15 weeks

It's another Monday, which means baby has grown again. Today makes 15 weeks. I will not be posting a belly picture today since my last post had belly pictures. Today I weighed in at 162.8. This worries me. I did not want to gain more than two pounds by my next doctor's appointment which is on the 20th, and already I have hit the 2 pound mark. I need to cut down on the salt, and the snacking. But man oh man those potato chips and dip taste amazing. I restart my workout routine tomorrow. That should help.

David is once again unreachable until the next port. It has been a tough week without him, and it's going to suck not getting any contact with him now. Hyde and I miss him very much. Teddy is trying to be man of the house. Hyde finally starting eating again. He is such an emo cat. He spends his time sleeping on Daddy's chair, and curled up against Daddy's pillow. Here is a picture I caught of him sleeping in the bed. That is David's pillow with the Navy Sailor Bear on it, and there is Hyde leaning his little emo cat body against it.

Since David will be able to catch up on this blog in his next port, I am going to also start posting weekly "What to expect" updates on here each Monday as well. We used to read our weekly update each Monday night together. This way he will get to stay in the loop. It was weird to read in this week about the nosebleeds, bc I have been having issues with that. I have never had a nosebleed before, so getting my first one was confusing. I felt my nose run, and smelled something gross, then touched my face, and found blood and thought what in the world is going on? Then it happened a few more times, and I was asking David and my new friend Lexi about it.

Ahh yes, my new friend Lexi. I actually found her online, and we haven't met in person yet, but she seems so wonderful! Her husband is deployed on the same boat as David, and he is also a Nuke. She is exactly 4 weeks pregnant ahead of me with their first, so today is her 19th week. They want a girl, and find out on the 21st. She has helped me out as much as she is allowed to. The ombudsmen here is suppose to fill me in on everything with David's boat but she can't until the boat gives her my information. So I am in limbo, and it sucks being in the dark. I have also met through Lexi a few other wives and a girlfriend from the boat. I am very excited to meet everyone in person, but also very nervous, bc whenever I meet new people, I get super shy.

I also have been told [by Lexi] it would be a good idea to use the new week of pregnancy as a way to count down to when David comes home. So Monday night dinner is going to be "special" dinner to celebrate each week closer until he returns. Tonight I am making rib eyed steak, baked potato, and have my slice of cheesecake for dessert.

Here is what to expect for week 15....

Fetal development in pregnancy week 15:fetus in fourth month Your nearly four-inch long gymnast is happily mobile inside your womb and if you're really lucky, you’ll notice a point when your sneezing, coughing or laughing results in a little kick here or a poke there. Still, many women don't feel anything until the 17th week or later. Although the poking and kicking isn't very charming during sleeping hours, it’s a good sign as it means your baby is actually reacting to outside events. Yay! You’ve got yourself one active healthy baby! Their little elbows and knees are bending more freely this week and their little legs are finally growing longer than their arms and getting pumped up for prenatal Richard Simmons. Many of their major organ systems are increasing in capacity—particularly that amazing tiny heart and complex circulation system, which is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood per day, and will increase to a very impressive 200 quarts per day by the end of the pregnancy. As far as hair goes, we’ve got some new scalp patterns beginning to develop on the head, although actual head hair is not yet present.

And how's mom doing? Have your cheeks been rosier lately? (No, no, no-- we’re asking about your face.) Are you feeling especially radiant? This famed “glow” is brought to you courtesy of the pregnancy fairy who has waved her magical “rosy tinge wand” over you. Seriously though, your body is experiencing an increase in be aware that increased blood flow might cause your blood vessels to expand, resulting in a series of not-so-magical nosebleedsblood flow and you probably do have flushed skin and cheeks. Just be aware that increased blood flow might cause your blood vessels to expand, resulting in a series of not-so-magical nosebleeds for some women, which although perfectly normal, are a bit gory if you’ve got a day job. If you find the nosebleeds especially irritable, consider purchasing a humidifier to ward off future nose bleeds. Also, do your best to avoid irritants, such as aerosols, smoke, and dust.. Even though the placenta is regulating your babe’s hormones, you are still producing additional estrogen, which often causes swelling of the mucosa membranes, leaving you with a stuffy nose—potentially throughout the duration of the pregnancy. These are just a few of the charming physical experiences you can chalk up to the pregnancy fairy!