The Official Ultrasound

As you know, I've already had an ultrasound, but it was for some mild spotting I was concerned about, so besides the ultrasound we didn't go over much. Today, it was the real deal.

Of course, as usual, I went in terrified - don't ask me why, I don't know anymore. Marieke was my midwife doing the ultrasound today; she asked me to lay down and spread eagle it. Okay, she didn't say that ,but you get the point. Since it's early, this ultrasound was internal, but I already had one before so I knew how it was. THERE IT WAS! It was MUCH bigger than last time (double, actually) and I could see it's little heart beating. Relief. Everything was perfect, even it's little arms and legs. Then, it was moving around! IT MOVES! It's so strange to know that there is some moving inside of you and it has it's own heartbeat. 

She printed us out a sonogram and stored some other pictures on a USB drive for us. We were asked a million questions and I asked her a million as well.

Even though everyone kept telling me I wouldn't have another ultrasound before I went home, I do. Exactly two weeks from today (July 1) we will have our 11 week ultrasound. That's also my birthday! Then, two days later, we take off for Pittsburgh!  HOLY CRAP, CAN THESE COUPLE WEEKS BE ANY MORE EXCITING?!

My symptoms are, of course, fatigue and overall loss of appetite. It has, however, been getting better in the past two days. I'm not fully back to normal, but at least I can eat more than goldfish. To put it bluntly, I'm constipated. I always say "digestive issues",but that really doesn't capture the sheer horror of it. I've been constipated from the beginning - it's terrible & it makes me look 6 months pregnant because my belly starts poking out and is round and hard. I've been trying to hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! I still don't have sore boobs. I NEVER get sore boobs, even with PMS. I'm immune, I suppose.

Aversions: chicken nuggets, most meat (except ham), and coffee.

Cravings: I go through day-to-day "cravings", but I'm mainly eating whatever sits well. Sour candy is my saving grace for nausea.

2 months!

8 weeks, in case you didn't know ;)

The baby is the size of a raspberry, is developing finger and toes on it's little paddles, has a proportionate head to it's body and is growing the brain and nervous system.

If you follow me on Facebook, which you probably do if you're reading this, you probably have an idea of how I'm feeling. I'm exhausted. Pure torture. It's not, "Yawn, I need a nap..." kind of feeling, it's more of a "I'm not in control of my life anymore and I'm pretty sure I'm hallucinating" vibe. When I get super tired, I get nauseous. That's what I was trying to explain on my status yesterday. I'm fine when I'm well rested, so I more so need tips for perking up. Unfortunately, sleep is my best option as well as just sucking it up until my 2nd trimester. My appetite is somewhat nonexistent, although I'm so hungry. It makes no sense and I would never have understood before I got pregnant. Right now the only foods that don't gross me out are sour candies, potatoes (only roasted, mashed makes me queasy now), Spanish rice and crackery foods, but they're even beginning to disgust me now. My current craving is French toast. 2 days ago I kept thinking about them and the craving only got stronger. Luckily, my friend Heather is picking me up some at the commissary. Chicken nuggets still repulse me in every way possible; I even hate making them for the kids. When the breading touches my hand, I wanna puke. It's one of those pregnancy things you can never understand until you experience it.

My hormones are also RIDICULOUS. Erik doesn't know whether to laugh or hide. If I'm not an irritable beez, I'm crying. He mentioned Vandenberg (our previous base) and I cried. I'm tired, I cry.

Pregnancy is such a strange and beautiful thing.

I'm considering investing in a body pillow seeing as how sleeping has become harder. I obviously do not have a big belly yet, but somehow I feel like it. Sleeping on my stomach hurts and sleeping on my side makes my arm fall asleep and belly feel yucky (I don't understand either).

Sorry, not much to update other than my symptoms. I'm hoping that the extra rest when I'm done babysitting will help. As soon as I'm done I'm heading home and will be able to sleep and relax - I'm coming for you, Pittsburgh!

P.S. - still pretty sure I'm having a girl.