week 14

this gorgeous place is partially responsible for my absence.  i was here.  picture stolen from a friend, steph dorsey.  it was gorgeous and warm and just so nice to feel the sun.  i was a horrible photographer [as usual] so the only photos i got were from the plane. go figure.  i'll come back to that soon though.  it was incredibly fun but i do feel like i've been learning things too.  very sweet & encouraging time with the Lord.  i want to remember that.

now on to the littlest brzinski...

WEEK 14
what's cooking? [new baby things]: babeinski can now squint, frown, grimace, pee, and possibly suck his thumb.  babe is getting covered in thin tiny hair to keep it warm until it fattens up.  i also think that its little skeletal system is working in there.  babe is 3.5" - 4" long & is about the size of a lemon, clinched fist or flip phone [closed, unless you have a zoolander phone].

gender: only 9 days until we find out.  i could ralph i'm so excited!  a lot of people have asked if we'll keep the gender or name a secret until the baby comes.  we're thinking no for both.  i think our 3 month secret and the surprise of the baby being out in the world will be good enough for me!

movement: all the sites say that itty bitty is swimming all over the place and is much more graceful than its former 'jerky' self.

momma developments: feeling fantastic.  still a little bit tired.  i've been taking naps when i can [as all the literature suggests, and who rebel against that?].  still have nosebleeds but that's about all.

total weight gain: 3.5-5 pounds [depending on when you weigh me]

maternity clothes: still not yet. but i sometimes have to adjust my pants around my belly when i'm sitting. i looked at maternity clothes at target last week [normally inexpensive & cute] but was sorely disappointed.  i hope i just went on a bad day.

cravings: still no "got have a _____ or else!" moments.  i get hungry more often so i've been trying to keep snacks handy.

anything hard?
understanding how insurance works.  i don't know if i'm dumb or if its just really complicated.  we're looking forward to having it all straightened out & being able to really anticipate the total costs and how to plan / budget. 

ben & i have both been really busy and that's rough.  we have lots of-out-town trips coming up & plans all over the calendar.  i'm hoping to find a good balance between work, ministry, friends, family, school, planning, learning, resting & playing - and find it soon.

feeling really out of control when it comes to the babe and its development.  it's just a really strange feeling that it is impossible to check up on how they are doing in there.  i have to wait weeks in between doctor's appointments and months in between ultrasounds so basically its all a mystery from there.  i hadn't ever thought about that before being pregnant.  if the babe was out of the womb i'd never go 5 weeks without know it's ok, so its just kind of bizarre that that's the reality for now.

never forget: this week i got to hear the baby's heartbeat again.  i thought that the nurse was just picking up mine and got scared that she couldn't find the baby's.  then after i counted my own pulse, which was about 70 beats/min, i concluded the educated professional did actually know what she was doing when she said that the 179 beats/min weren't mine.

i got to see all kinds of friends at the yl all staff conference [photo above] for the first time since we've been pregnant.  friends from all over the country that we rarely see but truly love.  that was a blessing & so fun to celebrate with them.

baby info sources:
baby center
parents connect
baby zone