Week 15, Nov. 27- Dec. 3

Thursday, Nov. 27th, Thanksgiving Day
The second day of announcements. I made fortune cookies that announced the baby on the fortune and handed them out after we were done stuffing our faces. I feel such relief at finally being able to tell people about the baby. 12 weeks is a long time to keep a secret like that. Of course every one was excited. My baby cousin Ashley (now ~7 months old) will have a playmate close to her own age. My aunt Molli said "thank you" for that.

Baby Update: The baby's neck is now well define. The head now rests on the neck instead of the shoulders. - "The Pregnancy Journal" by A. Christine Harris, Ph. D.

Friday, Nov. 28th
Had my 14 week appointment today at 9 in the morning! Then we went to Molbak's in Woodinville for our annual trip with my parents, grandparents, and great-grandmother. Followed-up by a trip to McDonald's... also a part of the tradition.

Baby Update: Over the next 3 days, the baby's scalp hair pattern will be determined. [The] baby is now able to practice breathing, swallowing, and sucking movements in preparation for life outside the womb. Some amniotic fluid is swallowed (to be digested by the baby's maturing digestive tract as it practices for the time when unprocessed food will enter its system) - "The Pregnancy Journal" by A. Christine Harris, Ph. D.

Saturday, Nov. 29th
I remembered I hadn't mentioned yet much about my symptoms. I may have mentioned that there haven't been very many, and the ones I have had haven't been very severe. At most I felt nauseous, never to the point of throwing up. I also was never so tired that I needed afternoon naps. Felt rundown, but my daily schedule of up at 9 and asleep at midnight remained intact. I have suffered headaches though. Nearly every day I get a headache... sometimes waking up with them, sometimes ending my day with them. Most of the time they are just nuisances, but sometimes I get my migraines, something I suffered before I was pregnant. I also have occasional bouts of heartburn. Like last night and today. It lasted longer last night than the previous episodes, and today it's been an off again, on again thing. Really not comfortable feeling. Heartburn was not something I got before I was pregnant. I've been eating well today as well so it's not fatty foods that are doing it to me this time. I've learned I have to lay off the Baskin Robins icecream in waffle cones though. That leads to heartburn for sure. So sad. :(

Baby Update: The rapid and sustained growth experienced by the baby this month enables it to be more dexterous and agile than before. For example, [the] baby can now turn its head, open its mouth, and press its lips together. Not bad for somebody who only weighs 1 ounce. - "The Pregnancy Journal" by A. Christine Harris, Ph. D.


Sunday, Nov. 30th
Baby Update: By today, the baby's scalp hair pattern has been determined. - "The Pregnancy Journal" by A. Christine Harris, Ph. D.

Monday, Dec. 1st
I had a really weird dream last night that my cat had kittens, tons of the them. The sheer amount wasn't the weird part. The weird part is that she's fixed, as is her male companion, and neither of them venture outside of the house. Also, this all happened at my parent's house (a lot of my dreams are located there). She had her first few kittens and they were fine, but one was a runt and I remember thinking I'd have to take special care of that one. She went on to have at least 15 more kittens, but they were all stillborn. And they were scattered throughout the house. Some were in my china cabinet! Weirdness! Didn't sleep so well last night. Woke up at 4:30 this morning thinking about all of the things we need to buy for the baby. I had done my research last night by reading my "Baby Bargains" book. I didn't think I was feeling stressed out about it, but I mabye I am.

Today is the weekly "put up new heartbeat sound day". The baby's really been mobile the last week. Usually I would find the heartbeat in the lower right part of my abdomen, but today the baby must have been front and center because I was able to pick up the heartbeat in several places. Still not showing though. :(
Listen to the heartbeat at 15 weeks.

Baby Update: The baby now has considerable hand and arm movement: it can make a fist, move its thumbs, and bend its wrists. It is also better able to grasp objects. All the body movements that the baby engages in right now constitute practice. It takes some time for the nervous system and the muscles to make smooth, synchronous movements. So these motions test the hook-ups within the neuromuscular system. The baby also is exercising its tiny muscles by moving them. - "The Pregnancy Journal" by A. Christine Harris, Ph. D.

Tuesday, Dec. 2nd
Baby Update: The baby's heart pumps about 25 quarts of blood a day during the fourth month; that rate will increase to 300 quarts of blood a day by the time it is born. - "The Pregnancy Journal" by A. Christine Harris, Ph. D.

Wednesday, Dec. 3rd
Did something exciting today. Went to Babies "R" Us. I went with a purpose though. I don't much like just wandering around stores. I had done my baby product research by reading "Baby Bargains" (by the same people who wrote "Bridal Bargains" which saved us a ton of money on our wedding), and did some more research online. Specifically I was picking out carseats, strollers, and cribs. Also some smaller things like diaper pails but that can wait. So today at Babies "R" Us I bought the carseat, an extra base for Isaac's car, and the stroller, which is a "carrier frame". I bought an infant car seat, which is this bucket thing that you can carry the baby around in. It snaps in to the stroller. Very cool. I tested it out and everything. Had to make sure it fit in my car of course. :) And after much research we decided on the crib and where to buy it. There were only two places we could buy it from that we could find, and one was Target.com. So I purchased the crib today too. We need it to help plan the spacing of the nursery. Isaac still needs to finish up the shed so we can clear out the room that will be the nursery, but when he does, I'll be ready. Even got my paint swatches picked out. And that car seat is the only thing we need for the hospital to let us bring the baby home. It's the law. So it's been an exciting day. Tilly (our younger female cat) enjoyed the carseat... or should we say "catseat"? Another picture of the carseat and stroller.

Baby Update: At this point in development, the baby has a considerable range of foot and leg movement: it can kick, turn its feet outward and inward, curl its toes, and fan it's toes.

I know it's early but any one that knows me well knows I do things early. Got to be prepared. Besides, if you're buying that you have to order online or special order from a store you don't want to wait 'til the last minute. Plus, I'm just too excited to wait. Since it's hard to buy clothes when you don't know if it's a boy or girl, you have to start buying other things. :)