Halfway Mark

I don't usually like to take pictures of myself, especially when I'm big and pregnant, but I thought I should document what I looked like at the halfway mark in my pregnancy.  I've never taken pictures of my pregnant self before at this point.

Anterior Placenta

At the ultrasound visit, I found out that I have an anterior placenta.  That explains why I haven't felt as much movement as I did with the other girls.  It worried me a little because one day I would feel a few twinges then would not feel anything for a couple of days.  It had me second guessing if what I had felt was actually the baby.  Well, my worries were set at ease when I saw her squirming around on the ultrasound and the tech told me that I had an anterior placenta and that is probably why I wasn't feeling her that much.
Well, that was last week.  Now, this week I feel her movements all the time but they are more low and to the back.  They feel different from the others.  I imagine it will be a bit longer before others will be able to feel her kicking from the outside.
Anyway here's a description of what an anterior and posterior placenta looks like.  The diagram on the right show anterior and the left posterior.  Posterior is more common.

As far as I can see, I should have no complications because of it unless I have a c-section.  Then, they will have to cut through the placenta and there may be more bleeding than normal.  Hopefully, everything will go like all my other pregnancies and I will be able to deliver vaginally.

GIRL!!

On the 21st we found out that we are having another GIRL.  Everyone was thrilled to see all of her movements on the ultrasound screen.  Jade started grinning really big when the lady said that it was another girl.  The night before, Jade was telling me that she wanted it to be a girl because she wanted to put a pink polkadot bow in her hair.  I think Tim was a little disappointed that he's not going to have a son, but he is also excited about his baby girl.  I told him that with all these girls he has a big chance of having plenty of grandsons to play with.  Although I don't want to even think about that right now, it will be here before I know it!
We eventually decided on a name.  After looking through many names and none clicking we decided to stick with Jade's original choice when she first found out that I was pregnant, Olivia.

We chose the middle name of Dianne for both of our mothers.

So, here are some pictures of 

Olivia Dianne Casey.

Feeling Movement!

Today I am 16 weeks and I'm definitely feeling movement now!  It's so exciting when you feel those little twitches and you know for sure it is the baby.

Five and a half inches tall and only six ounces in weight. The child can grasp with his hands, kick, or even somersault. 

And this little one is doing exactly just that.  :)  Oh, I can't wait until I can find out the gender, 22 more days to go!

My belly is growing so rapidly that when Jade was sitting in my lap watching TV with me this evening, she couldn't get comfortable and kept giving me strange looks while looking back at my belly.  Hannah also keeps saying to me, "Mama you are changing so fast!"  Tim stares at my belly sometimes.  I don't know what he is thinking.  Lily hasn't said much.  She just grins at me with her cute dimply grin.

Maternity Clothes

I bought maternity clothes today. I was given a gift certificate to Old Navy for my birthday from Michael and Malou. Today I was able to buy me some cute shirts and pants. It's amazing how much maternity clothes show off your belly. Before, you could hardly tell I was pregnant, but when I put the maternity clothes on its just like my belly pops out. :)
I'm feeling much better now. Other than the weekly headaches I get, I'm feeling pretty good! I even managed to make my on laundry detergent tonight. I hope it works well.
In other news, Malou is pregnant and due Sept. 6th! Another cousin on the way!

Sadly, we found out that Malou's baby's heart stopped beating on February 20th.  She had to go in for a D&C on the 21st, the same day we found out our gender.  It is so sad and devastating.  Hopefully, they will be blessed with another healthy pregnancy in the near future.  

Growing...

Oh my is my belly getting bigger! I woke today and I swear it is way bigger than it was yesterday. I need to start measuring myself I guess. Tim brought me home an early birthday present yesterday. An iPad!!! He really surprised me on that one. I am updating the blog on it right now. :) I felt very depressed yesterday, crying all day for no particular reason. Then I get a surprise and feel better. ;) Other than the weird emotions, the first trimester ailments are mostly gone. I have horrible food aversions, mainly to all meat, but the sickness and fatigue is staying away for now. Yay! I guess that is all for now. I just wanted to test updating from my fancy new toy.

First Prenatal Appointment

Appointment went great!  I was a little nervous at first but it went well.  I was not expecting to have a sonogram on the first visit!  Baby was squirming all around and holding its little hands up by its face.  The sonographer asked if I wanted to know the sex of the baby if she could tell and I was like, "Yeah, of course!"  I didn't think that they could tell that early but she said that sometimes at 13 weeks she can tell.  I measured 12 weeks 2 days, just as I had calculated from my ovulation date, so she was not able to tell.  I thought that the doc would change my due date that they had set from the first day of my last period to reflect the sonogram's measurements but she didn't.  It is still July 15th.
My new doctor seems very thorough and super nice.  That is such a relief!  I get to go to the hospital I like and I have a good doctor!  They didn't do any blood work this time or examination.  Just a sonogram and consultation.  The fun stuff comes next visit, Pap-smear and blood drawing.  Yuck!  Anyway, I'm happy with my doctor and my fatigue/headaches are starting to subside.  Makes since now that I'm really 12 weeks.  I shouldn't second guess myself.  I know when it happened.  My true due date is July 22nd.  :)  Oh, and baby's heart rate was 156.

From "As your baby grows" American Baby