21 weeks!!!

it has been a good but tiring week.  we got back from vacation and are getting settled and back to our routine, but bowie is teething and although she is fine during the day she is keeping us up at night as she is in pain and uncomfortable.  this pregger mama feels hungover the next day with lack of sleep.  we have company staying with us, so i have been eating like i am on vacation as well.  between california and guests i have put on a couple of pounds, almost bringing me back to my pre-pregnancy weight.  i am thinking that it will probably start to stick by now.

we also had a check up this week and another ultrasound to grab a few pics they couldn't get last time.  everything is looking good and doctor is happy with progression.  although the appointment left me feeling extremely sad.  we got there for our ultrasound and checked in and they warned us we may have to wait to see the doctor because she delivered a baby that morning and was running a few minutes behind.  luckily we didn't have to wait too long and when she did get to us she sat down and then immediately got pulled out of our appointment by a nurse.  she came back about 15 minutes later and was clearly upset and teary eyed.  she said that one of her patients just had an ultrasound and had a full term demise.  the sonographer didn't want to tell her the news, so she grabbed the doctor.  it reminds me once again how blessed i feel to be more than half way there with a healthy babe and just how fragile and delicate this process is.  i have been very on edge with this pregnancy and will most likely be that way until i am holding my baby.  but my heart broke for that family and the feeling stuck with me for days.

this little guy is very active and i feel more movement throughout the day and at other times than when laying down.  at night when we go to bed jarad will always put his hand on my belly and see if he can feel anything.  and this week he could feel him kicking around.  i'm excited to be able to see my belly move, that is always fun and crazy.  i feel like the biggest physical change for me this week is my boobs, they feel like they did when i was breastfeeding bowie, ouch!

baby milestones:

~hair is growing on baby's head
~facial features are formed
~bone marrow is making blood cells
~baby's intestines are absorbing small amounts of sugar ingested from amniotic fluid
~baby can blink and eyelashes and eyebrows are formed
~baby should be about 11 inches long and almost 13 oz, but we know this guy is big!
~baby is the size of a cantaloupe

snow day!

we have company in town and the forecast showed snow today, well we got it, but it was just a light dusting and didn't stick.  it was still fun to watch and play in, but not long lasting.  in fact we had sunshine in the afternoon which called for a rock hunt walk through the arboretum!

zonked out!

bowie is getting her 2 year old molars and has been up a lot at night time.  this is how we all feel, but lucky her she can nap whenever and wherever she wants! 

happy heart day!

my forever valentines!  love them so much!!!

signs of spring?!?!

we have had a very mild winter this year, and i feel like i have been seeing signs of spring everywhere lately.  the squirrels have been out for weeks now teasing wilred, the stores are getting rid of winter clothes, my hydrangeas are getting new buds and when i came home from california i had daffodils (a sure sign of spring time!).  however we are expected to get some snow this week, so we will see.  but i am excited for sunshine, playing outside and less layers of clothes! 

20 weeks!

yay, the halfway point!  wasn't sure if i would feel confident getting here and we have had some hiccups along the way, but i am feeling good after our recent ultrasound that we have a healthy and BIG baby boy!  yes, the ultrasound technician was asking how big bowie was at birth and if she came on time or not?  i knew what he was getting at...this baby is measuring big!  they won't adjust my due date at this point, but he is in the 90% for weight.  jarad was a huge baby at birth, so the thought scares me a bit! i was told that my placenta is big and has an extra "lobe" attached to it.  they are not concerned but will do some additional growth scans along the way to confirm it is functioning properly.

we are feeling good this week and i have made up all the weight i lost from having the flu.  so still down a few pounds from my pre-pregnancy weight, but after this trip to california and getting some good food in, the pounds might start to creep on.  although my belly is getting bigger and bigger every week and more noticeable. i have been sleeping really well at night and in a deep sleep.  this is unusual for me, but a nice and much needed change!  i am starting to feel him kick and move more and more.  a feeling that never gets old!  the movements are getting stronger, so i think that very soon jarad will be able to feel him better, which is a fun experience to share. 

this week i have a lot going on and some of them are causing me some stress and anxiety, so i am working hard on making things simple for myself and only doing what needs to be done.

this week will be a different kind of belly shot, these are from my sisters baby shower last weekend.  she is 33 weeks along and also my dear friend nani, who is about 31 weeks.  lots of babies this spring and summer!!!

baby milestones...

~baby is practicing breathing by inhaling amniotic fluid and starting to produce meconium
~uterus may be pressing up against lungs
~baby has straightened out enough to measure from head to toe instead of crown to rump
~baby is about ten inches long
~developing more regular sleep patterns
~most of the energy the baby uses goes towards gaining weight
~placenta has reached its maximum thickness

baby shower!

for the longest time i have been saving and collecting some of my favorite things to give to my sister when she has her first baby.  well now is the time as we celebrated her and baby yesterday!  i could have packed a whole suitcase alone, but i had to control myself! 

we have...

~baby socks (you can never have enough of these!)
~newborn baby mitten, so they don't scratch their face
~ergo baby insert
~boon grass drying rack and flower
~baby book
~organic wash cloths
~moby wrap
~car seat cover
~2 breast feeding books
~2 board books for baby
~plastic disposable place mats for dining out
~shoes
~nuby mesh feeder
~bibs
~teething necklace
~sleeper
~lovey (given to us by jamie's in-laws, but bowie is ready to pass along)