Happy Halloween!!

Here's a few pictures of Chloe in her Halloween outfits!

Her favorite costume is the lobster!! She's going to wear it tonight while we hand out candy to the little trick-or-treaters.

11ish Week Ultra Sound

Ok, here ya go. We had a Doctor visit today and everything went great. The baby's heart beat is normal and it appears to be growing at a normal rate. Still too young to tell the gender but one of the photographs above illustrates how extraordinarily handsome it will be if it's a boy. lol!

During the ultrasound we could see the baby shifting positions and moving its little arms and feet around. Some of our friends have described how incredible this experience is but I’d say incredible doesn’t begin to describe how we felt in that room today. Angela had that same cute little ear to ear grin she had the day I asked her to marry me. Of course she smiles all the time but this one simply makes my knees weak.

I meant to bring my video camera but we both were in a rush and forgot it. I won’t forget it next time though I promise. With love - Coop

11 Weeks Pregnant!!

We’re 11 weeks pregnant!! Tomorrow is our next Dr. appointment and we should get another ultrasound- with pictures hopefully!!! I’m feeling really good! I do get tired sometimes and am always hungry. I’ve read that you’re only supposed to gain 5 pounds in your 1st trimester and I’ve gained 6 so far with 3 weeks left in my 1st trimester…lol I’m not going to worry about it. They say you gain more weight in the beginning with a boy than with a girl, so who knows…maybe it’s a boy!!
Fetal development in pregnancy week 11: Your astonishingly tiny baby has been hard at work growing as fast as possible—almost doubling in size in the past three weeks! Amazingly, you’re in for a repeat size doubling performance within the next three weeks! Your tiny champion only weighs 1/3 of an ounce and is 1.61 inches long but has already completed the most critical stage of their development. Nearly all structures and organs are formed and beginning to function. Fingers and toes have separated - Take a glimpse at how incredibly precious your child's tiny feet are at this point. Hair and nails begin to grow, tiny tooth buds are beginning to appear under her gums, and some of her bones are beginning to harden. The genitals begin to take on the proper gender characteristics - It will be just a few more weeks before your ultrasound can show if you are having a boy or a girl! Amniotic fluid begins to accumulate as the kidneys begin to function - This fluid, consisting primarily of water, helps provide a cushion for your baby while she's nestled within your womb. The muscles in the intestinal walls begin to practice contractions that digest food. They're also developing their swallow reflex this week. And lastly, your baby's smelling and other olfactory senses will begin developing this week, which when combined with the maturing taste buds, will provide your baby with their first experiences of taste and smell.

10 Weeks Pregnant!!

We’re 10 weeks pregnant! It’s hard to believe we’re a quarter of the way there!! I am feeling much better this week. I think my morning sickness (all day sickness) is over! Thank goodness! It was so hard going to work when I felt so nauseated, but I’m glad I did. I'll need my sick days for all the Dr. appointments we'll be going to. Cooper and I have no ideas for names yet. We’re calling the baby Coopela until we find out the sex, but at the rate we’re going we’ll still be calling the baby Coopela until the hospital makes us come up with a name for the birth certificate…lol!! We’re open to ideas and suggestions for names, so leave a comment with names and we’ll add them to our list! Next week is our next Dr. appointment and we’re getting another ultrasound. This time I’m asking for pictures so I can post them on our website for everyone to Ohh and Aww over!

Fetal development in pregnancy week 10: The most critical part of your infant's development is complete. Now you are headed into a period of rapid growth. While a bit strange to envision, your baby's head is now about half its length - Soon the rest of the body's growth will catch up but this area is prepared to keep up with the rapid brain development! Eyelids fuse shut and irises begin to develop - Eye color is also determined by this point. Placenta begins to function this week or next - The placenta is the organ responsible for both the provision of nutrients along with the removal of waste to keep your baby growing strong!

9 Weeks Pregnant!!

We’re 9 weeks pregnant! Time sure does fly. Only one more week and we’ll be ¼ of the way there!! I think I spoke too soon about the morning sickness...lol I felt nauseated all weekend and yesterday (Monday) I woke up puking. I was still sick yesterday evening so my wonderful husband made us dinner while Chloe and I layed on the couch!! I was nauseated today too, but haven’t thrown up. I layed on the couch during lunch and ate a cup of noodles and drank a sprite (with Chloe of course…she layed on my belly and we took a nap together). I still didn’t feel very good, but I had to go back to work. Cooper was working from home today so he made me a peanut butter and jelly sandwich to take with me to work. I ate that and am feeling much better. My goal is to make Potato Soup for Cooper tonight. I’m hoping I’ll feel up to it. Yesterday I started feeling better at 3pm, but around 5pm things went downhill fast!

Fetal development in pregnancy week 9: Congratulations! Embryo has become a fetus! All organs necessary to sustain life are formed. Baby has begun movement - While still too small for you to feel, your little one is wriggling, shifting, and dancing already! Makes you almost wish for a window to peek in whenever you want! Most joints are formed now - and trust that your little one is practicing bending and flexing. Fetus will curve its fingers around an object placed in the palm of its hand - This is amazing to see! At only nine weeks, if you happen to have an ultrasound, you may observe your infant fascinated by everything he or she can lay their fingers on (mainly other fingers, toes, ears and nose! Fingerprints are already evident in the skin.

8 Weeks Pregnant!!

Last week was our first doctor’s appointment. It was a wonderful experience! Cooper and I were able to see the baby on the ultrasound machine and hear the heartbeat! Since I was only 7 weeks pregnant, it took the doctor quite a while to find the baby and the heartbeat. I can’t wait until our next appointment which is on October 29th! I’ll be 11 weeks pregnant so the baby should be much larger and hopefully we’ll get a picture to take home and share with everyone! My doctor’s name is Dr. Wayman and she is so sweet! I just love her! I was very worried about finding a great doctor, but now that I’m going to her I don’t have any worries. So far I haven’t been sick. I get really tired around 2 PM, but since I don’t get home from work until 5:30 I just have to work through the sleepiness. I do take naps on the weekends and read my pregnancy book as much I can! In 8 more weeks we’ll find out if we’re having a girl or boy!! That will be the BEST day ever!!! (next to the day I married the man of my dreams, the day our baby is born, and the day we got Chloe…lol)

Fetal development in pregnancy week 8: Woohoo! You've got one whole inch of baby inside of you! Your little embryo has finally reached the one-inch mark (30mm). And if it were possible to take a peek, you could actually see your tiny baby without a telescope! What’s more, your baby is finally starting to take on some very distinct human features. For starters, their little tail (really just the spinal cord) has disappeared completely. It’s nice to know your baby can no longer be mistaken for a sea creature! Additionally, both their toes and fingers are prominent with very little, if any, webbing. Upper and lower limbs all show recognizable joints (elbows and knees) and the lower limb bones are starting to ossify. But don’t expect your baby to resemble either parent quite yet. Right now, your baby’s head is disproportionately larger than the rest of their body--making up almost half of your little one’s height and weight!