Baby update

I haven't been very good about writing down my pregnancy experiences. I guess the reality of it being every day has set in and a little bit (just a little bit) of the novelty has worn off. I think I was also a little worried about writing too much or getting too excited early on... but as we are nearing the halfway point (only a month to go) the reality and excitement of what is happening is starting to set in.


I am now in my 16th week of pregnancy. The baby is approximately the size of an avocado (4 1/2 inches head to rump and weighs about 3 1/2 oz). However, by the time I get to 20 weeks... he or she will double in size! Which most likely means that the stage I'm in right now with my clothes (where I need to wear maternity pants 'cause all of my pants aren't comfortable but the maternity shirts seem premature) will be over soon and hopefully my "little bump" will be apparent to all.


All of my students know... because quite frankly the only thing more gossipy than theatre students is theatre faculty! Just kidding... they have all been really great. What a fabulous place for me to work.


My early pregnancy symptoms have all dissappeared. No more nauseau. I'm still more tired than pre-pregnancy but definitely not as tired as I was for most of the summer (thank goodness!). I am hungry all of the time! But after a recent scare with my blood pressure being too high (which luckily the most recent time tested back in the levels it should be) I have been eating very healthily, and watching my sodium intake like a hawk. The dogs also like mommy's BP being high because it means at least one if not two walks a day for them!


I have gained somewhere between 7 and 10 lbs (since I'm not exactly sure what I weighed pre-pregnancy) which is right in line with what I should have gained by now (according to the "authorities" on such matters). Hopefully, I'll be able to stay comfortably within that range.


I borrowed a home doppler from my sister while I was in LA and I have to admit it has been wonderful! Reid might classify me as a doppler abuser... I listen to the "whish-whish" of his/her heartbeat every other to every third day or so. It is so reassuring and quite frankly I'm in love with the noise. I'm sure that in another few weeks when I start to feel the baby moving I'll need less and less auditory assurance. But for now it has been really nice.


And finally... in case anyone is wondering whether or not the "baby pouch" has grown... let these pictures put you at ease. Oh yes, it has.

This was the day that we found out... 6/06/09. We thought I was five weeks along, but was probably more like three... so the little bit of belly there is just that, good old fashioned Jenna belly fat!

This was after I had gotten back from Indy by a few weeks... around the end of June and week six or seven. I thought there was such a difference! Then we forgot/didn't get around to taking pictures for a long time...

But this was last night... 8/31/09 at 16 1/2 weeks. Yep, there is a baby bump there...
Exciting, hunh?