week 9

Best Moment: Telling Evan’s parents, of course! Thanks to crazy winter weather on the passes, we almost didn’t make it to Winthrop, but alas, one small detour in Cle Elum later, we were able to spread the good word. What a great feeling to turn someone from mom to grandma! I’m feeling much better, now that both sets of grandparents know. It just seemed cruel to keep it from them. Cruel and extremely difficult! We were also able to tell two of our dear friends, Tiffany and Kellen, with whom we were wine tasting in Chelan. There really is no way to “fake” wine taste all day without arousing some suspicion. Needless to say, they were overjoyed and excited that our lil’ sodi and their 4 month old Audrey will grow up to be good buds!

Symptoms: Can I get a hand for consistency? Still catering to my two bffs:  nausea and exhaustion. They’ve definitely overstayed their welcome, but as I’ve said before, I know both are good signs that our little babe is growing and growing. In fact, this week, my resident is the size of a green olive. Who can be upset with a green olive? Not I.

Cravings/Aversions: My cravings seem to be evolving. Not into a more sophisticated palate as I would appreciate, but instead it’s gone in the direction of the juice aisle.  I’ve since introduced cranberry juice into my beverage repertoire. Straight cranberry- not mixed with any fancy fruits, no reduced sugar, but straight cranberry juice (just another little lesson Evan has learned) brings me so much joy! If only I was that easy to please all the time. My fun aversion this week has been mixed nuts. It’s actually cracking me up, because how often is one exposed to mixed nuts? Apparently for me, just enough.  Evan included them on his list of needs from the grocery store the other day and I literally ran down the aisle, grabbed the first bag I could see and kept on my way. Those little guys seem to be playing a mean little trick on me.

What I Miss: Being in Chelan for the weekend definitely got my mouth watering for a glass of my favorite Benson Syrah. There’s something comforting about a big glass of red wine that would be a nice leveler for the rollercoaster of emotions. Oh well…we’ll meet again in a few months.

What I Can't Wait For: My first official OB appointment is next Friday and I’m really looking forward to meeting my doctor and learning about the game plan for the next 7 months.

Milestones: Your new resident is nearly an inch long — about the size of a grape (or green olive, per my app) — 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. Now that your baby's basic physiology is in place, she's poised for rapid weight gain.