First Trimester Finish Line Ahead!

I will keep this post brief...but I had to include some very important updates to the blog. 


First off, I went to my first Ob Gyn appointment on Thursday. I had had a very busy week in the clinic and was feeling down that I was going to my first visit solo (Clay was in Philadelphia for a meeting). After seeing all my patients, along with a round of emergencies, I was not too excited about making the 30 minute trek to the Ob Gyn through crazy Charleston traffic on 17. When I finally reached the hospital, I was exhausted and bursting with emotions....would I get to see my baby today? would there be a heart beat? how would I react? how would the first ultrasound be? would I cry? would I like my doctor? would we click the way we should? ..the list went on and on. 


So when I actually met my doctor - it was a huge relieffffff - she was perfect! Very easy to talk to, very understanding, and she made me feel completely comfortable for my exam/ultrasound. I trust her 100% to deliver this new little addition in January. 


Now onto the exciting news...with the vaginal ultrasound, this isn't the most comfortable process. There is a lot of pressure and probing, which luckily is nullified by the fact that you get to see your baby's image on the screen....and sure enough, a minute later, a scratchy black-and-white jelly bean with arms and legs popped up on the TV....anddddddd.....(drumroll).....


It was a HEALTHY BEAUTIFUL BABY with perfect arms, legs, tummy, and head :) ....and when she put on the Doppler, I got to hear the little Pitter Patter of a Hearbeat! To even try to explain that something so small and wonderful is growing inside me, I cannot even put it into words - I was truly dumbfounded. 


Then I whipped out my iPhone and took several pictures for Clay along with recording the heartbeat. (Later when I sent it to him, he was thrilled like me. Texting and calling... several times repeating "Can you believe that??" and "This is so incredibly exciting" and "He/she has a big head like me!")


I have included the pictures below...along with the faintest beginnings of a 'baby bump' at 11 weeks. What a fabulous week~ bring on the next 5 months!

Note the bump...it's hard to tell if this is from the two smoothies and sandwich I ate today-or if this is the little one stretching out - we will just have to see :)

Additionally I love that my friend Liz sent me the first baby clothes to dress this little poppy seed in. Very appropriate ;)
(although his/her dental parents are gonna make sure there is PLENTY of flossing happening under this roof!)

Hang Ten

How far along?  10 weeks (the clicker on the side is a couple days behind - according to my nurse :) )  
Total weight gain/loss?  +/- 2 lbs 
Maternity clothes?  Nope 
Stretch marks? Nada
Sleep? I am actually managing to stay awake until....drumroll pleaseeeee....10 PM! And when my friends were in town last weekend, until MIDNIGHT!! (This is major folks!)
Best moment last week? Feeling better  - despite waves of nausea here and there, I am actually beginning to feel back to my ole self! Last night, Clay and I even did a fun date night at Bacco - and I had a caprese salad, big pasta dish, and bread pudding (all w/out feeling like I was going to get sick in the middle!)
Movement? No (but from what I have been reading, the baby is kicking and punching all over the place)
Food cravings?  I have been craving Italian - and comfort food :)
Gender? I will be surprised if this baby is not a girl...
Labor signs? 7 months to go!
Belly button in/out? Innie
What I miss: Going out with my friends and partaking in all the fun (drinking, dancing, etc)....however, I know this will be all worth it in the end
What I am looking forward to: First ultrasound this Thursday! So excited to see the heartbeat and the little poppyseed !!
Milestones: I am seeing Mount Pleasant OBGYN - and finally established with a doctor there. This is a world of relief - they are so nice and attentive, and have really helped me feel like I am getting control of this pregnancy :)

Prior to date night!

YES 10 WEEKS :)

Bring in the Troopssss!

This past weekend - my friends came to visit :)!! 


Clay and I had been looking forward to this for weeeeeeeeeeeeeks. Among the craziness of going to Shem Creek, Isle of Palms, Sullivans Island, and Downtown, Clay and I managed to tell them THE BIG NEWS. For weeks we had been talking about our "brilliant" plan to tell them that we were expecting. Clay would take a picture of all of us - and right before pressing down on the button, yell "Allie's Pregnant!" However, when it came time for the big reveal, no one responded! They all thought it was a joke - seriously....a joke. In fact Carmen said "I thought you were just bloated from lunch"!!! 


So lesson learned, sometimes the best way to tell people - is simply to tell them...


Here are a couple of pics from the weekend.

 Carmen, Justin, Kco

However, when I executed "Plan to Tell" - I managed to get the response out of Colin - that I was hoping to get from my friends...See below :)

Priceless

Another Family-Filled Weekend!!

Here's me at 8 weeks 

How far along?  8 weeks  
Total weight gain/loss?  +/- 2 lbs (depends on the day of the week - and what unhealthy cravings I've indulged in!)
Maternity clothes?  Nope 
Stretch marks? Nada
Sleep? Yes, yes, and yes - I like to go to bed around 9 (I haven't gone to bed this early since I was 5 years old!!) ...but then I wake up around 6 - 7 AM (even on the weekend!) I am definitely turning into an old ladyyyyyyy
Best moment last week? Beach day on Saturday with Clay, the rents, and Hominy! It was gorrrrgeous out - 80s - and the whole day was perfect! We ended up getting to-go sandwiches, and then heading out early. Hominy was jumping around and socializing with anything with four legs :), Clay surfed with Nate and his cousin Andrew, and I got to catch up with my parents. All in all - another solid weekend.
Movement? Nopers
Food cravings?  Yes - cupcakes (which Clay surprised me with on Friday) and banana pudding (which Clay and I whipped up this morning).
Gender? Girl-power!
Labor signs? 7+ months to go!
Belly button in/out? Innie
What I miss: Glass of Wine + Goodnight rest + Running (more than a super slow jog) + Not feeling like a bloated mess!
What I am looking forward to: My friends coming in on Friday!!! Woo hoo - and letting them know the BIG NEWS :)!!!
Milestones: Clay and I have finally started cracking open the prego books and deciding where I would like to deliver (East Cooper Hospital!).


Here are a couple of pics from this weekend!!


Clay offered to go on a walk w/ me - so we went over and back on the Cooper River Bridge 

Memorial Day Mayhem

After a fun weekend home for the Arcario-Mroz Wedding..I finally got to celebrate IN PERSON with my parents about this special little bean growing inside of me...and even better, they also got to meet our pup, Hominy :). 
It was a very action-packed weekend - with events everyday. But now that Clay and I finally have gotten home, time for an update!

Clay and I right before his Bday Dinner at Husk

@ the Arcario Wedding 

How far along?  7 weeks 1 day 
Total weight gain/loss?  Weights staying pretty much the same
Maternity clothes?  Nope 
Stretch marks? No way jose
Sleep? All the time....Literally, if I am capable of laying down for a 10 minute nap - I will do it! This weekend we had the rehearsal dinner, a meet-and-greet, and the wedding - all which royally kicked my butt! Anytime Clay couldn't find me - I was squeezing in a much needed power nap. 
Best moment last week? Spending time with the fam. It was so great to see my parents and just bask in a much needed vacation from work. Besides wedding festivities, we spent several days out by the pool with all the dogs (Sophie + Shamus + Hominy), Clay and I took a long bike ride, and we even had a yummy breakfast of blueberry waffles. All in all, great weekend!
Movement? None that I can tell.
Food cravings?  Yes - cupcakes (all the time!)
Gender? Still think it's going to be a girl.
Labor signs? 7+ months to go!
Belly button in/out? Innie
What I miss: Enjoying a cold beer on a hot day, having food actually taste 'good' (instead of just eating so I don't feel queasy), and being able to stay up past 10 o'clock!
What I am looking forward to: Enjoying another week with my parents - when they come to visit this week for the Spoleto Festival 
Milestones: Clay starting to realize that there is a living, growing person inside of me (even if he/she is only the size of a blueberry!)

Update

How far along?  6 weeks 1 day 
Total weight gain/loss?  Still nada
Maternity clothes?  Nope - too early
Stretch marks? Nopers
Sleep?  My sleep schedule is.....I sleep any minute I can ;). Power naps have become my best friend - and it's close to impossible for me to get up in the morning. 
Best moment last week? Reading "The Pregnancy Bible"....It's so exciting to find out what is occurring at each stage. For example, right now the lil poppyseed is growing eyelids, hands, feet!!! (and looking less and less like an alien!)
Movement? Not yet - only stomach growling "Feed me"
Food cravings?  Yes - banana pudding with whipped cream and vanilla wafers! 
Gender? I have this gut feeling it's a girl....Clay still hopes for a boy :)
Labor signs? Nine more months
Belly button in/out? Innie
What I miss: Feeling like I could go to work, go to the gym, eat dinner, play with the dog - and not feel like I could barely keep my eyes open!
What I am looking forward to: Seeing my parents this weekend - and celebrating in person! 
Milestones: Clay and I brainstorming names just for fun :)

Clay's 29th Birthday 

and only a few hours later....He's adopting my napping schedule!

Sampling a Mocktail...or Two!

This evening has been wild and crazy.....Clay and I first stopped by a fun happy hour downtown, then bar crawled to 5 different spots on East Bay, danced the night away at a OKu, and now are making our way to Butcher and Bee for late night eats!








Okkkkkkkkkk....if you want to know the real truth......I'm absolutely spent from a long week! This little poppyseed is draining every ounce of my energy and makes me perpetually hungry!....so when I got home today around 6, I instantly found my sweet spot on the couch, put on some comfy sweats, and ate yummy leftover Chinese. 


I realize this isn't that exciting  -but when Clay decided to whip up some "mocktails" for me and we put on an exciting season finale of "Whale Wars"...it was actually not too bad of a night! Don't get me wrong, I am looking forward to post-first trimester, when my energy is back up..and even post-pregnancy, where I can enjoy a fun night out of dinner and drinks....but for now, hunkering down with my hubby and puppy for a relaxing night in, ain't too shabby :)