written August 18, 2011
5 weeks
Deep in your uterus your embryo is growing at a furious pace. At this point, he's about the size of a sesame seed, and he looks more like a tiny tadpole than a human. He's now made up of three layers — the ectoderm, the mesoderm, and the endoderm — which will later form all of his organs and tissues.
The neural tube — from which your baby's brain, spinal cord, nerves, and backbone will sprout — is starting to develop in the top layer, called the ectoderm. This layer will also give rise to his skin, hair, nails, mammary and sweat glands, and tooth enamel. (info from www.babycenter.com)
Yeah! We made it to month two.
Lots of exciting stuff happening. Sometimes I wonder if I'm walking on a cloud. I remember feeling this way when I fell in love with Karl and he proposed - and I knew I'd be spending forever with him. When I was dating a bunch, I always thought spending so much time with someone would scare me, but that was never the case with Karl! I had this feeling inside me that I needed to spend as much time with him as I could and I never had enough. So after he proposed, nothing could bring me down or pull me from the clouds.
Being pregnant feels like that, but even better, because Karl is with me, and is such a huge part of this and I realized now why I had to wait such a long time before I found him. The wait was so worth it - he's going to be an amazing and attentive father. I'm so glad I get to experience this with him. Creating a child together is something crazy, awesome.
Life feels different. I feel like I'm carrying this amazing miracle and there is so much more than science behind it all. I've been reading a lot of books on pregnancy with pictures and I catch myself saying, "this is just nuts," out loud plenty of times. It really is crazy. I can't believe any of this. The body is so incredible. Now I'm starting to feel a sliver of that connection moms have with their children. Motherhood takes on a whole new meaning once you actually begin to experience it. Wow.
I think I'm at week five, almost six, which is pretty cool. A couple things that have happened during this time:
1. We told my brother Mike on the walk over to Dairy Queen (there's one across the street from us). I needed to tell SOMEONE. And since Karl and I live next door to Mike and he always is just so kind and sweet and listens and cares....how could we not? He was so caught up in talking about cutting off cow's heads and his work that he missed Karl calling him Uncle Mike. Finally we got our ice cream and told him. His face broke in a bigger smile than normal (yes, his smiles can get HUGE) and his face turned all red. It was cool. He was way excited. Then we went back talk about cows and Cargill.
2. We told my parents on Tuesday, August 16. Let me just say this was so cool. So cool. Okay, it was beyond cool. We of course wanted to tell them in person but a five-hour drive is not in the cards for us right now. We wanted to them to come up here for Labor Day but didn't want to wait for that either. So we skyped them. The thing with skype was it kept freezing up, oh, and I have never skyped
my parents. Seemed a bit fishy but they didn't bite.
As my computer kept freezing, we stalled them and let them go on a walk while Karl installed the latest version on my computer. My parents returned from their walk and we skyped again. It froze on us a couple more times, so finally I just let it out and my mom's face WAS PRICELESS!!! I am not kidding. I think she said something like, "SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" and fell back in her chair, clapped her hands and giggled a ton. That part was awesome. Then I think my dad congratulated Karl for his awesomesauce or something manly like that. Then they asked for "ETA" (estimated time of arrival). Then my mom kept saying, "I can't believe it. This is awesome."
Yes, yes, it is!!!! So exciting bringing them so much joy!!!!!!!!
3. We're going to tell Karl's family once his dad gets back from Alaska this weekend. We figure Jim will have the 'back-to-reality blues' after such an amazing trip. Then we can come in and say, "Surprise, your high is not over just yet!" That'll be fun. I can't wait!!!
4. I had to cancel playing in an all-day volleyball tournament scheduled at the end of August. So I've been talking to my trainer at Life Time about my health and fitness and keeping my body in prime shape. Then he emails me that I might just have to give up on competitive, all-day volleyball for awhile. Say what!??!?!
Volleyball. Is. My. Life.
But after the Derby Day volleyball tournament earlier this month, I realized how much eight hours of volleyball in the heat and sun had affected my body the following day, so I
finally agreed (especially after Karl yelled at me) and thankfully the captain of the team said he'll handle. Phew!
This. Child. Is. My. Life.
5. I actually still feel really good. Today (Thursday, Aug. 18) is the first day where I feel a little weird. Otherwise I've felt like I have a ton of energy and I'm glowing. My skin has cleared up. I'm actually starting to fill out my bras for once in my life (yippeeee!! Watch out low-cut shirts!). And I feel like my normal self. I stopped drinking coffee after I had a few sips last Sunday before church and felt funny. I'm wondering if my body is wondering today where the caffeine is and that's why I feel somewhat like a zombie. I have been drinking tea instead because I like hot drinks in the morning and that's been working out. I have crackers stuffed in my purse just in case too. But I've kept up my working out routine (squats, pull ups, lunges, pike push ups) and have been walking more than running and choose the elliptical over the stair stepper. I must keep telling myself, "You can't workout to lose weight anymore."
I've also been trying to eat more protein. I've read that protein is good and pregnant moms needs lots of it. Seems to be helping so far!
6. I'm still biting my nails. For some reason I thought I'd stop this. Silly me. Karl says, "I'm pretty sure baby K doesn't appreciate eating your fingernails." Trying to let that stick because he probably is right. Ewwww.
7. Our ultrasound is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 12 at 7:50 and we can't wait!!!! This is going to be awesome!!!!!!!!
I like the laughter that opens the lips and the heart, that show at the same time pearls and the soul.
-Victor Hugo
1 jar of already made salsa (garden fresh - she recommends Pace)
