12w0d

As most of you have heard, we're having a baby!!! We are just thrilled and are so glad and relieved that everyone knows now...it's been torture trying to keep this a secret :) We got the BFP on February 10th, so it's been a long time coming. And here is my first post, with many more to come, on our baby's progress, who we call pumpkin seed (pronounced by mommy and daddy as punkin seed though).

This week pumpkin seed is the size of a plum or lime (depends on which website I use), is just over 2 inches long and weights half an ounce. The biggest develop of the week is his refluxes. His fingers will soon begin to open and close, his toes will curl, his eye muscles will clench, and his mouth will make sucking movements. 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. Nerve cells are multiplying rapidly, and in his 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.

And here is my first belly pic...even though it is mostly bloat at this point. This was also after I just ate a huge dinner, so I blame most of it on that :)  The pants are keeping the bloat tucked in a little too :)  It does vary from night to night though...this one is actually quite mild to some of the other nights lately when I've looked after dinner, yikes!  I should start looking in the mornings instead, when I feel less bloated. I don't think my uterus has popped quite yet, which normally happens anywhere from 12-18 weeks.

I have been feeling a lot better in the past week or so. I had horrible morning sickness (throbbing headaches and nausea) constantly from weeks 5-9, with it gradually getting better and becoming more sporadic since then. I describe it as the worst hangover you can imagine that never goes away, no matter what you do. This week was the first time I haven't felt sick all week. I'm also able to eat again with out everything making me want to vomit. There haven't been any weird cravings yet, I'm just hungry all.the.time and very tired.  It doesn't take much to exhaust me these days. I've been falling asleep on the couch by 6:30/7:00 most nights after work. But I'm just a week away from 2nd trimester, where they say your energy comes back...I'm sure hoping so! I need to get back to the gym so I can keep the weight gain under control, it's been carb city for me lately, which is not good!

We heard the heartbeat last week, which was just amazing...that's when this started to feel real.  I still can't believe there is a little person growing inside me right now...I can't wait to feel him/her kick for the first time and be able to feel them moving around...I'm sure that is just awesome!

I also took advantage of my 30% off Gap coupon a few weeks ago and purchased some maternity pants for work. Although my regular pants are a little snug but still fit, maternity pants are simply AMAZING!!! I just might wear them from now on after the baby is born, LOL! Demi panel perfect trouser pant...what every pregnant woman should invest in, seriously! They are a little big on me now but probably won't be for long...and are pure heaven. And they look just like their normal perfect trousers, which I absolutely love.

Friday's will be my baby update days, so stay tuned for more each week :)