Second Trimester Begins

Weeks 13 and 14

The second trimester has begun!! The last couple of weeks have been a little better. I have only really gotten sick once each week. Once, it was triggered from blow drying my hair. The next time, I was brushing my teeth and all of a sudden, I was hugging the toilet. We had our neighborhood garage sale on Saturday, April 21^st and we were able to get rid of several things. We are making room for all of the things we will need for the baby room. Chris has been great about cleaning out his office and getting it ready for you. These last two weeks have been a little tough. It has been hard to have energy at work and my brain seems to have slowed down significantly. It seems as if time is really starting to fly though.We also celebrated two of our friend's birthdays this weekend. We went to Ryan and Diana's house and had a double celebration for Kristin and Diana. We have our 14 week appointment on April 23rd!

Week 13 Baby Size- Our baby is almost 3 inches long and weighs nearly an ounce.

 Week 14 Baby Size- Baby's stretching out. From head to bottom, measures 3 1/2 inches, is about the size of a lemon, and  weighs 1 1/2 ounces.

Week 13 Developments- Fingerprints have formed on your baby's tiny fingertips, veins and organs are clearly visible through still-thin skin, and the body is starting to catch up with the head — which makes up just a third of the baby’s body size now.

 Week 14 Developments- This week's big developments: Your baby can now squint, frown, grimace, pee, and possibly suck their thumb! Thanks to brain impulses, facial muscles are getting a workout as the tiny features form one expression after another. The kidneys are producing urine, which releases into the amniotic fluid around the baby.

Cravings-carbs and cheese please!

Symptoms- Short of breath, chest pain after eating, and the nausea continues. 

Happy Easter!

Week 12

Early in the week, we were able to see our friends, Brent and Kristin, and their new baby girl, Katherine. She is less than a month old and is a beautiful, precious girl. Our friends warned us about how tough the two weeks after birth are and told us that we would want all the help we could get. We were laughing inside, thinking about what they did not know. Chris and Brent grew up together and were just a few months apart in age. We were able to share our news by letting them know that Katherine would have a little friend in a few months too! Kristin let me give Katherine a bottle and I enjoyed hearing a few tips. Again, it was so nice to see our friends and share our news.

We were also able to tell Chris’ grandmother and his extended family in Cedar Hill. We ended up staying for a cookout and were able to see Linda, Greg, Jay, Amy, and the kids.  Kay, your grandmother, also came over to spend time together.

We were out of school on Good Friday and our friends, Tres and Christy, were having a housewarming party at their new home in Grand Prairie. We broke the news to them and our other friends, Ryan and Diana. Christy is expecting in August and Diana’s son will be a year next September. It is fun to think of how many friends you will have. Chris grew up with Tres and Ryan and it meant a lot to be able to tell the majority of our closest friends. 

The announcement was also made at school this week during a staff meeting. My belly is popping out and people were starting to stare. I actually had a few come and ask me if I was pregnant. I think it was time! I told my class and the kids were very excited. They even offered their names for me to use!I think I may have to pass... ; )

Baby Size- From crown to rump, your baby-to-be is just over 2 inches long, about the size of a lime, and weighs half an ounce.

Developments- The most dramatic development this week: reflexes. Your baby's fingers will soon begin to open and close, his toes will curl, his eye muscles will clench, and his mouth will make sucking movements. In fact, if you prod your abdomen, your baby will squirm in response, although you won't be able to feel it. His intestines, which have grown so fast that they protrude into the umbilical cord, will start to move into his abdominal cavity about now, and his kidneys will begin excreting urine into his bladder.

Cravings- Can I crave sleep? I seriously think about how hard it will be to drive home from work each day. Thank goodness for four day weeks!

Symptoms- Acne, All Day Sickness, Pain after eating (maybe this is heartburn?) 

April Fool's...

Week 11

On Thursday nights, we attend a Bible study and are very close to our friends that we spend this time with.   We were able to share our big news with some of our closest friends and everyone was very excited for us. It was a very special time for us. On Sunday, we called our friends Dave and Libby and asked if we could stop by and check out some of the updating they had recently done on their home. Dave hit the rejection button and said that the house was a mess. ; ) We ended up telling him the news over the phone. His wife, Libby, was at the grocery store and we interrupted her shopping to tell her our news. She was very excited for us, but called us back to make sure it was not an April Fool’s prank. Two days later, we already had a card in our mailbox from our dear friends. Libby has even offered to throw me a shower at their home and we feel so fortunate to have Dave and Libby in our lives and to be able to celebrate with them.

Baby Size- The baby is just over 1 1/2 inches long, about the size of a fig, and is now almost fully formed.

Developments- Baby’s hands will soon open and close into fists, tiny tooth buds are beginning to appear under her gums, and some of the bones are beginning to harden. Baby G is already busy kicking and stretching, and the tiny movements are so effortless they look like water ballet. These movements will become more frequent as the body grows and becomes more developed and functional.

Cravings- I am still not buying into the whole cravings thing. I am having the same food adversions as before.

Symptoms- Same symptoms as before. I might need to add burping like a teenage boy to the list. 

Trip to Scottsdale

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Week 10

This year Chris’ office earned an incentive trip to Scottsdale, Arizona. We had planned this trip prior to finding out that we were expecting you. There were a few things that we were starting to get worried about. I have been getting car sick, so the thought of flying was a bit of a concern. The company offered a jeep excursion through the desert and a river rafting adventure. Obviously, I was not too comfortable with either of these options. It has still been difficult to hold down food, so I was getting nervous about the late night dinners too. The best option was to go ahead and tell Chris’ coworkers. Chris made the announcement at his office and once again it was nice to be able to share the news. Scottsdale was beautiful and we were glad to enjoy another trip together. We did not do a lot since it was really more of a golf resort. We relaxed by the pool and enjoyed a short hike. I was thrilled that we seemed to be the only people on the trip that did not see a rattlesnake. We rented a car for a day and went to Surprise to see the Rangers and Spring Training. The doctor had given me nausea medicine and it saved me this week. Was this our last trip for a while? 

Baby Size- What is a kumquat? Baby G is a little over an inch or so long, crown to bottom — and weighs less than a quarter of an ounce. This completes the most critical portion of development
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Developments- This is the beginning of the so-called fetal period, a time when the tissues and organs in his body rapidly grow and mature. 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. In other developments: Your baby's limbs can bend now. Hands are flexed at the wrist and meet over the heart. The outline of the spine is clearly visible through translucent skin, and spinal nerves are beginning to stretch out from his spinal cord. The forehead temporarily bulges with a developing brain, which measures half the length of the body.

 Cravings- MILK! When eating at a fine steakhouse this week, I ordered a glass of milk with my meal. Meat is still my opponent and I am embarrassed to say that I left most of my steak on the plate. I did manage to take Crème brulee back to the hotel. I have stuck with fruit and grilled cheeses this week. 

Symptoms- Nausea, dizziness and a terrible sunburn. I had no idea that hormones could make you so much more sensitive to the sun!

Spring Break

Week 9 – March 18^th

March 14th was Ron's Birthday. We are not sure what you will call him yet, but he is your dad's dad and will be your grandfather. We went to eat at La Hacienda ranch and also celebrated Patty and Donna's birthday. Patty is Ron's sister and Donna is his cousin. This has become an annual event. I enjoyed seeing everyone this week, but it was still difficult to keep it a secret. It is especially hard when you look green and don't feel good and hope nobody notices. It is always fun to see everyone and spend time with the Geddie family. 

 We enjoyed celebrating our niece’s 2^nd birthday this weekend. Lila turns two on March 21st. She was so precious and loved her butterfly cupcakes. Her brother, Logan, will turn 5 this summer. You will also have another cousin named Corynne. She will be 8 by the time you are born. You will have lots of little friends looking out for you. Your Aunt Jamie and Uncle Zack gave you an A&M bib today after the party. They thought that it was fair since you would be spitting up on it. : )   Your dad went to UT and I went to A&M. Apparently, some sort of rivalry exists.

Baby Size- Nearly an inch long and the size of a grape.

Developments- The essential body parts are accounted for, though they'll go through plenty of fine-tuning in the coming months. Other changes abound: The baby's heart finishes dividing into four chambers and the valves start to form — as do tiny teeth. The embryonic "tail" is completely gone. Baby G’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. Eyes are fully formed, but the eyelids are fused shut and won't open until 27 weeks. Tiny earlobes and mouth, nose, and nostrils are more distinct. The placenta is developed enough now to take over most of the critical job of producing hormones.

Cravings- Still fruit, crackers, orange juice, and milk. The gelato at the party was delicious though.

Symptoms- Productive nausea…iIs that a nice way to put it? It was a really, really rough week. 

Sharing the News!

Week 8

This weekend, we decided to tell our parents the big news. We had both of our parents meet us in Arlington at Papasitos on Saturday night. We had recently met my parents in Arlington, so I thought I could be sneaky and they would not figure us out. Luckily, I talked to my dad when we invited them to dinner and I avoided them the rest of the week. Chris was in the other room making plans with his parents. ; ) We got there a little early, but thought it would be a good idea to sit at a table so they wouldn’t see their “goody bags.”  Chris’ parents arrived first and joined us at the table. About 10 minutes later, we saw my parents and they came into the restaurant with big eyes. Chris was trying to get their attention when he heard my dad say, “Judy, they are here. I knew it.” We sat at the table and ordered our queso while exchanging pleasantries. Our parents were getting deep into conversation, so we had to break in. Our moms had just started talking about their Pandora bracelets and we thought this was the moment. We gave them the gifts. They opened the box with their new Pandora charm. It was a baby carriage! Then they saw the sonogram photo on a wooden frame I had made. Our moms stood up and started dancing in the middle of the restaurant with tears in their eyes. Ron asked what the big news was. We told him we were having a baby! I think everyone at the table already knew before we even met. It is a very special thing to share this kind of news with your parents. We told them that they had to keep it a secret a little longer. We were planning on telling our brothers at this point, but still felt it was too early to let the world know. This will be my parent’s fourth grandchild and the Geddie’s first grandchild. They were all equally excited.  It feels so good to start letting our secret out. We had been at the hospital earlier that day visiting our friends and their new baby. It was a different experience than ever before, knowing that this would be us in just a few months. Amazing. 

Baby Size- The size of a kidney bean.

Developments- New this week: Webbed fingers and toes are poking out from baby's hands and feet, eyelids practically cover their eyes, breathing tubes extend from the throat to the branches of developing lungs, and their "tail" is just about gone. In the brain, nerve cells are branching out to connect with one another, forming primitive neural pathways.

 Cravings- I ate about two egg sandwiches each day this week and probably two gallons of milk. I have been so sick this week and had a hard time eating anything.

Symptoms- Let’s just say this was a rough week. I barely left the couch. Thank goodness it was Spring Break!

Night Sickness?

Week 7

Late last week, the nausea set it. Instead of morning sickness, I get afternoon and night sickness. I stayed home from Wednesday night worship and had difficulty at our Thursday night Bible Study at John and Jacki’s house. In many ways, I am so thankful. Working with kids is hard work and I cannot imagine feeling this ill around my students during the day. However, the night sickness makes it very difficult to do anything that needs to get done at home. Friday night I got really sick for the first time. I had just cleaned up the house for the scrapbooking ladies I was having over Saturday morning, when I began feeling very yuck. I tried to get ready for dinner and nothing sounded good at all. Chris tried to get me out of this house, but my trip to the toilet throne made him realize I was not exaggerating. He went to Chick-fil-A and picked up a kids meal with grilled chicken, fruit, and chocolate milk. Lately, the only things that sound good are fruit, vegetables, and crackers. The thought of meat or chicken makes me nauseous and everything smells funny. I think the hormones have really kicked in. Chris told me that I really need to be eating protein and that he read that it would help with the nausea. It was pretty funny, because he told me that he really needed me to eat my food and that it was good for me. He is already training to be a great dad by having to baby me! I ate the food and felt much better. The chewy chicken did gross me out though. The last couple of days have been tough and nothing sounds good at all. I thought everything would taste good during pregnancy. Boy was I wrong and how sad this is for a food lover. 

Baby Size- Blueberry (has doubled in size since last week)

Developments- Your arms and feet and beginning to take shape this week! 

Eyelid folds are partially covering your peepers, which already have some color, as well as the tip of your nose and tiny veins beneath parchment-thin skin. Both hemispheres of your brain are growing, and the liver is churning out red blood cells until bone marrow forms and takes over this role. You also have an appendix and a pancreas, which will eventually produce the hormone insulin to aid in digestion. A loop in your growing intestines is bulging into the umbilical cord, which now has distinct blood vessels to carry oxygen and nutrients to and from your tiny body.

 Cravings- Nothing really sounds great, but I am eating a lot of fruit, cheese, milk and carbs.

Symptoms- Food aversions, dizzy, tired, and realizing that I really am pregnant and not invincible.