Happy 5 weeks Lilly!

I can't believe Lilly is now 5 weeks old! 5 weeks ago at this time (10:36pm) we were settling in with her enjoying our little 2 hour old baby. Amazing!

Sleeping at night hasn't been easy--Lilly has been in her crib for a week now and it's getting better but still very hard. She's growing like crazy and a lot of her newborn size clothes don't fit her anymore!!

Click the picture below to see the December album:

December Pictures:

December 2008

We add constantly so keep checking the album :)

The video of my growing belly....

Check it out. We did a special project from week 6 of pregnancy taking a picture every thursday night... we had fun with it :)

Lilly has ARRIVED!

HELLO I am the biggest slacker!
Lilly came 11/9 weighing in 7lbs 13 oz and we delivered her all natural in a tub of water... yea a little painful but I'd do it again next time. Healing has been way easier then I've seen some people go through but still hard.
What a horrible photographer I am.. still no pictures I have taken of her... now I see WHY people hire ME to do pictures of their little ones :)
Birth story and more coming soon!

39 week midwife checkup

Not too much progress to report--instead of being a fingertip dilated like I was last week I'm a full centimeter and still 50% or so effaced. The midwife said she has dropped a little more and she could feel her head and was nice and low. They are sticking with November 4th due date so 5 more days... she thinks it could be soon but of course there's no way to 100% know. My pains are getting stronger and I have way more pressure so we're almost there!

belly shot at 38w_5d

I just want her out!!!

38 weeks and counting

38 weeks! I have 12 days till my due date... and also election day so make sure to get out there and vote. I already voted... (yes on 2, NO on 8)... horray! anyway..

Today we had a midwife appt. and she said I am still 1 cm and am 50% effaced and to get out and walk and not to stress about anything as it will slow labor... so i'm trying to clear my mind of any stresses :)

Here's to waiting it out! She said she doesn't expect her to come within the next week... :( But she said I could prove her wrong so we'll see. Did I hear a challenge? LOL

37 week update

I had an appointment with the midwife today... Lilly is low and in position ready to go! I've only dilated to 1cm which doesn't mean much at this point...my sister was 2cm for like 3 weeks! She said my cervix is soft but didn't mention anything about how effaced I was if I even am yet.
So it's the waiting game now... walking walking walking!
AND I haven't gained more weight... in the past 3 weeks I've gained 1 1/2 lbs :) horray!

Just a bit of politics

So we have been so annoyed lately with all the ads for the elections of the propositions... you know it's voting season when almost every ad on tv is for a proposition! Anyway, the one we are very against is prop 8. You can vote how ever you want to vote, it is your right. However, we just can't figure out why a personal decision, to marry the PERSON you love, should be decided by the nation? If a woman loves a woman, they should be able to marry, have rights, and be treated equal. Same for men... it just isn't right that because they were born a certain way that they should be EXCLUDED from the rights heterosexuals have. The commercials FOR prop 8 say "it's inevitable children will learn about gay marriage in school we need to protect it" so why again is it bad that children be INFORMED on something that happens? What happens when they see a gay couple kissing in the street and the child is then wondering what the heck that's all about? Educating your children should be top priority...have an open mind, let them learn, and let them make their own choices in life. We are definitely voting no in prop 8 as we feel it's only fair for everyone to be treated equal in this country and state

37 weeks-FULL TERM!

According to the Nov 4th due date, we are full term as of yesterday. Lillybean is ready to come out... but has decided she doesn't want to be as early as mommy and daddy are hoping for :( We're still hoping she's here by Halloween, but it's all up to her at this point.. only so much walking and eating spicy foods mommy can do!

Come on Lilly... we're waiiiiittttinnnnggggg!

Getting close! 36 1/2 weeks pregnant!

I'm too lazy to keep posting the emails I get from babycenter with the progress baby is making... SO I will reiterate:

I am almost 37 weeks. I'm basically almost full term. If Lilly came today, she'd be fully cooked and totally fine :) That's cool, huh?

I am having a lot of cramping, I'm tired, and nesting like crazy. Hey, my garage is a lot cleaner, my showers are super clean and next I'm going to work on the closets.

My midwife said she thinks I might go early which is GREAT.... thank g-d!

Lilly has been moving like CRAZY! I now see full on arm or legs go straight across my belly which is so cool! I will miss that when she's here.

Some of you have been asking us what we need...the one thing we DON'T need is more clothes. Little one has SO many adorable outfits from all of you that she won't even be able to wear them all. We got our 6 months of free diapers from our amazon.com registry, so we don't need those either. If you feel you really need to buy something (which you don't...!) we are happy to get babies r us gift cards so we can get things as we find we need them :)

As soon as she is here, you will know :)

34 weeks pregnant and dr. update!

Sorry I missed posting 33 weeks for some reason. Anyway, we're getting close!
I have go to by our official "ultrasound" date of November 4th... so only 4 days later then the original. We're still hoping Lilly pops out before Halloween anyway :)
We changed doctors! We are excited... now we are giving birth at Best Start which is a birth center and I can have a water birth. It was be 20000x better for my back and I can't tell you how RELIEVED I am to be able to birth that way...
We will be home about 6 hours after birth so visitors can come to our home vs. there. of course you are welcome to come there, but we'd probably prefer the house.

Here's an update of 34 weeks:
Your pregnancy: 34 weeks


See the big picture
How your baby's growing:
Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (like your average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. Her fat layers — which will help regulate her body temperature once she's born — are filling her out, making her rounder. Her skin is also smoother than ever. Her central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature as well. If you've been nervous about preterm labor, you'll be happy to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies.

The baby shower!

My sister and neighbor threw me a wonderful shower... I am so thankful :) It was so cute! Thank you to those of you who came and keep and eye out for your super cute thank you notes :) I am sorry if I don't have a picture with you! :(

Here are the pictures in a slideshow form:



If the slideshow doesn't work:
Link to the album: http://picasaweb.google.com/Hillary.Gardner/BabyShower92008#

32 weeks pregnant

Your pregnancy: 32 weeks


See the big picture
How your baby's growing:
By now, your baby weighs 3.75 pounds (pick up a large jicama) and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus. You're gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. In fact, she'll gain a third to half of her birth weight during the next 7 weeks as she fattens up for survival outside the womb. She now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). Her skin is becoming soft and smooth as she plumps up in preparation for birth.

OMG! 32 weeks?! From today I am due in 52 days. That's insane!!!! I can't believe how close it is. wow. time is FLYING!

31 weeks pregnant

Your pregnancy: 31 weeks


See the big picture
How your baby's growing:
This week, your baby measures over 16 inches long. He weighs about 3.3 pounds (try carrying four navel oranges) and is heading into a growth spurt. He can turn his head from side to side, and his arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath his skin. He's probably moving a lot, too, so you may have trouble sleeping because your baby's kicks and somersaults keep you up. Take comfort: All this moving is a sign that your baby is active and healthy.

***my note: I am getting big! People say it's all belly but I feel its everywhere. We are getting really for miss lilly's arrival and are getting ANXIOUS!!! Her nursery is almost complete (just need to put up her window coverings and we're having a valance made) and of course we need to have the baby shower which is in a few weeks! Her grandma and grandpa gardner bought her the BOB stroller and her all natural crib mattress :) Grandma Joy got her the diaper bag and cradle and natural mattress for that! The furniture in her room was a gift from grandma bev and grandpa steve :)

30 weeks pregnant

Your pregnancy: 30 weeks


See the big picture
How your baby's growing:
Your baby's about 15.7 inches long now, and she weighs almost 3 pounds (like a head of cabbage). A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds her, but that volume will decrease as she gets bigger and takes up more room in your uterus. Her eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after she's born, she'll keep her eyes closed for a good part of the day. When she does open them, she'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision — which means she can only make out objects a few inches from her face. (Normal adult vision is 20/20.)

28 week ultrasound!

How cool is this?!! it was just amazing...

29 weeks pregnant

Your pregnancy: 29 weeks


See the big picture
How your baby's growing:
Your baby now weighs about 2 1/2 pounds (like a butternut squash) and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel. His muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and his head is growing bigger to make room for his developing brain. To meet his increasing nutritional demands, you'll need plenty of protein, vitamins C, folic acid, and iron. And because his bones are soaking up lots of calcium, be sure to drink your milk (or find another good source of calcium, such as cheese, yogurt, or enriched orange juice). This trimester, about 250 milligrams of calcium are deposited in your baby's hardening skeleton each day.

Lilly at 28 weeks....

We had our last ultrasound of Lilly tonight (unless the doctor orders more which I doubt) anyway... she is like a fully grown kid in there! She was sucking on her hand, covering her face, drinking the amniotic fluid, yawning and kicking like crazy. The coolest part was SEEING her move around while I could feel it.... just too cool :)
So they did a 3/d image of her girl parts cause I wanted to make sure she's still a Lilly and yep! She's still definitely a girl. I didn't scan that in though.
Anyway... this is the best picture... enjoy!

28 weeks pregnant

By this week, By this week, your baby weighs two and a quarter pounds (like a Chinese cabbage) and measures 14.8 inches from the top of her head to her heels. She can open and close her eyes, which now sport lashes. This movement is more of a reflexive blink than a deliberate opening and closing, but it won't be long before she's batting those beauties at you.

What is a chinese cabbage?!! weird!!
I'm getting pretty big... things like getting out of the shower and drying off my feet are hard... walking a long time is hard... sleeping is the worst...uh! but we feel her kicking around a lot and practicing her karate moves in there!!

A note about our registries: we have some stuff on both babies r us and also amazon's. For amazon's, we are trying to have most things from there because if we hit a certain amount, we will get 6 months worth of 7th Generation diapers (the diapers we are using) for free! Obviously we are thankful for anything we receive it's just I've been getting people asking "which registry should i buy from" and the answer is Amazon.com first :)

Thanks guys! Look for pictures tomorrow!!! We have another 4d u/s!

Belly shot

Here is a picture of my bump today at 27 weeks!
I'm getting bigger! And uncomfortable

27 weeks pregnant

Your pregnancy: 27 weeks


See the big picture
How your baby's growing:
This week, your baby weighs almost 2 pounds (like a head of cauliflower) and is about 14 1/2 inches long with her legs extended. She's sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing her eyes, and perhaps even sucking her fingers. With more brain tissue developing, your baby's brain is very active now. While her lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with a lot of medical help — if she were to be born now. Chalk up any tiny rhythmic movements you may be feeling to a case of baby hiccups, which may be common from now on. Each episode usually lasts only a few moments, and they don't bother her, so just relax and enjoy the tickle.

so much accomplished!

Sam and I have been so busy getting stuff done for Lilly!
We got the room painted, furniture put together (minus changing table), bought the rocker, ordered the windows and will soon get the window coverings. Things are moving along!

The pink wall looks awesome... especially in person. The sconces aren't up yet (the lights are but not the covers I made for them) since we are waiting until after the windows come. We are also waiting to put more on the walls such as her letters showing her name until I finish making them.

Here are some pictures!

26 weeks pregnant

Your pregnancy: 26 weeks

See the big picture

How your baby's growing:

The network of nerves in your baby's ears is better developed and more sensitive than before. He may now be able to hear both your voice and your partner's as you chat with each other. He's inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid, which is essential for the development of his lungs. These so-called breathing movements are also good practice for when he's born and takes that first gulp of air. And he's continuing to put on baby fat. He now weighs about a pound and two-thirds and measures 14 inches (an English hothouse cucumber) from head to heel. If you're having a boy, his testicles are beginning to descend into his scrotum — a trip that will take about two to three days.

25 weeks pregnant

Your pregnancy: 25 weeks

See the big picture

How your baby's growing

Head to heels, your baby now measures about 13 1/2 inches. Her weight — a pound and a half — isn't much more than an average rutabaga, but she's beginning to exchange her long, lean look for some baby fat. As she does, her wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out and she'll start to look more and more like a newborn. She's also growing more hair — and if you could see it, you'd now be able to discern its color and texture.

bump picture

Here's a picture of my bump at about 24w_3d
I'm getting bigger! Feeling her kick all the time and it's the coolest feeling ever!

24 weeks pregnant

Your pregnancy: 24 weeks

See the big picture

How your baby's growing:

Your baby's growing steadily, having gained about 4 ounces since last week. That puts him at just over a pound. Since he's almost a foot long (picture an ear of corn), he cuts a pretty lean figure at this point, but his body is filling out proportionally and he'll soon start to plump up. His brain is also growing quickly now, and his taste buds are continuing to develop. His lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" as well as cells that produce surfactant, a substance that will help his air sacs inflate once he hits the outside world. His skin is still thin and translucent, but that will start to change soon

23 weeks pregnant

Your pregnancy: 23 weeks

See the big picture

How your baby's growing:

Turn on the radio and sway to the music. With her sense of movement well developed by now, your baby can feel you dance. And now that she's more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound (about as much as a large mango), you may be able to see her squirm underneath your clothes. Blood vessels in her lungs are developing to prepare for breathing, and the sounds that your baby's increasingly keen ears pick up are preparing her for entry into the outside world. Loud noises that become familiar now — such as your dog barking or the roar of the vacuum cleaner — probably won't faze her when she hears them outside the womb.

22 weeks pregnant

Your pregnancy: 22 weeks

See the big picture

How your baby's growing:

At 11 inches (the length of a spaghetti squash) and almost 1 pound, your baby is starting to look like a miniature newborn. His lips, eyelids, and eyebrows are becoming more distinct, and he's even developing tiny tooth buds beneath his gums. His eyes have formed, but his irises (the colored part of the eye) still lack pigment. If you could see inside your womb, you'd be able to spot the fine hair (lanugo) that covers his body and the deep wrinkles on his skin, which he'll sport until he adds a padding of fat to fill them in. Inside his belly, his pancreas — essential for the production of some important hormones — is developing steadily.

21 weeks pregnant

****update for today: I felt Lilly kick from the OUTSIDE today! It was amazing. Sammy missed it but I've been waiting for her to do it again. She did it right after I ate mac and cheese but if she's like her mom, she will eat way too much of that yummie goodness.

our pregnancy: 21 weeks

See the big picture

How your baby's growing:

Your baby now weighs about three-quarters of a pound and is approximately 10 1/2 inches long — the length of a carrot. You may soon feel like she's practicing martial arts as her initial fluttering movements turn into full-fledged kicks and nudges. You may also discover a pattern to her activity as you get to know her better. In other developments, your baby's eyebrows and lids are present now, and if you're having a girl, her vagina has begun to form as well.

20 week ultrasound!

It's definitely a Lilly in there! She kept turning her back and not wanting us to see her face but we got a glimpse :) At one point she had her ankles crossed and her hands behind her head, just like mommy used to do as a baby :)
*****if the images are cut off, click the image to enlarge******
Enjoy!

We are HALF WAY there!!!!

Showing her girl parts

Her pretty little profile

Another perfect profile

She kept turning her face away from us (I think she might be a tad shy....)look at her cute little ears! I love it!

20 weeks pregnant

Your pregnancy: 20 weeks


See the big picture
How your baby's growing:
Your baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. He's also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom and about 10 inches from head to heel — the length of a banana. (For the first 20 weeks, when a baby's legs are curled up against his torso and hard to measure, measurements are taken from the top of his head to his bottom — the "crown to rump" measurement. After 20 weeks, he's measured from head to toe.)

He's swallowing more these days, which is good practice for his digestive system. He's also producing meconium, a black, sticky by-product of digestion. This gooey substance will accumulate in his bowels, and you'll see it in his first soiled diaper (some babies pass meconium in the womb or during delivery).

See what your baby looks like this week. (Or see what fraternal twins look like in the womb this week.)

Updated belly shot

Well, my sister took a belly shot of me today... I still feel like I'm just getting fat and not pregnant looking, but everyone tells me otherwise...
Lilly has started moving around and I'm feeling her move...I noticed it big time when I was laying down eating blueberries and turned over really quick she didn't like that so much!

The summer is going to go pretty quick I can tell...Sam is busy helping me at weddings through the summer and I have a lot of portrait sessions to keep me busy! I'm hoping once little peanut comes I can get back to shooting super quick but we'll see!

We are registered for our birth class... we're doing the Bradley Method and the instructor is very nice and if we can't find a doula we click with we might have her as our doula... horray!

We are half way there!!!!!!

19 weeks pregnant

our pregnancy: 19 weeks


How your baby's growing:
Your baby's sensory development is exploding! Her brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. Some research suggests that she may be able to hear your voice now, so don't be shy about reading aloud, taking to her, or singing a happy tune if the mood strikes you.

Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces and measures 6 inches, head to bottom —about the size of a large heirloom tomato. Her arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of her body now. Her kidneys continue to make urine and the hair on her scalp is sprouting. A waxy protective coating called the vernix caseosa is forming on her skin to prevent it from pickling in the amniotic fluid.

18 weeks pregnant

Time is flying FAST! Even though our doctor says I'm really 17 weeks 2 days, we will go by the calculators vs. the u/s measurement :) (she says Nov. 4th is the due date)
Oh and she said not to trust that 4d u/s saying it's a girl until our 20 week on June 16th... oy.

Your pregnancy: 18 weeks


See the big picture
How your baby's growing:
Head to bottom, your baby is approximately 5 1/2 inches long (about the length of a bell pepper) and she weighs almost 7 ounces. She's busy flexing her arms and legs — movements that you'll likely start noticing more and more. Her blood vessels are visible through her thin skin and her ears are now in position and stand out from her head. Myelin (a protective covering) is beginning to form around her nerves, a process that will continue for a year after she's born. If you're having a girl, her uterus and Fallopian tubes are formed and in place. If your baby is a boy, his genitals are noticeable, though he may hide them from you during an ultrasound.

17 weeks prego

Your pregnancy: 17 weeks


See the big picture
How your baby's growing:
Your baby weighs 5 ounces now (about as much as a turnip), and he's around 5 inches long. He can move his joints, and his skeleton — until now rubbery cartilage — is starting to harden to bone. His sense of hearing is also developing. The umbilical cord, his lifeline to the placenta, is growing stronger and thicker.



**My note-the belly is getting bigger! So weird. I can't believe I'm almost 1/2 way there!!! It's going way quicker then I thought it would. Although when I'm 9 months prego in the heat of summer I bet I won't feel the same way. I haven't felt Lilly kick yet but I think I have felt some fluttering around but who knows... prob. gas from all the mexican food I eat!

It's a........

Well, the big news is we found out we have a little girl! Lillyanna Fay is growing well and we are so excited to meet her in October!!!!!!
Enjoy!!!

16 weeks prego

Your pregnancy: 16 weeks

See the big picture

How your baby's growing:

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.

A belly shot

Belly shot at 15w_6d! Still just feeling fat and not prego

We bought the bedroom!

So, when there's a sale I jump on it! After searching for months for the type of crib we wanted we finally found it! There was a sale AND free shipping coupon I found online so I got a really nice deal... THIS IS THE FURNITURE... NOT THE BEDDING!

The bedding will be all natural and organic so NOT the set you see here. We aren't purchasing the "bed in a bag" set's because they are not practical or organic. As of now (we all know how I change my mind 10,000 times before settling on something) the room will be monkeys!

Here's our inspiration for the room:

Thing's are coming along well! We find out May 20th if we have a little Jackson or Lillyanna and we're going NUTS waiting (mostly Hillary... sam is mellow and waits more patiently then I do).
We also registered but we have a lot to change on them since we don't know the sex yet (so we had put a lot of blue AND pink then delete the other one when we find out).

All for now! Update coming Friday for week 16! Progressing quickly!

15 weeks prego

Your pregnancy: 15 weeks


See the big picture
How your baby's growing:
Your growing 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). She's busy moving amniotic fluid through her nose and upper respiratory tract, which helps the primitive air sacs in her lungs begin to develop. Her legs are growing longer than her arms now, and she can move all of her joints and limbs. Although her eyelids are still fused shut, she can sense light. If you shine a flashlight at your tummy, for instance, she's likely to move away from the beam. There's not much for your baby to taste at this point, but she is forming taste buds. Finally, if you have an ultrasound this week, you may be able to find out whether your baby's a boy or a girl! (Don't be too disappointed if it remains a mystery, though. Nailing down your baby's sex depends on the clarity of the picture and on your baby's position. He or she may be modestly curled up or turned in such a way as to "hide the goods.")

14 weeks prego

Your pregnancy: 14 weeks


See the big picture
How your baby's growing:
This week's big developments: Your baby can now squint, frown, grimace, pee, and possibly suck his thumb! Thanks to brain impulses, his facial muscles are getting a workout as his tiny features form one expression after another. His kidneys are producing urine, which he releases into the amniotic fluid around him — a process he'll keep up until birth. He can grasp, too, and if you're having an ultrasound now, you may even catch him sucking his thumb.

In other news: Your baby's stretching out. From head to bottom, he measures 3 1/2 inches — about the size of a lemon — and he weighs 1 1/2 ounces. His body's growing faster than his head, which now sits upon a more distinct neck. By the end of this week, his arms will have grown to a length that's in proportion to the rest of his body. (His legs still have some lengthening to do.) He's starting to develop an ultra-fine, downy covering of hair, called lanugo, all over his body. Your baby's liver starts making bile this week — a sign that it's doing its job right — and his spleen starts helping in the production of red blood cells. Though you can't feel his tiny punches and kicks yet, your little pugilist's hands and feet (which now measure about 1/2 inch long) are more flexible and active.

2nd doctors appointment

We had our 2nd appointment today and got to hear the heartbeat! It was amazing. There's really a little one in there! NO ultrasound but we go for our 4d in a few weeks! The doctor wants to make my due date based on the size of the baby in the last u/s which was November 4th, but we're sticking with 10/31.
More updates coming!!!

13 weeks prego

Your pregnancy: 13 weeks


See the big picture
How your baby's growing:
Fingerprints have formed on your baby's tiny fingertips, her veins and organs are clearly visible through her still-thin skin, and her body is starting to catch up with her head — which makes up just a third of her body size now. If you're having a girl, she now has more than 2 million eggs in her ovaries. Your baby is almost 3 inches long (the size of a medium shrimp) and weighs nearly an ounce.


My note: 3 more weeks we find out if it's a b or g!! we are so excited. I'm still pretty tired but not feeling nacious anymore which is good. Not bad--only threw up once! I'm getting bigger. One day I'll share the belly shots... for now I'm too self conscious of the belly.

12 weeks

Your pregnancy: 12 weeks


See the big picture
How your baby's growing:
The most dramatic development this week: Reflexes. Your baby's fingers will soon begin to open and close, his toes will curl, his eye muscles will clench, and his mouth will make sucking movements. In fact, if you prod your abdomen, your baby will squirm in response, although you won't be able to feel it. His intestines, which have grown so fast that they protrude into the umbilical cord, will start to move into his abdominal cavity about now, and his kidneys will begin excreting urine into his bladder.

Meanwhile, nerve cells are multiplying rapidly, and in your baby's brain, synapses are forming furiously. His face looks unquestionably human: His eyes have moved from the sides to the front of his head, and his ears are right where they should be. From crown to rump, your baby-to-be is just over two inches long (about the size of a lime) and weighs half an ounce.

11 weeks

Your pregnancy: 11 weeks


See the big picture
How your baby's growing:
Your baby, just over 1 1/2 inches long and about the size of a fig, is now almost fully formed. Her hands will soon open and close into fists, tiny tooth buds are beginning to appear under her gums, and some of her bones are beginning to harden.

She's already busy kicking and stretching, and her tiny movements are so effortless they look like water ballet. These movements will become more frequent as her body grows and becomes more developed and functional. You won't feel your baby's acrobatics for another month or two — nor will you notice the hiccupping that may be happening now that her diaphragm is forming.

10 weeks

Your pregnancy: 10 weeks


See the big picture
How your baby's growing:
Though he's barely the size of a kumquat — a little over an inch or so long, crown to bottom — and weighs less than a quarter of an ounce, your baby has now completed the most critical portion of his development. This is the beginning of the so-called fetal period, a time when the tissues and organs in his body rapidly grow and mature.

He's swallowing fluid and kicking up a storm. Vital organs — including his kidneys, intestines, brain, and liver (now making red blood cells in place of the disappearing yolk sac) — are in place and starting to function, though they'll continue to develop throughout your pregnancy.

If you could take a peek inside your womb, you'd spot minute details, like tiny nails forming on fingers and toes (no more webbing) and peach-fuzz hair beginning to grow on tender skin.

In other developments: Your baby's limbs can bend now. His hands are flexed at the wrist and meet over his heart, and his feet may be long enough to meet in front of his body. The outline of his spine is clearly visible through translucent skin, and spinal nerves are beginning to stretch out from his spinal cord. Your baby's forehead temporarily bulges with his developing brain and sits very high on his head, which measures half the length of his body. From crown to rump, he's about 1 1/4 inches long. In the coming weeks, your baby will again double in size — to nearly 3 inches.

See what your baby looks like this week.

Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.

How your life's changing:
At your next prenatal visit, you may be able to hear your baby's rapid heartbeat with the help of a Doppler stethoscope, a handheld ultrasound device that your practitioner places on your belly. Many women say that the beating of their baby's tiny heart sounded like the thunder of galloping horses and hearing it for the first time was very moving.

Before you got pregnant, your uterus was the size of a small pear. By this week, it's as big as a grapefruit. Though you're probably not ready for maternity wear, you may find that your regular clothes are becoming uncomfortably tight and your blossoming breasts are straining the seams of your bra. The thickening in your midsection is most likely due to slight weight gain and bloating at this point. In these transitional weeks between regular and maternity clothes, pants and skirts with forgiving elastic waistbands (or low-rise waistlines that sit below your belly) will provide some much-needed comfort.

First Ultrasound

Omg how amazing was our day? I had my first appointment today. Routine exam and answers and whatnot... went fine. Then I had to go to the lab to get a bizillion tests. NO joke, 15 tubes of blood!!!! 13 smaller size ones and 2 big ole ones. uhh. Then we went for the ultrasound. How amazing was that...we saw the heart beating perfectly, the little feet kicking around... and the movement when I laughed it moved around. NOW I believe I am pregnant! The doctor says my due date is October 28th, but the measurement in the ultrasound was about November 4th. So we're still sticking with halloween baby.

Here are the pictures:

9 weeks

Your pregnancy: 9 weeks


See the big picture
How your baby's growing:
Your new resident is nearly an inch long — about the size of a grape — and weighs just a fraction of an ounce. She's starting to look more and more human. Her essential body parts are accounted for, though they'll go through plenty of fine-tuning in the coming months. Other changes abound: Your baby's heart finishes dividing into four chambers, and the valves start to form — as do her tiny teeth. The embryonic "tail" is completely gone. Your baby's organs, muscles, and nerves are kicking into gear. The external sex organs are there but won't be distinguishable as male or female for another few weeks. Her eyes are fully formed, but her eyelids are fused shut and won't open until 27 weeks. She has tiny earlobes, and her mouth, nose, and nostrils are more distinct. The placenta is developed enough now to take over most of the critical job of producing hormones. Now that your baby's basic physiology is in place, she's poised for rapid weight gain.

See what's going on in your uterus this week.

Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.

How your life's changing:
You still may not look pregnant even if your waist is thickening a bit. You probably feel pregnant, though. Not only are morning sickness and other physical symptoms out in full force for most women, but you may feel like an emotional pinball as well.

Mood swings are common now — it's perfectly normal to feel alternately elated and terrified about becoming a parent. Try to cut yourself some slack. Most women find that moodiness flares up at around six to ten weeks, eases up in the second trimester, and then reappears as pregnancy winds to a close.



My note: I can't believe I'm 9 weeks already! Wow!! I now have a grape in me! We've been doing belly shots every week but I won't post them because I look too fat. haha! Don't worry... after the baby is born we're going to do a super cool progression thing and put it on youtube :)

8 weeks

Your pregnancy: 8 weeks


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How your baby's growing:
New this week: Webbed fingers and toes are poking out from your baby's hands and feet, his eyelids practically cover his eyes, breathing tubes extend from his throat to the branches of his developing lungs, and his "tail" is just about gone. In his brain, nerve cells are branching out to connect with one another, forming primitive neural pathways. You may be daydreaming about your baby as one sex or the other, but the external genitals still haven't developed enough to reveal whether you're having a boy or a girl. Either way, your baby — about the size of a kidney bean — is constantly moving and shifting, though you still can't feel it.

See what's going on in your uterus this week.

Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.

How your life's changing:
You may notice that your bra is getting more snug. Soon you'll likely need a larger size with better support. Rising levels of hormones cause breast growth and other tissue changes, all in preparation for lactation. Your breasts may continue to grow throughout pregnancy. Don't be surprised if you go up a cup size or two, especially if it's your first baby. Keep this in mind, and allow for room to grow when investing in a new bra.

Feeling fatigued? Hormonal changes — in particular, a dramatic rise in progesterone — may be contributing to your sluggishness. Nausea and vomiting can certainly cost you energy, too. And you may be having trouble getting a good night's sleep at this point, especially if you're uncomfortable or find you need to get up to pee.

Walking to beat fatigue "Taking a short 15- to 20-minute walk helped me cope with the overwhelming fatigue that hit me in the first trimester. It was the only way I made it through a day at work without a nap!" —Gabriela


Decision Guide: Which prenatal tests are for you?


Your healthcare provider will offer you a range of genetic screening and diagnostic tests during your pregnancy. Some are simple blood tests, while others involve more invasive procedures — and all are optional. Before you agree to any test, ask your caregiver to explain what it is, how it's done, whether the test itself is risky in any way, and what the results will tell you. Many prenatal tests are for screening rather than diagnostic purposes. Screening tests give you a sense of your risk for certain conditions. But only a diagnostic test can tell you for sure whether your baby has a problem. Here are your options during the first trimester:

First-trimester combined screening test: This relatively new screening test combines a nuchal fold scan (using ultrasound to measure the clear space in the tissue at the back of your developing baby's neck) with a blood test to measure two proteins. The scan is performed between 11 weeks of pregnancy through the end of 13 weeks, and the blood test may be done at the same time or possibly a few weeks earlier. First-trimester combined screening gives you information about your baby's odds of having Down syndrome and may tell you whether your baby's at higher risk for a few other problems as well. Although it's not diagnostic, the screening is essentially risk-free and may help you decide whether you want invasive diagnostic testing such as chorionic villus sampling (CVS) or amniocentesis, which slightly increase the risk of miscarriage.

Chorionic villus sampling (CVS): This diagnostic test involves collecting cells from the placenta, which are then sent to a lab for genetic analysis. CVS can identify whether your baby has any of hundreds of chromosomal abnormalities and other genetic disorders. It's done in the first trimester, usually between 11 and 12 weeks, making it an earlier alternative to another diagnostic genetic test called amniocentesis, which is done between 16 and 20 weeks.

Get a complete overview of the testing for Down syndrome and other chromosomal abnormalities available to you during your pregnancy.

How cute...

If it's a boy:

If it's a girl:

7 weeks pregnant

Your pregnancy: 7 weeks

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How your baby's growing:

The big news this week: Hands and feet are emerging from developing arms and legs — although they look more like paddles at this point than the tiny, pudgy extremities you're daydreaming about holding and tickling. Technically, your baby is still considered an embryo and has something of a small tail, which is an extension of her tailbone. The tail will disappear within a few weeks, but that's the only thing getting smaller. Your baby has doubled in size since last week and now measures half an inch long, about the size of a blueberry.

If you could see inside your womb, you'd spot eyelid folds partially covering her peepers, which already have some color, as well as the tip of her nose and tiny veins beneath parchment-thin skin. Both hemispheres of your baby's brain are growing, and her liver is churning out red blood cells until her bone marrow forms and takes over this role. She also has an appendix and a pancreas, which will eventually produce the hormone insulin to aid in digestion. A loop in your baby's growing intestines is bulging into her umbilical cord, which now has distinct blood vessels to carry oxygen and nutrients to and from her tiny body.

See what's going on in your uterus this week.

Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.

How your life's changing:

Your uterus has doubled in size in the past five weeks, and eating may feel like a chore — or worse — thanks to morning sickness, which by now may be in full swing. (If you're feeling fine, don't worry — you're lucky!)

You may need to pee more than usual, too, thanks to your increasing blood volume and the extra fluid being processed through your kidneys. (By now, you already have about 10 percent more blood than you did before you were pregnant. And by the end of your pregnancy, you'll have 40 to 45 percent more blood running through your veins to meet the demands of your full-term baby.) As your uterus grows, pressure on your bladder will send you to the bathroom as well.

About half of the women who feel nauseated during the first trimester will find complete relief by about 14 weeks. For most of the rest, it'll take another month or so for the queasiness to ease up. It's unlikely, though, that the need to pee more than usual will ease up. In fact, research shows that both the frequency and volume of urine tends to increase over the course of pregnancy.

3 Questions About... Prenatal checkups

Sometime in the next few weeks is the perfect time to see your healthcare provider for your first prenatal visit. Good prenatal care helps give your baby a healthy start in life.

Q1.

How should I prepare for my first appointment?
Write down all of your questions and bring them with you so you can use your time effectively and get the professional advice you're hungry for. Mention everything you're feeling or wondering about, no matter how insignificant. Also:


• Bring a list of all your medications (prescription and over the counter, including supplements) so your caregiver can assess whether they're safe to take now.

• Look back over your calendar and note the first day of your last period. Your doctor or midwife will use this date to estimate your baby's due date. (Don't worry if you haven't been keeping track or have irregular periods. If you don't have a reliable menstrual date, your caregiver can schedule an early ultrasound to date your pregnancy.)

• Take some time to review your family medical history and your partner's. If you're not sure whether anyone in your family has a chromosomal or genetic disorder, check in with your parents or another close relative. Your caregiver will ask you about this to help guide her prenatal testing recommendations.

Q2.

What happens during these appointments? Your practitioner will generally start by asking how you're feeling physically and emotionally, whether you have any complaints or worries, and what questions you may have. She'll have other questions as well, which will vary depending on how far along you are and whether she has specific concerns.

The goal of prenatal visits is to see how your pregnancy is proceeding and to provide you with the information you need to help keep you and your baby healthy. Your midwife or doctor will check your weight, blood pressure, and urine; measure your abdomen; check the position of your baby; listen to your baby's heartbeat; perform other exams and order tests as appropriate; and closely monitor any complications you may have and intervene if necessary.

At the end of the visit, your practitioner will review her findings with you, explain the normal changes to expect before your next visit and the warning signs to watch for, counsel you about lifestyle issues (such as the importance of good nutrition and avoiding tobacco, alcohol, and drugs), and discuss the pros and cons of optional tests you may want to consider.

Q3.

Should my partner go with me?
That's up to you. Some couples find that they benefit from going to prenatal appointments together — especially the biggies like the first visit, the ultrasound exam, and anytime key test results will be revealed. Here's what other BabyCenter couples say: 57% of pregnant women who took our poll said they always want their partners to attend appointments with them. 37% of partners say they go to every prenatal appointment.

If you're not happy with your caregiver, look for another. The average woman has about ten to 15 prenatal visits, so it's important to choose someone you like and trust. For more information, see How to choose a prenatal caregiver and What to expect at prenatal appointments.

• Some moms-to-be want their partner to join them for every prenatal appointment. Others are happy to go on their own. How do you feel about it?

This Week's Activity:

Take a photo of your belly. Have someone take a picture of you this week — before your pregnancy starts showing. Then keep taking photos once a month until your baby arrives. It's a great way to track your progress, and you'll love having the keepsake. Tips for a great shot: Consider wearing the same outfit, standing in the same spot, and striking the same pose (profiles work best) for each photo. Black-and-white shots and nudes or semi-nudes can be especially beautiful.

6 Weeks

Your pregnancy: 6 weeks

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How your baby's growing: This week's major developments: The nose, mouth, and ears that you'll spend so much time kissing in eight months are beginning to take shape. If you could see into your uterus, you'd find an oversize head and dark spots where your baby's eyes and nostrils are starting to form. His emerging ears are marked by small depressions on the sides of the head, and his arms and legs by protruding buds. His heart is beating about 100 to 160 times a minute — almost twice as fast as yours — and blood is beginning to course through his body. His intestines are developing, and the bud of tissue that will give rise to his lungs has appeared. His pituitary gland is forming, as are the rest of his brain, muscles, and bones. Right now, your baby is a quarter of an inch long, about the size of a lentil bean.

See what's going on in your uterus this week.

Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.

How your life's changing: You may find yourself developing a bit of a split personality — feeling moody one day and joyful the next. Unsettling as this is (especially if you pride yourself on being in control), what you're going through is normal. Ricocheting emotions are caused partly by fluctuating hormones. But hormones aside, your life is about to change in a big way — and who wouldn't feel emotional about that?

Spotting (spots of blood on your underpants or toilet tissue after urinating) or bleeding is relatively common in early pregnancy, affecting up to a quarter of pregnant women. It may occur in a normal pregnancy, but sometimes it can be the first sign of miscarriage or an ectopic pregnancy. If you have any spotting or bleeding, call your provider.

The chewable alternative "My prenatal vitamins made me sick, so my doctor gave me a prescription for fruit-flavored chewable prenatal vitamins and suggested I take them with meals. That really helped." — Janice

Surprising Facts: Could it be twins?

Sure, twins run in families and you're more likely to be carrying multiples if you've undergone fertility treatments, but any woman can become pregnant with more than one baby. Could you be one of them?

Your odds of carrying twins


* Overall, about one in 31 births (greater than 3 percent) are twin births. But your chances of having twins are much less — 1 in 89 — if you conceive without medical assistance. The overall odds of bearing triplets or higher-order multiples is about 1 in 565.

* Identical twins usually happen by chance. Your likelihood of having identical, or monozygotic, twins (when one fertilized egg divides in half) is about 1 in 250.

* A number of factors affect your odds of having fraternal twins or higher-order multiples. Fertility treatments dramatically increase your odds. On average, 20 to 25 percent of women who take fertility drugs or undergo in vitro fertilization or other assisted reproductive techniques end up carrying more than one baby.

Other factors that influence the likelihood of having fraternal twins
* Once you have a set of fraternal twins, you're twice as likely to have another set in a future pregnancy.

* Fraternal twins run in families, so if you're a twin or related to twins, you're more likely to have a set yourself. Your partner's family history doesn't appear to affect your odds of having twins.

* The older you are, the greater your chances of having naturally occurring fraternal twins or higher-order multiples. Hormonal changes in older women are a likely cause.

* Fraternal twins are more common than average in African Americans and less common in Hispanics and Asians.

* The more pregnancies you've had, the greater your chances of having twins.

* Twins are more common in large and tall women than in small women.

When you'll find out whether you're carrying twins
These days, women typically discover they're having more than one baby during an ultrasound, often in the first trimester. If you opt for first-trimester genetic screening, you'll have an ultrasound between 11 and 13 weeks. If you're pregnant as a result of a fertility treatment, you'll probably have an earlier ultrasound, usually within the first eight weeks to count the number of embryos that have implanted. Your practitioner also will recommend an ultrasound if your uterus is larger than would be expected given the number of weeks since your last period. Ultrasound is almost foolproof at revealing multiple pregnancies, particularly after six to eight weeks. However, the more babies you're carrying, the easier it is for one to get overlooked.

My note: I'm tired! Wholy moly! I cry all the time but thats nothing new. I can feel the cramping which is the oddest thing! I had 3 psychic readings and all said a girl. We shall see... in 9 weeks (15 weeks) I will have a 4d for gender determination :) Let's hope theres only 1 baby in there!
OH and I've been craving HAMBURGER!! Weird cause if you know me, I haven' eaten read meat in about 6 years. Well, I did it. I ate a hamburger. It was sooo yum. NOW I'm hooked on jack in the box tacos. lord help me.

5 weeks update

Your pregnancy: 5 weeks

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How your baby's growing:

Deep in your uterus your embryo is growing at a furious pace. At this point, he's about the size of a sesame seed, and he looks more like a tiny tadpole than a human. He's now made up of three layers — the ectoderm, the mesoderm, and the endoderm — which will later form all of his organs and tissues.

The neural tube — from which your baby's brain, spinal cord, nerves, and backbone will sprout — is starting to develop in the top layer, called the ectoderm. This layer will also give rise to his skin, hair, nails, mammary and sweat glands, and tooth enamel.

His heart and circulatory system begin to form in the middle layer, or mesoderm. (This week, in fact, his tiny heart begins to divide into chambers and beat and pump blood.) The mesoderm will also form your baby's muscles, cartilage, bone, and subcutaneous (under skin) tissue.

The third layer, or endoderm, will house his lungs, intestines, and rudimentary urinary system, as well as his thyroid, liver, and pancreas. In the meantime, the primitive placenta and umbilical cord, which deliver nourishment and oxygen to your baby, are already on the job.

See what's going on in your uterus this week.

Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.

How your life's changing:

You may notice some pregnancy-related discomforts already. Many women report sore breasts, fatigue, and frequent urination starting in the early weeks. You may also have nausea, though it's more likely to show up in the coming weeks.

The outside world won't see any sign of the dramatic developments taking place inside you — except that you're turning down that glass of wine with dinner, perhaps. It's important to avoid alcohol throughout your pregnancy since no one knows exactly how much — or how little — alcohol can harm a developing baby.

You'll also want to continue or start an exercise routine. Exercise helps you develop the strength and endurance you'll need to manage the extra weight you'll be carrying. It may help prevent some of the aches and pains of pregnancy, and many women find that it's a great stress-reducer. Exercise can also help you get ready for the physical rigors of labor.

Finally, it's easier to bounce back after you give birth if you've continued some form of exercise throughout pregnancy. Choose a safe, moderately vigorous activity you enjoy. (Walking and swimming are fine choices for pregnant women.)

Dads, there are plenty of ways to participate in your partner's pregnancy — even this early in the game. Check out these great tips on how to get involved.

Easing breast pain "I found out I was pregnant and boom — my breasts got really tender right away. So I started wearing my sports bra all the time. It really helped ease my discomfort." — Jennifer

Surprising Facts: Safety tips for a healthy pregnancy

These early months of pregnancy are a critical time for your baby's development. Taking a few key steps now can help protect your baby's health and your own. (Read our complete list of steps for a healthy pregnancy.)

Get early prenatal care and keep up with your appointments. Good prenatal care is essential to your baby's health — and to yours. At your first prenatal visit (usually around eight weeks) you'll be screened for certain conditions that could lead to complications. If you haven't yet chosen a caregiver and set up an appointment, make it a priority now.

Take your prenatal vitamin. Most prenatal supplements contain more folic acid, iron, and calcium than you'll find in a standard multivitamin. Pregnant women need more of these nutrients. (Don't overdo the vitamins, though; more is not necessarily better and in some cases can even be dangerous.)

It's particularly critical to get enough folic acid while trying to conceive and during your first trimester because it greatly reduces your baby's risk of developing neural tube birth defects such as spina bifida.

Consult your caregiver about the medications you're taking. Many drugs — even some over-the-counter ones — aren't safe during pregnancy. If you take any medications to treat a chronic condition, don't stop them cold turkey but call your caregiver right away to go through your medication list and find out what's safe and what's not. Mention everything, even supplements and herbs.

Stop smoking. Smoking increases your risk of a host of problems, including miscarriage, placental problems, and

preterm birth. It also slows fetal growth and increases the risk of stillbirth and infant death. Some research has even linked smoking to an increased risk of having a baby with a cleft lip or palate.

It's never too late to quit or cut back. Every cigarette you don't light gives your baby a better chance of being healthy. For help, visit BabyCenter's quitting smoking during pregnancy area.

Stop drinking alcohol. As little as one drink a day can increase the odds of low birth weight and raise your child's risk for problems with learning, speech, attention span, language, and hyperactivity. No one knows exactly how harmful even the smallest amount of alcohol may be to a developing baby, so skip the booze altogether.

Make sure your home and job are safe. Some jobs or hobbies can be hazardous to you and your developing baby. If you're routinely exposed to chemicals, heavy metals (like lead or mercury), certain biologic agents, or radiation, you'll need to make some changes as soon as possible.

Keep in mind that some cleaning products, pesticides, solvents, and lead in drinking water from old pipes can also be harmful. Talk to your doctor or midwife about what your daily routine involves, so you can come up with ways to avoid or eliminate hazards in your home and workplace.

This Week's Activity:

Choose a doctor or midwife and schedule an appointment. To prepare, jot down the first day of your last period (so she can determine your due date) and start making a list of any questions that arise.

Talk to relatives on both sides about your families' medical histories. Your caregiver will want to know whether any chronic conditions or genetic abnormalities run in either of your families.

My note: I've been super tired! No real morning sickness though which is good. We have our dr and our 1st appt is March 17th. My boobs hurt real bad and already grew a cup! HOW excited am I?!