Magical Moment

Brian was finally able to feel BP move the other night. It has felt strong enough for a few days that Brian should be able to feel something so each night the past week after I feel BP start to move we have been sitting with Brian's hand on my belly for 15-20 minutes and BP would just stop moving. After awhile we would give up and go about our business and then it never failed that a few minutes later I could feel BP moving around- on the positive side it seems that Brian is already able to calm BP which may come in handy in the middle of the night. Friday we went though our same ritual and the first 20 minutes I could feel some but Brian wasn't feeling it. We were sitting on the couch together watching TV and sure enough after Brian moved his hand a few minutes later BP was pounding away, we are really starting to wonder what BP's personality is going to be. This time Brian was able to get his hand back fast enough to feel a few of BP's little movements - amazing!

On a different note: It sounds like at this point Brian hopefully shouldn't have to have surgery on his knee. He has met with a surgeon in Fargo who is surprised that he is even walking after looking at his MRI - sounds like he is actually pretty lucky. Brian is going to start physically therapy here in Jamestown and then in 2 weeks he is going back to see the surgeon in Fargo and we will see where we go from there. His next appointment I actually have the afternoon off from work so I will be able to go along and hopefully have a better idea of what is going on, hearing it second hand is never the same.

22 Weeks

BP has stretched to the size of a spaghetti squash and weights over 1 pound. BP is over 11 inches in length.

BP's new shirt

I found this shirt in Fargo this weekend and had to buy it.

Growing like a weed

Today we had a regular OB appointment...nothing exciting like an ultrasound just pee in a cup and listen to BP's little heart beat (which is always fun). Today the doctor did something that we haven't done before - he measured the fundus height (which is the measurement to the top of the uterus) - it measured 24cm. The general rule of thumb is 1 cm for every week pregnant you are which puts us at 21 1/2. The doctor was a little surprised and asked if we were sure were weren't having twins (believe me with all the ultrasounds and dr appointments we are only having one). I did tell him BP has been measuring ahead of schedule on the past few ultrasounds and he said it is all normal that is just the way some babies and women are. When I talked to Brian afterwards of coarse the topic of BP weighing 10 pounds was brought up again but again that isn't going to happen - if BP gets big enough I have decided that s/he will be coming a week or so early. The doctor did ask how big Brian and I were and we were both between 7-8lbs so genetically speaking he said BP should be close to that. Time will tell; all we care about it BP is growing and will be born healthy.

21 Weeks

BP - currently the length of a carrot- weighs 3/4 of a pound and is 10 1/2 inches from head to heel.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

First of all I would like to make note that I was not the one to dress up Charlie this time - he came home from daycare looking like this.
Things at our house have been very quite this week. I have been battling a cold for the past few day - which isn't very much fun especially when there isn't a lot of good drugs that you can take for it. Brian is still in a lot of pain from his accident last week. He was at a fire last Thursday and long story short he ended up dislocating his knee, or something to that effect. It is swollen and black & blue - looks pretty gross. I wanted to post of pic but he wouldn't let me. So he went back to the doctor today and after having a little chat about using his crutches, I will let you guess if he has been using them the past week, they scheduled him for a MRI on Thursday to see what is going on. At this point it looks like he may have to take a week or two off from work and actually sit and relax or they may need surgery to fix it, I am really hoping for the week of relaxation. I guess we will wait and see what happens.
BP is still doing well and going strong. The movements are starting to become more frequent and seem to be getting stronger. I don't think it will be much longer and Brian should be able to feel some of the wonderful sensations that I have been feeling.

Foot Prints in our hearts

Everything went well at our appointment yesterday. We had another ultrasound, as you can see, and BP is getting bigger everyday. We are 20 weeks along today and watching all the measurements yesterday BP is between 20-21 weeks - right on track. The took measurements of the head, parts of the brain, arms, legs, heart (you could actually see the 4 chambers and they should us the blood flow - very cool!), and the stomach. Most of BP measures 20 weeks and a few days, which every baby grows differently so nothing to worry about, then they got to BP's stomach and it measured just over 21 weeks so BP is getting enough to eat - I did tell Brian that BP takes after him a little bit. In the picture you can see BP's leg and foot (the leg is coming out of the left side of the pic and the foot is toward the middle with tiny little toes. BP is now up to 13 ounces and Brian is still convinced that s/he will be a 10 pound baby but I have other ideas. We still plan on not finding out if BP is a boy or girl, though we have started to refer to BP as "him" - I assure you it has no reflection on any knowledge we are hiding from you all- we do know now that the gender of BP is in our chart at the hospital but that is where it is going to stay for the next 20 weeks.
My mom came up for a few days to come and see BP with me and now she is helping, or should I say doing most of the work, getting some things done in the nursery - like making the curtains and hanging up the wallpaper boarder. It is wonderful to have her come and stay for a few days and help up prepare for our little miracle that is on the way!

20 Weeks

BP has grown as big as a banana. BP's length is about 6 1/2 inches from head to bottom and 10 inches from head to heel.

Little BP

Here is a profile shot of BP from our appointment yesterday. All looks great - I will post more on what the dr said this evening.

Rub the Belly

We haven't really posted much in the last week but not much has happened. My co-workers have told me that I have definitely "popped" and I was asked for the first time by a customer at the bank if I was pregnant. We have decided that must look like it because that is not a question that is very safe to ask a woman unless you are 99% sure the answer is yes. Now that my belly is visibly grown but isn't huge yet people think it is cute - or at least that is what they say - and since it is so cute people have started to rub or touch my cute belly. I don't mind this yet because so far it has been people that I know but I have read that strangers will come up to you and do the same thing...not looking forward to those experiences.
On another note it is only Tuesday and I am already exhausted. The weather here is not helping we have had rain the past few days and it sounds like that is what we will have for the next couple as well. Charlie - who is just fearless (I say with a sarcastic tone) has been up at night whining and trying to hide under the bed. So we, Charlie & I, have been sleeping in the guest room and about the time I get him to settle down and go to sleep the cats start running around and want to play - last night I was about ready to give them all away. The thing that worries me the most is I don't know how parents function once baby comes and they are up throughout the night. I am really hoping that BP decides that s/he is going to start sleeping all night after the first few weeks - I know this isn't likely but I can always dream.

19 Weeks

BP equals a large heirloom tomato in size and weighs over 9 ounces. BP is over 6 inches from head to bottom.