21 Weeks

Baby is as long as a carrot! But there are like a million different carrot sizes, so I'll go with the "Dad's Pregnancy Guide" which says length of a beer bottle.

Over the halfway point! Last week I felt like time was going by too quickly, and "zomg, not enough time to prepare!" Now? It's "If I'm this giant at 21 weeks, what happens at 36?!" I hate even worrying about it because it's so shallow, and I know it's temporary and to grow my little girl, but it just makes me feel uncomfortable now. To top it off, I'm definitely noticing foot and ankle swelling. Granted, it's 95 and humid, but I can SEE how swollen they are. If only I could get away with wearing flip-flops everyday to work! 

I've been hitting up some yard sales the past week to see what kind of good baby things I can get my hands on. Clothes are easy enough (and I doubt she'll ever want for something pretty to wear in this house), but now I'm looking for baby gear that I wouldn't mind being used.

I feel her a lot more this week. Especially after I eat and every time I switch positions during the night. A night owl already - oh boy! We call her a little soccer star.

I also crossed something off my pregnancy checklist -- scheduling our maternity session! I'm super excited to work with the Cardens again. I've already created a big pinboard of maternity session inspiration.

We're getting closer to confirming her name, which I can't wait to reveal! 

Baby's 2nd Photoshoot

In my excitement to announce the girl news, it escaped me to post a couple recent pics!

Profile shot with her waving. "Hi, mom and dad!"

I know she didn't get those long legs from me!

Nursery Inspiration

After spending a few days completely overwhelmed by, well, a million things regarding this baby, I FINALLY feel like I'm getting closer to organizing my mind.

Our second bedroom I had repainted gray a year and a half ago, and I think we'll keep the same color. My best friend wants to paint me one striped wall. And I knew I wanted to add in pink pops plus incorporate the simple patterns I love -- dots and chevron. Then I saw this nursery:

Source: Project Nursery

I'm not quite in love with the name treatment over the crib, but otherwise, ::swoon::. It's just the mix of girly and modern I love.

I've started a pin board on Pinterest to recreate this look:

Now begins the work of cleaning out the bedroom to make it a home for our little girl!

20 Weeks

Baby is the size of a banana!

Ohmygosh, my baby girl is half baked!! What an epic week -- between finding out she's a healthy lady and seeing her move around on the monitor, and now knowing we're at the halfway point -- it's just unbelievable. Admittedly I'm feeling pretty overwhelmed; she'll be here before I know it, and I'm astounded at all the preparing we have to do. I'm wading into uncharted territory in so many ways. Perhaps I need to calm my brain by making some lists and getting organized. Can any moms out there tell me it's normal to feel this in over my head?

I'm pretty easily getting used to the idea of having a daughter. Once I got over my initial shock (and a little bit of grieving for the little boy I imagined), I'm growing more and more thrilled. Everyone keeps telling me I was meant to have a little girly girl like me, though a friend joked that she may be a complete tomboy and detest dresses. (as if!) Plus I'm realizing I *know* little girls so much better than boys. I have a ton of nieces, plus well, I'm a girl. And now that we're so close to confirming her name (first, anyway), she's becoming an actual *person* to me. I'm sure this little lady will have her daddy wrapped around her finger as soon as she makes her debut. I've watched how W interacts with my bff's baby girl (exhibt A), and I know their relationship will be something amazing.

This morning on my way to work I stopped by a neighbor's yard sale and while rummaging through the girls clothes I had another revelation of "Wow, I have a little girl on the way. She'll wear these clothes!" The magnitude of all this is really coming at me this week.

Symptom-wise, no real cravings except the salads at lunch one. My bump is getting bigger, higher, and harder. I've been feeling movement off and on, which I'm thankfully getting used to. I feel like a cow in everything I wear, so I worry what the next 20 weeks will do to my body (especially considering I'm already up 14 lbs -- she only weighs 12 oz right now!) Sleep is getting marginally better now that I'm getting used to side sleeping.

Who knows -- maybe I'll be able to unveil a name soon. :)

It's a ....

I nervously woke up the morning of June 20th thinking "This day will change my life." The timing couldn't be better -- after all it was our three year wedding anniversary, and instead of giving each other presents, our present was seeing our baby! 


But there was an obstacle in the course. At 9:30 am, my OB left me a voicemail: "Hi Amy, we're going to have to cancel your ultrasound today because the tech is sick and is going home with the flu." Commence epic meltdown. I begged the secretary and a patronizing office nurse, asking through sobs if there  ANY way I could just get a quick boy/girl check today. I literally couldn't wait one more minute, let alone another 5 days.


After seeing me cry, my work bestie emailed the office coordinator in OB about me (remember I work for the same health system).  Long story short, I was able to get my husband to come in 45 minutes later before the tech left. And without further ado...

I admit I was floored! Ever since conception I felt I was carrying a boy. I'm having a hard time mentally adjusting to the siwtch, but I'm still really happy. Best of all, she checked out healthy!


I feel like I can relate/handle a little girl better, plus the shallow part of me is thrilled to have a little lady to dress up in lace, ribbon, and bows and share my love of dresses. We're also close to a name. We had a top contender before we found out she was a girl, but we're not 100%. We are still using it, letting it roll of our tongues rather easily, so I'm pretty sure it will stick at this rate. 

Now we can really begin preparing!

Bump Progress (15-19)

(click for larger view)

Baby Kicks at 19w2d

After a few days of feeling a little anxious I hadn't felt definite movement, Baby decided to make his/her presence known on Father's Day night! I felt some thumps earlier in the afternoon and figured that was it, but it wasn't until that night while lying down in bed that there was no mistake. It was so noticeable it almost took my breath away, and even better -- both W and I could feel it on the outside.

It's so crazy to me. Before this I could almost pretend I wasn't pregnant (bar the growing midsection). But now it's so real. There's a little human in me using my insides for soccer practice! And in just two days we'll find out if baby is a son or a daughter. Honestly it's becoming a tad overwhelming, but it's also exhilarating at the same time. This whole process is amazing and still something I can't wrap my head around.

19 Weeks

Baby is the size of a mango!

After four weeks of awful sleep, I finally had a decently restful night in my bed last night! I'm hoping for that trend to continue. As I suspected, my ever growing size is having quite the effect on my movement and body position.

Food-wise, and I'm super happy about this, I've been REALLY enjoying salads everyday for lunch in the cafeteria. I'm a "dry salad" eater, so salads generally don't hold the same appeal for me as others, but OMG they taste so good to me right now. I'm really hoping this sticks around. I haven't fed me or this baby very well the past four months. (Sorry, kid.)

Yesterday was my 31st birthday. I just kept thinking "Next year we'll have a baby to help celebrate with!" or the thought of "The only birthday I care about this year will happen in November..." Plus I'm way more excited about June 20 (our anatomy scan) than anything. And I can't wait to finally get serious about buying some baby gear/clothes/nursery things. I don't want to go crazy right away since my friends and family are throwing me a shower, but now W and I will know which side of the baby clothes aisle to look in!

18 Weeks

Baby is the size of a sweet potato!

So far I'm finding second tri is more difficult than first trimester. I realize that's backward, but apparently so in my case. I'm still suffering from wretched sleep, and I spend more time on the couch than in my bed. Sometimes what keeps me awake is the restless leg/arm syndrome, which I suppose is from my joints loosening. So instead of the typical "energy-filled" second tri, I'm regressing. Another complaint is the back pain I've been experiencing, sometimes even while lying down. I had a premonition that would happen to me early on in pregnancy, especially considering how uh, busty I am.

However, one of the bonus parts about second tri is looking obviously pregnant. Sure, there are still some outfits where it's questionable, but mostly people know right away. I've received a few more belly rubs in the past two weeks (thankfully, all friends/family). I'm not someone who is annoyed at others putting their hands on me; in fact, I welcome it! I guess in some way it allows me to share my pregnancy with others in a more intimate way.

I can't believe there's only 11 days until we get to see the baby again and know if we have a little lady or a little man! I'm scared for my bank account the day we find out!

17 Weeks

Baby is now 5 ounces and 5 inches long. For someone who's that little it's sure spreading out in my body. He/she is sure making themselves at home. Still don't think I've felt movement, but as a first-time mom, I don't know what to look for. Definitely have some round ligament stretching throughout the day.

Sleep is now my enemy. I shuffle back and forth between my bed and the couch, but I mostly stick to the couch. I thought my new body pillow would help now that I can't sleep on my stomach, but no luck. I think I'm experiencing some restless leg (and arm) syndrome. It pisses me off because I'm only 17 weeks; still have 23 more weeks to go! I always suspected that because my first trimester was so easy I'd get payback with something else. Other than the sleep I really have no other complaints. The food cravings and ravenous appetite are no longer around, thankfully, because I'm trying not to gain 100 lbs by November.




Last weekend I went yard sale-ing for baby items and clothes. While I tried to pick up as much gender neutral as I could, I couldn't resist some of the decidedly boy and girl clothes. At practically free prices, I won't feel bad about not using something. Seeing the pile of baby clothes in the house makes me smile. Seems so surreal that in 5 months we'll have a little body here wearing these things.

Time seems to be ticking away pretty fast sometimes, and it's hitting me how much we have to do before November. This summer will be full of prepping the nursery, researching baby gear, scheduling maternity photos, and attending childbirth classes. It's a little daunting, but super exciting too. :)