20 Weeks--Halfway There!!

We finally made it to the halfway point! A bit of anxiety has set in over lots of things (mostly what to do when baby is actually here!). However, I'm still feeling good overall and have had little, if any, problems. I've been having some cramps in my very low abdominal region and in my back, but it's probably muscle stretching to accommodate the baby's growing. Nothing has alarmed me that I need to call my doctor and the baby books say it's normal to have some pains. My cramps from this morning disappeared after an hour or so. My belly is REALLY hard and tight. This is the biggest I've ever been before and it's really weird, especially when I reach into a cabinet to get something and I can't get it!

The baby is between 6 and 7 inches now and weighs about 9 ounces. The baby has been compared to a medium to large sized zucchini. The baby's skin continues to grow and become more normal. Hair started growing during week 12 and continues to do so. Baby is also moving around, but I have not felt anything yet.

Most of my normal shirts don't fit me anymore. Truthfully, they do, but the panel on my maternity pants shows a lot! The weather has turned warm. I had to wear a pair of Paul's shorts to work outside today! He was afraid they'd fall down, but the belly is popping out and held them up well.

The kids at school continue to get excited about me having a baby. Some that know me fairly well have taken to rubbing my belly when they see me. It's really sweet.

I've started yard sale-ing this weekend looking for good deals. I purchased an activity center and a vibrating chair. I really want to start getting things so that we're ready, but it doesn't make sense until we know if we're having a boy or a girl (which should hopefully be Thursday, March 29).

19 Weeks

Oh, my goodness! This is starting to fly by! All of a sudden I have a belly and everyone is noticing! The baby is constantly moving around. I know this because my belly is constantly changing shape! Baby wade is 5 1/4 to 6 inches long now. One of the pregnancy websites said that last week, the baby was the size of a large sweet potato. We are still waiting on our blood test results from the spina bifida and Downs tests from our last appointment.

My klutzy tendencies have subsided this week. My bruises are truly grateful for this so that they can heal. No cravings of any sort have arisen. With the increase in the good weather down here, everything is in bloom, so my allergies have kicked in. I've been a little wheezy, so I'm on a wait and see plan to see if it's just allergies or bronchitis. A lot of asthmatics at school have been having the same symptoms, so I'm not stressing about this right now. I've also been spending more time outside, and Paul is taking the time to walk in the evenings with me several times a week.

18 Weeks

WOW! Everything is moving right along! Having a baby on this side of 40 weeks is a lot easier to cope with, but as I approach the 20 weeks mark, the halfway point, it reminds me that we're almost there and I'm starting to get a little nervous! Paul's excitement is starting to mount as my belly grows. We've been looking at baby furniture and other things that we'll need in the near future, but we're holding off buying things until we know if we're having a boy or a girl.

The baby is about 5-5 1/2 inches big now or about the size of an good-sized onion. Everything continues to grow and develop more thoroughly. The heart is beginning to develop each of the chambers it will need to function when the baby is born.

I have to take frequent breaks when working or exercising because I lose momentum. It takes me longer to walk places than before and climbing the basement stairs wears me some, too. We were at the mall on Friday and I had to keep grabbing onto Paul's arm because if I didn't, he'd be a mile ahead of me in no time! It's strange to see how much you can be affected by adding some weight in places it didn't exist before!

17 1/2 Weeks Appointment

Paul convinced our doctor to do a sonogram early to try to find out the sex of the baby at our March 5th appointment. At first, it looked as though there might be something between the legs. The baby moved and whatever was there disappeared. I wonder if it was the cord. The baby would not cooperate afterward, even with prodding from the doctor to move. The baby kept its legs very close together. We were really excited because it was so much fun to see the baby moving, as well as to see the heart beating. There was not a confirmation as to the sex of the baby. However, Dr. Faruque moved up my next 4 week appointment to three weeks which puts me at 20 weeks. We will have our appointment with the sonogram technian who will really be able to find out. Some people at work are still firm that we're having a boy. A few who saw the sonogram pictures from yesterday who said boy first are now saying girl. We can truly see that the baby is healthy and growing well.

Oh, and by the way, I think the baby if furious at me because you can TELL that I am pregnant today. I had a lot of kids comment that I had grown overnight and one whole class who didn't know I was pregnant asked today when I went in.



This is a shot of the baby's bottom and feet.



The baby's head is to the left. You can see two arms, two legs (closed tightly together!), and the body, as well.

Week 17

Well, as you can see, I continue to get bigger. The pictures, to me, make me look bigger than I actually am. The baby is moving around, but I haven't felt anything for certain yet. My belly popped out last Friday, but on Monday, I looked normal. I actually had four students between Monday and Tuesday ask if I had the baby. (The sarcastic side of me wanted to say, "Yep! I'm supermom and had the baby this weekend and here I am back at work!" But of course, I can't say that to second graders!)

The baby is about 5 inches big now. My baby book said about the size of my hand outstretched. Yikes! As I approach 20 weeks, I'm starting to get nervous because 20 weeks is the halfway point and the real baby gets closer each week past 20. We still are are some waiting lists for daycare which makes me nervous that we won't have care when I have to go back to work on Oct. 8.

There is supposed to be a big baby consignment sale at the convention center this week, so Paul and I plan to go Saturday to find some good buys. If I can get some big baby items for a good price, we'll probably pick them up. We're waiting on clothes because it will be another 4 weeks until we can try to find out the sex.

I have a doctor's appointment on Monday. I will have my belly measured and blood drawn for the Down's Syndrom test. According to my scale, I haven't gained any weight. I'm not sure about the doctor's scale, so we'll see if I have gained weight according to the doctor. Suzy said that if I haven't, I'm likely to get a lecture, but Suzanne sees me eat more than anyone else, so at least she can vouche for me!