13 weeks!!!!

People keep telling me that I'm not showing yet, but take a look at the tired eyes and the puffy cheeks and the crazy hair. Oh, you can tell I'm pregnant!

Finally, I'm at the end of my first trimester. It's been a rocky road, but it's still an amazing experience. The past week or so, I've developed a lot more energy, and I'm starting to feel more like myself. I find that I'm thankful for things that I've never even had the need to notice before. Like a night without a toilet visit or a meal without indigestion.

No matter what complaints I have about the first trimester of my pregnancy, it is all worth it when I go to the doctor and hear the heart still beating. I have to admit, I've been willing myself not to worry about this. Yet, from time to time, fear creeps in, and I almost lose it. But, my husband, friends, family, and my God give me comfort.

Today was my second doctor's visit. It was the first time I heard the heartbeat through the doppler. It took the nurse several minutes to find the baby. And I lay there thinking all of those fearful thoughts that I've been fighting away. But, she finally found it, and in her broken English she asked me, "You hear it?" And I could barely answer through the huge lump in my throat. Yes, I heard it. Loud and clear.

In 8 weeks, I'll find out if we are having a boy and girl. I can't wait!

By the end of week 13:
-the baby's intestines are migrating from the umbilical cord into his or her abdomen.
-the pancreas is secreting insulin.
-all twenty teeth have formed and are waiting under the gums.
-the baby has begun to practice swallowing by taking in the surrounding amniotic fluid and passing it back in his/her urine.
-the baby can smile and his/her vocal cords are quickly developing, too.
-eyes move closer together and the ears are beginning to move to what will be their normal positions.
-This week marks the end of the embryonic period. Most of the vital systems are developed now, and baby starts really growing, at times, growing as much as an inch this week.

Oh my goodness! I've never in my life witnessed something so amazing. This whole pregnancy thing has kind of just felt like a virus up until yesterday at 3:45 p.m. Trent and I went to have our first ultrasound...and suddenly we were parents.

On our way into the doctor's office, Trent handed me a long gray box. I opened it up to find a lovely tennis bracelet in honor of the big event. I will never forget this special moment, and now I can look down at my wrist and think of the bond that created this little human inside of me.

I was a little nervous because I just didnt know what to expect, and I've had so many friends that went in for their ultrasounds and didnt hear a heart beat. Sometimes it was too early in their pregnancies for them to hear the heart, but sometimes it showed a problem in the pregnancy. So, I sent a text to my friends and hoped that prayers would come my way and ease my worries.

After sliding my pants down my hips and hopping on a paper-covered plastic bed, the nice blond-haired lady covered my belly with some sort of gel and started the movie. And there he or she was. I could see our baby! Oh, even now, it brings tears! My baby's alive. I heard the heart beat and I saw the little body and I could even see the heart racing. Truly, it was a moment that will go down in Emily and Trent history. I've heard people talk about how precious these moments are, but never had I imagined this! Oh, I'm just on cloud 9!

The heart rate was about 170, which some say signifies that we're having a little girl. I sure don't care what the baby turns out to be, as long as that heart keeps beating inside of me. Thank you all for your prayers and support. You make this even more special!

Oh, by the way, my official due date is March 21, 2010.

Week 8

At 8 weeks, the baby is starting to look like a tiny human. Just adorable! I've been a little sicker this week. I'm trying to enjoy each day and not wish time away, but I'm ready for the sickness to pass so I can be the glowing pregnant woman!




-The area of the brain that coordinates muscle development begins to develop.
-Jaw and face muscles are beginning to form.
-The kidneys are formed and begin to produce urine.
-The tissue that will form the hands and fingers appears.
-The baby's legs now resemble paddles.
-The intestines are beginning to form within the umbilical cord.
-Pigment within the baby's retina will be present this week.

Week 6

Today is my last day of week 6! I just started writing in a lovely little pregnancy journal. It's really helped me connect with the baby forming inside of me. One of the questions in the journal asked me to imagine the baby's heart beating with mine. Wow! I have 2 hearts beating inside of me this week. That is truly amazing.

In this 6th week:

-The baby's heart has started beating!
-The cells now form an oblong body.
-Brain cells and the spinal cord are forming.
-The nerve cells that spark consciousness are formed.
-Arm buds and eyes are starting to appear!