6 weeks

*Your BabyThis week starts a period of rapid cellular development for your baby-to-be, who looks like a mini tadpole, with a tiny head and tail. His or her eyes, ears and mouth have begun to form (though they're a little more Discovery Channel "creatures of the sea" documentary than Gerber Baby at this point).Other exciting milestones include:Your baby's heart is now beating to a regular beat, although it's still too faint to hear.His or her arm buds are just beginning to, well, bud. They look like teensy swollen bumps at this point. In a few days, they'll resemble itsy-bitsy flippers.Your baby has grown to ⅛ inch long—about the size of one of the chocolate sprinkles on your last cupcake (and your last ice cream cone, and your last sundae and your last giant cookie ... maybe there is something to those rumors about pregnancy cravings!).*

*3D Pregnancy.com

Baby Brain

My sister told me once, "When you get pregnant, your going to be amazed at how forgetful you become." Little did I know that "baby brain" would pretty much haunt me every single day.

Today it was actually a public embarrassment! I'm driving home from work and start thinking about some things I need to pick up. It dawns on me that I could probably find what I need at CVS. I park in the CVS parking lot determined to find what I'm looking for, walk into the store, head towards the health care section, and completely go blank. What was I there for? Surely if I walk around the aisles something will remind my brain what I'm doing here.

Oh! 75% off lipstick! That's not what I came for, but look at all of these colors! Three lipsticks later and I still have no idea what I'm there for. I walk back to the medicine aisles thinking it must be pregnancy related, but there's really nothing I need! The guy stocking the counters asks "Can I help you find something?" He looked at me like I was crazy when I told him I couldn't remember why I was there. His exact words were, "Well, I've never heard that one before. Let me know if you remember and need help finding it."

I go to the counter to purchase the lipstick. The lady says, "Is there anything I can help you with? Did you find everything you need today?" So I tell her, "I honestly can't remember what I'm here for"... by this point I just feel stupid.

I get in the car and drive a little further down the road. Three blocks away I remember what I went there for. Palmer's Cocoa Butter lotion! I thought maybe getting a head start on using it would help prevent the wear and tear on my skin. But by this point it's too embarrassing to go back.

This isn't just a one time occurrence. Oh no, there's no such luck. This is every time I get in the car, go to the store, take my PNV (which I stick in my pocket as a reminder, pathetic)... the list goes on. OK baby, we're really happy to have you growing in there, but can I have my brain back? Thanks.

My First Outburst

So, last night I made dinner and sat down next to Phil to eat. I asked him curiously how much we should think about spending on baby furniture. Boy did that open a can of worms. He decided to tell me that he plans on leaving the (hideous) puke yellow 60's couch and chair in the nursery. Um, NO. First of all, that's just gross. Who knows what has crawled it's way into that furniture and died.

So, I did what any pregnant woman would do and I cried. I cried my eyes out. I couldn't believe that he would be so insensitive to not even put the comfort of his wife and newborn baby into the equation of what furniture will go in the room. I cried so hard I thought I was going to pass out.

Phil, if you're reading this... When you find a way to grow a set of milk producing breasts to feed our baby at all hours of the night, you can use that awful chair. Until that happens, I will decide on the furniture. Thanks. And while we're on the subject, the next time I cry until I nearly pass out - all it takes is a little comment like "We will find something that works Sarah, I'm sorry I upset you." Then maybe I will stop crying and start breathing again.

5 weeks

*Your baby's microscopic heart begins to beat this week—although it won't be detectable with one of those cool Dopplers for a few weeks, so you'll have to wait a little longer to hear that satisfying "whoosh-whoosh" you're so anxious for. Here's what else is under construction: With the beating of the heart, blood will begin to circulate throughout the body. Your baby's first organ system will be up and running!The beginnings of the brain; the cardiovascular, nervous and reproductive systems; as well as all other major systems are under way. Your baby's new digs—the amniotic sac and the placenta (aka the hotel and the restaurant)—are still forming at this point. (Maybe you should send a housewarming gift.)All that high-speed development and your baby is only 2 millimeters long—about the size of a sesame seed*

*This is from the website 3Dpregnancy.com

Feeling Gross

Today is the first day I really feel sick. The past couple days I've gotten a little light headed when hungry, but this is just awful. To start the day off, i had to drive to work on icy roads. Got here safely and started brewing coffee.

Aversion #1 - Hazelnut Coffee. I thought this stuff made me sick before pregnancy! Now it takes all of my strength not to hurl just smelling the coffee beans. So grinding the beans and brewing the ground beans only makes it worse. *Note to self - hide hazelnut coffee.

Aversion #2 - Mens Cologne. Seriously, is it necessary to spray yourself with so much cologne that you smell like a cheap whore? No. Cologne is meant for the people that get close to you, not the people across the room.

Aversion #3 - Stale Cigarette Smoke. Is it too much to ask for you to chew some gum? Maybe wash your hands? Yes it's addictive, but don't make other people suffer because you like to smell like dried up tires on a hot day.

So aside from the nasty smells of everyday nuisances, I absolutely love being pregnant. The first appointment is on January 20th and that date just couldn't come soon enough!! Phil made dinner again last night. He made his "World Famous Chicken Wraps" and they were really good! Lots of green peppers and red peppers with grilled chicken breast wrapped in a tortilla with melted colby jack cheese. He puts spinach leaves and caesar dressing on his, but I ate mine without and enjoyed every bite :) THANK YOU PHIL.