Monday, October 21, 2013

Pregnancy Update: Week 20

This baby deep inside of me, ever so small, is a child of God. A child that God gave to me to take care of whether for a day or for years. That care began at conception. Whether he or she lives or dies each day I am with him or her is a gift and has a purpose with eternal consequences. My baby is now a part of my life, my testimony. -Brenda Rodgers, "New Rules for Announcing a Pregnancy"
How far along: 20 weeks! We're halfway there! (The 20 week mark actually occurred on Oct. 16th).

Baby size:  "size of a small cantaloupe ... about 10 ounces and 6 1/2 inches (crown to rump)" -What to Expect When You're Expecting, 4th Edition

Gender: We'll find out when he/she arrives in March!

Belly: The baby belly is growing! The change is exciting to watch. I had previously said that it "seemed to get bigger every day," and now it actually does get bigger every day! Somewhere after 18 or 19 weeks was the turning point for rapid growth for this little one. I can now feel him/her moving above the belly button line. It's incredible how quickly those changes occur! There's no mistaking now that the belly is because there's a baby on the way! A cashier even asked when I was due, which was the first time anyone who didn't know has said anything. I rather enjoy seeing further evidence each day of this little one that is with us!

Sleep: Sleep has been so much better thanks to now using a body pillow. Oh man, that has been the best $13 spent!

Clothes: 
This baby and belly are growing fast! Maternity clothes are now a necessity. I went to get dressed one morning, and discovered that the rest of my non-maternity skirts are no longer possible and the shirt selection is getting mighty thin. I really wish I hadn't put off making maternity skirts! The sewing machine will be seeing a lot of attention in the coming week(s)! I picked up a couple of pairs of pants at the store until I can get some skirts and whatnot sewn. I've also added a few new tops, and I must say that It's nice to have pieces that are made to flatter the baby belly. Now I'm just waiting for the maternity lines to shift towards warmer pieces. It's getting chilly, and I'm ready for some sweaters! haha. 

Movement: Okay, so my  Pregnancy Fitness dvd is still sitting. We have at least gone for walks around the neighborhood a few times. It has been way too nice outside to choose a dvd over taking a walk! Now that we're doing the Bradley Method classes, I'm trying to include those exercises into my daily routine. Exercise is a tough habit to establish, but I know (and feel) its benefits for me and the baby. I also know that establishing the habit now will also make picking it back up much easier after the baby arrives. 

Baby Movement- This baby is an active one! It's incredible to think back to just two weeks ago when the kicks felt only as big as the tip of my pinky finger. Now, they're much larger and stronger. At times they will startle me from being so strong. It's incredible every time and I can't help but to pause to lay my hand on my belly and feel them. David mentioned one evening that he can always tell when I'm feeling the baby move because my face will suddenly brighten. It's true. I love the feeling of this little one moving within me, and the joy of soon welcoming him/her into our family!

Food aversions: I don't think there are any anymore. Anything and everything sounds and tastes fantastic. 

Food cravings: It's interesting how  a couple of daily food "fixes" have seemed to switch during pregnancy. Normally, I have a such the uncontrollable sweet tooth and prefer meatless meals to meat. However, during this pregnancy I've definitely been partaking of more meat meals and leaving out the sweets. Even salads have come to need to have chicken or bacon included in them! haha! We joke about this pattern being so characteristic of hubby than me, and so this baby must be a little David. haha!

What I'm excited about: 
      The growing belly and all the little kicks are so exciting to experience. I'm loving each and every moment!
     We started to brainstorm and plan on how we will rearrange the space in our home for this little one. It will be so exciting to see our home transform a bit to now include a little one (and then future little ones)!
      David still rushes over to feel the baby move and remains equally excited about our family now including this little girl or boy. It truly delights my heart that he is already such an amazing Pop. I always wanted a family man, and that's exactly what this little one and I have. I cherish that deeply. 
      We bought our first baby item while visiting our home state recently. Oh my, they are just too sweet! We thought a little TN Volunteer orange was a good start for him/her!  :)
     
Comparison posts/pictures: 
10 Week Post      /      12 Week Post      /      14 Week Post      /      16 Week Post      /      18 Week Post

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Pregnancy Update: 18 Weeks!

Note to self: a white shirt against a white wall
doesn't make the best belly picture. :(
This baby deep inside of me, ever so small, is a child of God. A child that God gave to me to take care of whether for a day or for years. That care began at conception. Whether he or she lives or dies each day I am with him or her is a gift and has a purpose with eternal consequences. My baby is now a part of my life, my testimony. -Brenda Rodgers, "New Rules for Announcing a Pregnancy"
How far along: 18 weeks!

"baby is filling out nicely and getting large enough that you might even be feeling those twists, rolls, kicks, and punches he or she is perfecting. Another set of skills your baby is mastering now is yawning and hiccupping ... And your one-of-a-kind baby is truly one of a kind now, complete with unique fingerprints on his or her fingertips and toes." -What to Expect When You're Expecting, 4th Edition

Baby size:  "5 1/2 inches long and about 5 ounces in weight" -What to Expect When You're Expecting, 4th Edition

Gender: We'll find out when he/she arrives in March!

Belly: The baby belly is growing! The change is exciting to watch. It seems like it gets a little bigger each day! 

Sleep: Sleep is ... well, it is what it is. I'm so thankful for the ability to rest or nap during the day when needed!

Clothes: The time has come for doing some shopping. It would be so nice to just borrow maternity clothes, but that's not a realistic option for me. God has provided us with an avenue for a little extra income that will be to meet the clothing need and then perhaps another baby-related need later. :)

Movement: Okay, so my  Pregnancy Fitness dvd is still sitting. We have at least gone for walks around the neighborhood a few times. It has been way too nice outside to choose a dvd over taking a walk!

Baby Movement- Back at only 14 weeks, I was feeling a strange sensation that made me wonder if it was the baby moving. 14 weeks was a couple of weeks sooner than the expected time for feeling baby movements, and so I didn't think much of it. Plus, I had always heard it described as "flutters," and so that's what I have been waiting for. Then, last week it occurred to be that I had feeling yet another sensation since that previous time, and that must be the baby. It's no "flutter" though! It's much more like a "flipping" or "tumbling"! Nighttime must be playtime. haha. I'll say something to my husband about him/her moving, and he'll rush over to put a hand to my belly. I adore how excited he is for this little one! As of today I began to feel individual pokes. It's incredible every time!

Food aversions: I don't think there are any anymore. Anything and everything sounds and tastes fantastic. 

Food cravings: I seem to have taken a turn towards the ability to eat and eat and eat. I'm pretty much loving anything I'm familiar with and can eat in large quantities. 

What I'm excited about: So many things...
       I'm excited to just be at this place. I've witnessed yet another dear friend struggle to conceive and then lose the baby. It's utterly heartbreaking. I'm reminded of all the time when we desired a child and yet didn't receive one then, and how much my heart struggled. Though we've now made it to 18 weeks, I don't take a moment for granted. I realize just how precious it is to have this child. There are no guarantees,  yet somewhere through it all there must be faith. It's a hard attained kind of faith, and I'm not certain of the strength my own if faced with such difficulty. The quote with which I begin each pregnancy update is a reminder of this. These updates are a reminder to me to be present and embrace every moment. I'm so grateful to have the privilege of carrying this child for 18 weeks so far. 

     I'm also excited to finally be feeling better! I came down with a nasty sinus infection a couple weeks ago. Having all that crud in my head and chest while also pregnant really knocked me out. I got out of bed when I needed to go in to work the preschool (because when a job needs done, you do it!). Beyond those occasions, I rested. My midwife then prescribed an antibiotic which did the job at knocking it out. I usually resist conventional medicine unless absolutely necessary, but that ended up being the case (a fever isn't good for the baby after all!) and I'm so grateful! It's so good to feel more like myself. It's also good to get some housework done! haha. 

     We started a registry list on Amazon, and browsed the baby aisles at a physical store. It's quite overwhelming to me, and so I figured I'd better start early and just build the list slowly. I'm finding and thinking of a few things here and there that would be good to have. There is so much to consider! However, I intend to maintain a rather simplistic approach. 

     While we were walking and talking through the aisles, I asked hubby what he's excited about or looking forward most with this little one. He responded that he's just ready for him/her to be here! (I think I may need these next few months to get myself as ready. haha). It delights my heart to see how at ease and enthused he is for this little one. I'm beyond grateful that this child is so deeply wanted and loved... even at only 18 weeks. :)

    I'm also excited for the next ultrasound in a couple of weeks in which we'll get to see our little one once again. I so enjoyed getting to see him/her moving around in there at only 13 weeks. I imagine 20 weeks to be even more exciting! This would be the gender reveal ultrasound, but we're still resolved to wait until he/she arrives in March!

    There's just so much to be excited about right now! The growing "bump" and little movements are just such beautiful reminders of this season of life!

Comparison posts/pictures:

10 Weeks Post          /          12 Weeks Post          /          14 Weeks Post     /          16 Weeks Post

*Note: Some of the products listed above contain affiliate links to Amazon.com. Reviving Homemaking is an affiliate of Amazon.com, and as such receives compensation for each purchase made through the links. 

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