38 weeks

Another week down -- we made it to 38 weeks!

How funny is this shirt?

It's the same one that I was wearing for this 17 week photo -- much difference?

I think the baby grew a little over the past 21 weeks.

I've been having lots of signs that the bean is ready to make his appearance, but I'm pleading with him to wait a few more days. There are only 8 days until my induction and I would really love for him to come on the 16th.

On one hand, starting labor naturally is much much preferable.

But.

On the other hand, I have a couple of reasons (purely selfish) for wanting to wait until the 16th:

1) my to-do list is scheduled out evenly over the next 7 days

2) my Mom has a plane ticket to arrive on the 15th

3) my in-laws will be back from Florida and able to come meet the bean by then

All of these things are flexible -- our parents can change their travel plans and if the cookie dough doesn't get made it will be ok. Truly I have everything done that needs to be done for the baby to arrive, so whenever he wants to come I'll be excited!

Today is my 38 week OB appointment, so we'll see if any progress has been made since 36 weeks. Stay tuned!

How far along: 38 weeks
Net weight gain: 25 lbs.
Maternity clothes: made of some pretty amazing material (see photos above)

Stretch marks: nope
Belly button: out/flat -- weird
Sleep: getting worse -- lots of hot flashes and bathroom breaks

Baby movement: slowing down a little

Food cravings: caramel popcorn, yum!
Food aversions: nothing, very hungry

What I miss: sleeping on my stomach

Looking forward to: the 1 week countdown!
Best moment this week: our last date night as a childless couple on Saturday

Milestones: the bean is totally ready and could meet us any day now...

37 weeks

The bean is full term!

I have to admit that throughout this whole pregnancy part of me has been waiting for something bad to happen. At first there was the fear of a miscarriage, then later of pre-term birth and months in the NICU. At this point, however, it seems pretty sure that we are actually going to have a baby and that he'll be born ready to breathe on his own!

God has blessed us so abundently!

Today is another weekly OB appointment, but I'm not expecting anything exciting. I'll get the results of my Group B Strep test, but that's about it. I decided to opt out of a cervical check this week. Either I'll go into labor or I won't -- there's no point in knowing more details at this point.

We still have the option of doing a voluntary induction at 39 weeks, but I'm really hoping that won't happen. My best case scenario would be to go into labor naturally and have some time to labor at home before heading into the hospital.

We'll see what happens!

By the way -- anybody need a "Mary" for a live nativity? I don't claim to be carrying a Savior, but I am quite round and not the least bit afraid of stable dwelling livestock.

How far along: 37 weeks

Net weight gain: 23 lbs.

Maternity clothes: the bands on my jeans are getting uncomfortably tight

Stretch marks: not yet

Belly button: out for the remainder, I assume

Sleep: interrupted by lots of bathroom breaks
Baby movement: still very strong -- he wants out!

Food cravings: peanut butter Smidgens

Food aversions: nothing, very hungry
What I miss: having more constant moods (I think this is Drew's pick too)

Looking forward to: finishing the baby quilt

Best moment this week: getting a pedicure with my mom-in-law!

Milestones: the bean is full term!

36 weeks

So much to tell this week!

The bean and I are in our 36th week together. That means we have fewer than 4 weeks left before he joins Drew and I at home! Yay!

Yesterday I went to see my OB and got an appointment with all the bells and whistles. She did the Group B Strep test, an internal exam, checked the heartbeat, measured my fundal height (belly size), and determined the baby's orientation in there.

So, how did we do...

• Group B Strep results will be in next week -- update then
• strong heartbeat = healthy baby!
• fundal height is 35.5 cm (it often slows towards the end, so this is fine)
• baby is head down!
• cervix is 70% effaced and 1cm dialated

All of this is great news and means we're moving in a positive direction towards having a baby in the next few weeks. Since there was so much going on during this appointment Drew came along too. We asked the doctor what our chances of having the bean at home before Christmas were and she surprised us by saying that if we want to induce at 39 weeks that's an option!

Once I get checked at my 39 week appointment we'll see if there has been any additional progress and make a decision then. From what I understand the bean will just be putting on weight during these last few weeks and shouldn't have any problems coming out a week early.

Anyone out there have an induction and feel one way or the other about it?

Hopefully baby boy will decide to join us for Christmas all on his own!

How far along: 36 weeks
Net weight gain: 22 lbs.
Maternity clothes: getting a little boring

Stretch marks: not yet
Belly button: popped like a turkey timer
Sleep: good for the most part

Baby movement: surprisingly strong at this point
Food cravings: pumpkin pie!!
Food aversions: nothing, very hungry again

What I miss: getting out of bed or off the couch without rolling off
Looking forward to: seeing Drew's parents this weekend
Best moment this week: learning that the bean is in a great position for delivery!
Milestones: the bean is plumping up for life outside the womb

35 weeks

I think my mind might be going.

In fact, I'm starting to see things.

Last weekend I went Christmas shopping -- I know it's early, but it's now or never this year. Most years I'll make my list and hit store after store until the list is finished. These days, however, I just can't go all day like I used to, which is really frustrating. I was out from 10-4 and, apparently, that was too long.

My second to last shopping stop was at Old Navy. I needed a warm hat for the bean and hoped they might have one on the cheap (they did!).

I also happened to find this adorable fleece one-piece that became his back-up coming home outfit. Yay for sale price + 30% off!

On my way out the door, a rack of really cute little coats caught my eye.

How had I missed this on the way in?! What if they have something better here than what I just bought?!

I started browsing through them and noticed that something seemed a little off about their style. I finally, finally noticed that they were DOG coats. They weren't even for humans. Oh my.

Like I said, I'm losing it.

Anyway, we made it to 35 weeks!

Love you bean -- I promise to never dress you in pet clothes (on purpose).

How far along: 35 weeks

Net weight gain: 19 lbs.

Maternity clothes: actually getting too tight -- is that possible??

Stretch marks: still lucky

Belly button: out and loud

Sleep: some nights good, some nights bad.

Baby movement: yes, oh yes.

Food cravings: always with the french onion soup

Food aversions: chicken -- hopefully turkey will be exempt!

What I miss: doing anything all day without needing to rest

Looking forward to: starting my every week OB appointments next Monday

Best moment this week: getting my bags packed

Milestones: the bean is growing brain cells at an amazing rate

34 weeks

Most ridiculous pregnancy fear to date:

If someone poked me with a pin, I'm fairly confident that my belly would burst and the baby would go shooting across the room.

Crazy, I know. But, seriously, you need to feel this thing. My bump is so tight -- hopefully it's anti-burst.

Drew and I call it the torpedo. If we didn't know via ultrasound that we were having a boy, I'd be fairly confident at this point. He is carrying high and very tight -- just like all the old wives tales claim. I have to be careful in sporting goods stores so no one thinks I'm trying to smuggle out a basketball. Or a watermelon.

By the way, I'm fully aware of how much I will miss this tight belly once the baby is born and it deflates into a spare tire!

At 34 weeks, the bean and I have a pretty good system worked out. He pokes me in the bladder as a reminder that I need to remove his waste products (and I do). Somehow the baby knows that pregnancy brains are very forgetful, so he's kind enough to remind me of what needs to be done. In return I get to buy cute baby clothes.

Very symbiotic.



I can't believe there are only 6 weeks to go!! Fewer than 40 days at this point. Drew reminded me this morning that I only have 22 days of work left. That's just crazy. I know I'm about to start a whole new job (only without pay. and requiring about 148 more hours per week), but still, it feels strange to know that I won't be getting up and going to work every day.



I'm so excited to start this new journey with the bean!



How far along: 34 weeks
Net weight gain: 18 lbs.
Maternity clothes: still love them. I don't want to give back my elastic waistbands ever.
Stretch marks: still lucky
Belly button: turkey timer
Sleep: getting worse. Lots of tossing and turning.
Baby movement: yes, oh yes.
Food cravings: fresh pineapple
Food aversions: still don't like chicken breasts very much. Hopefully this eases up after the birth.
What I miss: fully caffeinated coffee
Looking forward to: packing my labor and hospital stay bags
Best moment this week: checking a bunch of baby prep items off my to-do list!
Milestones: the bean is over 95% likely to be perfect fine if born at any time!

33 weeks

The bean and I are on our 33rd week together!

I feel like things are moving along pretty well. The baby is definitely getting bigger, faster these days. My changing body is something that I can't quite keep up with.

Just the other day I bent over to tie my sneakers and had to come up for air in between feet. He is all the way up in my lungs! I feel out of breath after the smallest exercise and can't bend over to do anything anymore. Small potatoes!

All in all we're doing great. Daddy and I are getting very anxious to meet you, but stay in there for another 7 weeks bean!

How far along: 33 weeks

Net weight gain: 17 lbs.

Maternity clothes: nursing bras make my head spin -- where to start?

Stretch marks: not yet {this category is totally going to jinx me, I need to remove it}

Belly button: gentle outie

Sleep: good for the most part

Baby movement: lots of rolls and punches

Food cravings: french onion soup...still!

Food aversions: nothing. I love food.

What I miss: tying my shoes without issue

Looking forward to: finishing the childbirth education classes

Best moment this week: realizing that next year I'll have a little cutey to dress up for Halloween

Milestones: baby boy's skin is filling out so he'll be chubby and cute at birth!

32 weeks

Fewer than 8 weeks to go now.

Before American Idol is on the air again, I'll have baby at home.

Wow.

There's really nothing like AI to put things in perspective!

Yesterday was another bi-weekly doctor's visit. The bean and I breezed through like the pros that we now are. Baby W has a very strong heartbeat and is happily growing in there. I'm measuring exactly 32cm, so we're right on track.

I also got the official news that my doctor won't let me go more than 1 week overdue, so one way or another the bean will be born by December 26th. All I've got to say about that is he's got a pretty darn adorable Christmas outfit waiting at home, so he'd better make an appearance before then.

How far along: 32 weeks
Net weight gain: 17 lbs.
Maternity clothes: I've started looking for some nursing tops to add to the mix -- any recommendations?
Stretch marks: not yet
Belly button: gentle outie
Sleep: good for the most part
Baby movement: getting more predictable -- he definitely has a wake/sleep pattern
Food cravings: pumpkin cupcakes with maple frosting AND apple cider!
Food aversions: nothing. I love food.
What I miss: breathing through my nose at night. This congestion has to stop.
Looking forward to: starting the baby quilt (who am I kidding...will that ever get started?)
Best moment this week: getting the H1N1 vaccine. This was a big worry on me, so I'm really grateful that Drew and I were both able to get one.
Milestones: the bean's diaphragm has to be working because he gets the hiccups everyday

31 weeks

As of today the bean and I only have 60 days left!

Wow. In some ways that still sounds like a long time, but in a lot of other ways it doesn't seem like NEARLY enough time to finish everything that's on my to-do list.

Drew and I are trying to enjoy some quiet time together (while we still have some quiet around here), but it's been hard to carve out. I feel like there are so many little (and big) things that need to be done before the bean arrives. I'm at the point now where, after working all day, when I get home the energy just isn't there to tackle a bunch of errands or projects around the house.

That leaves me the weekends.

Of which there are 8 before little bean joins us!

Part of my big speech from last week was about calming down and going with the flow. I'm still working on that. We'll get there. :o)

Remember when I mentioned yesterday that 16 weeks ago (at 15 weeks pregnant) the bean was the size of 1 orange and now he's the size of 4?

Well...what do you think? Am I 3x bigger than I was then?

I think so. Or at least, I feel so.

People have (still) been telling me frequently that I seem really small for how far along the pregnancy is, so Drew and I decided to do a little experiment while taking my photo last night.

Am I pregnant?

Hmm...

Oh, yeah!

I'm not complaining -- hopefully that will make getting back into my pre-pregnancy clothes a little easier after the baby is born!

How far along: 31 weeks
Net weight gain: 16 lbs.
Maternity clothes: yes and I'm still really loving the elastic waist everything. What? Doesn't everyone pull their jeans up without using zippers or buttons?
Stretch marks: not yet
Belly button: outie for sure
Sleep: good for the first few hours, then my left hip gives up

Baby movement: more forceful -- I think he's looking for the exit

Food cravings: chicken wings -- they give the bean hiccups, which is way too cute.
Food aversions: nothing. I love food.
What I miss: being able to button my wool coat
Looking forward to: making a big batch of veggie soup this weekend!
Best moment this week: feeling baby hiccups for the 1st time
Milestones: baby boy's brain is developing so he can regulate his own temperature

30 weeks

Our 30th week together is going really well so far. Only 10 weeks to go!

The bean, his daddy, and I had another baby shower on Saturday. Some of our wonderful Cleveland friends threw a party for us! I have lots of fun photos and stories from that afternoon to come soon.

Yesterday I had my first "every 2 weeks" doctor appointment. I didn't have any complaints and the doctor didn't have any concerns, so we breezed through there in 15 minutes! I did specifically ask about bean's size, since so many people (in lots of different circumstances) have commented on how small I look. My OB said that my weight gain is right on track and my belly is measuring perfectly (30cm yesterday), so there's no need to worry.

Baby bean is on track to be born at about 7 pounds! That sounds good to me. Except that we'll have to change his clothes 5 times a day to get use out of all the newborn outfits people have given us! I think they only fit babies up to 8 or 9 pounds, so we won't have long to squeeze them all in.

Overall things are going really well. I've had a lot more energy these past few days -- nesting? Whatever the reason, I'll take it!

How far along: 30 weeks

Net weight gain: up 15 lbs. (I know this gain is for a good cause, but it's bothering me a little. I've never seen these numbers on the scale before! It's like Biggest Loser in reverse)

Maternity clothes: I need more warm weather stuff. It's getting cold here.

Stretch marks: not yet

Belly button: mostly an outie at this point (you can kind of see it in the photo above)

Sleep: not too bad. Now that it's cooler my body pillow doesn't make me roast!

Baby movement: movin' and shakin'

Food cravings: pumpkin anything

Food aversions: nothing. I love food. As witnessed 7 items up.

What I miss: being able to see my toes

Looking forward to: getting the nursery organized

Best moment this week: baby shower!

Milestones: the bean has a 95% chance of survival if he was born now

29 weeks

29 weeks has been pretty packed so far.

First the bean and I had our wonderful baby shower with Drew's family over the weekend!

{That was the good part}

Then we ended up sick with a nasty cold and had to miss work yesterday. I think it feels worse to be sick while pregnant for a couple of reasons:

1) you can't take much medicine to numb relieve the congestion
2) you can only drink extra water to help soothe sore throats
3) drinking extra water means that you're up and out of bed even more than usual because a non-sick baby is dancing on your bladder

{That was the bad part}

Now tonight Drew and I go to our first childbirth education class! We're both a little nervous, but really excited. I'm not exactly sure what to expect, but it definitely makes things feel more real. So far I've been able to ignore a lot of the nitty gritty as to how this bean will make his big debut, but I think that blissful time is about to end. I know it's better to be prepared, but there's some stuff I'd just rather not think about!





How far along: 29 weeks
Net weight gain/loss: up 13 lbs.
Maternity clothes: yes and yes
Stretch marks: so far so good
Belly button: I'm going to call it a draw. Innie is an understatement and outie is an overstatement.
Sleep: not too bad. Sleeping on 1 hip all of the time is starting to take its toll
Baby movement: yes!
Food cravings: pumpkin pecan ice cream
Food aversions: not too much these days
What I miss: full strength cold medicine
Looking forward to: our first childbirth class
Best moment this week: baby shower!
Milestones: the bean and I survived 14 hours in the car over the weekend. This was our last long trip before he arrives!

Also, we have more name guesses:

Connor
Hunter
Theodore (Theo)

28 weeks

So far the third trimester is pretty agreeable to the bean.

We had a great check-up at the doctor yesterday! I got all of my questions answered and feel very reassured about the weird symptoms I've been having recently. It turns out there are lots of things that all pregnant women experience (growing belly, swollen ankles...) but equally as many things you might experience that very few other people have!

All of my various aches, heart palpatations, and more are normal for me. Good to know.

In some other really exciting news, the bean and I have our second baby shower this weekend! My lovely mother-in-law is throwing it for us. It will be a such a fun time to see our families and celebrate the bean!

Drew and I have been receiving some gifts in the mail already. Posts on them to come!

How far along: 28 weeks

Net weight gain/loss: up 12 lbs.

Maternity clothes: sure am!

Stretch marks: don't want to jinx it, but...{not yet}

Belly button: still an innie, but barely

Sleep: getting harder. My back is starting to rebel.

Baby movement: very strong, very adorable

Food cravings: apple crisp...yum

Food aversions: trying to force chicken for the lean protein, but I just can't do it.

What I miss: margaritas with the group at Los Habaneros!

Looking forward to: our shower this weekend!

Best moment this week: lots of reassurance at my OB appointment.

Milestones: made it to the 3rd trimester

27 weeks

So far 27 weeks has been pretty exciting!




But not in a great way...

Thanks to everyone for your thoughts and prayers over the past few days. The bean and I seem pretty stable now. My doctor thinks that I was dehydrated and that's what led to the contractions I was having on Sunday.

Now I'm keeping a big glass of water nearby at all times!

It's so hard to feel like the baby's health is completely on my shoulders (or strapped to my hips). As a first time mom I have no idea what pains are "normal" pregnancy aches and what could indicate pre-term labor. While I don't want to be running to in to the doctor all the time, I'm going to do what I need to do to keep my little boy safe. If that means getting on a first name basis with the nurses and residents on every shift, then so be it!

Actually, all the sudden it seems like I'm systematically working my way through the list of pregnancy symptoms that "What to Expect" and Baby Center say you might experience. Last night it was...leg cramps!

Turns out that it's extremely uncomfortable to be awoken in the middle of the night by a giant charlie horse in the calf. I'm a little surprised (but glad) that my gasp didn't wake Drew up. He just kept snoring...thanks, honey.

Despite the theme of the previous few paragraphs, I really am trying not to complain too much. This pregnancy has been great so far and I'm so blessed to have a healthy bean in there!




Next week we start the 3rd trimester, wow! Only 13 weeks to go until I meet my little guy -- that sounds both really close and really far away.

How far along: 27 weeks
Net weight gain/loss: up 12 lbs.
Maternity clothes: definitely -- my belly has started to expand a lot more rapidly recently
Stretch marks: not yet
Belly button: still an innie, but pops out after dinner, then goes back in. Weird!
Sleep: good. Except for the leg cramps. And bathroom breaks. And hip pain. And kicks that wake me up. :o)
Baby movement: very strong, very frequent!!
Food cravings: pumpkin cookies
Food aversions: can't take the texture of chicken breasts
What I miss: nothing this week -- I love expecting the bean!
Looking forward to: actually starting his quilt some day....
Best moment this week: getting a clean bill of health after my impromptu L&D visit
Milestones: the baby can taste lots of flavors, so I need to eat all kinds of stuff for him!

26 weeks

The bean and I are now in our 26th week together!

He's such a little sweetie in there, giving me lots of kicks and nudges throughout the day.

I can tell that he hears my voice, which is really special. This morning my alarm went off and I was laying in bed gathering the motivation to get up. I said my first words of the day by asking him if he was ready to get up. No sooner had I started talking than he gave me a kick. He heard me and responded to my voice, I'm convinced!

In other big news, I told my boss yesterday that I'm not planning to come back to work after the baby is born. I was so nervous that he would be upset (I'm his only assistant in the lab, so my leaving is pretty disruptive) but he was very supportive and seems anxious to help me get all the maternity leave that I can from the company. I wasn't expecting that at all and it was a great surprise!

We'll talk more about my post-baby plans later, but for now I'll just say that I'm excited and feel really blessed to be able to stay home with little bean once he arrives!!

How far along: 26 weeks

Net weight gain/loss: up 11 lbs.

Maternity clothes: yes and I'm started to realize how limited my new wardrobe is

Stretch marks: no, yay!

Belly button: still an innie, but transforming quickly.

Sleep: pretty good, but my hip is starting to hurt from only sleeping on my left side

Baby movement: yes and I love it!

Food cravings: anything. everything.

Food aversions: nothing -- bring on the food (see above)

What I miss: mimosas with breakfast-for-dinner night!

Looking forward to: making the bean a onesie with his name on it

Best moment this week: having the first stranger comment on my pregnancy

Milestones: the bean is practicing his breathing and will be completely viable in a few weeks

25 weeks

This post is pretty close to the 24 week one since I didn't have internet last week, but the info and photos are really from the week it says...really!

So far 25 weeks is a good place to be! The bean is getting bigger (along with my midsection) and is moving and kicking a ton. The kicking doesn't keep me up at night yet, but I can definitely see how that would happen. He likes to wake me up in the morning with huge kicks gentle nudges. A morning baby already, fabulous!

We took these belly shots on our last day of vacation and I can guarantee this will be the only time I appear on the internet in a bikini. Breathe a sigh of relief, it's ok. :o) I figure this is the last time my baby-bearing body will be in a bikini period, so why not live it up a little.






How far along: 25 weeks
Net weight gain/loss: up 10lbs (too much boardwalk food!)
Maternity clothes: graduated to pants and shirts this week
Stretch marks: no, yay!
Belly button: still an innie
Sleep: switched sides of the bed with Drew so I can sleep on my left side -- it's wonderful, but disorienting when I get up in the middle of the night
Baby movement: oh my, yes
Food cravings: soft serve ice cream at the county fair, check
Food aversions: nothing -- bring on the food
What I miss: climbing stairs without sounding like the Big Bad Wolf
Looking forward to: starting the baby quilt (still...didn't get to it last week)
Best moment this week: being excited about taking the bean to the shore next year!
Milestones: baby boy is up to 1.5 lbs and his lungs are starting to mature

24 weeks

Drew and I are home! We spent the last week on the New Jersey shore with Drew's family (aka - our babymoon) and just made it back.

There will be lots more on that trip soon, but for now I want to squeeze in my 24 week report, even though I'm technically 25 weeks today. We didn't have internet for most of the week, so I got a little behind!

The bean definitely got bigger this week, but that might just be due to all the snacks and boardwalk food we ate. Oops.

I still love the 2nd trimester and am really sad to see it winding down. Baby boy (!) is about 1.5 lbs now and is 13 inches long. He's packing a strong punch and let everyone at the shore feel him move around.

Drew took our weekly photos down at the ocean this week -- aren't they beautiful?!

How far along: 24 weeks
Net weight gain/loss: up 7lbs since getting pregnant
Maternity clothes: pants and some shirts
Stretch marks: no, yay!
Belly button: still an innie
Sleep: so glad to be back in my own bed tonight
Baby movement: lots and lots -- he's very busy in there
Food cravings: caramel corn from the boardwalk, check
Food aversions: nothing -- bring on the food
What I miss: beer and drinks with everyone else at the beach
Looking forward to: starting the baby quilt
Best moment this week: telling Drew's family that the bean is a BOY!
Milestones: baby bean has hair

23 weeks

23 weeks pregnant is a happy place to be!

Along with all the increasing movement I've been feeling from the bean has come an increasing sense of reality about what's happening here.

Prepare yourself, but...I think I might end up with a BABY once this pregnancy thing is over!

Novel, I know.

Honestly for a long time I understood mentally that I was pregnant, but was pretty skeptical that I'd ever actually have an infant at the conclusion.

I think one of the first questions I asked my OB went something like, "So, what are the chances of a baby coming out of all this?" I kept waiting for someone to tell me that there was a mistake and I wasn't actually pregnant.

But they didn't!

Now we've made it to 23 weeks, baby bean is moving, my belly is getting bigger, and I had to buy new bras. Nothing gives a splash of reality like changing bra sizes. {TMI, sorry.}

Anyway, there's a baby in there! See...

The bean is very busy getting ready for his/her first beach vacation next week. Pass the sunblock...or the hurricane shutters...we'll see what happens.

How far along: 23 weeks

Net weight gain/loss: up 7lbs since getting pregnant

Maternity clothes: yes, odd things I didn't expect to need...maternity swimsuit, swim cover-up and capri pants.

Stretch marks: not yet

Belly button: still s-t-r-e-t-c-h-i-n-g

Sleep: didn't get up once last night = awesome

Baby movement: yes! I can tell when the bean is awake -- my whole belly moves

Food cravings: cheese and broccoli potato from Wendy's (had 1 and need another soon)

Food aversions: not too much. Very hungry these days.

What I miss: bending over without getting the wind pushed out of my lungs

Looking forward to: the beach!

Best moment this week: finding maternity capris for 60% off

Milestones: baby W can sense movement and dances with me!

22 weeks

Another week is in the books. The time has been passing really, really quickly. We're at 22 weeks now!



I wrote a post last week about how much I love all of the kicks baby bean has been giving me and I still do! The kicks have been getting stronger and more consistent over the past week. Feeling the bean move is by far the coolest thing I've ever experienced.



Next Monday is another doctor's appointment. This time...the dreaded glucose test!

I've heard horrible things about how gross the drink is, but I think I can handle it. I mean, c'mon people, I'm facing childbirth in less than 20 weeks -- how troubling can drinking 500mL of orange fluid really be?


If I'm not tough enough to down a shot of glucose-spiked beverage then what hope do I have of successfully evacuating an 8 pound baby?

I can do it!

{thanks, Rosie}



Here's to no gestational diabetes!

How far along: 22 weeks
Net weight gain/loss: up 6lbs since getting pregnant
Maternity clothes: pants exclusively, some shirts, lots of dresses
Stretch marks: none, thanks Mama Bee
Belly button: very clean (and wide)
Sleep: even better since I got a body pillow
Baby movement: rockin' and rollin'
Food cravings: cheese and broccoli potato from Wendy's (still need 1 of these)
Food aversions: not much. Hungry these days.
What I miss: my coordination. Still. Broke something else this week. Grr...
Looking forward to: that potato from 3 items up
Best moment this week: seeing and feeling more kicks from Baby Beckham or Hamm
Milestones: the bean can hear my voice and is starting to recognize it

21 weeks

I popped!

Or the bean did? My belly did?

At any rate, Drew and I really noticed last night that my belly is way high and really out there. The baby is now a few inches above my belly button! I don't know exactly when it happened, but it was sometime between Sunday and Tuesday nights.



Unfortuantely, you can't really tell in this photo. I am wearing a loose shirt, so you'll just have to take my word for it. I love this blog -- now when my little sister is pregnant with her first baby and asks me when I "popped" I can just flip back through here and find Week 21!



Over the weekend I was thrown a wonderful shower for the bean by my Mom and sisters. What a great way to start the week. So far being 21 weeks pregnant is awesome!

How far along: 21 weeks
Net weight gain/loss: up 6lbs since getting pregnant
Maternity clothes: pants exclusively, shirts sporadically
Stretch marks: none, yay!
Belly button: still stretching as the baby moves up and out
Sleep: pretty good although I really need one of those pregnancy pillows soon
Baby movement: more consistent and stronger -- Drew could feel lots of kicks the other night!
Food cravings: cheese and broccoli potato from Wendy's
Food aversions: nothing -- I think I'd eat paper, if it had caramel sauce on top.
What I miss: my coordination. I'm klutz central these days.
Looking forward to: shopping for a nursery lamp this weekend
Best moment this week: baby shower with my family!
Milestones: the bean is getting stronger and kicking more consistently

20 weeks

We made it halfway through the pregnancy!

Actually, now I'm 20 weeks and 3 days pregnant, so there are officially fewer days ahead of me than behind. Way to go, bean!

Things are coming along really well now. Drew and I ordered nursery furniture at the end of May and it is being delivered tomorrow. I'm so excited! It has been such a long time since we ordered it I kind of forget what we bought. It will be lots of fun to get the nursery set up for the little bean.

I know that I'm way ahead of where we need to be at this point, but I love planning and organizing things, so these projects are right up my alley. I guess if we get an early bean I'll be all ready!

How far along: 20 weeks

Net weight gain/loss: up 6lbs since getting pregnant

Maternity clothes: all pants, some shirts

Stretch marks: none yet

Belly button: so wide and flat that it's totally lint free -- score.

Sleep: slept through the night yesterday, wonderful!

Baby movement: sporadic -- some days lots, other days not so much

Food cravings: quesadilla (and guac, of course)

Food aversions: still really don't love chicken breasts

What I miss: wine with pasta dinners

Looking forward to: setting up the nursery!

Best moment this week: shopping with Drew for cute baby clothes

Milestones: the baby is half-baked!