Food baby... or Baby?! ... Week 16

On Saturday we officially hit week 16 (which I was able to spend talking to two other pregnant mommies which was helpful to hear what they were feeling as well)!  Things are coming along so smoothly which is such a relief.  Many times I forget that I even have a baby growing inside me!  Often times, other people are the ones reminding me about it, which gives me a little excited feeling in my heart.  

This week I had my monthly OB appointment at the new Women's Center at Park Nicollet Methodist Hospital.  It opened about a month ago and it is absolutely beautiful!  When you come out of the elevators onto the 5th floor it just opens up to a wall of windows and you can look out into the twin cities.  Very cool!  Even cooler?  I will be delivering at Methodist Hospital in their new Family Birth Center that is only 3 months old.  We are very excited to tour it!

My appointment was absolutely wonderful.  The doctor said baby is progressing well and I was able to hear Baby Kuenzel's heartbeat for the first time.  I have been waiting to hear a heartbeat since my last pregnancy and boy, it was worth the wait!  What a wonderful sound and a perfect feeling!  This time I think I was smiling more than anything, but a tear did roll down my cheek.  It was proof to me that my baby was still okay in there!  I was able to record it and when Ryan came home from work, I let him listen.  He loved it too!

We scheduled our 20 week ultrasound for the day of my birthday.  My birthday present will be seeing Baby Kuenzel and yes, we will be finding out if he or she ... is a he or a she!  Well, we hope to anyways.  We all know that it doesn't always work!  Maybe if you're nice we will tell you what we find out! :) 


Week 16 Pregnancy Stats:

Size of baby: an avocado

Movement: movement?  I don't feel anything!  I really hope to soon though!

Sleep: Great, but not enough!

What I miss: Not worrying about if my normal clothes fit or not

Cravings: Lots of people have asked me this.  I don't think I have specific cravings as much as I think of something or see something and I HAVE to have it!  This has happened many times:  cheez-its, skittles, spaghetti, Noodles & Co., Champs fries and seasoned sour cream, ice cream cone, Deli chicken dinner from Coborns, and pizza.  Most recently we had to make a  trip to MOA to go to Bubba Gumps so that I could get the jumbalya! :)  The list goes on and on. 

Symptoms: Headaches, although they have gotten a little better, so I am thankful!  I can tell a little ligament stretching is definitely going on.

Maternity Clothes: None yet, but I haven't put on a pair of jeans for over a month.  Clothes are starting to get snugger, but I don't really feel that pregnant, just fat.  My scrub tops are definitely giving me the most trouble. I started using the rubberband trick on my jean shorts this weekend thanks to my sister. :)

Best moment this week:  While I was at work this week I got a text from Ryan that said he couldn't wait for the pregnancy to be over because 6 months was just too long to wait to see the baby.  He wants it to be now.  It really melted my heart.  Every once in a while he makes comments like that that let me know that he has been longing for this baby just as much as me.  It's a wonderful feeling and he is going to be such an amazing daddy.

 

Beware: this could just be a food baby, I did have Bubba Gumps the night before! :) 

With each day and each week that passes by, we talk about thankful we are that everything is going well.  We pray for this baby and pregnancy each and every day and appreciate your prayers as well.  Many people are saying that it probably won't be long and I will be feeling Baby Kuenzel kick -- I can't wait!!  Stay tuned! :)

Oh and I've had quite a few people ask me already... Yes, I have started a pregnancy scrapbook album already! Are you surprised? :) 

Are you ready for a Baby Kuenzel?

By now, many of you have heard that Ryan and I are expecting a baby!  On Wednesday, I will officially be 15 weeks along and my due date is December 13, 2014.  If you're one that gets into the hype about cool dates... this is one of them -- 12/13/14!  For some reason, I have a hard time believing Baby Kuenzel will make his/her appearance on that day.  I tend to run early and Ryan just does what I say, so I have a feeling that Baby Kuenzel will be born before that date.  But I do think that would make a cool birth date, especially because it is the last sequential calendar date of this century!  That is putting a lot of pressure on the baby (or me!) and he/she's not even born yet! :)

Ryan and I officially found out we were pregnant the very end of April.  Many of you are aware of our previous pregnancy struggle (I'll talk about that another time) and know how ready and excited we were to have a child.  I had a really hard time after what happened last time and I went a long time without taking a pregnancy test even though we were fairly certain that I was pregnant.  All the signs were there so I took all necessary precautions and kept the thought in the back of my head.  It ultimately kept the fear of what happened last time, that could definitely happen again this time, at bay.  When we finally decided to test and got two positives -- we were over the moon excited and scared all in one!  We had faith that this pregnancy would go great.

I was about 8 weeks pregnant when we found out and it was NOT easy keeping it from family.  To say the least, many close family members found out right away.  Many people were also very suspicious of me.  The first two nights that we found out we were pregnant we spent with friends at my sister's house and then out for my best friend's birthday.  I don't normally turn down drinks.  Since I've announced, I have heard many "I knew its!" :)

Our first OB appointment was at 13 weeks because I did not have insurance with my new job until June 1.  The appointment was great and the nurse practitioner did an ultrasound.  She wasn't surprised when Baby Kuenzel couldn't fit on the screen and measured only at 11 weeks, 5 days.  She immediately said that we needed to schedule an abdominal ultrasound to figure out the exact dates and size of the baby. 

Just a little peanut! :)

A few days later I had the ultrasound and it was just amazing.  Baby Kuenzel measured at 13 weeks 6 days, 3cm long, and 3oz big!  I still can't begin to explain how amazing these ultrasounds were - especially the second one.  Tears rolled down my cheeks, I cried.  It is beyond wonderful to see your baby's heartbeat and arms moving around after seeing an ultrasound with no movement or heartbeat.  I'll never forget the feeling I had when I saw our baby moving around like that! 

 

Looks like Ryan, huh? :)

So here we are at almost 15 weeks.  The baby's room work is in full swing.  We've painted, put in new closet shelving, and we've got all the necessary furniture (changing table, crib, recliner chair, dresser, etc.).  My next nemesis is definitely finding a daycare.  Ugh.  I am not enjoying this process already!  I have been feeling great.  My biggest issue is by far headaches, but I'll deal with them knowing I have a little miracle growing inside me -- which is still hard to believe!

 

12 weeks 

We are so thankful for each and everyone of you who have congratulated us and sent us your prayers after last time and now for this journey.  We sure have a lot to be thankful for and we can't wait to see where this miracle is going to bring us!  Stay tuned!