GROWING PAINS (& lots of other good stuff)

Today begins week seven of the baby's development and Ja-Manda (see Post 1 for details) has doubled in size since last week. The baby has paddles for hands and feet now (no more stubs), as well as an appendix and a pancreas. Both hemispheres of the baby's brain are forming fast and furiously, and it already has beautifully colored eyes covered by eyelids. Wow. So much in so little time.

And guess what... even though nobody can tell from the outside, I'm growing too. My uterus is now twice it's original size since, and as of last week the baby and I have shared an umbilical cord. My fatigue (I might have slept through the entire 3rd quarter of the Superbowl) and all day 'morning' sickness are also testimonies to the many ways my body is gearing up to take good care of the baby. Even though soothing my tummy is a real process of trial and error, I am so thankful to the women who've offered advice and encouraging words this last week. My Matron of Honor suggested I try protein in the morning which gave me three whole hours of normalcy before lunch today. My mom filled me in on some of her humorous morning sickness stories to lighten my mood and she called me frequently to check in this week. Grams shared with me that both of her children gave her different sicknesses and my uncle was the baby who caused her to feel sick all day like I do. I was relieved at this news because if we have a big family I may not always have the same lovely hormone reaction to look forward to... Rich was excited because "maybe this means we're having a boy!" I'm not sure if that's the most medically accurate way to determine sex, but I guess it beats the pencil trick. (-: By the way, to answer any lingering curiosity on the topic of sex, Rich and I have decided that we DO want to know whether the baby is a boy or a girl. We'll find out at the 20 week ultrasound.

Besides good advice, Rich and I have received some other thoughtful gifts this week. Tom, Amy and Tricia sent us our first cards of congratulations. I'm particularly grateful for the loving reminder Tom and Amy sent us about the joys of diaper changing. Don't they know that's why we want to move back to Indiana; so we have a whole team of diaper changing grandparents? The outside of the card reads, "Did you realize that in your baby's lifetime, you will change a diaper approximately 10,956 times?" the inside reads, "It's too late to ask for a puppy". My parents also sent some baby mail. I got tea and a copy of 'The Pregnancy Bible', while Rich received a copy of 'She's Having a Baby - What Every Man Should Know and Do When the Woman He Loves is Pregnant'. I love when he gets son-in-law gifts! We're both looking forward to relaxing with some (tummy soothing) tea and reading our books.

And I almost forgot! This last week was full of bringing new people into our circle of big news. On Thursday I went to my first prenatal appointment. The obstetrician confirmed the pregnancy with a more 'sophisticated' pee test, drew my blood to perform many other routine screenings, and grilled me on family history...everyone's family history. I realized I still have some studying to do. The OB also told me a lot of things Rich and I already know, but it was certainly comforting to hear the same words from a woman who does nothing but work with reproductive organs and pregnancies all day long. In the next few days following the appointment we shared the news with Grandma and Grandpa Zentz, Grams, Grandpa Ummel, and our friends the Becknells and Kreagers. Nana and Grandma and Grandpa Ryerson also heard the news from our parents. Everyone was very excited.

On that note, it's been a long and exciting week and it's just about time for me to get ready for bed. Good night and God bless.

UPCOMING EVENTS:
February 9th - DO Match Day
February 27th - Second Zentz Prenatal Appointment