Sixteen Weeks

Yesterday I "turned" sixteen weeks pregnant! It seems like the last few weeks of summer have flown by! I cannot believe that we are quickly approaching the midpoint of July, and that I am closing in on the halfway point in this pregnancy.

Our most recent doctor's appointment was on June 27 at 14 1/2 weeks. My doctor and I chatted about my headaches that were still very severe and frequent at that point. He attributed it to changing hormone levels and gave me a prescription. We talked about the next appointment and whether we want to find out the baby's gender (yes). Other than that, the appointment was brief. I asked him if he would be the one to deliver the baby or if I should be getting to know the other doctors in the group just in case. His answer was that he never misses a "birthday party", so he'll be there. I really like this guy! He spoiled us a little more by letting us have another ultrasound. So, here is Baby Harris/Little Monkey/Little Turkey from that appointment:

You can see the head and arms on the right side. The little legs were scrunched up on the left. Baby weighed 4 ounces at this appointment. I asked my doctor if it's true that your baby will weigh the average of what you and your husband weighed at birth. I was 8lbs.3oz. (2 weeks late), and Sam was over 10lbs. (a few days early). He said that that's not really a good indication of your baby's birth weight. That's good!

This is the photo from last week at fifteen weeks....

This is this week's photo at sixteen weeks....

Highlights:

weight gain/loss:

I have gained about 2-3 lbs, I think. It just depends on the day.

maternity clothes:

I am definitely not fitting into my regular jeans and shorts any more. So, I am using my friend, Mandy, gave me her maternity clothes from when she was pregnant with sweet little Paxton. I have been wearing the jean capris and cargo capris. I also bought a pair of maternity denim shorts. I can still wear my comfy yoga pants, thank goodness. I picked up a few clearance maternity t-shirts and have been wearing those along with tanks or t-shirts this summer.

gender:

We were supposed to find out on Monday, July 25. But, I saw in my school email that that's the day we can start setting up our classrooms. So, I talked to the scheduling person at the dr.'s office, and now we get to find out Friday, July 22. I am hoping the ultrasound tech can get a good look and that the baby is in a good position. Sam has had a feeling that it's a girl for a long time. I had a dream earlier in the week that it's a girl. Sam had a dream two nights ago that it's a girl. Either way, boy or girl, we are happy.

movement:

It's hard to say. I was lying in bed a few nights ago and felt a swishy, fishlike something. I don't know. I haven't felt it since. Could be in my head.

size of baby: 4 inches or so... At the last ultrasound, baby was already 4 ounces!

food cravings:

I don't have any cravings where I am sending Sam out for specific food or anything. I am liking apples more than I used to, though.

what I miss:

sleeping on my stomach

sleep:

I am sleeping pretty well with my new pillow. I still have nights, though, where I wake up on my back and feel bad because pregnancy books say not to do that. My bedtime is getting a little later again, around 9 or 9:30.

what I am looking forward to:

the next appointment! Sam and I will find out the gender at the appointment. We are planning to have all our parents over that evening or for lunch the next day to tell them the baby's gender at the same time. I am trying to think a cute way to do this. I am looking forward to getting his or her room ready.

belly button:

Not much new to talk about.

symptoms:

I am a little hungrier and try to eat a small snack every few hours. It's getting harder for Sam to give me my daily blood thinner shot, as my belly is getting a little bigger and harder. My energy is coming back, and I am getting more things done around the house without being as tired as I was a few weeks ago.

best moment this week:

going six days straight without a painful headache! I am trying to avoid taking too many of my prescription headache meds my dr. gave me. A friend suggested I try the Boppy Pregnancy Body Pillow. I bought it and have been using that along with a cold wet cloth on my head when I need it at night, and that has made all the difference. I don't know if the headaches were actually caused by the way I was sleeping, but these two things have helped me not wake up with my head hurting. I feel like new person. :) Other than that, we have started thinking more about the nursery. Sam and I are going to buy a new crib and crib bedding for the baby and are also planning to use my dad's dresser and chest from he was a kid (We will sand and repaint it to match crib bedding) and the rocker my parents used from when I was a baby. I am excited to mix old and new things.

I'll update again in a couple weeks!