13 weeks

so, pregnancy will be 13 weeks along tomorrow.  i'm feeling a lot better nowadays although have been having some back pain.  but i'll take that over constant nausea any day.  i started reading Ina May Gaskin's book "Ina May's Guide to Childbirth" and it's fantastic, i'm almost done with it.  i also picked up a book on the lamaze method of labor, which is more than just breathing exercises.  i'm starting my research now on labor as i'd like to have as natural a labor as possible.  so, if you have any suggestions on methods, etc that worked for you then please leave them in the comments below!  i also picked up "One Year to an Organized Life with Baby" which i saw recommended on another momma's blog.  it's pretty good so far, and has made me think about things that should probably get done such as putting together a will, etc.  since i've been on break from school, my husband and i cleared out the closet in what will be the nursery/guest room to make room for baby, putting stuff in storage and donating stuff we don't need to the goodwill.  we're nearly done!  wooohoooo!  then i'll need to start searching around for a sofa/bed that will fit in there.  so much to do!  and so little time.  9 months seems like a lot, but the first 3 months don't count since you're constantly wondering if this little miracle will actually come into being, and the symptoms of pregnancy make it much more difficult to just go about your daily routine.  so then the second trimester, for me, will be very busy because of school and trying to get all this stuff for the lil peanut organized.  but it's all good. here's the stats for this week:

How Far Along: 13 weeks

Size of baby: lil peanut is about the size of a meyer lemon, almost 3 inches long and nearly 1 oz in weight, the baby this week is practicing sucking, the nose and lips are complete, the voice box is developing, has fingerprints, intestines are moving form umbilical cord into abdomen, the body is catching up to the head in terms of size

Total Weight Gain/Loss: it seems like it changes daily, but my scale sometimes says i'm up 2 or 3 lbs and other times i'm at my normal weight. midwife says don't worry about it, the weight gain will come!

Maternity Clothes: none yet, but i bought some belly bands and have been wearing those---they're ok.

Gender: too soon to tell, but we'll find out on valentine's day

Movement: i know that many people would say it's too early to feel the baby's movements, but i'm pretty positive that i've felt lil peanut moving around several times now, it feels like very light fluttering and it's definitely not digestion or gas, it feels different

Sleep: still random, my stomach feels heavier and because my back has been hurting it's hard for me to get comfy

What I miss: not being able to take migraine medicine when i get a migraine---seriously, suffering through these things for days is brutal.....nothing food related yet although the other day i thought it would be yummy to eat the cookie dough i prepared, but can't do that!

Cravings: this week i craved pickles (which isn't that unusual for me) and chili cheese fritos (which i normally don't eat), so that was interesting

Symptoms: sensitive sense of smell, backaches, sore "ladies", out of whack emotions, MIGRAINES! 

Best moment this week:  visiting friends at a baha'i prayer devotional and sharing with them the news of lil peanut, baking yummies, and seeing that my belly really pooched out this week (not necessarily due to the yummies that i've been baking)!  i'm starting to look like there's a baby in there!