I am almost positive what I'm feeling now is Baby Movement.  Little muscle twitches, gas bubbles, pokes, etc....I feel all of those.  More so in the last 2-3 days, but I'm just about convinced that's the Baby!!  How cool!!!  I look forward to stronger movements, and also to when Tim can share in the experience.  I know he'll love that!

Well I spoke too soon about not getting sick anymore.  I threw up once again last night, but at l east there was a 2 and a half  week gap in there - that's pretty good!  I'm back to feeling just okay, I think that can be attributed to being tired after Christmas and going back to work this week!  At least we have another 4-day weekend coming up.

My mid to upper-back has been hurting a lot lately.  I don't know if it's because of how I sit at my chair during the day or how I sleep at night, but oouuuch!  I am using a microwavable heating pad every evening now.  Seems to help.  Any other suggestions?

I've been looking at Nursery themes and furniture; that in itself can be totally overwhelming!  But it's certainly getting more exciting. 

Tim's family is convinced this baby is a Boy.  In fact, his sister-in-law (Liz) has dubbed the baby, "Baby Mister".    She says she does realize that it could also be a "Baby  Mrs.".  Ha, ha.  Aunt Liz, Uncle Chris & the girls got Baby Mister his/her first pair of shoes.  They look like little work shoes, and are so adorable!   Stephanie, my other SIL, got me a baby listening device, called Bebe Sounds - it's like a high powered microphone with earphones to listen to Baby's heartbeat.  Very cool!  We tried it on Christmas Eve for quite some time, with no luck.   The directions said you can listen as early as 5 months, so I have a few weeks yet.  Such fun!!!

We have our "big" ultrasound scheduled for January 16, 2006 at 9:30 AM - I will be almost 21 weeks.  I'm not looking forward to having to drink at least 24 oz of fluid 45 minutes prior to the appointment, but alas, pregnant women have to submit themselves to all kinds of cruel and unusual punishment.  (LOL, just kidding, of course - I wouldn't trade pregnancy for the world!)

The pressure is truly on to find out the gender of this baby - so many others want to know NOW!    But, I stand firm in my desire to be surprised.......

Nothing too new to report - I've remained feeling mostly "normal" for the past week, and have not had my head in the toilet for a week and a half, YEAH ME! 

I'm looking forward to having some time off and celebrating Christmas and the New Year with family. 

Merry Christmas to all!  May God Bless you and yours in 2006!!!!

Wow, time flies when you're having fun, right?  I can't believe I'm 16 weeks already.  Finally, time seems to be going a little faster - I'm so glad!

I had a doctor's appointment today, everything looks great, and we got to hear the heartbeat, finally!!!  It was soooooo cool.  I'm really glad Tim was able to be there for that sweet sound! 

I had a flu shot (yuck) and blood drawn for the Quad test.  Other than that, the appointment went as normal: weight check (creeping up), urine sample, BP check (I think it was 112/68), "how are you feeling?", etc.  My doctor (Dr. Lacoste) is great though; she explains everything in layman's terms that my husband and I can understand. 

I am starting to feel somewhat more normal these days.  Some moments I even feel like a human-being again.  It's a wonderful feeling!  Because of that, I'm more and more excited for this little angel to enter our lives!  I also wonder if I've been feeling movement?  Kinda funny little bubbly-type feeling or something like a ripply effect going on, nothing consistent though.  I've also never felt a baby move in me before, so I'm not quite sure what to expect.  I imagine that I'll be feeling (more) movement after the Holidays.  YEAH!!! 

My next appointment is January 11, 2006.  We can also schedule THE BIG ultrasound sometime in the next 3-4 weeks.  I know Tim is dying to know the gender, but I am holding strong on keeping my foot down!!!  I am still feeling like I want to be surprised, Tim is just the opposite (For those of you that know him, he is a Christmas present shaker/snooper too...he can't stand surprises!).   My gut feeling is still that this baby is a girl, Tim says boy all the way.  Either way, we will be happy with our little love!!

We got between 5-7 inches of snow last night, which made the commute to work quite interesting.  What should have taken about 15 minutes took nearly an hour, yikes!

Last night I made my first attempt at Christmas shopping at the stores v. online.  It was a lot of work!  I walked all over the mall, got several gifts and tried on some maternity clothes - that in itself was quite a chore.  I was then on my way home when I got a serious craving for Outback Steakhouse's House Salad, with Ranch, yum!  I was almost home when I decided I had to drive over and get one!  Needless to say, by the time I actually got home, I was absolutely starving.  Not a good combination with being exhausted from working all day and then shopping for 2 + hours.  Sidney, our dog, had been in her crate and had not yet eaten dinner. When she gets really hungry she barfs.  That's exactly what she did, just as I was feeding her dinner.  Gross.  Tim was at class, so I was the only one left to clean up her mess.  Gross times a million.  So I'm starving, tired, and cleaning up barf (in 3 places), and then I start gagging.  Gross times a bazillion.  I end up puking in the kitchen sink and then have to finish cleaning up the dog's mess, along with cleaning my own.  What a nightmare. 

So, to answer any question, I'm still feeling quite sick at 15 weeks.  I really hope that means I'm going to have an easy baby!  (that's what they say, right?!)  If not, at least I won't feel sick 24/7 - it's not a permanent state, is it?

I'm starting to show a little tiny bit, at least it looks so to Tim and me.  Some would probably say it continues to look like a beer belly, but I swear I haven't had beer since July!  Not that beer sounds remotely good at this point in time....

My next appointment is Wednesday, December 14th, when I will be 16 weeks (or 4 months...really?!!!!) pregnant.  Thank you, God, for continuing to bless us on this journey!