Growing baby...Growing belly...

So I had my 16 week OB appointment today, except I'm actually already 17+ weeks. My doctor sees me every 4 weeks, and somehow at the beginning of all these appointments I must have had a scheduling conflict and scheduled my first appointment a week later than normal, hence, all 4-week appointments hereafter have been a week behind schedule. Either way, good news all around.

My doctor is just outstanding; very laid back and down to Earth, and very realistic and practicle about being pregnant and carrying on your "normal" life. She continues to encourage (and allow) me to work out however I want, as long as I'm not starting a "new"workout routine compared to prior to pregnancy. She also is very permissible regarding my job. I work as a physical therapist at a rehab center and regularly lift and help tranfser heavy people. So far she has said I can basically continue doing what I have always done, realizing that the farther along I get, the harder these transfers will be, basically because I wont be able to use safe body mechanics (seeing as how I'll have a big belly sticking out...I have a feeling most people wont want me "lifting" them looking like that!)

All the numbers came back great! Good blood pressure at 102/65. Good fetal heart rate at 145. Good growing belly...I've been very good at this. I have gained 14 pounds as of week 17, and I think the number is supposed to be closer to 10 pounds. But I'm blaming this on the baby for making me hungry ALL the time! I had very little nausea at the beginning and NO vomiting, thank goodness, which helped me "plump" up a little easier so far. But if I had to choose gaining a few extra pounds or vomiting, I'd choose the weight every time!

The one slight abnormality (in my opinion...however, my doctor didn't seem to think this was a big deal), is that I'm possibly already contracting....Braxton Hicks contractions, of course. She asked me if I could feel the baby yet, and I told her I thought so, but couldn't be 100% sure. I told her instead of feeling like the butterfly or flutter feeling people talked about, it actually felt like a very light pressure, almost on my bladder, making me feel like I had to go to the bathroom, and would last about 30 seconds, then he/she would go away. She said those most likely sound like contractions, not the baby moving! I was kind of shocked, but she reassured me this happened to her and is completely fine, just to drink a little more water! She told me I should feel the baby move in the next few weeks!

This cute picture was taken when I was 13 weeks, so I'm sure he/she has grown by now. But BabyB is laying on his/her side facing us, with his arms crossed in front of his face and feet crossed at the ankles! I didn't get to see my baby today, but scheduled my anatomy sonogram for 2 weeks from yesterday, and finally get to find out if we're having a boy or girl! (and also find out how all of his/her anatomy is growing!)

The other night BabyB got his/her first gift! We had some friends over for my Birthday and they brought me a birthday gift, with the preface that gifts aren't for me anymore, they're all about the baby! So true! Thanks, Cade & Jamie for this cute stuffed animal.

The following are a few belly pics. These first two were taken at 12 weeks. What else were we doing, but of course, headed to a Ranger's baseball game!

You can see just a small belly pooch!

15 weeks pregnant while on vacation, taking BabyB to his/her first glacier!

These next few, taken last weekend at 17 weeks, make me actually look "pregnant," not just like I've gained a little weight. It's boosting for the self-esteem to finally get past that awkward "I've gained wait but don't really have a baby belly yet" phase!

And again, at 17 weeks. My good friend, Ashley, who had her sweet baby last year, let me borrow some maternity clothes. So on Sunday morning I decided to wear my first piece of maternity clothing, which I felt really accentuated my growing belly. I went to a baby shower Sunday afternoon and saw several friends for the first time in about 4 weeks, and they were all kind of suprised at the change!

13 Days and counting until I can stop using the he/she reference! Make your predections!