Oh boy!

It's a boy!
Brian and I couldn't be more excited to be having a boy! This will be the first baby boy on my side of the family and the first grandchild for his parents so everyone is very excited.
And more importantly, our 18 week sonogram showed that our little man is developing right on track ... weighing in at 10 ounces and 8 inches from head to toe. His heartbeat was a strong 138 beats per minute.
I think Brian and I fell even more in love with him, seeing him wave his little hands, chew on his arm and just squirm around in there. It's crazy how much he really moves around but I can't feel it. I look forward to the days that I can feel his movements, and for Brian to be able to feel him move as well.
Now on to the good stuff! Our office makes a DVD of our ultrasound that I was able to upload for you all to enjoy! It's about 10 minutes long an takes a few moments to start. Enjoy!

Sonogram - 18 weeks from Jennifer Hall on Vimeo.

What a sweet potato! 18 weeks ...

Your baby is now the size of a sweet potato.
Your fetus has become amazingly mobile (at least compared to you), passing the hours yawning, hiccuping, rolling, twisting, kicking, punching, sucking and swallowing. And, baby's finally big enough that you'll be able to feel those movements soon.

17 weeks

How far along? 17 weeks
Maternity clothes? Slowly building my collection. I got a pair of work pants, and am trying to convince Brian that I need a pair of Citizens of Humanity maternity jeans.
Stretch marks? Still lotioning up daily.
Sleep: Not half bad, but have been missing sleeping on my stomach.
Best moment this week: Watching my belly grow on a daily basis
Movement: I think I might have felt something, but nothing for sure yet.
Food cravings: Everything! But have been craving salads and fruit lately.
Gender: One.More.Week.
Labor Signs: No thank you.
Belly Button in or out? This is a sensitive subject. I think the center of the roll might be rising ...
What I miss: Sleeping on my stomach
What I am looking forward to: Starting to feel movement, and our doctor's appointment on Monday. I can't wait to see the little babe and get confirmation that everything looks good and developing as it should.
Weekly Wisdom: A little exercise during the day, even just a walk around the block, really helps the energy level.
Milestones: Nothing really this week, but the belly has most definitely popped out.

It's my birthday ...

... and I will eat a whole bouquet of cookies if I want to!

Thanks to my loving mother and sister, I received the most beautiful bouquet of flowers and a delicious cookie bouquet and then some!

My golden birthday was a great day ... once I finally got off ork. After a very stressful day at the office, I was able to come home and make my mom's famous Hungarian Goulash and foccacia bread, which I have eaten for my birthday for as many years as I can remember. It's never as good as moms when I make it myself but it was still pretty darn good.

Brian surprised me and invited our good friends Nick and Julianne over for dinner and they brought some delicious cupcakes, including my favorite Red Velvet, and some sparkling cider. It was great to spend time with them and celebrate my birthday.

And thank you to everyone who called and sent their birthday wishes! I am grateful to have such wonderful people in my life! Here's to an exciting 26th year and many, many more.

This explains why I have been crying lately ...

You are 17 weeks along and your baby is now the size of an onion.
Baby's skeleton is hardening, changing from rubbery cartilage to bone, and fat is finally accumulating around it. The umbilical cord is getting thicker and stronger, and those little fingers and toes are now topped by one-of-a-kind prints.

16 weeks and counting...

How far along? 16 weeks
Maternity clothes? I bought a white maternity tank top and have started shopping for pants.
Stretch marks? Applying lotion religiously to keep these away
Sleep: It's been much better lately. But I think it's time for a new mattress.
Best moment this week: Just enjoying the belly
Movement: Waiting anxiously for this!
Food cravings: Spicy food, especially Mexican.
Gender: Two more weeks.
Labor Signs: Not for a long while.
Belly Button in or out? Still a cinnamon roll, but the center is rising.
What I miss: Fitting into all of my jeans comfortably.
What I am looking forward to: Finding out if our little babe is a girl or a boy and then spending all of our money on stuff for him/her.
Weekly Wisdom: Don't squeeze into pants that don't fit. It's not worth the discomfort just to prove to yourself you can still wear them.
Milestones: Well ... I turned 26 today so I guess that counts as a milestone. Enjoying being another year older and embracing what life has in store for us this year.

16 weeks and I've grown an avocado!

Watch what you say... tiny bones forming in baby's ears mean the little one can now pick up your voice. Eyebrows, lashes and hair are starting to fill in, and taste buds are forming. And, if you're interested, an ultrasound might be able to determine gender.