19 weeks.

I know I say this every time, but I seriously can't believe how fast the time is flying.  19 weeks??  Wow.  And with all the holiday's right around the corner, we'll be in 3rd trimester before we know it.  Anyway - here is your promised weekly update.

Today's date: October 31, 2010 

How far along: 19 weeks

Total weight gain: 5-6 lbs.  

Size and growth of the baby: Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces and measures 6 inches, head to bottom.

Sex: Gender ultrasound is scheduled for November 10 (9 days)!

Maternity clothes: All maternity pants, but still wearing regular shirts.  

Sleep: Some nights are better than others.  I had a great couple of nights of sleep, then last night I was so uncomfortable, I know I was tossing and turning for at least 4 hours.  I know it is only going to get way worse.  I feel bad for my poor husband who has to put up with it. :-(  

Best moment(s) of the week: It was a great weekend!!  Friday night was spent with the ladies from our small group - SO much fun.  Then Saturday and Sunday we spent with friends and got to see the adorable baby costumes.  It is so crazy to think that this time next year I will have a 7 month old!!

Movement: More and more every day!  I've got a little wiggle worm in there.

Food cravings/aversions: Still into chocolate and orange juice.  I am really trying to cut back on the sugar and pay attention to eating healthy... which isn't very easy when you're pregnant.  At least I have no aversion. :-)  The bigger problem is feeling like I am ALWAYS hungry - can't satisfy this appetite.

Morning sickness: Feeling good!!

Symptoms: Still tired... belly is growing... babe is kicking.  I can't really complain!

Labor signs: Way too soon.

Belly button in or out:  In. 

What I miss: Sleeping normally... and still waiting for that 2nd trimester energy boost.  And normal skin!!  My skin is SUPER dry lately - driving me crazy.

What I'm looking forward to: Looking MORE pregnant and gender ultrasound in 9 days!!!

What's happening 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 mango. 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.

18 weeks... and 3 days.

Could this week get any busier??  Here is my 18 week update - 3 days late.  I hope nobody minds that it isn't right on schedule (mom). :-)

In exactly two weeks from today we will know the gender of our little jumping jelly bean!  I had my first gender dream last night.  I dreamt I gave birth to a baby boy that looked a lot like me (yay!).  I was caring for him, changing his diaper, feeding him - and OH so in love!!  And then the baby turned into my dog and I was trying to care for her the same way I would a baby.  MESSED up.  Anyway... I feel like I fell in love with that baby in my dream, and I really hope I am not disappointed if we find out it is a girl. :-)  I will love my baby no matter the gender, but the boy vibes are coming in strong these days!!

So - I feel like I popped in the last week and a half or so.  The girls at work this week were suddenly "Woah - you look pregnant!!" - so that made me feel good.  Maybe I'm finally past that chubby pregnant stage, but we'll see.  So far it is all belly (which is where it is supposed to go and STAY).  But... when I took the picture today, I was slightly surprised at how un-bellyish I look.  I think I feel a ton huger than I look.  And I don't think this picture does my belly justice.  But here it is.

{nevermind how un-cute I look... I was about to go for a walk with a good friend and decided to take the pic last minute}

Well... there it is.  I definitely feel huger.  I can tell I popped - as in I can feel my uterus popped out of my belly and it is now up to by belly button (weird... and sorry for the uterus talk, male readers).  It is SOOO cool though, to be able to feel like a little ball right where the baby is.  SO fun!

So even though I feel way different, I guess I don't look as different as I feel.  Oh well.

Today's date: October 27, 2010 

How far along: 18 weeks 3 days

Total weight gain: Now about 4-5 lbs.  It is definitely catching up with me.  If I am only around 7-8 gained at 20 weeks that will make me happy.

Size and growth of the baby: Head to rump, your baby is about 5 1/2 inches long and he weighs almost 7 ounces.

Sex: Gender ultrasound is scheduled for November 10 (2 weeks)!

Maternity clothes: All maternity pants, but still wearing regular shirts.  

Sleep: UGH.  I am having a horrible time adjusting to being a side sleeper.  But being a stomach sleeper just isn't comfortable anymore, and sleeping on my back doesn't feel the greatest either.  *sigh*  I haven't been waking up to use the bathroom as much either.  Maybe a couple times a week I will.  

Best moment(s) of the week: My birthday was on Saturday!! :-D  I have a wonderful husband who let me sleep in and be totally lazy all morning, then we went out to dinner and a movie.  It is so weird to think that this is my last birthday without a child (in the outside world).  But I know 26 is going to be a great year!

Movement: Every day!!  And every day it gets to be more and more.  I feel it mostly after I eat.

Food cravings/aversions: Chocolate... hot chocolate, chocolate milk... you name it.  Yum yum.  And orange juice.  I'm into drinking my calories these days.

Morning sickness: Feeling really good!!!

Symptoms: Still tired... belly is growing... babe is kicking.  I can't really complain!

Labor signs: Way too soon.

Belly button in or out:  In. (you guessed it Erin)

What I miss: My energy!!  And running.... and sleeping on my stomach.

What I'm looking forward to: Looking MORE pregnant and gender ultrasound in TWO FREAKING WEEKS!!!!!!!!

What's going on this week:

Baby is 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.

17 weeks.

I've got tons of stuff to be posted about this week (the trip to Indy and the 5K/marathon being only one!), but I don't have the time right now, so that will have to wait!


17 weeks and time is FLYING!!!  Holy moly in 3 weeks we'll be half-way there!

Today's date: October 17, 2010 

How far along: 17 weeks

Total weight gain: Now about 3 lbs.  I guess it is catching up with me. :-)

Size and growth of the baby: Your baby weighs 5 ounces now, and she's around 5 inches long from head to bottom. 

Sex: Gender ultrasound is scheduled for November 10!

Maternity clothes: All maternity pants, but still wearing regular shirts.  

Sleep: Sleeping well... but still sleeping on my back some.  My Dr. said it is okay - and before it would become dangerous, your body usually wakes up due to feeling nauseous, so you turn over.  I haven't felt nauseous at all, so I think I'm okay. lol.  But I am still trying to get used to sleeping on my side.  Thank goodness my parents got me a boppy maternity pillow for my birthday!

Best moment(s) of the week: Had an awesome time in Indy this week and mom and I walked the 5K!  As it was starting, I was so sad I wasn't running, but I just didn't feel comfortable with it, after being on rest for 3 months earlier in my pregnancy.  I think the baby wasn't used to so much activity and later on that day I felt it moving quite a bit! 

Movement: It is still sporadic, but it is there!  Sometimes it is very obvious and sometimes subtle.

Food cravings/aversions: Chocolate... hot chocolate, chocolate milk... you name it.  Yum yum.

Morning sickness: Feeling really good!!!

Symptoms: Still super tired (where is that 2nd trimester energy burst??), headaches are diminishing, expanding belly.  Maybe a bit more moody yesterday? :-)

Labor signs: Way too soon.

Belly button in or out:  In.

What I miss: My energy!!  And running. :-(

What I'm looking forward to: Looking pregnant (not chunky) and gender ultrasound on November 10 (1 month from today)!

What's going on this week:

Your baby's skeleton is changingfrom 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 onion), and she's around 5 inches long from head to bottom. She can move her joints, and her sweat glands are starting to develop.

16 weeks.

Another week completed!!  Sometimes I can still hardly believe this is happening.  I feel like time is flying.  After TTC for over a year, being actually PREGNANT for 9 months feels like nothing.  Every week is a milestone and I love it.

This week has been a bit more difficult emotionally.  Most of the time, I don't worry.  I'm in 2nd trimester, have seen a healthy baby, my doctor says everything is great, and I am able to just enjoy being pregnant.  Every once in awhile, though, all of the "what if's" that can go wrong creep into my mind.  It is so easy to dwell on those things that could possibly go wrong or harm my baby, I think especially after having a loss.  This week has been a bit more challenging in that aspect.  I just have to give it to God and trust.  This is HIS child, not mine.  And I am grateful for the peace he has given me during this pregnancy.

Anyway... 16 weeks!

 

There it is.  The 16 week belly.  I don't know what I expected, but I think I thought I'd be way bigger by now.  I have grown FOR SURE.  It is more obvious to me (who can absolutely no longer fit into her pants anymore) than to the naked eye, but I think I was hoping to look pregnant by now.  I look and feel just plain chunky.  BUT - there is a difference between 12 and 16 weeks!!

It is a slight difference, but it is there!!  I have a feeling there will be a HUGE difference between 16 and 20 weeks.  I might even take a picture at 18 weeks to compare.

Today's date: October 10, 2010 (10-10-10!!)

How far along: 16 weeks

Total weight gain: Somewhere between .5 and 1.5 lbs.  I was up 1.5 yesterday but seemed to lose 1lb today.  I should just weigh myself weekly, but my weight fluctuates SO much.  I seriously wonder when this weight is going to pack on (but I know it will).  At this rate, if I gain 1lb a week I'll be at exactly 25 lbs for weight gained.  That's my goal anyway.

Size and growth of the baby: 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.

Sex: Gender ultrasound is scheduled for November 10!

Maternity clothes: All maternity pants, but still wearing regular shirts.  Some of my more fitted shirts are a no-go right now though.  They seem too short (especially with the panel on maternity pants).  It is crazy how such small changes can make your clothes fit so differently.

Sleep: I have been SUPER uncomfortable lately.  I am not supposed to lay on my back (I feel like it is uncomfortable anyway at this point) and when I lay on my stomach I feel like I am laying on a ball.  I am not a side sleeper and this has been a hard adjustment.  So I've been super restless.  Thank goodness for unisom (which I am still afraid to stop taking... but might soon).

Best moment(s) of the week: Hmmm... not pregnancy related, but ladies night on Friday with some of my best girlfriends. :-)  They left the babies at home and it was great to be able to talk without distraction!  In a matter of 15 months we will have gone from 0 babies in our group to 5 come March.  CRAZY.

Movement: It is sporadic, but it is there!!  After talking with the ladies on Friday, it confirmed that what I had been feeling was indeed baby.  I only feel it every couple of days though.  I can't wait until it is all the time!

Food cravings/aversions: Chocolate... and that would be a craving.  I indulged in chocolate milk this afternoon and it was glorious.  That and orange juice.

Morning sickness: Feeling good with the exception of some debilitating headaches... hopefully those will go away with the gluten.

Symptoms: Still super tired (where is that 2nd trimester energy burst??), headaches are diminishing, expanding belly.

Labor signs: Way too soon.

Belly button in or out: In.

What I miss: My energy!!  When will I feel "normal" again??

What I'm looking forward to: Looking pregnant (not chunky) and gender ultrasound on November 10 (1 month from today)!

 What's going on this week:

Baby's 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.

Decisions decisions.

I can't even tell you how excited I am to decorate our little one's nursery.  Long before I was even pregnant, I was researching nursery ideas, looking for cute do-it-yourself ways to make a nursery comfy and stylish.  I'm not a fan of really baby-ish character nurseries or things of that nature.  But I found this website ohdeedoh.com with tons of great ideas.

I LOOOVE this color scheme if we have a girl:

 

I LOVE the aqua/turquoise blue mixed with the pinks and reds and yellows.  If we have a girl, this will for sure be our color scheme.

 I also plan to make most of my own bedding and I LOVE the fabric circles as decor.  I love the use of fabric to spice up the nursery.  I will probably make a lot of pillows (NOT to put in the crib) to put with the rocking chair for support and add a little cuteness.

 

 I LOVE the use of fabric in this room.  We have the same chair, except ours is a rocking chair.  I wish I could re-cover, but I am not feeling quite that ambitious right now.  I just love the look of this nursery though.

 Love this quilt also.  Once I know the gender (in 5 weeks!) I'll have to get moving on my baby quilt!  I still have a pre-pregnancy quilt I haven't finished, but I think the baby quilt takes precedence. 

For a boy... I like the same idea, but more of this color scheme:

Again... love the use of fabric. :-)

I can't believe that in 5 short weeks we'll know what color scheme we'll be using. :-)  I can't wait to get started!!

15 weeks.

What a week.  Yesterday we made our trip to IKEA and I'd say the trip was a great success!!  We got a rocking chair and dresser for the nursery, along with some other baby essentials like stuffed animals and rattles.  It made for a long day, going to Chicago and back, but IKEA is always worth it.  I MAY have to make another trip once we know the gender.  For some reason, I just feel like November, December, and January are just going to FLY, so I am eager to get as much ready as I can now! 


Anyway - I'm 15 weeks!! (as of yesterday)  So that means it is time for an update!


Today's date: October 4, 2010

How far along: 15 weeks 1 day

Total weight gain: Still nada.  I'm wondering when this is going to catch up to me.  I have 25 weeks left, so if I gain a pound a week, I'll be right on target.  But... that means I have to start gaining.

Size and growth of the baby: Your growing baby now measures about 4 inches long, crown to rump, and weighs in at about 2 1/2 ounces. 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.  

Sex: Gender ultrasound is scheduled for November 10!

Maternity clothes: I was so crabby last week wearing my bella band with my regular work pants.  So I gave in to the maternity pants.  Still wearing normal shirts though.  I feel a little ridiculous, since I don't feel like I look pregnant at all (I keep wondering when that is going to happen too!  My friends tell me to ENJOY it now.)  I just want to be comfy!!

Sleep: Been restless the past few nights.  I also have not gotten up to pee... but mainly because I am too tired to 

Best moment(s) of the week: Clearly seeing the cute little bugger on the ultrasound on Thursday!!  

Movement: I am unsure.  I have questioned if some of the things I've felt have been the baby, but nothing CLEARLY the baby yet.

Food cravings/aversions: No strong aversions (except to the chili I made last week... yuck!).  Since deciding to eat gluten-free again I am having a somewhat difficult time finding food that I want to eat.  I am eating though!

Morning sickness: Feeling good with the exception of some debilitating headaches... hopefully those will go away with the gluten.

Symptoms: Still super tired (where is that 2nd trimester energy burst??), headaches, expanding belly.

Labor signs: Way too soon.

Belly button in or out: In.

What I miss: Nothing right now.

What I'm looking forward to: Looking pregnant and gender ultrasound on November 10!


And next week we'll do another belly shot!! We'll see if I look any different!

What's going on this week:

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.")