Fireworks!

Last night, John, Kane and I trekked over to the Rochester Fairgrounds to see the firworks. Rather than pay to get in, we just pulled up a little chunk of grass next to some really nice people. Lots of people came and sat there, so it must have been alright. The show started about 1/2 an hour late, which was frustrating, because I was tired, but fortunately, it turned out to be a great display. Kane was enjoying spending some time with the young girls (probably in 4th or 5th grade) that were next to us. He liked them because they kept throwing him popcorn. Next year, we'll have to remember to bring some snacks. Kane did very well during the fireworks, he just hung out while they shot them off. We were far enough away that they weren't deafening, so I think that helped him.

Anyway, I thought I'd share some photos of the fireworks!

Now measuring between 2 and 3 inches from crown to rump, the fetus is busily doing his stretching and kicking exercises. All major organs are in place, and his brain, nerves, and muscles are starting to function. Although his gender was determined at conception, external genitalia won't fully develop for another couple of weeks. At that point, a sonogram may be able to show whether you're carrying a boy or a girl--if your baby will cooperate and face the camera!

So that is where we are now! Sorry I didn't get that up sooner! I can't believe I'm in my last week of the first trimester! I'll be glad to get that all over with though! I can definitely live without morning sickness! Don't let the name fool you - you can get that any time of day! Apparently, I learned yesterday, that the cramping in my legs that I've been getting is pretty normal too, so that made me feel better. I thought that something was wrong with me, so I'm glad to know its just from being pregnant. I'm anxious to have another ultrasound, but I won't have one for another 4 weeks at least, if not 6 weeks. The ultrasound makes it seem more real right now, where I'm showing a little bit (according to some), but I can't feel the baby moving yet. That is still a ways off.

Anyway, yesterday we had our cookout. Sadly, I forgot to take out the camera and get some pictures of everyone! But we had fantastic weather all day, and everyone said they had a lot of fun! We got to use our new grill like crazy, and that made me happy, despite not being the one to cook on it all day! We were even able to get some people up to play badminton, so that made it a lot of fun! John and I are already looking forward to next years cookout, when we've got a baby to show off!

Teaching summer school has been going pretty well. I've got one week under my belt. This week is a short week because of the holiday. A VERY short week, actually, only Monday and Tuesday, which is awesome! Tuesday night we're going to go see my parents, and Wednesday, John is slated to play in a parade in Laconia for the 4th of July. That night we'll either go to Dover or stay here in Rochester to see the fireworks. We'll have to find out the schedules. I am trying to get a meteorologist from channel 9 to come talk to my students, so we'll see if that works out!

Latest Ultrasound and pregnancy update

Here is the latest ultrasound photo! As you can see, I labled different body parts. Sorry the image is so dark - I lightened it in Photoshop, but that was as light as I could get it. Baby Roo is about the size of a walnut now, and I am still in my 10th week. My due date was bumped up a day to January 17th, not like that makes a huge difference. A huge difference would be like... suddenly being due in December again. Or February. Or if there had been twins. Yeah, no twins is a good thing! I'm happy for just one.

John got to come to the ultrasound appointment this morning, which was good. I'm not sure what he thought of it, because he had to leave right after to get to work today, but I think he thought it was neat looking. He seemed amazed at watching the heart beat, and at how tiny the baby is. I think people just assume that a baby starts off large, not realizing just how small they are when they first come into being!

John will be glad to be done with school this week. His last day with the kids was on Monday, and his last teacher day is tomorrow. I start teaching summer school on Monday. I don't know what John is going to do this summer. He's talked about working at the Weathervane again, but I don't know if that will actually happen. He tried to get on the summer school staff, but that didn't work out either. He's hoping to help his coteacher with her drama camp for a couple of weeks, but she's not sure if the funds are available to pay him. I guess we'll just have to play it by ear.

I'm excited and nervous about teaching this summer. I have a meeting about summer school tonight, and I'm hoping it doesn't go late. I haven't been feeling all that well today, so the last thing I REALLY want to do is drive to Laconia tonight.

Last but not least, I leave you with photos of the blanket that Johns coworker made us!

Week 10, Pictures from the beach

The embryo reaches a developmental milestone at the end of this week--it has achieved its basic structural form, and will be known as a fetus (Latin for "offspring") from now until it reaches full term. Because the fetus is still curled up in a snug position in the uterus, it's hard to measure an exact length including the legs. For this reason, health professionals use the crown-to-rump measurement, or the distance from the top of the head to the buttocks. Your baby's crown-to-rump length is now about 1 1/4 inches, and she weighs less than half an ounce.

So that's where I'm at now. I'll be glad to get out of the 1st trimester in a couple weeks, I'm tired of being tired and not feeling well all the time!

John, Kane and I went to Long Sands beach in York last night, and we had so much fun! Kane hadn't ever been to the beach (at least, not in the year that we've had him), and he was just all over the place! Checking stuff out, digging stuff up. We found a 3 pound clam (yes, it was still alive!), and Kane picked it up in his mouth and tried to walk away with it! It was SOOO funny. I wished I had my camera at that point, but by then I had already put it away in the car. I got to try out my new kite, which was fun. Here are the photos:

A little delayed, considering...

By now, your baby is being nourished through the placenta, a flat, spongy organ covered with wavy masses of capillary-filled tissue called chorionic villi. Nutrients pass through this tissue to the embryo, while wastes are carried away. The placenta and chorionic villi are made up of the same genetic material as the baby, and can offer important information about birth defects such as Down syndrome, Tay-Sachs disease, and cystic fibrosis.

That is the Week 9 information. It's a little (okay, a LOT) late, since I'll be hitting week 10 tomorrow! Everyone always says "Enjoy every minute of it! It goes by so fast!" And let me tell you - they are right! I feel like I still just found out I'm pregnant yesterday! And in reality, I've known for over a month! It's just a bizarre though.

The fatigue and nausea are getting better. The fatigue is what gets the best of me most of the time now, but I've been napping and going to bed early to make up for it. In fact, I'm going to bed shortly after this because I'm so pooped, and haven't gotten to supplement my normal sleep with a nap since Wednesday.

My hormones have been off the charts lately, and I flip from one emotion to the next like it's nobody's business! I will be glad to get something resembling control over my feelings back!

I substitute taught for the last three days. Johns school is out on Monday, but he's got 3 teacher days. Fortunately, he'll be able to come to my next appointment with me, which is on Wednesday at 7:30 am.

Anyway, thats about all the news from here!

Ultrasound #2

There is the baby circled in red. I know, it looks like it's the same size as the last one, but the last picture was zoomed way in. This one is not zoomed in at all. We were able to find the heart beat today, so that was awesome! Of course, my doctor freaked me out when he went "Oh, what's THAT? Okay, I don't THINK there are two in there, but it's kind of hard to tell." So I have to go back for a third ultrasound in 2 more weeks! I told him at this rate we might as well do one every two weeks just to make sure =)

I think I'm going to like my new doctor, so that is a good thing. At first I was a little weirded out by having a guy, but I think it will be okay. There is a woman in the office too, and they encourage people to see both, so I'm going to try to see her a few times also.

An update in Photos

First we got the piano (above) from my parents house, finally, about a week ago. It was my Nana's piano, then my Grandad gave it to me when she passed away, so that I could take piano lessons. My parents always promised John and I could have it when we got our house. So here it is! The cats then had to give it their seal of approval (below 2 pictures). It seems to be acceptable to them...

Then Maggie had to try out the new (to us) changing table (above) we got at a yardsale from a neighbor on Saturday. We got an awesome deal on a crib and changing table - the two for $125!

Kim helped me paint baby Roo's room over the weekend (above). The pictures don't really do it justice, but it's kind of a peach color. I put up the border this morning. It is Classic Pooh (below).And here is the crib, all put together. I did that all by myself this morning, thank you very much. No help from anyone, and I did just fine! Even can make the side go up and down, just like it's supposed to!

Later today I have a doctors appointment, and hopefully another ultrasound, since this is the first appointment I've had at this new office. Will keep everyone posted!