No news, just a weekend update

Nothing new in baby land, just spent the weekend relaxing and not doing much of anything! I am still feeling tired, although at certain times during the day I do feel better and have more energy. The doctor said from this point on out, in general my energy level will be up, but I will have good and bad days along the way. Ben and I walked Saturday and Sunday, up to and around Cheeseman Park by our house. A nice hour long walk. Tanner loves it - he chases squirrels the whole time and is in heaven!

Really, nothing to report, just didn't want to leave the blog un-updated for weeks like I have been. Thanksgiving is Thursday - I'm so excited for turkey! Then we head to Estes Park for the weekend to visit Connie, Stacey and Dannie, Pat and Paul....more relaxation, right up my alley. Ben plans to fish, so hopefully it doesn't snow the entire time.

We did watch Tropic Thunder last night - it was surprisingly funny! Tom Cruise is hysterical in it, I think he is the funniest part of the whole thing. I was a bit shocked at his crudeness and language, but then again it's a movie, right! And he dances to rap, which is totally had me laughing. I just kept thinking to myself....what must those Scientologists think of this?!?! All in all, I would recommend it, we enjoyed it! It's a bit crude, bloody, etc., but it is a true comedy.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

12-week doctor's appt. and ultrasound

Ben and I went to our 12-week appointment and ultrasound yesterday. It was great! First the ultrasound - got in the chair, pulled up my shirt, got squirted with some gel, and it was on! Once she found BL, we could totally tell it was a baby - no longer a gummy bear or peanut looking thing. Complete and total love! A real baby! At first BL looked like it wasn't moving much, and the ultrasound tech was taking various measurements. Then all of a sudden, you can see two little legs just kick out super fast. Kick, kick, kick!! (Future soccer player in the making!) Then back to being still. The tech kept doing her measurements and pointing out all the features (we could make some out on our own, some we couldn't). After a while, BL was being stubborn (knowing it's father, that's not surprising....), so she'd use the wand and push on my belly a little bit and then BL would move some in reaction. I loved it! Here are some photos:

This first one shows BL with its head down and to the right, stretched out, legs to the top left. You can make out both hands too! This is the best shot by far.

This is a shot of baby in the same position, but turned a little bit so you can see the spine. Legs are stretched out again. Very cool! This is a shot of baby waving! Yes, if you look closely you can see a tiny hand, four fingers and a thumb...

We met with the doctor after the ultrasound and just did blood pressure, weight, etc. I gained 4 lbs. my first trimester - right on track. Normal weight gain the first trimester is anywhere between 3-5 lbs., so I'm good to go. She went over the measurements the ultrasound tech took and everything looks great! BL did measure at about 13 weeks, even though I was just at 12 weeks, but the doctor said that this ultrasound is not generally the most accurate, so no change in due date. Last thing was a finger prick and blood spotting test. Five small spots of blood on paper, which constitutes our first genetic screening. The blood results combined with some of the measurements the tech took either indicate a higher risk of certain diseases (namely Downs Syndrome), which may or may not call for additional testing down the road. Next appt. is Dec. 17. It'll be a fast appt., just one blood draw for more genetic screening, my vitals and listening to baby's heartbeat. Next ultrasound will be mid-January at 20 weeks. We're supposed to bring a DVD so they can record the ultrasound - we are super excited for that one!

Ben and I concluded the best part of yesterday was watching the baby kick around so much. I'm shocked that I can't feel a thing - BL is really having a party in there! Must be all the Mexican food I've been eating and craving. Oh yea, we are also both feeling like this is a boy. Up until yesterday, I really thought it was a girl, but those long chicken legs look too much like Daddy's legs to belong to a girl....unless she turns out to be 6'2" or something. And the baby is really stubborn - didn't move on queue - stubborn like Daddy.....and probably just as cute!

It's OFFICIAL - We are pregnant!

Okay, Ali is actually the one who is pregnant, but Ben is just as much at fault! We found out near the end of September and have gradually been telling people. We were planning on telling my extended family at Thanksgiving, but it sounds like we are all doing our own thing with other extended family, so here I am breaking the news....for family, I'll follow up with an email encouraging you to view our blog.

I am a few days short of 12 weeks today. We are due May 31, and we're going to wait to find out the sex. We want the movie moment -- it's one of the last great surprises in life, so we're willing to wait it out. I guess that means we'll be shopping for lots of gender neutral things in greens, yellows, and creams. But we're fine with that!

I've been feeling pretty good in general. The one thing your friends who have been pregnant before don't tell you is how TIRED you are during your first trimester. That really is my biggest complaint. I've gotten good at napping on the weekends, sleeping in when I can, and generally just taking it easy. I have had some nausea and queasiness, but to this date I have not thrown up once! Thanks Mom (it's genetic)! Ben and I have been pretty good about walking, I really want to try and stay as fit as I can during the pregnancy. I'm going to start swimming here soon as the weather gets colder, and then next spring its on to prenatal yoga!

We have our second ultrasound next week (12 week ultrasound). Apparently, at that time, you can make out more of Baby Lowe's ("BL") features, so we are super excited to see it on screen again. I'll post a photo below of our first ultrasound. Ben and I both got teary eyed at the sight AND sound of BL's heartbeat - such a moving moment. One of the highlights of my life so far.

I'll keep you posted on the pregnancy, I promise!

Baby Lowe pictured at 6 weeks, 3 days (Oct. 8, 2008, which was our two year wedding anniversary!). You can see the heartbeat imaging at the bottom of the first photo. Double click on the photo for a larger shot.