Quick Update

This week has gone by soooo slowly.  The work day seems longer, especially when I'm going stir crazy  in a noisy cube farm.  The weather has been so beautiful, which makes it even worse.  I have energy during the day and I want to use it for my own purposes!  What purposes?  Catch-up crochet, for one.  I went quite a while without doing any significant crocheting, so I have a lot of projects on my to-do list.  I joined the Crochet Me community this weekend.  The website has a good selection of short, downloadable pattern books.  I've downloaded two books so far:  hats and granny squares.  I also have several cute patterns for Baby G, just need to get the right yarn.  I may even try crocheting a stuffed animal or two.

Speaking of Baby G, those kicks and flutters are feeling stronger.  I no longer mistake them for gas bubbles and muscle twitches.  It's no wonder - Baby G is around 6 inches long now, not including legs, and weighs about 8 ounces.  We've come a long way from "the grape!"

Making Soap and a Baby

First of all, I have good news to share.  Baby G's triple screen test came back negative, so we are in the clear for Downs, spina bifida, and trisomy 18.

Even better news is that I've started to feel some little kicks and flutters in my tummy.  At first, I wasn't sure if I actually felt them, but they've gotten stronger and I'm able to recognize them better.  This week they checked the heartbeat, but it took a minute to get a rhythm because Baby G was wiggling around so much.  I knew he/she had been movin' and shakin' in there!  The movements are strongest in the morning between 9 and noon.  Yesterday I felt him/her a few times in the afternoon as well.  Like all moms say, it really does feel like tiny flutters or faint taps on my belly.  Most of them I feel a little over to my left side.  I guess Baby G has Daddy's strong legs!

Baby G currently measures approximately 5.5 inches from crown to rump and weighs about 7 ounces.  Getting closer to one pound!  Our next milestone will be the 20 week ultrasound on Halloween!  We should know the sex of the baby and get some cool 4D photos.  Here is my photo of 18 weeks.

In other news, today I am making laundry detergent.  Several ladies at work have done the same with nice results.  You can check out the instructions at this homesteading website.  The cost savings are significant, with each 2-gallon batch totaling around $0.71.  We all know how expensive laundry detergent can be, even the discount brands.  I have to wait 24 hours for the mixture to gel, but once it's done I will post pictures.

Take care!
The G's

Wow - I've gotten behind in my blog updates.  The weeks seem to be passing so quickly!  Before we know it, Baby G will be here with all of us on "the outside."

The major pregnancy update is that my baby bump has finally popped.  It seemed to happen over the course of one weekend!  I'm still not big by any means, but especially now, at 16.5 weeks, it's clear that I'm pregnant.  I don't know why I look so miserable in these pictures!

So as a result of my new figure, I can't make do with my normal jeans and pants anymore.  I was feeling really discouraged on casual day at work because I could only wear one of my dresses.  Fridays are my only day to wear jeans to the office, so I was bummed.  Plus, I'd had a bad night before.  Bran had gone to a friend's house to play guitar and I was home alone, bored and really wishing I could unwind with a beer.  When I told him goodbye the next day he could see that I my spirits were low.  When I got home from work, he had two surprises waiting for me.  One was a pair of teeny tiny baby camo pants.  Girl or boy, Baby G is going to match Daddy and his favorite shorts.  The second was one of the sweetest cards he's ever given me.

Inside, he wrote this:

"I know it's hard right now babe, but before you know it we'll have a little screamin ball of joy!  I can't wait to hold him, or her :-), and jam with 'em and show him/her the world.  I love you babe and always will, no matter how big you get in the next few months!  - B."

I don't think he knows how much that means to me.

So, in addition to that, the other thing that made me feel great was a shopping trip with Mamaw.  She really spoiled me!  We got four pair of maternity pants and several super cute shirts.  Even better is we got it all on sale at Kohl's and Macy's.  Mamaw found several cute shirts of her own, too.  It was a really great day.  I'll be sure to post a picture of one of my new outfits when I go to work next week.

Despite the occasional bad day, I'm in good spirits.  Next week I'll get the results of a blood test that checks for neural tube defects in the baby such as Downs syndrome and spina bifita.  I'm nervous and so anxious for everything to come out normal.  I worry about the medicines I take and really hope that I made the right decision in not discontinuing them.  We decided that the benefits outweigh the risks, but it's hard not to second guess that.  At any rate, we'll know on Thursday if everything is normal or if I'll need further testing.

Today I have been lazy, but after this update I'm going to take care of a few chores and then get ready to watch the football games with some friends.  

Click this link to see Baby G's progress.  Today marks 17 weeks!

Love from the Gs!