24 Weeks or 6 months

how far along: 24 Weeks, 3 Days (I've read that the "6 month" is between 22-26 weeks, but 24 weeks does equal 6 months so I feel comfortable saying I am 6 months pregnant now)

size of the baby: a cantaloupe, or eggplant. She is definitely getting big, kicking me at the top of my stomach now. I think she's probably close to 2 pounds.

baby is: growing some hair! my heartburn and reflux has been killer this week.

movement: oh yes. the other day she kicked me so I poked her back, so she kicked me back. I just sat there for 10 minutes poking her and feeling her.

gender: she's my little girl! every time I go into Target, they have the cutest little clothes, I always snatch up a new onesie.

total weight gain: I'm going to say 10 pounds. I haven't been to the doctor in 2 weeks, and at that time I was 8 pounds over my pre pregnancy weight. I probably lost 4-5 pounds during my first trimester. So really I've gained almost 15!

symptoms: just the reflux really. i'm still sort of dealing with a minor yeast infection, but I tried a clove of garlic last night and I'm hoping that knocked it out.

stretch marks: nope. I'm using the belly butter and just waiting to grow more!

maternity clothes: oh you guys. if anyone tells you not to buy maternity clothes, they're downright WRONG.

  

sleep: it's been off and on good. some nights I wake up feeling very rested, lately I haven't though. the weather has been warm here, but I refuse to turn the air conditioning on in April. so we either sweat it our or freeze with the windows open at night.

missing: honestly? a drink. the weather has been so absolutely beautiful and all the delicious summer foods are going back. i want a glass of cold white wine, a sour margarita, or some fizzy sangria.

cravings/aversions: breakfast foods. waffles and pancakes and sausages and bacon oh my.

cries: mmm not so much. Jesse and I got into a fight the other day and that made me really upset.

Jesse is: loving my belly. he keeps commenting on how big it's getting and kisses it at night. it's so sweet.

best moments: feeling good in my skin. i love looking pregnant and feeling her so much. and honestly we're getting close. only 16 more weeks until i am full term.

not so best moment: fighting with Jesse. he has been stressed about money lately (we bought a new car) and i know he just really wants to provide for her. it's frustrating because he works all the time, but good because his paychecks are bigger. double edged sword.

looking forward to: the beach! we decided to take a short vacation to his dad's beach house in the outer banks in May. then we are heading out to Cleveland at the end of May to see a ball game and hang out with my family. then June is my baby shower, throw in a couple of weddings, and my due date in August!

Bumpdate #23

how far along: 23 Weeks, 3 days

size of the baby: around 1.25 pounds and 11 inches long.

baby is: getting fatter! and my belly is definitely getting bigger. she is gaining baby fat and should really start to bulk up from here on out

movement: yep! Jesse has felt her a lot and I feel her all the time which is very special.

gender: our baby girl!

total weight gain: 8 pounds, according to the doctor last week. I really don't think that's bad for being 6 months along.

symptoms: well my sinus infection has basically gone away (though I'm still taking the antibiotics) but now I'm dealing with another yeast infection which is NO FUN.

stretch marks: none that I've seen! but now that she is really getting bigger, I'll keep an eye out.

maternity clothes: OH YES. my mom and I went shopping on Sunday and I scored a bunch of great stuff including a pair of jeans and a pair of nice work pants. I am loving these jeans, I may buy another pair.

  

sleep: pretty good. I slept hard last night, I was very tired for some reason.

missing: still feeling good. I just want to coast the rest of this second trimester really.

cravings/aversions: still breakfast foods and now summer foods like pasta salad and hot dogs.

cries: none really. I think once you hit the second trimester, you aren't as emotional (at least I'm not)

Jesse is: working a bunch. we bought a new car a couple weeks ago and I think he's feeling that car payment so he's really trying to add on the overtime. I just wish he could be home more!

best moments: wearing my new maternity clothes and feeling more comfortable in them than I have in the past 4 weeks in clothing.

not so best moment: taking the medication for the yeast infection. yuck. 

looking forward to: getting all this medicine over with. the antibiotics end tomorrow, the other medication the day after that. I want to be healthy healthy healthy again.

I Missed A Week - 22 Weeks, this is real life.

how far along: 22 Weeks, 3 days

size of the baby: an ear of corn. 2 weeks ago she was 13 oz. and we have another ultrasound tomorrow so I'll see how much she has grown.

baby is: always moving! Sometimes, when I haven't felt her in awhile, I'll think about it and she'll do a flip or kick for me.

movement: last night Jesse got to feel her again. And my sister-in-law Becky was able to feel her a couple weeks ago which was so special.

gender: our baby girl!

total weight gain: I was weighed at the doctor (primary care) yesterday and I am up 7 pounds from pre-baby weight. I'm not concerned about weighing too much at this point, I know she has a lot of growing to do.

symptoms: so I thought I was getting a cold - NOPE. I went to the doctor yesterday and they confirmed a sinus infection. I'm on antibiotics now and I'm hoping everything is resolved by this weekend. It sucks big time.

stretch marks: I think I'll up the cream to twice a day. I only do it once a day when I can remember to, which is bad.

maternity clothes: I wanted to go shopping for clothes this weekend, and I may still, but my mom can't go with me and I didn't really want to do it alone. I might have to though, everything is just getting uncomfortable, especially at the end of the day.

  

sleep: eh. I haven't been sleeping well due to the stuffiness in my nose and the coughing

missing: feeling good. I felt so good a couple weeks ago :(

cravings/aversions: breakfast foods. pancakes and waffles and breakfast sausage

cries: just from feeling so miserable

Jesse is: doing well. he's on this kick to get stuff done, which is great because I've been unmotivated lately with the sickness. we need to get the nursery ready and do other things in the house. finish up the registry and lots of other baby related things!

best moments: honestly, finding out I had a sinus infection. I know that sounds funny, but I was in so much pain from the blocked up fluid, I felt like someone had punched me in the face. Then the doctor prescribed antibiotics and it was like a weight had lifted.

not so best moment: just feeling crappy and being tired and sick. 

looking forward to: tomorrow! we get to see baby girl again to check the other two chambers of her heart. hopefully she isn't being stubborn this time and will flip around. if she won't, we have to go to a special doctor, which will make me very sad. I want this to be a totally uneventful pregnancy!

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!