And...

So today we went in for our gender ultrasound. I'm just about 20 weeks along, so I knew we'd be able to get a good look as long as the baby cooperated. For a bit I wasn't sure as the baby was moving quite a bit. But after awhile, the baby settled down, and the ultrasound tech was able to get the measurements she needed and then swooped underneath and was able to see that we are having....A GIRL!

I looked right at Tito and said "I told you!" I've felt it was a girl since the beginning of this pregnancy. Just so many things were so different than my pregnancy with Santi. Craving sweets now while when I was pregnant with Santi I couldn't stand the sight of them, being so sick the first trimester, how I'm carrying, that I'm not even in maternity clothes yet (with Santi I was in them at 11 weeks!) etc., etc., etc.

So now we're both excited, and looking at all things pink! Here's a couple of photos from today:

That baby profile looks so much like Santi! So cute! At one point she was in there sucking her thumb which was something we never saw Santi do (and consequently Santi never used a pacifier outside of the hospital NICU.) The bottom one is her right foot - she was stamping on my uterus, which she does quite frequently!

So she'll be here in February, and we're glad to add a girl to our little family, but also to our extended families. In my family, on my mom's side, out of 11 cousins, there are only four girls. And when I was growing up, I was the only girl until I was 10, and then the next girl didn't come until I was 20, and then my cousin had a girl. But all the rest are boys. And on my dad's side, there are only myself and one other girl, with the other 6 cousins who are boys. And with Tito, he's one of three boys, has one cousin on his dad's side who is a girl and one cousin on his mom's side who is a girl. So the families are in need of some pink!

19 week update

I can't believe I'm at 19 weeks! Halfway through this pregnancy (I am 99% sure I won't go to term since I was 3 weeks early with Santi, and we'll schedule a c-section with this one as well.)

How Far Along: 19 weeks (147 more days to go!)

What "They" Say About Our Baby's Development: Your baby's sensory development is exploding! Its brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. Some research suggests that it may be able to hear your voice now, so don't be shy about reading aloud, talking to it, or singing a happy tune if the mood strikes you. Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces and measures 6 inches, head to bottom. Its arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of its body now. Its kidneys continue to make urine and the hair on its scalp is sprouting. A waxy protective coating called the vernix caseosa is forming on its skin to prevent it from pickling in the amniotic fluid.



Weekly Food Comparison: An heirloom tomato...

The Good: The baby is kicking a lot, and I can feel it from the inside and the outside.

The Bad: Getting winded easily.


The Weird: Nothing too strange.

Currently Craving/Avoiding:

Avoiding: Not much!
Craving: Sugar, sugar and more sugar!

Doctor Updates: I have an appointment on Tuesday to find out if a little girl or a little boy will be joining our family. I'm thinking it's a girl still and Tito has been wavering back and forth but is now back to boy. I'm hoping I'm right, although I'm obviously happy with a boy as well. But having one of each would be nice too!


The Weekly Belly Bump: Here's the 19 week belly!

This is me last week in NC - hence the sunshine, bathing suit and smile on my face!

Weekly Update - Week 11

Before I get into week 12, better get this week's update out of the way!



How Far Along: 11 weeks

What "They" Say About Our Baby's Development: Your baby is now almost fully formed. Its hands will soon open and close into fists, tiny tooth buds are beginning to appear under its gums, and some of its bones are beginning to harden. It's already busy kicking and stretching, and its tiny movements are so effortless they look like water ballet. These movements will become more frequent as its body grows and becomes more developed and functional. You won't feel your baby's acrobatics for another month or two — nor will you notice the hiccupping that may be happening now that its diaphragm is forming.

Weekly Food Comparison: A fig.

The Good: Having some more energy in the mornings, but that usually goes downhill in the afternoons. On most weekends, I will nap, since Tito is around to watch Santi.

The Bad: Headaches and nausea. This past weekend I could barely get out of bed on Saturday.

The Weird: Nada this week.

Currently Craving/Avoiding:

Avoiding: Strawberries are making me feel more nauseous, so I stay away from eating them.Craving: Pizza, carbs, sweets, ice cream

The Weekly Belly Bump: About the same. Finally a photo!

Weekly Update - Week 10

This is a little late! Going to do two updates right in a row!


How Far Along: 10 weeks

What "They" Say About Our Baby's Development: "Though it's barely the size of a kumquat — a little over an inch or so long, crown to bottom — and weighs less than a quarter of an ounce, your baby has now completed the most critical portion of its development. This is the beginning of the so-called fetal period, a time when the tissues and organs in its body rapidly grow and mature. It's swallowing fluid and kicking up a storm. Vital organs — including kidneys, intestines, brain, and liver (now making red blood cells in place of the disappearing yolk sac) — are in place and starting to function, though they'll continue to develop throughout your pregnancy. If you could take a peek inside your womb, you'd spot minute details, like tiny nails forming on fingers and toes (no more webbing) and peach-fuzz hair beginning to grow on tender skin. In other developments: Your baby's limbs can bend now. Its hands are flexed at the wrist and meet over its heart, and its feet may be long enough to meet in front of its body. The outline of its spine is clearly visible through translucent skin, and spinal nerves are beginning to stretch out from its spinal cord. Your baby's forehead temporarily bulges with its developing brain and sits very high on its head, which measures half the length of his body. From crown to rump, it's about 1 1/4 inches long. In the coming weeks, your baby will again double in size — to nearly 3 inches.

Weekly Food Comparison: A kumquat.

The Good: Feeling better in the morning. But only in the mornings!
The Bad: The nausea...it's so bad, on weekends I have a really hard time getting out of bed. I also can smell like a super hero, and it's usually all the bad things that I can smell!

The Weird: Crying at the drop of a hat. Or at commercials. Or at things I've seen before. Yesterday I cried over the last 15 minutes of the Sex and the City movie.


Currently Craving/Avoiding:

Avoiding: Not much.
Craving: Sweets, sweets and more sweets!

The Weekly Belly Bump: It's at the stage where in the morning it's small and in the evening it looks like I'm 5 months along.