24 Weeks

24 Weeks



The corn is so that you know how long the baby is... just fyi for those of you who were confused.

Well, it's Thanksgiving week, so I think I should start out with everything that I'm thankful for. There is honestly so much, so here are a few of them...
1) Thankful for such a great hubby who works so hard
2) Thankful for a great family (including my doggie)
3) Thankful for the growing baby inside of me
4) Thankful for our house and our life we've build here in CO
5) Thankful in general for all that I've been blessed with

Well, we're 24 weeks and it's totally crazy that we only have 16 more weeks to go! I am still feeling pretty good. We had another doctor appointment on Tuesday. It was good. We got to hear the heartbeat again, :-) which is always a plus. The nurse practitioner did tell me to be careful about my weight gain. In some ways it's a little nerve racking to hear this, when I know how easily it is for me to gain weight. I know she was telling me so that I stay on the low side of the appropriate weight gain, but that's the last thing that I really want to be worried about when it comes to all this. I am not going crazy with food (yes, even on Thanksgiving). I am eating small snacks when my body is telling me I'm hungry, and I'm not overdoing it on the dinners or anything. I don't know. I know that there are tons of women who will tell me not to worry about it and that they gained more weight and all, but it just affected me.

I only had a two day week this week, which was really nice! A 5-day break is much enjoyed and needed! I had such a relaxing day Wednesday. It was so gorgeous outside too. I even ate lunch at the table outside and was hot. Sydney and I took a nice long walk as well. I like walking, but there are two things that are a problem when you're pregnant... #1 Your skin is already so itchy, so when you go out in the morning when it's still chilly and you get itchy because of that, it makes it even worse. #2 There are no bathrooms to stop at on a walk through the neighborhood.

Okay, well on to my weekly quiz.

24 Week Quiz

How far along: 24 weeks and 3 days today

Weight gain: I weighed myself on Wednesday and I'm up about 18 pounds. According to the doctor's office, I'm up 13 pounds.

Maternity clothes: I am mostly in maternity clothes, especially the shirts. I love my jeans!

Stretch marks: My belly is incredibly itchy still, but the doctor recommended a lotion that I just bought, so we'll see if that works. Hopefully!

Sleep: I've been sleeping well, other than waking up and being itchy. I have actually bruised myself because I haven't realized I was itching so hard.

Best moment of the week: I think being able to hear the heartbeat again, feel the baby move a lot, and enjoy time on this break.

Movement: Still moving around a ton!!!! I actually was able to see my belly move because of a kick from the inside. That was pretty crazy. I feel the baby from both the inside and the outside. I think that the baby actually had hiccups the other day, but I'm not quite sure.

Food cravings: I wanted sushi the other night, but I didn't go and get it.. It wasn't a strong urge, I wouldn't necessarily consider it a craving.

Labor signs: No!

Belly button in or out: It's still in, but itchy still.

What I miss: I miss walking without having to pee so often. Sydney and I have to make our walks based on when I could get to a bathroom next.

What I'm looking forward to: I'm excited to celebrate my 3 year anniversary with my hubby this week. It's crazy how fast 3 years goes by.

Weekly wisdom: Love!

Milestones:Your baby's growing steadily, having gained about 4 ounces since last week. That puts him at just over a pound. Since he's almost a foot long (picture an ear of corn), he cuts a pretty lean figure at this point, but his body is filling out proportionally and he'll soon start to plump up. His brain is also growing quickly now, and his taste buds are continuing to develop. His lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" as well as cells that produce surfactant, a substance that will help his air sacs inflate once he hits the outside world. His skin is still thin and translucent, but that will start to change soon.


Yep, I'm filling out a little more! (And yes, I'm in my pjs because it was Wednesday and I didn't have school)

23 Weeks

23 Weeks



Well this week certainly has been busy. It was a long week back to school after a short week last week. And my kids were pretty hyper, but I survived, or I should say they survived and we have a nice short week next week. I am excited about Thanksgiving. Every year I have so much to be thankful for. Nothing big has happened this week. Pretty basic and nothing new with the pregnancy either. Artie and I are going to be ordering our stroller. The Chariot! I am so excited to get it. I will make sure that I post pictures when it comes in.

23 Week Quiz

How far along: 23 weeks and 3 days today

Weight gain: I weighed myself on Wednesday and I'm up about 17 pounds. I feel like that's a lot, but I have to keep reminding myself that I'm growing a baby inside of me.

Maternity clothes: It is the same as last week. I can still fit into some old shirts and pants with the belly band, but mostly I'm in maternity stuff. And I think it looks pretty darn cute.

Stretch marks: My belly is still really itchy, but I'm trying to keep the stretch marks away.

Sleep: I've had good sleep this week. Nothing too bad to complain about.

Best moment of the week: I think feeling the baby is the most amazing thing to me. I feel him or her dancing around in my belly at very specific times. I've gotten used to it too.

Movement: He/She is moving a lot. I have begun to notice some patterns to the movements, like when to expect to be kicked or punched and stuff like that.

Food cravings: Nothing really.

Labor signs: No!

Belly button in or out: It's begun to itch. Please don't let that be a sign that it's going to pop out.

What I miss: I miss being able to hold my bladder in school. I feel like I'm always going, but then again, I don't exactly have many breaks in the day to relieve myself.

What I'm looking forward to: We have our next appointment coming up this Tuesday. I'm really excited for that, even to just hear the heartbeat again. Plus I'm excited because my brother is planning on coming out around Christmas time, and that's just exciting.

Weekly wisdom: Keep on top of the important things.

Milestones: Turn on the radio 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 as much as 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.

(By the way, I made Artie dance with me the other morning because of this) :-)
Belly Shot Week 23 (somehow these pants still fit)

22 Weeks

22 Weeks


So it's been a little crazy around here with guests, that's why I'm late with my blog post. But we had fun!!! I'm feeling really good. I was getting a little concerned because the baby wasn't moving as much as I'd felt it in the past. I think the reason was because I had gotten used to the small flutters that were the baby moving. But yesterday we were hanging out in Boulder and the baby decided it wanted to start moving like crazy again. And this time, he/she wanted to really be kicking not just fluttering. Then we went on a Celestial Seasonings tour and in the peppermint room I got so relaxed and the smell was so intoxicating that the baby started kicking again. Then last night we went to dinner on the 16th Street Mall, to a Mexican restaurant, and then to the Avs game last night. The baby must like Mexican food, or hate it, because he/she was going insane in my belly. Artie got to feel some really good kicks again. :-) Such fun times.

22 Week Quiz

How far along: 22 weeks and 6 days today

Weight gain: I weighed myself yesterday and I'm up 15 - 16 pounds. I feel like that's a huge jump from last week, but my belly definitely grew this week.

Maternity clothes: I am mostly in maternity stuff now. Occasionally I wear some old shirts (if they're long enough) and pants with the belly band.

Stretch marks: My belly is soooooo itchy, I think I'm stretching, but I'm still using the cocoa butter and lotion. Hopefully that stuff works.

Sleep: I sleep pretty good with the bathroom break once a night.

Best moment of the week: Having other people feel the baby, and feeling him/her actually kick from the outside myself too.

Movement: He/She is moving a lot again!

Food cravings: I don't have any cravings as of right now.

Labor signs: No!

Belly button in or out: Still in... hopefully for a long time.

What I miss: I miss being able to be more agile.

What I'm looking forward to: Finishing out this week, although it's a busy one, and then getting to celebrate Thanksgiving. I have sooo much to be thankful for.

Weekly wisdom: Help others when they're suffering and where it's needed.

Milestones: At 11 inches (the length of a spaghetti squash) and almost 1 pound, your baby is starting to look like a miniature newborn. His lips, eyelids, and eyebrows are becoming more distinct, and he's even developing tiny tooth buds beneath his gums. His eyes have formed, but his irises (the colored part of the eye) still lack pigment. If you could see inside your womb, you'd be able to spot the fine hair (lanugo) that covers his body and the deep wrinkles on his skin, which he'll sport until he adds a padding of fat to fill them in. Inside his belly, his pancreas — essential for the production of some important hormones — is developing steadily.


Belly Shot Week 22

21 Weeks

21 Weeks



I don't really like the carrot. Couldn't they have at least taken a picture of a nice bright orange carrot that looks good. Oh well! Twenty one weeks and time keeps flying by. I apparently don't have a great memory. I was invited to a "Rock Star" lunch with the superintendent and a few other people. Well, I didn't read the invitation right, and so the other girl and I from my school showed up late thinking we were on time. Total idiots! But, oh well. It was still a good lunch!

I've popped out and showing a lot more. Some people are like, "you look so cute pregnant". And then I have others who are like, "you're not showing at all from the front". I don't get it... I am definitely showing, so I don't know what these people are thinking. Anyway, I have enjoyed being pregnant minus some of the emotional ups and downs. Although, Artie says I'm better when I'm pregnant. I have been able to be much more decisive, which is a plus. Especially when we go to Home Depot to get paint for our shutters and I pick out a color for the baby's room almost immediately. I think we're going to do stripes on the bottom and a solid color on top. Should be fun!!!!

I just started last weekend cleaning out the baby's room. When we moved in I had not really unpacked upstairs and more focused on the main areas and then worked outside since it was summer time. But now that the baby is on its way, I started. I cleaned for about 3 hours and just got the stuff out of the room. Most of it I can't carry downstairs, but that's what I have a wonderful husband for. :-) Artie's sister comes into town this next week, so that should be a fun visit. Well, on to my weekly quiz.

21 Week Quiz

How far along: 21 weeks and 1 day today

Weight gain: I weighed myself yesterday and I'm up 13 pounds

Maternity clothes: I am wearing a lot of maternity stuff. I have worn a couple nice tops that are maternity that I like.

Stretch marks: Trying to keep them away.

Sleep: I have noticed that I'm waking up and on my side/belly. I'm getting good sleep though.

Best moment of the week: Getting to feel the baby all the time (for me I can only feel it from the inside, but Artie can feel it from the outside - I think I feel my own heartbeat too - so that doesn't help)

Movement: Holy cow, tie this baby down!

Food cravings: I must seem pretty boring in this area. I really don't have anything specific I want. I still want food other than chicken right now. (although that's what we're having for dinner tonight)

Labor signs: No!

Belly button in or out: Still in... hopefully for a long time.

What I miss: I miss running! I really really do!

What I'm looking forward to: Artie's sister is visiting, so a short work week next week, and then only 2 weeks until Thanksgiving!

Weekly wisdom: Be a true friend!

Milestones: Your baby now weighs about three-quarters of a pound and is approximately 10 1/2 inches long — the length of a carrot. You may soon feel like she's practicing martial arts as her initial fluttering movements turn into full-fledged kicks and nudges. You may also discover a pattern to her activity as you get to know her better. In other developments, your baby's eyebrows and lids are present now, and if you're having a girl, her vagina has begun to form as well.

Our Halloween Costumes! I liked the idea!


21 Week Belly Shot!