26 weeks

How far along? 26 weeks 4 days

Baby's size? Brooke is approximately 14 inches from head to heel and about 1.66 lbs.

Weight Gain? Ummm…. Like 20 lbs.  Don’t tell anyone.

Maternity clothes? I got a few new things from Destination Maternity online a few weeks ago.  I felt like I needed some shorts and a few casual tops to get me through our trip to Mexico without dying of heat stroke.  I’m hoping that once I find a dress for my baby shower I’ll be done buying maternity clothes for good.

Stretch marks? I haven’t seen anything suspicious yet.

Sleep? Glorious.  I want to just take one long nap until the baby is ready to come out.

Best moment this week? When I went to my parents’ house to pick up my dog after our trip, there was a gift there waiting for me!  From my Pop-pop!  I got so emotional at the thought of him picking this out for me… at 90 years old.  I just don’t have any words.  I’m so excited that he is finally getting promoted to Great Grandfather.  Brooke is going to absolutely love him.

Movement? When she’s awake she moves around constantly!  Sometimes she nudges me so hard, it’s uncomfortable.  She’s strong like her daddy.

Food cravings? Does ice water count?  I just want cold cold water.  And if my glass isn’t filled to the brim with ice… you’re gonna get an earful from me.

Symptoms? Oh my goodness, I had my first swollen feet experience on Wednesday!  When I put on my shoes to go to work that morning, they felt a little snug.  And when I got home for lunch, I kicked my shoes off to relax for a bit, and they looked all puffy!  I got a little nervous, but I was mostly just grossed out.  It was not cute.

What I miss? My dresses and pencil skirts that I haven’t been able to wear in months

What I'm looking forward to? I can’t wait to see what Baby B looks like.  I hope she has a tiny Duffin head (for obvious reasons)… and I hope she has some hair that she’ll let me put bows and barrettes in.   :)

Weekly Wisdom: We traveled home from Mexico on Monday… so this wisdom was in fact obtained this week and not last week:  Mexican men do not get up and offer their seat to pregnant chicks.  However, SO MANY of the Mexican women DO!  ?Como se dice “backwards!”?  Right?!

I totally wasn’t offended or anything.  I never even took any of the offered up seats.  It was just a funny observation.

Milestones: Successful completion of an international vacation while larger than a whale!!  And non-pregnancy related:  I upgraded my iPhone 4S to a new iPhone 5 AND upgraded our crummy first generation iPad to a cute little iPad mini.  Still important.  Still exciting. 

Emotions: Happy to be home in our own bed with our dog.  I like it when our whole family is together.

25 weeks

This post is super late because we were in Mexico most of this week!  Bobby's friend Aaron got married at his family's house in Chacala.  We have visited there once before about two years ago (see the pics here).

While it wasn't the ideal time for me to be in a bathing suit and surrounded by delicious looking cocktails, we really had SO much fun.  All of the other wedding guests were so friendly and above-and-beyond nice to me and my huge belly.  They all even made sure to wish me a Happy Mothers Day on my very first holiday where I kind of qualify as a celebrant.

Thankfully I felt super awesome the entire time we were there.  I got tired before everyone else, but I guess that is to be expected.  Even our air travel went off without a hitch - however, when you are blatantly pregnant the airline staff makes you sign a form that you assume all of the risks of flying while pregnant and won't hold them responsible.  I also had the privilege of getting the pat-down service from the female security team instead of going through the scanners.  Lots of fun!

My concerns were more centered around germy airplane air.  The thought of catching a cold and then being unable to take any medicine led to this decision.

Sorry to already be an embarrassing parent, Brooke.  But my air is your air and I want you to have the best.

I've already forgotten what I weighed in at this week.  But I think it was getting dangerously close to the 20 lb gain mark.

Here are just a couple pictures from the trip.

24 weeks

New and noteworthy this week:  My regular midwife wanted me to meet the other two midwives within the practice just in case she is unavailable when I go into labor.  So I had my 24 week appointment with one of them... and I really hope she's not the one who catches baby Brooke as she enters the world.  I just like my regular lady so much more.
We did the funny little measuring tape on my belly again though.  And once again she is measuring big!  2 weeks bigger, in fact!  But I think I finally have this weight gain thing in check, because I've only gained one pound in several weeks.  It's a miracle!  I'm up a grand total of 17 lbs.  We also took a quick peek at baby girl... but as they get bigger in there, it's kinda harder to see them.  You can really only see a piece of them at a time.

23 weeks

How far along? 23 weeks and 3 days

Baby's size? She’s probably about a foot long and just over a pound.

Weight Gain? I maintained my weight from last week.  Hallelujah!

Maternity clothes? Nothing exciting to add here this week

Stretch marks? Still no.  :)

Sleep? Can’t complain

Best moment this week? The only thing that really stood out to me this week is that strangers are now suddenly completely aware that I am pregnant… and completely comfortable asking me when I’m due, if I know the gender, and whatever else may come to their mind.  I was in an elevator with an old woman, and as she got out on her floor she said “If you want to name her after me, my name is Judy.”  Thanks, lady-I-talked-to-for-a-whole-10-seconds,  I’ll keep that in mind.  ;)

Movement? I’m finding that she’s most active at night.  Ya know, when I’m trying to sleep.

Food cravings? Hot sandwiches were my jam this week.  Pulled pork… Cuban… the Hero from Firehouse.  I ate them all.

Symptoms? Just a big bulbous belly!

What I miss? I saw someone drinking a margarita and I was kinda jealous.

What I'm looking forward to? Seeing my husband become a father.  I’m pretty sure I’ll just melt right into a puddle.

Emotions: Blessed beyond belief and eager to meet this sweet girl.

22 weeks

How far along? 22 weeks and 3 days.

Baby's size? 11 inches long and probably about one pound.  Her lips, eyelids, and eyebrows are more distinct, and tiny tooth buds are developing beneath her gums.

Weight Gain? 16 lbs!  Holy moly.  Time to lay off the sweets.

Maternity clothes? Funny/embarrassing admission:  I ordered a “swim skirt” this week.  It’s just plain black and I’m going to wear it with a regular black bikini top.  So… maybe in the end it will actually be cute.  I’m just really self-conscious of my butt at the moment and we’re going to Mexico in a few weeks for a wedding.

Stretch marks? Nope.

Sleep? Pretty great.  The Snoogle pillow and I are getting along nicely.

Best moment this week? I swam laps twice this week and started paying more attention to what I eat.  While it was sad to give up ice cream, it made me happy to think that I could possibly maintain this current weight for another week or two.  I’m taking control!

Movement? I simultaneously felt thumps on BOTH SIDES of my belly and I couldn’t help but laugh.  I was trying to picture what on earth she could be doing in there.  Stretching out before there’s no more room, I suppose.

Food cravings? Well – Ben & Jerry’s Phish Food ice cream would be ideal.  But I’ve been subbing it out for ice cold chocolate milk.  1%.  ;)

Symptoms? Sometimes my belly feels really tight and uncomfortable.  Sometimes I cry at movies that are supposed to be funny.  But overall, things are great!

What I miss? My slimmer legs and butt… and being able to drink however much coffee I want.

What I'm looking forward to? Putting Brooke in this outfit.  Are you kidding me with this cuteness?!?  It’s my favorite thing I’ve bought for her so far.

Emotions: Completely happy – with the exception of the moments when I feel really fat.  :)

21 weeks

In all of the excitement last week, I completely forgot to mention that we have a name for this sweet little angel growing inside of me.

The middle name is still undecided.  But Bobby and I both agreed upon our girl's name way back when I first found out I was pregnant.  It was only going to be a heated debate if it were a boy.   :)

How far along? 21 weeks and 3 days.

Baby's size? We found out at the 20 week ultrasound that our little girl weighs about 13 oz now.  And the internet (which has proven to be completely unreliable) says she is about 10.5 inches long.  When I saw my midwife on Tuesday, she used a tape measure and said that the baby is measuring 22 weeks.

Weight Gain? Up 14 lbs!

Maternity clothes? Dara just lent me some of her maternity stuff, so my collection is growing.  I just really need some shorts that fit because it is starting to get HOT!

Stretch marks? Not yet.  But at the rate that I am expanding, I’m really worried about it happening soon.

Sleep? I’ve been going to bed super early.  Like 9pm.  It’s tough to find a comfortable position, but I am able to sleep through the night. (Except for when I wake up because I’m sweating through my pjs).  HORMONES!

Best moment this week? I get together with my best friends most weeks to hang out and catch up.  This Wednesday we all went to Erica’s house and she bestowed two gigantic bags of baby girl hand-me-downs upon me.  It seriously felt like a baby shower.

Movement? She’s definitely still moving around in there, but she has taken it rather easy on me this week.

Food cravings? Again with the strawberry flavored things – Strawberry Eggo Waffles.  Amazing.

Symptoms? I had a nose bleed for a split second.  It didn’t ever drip down out of my nose… but as I was drying my face after washing my makeup off, I got blood all over my towel!  So weird.

Gender? It’s a baby girl!!  Bobby shall remain the only man of the house.

What I miss? The days when I felt like I always had enough oxygen, and my pre-preggo bod that I didn’t appreciate nearly as much as I should have.

What I'm looking forward to? Finally focusing my plans for the nursery.  I’ve been trying to keep it as neutral as possible up until this point.  So now I can finally collect my thoughts and girl it up!

Emotions: I think I’ve cried at least once a day this week about my changing shape.  Don’t get me wrong – being pregnant is everything I’ve ever wanted… but it gets a bit scary to watch everything chub out.  I can’t manage to go a week without the number on the scale jumping up and up and up.  I’ve got to find a way to just push this out of my mind for another few months.

20 weeks - 50% done!

We are halfway there!  {Hence the celebratory sequins.}  This has been the craziest week yet!  First of all, to be halfway done with this pregnancy is just blowing my mind.  Second of all, well… I feel like this requires a full story.

So, it’s Tuesday morning and I’ve been in the waiting room of Dr. Lowe’s office for an hour.  Bobby is still out of town, so my mom is there with me.  My stomach is growling because I missed my mid-morning snack.  (Yes, I eat something in between breakfast and lunch every day.  Don’t judge.  ;) )  Anyhow, they finally call my name and we head back to our tiny room with the ultrasound tech.  She dumps about a gallon of that goo on my belly and gets to work measuring all of the baby’s parts.  She says “Do you know what you’re having?”  And I say “I’m pretty sure it’s a boy.”  And she goes on measuring and clicking buttons and printing pictures.  We’re looking at the cute profile at this point and the baby has their hands up like you do when you ride a rollercoaster.  So I say “Awwww, look how cute he is.  He has his hands up.  If he is, in fact, a boy.”  I say this because I want to ensure that this ultrasound tech takes a look down below.  I never did get a solid answer from my regular doctor.  I’ve just been basing all of my thoughts on things I’ve read on the internet and things that a million women who have been pregnant before me have said about guessing the gender early.  The tech says “Who told you that you were having a boy?”  and I say “Well, no one really.”  And just as I begin to feel a bit silly for being so sure that I knew… she moves the wand over to the sweet spot and I have my answer.  “Where is the peen?” I think to myself.  I spent a good amount of time on Google beforehand - researching what it would look like if the baby were a girl vs. a boy.  And I knew immediately when I saw it.  
“It’s not a boy!”  says the tech.  “It’s a girl!!”

My mom and I burst into a mix of giggles and tears.  Holy cannoli… a baby girl!  At this point I become a complete jabber monkey.  My head is spinning with this utterly shocking and utterly exhilarating news.  So I just talk and talk and talk, which is so unlike me.  I don’t even remember what I was saying.  But I guess I was just trying to make sense of being completely wrong for the entire first half of my pregnancy.  HA!  I feel like such a goof ball.

And it’s only 12:30pm!

My agenda for the rest of the day included:

Returning to work where everyone was waiting with baited breath for the news

Taking back an entire baby boy’s wardrobe worth of clothes to Baby Gap

And, oh yea, telling my HUSBAND!

He had been traveling home from Costa Rica all day and would finally be getting home just shy of midnight.  I wanted to surprise him in person rather than just tell him over the phone as soon as his cell regained service.  So after work I got some pink balloons and our baby girl’s first dress and set it all up in her bedroom (which needs some major tweaks because it was definitely heading in a boy-ish direction).

Lia helped, of course

Bobby was so surprised!!