week 13

Best Moment: The ultrasound I had last Tuesday, hands down. It was the best for a few reasons. Of course, seeing our little bee at this stage was just incredible. The last time we saw the babe was at 8 weeks when it looked just like a bumble bee (i.e. not really anything, just a sonogram blob). Now, by God, we've got a baby in there! Head, hands, feet, arms and legs- properly packaged! To actually see those parts on the screen was indescribable. Of course, day in and day out I am fully aware of my pregnancy, but to look at the screen and see the little life inside me makes it all the more real and that much more exciting. 

The blessing and curse of this appointment was that Evan wasn't there...but Dana was. While this ultrasound was part of a testing sequence, for some ridiculous reason, Evan and I didn't think it would be that big of a deal. For the record...any time you have an ultrasound and can actually see your baby, it is a BIG DEAL. But alas, rookie parents, we didn't know A from B when it came to this test. So we agreed  it would be fine for Evan to miss the appointment and me to go at it alone. From day one, Dana had said she'd love to go to any appointments she could, so when I saw the opportunity for her to come with me to a "routine" appointment, I invited her along. Thankfully, she was able to sneak away from work and have a baby date with me, mid day. Of course, it would have been wonderful to have Evan there, but it was equally as special to have Dana by my side. If daddy couldn't be there, Auntie D was the perfect stand-in!

Symptoms:  This week was a good one! Dare I say, I'm on the up and up? The nausea, while not completely gone, is subsiding and the discomfort seems to be easing bit by bit. My energy even seems to be on the uptick, which feels incredible. One can only feel totally and utterly worthless for so long, you know.

Cravings/Aversions: Slowly but surely my tummy can handle more (ha...those are words I've never spoken before). Red meat and chicken are still major turnoffs, but the doors are opening further and further and the choir of angels sings. I know, I probably shouldn't be using my choir all willy nilly, but it just feels appropriate right now. 

What I Miss:  At the risk of sounding like a lush or my former college self (may she live forever), St. Patrick's Day was a little tough. I'm typically a big fan of the holiday and love me an Irish car bomb (or two), along with the overall kitschy holiday vibe, so a quiet evening at home with my parents and Evan was quite a change. Of course, I understand that it was only prep for many St. Patty's to come, so let's consider it an adjustment holiday, but if I'm admitting things I miss, imbibing on St. Patrick's great day was one of them. 

past

present

future? 

What I Can't Wait For:  The second trimester! It's right around the corner folks, and I shall welcome it with open arms. 
Milestones: Baby is now the size of a peach! He's forming teeth and vocal cords. He is approaching normal proportions, with his head now only one third the size of his body (woo-wee). Intestines are in the process of moving from the umbilical cord to baby's tummy-- much more convenient.