Long awaited UPDATE!

Me & My Bump at week 23

Oh boy, where to begin?!


I left off at week 13. I was too sick to care about the blog – sad I know. But, I feel GREAT now! I’ve actually felt great for about a month now. Actually, it’s probably even longer.

Baby’s doing fantastic! Here are some of the highlights from the past 11 weeks (yes, I’m at 24 weeks now!)

Week 18: I had the weirdest sensation hit me one evening as I sat on the couch watching TV. I felt this light “bubble popping” feeling in my tummy. Most books and websites say a first time mom won’t feel the baby move until about week 20, so I didn’t think it was baby. I told my friend Shelly about it the next day and she also said “nah, it probably wasn’t baby”. Well…it was! Now that I feel the bambino moving all the time, I know it was actually the first time I felt baby moving. I’m glad I didn’t dismiss it. It's such a neat feeling.  It's really hard to explain, but it feels a lot like little air bubbles popping - and not like GAS! HA! It's an airy light feeling. 


Week 19: Ultrasound – WOW! What a neat experience. I thought I would be emotional, but it was so interesting that I never really attached an emotional feeling to it. Jeff and I sat looking at the monitor in amazement. We got to see baby move his/her arm, we saw the baby’s heart beating, and the tech pointed out all the important “parts”. We left with a DVD of photo’s and some short videos. I did not enjoy the full bladder part of the experience, so I’m ok if my Dr. decides I won’t need another one during the rest of the pregnancy.

Christmas: Our kid is completely prepared to wear his/her UND Fighting Sioux gear and Vikings attire! For Christmas, little bambino got a UND onesie from Auntie Terry and Uncle Cordell (well, we’re hoping he’ll be an uncle some day!) UND gear from Mommy, and Vikings attire from Uncle Pat and Auntie Jen. Nana (trying this name out for my mom) already has a little girl Vikings outfit, which sadly, she had before we announced we were expecting. I’m sure she’ll spoil our kid with lots of MN sports team clothing. Baby also got an AMAZING gift from the Satniks. They gave us a play mat/baby gym play set. It’s Fisher Price Precious Planet – very cool! I set it up a few days after Christmas to see what Frankie thought of it and surprisingly she didn’t seem to care about it very much. This is good, but not sure it’ll last. Daddy also bought baby a nice little present. I was very impressed. He even got a baby gift bag for it. He found two body suits that say “Who needs a Superhero when I have a Daddy” and “I’m the boss (when Mom’s not around)” He also got a package of newborn Soothie pacifiers. I joked with him and asked if they were for Frankie because every time we visit the Headley’s, Frankie finds Addy’s Soothies and tries to chew them up.

We’ve also had a few Dr. appointments since last update. Everything is progressing just as it should. My Dr. says I’m doing excellent. We decided to decline the four marker genetics test. It wouldn’t change anything we would do, but might cause stress if the test were to come back abnormal, which our Dr. says is somewhat common. No thanks! It is what it is, and we’ll deal with whatever comes our way when and if anything presents itself. I get to do the glucose test next appointment – oh joy.

So, here we are. Week 24. Baby is very active, especially at night when it’s time for Mommy to sleep. It’s our special time. I’ve started talking to little bambino, but it’s kind of weird sometimes to talk to “air”. I’m getting more comfortable with it. We’re pretty sure that baby will know Frankie the minute her bark is heard. She’d definitely the most vocal Anderson in our house!

Oh, and here’s what Baby’s up to these days:

• Bring on the bulk! Baby gains about 6 ounces this week. The weight is in muscle, bone mass and organs.


• His body begins to fill out with his appearance increasingly becoming more like a newborn.


• Taste buds begin to form. If mom drinks something strange or bitter, baby may be observed showing his distaste.


• Little creases have appeared on his palms. The muscular coordination of his hands has improved as he sucks his thumb.


• Over the next seven days the sweat glands will be forming in the skin.


• His lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" and cells that produce surfactant, a substance that helps the air sacs inflate easily.


• This week your baby is officially considered viable.


• Baby weighs 1.3 pound (600gm) and is 11.8 inches (30cm) long -- almost the length of a ruler!

Week 13 - oh yeah, I'm pregnant....

No more sickness, appetite slowly returning, energy level ok.....am I really pregnant? HA! I've been feeling really good the past few days.  I'm really looking forward to the holidays now! I'm also excited to be in the last week of my first trimester.  Time is flying by. 

Not much else to report this week.  All is good! :)

Week 12 - bye bye morning sickness!

Ahhh....finally! I think I'm over the morning sickness.  I still don't have an appetite and I do get a little queasy from time to time, but nothing like before.  Everyone keeps telling me how awesome the second trimester will be and I can't wait.  I'm ready to start feeling better, pigging out, and wearing maternity clothes! Hubby's in trouble.

I'm amazed at how tired I am - ALL THE TIME!! I knew to expect this, but it is still weird to deal with.  I've usually been the type to stay up until 11:30 on a "school night" and get up at 6:00 the next morning.  I can't keep my eyes open past 10:00! And that means I have to start getting ready for bed at 9:00.  The other night I saw it was 8:10 and I thought "hmmm....is it too early to go to bed?" And...I take naps most days!

Growing a kid is so exhausting! :)

Week 11 - Dr. Appt Update

We had an appointment yesterday.  Here's what happened:

We got to hear our baby's heartbeat!! That was very exciting.  I cried, and Jeff was just amazed.  It was quick - about 155bpm - which is very normal.  Our doctor wasn't sure if we would be able to hear it, so I was very happy it worked out. 

Physical exam - oh fun.   When the nurse was putting all of the implements on the counter, Jeff said "I don't like that."  Especially after the nurse left and he actually picked up the speculum (it was in a plastic bag).  "I really don't like this."  I said "you and me both!" What amazed me is that Jeff stayed in the room during the exam. He couldn't see anything the doc was doing, and it was nice that he stuck through it for me. At one point he asked me if I wanted him to hold my hand. I laughed and said I was ok, I've been through it before

H1N1 vaccine - they only have doses at my clinic for pregnant ladies and they had just gotten them in - so no piggy flu for me!

Blood drawn - I'm surprised I have any left! They drew 5 1/2 viles of blood.  The lab tech had to try both arms to get the flow goin.  I was fine since I usually only get light headed if I actually see the blood flowing into the tube - yuck.  Oh, and my favorite....got to pee in a cup again.  fun times, fun times. 

So everything is going well.  Our next appointment is in 4 weeks.

Week 10 (catching up)

I'm sorry, but I really didn't feel like updating this blog last week, so here's "week 10". 

Feeling a little better...random queasiness is subsiding.  Still not much of an appetite. 

Here's what's happenin to baby this week:

•Baby is now called a fetus in "medical terms". You, however, may have chosen the name "peanut," "angel," "jumping bean" or simply "miracle."

•The most critical part of your infant's development is complete. Now you are headed into a period of rapid growth.

•While a bit strange to envision, your baby's head is now about half its length - Soon the rest of the body's growth will catch up but this area is prepared to keep up with the rapid brain development!

•Eyelids fuse shut and irises begin to develop - Eye color is also determined by this point.

•Placenta begins to function this week or next - The placenta is the organ responsible for both the provision of nutrients along with the removal of waste to keep your baby growing strong!

•Your baby will be about 1.22 inch long (3.1cm) and weigh 0.14 ounce (4gm) at the end of this week

9 Weeks - status quo

I feel exactly the same as last week, only maybe a little worse.  It's hard work making a kid!

My new favorites: Starburst and Lemon Drops.  They ALWAYS taste good and make me happy. 

I miss hotdogs.  I wanted a corn dog the other day so bad! Some people have been giving me a hard time about my "rule following".  But I look at it this way.....if there is something that could potentially harm my baby - even if it's 1/1000th of a percent, why would I do it?  Therefore, I am following the guidlines in my Preganancy Bible, and that my doctor reccomends.   Here's some interesting info:

What are the foods I should avoid during pregnancy?



Raw Meat: Uncooked seafood and rare or undercooked beef or poultry should be avoided because of the risk of contamination with coliform bacteria, toxoplasmosis, and salmonella.

Deli Meat: Deli meats have been known to be contaminated with listeria, which can cause miscarriage. Listeria has the ability to cross the placenta and may infect the baby leading to infection or blood poisoning, which may be life-threatening. If you are pregnant and you are considering eating deli meats, make certain that you reheat the meat until it is steaming.

Fish with Mercury: Fish that contain high levels of mercury should be avoided. Mercury consumed during pregnancy has been linked to developmental delays and brain damage. A sample of these types of fish include: shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and tilefish. Canned, chunk light tuna generally has a lower amount of mercury than other tuna, but still should only be eaten in moderation. Certain types of fish used in sushi should also be avoided due to high levels of mercury. Please see Mercury in Fish for specific types of fish and further information on how to calculate mercury levels.


Smoked Seafood -Refrigerated, smoked seafood often labeled as lox, nova style, kippered, or jerky should be avoided because it could be contaminated with Listeria. (These are safe to eat when they are in an ingredient in a meal that has been cooked, like a casserole.) This type of fish is often found in the deli section of your grocery store. Canned or shelf-safe smoked seafood is usually OK to eat.


Fish Exposed to Industrial Pollutants: Avoid fish from contaminated lakes and rivers that may be exposed to high levels of polychlorinated biphenyls. This is primarily for those who fish in local lakes and streams. These fish include: bluefish, striped bass, salmon, pike, trout, and walleye. Contact the local health department or Environmental Protection Agency to determine which fish are safe to eat in your area. Remember, this is regarding fish caught in local waters and not fish from your local grocery store.

Raw Shellfish: The majority of seafood-borne illness is caused by undercooked shellfish, which include oysters, clams, and mussels. Cooking helps prevent some types of infection, but it does not prevent the algae-related infections that are associated with red tides. Raw shellfish pose a concern for everybody, and they should be avoided altogether during pregnancy.


Raw Eggs: Raw eggs or any foods that contain raw eggs should be avoided because of the potential exposure to salmonella. Some homemade Caesar dressings, mayonnaise, homemade ice cream or custards, and Hollandaise sauces may be made with raw eggs.
If the recipe is cooked at some point, this will reduce the exposure to salmonella. Commercially manufactured ice cream, dressings, and eggnog are made with pasteurized eggs and do not increase the risk of salmonella. Restaurants should be using pasteurized eggs in any recipe that is made with raw eggs, such as Hollandaise sauce or dressings.

Soft Cheeses: Imported soft cheeses may contain bacteria called Listeria, which can cause miscarriage. Listeria has the ability to cross the placenta and may infect the baby leading to infection or blood poisoning, which can be life-threatening. You would need to avoid soft cheeses such as: Brie, Camembert, Roquefort, Feta, Gorgonzola and Mexican style cheeses that include queso blanco and queso fresco, unless they clearly state that they are made from pasteurized milk. All soft non-imported cheeses made with pasteurized milk are safe to eat.

Unpasteurized Milk: Unpasteurized milk may contain bacteria called listeria, which can cause miscarriage. Listeria has the ability to cross the placenta and may infect the baby leading to infection or blood poisoning, which can be life-threatening. Make sure that any milk you drink is pasteurized.

Pate: Refrigerated pate or meat spreads should be avoided because they may contain the bacteria listeria. Canned pate, or shelf-safe meat spreads can be eaten.


Caffeine: Although most studies show that caffeine intake in moderation is OK, there are others that show that caffeine intake may be related to miscarriages. Avoid caffeine during the first trimester to reduce the likelihood of a miscarriage. As a general rule, caffeine should be limited to fewer than 300 mg per day during pregnancy. Caffeine is a diuretic, which means it helps eliminate fluids from the body. This can result in water and calcium loss. It is important that you are drinking plenty of water, juice, and milk rather than caffeinated beverages. Some research shows that large amounts of caffeine are associated with miscarriage, premature birth, low birth weight, and withdrawal symptoms in infants. The safest thing is to refrain from consuming caffeine.

Alcohol: There is NO amount of alcohol that is known to be safe during pregnancy, and therefore alcohol should be avoided during pregnancy. Prenatal exposure to alcohol can interfere with the healthy development of the baby. Depending on the amount, timing, and pattern of use, alcohol consumption during pregnancy can lead to Fetal Alcohol Syndrome or other developmental disorders. If you consumed alcohol before you knew you were pregnant, stop drinking now. You should continue to avoid alcohol during breastfeeding. Exposure of alcohol to an infant poses harmful risks, and alcohol does reach the baby during breastfeeding.

Unwashed Vegetables: Yes, vegetables are safe to eat, so you still need to eat them. However, it is essential to make sure they are washed to avoid potential exposure to toxoplasmosis. Toxoplasmosis may contaminate the soil where the vegetables were grown.

8 Weeks - Hormones = Poison

Yesterday marked my 8th week.  I've been battling the dreaded morning sickness.  However, on a scale of 1-10 (10 being the worst) I would say I'm usually between a 5-6.  I've heard some real horror stories about illness, so I count myself lucky.  I've found the key for me is to allow my body to wake up naturally.  I don't respond well to the violent 5:30AM alarm blaring wake-ups.  I've adjusted my hours at work so I usually get in around 9AM.  That has worked for this week. 

Food has become the enemy.  Nothing ever sounds good to eat.  I feel like I'm constantly forcing myselft to eat.  Crackers are not my friend.  I can't stand eating crackers.  I do love chocolate milk, grapfruit juice, pickles, and oatmeal creme pies.  Oh, and french fries sprinkled with lot's of pepper and a dash of garlic salt - YUM!!! It's so wierd, because something that tasted amazing to me yesterday grosses me out today. Or tasting wonderful when I start eating it, and 10 mins later I can't take another bite because it repulses me.  Being pregnant is the strangest thing I've ever dealt with. :)