7 weeks, 3 days

Week 7:

The big news this week: Hands and feet are emerging from developing arms and legs -- although they look more like paddles at this point than the tiny, pudgy extremities you're daydreaming about holding and tickling. Technically, your baby is still considered an embryo and has something of a small tail, which is an extension of her tailbone. The tail will disappear within a few weeks, but that's the only thing getting smaller. Your baby has doubled in size since last week and now measures half an inch long, about the size of a blueberry.

6 weeks, 3 days

Today's nausea was a little better. It did fall more under the category of morning sickness as it only lasted through lunchtime. It was very mild throughout the rest of the day, so I am hoping for that kind of luck tomorrow when I have to be in the car for the drive to and from Centennial for my prenatal appointment/ultrasound.

Also, I must share the vivid pregnancy dreams that I am having!! The one that I had last night was about going to Red Lobster... which I did mention that I wanted to go there recently. Their bread is so yummy (and so NOT good for you!). But, in my dream my Papa said "Jenn, we cannot go there... they do not have any lunch specials." If you know Papa, cue the laughter. ;)

Well, he ended up taking me to this place that serves food based upon what clothing item you choose from the menu... I chose a black 1-button blazer. I got a steak and a glass of wine! In this world, I was not pregnant, so I drank the wine... it was Red. I'd hoped for white. But I guess it fit my blazer order. Phillip ordered a t-shirt. He got a hamburger and a coke. Nice.

Another that I had a few nights ago... I got in to my car and my dashboard warning lights told me "IT'S A BOY!" in large, all caps, orange letters... just as if it were saying "DOOR AJAR" or "CHECK ENGINE." Again... crazy. I have these amazing dreams each night. I am sure you will hear all about them on this journey.

I know you guys don't care what I am eating. I am doing this to document it for my own records. I'd never keep up with it in a note pad or something. I assure you that I will not do this in every post. I will want to. But my memory sucks and I am not that efficient with documenting my food choices. Frankly, I will skip the days that I eat poorly and others just because I will forget. :)

Breakfast- Apple Slices and 1 glass of Grape Juice

Lunch- Soup (broth only) and Salad with Bleu Cheese (yummy, Demos')

Dinner- Chips and Salsa (trust me, I got full) :)

Snacks- Frosted Mini Wheats (between lunch and dinner) & 2 Jolly Ranchers (to help w/nausea)

Drinks- Water, Water, and Water

Wish for today: Nausea, PLEASE TAKE A HIKE! I really want to go to water aerobics with all of the elderly at 9am each morning! Give me a shot!!

Look for ultrasound images tomorrow! We get to SEE the heartbeat!!!!

IntelliGender... WOW!

IntelliGender Gender Prediction Test is THE ONLY affordable, simple-to-use urine test that provides immediate gender results in the privacy and comfort of the home. Within ten minutes, the IntelliGender Gender Prediction Test test indicates whether the baby will be a boy or a girl. Used as early as six weeks after the first missed period, the Gender Prediction Test bridges the curiosity gap between conception and sonogram.

This is crazy! It has an 80% success rate and you can take it at 10 weeks pregnant! SO cool!! Especially for someone as impatient as I am. All you have to do is pee in a cup (first morning's urine) and wait 10 minutes. You can buy it at CVS and Walgreens for $34.95. I will be making this purchase on December 18th for sure! :)

6 weeks, 2 days

Let the nausea begin! I cannot go anywhere!! I feel like I am physically bound to my house. I am so nauseous that I cannot even think about eating, but of course, eating is necessary for obvious reasons. Before even stepping in to the kitchen, I have to already know what I am going to have, get it, and get out. Seeing the other options make me sick. No fun... however, before I was pregnant and permitted to lose weight, I may have relished in this experience. ;)

I'm beginning to feel as though I am running out of things to do, so I'm starting this pregnancy blog. I know some will read this to relate to it and some will read this to keep track of how I'm doing if we are not in regular contact and I am so glad that you care about me and my baby! :)

As far as feeling bound to my home... I really mean it. As soon as I start to think... "Oh, I need to go to the grocery" or "Oh, I'd love to go to the YMCA" -- my stomach quickly reminds me that I will in fact be going nowhere. I've been doing a number of things to keep me busy. The house is already decorated for Christmas, I've read "What to Expect When Your'e Expecting" at least 3 times, and I clean the house in spurts of 15 minutes... until the nausea attacks me yet again. I am growing tired of watching TV and I think I have the daytime scheduling down to a science. I know what time Wife Swap, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Supernanny, A Baby Story, and Birth Day come on. So, if your TV Guide is lost, call me. Also- without question, I will cry during each of these shows... some reasons obvious and others unknown even to me.

I've been reading up on advice regarding nausea cures. Here is the list that I compiled and tacked on to the grocery list before my husband left just moments ago (he is so wonderful):

-Sour Skittles

-Lemonade

-Jolly Ranchers

-Sea Bands (may have to order these off of the internet)

I've already tried the following, with no success:

-Saltines

-Ginger Ale

With all of that being said, here are the developmental notes for this week from BabyCenter.com: The nose, mouth, and ears that you'll spend so much time kissing in eight months are beginning to take shape. If you could see into your uterus, you'd find an oversize head and dark spots where your baby's eyes and nostrils are starting to form. His emerging ears are marked by small depressions on the sides of the head, and his arms and legs by protruding buds. His heart is beating about 100 to 160 times a minute -- almost twice as fast as yours -- and blood is beginning to course through his body. His intestines are developing, and the bud of tissue that will give rise to his lungs has appeared. His pituitary gland is forming, as are the rest of his brain, muscles, and bones. Right now, your baby is a quarter of an inch long, about the size of a lentil bean.

I am going to my first prenatal appointment on Tuesday, November 24th. Hopefully the sinus infection will be totally gone by then! I have been dealing with that since last Tuesday. Yuck!

I will also be having another ultrasound. I had one last Monday because I was have a lot of abdominal cramping. Everything is OK! No worries.

I will post ultrasound photos on Tuesday. Happy Sunday!