13

Peanut is thirteen weeks today, so we are out of the first trimester! I guess this one of the only instances that I can think of where 13 is a lucky number. I am glad to be entering the second trimester and I am excited about all the changes that are going to be taking place in these next 13 weeks.

12 Week ultrasound

Well, there he is. Sucking away. The obstinate little fella was really not cooperating with our NT scan, but finally they were able to get some good pics of what they needed. Nothing like starting out at 12 weeks old and be non-cooperative... boy I wonder what we have in store for us! :-)

And, actually, we don't know if it's a he or a she (hopefully one or the other), but the ultrasound tech seemed to think the % was higher for male because she saw a protrusion between the two femurs (see image below).

Of course this is a really wild guess on her part, but it does confirm our suspicions. I'd been intuitively referring to "it" as him, he, dude, etc. Austen has also started referring to "it" as him and had indicated a "feeling" that it was a boy. LOL. 

At any rate, we are super duper excited about this: Stoked if you will! This is our first and we are totally excited and revved up about having the new little one. We are also fortunate that we'd gotten the house when we did because this was more than sort of an accident. 

Also, these times - the first trimester - have been rough on poor old Austen. She's not been super sick with pregnancy sickness, just a little nausea at nigh time. She has been really hungry and tired, which I understand is normal: for goodness sake her body is growing our offspring!!!! And that's what takes me to my next point: Austen and the work she's done. She keeps saying to me that I am doing everything: cooking, washing dishes, etc random things. I keep trying to convince her that it all comes out in the wash. I mean, in addition to her past year including wrapping up her PhD thesis and getting a full-time job, she IS growing my (evil) seed inside her. It's a lot of work and it ain't over for her yet. Mothers don't got it easy: I know that. The work - biologically, psychologically, physiologically - needed to bring the baby to fruition is very high. It's hard work on her system. Couple that with the fact that she still continues to workout (does CrossFitMom just about everyday), works 40 hrs, and thinks about science (not to mention the laundry and sweeping up) - she's a veritable beast of a workhorse. The only thing I can do, as a good husband, as a good man(!), is pitch in a little here and a little there to support her hard work biologically. I am not sure how to convince her that I am being honest here. I know the details of parturition and I know that that means a lot of things are going on inside her. Being sensitive to those changes is just one thing I needed to make myself aware of and respond to so that she never felt like she was in this alone. She'll never be at this deal alone: That there gal's stuck with me!

It's my pleasure to make her breakfast, sometimes lunch, and dinner and do anything else I can for her. She's my baby's momma, but no seriously she's the vessel for the little dude! I love her so much, and I love that little Peanut so much already. They are both my life and will do everything for them, all the time! They Rule!

So maybe one more pic of that cute as hell, cool little dude before I sign off, eh?

Little thumb sucker!

Mini Vacation!

Well, we are setting off tomorrow on a little mini vacation to Sarasota to see Gramette and "Old Pappy" :-) We are very excited. This last month has been very tiring and we are excited to hangout with our besties and relax! Plus, the temperatures are supposed to be in the 70's! I think the last time that my skin was so deprived of sunshine was when we lived in England and then I came home and burned myself to a crisp before our wedding. I know every girl envisions her wedding day with 5 layers of skin peeling off everywhere. lol! Anyway, we are really looking forward to the trip. Somehow it seems so exciting to go see Mom and Dad and talk about Peanut in person. I imagine that we will have many conversations about Peanut and what our lives will be like once he or she arrives!
I often read this website called the The Bump. It offers a forum where pregnant women can post about their experiences and questions.Well, one big topic of discussion is when did you tell people that you were pregnant and who did you tell first. Obviously, I told Steve first and then after that I called my parents! I was so excited to share the news with them. Since then my excitement has only grown and I can't wait to share more about pregnancy and Peanut with them. Sharing this experience with those that I love my most makes the experience all that much more enriching!
I can't wait for the two and a half of us to set off for our long weekend tomorrow!

The Platekrill Family, Take 2

The Platekrill Family

Moving right along

10 weeks, crazy. that seems like a really long time, but it's 1/4 the way done. i am so excited

Isn't there supposed to be some glow?

Well, I got a kick out of this. I get these updates from various websites about the baby's growth trajectory each week and what kind of symptoms or changes I should expect to see in my body. Now we have all heard that old adage that pregnant women have a "glow", right? I have yet to see any evidence of this so called "glow." Here is my update for the week about what to expect:
"Notice a network of tiny blue veins crisscrossing your already achy breasts and (sorry) disappearing waistline? Though you may not love the new look, these veins carry the extra blood needed to nourish your burgeoning baby. You also might see the effects of pregnancy on your face -- in the form of major breakouts, that is. (Thanks, hormones.)"
Gee this really gives me something to look forward to! LOL! I mean maybe they could sugar coat it a little more. I would appreciate that. Anyway, this totally contradicts the whole "glow" idea if you ask me. Luckily, I am not one of those poor ladies, at least not yet, that has had terrible breakouts in response to the hormonal changes; however the thickening of the waistline is definitely in effect.