Belly Shot (25 weeks)

Here is the latest picture of my belly. It has definitely grown!!

6 Months (25 Weeks)

Hi Everyone! It has been a long time since I've posted anything. I apologize, but we have been extremely busy! If we aren't working at work or home, we are sleeping!

I had a doctor's appointment last Wednesday. He told me everything looked great! They measured my belly and listened to Gracie's heartbeat. Everything checked out normal. At my next appointment I will be tested for gestational diabetes. Apparently they check all pregnant women at this time. The doctor is also going to send me for another diagnostic ultrasound in late December or early January. He wants to make sure that the baby is still growing properly.

Next weekend I have a 3D ultrasound scheduled. This type of ultrasound is non-diagnostic, and of course is not covered by insurance. The images they can provide are really cool and look more like a photograph than the traditional ultrasound, so we are going for it! I will post these pictures when I get them.

I have been feeling Gracie move a lot! Her movements still feel a little like gas bubbles, only stronger. Bryan has even been able to feel her from the outside of my belly. Usually when I tell him she's moving, he puts his hand on my belly and she stops. It's rare, but a few times he got a kick or two! It is totally amazing and kind of surreal!!!

Here is how Gracie is progressing this week:

Head to heels, she now measures about 13 1/2 inches. Her weight — a pound and a half — isn't much more than an average rutabaga, but she's beginning to exchange her long, lean look for some baby fat. As she does, her wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out and she'll start to look more and more like a newborn. Her hair is probably recognizable now (in color and texture), although both may change after she's born. Keep your fingers crossed that she has red hair!!!

I will have Bryan take some pictures of my belly and will post them as soon as possible!

We want to wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving! Blessings to all!

Love,

Rie & Bryan

It's a GIRL!!!

This image looks like Gracie is "mooning" the camera. Her little butt is to the left and her legs are sticking out towards the right. The arrow is pointing at the significant parts!
This image is one of her little foot. Her heel is on the left and her toes are towards the right.
This last image is of her face. With this imaging she looks like a little alien from Roswell. We still love her!

Bryan and I had an appointment at the hospital for a fetal growth ultrasound. Grace Marie is healthy, strong and exactly how she should be for 18 weeks and 5 days. Her brain, heart, lungs, kidneys, bladder, stomach, limbs, etc. all checked out fine. We were able to see her wiggling around and open and close her mouth. It was totally amazing!! She was hiding for a while and the doctor had to come in and look at her heart again to get all the views needed, but he said she looked great! He also said that according to their calculations she weighs 8 oz and has a due date of February 29th....LEAP YEAR!!! We'll just have to wait and see when she is ready to join the world! We are very excited!! Poor Bryan has a lot of painting to do...the room was half way ready for a boy...oops!! I have an appointment on Monday with my OB and will post another update next week. Please keep Baby Gracie, Bryan and I in your prayers so that we may deliver a healthy baby girl next year!!

16 weeks

Well, this week I'm 16 weeks! Four months down and 5 1/2 more to go! I'm feeling fine. I definitely have a lot more energy, but have to stick to my 9:30 bedtime. Here a few things that are going on this month with the little munchkin:

At 4 1/2 inches long (head to bottom) and 3 1/2 ounces, baby is about the size of an avocado. In the next three weeks, he/she will go through a tremendous growth spurt, doubling his/her weight and adding inches to his/her length. His/her lower limbs are much more developed now. His/her head is more erect than it has been, and his/her eyes have moved toward the front of his/her head. The little munchkin's ears are close to their final position, too. Some of his/her more advanced body systems are working, including the circulatory system and urinary tract. His/her heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, circulating his/her total blood volume through his/her body many times.

I saw the doctor last week and they drew blood and listened to the heartbeat. I am still waiting on the blood results, but the doctor said everything looked good. We have a fetal growth ultrasound scheduled for October 3rd. At that time, if munchkin cooperates, we should be able to find out what gender munchkin is. As always, I'll keep you posted!

Oh, by the way....I still haven't felt any movement, but expect to anytime in the next few weeks!!

Baby Rie

Imagine that...I'm petting a kitty!!

Baby Bryan

I decided to post some of our baby pictures. We keep wondering who the little munchkin will look like, what color hair will he/she have, what color eyes will he/she have, etc. We can't wait!

12 week belly shot