Finally, the 2nd trimester!

Hi Everyone!



Things are going great! I have finally fit my 2nd trimester and so far everything they say is true. I finally have more energy and easily make it through the day without wanting a nap. Now, nighttime is another story with having to get up at least 3 times to pee! John, of course, just snores away and doesn't even know I'm up! Payback will definelty be when the baby is here and mama needs her sleep!



We had an appointment today and were able to hear the heartbeat again. It was 165bpw. According to wives tales, the would mean it's a girl. One of John's co-workers thinks girl because I am wanting a lot of mexican food.....we will find out on November 12th! I cannot wait!

We have been looking @ various baby items in the stores and trying to narrow down the options so that registering will be a lot quicker. We have discovered that EVERYTHING for baby will cost at least $100...yikes.



In other news, we have taken our Chicago condo off the market. We just weren't going to be able to get the price we needed in this market....plus our realtor was HORRIBLE! Hopefully, in the Spring, we ill be able to try again with another agent. John has been traveling a lot lately. He just got back from a week in Phoneix and will be going to D.C. and Utah in the next month or so.

Here is what the baby has been up to developmentally in the last week (photo is from a website of baby @ 14wks):

Mouth in motion.
If your little one could understand your jokes, you'd see a smile this week (or a frown if you're not the world's most entertaining comedian). Your fetus's mouth can even open and close and is starting to make swallowing and sucking motions (watch out, thumb). Those facial muscles are really getting a workout!



Set for speech.
The esophagus, windpipe, larynx, and vocal cords are all in place. Of course, the vocal cords can't make any sounds yet, since your little one is floating in fluid. But they're already being prepped for that first loud wail after birth.

Face formation.
With each passing week, your fetus is looking more like the little person you'll meet the day you give birth. By now, the eyes have moved to their proper place at the top of the face, and the ears have moved from the neck to the sides of the head. The jaws have been complete for a while, and the palate is now "zipping up," closing from front to back.

Measuring up.
Your little one weighs about 2 ounces and measures 3.2 to 4.3 inches long.

Getting the Wiggles.
The fetus is active from the beginning, exercising those arms and legs as soon as the muscles and nerves are up and running. The movement is random now but will get more regular as time goes on.

....it's been awhile.....

Well....since it been a long time since the last post. I will have to update you on all the has been going on in the last 6 months.

Summer is over and I am back to work. The kiddos have been back for 2 weeks and I am already needing to take a personal day. I have some really challenging kids in my Booster class this year. I have my work cut out for me.

We are all settled and moved into our new home. Some friends from college and John's parents came for a visit. It was nice to be able to have a place for company to sleep. It was great to see everyone and look forward to the next time they come back for a visit.

Our most exciting news is that we are expecting our first baby in early April!!!! We are very excited and are looking forward to everything this new chapter of our lives will bring. I am 11 weeks along and am due April 1st. We got to hear the heartbeat last week and it was very surreal, but made us even more excited. According to the books, the baby is about 2.5 inches long and about the size of a large lime. We go back in a few weeks to hear the heartbeat again. Here are my 5 week and 11 week belly shots. I think I am starting to "pop" a little bit as I can no longer comfertably buttom my jeans!