13 weeks! :)

"Your fetus is forming teeth and vocal cords... savor this, their non-functional phase. Baby is approaching normal proportions, with a head now only one third the size of the body. Intestines are in the process of moving from the umbilical cord to baby's tummy. (Much more convenient.)"

How far along? 13 weeks
Baby’s Size: a peach! holy moly!
Total Weight Gain: about four pounds now
Gender: we're hoping pink :) but I'm feeling blue!
Sleep: Still waking up several times a night. Trying to adjust to sleeping on my left side- but I always wake up on my back.
Symptoms: Feeling much better! Nothing to complain about.
Best Moments this week: Telling my mom that we're pregnant and getting to spend time at home with my best friend Shannon.
Food Cravings: none really.
Food Aversions: greasy food and I aren't really getting along. Of course, all of the fast food we had to eat on vacation probably didn't help.
What I miss: Jumping on the trampoline with my brothers. Oh, and hot tubs!
What I am Looking forward to: Fitting into maternity pants- none of mine fit anymore. And, next week I'll be in the second trimester!
Milestones: We told both of my parents within this last week and a half. :) Which was great. It was the hardest secret to keep!

I realize this is ALREADY old even as I post it, but oh well. Here is my 12 week belly picture, taken while I was on vacation. I think the bump is bigger now. I'll take a new one asap!

Too pooped to poop!

This is probably way too much information, but I don't care anymore. I haven't pooped in almost a week. It'll be a week tomorrow, actually. And let me tell you, it HURTS. Any suggestions, ladies? I'm desperate! I've already amped the fiber and I've been drinking an INCREDIBLE amount of water every day. Seriously. I should get some kind of award for the most hydrated pregnant woman!
The Arizona summer heat is relentless and ridiculous. It has done nothing but exaggerate my symptoms. I have felt completely horrible all week. That better mean that you're healthy and strong in there, Peanut! I can't wait for the first trimester to be over... I've heard the second is almost heavenly in comparison. :)
We are officially DONE applying for command sponsorship. Everything has been sent, faxed, and/or accepted. It's been a long few weeks of jumping through hoops! I'll probably cry for joy (and relief) when I finally hold those orders in my hand and read my name printed below Aaron's. I have been majorly stressing wondering if we would get everything done in time. (FYI: most families find out they're going overseas 6 months in advance. Us? Barely 3.)

7 weeks.

"Baby's brain -- both hemispheres! -- is growing fast, generating about 100 new cells every minute. Arms and legs are emerging as joints start to form, and a permanent set of kidneys (baby's third!) is now in place." [according to The Bump]

How far along? 7 weeks & 2 days.
Baby’s Size: a blueberry :)
Total Weight Gain: still nothing.
Gender: I have no idea lately. Hoping for a girl, though!
Sleep: In this Arizona heat? Almost impossible. It takes me forever to fall asleep, and then I wake up to pee several times throughout the night. Aaron also just got switched back to the day shift, which means when he wakes up at 4am, I wake up too.
Symptoms: Honestly? I've felt like crap lately. Very tired, achey, nauseous, and sore.
Best Moments this week: Our first OB appointment was yesterday. It was nice to hear that everything seems to be progressing normally at this point. And I'm loving all the magazines they gave me! Also, we were watching a commercial in which a little girl painted her daddy's fingernails. Aaron said he wished he could grow his hair out again so our daughter could put bows and ponytails in it- like his sister used to do to his dad. :)
Food Cravings: french fries!
Food Aversions: still none.
What I miss: Being able to wear my shorts without the help of a hair-tie.
What I am Looking forward to: Moving into my third month soon!
Milestones: First OB appointment.

6 weeks

"Growing like crazy, baby is starting to sprout eyes, ears, nose, cheeks and chin. Those little hands and feet- still webbed like paddles- might wiggle by week's end, the heart is beating (almost twice as fast as yours!), and blood is starting to circulate." [according to TheBump]

How far along? 6 weeks & one day.
Baby’s Size: a sweet pea! :)
Total Weight Gain: none.
Gender: I feel like it's a boy right now.
Sleep: Fitful. I'm exhausted all day, but when it comes time to actually sleep, my body (or should I say bladder) does not like to agree with me. I'm waking up a couple times in the night, and the last few days I've woken up WIDE AWAKE at 5am. Oh boy.
Symptoms: pulling/stretching feeling in abdomen, exhaustion, nausea, lower back pain, ridiculously sharp sense of smell
Best Moments this week: Mother's Day. We decided to tell Aaron's mom about the pregnancy, since we won't get to tell her in person, and then we went out to a greek restaurant and a movie to celebrate my first mother's day :)
Food Cravings: anything and everything in sight. I'm STARVING 24/7!
Food Aversions: none yet. Although smelling/touching raw meat has made me throw up 2x this week.
What I am Looking forward to: Our first OB appointment is in exactly one week! :)
Milestones: First mother's day (as a pregnant mommy)

Halfway through the first trimester! I've been feeling pretty good the last few days. My hormones have kicked into full gear, though- my face is breaking out and I can't seem to stop cleaning. Seriously. My face looks like a war zone and the house is absolutely spotless. Perhaps cleaning is an early nesting stage?

How my prayers have changed

I keep reading all of these horrible statistics about miscarriage in the first trimester.
So, here's what my prayers look like these days: "Please keep peanut safe. Please don't let anything happen to him/her. Please let me have a long, healthy pregnancy. Please Please Please Please Please...."
Hopefully prayers and positive thinking is enough!