Another Perfect Ultrasound!!

We had a perfect ultrasound today!! It went so well! We got to see our gummy bear on the big screen again! The baby is perfect and measuring exactly 12 weeks 3 days. The ultrasound tech would press my belly and we could see baby Long literally jump in the air and land on his/her tummy.

I loved seeing the heart rate and seeing so much movement from our little one. It was very comforting. Plus, now he/she looks like a real baby. This is really happening. Hello reality check.

They did tell me that because of how the baby implanted, that I will likely not feel any movement until much later in the pregnancy. It isn't a medical concern by any means, but because of the position, I shouldn't expect to feel anything until at least 20-24 weeks along. Some women feel as early as now and most will feel by 20 weeks. I won't. Kind of disappointing, but movement will be felt just fine afterward, I'm told, and there is no reason to worry.

Photo on Caring Bridge!

Busy Bee

Last week was super busy. I drove down to Houston for a big work meeting and was gone from Monday until Wednesday. And since then there has been a whirlwind of work and spending time with the family.

We are also now 12 weeks along! AND!!! We have another ultrasound tomorrow morning. I'm really excited to see the baby again. I really hope everything is still "perfect" and that all of the measurements they take tomorrow are in the normal ranges.

I'll let you know how it goes and post the ultrasound pictures to Caring Bridge!

Baby Long

Week: 12

Size: Lime

Important Developments: Reflexes. The majority of the organ systems have formed and now we're primed for fast-paced growing! Also, if I poke my belly, the baby is supposedly moving in response, even though I don't feel anything yet.

Noticeable Symptoms: Nausea is pretty much gone for the most part. My back is hurting. And I feel like my belly is growing every single day.

11 Weeks!!!

Already!?

Time is flying....

Here is my update, with pictures from this week and past weeks.

Baby Long

Week: 11

Size: Fig/Key Lime

Important Developments: Just growing a bunch and refining everything.

Noticeable Symptoms: Nausea is dying down (for good, hopefully). Cravings. Smell. Nosebleeds. I can no longer button any of my pants.

Fearless Formula Feeders

I have been putting off this entry for quite some time, for fear of losing some of you readers. And I hate that I feel that way. I hate that I am hesitant to share my personal views and opinions on my own blog because I'm afraid of what you will think. After all, this is the current culture with the Formula vs. Breast Feeding debate.

Yes, readers... I will be formula feeding this baby and all future ones.

It is my choice, based on experience, talks with family members, and most of all, what Phillip and I have talked about. This is our decision and we are sticking to it. I will not breast feed in the hospital, I will not attempt at any point, and I am okay with that.

Please be okay with that too.

I was not breast fed. Phillip was not breast fed. We both are still intelligent, successful, relatively healthy, and happy. We do not feel a disconnect from our mothers and harbor no resentment.

My personal belief is that the gap between breast milk and formula milk is not as wide as biased parenting magazines suggest. While breast milk is supported by the World Health Organization as the preferred method of feeding your child, no one says formula is terrible and a way to doom your child's life from the start. If it were, formula would be illegal. My belief is that a mother reluctantly forced into breast feeding by way of peer pressure, guilt, and fear of social suicide if she doesn't breast feed, is no better than a mom who happily embraces today's advanced formulas. I feel like a happy mom is more important than where proper nutrients are coming from, to a new baby. I want to be happy instead of dreading feeding time and hating giving my baby food. Studies do back up attitude versus physical environment when it comes to human development.

I came across this wonderful article that pretty much explains my feelings exactly. My favorite quotes in this article are:

And when I look around my daughter’s second-grade class, I can’t seem to pick out the unfortunate ones: “Oh, poor little Sophie, whose mother couldn’t breast-feed. What dim eyes she has. What a sickly pallor. And already sprouting acne!”

“The studies do not demonstrate a universal phenomenon, in which one method is superior to another in all instances,” concluded one of the first, and still one of the broadest, meta studies, in a 1984 issue of Pediatrics, “and they do not support making a mother feel that she is doing psychological harm to her child if she is unable or unwilling to breastfeed.”

I do not understand the new "club" of breast feeding moms that set out to ridicule, judge, and chastise anyone who formula feeds. A lot of these moms see formula feeding as failing your child or not loving them enough. I, for one, couldn't disagree more.

I will love my child regardless of the method of nutrition I use. And Phillip and I are living proof that our child will love us regardless, as well.

Sorry if I lost some of you, but this is me. This is my opinion. This is my choice. This is my blog.

You don't have to agree, but I ask that you respect my right to decide and ask that you avoid judgment.

Sick Day

Today I feel awful. Kind of like I have half of the flu. No energy. Achy all over. Just feeling overall like crap. And it just so happens that we are in a steady cold rain event for the remainder of the morning, so the weather is pretty much matching my mood.

All of my plans for the day will include posting up in my bed and only leaving for the necessities. This is when having a queen bed is nice. I get to lay on half of it and my stuff gets tossed on the other half. Although, days like today make me wish we had a king bed. But that's a whole different blog entry.

Here's to hoping I feel better soon so I can be back to my chipper self. Likely this won't fully happen until I happily hit the "honeymoon stage" second trimester in a couple of weeks. Blegh.