13 Weeks

I am officially out of the first trimester! YAY us!! So as you know, we are pretty sure we are having a little girl! We can't wait until next Monday-Wednesday to find out 99%! Our little baby is about 3.5 inches (from top of head to bottom)! That's about as big as my cell phone-but that doesn't account for her legs!

I felt a little queezy the other day, but I think it was what we ate for dinner. Kris felt the same. I still haven't gained weight and started to get a little worried, but after my books, friends and internet (everything but my doctor-go figure) I have calmed down a little just knowing that the baby is fine and growing normally. Also, I'm sure the weight will start soon!

Thanks for all of your well wishes and love! Look for updates in a week!

Genetic Screening

We went today for our genetic screening. They measured the nuchal translucency fluid behind the baby's neck/spine. Everything measured perfectly normal. They were also very happy to see a nasal bone, which indicates less of a risk of a child with down syndrome. The heart rate was 162 bmp. I thought right then, it could be a girl (old wives tale). Our baby has long legs and waved at us (the white line in the tummy area is the camera flash). After the ultrasound tech, Olympia, was finished doing all of her measurements she asked us if we wanted to know the gender. Of course we said yes. So she turned the sonogram wand (over my belly) and I knew right away. "It's a girl!" She said that this year she has seen so many boys come through, but that ours was definitely not a boy. I went ahead and did the gender blood test as well and will get the 99% accurate results back in 7-10 days. We will let you know the blood test results (genetic and gender) in a week or so.
Say hello to Landyn Juliet Roberts:
(We think she has Kris's head and Melissa's eyes!!)

Gender Screening through Blood Test

During my last doctor's appointment, my doctor told me that I needed to go ahead and schedule my NT screening. She also warned me about "upsales" that certain clinics will do such as gender screening through a blood test, which could cost up to 200 dollars. She said that the office she refers her patients too, sometimes will offer a gender test through blood for free. Yeah Right! That woudl never happen. I have had 14 friends have babies recently and this was NEVER an option for them.
My NT screening is on Monday. The genetics office called to remind me about my appointment todya and also told me that I will be eligable for the gender testing through blood - FREE OF CHARGE!! I am so excited! I asked why I got it for free and she said its because my doctor refers so many patiens to them that they give all of her patients a free gender screeing. OMG!
We will get the results withing 10 business days at the most. I'll be less than 15 weeks when we find out the gender and we are soooooo excited!! I was anticipating being 18 weeks or further. WOW!
I'll update then!!

12 Weeks

I'm 12 weeks today-the beginning of the end of my first trimester!!! This is a huge milestone that we have been waiting for for well, 10 weeks now (you know how they add the 2 extra week thing). I still have few symptoms. I feel like a huge cow though since 4 people now have made belly comments :( I guess it's happening though! I'm still wearing normal clothes even though I've forced the belly band a couple of times :) Kris has been great like always and we have been doing a lot of yard work and trying to stay active. What's kind of funny is that Kris is on a work out kick and is eating really healthy so as I will start to gain, he will rapidly losing weight. Good for him though. Now I'll have someone to push me to excersize during the summer when I'll be bumming arounf the house.

So less than a week and we go for another ultrasound. I'll be sure to post pictures asap.

Here are the 12 week belly shots:

11 Weeks and Washington DC

I'm sorry this is coming late, but I was out of town without inernet access on my 11th week crossover. I took a group of our 5th grade students to Washington DC for their class trip. It was great! Baby L got lots of excersize, traveling (my me walking) about 50 miles over 4 days (maybe more). I was so ready to get back and see Kris and get some sleep. The trip was nice and I would love to do it again, but next year I'll have a 5 month old during Spring Break. CRAZY!!

As far as pregnancy symptoms go, I don't have any. I've started singing to the baby every night before I go to bed. I still don't have any weird cravings, but I have been ordering corndogs when they are available. The baby is the size of a small lime and weighs half an ounce. Kris said he measured out a clump of broccoli to weigh .5 ounces and the size of a lime so he could see and feel how big it is. I thought that I was so cute!

I go a week from Monday (March 30) for another ultrsaound and first trimester screening to check for genetic and chromosonal abnormalities. I'll be 12 weeks, 6 days and hopefully I'll get a video of the ultrasound. The ultrasound machine they will use is much better than the one my doctor has used in the ooffice. We can't wait!

10 Weeks

We went to our second regular doctor's appointment today and saw Dr. Thompson (my OBGYN). She had a medical student with her, but I didn't mind. The nurse (Teodora) came in and tried for about 5 minutes to hear a heartbeat through the doppler. She couldn't find anything. Kris and I were thinking the same thing-"Should we be worried, or happy that we get an ultrasound?" After Teodora told us that is wasn't uncommon not to hear anything this early, we felt better and got really excited that we got to see our baby for the third time!!

We waited a looooong 30 minutes before she rolled the familiar machine into the room. We saw Baby L wave and kick and move around a lot! It was amazing to see the little fingers, legs, feet, and even the tiny eyeballs (in person)!!

(Baby's head is on the left, bottom on the right, and arms on the sides by the head. It's feet are crossed in front of it's body. We asked to see the feet and Dr. Thompson made a turn of the wand and there they were. She didn't get a picture of them though - maybe next time.)

I told Dr. Thompson about my incident yesterday and she assured us that I was okay. I was scheduled to do the "everything" blood test today anyway which includes everything from HCG-Iron-HIV and a lot more in the middle: 7 vials full of blood. She was so informative and extremely nice to us and made us feel like we were her only patients today :)

We go back in 2 weeks for my first trimester screening which will be done with a blood test and ultrasound to assess our chances of having a baby with down syndrome and other genetic disorders. So that will be the 4th time get to see our little baby!! We can't wait :) Also Dr. Thompson said that sometimes they will try and "upsale" various services such as further testing along with gender testing through the blood that is 95% accurate at 12 weeks. She said that sometimes they offer it for free, but other times they don't and it ends up being a couple hundred dollars. We are hoping to continue to be blessed and maybe with Kris's personality, we can get offered a free test. None of my friends have been offered the free test, but it would be cool to find out the gender in 2 weeks!

Thanks to everyone for your prayers and thoughts! This is so amazing and we are just greatful to share this experience with you all!!

Belly Shots this week - don't make fun, I feel like a whale already!

Day Off

Well I woke up this morning extremely light headed. This usally happens when I need to eat so I rushed to the kitchen to make a bowl of cereal and I barely made it. I started blacking out! So I rested on the counter and then ran to the couch to eat my breakfast. I sat for a minute and got up. It happened again so I ate a banana. The light headedness did not subside so I layed down on the couch. Kris and I were both a little worried so I went ahead and called in to work. I feel guilty and horrible for doing that because I will need all the days I can when the baby comes (since I won't be getting paid after 6 weeks). I know it's for the best though, for me, the baby and my students. I am still a bit weak and light headed, but Ive gradually moved from the laying position to sitting on the couch. I'm watching baby shows. I'm a little bummed but now I'm getting hungry, so off the feed us!

Please pray for us, that this feeling goes away and everything is fine, so I can get moving and head back to work tomorrow. I go to the doctor for my 10 week appointment and to hear the heartbeat tomorrow!! We are both really excited!

Our Big Vacation

For my birthday present Kris told me he was booking a trip for us to take before the baby comes. He and my mom did A LOT of research and found the perfect trip. We are going on an Alaskan.Canadian cruise in June. No cruiseline will allow a pregnant woman to even be on a cruise any time after her 24th week of pregnancy! So we will leave the day after school gets out, the end of my 22nd week. We will be back at the end of my 23rd week. It's pushing it, but we are soooooo excited!!! I will definitely update you with pictures of when we go.

9 Weeks

I am 9 weeks and 2 days today! Baby L should eb the size of a large grape! I haven't been feeling any symptoms at all except tiredness, which is always a "symptom" for me! I have had a lot going on though.

Kris planned and successfully threw a big crawfish boil for my birthday. It was so fun and YUMMY! Most of my friends came and we ate and played fun games! We love to entertain and it was perfect! Our neighbor, Randall, did all of the cooking and it was so spicy!!

Also, Meredith invited us to go see Rascal Flatts at the rodeo and we had GREAT seats and had an awesome time!

Baby L has had a lot of stimulation lately, so maybe "it" will be extra smart - haha!

Thanks to all my friends and family for the wonderful gifts you brought us! You are all so thoughtful and I am blessed to have you all in my life!