20 & 21 Week Pics

Wow, what a difference a week (and a half) makes. I was a little late in taking my 21 week, but regardless in about a weeks time I went from having a very obvious pudge to a very distinct round bump!!

20 Weeks

21 (and a half) Weeks
ignore the hair

I just noticed that pants I was wearing at the end of last week (and buttoning) are no longer able to be buttoned - and I am not talking about being just a little shy of buttoning. I guess it is time to ditch the larger sizes and go to maternity pants!! I will say that should be more comfortable.

I better go stock up on those before Thursday - Thanksgiving - because I sincerely doubt that my clothes will fit that day!!

Oh Yeah

I had so much to say earlier that I forgot to write a few different things that are coming up.

First though, I think I forgot to tell you about your head. During the ultrasound, the tech was moving the wand around and when she got by my ribs and pushed down a little I felt this pain like she was pushing a rock inside me. I asked what that was and she informed me it was your head. She had to be careful after that because it was somewhat painful. I am not sure if your head was on top of an organ or what, but she was surprised I could feel the pressure. You must have been just perfectly placed on something.

Coming up at our next appointment we have to do the gestational diabetes test. That means that I can't eat for two hours before I drink this nasty sugar drink and then they draw my blood exactly one hour after the drink. Oh, and before the two hours I can only eat lightly. That is going to be an interesting lunch since my appt is at 4. Not to mention I get crabby as all get out when I am food deprived. I should probably reschedule that appointment to the morning!

The other crazy thing is that it is already time to think about hospital tours and classes we might be interested in. Since we are supposed to register in the fifth (now) or sixth month, we need to tour the two hospitals we are considering and make our final decision pretty quick. I also noticed there is a sibling adjustement course, I am debating whether or not we should take that for all of our sake (you, Austin, mommy and daddy). I think we will probably skip the lamaze class since A) this isn't our first rodeo and B) I will more than likely have the epidural again. I might consider the infant/child CPR because I am always scared something will happen and I won't know what to do. It has been probably ten years since I have taken a CPR class.

Oh well, fun things for daddy and I to think about in the next month or so. And just another sign that the clock is ticking away and delivery day is right around the corner.

You Are Too Precious!!!

It was so amazing to see you yesterday. You already look like a perfect little baby, it is almost hard to believe that you are only halfway done in there. I am sitting here looking at your little nose and lips, your little balled up fists - already ready to box with your brother - and your round little belly. I cannot help but smile.

The appointment went great, you were cooperating nicely. I found out that at this moment, your head is right under my ribs and your bottom is down at my pelvic area. That means all the movements and hitting/kicking that I feel on my left side are your little hands moving around and the movements and kicks I feel lower down are your curled up little legs/feet kicking away. That probably also explains why I need to go to the bathroom so much!!

It is crazy to believe you are already occupying so much space in there even though you are only 14 ounces (almost one pound). You are going to start getting pretty crowded soon! Hopefully by the time you do start getting crowded, you turn head down. We don't want you to stay breech and have a complicated labor.

Your little heart was beating away at 149 beats per minute, and looked healthy as could be. The technician reassured me that there were four healthy chambers pumping away (I could only see three, because you didn't want to cooperate for that part when she showed Daddy and me).

We were also happy to see that you are definitely a boy! No questions there anymore and I think that has really helped me to let it sink in. Don't worry, I did the same thing with your brother. The first time they said boy and gave me a picture I questioned it until I saw it again!!

Below are your latest pictures!! We get to see and/or hear you again on December 16. The crazy thing is that after that, we only have to wait three weeks and after that we will be going every two weeks. That makes it feel like we are getting close to the end and my time with you in my belly is short. That is a little sad to me, I love having you with me every minute and feeling you say hi constantly, I don't know that I will be ready for that to end, even though I am excited to meet you.




hugs and kisses
~ Mommy

Quick Update

I should find out more about how big you are and all that jazz tomorrow, but I was just looking into 21 weeks and was pretty amazed at how much you have probably grown and wanted to share.

You are about 10 1/2 inches long, head to toe (yes, that is head to toe... not head to rump). I am trying to figure out what to compare that number to. I mean, it is almost as big as a 12 inch ruler!! You might pass the time by sucking your thumb and opening and closing your eyes (we will see tomorrow!). Oh and you now probably enjoy elbowing mommy in the vital organs.
You are definitely kicking now, and the movements cannot only be felt from the outside, they can often be seen. Lie on your back and watch the weird ripples and dips of baby limbs. For the full Jurassic Park effect, do this in the tub and watch the water rings vibrate out from your belly. (I might have to try that!!)

I can absolutely attest to the moving, kicking, feeling, seeing... now we just have to get you to do it where daddy can see/feel it.

So that is you. I am fairly tired. I don't know how much of that is due to you draining me and how much is due to me draining me (and/or Austin draining me), but I am pretty tired on a regular basis now.

I have gained 12 pounds. For 21 weeks, I would say that is pretty good. I was a little worried there fore a couple weeks when most of those pounds appeared, but that gain seems to have calmed down and I am actually probably right on track with where I should be, so I am happy with that. I am just very curious when my massive weight gain occurred with Austin. (Meaning, do I still need to be worried or am I doing okay so far!!!)

I started taking weekly pictures since I hit the half-way mark... I just need to get around to posting them. Maybe I will do that with my posts for tomorrow. You can see the huge difference between 19, 20 and 21 weeks (that is sarcasm, the massive changes have slowed down and I think they look pretty much the same!!)

Okay, that is enough of an update... I think that in my head I am hoping your appointment will get here sooner if I write until that time and it isn't working! So, I am done writing - until tomorrow evening!

~Mommy

Siblings

It is really starting sink in now. Last night I got the nesting bug and put together the list of things that I will need to get for you. I am in shock at how little that list is, and very relieved!! Then I started going through the nursery closet. Pulling out the baby car seat, changing pad, crib bumpers, mobile, etc. It is so exciting to be playing with all of the "baby" things again.

Of course, your brother was helping me every bit of the way. Right now I am not sure how he is going to handle your arrival. I have been (and still am) very confident that he will be super helpful and loving - although he does carry his baby brother doll around by the neck and leaves it face down on the floor regularly, we decided he doesn't get alone time with you for a long time - but last night I saw the side I have been a little worried about.

As I was pulling out the baby stuff, he wanted to use it all and wanted to be a baby again. I have heard stories about siblings that want to stay in diapers and want bottles and pacifiers again just so they can be the baby. I am hoping that last night was just Austin being more aware of the baby stuff that he has never cared about before and was therefore just checking out. He seemed to respond well when I explained to him that the crib was for the baby and doesn't he prefer his big boy bed. (He absolutely does) When I asked him where his room was he pointed to his big boy room, so I think we will be okay... but this is definitely something for me to watch in the coming months.

I can't wait to get a picture of you tomorrow. One where you look like a real baby, not just a little dot! I can't wait to show it to Austin and see how he responds! I can't wait for the two of you to meet. It is going to be so amazing!

The Boys Are Napping

And here I am just laying in bed enjoying a relaxing Sabbath day and waiting for them to wake up so we can go for a nice walk on this cool, sunny day. Your little ears must have been burning because I was just thinking you haven't been very active today and then, as I started typing about you, there you go banging away in there. Maybe you don't like the laptop resting on you? Or maybe you just want to give me some inspiration as I write?

Thursday on our way home, Austin and I stopped at Target to look for some little boy outfits. Of course, he was interested in the pink ones at first - I am still trying to explain to him that he is having a brother - but then became interested in the trucks and dinosaurs that were on your outfits. After that, he was pretty helpful.

It is still sinking in for me. I thought that looking at boy names and buying some outfits would make it real, but no. Not yet. Last night I was watching three little boys play (a 2 year old, a 3 year old and a 4 year old) and I got worn out just trying to keep up. I kept trying to imagine how I am going to handle two rambunctious little boys!!

I guess we will see before long. I had been thinking about how it seems like 4 months is a long time and I will really be able to enjoy this second half of the pregnancy with you, no rushing. And then it was pointed out to me, November is half over... the last half will be consumed by holiday festivities for Thanksgiving and over in a blur. Then it is December, wrapping up the school semester and [wow, you are going nuts in there right now!!!] decorating for Christmas, then the Christmas and New Year festivities... December is going to be gone in the blink of an eye. So that leaves us with January and February. We can't really count on March because it is quite possible you will come anytime that month, I will be full term right at the beginning of it. When I look at it that way, I feel like you are going to be here in no time!!

I am still going to try to take it easy though and enjoy every minute of the pregnancy. Right now I am just looking forward to the next ultrasound and pictures that I will get of you on Tuesday!! I think I might go online right now and start making myself a list of things that I will need to stock up on for you so I am not fretting at the last minute.

Love you always
~Mommy

We're Having A...

BOY! Looks like I was way off this time.

I had a happy and sad day today. I was not feeling well at all so I left work early and went home to sleep and get better (Sad). It was very difficult to sleep though because you were moving around so much that I could see you moving my stomach (Happy)!! That was definitely an exciting new development.

So I drank all of my required water - which also involved a lot of trips to the bathroom - and then we picked up Austin and headed to the doctor for our 4pm appointment (happy). We wanted Austin to see you because I don't think he fully understands what is going on.

Well, when we got to the office we found out that the ultrasound tech had gone home sick, so we wouldn't get the full blown ultrasound that shows you are healthy and how big you are (sad), but the doctor did a quick peek and guess (happy). He is 95% sure that you are a boy, and I have to say that from what I saw, I agree (happy)!

Austin didn't actually get anything out of it, daddy could barely even tell we were looking at a baby! It was nice to have him there though. We are now trying to convince him that a brother will be way more fun for him than a sister. I am not sure why he had his mind set on a sister, but once he understands the difference, I am sure he will be happy with his new little brother!

So now we are looking at names and waiting for our rescheduled big ultrasound appointment next Tuesday so that we hear you are healthy and post pictures!!

Time to go shopping for little boy stuff (happy)!!

~ Mommy

19 Week Picture

Here is the picture retake I promised.

Well Hello There Pumpkin!

No, you are not the size of a pumpkin, though you are definitely starting to get big. But any doubts that I may have had about whether or not I could feel you are officially gone. You were moving around non-stop today and I knew it! I wanted to make sure I marked this day down in the books in case I ever wonder when I started really feeling you.

Also, new development... I am starting to think you are a girl. This week I have found myself saying she and just thinking girl. We will find out in just a few more days, but right now that is how I am leaning.

Still no names though, that will wait until we know for sure!

P.S. I took a new picture of my bump last night, but I didn't like how it looked... so i am waiting to post until I have a better one! Coming soon...

Until Tuesday!!
Mommy

One More Week!!

I am now officially showing and it is not just in my head!! This weekend I received my first belly rub and the first "I had no idea you were pregnant, congratulations!" I had one mom ask me at Sunday School a couple weeks ago, but that was just because she noticed my shirt was maternity. This time, I was wearing normal looking clothes (no empire waists) and got noticed!

Then yesterday at school a fellow classmate asked when I was due. This was especially surprising because I was convinced I just looked chunky. I was wearing non-maternity clothes and just felt big. Plus it was a guy and I thought they knew better than to ever ask that... just in case!

I am about halfway there, so I guess it makes sense. Now I am starting to get even more excited!! We have basically hit the halfway mark, next Tuesday (ONE WEEK) we find out boy/girl, I now have a belly to cling to when thinking about you and I feel you from time to time. I would like to feel you more, and have it be more distinguishable, but that will come in time I am sure!

I have been feeling great still, in fact the only down I can think of is the weight gain that seems to be coming on full speed ahead. I haven't really noticed my meals getting bigger or any bad habits, but I am now at about 10 pounds gained. I wouldn't have a problem with that - because it is right on track - except that three weeks ago I had only gained 5. That means I have been gaining over a pound a week for the past three weeks. Let's hope it is just a spurt because you have been growing so much and it will settle back down to about half a pound a week!

As far as your updates go, you are now "fully assembled; just needs some fattening up and lengthening out." You are probably about 6 inches long (crown to rump still - next week we start head to toe!) and weigh 7 ounces.

See you very soon!!

~ Mommy