Just Kickin' It

On May 18th we finally felt the baby moving!

Appointment #3 - 20 Weeks

We are now at 20 weeks! This milestone officially marks the half way mark! This month's appointment was very similar to the last. They took Shauna's weight, blood pressure, and listened to the baby's heartbeat. According to the nurse, Shauna is on track to have a "normal size" baby (approximately 7 lbs.). That's a relief - no 10 pounders here (even though you can't tell by the size of Shauna's belly). We still don't know the sex, but are anxious to find out at our next appointment on June 1st!

At 20 Weeks the Baby...
- Weighs about 10.5 ounces
- Is about 6.5 inches long
- Is swallowing more

The Bigger, The Better - Shauna's Take on Maternity Clothes

Expecting a baby means...that's right - another good excuse to go shopping! And at this point, maternity clothes are a necessity. However, there are many challenges that come with this exciting opportunity such as finding trendy, stylish, and inexpensive clothes that can cross over multiple seasons. So far, I've managed to add a few items to my collection - even though it seems like I wear the same black shirt nearly everyday. Of course, the cutest clothes are the most costly, fortunately I lucked up at a little second hand store in Alameda on Park Blvd. Paying $15 for a pair of newer GAP slacks sounds a lot better than $60! I'll keep looking for bargains (and/or hand-me-downs) - after all, I'll only be wearing them for another five months...and then I can go shopping again!

Appointment #2 - 16 Weeks

For appointment #2 we were anxious about the possiblity of knowing the baby's sex, especially after hearing that it can be deterimined as early as 14 weeks. Unfortunately, we have to wait until June 1st ...so the mystery continues (no ultrasound pics this time). However, we were able to hear the baby's heartbeat and that was exciting! According to the nurse, everything else is fine and on track. Back again in 4 weeks...

At 16 Weeks the baby...
- Is about 4 1/2 inches long and 3 1/2 oz.
- Will double in size in the next few weeks
- Legs are much more developed
- Eyes have moved closer to the front of his head

Let's Talk About SEX...

No pregnancy would be complete without the hopes and predictions of the baby's sex.

What the parents want:
Pierre = Girl
Shauna = No preference

So far, most of our family and friends (and even some strangers) are hoping we have a girl. However, there are a few that think its a boy. That's also what the Chinese lunar calendar and some strange ring-on-a-string ritual predict. When the time comes we will be sure to let everyone know. Either way, we are praying for a healthy baby!

So Far, So Good - Weeks 10-12

Fortunately, everything has been going (mostly) well for the past few weeks. During Weeks 9-11, Shauna was tired ALL the time - just absolutely exhausted! Combine that with frequent urination and she was a bit frustrated. On the plus side, she didn't have any morning sickness or other extreme pregnancy symptoms!

It's now Week 12 and our first trimester is coming to a close. She's gained some of her energy back., which is good because she is not use to sleeping my days away. Shauna is challenging herself to be consistent about excercise and eating healthy (let's just say that some weeks are better than others).

At 12 Weeks the baby...
- Weighs approximately 1/2 oz.
- Is approximately 2.5 in. long (about the size of a plum)
- Has distinct fingers and toes

Appointment #1 - 9 Weeks

Today we went to our first doctor's appointment at Kaiser, Oakland (one day before Pierre's birthday). It was somewhat surreal at first. We arrived on time and didn't wait long before the nurse called us back for some standard procedures (weight, blood pressure, etc.). The nurse came in to examine me and do an ultrasound. Once we saw the monitor screen, that's when it hit us - there's a baby in there! According to the nurse, the baby's head is on the left and the body is on the right. We could also see the heart beating. We were given printouts of the ultrasound. Our next appointment is in about a month.

At 9 weeks the baby is....
- approximately 1 in. long
- about the size of a medium green olive
- forming tiny muscles