The weekend went by way too fast & I've got a case of the Sunday Night Blues. I'm too tired to write but I thought I'd post a few photos from this weekend. I'm going to retreat to my spot on the couch now. Goodnight!

My friend Becky & I. She is having a baby boy in March.

The parents-2-be! We love you already little one!

Bump watch!

Here I am at 16 weeks and 2 days...

I look like I'm 6 months already! =(

I didn't get much sleep last night. I had probably one of the worst nightmares I've ever had. I can't even talk about it because it was so awful. The emotions I felt in my dream were so strong & real. It felt like it really happened. It was really ugly. I woke up out of breath and in tears which I don't think has ever happened as a result from a nightmare. I stayed awake for another hour before having enough courage to fall back to sleep. I've always had weird dreams & sometimes terrifying ones but they always have felt unreal. This felt real.

I always find it weird when people say they don't dream or can't remember their dreams. I have an average of 3-4 different dreams a night & I remember every detail. I think it can be a burden and quite exhausting because my mind is constantly working - even while asleep. I hope tonight I don't dream or at least I can have a pleasant dream. I have been hoping to have at least one baby dream! I haven't had a single dream about the baby. Maybe tonight will be different.

Anyway, today I am 16 weeks exactly. Here is what Baby M is up to.

Week 16 of Pregnancy: Baby's Hearing Develops
This little one's a looker — with a face that has both eyebrows and eyelashes — but a skinny looker since there's no baby fat yet. Baby's crown-to-rump measurement is between four and five inches, and weight is around three ounces.
Listen up: Tiny bones in your fetus's ears are in place this week, making it likely that the baby can hear your voice when you're speaking (or singing in the shower)at 16 weeks pregnant. In fact, studies have found that babies who are sung to while they're in the womb recognize the same tune when it's sung to them after they are born (so choose your baby Muzak with that in mind…). And baby's busily boning up in other ways. For one, the backbone (along with the back muscles) is stronger now — strong enough, in fact, to enable your baby to work on straightening his or her head and neck even more. Baby's crown-to-rump measurement is between four and five inches in length, and weight is hovering around three ounces.
This little one's a looker — with a face that has both eyebrows and eyelashes — but a skinny looker since there's no baby fat yet. And here's the skinny on baby skin: It's practically translucent now, so if you took a peek inside your uterus, you'd be able to see your baby's blood vessels under that thin skin.

I had an unexpected trip to the doctor this morning. I'd been feeling pain, pressure & cramping for a few days & it seemed to be progressively getting worse. I called Kaiser in the morning trying to get a hold of the OB department but they had me jumping through hoops. Kaiser will not give you the direct OB telephone number & if you have a question you have to call an advice line, then get transferred to an OB advice line & then wait for a return call from the OB nurse. I was on hold for 30 minutes before I hung up and got in the car & drove to the doctor. Thankfully when I got there they were really nice & understanding & got me in right away. It just worries me at how difficult it is to get some help! I've decided to see a doctor at a smaller Kaiser office rather then the big hospital & I am hoping the care is a little more personal. My friend Kristie goes to the smaller office & she says I can call or e-mail the doctor directly with questions & concerns. This works much better for me. =) The doctor I did see today was nice & knowledgeable. I ended up having my 2nd bladder infection! Yuck! The bright side is that she did an ultrasound & I saw Baby M! It was so cool. The baby was in the fetal position but at one point he/she kicked really violently. I guess this baby doesn't like being disturbed while cozy! I wonder who he/she takes after??? haha! I didn't get a peek at the family jewels because this baby wasn't giving up the goods that easy. Hopefully the baby is in the same position at the next ultrasound so we don't accidentally see anything. It's actually a lot of fun not knowing. I showed my ultrasound photo to two people at work & one said it looked like a boy & one said it looked like a girl. Too funny! It's a fuzzy cell phone photo taken of a photo but check it out & tell me what you think! Boy or Girl??? =)

Yucky So Cal smokey sky

My first baby items =)

My Baby Bump - 15 weeks & 3 days. I look huge already! Yikes!

The weekend went by way too fast as usual. We stayed inside for the most part due to the thick smoke caused by the wildfires. I really love the warm Santa Ana winds but they bring devastation every year. The smoke is still pretty thick so I skipped my morning walk across campus.

I thought I felt the baby move the other day - but I think it may have been gas or wishful thinking. There are so many unusual feelings going on in my belly that I can't distinguish anything. I had some pretty intense cramping on Saturday night but it has subsided so I think I'll just wait it out until my appointment a week from today. I have been pretty crampy this whole pregnancy & it's caused quite a bit of worry. I know things are stretching but I can't find anyone who has experienced cramping this extreme & this long into pregnancy. I hope I'm just being paranoid & that things are progressing normally. I have my AFP test on Monday so that is yet another thing to keep me up at night. The worry never ends.

I'm really looking forward to my 18-week ultrasound. Stephen will finally get to see & hear the baby. We have decided to not find out the sex so hopefully the tech doesn't accidentally slip! Or maybe I'm hoping the tech WILL accidentally slip. haha! Since my first pregnancy symptoms surfaced I was convinced this baby is a girl...but lately I have been second guessing my first instinct & I'm feeling a strong possibility that it's a boy. I always pictured myself the mom of boys so if this baby is indeed a little girl I will be really shocked - despite my early instinct. I keep imagining having a little girl & then I imagine having a little boy & I honestly don't know what I'd prefer. I'm so excited either way! No matter what the sex of the baby turns out to be I'm imagining it looking like a baby Stephen. It's so darn romantic to think that a little baby Stephen is growing in my belly. Does that sound creepy? LOL! I think it's pretty cool. I can picture him/her already!

I'm a little behind of starting my new blog - but better late then never! So much has happened since I abandoned my old blog and I don't even know where to begin! Stephen and I were married on July 26, 2008. It was truly the best day of my life. It was the wedding I had always dreamed of and it couldn't have been more perfect. I really didn't think I would have enjoyed myself as much as I did. I really tried hard to let go of the little things & just enjoy the day. It was beautiful & I'm still glowing with happiness!

We planned to try for a baby right after the wedding but I really didn't think it would be as easy as it was! LOL! I always envisioned it taking a long time so when I found out I was pregnant on 8/24 (11 DPO) I was relieved & overjoyed. I do have to say that the pregnancy symptoms kicked in right away so I was having my suspicions early on. The first thing I noticed was cramping, dizziness & a bout of bleeding gums. I had a feeling something was up but I was in denial. When I took the test I didn't see a line right away & then a few minutes later I looked again & there it was - 2 pink lines! I was amazed! I really wanted to tell Stephen in a cute way but all I could do was giggle like a little girl when I came out of the bathroom. He knew what the giggle meant right away! We tried to keep the news to ourselves - but that only lasted a few days before we couldn't take it anymore & had to spill the beans. I tried to keep it from work for awhile but the women there were on to me right away! There was no hiding the bloating, frequent trips to the bathroom, coming in late and the constant snacking. It was a relief to tell them early because It was just one less thing for me to worry about.

The 1st trimester was pretty brutal for me. I only threw up twice but it was the constant nausea that lasted all day & night that was torture. I'm 15 weeks today and I feel much better. I've traded in nausea for daily headaches but I am learning to cope with all the wild & crazy symptoms. My mood has improved lately too. I am feeling really optimistic, excited & happy. I finally feel ready to think up names & shop. I haven't bought one single baby item yet. =( I can't wait to do some serious baby shopping!

I hope to keep you all updated with this blog & I promise to post some belly photos really soon. =) Stay tuned for more of this amazing adventure.

May 7, 2009 here we come!!!