The Big E, 12 Weeks Preggers and First Trimester Screening

We've been busy!  We spent all day Saturday at the Big E to celebrate Scott's birthday.  We enjoyed good friends and beautiful weather (although a bit too hot at times) and ate ourselves stupid.  I am almost ashamed to say everything I put in my belly that day, but keep in mind that I seldom ate anything on my own.  For the most part, Scott and I split everything or I just had a bite or two of someone's food.  Well, here goes nothing (in no particular order)...

• Lobster Roll
• Clam Chowder Bread Bowl
• Loaded Maine Baked Potato
• Corn on the Cob (I chose not to have mine dipped in butter)
• Flat Bread Pizza
• Lobster Ravioli
• Pumpkin Ravioli
• Macaroons
• Apple Cider Donuts
• Corn Dog
• Apple Crisp with Vanilla Ice Cream
• Craz-E Burger (I couldn't even fathom having more than a bite of this)
• Apple Slices

Here are a few pictures to go along with that visual...

I actually made it all the way to Monday morning before I started to feel sick from everything I ate that day, but it was so worth it!

On another note...I hit 12 weeks yesterday!  Here is the new belly pic...

Definitely starting to see a little something...although it could still just be bloat.  I was super excited at my appointment last week when the doctor told me I had only gained 4 lbs since my 6 week appointment.  It may not look like it, but it easily feels like an extra 20!

Scott and I also went to my first trimester screening this morning.  Because the baby was being stubborn (big shocker), she/he wouldn't turn the way the technician needed her/him too, so we were able to watch our baby on the ultrasound screen for nearly a hour until the doctor came in and, miraculously, got the baby to turn the right way.  In the meantime, we were able to get some amazing shots!  

As we were trying to get the baby to move to the right position, he/she just 

kicked up a leg, put his/her hands behind his/her head and just laid back (above)!

It's amazing how much the baby moves around when I still can't feel it!  The doctor said everything looks great!  I am still measuring right on for an April 11, 2011 due date and it doesn't look like we have a high risk for down syndrome.  We will be having our anatomy scan (another ultrasound) at about 18-20 weeks to find out the sex...stay tuned!

Almost forgot....Scott gave me my anniversary present early (our first anniversary is on Sunday) and I love it!!!

Pictures from Scott's Surprise Birthday Party

11 Weeks and Scott's Surprise Party

I hit 11 weeks today!  Don't mind the hot mess...I just got back from the gym...and the shadowing makes  my butt look a lot bigger then it is...I swear!  ALL of the bloating I've been experiencing for the last month or two subsided on Saturday morning and I felt SO skinny again!  Unfortunately, it all came back starting yesterday afternoon. 

On Saturday, I threw a surprise party for Scott's 30th birthday.  Since his birthday isn't until the 25th, he was completely caught off guard!  I threw the party at the house and as a result, unfortunately, had to keep it smaller then I would have liked.  But we had a great time!  Pictures to follow...

I have my monthly appointment tomorrow afternoon and a nurse's appointment right before to discuss our family medical histories.  Then we have our first trimester screening next Tuesday, which means another ultrasound picture to come!

10 weeks and blood tests

Here I am today at 10 weeks 1 day and starting to feel HUGE!  

I know it may not look like it, but one of the biggest symptoms I have been experiencing is bloating.  It's made it so that I pretty much only fit into one pair of my work pants comfortably.  

I bought the BeBand from Target:

It makes it so that I can leave my pants unbuttoned so I can continue to wear my pants awhile longer. I have only worn it with my jeans and it tends to shift around a bit, but at least it's a lot more comfortable then squeezing the button closed on them!  The only problem I can foresee is when I can no longer zipper my jeans...I don't know if this elastic band would continue to keep my pants up and in place once that happens.  

I also haven't been entirely comfortable wearing it with my work pants.  I don't know that it would stay in place against the silkier material.  So I bought this in the hopes it will help me stay in my pre-pregnancy pants awhile longer:

Now I just need to start investing in longer shirts to wear for work to cover the extender.

I finally started working out again today.  I have been so exhausted by the time I get home, I haven't had the energy to go to the gym in a week and a half.  It seems to be a vicious cycle...I oversleep, am exhausted all day, plan to leave work early between 5-530 and get to bed no later then 10, and then I wind up getting a second wind about 830-9, which keeps me up until at least midnight.  

I also just got the results from my prenatal blood tests back today.  Everything looked normal and I do not carry the cystic fibrosis gene (YAY!).  If I did carry the gene, then Scott would have been tested (both parents have to carry the gene for it to be transferred to the baby).  Even if we did both carry it, I think there was only a 25% chance of passing it on.  Luckily, we don't even have to think that far.

My blood tests also showed that I have an 0 positive blood type (I know, I should have known this already).  I took a look at eating for your blood type (http://www.dadamo.com/bloodtype_O.htm).  Very interesting stuff:

"Type O diet, which focuses on lean, organic meats, vegetables and fruits and avoid wheat and dairy which can be triggers for digestive and health issues in Type O. Additionally, he suggests that Type O’s avoid caffeine and alcohol. Caffeine can be particularly harmful because of its tendency to raise adrenaline and noradrenaline, which are already high for Type O’s."

Research shows that when Type O's have a poor diet (high in carbs), lack of exercise, or elevated stress levels, they are more vulnerable to negative metabolic effects, including insulin resistance, sluggish thyroid activity, and weight gain. 

It might explain why I've been so unbelievably sluggish lately and gaining weight like crazy so early on in this pregnancy.  I have been eating an excess of carbs over the last month or so to curb my nausea.  I'm going to try to reduce the amount of carbs and increase the protein I've been eating...hopefully that will do the trick!

9 Weeks and Ohio Visit

I know it's been awhile since my last post.  I promise I'll start posting more regularly from now on.  On Labor Day weekend, we went to visit Scott's parents and his brother and sister-in-law, Dan and Nicole.  They just had a beautiful baby boy, named Grayson, almost 7 weeks ago. Here's the cutie:

I swear he's going to be a runner one day...he's always moving!  It was so nice to see everyone...can't wait to head back out for Thanksgiving!

Since we would be out there, we decided it would be the perfect time to tell Scott's family about Grayson's soon-to-be cousin.  We bought Grayson this as a gift to break the news:

And, finally, here's my 9 week picture (well, 9 weeks 2 days), albeit a week late...definitely getting (and feeling) bigger: