15 week belly pictures

Here they are! Not much change since last week. And yes, I'm wearing the same pants I wore in my picture last week. My pants are on a one-week rotation. These ones are comfortable and they're the last pair of non-maternity pants that fit me. I relish that.

Knock knock

Who's there?
Banana.
Banana who?
Knock knock.
Who's there?
Banana.
Banana who?
Knock knock.
Who's there?
Orange.
Orange who?
Orange you glad I didn't say banana?

Baby Rain is the size of a naval orange this week. He's a whole 4 inches long and weighs 2.5 ounces. His proportions are getting more "normal," his legs are longer than his arms, and all of his legs and arms have functional joints. He's supposedly squirming and wiggling like crazy in there. Sometimes if I sit really still and concentrate, I think I feel a little tickle. But I'm not sure if it's me breathing or actually him.

How am I feeling these days? In terms of the pregnancy, better. But my allergies are still bothersome. After my chiropractor appointment yesterday, they've lightened up a little. I'm hoping I don't have the throbbing headache anymore that I've had for the past few days. I went all night last night without waking up to blow my nose, so that's a huge accomplishment.

I don't have any cravings anymore--not even potatoes. And no taste aversions either. I've even made suppers with hamburger a few times without wanting to hurl.

15 week belly picture to come.

It won't be the last time...

I had a baby appointment this afternoon. A lovely, quick, just-what-the-midwife-ordered appointment. Kevin came along for the experience, which was fun for me. I told him about the big light placed strategically at the end of the examination table, and the reason why there's something that says "Caution: Hot" underneath the green padding of the table. After waiting for our midwife for a good 10-15 minutes, he got fidgety so I engaged him in a few rounds of "Rock, paper, scissors" and thumb wars. That seemed to take his mind off the long wait.

Highlights of my appointment:
*I've gained 5 pounds since my last appointment, which is right on target. You're supposed to gain 1 lb per week. This makes a grand total of 7 lbs since my pre-pregnancy weight. This also puts me tied with my heaviest weight ever. I will soon break that record. Next week, apparently.
*My belly is where it should be in terms of size, which is reassuring. I was beginning to think I was the size of a house.
*We heard Raina's heartbeat twice--once with the nurse, and once with the midwife. Her heart rate was 160 bpm this time. Both times she was kicking and moving around, which is exciting. It won't be long before I can feel her tumbling around in there. Then it won't be long before I'll wish she weren't. They found her hiding much higher up in my belly than I expected--probably about 2-3 inches below my belly button!

And now to address the title of this post. My allergies are at an all-time high right now. The nurse said they're worse when you're pregnant. As I was typing about entertaining Kev above, I sneezed and peed my pants a little. I didn't even think I needed to use the bathroom. I'm just glad it happened at home and not at school or somewhere else. I'm sure this is only the beginning of the joys that lie ahead.

14 weeks

I know it has only been 4 days since the last belly picture. I'm going to take them on Wednesdays from here on out. Wednesday is the big week-change day.



Rain is the size of a lemon now. I know what you're thinking. Last week was a peach and this week is a lemon? That seems sort of backwards. I agree. I wasn't the one who came up with the produce metaphors. Anyway, this week Rain 3.4 in long and 1.5 oz. He's sucking his thumb (oh no--braces on the way!), wiggling his toes, making urine (ew), and breathing amniotic fluid. His liver, kidneys, and spleen continue to develop, and his lanugo (thin, downy hair) is growing all over his body to keep him warm.

The word is spreading at work. Good times. My co-workers are amazed I could keep it a secret this long, and they are so happy that I get to leave my horrid class in April.

Lettin' it all hang out

This message is brought to you by the word Hallelujah!

I told my principal the big news today. At first I caught a glimpse of "oh shit" on her face, but after a few seconds of chortling on her part and silence on mine, I said, "surprise!" (there we go again with me not knowing what to do in moments of awkwardness) and she replied back that she's not surprised. This is the way things happen in a school. One person has her baby (that co-worker I mentioned last week is due tomorrow) the same time another announces her pregnancy. So basically she was thinking all along, "Who could be next?" 'Tis I. 'Tis I.

And before I told the principal, two other events occurred.
1. A co-worker came up to me and said that she heard some good news was happening in April. Apparently at the aforementioned co-worker's baby shower last week, the wine got to flowing and the word slipped out. I hate to speculate which of my wine-loving friends spilled the beans, but it's only obvious. You know who you are. But don't worry...I'm not mad. It was a great secret and you kept it for such a long time.

2. I told my team of fellow 4th grade teachers. None of them had a clue. HA! I'm such a great secret-keeper.

It feels so good to not have to hide my belly anymore behind zip-up hoodies or fleece vests.

I'm not sure when the rest of the school will find out, but I'm sure word will spread to most by the end of the week. If not, I think we have a staff meeting either tomorrow or next Wednesday, so I'll tell those who don't know then.

We're here!

I celebrated entering the 2nd trimester yesterday by shopping and taking a new belly pic.

Leah and I went to Woodbury yesterday to Motherhood Maternity. I shopped, and she supported my purchases. I got three pair of pants, and I'm very excited to wear them and work in comfort this week. We also went to Old Navy and scored some non-maternity, but still workable, deals.

Before I left home, I took new belly pictures. These are more representative because they were taken in the morning and not after a full day of eating. I'm wearing the maternity jeans I bought at Old Navy when I went shopping at the MOA back in September.



According to the poll, a majority of you thought that my huge belly size last week was because of bloat. I agree. The baby's position is much too low for it to be noticeable yet.

I have a busy week ahead of me:
Monday: meeting after school and piano lessons
Tuesday: telling my fellow 4th grade teachers the news and then my pre-observation meeting with my principal when I tell her the news.
Wednesday: Principal observes my math lesson. This may be the first math lesson all year when my students actually listen.
Thursday: Post-observation meeting and piano lessons
Friday: Field trip and OB appointment. It has been too long since my last visit, and I'm excited to hear the heartbeat again!

Millions of peaches,

peaches for me. Millions of peaches, peaches for free. Look out! This baby is growing like mad. I'm at 13 weeks now, and the baby is about 2.9 inches and .81 oz. Rain(a) is forming teeth and vocal cords this week. His/her head is becoming more proportional to his/her body, and the intestines are moving from the umbilical cord to inside his/her tummy. On Saturday I enter into 2nd trimester. I hear it's fabulous. Let's hope so.

Rain(a) and his/her and he/she is getting a little redundant. I may have to alternate posts calling "it" a "he" in one and a "she" in the next. So when you see that, don't go thinking we know the sex. Because we don't and we won't find out until the big arrival.

I've decided that I will be telling my principal the big news on either Tuesday or Wednesday. Thank God I can finally get this out in the open. I have a pre-observation meeting, an observation, and a post-observation meeting with her next Wednesday and Thursday so they present the perfect time for a one-on-one news-sharing session.

A co-worker is having a baby soon; she's due next week. We were supposed to give the new mom and dad some advice by writing it on a paper teddy bear. All the paper teddy bears will be put together in a book. I had no idea what I could possibly say, not being a "real" mom yet, so I found a quote that said, "Always kiss your children goodnight, even if they're already asleep." --H. Jackson Brown, Jr. I thought, hmm...that's a good one. So I wrote it down. Eh.