15 Weeks, WOW!

So, today I am officially 15 weeks and 1 day along in my pregnancy and I just cannot believe things have gone SO fast! I have my next appt. with my OB this week and hopefully, we will be finding out if Baby B is a girl or a boy at our following appt. at the beginning of February. That is, unless Dr. P decides to do a sonogram at this appt. which would be a wonderfully pleasant surprise! I cannot wait to find out what we are having so that we can start shopping for furniture and everything else we are going to be needing for the new baby. Of course, what all we will need is going to highly depend on if it's a girl or boy, so we shall just have to wait and see I guess. I keep forgetting to take belly shots, but I think I might start this week or next and then take them weekly. I didn't do this with Hudson and kind of wish I had, so hopefully I can get myself on track and do it for the remainder of the pregnancy. Just so you know, this is what is going on with both me and baby as of this week.

Your pregnancy: 15 weeks
See the big picture

How your baby's growing:

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. If you shine a flashlight at your tummy, for instance, she's likely to move away from the beam. There's not much for your baby to taste at this point, but she is forming taste buds. Finally, if you have an ultrasound this week, you may be able to find out whether your baby's a boy or a girl! (Don't be too disappointed if it remains a mystery, though. Nailing down your baby's sex depends on the clarity of the picture and on your baby's position. He or she may be modestly curled up or turned in such a way as to "hide the goods.")

See what your baby looks like this week.

Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.

How your life's changing:

You've probably gained about 5 pounds by now (a little more or less is fine, too) and are well into the swing of your pregnancy, but you may still be surprised by an unexpected symptom now and then. If your nose is stuffed up, for instance, you can probably chalk it up to the combined effect of hormonal changes and increased blood flow to your mucous membranes. This condition is so common, there's even a name for it: "rhinitis of pregnancy." Some pregnant women also suffer nosebleeds as a result of increased blood volume and blood vessel expansion in the nose.

If you're having amniocentesis, it'll most likely happen between now and 18 weeks. This test can identify hundreds of genetic and chromosomal disorders. If you're getting very anxious while waiting for the results, it may help to know that most women who undergo amniocentesis get good news about their babies — bringing welcome relief from their worries.

Don't be surprised if you and your partner are feeling a little stressed out these days. Many pregnant couples worry about their baby's health and how they'll handle the changes ahead. But with physical discomforts on the wane and energy on the rise, this is also a wonderful trimester for most women.

****For what it's worth, I have definitely been experiencing the rhinitis of pregnancy for sure....it's been driving me c-r-a-z-y lately too!