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!!

19 weeks

This week it was just me and the dog.  Bobby had to travel for work for the first half of the week, was home for one night, and got up super early the next morning for another trip.   :(   I need husband hugs, like now.

How far along? 19 weeks and 6 days.

Baby's size? The Duffster is 8.5 ounces now and 6 inches long from his head to his bottom… and the hair on his head is starting to sprout!

Weight Gain? I was up to 12 lbs for most of the week, but when I weighed myself this morning I was back down to 10 lbs.  So we’ll take the average and say I’m up 11 lbs.

Maternity clothes? I’ve been buying way more stuff than I really wanted to.  But I just can’t stand wearing the same things over and over again.  This week I bought “regular people” clothes though.  I found an empire waisted dress in the juniors section of Marshalls that was pretty cute and flattering.  And then I also bought mint shorts a size up from my pre-pregnancy size and they are super comfortable!

Stretch marks? No.  Thank heavens.  I think I’m starting to see the faint beginnings of that weird line that appears below the belly button though.  Why does that happen?

Sleep? I desperately want to sleep on my back.  It’s far and away the most comfortable for me right now.  But apparently the added weight of my uterus would be pressing down on the main vein that takes blood and nutrients to my baby if I slept this way.  Soooo, I continue to shift from side to side all night long.

Best moment this week? Daddy brought home the cutest little baby clothes from his work trip to New York.  Just the thought of him walking through the store to pick out itty bitty articles of clothing made my heart burst.

Movement? Kicking away!

Food cravings? Certainly NOT craving guacamole.

Symptoms? Occasional back aches, dry skin

Gender? Check back next week to know for sure!

What I miss? My husband!  COME HOME BOBBY!!!!

What I'm looking forward to? My mom will be coming with me to the 20 week anatomy scan with Dr. Lowe on Tuesday.  All of my friends have said they loved their Dr. Lowe appointments, so I’m excited for that.

Emotions: Well, I’ve obviously been a bit lonely because my husband has been away.  But I’m still a very happy and thankful girl who thanks the Lord daily for this miracle baby in my belly.

18 weeks

How far along? 18 weeks and 5 days.

Baby's size? He (we are in full-on assumption mode that it is a boy) is 5.5 inches long from his head to his rump and weighs 7 oz.

Weight Gain? 10 lbs.  This is getting real.

Maternity clothes? This goes against everything I thought in the beginning of this process... but I LOVE maternity clothes.  Well, not all maternity clothes of course.  Most things are absolutely hideous.  But when you find that perfect item, try it on, and it makes you look cuter and slimmer and more comfortable than your regular clothes - well, it just feels like a gift from heaven.  I've embraced the stretchy waist band and the extra long top.

Stretch marks? Nope!

Sleep? I am able to sleep just fine.  I just have to switch sides constantly through the night to avoid aches and such.

Best moment this week? Nursery progress!  We now have a dresser/changing table and a bookcase for the babe.  OH... and the CUTEST darn stroller in the entire world.  Here is Lia wishing she could take a ride in it.

Movement? Not only can I feel him moving around from the inside, but Bobby can now feel the baby's kicks from the outside!

Food cravings? I'm still not craving anything.  But I did finally notice that I am eating tons of strawberry flavored things.  Strawberry Starbursts, strawberry yogurt, strawberry Nutri-grain bars, peanut butter and strawberry jelly sandwiches, and of course, actual strawberries.  Again, these are all things I've always liked.  And I'm never like "OMG, I need something strawberry flavored!"  This was just something I happened to notice that I was eating a good bit of.

Symptoms? The crazy emotions of last week seem to have subsided for now.  This has been a rather easy week.

Gender? Like I said, we are totally assuming it's a boy.  April 2nd will finally put this matter to rest once and for all.

What I miss? My shorts that no longer fit.  There was a warm day or two this week where my cutoffs would have made for a much cuter outfit than my old stretchy cheerleading shorts.

What I'm looking forward to? This is looking way forward... but I just can't wait to hold him.  I want to kiss his beautiful face and touch his soft skin right now.

Milestones: I'd say that cracking into the double digits for weight gain is a milestone.

Emotions: So happy.  And already so proud to be his mama.

17 weeks

This week of my pregnancy can just go down in history as The Week of Tears.  Unexpected, illogical, I’m-not-even-sad-so-this-is-really-weird tears.  Here’s a sample of the madness: On Thursday, Bobby and I were both home for lunch and the fan was on in the living room.  It was making me chilly so I turned it off.  Bobby says “No babe, I’m hot.”  And I just started pouring tears. 

Ummmm….. what?!?

Pregnancy sure knows how to make a woman feel like a crazy person.  So through my sobbing I had to try to convince my poor husband that he didn’t do anything wrong and I have no idea why I’m crying.  What a mess.  The sweet way he wiped my tears away and gave me hugs kind of made the whole ordeal worth it though.  :)

When I got back to work I saw a friend who works in another building.  He asked how I was doing and said I looked great.  Aaaand, I started crying again.  Luckily, his wife just had twin boys a year ago.  So he was pretty familiar with the whacked out hormones thing.  But still!!!!  So embarrassing!!!

In other news, baby love is kicking away inside my belly.  It's pretty unusual (from what I have read) to feel this much action this early.  But we know from the ultrasounds that he is a mover and a shaker... so I can't really say that I'm surprised at how much I feel.  The doctor says that thin women are more likely to feel stuff earlier anyhow.  And I bring that up mostly because it made me feel really good that she considered me thin.  I certainly don't look thin if you ask me.   :P

Speaking of which, just for the sake of documenting this whole process, I am up 9 lbs now - and my butt no longer fits in my pre-pregnancy shorts.  So there goes my shot at that illustrious "You're ALL belly" status that I really wanted to attain.