Week 23

I put on a dress this morning - a black one (those are supposed to minimize) but it was a tad bit "figure-hugging".  And while I didn't hate how I looked, and throwing a drapey cardigan over everything also helped, I couldn't ignore my butt.  I mean.  Is it getting really big or what?  There are typically NO badonkadonks around these parts, but as I gazed into the mirror I found myself thinking of Kim Kardashian's pregnant booty.  Google it, as I will not be posting her photos here.  But OMG.  Am I going to look like that in another couple months?

Is my butt looking bigger?

I'm starting to get this theory that pregnant ladies really end up showing their true weight struggles (or lack thereof).  For example, a girlfriend of mine is 10 weeks ahead of me and still super skinny all over except the baby bump.  I always suspected this, but I'm even more certain now that she must just be naturally slender and doesn't have to work too hard at it.  I on the other hand am barely pushing 6 months preg and I'm seeing Kardashian Booty in the mirror.  Yes, I do work hard to maintain my weight when I'm not pregnant.  It has NOT been the simplest task throughout life.  And I think pregnancy is really going to tell all.  *sigh*  This kid better be nice and smart and caring and let me live with them when I'm old and disgusting.

How far along: 23 weeks, today!
What did baby do this week: Baby is the size of a grapefruit.  They are getting into a sleep cycle and sleep 12-14 hours a day.  I’m starting to be able to tell when s/he is asleep vs. awake (since I feel the movements when Little One is awake!)  Baby is continuing to fatten up and grow; senses are maturing (touch, hearing, taste) and fingernails are almost fully formed.
Total weight gain: 21 pounds - seems high to me.  Likely why I'm seeing Kardashian Booty in the mirror...
Symptoms: I noticed some cramping on my lower left side most of 1 day last week.  It almost felt like period cramps which slightly worried me, but also made me think that maybe it’s round ligament pain from the uterus stretching?  Either way, it subsided by the next day and I haven’t felt it since, so maybe no biggie.  My feet (which I complained about when in Hawaii) are continuing to be very sore after doing not a WHOLE lot of standing.  And yes, it’s standing that bothers my feet (heels) more than walking.  I think my posture has changed, or else it’s this TWENTY pound weight gain?  But funny enough, since it’s my heels that hurt - I have no problem continuing to wear high heels to work!  But no other major symptoms.  I've been having some SLIGHT constipation which is never a good time, but it’s not debilitating and things are “getting through”.
Queasy or Sick: No!
Sleep: Still great.  I'm being a big rebel and still sleeping on my back.  I know the pregnancy books say to start trying to sleep on your side by week 20, but Dr. R has never sounded very insistent when I ask her about this (and the 1 time I asked Dr. A, she said 3rd trimester).  Maybe it's kinda like "try not to eat too much deli turkey" cuz there *is* a slight risk, but it's not very common?  I was talking to a girlfriend who has 4, count 'em FOUR children and she said that she never worried too much about back sleeping.  She said her body tended to tell her when she shouldn't sleep on her back anymore - because she was uncomfortable.  And this wasn't usually until the last few weeks.  I'm arguing that a good night's sleep is more important than trying to tilt my pelvis to the side.  No pillows in my bed other than under my head either.  And I DO sometimes sleep on my sides anyway, so maybe I'm not as big a rebel as I like to imagine.

Sleep Rebel!!

Best moment this week:  Feeling so loved by Hubby.  Even on my fattest feeling, "holy crap when did my arms get so big", Day he comes home telling me how cute/beautiful I look.  And it is genuine - I know when he's blowing smoke up there.  There must be little pregnancy fairies flying around who cast spells on hubbies making them think their ballooning wives are actually attractive.  Thank you Pregnancy Fairy.  Thank you.
Hardest part of the week:  In the big scheme of things it's really not that bad at all but I've started getting a little bit of constipation which um, SUCKS.  But isn't the worst thing that could happen.  I've been trying to eat more fiber and drink more water but there's really only so much I can consume before I think I'm gonna turn into a bran muffin.  On tap today?: my pregnancy cereal of choice - Frosted Mini Wheats (I swap out with Raisin Nut Bran) with nonfat organic milk, Trader Joe's Broccoli Slaw and Kale Salad with Chicken, fruit for snacks and I literally might have a couple hard boiled eggs and a whole grain bagel with non-fat cream cheese for dinner.  Plus drinking my 60 ounces (OK truthfully sometimes I only get about 45) of water.  Let's see how I'm feeling tomorrow.  If this still doesn't do it then I give up.
Looking forward to: When Baby can survive outside the womb.  I know this is something of a morbid thought, but I do keep thinking about it.  A baby born at 22 weeks would supposedly not be resuscitated because it was be so severely developmentally disabled.  But just a few shorts weeks later, survival climbs to 80%!  I think even by week 24 (next week!) Baby would have a 50% chance.
Movement: Yessiree Bob.  And I think I felt my first kick/punch in my belly 3-4 days ago.  So far all the movement I’ve been feeling has been very low,  more like in my pelvis (bladder), so the kick in my belly was new!  A reminder that I have an anterior placenta which cushions the blows a bit, so my guess is that my placenta is covering a lot of my belly so that’s why I’m mostly feeling movements low.  But maybe Baby is getting stronger so a solid punch in the belly could be felt?  Or maybe the kicks with the feet (which would be lower) are just stronger than punches with little hands?  :)
Food cravings: Nothing in particular
Happy or moody: Happy!
Labor signs: No
Maternity clothes: Yes.  And I guess I tend to prefer the clothes that hug my belly as opposed to drape over it.  I know the “older school” ladies (my mother) aren’t fans of showing the shape of the belly like this, but I feel like it’s a more flattering appearance than the tent shape.  To each their own.  Side comments from my mom are nothing new.  Bring it!

Belly button in or out: In
Wedding rings on or off: On.  Little bit snug but I still think it's the heat of late summer and not so much swelling from pregnancy.
Stretch marks: Nope.  Just started my 3rd bottle of Clarins Huile Tonic!  Maybe it's helping.
Learnings from the week:  OMG stroller shopping IS HARD!!!  I have to say that the hardest item to add to our registry was the stroller.  It’s like buying a car, but in a world where you don’t know ANYTHING about cars or car brands before starting.  Yah.  I really have no idea what we’re going to need but do know we will need something.  We’ve settled on the Chicco Keyfit 30 carseat (a top pick in my Baby Bargains book AND on Consumer Reports) with the Chicco Keyfit Caddy for running around town.  But this will only get us to about 6-9 months depending on when Baby outgrows the carseat.  So for a main stroller we decided on a convertible and are still deciding between the Baby Jogger City Select and the UppaBaby Vista.  Both have adapters for the Chicco carseat, but the Vista comes with a bassinet we could use when Baby is tiny - for sleeping overnight.  City Select has a bassinet (you have to buy separately) but it’s not recommended for overnight sleeping.  The City Select is cheaper than the Vista, but the Vista comes with a lot of extras the City Select does not.  So *if* you need those items (like the bassinet, rain shield, etc.) then it might not be as big a price difference in the end.  There’s also the Britax B-Ready stroller which works flawlessly with the Britax B-Safe carseat and rates right up there with these other 2 strollers I’m comparing.  Oh man.  Hope you have as much fun as I have been. Here are some great vids comparing these strollers if you start to get as confused as I was, however it's important to note that this is a comparison of the prior UBV.  The 2015 (coming out in just a month or two here) has way more options for seat positions when/if you have a 2nd (or 3rd!) kid:
Lucie's List:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-F0R_gYe2O0
Stroller Guru:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcWQ91sPMeY
Final Thoughts: My baby showers are set!  One for family and one for friends, in mid-November.  I’m trying to get them in before the holidays and I think we’re gonna succeed.  So I’ve been finalizing my registry.  Doing LOTS of online research: love Lucie's List and reading reviews of products on Amazon.  I literally read that Baby Bargains book  (I mentioned in week 19) cover to cover.  It looks like a textbook that would belong to a Super Nerd: full of highlighted paragraphs and page tags.  I think I'm about as prepared as I'll ever be (which when you're talking about having your first kid = truly not at all.)

Week 22

Another one of those weeks that I don't feel like I have a lot to say, but feeling GREAT and loving feeling my little baby kick me (sometimes I think there is a little foot in my bladder...um - but it's a good/weird feeling).

I think someone's little foot is in my bladder

It's also another one of those weeks I've had to pause to remember how far along I am.  I keep thinking anywhere from 21-23.  Maybe I've been distracted because we were helping my sister move back into her house (and out of ours - amazing how much stuff can accumulate in just a few weeks!)  So this might be a quick post...

How far along: 22 weeks, 2 days
What did baby do this week:  Baby is the size of a papaya at around 10.5-11 inches from head to heel.  Baby also should have passed the 1 pound mark which for some reason gives me comfort.  Being able to say my baby is in the "pounds" as far as weight goes is great progress.  Baby can definitely hear what's going on outside the womb - so I've told Hubby he must speak nicely to me ALL.THE.TIME.  :)  His/her skin is wrinkled and a pinkish-red color, but still translucent.
Total weight gain:  OMG 20 pounds after our babymoon - I'm not even joking that I'm going to try to lose a little of that or stay the same for a week or two.  That is too much (for me) at this point.  I was hoping to stay under 30/35 for the entire pregnancy, but 20 at 22 weeks?  That's only about halfway!!!
Symptoms:  Still feeling great overall.  No back pain, no acne, no heartburn, feet are just a little tired.  I'm calling myself LUCKY so far!
Queasy or Sick: Not at all
Sleep: Great - rarely getting up in the middle of the night.  More likely early in the morning (like maybe 6am) but then I can fall back asleep for a little bit before I have to get up.

Best moment this week: Totally feeling baby kicking.  But maybe it’s not so great when it’s right in the bladder.  It's still not a strong feeling and sometimes I still think it might be gas - but I'm starting to really recognize it as my baby.  And I love that feeling.
Hardest part of the week: Keeping up with my blog?  But I'm managing!!
Looking forward to:  When Hubby can feel Baby kicking from the outside.  I think we still have a few more weeks to get there though - esp with my anterior placenta.
Movement: Definitely.  It's low - about 4 inches below my belly button.  But absolutely feeling it!
Food cravings:  Not craving anything, but feeling like I need to eat more veggies.  Not quite sure I'd call that a craving though.  Just being a responsible mommy.
Happy or moody: Happy!
Labor signs: No
Maternity clothes: Every day
Belly button in or out: In, but getting more taut
Wedding rings on or off: On, but snug
Stretch marks: No
Learnings from the week: I guess I’ve noticed that the pain in my butt, upper/outer thigh, from the progesterone in oil shots, has been fading.  That's right - believe it or not, at more than half way through my pregnancy it is still not gone - but it’s certainly faded from how it was.  My GAWD it might still be bothering me after my baby is here!!
Final Thoughts: Welp, I think from here on out Hubby will have to do all the dishes!  I noticed when doing dishes yesterday that my belly is now a little bit in the way for me to get close enough to the stream of water and thoroughly wash the dishes.  So I had to bend over funny to keep going and that ended up hurting my back.  So sad to not do dishes... ;)

Week 21

Babymooning!!!  I am writing this blog post from our hotel room on Waikiki Beach!  Not too shabby, huh?  Hubby and I are greatly enjoying this special time together.  And while I keep falling into our regular get-up-and-go routine and not really *thinking* about why we're here, I try to remind myself that even though nothing about this trip feels abnormal - it will be the last of its kind for MANY years to come.  Of course we can take trips without kids in the future, but we would miss them and worry about them.  And then if you bring them, there is really no "relaxation" in the definition of that type of vacation.  So that's why this trip/babymoon is so special.  We're resting, we're spending time together, we're seeing new places, eating new things and learning about a place.  We both love to travel and while this is certainly not an exotic international locale, we are happy to be (slowly) exploring someplace we've never been.

How far along:  21 weeks today!
What did baby do this week: Baby is the size of a pomegranate (wait, is a pomegranate really larger than last week's banana?) and about 10.5 inches.  I read somewhere that if you could see your baby right now, s/he would look like a smaller version of what they'll look like at birth.  Meaning all the facial features are done forming and they just need to grow and get bigger!  Baby has fully developed taste buds and can taste what I'm eating as they swallow amniotic fluid.  They are also developing a regular sleep cycle and starting to have dreams!
Total weight gain: I don't know since we've been gone all week - but my gawd I'm worried it's a lot more than I want to.  We've been eating so "well"!!!
Symptoms: Nothing really this week.  However I have noticed that since we've been on vacation, we've been doing a lot of walking (hiked 6 miles one day).  Sometimes we're walking multiple miles 2 days in a row.  And my feet are KILLING ME!!  Yes, sometimes I'm not wearing great shoes (ie. flip-flops.  But NOT on the days we are hiking/walking many miles) and I think my feet actually hurt more when we are browsing around/standing around/moving slowly since then I'm resting on my heels more instead of moving on my whole foot.  But Hubby has had to rub my feet more than once on this trip.  And he's been dropping me off at the hotel lobby before parking the car on many a night too.  The perfect hubby!  No back pain - just my FEET!
Queasy or Sick: Nope - yay!
Sleep: It has been WONDERFUL while we've been on vacation.  I really must be super stress free!  And I'm not getting up to pee at night every single night!
Best moment this week: The only thing that tops being here?... I'm certain I've been feeling our baby kick.  What a wonderful way to celebrate our Babymoon!
Hardest part of the week: Sorry - I know this just rubs in our trip to paradise, but researching and deciding on all the cool things we want to do each day.  I know, *wah*!  But it IS hard work to research a vacation spot and figure out how to optimally fill a week with interesting and enjoyable memories!  Especially thinking this could be our last where we can so freely do this.
Looking forward to:  Going home to an empty house (sorry Sissy, you know I love!)  My sister and her family have been staying with us but their remodel should be finished around the time we get home so I'll get my whole house back to start nesting and working on the nursery.
Movement:  I think......I think...... I'm pretty sure.... that YES!  What I'm feeling pretty darn low in my abdomen (maybe 4 inches below my belly button) is not gas or hunger pangs as I'd been thinking before, but my little baby's feet kicking me!  The feeling is stronger this week and it's always the same.  I read on another pregnancy blog someone mentioning that since the feeling is not like anything they'd felt before, they're determining it to be their baby.  Well this falls true for me too: it's kinda LIKE gas or hungriness, but it's still not like anything I'm certain I've felt before.  So it must be Baby!  I thought it seemed a little low to be baby kicks, but we know after my anatomy scan that Baby is turned feet down right now and I read online that just depending on how the baby is positioned, sometimes kicks are in the belly, sometimes the side, sometimes the pelvic area...  But I'm so excited that I'm finally feeling movement!!!  Hubby has been asking what it feels like and I just tell him "gas".  Haha - he knows how that feels FOR SURE!!

Food cravings: Well since Hawaiian food can be very heavy and I'm only sampling little bites of poke or sushi at very high-end/reputable restaurants, I've mostly been craving light food here.  Like soup with noodles and salads.  No giant plates of beef teriyaki or loco moco.  But I'm also craving all the great sweets too: Hawaiian donuts and shave ice.  Yum!!
Happy or moody: Very happy
Labor signs: No
Maternity clothes: I am just wearing a regular bikini at the pool.  But yes otherwise maternity clothes.  I put on a non-maternity shirt the other day and found it is now just slightly too short to cover the band of my maternity shorts.  So yah, just about full-fledged maternity clothes all the time.  And big bras.  Like lunch lady style bras.  I bought a few new ones before our trip and was floored to realize I'd gone from barely filling a 36B to a 38C!!  And these are not cute, perky, little cute bras like I'm used to.  They're big - with 3 hooks instead of 2 and wide straps.  I made a comment to Hubby (I think also since I'm seeing myself in so many pictures we've taken this week) that I feel like I put on a pregnancy suit every morning.  I'm still adjusting to this new body I have in front of me.  The boobs and belly all feel fake and like I can come home at night and take them all off!
Belly button in or out: In
Wedding rings on or off: On, but snugger.
Stretch marks: No
Learnings from the week: I've talked in earlier posts about how my fingernails were so strong and not breaking and how I'd have to cut them at least once every 2 weeks.  However in the last month I swear they're not as strong as they were in the first half of my pregnancy.  I've been wondering why this is.  But I may have figured it out.  This last month has basically been the time that my morning sickness or queasiness has been gone.  I've definitely been more active in this time.  Hiking, walking, doing things around the house... so maybe I'm just doing more with my hands and thus causing my nails to break more frequently?  Random, I know - but something that I noticed.
Final Thoughts: I would HIGHLY recommend a Babymoon.  You don't need to spend a lot of money or fly across the country to still get away and have some sweet downtime bonding with your significant other.  A friend of mine did 4 weekend trips with her Hubby so as to save her PTO for when her baby is here.  Also a great option!  It's so hard to imagine how life will change for us but of course it WILL.  So while a wonderful new chapter of life is about to begin, another one is ending.  And I think it's SO important to cherish the time with my Hubby right now.  These are the last few months that it will be just the two of us.  I had a friend recently mention to me that even though we're no spring chickens, she's not ready to rush into marriage and babies with her newish (but serious) boyfriend because she's doesn't want to have to share him.  There are obviously other reasons too - but that "sharing" idea stuck with me.  I love the attention Hubby and I give each other (and let's be honest, I probably get a little more than he gets) and it's very true that our attention to each other will not only be cut in half, but probably down to about 10-25% in the early days with a new baby.  So do yourselves a favor and try to spend some special time with your partner.  Relax, get away from daily life, talk about the future, talk about the baby, and just enjoy each other.

Week 20

Week 20.  I can't believe I'm halfway there!!!  As I typed "Week 20" into the title of this blog post I thought back to my first weekly post: Week 6 and how nervous I was to start tracking things weekly.  Like what if I didn't get very far?  Dare I be brazen enough to start tracking my weeks with such confidence that I'd get as far as I wanted?  But yes, I should be.  There's really been no reason for us to feel nervous, especially after the 1st trimester ended.  But I'm a total worrier.  So I'm still super happy and relieved to be where we are.  We aren't out of the woods yet (in terms of baking up a baby who might be able to survive outside the womb) but I'm a whole lot closer.

20!!!!!!!!!!

I would have to concur with just about EVERYONE who says the 2nd trimester is the best part of pregnancy.  I have a lot of energy, no queasiness, I'm finally looking pregnant and not just fat, but I'm not huge and uncomfortable yet.  After every visit to a baby superstore or OB waiting-room, Hubby comments to me how I'm "really holding it together" and follows up with how good I look and how beautiful I am.  Yes, I do have a wonderful Hubby!  In fairness though, he's sometimes comparing me with women who look about 35-38 weeks pregnant, but I'll still revel in his compliments!

I still have to get through the Glucose Test (test for gestational diabetes) between week 24-26.  Not looking forward to that but hoping to get good news.  We had our anatomy scan yesterday and were so relieved and happy that everything looked GREAT.  We didn’t get any good 3D shots of the baby though, since the placenta is in front (anterior placenta) so it can block getting a clear picture during an ultrasound.  The perinatologist at our anatomy scan told us that Baby weighs 10 ounces!

How far along: 20 weeks, today!
What did baby do this week: Baby is the size of a banana or carrot and about 6-6.25 inches head to butt or 10 inches head to heel.  My pregnancy apps say that this week is the start of measuring Baby to their heels instead of their butts since their legs are more straightened out than earlier in pregnancy.  Baby's skin is thickening and starting to form 2 layers: the epidermis (outer layer) and the dermis (deeper layer).  S/he is also starting to produce meconium, a black, sticky by-product of digestion.  This will accumulate in Baby's bowels and show up in the first dirty diaper.
Total weight gain: 15.6 pounds (down .2 pounds from last week)
Symptoms:  Mostly nothing, but I did have an evening of heartburn after eating a big salad (vegetables are very acidic) late in the evening, and it wasn't on an empty stomach - so definitely my fault for letting myself get too full.  Hubby doesn’t like me taking anything, but I insisted on some Tums (which are totally okayed by my doctor) and I felt a lot better very quickly.
Queasy or Sick:  Nothing.  Loving it!
Sleep: Dr. told me that I should start sleeping on my side after week 20, so I've been trying to do so more frequently.  Still no pillows in the bed, but I might need to start putting a small one behind my back soon.  Sleeping great otherwise.  I've had a couple more nights of not waking up once to pee overnight, which amazes me in the morning!
Best moment this week: Our anatomy scan!!  And being halfway through!!
Hardest part of the week: Realizing that I’m only halfway through…hehe.
Looking forward to:  Our Babymoon!  We leave this weekend and I'm just SO looking forward to spending some quality time with Hubby.  We've always had a wonderful and loving relationship but not surprisingly - my pregnancy is making us closer and I can't wait to spend some downtime with him away from the daily stressors we both deal with.

Movement: I think I'm feeling Baby move!  The "fizziness" and "vibrations" I've talked about are graduating a little bit to more of a "spasm".  It's not strong, but I'm noticing it more and more when I'm sitting still or lying in bed.  We saw Baby move a TON on the ultrasound this week, so I know they're dancing in there!
Food cravings: Nothing in particular
Happy or moody:  Happy.  And feeling so close to Hubby!
Labor signs: No.  And before the anatomy scan they used the trans-vaginal ultrasound to check my cervix - no signs of a short cervix which could increase the risk of premature/early labor.
Maternity clothes: I'm feeling so much better about getting ready in the mornings now that I’m well stocked up on maternity clothes.  It took about 3 major shopping trips to Old Navy, Target and Motherhood with a couple items from Pink Blush and LOFT thrown in, but feel like I have a mini wardrobe now.  WHEW!  It’s actually a little harder to buy maternity clothes before your belly is very round - so there is definitely an awkward stage where you’re too big for your regular pants/clothes, but don't quite have a belly yet and it’s hard to buy in that range.  My belly finally looks pregnant to me (and I think others) so it’s fitting into the stretchy bands on maternity pants now.  This makes it a lot easier to find well fitting clothes.
Belly button in or out: In - but I'm noticing that it's getting a bit more stretched out
Wedding rings on or off: On, but my (previously rather loose) engagement ring is fitting perfectly now.  I think the warm summer adds to this too though.
Stretch marks: No
Learnings from the week:  We got a lot of walking in this past week.  From Sunday to Sunday I think Hubby and I got about 11 miles of walking/hiking in!  We did a 3.6 mile, 1100 foot elevation climb hike last weekend while we were out of town.  Then walked a total of about 6 miles this past Saturday + Sunday (not to mention an evening walk in the neighborhood).  I'm feeling really great about it and think it's helping fight any fullness/heartburn and also slowed my weight-gain a little!
Final Thoughts: I don't know if it's the loving feelings I mentioned above, or my super-charged emotions, but I've been a little needy/more clingy with Hubby the past couple months.  Before my pregnancy I'd say I felt quite independent.  Not cold or anything, but we could do our own things and be perfectly happy.  And if one of us went to bed before the other (this wouldn't happen frequently, but occasionally) it wasn't any big deal at all whatsoever.  But I find if he's getting ready to go to bed I rush to get myself ready too so that we can go through our cuddling/talking to Baby routine.  Maybe it's sweet but I feel a little bit sappy sometimes too!