Second Trimester

Well, gentle readers, I know I've been keeping you waiting for an updated picture and news on the baby.  I wanted to wait until today, however, because I've got VERY good news to report.  We had our fourteen week appointment today, and everything is looking great.  I didn't get to see a picture of the baby, unfortunately, but I did get to hear the heart beat (at a rocking 157 bpm), and passed my physical examination with flying colors.  I'm going to do a quad screen in another two weeks or so, which will just check for certain conditions like spina bifida and Down's Syndrome.  But I can officially say that I'm downgraded to just a regular ol' pregnant lady, and it's really a great feeling.  Huge sigh of relief.  

Let's see...what else is going on...I haven't gained ANY weight since I got pregnant, which is somewhat of a miracle, considering the only real food I've wanted over the past three and a half months are cheeseburgers and Taco Bell.  Or waffles and blueberry muffins.  Or half-Coke/half-cherry slushies.  Yum.  All things that are not good for you.  In addition, as you can tell by the picture I've posted below, not only do I now have basketballs strapped to my chest, I've also grown a little belly.  It's more of a food baby, right now, actually.  It grows as I eat.  Seriously.  I'm not lying.  I took this picture after lunch just so I had something to show you all.  So, here we are in all our pregnant glory:

Don't laugh - I took it in the bathroom at the office.  I've also been feeling better.  I'm not getting sick nearly as much, and I do feel as though I've got more energy.  Maybe. 

In other news, Jeff and I have started looking at houses...something to put our growing family in.  Not that I wouldn't mind raising a baby in our townhouse, but I think we're looking for some more room.  Jeff wants to take hockey lessons so he can teach "him" how to skate.  Yes, Jeff thinks it's a boy and I "know" it's a girl.  Dare to guess who will be right? 

I had held my breath until today.  We are officially into our second trimester - one third of the way through our pregnancy and baby and I are doing well.  I haven't really let myself believe it, but it's really going to happen.  I am going to be a mom.  Jeff is going to be a dad.  There will be new grandparents, aunts and uncles to be made...as well as great-grandparents, great-aunts and great-uncles.  We can't wait to meet you baby Storms!