23 Weeks... already!?!?!??!

Well here we are... 23 weeks! Time is still flying.

Honestly, time probably needs to slow down just a little bit.

Craig was trying to surprise me last Friday by picking up the moulding for the baby's room and put it up so we could paint. That plan was foiled when he found some mold. He cut a small hole in the wall... that hole turned into ripping half of the wall out. What we found were rotted studs and more mold/moisture. BUZZ KILL! Now we have to deal with getting that all taken care of before we can start on our baby girl's nursery. =( we were so bummed.

At least we found it now and can get it all taken care of before her arrival. Mold is nasty stuff. No messing with that!

Your pregnancy: 23 weeks

How your baby's growing:


Turn on the radio and sway to the music. With her sense of movement well developed by now, your baby can feel you dance. And now that she's more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound (about as much as a large mango), you may be able to see her squirm underneath your clothes. Blood vessels in her lungs are developing to prepare for breathing, and the sounds that your baby's increasingly keen ears pick up are preparing her for entry into the outside world. Loud noises that become familiar now — such as your dog barking or the roar of the vacuum cleaner — probably won't faze her when she hears them outside the womb.


How your life's changing:


You may notice that your ankles and feet start to swell a bit in the coming weeks or months, especially at the end of the day or during the heat of summer. Sluggish circulation in your legs — coupled with changes in your blood chemistry that may cause some water retention — may result in swelling, also known as edema. Your body will get rid of the extra fluid after you have your baby, which is why you'll pee frequently and sweat a lot for a few days after delivery. In the meantime, lie on your left side or put your feet up when you can, stretch out your legs when you sit, and avoid sitting — or standing — in one place for long periods. Also, try to exercise regularly to increase circulation, and wear support stockings (put them on first thing in the morning) and roomy, comfortable shoes. You may be tempted to skimp on liquids to combat swelling, but you need to drink plenty of water because staying hydrated actually helps prevent fluid retention. While a certain amount of edema in your lower extremities is normal during pregnancy, excessive swelling may be a sign of a serious condition called preeclampsia. Be sure to call your midwife or doctor if you have severe or sudden swelling of your feet or ankles, more than slight swelling of your hands, swelling in your face, or puffiness around your eyes.

I am still feeling REALLY good! I do notice some cramping in my legs and feet now and then. I am wondering if I am retaining water… I feel like my calves are rather large these days. I don't feel swollen…?

I am still working out at least 4 times per week. Walking hill intervals for 45 minutes everyday and weight training 2-3 times per week. I plan on keeping that up until the very end! Wish me luck!

I really believe that being healthy and in good shape helps with labor and delivery. It doesn't guarantee smooth sailing, but I really think that it helps with stamina and strength. I need all the help I can get!

My only complaint is that I try my hardest to eat as healthy as possible and I do pretty good for the most part but I am craving sweets like CRAZY! This little girl has given me a major sweet tooth! Cookies, candy, etc. it all sounds good! I try to stick with fruit instead of that "crap" but sometimes Mommy just wants a freakin' cookie! So weird because I'm normally a salt person, but the sweets have got a hold on me since getting pregnant.

The 23 week update says that the baby can hear outside noises and they are becoming more familiar. Well last week I had just gotten home and sat down and the dogs started going crazy... I think there was another dog walking by or something that got them all riled up. I think the commotion scared the baby. She started moving all over the place! Too funny! It was cool to feel her react to something on the outside.
Our baby girl is still moving up a storm in there. Some days she moves much more than others. Last night she was going crazy. I could feel what felt like her whole body push up against the inside of my belly while I was laying in bed. It felt like she was pushing my stomach out from the inside. I should have turned on the light and watched the show! I absolutely LOVE it when she is active. Let's me know that she's doing well.