Memorial Day Weekend

I'm being a bit brave in sharing bikini pictures, but I know some of you really like to see the tummy so I'm willing to share. And just for the record I never intended to be a big pregnant woman strutting around in a bikini, but I really don't want to buy a maternity one-piece and only wear it once or twice.

So these pictures are from my parents cabin last weekend. There is an indoor pool nearby so we went there for a short swim with my nieces one night (my parents cabin is not on a lake).



I love these pictures! That's my niece Hannah admiring my tummy...and sharing hers with you as well. Precious.

19 weeks picture

19 Weeks

Last Sunday marked 19 weeks of pregnancy. Only one week to go until the halfway point! As my niece would say...yayhoo! We took a tummy picture yesterday, but Jeremy couldn't get it loaded onto the computer so I'll have to post it when he gets that fixed.

The most exciting news since my last post is that Jeremy felt the baby moving last night! Since about a week and a half ago I'd been wondering if I was feeling little kicks and pokes, but I wasn't sure at first. I'm positive now that I am feeling it and I love it! Since the baby isn't even a pound yet its movements feel pretty gentle in there and it's so sweet. I had laid on the couch for a nap after work yesterday and the baby started moving a lot so I called Jeremy over and he got to feel it at least three different times. Very cool!

Then this morning I had the hardest time getting dressed. Another pair of pants have been tucked away in the "clothes that won't fit anymore until after the baby is born" box. I was bummed that I had to put them in there. And then I put on a tank top, looked in the mirror, and saw that it only came halfway down my tummy. That went in the box too. I think it's finally time for some maternity clothes shopping. :)

18 Weeks

Well we're 18 weeks now. I can hardly believe we're quickly approaching the halfway point! Less than three weeks to go until the big ultrasound. And I have a feeling after that time is going to really start moving quickly. We'll need to start thinking about registering, preparing to leave my job, taking birthing classes, etc.

We did hit a few milestones (at least in my mind) recently. Last weekend Jeremy and I went out for dinner! For the first few months of this pregnancy the thought of going out to eat was almost like torture, but Friday night we went to Macaroni Grill and it was so yummy!! And yesterday I weighed in at 100.4 lbs! I've been trying for a few years to get back up to 100 lbs, but with little success. It only took four months of pregnancy to finally get there. :)

On the job front, still the only job that Jeremy has applied for is a youth pastor job in Manitowoc, WI (his hometown). He's currently moving through the application process and is getting more excited about this opportunity. I expect to hear from them again in the next week or two. Assuming they remain interested in him we'll probably be starting to make trips out there for interviews before too long. Please continue to pray about this on our behalf. This is a bit of a scary option for me because I would be leaving my comfort zone, and just in time to really shake up our lives with the addition of a little Hermann. But I know God is faithful and is all that I need.

Well that's the 18-week update. Next week's update will probably come a little late since we'll be at the cabin for the long weekend. Happy Memorial Day!

Sympathy Pains

So last Thursday I came home from work early only to find my husband complaining of a stomach ache, which is pretty unusual for him. We ran a few errands that afternoon and when we got home he was still not feeling well. We finally went to the ER around 4:30 that afternoon and it turned out he had appendicitis. They took him into surgery just after midnight to remove his appendix. He spent the night in the hospital and came home late Friday evening. He's still recovering at home, but every day is getting better. The nurses that took care of him after the surgery were saying this was sympathy pains for his pregnant wife. I'm just glad it happened now and not when I'm in labor!

17-Weeks

I'm 17 weeks now! And for the past week I've been feeling pretty good. I haven't been very nauseated and I haven't thrown up at all. Eating is getting easier and I'm feeling like I have a little more energy. My tummy is definitely still growing too. Just this morning when I woke up I told Jeremy that I thought my tummy got bigger overnight. :)

Here's what babycenter.com says about Baby Hermann this week:

The little one in your abdomen is now 7 inches (18 cm) and he weighs approximately 5 ounces (150 grams). Although his eyes remain closed, through his eyelids he can distinguish between light and dark. If you lie in the sun with your naked belly your child will swim, so to speak, in a pink slightly translucent bath. If you lie under the blankets, his little house is dark. Perhaps that's why your baby will move a bit more often at night, just as if he wants to say: "turn on the light". That stomping and movement you still can't feel yourself, but rest assured, it's not much longer now until you will notice that there is something flapping around in your tummy. If this is your second pregnancy, you may feel little flutters by now.

Every day your baby develops further. He is growing almost an inch (two centimeters) a week now. Tiny nails and unique fingerprints are developing on the fingers and toes. His teeny tiny eyelashes and eyebrows are also really cute and ensure that your little one's face gets more beautiful by the day. What color eyes will he have? Who will he look like? Like his Dad or Grandpa or maybe a bit like you?

16-week picture

As promised, here is the 16-week picture. I'm thanking God for two good days! I've felt pretty good yesterday and today. Don't know if it will last or not, but I'll take it. I think I might also be starting to feel the baby move. I'm not positive yet, but I'm definitely starting to feel some strange things that don't seem to have any other explanation. It's kind of like a flutter, or like waves of something coming over me.

16 Weeks and Going Strong

We're 16-weeks now and we got a great report from the doctor today. Despite the nausea and vomiting that's still hanging on, I've gained five pounds in the last four weeks. And the baby's heartbeat was 140 bpm - just right.

Here's what babycenter.com says about baby's development this week:

At 4 1/2 inches long (head to bottom) and 3 1/2 ounces, your baby is about the size of an avocado. In the next three weeks, she'll go through a tremendous growth spurt, though, doubling her weight and adding inches to her length. Her lower limbs are much more developed now. Her head is more erect than it has been, and her eyes have moved toward the front of her head. Your baby's ears are close to their final position, too. Some of her more advanced body systems are working, including her circulatory system and urinary tract. Her heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, circulating her total blood volume through her body many times. (By the end of your pregnancy, this will increase to about 190 quarts.) The patterning of her scalp has begun, though her hair isn't recognizable yet. Although closed, her eyes are moving (slowly), and she's even started growing toenails.

Today was the best day I've had in a couple weeks. I've had a good amount of energy and eating hasn't been too difficult. I don't know if this will continue, but I'm sure enjoying today while it lasts. We took a tummy picture last night, but Jeremy is gone tonight working on a school project and he took our camera so I'll have to post the picture another day. The tummy is definitely growing though! Thanks for all your prayers.