9 Weeks Pregnant! (Grape Week)

How far along? 9 Weeks (Friday, July 27, 2012)

The baby is the size of a: Grape

New baby developments this week: "Your new resident is nearly an inch long — about the size of a grape — 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" (BabyCenter).

Total weight gain: Not much

Maternity clothes? Nope

Stretch marks? Nope

Sleep: Yep!

Best moment this week: Actually having a successful ultrasound this past Monday! It was so amazing to see the baby's heart beating and to hear the rapid heartbeat. What an amazing view! I can't believe this little being is growing inside of me! How amazing and miraculous!

Miss Anything? Nope, not really! Movement/Feelings: No drastic feelings! Sometimes I experience a little discomfort when I lift things for too long of periods, but otherwise, I'm fine.

Food cravings: Salsa....and anything else tomato-based, like ketchup!

Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope!

Symptoms: None! (No frequent bathroom trips yet)

Gender: I don't know yet...but I'm still thinking it will be a girl

Labor Signs: Nope!

Belly Button in or out? In

Wedding rings on or off? On

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy!

Looking forward to: Continuing to grow and get past the first trimester!

First Ultrasound (8 Weeks)!

My first ultrasound took place on July 23, 2012! I was so excited to hear our baby's heartbeat for the first time! The baby's heart is beating at a rate of 143 beats per minute, and the size of the baby is just 1.2 centimeters. It was so neat to hear the heartbeat, but for me, it was even neater to see the heart beating, in a way. The ultrasound tech said we could tell that the heart was beating by the fast flickering on the screen. That was so neat -- I never thought I could actually see the heart beat at all! How neat to finally see this little being growing inside of me.

My next ultrasound will be August 22nd -- four weeks away!

Here is our first opportunity to hear the baby's heartbeat: CLICK HERE

8 Weeks Pregnant! (Kidney Bean Week)

How far along? 8 Weeks (Friday, July 20, 2012)

The baby is the size of a: Kidney Bean

New baby developments this week: "Webbed fingers and toes are poking out from your baby's hands and feet, his eyelids practically cover his eyes, breathing tubes extend from his throat to the branches of his developing lungs, and his "tail" is just about gone. In his brain, nerve cells are branching out to connect with one another, forming primitive neural pathways. You may be daydreaming about your baby as one sex or the other, but the external genitals still haven't developed enough to reveal whether you're having a boy or a girl" (BabyCenter).

Total weight gain: Not much, maybe a pound

Maternity clothes? Nope

Stretch marks? Nope

Sleep: Yep!

Best moment this week: Being excited for my first ultrasound on Monday -- in just two days! I look forward to seeing my baby for the first time and finally hearing his or her beloved heartbeat!

Miss Anything? Nope, not really! Movement/Feelings: All I feel is pain here and there in the front and back (basically, growing pains) -- a sign that the uterus is growing -- although the pains have subsided drastically over the past week

Food cravings: Fish; hot and sour soup; and strongly craving blueberry or banana nut muffins/bread (I have yet to satisfy the final craving!)

Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope!

Symptoms: None! (No frequent bathroom trips yet)

Gender: I don't know yet...but I'm still thinking it will be a girl

Labor Signs: Nope!

Belly Button in or out? In

Wedding rings on or off? On

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy!

Looking forward to: Finding more about my new baby -- and finding out whether the "baby" indeed might be twins! lol

7 Weeks Pregnant! (Blueberry Week)

How far along? 7 Weeks (Friday, July 13, 2012)

The baby is the size of a: Blueberry

New baby developments this week: "Hands and feet are emerging from developing arms and legs — although they look more like paddles at this point than the tiny, pudgy extremities you're daydreaming about holding and tickling. Technically, your baby is still considered an embryo and has something of a small tail, which is an extension of her tailbone. The tail will disappear within a few weeks, but that's the only thing getting smaller. Your baby has doubled in size since last week and now measures half an inch long" (BabyCenter).

Total weight gain: I haven't noticed much at all -- maybe a couple of pounds? I'll find out during my first ultrasound on July 23 :)

Maternity clothes? Nope (although I am trying to avoid clothes that make me feel too "poochy")

Stretch marks? Nope, still have my stomach! :)

Sleep: Yep!

Best moment this week: Getting the idea from my lovely expectant co-worker to do this blog (since I love journaling, I love blogging and I love babies!) Miss Anything? Nope, not really!

Movement/Feelings: All I feel is pain here and there in the front and back (basically, growing pains) -- a sign that the uterus is growing

Food cravings: Nope, not really. Just craved nachos and cheese and a McDonald's Snack Wrap, though (I don't know if those are the normal random food cravings I have or finally can be blamed on the pregnancy)

Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope!

Symptoms: None! (No frequent bathroom trips yet)

Gender: I don't know yet...but I'm thinking it will be a girl (but I'm excited for a boy or a girl!)

Labor Signs: Nope!

Belly Button in or out? In

Wedding rings on or off? On

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy!

Looking forward to: Going to my first ultrasound in a little over a week - I am looking forward to finally catching a glimpse of this unseen child and hearing the heartbeat for the first time :)

A Baby King Dream Becomes a Reality!!!

Upon reading the news that I was pregnant on June 29, 2012, I was so stoked! My dream of being a mother finally is being fulfilled! What an awesome, unequivocally amazing experience to be a mom for the first time -- and to share the experience with my beloved hubby Pete King :)Being pregnant makes me so appreciate being a woman -- how complex and beautiful we women are!