19 Weeks & A Survey

How far along?  19 weeks exactly

Total weight gain/loss: At my last appointment it was 6 lbs. I don't weigh myself at home, so I'm not sure how  much more I've gained since then!

Maternity clothes? Oh yes, non maternity pants don't fit at all, and non maternity shirts are just simply too short to fit over this growing belly!

Stretch marks? Fortunately, I haven't noticed any.

Sleep:  Totally depends on the night! Some nights I've been sleeping really well and others I'm tossing and turning and up to go to the bathroom about 6 times.

Best moment this week: Lots of movement! Also we reached the "less than a week to go" point of finding out what Mini Musa is!

Movement: Quite a bit! Sometimes it feels like he or she is doing kickboxing in there.

Food cravings: Still hamburgers and fruit. Oh my goodness, now I want Wendy's!

Gender: We find out next Thursday!

Labor Signs: Oh no thank goodness

Belly Button in or out? In

What I miss: Not being SO hot! My hands and feet are constantly miserably hot.

What I am looking forward to: Anatomy scan this coming Thursday!

Milestone: Really looking pregnant and not just fat! ;)

Your pregnancy: 19 weeks

How your baby's growing:

Your baby's sensory development is exploding! Her brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. Some research suggests that she may be able to hear your voice now, so don't be shy about reading aloud, talking to her, or singing a happy tune if the mood strikes you.

Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces and measures 6 inches, head to bottom — about the size of a large heirloom tomato. Her arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of her body now. Her kidneys continue to make urine and the hair on her scalp is sprouting. A waxy protective coating called the vernix caseosa is forming on her skin to prevent it from pickling in the amniotic fluid.

Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.

How your life's changing:

Think you're big now? You'll start growing even faster in the weeks to come. As a result, you may notice some achiness in your lower abdomen or even an occasional brief, stabbing pain on one or both sides — especially when you shift position or at the end of an active day. Most likely, this is round ligament pain. The ligaments that support your uterus are stretching to accommodate its increasing weight. This is nothing to be alarmed about, but call your practitioner if the pain continues even when you're resting or becomes severe.

You may be noticing some skin changes, too. Are the palms of your hands red? Nothing to worry about — it's from the extra estrogen. You may also have patches of darkened skin caused by a temporary increase in pigment. When these darker patches appear on your upper lip, cheeks, and forehead, they're called chloasma, or the "mask of pregnancy." You may also notice some darkening of your nipples, freckles, scars, underarms, inner thighs, and vulva. That darkened line running from your belly button to your pubic bone is called the linea nigra, or "dark line."

These darkened spots will probably fade shortly after delivery. In the meantime, protect yourself from the sun, which intensifies the pigment changes. Cover up, wear a brimmed hat, and use sunscreen when you're outdoors. And if you're self-conscious about your "mask," a little concealing makeup can work wonders.

Memories

I was just looking at some pictures of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. The oil has reached the beaches, and it's awful. It makes me so sad. My family started going there the summer after I graduated high school in 2003. There has only been one summer they have not gone. I missed a few because I was taking summer courses, but Taylor and I went with my family in 08 & 09. Without a doubt those were the best vacations I have ever been on. It makes me so sad to think of that place not as beautiful as it should be.

Below are just some pics from our 08 & 09 vacations.

*that one is for you, Sarah & Taylor! GENE MORRIS! lol*

Forgetful!

I forgot to post my 18 week belly pic. Taylor took this on Saturday, so technically I was 18 weeks and 1 day. ;)

18 Weeks

Your pregnancy: 18 weeks 

How your baby's growing:

Head to rump, your baby is about 5 1/2 inches long (about the length of a bell pepper) and he weighs almost 7 ounces. He's busy flexing his arms and legs — movements that you'll start noticing more and more in the weeks ahead. His blood vessels are visible through his thin skin, and his ears are now in their final position, although they're still standing out from his head a bit. A protective covering of myelin is beginning to form around his nerves, a process that will continue for a year after he's born. If you're having a girl, her uterus and fallopian tubes are formed and in place. If you're having a boy, his genitals are noticeable now, but he may hide them from you during an ultrasound.

See what your baby looks like this week.

How your life's changing:

Hungry? An increase in appetite is pretty common about now. Make it count by choosing meals and snacks that are rich in nutrients instead of empty calories (chips, French fries, candy, and other sweets). Bigger, more comfortable clothes are a must now as your appetite and waistline grow.

Your cardiovascular system is undergoing dramatic changes, and during this trimester your blood pressure will probably be lower than usual. Don't spring up too fast from a lying or sitting position or you might feel a little dizzy.

From now on, when you do lie down, it's best to lie on your side — or at least partly tilted to one side. (When you lie flat on your back, your uterus can compress a major vein, leading to decreased blood return to your heart.) Try placing a pillow behind you or under your hip or upper leg for comfort.

If you haven't already had a second-trimester ultrasound, you'll probably have one soon. This painless procedure helps your practitioner check how your baby's growing, screen for certain birth defects, check the placenta and umbilical cord, determine whether the due date you're working with is accurate, and see how many babies you're carrying. During the exam, you might see your baby moving around or sucking his thumb. Bring your partner along, and be sure to ask for a printout for your baby's first photo album!

A quick check in

Just a little quickie!


I went to the doctor yesterday. She said, "Hear that? That is a perfect heart beat. It sounds so great and strong!" That made me happy. It's such a relief to hear good things from the doctor. MM's heart rate was 160 again. I asked Dr. Ku if she thought that meant it was a girl. She laughed and we listened to it again. She said that it is a pretty fast heart, and if she had to guess she'd say girl. Then she told me to come tell her after our sonogram in two weeks to tell her if she was right or wrong. So maybe we do have a baby Laynie on the way! We will see. :)

18 weeks tomorrow. I'll have Taylor take a new pic tomorrow evening, and I'll post it then!

17 Weeks

Yes, it's been SEVEN weeks since I updated. That is unacceptable! I really need to stick with this blog, and update at least twice a week.

Let's see... what's been going on?.Well, just the usual really. I feel good. I'm still a little tired, but nothing too bad. I'm not nauseous anymore. THANK GOODNESS! I feel like a normal human being again! My belly is growing. Here is me at 15 weeks:

(Thank goodness I've had my hair cut since that picture. It was looking bad. I had about two inches taken off.)

I've been to the doctor since my last post. I went at 13w6d. I got to hear MM's heartbeat. At that point it was 160. I go back to the doctor this Thursday too. It'll just be a routine check up... blood pressure, get any questions I might have answered, and listen to the heart beat. Now, on July 1st we have a BIG appointment! That is when we have our anatomy scan scheduled. We cannot wait! It's now less than 3 weeks away, but it still seems like forever away. I am just so excited to find out what MM is and give this kid a name!

Not too much else has been going on around our house. Memorial Day came and went. It was nice to have a three day weekend. We spent Sunday of that weekend with Taylor's family, and he wasn't feeling well that Monday so I went to my parents while he stayed home and rested. I swam with my family and ate some good food. It was a nice relaxing weekend. Now on the weekends we've been trying to make only one night our "going out" night. We're doing real well on sticking to our plan so far. Since I'm home constantly all week I like to go out on Friday nights. A couple of weeks ago we went to Trail Dust (the original is down the street from our house). Last Friday we had a late (9:30) dinner at IHOP, woohoo! I'm not sure where we'll go tonight. All I do know is that wherever we go will be good!

Time to leave you with the 17 week update from Babycenter. If you're curious and want to see the weeks I skipped you can go here, http://www.babycenter.com/slideshow-baby-size

Your pregnancy: 17 weeks

How your baby's growing:

Your baby's skeleton is changing from soft cartilage to bone, and the umbilical cord — her lifeline to the placenta — is growing stronger and thicker. Your baby weighs 5 ounces now (about as much as a turnip), and she's around 5 inches long from head to bottom. She can move her joints, and her sweat glands are starting to develop.

How your life's changing:

Starting to feel a bit off balance? As your belly grows, your center of gravity changes, so you may begin to occasionally feel a little unsteady on your feet. Try to avoid situations with a high risk of falling. Wear low-heeled shoes to reduce your risk of taking a tumble; trauma to your abdomen could be dangerous for you and your baby. You'll also want to be sure to buckle up when you're in a car — keep the lap portion of the seat belt under your belly, drawn snugly across your hips, and also use the shoulder harness, which should fit snugly between your breasts.

You may also notice your eyes becoming drier. Using over-the-counter lubricating drops may help. If your contact lenses become uncomfortable, try wearing them for shorter stretches of time. If you still have discomfort, switch to glasses until after you give birth.

 

10 weeks

It's kind of hard to believe, but we're already at 10 weeks! I went to the doctor yesterday and everything still looks wonderful. The baby is actually measuring almost a week ahead, but my due date is still November 19th. The heartbeat was 176... that's "high" so I know some are already guessing that it's a girl. We will find that out in just 8 short weeks!

I'll leave you with a sonogram picture and then a Babycenter.com update!

Your pregnancy: 10 weeks

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How your baby's growing:

Though he's barely the size of a kumquat — a little over an inch or so long, crown to bottom — and weighs less than a quarter of an ounce, your baby has now completed the most critical portion of his development. This is the beginning of the so-called fetal period, a time when the tissues and organs in his body rapidly grow and mature.

He's swallowing fluid and kicking up a storm. Vital organs — including his kidneys, intestines, brain, and liver (now making red blood cells in place of the disappearing yolk sac) — are in place and starting to function, though they'll continue to develop throughout your pregnancy.

If you could take a peek inside your womb, you'd spot minute details, like tiny nails forming on fingers and toes (no more webbing) and peach-fuzz hair beginning to grow on tender skin.

In other developments: Your baby's limbs can bend now. His hands are flexed at the wrist and meet over his heart, and his feet may be long enough to meet in front of his body. The outline of his spine is clearly visible through translucent skin, and spinal nerves are beginning to stretch out from his spinal cord. Your baby's forehead temporarily bulges with his developing brain and sits very high on his head, which measures half the length of his body. From crown to rump, he's about 1 1/4 inches long. In the coming weeks, your baby will again double in size — to nearly 3 inches.

Slice of Me Sunday

I stole this from Kim's blog today. :)

1. What color do you wear the most?
Hmm... when I was working in an office I'd have said gray or black. Now I just wear a lot of different colors, but always solids. I think I only have like 4 shirts with prints on them. I'm a simple kind of girl.

2. Would you rather have $10,000 dollars or a dream vacation?
Right now at this moment in time I'm going to say $10,000. I'd like to use some of it, save some of it, and then spend a little more of it for a vacation even though it might not be a "dream" vacation.

3. Do you have a weird, quirky, or unusual habit?
Taylor could probably tell you something... I don't know if I can think of anything off the top of my head.

4. I really need to start....?
Eating more veggies!


5. What was the first blog you ever read?
I have no idea.

6. Do you collect anything?
Nope, sure don't

7. How old were you when you had your first kiss?
14... summer before 9th grade

8. Do you text/twitter while driving?
No. I don't use twitter at all either.

9 Weeks

This is a couple days late. I was 9 weeks on Friday.

Your pregnancy: 9 weeks

How your baby's growing:

Your new resident is nearly an inch long — about the size of a grape — and weighs just a fraction of an ounce. She's starting to look more and more human. Her essential body parts are accounted for, though they'll go through plenty of fine-tuning in the coming months. Other changes abound: Your baby's heart finishes dividing into four chambers, and the valves start to form — as do her tiny teeth. The embryonic "tail" is completely gone. Your baby's organs, muscles, and nerves are kicking into gear. The external sex organs are there but won't be distinguishable as male or female for another few weeks. Her eyes are fully formed, but her eyelids are fused shut and won't open until 27 weeks. She has tiny earlobes, and her mouth, nose, and nostrils are more distinct. The placenta is developed enough now to take over most of the critical job of producing hormones. Now that your baby's basic physiology is in place, she's poised for rapid weight gain.

Ohhh nauseous today. Last night was kind of rough. I felt nauseous even in my sleep. That was the first time that's happened. Oh well, even though it makes me feel bad I know it's good because that means MM is growing!

So, I've definitely already started looking at bedding. I even have the one I want picked out! It's gender neutral and it's sage green with monkeys! Here is a pic of the whole room set:
















I just think it's so incredibly adorable! Then I was thinking if it is a boy we can add baby blue accents throughout the room and if it's a girl we can add light purple accents. No pink though. I'd totally buy the bedding now except that it's out of stock. I have it set up where Babies R Us will e-mail me as soon as it is back in stock.

So a few non baby related notes...

The weekend is almost here! This weekend's events consist of dinner at Taylor's parents on Saturday night and the race on Sunday. I will definitely take some pictures this weekend and be sure to post them on Monday!

8 Week Update

Your pregnancy: 8 weeks

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How your baby's growing:

New this week: Webbed fingers and toes are poking out from your baby's hands and feet, his eyelids practically cover his eyes, breathing tubes extend from his throat to the branches of his developing lungs, and his "tail" is just about gone. In his brain, nerve cells are branching out to connect with one another, forming primitive neural pathways. You may be daydreaming about your baby as one sex or the other, but the external genitals still haven't developed enough to reveal whether you're having a boy or a girl. Either way, your baby — about the size of a kidney bean — is constantly moving and shifting, though you still can't feel it.

Much Overdue!

I'm so sorry for the lack of updates. I just haven't been that motivated to write. Between my work and Taylor's new job and feeling like poo most evenings I just let it go. Let's see if I can get back on track now.

I'm going to post a Babycenter.com update too, but  I'll add another new post for that.

Well, let's start with a me and Mini Musa update. I'm finally 8 weeks! I feel like it has taken quite a while to get to this point. I actually feel like this first trimester is dragging on so slow! I'm so ready to find out if MM is a boy or a girl. I'm so ready to decorate his or her room. I'm so ready to buy him or her little clothes. I'm SO ready to meet him or her! I know it really will be here before I know it, but it seems like these first few weeks are just crawling by. I know I definitely need to just relax and enjoy every bit of it though. Hmm, I think that's easier said than done for me. ;)

Taylor's birthday has come and gone. He's 27 now. Leading up to it he said he really wasn't that excited, but then the actual day got her and he said he had a great day and will now look forward to his birthdays. All his new co-workers signed a card and they even all got him an iTunes gift card. We thought that was really nice of them! Then we he got home from work I had lasagna and a carrot cake waiting. He loved it all! I'm so glad. I'm so glad he'll be looking forward to birthdays now. :)

Speaking of Taylor's co-workers... on the 18th we are going out to Texas Motor Speedway to watch the race and sit in a condo that his company rented! How cool is that? I've never been to a race, but I must say I am very pleased to be able to sit in the A/C when I do finally get to go. I think it will be a lot of fun. I will definitely take some pictures!

Another thing about Taylor... now, I'm not usually the public overly "mushy" type. Sometimes overly emotional displays make me uncomfortable. LOL... but really they do. However, I just have to say that over the past few weeks I feel closer to my husband than I have ever felt. I feel like our relationship has reached an entire new level, and it's absolutely wonderful. Taylor, I know you read this so I just want to say thank you. Thank you for being there for me constantly. Thank you for putting up with my anxiety and worries when they pop up. Thank you for being there to just hold me when I'm feeling so nauseous that I just want to cry. Thank you for not always playing PS3 before bed (like I know you love to do), but instead laying in the bed with me talking and listening to music just to help me to relax and feel better so I can get some sleep. I love you now more than I ever have. I didn't even know I COULD love you more! ;) You are my absolute best friend and the best husband I could ever ask for. I could not imagine this ride without you. Much loves, Moosey! ;)

Happy news

Oh my gosh there REALLY is a baby in there! Ok, well it will be a baby. ;)

I had another doctor appointment today. It went amazing! Seriously, could not have been better. I saw the sonogram tech first and she had no problem finding Mini Musa. We even got to see MM's heartbeat! It was 123 bpm which according to my doctor is absolutely perfect. In fact, according to my doctor everything was perfect! Really, she said that. She told me everything looks absolutely perfect. I was so relieved! As you may know, I am...um... an anxious person. So the past few days leading up to this appointment have been something else. I'm sure I've been driving Taylor crazy! Thankfully he's pretty good at putting up with my shenanigans when I get all anxious about something. Now I feel like I can really relax!

I leave you with MM's first picture!

Mini Musa 6 Week Update

Your pregnancy: 6 weeks

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How your baby's growing: This week's major developments: The nose, mouth, and ears that you'll spend so much time kissing in eight months are beginning to take shape. If you could see into your uterus, you'd find an oversize head and dark spots where your baby's eyes and nostrils are starting to form. His emerging ears are marked by small depressions on the sides of the head, and his arms and legs by protruding buds. His heart is beating about 100 to 160 times a minute — almost twice as fast as yours — and blood is beginning to course through his body. His intestines are developing, and the bud of tissue that will give rise to his lungs has appeared. His pituitary gland is forming, as are the rest of his brain, muscles, and bones. Right now, your baby is a quarter of an inch long, about the size of a lentil bean

The view

Taylor's view from the window in his office... overlooking turn two at Texas Motor Speedway.

Just a cutie watching TV with his cone on...

Weekend wrap up

Oh goodness I've hit my afternoon wall. Every single day I get so sleepy in the afternoon. Over the past week I've been laying down at like 5:30 and not getting up until almost 7:30. The naps are great, but yesterday's kind of messed up my night sleep. I tossed and turned for a while before finally passing out when going to bed last night. So, I'm hoping to try to avoid my nap this evening so I can just hit the hay early and get a good long night of sleep! 

Ok, I'm going to do a day late weekend wrap up!

Worst part of the weekend: Sarge and all his howling from his crate. He's so bored in there and ready to be out and about with everyone else!

Best part of the weekend: Where to start? Overall it was a great weekend. We hung out with Taylor's family on Friday evening, spent most of Saturday and Saturday evening with mine, and just relaxed and cleaned house on Sunday.

Most random part of the weekend: Late night trip to Target with Mom & Sarah on Saturday


People I saw this weekend: Taylor, Cindy, Basel, Chelsea, Aris, Jamel, Mom, Dad, Michelle, and Sarah

Something I wished I did this weekend that I didn't get around to doing: The rest of the laundry

Things that I am looking forward to this week: Taylor starts his new job tomorrow. I'm excited for him!

Things that I am not looking forward to this week: Taylor starts his new job tomorrow...which means it'll just be me and the dogs in the house all day during the week. How quiet it will be!

Mini Musa update

Ok, BabyCenter.com is awesome. So much fun stuff to read. Now, we're not 100% sure and we won't be until our sonogram on the 25th, but I believe we're in the 5th week. So assuming that, here is what is going on with Mini Musa in week 5.

Your pregnancy: 5 weeks

See the big picture

How your baby's growing:

Deep in your uterus your embryo is growing at a furious pace. At this point, he's about the size of a sesame seed, and he looks more like a tiny tadpole than a human. He's now made up of three layers — the ectoderm, the mesoderm, and the endoderm — which will later form all of his organs and tissues.

The neural tube — from which your baby's brain, spinal cord, nerves, and backbone will sprout — is starting to develop in the top layer, called the ectoderm. This layer will also give rise to his skin, hair, nails, mammary and sweat glands, and tooth enamel.

His heart and circulatory system begin to form in the middle layer, or mesoderm. (This week, in fact, his tiny heart begins to divide into chambers and beat and pump blood.) The mesoderm will also form your baby's muscles, cartilage, bone, and subcutaneous (under skin) tissue.

The third layer, or endoderm, will house his lungs, intestines, and rudimentary urinary system, as well as his thyroid, liver, and pancreas. In the meantime, the primitive placenta and umbilical cord, which deliver nourishment and oxygen to your baby, are already on the job.

Saturday afternoon ramblings

I love quiet lazy Saturday mornings/early afternoons. I suppose I should be enjoying these while they last huh? ;)

Yesterday I went shopping with Cindy (Taylor's mom) and got some REALLY cute stuff! I got 3 dresses, some leggings, two tops, and a pair of denim capris. I tried everything on last night and it's all so cute and flattering, and it all seems like it will continue to be so as my belly starts getting big.

Well, it looks like I don't have much to say today. Really, I don't. Not much has changed since my last update. As of now Taylor is supposed to start his new job on Wednesday. How exciting!

Today we plan to go to my parents' for the evening just to hang out. Oh, and tomorrow will be filled with cleaning up this house! Yikes. I feel like I've neglected it all week. Sorry, house.

Oh! A little Sarge update. His surgery to be neutered was Wednesday morning. Everything went real well. I'm just so bummed because they told us to keep him in his crate except when he's outside to potty or eating for 7 days. SEVEN DAYS. A WEEK. That is NOT a dog that likes to be confined. He is a free spirit. He likes to run, to jump, to play, to just be a little boy dog! I feel so very sorry for him. He's so good though. As soon as we come back in from outside and we tell him to go back to his bed. He does just as he's told, but he just looks up at us with those poor pitiful eyes that say, "Why, mom? WHY are you doing this to me?!" Sorry, buddy. It'll be best in the long run. I just can't wait until next Wednesday when he can be out and about with us and the other dogs all the time again. He does have to wear that cone until next Friday though. Oh well, it'll be here soon!

God is SO good.

Words cannot even describe how blessed Taylor & I are. Yesterday we got great news back from the doctor. My hCG levels are more than doubling every 48 hours. That means that Baby Musa is growing just fine! In addition to that Taylor got an offer from the company he interviewed with on Tuesday! How awesome is that?!

I am so very happy for him. I know he is thrilled. This is a great opportunity with a good company. I just know it'll be so good.

Back to the baby, haha. I am only about 4 weeks along. Yes, I know we are sharing our news very early with everyone. We just couldn't hold it in though. After hearing from the doctor that everything is going well we decided to let everyone in. We continue to pray and hope that this baby continues to grow and that in mid November we welcome him or her to our world!

Oh, Monday

Thank goodness I got lots of sleep last night! I got about 10 hours and this morning other than a headache I feel really great.

My first appointment is tomorrow at 2:45. I'm very excited! I wish they could have gotten me in today, but my doctor is out of the office on Mondays. Taylor also has a job interview tomorrow morning at 11. So tomorrow will be a very eventful and good day for us!

Funny how a line changes everything

Saturday, March 6th I went shopping with my  mom, aunt and sister. When I got home that evening I felt absolutely EXHAUSTED. I knew that it wasn't normal to be that worn out from shopping!!

That evening Taylor & I were doing our usual chillaxing... me surfing the web & him watching some random show... (lol, we're so exciting, right?). Something in me decided to go test. I didn't think anything would come of it, but when I looked at the test I saw a faint line! I quickly ran into the living room and told Taylor I needed his eyes. Sure enough he saw the line too!! I just couldn't believe it. I took 2 more tests and they all had a line. This was all happening about 11pm, but I HAD to have a definite answer. So, what do we do? Throw on some shoes and jackets and run up to the 24 hour CVS of course!  It sure seemed like it took forever to get up to CVS and back home, but we did and this is what we saw:

In short, we're thrilled! I took the other digital this morning and another line test...just to be sure. ha! I will be calling the doctor first thing in the morning and hope to get in to see her very soon!

BIG NEWS!

Welcome to our new family blog! As you know Taylor & I are expecting our first! We are so excited to share this time with you all.