Baby Bell is Thirteen Weeks!

13 weeks

The baby:

Little Baby Bell is the size of a peach!

Baby Bell is forming vocal chords that will keep wake us up in the wee hours of the morning here in 6 months. She also has fingerprints! Here is the latest ultrasound of our little miracle.

The Momma:

I finally have a bump (or at least that's what i'm calling the pooch I can no longer suck in or button around).

The bad:  

Dizziness and headaches are hitting like CRAZY! For the dizziness I just take it slow, drink my water and eat something. The headaches are a different battle. They've hit every night since since the tornados in May and all I can do is take my two tylenol, drink some water, and take it easy. There's points where it hurts to chew food.

The strange: 

I don't normally sweat a lot (except my occasional night sweats that would soak the sheets), these past few weeks have a been different story. I've had to switch to clinical deodorant b/c it's just getting out of hand.  

I've also started having an allergic reaction to my wedding rings. At first I thought maybe it was water or lotion causing the friction, so I took them off and let my finger heal. I wore them for two days (taking them off at night like I always do) and BAM red ring around my finger and now in the creases in between my fingers. 

This morning I experienced random morning sickness. I got into my car, began to dry heave and ran inside. Once inside I was fine until I coughed and them I ran for the bathroom. So thankful that I haven't had this lovely symptom my whole pregnancy so far.

Random crying. The first time I was watching a Marshall's commercial and eating a tatter tot and i began ugly crying (which lasted for 15 min.). The second time was at work. I think I had tears of some form from 9:45 until I went to lunch at 1pm....it was BAD.

The Good: 

I'm in my second trimester!!! I'm starting to get energy back! I'm also pregnant so that's the best part.

Another good is that we LOVE our doctor. When I found out I was pregnant I was SO nervous since we had a miscarriage a year and half before that. I started researching doctors like crazy. I wanted someone who wasn't going to straight forward and honest and yet compassionate. After several websites I found one, Dr. Williamson and he was covered in my insurance! He's knows I was a little worried in the beginning and he's still so reassuring with every visit, always telling me the status of our baby and if he has any concerns. So far our sweet baby is perfect and there are no concerns! 

What i'm excited about:

Our next appointment, there is a 70-80% chance we'll find out if I'm right or if Chris is!

Baby Bell is Twelve Weeks!

12 weeks

The baby:

Little Baby Bell is the size of a plum!

By week twelve almost all of baby's systems are fully formed. She's now developing her reflexes, if I poke her she'll move! She's also opening and closing her fingers and curling her toes. Our little einstein's brain is developing fast! 

The Momma:

Let's see...I drool on myself, a lot. I read that increased saliva is normal in pregnancy but I didn't think i'd drool like I just had work done on my teeth. I've also been getting little dizzy spells every once in a while, but sitting down and drinking water does the trick. And the third thing is I run out of breath super fast, it's so strange (even walking from the bedroom to the kitchen). On a good note though i'm seeing the light at the end of the first trimester tunnel. My energy is coming back and so is my appetite! Woo hoo!1`

What i'm excited about:

Paul McCartney was awesome!! This week we're going to Lion King!! We also have our 12 week appointment on Wednesday!! 

Baby Bell is Eleven Weeks!

11 weeks

The baby:

Little Baby Bell is the size of a lime...

"I blew out my flip-flop

 Stepped on a pop-top

 Cut my heel, had to cruise on back home

 But there's booze in the blender

 And soon it will render

 That frozen concoction that helps me hang on"

By week 11, her tooth buds, hair follicles and nail beds are forming. Her skin is see-through (creepy), but she's on her way to looking more like a baby. Her finger and toes aren't webbed anymore (woo hoo! There's no longer a frog in my belly), and she's moving fluidly and gracefully in there, even though I can't feel it.

The Momma:

Nausea: All gone!

Fatigue: Less are less frequent, just laying down refreshes me now.

Aches and Pains: no new one...unless clothes getting smaller is considered and ache and pain.  

Cravings: BBQ, Shabu Shabu, cereal (Frosted Flakes and Honey Nut Cheerios) and fruit! 

Aversions: Fried food (other than fried okra, yum yum get in my tummy) and still anything cooked stove top at home.

What i'm excited about:

Seeing our sweet angel again in a week and half. This week Baby Bell gets to see Sir Paul McCartney, this baby is going to be born with great taste in music!

Baby Bell is Ten Weeks!

10 weeks

The baby:

Little Baby Bell is the size of a prune! This week our baby's body length will almost double in the next three weeks. At 10 weeks she has working arm joints, and her cartilage and bones are forming. Her vital organs are fully developed, and they're starting to function. Her fingernails and hair are starting to appear too!

The Momma:

Nausea: The start of week 10 was brutal, nausea and just a feeling of being full all the time.

Fatigue: I heart naps still.

Aches and Pains: After using chopsticks at dinner one night my joints in left hand hurt for three days.

Cravings: Still BBQ and Shabu Shabu! 

Aversions: Things cooked stovetop at home still.

What i'm excited about:

Going back to the Dr. on the 5th. I absolutely love my doctor! Dr. Williamson at Tulsa OBGYN Associates is amazing!

Baby Bell is Nine Weeks!

9 weeks

The baby:

Little Baby Bell is the size of an olive (mmm....dirty martinis how I miss thee)! This week our baby is developing more ditinct facial fetaures and "her" heartbeat is getting stronger!

The Momma:

Nausea: only really getting it when I get hungry.

Fatigue: Still needing my little afternoon naps.

Aches and Pains: nothing new!

Cravings: BBQ and Shabu Shabu!!! 

Aversions: Anything cooked at home. 

What i'm excited about:

We got to see our baby and let the world of facebook know (b/c nothing really happens until it's FBO)!

Our little Olive also got to go to "her" first festival this year! She's already heard MUSE (before we found out we were expecting) and this weekend she got to go to Jazz Fest in New Orleans and it was a blast. We got to see Willie Nelson, MuteMath a kick butt gospel choir, a blues player that toured with BBKing and Black Keys. Balck Keys was by far Baby Bell's favorite. "She" also really likes crawfish (thank goodness).

Baby Bell is Eight Weeks!!

8 weeks

The baby:

Little Baby Bell is the size of a respberry! This week baby's arms and leg are moving like crazy! This week her taste buds form! 

The Momma:

Nausea: Nausea comes and goes, thinking of asking for some Zofran so maybe I can eat a little bit more. 

Fatigue: Less naps this week!! But still am dead by about 9pm.

Aches and Pains: this week my abs have been achy like I just did a bunch of sit-ups (which I haven't done in AGES). 

Cravings: Salads, fruits, and SNO CONES!!! 

Aversions: Fried food, it just doesnt' taste or smell good anymore. 

What i'm excited about:

Seeing our baby on Wednesday and telling the world of Facebook! Thank you everyone who has been praying for me the past few weeks!

Baby Bell is Seven weeks!

7 weeks

The baby:

Little Baby Bell is the size of a blueberry! This week baby's arms and leg joints are forming and her (i've already decided our baby is a girl) brain and heart are becoming more complex. Grow baby grow!

The Momma:

Nausea: This week nausea has been the worst, still no throwing up PTL! The smell of Alcohol and cigarette smoke still make my stomach turn and wheat break makes things taste rotten. 

Fatigue: This week is the same as last week; I can't get enough sleep! But, i'm enjoying while I can because once our little one is born GOODBYE SLEEP!

Aches and Pains: Thankfully my caffein withdrawal has subsided. The girls are still a growing so the pain is still coming on strong (who needs a boob job, just get pregnant!). Chapped lips, you would think with drinking 80-100 ounces of water hydration would be no problem. Thankfully I was introduced to aquaphor when I was on Retin-A ages ago, it's a miracle worker on dry skin. 

Cravings: Mexican Food sounds bueno all the time!

Aversions: eh, they come and go. Meats is a big one though this week. We use to grill steaks, chicken, and pork chops all the time and now they just dont' sound good AT ALL. 

What i'm excited about:

We told my parents. At dinner I told them I had a new app that let you share pictures. Thankfully they both said "oh, like when we bump our phones", I said yeah but I have an iphone so I had to download this app . I told them they would be getting a text asking permission for me to see their pictures (I sent them the ultrasound). They thought I had sent them a picture of a potato chip.

One more week we get to see our little one again!

Baby Bell is Six weeks!

6 weeks

Today we went in to get what we thought was a 8 week ultrasound but SURPRISE i'm only 6 weeks. But we did get to see our little wee one's heartbeat, 6 weeks and there's a heartbeat! Our nice Dr. is letting us come back in on the 8th and i'll be 81/2 weeks, I'm so excited!!!

The baby:

Little Baby Bell is about the size of a sweet pea! Baby's heart is already beating and and this week eyes, ears, chin, cheeks, and a cute little nose will start sprouting!

The Momma:

Nausea: all day long, so far the only thing that makes me feel better is ginger tea and saltines. Food doesn't sound good but the hungrier I get the sicker I feel. I am extremely thankful though that I do not have morning sickness (I can't stand throwing up).

Fatigue: lets see, I go to bed around 9:30pm-10:00pm and get up at 7:00am. I work 8:00am-5:00pm and I usually take about a 2 - 2 1/2 hour nap when I get home. So i'm averaging about 12 hours of sleep....yikes! Needless to say my house is a wreck.

Pains: Ah the girls, I find they hurt worse when I wake up. Almost like they've been used as punching bags. I don't recommend quitting caffeine cold turkey unless you're ready for a week of intense back pain (I was a bit addicted). Last but not least sciatic nerve pain! This week has been better, my right leg had a warm almost burning sensation from my tush to my pinky toe.

Dreams: Man, I have crazy dreams these days. Being in the main group from Walking Dead has to be one of the strangest dreams. I've also had dreams where I go in for an ultrasound and the doctor just pulls out a sack with our baby in it from my who ha and then sticks the baby bag back in when he's done.

What i'm excited about:

Telling my parents at dinner this weekend and Chris's Aunt and Uncles when we go to Jazz Fest next weeked.

The Bells are having a baby!!

April 5th:

I'm preparing a mushroom white wine sauce for Chris and I's date night in. I'm a couple days late so I decided to err on the side of caution before we split a bottle of wine. Within 10 seconds of placing the stick on the counter I have two lines, my immediate reaction was there's got to be something wrong with the test. It's an off brand i've never used and it didn't have a cap (even though the instructions say to place the cap back on). I begin reading reviews and see that it's a brand that people actually prefer. So I wrap up the stick in a nice little box and left it for Chris on the coffee table.

His reaction when he opened it? Does this mean you're pregnant?

I still wasn't convinced that the test was right so I took another one...same results.

And because I didn't trust the brand I went and got a digital test...on Sunday...on the way to Cracker Barrel with my family. Sorry mom, I didn't really have a headache when you saw us stop at CVS. 

(sorry Cracker Barrel Owasso, but I needed to make sure with a test I trusted. It was a 31 year old married woman, not a pregnant teen or one of your associates, using your bathroom for testing purposes) 

Our little family of two's history:

In 2011, 3 months after getting married, Chris and I found I was 4 weeks pregnant. Which was  a HUGE shocker because I was on birth control. We went in for the ultrasound at 9 1/2 weeks and found out I had a miscarriage. I ended up having a D&C and the doc let me know it was just a normal MC and there was nothing wrong.  We began trying about 6 months later to get pregnant again. We were creeping up at the year of TTC mark and still nothing and I began getting frustrated, I mean I can get pregnant on birth control but not off of it? During the 2nd week of Alter Ego at LifeChurch.tv Craig asked us to write down something we were trying to control that we needed to let God handle. I immediately wrote down "getting pregnant". 7 Weeks later i'm 4 weeks pregnant! God is good all the time, and all the time God is good!