14 Weeks, 5 Days

Your baby measures about 3.2 to 4.1 inches from crown to rump now and weighs almost an ounce. The ears are shifting from the neck to the sides of the head, and the neck is getting longer and chin more prominent. Facial features and unique fingerprints are all there. Your baby is beginning to respond to outside stimuli. If your abdomen is poked, the fetus will try to wriggle away.

~Courtesy WebMD

I know, I know! I should be flogged with a wet noodle for leaving my poor baby blog neglected for so long, and I can only beg you all to believe that my actual baby will not be equally neglected. (As if Tadpole's many Grandma's would let that happen!) Anyway, I'm sorry for the long absence, especially to Susan, since I told her I'd be writing as soon as we returned from Omaha. I know she's got that wet noodle all ready to go.

We had so much fun at the Whitehead reunion in Omaha. (Bryan's dad's family for those of you who don't know.) We spent the weekend at Eugene T. Mahoney State Park. It was really a great place. We stayed in a beautiful lodge and they have so much to do, including a full size pool and water park, camping, paddle boats, horseback riding, mini golf (I won!!), a craft center, hiking trails etc. It was quite a weekend. At the reunion, we got credit for bringing the youngest family member.

Not a lot of baby news to report. Just the usual aches and pains. Most of the sickness is gone, except somebody thought it would be a good idea to give the baby an "Eject Button" so at random times, Tadpole seems to say, "Hey, you know that last thing you ate?? Take it back!" It's rather annoying, but I don't feel sick before or after, so it's better. We're off to Texas to see Auntie M this weekend. I'm excited! I haven't seen my sister since October!! I'll post again when I return.

11 Weeks, 6 Days

Your fetus, about the size of a large lime, measures about 1.75 to 2.4 inches from crown to rump and weighs about three-tenths of an ounce. About now the rapid "swooshing" noises of the heartbeat can be heard through a Doppler sound-wave stethoscope. Fingernails and external genitalia are showing distinguishing characteristics, and the baby is swallowing and kicking, although you still won't feel it.

~Courtesy WebMD

Well, it's official. I've got it in writing from a medical professional that I am indeed pregnant and my due date is February 17, 2007. Now everyone cross your fingers that we'll qualify for Healthwave. I went to the Reno County Health Department for the test. I had an appointment at the Clinic, but because I have no insurance I had to pay for the labs up front. It was going to cost me $60 there. At the Health Department, my bill was $11. Quite a difference. The Health Department is the only place in town that requires a first morning urine sample for a pregnancy test. Even the home tests say this is no longer necessary. I couldn't get an appointment until 4:00 in the afternoon, so I had to bring it in with me. (I probably would have had to anyway, since my 'first morning sample' usually comes around 5:30 in the morning. Damn pregnant bladder.) That whole ordeal was kind of wierd. First of all I had to keep it in the refrigerator (ewww) and then I had to carry it with me to the appointment. I didn't know where to put it in the car. I felt really strange putting it in the cup holder. Anyway, it's done now.

I'm sorry about the lag times between entries. It's just that there's little to report other than nausea and excessive salivation which also happens to make me nauseous. (Did you even know that was a symptom?? I didn't until I got it and then found it in my book.) I figured people can only read so much about morning sickness and I've already approached that limit with this blog. The good news is, it should be fading within the next couple of weeks. I hope.

Famous People born on February 17th:
James Earl Jones (1931)
Dame Edna (1934)
Rene Russo (1954)
Larry the Cable Guy (1963)
Michael Jordan (1963)
Billie Joe Armstrong (1972)
Walter Chrysler (1905)
Montgomery Ward (1844)