21 weeks!

Just got back from spending a week in Kentucky with my sister. The week went SO quickly but we had a really good time. She is so excited about my pregnancy and would talk to the baby every day and rub my belly. She even got to feel the baby kick. Baby loves when I play music on my belly and goes nuts kicking around, Torey got to feel some of those kicks. It was great!

Steve and I are looking for an apartment to move into in May. It's exciting but also stressful as we try to find the perfect place for our growing family. Space is a huge issue. We need space for the baby and space for all of our existing furniture. Storage space, outdoor space, parking space... ugh. Now my head is spinning again. haha. We have plenty of time though. We'll find something!

How far along? 201weeks
Total weight gain: 5 lbs
Maternity clothes? I bought a bunch more shirts this week, thank goodness. I was SO sick of wearing the same 3 shirts all of the time. :)
Sleep: I'm still very much a night owl . I was traveling so sleep was kind of all over the place but I had a few good 4 hour stretches of sleep this week which was a pleasant surprise!
Best moment this week: Playing music to my belly, Ingrid Michaelson to be exact, and feeling the baby dance around.
Sex of the baby: Still not finding out... tomorrow would be the big day if we were going to though.
Labor Signs: None.
Belly Button in or out? In.
What I miss: Sitting comfortably for a long period of time.
What I am looking forward to: We get to see the baby TOMORROW!!!!!!!
Milestones: Both Torey and Steve feeling outside kicks. Baby is getting stronger!
Words of Wisdom: Drink tons of water!

What's going on with Baby with week:

Your Baby: Week 21

Baby gulps down several ounces of amniotic fluid every day, both for hydration and nutrition and to practice swallowing and digesting. And, these days, those taste buds actually work! Studies show that after birth, babies are most interested in tastes they've already experienced through amniotic fluid. Meaning, think about what you want your future child to eat as you prepare your own lunch.

Half way there!!

WOAAAHHH We're half way there! 20 weeks pregnant! This has been a great week. I feel like myself again, which is such a relief. No headaches, no vomiting, no fatigue. It's great! Baby is kick kick kicking away in there and I love feeling her/him. The kicks are getting stronger and now instead of tapping it feels like popcorn is popping in my abdomen. It's pretty crazy. I think I felt a kick on the outside last night but I can't be sure since I'm also feeling it from the inside, it's hard to tell.

This whole pregnancy so far I've just been taking pictures with my iPhone or my little point and shoot (shame on me) so Saturday I decided it was time to get some photos with my 'real' camera so Steve and I did a photo shoot out front. Here are the results.

 

  

  

It was fun, Steve did a great job. I'm glad we took them and we will be definitely be taking more as the pregnancy progresses and the bump looks more like a baby and less like a beer gut! 

How far along? 20 weeks
Total weight gain: 4 lbs
Maternity clothes? I'm at the point where I think I need more. My pre pregnancy jeans don't really cut it anymore, even with the bella band. Also, my pre pregnancy shirts just aren't long enough anymore so I need to get some longer shirts!
Sleep: I'm still very much a night owl but I seem to be sleeping a little better. I have to get up to pee every few hours still . I find I get my most restful sleep after Steve leaves for work. We need a bigger bed now that I have a huge body pillow.
Best moment this week: Feeling Baby kicking around in there multiple times a day. Especially last week when I was having a really bad day.
Sex of the baby: We're not finding out. Even though it's getting hard now that so many people who are due around me now know the sex of their baby. I think girl, friends think boy, Steve doesn't have a guy feeling either way.
Labor Signs: None.
Belly Button in or out? In.
What I miss: My clothes fitting me!
What I am looking forward to: Visiting my sister in Kentucky this week and seeing the baby next week.
Milestones: We started our baby registry!
Words of Wisdom:Set aside some time to take quality pictures!

About Baby:

 

Your Baby: Week 20

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!

19 weeks

19 weeks already!

How far along? 19 weeks
Total weight gain: 2lbs
Maternity clothes? I've been wearing 1 pair of maternity pants, altho I can fit into some of my regular pants. They're just comfy. And I have a few long sleeved t-shirts that are maternity. I don't need the belly room yet, I just like the length. (same as last week)
Sleep: I've been waking up every 1-2 hours and it's REALLY annoying. I feel the need to nap in the afternoon and then I'm up super late at night. It's really abnormal.
Best moment this week: I was able to share the baby's heartbeat with my sister and my mom via skype. The wonders of modern technology!
Gender: It will be a surprise! I still think girl but my acupuncturist thinks it's a boy! Not finding out is hard!
Labor Signs: None.
Belly Button in or out? In. I think it's getting deeper!
What I miss: Energy!
What I am looking forward to: More movement from baby. And seeing baby in 2 weeks!
Words of Wisdom: Start your registry early and fill it up over time. It's too overwhelming to do all at once!

About Baby:

 

Your Baby: Week 19

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.

18 Weeks

Not going to lie, this has not been my favorite week of pregnancy! I haven't been feeling well for the past week or so but I'm hoping it's on its way out! I'm feeling all sorts of stretching and heaviness between my belly button and my hips, it's really strange.

How far along? 18 weeks
Total weight gain: I'm finally back to my pre pregnancy weight. It's only going up from here!
Maternity clothes? I've been wearing 1 pair of maternity pants, altho I can fit into some of my regular pants. They're just comfy. And I have a few long sleeved t-shirts that are maternity. I don't need the belly room yet, I just like the length. (same as last week)
Sleep: I've been waking up every 1-2 hours and it's REALLY annoying. I don't feel rested in the mornings
Best moment this week: Giving in to my first pregnancy craving and eating chicken wings! They were SO good!
Movement: I'm feeling jabs around my bladder. Also, sometime it feels like there's a little eel inside me.
Gender: It will be a surprise!
Labor Signs: None.
Belly Button in or out? In.
What I miss: Beer! Energy!
What I am looking forward to: More movement from baby
Words of Wisdom: This is new to your husband too, there's a learning curve. Try to communicate your needs so he knows how to help you.

About Baby:

 

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.

We have a mover and a shaker!

Baby has been kicking up a storm recently! I've been able to feel him/her in there a few times a day for past 3 days or so. Just a few minutes ago I felt a few sharp kicks, grabbed Steve's hand and pressed it to my belly and he felt one too! VERY cool. Definitely a moment to remember!!

How far along? 17 weeks
Total weight gain: down 1 lb from pre pg weight
Maternity clothes? I've been wearing 1 pair of maternity pants, altho I can fit into some of my regular pants. They're just comfy. And I have a few long sleeved t-shirts that are maternity. I don't need the belly room yet, I just like the length. (same as last week)
Sleep: I'm pretty much back to normal with sleeping. I still love my naps though!
Best moment this week: Feeling baby move!!
Movement: I'm feeling jabs around my bladder. It's the strangest feeling!
Gender: It will be a surprise!
Labor Signs: None.
Belly Button in or out? In.
What I miss: Nothing!
What I am looking forward to: More movement from baby!
Words of Wisdom: Listen to your body and yourself. Don't rely on info in pregnancy books too much, everyone's body is different!

About  Baby:

 

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 Belly Pic

16 weeks

I'm pretty sure my dad is the only person who reads this blog (HI DAD!) but since I have one reader anxious for updates, here I am.

I'm pretty sure I felt the baby move tonight. I felt a flutter in my lower abdomen that felt like when you go over a steep hill and your stomach drops out, but I was just sitting on the couch. :) Hi Baby!

We also got to hear the heartbeat this week and it was AMAZING!!!!!! It sounded like a little horse galloping away inside me. So cool.

How far along? 16 weeks
Total weight gain: down 1 lb from pre pg weight
Maternity clothes? I've been wearing 1 pair of maternity pants, altho I can fit into some of my regular pants. They're just comfy. And I have a few long sleeved t-shirts that are maternity. I don't need the belly room yet, I just like the length.
Sleep: I'm pretty much back to normal with sleeping, thank goodness. The fatigue seems to be going away as well.
Best moment this week: Hearing the heartbeat!
Movement: I think I've felt some flutters. I can't wait to feel more.
Gender: It will be a surprise!
Labor Signs: None.
Belly Button in or out? In.
What I miss: Wine
What I am looking forward to: More movement from baby!

About Baby:

 

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.