17 Weeks!

Hey there little boy!  We are at 17 weeks now with you.  I can also say that I am four months along.  Four down, five to go!  Almost halfway there!  And you are going to be getting fat in the next few weeks...read on!

This week, you start to plump up a bit. The fat that's acquired, also called adipose tissue, helps produce and retain body heat (and your sweat glands begin to form). Fat tissue is also important for metabolism, since it's a great source of energy. This is a time of tremendous growth—you may measure up to anywhere from 5-6 inches and weigh around 5 ounces.  Just wait until a few weeks from now with all your new fat coming on - your weight is going to double in the next few weeks.

You also have been working on two basic reflexes for a few weeks: sucking and swallowing. By the time you are born, you will have nearly all the reflexes that I do, ones that will help you survive and learn about the world.

"They" also say that you can defnitely hear us talking to you now and even feel me touching my belly.  My favorite thing to do lately is to feel my belly before I get out of bed.  For some reason it is especially taut and obvious if I lay on my back in the morning...and I can feel my little bump with you in there. You are a mover and a shaker in the morning too.  Although I wish I felt all of this (I have only had one "maybe feel you move" moment - read below), I really know this because of the fetal doppler.  When you move, the doppler noise makes huge squeaks and thud noises - that tells me you are kicking around in there.  And your heart rate travels back and forth around my belly, the sound comes in and out like your arms and hands are moving in front of your chest or your flipping around so I am listening to your heart through your back.  You must be a morning person (which is interesting because your Mommy is not!), because you are wild in the morning.  Before I climb into bed at night (if I listen to you), you must already be sleeping because there are no thuds or squeaks on the doppler, just a steady heart rate (and you stay in one place - I don't have to chase you all over my belly!).

So, for the "maybe I felt you?" moment - it was first thing in the morning (surprise there!) and sometimes (like today!) I lay propped up in bed and do my reading and then get my laptop out and just check email and stuff.  Well, I think I was on my laptop and I felt a feeling that I have never felt before.

Tap. Tap, Tap. Tap.       Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap     Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap.

It was very light, but something I had never felt before (and there are lots of aches and pains happening around you lately with round ligament pain, pressure, etc.).  This was extremely light and just a rhythmic tapping on my right side of my belly - kind of right where you would be - but also a little more to the right than I would find you on the doppler.  It was almost like you were nudging me gently from the inside going, "Hey Mommy...I'm in here!".  I told your Daddy and was just taking in the moment and then it went away.  I had your Daddy grab the doppler for me so I could see if your heart beat would be right where I felt the tapping (and I wasn't sure I would since it was further to the side than you ever go).  And lo and behold...there was your heart beat, right where the tapping was.  So, I still don't know 100 % what to make of this...but I am going to chalk it up to be the first time I felt you!  I haven't felt you since - but with you gaining a lot of weight in the next few weeks and getting more energy from that, I should be feeling you soon enough!

You are definitely showing on the outside of my body now too - this past week you popped out on me a little more.  If I wear a form fitting tank top and shorts or pants, you'd be completely noticeable.  And I think I may just embrace this look, because, heck...I am pregnant!  And, I'm tired of looking puffy in the middle with flowy shirts.  I'm ready to look pregnant finally, so let's do this!  =)  Your Daddy likes to talk to you and give you kisses, so does your sister Megan...when she gives your Mommy a hug and kiss goodnight, she never leaves you out either!  You are already so loved, little man!

Oh, and your sister Kyndall got back a few days ago from the Christ in Youth conference she went to in Colorado.  She LOVED it!  She had such a good time, grew so much in her faith, and made some more great friends at church.  She is really coming into her own.  She already has had a mind of her own and likes to tell you about it (and I'm sure you'll know what I mean soon enough!), but now her beliefs are flowing into all of that and she stands firm in her faith.  More so than I ever did at her age.  Your Daddy and I almost marvel at times with her level of faith for a 15-year-old.  At the conference, she made the decision to get baptized in a couple weeks at our church.  That will be such a special event - we are going to have to push back our family trip to Colorado by a day or two in order for it to happen (which kind of messes with our plans a little) - but it will be so worth it.  A great problem to have for us! 

And, if you are wondering which diaper bag I chose for you, I chose the Petunia Pickle Bottom (blue/brown) bag.  It was obviously cheaper (and you'll find that out soon enough about your family too - we aren't rolling in money!), but I really liked the organization of it all - and it's super cute and it needed to match you!  =)

Alright baby love - I think I am signing off for the day - go on gaining weight and kicking away in there - I want to REALLY feel you this week!  I love you!

The Diaper Bag Dilemma

Okay, just for fun - I thought I would stray from my normal "talk to BabyAJ" post style and ask for your help!  I am looking for my diaper bag and want your input!  Look at the choices below!

Read the descriptions on each to help make the fully informed decision! The key is that this will be my purse as well as the diaper bag...and I already carry a big purse because...well, I am a girl...and I have tons of diabetes stuff to always tote with me (blood meter, extra insulin, syringes, glucagon, sugar if I am low, etc.).

The Expensive Gap Bag

This one is a Gap purchase (althought it's not Gap brand). It is new and spent $80. It also has the side pouches for my cell phone, but my diabetes stuff doesn't fit as well in there, so it would go in the front pouches. The inside has a diaper mat in a pouch area, where other baby stuff can go. There are bottle holders there too. I tried my stuff in this one and things get a little mixed up (baby vs. my stuff) on the inside...the areas aren't as separated as the other bag. But it's so stinking cute! =)

The Cheaper Consignment Store "Petunia Pickle Bottom" Bag

This is a Petunia Pickle...as as much as I hate pickles, I love these bags! It was bought at a consignment store for $20, which is a great price considering new ones are waaay more. It has the side pockets (cell phone and diabetes stuff can go there) and then the front zipper area you see completely unzips and rolls out a diaper mat with plenty of extra pouches and area for diapers and wipes, even a change of clothes. The inside pouch (can't see it in this pic) is plenty big with a couple bottle holder areas and then other zippers and area for my regular purse stuff. Oh, and I think on the shoulder strap there is even a little zipper area for a pacifier - quick draw! =) Keeps stuff separated nicely...which is always nice for a big purse, digging to find my keys, blood meter, and whatever else-kind of girl! =)

Okay...so vote away!  =)

Week 16!

Wow, my little baby boy...it seems like weeks are flying by now!  I can't believe I can say that I am almost four months along with you!  Crazy!  Here's your progress this week:

Get ready for a growth spurt, little boy! In the next few weeks, you will double your weight and add inches to your length. Right now, you about the size of an avocado (which, technically is a fruit I guess, even though it is treated most times as a veggie - like a tomato, completely misunderstood!).  You are 4 1/2 inches long (head to rump) and 3 1/2 ounces. Your legs are much more developed, your head is more erect than it has been, and your eyes have moved closer to the front of your head. "They" say that you can move your eyes back and forth now too!  Your ears are close to their final position, too (oh, and they are in the final stages of development, so you can officially hear us talk to you now!). The patterning of your scalp has begun, though your lovely locks aren't recognizable yet. You've even started growing toenails (be careful with those things in there, okay?). And there's a lot happening inside of you as well. For example, your heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, and this amount will continue to increase as you continue to develop.

For me, you are definitely showing more!  Thank goodness for maternity waistbands!  "They" tell me that I should be in the glowing stage of pregnancy too, since you are cranking out some quarts of blood now.  And this is true...if by "glowing" they mean oily!  =)

"They" also tell me that I should be (finally) feeling you move soon, and for that, I cannot wait.  I have no idea what I'm supposed to be feeling or what to expect, so I can't wait until it happens and I finally realize it's you!  We always see you moving around so much on the ultrasound and watching that I can't believe I can't feel you...so I'm sure I should feel you soon!  "They" also say that I should not be sleeping on my back any more, something about cutting off a major aorta of blood to you?  Yeah, that'll freak a first time mommy  out for sure!  Any time you put the word "aorta" with "cut" in reference to you, my unborn baby, that doesn't sit well.  Which also is concerning since I start out sleeping on my left side and always wake up on my back.  Ugh...I really don't want to get one of those pregnancy pillows (I mean, pay money for a huge pillow, which we already have a million of?), but they are supposed to support you and not allow you to roll on your back.  Whatever...we'll see...it's probably just one of those things that they freak you out with (enter, lunch meat, hot dogs and caffeine) and really doesn't matter too much in the end.

Here's my AJ bump at 10 weeks

And...here it is today, six weeks later, at 16 weeks. 

Kyndall is gone this week...we dropped her off yesterday at church and she officially arrived in Durango, Colorado last night for a Christ In Youth conference with other high school kids.  It's her first time going and it's supposed to be an amazing week for her.  She already has such a strong faith and loves Jesus so much, but I can't wait to hear how God has moved in her life even further!  She gets back on Saturday and we miss her a lot around here!  Megan is bored to death and has officially declared that there is no one to bug.  Your Daddy and I notice that it is considerably quiet around here too!  We can't wait to pick her up Saturday afternoon and hear all about it!  In the meantime, Megan gets to rule the roost around here - she gets to choose a restaurant for us to eat at tonight, help me make cinnamon bread on Friday and then I will make her favorite meal (chicken and noodles) on Friday night for dinner.  So, as bored as she is, she's still loving it.  =)

I guess that's it for this week baby AJ!  Make sure and kick extra hard this week because Mommy wants to feel you in there, okay?!  =)  Love you!

You are a............

BOY!!!!!!!

I know you already knew this, but we just found out today and couldn't be any more excited!  So, the deal was that we weren't supposed to get another ultrasound at the doctor's office for two weeks (actually, that has now changed to three!).  When we figured this out two weeks ago (so...a four week wait total for us...there was NO WAY!), we got really antsy and started looking into third party ultrasound companies that do gender scans (for the exact kind of people like your Daddy and I, who can't wait!) and 3D/4D ultrasound imaging.  Well, the deal was too good to pass up - plus, come on - it's Father's Day in a couple days, what better a present than this?  So, we went ahead and scheduled it for today and we went at 4pm.  It was literally just a little office that had an ultrasound room with the latest and greatest equipment.  We were only in there for 10 minutes too and got one picture out of the deal!  But, we got to see you in 3D for the first time.  At first, you were sleeping and just hanging out, with your legs a bit crossed.  Miss Tech Lady had me cough a few times to wake you up, and lo and behold, it worked!  You started moving around, and we even got to see your little legs and arms moving in the 3D imaging and you must've needed a good stretch from your nap because pretty soon your legs were all stretched out like you were trying to wake up.  Meanwhile, Miss Tech Lady was busy trying to spot the goods, not getting a clear shot in 2D (regular ultrasound mode), so she flipped it to 3D...there is where I thought I saw your boy-ness, but I'm not good at that at all.  Your Daddy was acting like he knew too...and Miss Tech Lady said, "I am pretty sure I know, but I have to get a better shot still".  She flipped it to 2D mode and tried there again, but you were being a little ornery and wouldn't give us a good shot.  Of course, you were wide awake now and not staying still for too long, so that didn't help either.  After another flip to 3D mode, Miss Tech Lady officially knew you were a boy, but needed to get a good spotting in 2D mode too so she could capture a picture for us there.  After a little more coughing and moving her wand around, she finally got a shot looking up at your little butt and the backside of your two little thighs - and there was your boy-ness in between!  She captured the shot quickly and that was that - we knew we were having a boy!  And it's you!

To help you out, imagine you are looking up at your butt sitting on a glass chair - your two legs are coming out to the right, and then, of course your boy-ness is right there in the middle under the arrow!

The first thing we did was call the girls (they have been on vacation with their mom this week, although they were back at her house today).  They didn't answer the phone, of course!  Then, we called your Pa and Mimi and got both on the phone and told them!  They were so happy!  Everyone has been predicting a boy, so it's kind of crazy how it all worked out!  Next was your Grandma Frances, Aunt Nikki, Uncle Ray, Aunt Rhonda, etc. etc.  We just started calling and telling everyone.  FINALLY, your sisters called us back and we got them both on the phone at once and told them they were going to have a little brother (you!).  There was screaming, hooting and hollering.  Megan has been saying that she wanted you to be a brother so that she can pick on your girlfriends.  =)  Don't worry, she can't be too mean, I promise.  Kyndall was excited that your Daddy wouldn't have to put up with more girl issues in this house!  =)  They were both so happy.  They love you already too!

Your Daddy and I then went out to our favorite baby consignment store and got a few onesies...we've been waiting to buy clothes...so we did a little shopping there and at Baby's R Us (we had a gift card all waiting to get you something!).  Now, we are just finally relaxing after kind of a big day.  For some reason we both felt nervous going into it.  I think I was more worried that I would get my hopes up to find out and then they wouldn't be able to tell.  And I guess it was more excitement than anything else!

So, the next time we see you will be at 18 weeks (July 8th), which is right before we all leave for Colorado for two weeks.  The ultrasound in a Level 2 ultrasound, which means they will check out, in detail, every little nook and cranny that you have and make sure you look healthy.  Sometimes you get a little 3D ultrasound time with that too...hope so!  Love you baby boy - so excited to officially call you a "he" and we can even call you by your name - Aiden Josiah!  How crazy is that?!

15 Weeks! And it's SURPRISE week!

Hi baby!  Your Daddy and I are having an absolute BLAST in San Francisco over the past three days.  We have definitely made the most of our time here...wow...we've been busy!  I'll post some pictures below...right after I tell you a little bit about what's going on with you this week! 

You now measure about 4 inches long, crown to rump, and weigh in at about 2 1/2 ounces - you are the size of an apple! You are busy moving amniotic fluid through your nose and upper respiratory tract, which helps the primitive air sacs in your lungs begin to develop. Your legs are growing longer than your arms now, and you can move all of your joints and limbs. Your bones continue to harden and retain calcium very rapidly. At this point in my pregnancy with you, the placenta will begin to take on the job of hormone production to sustain you, which was the job of my ovaries up to this point. Your eyelids are now firmly shut, and will stay closed until the third trimester. And although that's the case, you can still sense light. If I would shine a flashlight on my tummy, for instance, you're likely to move away from the beam. There's not much for you  to taste at this point, but you are forming taste buds.

I am definitely feeling more and more pregnant all the time.  Even though to others I probably just look chunky in the middle.  =)  I can't wait until you are all curled up in a big ball inside my belly for the whole world to see!  Even though we have been on a mini-vacation tihs week, my blood sugars have been pretty good...especially with all the walking we have been doing here in San Fran!  I had one night (after I splurged on a chocolate shake at night and shouldn't have!) where I had a 200 level blood sugar from 2-6am....so hopefully you didn't get affected by that too much, especially since I have been darn good at all other times.

And, like the title says, we have a big surprise this week!  Can't wait to tell you!  But not yet...I'll write you again on Thursday or Friday and fill you in on the big scoop!  =)

So...a little about San Fran and what we have done so far.  We figured out the cable cars and public transportation - I think we are pretty proud of ourselves for this!  We can get ourselves to the San Francisco Airport, Wharf or the Golden Gate bridge, no problem!  =)  The cable cars are fun to ride on - and there are hills like you wouldn't believe in this city!  We had to walk up some major hills WITH our luggage the day we got here (we're too cheap for cabs!).  Luckily, the way back to the airport is now downhill...so that will be a big help tomorrow!  We have already checked out all of the Fisherman's Wharf and ate dinner there the first night, as well as picking some yummy chocolate up at Ghirardelli Square.  We also did a "Ride the Duck" tour yesterday morning, where 2/3 of the tour is on land (so we got to see all the fun spots around town without walking the hills - yay!) and then the other part, the tour bus turns into a boat, so we got to go out into the ocean and see the city from that angle instead, which included the Bay Bridge.  It was so very cold - I hope you were kept warm!  We also did an Alcatraz tour yesterday afternoon, which your Daddy especially loved and took a lot of pictures with his nice camera.  We checked on Pier 39 and ate some fresh strawberries (that tasted like they had been rolled in sugar or something!) and fresh cherries from a market there.  They were so good!  Oh, and today we went to Chinatown, which is pretty close to our hotel and ate some FABULOUS Chinese food and got the girls some cool gifts, we did a little shopping in Union Square, and then used our crazy cool public transportation skills to take the buses to the Golden Gate Bridge.  That was soooo cool  - we walked out on the bridge about a third of the way (so cold and windy!) and then back.  Your Daddy isn't a fan of heights - but he was all for walking it - although it was a little freaky once you got out more towards the center of it!  We had a great day because there was little fog (and I guess June is "fog month", so we lucked out).   Gosh, I guess that's about it.  We have been so busy - and our bodies are TIRED from all the walking and activities...but it's been a great three days! 

I'll leave you with a few pictures that your we took.  Love you baby!  I'll be in touch on Thursday or Friday!  =)

Your Mommy and Alcatraz Island (and you can even see you (a.k.a. baby bump) there a bit too!

Entrance to Chinatown

Cable Car and the crazy San Fran roads!

Cable Car in action - so much for seat belts!

Almost to Fisherman's Wharf - great view of the ocean!

First night in San Fran - at Fisherman's Wharf

Golden Gate Bridge - sun down and just a little fog

This is our land/sea "tour bus" - so much fun - the driver makes it that way!

The view from the boat portion of the tour - that's the Bay Bridge

We are coming in on the boat to Alcatraz - the prison portion is the top building

Entering into the prison at Alcatraz - we weren't sure they'd let us out!

Prison cells at Alcatraz

Staff's Apartments and Barracks - your Daddy's shot from his camera

This was one of just a couple tiny wimdows in the hallways where the prisoners walked - how crazy to see this view from the prison! (This is from your Daddy's snazzy camera)

Leaving Alcatraz Island - your Daddy's super snazzy camera shot

Amazing picture of the Golden Gate Bridge.  Your Daddy and I just had walked to the frist support tower and back!

Oh look!  There's your Daddy and me!

A look up at the first support beam on the bridge

On the bridge - a look back at where we started walking from

One great shot of the Golden Gate Bridge!

Okay my little baby love - time for me to sign off - we have a plane to catch tomorrow to get back home!  Love you bunches!

"Every moment of your life has been laid out [by God], before a single day has even passed" (14 weeks!)

Yippee Skippy!  You are 14 weeks today, little one!  Crazy, but true.  And you have made another progression on that fruit ladder!

You are now the size of a lemon!  You can now squint, frown, grimace, pee, and possibly suck your thumb! Thanks to brain impulses, your facial muscles are getting a workout as your tiny features form one expression after another. Your kidneys are producing urine, which you releases into the amniotic fluid around you — a process you'll keep up until birth. You can grasp, too, and you may even be sucking your thumb!  Hopefully we will catch that on an ultrasound sometime!

In other news: You are stretching out! From head to bottom, you measure around 3 1/2 inches and you weigh 1 1/2 ounces. Your body's growing faster than your head, which now sits upon a more distinct neck. By the end of this week, your arms will have grown to a length that's in proportion to the rest of your body. (Your legs still have some lengthening to do.) You are also starting to develop an ultra-fine, downy covering of hair, called lanugo, all over your body. Your liver starts making bile this week — a sign that it's doing its job right — and your spleen starts helping in the production of red blood cells. Though I can't feel your tiny punches and kicks yet, your little hands and feet (which now measure about 1/2 inch long) are more flexible and active....hopefully I will feel you in the next few weeks!

I found a picture of what you probably look like right about now - it still baffles me that you are inside of me, just wiggling away!

And what's new with me?  Well, I don't feel like my belly on the outside has gotten any bigger...although I can still feel you growing inside because, especially at night, my muscles around you are sore.  In the prego world, they call this round ligament pain and it's completely normal.  Also, I think my blood sugars are starting to take the first steps of the journey upwards.  I knew that around this time (anytime after 12-13 weeks) my body starts a long journey of an increased need for insulin.  Right now, I have noticed this the past several nights after dinner into the early hours.  At first I thought I just ate a big meal and that was having lingering effects, but after having a normal meal or two in there to compare to, I have changed my basal rates (the hourly rate of insulin that automatically gets released from my insulin pump) during those hours to counteract this increase my body has decided upon.  Like I said, I knew to expect this, so this is just the beginning of this journey...from what I hear, by the 30th week, my insulin needs will double or triple or worse.  So, right now I take a unit of insulin for every 10 g of carbohydrates I eat, and by the end I could be near 1 unit of insulin for every 3 g of carbs I eat!
 
And speaking of big meals at night...yikes...I need to be careful of that!  There is no room for that I guess in there anymore...my belly literally felt like it was going to pop after a big meal.  It just was super uncomfortable and almost hurt.  Your Daddy kind of liked it because my belly pushed out that much further and I looked that much more pregnant.  =)  My tummy gets so big and tight!  You are probably in there angry at me for cramping your style, literally!  Other than the big meal times, I don't think I have grown in the belly too much though.  Most of my regular clothes still fit...sort of...they are uncomfortable....but do-able if I wrap a hair band around the button hole and over the button...gives me just that much extra room I need!  Everyone says I'm going to not want the belly and regret saying this - but too bad! - I want you to show so bad!
 
Let's see...your sisters are doing great...definitely enjoying not having any school or homework!  They were in our pool today with one of their friends playing around.  It is about 110 degrees outside, so the pool feels perfect right about now!  Your Daddy and I are gearing up for San Francisco on Sunday (while your sisters go with their Mom up north in AZ to a cabin for the week).  Getting super excited for that!  Oh, and I started a book club today with a few ladies from church.  We are reading the book, "Reedeeming Love" by Francine Rivers.  AMAZING BOOK!!!!  Incredible book, my baby...one of these days you'll read it and love it.  Can't say enough about it...anyway, there was a verse in the discussion questions today that made me think of you, and I thought I would share.

Psalm 139:15-17

"You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.  You saw me before I was born.  Every day of my life was recorded in your book.  Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.  How precious are your thoughts about me, O God?"

That's you that the verse is talking about, my sweet baby!  I am just the resting place and nourishment for God to do his miraculous work in - so that YOU - a miracle can be formed and born.  I am so humbled and feel so blessed that the Lord chose me for this work.  You are being woven together as I type this.  It's crazy to think that every day of your life is already recorded in God's book...and every moment of your life is known already before you are even in the light of day.  As you can see from the verse, God already loves you and cares for you so much - and your thoughts are so precious to Him!  You are truly unique and special to God, which makes you that much more unique and special to be born into this world!

Oh...and I almost forgot...your Daddy and I have a surprise for you coming up....can't tell you what it is yet (because then it wouldn't be a surprise, right?!)...but definitely have some big stuff we will share in another week or so!  You will be the first to know...promise!  I love you baby!

Your Amazing Dad!

I just had to share my thoughts quickly with you tonight about your Daddy.  He is one super guy.  First of all, he will be the best Father ever (besides your Heavenly Father of course!) to you...play with you, love you, make you giggle, and discipline you (yes, even my sweet precious baby will even need some of that!).  One of the major reasons that I fell in love with him to begin with was because I could see all these things lived out with him and your sisters several years ago.  Also, he treats me like a queen, more so than I ever deserve.  Especially with this pregnancy...he loves to talk about you, plan for you, kisses my belly, lets me buy new clothes for my expanding belly (albeit consignment store clothes, but I could care less - I've gotten some GOOD stuff!), tells me I'm beautfiul daily, and just plain loves me to death.  You will never doubt if your parents love each other! Whew...got a few tears going now!  And he's such a hard worker...he will provide for you so well.  He is big into gardening right now and he is busy at work with that.  He's got a whole garden going in the back with zucchini, squash, radishes (your Mommy's fav!), cantaloupe, green beans, lettuce, carrots....and I know there is more that I am forgetting.  He is so good at it though, it's crazy!  He's such a smartie pants...he builds stuff all the time and loves to get his hands dirty.  Anyway, I just had to tell you how amazing he is...you will soon know that well enough yourself...but always know that your Mommy knows and feels this way and it's only going to get stronger!  I love you baby!  Nighty night!

Our Little Alien Baby!

So...as you know, we got to see you today!  The girls got to come with us, but unfortunately the ultrasound was just for heart tones (and I guess the tech wasn't feeling like splurging for more time) so we only got to see you for a couple minutes.  You were still there wiggling around.  The girls loved it.  =)  You were lying on your back, so the shots are straight shots to your face...which makes you look a bit like an alien!  Sorry...but it's true...with all the white bones showing through from your skull and nose and teeth.  Still cute...I'll take an alien baby any day as long as it's you!  You are definitely taking up more room in my uterus...not too much room left to swim in...which explains why you are generally always on one side of my tummy when we do your heart rate at home now.  You can see your head on the left (and skull!) and your cute little hands are up by your face...your belly makes a showing too...and then your toesies are on the right.  Here you are!

13 weeks 2 days - Heart rate 143 (you're slowing down - are you a boy?) =)

I love it!  Can't wait to see you more!  Oh...and that's the bad news.  =(  My next appointment isn't with an ultrasound in two weeks.  =(  I know, I know, I've been spoiled with being high-risk...so I've had 4-5 ultrasounds already and I'm only 13 weeks...but still...I kind of got used to it!  Oh well.  The rest of that bad news is that this means we won't find out your gender until the next scan (which is a full detailed scan) at 17 weeks....and that's a month away!!!!  Not sure your Daddy and I can wait that long!  At least the next scan is the detailed one...so we get to check out all of your parts and make sure you are healthy!

Luckily, Bobby and the girls left after that because I had to wait over an hour in the office room for the doctor (personally, I think they forgot about me!  I had to eventually flag someone down and then, bam...the doc was in the room right after that!).  Doesn't matter...I like my doctor's office.  So after the wait, I saw the doctor - it was a new one to me this time - it was a woman and she was pretty nice.  She had looked over my blood sugar numbers and suggested a little change to my basal, but that was it.  She told me that my A1C (that I got the results from last week) was awesome and if she could frame the blood sugar log sheet that they have me fill in and put it on the wall she would, because I guess no one else keeps track like that?  I don't know...I can't think of doing it any other way!  She also explained a test that I may want to have (your Daddy and I are not doing any of the chromosomal tests that are offered - you're ours no matter what!), but she did suggest this AFP test that checks more for neural tube defects, which can affect your brain and spine.  I have a bit higher chance of neural tube issues being diabetic...but hopefully with my hawk-like approach to my blood sugars that won't be even a slight issue!  I am going to research that a bit more and see if there's a point to it.  If there is no help I can give you before you come out of the womb...not sure there is a point to knowing there *could* be a chance early on.  I'll keep you updated.  =)  She also told me that in two weeks when I come in that I could ask for another A1C test to be ordered so I can get another look at that too.  I guess that's about it...she really thought I was doing well with my blood sugars...and that's always nice to hear from the doctor!

Well...Megan just helped me make dinner and it is almost done...so we are going to eat!  We can't wait until you are sitting at a little high chair with us at dinner!

You're a Peach! No, really, you are - at least the size of a small one!

My baby!  You are another week older...and (depending on who you talk to) we are now in our 2nd trimester!  Woohoo!  Some say it doesn't start until next week...others say it started last week...so I'll just use this marker, since it seems most logical.  =)  A lot has happened in this last week!  The girls are out of school for the summer, I got my A1C (average blood sugar measurement for the last three months) back from the doc, and you and I went to Illinois and back!  First, here's what you did this week!

Your fingerprints have formed on your tiny fingertips, your veins and organs are clearly visible through your still-thin skin, and your body is starting to catch up with your head — which makes up just a third of your body size now. If you are a girl, you now have more than 2 million eggs in your ovaries. Wow!  You are almost 3 inches long (the size of a small peach - see, I told you!) and weighs nearly an ounce.

All twenty teeth have formed and are waiting under your gums, while you have begun to practice swallowing by taking in the surrounding amniotic fluid and passing it back in your urine. And you can smile too!!!!  Oh...and you may grow as much as an inch this week!

Your sisters are officially done with school and are starting summer mode!  Megan is taking a cooking class this week and she already made cream puffs...your Daddy and I got to taste them and they were good! We may be on to something here! Kyndall is thinking that she will be running cross country this fall, so she has a whole summer program to follow and has started running already too.  Your Daddy and I just booked a trip with some free Southwest miles to San Francisco in a couple weeks...which I think will be our last little mini-vacation together until you arrive!  Of course, we will have a family trip with the girls later in the summer and go to Colorado...but this one will be our little "babymoon".  =)

I got my blood drawn a week ago to get my hemoglobin A1C measured (just a fancy way of saying "average blood sugar over the last three months").  A non-diabetic person's A1C should be anywhere between 4.5 and 6.5.  My number was 6.5, which I should be happy with, I just am a little bummed because I thought it would be lower than that.  I just put so much work into testing my blood sugar, testing almost every hour, waking up in the middle of the night at least twice, etc. and paying such close attention to all of it that I really thought I'd be around 6.0.  But, what I have to remember is that I am in the "normal" person's range....which means that I have no more greater risks with you than a non-diabetic person and that is definitely something to celebrate.  I am sure I will get it a little lower the next time it's measured...so I'm not overly worried about it.  I have a doctor's appt. on Thursday, so we'll see what the doc says then.  And we get to see you!  Woot woot!  I'm going to call the doc's office tomorrow and see if it's okay to bring the girls with us to the ultrasound so that they can see you live on the big screen too!  Hopefully they let us!

And...as I'm sure you knew and felt...we went to Illinois last week.  Cousin Tom and Jene' got married and it was really a beautiful wedding and I/we got to see so many family members there!  I'm sure you felt all the hands on my barely-there belly!  Not only that, but I had several days with your cousins, Kiara and Vera...lots of good quality pool time with both of them!  Kiara and I listened to your heart beat a lot...she loved it.  Then, we would put the wand on her heart and listen to hers...we are unique and wonderful creations!  Hopefully I will get around to posting a couple pictures from the trip later this week.  The whole time was so much fun...got to spend time with Pa and Mimi, Aunt Nikki and Uncle Ryan...saw Grandma Betty, Grandma Carmie and Grandpa Bud...and then tons of other Aunts, Uncles, and Cousins.  They are all very excited to meet you!  The only bad thing about the trip was not having your Daddy and sisters with me.  I missed them so much and it was so good to come home to them yesterday!

I still listen to you on the fetal doppler a couple times a day, which I'm sure you know since you feel me pressing on you!  Your heart rate has gone down to usually around 150-155 now...which it is supposed to do.  It'll probably level off now around 145-150.  You seem to prefer my left side, although you are still swimming around a lot sometimes.  Your heart is loud and strong...I love listening.  Your Daddy missed you while you were gone and listening to your heart beat!

I want you to know what a blessing you are to us.  I pray that God has already tucked His love for Him in your heart so you will grow up with a strong love for the Lord.  I pray that your sisters love you entirely and don't have any jealousy - knowing that we love them just the same and find them so super special too.  I love you baby...can't wait to see you Thursday!