sixteen weeks!

in retrospect, this isn't the best outfit to show the bump. and i cut my head off because i am not having a good hair day. :)

today, we had our 16 week doctor's appointment. for the last two visits, we haven't had an ultrasound, but have been able to chat with the doctor about questions we have and update him on how i'm feeling and doing. and, of course, we got to hear our little one's heartbeat. today was the second time we've heard it. it is such an incredible thing! while we were listening, taylor exclaimed just that. "wow! that is incredible!" :) i loved seeing his cute face light up when we were listening to the heart for just a few seconds.

this is the video from our 12 week appointment where we heard the heartbeat for the first time. the heart rate was at 153 bpm this first time and today it was pretty consistent around 145 bpm.

today:

16 weeks along! that means i'm pretty close to half way there! being diabetic, they typically don't let the mothers carry the baby to full-term (40 weeks). so today i asked our doctor about that. he said that they will deliver anywhere from 37-39 weeks, but typically on the earlier side. so, i will make it to half-way sooner than twenty weeks! if the baby decides to come around 37 weeks, we could have a 4th of July babe!  

all of my pregnancy apps have finally agreed on a fruit/vegetable for this week. the baby is about the size of an avocado weighing in at 3.5 ounces and measuring at about 4.5 inches (crown to "rump" which doesn't include the baby's legs)! 

little one is pumping lots of blood each day- about 25 quarts! his or her bones are hardening and they can sense light with their little eyes, even though they will stay shut for a long time still.

i have been feeling so much better! on the whole, i am starting to feel more normal- thank goodness. i still definitely get nauseous, but usually a quick snack will fix that nowadays. i am still SO tired though. i joke with taylor that the very first thing i think of each morning before i get out of bed is "when am i going to be able to nap today?" haha. but seriously. the struggle is real. and i've unfortunately been getting up more frequently in the night to pee. they don't lie when they say that is a real problem! holy cow! haha. 

cravings are about the same. i definitely have more of an appetite now. which is great. i love baked potatoes (potatoes of any kind really), english egg muffins that taylor makes me, rice, and pasta, to name a few. mmm carbs. haha. 

i am pretty confident in saying that i think i have felt the baby move! the first time was last week. i can't feel the movements very often, because i have to be sitting or laying super still (and awake) to feel them. but sometimes i'll test it out and feel little flutters in my abdomen. so cool. 

the bump is ever-growing. maternity pants and maxi skirts and stretchy pants are my best friends. i have gained about 7 ish pounds so far. but i fluctuate a little every day.  i cannot wait till it gets warmer and school lets out and i can enjoy feeling pregnant more. hopefully the heat doesn't completely knock me out...ha.

we are finding out the gender of our sweet baby NEXT WEEK! on february 13th, which happens to be our 7 months wedding anniversary AND the day before Valentine's day. what could be a more perfect way to celebrate?? SO! everyone put your guesses in now! we will be revealing the result next week after we find out! so exciting!

please continue to pray and send positive thoughts our way! until next week!

the best is yet to come.