21 weeks!

What’s going on this week:

Your baby now weighs about three-quarters of a pound and is approximately 10 1/2 inches long — the length of a carrot. You may soon feel like she’s practicing martial arts as her initial fluttering movements turn into full-fledged kicks and nudges. You may also discover a pattern to her activity as you get to know her better. In other developments, your baby’s eyebrows and lids are present now.

 

My Update:

Due Date: November 4, 2011 – 133 days to go!

Weight Gain: +8 lbs (from pre-preg weight). Alright – that was a noticeable jump.

Symptoms:  Still with the peeing.  Also, Lisa wanted me to mention that I have been extra emotional about TV shows and commercials…and now apparently about food, too.  I brought home sandwiches for dinner tonight and my tuna fish sandwich tasted so fishy that I could only eat one bite and had to toss it. (Scott tried it and also said it was gross – so it wasn’t just pregnancy tastebuds.)  I really wanted to cry about it, because dang it, I wanted that sandwich, but instead made I myself suck it up and make a PB&J.

Cravings/Aversions: None, really.  I just want my food to taste good.  IS THAT TOO MUCH TO ASK?!

Sleep:  Great!

I am loving: You know, so far, I have been really fine with people touching my belly.  Granted it’s only been close friends and family, but I like it!  As soon as a random stranger does it though, I might change my mind.

I miss:  Nothing right now…

Movement: About the same.  I feel him everyday, at different times.  Now it’s just a matter of time before it changes from flips and flutters to kicks and jabs.

New category!! Nursery progress:  So far, so good!  It’s becoming more and more empty as the days go by!  We bought a lamp at IKEA a few weeks back that I have since decided will go into the baby’s room, and today I ordered a picture off Etsy to go on the wall.

Exercise: Scott and I went on a walk one night.  Otherwise, I baked 18 dozen cookies on my regular yoga night and decorated 12 dozen of them on my regular pilates night.  So….

Diet:  I think I had peanut butter and jelly too many times this week.

Looking forward to: My next midwife appointment on Tuesday.

Belly Shot:

20 weeks! We’re halfway there!

What’s going on this week:

Your baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. He’s also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom and about 10 inches from head to heel — the length of a banana. (For the first 20 weeks, when a baby’s legs are curled up against his torso and hard to measure, measurements are taken from the top of his head to his bottom — the “crown to rump” measurement. After 20 weeks, he’s measured from head to toe.)

He’s swallowing more these days, which is good practice for his digestive system. He’s also producing meconium, a black, sticky by-product of digestion. This gooey substance will accumulate in his bowels, and you’ll see it in his first soiled diaper (some babies pass meconium in the womb or during delivery).

 

My Update:

Due Date: November 4, 2011 – 140 days to go!

Weight Gain: +5 lbs (from pre-preg weight).

Symptoms:  Peeing.  ALL THE TIME.

Cravings/Aversions: Nothing sounds bad.  Cold things sound good, given that we’ve already had, like, 5 days in a row of 100+ degree weather.

Sleep:  Great!

I am loving: Cute baby stuff.  My lovely sister Ali sent a box of baby clothes that are adorable!  And I got my first order of cloth diapers and they are so colorful and so fluffy.  (I’ll go more into those on another post.)

I miss:  Not peeing every 30 minutes.

Movement: Still good….getting more frequent.  I notice the movement the most when I am either sitting at my desk or sitting in my car.  Almost nothing when I am standing up or moving around, so I think the baby is either so squished when I am sitting upright that he is fighting back against the restricted space, or sitting that way just pushes him more forward so I can actually feel what’s going on all the time.  I guess we’ll never know for sure.

It’s a: Still a boy.  Since this category doesn’t look like it will be changing much from here on out, next week I’ll swap it out with something new and exciting!

Exercise: Pilates this week was a bit uncomfortable.  I had to modify even more of the exercises, but my instructor was good about giving me alternate things to do.  But by the end of class, I was feeling worn out and a bit crampy, so I came home and Scott ordered pizza and I sat on the couch all night, drank a ton of water and took it easy. I was back to feeling normal this morning, so I think I just overdid it a bit.

Diet: Mmmmm…..pizza.

Looking forward to: The day when I officially start working from home. The end of July can’t get here fast enough.

Belly Shot:

This one is a little dark...we waited too late in the evening to take it.

19 weeks!

What’s going on this week:

Your baby’s sensory development is exploding! Her brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. Some research suggests that she may be able to hear your voice now, so don’t be shy about reading aloud, talking to her, or singing a happy tune if the mood strikes you.

Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces and measures 6 inches, head to bottom — about the size of a large heirloom tomato. Her arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of her body now. Her kidneys continue to make urine and the hair on her scalp is sprouting. A waxy protective coating called the vernix caseosa is forming on her skin to prevent it from pickling in the amniotic fluid.

 

My Update:

Due Date: November 4, 2011 – 146 days to go! (Whoa!  146 only!  Do you remember when I was at 199 days to go?)

Weight Gain: +6 lbs (from pre-preg weight).  It keeps fluctuating around the 5-7 pound range.

Symptoms:  My back has been kind of aching, but that’s par for the pregnancy course, I suppose.

Cravings/Aversions: Nothing new here…sometimes food sounds good, sometimes it doesn’t, and sometimes it sounds awesome!  Usually the latter, if I’m being honest.

Sleep:  Still really good.  No complaints here.

I am loving: The little tiny movements I’ve been starting to feel.

I miss:  Sleeping on my stomach. Still.

Movement: YES!  I felt him!  And have since felt him a couple more times.  Last night when I had just gotten into bed and relaxed, I felt a couple of slight movements and put my hand on my belly and was even able to feel one bump from the outside!

It’s a: Still a boy.

Exercise: Nothing new here…yoga and pilates.  I really need to start putting that recumbent bike to better use soon!

Diet: Pretty good, I think.

Looking forward to: More movements!  Going to Jacksonville to visit Mom and Dad sometime in the next couple of months, and Ali and Grace coming here to visit one weekend soon.  Also, I’m really looking forward to going to make my baby registry…it’s like shopping without spending any money!

Belly Shot:

Cute dress courtesy of Jim and Karen!

19w1d

I hear you knockin’….

So, we have movement.  I’m calling it!  I had just gotten to work yesterday and was sitting at my desk waiting while my email downloaded, doing …well, nothing.  I was just sitting there, staring into space.  Probably counting how long it was  until I could reasonably leave for lunch.

And I felt a little thump way down at the base of my belly.  It felt like someone flicking me from the inside, or even like maybe a muscle twitch, but definitely like a little thump.  It happened once and caught my attention, so I sat really still and waited, and then it happened 2 or 3 more times, thump, thump, thump!  I kept waiting but it took several more minutes and I felt it once again.

And then it stopped, but that was OK, since I had already rushed outside to call Scott and tell him.  And I think I felt something a few more times throughout the day, but couldn’t be sure on those since it was while I was driving or moving around, and it was hard to differentiate those small feelings from my general movement.

So, c’mon little buddy!  Keep up the good work!

18w6d

Picture proof!

Here he is!  I love how he’s got both of his hands up by the sides of his face in the first shot – like he’s covering his ears.  And I think he’s smiling!  He must be saying,  “I can’t heeeeear yoooooou!”

And the second picture is pretty self explanatory, I think, but the Ultrasound tech gave a little hint to whomever needs it.  🙂

(Click to view a little bit bigger.)

18w4d

18 weeks a little late (and the big reveal!)

What’s going on this week:

Head to rump, your baby is about 5 1/2 inches long (about the length of a bell pepper) and he weighs almost 7 ounces. He’s busy flexing his arms and legs — movements that you’ll start noticing more and more in the weeks ahead. His blood vessels are visible through his thin skin, and his ears are now in their final position, although they’re still standing out from his head a bit. A protective covering of myelin is beginning to form around his nerves, a process that will continue for a year after he’s born. If you’re having a girl, her uterus and fallopian tubes are formed and in place. If you’re having a boy, his genitals are noticeable now, but he may hide them from you during an ultrasound. (Not our boy…he was ALL about the sharing!)


My Update:

Due Date: November 4, 2011 – 151 days to go!

Weight Gain: +7 lbs (from pre-preg weight).  Starting to feel it, too.

Symptoms:  I’m hungry.

Cravings/Aversions: No aversions, but I’m hungry, hungry hungry.  I guess that could be why at our ultrasound this morning the tech estimated the baby’s weight at 9 oz, as opposed to the measly 7 oz indicated in the weekly update above.

Sleep:  Good.  Last night I didn’t get enough, but I plan on making up for that tonight.

I am loving: Food. And sleep.

I miss:  Sleeping on my stomach.

Movement: Still nothing that I can pinpoint for sure.  But the baby was moving all around on the ultrasound.  Legs kicking and arms flailing, so I guess it will happen soon enough.

It’s a: I was right!  We’re having a BOY!  (The comment breakdown from last week was Girl – 4, Boy – 2 and Twins – 1. Dad, I’m glad you think you’re so funny! If twins had popped up on that screen, I’m not sure my tears would have been from happiness.)  🙂  So, Ali and I win this round.  Ali is feeling very all-knowing since she picked my wedding dress, and also the sex of the baby, so if anyone has any lottery numbers they want to run by her….

Exercise: Yoga last week was good – looking forward to it this week.  And Pilates is still good, although we are going to have to get creative since I can’t lay on my stomach anymore, and there are quite a few things we do from that position.

Diet: OK…a little out of whack after traveling, but it will settle back down to normal soon.

Looking forward to: Portland next week! CHECK. Finding out what this baby is!  CHECK. Getting a sprinkler system installed! Still pending, but should be happening very soon!

Belly Shot:

This week’s belly shot is courtesy of my super cute and squeezable niece Ada, who deigned to share me for a moment for her mom to snap my picture.

(I just noticed that I totally look like I’m about to pitch over forward in this picture.  Talk about a center of gravity shift!)

18w3d

Remember…there are no right or wrong answers. Just do your best!

So…I’ve got all sorts of tidbits today.  Here we go!

*My midwife appointment yesterday went well…they really are so great there, and I feel like I’ve already got a good rapport with both midwives.  Heather and I click a little more so, but I think that is just because she is closer to my age.  She was so understanding yesterday and read me very well during my appointment with her, and I was so, so appreciative.

I guess I was feeling a little anxious about not knowing what was going on in my belly since I haven’t felt any movement yet, so I was really ready to hear the heartbeat again and get a good report.   Before we did that fun stuff though, she asked a bunch of questions and took my blood pressure, which was high again, around 140 something.  She seemed concerned (as she should be!) and asked if I was feeling ok, etc, and I fessed up that I was feeling a little nervous about how the baby was doing in there.  She let me know that we could totally do the heartbeat listening first at each appointment, and to let her know if I was ever feeling anxious about it – no biggie!  So she went ahead and poked all around and was very pleased about how great my uterus felt and how nice and big it was getting and that I was measuring a week ahead still, and that the heartbeat was good and strong and there were lots of movement ‘sounds’ of swishing via the doppler and she finished up with “nope – I’m not worried about this baby at all.”  WHEW.

So then we sat and chatted for a bit and she told me a funny story and we talked just about stuff in general and then she walked me through a bit of relaxation techniques before taking my BP again, and BOOYAH.  128/82.

Huh.  Guess a bit of nervousness DOES make a difference.  Thanks to her for being so patient with me.  I have a feeling that if I had been at a Dr’s office, and they had another appointment waiting behind mine, that they might not have taken that extra time to chill out with me to really make sure that I was feeling calm and confident and that they got an accurate read on my BP.  I have a full hour allotted for every appointment with these midwives and they use it!

*Tomorrow I head out for Portland to get in some baby snuggling time!  Scott will be staying home this trip, so a bummer that he doesn’t get to go and hang out too, but MORE BABY FOR ME.   (And an added bonus is that Lisa told me yesterday that her neighborhood-wide garage sale will be this weekend, so we can hit it up.)

*There has been MUCH progress made on the Future Room of the Baby.  Scott has been working like crazy organizing and selling and cleaning out.  Every time I walk by the room it makes me so excited!

*We were watching a TV show this weekend, and while it was only the second episode we had ever seen (so I was not particularly attached to any of the characters yet), when the scene came for the Dad to have to compassionately kill the pet wolf/dog, I lost it.  There was sobbing and  blubbering about “why did they have to SHOW that part?”  Scott gently reminded me that it wasn’t real and that the wolf didn’t actually get killed, but man…that was rough.  These hormones are tricky.

*So, can we take a vote, just for fun’s sake?  The time is growing nearer to finding out (hopefully) what we are having.  I’d like to know everyone’s guess ahead of time.  What say you all??  BOY or GIRL?  Leave your guess in the comments (even those of you that have never left a comment – now’s your chance to make your voice heard!)

17w5d

17 weeks!

What’s going on this week:

Your baby’s skeleton is changing from soft cartilage to bone, and the umbilical cord — her lifeline to the placenta — is growing stronger and thicker. Your baby weighs 5 ounces now (about as much as a turnip), and she’s around 5 inches long from head to bottom. She can move her joints, and her sweat glands are starting to develop.

**Huh.  Short update this week.  Guess mostly the baby is just plumping up this week. **

My Update:

Due Date: November 4, 2011 – 161 days to go!

Weight Gain: +5 lbs (from pre-preg weight).  Still hanging in there!

Symptoms:  I’m tired.  Sleepy tired.  I am waking up tired and going to sleep exhausted.  I hope this is temporary.  Maybe my body is making up now for the easy first trimester.

Cravings/Aversions: I’m just hungry in general!

Sleep: Good. I can’t wait to get into bed at night.

I am loving: Food. And sleep.

I miss:  Not much…

Movement: Still nothing.  But I’m paying close attention.  I hope it happens soon.

It’s a: I *still* think it’s a boy.  About 1 week till we can find out, but I don’t think we will announce ahead of time what day we are going to go find out.  Just so I can torment you all a little longer.  😉

Exercise: Too tired.  I skipped going back to yoga this week because I was too afraid I would fall asleep during some of the more relaxing poses, but I did go to Pilates yesterday.

Diet: Not bad…before every meal, when I’m feeling hungry, my brain runs through this slideshow of every possible (and impossible) meal I could have.  And it all sounds good.

Looking forward to: Portland next week!  Finding out what this baby is!  Getting a sprinkler system installed! It’s all so exciting!

Belly Shot:

16 weeks!

What’s going on this week:

Get ready for a growth spurt. In the next few weeks, your baby will double his weight and add inches to his length. Right now, he’s about the size of an avocado: 4 1/2 inches long (head to rump) and 3 1/2 ounces. His legs are much more developed, his head is more erect than it has been, and his eyes have moved closer to the front of his head. His ears are close to their final position, too. The patterning of his scalp has begun, though his locks aren’t recognizable yet. He’s even started growing toenails. And there’s a lot happening inside as well. For example, his heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, and this amount will continue to increase as your baby continues to develop.

 

My Update:

Due Date: November 4, 2011 – 168 days to go!

Weight Gain: +4 lbs (from pre-preg weight).  It keeps going up and down.

Symptoms:  Still peeing a lot..I’m anticipating that symptom should calm down soon as the baby moves higher off my bladder.

Cravings/Aversions: Nothing new!

Sleep: Good.

I am loving: Food.

I miss:  Not much…

Movement: Not yet.  But we’re closing in on when I should start to feel something…in the next few weeks!

It’s a: I *still* think it’s a boy.  About 2 weeks till we can find out (if the baby cooperates.)

Exercise: I went to the prenatal yoga class this week and really liked it.  I’ll be going back for sure.

Diet: Still OK.  We’ve eaten out a lot lately.  Not that there’s anything wrong with that.  🙂

Looking forward to: The anatomy scan ultrasound in a couple weeks.  And going to Portland to see Lisa, Josh and Ada!  I can’t wait to get my mitts on her!

Belly Shot:

15 weeks!

What’s going on this week:

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.”)

 

My Update:

Due Date: November 4, 2011 – 175 days to go!

Weight Gain: +5 lbs (from pre-preg weight).  The midwife said I’m right on track.  That was nice to hear.

Symptoms:  Nothing this week.

Cravings/Aversions: I still want fruit all the time.  Cold fruit, preferably!

Sleep: Still good, although my legs keep going to sleep, too…I think I need to start using a pillow between my knees to help support my hips.  Maybe that will make a difference.

I am loving: Uhhhh…fruit?

I miss:  Not much…

Movement: Not yet.

It’s a: I *still* think it’s a boy.  About 3 weeks till we can find out (if the baby cooperates.)

Exercise: Moving on!  Next category?

Diet: OK…pretty regular.  I’m mostly so tired and ‘done’ by the time I get home from work that we’ve been eating weird stuff, since I mostly don’t feel like cooking.  Scott was eating leftover pizza last night, so I ate a bowl of Honey Bunches of Oats with almond milk, a sliced up tomato and  a few salt and vinegar potato chips.

Looking forward to: The anatomy scan ultrasound in a few weeks.  And also my birthday!

Belly Shot:

Huh. I look a little 'deer in the headlights' here.

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