Today, I had my nurse appointment.  I met up with a nurse I had never gone to before and I absolutely loved her.   She spent so much time on my sonogram and she talked to me alot about what was in the sonogram.  My test results didn't come in yet for the AFP test, but she said it didn't look like there was anything for me to worry about.  The spine looked healthy and strong.  And for the first time, I saw the umbilical cord clearly in the sonogram.  It was interesting.  It looks really thick.  The baby did the cutest thing ever!  She yawned so long and big while I was looking and it was just so cute.  She was definitely playing in my stomach.  At one point her left leg was behind her and the right was in front of her as if she were doing the splits.  She was extremely playful and  looked very healthy which is all that matters.  I definitely think I got more excited about my pregnancy during this visit.   I did not however hear the heartbeat like I thought I was going to, but that is okay because I saw the heart beat on the monitor and we spent alot of the time of the appointment observing the little missy. 

My weight gain is steady and progressing.  She said it was "okay", whatever that means.  Last week I saw a nutritionist and she said that my weight gain looks good, but that I started my pregnancy underweight (113 lbs.).  However, I think I am pretty healthy and my doctor does too and that is all that really matters.  I don't want to gain too much weight.  The last two times I gained 43 and 45 lbs.  It was a lot for my body to endure.  Anyway, I have completely given up caffeine, which really isnt difficult because I can always get Sprite which I love or other drinks.  Other than that, I am eating well and walking alot around campus.  It is a long ways that I have to walk around there.  You would be surprised. 

All in all Nurse Hale said the baby is measuring right where she should be and looks healthy.  I got some newborn diapers there today along with a really cute diaper bag that I will definitely be using when I want to wash my other one. 

I better get started on my homework.  I just wanted to keep those that read updated.

xoxo, Laura

Today I have turned 18 weeks.  I have an appointment today with the midwife.  I get to see the Doctor every other month until I reach 34 or 36 weeks...I think.  Anyway, I will get my AFP test results back today, get an ultrasound, and hear the heartbeat. 

Last night Ian was just watching tv. and he had his hand on my belly and he felt "baby girl" kick.  We thought we had a name, but our daughter keeps changing it.  This week it is "Ella" instead of "Mia" or "Sarah".  "Ella" of course is after Cinderella. 

I will update after the appointment.  My stomach all of a sudden grew over night.  I will post a picture later. 

xoxo,

Laura

This information comes from www.BabyCenter.com

How your baby's growing:

Head to bottom, your baby is approximately 5 1/2 inches long (about the length of a bell pepper) and she weighs almost 7 ounces. She's busy flexing her arms and legs — movements that you'll likely start noticing more and more. Her blood vessels are visible through her thin skin and her ears are now in position and stand out from her head. Myelin (a protective covering) is beginning to form around her nerves, a process that will continue for a year after she's born. If you're having a girl, her uterus and Fallopian tubes are formed and in place. If your baby is a boy, his genitals are noticeable, though he may hide them from you during an ultrasound.

This picture is an 18 month fetus sucking its thumb.

I had such a good Valentines Day yesterday.  We were busy with school and work, but when the family got together we had dinner and opened gifts.  It was fun and loving.  We tell eachother that we love each other all of the time, but it is a special day in our house.

Anyway, today I have a couple appointments and am visiting a pregnant friend.  She is due in a couple weeks and I want to get over and take her gift. 

I am feeling great today.  Hopefully, I am over the sickness. 

xoxo, Laura

I am beginning to feel the baby regularly now.  I was feeling it as early as 13 weeks because I just know that feeling by heart.  I am now 17 weeks along which obviously means it is time to feel this baby more often. 

So we pretty much have decided on a baby name.  We ask our daughter what name she likes and she is sticking to "Mia".  I love that name.  Me and Naomi both love it.  Dad loves it and Owen sounds adorable when he says it.  Now I have been thinking of middle names.  I might go with a biblical name or something Hebrew, but I am not bound to those categories.  I like to look at books that are classics and look at the characters in there for ideas.  I want the middle name to end in a consonant or a silent vowel.  It just sounds better to me after "Mia".  For  example, Mia Sarah does not sound good because they both end with an "A" sound.  You get the idea. 

Last night we went out for Mexican food, my favorite.  Before that, after we got out of my daughter's dance class, while shopping at Target, I started feeling really sick and nauseated.  It lasted all night.  This morning when I woke up I wasn't feeling sick, but now I am nauseated AGAIN and its 2 in the afternoon.  As soon as I think its letting up, it starts up again.  With my daughter I had morning sickness for 5 months, but this time I will be reaching 5 months really soon, and the sickness lasts all day.  I am more exhausted this time around than either of the other times I have been pregnant.  It is alot of work to be pregnant, especially with the busy children that I have.

Tonight I start my night class.  It is going to be a struggle this semester with the pregnancy and graduation coming in the late spring and early summer. I am so excited though!  I will finally be graduated from college and can start thinking about where I will go for the Masters program.  I can stay at Stan State, but I would like to branch out. 

Anyway, I have a doctor appointment on Monday.  This will be with the midwife.  She is a sweetheart.  She normally measures me, feels around for the location of the uterus, and listens to the heartbeat.  Well, this was a long entry and I feel like I didn't get much out there.  I am starting to look more pregnant and maybe I will post another picture sometime this week. 

Happy Valentine's Day tomorrow. 

xoxo, Laura