Week 12: Organs are built

All of Baby Bear's organs are close to being developed and maintenance and maturation is to begin. Reflexes are beginning to develop, fingers will soon open and close, toes curl, and mouth will make sucking movements. Baby Bear is now the size of a plum. Mmmm, I like plums.

Another week and I will be in the second trimester. I hear things are better in the second trimester, I am looking forward to more energy and goodbye to nausea.

I guess I am looking pregnant

I was asked for the first time in 12 weeks if I was pregnant. I guess I am starting to show. I definitely think that I am. But people who know keep telling me that I am not.

Tonight, I went to the gym to take my Step II class, there are a lot of regulars in the class and the instructor and some friends in the class know that I am pregnant. Well, a woman who is a regular in the class (I don't know her well, but we see each other in the class and say hi) came up to me as I was setting up my step and asked me if I was pregnant. I said yes and she congratulated me. I told her I must look fat, but she said she noticed because I usually have a flat stomach and have more steps. She said anyone else might not look pregnant but she has seen me in this class for quite some time and she noticed the change physically and in my intensity in the class. It was actually quite flattering.

I have been doing my best to keep exercising regularly by going to the gym. I told one of my gym instructors the other day and I asked her if there was anything I should change or modify. She looked at me and said, "For you, not really." She said that because since I am very fit and in shape that I can do a lot of what I was doing since I was not starting anything new. Her advice was to listen to my body, but that I should be able to do a lot of what I have done in the past due to my fitness level before pregnancy. I am determined to keep fit and maintain. I know now is not a time to set new goals and try to be stronger or lose weight, but I am so glad that I can continue to be active and fit.

The best moment so far

Yesterday, we celebrated my lola's (grandmother in Tagalog) 88th birthday and I thought that would be a perfect time to share the news with her and the extended family. I put a picture of the ultrasound in her birthday card and pulled her aside to give her the "gift." She opened the envelope and before she opened the card to read it, she saw that there was something in it and pulled it out. As soon as she saw the photo of the ultrasound, she was jumping up and down and she was screaming, "praise God!!" My mom was crying, my daddy was crying, Mr. Bear was crying, and so was I. It was the best moment. She had the best reaction to our news of anyone.

You would never have known that my lola was 88 years old, she is so full of life and she was so excited about this news. She was jumping up and down like she was a little kid. She said that she had been praying and praying for this day. She was soooo happy for this news. Telling my lola was the best moment since I found out I was pregnant. I am so fortunate to have such wonderful support and love. It is just such an amazing, amazing feeling.

Can't wait to tell

This Saturday we are celebrating my lola's (grandma in Tagolog/Filipino) 88th birthday with the whole big family. We are planning to let my lola along with my aunts, uncles, and cousins know our big news!! I am so excited to be able to tell them and let this all out of the bag. I know my mom will be happy to not have to keep this a secret anymore. She is tired of being asked about my reproductive plans and she is excited to be a lola herself.

One week from today is Thanksgiving and we will be spending it with Mr. Bear's family. At that time, we will let the aunts, uncles, and cousins know that we are expecting Baby Bear! It is definitely something to give thanks about. I can't wait!! I know my father-in-law will be happy to have this all out in the open. I know that he really wants his sisters to know. They will be so excited; they have been waiting for this one.

So we have a very exciting week ahead of us. It will be nice to have the whole family in the know. Then I can let people at work know and I can share it with the world!! Wohoo!!

Week 11: Genitalia is developing

Baby Bear is now pretty much fully formed and busy kicking and stretching. Of course Baby Bear is still to small for me to feel any of this movement yet. Baby Bear is about an inch and a half long. Wow, Baby Bear is really growing! By the end of the week, Baby Bear's genitalia will develop. But is still too small to be able to accurately tell on an ultrasound. We do know one thing for sure, it is probably either a boy or a girl. :)

Baby Bump watch: week 11

Week 10 and I am feeling fat not pregnant. Yes, I realize I will get fat and gain weight and that is fine. But this bloat and constipation kind of sucks because I just look fat rather than pregnant. Baby Bear is totally worth it. I can't wait until it is a real baby bump and I look pregnant rather than fat.

It is just hard because my pants are tight and finding maternity pants in petite sizes is not too easy. The pants I ordered from the Gap last week were too long for me. I am just too short. I feel like I am starting to show, which is not great at work since I want to wait until after Thanksgiving. I am almost there and hopefully this bloat will go down a bit.

Week 10: The skeleton forms

Baby Bear's embryonic tail is gone (it's a human!) and the fingers and toes are separated (not webbed, yes, it's a human!). The skeleton is beginning to form and Baby Bear's brain is producing tons of neurons every minute!!

Baby Bear is about an inch and half long, about the size of a prune. The vital organs have formed and are now starting to work and they will keep on developing.

The worst pregnancy symptom

I have been pretty fortunate. I have not been extremely sick or vomiting. I deal with the fatigue and the nausea. But constipation really sucks! I have never really been constipated in my life. This is awful. Ugh! I have been taking Metamucil and more fiber and I really hope it kicks in soon. It really is the worst pregnancy symptom. I know if I could just poop, I also wouldn't be so bloated. I am just full of shit as Mr. Bear told me this morning.

A name

Papa Bear and I are going to have a difficult time coming up with a name. Papa Bear (jokingly) has named Baby Bear, boy or girl, BUCKJAKE. Yes, all capitalized and that is just the first name. Yikes!! I know he is not serious, but could you imagine a girl with that name. Well, Papa Bear knows that our Baby Bear will not be name BUCKJAKE. I refuse to allow it.

Well, we can't seem to agree with any name at all thus far. We have 7 months to figure this out, but I can already tell that it will be a long 7 months. Papa Bear decided to post on the forum the frequents to see what names his internet friends would come up with. He even offered $100 to the person whose name we actually choose. Well, my friends, the same goes for me. Of course it will be a while before we make our final choice. But all suggestions are welcomed.

Had to cave in

I had to do it. Today, I ordered some maternity pants. They were on sale on the gap.com. And my pants were really tight today and I needed to do something. Plus, I also had a coupon code for an extra 25% off (code: extra25).





I still have a pair of jeans that fit, but my bloat has gotten in the way of my work pants from fitting. Since I have not told people at work yet I have been trying to hold onto wearing my non-maternity pants for as long as possible. I bought a Bella Band a few weeks ago and I have been using it since 6 weeks. It definitely has allowed me to keep wearing those pants.



I wanted to hold off from buying any maternity pants until the 2nd trimester, but I can't pass up a sale and it is definitely time to invest in some maternity pants for work. The pants I wore today were really tight and uncomfortable and I am starting to run out of options. Yikes!!

It's alive!

We had our first ultrasound and we saw Baby Bear moving and the heart beating. What an amazing experience. There really is a baby in my belly. It just seems so real now!!

Week 9: No longer an embryo

Baby Bear is now a fetus and entering the fetal stage. Wow!! Baby Bear is growing and growing, now about an inch long. Baby Bear is starting to move its arms and legs. But it is too early for me to feel anything quite yet. The heartbeat is getting stronger and the eyelid have developed but have fused together and won't open until week 27. The genitals are beginning to form, but it is still a little more time until we can find out the sex. So much is happening in this early stages of pregnancy.

We will find out tomorrow the more accurate fetal age of Baby Bear. I think I am pretty close but might be off a day or two. We'll see at tomorrow's ultrasound!

Everybody scream!

Saturday, we went to a 1-year old birthday party and told some good friends of mine. Funny thing was that I didn't even have to say a word. My one friend was sick and I told her not to get near me. She asked me why and immediately screamed knowing that it was because I was pregnant. Then the mommy of the birthday girl came to say hi and apparently the other girls just gave her a look and she screamed. It was so great how excited and happy everyone was. They have been waiting for me to get pregnant. They all have children (yes, plural!) so they have been telling me I am next.

JA gave me my first set of onsies and a soft blankie for Baby Bear. I love the onsies, they are of course Pooh Bear, my favorite bear!! It was awesome.



Sunday, I had dinner with KS and her aunt and uncle. They offered me a glass of wine and I, of course, refused. KS looked at me strangely and wondering. I told them why I couldn't drink and of course more happy well-wishes. I love telling people in person, it is so awesome to see their reactions and the genuine excitement they have for Mr. Bear and me.

I am so fortunate to have such loving people in my life!

Baby Bump Watch: Week 9

Not a baby bump yet, just all bloated. Baby Bear is too small to give me a baby bump.