News from the Sweets!

We have some really great news to share with everyone; and we have finally reached the point where it is "safe" to tell all...we are having a baby! Yeah!!!!

The proof is in the pee stick (it really does say "pregnant")

Andy and I have always known we wanted to be parents. We've talked and planned and talked and planned and the beginning of the most exciting ride is finally here. I took a home pregnancy test at the beginning of May, went to the doc to confirm the following Monday, and had our first sonogram on June 2nd. At this point I am 12 weeks along. The due date for baby Sweet is January 7, 2011. We are planning on finding out if we are having a boy/girl in August.

@ 6 weeks...I guess being pregnant makes your ass look flat ;-)

@ 12 weeks...guess getting more pregnant makes you look like a drown rat ;-)

Some interesting things we have discovered in early pregnancy:

• Almost immediately my blood veins, arteries, and heart increased in size, but my blood volume has not caught up yet. Consequently, the first month of knowing I was pregnant was a dizzying experience. Typical increase will be 45-50% -- whoa that is a lot of blood
  
• Not all women experience morning sickness...some women experience extreme bloating, belching, and farting. Ahhhh motherhood ;-)
• Starting at about week 9 I have to pee ALL THE TIME, it is mostly hormonal at this time. The baby is too small to be putting THAT much pressure on my bladder...but then again the bladder is the most ignorant organ in the body. Really it is.
  
• Exercising is good for the baby. More oxygen and increased blood flow for me = more oxygen and blood flow to the placenta. Out--are the theories of keeping your heart rate below 150 and limiting ALL activity. In--is the practice of "knowing your body and knowing your limitations." I am going to continue working out the way I have always done. No more TT's or track workouts, but working out 5 days a week with yoga, swimming, running, biking, hiking, and walking is just what the doctor ordered...seriously it is. I am reading "Exercising Through Your Pregnancy" by James F. Clapp III Good read, a little technical and scientific, but VERY informative
  
• My boobs are GINORMOUS! 'nough said.
• Sonograms and an ultrasounds are the same thing. A sonogram uses ultrasound technology to render an image
• The coolest thing in the world to hear is your baby's heart beating for the first time ----------> tears
  
• Telling people how big the baby is compared to an olive (week 9) is mildly entertaining
  
• I have gained 1.5 lbs. in 12 weeks but it looks and feels much different
• After delivery of baby Sweet, my VO2Max will increase 5-10% for up to a year!!!!!! At least that is what "Exercising Through Your Pregnancy" estimates
• You can get your hair highlighted in the first trimester
• The main reason "they" recommend for you not to eat deli meat or rare, medium rare, or medium meat is the fear of food poisoning. If I were to get sick, the dehydration and the convulsing of throwing up so violently could be very dangerous
  
• The only other food restrictions I have are: I can't eat unpasteurized cheeses (brie, camembert, feta, or blue veined--seriously BOO!) or fish that contain mercury (tuna, shark, swordfish, farmed/fresh/canned salmon, shrimp, or tile fish) and of course no alcohol or caffeine :)
  

I will leave you with a picture of baby Sweet 9 weeks and 1 day in utero...
Head is to our right

TTFN,
lil' momma (nickname from Andy)