Pictures :)

 Baby Posing

20 weeks!

20 weeks means we're halfway!! :)

How far along: 20 weeks!

Size of baby:  Baby's now the size of a cantaloupe! Baby gulps down several ounces of amniotic fluid every day, both for nutrition and to practice swallowing and digesting. And, these days, those taste buds actually work! Studies show that after birth, babies respond best to tastes they've already had via amniotic fluid. Meaning, think about what you'd like your future child to eat as you prepare your own lunch.

 

Maternity clothes: I love how my pants fall down....the stretchy is great, but falls down!

Sleep: Sleeping MUCH BETTER with the aid of some benadryl!

Best moment of the week: Having Patrick feel her move for this first time :)

Movement:   She's been miss flippy!

Symptoms: I'm actually symptom free at the moment. :)

Food cravings/aversions: Sweets!

Gender: It's a Girl!!

Belly button in or out: Still an innie! :)

Stretch marks: Oh, I've had those before baby!

What I miss: Still Tequila!

What I am looking forward to:  Decorating the nursery :)

Weekly wisdom: I'm enjoying the days when the weather cools off!

How is Mommy Feeling? 

Excited to have reached the halfway point!

How is Daddy Feeling? 

It was amazing to feel her move :)

Total weight gain? 

6 pounds so far.

The Belly? 

I finally have a little bump. :)

What I'm looking forward to?
The nursery and getting the baby furniture in!

19 weeks....It's a.....

GIRL! :) That moment of knowing our baby was healthy was amazing. I knew as soon as the ultrasound tech went to the abdomen it was a girl...she didn't even have to tell us. Of course, I burst into tears. I was an emotional wreck! Mainly because this journey has been so long, and I always worry that the baby isn't ok. I know many people were like "It's one of life's last surprises..you shouldn't find out." Well, I can tell you whether it was at week 19 or week 40, it was one of the BEST surprises that the DH and I shared. It all of a sudden made the pregnancy that much more real, because I can say "my daughter" or "she" instead of it. :)

We told our parents with colored cupcakes. Having just gotten back from Washington DC, we made a blue and pink batch. I then frosted them with chocolate frosting so that no one could see what color the cake was inside the foil wrappers. All 4 of our parents came over and we were able to give them the big reveal! :) I think everyone had happy tears!

Here is the survey for the week :)

How far along: 19 weeks!

Size of baby:  Baby's now the size of a mango! Vernix caseosa, a greasy white substance made of lanugo, oil, and dead skin cells (yum) now coats baby's skin, shielding it from the amniotic fluid. (Picture yourself after a nine-month bath, and the need for protection makes sense.) You might get to see the vernix at birth, especially if baby is premature.

 

Maternity clothes: Finally went to maternity shorts and pants. The pressure was causing me to want to pee all the time!

Sleep: Sleeping MUCH BETTER with the aid of some benadryl!

Best moment of the week: Finding out we were having a girl, feeling her move for the first time AND celebrating 3 years of wedded bliss with my hubby!

Movement:   Some flutters after I eat :)

Symptoms: I'm actually symptom free at the moment. :)

Food cravings/aversions: Sweets!

Gender: It's a Girl!!

Belly button in or out: Still an innie! :)

Stretch marks: Oh, I've had those before baby!

What I miss: Still Tequila!

What I am looking forward to:  Putting the border up in the nursery.

Weekly wisdom: Keep doing yoga! It's been helping my back and neck! 

How is Mommy Feeling? 

So blessed that our baby girl is healthy!

How is Daddy Feeling? 

Excited to have a daughter

Looking forward to daddy-daughter dances

Can't wait to feel her move

Total weight gain? 

6 pounds so far.

The Belly? 

I finally have a little bump. :)

What I'm looking forward to?
Having this heat break!!!

18 weeks...and a year ago......

Before I post my weekly update, I wanted to reflect that one year ago my DH and I started on this road to having a family. It's hard to believe that in one year how things can change. I know that isn't always the case for those of you who are on the same path, but know that one day a family will be yours. I believe that blessings aren't always wrapped up in pretty packages and delivered with rainbows and butterflies. Sometimes it takes some tears and raindrops in order to get that little blessing you've been waiting for. I've been walking this journey with a friend who is experiencing infertility due to endometriosis, and it's so hard, because you've walked in those shoes and you know what it feels like to want something so bad, and not matter how hard you "work" for it, it's not a guarantee. Her and all of the women out there who are faced with infertility know the pain and the struggles it takes, but in the end, there is a great reward. Sometimes it doesn't come in the form of biological children, but a child nonetheless.

The DH and I are so blessed to be celebrating 3 years of wedded bliss on July 19th! :) It's just another piece to our puzzle since that is the day we find out if we have a boy or a girl! Our BUG will no longer be unidentified! :)

So here is the 18 week survey! :)

How far along: 18 weeks!

Size of baby:  Baby's now the size of a sweet potato. Baby's become amazingly mobile (compared to you, at least), passing the hours yawning, hiccupping, rolling, twisting, kicking, punching, sucking, and swallowing. And baby is finally big enough that you'll soon be able to feel her movements.

 

Maternity clothes: Finally went to maternity shorts and pants. The pressure was causing me to want to pee all the time!

Sleep: Sleeping MUCH BETTER with the aid of some benadryl!

Best moment of the week: 2 surprise parties and 2 baby showers and celebrating my Grammy's birthday. 

Movement:   Nothing yet, but we are getting close! :)

Symptoms: I'm actually symptom free at the moment. :)

Food cravings/aversions: Sweets!

Gender: We find out on our 3 year anniversary...July 19th.

Belly button in or out: Still an innie! :)

Stretch marks: Oh, I've had those before baby!

What I miss: Tequila!

What I am looking forward to:  Our anniversary dinner at VOLT.

Weekly wisdom: Take advantage of me time! It will be disappearing soon!!!

How is Mommy Feeling? 

I've been feeling great! :)

How is Daddy Feeling? 

Glad the baby can hear pearl jam. 

Total weight gain? 

5 pounds so far.

The Belly? 

I finally have a noticeable bump. :)

What I'm looking forward to?
Feeling the baby move, hopefully soon.  Finding out the gender! :)

17 weeks!

How far along: 17 weeks!

Size of baby:   Baby's now the size of an onion!Baby's skeleton is hardening, changing from rubbery cartilage to bone, and fat is finally accumulating around it. His umbilical cord is getting thicker and stronger, and those little fingers and toes now feature one-of-a-kind prints.

Maternity clothes: Still wearing my own clothes, with a mix of tops and shorts. :)

Sleep: Sleeping MUCH BETTER with the aid of some benadryl!

Best moment of the week: Getting the carpeting put in!

Movement:   Nothing yet, but we are getting close! :)

Symptoms: I'm actually symptom free at the moment. :)

Food cravings/aversions: I still can't stand the smell of coffee. Salmon at my inlaws BBQ almost put me over the edge. I am craving cookies and cream slow churn ice cream. :) 

Gender: We find out on our 3 year anniversary...July 19th.

Belly button in or out: Still an innie! :)

Stretch marks: Oh, I've had those before baby!

What I miss: Tequila!

What I am looking forward to:  A weekend away with the hubby to Washington DC.

Weekly wisdom: Take advantage of me time! It will be disappearing soon!!!

How is Mommy Feeling? 

MUCH BETTER now that my house is clean and not a disaster zone!

How is Daddy Feeling? 

Glad the baby can hear pearl jam. 

Total weight gain? 

One pound by my scale.

The Belly? 

My belly sticks out a little, but I know the baby belly is still under all that blub. Oh well.

What I'm looking forward to?
Feeling the baby move, hopefully soon.  Finding out the gender! :)