19 Weeks

How the baby is growing:

This week Baby W measures 6 inches, about the size of a large heirloom tomato (or a mango or a softball), and weighs about 8 and 1/2 ounces. Little guy or girl is really growing now! Apparently Baby W's sensory development is full effect this week! His or Her brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch!





How I am changing:

I'm not really...just getting bigger I guess! I (thankfully) haven't experienced any new nasty symptoms. The only thing to report is that I am pretty sure I am feeling Baby W move semi regularly. I notice it the most when I'm eating or laying down watching TV. Its kind of a flutter...kind of a suctiony (is that a word?) feeling. Its pretty exciting and I can't wait until Eric can feel it as well!



We had another doctor's appointment this week and were able to hear the heartbeat again. Still on the high side at 151 but its progressively going down about 10 beats per minute each month, weird! Although I tried to convince the Doctor that we should do the ultrasound right then (she said No :( ) we did schedule it for Wed July 6th! One week from today we will know if Baby W is a girl or a boy!!! CRAZY! Plus this Sunday I will be at the official halfway point of the pregnancy. Time is really going by a lot faster now that I'm not sick everyday! I CANNOT WAIT to start buying furniture and fun little outfits and registering for baby showers! My wonderful friends and family are already hard at work planning a Spartanburg, Greenville and Iowa shower. I am so blessed!

Happy 4th of July weekend! (in a few days!)



Quickening?????

Quickening is the word used to describe the initial movement of the baby in the uterus as it is perceived or felt by the pregnant woman. Well...I'm pretty sure it is happening... They say you can begin to feel a baby move starting at 16 weeks but first time moms don't usually recognize the feeling until a bit later because it is so new. (and may actualy be gas or hunger pangs, LOL) For the last few weeks I have been feeling a little unknown sensation about halfway between my belly button and pelvis...I wasn't sure at first and I guess I wont be 100% sure until I start feeling it all the time but I'M PRETTY SURE I AM FEELING BABY W MOVE! And its wonderful! That's all. :)

18 Weeks

How the baby is growing:

This week Baby W measures about 5 and 1/2 inches, about the length of a bell pepper (or apparently a small electric shaver says "Tarzan's Ultimate Guide To Baby Sizes for Soon to be Fathers" ) and weighs an impressive 7 ounces!

How I am changing:

Not much to report this week. I am feeling more and more hungry as the days go by and I am able to stomach more at breakfast so I have reintroduced fruit to the meal to accompany my boring toast or English muffin and peanut butter...baby steps...literally! I wouldn't say I have reached the ravenous hunger stage that people talk about but its a difference. I am starting to notice my belly more and more. I can feel it when I lean forward (like when I try to shave my legs...super fun) and its a little uncomfortable...only more of that to come as I get bigger!

I FINALLY purchased some new bras! YAY! Bras that fit. The semi annual sale had a great selection and I wanted to buy a million but who knows if these puppies are done growing!! :)

The fun stuff:

This past weekend Mary Ann an Abby Wagner came to visit in South Carolina! We are attempting to convince both Abby and The Wagner's to relocate to the South...Bob and Mary Ann aren't too hard to convince, especially come winter time, I think they will be here before we know it. Abby on the other hand is taking a little more work. ;) Abby and Mary Ann drove to Charlotte, NC (only an hour away from Spartanburg) to check out the city while Eric and I worked on Friday. We all met up in Charlotte around dinner time and headed to a beautiful Italian place right down the street from the hotel and then to see "Shrek: The Musical." It was a blast, there was also some sort of street performer fair going on in Charlotte so we got to see a magician, several singers and an amazing group of horn players ranging from age 5/6 to adulthood!

We headed back to Spartanburg Sat night and Eric Smoked us a wonderful Chicken. The newly Vegetarian Abby contributed an awesome Cous Cous dish as well. Lastly before Mary Ann and Abby headed back to the Midwest they surprised us with a few gifts for Baby W in honor of Father's Day! It was a wonderful weekend full of family! (Elle was kind enough to model one of the gifts for us!)

17 Weeks

How the baby is growing:

This week Baby W measures 5 inches, about the size of a turnip, and weighs 5 ounces!

How I am changing:

Not much to report this week. Overall it was a good week, not too many sick moments. They do seem to be getting fewer and farther between but I don't want to jinx it so lets not talk about it! My appetite is still not right and I still can't eat much first thing in the morning but I do feel like I am wanting to eat more during the day.

My mom was wonderful this week and helped me with a little "Spring" cleaning. Man did the house need it and I have had a hard time finding the energy to do it. With the new house having a huge new yard Eric is very busy with mowing every weekend so there is more for me to do inside...not a great deal with my growing belly and constant exhaustion! Thanks for the help mom!!!

I am very excited because Mary Ann and Abby are coming to visit this week! They arrive Thursday and we will spend part of the weekend checking out Charlotte in the hopes that we will convince Abby to move here!!!! (fingers crossed!!!)



16 Weeks

How the baby is growing:

This week Baby W measures 4 1/2 inches, about the size of an avocado, and weighs 3 1/2 ounces!

How I am changing: 

Lies I tell you, All lies! So many people told me it would all go away...and they were wrong! Although my nausea and vomiting are certainly better they did not leave when I entered the 2nd Trimester! I still feel pretty icky when I wake up in the morning but I usually feel better once I eat...usually. I have had the occasional daytime sickness this week. The headaches and heartburn are still present as well. 

We have officially entered summer in South Carolina and man is it hot. We are pretty much in the 90's everyday and I find that I am MUCH less tolerant of the heat than I have been in previous South Carolina summers. I attempted to work in the yard with Eric and lets just say that didn't turn out too well...I wont be doing that again! I'm also finding that I have NO stamina for physical activity, I feel very tired and almost winded if I have to walk for long periods of time or walk up large flights of stairs (which I do everyday to get to my office!). 

Body changes: (disclaimer: do not read if you do not want to hear about Belly and Boobs!) :) 

Oh the one positive pregnancy symptom...growing Boobies! :)  I pretty much do not fit any bra that I owned pre-pregnancy...and that is saying a lot considering I used to work at Victoria's Secret! I've been trying to hold out to purchase new bras because the semi annual sale starts next week and I don't want to spend $40 on a new bra when I might not be done growing! 

Eric and I made a day trip to Asheville last weekend to visit the closest Gap Maternity store and I am so glad we did. I was able to find three (!!!!) awesome pairs of work pants that do not give me a saggy behind! They look and feel like normal clothes and they were worth every penny! (Especially since I got 40% off my entire purchase!) I think I have officially reached the point where I no longer can button any of my pre-pregnancy pants. I can still wear some of them with the belly band and I'm going to keep doing that as long as I can to get a little variety considering I only one three pairs of maternity pants. I'm hoping to find a few more pairs of pants by the time I can no longer use the belly band.