Our Precious Orange...

My bump is well on it's way... Though there are days when the bump is more evident than others...but that is the norm so I have heard.

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This week the baby is very active--kicking like crazy (though I can't feel those kicks just yet). The size of our baby this week is about the size of an orange and measuring approximately 4 to 4 1/2 inches long! (It's amazing---our 8 week Teddy Graham has really sprouted). The baby's ears have moved to the sides of his/her head (they originally were located where the neck of the baby), the eyes are also moving into correct position (though they remained closed for a couple more weeks). Breathing is also in preparation as the baby begins to make movements that resemble breathing. Lastly his/her tiny toes and fingers and able to move freely (they are no longer fused together).

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I continue to feel pretty good. I am hoping that week 15 will sprout some energy. This is suppose to be the honey-moon trimester (free from morning sickness and lack of energy). We are getting pretty excited about our upcoming babymoon (we leave in 11 days)--so hopefully my energy level will return by then. (For all those interested we will be sailing in the Southern Caribbean from September 6 through the 13th).

This is all that I have to report on---make sure you check out the bump pictures from week 15 (posted below).

15 Week Belly Shoot!

We went crazy this week and decided to take some photos of our "orange." Whitney Dog even took part---our boys (the cats) were less than excited about the shoot (thus they aren't included in this weeks update).

Grandpa Kelley is a Angel...

This week was a tough week for our family. On August 24th 2009 Doug lost his father. This event was something we didn't expect to happen anytime soon. We have to look at the fact that we don't get to make the choice for life and we have to accept the decision that God has made.

Sitting in the flower garden outside the hospital on Sunday afternoon, I looked over at Doug and said, "If God decides to take your dad, maybe your dad will protect our baby." We have all heard the saying, "Everything happens for a reason..." Perhaps our baby needs an angel and Grandpa Kelley is that angel.

Grandpa Kelley was so excited that we were having a baby. The last time we saw grandpa at his home, we showed him the scrapbook that we are making for baby. We won't forget the excitement and the smiles we shared that day. This memory is something we cherish.

It's important to keep Grandpa Kelley's memories a live to share with our child someday and we will see it through that he/she knows just how much Grandpa loved them before they were even born.

Grandpa Kelley is an an angel above us and we were blessed with the time we shared with him.

Reality Check---You are Pregnant!

We are jumping into week 14 already! I think I have spent the last week of pregnancy sleeping... I have been absolutely exhausted! I can't wait to start feeling like myself again--anytime soon is what the books I have been reading suggests. For the time being the greatest perk to being pregnant is an excuse to nap and blame any grouchiness on hormones!

The baby this week is about clenched fist sized or if we compare produce once more---a lemon. A coat of lanugo (hair) covers the tiny body to keep he/she warm. As the baby continues to grow and gain weight the coat of lanugo will no longer be needed.

I have also felt some "growing pains" during the last week which is termed "pain with gain." The uterus is stretching for the baby's growth and it will be just a matter of time I'll be looking pregnant rather than just feeling pregnant. (Next week look for a baby bump picture update).

All in all I am laying low---resting up for our "baby moon" cruise in September! Only 18 days until departure... (but who is counting)?

Our Baby is a Peach! (Week 13)

This week we enter the second trimester (what a relief!). There is a lot controversy over the start of this trimester. Half the information I read says the second trimester begins at week 13 and the other half of the information states that the second semester doesn't actually begin until week 14...We are going to settle at 13 1/2 weeks.

The baby's growth this week resembles this peach! :) The vocal cords take formation during week 13 as well as the intestines have begun moving from the umbilical cord to the abdomen. From this week on the baby will grow at a faster rate and the rest of the world will soon take notice we are expecting.

Baby Bump Update: We decided to break the news to the rest of the world that we are expecting (via Facebook). I have also began to tell some of consumers that there will be an addition to our family in February. The greatest response I have received is, "You don't even look pregnant!" I'll take that as a compliment for now... There will be plenty of months I'll be waddling around like a penguin!

In other news... I will not be switching jobs after all---which is a tremendous relief. Instead I will be officially obtaining "full time" status within the next couple of months. I am going to soon have to kiss my Friday day offs goodbye.

This past weekend we also visited Wisconsin dells and basked in the sun while on the river. We took a fun trip to the cities to visit our friends Jenna and Ryan who just became parents themselves for the first time the last week in July. I couldn't get over the fact of how tiny new babies are! It will be great to have some advice from them in the coming months.

"Ahhh...What's up doc?"

Today's doctor appointment was AMAZING! I have to admit that sometimes I forget----"Hey yeah, I am REALLY pregnant!" At the visit today we heard baby's heart beat for the very first time! It turns out that our little one is quite active.... I have to say that I got a little (or a lot) nervous when the doctor was using the doppler to locate the baby (and the beating heart). It turns out our baby was doing loops and apparently kicking like crazy---so initially finding the beat wasn't a walk in the park. I guess it only makes sense that our baby is active as he/she has active parents.

Having completed our second appointment---we have a new sense of calm (that I hope lasts).

Our next appointment is a month out--September 4. We also scheduled or 18 week ultra sound for September 18 (where we will find out the sex of the baby).

It's a boy...?!?!?!?

This week (week 12---and the last official week of the first trimester) we decided it might be fun to take the IntelliGender Test. The test is the first at home gender test predictor. IntelliGender has been proven to be 90% effective in laboratory test and 82% effective in the general population. The instructions for the test are rather lengthy and require precise timing---so when I woke Doug up before leaving for work on Monday morning I told him the IntelliGender results pointed us towards a boy. Doug's reply was..."I had a dream last night you took the test." So I asked, "What were the results?" He said, "I don't know because you screwed up taking the test!" Thanks for the credit Hun, I figured it out! The boy result was no surprise for Doug---he has been telling me for weeks that it's a boy. It will be fun to find out the exact gender in September.

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Growth this week has reached plum sized! Hormones are starting to be produced by the pituitary gland---so our little boy (or girl) will have babies of his (her) own someday...It's amazing this is already happening in the first 3 months of life. The bone marrow is also making white blood cells (to keep baby healthy) and the digestive tract is having contractions (and producing hiccups) to help the baby be able to eat.

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Baby "BUMP" update: I can't officially say that I have a baby bump quite yet...it actually depends on what I have eaten or how much I feel like a hot air balloon (baby bloat)! Otherwise I continue to feel pretty good---despite a day here or there. Overall--I would like to think I escaped morning sickness (at least the worst of it). Pregnancy has been a journey thus far and we can't wait to see what the next 6 months brings us.

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On a financial note...I read on yahoo news today that it costs an estimated $221,000 to raise a child to the age of 17...really, that's it?!?! I thought we would have to break into our savings :).

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We have our second official appointment on Friday (August 7th). I will update the blog with appointment news.

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Today I had my 3rd and FINAL interview for Manager's position...We are in the process of negotiating and finalizing future options...I should know more by Friday.