{Take Two} 22 weeks

Due Date: October 25th, 2014

Musings on the Weekly Photo: It seems bigger to me. A lot of people this week have mentioned that it seems like it's suddenly "there" and obviously a baby bump. I've also ran into a few acquaintances I haven't seen in a couple of months, and they've all said congratulations, so I guess it's becoming more obviously a bump and not fat. Haha.

Marination Time: 22(ish) weeks.

Doctor Update: BP - 104/68, Baby's heart rate - 138, Cervical Length - 3.8

Weight Gain: +11 pounds or so (gym scale), as of appointment (6/24). No gain this week.

Maternity Clothes: Stretch is best.

Fruit of the Week: Baby is the size of a spaghetti squash.

Name: We haven't really discussed it minus a few "I don't really like it" comments from Michael. 

Gender: Still unknown!

Movement: Lots of kicks and punches.

Cravings: Fruit and lemonade. I want everything to be COLD. Popsicles are good, ice cream is hit or miss. Anything over ice is a huge win. Food-wise, a friend of mine made these amazing crustini's last week that had sautéed onions and mushrooms over goat cheese, drizzled with an amazing balsamic reduction. I've been dreaming about them all week! It's the onions. I can't get enough grilled or sautéed onions!

Annoyances: Lots of contractions, but nothing super productive. I forget to sit, then I sit too much. I feel like I'm growing at an exponential rate when in reality, I'm not. But I feel like it! Baby is also now breech, little stinker, but has plenty of time to flip back around. Bonus to being breech? Not putting pressure on my cervix, causing it to shorten.

Highlights of the Week: Our doctor's office got a new ultrasound machine, and we got to be practice for the 3/4D system! Also, we moved Lily into the basement this week, into her "new room" and the baby's room is mostly done. The next step is decorating both rooms and decorating/organizing the new playroom; Mom and Dad are visiting this weekend to help get that wrapped up while Mike is in Portland. I'm feeling more accomplished and ready to enjoy our summer!

{Take Two} 21 weeks

Due Date: October 25th, 2014

Musings on the Weekly Photo: Baby seems to be sitting back toward my spine this week, so my bump appears smaller. I also looked up info from 21 weeks with Lily, and she was transverse around this time - this baby is head down - so that explains the difference in the bump (this one being higher.)

Marination Time: 21(ish) weeks.

Weight Gain: +11 pounds or so, as of appointment (6/16). The gym scale and the doctor's scale differentiate by up to two pounds, so I'll stick with the gym scale's numbers. 

Maternity Clothes: The weather has been rainy and gross, so I broke out the full-panel maternity jeans this week. Why did I wait so long?! So comfortable.

Fruit of the Week: Length of a carrot!

Name: We haven't really discussed it, but we do have a list we've been keeping since Lily was born.

Gender: Still unknown! All ultrasounds will be transvaginal from here on out, so if baby stays head down, we hopefully won't get a sneak.

Movement: TONS more!

Cravings: Fruit and lemonade.

Annoyances: We had a great week! Minus ongoing contractions, I feel pretty good. Pretty much any time the baby rolls, I tend to have a contraction. The big thing is remembering to keep a happy medium between a hydrated and empty bladder. 

Highlights of the Week: TONS of movement! Baby must have had a growth spurt and is getting stronger because I am feeling a ton of punches down low and a few kicks up high, plus Mike can feel him/her easily now. Grow, baby, grow! We also got Lily and baby's rooms all painted, so now I can start decorating - I really want everything done soon so that I don't have to worry about things not being done. I'm in major early nesting mode for sure. Right now I'm planning on bringing in a lot of yellow and white, and then if it's a girl, I'll bring in coral and peaches, if it's a boy - reds and grays. So much fun!

{Take Two} 20 weeks

Due Date: October 25th, 2014

Musings on the Weekly Photo: I seem to be carrying a little higher but smaller with this one, don't you think?

Marination Time: 20(ish) weeks.

Weight Gain: +11 pounds or so, as of appointment (6/9).

Maternity Clothes: Now that we are having a lot of summer weather, I love that I can wear dresses and skirts every day.

Fruit of the Week: Length of a banana!

Name: We haven't really discussed it, but we do have a list we've been keeping since Lily was born.

Gender: Still unknown! Made it through the anatomy scan without an accidental showing of baby bits. 

Movement: TONS more! I feel a lot of punches and kicks, and s/he is making him/herself well-known on the outside too. Babe must have had a little growth spurt this week.

Cravings: Still with the carbs and fruit. I can eat an entire personal watermelon in one sitting. Meat is hit or miss, and I don't know if it'll be okay or not until I eat it. Salad never sounds good, but always ends up sitting really well.

Annoyances: Well... cervical length shortened a fair amount this week. Grr. Last week (6/3), I was at a 4.6 and this week (6/9), I was at a 3.1 - danger zone is considered 2.8. The doctor wasn't too concerned, but checked me anyway and despite having a lot of contractions, I'm not dilating, thank God. Cervical length is dynamic and can change day-to-day, so hopefully next week it lengthens again. I've been in a flurry trying to get things done just in case I get stuck on my keister, so the downstairs kids' rooms are coming together!

Another big thing that's been happening is that I'm having a lot of nightmares about this pregnancy, specifically about losing the baby. I wake up in tears a lot. I hope it's just the extra hormones and little bit of post-traumatic stress from my pregnancy with Lily, but it's worrisome. I get really anxious. What's weird is that with Lily, even after I started having issues, I never had a second thought that things wouldn't be okay. I don't know why I'm so much more concerned this time, but I suppose it's a natural reaction after a dramatic pregnancy.

Highlights of the Week: A friend of ours just had twins, and this week, Lily was so much more interested in them! She wasn't jealous at all, and was very intrigued. I was able to diaper, feed, and burp one of the babies without a smidge of resentment (she usually acts quite jealous when I hold babies.) She kept asking questions about the babies, exclaiming "Look at her tiny feet! She has small hands! She's just about my size!" She also keeps telling me she wants two babies. Sorry, honey. Not happening. ;)

{Take Two} 19 weeks

Due Date: October 25th, 2014

Musings on the Weekly Photo: It's a bump. 

Marination Time: 19(ish) weeks.

Weight Gain: +10 pounds as of this week's appointment (6/3). The doctor's scale and the gym scale say different things, so I'm going with approximately ten.

Maternity Clothes: Sticking with dresses, leggings, maternity jeans/shirts. I have one pair of pants that are relatively comfortable, but they give me a bit of a muffin top.

Fruit of the Week: Heirloom Tomato

Name: We haven't really discussed it, but we do have a list we've been keeping since Lily was born.

Gender: Unknown, and hopefully staying that way.

Movement: A lot more this week, mostly down low. Mike also felt baby move for the first time! So s/he is getting stronger.

Cravings: Fruit and carbs. I cannot get enough lemonade! But most of the time, I have no idea what I want to eat, which is really frustrating.

Annoyances: See above. I hate not knowing what I want to eat!

Highlights of the Week: More movement! It's nice to have the daily reminder that there is actually a baby in there.