14 week update (thanks to Baby Center)

This week's big developments: Your baby can now squint, frown, grimace, pee, and possibly suck his thumb. Thanks to brain impulses, his facial muscles are getting a workout as his tiny feature form one expression after another. His kidneys are producing urine, which he releases into the amniotic fluid around him — a process he'll keep up until birth. He can grasp, too, and if you're having an ultrasound now, you may even catch him sucking his thumb. In other news: Your baby's stretching out. From head to bottom, he measures 3 1/2 inches — about the size of a lemon — and he weighs 1 1/2 ounces. His body's growing faster than his head, which now sits upon a more distinct neck. By the end of this week, his arms will have grown to a length that's in proportion to the rest of his body. (His legs still have some lengthening to do.) He's starting to develop an ultra-fine, downy covering of hair, called lanugo, all over his body. Your baby's liver starts making bile this week — a sign that it's doing its job right — and his spleen starts helping in the production of red blood cells. Though you can't feel his tiny punches and kicks yet, your little pugilist's hands and feet (which now measure about 1/2 inch long) are more flexible and active.

Happy Thanksgiving

We had a small gathering for Thanksgiving this year, but our blessings are still countless. Mom Stoner joined us for good food, good company, and good memories. I am thankful for so many things, especially my family. I have a husband I adore and in laws that are so kind and warm. I have parents that support me and love me unconditionally, and I have siblings that are bonded to me by the childhood memories we share. I have a baby growing in my belly that I already love more than I thought possible. I have a God that has rained blessings on me and all the people who love Him. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone, and may you realize all that you have to be thankful for.

Baby Explosion

We have had many family and friends bring new babies into this world in the last few months, and there will be many more in the next several months! The most recent birth was of Ella Lee Gilmore, daughter to our dear friends Stacey and Scott Gilmore. Ella was born on November 11. We had the joy of meeting her when she was only 4 days old. Baby and mamma are doing wonderful. Congratulations to the Gilmore's!

13 weeks: Who you callin' a shrimp?

I am officially in the 2nd trimester, and I have felt like a new person this week! I've had more energy and no nausea. I've even been trying to start exercising again. This week our baby is not compared to a fruit as in previous weeks, but is being compared to a medium shrimp in size... about 3 inches. Baby Stoner also now weighs a full ounce. To the right is a new belly shot. It can't be denied, my tummy is growing!

12 Week Check-Up

This morning we went in for our 12 week check-up, and got to hear the babies heartbeat! The doctor said it was between 150 and 160 beats per minute and that it was a strong, healthy heartbeat. This week, our baby is 2 inches long (about the size of a lime) and weighs half an ounce. The baby's reflexes are developing this week. We see the doctor again in 4 weeks, and we're 8 weeks away from finding out the gender of our precious baby. You can hear the heartbeat on the video below, so make sure to turn up your computer volume!

Dual Trip to the ER

Last night, I went to bed around 8 pm, and woke 1 hour later to stomach cramping and became violently sick to my stomach. I eventually fell back asleep and thought everything had passed. I woke up again about another hour later, and again had stomach cramping and became very sick to my stomach. At this time I found out Dave had been sick as well while I was sleeping. When I went out to the living room to tell him I was still sick, weak and dizzy, he said "we have food poisoning." Since I've been pregnant, I haven't done much cooking at home because I have tons of food aversions, but ironically, I had cooked dinner at home last night. We will never have grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup again! I became concerned about the baby, especially since I was so dizzy, so I called my doctor (it is now 12:45 am) and they recommended I go to the ER. Dave and I both checked in. I was given 2 bags of saline fluid through IV as well as 2 types of anti-nausea medications. Dave got 1 bag of saline fluid and 1 type of anti-nausea medication. We got home around 3:30 am and have been sleeping ever since. Fortunately, we are both okay. The baby is okay as far as we know, but I'm anxious for my 12 week check-up on Friday.

11 weeks and we have a fig!

This week, Baby Stoner is 1 1/2 inches long and the size of a fig or a large lime depending on the reference. At this point, our little one is almost fully formed! From now on, there should be rapid growth. It's possible we may even see my tummy start growing in the next few weeks. Weeks 7-10 were the most dificult for me in terms of nausea and exhaustion. It seems this week I've turned a corner and am feeling better, relatively. I have my next prenatal visit next Friday, and we are 9 weeks away from knowing the sex of our baby!