26 Weeks

Looks like my last week of 2nd trimester!

This week baby girl must have had a growth spurt -- I noticed a decent change in bump size, plus I've been getting ravenously hungry between 10 pm and 1 am. She's been getting more feisty around 3:30-4:30 with kicking. And while I haven't had specific food cravings most of 2nd trimester, the past two weeks I've been really into turkey BLT sandwiches.

Also this past week we've made a minor dent in nursery preparations. We've mostly cleared out all the stuff from the second bedroom and found innovative ways to combine closet space. Friends have graciously helped me paint the trim, walls and closets. I have lots to do yet to finish those basics, but we're very sloooowly getting somewhere. The crib is purchased but still in the box. I'll definitely need to call in the reinforcements to help us since we're assembly challenged in a big way! The next two weekends will be completely full between traveling and other outings, so I really want to accomplish a lot this weekend. Maybe the nesting phase is kicking in?

Another thing we can check off our pre-baby checklist is visiting her future daycare. It's close to our home and one of the few places that offer half day hours. While I'm not gaga over the very dated building and tattered equipment, I'm reminded by other moms it's the care that matters.

In other news, we found out that our baby will have a built-in family bestie -- W's sister and brother-in-law had their anatomy scan today and found out they're having a girl too! I think it will be sweet to see the two together at family functions.

25 Weeks

25 down, 15 to go!

Baby girl is getting more and more active, I've noticed the past week. She must be running out of room because she's not shy about doing entire gymnastics routines inside my belly. Last Sunday she didn't take any breaks during the day!

No new symptoms. Getting out of a sitting or reclining position is tough work, and I completely dread stairs and hills. I'm trying to work more veggies into my diet. I have this fear I'm going to turn up positive for gestational diabetes (I take my first test in about two weeks).

We're finally making some progress on the nursery! The biggest hurdle was getting our old guest bed out of the house, but it's done! My bestie came over to help me freshen up the trim. Next on the agenda is putting a fresh coat of paint on the walls and touching up the ceiling. Eventually, once hubby's clothes are out of the closets, we may paint the insides of the closet pink. I thought about doing a striped wall, but I'm chickening out a bit. And hopefully we're buying the crib this weekend!! I'm still on the hunt for a dresser; my goal is find one on Craiglist and paint it. I think I'll feel a lot more settled once the nursery starts shaping up.

Bump Progress (20-24)

Click for larger view

24 Weeks

Happy Viability Day! (though she better stay comfy for another couple months!)

So as much as I complained last week, I'm really trying to concentrate on the positives. I don't want to spend too much of this pregnancy miserable; I really want to enjoy it cherish the times I get to spend with my daughter as close to me as humanly possibly as it gets! Some day I'll look back on this time and wish I could have it back. I'll still kvetch about the crazy pregnancy symptoms and irritants, but I won't wallow in them.

I crossed off a major (to me) pre-baby checklist item when I finally got ahold of the daycare I want to find out there's no waiting list. We tour at the end of the month! I'm hoping we like what we see, because we really don't have a lot of options when it comes to daycares who offer part-time hours.

No new symptoms this week. She's pretty active all the time, especially in the wee hours of the morning as I'm struggling to fall back asleep. Fruit and carbs really get her going.

I had my 24 week appointment today. Looks like I'm up 20 pounds. I can't say I'm surprised; my mom and my sister both gained over 50 with each of their pregnancies, so I'm probably just following nature here. I have to remember it's only temporary and I will do my best to lose it. The better news is she's measuring on track and her heartbeat is in the 130s.

Last weekend I picked up more things at yard sales. At this rate, she'll have way too many clothes, but I figure it's always good to have backups. :) Now if I could just pry myself away from Etsy.

23 Weeks

Disclaimer: The below will sound whiny and bratty, but sometimes a pregnant girl just has to complain about the crap parts of pregnancy. Don't get me wrong -- I'm thrilled to be pregnant and be a grower of life and all that jazz I swear. But it's not all puppies and rainbows.

I miss being able to sleep in my bed. I miss being able to haul myself out of a sitting position without time and grunts and heavy breathing. I miss not four hour stretches of sleep. I miss fruity cocktails and beer. I miss not having heartburn and random pains in my belly. I miss having non-swollen legs and feet. I miss not feeling like I'm not an elephant who slowly trudges wherever it goes. I miss the days when people didn't have carte blanche to talk about my weight. I miss not being judged/judging myself for what foods/drinks I put into my body.

But worst of all is the knowledge that I have soooo many more weeks to go and that all of the above will just get worse and then some. I'm already growing out of some of my maternity clothes -- like, how is that even possible at 23 weeks?!

Planning wise, I feel like I'm falling behind. I haven't been able to get in touch with the daycare I'm interested in. The guest room is still not cleaned out, not painted, no furniture purchased. I have two registered started, butt they're not completed. I haven't scheduled my childbirth classes yet. Why is it time slowed down when about my physical discomforts, but seems like it's zipping by when I think about all the baby prep?

Baby is the size of a large mango! She's getting more active in the days, but she's especially feisty at night right before I want to sleep.

Confession

I have an addiction.

An addiction to photographing my baby bump.

I'm not sure if it's vanity or something else. It's probably because I am finding this entire period in my life so unbelievable, and it could be the ONLY time in my life I will experience this. Plus it distracts me from all the parent anxiety I could work myself into if I wanted. So by focusing on the shallow, I avoid a visit to the behavioral health unit.

I've had my body change before. I was a pretty big weight gainer/loser, but this bump thing? It's nuts. It seems to change everyday. Yesterday I took my first bare bump photo. It always looks smaller with no clothes; it's the reverse in non-pregnancy time. I put clothes on it and suddenly I look like I'm 49 weeks pregnant.

Without further ado, the bare bump -- 22w2d.

22 Weeks

Baby is as long as a spaghetti squash! (I have never looked at a spaghetti squash, but I'm assuming it's a good size.) 

I've never really done any of these pregnancy surveys on the blog before, but there's a first for everything, right? 

How far along? 22 weeks

Total weight gain: 14 lbs as of 2 weeks ago.

Maternity clothes? Pretty much everything I wear is maternity at this point. A lot of my dresses would work, but they rise up too far in front and look ridic.

Stretch marks? No new ones anyway!

Sleep: Decent only when I'm on the couch. I wish I could sleep in my bed, but nothing seems to work; it's just too uncomfortable. When I'm on the couch I feel supported, plus I'm still able to lie on my back. I can lie like a stone until my bladder wakes me up. 

Best moment this week: I should write these down, but alas, the pregnancy brain has struck again. 

Miss Anything? Belly sleeping. And fruity alcoholic drinks. Like whoa.

Movement: Kicks and tumbles -- always after I eat and usually right before bedtime. 

Food cravings: No real strong craving. We eat a lot of pizza. And salads at lunch during the week. (I've taken to speaking for her -- is that creepy?) 

Anything making you queasy or sick: No.

Gender: Girl :) 

Labor Signs: None. 

Symptoms: Clumsiness, loss of memory retention, swollen ankles/feet, heartburn

 Belly Button in or out? In.

Wedding rings on or off? Wearing just my e-ring these days.

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy definitely. 

Looking forward to: Purging the guest room to make it into the nursery!