 


I am also addicted to my pregnancy pillow. If anyone ever asks me for pregnancy advice, that pillow will be the first thing I tell them about! Now to keep Eric from stealing it from me...

13 weeks, 5 days

The peanut is now almost the size of a lemon and can make facial expressions (smiles, squints, and frowns). It may even start growing hair on its head or grow eyebrows! Current aversions: lettuce, tomatoes, onion, chicken, pudding, and the smell of coffee. Current cravings: pizza, pasta, bagels, peanut butter, anything with cinnamon

We Have A Thumb Sucker On Our Hands!

Today is the first day in weeks that I've felt normal (which might be credited to my amazing new pregnancy pillow). And it's fitting because we had our first trimester screening this afternoon. 


As scary as that was, seeing our little peanut again brought me so much joy! The peanut was moving all around and making it really difficult for the technician to get a good neck measurement. However, she was able to get two and said that everything looked normal. We still have to wait a week for blood test results, but I feel much better after hearing everything looks okay.


I also learned that when I lay on my left side, the peanut sits on its head. Now I feel bad, because that's how I sleep most nights! The peanut was moving around in all kinds of crazy positions that made me think it takes after mommy and might be a dancer!

Curled up profile

Dancing legs

Leg and arm

Predator face

Profile 

Spine development

Thumb sucking

The picture of the baby's face looks like an alien and Eric called it a predator. I hate to say it, but I agree! I'm sure baby Widener will get cute soon! After a wave from the peanut and a few other pictures, my favorite moment was catching the peanut trying to suck its thumb. It's the cutest thing I've ever seen! The heartbeat was back down to 154, but it's still nice and strong. Now to wait out the results...

Almost 1/3 of the Way There!

I'm posting another entry because I'm home sick again and the tv isn't working. Facebook can only entertain me for so long! I am so tired of lying on the couch like a bum. I want to work and get out of this house. Unfortunately, I can't even make it to the car! 


In other fun news, I noticed some skin issues yesterday. My elbows and feet have been dry and cracked for weeks. Which is so unnerving because I have always had baby soft and clear skin. Yesterday I noticed that my face is peeling and dry. So, per my doctors advice, I went to CVS to buy some Cetaphil cleanser and lotion. It was $30! The only thing at CVS that should cost that much should come in a prescription bottle! But I bought it because I refuse to look like a total freak while I carry this kid around for the next 6 months. I also noticed a black hair on my chin! MY CHIN! I don't like what these hormones are doing to me! 


Yesterday I had a brain splitting migraine that lasted from about 3:30-10:30pm. I really hope my symptoms start going away since I'm a week away from my second trimester. I'm ready to start enjoying this! The only thing that's getting me through feeling awful is reading about the peanut's development. At this point, the baby is the size of a peach and has finger nails and vocal chords.

Peanut Tracker: Week 12 Recap -Ready for the Second Trimester

Another week down and looking forward to the second trimester that everyone keeps telling me about! I've been really sick this week and required another unexpected trip to the doctor's office to be treated for nausea and dehydration. 


The silver lining was that Eric and I were able to hear the peanuts heartbeat for the first time. It was amazing and it brought me to tears (that may have been the hormones). The nurse was laughing while trying to find the heartbeat because baby Widener (now the size of a plum) is so active it was like "playing hide and seek". Eventually she found the beat and it was a strong 159 bmp!


I am officially HUGE and I am terrified of what I will look like in a few more months. However, I have decided that I LOVE maternity clothes and don't know how I will ever go back to regular, uncomfortable clothes! 


I have also started having back pain and trouble sleeping. My friend Lauren suggested a specific pregnancy pillow. Even though it looks like it's going to take up most of the bed, Eric bought it for me. He really is the best daddy-to-be ever! 


In even better news, my best friend announced that her due date was changed and she is now due the day before me! These best friends really do everything together! Eric and I also came out to the Facebook world yesterday and feel so blessed for all of the support and excitement over our peanut. 

12 weeks, 5 days

I have lost another 2 lbs this week for a total 11 lbs of weight loss. However, the doctor says that baby is doing well and that we shouldn't worry about the weight loss at this point. Current cravings: mint chocolate chip ice cream, popsickles, ribs, chicken wings, burgers, melted peanut butter. Current aversions: onions, eggs, milk, salad, pudding

Peanut Tracker: Week 11 Recap

I love our peanut (now the size of a lime), but I really wish someone had told me the honest truth about pregnancy. As wonderful as it is, there are quite a few awful parts too.


I have had terrible morning sickness for about 3 weeks now. There is no specific time of day. It's just all day, every day. The doctor gave me some medication but it hasn't helped very much. I have also been experiencing extreme migraines and back pain (which Tylonol is not helping). 


On the plus side, I'm already showing so I had to do some maternity clothes shopping today! Shopping always makes me feel better and some of the clothes are really cute. I can't wait until baby Widener gets even bigger so I can show off my bump in my new cute clothes! 


Eric is trying to help me stay active to help with the sickness and keeping the baby healthy. Today we took out our bikes and went for a bike ride in the late morning. We had a great time and I know he is going to make a great dad.

11 weeks, 5 days

My sense of smell seems to be getting even stronger. My aversions now include: chicken, tomatoes, onions, leafy greens, bananas, and pudding. My cravings continue, but are becoming less extreme. The strangest cravings are for popcorn and mint chocolate chip ice cream, both of which I normally despise.

Announcement: Eric & Amanda Are Having A Baby!

We're pregnant! 


When the strip turned blue it was definitely a surprise to both of us! However, we decided that this is a blessing because we love each other and we were headed down the path toward joint parenthood eventually...we just jumped forward a few years!


Eric said he had a feeling there was a baby on board and went out to buy a home test for me because he didn't want to wait until my doctor's appointment the next week. I had already taken 3 tests since January and all 3 had come back negative. Turns out they were wrong! 


Eric has been wonderful, supportive, and very excited. I couldn't ask for a better father-to-be and companion and I can't imagine sharing this with anyone else. He has been my support system through weeks of terrible morning sickness, doctors appointments, and daily anxiety (which I'm told most first time mothers have).

Baby Widener: 11 weeks, 3 days

We can't wait to meet our little peanut! We had our first ultrasound this past Thursday and discovered the due date, saw the heartbeat, and got our first glimpse of baby Widener. It was the most amazing day of my life! Eric was there the whole time holding my hand. We have only seen our peanut from the back, but the doctor says everything looks great so far!