19 weeks and belly photo!

Sorry for the lack of updates - but I have a pretty good excuse - I'm growing a human being!

19 weeks and counting - almost to the big 2-0.... halfway!

Symptoms: The nausea is gone except when I work night shifts or eat too much or eat too little... but I have't taken a Zofran in weeks and I feel so, so grateful for that. I know some people are sick right up until they deliver. Yikes. I am still tired, but not exhausted like I was before. My newest friends are leg cramps, dizzy spells, and ravenousness (is that a word?). Yes, I am very hungry and gross myself out every now and then by eating more than Brian. He's a real good sport about it though and even if we've just eaten dinner and 20 minutes later I am back for more, he's supportive :). Hmmm, what else? Itchy. Oh man I just itch all the time! Especially my legs and ribs. Probably going through 1/2 a gallon of lotion a week...I've also been having some pretty crazy dreams. A not-so-crazy one was that I really had a baby boy... so now I'm starting to wonder....

We had a scary moment again on Saturday :/. I started bleeding a bit and had to call into work, call the on-call doc, and get another ultrasound. Now I love ultrasounds, but I was afraid we weren't going to see a heartbeat or something! Horrible feeling. Luckily the ultrasound showed that everything looked a-ok. We were so relieved! Her feet are an inch long :). Couldn't get a confirmation that she is really a girl because she had her cute little legs crossed. So, I was on modified bed rest for the weekend and instructed to take it easy for the next few weeks.

I am finally starting to look pregnant! I felt it more than ever when we were in Cache Valley with my family last week... I think it was due to the insane amounts of food we consumed. I had a real baby and a food baby and boy could I tell. So, I would have to say that I "popped" at 18 weeks and now I feel like I look pregnant if I have the right outfit on. Thanks to my sister and friends who have lent me some of their maternity clothes - I'm about to put it to good use!

Brian and I get more excited for her arrival every day! I can't wait to feel her move around - my placenta is anterior and apparently that makes it so I can't feel her until later on. Can't wait!

Top 3 names: Abigail, Amelia, & Claire. 

And... thanks to our little scare the other day, we got an adorable footprint picture!

prince or princess?

We are happy to announce that we are expecting a little

GIRL!!

Measuring right on track and kicking away like crazy! 

The ultrasound tech had a hard time at first 

because she was hiding "the goods" with her cute little foot, but after some prodding 

she relented and let us know she is, in fact, a she. 

We are over the moon!

To celebrate we ate pink ice cream (wearing a pink shirt was purely coincidental - or foreshadowing... either way).

She weighs about the same as this bowl of ice cream (5-6ish ounces) 

Just about 4.5 inches long from her cute little head to her cute little bum - 

She's growing so fast!

thoughts from the first trimester :D!

4 weeks - Feb 6
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I just knew I was pregnant even though when I tested
on the day I was "supposed" to be able to get
a postive, it was negative.... waited a few more
days and VOILA!

It is quite the feeling to stand there staring at a hunk of
plastic that's going to tell you whether or not your life is
about to be changed forever.

We got one line and then...
is that another one? But, it's so faint! How can we be sure?
Luckily I had a digital test waiting around as well and
with that test it was clear...
Pregnant!

To say that we are ridiculously excited

 would be a huge understatement...

My estimated due date is October 15 -

We'll have our own sweet little pumpkin 

just in time for Halloween :D

Costume ideas, anyone?

Naturally, we were/still are a little nervous and anxious. I think every pregnancy brings it's fears. Because we've had two miscarriages, however, I feel like I am more nervous than ever! We are optimistic and praying for the best! Here's to a healthy pregnancy!

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5 weeks

Still feeling great!

A little bit of nausea here and there, but that's about it!

I remember sort of wanting to feel nauseous because

that can indicate a "healthy" pregnancy.

We told our families and that were thrilled!
Finally Gage will have a cousin :)

 Fluctuating between

extreme happiness and crazy nervousness. Just wanting

our little bean to stick around :)

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6 weeks

Now this was a dramatic week!

For various reasons I ended up in the ER in tears
because I was sure I was miscarrying again.

The scans and test were not conclusive

(they never are!).

But, I left feeling hopeful because on the

ultrasound there was a little fetal pole and yolk sac - 

which is more than I've ever seen with

the past 2 pregnancies.

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7 weeks

My first appointment with my OB was rather uneventful.
We didn't learn anything new but I did get labs
ordered and done.

Scheduled another ultrasound so we could make sure our baby was
growing ok - especially because of the threatened miscarriage.
I started feeling seriously nauseated and finally
broke down and got a prescription for Zofran.
Working as a nurse is unbearable when you're nauseated!

Sweet Brian went to the store and bought me one of about every kind of
cracker they carry! Lifesaver :)
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8 weeks

Aaaaaand....

good news!

Our little bean had a heartbeat of 130. It was the most beautiful sound I've ever heard.

I might have most definitely teared up.

There's a real, live baby in there! Measuring right on schedule :).

Totally worth almost peeing all over the exam table. This may be tmi, but
I had to go sooo bad... they tell you to come with a full bladder,
which I did. What they didn't tell me is
that they would be running 45 minutes late!
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9 weeks

Craving Sonic Strawberry Limeades all the time.
And hamburgers.
And mac & cheese.
And chocolate.

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10 weeks

Bought some baby clothes because I just couldn't resist!
So bloated - looks like I could be 5 months along by the time I go to bed!
(suck it in)

Told our close friends :)

Since we don't know the gender.... had to prepare for both!
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11 weeks

Signed up for the NuMom2B study and as a result I get extra ultrasounds!
This was probably my favorite moment so far...
Watching our little pumpkin bounce around in my uterus.
He/she looked like a real baby!

Heartrate: 165

Also participating in a sleep study... surprisingly enough I slept great
even with all that gear on (Another testament to my fatigue I guess!).

sexy... right? Brian said it was like snuggling with Darth Vader.
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12 weeks

Surviving pregnancy by:
Napping as much as possible
Delicious food (strawberry limeades!!)
Doing my prenatal workout DVDs... and feeling wimpy because the
ladies on them are like 8 months pregnant and I can barely keep up!
Drinking insane amounts of water... and consequently getting up every night to pee.
Looking at my ultrasound pictures every day.
Did I mention napping?
Lying in bed at night with Brian while we share our hopes and dreams for our little one :)

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13 weeks

Announced our pregnancy to the facebook world!
Thanks for all the congratulations :)

photography

Two more photo shoots are up on my photography blog :)

http://rachaelpearcephotography.blogspot.com/

Rhoten Family sneak peek

I've started posting my photography on my photography blog - to see the Rhoten Family sneak peek, click here :)

Oh, and feel free to start following the new blog of course!