20 Weeks and Halfway to Baby!

This week marks the halfway point and I can hardly believe how fast the time has gone by. I can only hope the next 20 weeks go by just as fast! I think with the holidays right around the corner, it's going to be January in the blink of an eye. I'm still feeling generally good overall. Yesterday, I got a little bit nervous though, because I was having a lot of Braxton Hicks. I've been feeling them randomly for the past week, maybe one or two in a day, but Thursday there was maybe 4-5 and then yesterday it was like almost one or two in an hour! So I called the doctor and he said it is very common to feel BH in the second trimester and the frequency I was feeling them was nothing to be very concerned about. He recommended that I take it easy for the day, drink a ton of water, and if they increased to more than 4-6 and hour to call back right away. The concern then would be pre-term labor and basically there is nothing they can do to stop it this early. So I followed the doctors orders and today I feel a lot better and have only had maybe one today. I haven't had any soda with caffeine at all since I've been pregnant, and yesterday I really wanted one so I did. I figured it would be ok since they say caffeine in moderation and less than 200mg per day and one soda has less than 100mg, but I think that might have done it. Anyways, all else is great. Still waiting for the belly to pop but it's getting a little bigger every week. Jason loves to look at it and touch it but hasn't been at the right place at the right time to feel her kick yet. We are still trying to agree on the perfect name for our princess but getting closer to choosing something.



How far along? 20 weeks 1 day
Weight gain/loss this week: +2
Total weight gain/loss: +9
How big is the baby? cantaloupe
Maternity clothes? nope
Sleep: I've accepted that I'll never sleep the same again
Best moment this week: I dunno
Movement: Shes moving a lot
Food cravings: I give up on this question
Gender: GIRL!!
Labor Signs: Starting to feel Braxton Hicks
Belly Button in or out? In
What I miss the most: Apple Martinis....yummy
What I am looking forward to: Actually looking pregnant
Symptoms: The boobs are sore again, braxton hicks

Weekly Update: Baby's digestive system is busy creating meconium (a tarry black substance made of swallowed amniotic fluid, digestive secretion and dead cells), which will fill the first diaper after birth. And, speaking of the diaper situation... baby's genitals are now fully formed!

The start of the bump

So I woke up this morning feeling bigger than usual. I don't know if it was just the big dinner I had last night or maybe the yummy red velvet cake we had for dessert, which by the way the baby loved. She was squirming around in there big time after that. But the scale is officially displaying a number I have never seen before and quite honestly I don't really know where I'm putting the extra weight. I'm really hoping at some point the weight gain slows down because if not I'm going to end up gaining way more than I wanted to. Oh well. I've been wearing mostly flowy shirts lately because I feel like I have a beer belly look going on but today I decided to wear a tight one and show off my little "bump." So I got ready for work feeling very self conscious and took these pictures of myself to show Jason. I told him I felt big today and of course he responded and said he thought I looked beautiful! Apparently I feel big, but still look normal because no one at work said anything but the usual "When are you going to start looking pregnant?" I know I'm going to look back on these pictures in a few months and laugh for thinking I looked big!! I think the bump is slooooowly starting to form and I really think that it's going to appear overnight.

The Dogs Know

I'm officially convinced that the dogs know I'm pregnant. I know it sounds crazy but I read a couple of articles on this about how the dogs might be able to sense it, or smell the change in hormones, or something. Hunter has always been very attached to us but lately he will not let me out of his sight. If I get up to go to the bathroom, he follows me and waits for me. If I get up to get a drink, he follows me. No matter what I do, he is at my feet and sometimes he gets in the way and I almost step on him or trip over him. He also always has to lay by me and put his head on my belly. I can not wait for the day when he's laying on my belly and gets kicked by the baby! LOL Hailey on the other hand has always been way more independent than Hunter but even she wants to lay on me more lately. Even Chris and Keira's dogs pay more attention to me than usual and lay on me. I'm telling you...the dogs know!

19 Weeks

What a great week we had this week! We are still over the moon about our baby girl! It's all finally getting a chance to really set in now and finding out the sex has made it so much more real. Jason is so excited to be having a little daddy's girl and I can't wait to start shopping for everything and putting together her nursery. I always said I didn't care what sex the baby was since I eventually hope to have one of each and I still think that's true but I can't help but wonder if I secretly wanted a girl first because I am just so excited. I feel so much more connected to her now that I know she's a little girl. And Jason, who admitted he wanted a boy first, had the biggest smile on his face when we found out and immediately starred spreading the news before the ultrasound was even finished! We have been talking a little bit about names but haven't come up with anything yet. Now that I know she's a little girl I feel bad calling her "the baby." She needs her own name!

Then Friday night we had our surprise date night. I was told I had to go buy a nice dress and not worry about where we were going. Jason tries to surprise me from time to time but usually he gets too excited and tells me or gives me too many hints until I figure it out. This time he kept the secret from me for a few weeks. So we got dressed up and went out to a nice dinner and he told me we were going to see Legally Blonde the Musical at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. I love Legally Blonde and have been wanting to see the musical for a while now but we always missed it. I loved it! It was such a cute show and a great date night.

As far as the pregnancy updates, there's not much new to talk about. I'm looking a little bit more pregnant every week, some days more than others, but still waiting for the really baby belly to appear. My symptoms are mostly the same although for dome reason I just didn't sleep very well this week. I am starting to feel her move around a lot more and I even felt a first real kick! I was laying down and all of a sudden, THUMP! I'm still not really feeling the kicks from the outside yet but hopefully soon.




How far along? 19 weeks 2 days
Weight gain/loss this week: +2
Total weight gain/loss: +7
How big is the baby? mango
Maternity clothes? nope
Sleep: Back to crappy
Best moment this week: Finding out were having a little girl!
Movement: Starting to feel the kicks! She's getting stronger every day.
Food cravings: Still none really
Gender: GIRL!!
Labor Signs: No and hopefully not for a while
Belly Button in or out? In
What I miss the most: Apple Martinis....yummy
What I am looking forward to: Actually looking pregnant
Symptoms: Nothing major this week

Weekly Update: Vernix caseosa, a greasy white substance made of lanugo, oil and dead skin cells (yum) now coats baby's skin, shielding it from the amniotic fluid. (Picture yourself after a nine-month bath, and the need for protection makes sense.) You might actually get to see the vernix at birth, especially if baby is premature.

and the BIG Ultrasound Says....

We are so thrilled to be expecting a little princess!! We had our big ultrasound yesterday and she is measuring perfectly. She was sleeping throughout the whole appointment so I was a little bit nervous that we wouldn't be able to get the "money shot" but we got a good shot of her legs up and spread apart and there wasn't anything hanging out in between them! I was surprised to learn that I have an anterior placenta which means the placenta is in front of the baby. While this is completely normal, usually it means you can't feel the baby moving until a little bit later on because the placenta acts as a sort of barrier between you and the baby. They said its probably due to my size that I am lucky enough to feel her moving around in there already!

Today I went in for my regular doctor appointment and the doctor said he looked over everything from last night and that she looks perfect! All of my blood work is great, my urine is clean, and my uterus is growing like it should be. He says since my uterus and baby are growing right on track that I shouldn't be concerned at all about not really showing, just that I'm carrying her really well right now. Apparently, its a GOOD thing my boobs have been so sore and are growing. It means I will have a better chance of being able to produce the amount of milk necessary for breastfeeding. He does think I need to be drinking a lot more water throughout the day, which I knew, and I'm really trying!! Then he listened to the baby's heartbeat with the doppler and he said she was very active. Every few seconds you could hear a THUD on the doppler and those were the kicks! All in all he said everything looked fabulous! Now we just have to think of a name for our baby girl :)

18 Weeks

I can't believe we are almost halfway there! We have a very exciting week this week. Wednesday is our BIG ultrasound where hopefully we will find out if Baby S is a boy or a girl. Most people still think boy but I just really don't know. Then Friday we have a date night that Jason has planned and I have no idea what we will be doing!

I feel like my appetite has finally slowed down a little bit and I'm eating more like a normal person. My weight gain has also tapered off for now. The belly is still slowly rounding out. This morning I was walking around in my shorts and sports bra and Jason smiled and patted my belly. I'm like "What, its sticking out?" He's like "YEP!" I think I still look like I pigged out on Halloween candy or something. I hate to disappoint you all who are looking forward to seeing a baby belly on Thanksgiving but at this point I just don't think its going to happen! I did have to finally make my first garment purchase due to my changing body. Nope, not maternity pants, but new bras! Let me tell you, I forgot how comfortable a properly fitting bra can be. Also, this week the heartburn returned with a vengeance. It reared it's ugly head twice this week, the first time it hurt so bad I thought I might throw up for the first time all pregnancy. I think I may have felt the baby kick my hand the other day! I was laying down and the baby was moving so I put my hand on my belly and felt a tiny little flick! Hopefully Jason can feel it kick soon too. I also got both the seasonal flu and the H1N1 vaccinations this week. Oh and the baby's 12 week test results came back all completely normal so everything is looking good.



How far along? 18 weeks 2 days
Weight gain/loss this week: 0
Total weight gain/loss: +5
How big is the baby? sweet potato
Maternity clothes? nope
Sleep: It's ok
Best moment this week: Jason starting to notice my changing body. It's cute.
Movement: getting more frequent
Food cravings: Still none really
Gender: Find out this week!
Labor Signs: No and hopefully not for a while
Belly Button in or out? In but I think its getting a little bit shallow
What I miss the most: My flat belly
What I am looking forward to: Wednesday's appointment and Friday's date!
Symptoms: Sore boobs, heartburn

Weekly Update: Your fetus has become amazingly mobile (at least compared to you), passing the hours yawning, hiccuping, rolling, twisting, kicking, punching, sucking and swallowing. And, baby's finally big enough that you'll be able to feel those movements soon.

17 Weeks

I hope the baby had a growth spurt this week because I sure did. I gained three pounds and my belly is definitely starting to round out a little bit. I'm having a little bit of a hard time embracing the weight gain. I know its necessary and because I am growing a baby inside of me, not just because I ate too many doughnuts but still, three pounds in one week seems like a lot to someone whose weight really stays the same all the time. Plus, I still don't think I look at all pregnant, just plumper than usual! Other than that, I have resorted to sleeping in a sports bra lately and I am much more comfortable! I'm still only feeling the baby move occasionally and waiting for next Wednesday for our big ultrasound!

How far along? 17weeks 2 days
Weight gain/loss this week: +3
Total weight gain/loss: +5
How big is the baby? onion
Maternity clothes? not yet
Sleep: It's ok
Best moment this week: Nothing too exciting this week
Movement: occasional
Food cravings: Still none really
Gender: 10 more days
Labor Signs: No and hopefully not for a while
Belly Button in or out? In but I think its getting a little bit shallow
What I miss the most: My flat belly
What I am looking forward to: Finding out the sex
Symptoms: Frequent peeing, sore boobs

Weekly Update: Baby's skeleton is hardening, changing from rubbery cartilage to bone, and fat is finally accumulating around it. The umbilical cord is getting thicker and stronger, and those little fingers and toes are now topped by one-of-a-kind prints.

16 Weeks

Most of the symptoms from last week have gone away and I'm back to feeling pretty good again. The baby has made his or her home right on top of my bladder lately which has caused me to have to pee even more than I already was. Yesterday, in my 8 hour work day, I peed 9 times. Yes, 9, and yes I kept track. I was curious because I thought it was getting a little bit out of control. Luckily when I am laying down the pressure is somewhere else so I'm not having to get up all night long. The boobs are still very sore and seem to be growing faster than the belly and a new bra is definitely overdue. I can feel general movements from the baby but no actual kicks yet and the belly is slowly starting to grow and looks bigger when my bladder is full. Now, we are just looking forward to November 11th for our big ultrasound.





And just for fun here's a comparison 4weeks vs 4 months. Can you tell a difference? To me it's huge.

How far along? 16weeks 2 days
Weight gain/loss this week: 0
Total weight gain/loss: +2
How big is the baby? avocado
Maternity clothes? no
Sleep: not bad
Best moment this week: Feeling the baby moving!
Movement: yep
Food cravings: Is it strange I don't have any?
Gender: Soon!
Labor Signs: No and hopefully not for a while
Belly Button in or out? In
What I miss the most: This week its wine
What I am looking forward to: Finding out the sex
Symptoms: Frequent peeing, sore boobs

Weekly Update: Watch what you say... tiny bones forming in baby's ears mean the little one can now pick up your voice. Eyebrows, lashes and hair are starting to fill in, and taste buds are forming. And, if you're interested, an ultrasound might be able to determine gender.

Party in my Ute!

So, the pops and bubbles I was feeling WERE the baby! So cool! The movements for the past two days have changed a little bit and become much more obvious. Now it feels like something is swimming around in there. You know those goldfish that you win at a carnival that they give you in a plastic bag? When you are holding the bag you can sometimes feel the water being pushed around and every once in a while if the fish swims close to the edge you can feel a big swoosh. Imagine that but from the inside and that's what I think it feels like! It is amazing to feel your baby squirming around inside you and really makes it a lot more real now!

Stupid Comments

I swear, I work with some of the most highly paid professionals in the nation's workforce and it just proves that money doesn't buy you class. To give these people the benefit of the doubt, I know they were joking with me which is why I responded the way I did, but still!!

Picture a 50-something year old overweight man who carries his weight in his belly like an extremely pregnant woman. He finds out I'm pregnant and says "Yea I thought you were packing on the pounds but I didn't want to say anything!" To which I respond "Actually, I haven't gained any weight yet, but I bet my belly won't get as big as yours even when I'm in my ninth month."

Next is a 40-something man trying to get my attention by calling me fatty. My response : "I'm pregnant, what's your excuse?" He's like "Uhh, I'm 47"

LOL Seriously! Like I said, I know these people were joking but what if I would have taken them seriously. Call me crazy, but that just doesn't seem like the thing to say to any woman, much less a pregnant one! I have noticed I've become a little bit "saucy" lately and was kind of proud of my quick comebacks because I usually think of the perfect thing to say back to people like this about 10 minutes too late. Oh well...stupid comments to be continued...

15 Weeks

So last week I said I had a lack of symptoms. This week I have plenty to talk about. First are the sore boobs, which really have been sore throughout the whole pregnancy but lately at times they are almost unbearably sore. They feel heavy and full and like they've almost doubled in size so maybe that's why. My hair seems to be falling out in hand fulls. Every time I take a shower tons of hair falls out and clogs the drain. Annoying. Speaking of clogged, my pipes are backed up. There's nothing worse than feeling fat, gross, and bloated all the time. The doctor switched my prenatal vitamins so hopefully that helps. I've had a headache almost every day this week. And last but not least (I think) is the heartburn. I've never in my life had heartburn and wasn't even sure what it was the first time, but then it happened again and it hurts! Luckily, its only happened twice and has come and gone very quickly so hopefully it stays that way. They say if you have heartburn during your pregnancy the baby will be born with a head full of hair so we will see. Other than that, I'm up two pounds and I can see a difference in my body although probably no one else can. If I weren't pregnant now would be the time where I start hitting the gym and eating a little bit better. I guess I just have to get used to my body changing! I've also been feeling what MIGHT be the baby, like little pops or bubbles but it's not enough for me to be sure its the baby and not just my uterus stretching or gas moving around.

How far along? 15weeks 2 days
Weight gain/loss this week: +1
Total weight gain/loss: +2
How big is the baby? orange
Maternity clothes? no
Sleep: ehh its ok
Best moment this week: umm, I'm gonna go with pooping
Movement: Maybe?
Food cravings: No not really
Gender: We have to wait 3 more weeks :(
Labor Signs: No
Belly Button in or out? In
What I miss the most: pooping
What I am looking forward to: I really want to find out the sex
Symptoms: Too many this week

Weekly Update: Continuing the march towards normal proportions, baby's legs now out measure the arms. And, finally, all four limbs have functional joints. Your fetus is squirming and wiggling like crazy down in the womb, though you probably still can't feel the movements.

This Month's Appointment

Jason had to work for this appointment. I recruited my mom and Keira to go with me and we all hoped that they would do an ultrasound and hopefully be able to determine the sex of the baby. Of course, this is the first appointment that they didn't do one. I think I got spoiled because I had been getting so many ultrasounds and got to see the baby more often than most. We did get to listen to the baby's heartbeat with the Doppler. The doctor picked it up right away and joked saying that it was a boy since the heartbeat was so "strong." He said he was happy with my "minimal" weight gain and also recommended me getting both the standard flu shot and the H1N1 shot and then we were on our way. We went to three different baby stores to browse and get ideas and I put the crib I picked out on layaway since it was a great deal and the sale was ending. Three more weeks until the big ultrasound! So far most people think it's a boy and we can't wait to find out

Was it Planned?

This is by far the number one response I get from people when they find out I'm pregnant. I can't really understand this. I totally get it if you are a close friend or someone that I talk to about personal things, but 90% of the people that ask this question are just random co-workers. I mean, I don't go up to random people and ask them what their preferred method of birth control is and if its working because isn't that really the same question? OK people are curious, although I'm 27, have been married for a year and a half, own a house that we bought with room to grow, and am settled in my career, so even if it wasn't planned...uhh does it really matter? I don't know, maybe its just me. I just smile and answer the question and don't really let it bother me I guess it just really surprised me to keep hearing it from sooooo many different people! Ahh, the joys of pregnancy. Can't wait till my belly is huge and I get even more random comments from strangers.

14 Weeks

I'm feeling great! This morning I was laying on the couch and it felt like my uterus had literally doubled in size overnight. Laying down you can definitely see a little bump sticking out but nothing when I am upright. There is nothing really new to talk about this week. Just waiting to find out the sex so we can start picking out everything! Oh and I'm anxiously waiting to feel the baby moving around in there. I'm thinking it could be within the next few weeks!

How far along? 14weeks 2 days

Weight gain/loss this week: +1

Total weight gain/loss: +1
How big is the baby? lemon

Maternity clothes? nope

Sleep: much better!

Best moment this week: Pretty uneventful week

Movement: Waiting to feel the flutters. Should be soon now!!

Food cravings: none

Gender: Hoping to be able to find out at the next appointment

Labor Signs: No

Belly Button in or out? In

What I miss the most: I could go for a glass of wine maybe

What I am looking forward to: My appointment on Thursday

Symptoms: Either they are slowly disappearing or I am just getting used to them

Weekly Update: Your adorable little fetus is busy with thumb sucking, toe wiggling, and (not so cute but equally amazing) making urine and breathing amniotic fluid as the liver, kidneys and spleen continue to develop. Lanugo (thin, downy hair) is growing all over the body for warmth.

13 Weeks

Hello second trimester! They say that in the second trimester, pregnancy is the most comfortable, you have the most energy and is also the most fun. During the second trimester you start to show, feel the baby move, and hopefully get to find out the sex. I'm excited for all of that!

I have been feeling a lot better lately. My energy level is definitely up and am feeling a lot more like myself. My symptoms are mostly gone by now. My boobs still feel sore and I spoke too soon about my skin clearing up because my face officially looks like a pepperoni pizza again. Still no belly although I'm still bloated, especially at night. I can feel my uterus with my hand just above my pelvic bone so its only a matter of time before the belly starts showing. The word is officially out at work, so now I'm just enjoying my pregnancy!

Also, if everyone reading this blog could please take a minute to say a prayer for my friend Jackie. She is 11 weeks pregnant with twins and has been hospitalized for a week with high fevers. Please take a moment to pray for a quick recovery for her and her babies. Thank you.

How far along? 13weeks 2 days
Weight gain/loss this week: 0
Total weight gain/loss: 0
How big is the baby? peach
Maternity clothes? nope
Sleep: much better!
Best moment this week: Pretty uneventful week
Movement: Waiting to feel the flutters. Should be soon now!!
Food cravings: none
Gender: Hoping to be able to find out at the next appointment
Labor Signs: No
Belly Button in or out? In
What I miss the most: Not missing much lately
What I am looking forward to: Finding out the gender, starting the nursery
Symptoms: I really wish my skin would clear up.

Weekly Update: Your fetus is forming teeth and vocal cords... savor this, their non-functional phase. Baby is approaching normal proportions, with a head now only one third the size of the body. Intestines are in the process of moving from the umbilical cord to baby's tummy. (Much more convenient.)