Pop!

Yeah, I really popped this week! =) My belly is much bigger, which means clothes are much tighter and I'm much more conspicuous in my running clothes! I've been scavenging my closet for the baggiest clothes I can find.

Jelly Bean is really growing! This week we've learned that he/she is about the size of a shrimp - I just wonder what that really means, because I've seen rather large shrimp served as H'ors doeurves at fancy parties (thinking of Aunt Linda's Anniversary Party for Ellen Tracy right now!), but also small shrimp on friends' platters at Red Lobster. Hmmmm.....anyway, we know our Jelly Bean is bigger than a lime, so that must be a pretty good-size shrimp!

Right now Jelly Bean is developing his/her own unique finger prints. How amazing!! I still haven't felt any little kicks or squirms inside, but I am sure that our little Jelly Bean is dancing away in there.

I feel pretty lucky that the morning sickness (or nausea, as I never really got very sick) has been COMPLETELY GONE. I better knock on wood as I'm writing this...but I'm also pretty blessed that I've been able to sleep through the night completely (and I sure do fall asleep fast!! A true change for me!!). Steve certainly appreciates how quickly I fall asleep, as he gains complete reign over the remote for the rest of the night. =)

Yawn, I'm feeling sleepy already....

Li'l Bump!

Just a little one, but it's definitely there! And I feel like I can finally say there really is a baby growing in there, I'm not just eating way too much. :) This week Jelly Bean is about the size of a lime. Growing so fast!!

Baby McNew's dramatic changes this coming week will be reflexes! He/she will be opening & closing its tiny fingers, its eye muscles will be clenching, and his/her little toes will be curling. Wow, the whole process is so AMAZING!!! :) We've also been told that just by gently prodding the abdomen, our little Jelly Bean will feel it and squirm at the touch....but WE still won't feel anything.

We are looking around at baby furniture now - strollers, playyards, cribs, etc....wow, babies sure need a lot of stuff! It's exciting and scary all at the same time.

We will try to continue posting pictures for weekly or bi-weekly updates. :) Thanks so much for all of the wonderful support & love from all of you!!!

fingernails, heartbeats, & hiccups

We are officially 12 weeks! Yay!! :)

So our little Jelly Bean is growing fingernails and developing a diaphragm - leading to tiny little hiccups! :) Wish I could feel them!!

Today at the doctor's we got to hear the heartbeat!! The baby's heart beats 3 times as fast as mine - and wow is it ever beating strong!! We even got to hear the baby's heart beating alongside mine, how amazing!!

Right now Jelly Bean is about the size of a fig - so small, yet growing so incredibly fast. Soon his/her hands will be opening and closing, and its bones are beginning to harden. And I know he/she is kicking and stretching around in there, can't wait to feel it. :)

Bring on the 2nd trimester!!

Jelly Bean

How do we even begin....what a whirlwind of excitement the past couple months have been!! :) We've been calling our little bundle of sunshine on the way our "Jelly Bean." We've had the chance to see his/her heartbeat 2 times now!! It's still so unreal. Tomorrow we go again for our 12 weeks appointment - hoping for good things!!

It's still so hard to fully believe that I'm pregnant - tho the tight fit of my clothes the past couple weeks has definitely helped it become more real to me. :) The major slow-down in my running has been a big clue for me too. And of course the mighty appetite increase hints that I'm pregnant as well. Luckily, I haven't had to experience any bad morning sickness - just a little bit of nausea (usually in the car on the way to work) that passes pretty quickly.

We got to tell both of our parents in the same wknd - my Dad's 65th birthday. :) Kinda funny, when he opened up our "I love Grandma" & "I love Grandpa" bibs, he automatically assumed they were for Charlotte (my brother's newly born little girl)....then he reached in to look at the picture we had also enclosed, and the realization spread over his face as he passed the pic on to Mom. :O) Grandma was there for the whole thing, too, and Jon & Karine called via webcam just in time to hear the news. And we got to see Baby Charlotte wide awake with gorgeous eyes blinking!!

We told Steve's parents the next day, and they are so excited. They're ready to go out and buy things now...we have to remind them that we have plenty of time. :) Buns said she could smell the little bundle of sweetness already....and Gary is already making plans for taking the grandchild to McDonald's and making peanut butter eggs with him/her. :) Gotta love the Grandparents!!!

We are really looking forward to our 12 week point & our doctor's appointment Thursday, as we can finally share our good news with our extended family & friends. And we even already got our first real "baby equipment" from Jolene & Franco - a wonderful little baby bath kit to bathe a newborn, infant, and toddler. And we have plenty of reading up to do with our new subscription to Parents magazine (thanks Keith & Heather!).

We can't wait to meet our precious little Jelly Bean!! So sweet.... :)