Week 20

HALF WAY THERE!!

It's a banana! Today we will actually get to see the banana (well, length of) that is inside of me. Our ultrasound appointment is at 3:00. We are supposed to be there at 2:30 . . . it won't come fast enough! I will blog again with pictures (they send us home with a disk) later today.

The baby weighs about 10.5 oz and is around 10 inches from head to heel. It's swallowing more these days, which is good practice for his digestive system. It's also producing meconium, a black, sticky by-product of digestion. This gooey substance will accumulate in his bowels, and we'll see it in the first soiled diaper (I saw Cole's).

Changes in me . . . The top of my uterus is supposed to be to my belly button now. I think mine has been there for over a week. It also says I should have gained about 10 pounds. I think I have gained more like 14. It will be interesting to see if they change my due date after today's appointment.

Check back later for a gender update! YIPPEE!

My first letter.

My cousin used to write her daughter a letter on her blog once a month when she was a baby. It was always touching and I looked so forward to it. I would like to try to do the same. But I am going to start now!

Dear Kumquat -

My first letter to you! I promise to never call you kumquat again once we decide on a name for you. Tomorrow is our sonogram to find out if you are a boy or a girl, so maybe a name is in your near future. SO . . . a boy or a girl!? I can't believe we are actually finding out tomorrow. I really don't care either way and your Daddy says he doesn't either. I think it is only natural for me to picture myself with a girl . . . buying adorable outfits, tying bows in your hair, filling the house with pink and then there will be boy problems, prom dresses and wedding plans. And I am sure your Daddy pictures himself with a little boy . . . trucks and baseball caps from day one, throwing the ball in the yard, cheering on the Packers, a buddy for the driving range. But then we both agree that there is nothing better than a daddy's-girl or a momma's-boy! The love between a mother and her son - I can't imagine! And I know a lot about the love between a father and his daughter - I live that!! So, what I am getting at is we really don't care if you are a boy or a girl. We just want you to have 10 fingers and 10 toes, a cute little nose (even if you have your Daddy's nose it's still OK) and lips for me to kiss!

I feel you moving around in there! It is starting to get where I feel you every day. I love it! I feel it, stop what I am doing and pay perfect attention so that I can enjoy it again. Only nothing happens for awhile and then I forget to pay attention again. But I am sure that it's not gas anymore!

I am 20 weeks pregnant tomorrow. That means we are half way there. So far you have been a perfect baby! I appreciate you not making me sick or too out of my mind.

Until tomorrow . . .

Mommy

Myth Busters!

Do you think you can actually lose your naturally curly hair during pregnancy? I am having the WORST time with my hair. It will not play nicely. It doesn't want to curl with mousse and the diffuser but it still needs a blow dryer and flat iron to be straight. Both ways are taking way too long. Do you believe that your hair really changes during pregnancy. AND more importantly, does it go back. I just can't imagine blow drying my hair and straightening each piece while a little person is screaming for my attention. I am already stressed out. Maybe this is why you just cut it short when you become a Mom!?

19 Weeks!

Wow. The weeks are FLYING now! Yay. Today we are 19 weeks pregnant and the website says the baby is the size of an heirloom tomato. The baby should weigh about 8.5 oz and measure 6 inches from head to toe. So I'm going to say it is the size of a Subway 6 in. Turkey! Yum-o. The hair on its scalp is sprouting (is it a boy with red curls!?). This is a crucial time for sensory development: the baby's brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. Some research suggests that it may be able to hear our voices now, so I'll be sure to sing sweet lullabiess so it can get used to my angelic voice! Ha.

Let's see . . . what else?! I feel better than before (and that wasn't bad!). I am getting less headaches - what a relief! I guess the biggest thing is our sonogram to determine the sex is ONE WEEK from today. I can't even explain how excited I am to know! I want to buy little gender specific onesies and talk about decor for the room. Let the fun begin!

18 weeks!

Oh no! I hate bell peppers, but I love you! This week the baby is about 5.5 inches long - about the size of a bell pepper - and weighs almost 7 ounces. It's busy flexing its arms and legs — movements that I can't wait to start noticing very soon. The blood vessels are visible through the thin skin, and the ears are now in their final position, although they're still standing out from the head a bit. If we're having a girl, her uterus and fallopian tubes are formed and in place. If we're having a boy, his genitals are noticeable now, but he may hide them from you during an ultrasound. Better show us your junk in 2 weeks! That's right . . . our sonogram is two weeks from today. It's like waiting for Christmas when you are 7 (times 100!). Is it just me, or are the weeks just flying by now!?

Still nothing to report from me. I feel great. Less headaches the last couple of weeks! Still wearing Mom's trusty black pants and a few other things are hanging in there. Am starting to wear a lot of the loaned clothes - thanks everybody! I haven't weighed myself since last week. I decided I don't have to know everyday! I am pretty sure we are at a 10 pound weight gain. That on top of the 10 pounds since the wedding puts me at just about . . . big!

I wore a bikini twice this weekend! (that was pretty) Just with Brian and my parents. It was my birthday on Saturday and Brian and I went to the beach. It was so nice! We ended up getting dinner outside, on the water, at Down the Hatch in Ponce Inlet. A band was playing and the weather was perfect. It was such a nice day! On Sunday, we went over to Mom and Dad's and sat by the pool. Then mom made an amazing dinner that I "ordered" . . . Spinach Chicken Lasagna - YUM! We had Banana Dream cake from TooJays - it was so good. So as you can see, the theme of my birthday this year was sun and food - two of my favorite things!!

One year ago today . . .

. . . we brought Miso home from the cat rescue. I don't think we saved his life - he would have been adopted in a second. Just look at him! Oh, he was so cute. What a great decision we made. We both love dogs and would love to have had one, but decided that a cat would be much easier. Besides some cat hair, that we vacuum often, he is a piece of cake! He's never made a mess. He does wake me up at 5:00 a.m. but I kinda enjoy it. He acts like a dog most of the time. He fetches, plays chase, has to be in the same room as you . . . he was and still is the perfect addition to our family! Our first baby!

Week 17 - Bump

We took this picture quickly this morning. We are still figuring out the best way to do these, because we want to link them all together at the end and see the progression in one "video."