So today I went to have some testing done - just bloodwork - and had a detailed sonogram done .. My best friend Marianna came with me because Kenny was working and my Mom was working also. She is the greatest :)

So, first was the sonogram. The baby was SOOOOOOOO cute and looked so big! It's only the size of a lime - 7.41 centimeters to be exact - and I heard it's heardbeat and saw it!! It's beating at 143 beats per minute, which the doctor said is perfect, and to see it beating in my baby's chest was so amazing. The baby was SO MELLOW today - big change from last time! It was just laying there and kept sucking it's thumb .. the tech was poking at my tummy, trying to get the baby to move so she could take measurements, and the baby would jump and then just go back to sucking it's thumb. It had it's legs crossed at the feet, and then starting holding it's hands over it's chest, then was sucking it's thumb again. It was the cutest thing EVER!!!!!!!!! I got LOTS of pictures - they are under the photo album section - you can see it's arms and legs and little nose and lips. And whenever I coughed (I was laying on my back for a while while the sonogram was being done) the baby would jump and then start sucking its thumb again.

I am beyond inlove with my baby .. it's so crazy how much I love it already and it isn't even here yet!!!!!!!!!

 P.S. - when we find out the sex next month, we thought of the names if it's a boy or a girl:

Boy = Robert Joseph Collotta (possible nickname: R.J.) - after Kenny's father

Girl = Brianna Justine Collotta (possible nickname: Bree)

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, and this year I have SO MUCH to be thankful for. I have the most wonderful parents & brother in the world who always do everything in their power to make sure I am happy, healthy and safe. I have the most amazing man in my life, who I can't wait to marry and spend the rest of my life with - he is my best friend, my soul mate, my other half.. he is my everything. I have wonderful friends and family who are always there to offer love and support. I have a baby on the way who will be loved more than any baby in this world. And Kenny and I now have a gorgeous new apartment we consider our home. I am in good health, and everything is going perfectly. My life has been perfect since Kenny came into it almost 1 year ago, but now it is beyond perfect. I am the happiest I have ever been in all my life, and I just wanted to share everything that I am thankful for this year.

Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!

Your pregnancy: 12 weeks

 

How your baby's growing:

The most dramatic development this week: Reflexes. Your baby's fingers will soon begin to open and close, his toes will curl, his eye muscles will clench, and his mouth will make sucking movements. In fact, if you prod your abdomen, your baby will squirm in response, although you won't be able to feel it yet. His intestines, which have grown so fast that they protrude into the umbilical cord, will start to move into his abdominal cavity about now, and his kidneys will begin excreting urine into his bladder.

Meanwhile, nerve cells are multiplying rapidly, and in your baby's brain, synapses are forming furiously. His face looks unquestionably human: His eyes have moved from the sides to the front of his head, and his ears are right where they should be. From crown to rump, your baby-to-be is just over two inches long (about the size of a lime) and weighs half an ounce.

I am SO happy and relieved to finally be 12 weeks pregnant .. finally out of the "danger zone" (the chance of having a miscarriage is now greatly reduced and sits below 5%) and I feel pretty good! I'm still tired during the day, and have trouble sleeping through the night .. waking up to pee almost every hour is not cool .. but other than that things are going wonderfully!

Kenny is the most amazing man in the whole world .. he makes me smile & laugh every single day, helps me do my medicines, makes sure I take all my meds, insulin, etc. and makes sure I have everything I need to be comfortable. I am so lucky to have him in my life .. he really is my other half and is absolutely the best part of my every day & night. *I love you so much my angel .. you are going to be such a wonderful Daddy to our little monkey*

new sonogram picture in the photo album!!

Your pregnancy: 11 weeks

 

How your baby's growing:

Your baby, just over 1 1/2 inches long and about the size of a fig, is now almost fully formed. Her hands will soon open and close into fists, tiny tooth buds are beginning to appear under her gums, and some of her bones are beginning to harden.

She's already busy kicking and stretching, and her tiny movements are so effortless they look like water ballet. These movements will become more frequent as her body grows and becomes more developed and functional. You won't feel your baby's acrobatics for another month or so — nor will you notice the hiccupping that may be happening now that her diaphragm is forming.

How Does My Baby Look?
This week, your baby weighs around 8 grams. Baby's head takes up half of the baby's size right now. At this point, you baby's irises will start to develop and tiny finger nails are visible.

This is a stage of rapid growth. From Week 11 up until Week 20, baby grows in size from around 1.7 to 2.4 inches (that is 44 to 60 mm) and 0.3 ounces (8 grams) to just over 6 inches (about 16 centimeters) and 10.5 ounces (or 300 grams).

Boy or Girl?
Baby's reproductive organs also develop very quickly at this stage, so by the end of this week, the external genitalia are recognizable! (You will have to wait a little longer to see them on an ultrasound though). Blood vessels in the placenta increase in size and number to accommodate all this growth and to provide your baby with more nutrients.