T-13 weeks!!!

Without further delay, here are Baby Girl's latest ultrasound pics (taken at 21 weeks)....

Baby Girl's sweet face

ankles crossed like a lady :)

One of my favorites!  Look at that leg!  And foot!  So developed already!!

And last but not least, her precious profile!

I can't believe how developed she already was at 21 weeks!  It took the ultrasound tech  at least an hour to get all of the anatomical pics she needed because Baby Girl was so active!  She's definitely getting stronger and bigger by the day (as is her mama! ha!).  It hit me yesterday that I'm only 10 weeks away from going out on maternity leave!  HOLY COW...just 10 weeks!!


Needless to say, most of my non-work time lately has been focused on creating our baby registry.  And can I just say, it is COMPLETELY overwhelming!  I think the best advice I've gotten is from a high school friend: "All she needs is a place to sleep, food, plenty of diapers, and lots of love."  I think we can manage that :)


Friday before last I had my monthly check-up.  It was at the end of 25 weeks/beginning of 26 weeks (not really sure when I change over because I was measuring 4 days early at my last ultrasound).  According to my doctor my fundus was measuring exactly 26 centimeters which was just perfect for the 26 week mark (God never ceases to amaze me)!  That weekend Matt talked me into going to the Barrister's Ball...and somehow I managed to wear the same dress I wore last year which made this mama happy, ha!

25-26 weeks (headed to Barrister's)

Weeks 25-26: 

Size of baby:   ~14 inches head to heel and ~1 and 2/3 lbs

Maternity Clothes:  maternity jeans and some maternity tops (mostly for length) though I'm wearing non-maternity sweats/yoga pants and some regular tops

Weight Gain:  14 lbs (eek!) at my 25-26 week check-up

 Movement:  Oh yes!  Matt can actually watch her move my belly now.

Sleep:  Not good.  Lots of nose bleeds waking me up and just can't seem to get comfortable.  To top it off at the end of 24/beginning of 25 weeks I hurt my neck and that just made it 

100x's worse for several days.

Symptoms:  Nose bleeds (at least 2 a day), discomfort from my belly stretching/growing, some heartburn but not too bad, some lower back pain, and little red spots (like burst blood vessels) scattered across my shoulders/upper chest - apparently they are harmless and will go 

away after delivery

Cravings:  not too much...still liking scrambled eggs and fruit

Best Moment of the Week:  Matt getting to see Baby Girl move my belly!  

And getting the sweetest gift from a patient (see below).

Hand knitted sweater from a sweet, sweet patient (not even one of my patients)!

T-13 weeks to go!!!!

~Megan~

Show Your Singles

Kelly's Korner Blog is having a "Show Us Your Singles" link up.  I've never done this before, but lets be honest, with the amazing single I know, how could I resist!  Stuart McMahen is a 30 year-old small town guy from North Louisiana.  He's a graduate of Centenary College and Vanderbilt Law, a great Christian guy, and  an avid sports fan (Geaux Tigers!!!).

And did I mention he is the BEST brother and friend a girl could ever ask for?!?

He is truly an amazing catch!  

~Megan~

Finally...

So I've somehow managed to get myself together enough to take a few bump pics.  Of course, I couldn't get myself together enough to post them on here in a timely manner, ha!  This is for you, Marci and mom :)

20-21 weeks

(right before we watched LSU's peewee team

forget to show up for the BCS Championship)

23-24 weeks

I feel like I am getting bigger by the minute - and not just in my belly.  And apparently I am...a lady I don't really know saw me yesterday and her first response was "Your butt done got fat..."  Well, thank you very much kind stranger.  Just what I wanted to hear this fine morning.  It seriously took everything in me to not snap!  Hopefully tomorrow I'll get our latest ultrasound pics and weekly updates up!  We shall see ;)

~Megan~

Where has time gone?!?

So I haven't fallen off the face of the earth...I just haven't blogged at all over the past 6 weeks.  I kept thinking I would feel better and be able to stay caught up, but that hasn't really happened.  So here's my attempt at catching up on the past few weeks.  It might get a little long, so sorry in advance!

Week 14:  OH MY WORD...what a week that was!  I had a little scare the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and was SO sick.  We ended up going to see the NP at my doctor's office for a full check-up.  Thankfully Baby C was just fine, it was just me that was sick!  I can truly sympathize with all of my patient's who have UTIs now.  I was so grateful for antibiotics that day and for great co-workers that stayed several hours over just so I could leave early.  It was also the week of Thanksgiving, so my in-laws were in for all of the excitement!  Ha!  I actually felt better Thanksgiving day and was able to cook (first time in months) and eat.  I thought my nausea was pretty much behind me but boy was I wrong!  I was still craving sour things and eating lots of fruit....still no meat.

Week 15:  After another nausea flare-up, I called my doctor first thing Monday and got a Rx of Zofran.  And can I just say, it is a miracle drug as far as I'm concerned.  It made me feel relatively human again, though I only take it prn.  No new cravings, same 'ole aversions.  Looking a little pudgier but no real bump.

Week 16:  Stu (my brother) and I went to visit Marci (our little sister) in Chicago to celebrate Stu's 30th birthday!  It was the first time just the 3 of us have gone anywhere like that together.  Marci made the mistake of asking me what I wanted for dinner one night, so we ended up eating fresh fruits and nuts!  I also found an Icee in Chicago!  It was oh so good.  I drank one 2 days in a row...even outside in the 12 degree Chicago weather.  Stu thought I had absolutely lost my mind.  I was able to sit through a meal at a nice restaurant for the first time in months though I only ate bread and the rice out of my gumbo :(  Marci noticed my weight gain but still no real bump, except maybe after I ate too much :) Below is a pic of all 3 McMahen kids in a Chicago taxi (cab drivers aren't easy on nauseous pregnant women so I learned).

Week 17:  A few times in between weeks 15-17 I wondered if I felt Baby C move, but I wasn't quite sure.  It didn't feel like "flutters" like everyone describes it, it felt more like a itsy bitsy jab here and there - very sporadic.  I was still wearing all my normal clothes (using a hair tie to keep my skinny jeans up - they buttoned but were terribly uncomfortable by noon) and one pair of maternity jeans which are so much more comfortable.  By this point everyone was convinced Baby C was girl.  We had our monthly Dr. appointment on Dec. 14th, right after Matt's finals had begun.  Unfortunately Matt didn't get to make it...the first appt. he's had to miss.  I got to hear sweet Baby C's strong heartbeat again.  It was between 140-150 bpm.  Baby C was on the go that day, as soon as the doctor would find the heartbeat we could hear Baby C start moving.  It was like a game of hide and go seek.  So cool!  I found out I'd gained around 6-7 lbs total.  My doctor laughed when I asked if I was gaining too much too fast.  I'll take that as a good sign...  I still haven't been able to eat much...definitely no meat.  Still stuck on grapefruit and grapefruit juice!

Week 18:  The week we'd been waiting for...we got to go home for Christmas AND find out we are having a Baby GIRL!!!   My mom squealed AND cackled.  I think my  was a tad bit excited.  We decided to go to StorkVision the Friday before Christmas so we could tell our family in person.  Baby Girl moved the entire US and never once gave us a glimpse of her face.  I called Marci immediately after the appointment because she wasn't in yet then told our families all together later that night. On the flight home Dec. 22nd, baby girl really starting making her presence known.  It was the first time I knew without a doubt I felt her and boy was she busy.  No dainty squirming here, she was full out kickboxing!  It was the most amazing feeling!  

We had an amazing week celebrating Christmas with our families.  Baby Girl had her own stocking and presents and everything.  She is already so loved, and we are so incredibly blessed.  I'm so thankful I wasn't sick that week.  I was truly able to enjoy every second of being home.  I even worked out the day after Christmas with the entire family.  Marci had mom and me in pain before we even left the gym...no worries, I didn't do anything I'm not supposed to do!  I also re-hydrated with a fabulous peach Icee thanks to my dad as soon as the workout was over :)  By the end of this week I actually started to show (see the pics below).  One day my jeans fit, the next day, not so much.  Not the best pic of me (I was laughing or something, I dunno) but it is of me and my childhood best friend.  I'm 18 wks preggers and she's 35-36 I think.  I think I was trying to poke my belly out even further than normal to emphasize the bump...ha.  

                                             

Here's another pic of my sister, mom, me, Ashley, her mom (Mrs. Stephanie) and her sister (Chelsea).

Week 19:  I was still  home for a few days before flying back to C'Ville.  This week I made my Granny Souter's (great-grandmother's) chocolate pie for the first time ever and baby girl loved it (which is odd because she hasn't been liking sweets).  I also managed to sit through our annual Jack Binion's Christmas dinner and actually ate a few crab claws, bread, and bread pudding.  It's hard to find something a girl can eat at a steakhouse when meat sounds absolutely appalling.  I was still feeling better than usual though just a few scattered headaches throughout the week.

Week 20 (where we are now!!):  HALF-WAY there!!!!  WOOHOO!!! 

Size of baby:   ~6 1/2 inches crown to rump or 10 inches head to heel

 (compared to the length of a banana) and ~ 10 1/2 oz.

Maternity Clothes:  some of both...mainly maternity jeans/pants but just a few maternity tops

(I did just go on an online maternity shopping spree with all of the post-Christmas deals!)

Weight Gain:  +7...probably more by now

 Movement:  More and more each day, and she's definitely getting stronger!  I love it!

Sleep:  Not sleeping well at all this week, but I think that is mainly due to Matt and Doolie both 

being gone (they are still in Louisiana).  I'm also waking up to use the bathroom more during the night and I have to constantly re-position myself to stay comfortable.  I'm definitely using tons of pillows!

Symptoms:  Horrible headaches, cramping, lower back pain (? sciatica), leg cramps, worse breakouts 

this week, my belly and chest are getting so tight...and I've gotten a few very small stretch marks on 

my chest :(  no bueno.

Cravings:  still eating grapefruits, grapefruit juice, and liking scrambled eggs 

(finally some protein)...still hating meat

Best Moment of the Week:  feeling Baby Girl move more and more and knowing Matt will 

be home sometime this weekend, finally! Also, Marci, mom, and I have been looking at nursery ideas since the day we found out Baby C is a girl...and I'm finally starting to make more solid plans, I think....then again, I am one of the most indecisive individuals I know :)

My goal for tomorrow other than making it through the work day is to take a bump pic to post....

otherwise Marci will be out to get me!

Megan

Behind - The Story of My Life

So I've been meaning to start weekly bump updates, but I've been so busy napping and snacking I've been so busy being productive that I have yet to begin.  I really want to write things down so I don't forget them by tomorrow down the road.

9 weeks:  true morning sickness kicked in - brushing my teeth became almost impossible; still no bump just bloating and crazy fatigue

10 weeks:  more of the same - morning sickness and fatigue (I was completely useless around the house - thankfully Matt has been SO AMAZING!  And lucky for me, my student at work has been a God-send!)

11-12 weeks:  the morning sickness seemed to get worse and the headaches were almost constant

And now for this past week's update:
13 weeks - Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 13weeks

Size of baby: a medium shrimp (~3 inches)

Gender: don't know yet (I'm thinking boy, Matt's thinking girl)

Maternity Clothes: nope, my normal clothes still fit but they aren't always comfortable buttoned after meals (I've never been one for tight clothes, just ask my mom, ha!)

Weight gain: -1.5 lbs at 9 week appt., +2 at 13 week appt.

Movement: not yet

Sleep: Getting up 2-4x's a night to pee, feeling restless, and having trouble getting comfortable.  

Symptoms: cramping (round ligament stretching), lower back aches, headaches, nausea/morning all day sickness, fatigue (getting better though!), more breakouts, crazy sense of smell still, aversion to food (mainly meat)

Cravings: watermelon (which is not convenient given it is out of season) - sour/tart things (hello sweettarts and grapefruit)

Best moment this week: We finally got to hear Baby C's heartbeat!  It was good and strong!  I'm also so thankful that I've been having more good days!!  The nausea/sickness has gradually begun to decrease with the worst time now being evening/night.  And I've actually had a little energy, I even cleaned out the baby room and swapped over our winter clothes.  I thought Matt was going to fall over when he realized how productive I was Saturday.  It's been so long!

I've totally meant to start bump pics, but well, yeah, that just hasn't happened yet.  I have a good feeling about week 14 though ;)  

Megan

Life between naps...

So much has happened over the past month, but I've been too sick and tired to document it!  So I guess I'll try to get caught up....

My brother came out to visit over fall break (10/13-18).  I was so nauseous that we had to tell him the good news, otherwise he might think I was dying.  We told him with this hilariousness:

He loved it!  But it took a minute to realize what it meant.  He was giddy with excitement.  It was fun to watch.  We thought he'd only have to keep the secret for a few days because we planned on telling everyone after my first ultrasound which was on the 19th.  At that point, they thought I was 11weeks 3 days, much to our surprise I was only 9weeks 1day.  So here's peanut at 9weeks 1day:

Who would think someone so small could make you so sick!  I almost cried when I realized I had at least a month of nausea left. Not to mention, during my brothers visit the nausea turned into actual morning sickness - which is poorly named I might add because it lasts ALL STICKIN DAY!  But, that said, it's a sign of a healthy pregnancy - I have to keep reminding myself!  At that point, we decided to wait until 11 weeks to tell everyone (which was when my parents were coming to visit).  Stu was not thrilled about having to keep the secret, but HE DID!  I begged Matt to at least let me tell Marci, but he wouldn't :(

Halloween weekend we woke up to this nonsense.  And I loved every second of it!

My parents came to visit the weeekend after Halloween.  They flew to Chicago to visit Marci then drove to C'Ville to see us.  Since we missed my dad's birthday at the beginning of October, I wrapped a "late birthday" present for him that contained a book of ultrasound pics and this:

It took him and mom a second to realize, but when they did they were so excited.   They immediately started trying to talk me into just coming to Louisiana to have the baby!  Haha.  We were going to tell Matt's parents and Marci that night, but I felt horrible, so I was in bed as soon as we ate dinner.  My dad and Matt indulged my mom and me by taking us to the outlet malls in Williamsburg the next day.  We ate a Mimi's Cafe on the way, shopped all afternoon, then stopped in Richmond for dinner on the way home.  I realize now that traveling that far in a car was just a bad idea.  I was SO SICK before we even made it out of the restaurant.  Looking back, I am almost certain I shoved a poor lady trying to get into the bathroom.  Whoops!  Matt had to pull over close to a dozen times before we made it home that night :(  Needless to say, we ended up waiting until Saturday to tell the rest of the fam because it just wasn't happening Friday night.

In case you have been living in a hole, that Saturday was THE LSU vs. Bama game (GEAUX TIGERS!!!).  We facetimed Matt's parents and little sis that afternoon before the game.  Matt casually asked about their house remodel (which has yet to begin) before holding up an ultrasound pic and noting that he hoped it was completed by May because the baby is going to need a place to sleep.  They were thrilled!  My MIL, Mrs. Charlotte, kept screaming "this better not be a joke."

As soon as I was off the phone with them, I called Marci and told her I had something I wanted her to look at (this is a common occurrence...I get her advice on most everything).  I e-mailed her the US pic while I was on the phone with her and all I could hear was "BABYYYY!!"  She was beyond excited.  I think I ruined her planned nap because she spent the rest of the day looking at baby stuff on Pinterest, ha!

So that's about it for the update other than the fact that this little girl

has been preparing us for Baby C by waking us multiple times a night!  Crazy Doolie!  I think she is attention seeking!  And did I mention that I have the BEST husband in the world.  He doesn't complain, does the dishes, takes Doolie-Belle out at 2, 3, 4 in the morning, and so much more.  I am one blessed girl!

Oh yeah, the new due date in May 22, 2011!  Maybe he/she'll share Marci's May 18th bday!

Sorry this was so long, I just want to make sure I remember every little thing along this journey!

Megan

Joke's on me...

In case you didn't already realize this, God has quite the sense of humor.  Shortly after I found out I was pregnant (right around 6 weeks), the few symptoms I had almost completely dissipated, so I found myself praying for God to reassure me that everything was on track.  Ha!  Enter fatigue and nausea.  I seriously feel like I have been drugged.  This whole 'no energy in the first trimester' thing, it's no joke!  I keep apologizing to Matt because I feel utterly useless.  I get up as late as possible, drag myself through work, and collapse on the couch the second I get home.  Cleaning is now like a foreign term in our household.  And cooking?  Yeah right!  The thought of food does me in, much less the smell.  However, I have found that I get more nauseous if I let myself get hungry.  So I am constantly trying to find some snack that doesn't leave me gagging in the corner.  Luckily I haven't actually gotten sick (yet), I just stay nauseous ALL THE TIME!

Despite the fact that it's not easy trying to function like a normal human during the first trimester, I'm so thankful that everything is going well with this pregnancy.  We went to the doctor for the first time Monday, and Dr. Culver said it looked like everything was on track for around 7-8 weeks.  That means Baby C is Due right around May 6th!  Yay for May babies!!  I've been meaning to start taking belly pics so my mom and MIL (mother-in-law) can stay up to date, but I've been too busy sleeping :)  I'm going to try to start this Sunday (9 weeks).  We'll see how it goes ;)  As for now, I'm just praying for peanut to keep growing healthy and strong.

Megan