22 Week Update

How far along: 22 weeks, 3 days

Total weight gain/loss:  Total I would say 5 lbs.  
How big is Baby: Baby is about the size of a papaya
Maternity Clothes: Yup.  My jeans are still a bit big on me.  Just bought some shorts and capri's from a second hand store and still had their tags on!  Barely paid $40 for 6 items.  Now I need to bulk up on some t-shirts and tanks.  Next motherhood buy one get one free sale in 1 month
Sleep: Sleep is alright...some nights.  I'm having some really crazy dreams some nights which keep me from going back to sleep.  I'm also having at least 1 bathroom break a night.

Movement: Yes and it is amazing.  The last couple of days I've been noticing my stomach move with her kicks.  It's very alien like and I love it.  

Food cravings:  lately it has been oreos.  I've been craving oreos and milk.
Food aversions: none really.  I've been ok with fried foods now, but I try to stay away from it if I can...less aggravation

Gender: It's a girl.

Symptoms:  Some fatigue by the end of the day and slightly swollen ankles.  I've been getting more clumsy and forgetful as the weeks progress.  I broke another glass this weekend while I was doing the dishes.

Best moment this week:  Actually seeing movement.
What I am looking forward to:  I get to see her again in about 2 weeks for my fetal echo that my OB wanted me to have.  My family is planning a shower for May or early June and I can't wait.  Setting up her nursery, BUT we need to move out of it first.  Hopefully J gets our room finished by the end of May so we can begin setting her room up.

Drum roll Please......

*Que the drums*.....


J and I are having a girl!!!  We are beyond thrilled.

The anatomy scan went very well yesterday.  Heart, brain, and all organs working very well.  We saw her arms, legs, fingers, and toes.  And I must say, I think we have a bit of a show off.  There were a few instances when the u/s was on her profile, she seemed to have a few "look mom and dad, see what I can do" moments.  She would grab at her feet and throw her feet above her head quite often.  It also took our technician awhile to get the "money shot".  Our girl kept her legs crossed throughout the beginning of the exam, trying to leave us in suspense a bit longer.  I'm starting to feel her becoming more active as time goes on....day and night.  It's very exciting.

In a way I feel we are really lucky too.  A lot of friends are already offering to give us their baby stuff that they don't use anymore for their little girls.  A few of J's friends just had girls last year and my co-worker that I'm very close with.  So I feel that we will be saving a boat load of money, but that will be determined down the road.  The shocking news of all is that J wants to have another after this one.

So for a brief update.  I am 20 weeks and 2 days along...halfway there!  I still can't eat fried foods, I still get sick.  I'm starting to feel more movement now.  My navel is getting shallower.  I feel that I don't really have any cravings...ok I lie.  The news had a segment on oreo's 100th anniversary and I had a sudden craving for them.  So while I was grocery shopping today, I bought some double stuffed.

Profile with legs crossed

Right Foot

Stretching her neck

This is where she throws her feet over her head

Gender Prediction

So everyone has been having some fun guessing what I am having.  At this time, odds are favoring a boy with only a few people guessing a girl.  I'll be happy either way as long as it's healthy and has 10 fingers/toes.  Here is a gender prediction list of how some people are basing their prediction.

I will be having a boy because I am carrying a bit low, craving sour and salty foods, my body does not look like I'm pregnant from the back, I've been very clumsy, little to no morning sickness, I've been happier since the second trimester, have been getting a lot of headaches

I will be having a girl because I am craving fruit/fruit juices, dreaming of a boy, my body does not look like I'm pregnant from the back, I was moody in the first trimester

Both the Chinese Gender Chart and the Mayan Tale predict a boy.  For kicks and giggles, I took a little gender prediction quiz and I was 60/40% favoring a girl.

These past couple of weeks have gone by so quickly and I have been extremely excited.  We can't wait until this Friday to actually find out.

19 Week Update

How far along: 19 weeks, 2 days

Total weight gain/loss:  -1 to 1 lb.  Still really not gaining or loosing weight.  
How big is Baby: Baby is about the size of a mango
Maternity Clothes: Yup.  My jeans are still a bit big on me.  I need to stalk up again on some t-shirts, tanks, capris, shorts, and skirts 
Sleep: Sleep is alright.  I wake up hear and there, but I still feel like I get a full nights sleep.

Movement: Still don't think so.  I have felt some things the past couple days, but I don't think it was movement just yet

Food cravings:  fruit, milk, chocolate
Food aversions: still fried foods...  

Gender: We find out 3/9/12!!!  FRIDAY!!!

Symptoms: No more symptoms.  I do get fatigued during the day, but that's about it.  Oh and I've noticed more clumsiness and forgetfulness.

Best moment this week:  My bump is getting bigger and Friday is just around the corner
What I am looking forward to: Seeing baby next again in March, finding out the sex, and feeling movement. 

17 Week Update

How far along: 17 weeks, 3 days

Total weight gain/loss:  -1 to 1 lb.  I'm really not gaining or loosing weight.  
How big is Baby: Baby is about the size of an onion
Maternity Clothes: Yes! I love them! I finally broke down and bought jeans last Saturday and it was the best decision yet.  I'm more comfortable "dressing up".  Although the jeans make me feel more comfortable, they are falling off my body.  I also started buying some clothes for spring/summer. 
Sleep: Sleep is good.  I'm starting to wake up once during the night, not every night though.  It's mostly to use the bathroom.    

Movement: I don't think so.  I have felt some things the past couple days, but I don't think it was movement just yet

Food cravings:  fruit, milk, chips
Food aversions: still fried foods...I tried to have another meal with fried foods, my stomach still can't tolerate it.  

Gender: We find out 3/9/12!!!

Symptoms: No symptoms really.  I do get a bit dizzy if I get up too fast.  I think I'm getting some "growing pains" more.  Each day I feel stretching and stuff.  nothing bad though.

Best moment this week:  Seeing my blump start to fully become a bump
What I am looking forward to: Seeing baby next again in March, finding out the sex, and feeling movement.


Here is a 17 week photo I took today:

15 Week Update

How far along: 15 weeks, 2 days

Total weight gain/loss: + 1 pound
How big is Baby: Baby is about the size of a naval orange
Maternity Clothes: Yes! I love them! I'm only wearing some shirts right now.  I need to get more and some pants.  I don't want to go overboard yet since I'll need summer clothes.
Sleep: Sleep is good.  I'm starting to have weird dreams and I'm tossing/turning more which is causing me to wake up a bit more.  

Movement: Not yet. I can't wait!

Food cravings: Peanut butter, fruit, milk
Food aversions: fried foods...I can't handle them any more, I get sick

Gender: We find out 3/9/12!!!

Symptoms: No symptoms really.  I do get a bit dizzy if I get up too fast.  I think I'm getting some "growing pains" more.  Each day I feel stretching and stuff.  nothing bad though.

Best moment this week: Eating a chicken ceasar wrap that I made.  That was soooo good!!!  And the day that I actually popped.
What I am looking forward to: Seeing baby next again in March and feeling movement.

Second Trimester/NT Scan

I have officially hit the second trimester yesterday.  Today, I am 13 weeks and 1 day.  I still have a little bit of fatigue, but it is not as bad as it has been.  My nausea has seemed to pass as well.  I only really get nauseated when I'm thirsty, drink too fast, eat too much, and strangely when I stand up really fast.  I seem to have gotten my appetite back and my weight is being maintained or I lose a pound here and there.  I'm not sure if I should be concerned about that yet.  I don't know if it is because I'm drinking a lot more water or just being healthier overall.  I'm also starting to notice a little bump.  All I can say now is that it's all becoming very real now.

Today I also had the first part of my sequential screening done.  Needless to say, I was a bit nervous but very excited.  I haven't seen the little one since December but was nervous that it may not have thrived or something else was wrong.  To much of my fears and worries, everything looks great so far, and I just need to wait for my blood work results.  I must say though, my little one is already stubborn...takes after its mom.  First, my bladder was so full I was crushing my kid.  Once I emptied, it started kicking and punching me for a moment then rolled over with its back to the camera.  My u/s tech tried to get it to move around for about 10 min.  Once it turned over in the favorable position, it seemed like it waved a bit and rolled back around.  Then when it rolled back around, it started to kick the tech.  Everyone seemed to get a good laugh.

Here are some pics from the NT Scan

 I can't believe that I made it this far and that I'm even here.  It's becoming more real each and every moment.