Pregnancy Week by Week - The Good, Bad and the Ugly

I subscribe to several websites about pregnancy, and they send email alerts weekly that describe not only what baby is up to that week, but also what symptoms that might come along with that particular time frame of the pregnancy. And let me tell you, my body seems to follow pregnancy to a T. For example, this past week I was informed by WhatToExpect.com that not only is my tummy swelling, but the mucous membranes of the nose begin to swell from all the pregnancy hormones circulating in the body. The result?  Lovely pregnancy congestion and nosebleeds. Unfortunately, this stuffiness will not only NOT go away, but it's bound to get worse as the pregnancy progresses. I was feeling so crummy last weekend that I called my OB on Monday and they suggested I head in to my regular family doctor. So, I took time off work (not what I want to do these days) only to have them tell me nothing is wrong (except for said pregnancy congestion...oh, and that my ear was clogged up, eww)...but that I can take Sudafed or Benadryl if needed. I haven't taken either and am just suffering through it. I want to try and stay away from medicine as much as possible, so I'll hold off until I'm really miserable!

Other (weird) symptoms I've been experiencing are leg cramps and crazy charlie horses. I didn't sleep so well last night and of the several times I woke, one was due to such a painful charlie horse that it had me reeling out of bed and yelping in pain. Poor Rob woke up scared to death, saying "What's wrong??". Unfortunately for him, if I don't sleep well, he doesn't seem to either!

This is definitely the most interesting time in my life, and even though pregnancy isn't entirely sunshine, rainbows and kitty cats, I wouldn't change a thing. I wish I could document every moment and feeling I have, so I won't ever forget a thing about it! I suppose that's where this blog comes in handy.  On one hand, I can't believe I'm nearing the half way mark and I'm so looking forward to meeting our son....but on the other hand, I don't want the pregnancy to go by and realize I didn't enjoy it fully and completely (and while we're still able to get a full nights rest without a crying baby in the house!). So, I'm going to try hard to just 'live in the moment' and enjoy the present time.



Now on to the important one, the baby! I'm now 16 weeks pregnant and the little one is the size of an avacado (mmm, guacamole)...weighing in at about 3 1/2 ounces and measuring anywhere from 4 1/2 to 5 inches long, crown to butt. He's getting pretty long, but due to lack of baby fat, he weighs very little right now. He'll start developing that baby fat beginning this week though....and I'm preparing myself to 'pop' any time now since he's going to double in weight and add several inches in the next couple weeks. His heart is now pumping 25 quarts of blood each day, which is just astonishing to me. I'm excited to report that he now has tiny bones forming in his ears that allow him to pick up on my voice...and hopefully he'll begin hearing his dad's voice soon as well (if he can't yet already). His little eyebrows, lashes and hair (hopefully lots!) are also starting to fill in....I'm sure he's gorgeous! But I'm not biased one bit, am I?