15 Weeks

I think it's so funny when I see my little baby compared to a piece of food.... it seriously makes it difficult to eat that food that whole week! So Little Turkey is now the size of an orange.... crazy to think about when I hold an orange up to my belly and see how big that actually is! But it's understandable when I look at my tummy now.... there is NO mistaking I'm pregnant anymore, especially when I'm wearing maternity clothes. Yet I'm still down around 6 pounds since the beginning of the pregnancy! I suppose that's a good thing since I started the pregnancy with some extra fluff. ;)

We had our doctor's appointment last Thursday and it was short and boring, just how I like it! That means everything is normal and fine. We went in, they took my weight and blood pressure, and then just sat with the doctor and talked more in depth about my VBAC plans. I would truly like to do everything in my power to avoid another c-section. My theory is this: as long as everything is fine with me and the baby, I will not consent to a c-section. I will be doing this birth all natural with no epidural. I plan on laboring upright as much as possible, including LOTS of walking and squatting. This birth will be so much different in terms of who will be there.... it will just be me, Eric, and our doula throughout the entire labor. If it looks like everything is going to happen, I will have my mom come in at the end right before the baby comes out. Otherwise, I truly feel like I missed out on that bonding experience with my husband when Jackson was born. Don't get me wrong, I LOVED having everyone there supporting me.... but it was just too much pressure. I started feeling guilty that everyone was having to wait around, and that should be the last thing on my mind during that time. So it's a very deep and personal decision that I've done a lot of soul searching on. Needless to say, I'm so excited yet terrified at the same time!

So our next appointment is on June 17th, and from there we will schedule our BIG ultrasound!!! I CAN'T WAIT!!! I'm going CRAZY not knowing if this is a little boy or girl! I've felt from the very beginning that it's a girl, but deep down I'm thinking it's probably a boy! Either way, I could care less.... I truly just want a healthy baby in my arms! After our two losses, it definitely put things in perspective on how much I don't care what the gender of our next child is.... I'm just so ready for our family to expand and I know God has a plan for this little one inside of me.

The Fifteenth Week:

• You may begin to feel some fluttering movements as baby kicks, flails, twists and turns (but don't panic if you don't yet). She can also grasp, squint, frown, grimace and maybe suck her thumb!
• Your baby's legs have grown longer than the arms and the body is now longer than the head.
• And you'll be happy to note that he is moving those arms and legs often!
• His skin is very thin -- so thin blood vessel are visible. It's covered by a fine, soft layer of hair called lanugo. Lanugo comes from a Latin word meaning "down." This hair is thought to help insulate your little boy.
• The three tiny bones in his middle ear have begun to harden. The auditory centers in your baby's brain haven't developed yet, so she might not really understand what you say but her hearing capacity is in the process of developing.
• Fingernails and toenails are growing.
• Eyebrows are beginning to grow and even the hair his head is sprouting. It will probably change color and texture after birth.
• All this and your little one is an amazing 3.98 inches (10.1cm) long and may weigh 2.47 ounces (70gm).