Week 15

   Sorry this is so late, we have been busy every night this week and I have not had a chance to update yall. Last weekend we got to see Zach's parents as they were on their way to the beach and it was so nice to see them. They also came down Tuesday night with his grandparents and took up out for a nice dinner after Zach and I got done with work. Tuesday was also a big night for us because Zach got his truck!! We have been looking at getting a new car before the baby arrived and it worked out perfectly that this was truck month which meant 0% financing. We looked a couple weekends ago because poor Oscar, my green Honda, was starting to act up a bit and found the truck. We have been praying and looking over our finances to see how we could work this out and decided that this would be doable right now. I was sad to say goodbye to Oscar since it was my first car, but I am glad to be driving the 4Runner and finally have some AC :) Wednesday night we drove to Orlando after work for a baby class and Thursday night we had Gospel Community with some of our friends. We started a book on a Gospel centered marriage and really have enjoyed talking with other couples about the challenges and joys of marriage. Thursday Zach also had his college lecture in Ocala, on land use and equine laws, and he said it went very well. He said he actually liked teaching the class because they got into what he was teaching about and asked a lot of questions. Tonight FRIDAY, which I never thought would get here this week, has been the most down time we have had all week and we are loving every moment of it! It was a busy week full of firsts for us and lots of smiling at the end of the day.
  Now for the good stuff! Monday we had our doctor appointment and we got to hear Baby B's heartbeat for the first time. It was so exciting and such a calming feeling to hear. Zach said it sounded just like a train going by. The doctor said everything sounded great and looked as it should- always good to hear. He also signed my medical release for the cruise-YAY!! Our next doctor appointment is in 5 weeks where we will find out if Baby B is a boy or girl. This week the baby is about 4 inches long and weighs about 2 to 3 ounces. We are back to the produce section and the baby is about the size of a navel orange. The baby is moving a ton now, although I still am not able to feel him/her. My doctor says anywhere between 18 and 22 I should start to feel the baby moving. The rapid growth continues and the baby is developing constantly. Right now the skin is thin so you could see their blood vessels if you could see in the womb. Their body parts like eyes and ears are still still moving to their permanent position but have a little ways to go. The bones, which are already formed, are now starting to get harder and retain calcium. If the baby was to have an X-ray done you could see their skeleton. The baby's limbs and joints can all move now and they are starting to stretch out more. They can also wiggle fingers and toes and may start hiccuping.


  

Week 14

  Zach and I both had a long week last week and some pretty crazy stuff happening. Zach was quite busy at work, but made a lot of progress on some projects he has been working on. My week started out okay but on Tuesday we found out that a three year-old baby girl was taken to heaven after being in a car accident. It was an emotional week for a lot of the employees because they were very close with her family. On Wednesday another employee found out that her father had passed away and was out for the rest of the week to spend time with her family. Thursday the girl who works with me in my class had to take her daughter to the ER where they admitted her and discovered she had a bad case of pneumonia. Needless to say they all still need prayers. On a happy note we got to share a wonderful dinner with Richard and Megan, Zach's Uncle and Aunt, on Sunday. It was so nice to spend some time with them and share family stories. They also bought a precious gift for little Baby B. We got a stuffed elephant that had Ethan and Addison's voices saying "We love you!" and a baby CD set that I cannot wait to share with Baby B:)
   I cannot believe I am finally starting my second trimester! The baby is now about the size of a closed fist- not a fruit, but don't get too excited I think the produce is coming back:) The big developments this week: the baby can now squint, frown, grimace, pee, and possibly suck his/her thumb! This week the baby continues to grow toward a straighter position as the neck gets longer and the head is more erect. Also this week the baby is starting to grow body hair, know as lanugo. This hair will keep the baby warm for now and looks like peach fuzz, but will most likely shed before delivery. The baby has about doubled in weight since last week and will continue to steadily gain weight.

                       Yes I know it is a fruit, BUT our books said a the size of a fist and we were so happy that it was not a fruit. Below is me in front of my butterfly garden and the bottom picture is of Zach's vegetable and herb garden.

Week 13

On time!!! So little baby B is now 13 weeks old and I am almost through my first trimester! The baby is now the size of a peach so about 3 inches long. I told Zach it is so crazy to me how fast the baby is growing. At our 9 week ultrasound the baby was about .8 of and inch and that is about how much he/she grew in just this past week! The baby's head is about half of their length, but when they are born it will only be about one-quarter of their body length. This week the baby's intestines, which have been growing inside the umbilical cord, are starting their trek to their permanent position into the baby's stomach. Also developing this week are the baby's vocal cord's- I can't wait to hear his/her cry! The baby is also starting to look more humanlike. Their eyes, which started of the on the side of the head, are moving closer together on the face. Their ears have come to lie in the normal position on the sides of the head, and can be seen clearly. The baby also has tiny fingerprints by now:) My next doctor visit is March 26th and hopefully I will be able to listen to the heartbeat. I am going to try and record it if they let me- if I can and you are able to hear it I will post that after the visit.

 

Week 11 and 12

   Sorry I have not been on to update this lately. So, some exciting things have happened since I have last shared. Zach and I have been working on our yard and we finally finished some major developments!! Zach built his raised beds for vegetables and herbs and his plants have really taken off. Zach also built my butterfly garden which has plants for all stages of life. I cannot wait for Spring to see all the different species:) We also planted a couple trees and vines in the yard and it is finally looking a home not just an empty yard. The dogs enjoyed all the yard work and love smelling the plants. Although they still prefer to graze on the grass like cattle all day-thankfully:) Last weekend we went to our friends house for several hours and Zach helped Garrett put up a fence to keep his horses out of his raised beds. I got to spend some time with Crystal and just be outside. We also had our Gospel Community over to our house for our weekly get together last Thursday so that was nice having everyone here. This past week at work Zach was invited to teach a class of agriculture students about agricultural-business and his focus is on horse management and property land use. He had an article published in the Florida Bar Journal on this topic last month and the professor called him because she was so impressed. I am so proud of him!!!
   Now for the little one growing like crazy inside me! I'll do week 11 first with pictures and all then week 12. First, let me say that I can't believe we are already in our third month- I know we have a ways to go but when you count by weeks it seems like we are flying! Week 11- The baby is now the size of a large lime. The baby is just over 2 inches long now, which is over double from when we had our ultrasound picture done, and the baby weighs about a third of an ounce. Their body is starting to straighten out and the torso is getting longer. Hair is starting to form- I do hope they have some because I love baby hair. Fingernail and toenail beds are beginning to develop and the nail will start growing in just a few weeks. And although it is still too early to tell they are starting to develop sex organs- so it is almost a girl or a boy!!!
   

   Week 12- The baby is the size large fresh plum- it cracked me up that the fruit needed to be fresh. Apparently we will be running through the produce department. The baby is working hard in the development department. Although most of the systems are fully formed, there's still a lot of maturing to do. The digestive system is beginning to practice contraction movements- so the baby can eat, the bone marrow is making white blood cells- so the baby will be able to fight off bad germs, and the pituitary gland at the base of the brain is starting to produce hormones- so the baby will be able to make babies of their own. The baby's heartbeat can now be heard with a doppler. The baby is now starting to squint, open it's mouth, and move its fingers and toes.
     
  Overall, I am feeling fine for the most part. I have been having headaches more frequently, but Zach has been very helpful. I am starting to show a little bit, but it looks less baby and more like I am just getting fat. I have gained about 1.5 pounds total since finding out, and according to what the doctor said I will gain a little over 3 pounds a month. In all I should gain about 30 to 40 pounds. I will be posting pictures of the gardens and us in the next blog:)