Hello 19 weeks!

One week away from the halfway point! I can't believe it! I am so excited. It's all downhill from there, right? LOL


I get so excited when I think that every day that goes by we are one day closer to meeting our little princess! I seriously can't WAIT!

I can't wait to hold her in my arms and kiss her and love her and give her everything. Awwww.

Your pregnancy: 19 weeks

How your baby's growing:

Your baby's sensory development is exploding! Her brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. Some research suggests that she may be able to hear your voice now, so don't be shy about reading aloud, talking to her, or singing a happy tune if the mood strikes you.

Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces and measures 6 inches, head to bottom — about the size of a large heirloom tomato. Her arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of her body now. Her kidneys continue to make urine and the hair on her scalp is sprouting. A waxy protective coating called the vernix caseosa is forming on her skin to prevent it from pickling in the amniotic fluid.

How your life's changing:

Think you're big now? You'll start growing even faster in the weeks to come. As a result, you may notice some achiness in your lower abdomen or even an occasional brief, stabbing pain on one or both sides — especially when you shift position or at the end of an active day. Most likely, this is round ligament pain. The ligaments that support your uterus are stretching to accommodate its increasing weight. This is nothing to be alarmed about, but call your practitioner if the pain continues even when you're resting or becomes severe.

You may be noticing some skin changes, too. Are the palms of your hands red? Nothing to worry about — it's from the extra estrogen. You may also have patches of darkened skin caused by a temporary increase in pigment. When these darker patches appear on your upper lip, cheeks, and forehead, they're called chloasma, or the "mask of pregnancy." You may also notice some darkening of your nipples, freckles, scars, underarms, inner thighs, and vulva. That darkened line running from your belly button to your pubic bone is called the linea nigra, or "dark line."

These darkened spots will probably fade shortly after delivery. In the meantime, protect yourself from the sun, which intensifies the pigment changes. Cover up, wear a brimmed hat, and use sunscreen when you're outdoors. And if you're self-conscious about your "mask," a little concealing makeup can work wonders.

Thankfully I am still feeling really good! No complaints there.

I still don't have much of a bump but it's definitely growing. Lately I can actually feel the "bump" when I bend over too far. I should be happy that I am not too big yet so that I can actually bend over, see my feet, be comfortable, etc. I know that as October gets closer those things will not be happening anymore. I need to enjoy it while I can.

I have been thinking I am feeling movement the last 2-3 weeks… just little "flutters" or it actually feels like popping bubbles. I was only feeling her moving at night when I was the most relaxed. Yesterday when I at work, emailing Grandma (SHHHHH! Don't tell the boss!), I felt her moving around in there quite a bit. Maybe she wanted me to tell Grandma she said "Hi!".

18 weeks and a friend welcomes her baby girl to the world!

Well hello bloggies! I am 18 weeks pregnant today! I can't believe how close I am getting to the halfway point!


I had an appointment with my doctor today. I got to hear my little girl's heartbeat. Never gets old. I love it. They scheduled my anatomy scan for TOMORROW =) They will measure the baby and make sure that everything looks good and tell us the sex of the baby… which we already know! (wink wink!)

Aside my from my appointment and scheduling my ultrasound, I have some other good news! My friend Vanessa and her husband Sam welcomed their baby girl Kate into the world this morning at 12:03am!

She's a perfect angel!

Congrats Vanessa and Sam!!!!

It's so amazing when you think about it... it's just you and your hubby one day and then all of the sudden there are 3!

I can't help but to picture Craig and I with our little princess in just a *few* months!

Your pregnancy: 18 weeks

How your baby's growing:


Head to rump, your baby is about 5 1/2 inches long (about the length of a bell pepper) and he weighs almost 7 ounces. He's busy flexing his arms and legs — movements that you'll start noticing more and more in the weeks ahead. His blood vessels are visible through his thin skin, and his ears are now in their final position, although they're still standing out from his head a bit. A protective covering of myelin is beginning to form around his nerves, a process that will continue for a year after he's born. If you're having a girl, her uterus and fallopian tubes are formed and in place. If you're having a boy, his genitals are noticeable now, but he may hide them from you during an ultrasound.

How your life's changing:

Hungry? An increase in appetite is pretty common about now. Make it count by choosing meals and snacks that are rich in nutrients instead of empty calories (chips, French fries, candy, and other sweets). Bigger, more comfortable clothes are a must now as your appetite and waistline grow.

Your cardiovascular system is undergoing dramatic changes, and during this trimester your blood pressure will probably be lower than usual. Don't spring up too fast from a lying or sitting position or you might feel a little dizzy.

From now on, when you do lie down, it's best to lie on your side — or at least partly tilted to one side. (When you lie flat on your back, your uterus can compress a major vein, leading to decreased blood return to your heart.) Try placing a pillow behind you or under your hip or upper leg for comfort.

If you haven't already had a second-trimester ultrasound, you'll probably have one soon. This painless procedure helps your practitioner check how your baby's growing, screen for certain birth defects, check the placenta and umbilical cord, determine whether the due date you're working with is accurate, and see how many babies you're carrying. During the exam, you might see your baby moving around or sucking his thumb. Bring your partner along, and be sure to ask for a printout for your baby's first photo album!
 
I am feeling really good these days. To be honest I am exhausted right now. I am thinking I will skip my work out tonight. Not sure why but the 3 o'clock slump hit me hard today! A day of rest is ok... I need to listen to my body.
 
My appetite is up... has been from the beginning. Luckily I am keeping it healthy so even though I am eating more calories, my body and the baby are using them up. When I "splurge" it's normally a cookie or two (I should just stick w/ one!) or chocolate chips. Sometimes I need something sweet... besides just fruit, which I am eating a ton of! I don't eat much fast food... thank god... I would be as big as a house if I drove through and got french fries and milkshakes regularly. When I eat out or have "fast food" it's salads and sandwiches. Unless I am at Red Robin... fries with ranch are a MUST there... but it's not often! My other weakness is chips and salsa. Anytime they are infront of me I have ZERO willpower =( could be worse, I guess!
 
I have definitely gained a few pounds at this point, but I am feeling ok with where I am right now.
 
That's about it for now. Hopefully, we can start decorating our baby girl's room SOON! I can't wait to start that project. I *think* I found the bedding that I am in love with =) So excited. Once we start, I will post the progress!

17 Weeks and Some NEWS!

The weeks just keep flying by!


Who am I kidding trying to pretend like I don't have huge news to share?????????

Remember how I mentioned that the U/S tech at my work said she would sneak me in early to see which "team" we were on? Well I thought she was going to get me in at 18 weeks, but she made a surprise visit yesterday and asked if I wanted to know what we were having. Uh… YESSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!

Craig and I decided that if this opportunity presented itself and he wasn't available to be there, we would have the U/S tech take a look and not tell ME the news but to write it down and seal it in an envelope for Craig and I to open together and that's just what we did.

She took me into the U/S room and looked around a bit… took a couple of fun pictures. Here's one…

(Uh... look at the size of that hand!)

Then she told me she was pretty sure she knew what the sex was but she wanted to be sure and the baby was moving a lot. She had me come back after lunch (baby's are usually a little slower after mommy eats). Well I came back after lunch but w/ an empty bladder. The baby was basically nestled down low. The tech thought she would have a better view with a full bladder. I waited another hour and half… had to pee so bad it hurt! LOL Finally she got her final view and told me she would drop an envelope off to me.

She dropped the envelope off around 4! Now the wait was on! LOL I still had an hour of work and then I had to force myself to go to the gym, but that was a good thing because Craig had to run a couple of errands and wouldn't have been home yet anyway.

Craig and I got home at about the same time. I told him I had a surprise and he already knew what it was because I had sent him the above U/S picture earlier.

Finally it was TIME to open the envelope! I let Craig do the honors. He opened the envelope to find a piece of paper all folded that said "keep going"… he went through about 4-5 pieces of paper of all different colors telling us to move to the next. LOL so cute.

Finally we got to the last piece of paper, which was blue. Craig opened it and it said "Dad and Mom, Ok… I appear to be your baby girl! Always, Me."

She really had us going! So... it looks like we are having a baby GIRL!

The tech told us that we will get a better view at the actual U/S scheduled by my doctor at about 21 weeks. A lot can change in a few weeks, but she is almost positive that it's a little girl in there. I will keep you posted if anything changes!

Your pregnancy: 17 weeks

How your baby's growing:

Your baby's skeleton is changing from soft cartilage to bone, and the umbilical cord — her lifeline to the placenta — is growing stronger and thicker. Your baby weighs 5 ounces now (about as much as a turnip), and she's around 5 inches long from head to bottom. She can move her joints, and her sweat glands are starting to develop.

How your life's changing:

Starting to feel a bit off balance? As your belly grows, your center of gravity changes, so you may begin to occasionally feel a little unsteady on your feet. Try to avoid situations with a high risk of falling. Wear low-heeled shoes to reduce your risk of taking a tumble; trauma to your abdomen could be dangerous for you and your baby. You'll also want to be sure to buckle up when you're in a car — keep the lap portion of the seat belt under your belly, drawn snugly across your hips, and also use the shoulder harness, which should fit snugly between your breasts.

You may also notice your eyes becoming drier. Using over-the-counter lubricating drops may help. If your contact lenses become uncomfortable, try wearing them for shorter stretches of time. If you still have discomfort, switch to glasses until after you give birth.

Happy 16 weeks!!!

Yep... you read that right, 16 weeks today! The weeks just keep flying by. It will be no time before we get to hold our baby boy or girl in our arms! And even less time until we find out what "it" is! I am on pins and needles!






Your pregnancy: 16 weeks




How your baby's growing:Get ready for a growth spurt. In the next few weeks, your baby will double his weight and add inches to his length. Right now, he's about the size of an avocado: 4 1/2 inches long (head to rump) and 3 1/2 ounces. His legs are much more developed, his head is more erect than it has been, and his eyes have moved closer to the front of his head. His ears are close to their final position, too. The patterning of his scalp has begun, though his locks aren't recognizable yet. He's even started growing toenails. And there's a lot happening inside as well. For example, his heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, and this amount will continue to increase as your baby continues to develop.


How your life's changing:

The top of your uterus is about halfway between your pubic bone and your navel, and the round ligaments that support it are thickening and stretching as it grows. You're probably feeling a whole lot better as you settle into pregnancy, too. Less nausea, fewer mood swings, and "glowing" skin contribute to an overall sense of well-being.Soon you'll experience one of the most wonderful moments of pregnancy — feeling your baby move. While some women notice "quickening" as early as 16 weeks, many don't feel their baby move until about 18 weeks or more. (And if this is your first baby, don't be too impatient — you may not be aware of your baby's movements until 20 weeks or so.) The earliest movements may feel like little flutters, gas bubbles, or even like popcorn popping. Over the following weeks they'll grow stronger and you'll be able to feel them much more frequently

Well I don't know about "glowing" skin LOL but I do feel really good! Definitely a change from the 1st trimester. More energy and less food aversions! Thank you 2nd tri!

It looks like I will be able to feel movement at any time now. I could be way off but a week ago (or so) I woke up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom (one of many trips). I was laying in bed (to lazy to get up quite yet) and I remember thinking "what is going on with my stomach?" It felt like something was happening. Almost like bubbles but I figured if it was gas I would feel uncomfortable. Then it hit me and I thought "That's probably the BABY!". I have felt the "flutters" or "bubbles" since then but only when I am very relaxed and not really thinking about. I am thinking its the baby moving but I guess I can't be 100% sure. All I know is that I haven't felt anything like it before. I'm going with "it's the baby!"

Here's a 16 week bump pic for you! Please excuse my hot mess of a self! I keep forgetting to have Craig take a bump pic when I look half-way decent SO you get the after my work out/before the shower pic =)

It's not much, but its definitely more "bump" than I have ever had. We have noticed a change in my "size" the last week and it looks like (from the Baby Center update) the baby is about to hit a growth spurt! Maybe the bump will too =)

That's all for now! See you at 17 weeks! Almost halfway there!