Charley & Mama

Charley & Mama

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

14 weeks !

This morning reaches the 14 week mark! I still can't believe how fast time is flying by! Yesterday we had our 12-14 week screening ultrasound, and it definitely made everything seem so much more real. We got to watch our baby on the screen for about 15-20 minutes. He/she was in there squirming around, waving his hands, and even sucking on his thumb! It was TOO cute. Bryan almost mistook a foot for a you-know-what (JK.... kinda....!!) ..... but the ultrasound tech said we won't be able to tell the sex until our next appointment in January.... the suspense is KILLING me! We also spent some time yesterday picking out possible baby furniture that we like, and I think we decided on the crib that we want =) Everything looks good and we are super happy!!!! Stay tuned..... <3

Our baby's little hand on its way back up to its mouth.....

How your baby's growing:
This week's big developments: Your baby can now squint, frown, grimace, pee, and possibly suck his thumb! Thanks to brain impulses, his facial muscles are getting a workout as his tiny features form one expression after another. His kidneys are producing urine, which he releases into the amniotic fluid around him — a process he'll keep up until birth. He can grasp, too, and if you're having an ultrasound now, you may even catch him sucking his thumb.
In other news: Your baby's stretching out. From head to bottom, he measures 3 1/2 inches — about the size of a lemon — and he weighs 1 1/2 ounces. His body's growing faster than his head, which now sits upon a more distinct neck. By the end of this week, his arms will have grown to a length that's in proportion to the rest of his body. (His legs still have some lengthening to do.) He's starting to develop an ultra-fine, downy covering of hair, called lanugo, all over his body. Your baby's liver starts making bile this week — a sign that it's doing its job right — and his spleen starts helping in the production of red blood cells. Though you can't feel his tiny punches and kicks yet, your little pugilist's hands and feet (which now measure about 1/2 inch long) are more flexible and active.
See what your baby looks like this week.
Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.

How your life's changing:


The top of your uterus is a bit above your pubic bone, which may be enough to push your tummy out a tad. Starting to show can be quite a thrill, giving you and your partner visible evidence of the baby you've been waiting for. Take some time to plan, daydream, and enjoy this amazing time. It's normal to worry a bit now and then, but try to focus on taking care of yourself and your baby, and having faith that you're well equipped for what's ahead.
Welcome to your second trimester! Your energy is likely returning, your breasts may be feeling less tender, and your queasiness may have completely abated by now. If not, hang on — chances are good it will soon be behind you (although an unlucky few will still feel nauseated months from now).

Here is the crib that we decided on from Pottery Barn........


Tuesday, December 6, 2011

13 Weeks Today!

Say bye bye to the first trimester!! I can't believe how fast that flew by! Movin' on into week 13. When I get back from Argentina, we have our 14 week ultrasound on Monday the 12th ... can't wait to see what our baby is up to in there!



How your baby's growing:

Fingerprints have formed on your baby's tiny fingertips, her veins and organs are clearly visible through her still-thin skin, and her body is starting to catch up with her head — which makes up just a third of her body size now. If you're having a girl, she now has more than 2 million eggs in her ovaries. Your baby is almost 3 inches long (the size of a medium shrimp) and weighs nearly an ounce.
See what your baby looks like this week.
Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.

How your life's changing:

This is the last week of your first trimester, and your risk of miscarriage is now much lower than earlier in pregnancy. Next week marks the beginning of your second trimester, a time of relative comfort for many women who see early pregnancy symptoms such as morning sickness and fatigue subside. More good news: Many couples also notice a distinct libido lift around this time. Birth is still months away, but your breasts may have already started making colostrum, the nutrient-rich fluid that feeds your baby for the first few days after birth, before your milk starts to flow

3 Questions about eating for two

Q1.

How much more should I be eating every day?
You need only 300 or so extra calories a day when you're pregnant. Make those calories count: Skip the junk food and have a glass of milk and a couple of slices of whole-wheat toast instead.
Don't get too hung up on numbers, though. As long as you're making healthy food choices and your provider is happy with your weight gain, there's no need to agonize over calories.

Q2.

What are some important nutrients?
Protein, iron, and calcium are three nutrients you need now to keep you healthy and fuel your baby's development.

Protein: Aim for 71 grams a day. Lean meats, eggs, and dairy products, as well as nuts, beans, and soy products like tofu, are all good sources. Three servings a day should help you meet your goal. Fish is a good source of protein (as well as vital omega-3 fatty acids), but because of concerns about contamination, experts debate how much and what type of fish you should eat.
Iron: Getting 27 milligrams of iron every day is especially important to help ward off iron-deficiency anemia, a common problem among pregnant women. Iron found in animal products (called heme iron) is absorbed more easily by your body than iron found in plants (nonheme iron). The best source? Lean red meat. If you're a vegetarian or can't stomach meat, you can get some iron from vegetables such as spinach and legumes like lentils. It can be tough to get enough iron from these sources, though, so your provider may recommend an iron supplement. (Hint: Vitamin C enhances the absorption of nonheme iron, so eat foods rich in vitamin C — such as citrus fruits, strawberries, and sweet peppers — at the same time you eat non-meat iron-rich foods, or down your iron supplement with a glass of orange juice.)
Calcium: Four servings a day of dairy products will help you get the 1,000 mg of calciumyou need (1,300 mg if you're 18 or younger). Your baby needs calcium for the formation of his bones and teeth. If you don't get enough of this nutrient, he'll take what he needs from your body and you'll lose calcium stored in your bones.

Q3.

If I'm already taking a prenatal vitamin, do I need to pay much attention to what I eat?
Yes! While a prenatal vitamin can help fill in any nutritional gaps in your diet, it isn't meant to take the place of healthy eating. For one thing, prenatal vitamins don't have the full day's supply of the calcium you need right now. For another, it's important to eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables for fiber — for aiding digestion and avoiding constipation, a common pregnancy complaint. In fact, if you're a healthy woman who's well informed about nutrition, eats a balanced diet, and has no specific risk factors, not all experts agree that you even need to take a multivitamin and mineral supplement. However, all agree that you need to take folic acid supplements before conception and during the first trimester, and many believe it's important to take iron in the second and third trimesters.
  • Most healthcare providers recommend taking a vitamin supplement from the time you decide to start trying to get pregnant through the end your pregnancy. Are you taking a prenatal vitamin?

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Photo Update


Alba (my dad's aunt) and Gabriela (my dad's cousin) gave us some gifts for the baby yesterday at our family Asado (BBQ).....



Mom and I were lunching at the Yardhouse in San Jose looking through our Baby Name book, and the waitress brought this over. I thought she was bringing over birthday cake at first and look all confused! How sweet!




This is me and my dad lunching at a cute cafe in Buenos Aires... the empanadas here were by the far the BEST of any others we have tried so far on our trip.... and we've tried quite a few!! =) That's also a picture of the "small" Quilmes that came with his lunch.




Santana Row for Jenn's birthday dinner at Yardhouse. 



Mom and I went X-mas shopping, and stumbled upon some cute outfits for Quinny and Lacie. A photo shoot followed, obviously. 




Cute ornament that Jen got for us for our first Christmas! We can't wait to hang it on our tree! This is a Christmas that we will never forget .....