Week 18

 

How far along:  18 weeks down, 22 weeks to go

This week baby is the size of: a mango. The chalkboard above is wrong. Now that I'm officially 18 weeks baby is 6 inches and 0.5 ounces. So in a week he/she grew half an inch!

Next appointment: This Friday!  

Exercise: My exercise this past week consisted of walking at the park while babysitting and window shopping at local stores. 

Stretch marks: None

Swelling: my belly is swelling :) or growing rather :)

Maternity clothes:  Yep, I've noticed they make me look more pregnant and less like I ate too much. Now if only I could find a pregnant hoodie- it's starting to get cold here. What happened to warm fall weather?!? 

Belly button: No changes yet

Sleep: I  definitely haven't been sleeping the way that I used to. 

Food cravings/aversions:  I made some Mexican corn salad that was amazing!  I could eat it by the bowlful. (It's basically corn, red and green peppers, tomatoes, and  cucumbers.) YUMM!  So I guess my cravings are vegetables. And still salty foods and ice cold water. 

Symptoms: My belly is growing!  My stomach has been feeling weird recently. It's strange not knowing what is normal and what is abnormal. I've been assuming everything is normal unless it hurts really bad or I'm bleeding. Anyway, sometimes when I walk, or sit and cross my legs, or pull my legs up to sit cross cross applesauce my stomach is uncomfortable. I would describe it as tender. I guess baby doesn't like the pressure. I'll add it to my "ask the doctor" list. 

Movement: When I lay down at night I *think* I feel something. Today I leaned over the bed and really thought I felt "bubbles". If this isn't baby I know I will start to feel him/her soon! 

Labor signs: No. 

What I miss: My husband

What I'm loving: Matt has been so amazing. He puts up with my random crying, makes me breakfast in bed, made me Rice Krispy treats, helps with the dishes and laundry. Talks to the baby, rubs my back. A girl can get used to this! 

What I'm looking forward to: our appointment Friday and feeling baby and *knowing* it is baby. 

Best moment this week: Matt got to come to life group this week :) We also got the chance to eat lunch with his aunt. 

Milestones:  Our baby can now yawn! 

Goals: Make lots of money at our yard sale Saturday

Old Wives Tale # 6 & 7

Catch Your Breath

Have you noticed breathing is more difficult since your pregnancy?

A boy is on the way when you experience shortness of breath.

No problem? You're breathing free and easy? It's a girl.

Verdict:  Good thing I don't have to read out loud very often, or talk and walk at the same time. Shortness of breath has definitely become a problem.  Could this baby be sporting blue when it's born?

Running Total:
Boy: 2
Girl: 4

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To the Heart of the Matter

Mom, it's important for you to have a good doctor to ease you through your pregnancy.

The next time you see your doc, take this quick sex test by asking for a check of your baby's heartbeat.

A rate of 139 or below indicates that it's a boy's heart that's beating.

If the reading is 140 or above, it's a girl's heart that will power a new life.

My first doctor appointment the heart rate  was 138 beats per minute. At our first ultrasound at 13 weeks and 1 day the heart rate was 153 beats per minute. So lets put this one down as a girl. No matter what though this little baby is stealing my heart!


Running Total:
Boy: 2
Girl: 5

Week 17

This week I did not do a normal chalkboard update. Instead I dedicted my chalkboard and wardrobe to a friend's son; Noah. Noah's mom, who I went to college with, posted on facebook that it was National Microcephaly Day.

According to http://www.childrenshospital.org

When a child has microcephaly, abnormal brain development results in an abnormal head size – much smaller than other children of the same age. (“Micro” means “small,” while “cephaly” comes from the Greek word for “head.”) These complications can also lead to problems with a child’s cognitive abilities and neurological functions.

Microcephaly is a neurological condition that occurs because a child’s developing brain doesn’t grow properly. This causes the disease’s most obvious physical symptom: a head size that is much smaller than normal.

Because the brain does not grow at a normal pace, the skull doesn’t, either. Many (but not all) children with microcephaly also experience cognitive delays and neurological problems as a result.

I have not had the pleasure to meet Noah yet, or see Jen and her husband interact with him. But the posts that I see on Facebook inspire me. The faith that Jen has amazes me. The positive outlook that she has on her own life, and son's life is so encouraging.

Old Wives Tale # 4 & 5

No Applause, Please

Mom, look closely at your hands. Are they rough or smooth? (And what do you think the sex indications would naturally be?)

A girl goes with smooth hands.

That means a boy will be born to one with rough hands.

Verdict is: smooth hands and another one for the girl column.

Running total:  

Boy: 0

Girl: 4

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One More for the Hands

Mom, have your fingernails grown faster and stronger during pregnancy?

If yes, score another one in the boy column. And Mom, if your nails haven't changed, check girl. 

Verdict: beautiful nails which I no longer bite! And our first indication that it may be a boy!

Running total:  

Boy: 1

Girl: 4

16 Weeks

How far along:  16 weeks down, 24 weeks to go

This week baby is the size of: an avocado (mmmm maybe I should celebrate with some guacamole) 

Next appointment: October 12- it is almost October, then my opointment will be this month!

Exercise: I got some prenatal yoga and Pilates videos from the library I'm going to try and use

Stretch marks: None

Swelling: no swelling that I can tell

Maternity clothes:  I'm still wearing yoga pants,  maternity jeans, maternity tanks with my regular shirts

Belly button: No changes yet

Sleep: I have started using a lot more pillows. Some nights I sleep fine, other nights it takes forever to fall asleep, just to wake up to go to the bathroom. 

Food cravings/aversions: pretty much the same as last week. Matt had mouth surgery- so this past week we've ate a lot of soft food and soup. 

Symptoms: I've had some sharp pains in my boobs, va-ja-ja, and possible round ligament pains. I guess this baby is growing!  It is supposed to double in size in the next few weeks :)

Movement: Nothing definite yet

Labor signs: No, thank goodness!

What I miss: Having motivation. 

What I'm loving: Thinking about baby nurseries, baby clothes and baby showers

What I'm looking forward to: still looking forward to my next doctors appointment so we can make sure everything is still going smooth 

Best moment this week: we bought a cradle at a consignment sale for 23 dollars.  It came with a brand new mattress. I want to paint it a bright color, but Matt says it would be really hard to sand all the spindles. 

Milestones: I've been working on cleaning out the guest room which will be turned into the baby's nursery. 

Goals: finish cleaning out the guest room and have a yard sale. 

Old Wives Tale # 2 & 3

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall...

This old German tale checks not whether you are the fairest mother of all, but what your eyes say.  Stare into the mirror for at least one minute, but not more than three.

Mom, do your eyes dilate?

If yes, it is a boy.

They don't? It is a girl.

They didn't dilate- so it's a girl!

Running total:  
Boy: 0
Girl: 2

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Eye Can Tell

Pull your lower eyelids down and look at the whites of your eyes. Do you see a broken blood vessel in the shape of a "V"?

If that "V" is in the lower half of your right eye, count on a boy.

There's a girl coming if the "V"-shaped broken blood vessel is in your left eye.

Verdict is---- left eye: girl

Running total:  

Boy: 0

Girl: 3

15 Weeks

How far along: 15 weeks

This week, baby is the size of a: orange

Next appointment: October 12

Stretch marks: nope

Swelling: nope

Maternity clothes: I've been hanging out in yoga pants and sweats at home. Maternity pants when I go out- my prematernity pants still work with the hair tie trick in the morning, but by the evening they are uncomfortable

Belly button: looks normal

Sleep: it takes a longer time for me to fall asleep and I wake up at least once or twice to use the restroom 

Food cravings/aversions: still not big on eating meat, I could live off of salad bars (that will be the first thing I buy when we hit the lottery) I'm loving ice cold water and enjoy salty foods.  Still pretty close to my prepregnancy foods. 

Symptoms: strange dreams, constant bathroom breaks in which I think I could go for hours, then hardly anything comes out, and pants are getting tighter. 

Movement: None yet

Labor signs: hopefully not for a very long time- this baby needs to go to term. 

What I miss: Sleeping soundly

What I'm loving: being pregnant, spending the weekends with Matt, looking at baby stuff. 

What I'm looking forward to: Hearing the heartbeat again

Best moment this week: we bought some baby outfits, gender neutral of course

Milestones: my lower belly is getting harder