Today I am...12 weeks pregnant.

This past week was absolutely fantastic. We had our first trimester screening for down syndrome and other birth defects and we got good news. We went to a special ultrasound doctor at Cedars for our nuchal scan. What a trip! It was the first time that the little thing resembled a human. And, boy, did it look exactly like a baby. Hands, legs, 10 toes, 10 fingers, a spine, a good nose and nasal bone. It was so great to have John there with me. I think for the first time it really hit us that it was real. They measured the nuchal area behind the neck which is supposed to be an indicator of down syndrome. We got a 1.3 which I had read was good. They took that number and immediately combined it with my blood results and they came back with a 1 in 16,000 odds for downs. That is fantastic! I was prepared for 1 in 1600 or 1 in 3000 because that’s what our friends had been getting. As John and I are pessimists, we asked them 5 times if they were sure that was the right number and they weren’t reading it wrong. Turns out they weren’t! That put our mind at ease for sure…at least for the time being.

And here’s what’s happening this week:

How far along: 12 weeks

Baby Development: He or she (I’m predicting a he) is about the size of a lime and now he has reflexes like a sucking motion. Can’t wait til he uses that to kill my poor breasts.

Baby Movement: I wouldn’t know that he was moving except that he was bouncing all over the place on the ultrasound.

Water Intake: Totally drinking at least 8 glasses and taking all my prenatal vitamins. Haven’t missed a day.

Best Moment of the Week: Definitely getting our first glimpse of the lil’ trickster on the fancy ultrasound. And getting our screening results.

Current baby/pregnancy worry: Well, the screening results made us feel better, although we know that they are not conclusive in any way.

Symptoms: Just feel bloated and it won’t go away. Have also been getting cramps which may be growing pains. But, oh yeah, the WORST headaches. Debilitating headaches that require laying down with a washcloth on my forehead. Luckily they tend to hit at night so I’m at home and can crawl in bed.

Sleep Quality: Good.

Food Cravings: Sour Patch Kids…I’m pretty sure I haven’t seen them on any pregnancy nutrition lists.

What I miss: Fitting into my pre-pregnancy bras.

What I’m Looking Forward to: Telling my family in the next week or so. It’ll be hysterical!

Trying to get done before baby: Trips, nice restaurants, concerts, grown up things.

John's POV: "You just don't know until you see it. Everyone tells you about the impact, etc., but you'll see. I don't think I'm ever going to tell expecting fathers about how I felt or what I left or what I can remember. I remember the tech pushing on Lisa's stomach to try to make him move, and the baby looked like it did a somersault on the screen. This thing that wasn't there 3 months ago. Where there was nothing, there's suddenly everything. Nothing prepares you for it. Nothing anyone wil say. I promise to just say to friends in the future who are at the beginning, 'you'll see.' And then when it seems like I'm wise beyond words, my child will simultaneously poop his pants, break something, and repeat several bad words he learned from me while sitting in traffic."

Today I am...11 weeks pregnant.

A fairly quiet week in our household. I am getting less and less nausea in the morning and night which is great. As I’ve had a pretty easy first trimester, I didn’t have any trepidation about heading out to a concert this week. We went to the Hollywood Bowl to see The Swell Season (the male and female duo from the movie “Once”). It was really a fantastic show and, even though the lil’ guy/gal doesn’t have ears yet to hear the music, I’m sure he would have enjoyed it.

Here’s what’s happening this week:

How far along: 11 weeks

Baby Development: The little one is about 1.5 inches (man that is tiny) or about the size of a fig. Even though that seems small, he now has non-webbed fingers and toes. Oh, and he’s officially a fetus. Though, I’m not sure what he was before now then.

Baby Movement: Nope. As if I could feel a 1.5 inch thing behind all this padding.

Water Intake: Hot summer weeks and iced water? No problem. Gimme a glass with ice and a straw at my desk and I can take water down.

Best Moment of the Week: Enjoying the concert at the Hollywood Bowl. It really is one of the best venues ever.

Current baby/pregnancy worry: Down Syndrome and the screening we have coming up.

Symptoms: Well, my bra is tight…super tight. Maybe time to buy one of those bra extenders. Nausea is lessening I think. But I could be delirious. Can’t believe I haven’t vomited!

Sleep Quality: So far so good.

Food Cravings: Koo Koo Roo’s Mac n’ Cheese….again, not something that’s on the nutrition lists but….

What I miss: Brie and feta cheese. You wouldn’t know it but those cheeses are in everything!

What I’m Looking Forward to: The nuchal scan and getting to see our little one in a fancy ultrasound.

Trying to get done before baby: Not sure I have a specific to do list. It seems so far away!

John's POV: "We're still not telling anyone about the pregnancy. For the Bowl, we spun an elaborate tale of Lisa partying down the night before and being super hung over to avoid people asking questions about why she isn't having wine with her pasteurized cheese. It's probably narcissistic to think anyone would take the time to analyze her passing over Brie and drinking only bottled water. But we won't be the last pregnant couple who go to silly lengths to maintain their identity as childless and fun. Besides, I can still drink cheap wine at the Bowl."

Today I am...10 weeks pregnant.

Ahh, double digits! How exciting. This is for real. A few things of note this past week. One, John and I went to see a genetic counselor. There was no real cause of alarm but John and I were both concerned about the history of down syndrome in his family. So our OB suggested we go see a genetic counselor. They assured us with some info that I sort of already knew…that something like 95% of down syndrome is not genetic and is just a complete anomaly that happens at the moment of conception. So that made us feel better, slightly. But I guess you can always worry about something.

We had dinner with our awesome friends, Stacey and Kevin this week. We were planning on telling them early because a) she’s pregnant and I need someone to compare notes with! and b) I stole her doctor so I figured I should tell her. So we sprung the news at the beginning of dinner and they acted surprised but turns out, she had an inkling already. A few days before we had missed each other in the doctor’s office by about 5 minutes. She had signed in at the front desk and, as it turns out, after 20 plus years of friendship, my handwriting jumped out at her and she saw my name. Sort of a dead giveaway I guess but I could have been there for another reason. Anyways, now the girls who grew up together will have babies only 6 months apart. Funny how life turns out.

Here’s what’s happening this week:

How far along: 10 weeks

Baby Development: He or she is about the size of a kumquat. As I have no idea what a kumquat looks like, I’ll go with the easier to visualize 1 inch measurement. He’s also got most of the basics of his organs developed. Time to start downing diet coke and sushi and feta cheese?! No, I guess not.

Baby Movement: Are you kidding? It’s too early for that.

Water Intake: I am getting good at this 8 cups a day thing.

Best Moment of the Week: Probably telling the Lynns over, what else, Mexican food.

Current baby/pregnancy worry: Let’s see…Down Syndrome, deafness, autism, miscarriage…you name it.

Symptoms: Pretty much more of the same. Nausea and the added benefit of a sort of indigestion or taste of vomit in my throat. How fun.

Sleep Quality: I think it’s pretty good so far.

Food Cravings: Chai Latte. I can’t have them all the time but it has a small enough amount of caffeine that I can indulge once in a while.

What I miss: Being able to drink around friends rather than doing the “fake order”. Usually a vodka tonic with no vodka. But the lime really sells it.

What I’m Looking Forward to: Watching my belly grow!

Trying to get done before baby: Seeing as many friends and family as possible before our life changes.

John's POV: "I know the size of a kumquat. The first house I lived in when I moved to LA had a kumquat tree outside our front door. Then our one dumbass roommate dumped a 'bad' tank of gasoline onto it. (A storm drain not being accessible at the time.) Tree died within a week. Hopefully I have better common sense than this with my child. Like don't set your child on a lit oven range while making a martini. I'm starting big picture on childcare. Get the easy rules down first."

Today I am...9 weeks pregnant.

Well, this was a big week for us. Last weekend we flew to Harrisburg to visit John’s parents and sister and husband. We were always planning on flying there for the long 4^th of July holiday weekend. We wanted to see his family and it was our last chance to see Joelle and Owen before they moved to Germany and had a baby! When we found out we were pregnant, we decided we would take this opportunity to tell them in person because their reactions would be so great. Even though it was a little early, it was so fantastic to get to see John tell his parents and sister. He sprung the news by waiting until Joelle was talking about her weekly pregnancy emails and then said that “Lisa is getting those too”. I think it took a minute for the news to settle in but when it did, the reaction was priceless. Tears all around…and then John’s mom saying “She knew it.” Well, that was a reaction we weren’t expecting. We thought everyone would be shocked. Turns out she had a dream a few weeks before where I was pregnant. This isn’t the first time that the woman has had ESP but, still, I was surprised. That’s a damn powerful gift. So when she said she dreamt that Joelle is having a girl and I am having a boy, I believe her. Of course, it helps that I also think I’m having a boy, but that’s just amazing.

And, now for the stats:

How far along: 9 weeks

Baby Development: The lil’ one is the size of a grape. I love grapes! And they’ve been so good in the store right now…how appropriate. They say he/she is starting to look more and more human but, as I check out the illustrations on my emails, I’m not so sure.

Baby Movement: A dancing grape? Maybe. If so, I certainly can’t feel it.

Water Intake: Even with my hatred of water, I am managing the 8 glasses a day. And I haven’t forgotten my prenatal vitamins.

Best Moment of the Week: Definitely telling John’s family. It’s so fun to share such joyful news! And I’m so happy the two cousins will be close in age.

Current baby/pregnancy worry: All of them really. Gaining too much weight in pregnancy…but what’s “normal” anyways? Stupid newsletters.

Symptoms: Definitely feel bloated and am definitely overly emotional. Nausea is pretty predictable…in the morning and later at night.

Sleep Quality: Nothing to complain about.

Food Cravings: Eggs. As usual. This is getting boring.

What I miss: Not having to eat breakfast for fear I’d be sick. Ahh, I remember the days of just a nice leisurely latte in the morning.

What I’m Looking Forward to: The end of the first trimester.

Trying to get done before baby: So many house repairs to do.

John's POV: "I think Mom was still pretty shocked. Probably more by her own powers of prediction."

Today I am...8 weeks pregnant.

I’m in the thick of the first trimester now. The nausea hits me right about when I get out of my morning shower. Of course, then I’ve got about an hour commute ahead of me. I’ve got a routine down though in order to ensure a vomit-free car ride. I bring with me one glass of iced water and one bag of dry cereal. Then by nibbling on the cereal and sipping on the water all drive, I make it. I wobble from the parking garage to the office and then usually have to immediately eat breakfast to really make the nausea go away. The best breakfast to shut down that nausea? Breakfast burrito. Yum. Man, there is something about eggs that are really helping me get through this. The other time of day I get nauseous is at night, about an hour or two after I get home. The best food to help me get through that time? Yup, you guessed it, scrambled eggs. Or usually I just give up and go to bed and hope that I can’t sense nausea while asleep.

Here’s what’s going on this week:

How far along: 8 weeks

Baby Development: The email updates say that he’s the size of a kidney bean but I prefer gummy bear. Only because gummy bears are INFINITELY more tasty than kidney beans. Obviously. He’s got webbed fingers and toes but I’m hoping that works itself out over the next few months.

Baby Movement: Well, he’s the one causing my nausea but I’m not sure what kinds of moves he’s doing to cause it.

Water Intake: John, I told you I’m drinking water!

Best Moment of the Week: Attending my nephew’s baptism. Man, he is a cute little guy.

Current baby/pregnancy worry: Being prepared for this giant change in our lifestyle.

Symptoms: I think I already mentioned the nausea. See above.

Sleep Quality: Still sleeping through the night. I haven’t been hit with all this peeing every hour thing.

Food Cravings: Did I mention I love eggs? At least it’s not chocolate bars.

What I miss: Enjoying time after work with John without ending up curled up in a ball, nauseous.

What I’m Looking Forward to: Going to Harrisburg next week.

Trying to get done before baby: More BBQs, pool parties, fun.

John's POV: "I will say that the dry cereal she's speaking of, Kashi's Oat Flakes and Blueberry Clusters, is as delightful as its name is boring. That stuff rocks. But breakfast burritos are saving the day. I'm going to start presenting them to Lisa with a cape. I'd wear the cape. And then fashion a cape for the burrito out of a napkin or something. Naturally."