15, 16, & 17 Weeks

I can feel the baby!  I think I've actually been feeling it for about 2 weeks now but I just wasn't sure.  I felt it for the first time one morning while I was laying in bed...I think.  I felt such a tiny, faint little flutter in my belly.  And that was it.  And then I wondered, "Did I really just feel that?"  "Did I imagine that?"  And then there was nothing for days.  Then I felt that same little flutter a few days later.  But it was just so soft!  Was I just wanting to feel it so bad that I was tricking my mind into thinking I was feeling the baby kick?  I just didn't know.  And then it was about a week without feeling anything.  So at that point I knew it had to be in my head.

I had my 16 week appointment where my doctor told me that a lot of first time moms won't feel anything until around 20-22 weeks.  Are you kidding me???  I've clearly been expecting this for the last week or so so this was devastating to hear.  But, baby had different plans.  About 3 days ago baby started moving like crazy.  There's no question anymore.  I get so excited every time I feel it!  It's so much stronger than it was a couple weeks ago.  It is such a unique amazing feeling and I am loving every single little tap, kick, and wiggle.  I can't wait for Aaron to be able to feel it too.  

I swear, pregnancy is the weirdest thing.  When you get the positive pregnancy test you think you understand and grasp that it's real.  Then you get to the first ultrasound and see the heartbeat and you think it's finally sinking in.  Then you get to the next ultrasound and get to hear the heartbeat and see your baby starting to become a baby and you think, "Now it's real and I understand that I'm actually pregnant".  But then it's hard to grasp the concept that you've actually got a baby growing inside you again.  And now I can finally feel the baby moving inside of me and I feel like it's clicking.  There's a baby in there!!!  But I know that that will continue throughout the entire pregnancy.  With each milestone it will feel more and more real until finally, there will be a beautiful sweet little baby in my arms.  I can't wait for that moment when everything that Aaron and I have been working for for so long is finally a tangible reality of parenthood!

Dear Baby Boutilier,

My sweet, sweet baby...where do I start.  You have blown my mind over the last week.  I am so happy and constantly aware of you lately.  Every little kick, or wiggle, or twitch, or whatever it is that you're doing in there, I am completely in love.  I've been trying so hard to explain the feeling to your daddy but unless you're feeling it, I'm not sure you can ever really understand what a beautiful bonding moment it is to be able to feel you move inside me.  You're amazing!  You are so loved already and I can't wait to continue to bond with you and watch you grow from out here.  Keep growing strong my baby.  Only 5 more months until you're in our arms.  Your mommy and daddy are enjoying every moment of this journey and we can't wait to meet you!

Love, 

Your Mommy  

Baby is the size of a:  Sweet Potato

Total weight gain?  5 1/2 pounds

Maternity clothes?  No but that's not for lack of needing them.  My belly band will only work for so much longer.  I definitely need to go get some maternity slacks for work.
Stretch marks? Not yet!

Sleep?  Sleeping has started to get kind of rough for me.  My stomach with one leg kicked out has been my go to position but that has been killing my hips lately.  And laying on my side is killing my back.  Weird.  I didn't expect to have these troubles until I was much bigger and further along.  

Exercise?  No.  And I'm ashamed of that.

Miss Anything?  Not anything that I can think of right now.

Movement?  YES!!!  See above for details.

Food cravings?  Still no cravings.  

Labor Signs?  Nope!

Happy or Moody most of the time?  Happy!!!  Although I do occasionally snap at Aaron and then immediately feel so guilty.  I'm totally blaming the hormones for that.

Best moment this week?  Feeling the baby kick by far.  It was also a really good moment to be able to hear the heartbeat on the doppler for the first time this last week.  And finally, one of the best moments I've had and continue to have is Aaron.  He loves watching my belly grow and is constantly complimenting me on it.  We have this thing that we do which is really dumb but anytime one of us says that the other is hot or looking good the other will say "no you're hot".  The other day that happened and Aaron said "No you're beautiful.  Especially with your pregnant belly."  Seriously, that melted me.  I love that he finds pregnancy sexy.  It makes me love him even more than I already do.

Looking forward to?  Finding out the sex of the baby.  2 1/2 weeks to go.  I can't wait to find out if our little nugget is a he or she!

13 Weeks

Well, here we are at 13 weeks! (Yep, I missed 12!) And actually, I'm almost at the 15 week mark now! I'm going to have to start doing these on the actual day since I seem to be falling behind waiting until the end of the week. Anyway, here's my belly picture at 13 weeks. See you again at 15 weeks!  :)

How far along? 13 Weeks

Baby is the size of an: Lemon

Total weight gain: I've officially gained two pounds! 

Maternity clothes? Not yet.  But I did go buy a belly band today.  My work pants haven't been buttoned up all week. 

Stretch marks? None that I've noticed...yet.

Sleep: I still sleep pretty good but all I want to do is sleep on my back.  But I'm not allowed and it drives me crazy!

Exercise: No.  And I'm ashamed of that.

Miss Anything: I really miss baths.  Aaron is a bath guy and I get so jealous every time he gets to take one and I can't!  ...and I miss sleeping on my back. 

Movement: Not yet.  But I can't wait for that day!

Food cravings: Still no cravings.  I feel like I've skipped all the pregnancy symptoms.  No morning sickness, no cravings...lets hope it continues!

Labor Signs: Nope!

Happy or Moody most of the time:  Happy!!!

Best moment this week:  Well, when I was still 13 weeks, we were able to get the nursery painted and the crib is officially set up!  I know it's early but...why not?

Looking forward to: My belly getting bigger.  My favorite thing in the world right now is laying on my back and feeling the hard little uterus getting bigger and bigger every day as my baby gets bigger.  Best thing in the world!!!  LOVE!  

11 Weeks

I can't believe we're already 11 weeks.  It's weird, it feels like it's taken forever to get here, but at the same time I am over a quarter of the way there and I can't believe it!  I can't wait to have a big bump, and feel the baby kick, and just have the baby in my arms.  But I know that I am going to love each stage of pregnancy and that I just need to enjoy each moment as it comes.  I'm impatient but I'm just so excited!!!

We've decided to do a pregnancy chalkboard to help us keep track of my baby bump, symptoms, and anything else that happens during pregnancy.  I'll be posting each week's pic after that week is over so as of today I'm officially 12 weeks but I want to be able to put in the info about each week of pregnancy and I wouldn't have that info on day one so the week has to be over before I post.  HOLY LONG SENTENCE!  Did that even make sense?  Hopefully I'll be able to stay on top of it and make sure to post each week.  I'm loving being pregnant!

First, here is the chalkboard we did to announce the pregnancy on Facebook.

And here's our 11 week pic.  Yes, I know I look huge…and here's why.  I don't have a butt.  Never have.  But it's gotten worse once I grew me some love handles.  I'm flat as a board from behind!  Haha, get it?  Behind?  Anyway, I thought I would try to remedy that in the pictures so I was arching my back to give myself a butt.  (As you can see it didn't work out that way anyway.)  Without realizing it I was also giving myself a gut.  Oops.  So my 11 week pics aren't quite accurate.  We'll officially keep track of the bump starting next week.  Haha!!!

How far along? 11 Weeks
Baby is the size of an: Large Plum
Total weight gain: So far I've gained about 1 pound.  
Maternity clothes? Not yet.  But my pants are definitely getting tighter.  The baby bump is here!  But to anyone else I'm sure it just looks like I've got a gut on me.  Haha.   

Stretch marks? So far, so good!  But I'm not holding out much hope.  It's in the genes.  I'm doomed!
Sleep: I sleep really good except for the once a night bathroom break.  That part is getting a little old. But I hear that that is going to stop for a while now that the uterus is moving off of my bladder.  Yay!  That is until baby starts pushing on it when baby gets bigger.

Exercise: Not anything right now.  Aaron is a little overprotective with this pregnancy and he doesn't want me to do anything until I ok it with a doctor.  He is so cute with this pregnancy and all of his worrying about me and baby!  Love him!!!
Miss Anything: Yes!  I miss taking hot baths and I miss brie cheese.  

Movement: Not yet, still too early.  But I can't wait for that day!
Food cravings: Not really.  

Anything making you queasy or sick: I have had such an easy pregnancy so far!  I haven't had any morning sickness so I feel extremely lucky.  The only time I feel a little queasy is when I let myself get hungry.  But it's not too bad.

Labor Signs: Nope!
Happy or Moody most of the time:  I think I'm mostly happy.  I'm occasionally moody but I was that way before I got pregnant too.  My poor husband!
Best moment this week:  Getting our crib!  I know it's early but my parents-in-law bought it for us for Christmas this year.  It was delivered yesterday and I can't wait to set it up.  Aaron says we have to wait until we get the nursery painted before we set it up.  Does it make sense to wait?  Yes.  Do I want to be illogical about it anyway?  YES!!!  Hopefully we'll get it painted soon so I can see it set up. The box just doesn't have the same appeal.  Like I said earlier, patience will be hard for me during this whole thing.

Looking forward to: Getting another ultrasound tomorrow.  Can't wait to see our little baby again!!!