16 weeks

All three of us have had a great time in Ottawa. We actually got some sunny days too so we visited Parliament yesterday. We have enjoyed our time with Jim and Susan (& Rosie, and Molly & Arthur). We also were able to visit baby's great-grandparents Grandma and Grandpa Wallace and great Aunt and Uncle Goulah and first cousin once removed Brianne with second cousins Wyatt and Paige. All in all a good trip. pictures to follow. We're growing!

Dates and numbers:
There are 166 days until my due date on January 06, 2008.
I am 114 days pregnant.
I am 3.7 months pregnant.
I am in my 4th month of pregnancy. (huh?)
My 1st trimester: April 01, 2007 to June 30, 2007. (0 - 12 weeks)
My 2nd trimester: July 01, 2007 to October 13, 2007. (13 - 27 weeks)
My 3rd trimester: October 14, 2007 to January 06, 2008. (28 - 40 weeks)

At this point of my pregnancy, my baby is approximately 4.3 to 4.6 inches long and weighs 2.8 ounces. Not only is my baby growing, my uterus and placenta continue to grow to accomodate the growing baby inside of me! Just six weeks ago, my uterus weighed about 5 ounces. This week it now weighs 8.75 ounces! The amniotic fluid that surrounds the baby is increasing and there is about 7.5 ounces of fluid. I will easily be able to feel your uterus approximately three inches below your navel.

My milk glands start production at this time and this causes some tenderness and swelling in early pregnancy. My veins will become more visible because there is an increaed amount of blood flowing to the breasts.

Five and a half inches tall and only six ounces in weight. The child can grasp with his hands, kick, or even somersault.

At this time, my baby is holding his/her head erect. Because his/her muscles are developing, s/he can make some faces now. My baby is able to squint, frown and open his/her mouth. There is enough calcium in the bones that they will show up on an x-ray. My baby's fingernails are well formed now and the legs are longer than the arms. Because my baby is moving well now, I may begin to feel his/her movements! Fetal movements are usually felt between the 16th and 20th week of pregnancy.

I may feel my heart beating 'louder'. This is because there is a lot more blood in my body than normal. (about 20-25% more)

First picture

I had our second baby's first ultrasound today! It was amazing how quickly they got me in and out. Even so, my doctor heard my name being called and was very worried. I passed by her just as she was saying not to scare her like that. I reassured her I was there for a scheduled ultrasound--one that she requested. (Afterwards I saw her in the hallway and showed her the pic. It was good to see her and to know that she really is concerned about the baby and me--not that I ever doubted that.) The baby is measuring 9 weeks and four days. The heartbeat was 158 (beats per minute). All seems to be going well. John and I were in and out of there in less than ten minutes (actually we met there and John was the one who had been waiting.) Anyways I cried some tears of relief and was quite happy to see our baby so clearly. (The ultrasound technician warned that it might be difficult to see from the front at such an early stage but no problems there! Baby was not camera shy!)

9 weeks

I had a very good appointment with my obstetrician. She was happy to see us and she reassured me with all the things I've been doing up to this point. We talked about dates and she agreed that 37-38 weeks is quite reasonable; baby will be born just before Christmas. I am happy about that. She also said that because we need to be certain about dates she wants me to get an ultrasound soon. So I get one on June 6th--yeah! I know the baby will not look like much at this point but it will be good to see our developing baby at this early stage. I am looking forward to that. There is so much I am looking forward to; I am trying to take things as they come. As far as symptoms go, thank you to those who are praying. Everything is not totally better but much more manageable. I am happier and healthy.

Baby:

We have elbows! Your baby is now approximately 13-17 mm crown to rump length, or about 0.51 - 0.66 inches. S/he also weighs in at 1 gram! Toe rays are present as the toes begin to form. Gonads have become testes (for boys) or ovaries (for girls). Baby will move away if touched through the uterine wall, and can spontaneously move as well. Ossification (hardening) of the bones may begin.

Kindred Spirits

At the beginning of May our school got the news that another woman had just gone through what I did losing Gordon. She too is a Jennifer. I got to meet her today. What a blessing! Our experiences were and are so similar. It was so good to share our stories and talk about our babies--she had a girl named Brooke. And so our little ones are buried probably near each other and their spirits live on. Jennifer and her husband are taking a trip soon just to get away. She is looking forward to the future and wanting to have another baby. She was so excited to hear of my pregnancy. I look forward to this new friendship. We share something pretty special.

Any news?

Another friend asked last night, "Any News?" I looked over to your dad. Of course! You are the news! You are our wonderful news baby. I count every day you are with us. I love knowing that you are in me growing, changing. Soon your heart will start beating! Oh how I long to hear your heart beating! Thank you for coming into our lives. Our baby, our news. You are a perfect gift on this my 31st birthday.

Dear Baby,

It is already getting hard to keep you a secret and it hasn't been a week yet that we've known you are here! Sweet baby we do not want to keep you a secret. We are so happy that you are here and we want to share our joy. But many like us, will be concerned about your safe arrival to our arms. I will just keep treasuring each day I have with you growing inside me. I will keep doing all I can to be healthy. I love you and I love that you are a part of me now.

Symptoms

It's funny. At first when I wasn't sure I was pregnant "symptoms" were iffy: Well I'm might just be getting a head rush; my stomach has been doing strange things since I was pregnant with Gordon...Now I know that my occasional sore back, my increased tiredness, my runny nose and that slightly queasy feeling in my stomach when I haven't eaten yet (and of course the absence of a monthly visitor), are signals from a baby who is growing in me. Another miracle. Another life.

Dear baby,
I am so glad that changes are happening for us both! You are continuing to make your presence known. Soon we will be telling others of your presence. For now you are our precious secret!

God, Maker of the earth and all that is in it, Maker of this precious baby
I come knocking, I come fervently, I come repeatedly, you know my heart, you know its cry, you know my needs. Bring this baby into our home. Bring this baby into our arms. Give us peace.

Four weeks One day

This is me yesterday at fours weeks and one day! I fit into most of my prematernity clothes and still have a bit of a tummy. So no I did not lose all the weight I gained. But I do feel fit. Well that bit of a tummy will start turning into a lot of a tummy. I may not be looking forward to that part but I am looking forward to baby growing.

Dear baby,
I am looking forward to the day I hear your hearbeat, to the day I feel your kicks, to the day I see you on an ultrasound...to the day I hold you and hear your cry. I'm waiting. I love you baby.

Positive!

Dear Baby,
We are so excited that you will be part of our lives. Last night in swim class I was talking to you even though I wasn't sure that you were here. Well I got the answer this morning that you positively are! You need to know how happy I am that you are here. (I am worried and scared too.) You have an older brother Gordon, who we will all get to meet someday. In the meantime I just want to tell you I love you and I will do everything in my power to bring you into the world safely. I will treasure everyday that you are inside me--whatever time we have together. I just wanted to say "hello." You are a precious to me--My second baby.