A Very Busy Week!

Movie date night with the girls :)

Right before Amber's wedding...and she wasn't even nervous!

The most handsome member of the bridal party (ok, they didn't have a bridal party, but Tyler was gorgeous!)

LOOK AT MY JIMMY CHOOS!!!!!!

Bride Sandwich!

Awe...Newlyweds...

...And Not So Newlyweds!!!

Sanford Winery....Now this is perfection!

Our unborn child's first wine tasting experience!

Wow...what an exciting week! Well, not much new in the baby world, other than the fact that my stretching stomach is causing me MUCH pain. I have to say that when people talked about "stomach stretching" in the past, I kind of didn't believe them. Well, I for one will tell you it is real. It feels like I have been doing 1000 crunches a day, and believe me, I haven't!!!!

Last week we celebrated one of Steph's last nights out as a single woman and saw Sex in the City - Such a fun night and a great movie too! Then Mike & I went up to Solvang outside of Santa Barbara for Amber's wedding and a long weekend...the weekend was a perfect escape and I cannot tell you how exciting it was to see one of my best friends in the world finally get what she deserves in a husband. Chip is amazing and their day was so special. I am so happy for them both! We (well, Mike) also got a little wine tasting in. I just enjoyed the scenery and fresh spring bottled water LOL! What's happening with the baby this week: Head to rump, our baby is about 5 1/2 inches long (about the lenght of a bell peper) and he weighs almost 7 ounces. He's busy flexing his arms and legs — movements that I think I have noticed, but can't be 100% sure about! I should start noticing them more and more in the weeks ahead. His blood vessels are visible through his thin skin, and his ears are now in their final position, although they're still standing out from his head a bit. A protective covering of myelin is beginning to form around his nerves, a process that will continue for a year after he's born. If we're having a girl, her uterus and fallopian tubes are formed and in place. If we're having a boy, his genitals are noticeable now, but he may hide them from you during an ultrasound. Let's hope not because we are counting on finding out the sex on Monday!!!!

It's A Boy!...Well...Maybe....

16 weeks and starting to show!

Today we went to see Dr. Spoon and of course since all of my books said that it is possible to tell the sex at 16 weeks, I couldn't wait to see if we would have an ultrasound today! Although my official ultrasound with the technician isn't for another three weeks (that is when we are really supposed to find out the sex), I just had to ask Spoon right away if we could have an ultrasound (he is, after all, a very ultrasound happy guy. He gave me the whole "well, its really too early to give a definitive answer, I think we should wait til your official ultrasound, blah, blah, blah." Well, lucky for us, our little one decided that he would trick Dr. Spoon into the ultrasound! When doc went to check the heartbeat with the dopler, the baby kept moving around and he couldn't get a good read. A mini panic attack later, down the hall we went to the ultrasound room - yipee!!!! Once Dr. Spoon heard the heartbeat, we went ahead and searched for a little something that would tell us if we were having a boy or a girl. After Dr. Spoon gave us his personal disclaimer that results may not be accurate, it is still early, don't be mad if he is wrong, etc., he told us that if he had to make a decision today, he would say it is a boy (actually, his exact words were that "it" would be pitching a tent)!!!! We are not getting overly boy crazed yet (I swear, I haven't ordered the bedding), but if Dr. Spoon's best guess is correct, we will have a boy! Bottom line is, if you have any bets going, I am giving you a great chance at success if you change your bet to a boy! Can't wait to see how Spoon's sonogram skills measure up!

It's HOT out there!

Baby's first furniture!

This weekend was Amber's bachelorette and we spent all of Saturday in the pool at Red Rock. Not a good idea for a pregnant woman who didn't drink enough water. Sure enough, I felt horrible after coming in from the pool and had to go home!!! I was so sad but the girls had a great time without me and I am sure I wasn't even missed :). The next day, Mike and I got out early and placed our order for furniture! Yup, it is official, out with Mike's office and in with a crib! I can't wait for it to come in - when it finally does, we will know the sex of the baby and we can start DECORATING! Not only does Mike lose his only area that he could call his own, but it will shortly be filled with fluffy blankets, stuffed animals, and a crying baby! Actually, now that I think about it, it kind of sounds like Mike's office now, only the crying baby won't be him anymore LOL!

What's happening with the baby this week: At 4 1/2 inches long (head to bottom) and 3 1/2 ounces, the baby is about the size of an avocado. In the next three weeks, he'll go through a tremendous growth spurt, doubling his weight and adding inches to his length. His lower limbs are much more developed now. His head is more erect than it has been, and his eyes have moved toward the front of his head. Some of his more advanced body systems are working, including his circulatory system and urinary tract. His heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, circulating his total blood volume through his body many times. The patterning of his scalp has begun (let's hope his head isn't as big as Mike's), though his hair isn't recognizable yet. Although closed, his eyes are moving (slowly), and he's even started growing toenails.

So Much Fun!

A Birthday Party for Nicole....Forever 27! (The drink is hers!)

Stephine's Bridal Shower

Stephine at the start of her amazing Hermosa Bachelorette....

And Steph's "after" shot!

"Big Hair" girls!

So, it's been a while since I have been able to post but with Bachelorette Parties, a trip to New Orleans, Birthday Parties and Bridal Showers too, I have been a little on the busy side! I think the best thing to do is just to add a few pics of the fun couple of weeks that I have had and start fresh from there....PS, I am not leaving Mike out of these pictures on purpose. Unfortunately, most of my activities were without him, but don't think he didn't have a little bit of fun too. He got to go to Arizona with the boys for Ryan & Pete's combined bachelor party...I am sure he has lots of great stories to tell, but unfortunately, he didn't bring any pictures of the evidence home!!!

I am in my second trimester now and feel absolutely great. Most people say I should have tons of energy now, but I am still pretty tired. Other than that, my early pregnancy symptoms are all gone and I am feelling very blessed that this has been such an easy going pregnancy! I wish there was more to say but so far, I sometimes forget that in just over five months, we will have a little baby to wrap our arms around!

What's happening with the baby this week: The baby now measures about 4 inches long, crown to rump, and weighs in at about 2 1/2 ounces (about the size of an apple). He's busy moving amniotic fluid through his nose and upper respiratory tract, which helps the primitive air sacs in his lungs begin to develop. His legs are growing longer than his arms now, and he can move all of his joints and limbs. Although his eyelids are still fused shut, he can sense light. If I were to shine a flashlight at my tummy, for instance, he would likely move from the beam. There's not much for him to taste at this point, but he is forming taste buds.

12 Weeks 4 Days!

Profile Shot

Looking straight at us!

Today we had our second appointment with Dr. Spoon. I was feeling much better today (good for me, bad for Dr. Spoon who had to put up with 101 questions from me)! My nausea is almost gone but I am still really really really tired!!!!! Everyone says that this should pass soon and my fingers are crossed. We learned from Dr. Spoon all of his delivery preferances, practices and plans for what would happen if he was in Hawaii when we deliver (he is really tan!). We also got the amazing two pictures above, plus some other pictures that look kind of funny. He let us know that our next appointment will test for the scary stuff and then in six weeks we will find out the sex of our little one! These past three months have literally flown by - and we are enjoying every minute!