19 Weeks and Gender Reveal!

IT'S A BOY!!! We're so excited and can't wait to meet our son in July. My bump really popped out this week. Here's how we announced our gender reveal to family and friends.

On Monday we saw our OB for an ultrasound to check my cervical length post-op. Thankfully everything looks good and my cervix was high and closed. Hoping it stays that way until my due date. While we were there he asked if we wanted to know what we were having and of course we immediately said yes. He told us to take a guess and since day one we've said the same thing, a boy. After a close-up of bub's private parts, Dr Naguesh confirmed we should go out and buy blue. Nice to know our parental instincts were right all along, and James couldn't be happier to have a son. I love the idea of having a boy first so if we have a girl down the track, she'll have a big brother that'll look after her. After our appointment we immediately raced out and bought bub an adorable blue onesie. The first of many I'm sure!

Here are our ultrasound photos. The first two are 3D images of our little one, once again with his arms around his head. And the last is that all important pic of baby's 'bits'.

How far along: 19 weeks
How big is baby: Size of a grapefruit
Total weight gain/loss: - 3kg
Stretch marks: None
Maternity clothes: None but I'm not far off needing them
Wedding rings on/off: On
Sleep: My active baby makes it hard to get to sleep but I'm able to get around 6 hours every night, usually woken once for a trip to the toilet
Food cravings or aversions:  I was craving KFC so we had it for dinner last night. Big mistake!
Gender: BOY!
Movement: Lots! And I love it, especially as James gets to feel bub kicking too.
Belly button: Innie
Exercise:  Extended the break but will start some gentle walking and pregnancy yoga this week
Diet: What diet?! Lol
What I'm loving: Feeling bub moving around and watching James' reaction when baby kicks
What I'm not loving:  The dreaded C word. Yep... cellulite! Ick.
What I miss: Feeling normal. Every day I wake up, go to sleep and spend every hour in between feeling pregnant. There's no break.
Sickness and symptoms: Round ligament pain... ouch!
Notes: We found out officially that we're having a BOY! Time to stock up on all things blue.

Weekly Guide to Pregnancy: Week 19

Your Baby

How big is my baby?

Fetal size: 15cm (6 inches)
Fetal weight: 240g (8.5 ounces)

Your baby continues to mature and grow. He is now covered in vernix (a white protective coating) that keeps your baby's skin from damage inside its watery world. Some babies are born with this coating still present, but the closer to the due date, the less there will be. He is looking more like a baby than ever before, with proportioned arms and legs, fat layers under the skin, and clearly defined facial features.

18 Weeks... and We're Married!

Sorry this post is a little late. We've been pretty busy lately, getting married and spending the past week on our honeymoon. I was officially 18 weeks on Monday but this week's bump pic was taken a few days earlier at our Valentine's Day wedding. I love that our little one was a part of our special day and you can see my baby bump in many of our wedding photos. So cute!

We spent our honeymoon on a tropical island soaking up the sun and relaxing by the beach. It was heaven! On the last day, we went out sailing and snorkeling around the Great Barrier Reef; swimming alongside beautiful colourful fish and coral, and I even got to feed and pat an enormous Maori Wrasse named Priscilla who was bigger than me but such a sweetie. She let me swim alongside her for around 15 minutes. It was the highlight of our honeymoon and I'm so glad I got to experience it, as poor James was off scuba diving and sadly missed out.

James took this gorgeous shot of me and my baby bump as the sun was setting on Lovers Cove at Daydream Island. It's one of my favourite photos and I can't wait to show it to our little one.

How far along: 18 weeks
How big is baby: Size of a bell pepper (capsicum)
Total weight gain/loss: - 3kg
Stretch marks: None
Maternity clothes: None but I can't fit into my favourite jeans
Wedding rings on/off: On
Sleep: Still sleeping through the night but woken every morning by baby kicking, which I love!
Food cravings or aversions: Carbs, carbs, carbs! Pasta, potatoes, bread... I can't get enough.
Gender: We'll hopefully find out at our OB appointment on Monday.
Movement:  Lots! And I love it, especially as James gets to feel bub kicking too.
Belly button: Innie
Exercise:  Took time off during our honeymoon but will get back into walking on the treadmill and doing pregnancy yoga again this week
Diet:  What diet?! Lol
What I'm loving:  Feeling bub moving around and watching James' reaction when baby kicks
What I'm not loving:  The direction my hips are heading - east and west, yikes!
What I miss: Sleeping on my back
Sickness and symptoms:  Round ligament pain, as my uterus is now the size of a rockmelon!
Notes: We have an appointment with Dr Naguesh, our OB, on Monday and will have another ultrasound to check on my cervical length. Hopefully bub will show us the goods and a shopping spree for blue or pink will soon follow. Fingers crossed!

Weekly Guide to Pregnancy: Week 18

Your Baby

How big is my baby?

This week your baby measures approximately 12.5-14cm (5-5.6 inches) in length and weighs about 150 grams (5.25 ounces).

Your baby is looking more and more human as time goes by. Your baby can now make facial expressions, including frowning and squinting. Eyes are still closed, but are sensitive to bright light outside your abdomen. Eyelashes and eyebrows have started to grow.

Limbs become longer, start to gain proportion and begin to move as the connections between nerves and muscles are established. The nerves are now being coated in myelin (a fatty layer), enabling them to pass messages to and from the brain. Your baby's hands can now form fists and if they meet, will clasp together.

The lungs are developing, but until birth the placenta will provide your baby's oxygen.

17 Weeks... and a Wedding!

Not only is this my 17th week of pregnancy, but it's also the week I marry my fabulous fiance and baby daddy, James. We're tying the knot on Valentine's Day at a beachside resort overlooking the ocean. It's such a special day, not only because I'm starting a new life with my best friend and the person I love most in this world, but because our baby will be a part of it. Our little one will be walking down the aisle with me (albeit in my belly) and I'm so excited about our wedding day I could just about cartwheel... well, if it were physically possible.

Here's a profile and side view of my 17 week bump.

How far along: 17 weeks
How big is baby: Size of an orange
Total weight gain/loss: - 3kg
Stretch marks: None
Maternity clothes: None
Sleep: Finally sleeping through the night!
Food cravings or aversions:  Craving carbs. Not good for a bride-to-be!
Gender: Too early to tell (but I have a feeling it's a ...)
Movement: None
Belly button: Innie
Exercise: Walking on the treadmill every other day
Diet: Healthy but of course there's the occasional chocolate treat
What I'm loving:  I felt baby move this week! Unfortunately it's been a painful experience.
What I'm not loving:  My boobies are sooo sore!
What I miss: Sleeping on my back
Sickness and symptoms:  Been feeling pretty good lately. About time.
Notes: We are getting married on Thursday, Valentine's Day, and heading off to an island resort for our honeymoon after spending a few days with our family and friends. Can't wait!

Weekly Guide to Pregnancy: Week 17

Your Baby

How big is my baby?

This week your baby is about 11-12cm (4.4-4.8 inches) in length and weighs approximately 100 grams (3.5 ounces).

Fat begins to form on the fetus from this week and aids in heat production and metabolism.

Thumbs Up!

Had a post-op appointment with our OB today to check on the cervical stitch and, of course, take another peek at our little one. I think he/she was trying to tell us everything is a-ok in there and it looks like bub is a pretty chilled little person already. I hope this is a sign of things to come. :)

16 Weeks

I can finally say I'm starting to feel good. Gone is the non-stop nausea and constant fear from the first trimester, and here is a definite baby bump.

I thought it'd be interesting to see my bump evolution so here I am from around week 12 through to week 16, and you can definitely notice a difference!

How far along: 16 weeks
How big is baby: Size of an avocado
Total weight gain/loss: - 3.5kg
Stretch marks: None
Maternity clothes: None
Sleep: Broken thanks to crazy dreams and trips to the loo
Food cravings or aversions:  Eating a lot more these days and keeping it down too
Gender: Too early to tell (but I have a feeling it's a ...)
Movement: None
Belly button: Innie
Exercise:  Walking on the treadmill every other day
Diet: Healthy but of course there's the occasional chocolate treat
What I'm loving: My growing bump and listening to bub's heartbeat with our Doppler
What I'm not loving: The bumps all over my face
What I miss: Sleeping on my back
Sickness and symptoms: Round ligament pain and seriously sore boobies
Notes:  We have a visit with our OB on Thursday and may be able to find out if we'll be buying blue or pink. Hopefully bub co-operates and shows us his/her bits.

Weekly Guide to Pregnancy: Week 16

Your Baby

How big is my baby?

This week your baby is approximately 11-12cm (4.3-4.6 inches) long and weighs about 80 grams (2.8 ounces).

All embryos start off looking much the same, as far as outward appearances are concerned, but this week sexual differentiation is more definite. Your baby's legs are now longer than it's arms, and they are moving around. It may be possible to feel your baby move (described as "quickening") but don't worry if you haven't felt movement yet - it will happen some time between week 16 and week 20.