Tension Headache: 1 Kristen: 0

Just a boring quick update on why my promised picture post was late.
[WARNING: This post may make you sleepy.]

As some of you may know, for the past 3-4 years I've been the victim of tension headaches. (Not to be confused with migraines.) They creep up on me and I've yet to figure out the cause. These neck/headaches start as a super uncomfortable tightness in my shoulders & neck - sometimes I can work through them and sometimes they just knock me out. Well, last week...the tension won.

Tuesday I stayed home from work with a pretty bad headache, thinking "I can sleep & ice it away". (Keep in mind - these headaches are no fun when you are pregnant and can't take the good drugs!) :) Anyhow, Wednesday I couldn't keep any liquids down...not tiny sips of water or even the Gatorade ice cubes my husband so lovingly made me. So, Thursday morning (still not eating or drinking anything), my kind mother-in-law took me to urgent care where they hooked me up to an IV to get me and BabyP rehydrated & un-nauseated.

The worst part about the whole affair......was not the huge needle the nurse kept trying to stick into my child-like hand & skinny, dehydrated veins. OUCH! (They ended up using a baby needle in my arm!) Nope, the worst part was that I had to cancel my trip to the Bay Area to visit my family......to celebrate my baby sister's 18th birthday (Happy Bday, Paige!) and Jenny & Joey's baby shower (Love you, niece-to-be!). It was a sad decision, but it didn't make since to go gallivanting across California.

Anyhow, I'm feeling much better at this point. Just wanted to give you the update. Thanks if you actually read this whole post! *winks* (Told you this post wouldn't be exciting!)

Hugs, Kristen

PS. Here's a cute comic to liven this post up. Thought it was fitting.

One down, two left to go...

Okay, so this is a tad late with good reason (to be explained in upcoming posts)... but it's time to officially announce...

WE ARE OUT OF THE FIRST TRIMESTER!

It feels like a weight has been lifted from our shoulders (& pressed on my bladder...ha). BabyP is still growing strong and now we feel comfortable shouting it to the world. Here is the latest picture from Monday. Still not much of a "bump" but definitely filling out a tad.

Baby Bump - 14wks 0Days

Oh! For good measure, here's a shot of the handsome boys Prilaman boys:

Daddy-to-Be:

Charlie-the-Pup:

My Lovely Lady Bumps...Check'em Out

[Please excuse the title...I'm in a great mood. Today is our Friday, and we are going away for the weekend. I'm a tad bit excited!]

BabyP is busy making a home in my tummy...and getting bigger by the week! :) Here's the proof:

Baby Bump - 11wks 3days

Baby Bump - 12wks 3 days

*Please excuse these pics, as they are not my favorite. lol.

...Woosh, woosh, woosh...

...we heard the strong, quick sound of our baby's heart today! It was amazing--and I was instantly overcome with emotions that I didn't expect. BabyP is really in there...with a tiny heart, and little limbs, and cheeks that will one day be round and pinchable (both cheeks, of course). To hear the proof of the life we created and to have Chris by my side...I couldn't have asked for anything more.

Doctor said my tummy was growing according Mother Nature's rules at 1cm per week. But what is going on inside?! Well, glad you asked. BabyP is about the size of a lime and weighs about half an ounce. Fingers will soon begin to open and close, toes will curl, and eye muscles will clench. BabyP is already stretching and kicking and moving around, but I won't be able to feel it for another month or two.

We are approaching the end of our first trimester...which ends around week 13. Please keep BabyP in your thoughts and prayers.

BabyP's First Picture

You could imagine the excitement, anticipation, anxiety, hope, etc. we felt going our first doctor's appointment today. Chris and I were able to go bright'n early this morning and it was wonderful to have his support and share this experience together. Our doctor is very cool, calm and collected...a great balance for new parents...and answered all of our concerns.

Then the moment we'd been waiting weeks for: our first ultrasound. We were overwhelmed with joy and relief to see our little baby on that machine. Given, BabyP was only the size of a kidney bean...but a healthy baby with a beating heart. It was too early to actually hear the heart beating, but we could see it flashing on the screen. For weeks I had been a ball of stress, praying and wishing that BabyP was thriving and growing. But all of that anxiety melted away in this precious moment.

For your viewing pleasure...BabyP's First Picture:

BabyP - 8weeks 0days

FAQs

Chris and I couldn't be more excited about sweet BabyP...we've wanted to shout the news from the rooftops! But as we all know, pregnancy is a delicate process and it was best for us to wait until the time was right to share about our growing family. Although we are beginning to tell family and friends, it is still a really important time for BabyP's development, so we would appreciate your thoughts and prayers as we continue through the first trimester.

On a different note, here are some the questions I get asked the most since I've been with child. :)

Are you getting sick/morning sickness? (This question is usually asked first, and with some twinkle of hope in the person's eyes...lol.)

Sorry to disappoint, but I have yet to be sick. *knock on wood* There was one week where my usual tension headaches kicked in, but I think that was stress induced (we hadn't been to the doctor yet). Other than one week of slight nausea, I've been feeling great in this area.

When are you due?

BabyP is expected to grace us with his/her presence around September 23rd.

How have you been feeling?
Actually, overall I’ve been feeling really great! [Not at all what I expected]. My first symptoms were fairly typical…extreme hunger & often and also feeling very, very tired especially at night (My new bedtime is 9pm). So, basically I’ve turned into a baby myself.

Is Chris freaking out?

[Taken directly from the horse’s mouth] “No, Kristen is the one who has all the work to do.” Tell me about it. Ha. Chris has been really understanding and picks up my slack since my body’s been taken over (cooking dinner, cleaning up the house, extra attention to Charlie, getting me late night snacks). I couldn’t have asked for a better husband, and lucky for us…those crazy pregnancy hormones haven’t reared their ugly heads…yet. *winks*

Are you showing yet?

I'm not showing quite yet, but I've taken some "before" pictures to share.

Baby Bump - 6wks 6days

Baby Bump - 7wks 6days

Great Things Come in Very Very Small Packages

Photo taken January 13th, 2009