25 Week Bumpdate

How Far Along: 25 weeks

 Total Weight Gain: 3 lbs (or 18 from my lowest low)

Baby Size: Cauliflower (Average size: 13.6-14.8 inches, 1.5-2.2 lb.)

Maternity Clothes: Oh yes! It is surprising how much bigger by belly can look from one outfit to the next.  Apparently my outfit on Sunday was quite accentuating as I got a lot of comments about my growing belly!

Gender: Girl, Girl, Girl!! Its a sweetie little Girl!

Movement: Kicks and rolls and jabs :)  Neil has still only successfully felt her a couple times, so we will need to work on that.  Last night she was partying hearty - hands and feet in action (unless she was doing the splits) - because I felt her on the left, then the right, back and forth, back and forth!

Sleep: I caught a cold this week, so the last two nights sleeping has been hard.  I've been trying to sit up, and that makes getting comfortable difficult.  But that isn't the baby's fault!

Cravings: I got some Honey Roasted Peanuts that I can't seem to put down.

Other crazy symptoms: I've cut my pill into fourth's.  This seems to be doing the trick.  Maybe I can just keep cutting it smaller and smaller...

Best Moments this week: Neil's parents came to town!  We had such a wonderful time.  The weather cooperated perfectly so we could go on a walk each evening.  We made a lot of progress on baby stuff since Neil's parents (and Neil) are professional grade researchers!  We picked out car seats, a stroller, finalized our registry and even ordered a crib!  I am so thankful for their help.  The brought us fun presents - new shoes and some makeup for me and a precious onesie for the baby!  It is pink and white with ruffles!  It was the first time that I actually pictured putting clothes on our baby, and snapping up all the little snaps.  I teared up a little!

24 Week Bumpdate

How Far Along: 24 weeks
 
Total Weight Gain: 2 lbs (or 17 from my lowest low)

Baby Size: Canteloupe (Average size: 10.5 inches (from head to toe), 12.7 oz.)

Maternity Clothes: Out in full force.  My shorts no longer fit and require the use of a really stretchy hair band, which presents its own challenges.  I got another light weight dress which both my sister's swore by when they were pregnant.

Gender: Girl, Girl, Girl!! Its a sweetie little Girl!

Movement: Still feeling lots of kicks!  I can sometimes see my stomach move because she is so strong!  Love my health girl :)

Sleep: Sleeping has been fine lately, except sometimes I get too hot.  I don't really know what to do about it.  Its almost like my body isn't regulating itself properly.  You would think I would wake myself up if I was getting too hot, but no.  And in the morning, I never wake up feeling sweaty, just uncomfortably nauseously hot. Why am i not sweating? Or maybe i just don't sweat enough... its quite odd. 

Cravings: I must be a "Jersey Girl" because I can't get enough dairy!  I love milk and ice cream and cheese and yogurt.  I have always loved these things but I particularly notice it lately.

Other crazy symptoms: I had a couple "set backs" this week in the name of progress.  I am trying to stop taking my nausea medicine (Zofran/Ondansetron). I've gotten to down to where I split the pill in half, making it just 2 mg which I take in the mornings when I wake up.  Its the weirdest thing because I don't need it the rest of the day, but if I don't take this pill when I wake up, before I feel nauseous, its pretty much all over.  I almost feel like its all in my head because the pill should only last for 4 hours, and its only half strength b/c it is cut in half.  So why does a 2mg pill create the difference between a good day and a bad day?

Yesterday I tried skipping the pill altogether and just popping up and eating something first thing.  That didn't go over well.  I ended up throwing up, which wouldn't be that big of a deal, but I can't go on and have a normal day after that.  So I took my pill at that point and ended up feeling pretty decent after like 1:00. 

So I talked to my Dr. about it at my appointment yesterday and he was so supportive and said he was really proud of me for the progress I'm making and I'm doing so good.  He encouraged me to try some other nausea helpers that didn't work before, but might work now that things are milder.  So this morning I tried taking some Emetrol, and didn't last 10 minutes before I was throwing up.  But I am determined not to take my pill b/c I feel like I need to find a long term solution to this thing!  So I've been on the couch all day and started feeling somewhat better around 3 or 4 and ate a little bit.  Its certainly not as bad as things were at first, since I've only thrown up once each day, but its just so frustrating to feel nauseous all the time.  If it was just throwing up once in the morning and feeling find the rest of the day I would be so fine with that.  Its this lingering sicky feeling that drives me nuts!  I feel like I can't do anything!

Best Moments this week: We headed up to Kansas City to celebrate Neil's 30th birthday, which will be later this month.  It was such a fun little get-away!  We ate at some great places and took in the sites of the city. 

We went to the Dr this week and got to hear the baby's heartbeat again.  Neil was so smart and sneaky and actually recorded a clip of it!  I love listening to it over and over.  I even tried to make it into my ring tone but couldn't get it to work.  I feel like we are learning more and more about our sweetie girl.  I told Neil that we have now experienced touch (little kicks), sight (ultrasound), and sound (heartbeat)! He said, yeah and she has affected your taste and smell, so we've got them all!

We set up some classes to take at the hospital.  I'm so thankful for my wonderful supportive husband.  He has been at every Dr's appointment and is taking 3 classes with me (including breastfeeding!).  My Dr. said at our next appointment we will do another ultrasound!  I can't wait :)

Belly Pics

I seem to be out of sync with my blog posting and having pictures ready.  It hard to get this pregnant body looking photo ready, plus schedule an opening with my photographer, and clear out the kitchen so we have a blank wall to work with. 

But here are some pictures just for fun!

6 Weeks pregnant

 15 Weeks - the first sign of a bump (can you see it??)

18 weeks - date night!

20 weeks  

23 Week Bumpdate

How Far Along: 23 weeks
 
Total Weight Gain: 2 lbs (or 17 from my lowest low)

Baby Size: Grapefruit (Average size: 10.5 inches (from head to toe), 12.7 oz.)

Maternity Clothes: All I want to wear are dresses and skirts.  Which makes it hard to wear super comfortable shoes.  Tennis shoes and a dress are not the most cute...

But on another note, I got my hair cut!  It is similar to the blonde girl on the far ends of these pictures. She is looking pretty cute with her little headband on - I may have to try that!

Gender: Girl, Girl, Girl!! Its a sweetie little Girl!

Movement: Lots of kicks and wiggles.  Neil felt a couple more kicks this week :)  She has started kicking more frequently and strongly.  Its so much fun to share her little movements with Neil.

Sleep: Doing good sleeping.  I would like to run a straw from my humidifier directly to my nose.  It feels like I can't get enough of that cool moist air!

Cravings: I had to restrain myself from buying Oreo's at the store the other day.  Seriously we went down the aisle and I pick up like 3 different bags, then put them each back, then got sucked back down the aisle a 2nd time!  I ended up leaving the store with Barnum's Animal Crackers and Neil congratulated me on making a "better choice" haha!

Other crazy symptoms: The baby brain has set in full force.  Luckily it hasn't affected my work much (I make an insane amount of notes to keep from missing anything!).  But I frequently can't grasp words or stop mid sentence bc I've forgotten what I was going to say.

Case & Point 1: I realized we needed to add Caffeine Free Coke to the list (yes I know I should only be drinking water, but sometimes you just gotta have a coke.  Like with pizza)  So I went to write it on the list and couldn't find the list.  So I hunted around for a while and finally found the list and a pen.  Then couldn't remember what I was going to write.  So I walked all over the kitchen and finally remember that it was the coke.  But by that time I was in the other room and found something else that needed to be added.  Needless to say only one of those things ended up on the list!

Case & Point 2: I made a whole list of things to talk to my boss about at our meeting Tuesday, then left the list at home.


Case & Point 3: I was trying to remember if we washed the sheets on the guest bed after the last visitor (don't worry we washed them anyway just to be sure).  Anyway, my sentence to Neil went, "I'm trying to remember [the last time we washed the sheets].... I can't remember what I was going to say"

Best Moments this week: We cleaned a bunch on the house!  It is looking great!  We donated a bunch of stuff and craigs listed some other things.  We are working on clearing out the nursery and combining the guest room and office into one.  Things are shaping up well!

Garden Fresh

I never in my life thought I would feel so proud of vegetables!!  My dad planted a beautiful garden this year and it is busting with life!  We took a ton of tomatoes (a Braum's bag 3/4 full), lots of yellow squash, a couple radishes, japalapenos and bell peppers, plus a whole hanger full of onion (my mom suggested hanging them so they stay drier).

22 Week Bumpdate

How Far Along: 22 weeks
 
Total Weight Gain: 0 lbs!!!

Baby Size: Papaya (Average size: 10.5 inches (from head to toe), 12.7 oz.)

Maternity Clothes: I bought a couple new dresses to wear in this summer heat and several pairs of flat shoes that should last me for a long time!

Gender: Sorry for the suspense - we still have a few people to tell in person!

Movement: Lots of kicks and wiggles.  I always wait until I feel about 3 in a row, then hollar for Neil to come over, at which time the baby gets perfectly still and doesn't move anymore haha.


Sleep: I'm having quite a bit of hip pain, since I mostly sleep on my side.  I've been trying to sleep tilted on my back, with the pillow under half of me so that I'm not fully on my back or fully on my side.  That seems to help some.  I also just read to try to keep your hips as parallel as possible by putting pillows between your legs.  I might try doubling up on my pillows to see if that helps.

Cravings: Is it possible to become addicted to ovaltine?  I had it two times yesterday, and already once this morning and I want it again.  It even sounds more appealing than the chocolate chip cookies sitting in the kitchen (that may or may not be because I already had 3).  Ok, you talked me into it - I'm getting some more :)


Other crazy symptoms: Can I just say that I LOVE being pregnant?  My family all commented on how proud I am of my belly.  My sister walked in the room and said "Joo-lee!?!?!..... I like your new car" (we bought Neil's parents car this weekend).  But after only hearing her say my name in an excited/impressed voice, I pooked out my belly, put my hands on my hips and stared down at my "accomplishment" with apparent pride!  I had decided without even hearing what she was excited about that she was obviously talking about my belly! haha

Best Moments this week: I might have decorated my belly for the 4th of July.....  I told Neil that I decorated it for him, but he was not convinced.  He said, "no, you decorated it for you!  If there are two things in this world that make you happy it is the 4th of July and your pregnant belly!"  I was feeling a little pouty about not getting to celebrate with my family or friends, but Neil and I had our own little party and made steak and corn on the cob and fried squash!

21 Week Bumpdate

Sorry for the delayed posts!  Last week was a little crazy with being out of town, but we will get back into the swing now :)

How Far Along: 21 weeks

Total Weight Gain: minus 2 lbs

Baby Size: Banana (about 6.5 in, 11 oz.)

Maternity Clothes: Elastic is by best friend.  I finally outgrew my last pair of shorts that would still button.  I guess its on to the ponytail holders to extend the button :)

Gender: We know!! We'll tell you soon :) We are very happy :)

Movement: Boy this baby is kicking up a storm!  I don't feel it too much during the day, but I feel it a lot when I lay down at night.  Since that was usually the time of day that I would also be talking to Neil while he was in NM, I told him that the baby must just like his voice!

Sleep: I'm still sleeping pretty good.  It feels like I need a lot of sleep.  These late nights in OKC were messing with me a bit since I'm used to getting in an evening nap on the couch.

Cravings: Fresh fruit and home grown tomatoes!  I had tomatoes straight from my dad's garden at almost every meal!

Other crazy symptoms: I found out on my first day in OKC that I can't get down on the floor and crawl around with my nephews like I usually do!

Best Moments this week: Getting to spend an entire week with my family and getting to tell them, Neil's parents and family about our precious baby!

Oh Yeah: Belly pics did not happen this week.  I'm sorry!  I'll do better next time.