21 Weeks

How Far Along: 21 weeks (although I'm posting super late)

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Gained another 5 lbs. The midwife said I'm right on track for weight gain though, so if she's not worried, neither am I!


How big is baby: From head to rump baby is the size of a carrot (10.5 inches long and about 3/4 of a pound!)

Stretch Marks: Still none! I inspect the belly daily for them, and later up like it's my new religion. Fingers crossed that staying hydrated, keeping my skin moisturized, and genetics will keep them at bay.



Maternity Clothes: Yes, definitely pants. Most shirts are maternity or a size larger than I used to wear though. Tried putting on a shirt that I used to wear and it was comically tight.


Sleep: Sleep is good mostly, but it's getting to be uncomfortable in the hip department. I know it's only going to get worse, so I'm focusing on the nights where hip pain is non-existent.


Gender: Little Man


Movement: Oh, he's moving around SO much! And it is definite baby movement, too. Love it!

Food Cravings/Aversions: Craving carbs, carbs, and more carbs! And pineapple. And rocky road ice cream.

Belly Button: Getting more and more shallow by the day, and I finally took the belly button ring out. It was getting to be a bit uncomfortable, and it's so weird to see the belly without it now. I've had it for the past 12 years or so!


Symptoms: Sore hips and tailbone, and swollen feet and hands at times.


What I miss: Bending over without grunting, looking cute and not just bloated. But overall, I'm enjoying my pregnancy.


Looking forward to: Working on the baby's room, registering, and picking a name. Choosing a human being's name is tough, man!

My favorite husband quote/moment of the week:  I'm not going to use this for a husband quote this week. Thursday afternoon, the day I actually hit 21 weeks, I got a phone call that my grandmother who was in the hospital wasn't doing well, and that I should get up there soon to see her. I am SO glad I left work when I did, because I was able to chat  with grandma a little bit, and she even teased me saying "You're going to be huge in August!" She passed away that evening, and I am so glad I have that last moment we shared together as one of my final memories of her. She was a remarkable woman, one who I didn't see nearly enough, but loved dearly.

Weekly Belly Pics: Just for fun, a little comparison for you... What a difference 10 weeks makes!



11 weeks, nothing to see here!



21 weeks... Hello baby!
(No belly pic this week since I was wearing a dress. I'm a lady, thank you very much)



20 Weeks - Halfway!

How Far Along: 20 weeks!

Total Weight Gain/Loss: I'll find out next Friday, but truth be told, I'm not super concerned about it. Sure, I don't want to gain WAY too much, but I'm not going to stress about not eating a donut if I want one :)

How big is baby: From head to rump baby is the size of a cantaloupe (The Bump) or a banana (BabyCenter).

Stretch Marks: Nope! I had a scare the other day though, I thought for sure I saw one on my belly so I went nuts and slathered on the belly balm I've been using. I'm thinking it was just a mark from my clothes or something though, because it's not there anymore. Stay away stretchies, please!



Maternity Clothes: Yes for pants, and some tops. Most of my pre-pregnancy tops are all too short though, so I've been buying a few new ones here and there.



Sleep: Sleep has been pretty darn good, actually! I fall right asleep and only wake up to use the bathroom. Enjoying it while it lasts :)



Gender: A not very modest little boy! He had no problem flashing the goods at our ultrasound, and anytime they were trying to get a picture of anything in that area (kidneys, legs, whatever) he kept showing us the goods. So funny!



Movement: More and more, although I have an anterior placenta so, I'm told, it'll be harder for me to feel the first movements. There will be no mistaking the kicks and punches as he gets bigger and stronger though, I'm sure.


Food Cravings/Aversions: Craving food in general. Last weekend my mom, bestie, and I made Buska, our family's traditional Easter bread. Sooooo good, and totally hit the pregnancy craving spot!


Belly Button: Getting more and more shallow by the day :)



Symptoms: Sore tailbone, major round ligament pain, my belly feeling like it might rip open. Just the usual pregnancy stuff, right? ha ha!


What I miss: Not a whole lot right now, I'm really enjoying this part of pregnancy.



Looking forward to: Getting to work on baby boy's room. There is a plan in motion, people!

My favorite husband quote/moment of the week:  This has to have been when we were in the  ultrasound. We were watching the baby on the screen while they were taking all of the necessary measurements when the tech said "He won't move". And The Hubster looks at me and whispers "She said he!" Then, when she was getting ready to tell us what we were having she asked if we had any guesses and he swore up and down he saw the baby's "manhood" and that he picked up on her saying "he". It was great to see him so excited!


Weekly Belly Pics:

Ignore the sleepy face, I was so tired.

Raising A Hero

"You don't raise heroes, you raise sons.  And if you treat them like sons, they'll turn out to be heroes, even if it's just in your own eyes." 

~Walter M. Schirra, Sr.~

Friday, April 8th, 2011 will undoubtedly be one day out of many that I will never, ever forget. 


This wonderful day ranks up there with the afternoon when The Hubster asked me to be his wife with only the polar bears as witnesses, the day we stood up in front of our family and closest friends to pledge our lives to each other, the day we signed the documents that would make us "real, responsible adults" and homeowners, and the day we discovered we would be adding the title "parent" to the many titles we already possessed.


The sun was shining, a rarity of late for those of us here in the Pacific Northwest. Although the glow of the sun added little warmth to the crisp day it's energy charged us, boosting our spirits, quickening our steps and hearts, and making the day feel even more magical. As we walked hand in hand across the parking lot I knew we would be changed when we later emerged from the building to retrace our steps.


Something wonderful was about to happen.


With thumping hearts we sat waiting in the radiology department, excited and nervous for what was to come. They called my name and we bolted out of our seats. We followed the woman in the long white coat back into a warm and dimly lit room, knowing she would be the one to deliver to us the news we were so eager to discover.


I hopped up onto the table (as much as a pregnant woman can hop). She smeared warm gel over my belly, and with the touch of a wand our child's image flooded the screen.


Hands, head, eyes, feet, legs, there was so much to see! We saw a healthy heart beating strongly, all four chambers pumping away. Two distinct hemispheres of a brain. The spine and all the tiny vertebrae.


We witnessed our baby kicking and flailing teeny tiny arms, the opening and closing of a perfect little mouth, and doing everything possible to get away from that annoying ultrasound wand that surely disrupted a nap that was in progress.


But most of all...


We saw that we will have a son.


A son. I will have a little boy that will call me mom. I will be his mama. I am his mama. The Hubster is his daddy, and I can't even begin to tell you how that makes my heart grow knowing that our little baby will look up to his father and see all the wonderful things that I see.


He'll see the things that made me fall in love with him and want to have his child.
He'll know he can depend on his daddy to be there for him no matter what.
He'll know his daddy's soft spots and when to play to them.
He'll know his daddy's pride in having a son as his first child.


But, most of all, he will be loved so, so much.


Actually, he already is.

19 Weeks

How Far Along: 19 weeks. Nearly half way!

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Meh, who knows. I eat well, and I don't. I'm not going to stress over it anymore, but I'm not going to go overboard either. Once the weather is a little nicer, I'll start getting out and walking more, so that'll help.

How big is baby: Head to rump, baby is the size of a mango according to What to Expect and The Bump. BabyCenter says baby is the size of a large heirloom tomato!

Stretch Marks: Nope! Still hoping I can keep those suckers away.



Maternity Clothes: Still a heck yes for the pants, and some tops too. I'm finding lots of my regular shirts are getting to be a tad short.


Sleep: Sleep has been absolutely wonderful. Still waking up once or twice to visit the bathroom, but I fall right back asleep (unless The Hubster is snoring). I'm finding that my hips aren't as sore as they were last week, so hopefully my body is getting used to me sleeping on my sides only.


Gender: We find out TOMORROW!!! What are your predictions? :)


Movement: For sure! I really feel baby moving a  lot right after I eat, or when I'm sitting really still while watching TV. They're definitely more distinguishable now, but I still have to stop what I'm doing to be sure it's what I think it is.



Food Cravings/Aversions: Still craving sweets, and citrus flavored stuff. Grapefruit soda has been hitting the spot for me lately, and downing the water has started to be a little easier, too. No food aversions so far!



Belly Button: Getting more and more shallow by the day :)


Symptoms: It's harder to get off of the couch and out of bed, that's a symptom, right? Also, round ligament pain when I move too quickly, feeling baby move more and more, itchy belly skin at times, and the boobs are growing a bit more too!


What I miss: Not a whole lot right now, I'm really enjoying this part of pregnancy.


Looking forward to: Having our ultrasound TOMORROW, finding out what we're having (hopefully!), and sharing that with our friends and family.

My favorite husband quote/moment of the week:  He is just as excited as I am (I think) to find out what gender our baby is. He's even talking about being ready to find out so we can "maybe" do some baby shopping this weekend, and this is a man who does NOT like to go shopping. *sigh* I love him.



Weekly Belly Pics:

19 weeks