10 Weeks

So here I am at 10 weeks.  This picture was taken on Sun. January 23rd. and after this picture was taken I went straight back to the couch and went to sleep.  I have been extremely tired.  Anthony is having sympathy pains already and likes to sleep a lot too.   I still havent gained any weight, which is perfectly normal for the first trimester.  The nausea has been subsiding, thank GOD! And I am already cleaning out the room that will be the nursery.  Everything is going into the other spare bedroom and trust me when I say its going to be tight.  Anthony and I have both decided that we arent going to find out the gender of the baby until he/she is born.  I have a lot of ideas for the nursery already. Planning around not finding out is tricky but very fun. 

We went to our first prenatal appointment on the 14th and got to see "our little peanut"  It was very magical and we were super excited that our baby is developing perfectly.  The heart rate was 168 beats per minutes and the official due date is August 21st. 

As for the baby-

Though he's barely the size of a kumquat — a little over an inch or so long, crown to bottom — and weighs less than a quarter of an ounce, your baby has now completed the most critical portion of his development. This is the beginning of the so-called fetal period, a time when the tissues and organs in his body rapidly grow and mature.
He's swallowing fluid and kicking up a storm. Vital organs — including his kidneys, intestines, brain, and liver (now making red blood cells in place of the disappearing yolk sac) — are in place and starting to function, though they'll continue to develop throughout your pregnancy.
If you could take a peek inside your womb, you'd spot minute details, like tiny nails forming on fingers and toes (no more webbing) and peach-fuzz hair beginning to grow on tender skin.
In other developments: Your baby's limbs can bend now. His hands are flexed at the wrist and meet over his heart, and his feet may be long enough to meet in front of his body. The outline of his spine is clearly visible through translucent skin, and spinal nerves are beginning to stretch out from his spinal cord. Your baby's forehead temporarily bulges with his developing brain and sits very high on his head, which measures half the length of his body. From crown to rump, he's about 1 1/4 inches long. In the coming weeks, your baby will again double in size — to nearly 3 inches. (babycenter.com)

8 Weeks

Here is the first baby bump photo at 8 weeks. This was taken on Sunday Jan. 9th 2011.  I'm not showing yet!!! The little bulge is only bloating, which I didn't anticipate but I've been told is completely normal due to a slowed down digestive tract for nutrient absorption and also the folic acid in the prenantal vitamins.  I have been having morning sickness here and there and a little fatigue, but other than that I feel fine.  As for weight, I have not gained any (according to literature you arent really supposed to yet) I have actually lost a few pounds from when we found out.  I attribute it to eating healthier, moderate exercise and not drinking alcohol.      
The baby this week; webbed fingers and toes are poking out from your baby's hands and feet, his eyelids practically cover his eyes, breathing tubes extend from his throat to the branches of his developing lungs, and his "tail" is just about gone. In his brain, nerve cells are branching out to connect with one another, forming primitive neural pathways. You may be daydreaming about your baby as one sex or the other, but the external genitals still haven't developed enough to reveal whether you're having a boy or a girl. Either way, your baby — about the size of a kidney bean — is constantly moving and shifting, though you still can't feel it. (babycenter.com)

The News

Our idea to tell everyone was to take 2 family photos.  The first we would take before they heard the news then the second one we revealed the news right before the photo, hopefully to capture the real reaction.  Well this worked for some of the photos but not all.  I still think it was a good idea.  Here are the photos we were able to capture.  Anthony's Dad's side was the best in capturing the moment.  My side of the family didn't get a after photo because the camera decided to be dumb but I have a good video. And Anthony's Mom, Joan, didnt believe it at first.

McCauley Family right before the reveal



The Lancieri Family

Before

After

Anthony's Mom

After

We're Pregnant!!

We took our first pregnancy test on Sunday December 18th in the early morning.  I was only a week past due, so technically 5 weeks pregnant. Throughout that day we kept looking at each other and just smiling. We couldnt believe it happened just how we planned and without any difficulty.  I think giddy would be a good description of how we were acting. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A BABY!!!
Anthony and I thought we should not to tell anyone until we were at least 12 weeks along, just in case........but........we couldnt wait.  We told everyone the very next weekend!!!

Why a blog?

I decided to start this blogging experience for a number of reasons.  For starters, Anthony and I are newly married and expecting a baby, our family is growing.  As cliche as it may sound, this is the start of the rest of our lives. From now on, all the small to big moments need to be cherished and celebrated, because it is these moments that are going to write our story.  As we both have gotten older we have realized the great importance of our family and friends.  They have defined us by being apart of our past and will continue guide us in our future.  We may not have all of you in our everyday grasp but we want to share "our story" with you. 
Secondly, I had a conversation with my mother about a week ago.  She told me she was a little upset that she is going to miss out on watching my baby bump grow.  That got me thinking, how can I share with her and everyone else my experience of pregnancy?  There is sooooo much that happens everyday.  Conclusion- BLOG IT!
Lastly, I have heard a number of women that have had children years and years ago tell me, "that was so long ago, I couldnt remember if I wanted too." Well, I dont want to forget.  I want to remember every aspect of our new life and building a family together.  There always is a selfish reason behind everything right??? Well, YES!! I am also using this new blog as my personal journal so I can look back on our life and remember the pages of our story. 
And one more thing- I am not an english major and I never will be.  I will admit up front that I am a horrible, terrible and disgusting writer.  I am not asking for corrections or editing help.  Thanks!!
With lots and lots of love- The Lancieri Family