15 weeks

Sorry I haven't posted in a couple of weeks. I am 15 weeks along now, and I'm feeling pretty good. I'm past the queaziness and constant snacking, so that makes life a bit easier. I still get fatigued pretty easily, but I suppose that's just expected. Here's what the BabyCenter says about Baby Starnes at this stage:

"Your growing baby now measures about 4 inches long, crown to rump, and weighs in at about 2 1/2 ounces (about the size of an apple). She's busy moving amniotic fluid through her nose and upper respiratory tract, which helps the primitive air sacs in her lungs begin to develop. Her legs are growing longer than her arms now, and she can move all of her joints and limbs. Although her eyelids are still fused shut, she can sense light."

Here's a picture of my belly now, though it looks awfully similar to my belly at 13 weeks:

Things are going well in Charleston. I'm really enjoying my Dermatology rotation here, though I hate being away from Chris and home this long. I haven't done much around the city yet because it's just not that fun to explore on my own, but I'm hoping to get in at least a few of the big sites before I leave on the 31st. Unfortunately, I won't truly be back in Memphis full-time until late August. I'm doing a Junior Internship in Family Medicine in Jackson next, so I will be there Mon-Friday for the first three weeks I'm back in TN.

While I've been away from home, Chris has been diligently painting the nursery and the trim in our house. We picked out a neutral color for the nursery (Mesa Tumbleweed) that will go with any decor and make it easier to sell the house when the time comes. I think poor Frankie is feeling neglected already, though...Chris has to put up a baby-gate to block Frankie from the room he's painting in, and Frankie just lays on the other side staring in and occasionally knocking items off the shelves in the hall to get Chris' attention. I'm afraid this is probably only the start of Frankie getting less attention, but I'll always have a place in my heart for that cute, blue-eyed Cocker.

Something to look forward to when I get back: we have our big ultrasound that should tell the gender of the baby on August 26th. Yah! Stay tuned...

13 weeks in Charleston

I was 13 weeks yesterday, and above is my new belly shot to prove it. I had to use the self-timer again, so sorry for the poor quality. I went shopping for maternity clothes at Target and Motherhood Maternity yesterday because I'm having trouble buttoning all of my pants now. I found a neat belly band that will allow me to wear my regular pants longer and help hold up any too big maternity pants. I was the only customer in Motherhood Maternity most of the time, and there were two sales-ladies working--I've never had more undesired help in my life. I felt like they had me try the whole store on!! I imagine they were disappointed when everything I purchased was on sale.

We had a nice vacation at Myrtle Beach last week with Chris' family. We mostly enjoyed sitting by the ocean and reading. On our drive down to Charleston on the 4th of July, we stopped in North Litchfield to see some Memphis friends, Jacob and Tricia Cartner, who were there visiting family. They took us out on their boat and we did some fishing--Chris caught an 8 foot shark!! Okay, actually it was about 8 inches...he wouldn't even let me take a picture of it.

I'm pretty well settled in Charleston now, and my family here has already been spoiling me. Everyone I've worked with in Dermatology has been really nice, and I'm finding my way around pretty well now. My only major complaint is dealing with the traffic around the medical center--I have to allow an hour for traveling to get there on time in the morning. I haven't done any sightseeing here yet, but I hope to soon.