15 weeks 3 days

Okay so here is an updated belly picture! I am starting to get to the point where my jeans aren't fitting very well and have gone out and purchased some of those leggings that seem to be in fashion at the moment. Maybe I'll luck out and be able to get away without having to buy much maternity wear!! My morning sickness and fatigue have faded away and I am feeling much better! I am no longer sick and have my appetite back now. I am feeling much more energetic and have started back into more physical activity. I have been walking more and started doing some simple leg exercises.

I have gained a little bit of weight and I am now back up to my pre-pregnancy weight. I am not sure how I am not weighing more than my pre-pregnancy weight when looking at myself in the mirror, and I have to believe I must have lost some muscle mass which is motivating me to get more active. I have also started to break out in my face quite a bit!!! No fun! I guess I traded the morning sickness for the acne on my face. I have started back onto the Arbonne skin care and hope that will take care of it. We will see. I have also noticed that I am getting headaches almost daily or every other day. From what I have read it must be due to the hormones I am experiencing. I have been able to avoid taking anything for them up to this point and hope to keep it that way. The doctors say I can take Tylenol but I prefer to avoid it if possible. I have to be careful about cooking or doing dishes, anything that causes me to be standing with my back hunched over for a long period of time. My back will start to tighten up and almost feel like muscle spasms. The only thing that helps when it gets to that point is to lie flat on my back. My father-in-law gave me a back support to use in the car and it is extremely helpful. I have no back pain at all when traveling!

Well, that's about all I have for now....We'll keep filling you in as we get closer!

First Ultrasound 12 weeks 4 days

We are so excited to introduce you to Baby Hirsch for the first time!! We were completely surprised to find out at our first appointment yesterday that we were going to have an ultrasound done. We were able to see the little one on a big screen in the doctor's office and I have to tell you it was a very moving experience. I have seen a lot of ultrasound photos in the past but it was so much different when it was ours! The doctor measured the baby and said everything looked great and confirmed the size of the baby corresponds with our initial due date of April 10, 2010. He let us watch for quite awhile while the baby squirmed around A LOT~ Jeff actually asked the doctor if that was the baby moving or if he was moving the camera because the baby was moving so much. The doctor said it was definitely the baby and that we have "a very active baby." No surprise I'm sure to those of you who know Jeff and I well :) Some of our friends believe the baby was practicing some of Jeff's infamous dance moves ;) Seeing the baby finally really made the whole experience a lot more REAL! We also got to hear the heart beating. We are amazed and so happy and excited!
Okay, so now to the good part. I'll try to explain to you exactly where the baby is in the photos. The first photo is further away and just shows the heartbeat at the bottom. The next two photos are the same photo. If you look directly at the center you will see a round structure with a little dot in the middle. That is the body and where the heart is. To the left of that is the head, another round structure. To the right of the body are the legs which are curled up under the baby so you can just see a little bit of them and near the head and the body is a white line which is one of the arms. Isn't it beautiful! I know some of you are still trying to make it out! Lol. Its kinda like one of those pictures you stare at for a long time and then eventually a picture pops out at you! Well, thank you for your time and support! We will keep you posted on more up coming news and events!!