37 weeks- Full Term!

How far along: 

37 weeks! Full term.

How long to go:

I can honestly say " anyday now" even though I want to at least go to 40 weeks, this baby could arrive at anytime! 

Sleep: 

Ugh. that's all I can say. Hah! Sleep has finally become a kind of task that is difficult to accomplish. I think i still get on average 7 hrs a night, but it's very interrupted and very HOT! :-( I sleep SO WARM at night, during the day I'm completely fine, don't mind the heat one bit, but when I'm sleeping it's another story. I've been using ice packs, two fans, and 77* AC every night, and still wake up sweaty. It's ok though! Sleep in small increments is how my life will be for a while soon anyways, so as long as I get a nap in at some point I feel okay. Plus Coffee. I'm a zombie without it.  

Movement:

Movements are so different. I love them, I can just feel the length and weight of this little one by it's movements, lots of rolls and for me, uncomfortable rib rubs, and i get a lot of way up high kicks, I can tell baby is in the right position for birth because of the high kicks I get right up under my chest. it's amazing. that baby must be so squished, ready to stretch out and join our world.

Cravings: 

Still cannot get enough ice and ice cold water!

Mama thoughts:

This week has been rough! I had a very hard day on Thursday at work, I worked really early, 7 am, which isn't NOT something I'm at all used to, and my body wasn't happy. I got Braxton Hicks from 7:20 am on, and unless I was sitting or on a break, they were there. Along with soreness and exhaustion. That was a tough shift. The following 2 days I was completely fine at work, it's just some days are harder then others!

Nursery:
With the help of my wonderful hubby and a friend, we got the furniture moved around in the nursery! Everything's pretty much done as far as that goes, my hubby needs to fix up our changing table a bit, it's used and a bit shaky, but once that's done, I just have a few photos I'd like to hang and a few plants I want to put in the nursery. We plan on putting baby in the crib from day one, so I want to make sure that room is handy and all settled so we don't have too many projects after baby. I need to get a side table next to the rocker with nursing accessories and things to help that  time feel more comfortable. I'm on the lookout for something to fit in.   

Additional Information:

Your baby is the size of a large cantaloupe. Your doctor may check for labor signs, while your baby prepares for birth by sucking, turning and breathing in the womb.

Weight:

22+ lbs

36 weeks!

another classy bathroom shot! soon enough my belly will cover up the reflection of the toilet... ;)

How far along: 36 WEEKS!!!

How long to go: 4 ish weeks!

Movement: Baby is headed downward so I get lots of kicks and movement with baby's feet on the upper right side of my stomach, and lots of hiccups and punches on the lower left side. Baby's movements have changed a lot since there isn't a lot of room. Movements are so constant and frequent throughout the day, it makes me sad to think I won't feel them in just a few short weeks :'(

Sleep: Pretty good for the most part! As long as I stop my water intake at a reasonable hour before bed, I don't tend to wake up in the middle of the night. Since baby is headed downwards, when I lay on my left side, I know the baby's head slides over to the side because I feel hiccups and lots of movement.

How do I feel: Really very good. Rory has pointed out that about every two or three days I have a hard day, where it just feels like baby is so heavy and stretching me, then I'll get used to it and have a few really good days. My last day of work is July 25th!!!! I'm really looking forward to that time off, my Mom joins us for a month, starting Aug 3rd!!! I hope the baby waits till she's here to show up. I'm looking forward to quality time with her. I would love to make freezer meals, and deep clean the house, before baby arrives. I do hope the baby comes early August though, because both my Sister -in-law and Mother-in-law are teachers and they go back to school around 8-10. My sister Karie arrives Aug 19th for a week! My baby shower for work is 7-26! I have SO MUCH to look forward to in this next month! 

Mama thoughts: As time narrows down, I feel so much excitement and I really do feel ready. Having taken most of our newborn classes with our friends from church, and getting my birth plan, meetings with Doula (tomorrow and another before baby)

There are still quite a few things I need to do before baby shows up, and a few more classes through Kaiser ( birthing class, stork tour and breastfeeding class) that we still need to cross off our list. I feel as if my to-do list grows longer everyday! What with getting my maternity leave and state leave in order, trying to get all of my schooling paper work and appts finished, I transferred college's just recently and will start my first semester at Arizona State University online, in October (!!!!), as well as getting all my baby ducks in a row here at the house, organizing nursery, etc. I've been home a lot more lately and I love it! It gives me such good time to rest, sleep, organize, keep up on daily chores, cook dinner, etc. My husband works long long hours and it makes my heart so happy knowing that when He gets home the house is clean and dinner is on it's way to being done. He can just relax and rest, from hard physical labor.  

Additional Info: (WTE)  Baby is now about six pounds and 20 inches long. Growth will experience a slowdown now, both so your baby will be able to fit the narrow passageway to the outside and also so he or she can store up all the energy needed for delivery.

Nursery: I have the next three days off, so I plan on doing some major damage in there today and the following few days! I am making a few returns today and using a few gift cards and money to buy the crib mattress, crib sheets, and a few other things that will make me feel more ready! I think the only large item we still need is our stroller, but my wonderful sister found me a barley used Moby Wrap, which I can use for walks, church, etc for the first few months anyways. We also are needing to invest in the cloth diaper system with my friend Amy's company Buttons Diapers eventually, but will use disposables for now, until we can afford to buy the cloth. 

Dr. Appt: Thursday I had an ultrasound ( possibly my last!) and then Friday a routine doctor visit. At the Ultra sound the tech said baby is headed down and facing the right direction! And she said baby's estimated weight is 6.7lbs! Which puts me at about 37+ wks as far as baby's growth is concerned. I doubt i'll have a small baby anyways, so I imagine this little bugger is going to be close to 9lbs at birth! A friend suggested a poll that we take for babys delivery date, time weight & height. I might set something up on here, so be on the lookout in the next few weeks.

Important to-do's:

1.) Pack hospital bag

2.) Install car seat

My beautiful baby shower!

My friends did such a lovely job throwing my baby shower! I was so showered with love and beautiful gifts. The baby has so many books now, to add to my already wonderful collection of children's literature.
I am a firm believer in this quote: 

“Children are made readers on the laps of their parents.”

― Emilie Buchwald

I  believe whole-heartidly in cultivating imagination and wonder through reading and enjoying stories spoken over children. I am beyond grateful I was raised by parents who held reading and story telling at such a high standard and a must. I cannot wait to read to my child.

ps: I gave each guest a colored heart of their choosing, when taking a photo with them. Their heart color was their guess on the baby's gender :-)

34 weeks!

How far along: 34 weeks!

How long to go: 6 weeks till my due date!

Mama thoughts: I was feeling very overwhelmed and unprepared the afternoon after my baby shower and the following morning, thinking about everything we still " need" for baby. I was pretty emotional about feeling inadequately prepared, with not having the nursery ready, not having a stroller or crib mattress. I talked with a few wise women, and my pastor prayed over my hubby and I at church, Rory and I also got work done in the nursery after our parenting class yesterday. I am feeling better now. My pastor's prayers were very spot on when He said you aren't prepared, and that's the beauty of the Lord, He will give you what you need when you need it. And I know He wasn't just talking about physical items, but more then that, Jesus will give us everything we need to be the best parents we can be, when we need it. Love, grace, mercy, strength, endurance, etc.  

Nursery: We got the crib wall finished yesterday and I organized the newborn baby clothes I have, feeling a lot better about having more then enough.

Movement: I sure do love feeling the rolls and twists this baby is doing in my belly!! It's amazing that the larger this little one grows the more distinct the movements. In church yesterday, I felt the baby roll, and had Rory put his hand on that spot and the baby rolled across my stomach right where his hand was. It was so neat! 

Sleep: Sleeping pretty good, lots of tossing and turning, but I'm finally starting to train my body to sleep on the left side, which is best for baby at this point because it's getting heavy, and when I sleep on my right side or back, the weight of the baby pushes on important veins and nerves that deliver oxygen and blood to the placenta, so I'm trying my hardest to sleep for only short periods of time on my back or right side 

( the side I always slept on pre-pregnancy) and sleep more on my left side.

How do I feel: I feel great. Some days are harder then others. I have been having Braxton Hicks contractions at work, so I try and drink lots of water and take more frequent sitting  breaks. Being on my feet at work is bringing on those " practice" contractions. I've also been drinking Raspberry Leaf tea ( not as tasty as it sounds) which is supposed to help my body get ready for labor. Here's more information on the benefits: Raspberry Leaf Tea and Labor.

I'm also going to start eating dates one month before my due 

date ( July 10th) because a friend said it is supposed to help mom's go into labor naturally and right on time, she and three other friends tried it and all had their babies right around their due dates! 

More information on eating dates later in pregnancy

Parenting classes: Rory, Seth, Rachel & I, are going through material for parenting called: "Preparation for Parenting" by Gary and Anne Mary Ezzo. A couple from our church teach the lessons, and so far we've done three video sessions. The first emphasizes the importance of the family dynamic before baby arrives and how important the marriage relationship is for Children's well being. It also talks a lot about the " why" behind what we do as parents, even from day one, and helps new parents understand the impact these choices have on the rest of your babies life. I sum it up like this: BE INTENTIONAL

we want to be intentional and specific with what we're doing for our child, the habits we're forming and the schedules and routines we're maintaining. Dave our leader put it this way, so perfectly put: " If you don't know the why behind what you're doing, you'll do what's easiest, and that isn't always whats best for you or your baby." That is wisdom. When I am cranky tired and it's 3am, and I don't know why I'm doing what I'm doing, I will do whats easiest, IE: convenient and habit forming. It was a good lesson. 

Yesterday we went through two video sessions, the first on setting good eating patterns with baby, and spending your first 10 days getting full feedings, without any kind of schedule, learning hunger cues and sleeping ( lots). I love knowing the what to do, and having very specific direction with schedules and feedings. What I love about this book and their philosophy is that the ideal schedule should look something like this: hunger cue + clock + P.A. ( parental assessment: which is as it sounds, using our God given ability to know what our child needs) = feeding time.

Basically it isn't a clock or baby led system, it's a little of both and your discernment as a parent. 

It's neither free spirited (baby led) nor legalistic ( clock led)

It's a very real life approach to parenting your child and setting them and their little bodies up for success. This book also highly encourages not using sleeping aids ( rocking chair or swing) or co-sleeping, which is very dangerous for baby and intrudes on Mom and Dad's sacred space. Another thing I love about this book!

I feel so much more prepared after reading up and attending these sessions, with wise godly parents who have lived this out and have wonderful children as a result. Many of the families I admire and respect in my church followed this with their children and I see the results. It's wonderful. 

Additional Information: This week your baby is clocking in at five pounds and could be as tall as 20 inches. In other baby-related developments, those tiny fingernails have probably reached the tips of his fingers by now — and getting ready for that first postpartum manicure. 

33 weeks!

How Far along: 33 weeks! nuts!

How far to go: 6 weeks, 6 days! give or take :-)
I will go over my due date, almost up to a week or two before considering inducement, I want to avoid inducement as much as possible. it's not natural and is almost always followed by an epidural, which I would like to avoid.  

Movement: movements are changing! instead of all kicks and punches and jabs, it's turned into a lot of twist and rolls and i LOVE it! it's the craziest feeling to feel your baby slowly roll across your stomach, it throws me off and makes me laugh. 

Maternity clothes: i love my maternity clothes! thank GOD for maternity clothes, slimming and flattering yet still comfortable. I might need to get a few more bottoms before this pregnancy is over, because the old rubber band trick on my pre pregnancy pants and shorts is a JOKE now. SO uncomfortable! it's leggings only at work now, thank you Starbucks for changing your dress code for us Pregnant gals! ( up until a few months ago, starbucks didn't allow any leggings or yoga pants while working, and they changed their policy months before I got pregnant!)

Cravings: still loving the ice cold drinks! I cannot get enough ice water and chewing on ice.

Weight gain: still only 17lbs! PTL! I had a Dr. appt on friday & was overjoyed to step on that scale and see I haven't gained anything! WOOOO! my Dr. measures my belly at 35weeks, but my last ultra sound is perfect, baby measures in the %63 percentile.

Mama thoughts: ALLL over the place. Sometimes I feel amazing joy looking forward to this baby's arrival, and sometimes I have fearful thoughts about labor and birth, it's so hard to not know how things are going to go, and know that I'm literally the only one who can accomplish this task at hand. I know I will have amazing support, but this is my honor and privilege, to bring this baby into this world. I'm reading this book, little by little. It's mostly stories of woman sharing their birth stories. It's empowering. I love how they have changed the language around birth, instead of saying contraction, they call it a rushing, they want us Mommas to think of it as a rush of energy to get the job done, it's your bodies way of getting ready. It's the only book my sister Karie read and she said it helped her to not feel any fear surrounding birth, she felt so confident going into her birthing experience.

On another note, my BABY SHOWER is this saturday! I'm soooo excited to celebrate this baby's arrival with the ladies from my church and some friends I don't get to see often. I am so excited to " feather" our nursery with all the lovely gifts and things people make for baby. It will feel so real once the nursery is set up! I'm waiting on this baby shower to really start setting up the nursery.

How I feel: I feel really good. I am amazed I can still say that ;) I kinda feel like, when is that going to end?? Some days are harder then others, just like life. But for the most part I really have nothing to complain about. I'm so grateful. As the baby grows, it's nearly 5lbs now (!!!) it does get harder to be on my feet at work, my belly gets sore, but if I get off my feet and sit for a few minutes, it's back to normal. I plan on working till I'm 39 weeks. I've asked to be scheduled more during the day, that way I can sleep in, and not work so late at night, I want to really enjoy these last few weeks with Rory. Being home at night to have dinner and taking walks swimming at His Mom's and relax together, sounds exactly what we need before baby arrives.

I also dropped the two summer school classes I was enrolled in. The decision brought me peace. Only having around 7 weeks left in my pregnancy, sitting a classroom and writing essays, isn't how I want to spend my last few weeks in this pregnancy. It also hit me, how this really is the only time I'm going to have to myself, to rest and prepare for this baby, while still keeping a 20hr work week, before this baby shows up. When I shared this decision with Rory He was in support, and so aptly replied " A lot of change is coming soon." And he's right. I'm going to " guilt-free" enjoy a lot of down time, extra sleep, and time to myself.  

Sleep: Lots of tossing and turning, but not as warm as I was experiencing last week. PTL!

Additional info: This week your baby may be anywhere between 17 to 19 inches in length and could grow up to another full inch this week — especially if he or she has been on the shorter side. She weighs more than four and a half pounds and is still gaining weight (about half a pound a week — weight gain can range from a third more to a full doubling before the big debut). With that much baby inside your uterus, your amniotic-fluid level has maxed out at 33 weeks pregnant, making it likely you have more baby than fluid now. That's one reason explaining why some of her pokes and kicks feel pretty sharp these days.

32 Weeks!

How far along: 32 weeks

How long to go: 8 weeks till my due date! ( Aug 10th)

How do I feel: really good! The heat has kicked in here in Fresno in FULL force, most days reach over 100* and some over 105*, I feel like summer is starting really early! We usually don't get consistently hot days till July! I think I was in some type of pool 6 days straight last week! I'm getting bronzed! Yay! I love summer and mostly have no real issues with the heat, that I am thankful for!  

Cravings: ICE and ice cold water! I think about chewing ice, on a hot day, there's nothing I want more then a giant glass of cold water and ice.

Sleep: I've been sleeping really hot recently. Thankful we have A/C! Getting to sleep has been hard, but once I'm asleep I'm a ok! Still not getting up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom, even though this baby is only getting heavier and when I lay down I feel baby pushing on my bladder. My hands have been getting numb again at night, that's really frustrating. 

Movement: lots and LOTS of it!! It's the best!! Rory has been able to feel some really strong kicks lately when we lay down to go to bed at night. It's so special. The other night I was laying on my left side and baby was moving so much, rolling and twisting, it made me feel sick to my stomach! The only thing I can compare it to, is when you ride a roller coaster and your stomach drops on the big hills or loops, but it's constant. I had to flip over to my back to avoid the feeling :-)  

Mama thoughts: Recently I thought it would be really cute to dress baby in something gender specific when we send out text/ instagram announcements, so I've been looking on Etsy for inspiration: Here are some cute ideas: Baby Boy or baby girl.

Additional information: tipping the scales at almost four pounds and topping out at just about 19 inches. In these past few weeks, it's all about practice, practice, practice as she hones the skills she'll need to thrive outside the womb — from swallowing and breathing to kicking and sucking. In anticipation of that momentous transition to mouth feeding, your baby's digestive system is all set and ready to go. And though you’re weeks away from D-day, your baby's looking more and more like a newborn: As more and more fat accumulates under her skin, it’s becoming less transparent and more opaque.

29 weeks!!!

How far along: 29 weeks! 

How long to go: only 11 weeks! NUTS! I don't think it's going to really sink in till they place that baby on my chest. 

Nursery: It's really coming together! We have our crib, changing table, rocker glider recliner, Moses basket, and an armoire for baby's clothes. It's becoming so real seeing those tiny diapers on the changing table.   

Sleep: not bad, sleeping pretty good. Baby always kicks when I lay down at night, and if I get up in the middle of the night to use the restroom, the baby is SO active when I lay back down. 

Mama thoughts: counting kicks is so enjoyable. Rory got to feel about 5 kicks in a row the other night when I laid down for bed, and I LOVE that!!

On another note: my appetite is almost entirely gone! :-( not a lot of room in there. The heat has also been a factor, I tend not to be very hungry when it's hot.

How I feel: feeling really good this week, just normal growing baby aches and pains. Round ligament pain is dominate in the lower half of my belly when I get up too fast from laying or sitting, and if I walk too vigorously. But feeling a lot better this week than last. Everyday is different :-) I am so grateful I work, it keeps me up and motivated and sleeping well. I will continue to work till I can't. 

Additional Information: At 29 weeks pregnant, your baby weighs nearly three pounds now and measures about 17 inches. Though she's getting pretty close to her birth length, she still has to chub out a bit. In fact, over the next 11 weeks, she'll more than double — or even come close to tripling — her weight. As more fat is deposited under the skin surface, her wrinkled skin is smoothing out.

sweet nursery updates!

Here are a few real life purchases ( instead of pinterest ideas) :-)

Our Crib!!!!

 Happy yellow laundry basket

 the material for the baby's quilt! 
Pictured below is the pattern I chose and these are the materials. I wanted something neutral and fun! I loveeeee it and I cannot wait to see the finished product. a dear friends Mom is making out quilt as a gift. what a special sweet keep sake!

Why hello there third trimester!! 28 weeks!!

How far along: 28 weeks!!! Third trimester!!

How long to go: only 12 more weeks!

How do I feel: This week has been a tough one!! I'm really feeling the weight of the baby, and at work my belly is sore after being on my feet all evening, sitting down is a God-sent! I haven't been sleeping very well, but i'll explain that more in the section below. It's been a tough week needless to say. Thank God for my husband, what a blessing He is, with late night foot and back rubs! I don't know how some women do this alone... God bless & keep them! 

Birth Plan: My Momma is here from out of state right now, so we had to make an appointment with my Doula! My Mom was very impressed! I'm so happy we got to sit and chat for a few hours with her. We went over questions I had about my birth plan. I'm feeling more and more confident about what I want, but keeping an open mind, knowing things rarely work out the way we want them to :-) God knows what I need and what I can handle. 

Sleep: rough rough. I went from sleeping like a pro, to having a really hard sleep week. I don't think this will become a habit, i just had some bad stomach aches and trying to find a comfortable position has been hard too. Last night I slept perfectly fine, PTL, so I'm hoping i go back into my normal pattern of sleep!

Movement: Rory got to feel the baby a few days ago!! He was so thrilled He let out this goofy little giggle and it startled the baby, so it stopped kicking :-) Movement is very common at night, when I finally settle down. 

Additional Info: My Dr. is ,asking that I do ultrasounds every few weeks to track the babies growth, until 34 weeks because I'm measuring bigger, which is no surprise because of my pre baby belly, but He just wants to make sure the baby is growing normally so, I surprised my Mom with a trip to Kaiser for an ultrasound!! It was lovely, but very anticlimactic. The baby wasn't very ready for it's close-up. Little one did move quite a bit while she was trying to get the angles she needed. 

Good profile shot of our little bugger <3

Nursery: We got out CRIB!!!! I'm in LOVE! 

Here's Mr. Rory setting it up! We'll put it in the nursery along with a few other goodies we've received once my Mom takes off and we can move the queen bed out. My baby shower is next month, so we'll be nice and ready for baby by then! Then just two more months till our big day! 

By this week, your baby weighs 2 1/4 pounds (about the size of a large eggplant) and measures 14.8 inches from the top of her head to her heels. She can open and close her eyes, which now sport lashes. This movement is more of a reflexive blink than a deliberate opening and closing, but it won't be long before she's batting those beauties at you.

26 weeks!

What a little sun does! Geez! So glad I'm having a summer baby! I'm so pasty and yuck in the winter :-)

How Far Along: 26 weeks! 6 months pregnant! Feels so good to say that! My due date is 3 months and 6 days a way!!! yahoo!! 

How Long to go: 98 days! 14 weeks!

How I'm feeling: sleepy :-) the other day i took two naps! TWO! And I've been sleeping in as much as possible! Besides all of that, I feel great! No symptoms except the pain in my right wrist has returned at night, but I wear a wrist brace which helps a lot.

Momma thoughts: I'm anxious to get the nursery set up! We were hoping to get a crib from my Mom's current boss, a nanny job she's working in SF, but that whole thing fell through. So we're going to have to start looking a little more seriously for the crib now. I think we'll end up going with an Ikea crib since they're so inexpensive and very chic.

I had my glucose screening test today at Kaiser. The whole process was seamless, except I just got a call from the lab tech who put some of my drawn blood in the wrong colored tube.... So now I need to go back and get one more tube of blood draw. Smack my head. I don't mind getting the blood draw but it's frustrating I have to drive all the way back to Kaiser! 

-_-

oh well! 

Movement: I love feeling the baby move everyday!! I am still anxious for Rory to experience it!

Sleep: lots of tossing and turning since sleeping on my stomach is no longer a comfortable option, but for the most part I feel well rested when I wake up. Coffee helps :-)

Maternity Clothes: These babies just litterally arrived at my door just minutes ago! Thanks Fed Ex! So I'm excited to start wearing them! The bottoms are all maternity, and the top I ordered in a size up, I couldn't pass up on that tank! Only $10!!! If you follow me on instagram  then you'd know the awesome steal these clothes were! I went to www.retailmenot.com just as I was checking out on www.OldNavy.com and got a code for 35% OFF! SCORE! 

Additional Information: The network of nerves in your baby's ears is better developed and more sensitive than before. He may now be able to hear both your voice and your partner's as you chat with each other. He's inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid, which is essential for the development of his lungs. These so-called breathing movements are also good practice for when he's born and takes that first gulp of air. And he's continuing to put on baby fat. He now weighs about 1 2/3 pounds and measures 14 inches (about the size of a scallion) from head to heel. If you're having a boy, his testicles should soon begin to descend into his scrotum — a trip that will take two to three months.

23 weeks!

How far along: 23 wks

How much more to go: 17 weeks! 118 days to go!

How do I feel: I've been telling everyone the same thing: HUNGRY! Hah, this babe is growing!

Sleep: pretty good all around!

Cravings: JALAPENO'S!!! Can't get enough of these spicy lil things. We made stuffed baked jalapeno's a few days back and I've made a trip to Jack in the box, for poppers recently. because YUM.

Maternity clothes: loving my maternity clothes!

Movement: I'm feeling this sweetie daily now! It's so wonderful!! I look forward every day to feeling those little kicks and flutters. I'm learning, my app tells me, my baby's sleep patterns! Baby R is starting to form patterns and habits in their sleep, and I will start to learn those by sensing their movements ( wake time) and no movements ( most likely sleeping)

In that theory, the baby loves to be awake early mornings, noon-ish, and evenings. 

Weight: same as last, gained 5-7 lbs total

Mamma thoughts: felt a little overwhelmed yesterday when we were out to dinner and pretty emotional when thinking about being a Mamma, and not in a positive way. it is a very overwhelming thought, thinking about caring for a baby, and not really knowing what to do. I know we're going to develop out own patterns and ways, and learn what our baby needs most, but I really want to set patterns as soon as possible as far as sleep and eating goes. This post really encouraged me! Kelsey is one of my favorites! 

Additional info: Turn on some tunes and sway to the music. With her sense of movement well developed by now, your baby can feel you dance. And now that she's more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound (about the size of a large mango), you may be able to see her squirm underneath your clothes. Blood vessels in her lungs are developing to prepare for breathing, and the sounds that your baby's increasingly keen ears pick up are preparing her for entry into the outside world. Loud noises that become familiar now — such as your dog barking or the roar of the vacuum cleaner — probably won't faze her when she hears them outside the womb.

20 weeks! ( Ultra sound pictures!!)

 Front facing,( you can see the eyes, nose and mouth here.)

 Arms, you can clearly see the bones and elbows and tiny fingers!

Here's the little thumb sucker! (insert googly heart eye emoji here)

Here's the side body shot.

How far along/ how far to go: HALF WAY DONE! HALF WAY TO GO!!

Mama thoughts: I try think of difficult or "long periods of time" things I've done, and the half way point in each of those things, and the first half for sure goes by slower then the second half! We had our 20 wk anatomy scan on Tuesday! That was a roller coaster! Phew. They have you drink SO MUCH WATER. I was curious why so I looked it up! "The readings from ultra sounds are much clearer and thus more accurate once you have a full bladder. Remember that the ultra sound is waves bouncing off from different sounds and motions in order to create an image - so having a full bladder aids with a 'picture perfect' ultrasound." So that wasn't fun, I was pretty close to crying, because we waited over 1.5 hrs with an entirely full bladder. Thankfully the tech let me go to the bathroom when I got into the room, because she said my bladder would fill up again as she was scanning. I think I drank too much water, so ladies, don't go crazy. But the ultra sound itself was really mind blowing. It took about 45 min, and out Child wasn't moving a lot, so she had to move me around and ask me to go to the bathroom again, hoping that would make the baby move. She took scans of every important part of the baby, Brain, different bones in the babies legs and arms, bladder, heart chambers, measured my placenta, and the babies skull. She caught the baby sucking it's thumb and said ( i couldn't see this part because she had me lay on my side away from the screen) that our baby has a " Cute Profile!" She really couldn't get a clear shot of the profile which made me really sad. Before I went in I imagined staring at that little profile, just imagining what our little one looks like. But she did get some good side view shots of the whole body! And boy oh boy does that kid have some LEGS! Legs for days. Basketball or super model, that's my current theory ;) 

Weight: still only up 5lbs!  

How do I feel: Really good for the most part! My throaty congestion is almost gone and my voice almost back! PTL. I have spring break next week, and some time off of work, so I'm really looking forward to doing some more nursery organizing, crafts, and resting! Rory and I shopping around for nursery chairs this past week and found the kind we love. We plan on buying our Glider Swivel Recliner from Costco, they have a " Rory Recliner" that we couldn't pass up! ;-) It's a gift from Rory's Mom! She's amazing. 

Maternity clothes: I'm wearing mostly maternity tops and some bottoms. Same as last week. 

Cravings: same as last week, nothing special to report here.

 

Additional Information: Your baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. He's also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom and about 10 inches from head to heel — about the size of a banana. (For the first 20 weeks, when a baby's legs are curled up against his torso and hard to measure, measurements are taken from the top of his head to his bottom — "crown to rump" measurement. After 20 weeks, he's measured from head to toe.)

He's swallowing more these days, which is good practice for his digestive system. He's also producing meconium, a black, sticky by-product of digestion. This gooey substance will accumulate in his bowels, and you'll see it in his first soiled diaper (some babies pass meconium in the womb or during delivery).

Movement: Nothing to report here (sad face) I know I've felt the baby move, but as a first time Momma, I can't really distinguish the kicks from gas bubbles. So they say when you feel a lot of gas bubbles, that's the baby. I am anxious to feel those first real noticeable kicks!