Baby #2's Pregnancy Updates, Weeks 4-17

I have been keeping these hidden, but now that everyone knows, I am posting the first several pregnancy updates for baby #2.

17 weeks today :)

WEEK 17

Baby's skeleton is hardening, changing from rubbery cartilage to bone, and fat is finally accumulating around it. The umbilical cord is getting thicker and stronger, and those little fingers and toes are now topped by one-of-a-kind prints.

* How far along?: 17 weeks 
* Total weight gain: +3
* How big is baby?: about 5 inches long
* Next appointment: May 25 @ 8:30 for ultrasound and then regular appt after
* Maternity clothes?: I am definitely transitioning to maternity clothes now.
* Stretch marks?: no new ones
* Sleep?: okay, up once or twice to use the restroom
* Best moment this week?: hearing baby's heartbeat today- 142 BPM.
* Movement?: still waiting impatiently. Occasionally think I feel something but not sure if it's real or in my head.
* Food cravings?: sweets (which I didn't crave with Wes), last night I was dying for an omlet, which I suck at making look pretty but it was yummy nonetheless.
* Pregnancy symptoms: acne is still bad, B6 and Unisom are helping with the nausea, but I still have that occasionally, food aversions.
* Labor signs?: no
* Belly button in or out?: In
*Gender: ? Still not sure if we will find out. I am starting to get curious, and Nick wants to know, but I think a surprise would be lots of fun. It'll be hard to not fall to temptation when we have the opportunity to find out next month.
* What I miss: I am sure at Lyss's bachelorette I will be missing a margarita.
* What I'm looking forward to: Ultrasound, feeling him or her move.
* Milestone: fingerprints and toeprints. :) Should be hitting a growth spurt now.

WEEK 16

Watch what you say... tiny bones forming in baby's ears mean the little one can now pick up your voice. Eyebrows, lashes and hair are starting to fill in, and taste buds are forming. And, if you're interested, an ultrasound might be able to determine gender.

* How far along?: 16 weeks 
* Total weight gain: +1
* How big is baby?: about 4.5 inches long
* Next appointment: A week from today at 1:30
* Maternity clothes?: I think I have decided it's time to get out my maternity khakis. My khakis fit, but no other dress pants fit they way they should. I only really have two pairs of jeans that fit, too.... the time is coming. 
* Stretch marks?: nope 
* Sleep?: still lacking. 
* Best moment this week?: All of the feedback we got on FB after posting last Tuesday. Nice to feel the love :)
* Movement?: Still waiting!
* Food cravings?: movie theatre popcorn. Nick and I are going to see the Hunger Games Friday, so I should finally get some then! YAY!
* Pregnancy symptoms: Nausea is better with the B6/unisom combo. I am still tired but exhaustion is better with adjusted thryroid meds. Still lots of acne.
* Labor signs?: no
* Belly button in or out?: In
*Gender: Still thinking we will wait to find out. My boy feeling is less strong, but that's still where I am leaning.
* What I miss: margaritas. It's that time in the school year and I really would love one now!
* What I'm looking forward to: My next appointment in a week.
* Milestone: Baby can hear my voice now! :)

WEEK 15

Continuing the march towards normal proportions, baby's legs now outmeasure the arms. And, finally, all four limbs have functional joints. Your fetus is squirming and wiggling like crazy down in the womb, though you probably still can't feel the movements.


* How far along?: 15 weeks 
* Total weight gain: even 
* How big is baby?: about 4 inches long
* Next appointment: April 24
* Maternity clothes?: It may be time to break out the dress pants. I have khakis that fit and capris that
* Stretch marks?: no new ones
* Sleep?: I miss it so...
* Best moment this week?: Found an adorable Easter hoodie with bunny ears for baby for next year when I was looking for a hat for Wes
* Movement?: can't wait to feel it.
* Food cravings?: Not much. I just hate eating right now. Occasionally ice cream or a smoothie sounds good. I guess I crave OJ now and then, but it makes me puke, so..... :(
* Pregnancy symptoms: nausea and vomiting , constant trips to the bathroom, lack of sleep, ACNE. I swear my face looks like a teenage boy
* Labor signs?: no
* Belly button in or out?: In.
*Gender: I think boy, Nick thinks girl
* What I miss: energy
* What I'm looking forward to: Telling everyone else and coming out on FB today.
* Milestone: Baby is moving more and looking more and more like a baby

WEEK 14

Your adorable little fetus is busy with thumb sucking, toe wiggling, and (not so cute but equally amazing) making urine and breathing amniotic fluid as the liver, kidneys and spleen continue to develop. Lanugo (thin, downy hair) is growing all over the body for warmth.

* How far along?: 14 weeks 
* Total weight gain: even 0
* How big is baby?: about 3.5 inches long
* Next appointment: April 24
* Maternity clothes?: still in the closet though less and less of my pants are fitting comfortably. My bella band is getting more use than it did last time. I guess it's true that your body knows what to do the second time!
* Stretch marks?: no new ones
* Sleep?: I miss it so...
* Best moment this week?: Found an adorable Easter hoodie with bunny ears for baby for next year when I was looking for a hat for Wes
* Movement?: can't wait to feel it.
* Food cravings?: Not much. I just hate eating right now. Occasionally ice cream or a smoothie sounds good. I guess I crave OJ now and then, but it makes me puke, so..... :(
* Pregnancy symptoms: nausea and vomiting , constant trips to the bathroom, lack of sleep, ACNE. I swear my face looks like a teenage boy
* Labor signs?: no
* Belly button in or out?: In.
*Gender: Nick and I both seem to think boy right now. Nick because had a dream we are having a boy.... however, the only gender dream he had before we knew about Wes being a boy was that he was a girl.... so I am not sure his predictions are reliable. I was sorting through some of Wesley's clothes to pack away and it made me hope for a boy. I am really torn as to what I "want," which is probably good because either way, I don't get to pick!
* What I miss: sleep. not forcing myself to eat. energy. My doctor called Friday, though, and my thyroid levels are wacky so, starting this week, I am on a higher dose. I really hope that helps with this exhaustion!
* What I'm looking forward to: Telling the rest of my family and telling Nick's family this weekend. So excited not to have to keep this secret anymore!
* Milestone: Baby can now suck his/her thumb. Also, some say first trimester ends at 12 weeks, some 13, some 13 and 3 days.... no matter what, I am in my second trimester now at 14 weeks!

WEEK 13

Your fetus is forming teeth and vocal cords... savor this, their non-functional phase. Baby is approaching normal proportions, with a head now only one third the size of the body. Intestines are in the process of moving from the umbilical cord to baby's tummy. (Much more convenient.)


* How far along?: 13 weeks
* Total weight gain: 0
* How big is baby?: about three inches long
* Next appointment: April 24 @ 1:30
* Maternity clothes?: still in the closet.
* Stretch marks?: nope
* Sleep?: Still lacking.
* Best moment this week?: Hearing Baby's heartbeat today- 150 BPM :)
* Movement?: have thought maybe I have felt something a couple of times but will probably never know if it was baby or gas.
* Food cravings?: No real cravings. Lots of aversions.
* Pregnancy symptoms: nausea, vomiting, acne, lots of trips to bathroom, exhaustion
* Labor signs?: no
* Belly button in or out?: In.
*Gender: still feeling boy. This pregnancy is just too like my first one, plus, as I have said, that's what I know.
* What I miss: Still sleep. I also want a good girl alcoholic drink!
* What I'm looking forward to: telling everyone else at Easter.
* Milestone: Hearing heartbeat = not much chance of miscarriage. Yay!

WEEK 12

As you move into the second trimester, baby shifts into the growth and maturation stage. After weeks in the critical development stage, almost all of baby's systems are fully formed.

* How far along?: 12 weeks 
* Total weight gain: down 2 last I checked
* How big is baby?: just over two inches long.
* Next appointment: One week from today at 1PM
* Maternity clothes?: Not wearing them yet but a couple of my pairs of dress pants are flipping tight in the waist.
* Stretch marks?: nope 
* Sleep?: Still sucks. Up to pee. Monday morning, it was up to barf. Twice. Monday is no known as three-puke Monday, I guess. Two weeks in a row of that. Blah :(
* Best moment this week?: Starting to tell more people. It's getting more exciting. 12 weeks is a good place to be. Ready to hear the heartbeat, so I can really chill.
* Movement?: not that I can feel, but everything I read says there is a lot.
* Food cravings?: Food sucks. Stuffed crust pizza was great the other day. I like milk, too.
* Pregnancy symptoms: Still nausea and vomitting. I am broken out like a teenager. Exhausted.
* Labor signs?: no
* Belly button in or out?: In.
*Gender: I still sort of think it's a boy. I have no real reason to think that though.
* What I miss: Sleep 
* What I'm looking forward to: telling the rest of the fam. Easter. Heartbeat in a week! 
* Milestone: supposedly nausea should  be getting better- I disagree. Almost all of systems (digestive, circulatory, etc) are formed.

WEEK 11

Your fetus currently enjoys a 1:1 ratio between body and head, and has skin so transparent that blood vessels show right through. But, fingers and toes are no longer webbed, and hair follicles, tooth buds and nail beds are forming -- setting up a significantly more attractive future

* How far along?: 11  (and a half) weeks 
* Total weight gain: down 2 last I checked. It's been a few days
* How big is baby?: about 1 1/2 inches long. Lime-sized!
* Next appointment: March 27 at 1PM- I can't wait to hear that heartbeat. We got to see/hear Wes at 11 wk, 2 days. I am 11wk, 3 days and still have a wait. We will only have one ultrasound unless there are issues (20 weeks or so). I am impatient. Wishing Dr. Beer wasn't on vacation right now!
* Maternity clothes?: Nope. A few pants are tight at the waist though.
* Stretch marks?: nope 
* Sleep?: Still frequently interrupted by needing to pee
* Best moment this week?:  Just getting one week closer to finally hearing the heartbeat.
* Movement?: nope
* Food cravings?: Still lots of aversions. I am a bigger fan of sweets this time, which is about the only difference between my last pregnancy and this one.
* Pregnancy symptoms: Same--- Nausea and vomiting, headaches, lack of sleep coupled with  exhaustion, acne, constant peeing. 
* Labor signs?: no
* Belly button in or out?: In.
*Gender: This pregnancy seems so much like my last, so my current guess is boy.
* What I miss: Sleep 
* What I'm looking forward to: March 27. Sense a pattern? It's so hard to be excited before knowing everything is okay. I can not wait to hear that little heartbeat!
* Milestone: Baby is moving a lot and starting to hiccup. I hope to feel baby sooner this time than with Wes. :)

WEEK 10

With bones and cartilage starting to form and vital organs beginning to function, baby is making major progress. Body length will almost double in the next three weeks, and arm joints are now working. (Soon, legs will too.)

* How far along?: 10 weeks 

* Total weight gain: down 2
* How big is baby?: the size of a prune. Over an inch long. 

* Next appointment: Nurse today at 1:30, Dr in 2.5 weeks.

* Maternity clothes?: nope. Did use my bella band one day because of bloat and only having my skinnier jeans clean

* Stretch marks?: no new ones
* Sleep?: is still a struggle.  Tired during the day and about to pass out around 7. Up a few times to go to the bathroom, and I have a cold now, so that's not helping. I think I am about over that though
* Best moment this week?:   Talking to Nick about the baby. He's excited, so that's helping me.
* Movement?: nope. I have felt bubbles lately, but I think it's too soon to be anything, even for a second baby

* Food cravings?: Still lots of aversions.  Sweets normally sound good- not good!

* Pregnancy symptoms: Nausea and vomiting, headaches, lack of sleep, acne, constant peeing.-- Same words I used this week with Wes except I don't think I am puking as much this time around. Knock on wood.

* Labor signs?: no

* Belly button in or out?: In.

*Gender: Not sure

* What I miss: Having energy for Wes

* What I'm looking forward to: Hearing the heartbeat- seriously ready to breathe a sigh of relief!!

* Milestone: Baby is getting fingernails and hair follicles.

WEEK 9

Your little embryo has now officially graduated to fetus-hood. Adding to the excitement, a Doppler ultrasound device might be able to pick up the beating heart. With basic physical structures in place and increasingly distinct facial features, baby is kind of starting to look like... well... a baby!

* How far along?: 9 weeks

* Total weight gain: none
* How big is baby?: the size of an olive. Around an inch long

* Next appointment: Thursday- just boring paperwork though

* Maternity clothes?: nope. Have been unbuttoning jeans due to bloat at times.

* Stretch marks?: no new ones
* Sleep?: Not good. Up to pee at least twice a night. Utterly exhausted. I find myself in bed before 9 most nights, as early as 8. Alarm goes off at 5:55.
* Best moment this week?: I am having a hard time seeing positives now. It is so hard to get excited when we haven't heard that little heart beat that says everything is okay. Nick's being pretty good to me, though, so that's my happy thought this week.
* Movement?: nope

* Food cravings?: So many aversions. Jimmy Johns is a like as well as cheesy rice and mashed potatoes being tolerable.

* Pregnancy symptoms: Nausea, exhaustion, acne

* Labor signs?: no

* Belly button in or out?: In.

*Gender: I call the baby him more than him/her or her, but I really think that's just because of Wes.

* What I miss: sleeping, not feeling like crap

* What I'm looking forward to: Heartbeat. 3.5 more weeks. I am ready to be more excited and not just worried.

* Milestone: Baby is now a fetus!

WEEK 8

Your baby is growing like mad, putting on about a millimeter every day and continuing to straighten out in the trunk. Though you can't feel it yet, baby is moving those little arms, legs and (now only slightly) webbed fingers and toes like crazy.

* How far along?: 8 weeks

* Total weight gain: 0
* How big is baby?: the size of a raspberry

* Next appointment: March

* Maternity clothes?: nope

* Stretch marks?: no new ones
* Sleep?: Getting up at least twice to go to the bathroom :(
* Best moment this week?: Telling my parents
* Movement?: nope

* Food cravings?: Lots of aversions. Craving changes daily. One day it was fruit, another mashed potatoes, another Arby's Beef and Cheddar

* Pregnancy symptoms: Nausea, exhaustion, acne, crabbiness

* Labor signs?: no

* Belly button in or out?: In.

*Gender: ??

* What I miss: feeling like myself

* What I'm looking forward to: Hearing the heartbeat. I know

* Milestone: Baby's brain waves begin

WEEK 7

Baby's brain -- both hemispheres! -- is growing fast, generating about 100 new cells every minute. Arms and legs are emerging as joints start to form, and a permanent set of kidneys (baby's third!) is now in place.

* How far along?: 7 weeks

* Total weight gain: 0
* How big is baby?: the size of a blueberry

* Next appointment: March

* Maternity clothes?: nope

* Stretch marks?: no new ones
* Sleep?: Wesley has an ear infection, so no one in the house is sleeping very well. I have started the middle of the night bathroom trips. Normally once, sometimes twice.
* Best moment this week?: Getting some cute clothes in the mail. Maternity clothes are fun at the start, before they've been worn over and over.
* Movement?: no

* Food cravings?: Mac and Cheese, which I still haven't gotten. :( I'll have to get Nick on that tonight.

* Pregnancy symptoms: The nausea is getting bad. When I get up and moving, it's rough and normally around 9:30-11, it's bad again. Tums and Saltines are a daily necessity. Afternoons and evenings, I am nausea-free for the most part. I am exhausted all the time, but I think Wesley gets some of the credit for that. 

* Labor signs?: no 

* Belly button in or out?: in

*Gender: We still haven't decided if we'll find out. I am starting to think more and more that this baby will be our last regardless. That might be the nausea talking.

* What I miss: Not feeling like I am going to puke.

* What I'm looking forward to:  M/S ending. But, if it's like last time, it will only get worse before it gets better. Please, God, don't let it be like last time. I am not sure I can handle that and a toddler and it's not summer this time, so I have work, too. No lounging on the couch and feeling sorry for myself this time.

Also, I think we'll tell Mom and Dad this weekend. So long as Wesley's Big Brother shirt comes in time. She said by Saturday.

* Milestone: Brain growth is big this week.

WEEK 6

Has the news sunk in yet? At six weeks, your pregnancy is still new to you, so it’s normal to feel a little emotional. Add that to some pretty uncomfortable early pregnancy symptoms (which include hormone fluctuations that can feel like PMS -- on steroids!), and it’s understandable to feel downright miserable. That’s probably why you have a whole nine months to adjust to pregnancy -- and also because baby needs all that time to get all her working parts in order. What’s amazing is that of many of the crucial areas of baby development have already started at 6 weeks including circulating blood and sprouting eyes. Now that you're pregnant, you probably have a million questions on your mind. Be sure to write them down so you have them ready to ask your OB at your first prenatal visit. Until then, we hope we can answer a bunch for you

your baby's the size of a sweet pea!

* How far along?: 6 weeks

* Total weight gain: 0
* How big is baby?: the size of a sweet pea

* Next appointment: March

* Maternity clothes?: nope, ordered a few things today from Target after hearing there was lots on clearance.

* Stretch marks?: nope
* Sleep?: sleep is fine. Takes me a while to get back to sleep if I get woken up. A couple of nights I had to get up to go to the bathroom, which is no fun.
* Best moment this week?: Finding Wes's big bro shirt
* Movement?: no

* Food cravings?: Not so much.  Starting to have that "nothing sounds good" feeling, especially at supper time

* Pregnancy symptoms: acne, tired

* Labor signs?: no

* Belly button in or out?: In.  

*Gender: ??

* What I miss: morning coffee and not feeling guilty about more than one DC

* What I'm looking forward to:  Hearing the heart beat. Was crampy yesterday and it was scary :( I'm ready to be past the risky stage, but it's going to be a while yet.

* Milestone: Baby's facial features are starting to form

The average embryo at week 6 is about .25 inches and will double in size again next week. Wow!

WEEK 5

Your embryo (looking kind of like a tadpole) is starting to form major organs (heart, kidney, liver, stomach) and systems (nervous, circulatory, digestive). Baby's presence in your uterus triggers production of hCG (the hormone detected by pregnancy tests)... which triggers production of other hormones like estrogen and progesterone... which trigger all those great symptoms you've probably been noticing!

* How far along?: 5 weeks, 2 days

* Total weight gain: 0
* How big is baby?: the size of an apple seed!

* Next appointment: March

* Maternity clothes?: nope

* Stretch marks?: no new ones
* Sleep?: Has been fine unless Wes is up
* Best moment this week?: Looking at baby stuff and realizing I have already forgotten how small babies are!
* Movement?: Nope

* Food cravings?: Nope

* Pregnancy symptoms: Acne and exhaustion. Dizzy a couple of days. Seems early for signs, but I know the acne isn't in my head-- it's ON my head.

* Labor signs?: No

* Belly button in or out?: In

*Gender: My head tells me boy because that's what I know.

* What I miss: I am missing soda a lot less than I would have thought. I have been cutting down to one a day.

* What I'm looking forward to: Hearing the heartbeat, getting to 2nd tri. My doctor's appt at  then end of March seems an eternity away!

* Milestone: Baby's heart is now starting to beat

WEEK 4 

In week 4, now safe in your womb, the ball of cells (blastocyst) splits in two, becoming theembryo and the placenta. The amniotic sac and fluid are forming around baby, and will act as a cushion for the next eight months.

* How far along?: 4 weeks, 3 days- so long as my due date is indeed Oct 4 as I suspect

* Total weight gain: 0
* How big is baby?: the size of a poppy seed

* Next appointment: Haven't called the doctor- should be mid-March

* Maternity clothes?: nope

* Stretch marks?: just the leftover ones :)
* Sleep?: Sleep is fine. Sleeping on my stomach though, so I will be missing that in a few months.
* Best moment this week?: baby watching at play pals, knowing I will have a new baby in a few months.
* Movement?: Not anytime soon!

* Food cravings?: No cravings. I am coming off weight watchers, so I am trying to keep those same habits up as long as I can!

* Pregnancy symptoms: none. Felt kinda crappy the day before the first positive test.
* Labor signs?: Not any time soon.

* Belly button in or out?: In and staying I'd guess.

*Gender: Chinese Gender Chart says boy, and I imagine a boy, but I think that is because that's what I know. Nick and I haven't decided if we will find out, but if we do, we should be able to find out in May.
* What I miss: Mom and Dad had margaritas in front of me the same day as my positive test. They don't know yet.

* What I'm looking forward to: Finding Wes a big brother shirt. :)

* Milestone: Implantation for baby, a positive test result for me!