20 weeks already?!

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!

How far along? 20 weeks.

Due Date: August 13, 2010

Total weight gain/loss: -3, back down from last week. Not what I expected... I wonder when I'll start gaining? My guess is soon!
Maternity clothes? Yes. My collection is slowly growing... which is nice because I'm almost totally grown out of my regular clothes
Sleep: Not awful. I must always have a pillow between my knees and if I wake up after 4 or 5 I can't go back to a deep sleep (I read somewhere that baby has started influencing my sleep... so I'll be a lighter sleeper after baby is here... seems helpful, I guess.)

Best moment this week: I love catching my profile in a mirror and seeing my belly!
Food cravings: Most recent: Grecian Island... guess what I had for dinner last night? :) Also - I'm noticing that I need to add salt to just about everything and I looove potatoes right now. (YAY complex carbs!)
Food aversions: Things that are creamy and warm or smell gross (to me)
Gender: Unknown. - We will find out April 7th!
Labor Signs: None and thank goodness.
Belly Button in or out? In... no change.
What I miss: Subway!!!
What I am looking forward to: Might be going to a Mom-to-Mom sale Saturday... I hear they are pretty cool but can be intense... I'm looking forward to it!
Milestones: 20 WEEKS!!! HALFWAY!! whoah.

Other: So, I'm full of contemplations on how to make money... which is odd because I've always wished that money wasn't so necessary to living... I'm constantly thinking of non-traditional ways to get some... I'm considering Pampered Chef, I'm working on my cake decorating (I have an order for June already... so I'm practicing!) and I'm thinking about making/selling napkin rings on Etsy(mostly)... no, I've never made a napkin ring - but I love them! I'm running on passion and ideas here and I'm excited to try!

Updates - 19w3d

Sometimes I look @ my blog to check on my baby ... then it occurs to me that the page isn't going to change unless I post something! O:) I guess I really am losing my mind?

So here's my update -

I can hardly believe that I'm 19 weeks and still down 2lbs from when I found out I was pregnant... my books say @ least 10lb gain is normal right now... I'm not carrying any extra weight but it is amazing how the shifting weight can affect how I walk/stand/sit/lay... put on shoes!!

When I walk - I can't walk fast @ all! I get an awful cramp near my right hip - my uterus is trying to grow and the ligament there doesn't like to be stretched! I feel like I mosey everywhere I go.

Just standing - I can't do it as long, my feet and calves start to ache so bad! Oh - when I stand up straight, the muscles between my shoulders ache... I've never had much strength in my back and I think my belly is pulling my back forward a little. :/ bummer.

Sitting - Sitting straight up isn't bad, except I slouch, but if I lounge @ at all (which I do prefer - get my feet up!) I have to be on my side with a support under my belly or I feel all out-of-whack.

Laying - I have to be on my side - I still prefer to be on my back but my body reminds me that I'm not supposed to ... my heart starts pounding b/c I'm cutting of some of my circulation... my uterus tips back and pinches a main artery... hm. When I DO lay on my side I'm to the point where I absolutely MUST have a pillow between my knees or my hip starts to hurt so bad that I can hardly stand it!

Putting on shoes?! Already? - If I have to bend all the way down to the floor to put on my shoes, I feel like I can't breathe! My lungs get squashed by my belly too! If I have something to put my foot up on I'm ok but methinks I'm glad the weather is nice - I need to switch from tenni-shoes to slip-ons... stat!

But the best thing ever right now? Every now and then I feel a little kick :) (baby's feet are about an inch long) and my tummy is changing... it is tight instead of being squishy. :) I like to push on it and figure out how much space baby is taking up. :) I don't even mind that I've started needing to use the stretch mark lotion... as I rub it in I get to think about my baby with no distraction... one day I'll get to rub lotion on my baby and the thought makes my heart melt. :)

:) Love,

from a happy Mommy, me!

Dancing baby

My child is dancing in my tummy! I have no idea what is so exciting or if baby just didn't like being squished (I was sitting and leaning forward @ the computer desk) but I've sat back now and baby is still moving! I felt like it has been forever since I have felt movement that I could identify as baby moving... this is so cool!

Also - added to the Target registry today :) This is fun - can't wait to find out gender than we can pick out the fun stuff!

:) Love,

Excited Mama

19 weeks

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.

How far along? 19 weeks.

Due Date: August 13, 2010

Total weight gain/loss: -2... I read in a book that average weight gain is 10-13 lbs at this stage... That means my overweight-to-begin-with self has 'lost' about 13 lbs... That's pretty cool... but now I'm hungry ALL the time b/c my body is feeding this baby! ... I don't like being hungry every hour!
Maternity clothes? Yes. I have just a couple other things that fit now.
Sleep: Getting better for now, my hip was really hurting the other night... but I'm getting used to sleeping on my side so it is getting better.

Best moment this week: Hearing the heartbeat again - healthy 155bpm and easy to find!
Movement: Not very recently... but I'm sure I will soon!
Food cravings: My Grandma's Macaroni Salad... but I keep forgetting to ask for it.
Food aversions: Things that are creamy and warm or smell gross (to me)
Gender: Unknown. - We will find out April 7th!
Labor Signs: None and thank goodness.
Belly Button in or out? In... no change.
What I miss: Subway!!!
What I am looking forward to: Registering some more @ Target after work Friday for essentials.
Milestones: My tummy is growing... I have a feeling my weight is going to start changing drastically... I think the baby is supposed to double in weight in the next few weeks.

Other: I'm seriously considering being a Pampered Chef Consultant... that way I can be at home more with my baby and husband :) Party anyone? I need to get 4 lined up in April! :)

18 weeks

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.

How far along? 18 weeks.

Due Date: August 13, 2010

Total weight gain/loss: -3, same as last week.
Maternity clothes? Yes... and my small make-it-by collection is growing!
Sleep: Sleep is annoying - I have to be 'just so' to be comfortable. If I wake up after 5am my rest-of-the-night sleep isn't very restful.

Best moment this week: Registering @ Babies'R'Us - if you go look, FYI: there is more than one bedding set because we don't know the gender yet!
Movement: Not very recently... but I'm sure I will soon!
Food cravings: Today? ... New Country China Buffett!!
Food aversions: Things that are creamy and warm or smell gross (to me)
Gender: Unknown. - We will find out April 7th!
Labor Signs: None and thank goodness.
Belly Button in or out? In... no change.
What I miss: Subway!!!
What I am looking forward to: Hearing baby's heartbeat again on Tuesday, 3/16
Milestones: My tummy is out farther than my chest now! :) I was all excited when we noticed.

Other: PICTURE!

17 weeks

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.

How far along? 17 weeks.

Due Date: August 13, 2010

Total weight gain/loss: -3. That's up one from last week. Baby's growing!! I'm sure I'll see more weight gain in the coming weeks.
Maternity clothes? Yes. I think I have two work shirts that still fit but all my other clothes are maternity. (Comfy, at-home clothes don't count!) :)
Sleep: Slept good last night... Trying new ways to sleep on my side + weird pregnancy dreams = not the most restful sleep ever.

Best moment this week: Getting a burst of (what I'll call) nesting-energy last Saturday... my brother came over and helped - we took apart and moved the guest bed that was in the nursery, put the shower doors downstairs (that were sitting in the nursery) and moved my little arm chair into the nursery. :) Things are getting ready! My house is in for it! Two of my friends have commented that I'm in a constant state of nesting! :)
Movement: Yes and it is so cool.
Food cravings: Irish breakfast!!!! I reeeaaally want fried tomatoes, eggs, toast and tea!
Food aversions: Things that are creamy and warm or smell gross (to me)
Gender: Unknown. - We will find out April 7th!
Labor Signs: None and thank goodness.
Belly Button in or out? In... no change.
What I miss: Subway!!!
What I am looking forward to: Looking at bedding options. :)
Milestones: I'm not allowed to lay flat on my back anymore because baby weighs enough to cut off blood flow to both of us!

Other: I'm losing my mind... pregnancy brain is a truth for me. I really hope I have a smart baby!! (At least that way I'll know where my brain power went!)