Well, here we are starting week #17! Yay! I think I'm feeling some movement going on. It's absolutely amazing.

I've developed a cold, darn it all. It hasn't been too bad though, thank goodness. I'm hoping it will go away soon! I'm mostly just so stuffed up. Crazy. Other than that, all is good! Joe is still way busy with school and studying and all. Come on first week of December (the end of the semester)!

Mom and Ralph are coming to visit this weekend. I'm sooooo excited to have them be here and hang out with them. I'm glad they're able to come up.

Anyway, here's what's happening this week!

Your pregnancy: 17 weeks

See the big picture

How your baby's growing:

Your baby's skeleton is changing from soft cartilage to bone, and the umbilical cord — her lifeline to the placenta — is growing stronger and thicker. Your baby weighs 5 ounces now (about as much as a turnip), and she's around 5 inches long from head to bottom. She can move her joints, and her sweat glands are starting to develop.

How your life's changing:

Starting to feel a bit off balance? As your belly grows, your center of gravity changes, so you may begin to occasionally feel a little unsteady on your feet. Try to avoid situations with a high risk of falling. Wear low-heeled shoes to reduce your risk of taking a tumble; trauma to your abdomen could be dangerous for you and your baby. You'll also want to be sure to buckle up when you're in a car — keep the lap portion of the seat belt under your belly, drawn snugly across your hips, and also use the shoulder harness, which should fit snugly between your breasts.

You may also notice your eyes becoming drier. Using over-the-counter lubricating drops may help. If your contact lenses become uncomfortable, try wearing them for shorter stretches of time. If you still have discomfort, switch to glasses until after you give birth.

- www.babycenter.com

Have a wonderful day!

Love,
Joe & Kristen

Happy anniversary to us! We just had our three year wedding anniversary yesterday. It's been such a wonderful three years with my sweet hubby. He is the greatest! I'm SO grateful for him and still SO in love with him!!!

We had a doctor's appointment on Monday. Poor Joe couldn't come because he had TWO huge tests that day. Poor hunney. The doctor brought in his little machine to be able to hear the heart beat. I was so excited! And I had my phone ready to record so I could share it with Joe and anyone else who would listen, he he. The doctor was able to finally find the baby's heart beat and then I guess he thought my phone wouldn't pick up the sound, so he moved the little box from beside me on the bed to on top of my belly. Well, when he did this, he lost the heart beat. I only got to hear it for two seconds and didn't get to record it at all! And then he couldn't get it again. Our little one is apparently a stinker already. Hmm. I'm sure he/she was dodging as much as he/she could. The doctor was pushing all over my belly so hard trying to get it, I thought I would pop! I figure we can wait until later to try to hear it again. AND... we have our appointment on November 14th at 2:00 p.m. for THE ultrasound. We'll let you all know how it goes. :o) Have you voted yet?

Now that we're already half way through this week, here's what's happening!

Your pregnancy: 16 weeks

See the big picture

How your baby's growing:

Get ready for a growth spurt. In the next few weeks, your baby will double his weight and add inches to his length. Right now, he's about the size of an avocado: 4 1/2 inches long (head to rump) and 3 1/2 ounces. His legs are much more developed, his head is more erect than it has been, and his eyes have moved closer to the front of his head. His ears are close to their final position, too. The patterning of his scalp has begun, though his locks aren't recognizable yet. He's even started growing toenails. And there's a lot happening inside as well. For example, his heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, and this amount will continue to increase as your baby continues to develop. (Is this why I'm on day three of a headache? So much blood pumping through me?! Hmm.)

See what your baby looks like this week.

How your life's changing:

The top of your uterus is about halfway between your pubic bone and your navel, and the round ligaments that support it are thickening and stretching as it grows. You're probably feeling a whole lot better as you settle into pregnancy, too. Less nausea, fewer mood swings, and "glowing" skin contribute to an overall sense of well-being.

Soon you'll experience one of the most wonderful moments of pregnancy — feeling your baby move. While some women notice "quickening" as early as 16 weeks, many don't feel their baby move until about 18 weeks or more. (And if this is your first baby, don't be too impatient — you may not be aware of your baby's movements until 20 weeks or so.) The earliest movements may feel like little flutters, gas bubbles, or even like popcorn popping. Over the following weeks they'll grow stronger and you'll be able to feel them much more frequently.

www.babycenter.com

Sometimes I think I feel little flutters, but have no idea if that's really what's going on yet or not. I look forward to stronger ones to know for sure!

Love to you all!
Us

I'm finally starting to feel better! Yay! I still have my moments, but for the most part, I'm doing great! I'm so looking forward to this semester and all of the fun things that will happen during it!

Here's what's happening this week...

Your pregnancy: 15 weeks

See the big picture

How your baby's growing:

Your growing baby now measures about 4 inches long, crown to rump, and weighs in at about 2 1/2 ounces (about the size of an apple). She's busy moving amniotic fluid through her nose and upper respiratory tract, which helps the primitive air sacs in her lungs begin to develop. Her legs are growing longer than her arms now, and she can move all of her joints and limbs. Although her eyelids are still fused shut, she can sense light. If you shine a flashlight at your tummy, for instance, she's likely to move away from the beam. There's not much for your baby to taste at this point, but she is forming taste buds. Finally, if you have an ultrasound this week, you may be able to find out whether your baby's a boy or a girl! (Don't be too disappointed if it remains a mystery, though. Nailing down your baby's sex depends on the clarity of the picture and on your baby's position. He or she may be modestly curled up or turned in such a way as to "hide the goods.")

How your life's changing: You've probably gained about 5 pounds by now (a little more or less is fine, too) and are well into the swing of your pregnancy, but you may still be surprised by an unexpected symptom now and then. If your nose is stuffed up, for instance, you can probably chalk it up to the combined effect of hormonal changes and increased blood flow to your mucous membranes. This condition is so common, there's even a name for it: "rhinitis of pregnancy." Some pregnant women also suffer nosebleeds as a result of increased blood volume and blood vessel expansion in the nose.

Don't be surprised if you and your partner are feeling a little stressed out these days. Many pregnant couples worry about their baby's health and how they'll handle the changes ahead. But with physical discomforts on the wane and energy on the rise, this is also a wonderful trimester for most women.

Here is what is happening with our little one this week! It's so much fun!

Your pregnancy: 14 weeks

See the big picture

How your baby's growing:

This week's big developments: Your baby can now squint, frown, grimace, pee, and possibly suck his thumb! Thanks to brain impulses, his facial muscles are getting a workout as his tiny features form one expression after another. His kidneys are producing urine, which he releases into the amniotic fluid around him — a process he'll keep up until birth. He can grasp, too, and if you're having an ultrasound now, you may even catch him sucking his thumb.

In other news: Your baby's stretching out. From head to bottom, he measures 3 1/2 inches — about the size of a lemon — and he weighs 1 1/2 ounces. His body's growing faster than his head, which now sits upon a more distinct neck. By the end of this week, his arms will have grown to a length that's in proportion to the rest of his body. (His legs still have some lengthening to do.) He's starting to develop an ultra-fine, downy covering of hair, called lanugo, all over his body. Your baby's liver starts making bile this week — a sign that it's doing its job right — and his spleen starts helping in the production of red blood cells. Though you can't feel his tiny punches and kicks yet, your little pugilist's hands and feet (which now measure about 1/2 inch long) are more flexible and active.

How your life's changing:

Welcome to your second trimester! Your energy is likely returning, your breasts may be feeling less tender, and your queasiness may have completely abated by now. If not, hang on — chances are good it will soon be behind you (although an unlucky few will still feel nauseated months from now).

The top of your uterus is a bit above your pubic bone, which may be enough to push your tummy out a tad. Starting to show can be quite a thrill, giving you and your partner visible evidence of the baby you've been waiting for. Take some time to plan, daydream, and enjoy this amazing time. It's normal to worry a bit now and then, but try to focus on taking care of yourself and your baby, and having faith that you're well equipped for what's ahead.

Info is from: www.babycenter.com

Feel free to take our poll in the right column. We should hopefully be able to find out if we're having a boy or girl near November 17th.