Ultrasound!!!!!

Today we had our anatomy ultrasound. I am 19w1d pregnant. Chris got to see more of the ultrasound than I did as he was sitting at the foot of the bed while it was being done and the screen was facing him. The technician commented that the baby was very active (she seemed to be taking a bit longer to get measurements because of that) and Chris was amazed I hadn't felt a single movement during the whole ultrasound. Baby Bean (which isn't a bean anymore) was kicking, waving, grabbing his/her feet, and even stretched out his/her neck. When the tech was finally done taking the measurements the screen was turned my way and I finally got to see this little person growing inside of me. I couldn't believe that the little person on the screen, with moving limbs and a beating heart (we saw the chambers), was growing and developing inside me. Amazing!!!!! I got to see the baby kick it's legs and even wave at us. We also got to see the bottom of his/her feet. We didn't get the heartbeat reading nor hear it though. It was so incredibly cute and I realized how much I love this little person and I haven't even met them yet. Chris thought it was really cool to watch, and I think it made it more real for him because he hasn't felt movement yet whereas I have felt some (sporadically) so it was concrete evidence that there is a moving, growing person inside me. Chris thinks the baby looks like him LOL The tech said everything looked normal *phew* We were able to stay strong and didn't find out the gender. I must admit it was tempting though. Any guesses? We both say boy.

So here are photos of our pride and joy!

Full body, including an arm and legs crossed, just after waving to us.

4 fingers and thumb - woohoo!

Stretching his/her neck. Guess it's a little cramped in there.

Close-up profile shot.

Facing us (bit freaky looking)

In other news, I saw my GP on Wednesday and I'm measuring 'normal' for how far along I am. Everything is looking good and I've gained 7lbs so far. That's on the low end but with the m/s I've had (and still have), decreased appetite, and heartburn she said it happens and isn't worried.

Haven't taken a belly photo this week but will post when I do.

Belly photo

Here's today's photo. I'm not sure how big I'm measuring but I feel I'm bigger than I should be at this point. Maybe I'll find out at tomorrow's doctor's appointment.

Happy New Year!

We hope everyone had a fun and safe New Years Eve. We went to a house party a friend of mine was having. There were 12 of us there, and we watched the Canada vs USA World Juniors hockey game (Canada won 5-4 Yay!!!!) before the countdown. We brought 2010 in with sparklers and noise makers. On a whole we're happy to have 2009 overwith and are extremely excited for what 2010 brings. We wish you all a healthy and prosperous 2010!

Our last photo together of 2009

Our first photo together of 2010 (it was very windy and cold out)

In baby news, I may have felt movement. On Tuesday I felt what I can only describe as 2 bubbles bursting on the right side. It was a sensation I've never felt before which is why I think it was movement. I haven't felt anything since though so don't feel I can be 100% sure.

We have our ultrasound in 2 weeks and I can't wait! Last time we saw baby Sherwin he/she was just a tiny bean-like blob. This time we'll see a minature person with fingers and toes and facial features. It'll be really cool. We are still holding out and not finding out the gender although the difficulty we're having in agreeing on a boy's name is mildly making me think we should find out just to know if we're going through this stress for nothing. However we will stick to our guns and wait until the baby is born to know.

We recorded the baby's Christmas heartbeat and thought it'd be cool to share with everyone. It's such a wonderful sound and very reassuring to hear. I listen it it 2-3 times a week. We also took a belly photo on New Year's Eve when I was 17w on the dot!

Heartbeat at 16w1d on Christmas

17w on New Year's Eve

Merry Christmas

Wishing our friends and family a very Merry Christmas and all the best in 2010! Love you all!

Some lessons learned

For the most part things are going well with the pregnancy. I have learned I MUST take my Diclectin or the next day will be a hard one (as evident by an episode of throwing up at the grocery store the day after I forgot my Diclectin). I've also learned not to eat too much at 1 time as that exasperates my heartburn (lesson learned after eating a big lunch and then being woken up twice in the middle of the night due to the heartburn pain). I've also started reading to baby bean as at 16w the baby can differentiate it's mother's voice. And Chris (well, the baby) bought me a new book for Christmas, I Love You Through and Through by Bernadette Rossetti-Shustak, that I will add to my repertoire.

'Twas the night before Christmas Eve...15w6d.

We already know what we're doing for our next wedding anniversary...

...we're having a baby!!!!!!! :)

Our little one is estimated to turn this duo into a trio on June 10, 2010. What a wonderful anniversary present this is! We were cautiously optimistic until we both had an ultrasound at 8w4d where we saw our little bean with a heartbeat and then heard the baby's heartbeat with a Doppler. Now we are beyond ecstatic about our impending little Sherwin (or baby bean as my sister Danna, and now nephew Zachary, calls him or her) and cannot wait to meet him or her. We will not be finding out the gender before birth; Chris doesn't want a bunch of gender specific colours before the baby is born and I want that surprise at the end of the journey. We have decided on a girl name but are still in discussions over a boy name. I thought we had agreed on one but apparently not!

As for how I'm doing, I've been suffering from morning sickness since before I got the positive home pregnancy test. I've thrown up a couple times but it's mostly all day nausea (and heartburn). With the morning sickness I had a decreased appetite (makes sense). I am now on Diclectin which I take at least twice a day and I am doing much better. My appetite has also recently returned (and then some). I am now going through a phase (or so I hope) where I am hungry all the time. I also was exhausted (think 2 hour naps a day) and felt like a zombie during the 1st trimester but now that I'm into the 2nd trimester I have more energy and am not as tired. I also have a little baby bump. Even though I wasn't feeling well during the 1st trimester I wouldn't trade any of this for the world and would experience it all again in a heartbeat. I found the symptoms to be comforting. And I love being pregnant!

I will try to update our blog more frequently now with belly photos and stories. Here are photos taken up to 14w, including our u/s photo.

Positive pregnancy test on October 6, 2009

Ultrasound at 8w4d on November 2, 2009

7w5d on October 27, 2009

10w on November 12, 2009

12w3d on November 29, 2009

13w on December 3, 2009

14w on December 10, 2009

I carried the Olympic torch!!!!!

My Olympic torch experience has come and gone but the memory will last a lifetime. It was awesome!!!!!! What an adrenaline rush! And very emotional - I had an overwhelming sense of pride and honour. Words can't even express how I felt as I ran with the Olympic torch or what the whole experience meant to me. I met some great people and all the torch bearers and organizers were so excited and upbeat. Now we have the torch I ran with sitting in our living room. It is in a carrying case I received with my torch as I am waiting for the torch stand I purchased. I still cannot believe I participated in this historic event. Here are a ton of photos, and some video, that were taken by Chris and me. I will be able to download the media photos in approximately 2 weeks and will upload those to the blog as well.

Getting ready at home.

Waiting to receive my torch and after I was dropped off at my starting point.

Chris and me and waiting for the approaching flame.

My torch being lit and high-fiving the previous torch bearer.

Getting ready to start my segment and after my segment was done.

The shuttle bus.

Me beside the shuttle bus and Chris at the Community Celebration.

Performers at the Community Celebration.

The Olympic flame approaching.

The last St. John's torch bearer approaching the stage and lighting the cauldron.

The lit cauldron and torches over the years.

Torches over the years.

Torches over the years.

Me with a Summer Olympian and my Olympic torch in it's carrying case at home.

Videos of me carrying the torch, and passing the flame onto the next torch bearer.