17 weeks/15 weeks fetal age

I had my monthly check-up with Dr. Craig yesterday and everything is going well. The baby's heart rate was in the 130s and I am right where I should be with growth, my uterus is about in the middle of my pelvic bone and my belly button.

This week baby's skeleton is beginning to turn into hard bone from soft cartilage. The umbilical cord is also growing longer and thicker. Baby's weight is about 5 ounces and is also about 5 inches long from crown to rump. The sweat glands are starting to develop this week as well.

I still feel great, I still don't really feel pregnant for the most part. Work is definitely tiring and I take advantage when Aila naps and goes to sleep. At my appointment yesterday I found out that I've actually lost a pound in the last month, which doesn't surprise me too much. I'm on my feet and super active all day and I've been conscious of what I eat. I really don't need to gain any weight besides the actual weight of the baby, fluid, placenta and that stuff. I don't really need any fat stores this time around, that's for sure! I just feel so much smaller and more comfortable this time around, I really can't complain. I've got my little pregnant belly going, and other than that I don't really look any different. :)

16 weeks/14 weeks fetal age

I have been so busy with work it has been hard to fit in time for blogging! Today I am 16 weeks along...but let's start with last week's development at 15 weeks...

At 15 weeks baby measured about 4 inches and weighed 2.5 ounces. Amniotic fluid has been moving in and out of the upper respiratory system, aiding in the development of the primitive air sacs in the lungs. The legs have grown longer than the arms and baby has been moving all of its joints and limbs. The eyelids remain fused shut, however baby is able to sense light. If I were to shine a flashlight onto my stomach, baby would most likely move away from the light.

16 weeks, I can't believe it--it feels like it is going by so fast! On this exact day of my pregnancy with Aila we had her ultrasound and found out we were having a little girl! We have to wait until 20 week for Baby Meyer 2, and we can hardly wait to find out if it's Elle or Harvey growing in there! I just felt Baby move for the first time Tuesday night while I was lying quietly in bed. This was the exact same time I felt Aila for the first time as well, it was very exciting! I can't wait to feel it more and get to see the movements. It was always so entertaining to just lay there and watch my stomach moving up and down.

Baby is now 4.5 inches and weighs 3.5 ounces (I am still amazed at how quickly they grow!) Baby's legs are much more developed, the head is more erect than it has been, and the eyes have moved closer to the front of baby's head. The little ears are close to their final position, too. The patterning of the scalp has begun, though no hair can yet be seen. The toes are even starting to gain little toenails! There's also a lot happening inside; the heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, and this amount will continue to increase as baby continues to develop.

Ok, this picture is a little creepy...but it's also quite fascinating. You can really see how thin the skin is, being able to view even the bones inside of the wrists and hands.

I'm feeling so great this time around, I can't get over it! I have so much more energy and am able to be a lot more active. Whenever I can, I take Aila out for a walk that is at least a mile. I usually don't have a lot of time, but if possible we try to go at least 2 miles. I am getting so excited for the warmer weather, it feels so good to get outside and get some fresh air with Aila. I relish every day, because I know that tougher times are ahead as I continue to get a bigger belly. I am really showing now, there's no hiding that I'm pregnant, that's for sure! People are starting to notice at work-like customers and other employees I hadn't told. I am still wearing my regular pants though, but they're almost to the point where they are riding too low since my waist has disappeared. I couldn't be happier that they still fit in the legs though, because I had such a hard time with the weight gain the first time around. I have been determined to gain only the amount I need to. It has definitely been easier since I haven't had many cravings (except for healthy things like oranges, apples, pickles and cottage cheese!) and work gives me a lot more structure with eating, forcing me to really think about my food choices. I'm not perfect, I still like my sweets, but I'm proud the changes I've made.

When you start feeling the baby move it makes the pregnancy so much more real, and I am getting more and more excited by the day! Ross is getting more excited as well, really looking forward to finding out the gender, watching my belly grow and eventually being able to see and feel the movements. When that happens it really helps him connect more and makes it a lot more real for him as well.

14 weeks/12 weeks fetal age

Last week I was in Nashville so I didn't get a chance to update for week 13 so here it goes...

Baby has fingerprints on its teeny fingertips and has paper thin skin. The organs and veins can all be seen through this thin, see-through skin. The body is becoming more in proportion as it catches up with the size of the head. Baby is around 3 inches in length and weighs nearly 1 oz!

Here's an artist's rendering of a 13 week fetus:

My first tummy shot (13 weeks 3 days), not a lot of contrast, but you can see it's getting there!

Today I am 14 weeks and baby has a lot of new tricks! Elle/Harvey can squint, grimace, frown, pee and even suck her/his thumb! The kidneys are producing urine which will continue to be excreted into the amniotic fluid until birth. My body eliminates all of the waste for baby at this point. The baby is stretching out to 3.5 inches and weighs in at about 1.5 ounces. The arms are nearing being in proportion with the body by the end of this week, and the neck is lengthening out as well. The downy hair called lanugo is starting to develop all over the body. Both the liver and the spleen are starting to function, making bile and helping in the production of red blood cells respectively. Baby is more active than ever now also, and I can't wait until I can start feeling the movements! It should be within the next couple of weeks!!!

I am still wearing my regular pants, although I will start switching to maternity pants soon I am sure. My pants still fit in the legs, and I'm pretty darn happy about that. Supposedly I've gained some weight, but I don't feel it or see it much. A little extra padding in around the waist I guess. Some days and some particular times during the day I really show, but other times not so much. After I eat I especially show! I feel good, I don't even feel pregnant. The only time I am reminded is when I go too long between eating, then I don't feel so well. I am also super thirsty still and I do tire a little easier than normal. I'm enjoying this transition time where I'm over the morning sickness and I'm not big or uncomfortable yet. But I do have to admit I look forward to the belly, I love it!

12 weeks/10 weeks fetal age

I just want to note that it's getting harder and harder to find good pictures to post. They are either ambiguously labeled or else I am coming up with really disturbing abortion pictures when I search for pictures of the fetus. So, I'll probably still post some pictures, but they'll be more varied- cool ultrasound pictures I find, illustrations or possibly actual pictures of a fetus at the correct age.

Anyway, let's get to it! The most dramatic development of the week is reflexes! If I poke my belly it will make the little one squirm (although I can't feel it yet!) Very soon baby will start making sucking motions and may even find their thumb very shortly. Currently the intestines are growing outside of the body because of their rapid growth rate, but they will now start to grow inside of the abdomen. The kidneys will even begin to exrete urine to the bladder. Baby is unmistakeable human now, with eyes and ears in the correct position. The length is about 2 inches this week-approximately the length of a lemon.

I'm feeling well these days, pretty "normal" for the most part. I have a pretty high level of energy, which is great because I am on my feet most of the day running back-and-forth and around Meijer. My weight is still on track, I'm still wearing my regular pants. However I have gotten out my old maternity clothes and will be starting to wear the pants soon. The problem is that when I do have to sit for a while it starts to get very uncomfortable as the pants cut into my waist. Anyway, so far so good! I had my intake appointment at the OB/GYNResidency Clinic at Spectrum Health Butterworth yesterday and my first appointment with the actual doctor will be next Tuesday (St. Patty's Day!) I'll let you know how it goes and hopefully will know when my next ultrasound will be. If it's scheduled at least a month from now we'll be able to find out if it's Baby Elle or Baby Harvey in there!

11 weeks LMP/9 weeks fetal age

Baby is about 1.5 inches long this week and is almost fully formed. The hands will soon be able to open and close into tiny fists and the tooth buds are even beginning to form beneath the gums. As some of the bones begin to harden, baby is busy kicking around and stretching and may even start having hiccups as the diaphragm is formed. (Aila had hiccups at least 5 times a day, it will be fun if Baby 2 does as well, it's so cool to feel!) Here's a picture to show just how much baby is beginning to look like a baby!



I am feeling pretty good in general these days. I still have my moments in the evening, but the sickness is really waning. Thank goodness, because as the sickness wanes my energy levels increase and I have sure needed the energy boost! Sometimes when I eat it really makes my belly stick out and I look pretty pregnant, but for the most part no one would be able to see any difference from the outside. I know how much my waist has changed though, my pants are definitely getting tighter. I'm really happy I haven't gained anywhere else though, I'm on a way better track this time around! I'm actually getting a little excited for the pregnant belly, I don't know why but I enjoy it (up until the end when the baby --Aila-- gains 3 pounds in a week and you suddenly feel like you're going to burst!)

10 weeks LMP/8 weeks Fetal Age

Since I didn't update about Baby Meyer's development last week, I'll just do that for this week as well. I also found a spectacular picture of a baby at 9 weeks that I wanted to share. Last week the heart finished dividing into 4 chambers, and I was fortunate enough to see that strong little heart beating away! The face is unmistakeably human now; well defined nose and nostrils, lips and fully formed eyes that are covered by eyelids that will be fused shut for weeks to come. The ears even have tiny earlobes and are getting to the correct positioning on the side of the head. Also over the last week the placenta became developed enough to take over the task of hormone production. The external sex organs are even in place, but unfortunately undetectable on an ultrasound. In another 6 to 8 weeks or so if I were to have an ultrasound they would be able to tell if it's a boy or girl...

A 9 week fetus from an ectopic pregnancy taken by Dr. Uthman

Speaking of the whole boy/girl thing, Ross and I have officially decided on names!

If it is a girl she will be named Elle Jolie Meyer. This name means "beautiful woman." and both names are of French origin.

If it is a boy he will be named Harvey Jameson Meyer. Harvey means strong, ready for battle and James in Jameson means supplanter -- to succeed/take-over by strategem. Both names are of English origin.

We had always planned to name our son Jack if we had one, but it's just too popular these days. We have both loved the name Harvey, and it is the name of Ross' paternal grandfather. The James in Jameson is after my late Uncle James/Jamie. I love James, but we just preferred the way Harvey Jameson flowed. The name for a girl has definitely taken awhile. We both really liked the name Kaiya or Kaia and considered others, but ultimately fell in love with Elle. It's simple, elegant, and appropriate for a little girl or a woman. We looked for middle names to go with Elle for a while and when I suggested Jolie and told him the meaning, he agreed on the nice flow it had with Elle as well as the great meaning.

Now that Elle/Harvey is 10 weeks, all of the basic physiology is in place and now baby will start to grow pretty rapidly and put on some weight! Baby is now beginning the so-called Fetal Period and ending the Embryonic Period of development. Over the past week baby has gone from about the length of a grape to the length of a kumquat. While last Wednesday, baby was almost exactly 3/4 of an inch, baby will be breaking the one inch mark this week! At the 8 week mark baby started making its first movements, but by now baby can kick and bend its limbs and even swallow fluid. Baby is much too small for me to feel yet, but in the next 6 weeks or so I predict I'll start feeling movement. I first felt quickening with Aila when I was about 15 and a half weeks. Amazing things are happening with baby, as the vital organs are becoming more highly developed and starting to function. For instance, the liver is now making red blood cells as opposed to the yolk sac, which is starting to disappear. The fingers and toes are well-defined now, no more webbing -- and they are even growing tiny little nails!

OK, I have to say it...still a bit alien-like, but definitely getting there!

I have started to feel pretty darn good. The sickness is waning more and more, going from only an evening spell over the last week, to very little if at all in the past few days. I have been very concious of what I eat, fighting the cravings and making healthy choices for snacks. I do have to eat snacks because the key to not feeling sick is keeping my stomach from becoming empty. I have been cooking a lot more now that we're getting our house together and everything in its place and eating a lot of fresh fruit and veggies. I have been busy with the house so that has kept me on my feet, along with chasing Aila around of course! My body has definitely changed rapidly over the past few weeks. I'm not "showing" yet of course, but my waist is thickening and my clothes are fitting differently-not in my legs or arms though which is a good thing, only in my waist! I am determined to gain a much more healthy amount of weight this time around. Anyway, I am still peeing much of my day and night away, and getting more and more used to that again, but it's a definite con of pregnancy if you ask me! I've been "living it up" with my body while I can, bending over to touch my feet, stretching, laying on my stomach just because I can and enjoying not having a draft coming from the bottom of my t-shirt! I know that belly is going to creep up on me before I know it!

1st Ultrasound

I've got a doctor picked out and have an appointment scheduled, however I won't be able to get in for another 3 weeks. It was suggested to me that I go the ER and get blood work and an ultra sound to make sure everything is progressing OK since it will be such a long time before I can get into the doctor. Everything is going perfectly and I was exactly right on with the age and due date: 8 weeks 5 days, Due September 24th 2009. The tiny peanut has a strong heartbeat that was 167 BPM and measures only about 20 mm long. The ultrasound tech was nice enough to print out a picture for me and here it is, the first view of our little one!!!