25 Weeks Pregnant!!!

Head to heels, your baby now measures about 13 1/2 inches. He is weighing about a pound and a half and is beginning to exchange his long, lean look for some baby fat. As he does, his wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out and he'll start to look more and more like a newborn. He's also growing more hair — and if you could see it, you'd now be able to discern its color and texture.

Baby now weighs about the same as a rutabaga!!!

Total weight gain: Up 2 more lbs. Ugh. 18 lbs total. Sign of a healthy pregnancy...right??? Last week at my doctor's appointment, my doctor said I had a little bit of swelling my legs so maybe it is not all fat that I am gaining. She also said that I am measuring about a week a head of schedule. I hope my baby will be a normal size.
Sleep: Actually had a couple good nights of sleep this past week. I started to take allergy meds and I think they are working. My doctor told me to take some Tyenol PM and that has helped me sleep as well. Still not great but I'll take a couple good nights of sleep a week.
Other symptoms: Baby is starting to take up more and more space in my body. My ribs are expanding, my lungs are getting smooshed and there is less and less space for food in my stomach.
Best moment last week: The baby clothes I ordered came! They are so cute. It is hard to believe that as soon as this summer, there will be a little one living in those clothes.
What I miss: My old body. Moving quickly. Not being winded when sitting, standing, walking...etc.
What I am looking forward to: Please, Dan, can we start on the nursery, order the crib, pick a name, etc., etc....He is so busy with work and school. I guess his mind is just not on baby things like me. :(
Milestones: Starting my 6th month of pregnancy!
25 Week Belly Picture: Kind of blurry. I need a new camara...Maybe a mother's day gift???

24 Weeks Pregnant!!!

At 24 weeks, your baby's face is almost completely formed — eyelashes and all. You also might feel him become more active. That's a good thing! Moving around helps your baby build strong bones and muscles. Your baby is about 8 inches long and weighs about 1-1/2 pound. Which way is up? Your baby probably knows — now that his inner ear, which controls balance, has finished developing. Right now, your baby probably is gaining about 6 ounces each week.

Baby is now the length of an ear of corn!!!

















Total weight gain/loss: Two words: holy COW!!! I gained 4 lbs since last week. What??? Yes, that is not a typo. 4 lbs in 1 week. Okay, I guess I just went through a growth spurt. Goodness Gracious. I didn't do anything different from all the other weeks. Ate the same amount, exercised the same amount (maybe even a little more). It must just show that when baby is ready to grow, he is ready to grow.
Sleep: Still having difficulty sleeping. Very achy, can't get comfortable, and this week, my allergies have kicked into overdrive so I can't breath either. Makes for some long nights.
Food cravings: Anything Icy! Slurpees, Slushys, Smoothies. Trying to stick to smoothies since they are the healthiest option but anything Icy sounds soo good and tastes even better.
Best moment last week: Ordered my first set of baby clothes this week. I did some online shopping and got some onesies, sleepers and socks. I'm sure I will need a lot more than just what I ordered but it was fun to clothes shop for baby for the first time.
Movement: This week it has been fun to watch baby's kicks on the outside of my belly. He has really been moving and it's the strangest thing to see my tummy poke out when he kicks it from the inside. There really is something alive in there!
What I miss: A good nights sleep. :)
Other thoughts: This week I have really been feeling like I am ready for baby to be here. Here, right in my arms. I have no nursery ready, no clothes or blankets, no swing or bouncy seats but I am ready! I've missed this baby so much for so long, I just want him to be here. My arms are aching! I know these last few months will go by quickly and I know that this is a very special time in my life but my heart just longs to be with and love this wonderful gift.
What I am looking forward to: 24 Week check up is tomorrow! I can't wait to hear the heartbeat again and find out how everything is going.
Milestones: I have reached a giant milestone this week. 24 Weeks. It is viability day! Certainly we don't want baby to come out now but making it to 24 weeks is huge. I might actually be taking home a baby, my baby, at the end of all of this. Praise the Lord!
24 Week Belly Picture: Remember that growth spurt I mentioned...

23 Weeks Pregnant!!!

Turn on the radio and sway to the music. With his sense of movement well developed by now, your baby can feel you dance. And now that he's more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound you may be able to see him squirm underneath your clothes. Blood vessels in his lungs are developing to prepare for breathing, and the sounds that your baby's increasingly keen ears pick up are preparing him for entry into the outside world. Loud noises that become familiar now — such as your dog barking or the roar of the vacuum cleaner — probably won't faze him when he hears them outside the womb.

Baby is now the size of a papaya!!!















Total weight gain: No weight gain this week. Total weight gain still 12 lbs.
Sleep: I'm starting to realize that my new normal is just uncomfortable. I don't notice it as much anymore because I am just getting used to it I suppose. Right now the most uncomfortable part about sleeping is that my ribs get really sore, even when sleeping on my sides.
Best moment last week: My brother came home!!! One of my most favorite people in the world came home for a long weekend. Aaron was recruiting at a tournament in Denver and we got to spend a lot of time together. We went out to lunch and dinners, watched our favorite show 24, and got caught up on each other's lives. I missed seeing his sweet wife Jolene, but am so thankful to have had that time with him. I know he is so excited for Dan and I to be having our first child and hopefully he will come out in July to meet his new nephew. We miss his daily presence in our lives but know that God has great things for him in Washington DC right now. Aaron, we are praying for you and Jo!
Movement: Baby is getting stronger every week. Sometimes, I am caught off guard with a big kick or nudge. "Woah, little guy, you are getting strong! Are you trying to get my attention??"
More Fun: We registered for some baby things last weekend! It was overwhelming, scary, exciting, and fun all at the same time. I found myself imagining my baby sitting in a bouncy seat or laying in a pack and play. Wow, I am still so thankful that I am able to think about these things. We picked out a nursery theme and bedding as well. It is blue and brown with cars, trucks, boats, and airplanes. I'm so looking forward to setting up a nursery!
What I miss: Being able to run and jump.
What I am looking forward to: Dan and I have a little trip planned coming up soon. Sun, sand and water are involved. I can't wait.
Milestones: Baby now weighs over a pound! 6 more to go. :)
23 week Belly Picture:

22 Weeks Pregnant!!!

Watch what you say -- baby is now able to hear outside noise from down in the womb. Studies show that baby finds gentle music and your own voice most soothing. Nipples are starting to sprout, and that little face is fully formed. And, baby's starting to settle into sleep cycles, snoozing about 12 to 14 hours a day. It shouldn't be hard to figure out when -- just pay attention to those kicks as they start and stop.

Baby is now the length of a Spaghetti Squash!!!













Total weight gain: Up another pound. 12 lbs total. I'm really starting to feel a difference now. I feel like back when I used to wear a weight vest when I worked out. 12 lbs makes a big difference on your knees, joints, feet. I've gained 8% of my former body weight.
Stretch marks: see no evil....see no evil right? Still in the clear
Sleep: Blech, this has been a bad week. Dan was out of town and I don't sleep very well when he is gone anyway. It's okay though. I can handle it!
Best moment last week: I think the baby had this hiccups this week. I woke up one morning to a rhythmic nudging. It went on for about 7 minutes or so. I'm pretty sure that is what hiccups feels like. It was pretty cool.
Worst moment last week: Friday morning last week I woke up on my back. I immediately felt like my insides had been smashed and squeezed for hours (I must have fallen asleep on my back too). It was like someone put a 12 lb weight on tummy and left it there for hours. I was really uncomfortable all day. I could barely eat or drink anything as I would get immediately full and feel even more uncomfortable. Not sure if it was just a quick growth spurt or what it was but thankfully, I felt back to "normal" on Saturday.
Movement: Lots of kicks and punches! Just like a boy!
Other Thoughts: This week, I thought a lot about what it is going to be like to have a baby in the house. I thought about the joy of getting up and going into baby's room to see him sitting up in his crib and smiling at me (or screaming), singing him to sleep, making babyfood and feeding him breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It is certainly going to be a different routine but one that I have been looking forward to for years.
Belly Button: Getting more and more shallow...yikes. I'm sure an "outie" is in my future.
What I miss: My waist and muscle tone in my arms and legs.
What I am looking forward to: Deciding on a name. Dan and I have a few ideas but he hasn't wanted to take the time to sit down and choose. I think he is dragging his feet because I'm not sure it feels real for him yet.
Milestones: Felt baby have the hiccups.
22 week Belly Picture: