12 Weeks

**Updated with picture at the end of the post.   I've been sick for the past 4 days, so I know I'm not looking my best.  There's always next week! :)**

Each Monday, I'd like to do a highlights post, including a picture, summarizing the differences in my pregnancy from week to week.  I totally "grabbed" this idea from Kelly, a sweet lady whose blog I read often.  After reading her blog for years, I feel like I know her, but, alas.

She did posts like this with both of her pregnancies, and I think it is a great way to jot down the things that I don't want to forget later on.  I have really, really enjoyed this pregnancy so far, and I don't want these moments forgotten. :) I took her general ideas and mixed in a few of my own.  I would like to do these on Sundays when my weeks "change over," but Sundays are our technology-free days.  No cell phones or surfing the web.  Just us.  And maybe some re-runs of Lost. ;)

So, here we go!

Pregnancy Highlights:

How far along:  12 weeks and 1 day today

Size of baby:  The Little One is about 2 1/2 inches long and about the size of a large plum.

Total weight gain/loss:  Surprisingly, I didn't gain any weight between my 8 weeks checkup and my 12 weeks checkup.  Before that, (you know, before the morning sickness set in) I was eating a ton each day, so I know I've gained at least two pounds since first finding out I was pregnant.  So, let's say I've gained two pounds as the starting point for these posts.

Maternity clothes:   So far, I'm sticking with the dresses and the couple of pairs of jeans in my closet that still fit comfortably.  I've always liked dresses more than pants, and I'm so glad for that because, well, the nice slacks I have just don't fit anymore.  Darn.  I have already worn one maternity dress my best friend Kelli loaned me, and I have a few other friends that are gathering maternity clothes for me to store until I need them. Yay, for wonderful friends (and for free clothes)!!

Gender:  We're very much looking forward to our Gender Reveal party in April when The Husband and I find out right alongside our family members and friends!  What's your guess?  Pink or blue?  More on the G.R. party soon.

Movement:  I haven't felt any movement yet.

Sleep:  I've been sleeping much better these last few weeks.  From week 4 to week 7-ish, it was difficult for me to fall asleep.  The exhaustion finally set in, and so far, it seems to be winning out over my insomnia.  Yay!

What I miss:  Soft cheeses...Feta and Blue Cheese crumbles.

Cravings:  For a while, I craved French Silk Pie Blizzards like nobody's business.  Thank the good Lord that craving seems to have passed because those tasty treats are EXPENSIVE!  Now, I crave chocolate milk and ice blended together.  Yum!  I have a glass each morning and usually one at night while I'm taking a bath.  

Symptoms:  I've had morning sickness every day beginning with my sixth week of pregnancy.  I've never thrown up, but there were a couple of days where it was close...including one day when I was reading to sixth graders in the library.  That would have been embarrassing! Can you imagine their sweet, horrified pre-teen faces?! I've also been incredibly exhausted each day, but I hear that the extreme fatigue and the nausea should *fingers crossed* go away after the first trimester.

Exercise:  Confession:  I only went to the gym once this week.  Every other night was filled with appointments, choir practice, and then this nasty cold hit me.  Back on track starting tomorrow!

Best moment this week:  I heard the heartbeat on Thursday with The Husband.  It took the NP a LONG time to locate the heartbeat, and I think my own heart must have been racing as the minutes dragged on.  But, the Little One finally stayed still long enough for the NP to find the heartbeat, and that sweet sound made me smile and breathe a big sigh of relief.  

I'm completely loving being pregnant.  Truly.  I love knowing there is a completely separate and unique human being growing inside of me at this very moment.  God is so good.  This is something He's been preparing me for, and I am so very thankful that God has chosen us to parent this baby.  We CANNOT wait to meet him/her.  We fully accept the responsibility of raising up this child in the way he (she) should go, which means we will have to fully rely on God to give us the wisdom and discernment to do that task well.

The Husband normally takes a picture of me each Sunday before church, but I was sick yesterday, and therefore, didn't get out of my pajamas all day.   Today, I woke up, still feeling poorly, running a low fever, and knowing that my immune system is not up to being around hundreds of children.  So I called in sick.  Which means I didn't get dressed, put on makeup, or fix my hair.  I might have considered putting on some cute sweats, running a brush through my hair, and applying some mascara if my husband's phone (the only working camera we have) had been here, but he's running errands.  So, alas, no picture.  I'll try to add one tonight or tomorrow morning, but no promises.  You may just have to wait oh-so-patiently until next Monday for the next Highlights installment. :)