Heartbeat and 16 Weeks

I went to the doctor this week - finally! It always seems to take forever between appointments in the beginning. By the end, though, you feel like you might as well get a sleeping bag and pillow because you live at the OB/GYN's. It is difficult in the beginning when you aren't feeling little feet kick or little elbows jab, though. The only reassurance is hearing a heartbeat through a little instrument in a sterile, white room at a doctor's office. When it's over, you count down the days until it happens again.


The baby's heartbeat was between 148 and 150. With Deviney, it was 142 at week 16. Since we aren't finding out the gender of the baby, you'll have to start guessing. Old wives will tell you a hear rate like that means girl. Old wives are sometimes wrong, though.


This week the doctor did say my weight gain needed to slow down a bit (9 lbs in 15 weeks). Whoops! Truthfully, it's not much different that the pattern with my first pregnancy. I came out strong gaining a lot of weight early on then slowed by the end. She seemed fairly confident I would have a similar experience this time but did warn that she'd have to keep an eye on me. Hey! I can't help that I have an avocado-sized human demanding food all day! I suppose I can help, however, going for a second serving of oreo pie or skipping a daily walk.

I read that this week the baby is starting to grow toenails. Every once in a while, reading something like that really causes me pause. I painted Deviney's toenails this last week. Pink, in fact. It's hard to think that this growing, forming baby is making the same toenails that I could one day be painting on the bathroom floor (unless we have a boy... in which case I will try to refrain).