5 Months & Gender Reveal!

how far along: 20 weeks, 4 days

size of the baby: a banana or a head of endive lettuce (weird)  or 13 ounces! Baby is officially 13 ounces yesterday according to the ultrasound

baby is: moving and kicking me like crazy.

movement: oh yes! I feel the baby all the time, sitting at work, standing at the printer, driving in the car, laying in bed. I wish Jesse could feel, it's so amazing.

gender: and our baby is a .....GIRL! I knew it, mother's instinct of course, ha. Our ultrasound confirmed that we have a little girl due in August and I am so excited!

total weight gain: according to the doctor, 5 pounds. Which for 5 months of pregnancy is not so bad! I'm hoping to only gain another 15. A pound of it is our dear daughter :)

symptoms: Not much this week. My belly has gotten bigger and I can really feel it pushing on me. It's tough wearing the belly band/jeans. It feels restricting.

stretch marks: I haven't seen one. I'm using the belly cream at least once a day, twice if I can remember.

maternity clothes: My belly band and leggings. The weather here is being kooky, cold one day, warm the next. I told my mom last night that I definitely want to go out to the mall and buy some good maternity jeans and a couple tops to last me through the spring. 

  

sleep: pretty good. the pregnancy pillow helps a lot. I get up once or twice to pee, but usually I'm able to fall asleep again quickly.

missing: nothing! I'm so enjoying feeling her move around, finding out the sex, seeing her in the ultrasound, everything is peachy!

cravings/aversions: mmm nothing much, just good food. I'm making enchiladas tonight and I'm so excited. I had a small chocolate milkshake today after lunch and it was delish. Food is just so good again, it's awesome.

cries: nothing really! I was tearing up yesterday seeing her squirm around on the ultrasound, but I was just so happy to have my baby!

Jesse is: funny. we found out it was a girl, and I think he was a tad disappointed. But then we left the doctors office and had driven separately, so he helped me in the car and then said, "Be careful driving home,  you've got my daughter in there." It was the sweetest.

best moments: yesterday's appointment. She's a baby girl, she weighs 13 ounces, she's healthy and happy. PLUS! she was being too stubborn yesterday so the ultrasound tech couldn't see all the chambers of her heart and we have to go back in 2 weeks to see her again. I'm hoping we get a great profile picture of her, when the tech put the ultrasound on my belly, she was staring right at us! I'll never forget seeing her look right at me (not looking at me but you know). It was crazy. Picking out nursery colors, registering for a crib, talking about baby girl names, all of it.

not so best moment: I can't even think of one. Everything has been so great lately, I really feel like this is our daughter and she is coming in August and I can't wait to meet her. Even what could have been bad, turned out great. The doctor told us that even though we opted not to do genetic testing at 10 weeks, the nurse practitioner sent out for it at my 16 week appointment without asking us. Everything came back negative, baby girl didn't pre-screen positive for any genetic disorders! 

looking forward to: 4/7 is our next appointment with an ultrasound again, we are so lucky!

19 Weeks

how far along: 19 weeks, 3 days

size of the baby: a zucchini, or a mango, depending on which app I look at. 6 inches long and 8.5 ounces. Last week I put that it was 7 inches long, but I swear I read that somewhere! Every website and app is different.

baby is: getting bigger. At the end of the day I can really feel/see the bump. But maybe it's my imagination.

movement: I haven't felt the baby yet, I'm starting to think the placenta is blocking it.

gender: we find out on 3/23 at 1pm!

total weight gain: Not that much, I don't think. I haven't weighed myself in a while because I don't really care hah.

symptoms: heartburn, headaches, and my eyes are getting very dry and tired. Which doesn't help my contacts or my headaches. I'm not sure how to cope with this.

stretch marks: none. I'm using belly cream once a day and my sister-in-law gave me some of hers she had left over. Hopefully I won't get any at all.

maternity clothes: just my belly band for when I wear pants. I'm rotating through the same pants, skirt, and leggings at work. At home all I wear are yoga pants. Nothing else feels good.

  

sleep: lately it has been terrible. Jesse has an awful cold and is up all night coughing and hacking which means I'm up all night listening and trying not to catch it.

missing: wine. I used wine in a dish I cooked last night and I opened the bottle and got a whiff of it and it smelled so good. I almost poured myself a glass.

cravings/aversions: lately I've wanted anything that's been pickling. Like pickles, pickled cauliflower, pickled carrots. Something about that vinegar I want.

cries: we watched planet earth the other day and I cried when the wolf caught the baby caribou. I cried so hard.

Jesse is: very sick :( he is coughing and snotting and has a sore throat and is generally miserable.

best moments: mmm I think knowing that my appointment is coming up and the fact that I'll be popping out and really growing any day now.

not so best moment: just overall picking clothes in the morning. it's difficult.

looking forward to: 3/23. CANNOT WAIT.

Almost Halfway!

how far along: 18 weeks, 3 days

size of the baby: a sweet potato, or about 7 inches long and 6.7 oz!

baby is: getting presents! In the last 4 days we've received a blanket, a towel, onesies, binkies, and some hand me downs from my sister-in-law who just had her baby about 2 weeks ago.

movement: still nothing. People keep telling me to lay down and stay very still and I may be able to feel something. I always forget to when I'm falling asleep at night.

gender: I think girl, Jesse thinks boy. He is totally on board now about finding out in 2 weeks though, because we can't seem to agree on a name and it will be easier when we only have to think of one gender.

total weight gain: Still 3 pounds. 3 pounds in 18 weeks ain't so bad, right?

symptoms: mostly just the heartburn. I take tums for it or drink chocolate milk and it soothes my throat from the acid reflux. I have been incorporating food into my diet, like feta cheese. I know you aren't supposed to, but I figure a little here and there won't hurt.

stretch marks: None! though I did notice some pretty harsh looking spider veins and I'm using belly cream.

maternity clothes: this one has been tough.  It is getting significantly warmer where I live, but not enough for me to feel comfortable wearing dresses again. So I'm making due with the belly band that just annoys me by the end of the day.

  

sleep: Pretty good. I sleep well and wake up earlier now, but I'm still waking up in the middle of the night to pee.

missing: maybe a touch of alcohol? The weather is warming which makes me want a cold cider or margarita, but other than that, really nothing.

cravings/aversions: extreme salty/sweet. I want chocolate milk that's sweet and cold, but I also want really salty chips or olives.

cries: not that I can really remember, though I haven't felt happy. I'm not sure why.

Jesse is: actually very sweet. I popped out my belly the other night while I was laying down and he could feel my stomach where the baby is and he kissed it. So cute.

best moments: just all around feeling good and being able to eat and sleep and enjoy the warm weather.

not so best moment: some tension with Jesse. We've fallen into a bit of a rut with our lives and it's taking its toll.  We're just so obsessed with working to save money and we haven't had fun in a while. 

looking forward to: Still 3/23! Only one more update until then!

17 Weeks

how far along: 17 weeks, 3 days

size of the baby: a pomegranate. which seems pretty big to me!

baby is: wriggling away! I went in for a doctor's appointment and she could barely get the heartbeat because it was moving so much.

movement: apparently a lot, but none that I can feel.

gender: we officially have our appointment for our anatomy scan! 3/23 at about 1:30pm, I will know the sex of my soon to be little peanut!

total weight gain: 3 pounds. I feel like that's not so bad, right? I mean, I've been eating pretty normally, though I am drinking a glass of chocolate milk every day. I'm not eating out as much anymore either.

symptoms: slight heartburn, though not really. My stomach is looking a tad bigger and I really feel uncomfortable with buttoned jeans, so I'm currently wearing a belly band. Also my nipples. Whoa.

stretch marks: Thought I saw one on my ta-ta the other night and may have freaked a bit.

maternity clothes: The belly band and the maternity leggings are really it. They're both pretty comfortable, so I'm glad I broke them out. No maternity shirts though, just anything loose fitting works for me. I can't wait until the weather really warms up and I can wear cute t-shirts and dresses again.

  

sleep: Great, when I get enough. I can feel it so much more now when I haven't slept enough (think 7.5 hours as opposed to 9) and get a headache and exhausted by 5pm.

missing: Nothing! I'm feeling really good, I can eat mostly everything I want again, I miss warm weather but that isn't pregnancy related.

cravings/aversions: Still chocolate milk and steak and potatoes. It's also really weird, but I get these millisecond cravings for things I can't even name. It's like something will pop into my head I ate at one time in my life and I'll want it. But then it goes away and I don't know what it was. Very odd.

cries: Mm not so much this week.

Jesse is: gaining weight! I'm convinced the baby is a girl.

best moments: scheduling my anatomy scan so that I can finally have a deadline, and my beautiful precious handsome nephew being born on my birthday! He is so tiny and awesome.

not so best moment: having my non-existent belly rubbed by my mother-in-law who says "i'm really showing". Um no, that's basically fat that I'm too tired to suck in anymore.

looking forward to: 3/23!! Baby, here we come!

Chuggin' Along!

I sort of wish this was more descriptive, I may be looking into a new app. (from Ovia Pregnancy app)

how far along: 16 weeks, 3 days

size of the baby: a dill pickle, delicious!

baby is: 3.5 oz this week and can probably hear my voice when I speak!

movement: None :(, I keep waiting for it, trying to keep very still in bed, but still nothing. I have to keep reminding myself that it is early and I need to be patient.

gender: I could find out! I could pay a woman in our town to perform an ultrasound and know the gender. But Jesse wants to wait until I'm 20 weeks and our doctor will do it, so I'll wait.

total weight gain: Actually nothing according to my home scale. I go to the doctor tomorrow though so I may have gained a pound or two. We will see.

symptoms: headaches and heartburn. I take Tums for my heartburn, which usually happens after dinner. I drink as much water as I can, but going to the bathroom 8 times a day is getting annoying.

stretch marks: None that I can see, I don't look for them though. I am so into being pregnant and a mother, if I get a stretch mark, so be it.

maternity clothes: I still have my maternity leggings and I still love them. But the weather where I live is creeping back into springtime. I'm hoping it warms up soon and I can get away with dresses more often. I've also started using the hair tie trick with my jeans.

  

sleep: Still good. Nothing to complain about really. I use my pregnancy pillow and it's fine.

missing: Not much. Though I was thinking about my first sip of alcohol after I give birth and that sounded good, hah!

cravings/aversions: MM chocolate milk and potatoes. I have to have chocolate milk every day, I just crave it so hard. I had a Nestle's chocolate milk from the gas station yesterday and it tasted just like the 10th grade, it was awesome.

cries: Oh the cries, I tear up all the time. I was watching the Disney tribute and Kermit the frog was singing the rainbow connection and I just burst into tears. Jesse was so alarmed!

Jesse is: doing well. We are working on getting the house de-cluttered and he talked about clearing out the soon-to-be nursery, which is so awesome!

best moments: Hmmm, probably will be tomorrow. I have my 16 week appointment and I'm sure we'll get to listen to the heartbeat again which is going to be so nice on my birthday!

not so best moment: the headaches. I am so sensitive as it is, I'm even more so now with this pregnancy. And not showing. It's giving me anxiety. I know I'm getting bigger, because I can feel my body rejecting my tight jeans, but I'm nowhere near showing like a pregnant woman.

looking forward to: My appointment tomorrow. I want to hear the heartbeat and schedule our 20 week ultrasound, I'll really have something to look forward to then!

BUMPDATE

how far along: 15 weeks, 3 days

size of the baby: an avocado! Which seems so big to me, but in reality is very small.

baby is: finished forming its genitalia! I would love to find out now what the gender is, but I believe the doctor will have us wait until I am 20 weeks to do the full anatomy scan.

movement: None yet. I've had people ask, but I don't think I've felt anything. I also don't know what I'm really feeling for.

gender: Ugh too soon to know! I want to know so badly, I feel like I'll connect even more with the baby once I know the gender and can feel it move around.

total weight gain: None that I can tell. My scale at home still says the same thing. I have an appointment next week so I'll see if I've gained anything and how much.

symptoms: headaches, abdominal pain, hunger. I've had a headache for 4 days straight, but that might be due to dehydration. I don't think I'm getting enough water, though I drink a ton.

stretch marks: I'm definitely going to get some on my boobs. I know it. They're getting bigger and itching.

maternity clothes: Yaaasss. I bought some maternity leggings at Target and they are so comfortable. I think I'll go shopping with my mom next month for some more maternity clothes. 

  

sleep: Sleep is good. Usually I'm pretty tired by 9-10pm and I sleep well, only getting up once to pee. Then I sleep until my alarm. The afternoons I get sleepy, but I find that if I get up and walk around, I'm ok.

missing: Nothing really. I eat what I want basically, except for soft cheeses. I've eaten lunchmeat. I eat medium steaks. 

cravings/aversions: Still chocolate milk. I love the stuff. Also steaks and potatoes. Potatoes any way are great. I love most starches, potatoes, pasta, rice.

cries: Not so much lately. I get down every now and then, but I don't cry as much anymore.

Jesse is: good! I told him I need some maternity leggings and he said, OK dear. He didn't even flinch. It was great.

best moments: maternity leggings, eating food at meal times. My nightly glass of chocolate milk is great too!

not so best moment: this lingering headache. I'm not sure how to fix it. I'm trying to drink a bunch of water and I'll probably change my contacts soon.

looking forward to: My belly and my appointment next week. It's on my birthday and I want all to go well. I don't think I'll have an ultrasound, but I can at least hear the heartbeat!

14 Weeks & Counting!

I am 14 weeks and 3 days today and feeling groovy!

how far along: 14 weeks, 3 days

size of the baby: a beet! Or a troll doll, or a mouse!

baby is: growing! I'm getting round ligament pain, which I'm taking as a good sign. Hopefully I'll pop out soon and really look pregnant.

movement: still too early for me. I've heard of people feeling as early as 12 weeks, but I am the rule, not the exception.

gender: not sure yet. Part of me still thinks it's a girl, but the other part is like, Jess, you have no idea.

total weight gain: Not sure? Since my last appointment I had gained 2 pounds. But I don't track myself. I feel bigger though.

symptoms: HUNGER. Oh dear the hunger. I wake up hungry, at 10:30 I'm hungry, at 12:30 I'm hungry, at 2:30 I'm hungry, on and on and on. I can never eat enough to feel hungry for more than 4 hours it seems.

stretch marks: Not that I can see. My larger-ish body is so prepared for this baby!

maternity clothes: None yet. I'd love to buy some maternity leggings, but that's just because my stomach is uncomfortable in the old ones. I have a feeling as soon as I pop, I'll want them no matter what.

  

sleep: Ah sleep. I love you. I get tired around 5:30-6 now and want to fall asleep on the couch but stop myself. Then by 9pm, I'm ready for sleeping. I usually sleep for 8.5-9 hours at night too.

missing: Nothing at the moment. Just food. I want all the food and I miss it as soon as it's eaten hah.

cravings/aversions: Craving chocolate milk. MMMMM YUM. I drink a large glass of it before I go to sleep at night. It helps me to feel full all night and not wake up with nausea. I'm into Asian food as well right now, I made chicken with cashews last night and it was very good. Something about the tangy sauces, it's not very rich and no cheese (because I miss bleu cheese and feta and brie a lot)

cries: Definitely. I get in these moods and I just have to cry. I'll feel teary and crappy until I let it all out. I also cry at songs and anything to do with a mother's love for a child. I just can't even handle how much I love and worry about my child.

Jesse is: doing well. I'm feeling better so he is being better. He isn't as worried about me and what I'm eating or drinking. Mostly he's worried about finances and making sure we are saving enough.

best moments: Going a couple days without throwing up. My record is 4 so far. Trying to get that number up though. Also, announcing our pregnancy! We took photos with my friend last week and we announced on Saturday. It was so fun and I love all the pictures. I'm just so happy we can finally say it!

not so best moment: Eating too much (as if that's a thing). I sort of gorged myself at Red Lobster last week, think 3 biscuits, salad, coconut shrimp, potatoes. I felt awful the whole night, fell asleep at 9pm and threw up the next morning. I need to eat better than that, and not wait to eat anymore. 

looking forward to: Popping out! Getting to wear maternity clothes and meeting my nephew. My sister-in-law is due in a couple weeks and I seriously cannot wait to meet the booger and hold him and imagine the cousins playing together and growing up with each other.