it's a .......GIRL!!!!!!!

we had our big ultrasound at 19weeks 5 days and we got the amazing news! It is officially Aurora Eve, our little girl!


and we got some amazing shots of her face too!!

of course she doesn't really have any body fat so it still looks a little skeletal but isn't that awesome?!?!?!

and we got the traditional shots too:



and look at this one with her eye looking all crazy!!



and this is one of my favs lol, she was pointing and laughing at the ultrasound tech trying to get her to move haha!!!



her Auntie Amber and Auntie Tiffany and her cousin Jasmine were with us for this ultrasound and it was awesome! She was kicking and "talking" (moving her mouth open and closed ect) sooo much! And we found out that the circumference of her head is now over 4"... oh geez! That makes me a little nervous but I think I can do it! She is going to be so amazing and I just can't wait!

Billy and I are so excited to have a girl, we have both been hoping so hard for one and low and behold, here she is!!

I started doing the nursery a bit this week, just the bare bones of clearing out my office stuff and organizing the furniture a bit, we still have to paint ect.. but it feels good making progress!

oh another fun thing, I have a little bit of bruising around my bellybutton from the stretching lol. She kicks there all the time too!

20 weeks

she is now as long as a banana and weighs about 12 ounces and is over 10 1/2" long!! WOW!


she, yes SHE!!! is swallowing a lot and "talking" a lot (moving and opening her mouth as we saw constantly on the ultrasound) and getting all of her muscles working.
I swear she has turned into the hulk over the last few days. In LITERALLY the span of one day she went from a point where you could feel her move to where you could just sit there and watch my belly move!! SO STRONG! it's amazing!
We went to the TOOL concert last week and she dug it. Lots of kicking and rolling :)

I am also loosing my bellybutton, ME the one with the cavernous belly button.. it may possibly become an outie ACK!!!


I know, three pics is a bit extreme, but I'm kinda traumatized!!!!

and as I was sitting here doing this I took a pic for fun, I'll add a better one later today:

isn't it getting all round? :) I LOVE IT!!!

19 & 18 & 17 weeks photos

So I was aweful the last couple weeks in photo taking because I was working a lot and had other stuff going on.

for week 17 this is what I got:

a basketball lol

and at that point I could still kinda suck it in like this:


But I did go to Harry Potter (sigh.. they did such a good job maiming the story!) and now the baby has a pic wearing potter gear lol.
week 18

and ok, I look like poop, but hey it was a LOOONNGGG day!


and look how amazingly developed her ears are at this point!!!


and this is what they say she should be bundled up like by now, but I think she has more room than this:



week 19
ok officially my belly does not get smaller when I lay down now lol



She is of course pretty much just getting bigger and getting body fat now. All her senses are working and of course getting stronger but nothing "new" is developing these last couple weeks.

WEEK 19

ok so now that you've caught up on last weeks stuff, let's talk about this weeks stuff! (wow, can you believe that in 4 days I'll be halfway through my pregnancy?!!?)

we start measuring the legs this week! so now she is officially:
10-11" long! (they say 10" but since her legs were sooo long last month, I'm willing to be we have an extra inch in there!)

how long/tall is that? well, it's just an inch shy of barbies hight! wow! and obviously a lot bigger lol, seeing as how barbie is a bit annorexic looking. :)

what else is going on?

*weighs over 8.5 ounces! more than half a pound!
*hair is starting to sprout!! hooray for non baldness!
*heart is pumping more than 30 quarts a day!
well I'm at work so that's all i can post now. be back on later

WEEK 18

ok so technically as of today I'm a full 19 weeks, but I wanted to post the cool developments of week 18! :) I did some fun things while 18 weeks pregnant and I am sooo glad I did! I went on a medieval camping trip (Lonely Mountain-SCA event) last weekend and it was a blast!!!! I bellydanced at least a few hours each night and the baby LOVED it! She would "dance" with me, when I did a maya hip roll to the left, she'd roll right.. when I did it to the right, she'd roll left... over and over, like a game! Also found out if I did belly drops, she'd kick on the second one, in time with me, every time! hee hee.. everyone was joking that she's gonna come out wearing a jingly belt and shimmying lol. I also started my new job last week. I love it! I'm now working at Encantado Resort in NM. A VERY high end resort that truly captures the essense of fine customer service, which is what I love! My co-workers are fantastic and all are excited about the baby too. Then only draw back is that I'm on my feet 8 hours a day. Which is having some fun side effects...aka.. severe ankle swelling. I get home and I don't have ankles.. I have cankles. So swollen that it kind of looks like my ankles/feet are made out of that fake rubber stuff. But hey, if that's the only "bad" pregnancy thing I get, I'm set!!! Switching shoes today helped so we'll see how it goes.

Anyway, "she" continues to get really strong every day, you can often watch her kicking now, not just feel it. Still everytime she moves/kicks it amazes me. Everytime. To think that I have a whole other person inside me, who is building her likes,dislikes, personality... what a trip!!

ok, enough ramble.. on to the stuff you guys read this for: the updates:

*grown up enough to yawn when feeling tired of moving around
*6" long from head to butt!!! aahhh getting big!
*weighs about 1/2 a pound now! WOW! lol, ok so that's only 8oz.. but still...
*body is covered with lanugo—soft hairs and covered in vernix, a white, cheesy "cream" that protects her skin from the long bath in amniotic fluid

by now all the organs are of course doing most of their own work as they have been so that's not new.. She's just getting bigger and stronger! :)

post more later today with the CURRENT WEEK 19 UPDATES AND PICS!

Due date coolness

just found out that not only did I come exactly on my due date, but so did my mom! AND we were both born at EXACTLY 11:21am and we were BOTH 21" long. My mom and I were like twins lol. And now I am having so far an identical pregnancy to my moms with me. Felt movement early, no back pain, (well she had a teeny bit of nausea and I haven't), and I have a uterus that's tilted just like hers. Oh and I have her hips too lol. And her boobs doubled in size the first two months two lol. Seriously this is soo funny to me!

well, maybe I'll get her super easy 6 hour labor and 3 push birth!

Week 17

ok so we are now at 17 weeks and 3 days. It's amazing how quickly this is going! the baby has been doing awesome things every week and really, I know I've said this a bunch of times, but it's hard to believe that SO much is happening in the span of just a few days!!! Like last night, I lay there for about 20 minutes just feeling her kick and roll and play around. 20 minutes! this morning so far, it's been 15 minutes! It used to be a kick here or there, maybe a few minutes of movment at a time, now... well, it just gets more and more profoundly "in my face" that there is a little person growing inside me. And I am so grateful and so amazed everytime I feel "her".

I am having some concerns, mostly about how it's going to be with my mom coming back home. I'm worried about how much care she'll need, how overbearing she may be during my pregnancy and after the baby is here. Don't get me wrong, my mother is a child/baby GURU! no lie! but I don't want her hovering over me at 3am when the baby is crying or anything.. I guess I'm just a little worried about not having a seperate home. But we'll see! It might be wonderful and I'm worrying over nothing! :)

ok: so baby developements!

*over 5" long from head to butt now, and over 5 ounces!!!!!
*she is moving a LOT the last few days!
*this week marks the begining of "getting fat" for the baby!Fat helps their
heat/metabolism. This week the baby will have .018 oz of fat on "her"
body. By birth: 2/3 of body weight will be fat!! wow!
*the limbs are in normal porportion to the body and will stay like this until birth.
*the placenta is growing at the same rate with the baby now, and will weigh over a
pound at birth! It also is fully taking care of all the babies needs while
allowing the baby to do some of it's own "work" too!
*eyes are where they will be when the baby is born, and the ears are now "popping"
out more. (the "bowl" of the ear developing)
*"she" is developing reactions and personality responces (likes/not likes certain things) that will remain consistent. For instance, if certain types of music make
"her" move and wiggle happily, it is a sign that "she" enjoys it. When she
balls up in a tight spot and pushes into it (which hurts!!) it is a sign
that "she" doesn't like something. And those reactions will remain
consistant. Her reactions to voices is fun too! She REALLY likes certain
people!
*this week the parts of the brain that process other senses (sight, feel, taste) are
growing and developing FAST!
*all the joints are workable now, fingers, toes, neck, ect..
*the skeleton continues to harden and build more calcium!
*sweat glands are starting to develop
*the umbilical cord is getting very strong and thick now
*AND if we are in fact having a girl (2 1/2 more weeks to find out!) her ovaries are aready producing millions of primordial eggs, which in just a few weeks will become actual eggs!

***one thing I have thought is amazing for a while now is that for all the mothers who have had little girls think of this: you have already held every grandchild you will ever have from her. Isn't that amazing?!?! You are in essence carrying not just one generation in you, but two. Wow right?

There is SOOO MUCH that is going on this week!!!!! Isn't it incredible???

oh yeah, she's the size and weight of a turnip now lol

Week 16 belly! I'm lovin' it!!

Week 16.. .all kinds of fun stuff!

ok, so last week I had a several day run-in with the nightmare monster, but he has since retreated! ha! Other than that we have had some fun developments in the last week...

1) I am showing SO much more now! People ask when I'm due :) makes me so happy!

2) We have individual kicks, punches, rolls. At least a few times a day. They are getting much stronger and she seems to like it when we "kick" back. At least twice a day you can feel them easily from the outside (without pushing at all).

3) The bump is definitely higher, I am carrying high and center, my lower area is for sure "puffier" and harder than pre-pregnancy but I am not carrying the baby low by any means!

4) The nipples.. oh god the nipples.... HURTTTTTT!!!!! well, they hurt if anything brushes them.. ie fabric. As long as we have a bra on, we're good. :) and that is easing a little bit.

5) I'm starting to bust out of the 34D bra. Seriously. The dreaded pink bra of doom that I bought a couple months ago (36D) fits now. Still has a teeny bit of room before it fits just right, but yeah. barely. sigh.. in a couple weeks...


The baby of course is growing like a weed!!! In a week she has grown to right about 5 to 5.2" long from head to butt and weighs 5oz!! 1/3 of a pound folks!!! That is the same as a standard flip phone!!!


The other stuff that is going on with the baby:
*ears are "popped" out now and on the head like normal :)
*the head is much more erect
*the eyes are right about where they should be on the head.. by next week they'll be
set!
*growing toenails!! (ok ok so that's not exactly the coolest thing ever but still..)
*hair pattern is developing!! (please no crazy bald spots!! please!)
*heart is easily pumping 15 quarts of blood a day! WOW!
*of course we're also doing summersaults in mommys tummy regularly now
*the bones are dense enough to show on an xray
*frowning/smiling/"lemon" face are all possible now. :) hooray!!
*and of course the legs are getting stronger than the arms now (they will continue
to develop at this new ratio throughout the rest of the prengnancy)




well, I'll post a pic of me towards the end of this week.. maybe on tuesday :) time seems to be finally flying by! It felt like it took so long to finally be 3 months pregnant.. and now I'm into my 5th month already! WOW does it go fast! Next month we're going to start setting up the nursery (we have big plans. but I won't tell you till then!) and stocking up more on diapers. I love how involved Billy has been this whole time. Of course not just talking to the baby and playing with "her" but also in choosing themes, ideas, clothes, ect..

He's going to be a GREAT daddy!!!





and "she's" as big as an avacado!!



I can't wait till I can watch her kicking instead of just feeling it. Billys mom said that with Billy, you could watch him all day. He was always kicking and rolling and pressing his hand/foot against her stomach (she said you could see his hand when he'd do it!) I hope this one takes after her father that way! of course, I was a tap dancing queen when I was in my mommys tummy too! Just have to wait and see!

15 week belly pics!

daddy hands

daddy kisses!

I love my baby!

I can hold her now lol

My new view.... isn't it crazy!! I feel so big when I look at this! haha, I know I have a lot to go though, and I can't wait!

Week 15

wow, I love how quick this is starting to go! well, this week has seen the birth of the much bigger and constant bump, lots of stretching pains, and like 5 million trips to the bathroom a day. Seriously, I have to pee like EVERY HOUR!!! lol, it's pretty funny though.. I have no idea when I'll finally get used to it! Another odd thing that has been going on the last few days is really crappy dreams. And then waking in the middle of the night and taking another three hours to fall back asleep. They say that this is common and should go away in a week or two. I can't wait! But honestly, if this is as bad as I get it... I'm getting off EASY!

oh! we also went and did the registry at Target (going to do one more at Walmart so people have options) and that has definitely helped me feel a bit more accomplished in the planning part. Also got the birth plan all in order!

As far as baby goes, "she's" moving around a bit, but more stretching than anything else lately. We've started playing sounds for her and we're going to put some music on an MP3 player today and start doing the headphones thing. :)


week15/16


New Milestones:
*can hear and recognize voices/sounds
*can see light through the belly (can put a flashlight up and she'll move)
*whole body is covered in Lanugo, a fine hair that covers the body until the 8th
month of pregnancy.
*can compeltely flex/bend elbows, knees, wrists
*over 4" long!!! (from head to butt)
*bones are getting more dense and growing rapidly
*"breathing" amniotic fluid is a constant act now.. go lungs!
*and is starting to produce bile....ewww....lol

oh yeah! and we have had our vocal cords for three weeks now!

basically, our little one is really growing fast!!! she's the size of an APPLE now! heck, last week it was a lemon... ya know if this fruit comparisson thing keeps up, I'm going to end up having a gift basket! oh well, at least it's something we can measure right?

at 14 weeks from head to butt

of course, now add legs lol, getting big!

OMG!!! Kicks!

So guess what just happened a few minutes ago?!?!? FULL kicks! Like we watched my tummy move!!!! and Billy got to feel it all :) and she did it a BUNCH of times! I AM SOOO EXCITED! and she also was right near the surface so I could feel her little body a minute ago pressed up against me. She's getting big lol. Oh wow guys, I'm so so so thrilled, there are no words to describe! I can't believe how strong "she's" getting...It was seriously like 6 times the strength she had a few days ago. No lie.


wow. I guess that's all I can say! WOW!!! and thank you God for this amazing gift! :)

Ultrasound!

these were taken at 13 weeks, 6 days. Enjoy!!



I think she has my nose so far..



that highlighted line is the LEGS "she" was THAT stretched out in there! And look how much room is still left in there?!?!



wiggling



stretching and waving



those lines are the legs again (they go out of frame, that's how long they are!)
and the arms are up by the head, stretching again!

whoops Week 14 baby pics

Week 14

"she" is now 3.5" from head to butt... PLUS legs! so that means her body is this long:

the size of a samsung flip phone! now add on the legs! WOW!


I have been feeling lots of movement the last couple weeks, and it gets stronger everyday!
oh, and her legs are MUCH longer than the child in this photo. Yup, that's my kid!




Week 12

this is where I first really started to feel distinguishable movement.

week 14

so I have been horrible about updating. In all fairness I have a good excuse! From May 7th to the 19th, my sister was in ICU with hantavirus.. which means I was living there and in no mind set to update. and then on the 21st we left for our second honeymoon for 18 days! Which was wonderful and we had many baby "firsts" while we were there! I am now, as of yesterday, a full 14 weeks! And there have been MANY advancements by our little blueberry! I'll start listing 'em now:

*all the teeth are in the jaw!
*the abdomen has fully closed and the intestines are fully working
*not only can "she" hear, but also is starting to recognize voices!
*moving, rolling, kicking, jumping, and stretching out has been happening for a few weeks, and
I've been able to feel it for a couple weeks now! Billy even got to feel it a couple times!
*"breathing" is happening. The lungs are breathing anmiotic fluid now, practicing and
strengthening for real breathing.
*the eyes have sealed over, and won't open again until much later in the pregnancy.
*the ears are right about where they should be on the head.
*sucking, and "discovery" with the hands has been going on a couple weeks. (we saw in the ultrasound, "she" likes touching her face and resting her arms on her head)
*"she" can be startled now, and "jump"
*grasping and clenching is the newest fun thing to do with our hands.
*starting this week, "she" can taste and savor my meals! I think this might have started a week
or two ago, cause she's happy and wiggly every time I eat ethnic food lol

what's going on with me:
*still super healthy!
*still haven't had a "hard" pregnancy. I had almost no queasyness to begin with, and now there
is none. Tiny tiny bit of heartburn here and there, but not terrible.
*I have a BUMP!

Week 12


Week 13




Week 14!!!!



I have been sooo blessed with everything!


during our trip I walked a minimum of 4 miles a day, some days up to 10! I felt great, and my body fat percentage has lowered so I'm getting healthier! It's funny before I got pregnant I weighed 142, I now weigh 136! haha, and the Dr. says it's great, the baby is uber healthy, I'm uber healty, and my uterus is MORE than growing enough! Turns out not only did I inherit my mothers tilted (or retrograde uterus-which makes birth waaayy easy, and lets you feel movement earlier!) but I also inherited her "waterbed" gene. When she was pregnant with me, I could still turn and roll around at 9 months. Well, our little one can completely stretch out with no effort needed and has TONS of room to swim around. :) I love inheriting stuff like this!

My plan right now is to start walking at home at least once a day (walking the dogs of course so they'll be happy!) and starting the prenatal yoga. I am determined to be as healthy as possible when our little one arrives!

Billy is doing great! Getting more and more excited every day. He sings and talks to the baby everyday, and "she" loves his voice! The baby moves closer to him everytime he does it. I LOVE seeing him get excited over the whole thing. And he's been awesome towards me. I try not to take advantage of it, but he's always willing to grab me stuff from the other room, or carry things for me, or help me with chores now. It's so sweet! But I promised him I'd try my best not to take advantage of it too much. :)

So, I guess that's it for this post, I'll post the ultrasound pics next!