37 Weeks

(Don't mind the BRIGHT PINK activity center. It's a much-appreciated hand me down!)
(P.S. Rob likes when I include a photo that is "up close." )

How Far Along: 37 Weeks.

Size of baby: Watermelon. How fitting considering it looks like I'm smuggling one everywhere I go!

Total Weight Gain/Loss: I didn't weigh myself out of fear for what the number would read. I'm realllllly re-thinking that stoopid idea to try to fatten my baby up...

Maternity Clothes: Oh yeah!

Gender: A beloved son!

Movement: He is still nice and busy in there. I love it! I was talking with a friend this week telling her how all cheesiness factor aside, pregnancy truly is a miracle. She adeptly replied, "It's the biggest trip you can't possibly describe!"

Sleep: I am now up to a minimum of two pee breaks per night. Ugh. Oh well.

What I miss: Nothing, really, seeing as I am in the home stretch! I only have nine more days left from here!

Cravings: I made my way back to chicken wings. No surprise there! Having them once was enough, though. None of this second trimester business of eating them three times in one week! Special shout out to Chili's for sending me a coupon for a free molten cake! Ha! Thankfully Rob ate half!

Symptoms: A BIG baby belly!

Best Moment this week: I had my first (and likely only) internal exam as well as the Strep B swab. Both were non-events. Yay! When you're pregnant people like to tell you lots of horror stories but they really only took a matter of seconds and were not painful in the least. Awkward? Yes, totally, but not painful. Bonus: they were over literally within seconds.

36 Weeks

How Far Along: 36 Weeks.

Size of baby: Large cantaloupe (still.)

Total Weight Gain/Loss: I haven't weighted myself yet this week. I'm sure it is a scary number. I had Starbucks for breakfast and Cracker Barrel for lunch so you do the math...

Maternity Clothes: Yup. And I got three new dresses this week from Targhetto to see me through the post-partum phase.

Gender: A beloved son!

Movement: Considering his lack of room I'd say he's still pretty busy in there doing his thing!

Sleep: I have not been sleeping at all. It isn't the peeing or the heartburn, it is the racing brain.

What I miss: Not struggling to make it in the heat. I have never been someone who thrives when it is hot but this heat has limited me severely. I also miss being able to rotate my body while driving. My range of motion seems very limited!

Cravings: None this week.

Symptoms: Last week I wore the same outfit in my 35 week picture to church and THREE people told me I was too small to be delivering in less than 3 weeks. Last night I wore a form-fitting pregnancy tank and THREE different people all asked if I was planning to deliver that very night. What a difference an outfit can make, right? So, I guess the biggest symptom is a burgeoning belly.

Best Moment this week: During my NST they kept trying to tell me I was having epic contractions on par with labor. I kept insisting I was not! I knew better than them in this instance. Turns out the sensors were picking up my breathing movements. Silly!

35 Weeks

Do Y'all love all the baby gear in the background? Rob was up till midnight last night with a friend assembling all the nursery furniture and this week I inventory it all and set up the room. I have a lot of work ahead of me! Nothing like waiting till the last minute! Now to our regularly scheduled programming....



How Far Along: 35 Weeks. (Picture taken at 35w3d)

Size of baby: Large cantaloupe (still.)

Total Weight Gain/Loss: 14 pounds.

Maternity Clothes: Pretttty much. i mean, I'm over 8 months pregnant so how awful must I look squeezed into too-tight clothes?

Gender: A beloved son!

Movement: Yesssss!

Sleep: Getting up like clockwork to pee. I have to make sure I don't limit my water intake out of fear of exhaustion. This comes with the territory so I just need to accept it!

What I miss: When rolling over in bed didn't threaten to toss my husband off the mattress! ;) In all seriousness, my range of motion is severely compromised. Sometimes going from a sitting to standing position requires help, LOL

Cravings: Frozen custard.

Symptoms: Soreness and nausea.

Best Moment this week: We read a few months ago that once baby can hear in utero, they will recognize voices, etc. It also said that if you listen to certain music, they will recognize it outside of the womb. My husband plays "In the Jungle" allllll the time and I am convinced the baby recognizes it. When we hold the speaker to my belly he gets very excited and today he even kicked the speaker off. There's one other song my husband plays that I don't recall the name of but the reason I am convinced those two songs are recognized is because he doesn't react to just any music, regardless of proximity of the speaker.

34 Weeks

I know these photos aren't the most flattering but I thought it was super cute how intrigues Miss Paris was with my having my photo taken. She is too cute for words!








How Far Along: 34 Weeks.

Size of baby: Large cantaloupe (not to be confused with a small cantaloupe, LOL!)

Total Weight Gain/Loss: According to my bi-weekly appointment I have lost 2 pounds. So, 13 pounds give or take. I'm still eating like every meal is the last supper so expect this amount to change by the time I post my 35 week update. And, in case anyone is wondering why there is such inconsistency on these updates, I do take the picture on the actual turnover day but I'm lazy about writing updates.

Maternity Clothes: My entire outfit today is non-maternity so that has me feeling good. That said, I had saved a lot of the clothes I wore when I was heavier, which I have been wearing in lieu of maternity clothes. At a birthing class last night someone complimented me on my jean skirt and while I was entirely flattered, by the time I got home after wearing it for several hours I looked at Rob and said, 'Time to retire this skirt. It had a good run.' Can we say TIIIIIGHT?

Gender: A beloved son!

Movement: He's running out of room, obviously, but some days he's still pretty active. I felt him change positions a few days ago!

Sleep: Despite a ton of energy in the first trimester, when most women are exhausted, I have hit a wall. I require a daily nap which is totally out of character!

What I miss: Not having to worry about glamorous things such as hemorrhoids. Ugh.

Cravings: Ice cream, which I attribute to it being hotter than hell on a Sunday. The heat is relentless; we're talking nearly 100 degrees at 10 p.m.

Symptoms: I can't stand for more than five minutes without feeling like I need to stab someone. Oh, and I am entirely cranky. Like, unreasonably so. I don't think pregnancy is an excuse to mistreat people so I have been having to sequester myself.

Best Moment this week: Yesterday's doctor appointment was good because I got to ask some questions related to my surgery. That was a relief. It is also nice to hear the baby's heartbeat. The weekly ultrasound and NST I had this morning were both awful appointments and I thought I was going to yell in the doctor's office. This is rare for me because typically I never mind waiting in a doctor's office because I know emergencies arise and I also know I'd want the same attention and to not feel rushed. In this case, three people who came after me were serviced first and I was livid. Rob said my true "angry" isn't really angry but I sure felt mad! Ha!

33 Weeks!

How Far Along: 33 Weeks.

Size of baby: Honeydew.

Total Weight Gain/Loss: 15 pounds. So much for a modest gain, right? Yikes! Time to lay off the sweets!

Maternity Clothes: This answer hasn't changed much from last week. Bottoms, yes, tops, both. I'd much rather lat around in my underwear; it's too hot!

Gender: A beloved son!

Movement: I love when he moves because my paranoia requires the reassurance he is OK. But my stomach and pelvis hurt, every day. The Braxton Hicks contractions were literally not happening at all and then yesterday they started with a freaking vengeance! This reaffirms for me I would've sucked at a vaginal delivery. Ugh!

Sleep: My bathroom breaks are up to a minimum of two so there isn't much uninterrupted sleep.

What I miss: Being able to sand up without a pain shooting through my pelvis.

Cravings: Cupcakes. Gee, I guess we all know where the weight gain is coming from!

Symptoms: My entire "trunk" hurts.

Best Moment this week: There were two things: 1. A healthy check up during my NST and ultrasound. Tomorrow I need to remember to ask the tech's best guess at baby's weight. I know it is not always accurate but I'm always curious. I don't bother to ask which percentile his measurements are in. 2. Rob and I were at the gym swimming laps. I half-jokingly told Rob he should try running the shallow end of the lane with my on his back to weight him down, and to my surprise he said to "jump on!" I did and we must've been the funniest sight.

32 Weeks

How Far Along: 32 Weeks.

Size of baby: Head of lettuce (still.)

Total Weight Gain/Loss: 12 Pounds.

Maternity Clothes: This answer hasn't changed much from last week. Bottoms, yes, tops, both.

Gender: A beloved son!

Movement: We're in that weird phase where some days he's super active and others he is more relaxed. Last night I was panicking over a lack of movement so I made Rob go get me some lemonade at midnight so I could jump start some activity. Of course I suffered the rest of the night with heartburn, LOL.

Sleep: I'm not sleeping that well but I don't feel tired or in need of a nap. Makes no sense, I know!

What I miss: Martinis and my friends from California. The California part is solely relevant because even if I had the means to visit, it's too far in the game to do so.

Cravings: Watermelon, cherries and grapes. My dad has bought all three for me.

Symptoms: I can't bend forward without experiencing a very, very sharp pain. I also can't bend to put cortisone on my bug bites so I guess the most obvious "symptom" is a loss of range of motion, LOL!

Best Moment this week: Seeing Rob get so excited about the baby dedications at church (we don't do infant baptisms.) I got to hear the baby's heartbeat this morning, which is always a reassuring thrill. Also, I went to a fundraiser at Sonic for our church youth and I spilled literally everything I ate on my stomach. Normally this would send me over the edge but instead I chose to be excited my belly was growing.

31 Weeks

How Far Along: 31 Weeks

Size of baby: Head of lettuce.

Total Weight Gain/Loss: 9 Pounds.

Maternity Clothes: Yup! I'm actually slightly concerned because I've worn so many of my non-maternity clothes for so long that I worry they'll be all stretched out when I need to wear them again after delivery.

Gender: A beloved son!

Movement: I'm absolutely delighted that he is incredibly active. Sometime he's so busy with the acrobatics that the movements are strong enough to wake me!

Sleep: Ya win some and ya lose some. I'm OK either way. All hail the nap!

What I miss: Nothing this week, really.

Cravings: Blue Bunny Red Velvet Cake Ice Cream.

Symptoms: Just the usual. No real changes lately. <---Same as last week.

Best Moment this week: Some sweet friends from church gave me a TON of stuff, including a bassinet, a swing, a bouncer seat, a new carrier and much, much more. I know some people get apprehensive about used things but not me. I just feel so blessed that my friends felt moved to care for us in this way. I have been worried about being unprepared but I feel much better now. Now the only hard part will be keeping things in pristine condition to return, LOL!

30 Weeks

Man, this is seriously late. But for the sake of reminiscing in a few years, I felt it imperative that I still put it up. I will do a 31 week post when Rob gets home from work today and can take my picture.





How Far Along: 30 Weeks

Size of baby: I forgot to write it down but according to various other websites, baby is the size of head of cabbage.

Total Weight Gain/Loss: I didn't weigh myself this week because The Plague I suffered caused me to lose 4 pounds in the first 24 hours.

Maternity Clothes: I am super thankful to my girlfriend Carrie for sending me some hand-me-downs. I own exactly two pairs of shorts so I am kind of limited. If you see me out and about, pretend it isn't an outfit you've already seen fifty times, LOL!

Gender: A beloved son!

Movement: Very, very active. Thank God!

Sleep: Eh, it's OK.

What I miss: This week I missed being able to function like a normal human being. I also missed eating. So glad The Plague has departed!

Cravings: None this week since I was lucky to be able to eat anything, period.

Symptoms: Just the usual. No real changes lately.

Best Moment this week: Swimming and being able to eat a delicious feast on Memorial Day!

29 Weeks and My Last Baby Shower!

How Far Along: 29 Weeks

Size of baby: Small cabbage (I fail to see how that is larger than last week's cauliflower but I digress...)

Total Weight Gain/Loss: The scale on my daily change said 11 pounds (still) but today it said 13 pounds on a full stomach. 2 pounds in one week means s-l-o-w down!

Maternity Clothes: Previously I had mostly been in maternity bottoms but now many of the shirts Rob bought me a few months ago are starting to fit. Exciting!

Gender: A beloved son!

Movement: Baby is doing his best impression of the Predator and Alien movies. Sometimes he is so aggressive in there it looks like he's trying to claw his way out! If I rest something on my belly he can easily kick or punch it off.

Sleep: Could be worse. In looking at the bright side, I am confident my 15 years of insomnia will help me rather than hurt me when it comes to being accustomed to lack of sleep, keeping odd hours, etc.

What I miss: I would like a martini and to be able to see where I am shaving.

Cravings: Chocolate cake with rainbow chip frosting. I have the frosting I just need to battle the chronic laziness and get it baked. I made some banana bread today and three dozen muffins for church this weekend so I don't know why I can't get my act together for one little cake!

Symptoms: Well, I think my stomach is officially to the point of having less room. The other night I took my heartburn pill at midnight. At 1 a.m. I woke with what I thought was post-nasal drip and when I went to blow my nose I was dismayed to vomit. And I puked big time! It was the oddest thing because my stomach didn't hurt before, during or after but it was full fledged puking. Thank you heartburn and re-arranged internal organs!

Best Moment this week: Two things: 1. I got to hear the heartbeat again and 2. I had my second baby shower. All in all, a blessed week!




***I thought I had a picture of just me and my bump but it must've been taken on someone else's camera. How disappointing! Anyway, these are a small sampling of my lovely friends from church!

28 Weeks

How Far Along: 28 Weeks

Size of baby: Head of cauliflower (blecht!)

Total Weight Gain/Loss: 11 pounds holding strong...hopefully this will have some positive influence on my GD test tomorrow though I'm pretttty sure it doesn't work that way, LOL!

Maternity Clothes: Mostly. Ironically, many of my tops still fit from when I was heavier. Go figure. I pray all those clothes are swimming on me after he gets here!

Gender: A beloved son!

Movement: His kicks and punches are more infrequent but now I can feel when he moves his entire body. It's pretty cool to watch my stomach contort as he does a somersault or stretches out. Pregnancy is the miracle everyone claimed it to be. Getting used to him not kicking quite as often has me on edge but my doctor will explain the kick counts to me on my appointment on Monday so hopefully that will put me at ease a bit.

Sleep: So-so.

What I miss: I miss Rob having a job because that meant I could get a craving on demand (within reason) and now not so much. Frugality for the WIN!

Cravings: We are back onto chicken wings but I can't have any because eating out is expensive. I suppose it is a good thing, actually.

Symptoms: A B-I-G Bebe Belly!

Best Moment this week: Two things: 1. Rob gave me the sweetest mother's day card in existence and 2. my friend from church told me she is pregnant. I know it is simply the season of my life, but I couldn't be more thrilled that I have so so so many friends who are pregnant at the same time. Don't drink the water!

27 Weeks

This post is nearly a week late-forgive me, we've been travelling.








How Far Along: 27 Weeks

Size of baby: Cucumber

Total Weight Gain/Loss: 11 pounds holding strong. I dread getting on the scale for week 28 after our trip to California!

Maternity Clothes: Mostly.

Gender: A beloved son!

Movement: His kicks are getting stronger by the day!

Sleep: It felt really good to sleep in our own bed after travelling and for the first time, I only woke up to use the bathroom, not to toss and turn! Honestly, my hips have been hurting very badly so that is what impedes sleep the most.

What I miss: Today? A martini.

Cravings: Surprisingly I didn't have any in California and I seem to be doing OK.

Symptoms: A B-I-G Bebe Belly!

Best Moment this week: Our first baby shower was pretty terrific; I am blessed with such sweet, generous friends!





As you may or may not have ready on my other blog, Rob lost his job. Needless to say, things are a little rough around here. I have a lot to say, but that might not be an option. I have a lot on my heart but I'm trying to remain positive and not live in fear. Our son is healthy and that is all that matters.

26 Weeks

I thought I would try something different this week and post a few photos. Rob and I couldn't decide which angles were best, etc. So, here we go!





How Far Along: 26 Weeks

Size of baby: Eggplant (it didn't change from last week?!?)

Total Weight Gain/Loss: 11 pounds. Well, friends, my modest weight gain is apparently gone. The weight is here and it came with a vengeance. 5 pounds in 1 week is nothing short of insane. I blame Easter. Time for me to try to tone it down...

Maternity Clothes: Mostly.

Gender: A beloved son!

Movement: He was very active in the middle of the night last night. I think he knew neither Rob or I could sleep so he wasn't going to miss out on the party.

Sleep: Rob has had insomnia for a month and consequently mine has gotten worse. I think part of it is my body getting me ready to have to start waking up frequently when le bebe gets here.

What I miss: I'm kind of depressed for the past day for the last day or so and in conclusion I don't have much to share. Sorry.

Cravings: No specific cravings this week. Maybe that's my psyche trying to make up for the massive weight I gained in one week, LOL.

Symptoms: A B-I-G Bebe Belly!

Best Moment this week: Finishing registering. Babies 'r' Us is stressful! Registering for our wedding was super fun but trying to register for gear you know nothing about is tiresome. I had to go three separate times!

And, since I have "no shame" and constantly talk about my Heparin treatments, I thought I would take a moment to "brag" and show that my bruises are considerably better. I know a lot of women in my position get bruises worthy of horror films and with few exceptions over the months, I have been lucky to have only minor to moderate bruises.

25 Weeks

How Far Along: 25 Weeks

Size of baby: Eggplant (which I am allergic to, incidentally.)

Total Weight Gain/Loss: 6 pounds. So, no change. The doctor's office actually puts me at a pound less than my home scale. Last night I weighed myself to write this post and it said I had gained 12 pounds in 3 days. I panicked and asked Rob what he thought and he said, "I really only see five of those pounds." I was floored but decided to let him live. I was skeptical of the scale since I had taken it from carpet to linoleum so I re-set it. I weighed myself twice more and it confirmed I had not gained ANY weight. Well, after talking to my husband, if I didn't have a complex before...

Maternity Clothes: Mostly.

Gender: A beloved son!

Movement: Every time he kicks it reassures me he is still alive. I know that sounds awful, but it is a reality for me. I have pregnancy anxiety because: 1. It is my first pregnancy, 2. My blood thinners can potentially retard his growth and 3. The platelet issue has me crawling out of my skin.

Sleep: Is constantly interrupted.

What I miss: Being able to see my Lady Bits. This is the same from last week. I bought a specialty "tool" that I hope will help with grooming. I am obsessed with body hair, sorry if that's TMI.

Cravings: I'm a creature of habit so if you have read my blog for any length of time, you can probably answer for me, lol. I'm still on a Moose Tracks ice cream kick!

Symptoms: A protruding belly, lol. I truly love being pregnant; I have been so blessed!

Best Moment this week: The sound of his heartbeat is music to my ears!

24 Weeks

How Far Along: 24 Weeks

Size of baby: Ear of corn

Total Weight Gain/Loss: 6 pounds.

Maternity Clothes: Mostly.

Gender: A beloved son!

Movement: It would appear this child is a night person like its father. The major dancing occurs in the late evening. <--Same as last week. Although I noticed the other night when I couldn't sleep that he was very, very active. Also, any time I change positions while sleeping, he let's me know he is awake.

Sleep: Meh.

What I miss: Being able to see my Lady Bits.

Cravings: Not chicken wings, for once. Jelly beans and other candy. Also, ice cream. I can't say enough good things about chocolate Moose Tracks.

Symptoms: None, really. Hooray!

Best Moment this week: Any time the baby moves it brings me great comfort and relief.

23 Weeks

How Far Along: 23 Weeks

Size of baby: Papaya

Total Weight Gain/Loss: 6 pounds.

Maternity Clothes: Yes! I was able to buy some camisoles from Old Navy and they were non-maternity but super long to cover the bulge. Annnnnnd, my sweet friend Carrie sent me a bunch of cute things. I am so blessed!

Gender: Mental note: I have decided to spill my guts; look for a gender post coming up shortly!

Movement: It would appear this child is a night person like its father. The major dancing occurs in the late evening.

Sleep: It's OK. I have noticed that turning over is getting to be a bit of a challenge. Or at least, it feels like a tremendous effort to do so and I am sure it wakes Rob every time.

What I miss: Not having to regulate how many cold cut sandwiches I can eat.

Cravings: It is with tremendous shame that I must announce that I am still eating chicken wings like they're going out of style. I think I need a hot wing addiction group. You get one guess as to what is on the menu for dinner tonight...I made a promise to myself I would only eat them once a week and it is difficult!

Symptoms: Heartburn. Thank GOD for whomever invented Omeprazole. Seriously. It is the only medicine on the market that can tame the demon in my esophagus!

Best Moment this week: Getting my baby shower invite in the mail. I have such sweet, generous friends. And the girls from my Sunday school class also emailed to let me know they also wanted to throw me a shower. I do not know what I did to deserve such blessings. No, really. I am overwhelmed!

22 Weeks

Sorry this picture is so janky! My computer is not cooperating and it was the best I could do!

How Far Along: 22 Weeks

Size of baby: Spaghetti Squash

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Still only 4 pounds, further proof there is a God in heaven!

Maternity Clothes: My sweet friend is sending me some stuff from California, which is an immense help. Even one new shirt would feel special. Since I am not working I have been trying to function off of old clothes from before I lost weight, and one pair of shorts to beat the heat.

Gender: Mental note: Decide on whether we are disclosing the gender.

Movement: The baby is kicking up a storm!

Sleep: My head cold is more detrimental this week then my growing body.

What I miss: Nothing, really. I've been very fortunate.

Cravings: We are back on chicken wings!

Symptoms: A growing belly.

Best Moment this week: It's simply been another great week! Getting some strong heartburn medicine has been good, too.

21 Weeks

So, this post is not timely but the photo is. This dress looks kind of like I'm wearing a tent but in the heat I appreciate its breeziness. And don't ask about the puffiness of my hair. It was close to midnight and it was HOT! Today I actually chopped all that hair off so my next picture I will be looking nice and cool!

How Far Along: 21 Weeks

Size of baby: Banana

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Man, i was doing so well! Then fat happened. I had only gained four pounds the first 5 month but since Monday alone I put on another 3. Time to get the eating under control!

Maternity Clothes: I only have one pair of maternity shorts so I have been wearing lots of pre-pregnancy dresses to beat the heat.

Gender: We are undecided on if we are going to announce the sex. We have so little between us that this feels like one thing we can have to ourselves. Of course, I am confident Rob has shared with a handful of people. He was too excited not to, lol!

Movement: Thankfully, the baby moves quite frequently, especially if I am hungry. It is still too faint for Rob to feel but he diligently puts his hand to my belly with great frequency in hopes of feeling something; it is very endearing!

Sleep: It's already hard to get comfortable and I know it is only going to get worse. I am sooo thankful for the ability to nap, even though I never allow myself to.

What I miss: Having less body hair (thanks, hormones and vitamins!) and being able to shave with ease.

Cravings: Fruit salad. There was something else but now I can't remember it. I can never remember anything these days-it's totally true what they say about "pregnancy brain!"

Symptoms: A growing belly.

Best Moment this week: Seeing a healthy baby!! Such a blessing in and of itself!

20 Weeks

This is a day late but much better than the complete lack of photo altogether for week 19. Man, it was HOT last night when I had Rob take this picture. I mean, really hot...and it's not even summer yet! 80 degrees at night is not going to work for me. Time to take advantage of having a good a/c system! Moving on...


How Far Along: 20 Weeks (More than 1/2 way done since this baby is being delivered at 38 weeks! Eeek!)

Size of baby: Mango.

Total Weight Gain/Loss: I lost almost an entire pound while travelling and have not gained it back so we are up a total of 4 pounds. People have been remarking to me like I look like I have lost weight. As evidenced by my photo, my stomach is growing so I'm not worried.

Maternity Clothes: I re-organized my closet and have found a wealth of non-maternity clothes that can be worn. So, not only do I get to feel good about being organized and clean, but I get to save money. There were clothes in there I forgot I had. Living out of boxes sucks but I really needed to put in the time and I am glad I did.

Gender: Next Tuesday is the BIG DAY. My friend Carrie and her husband have a tradition of picking two names they really love, and then waiting till they meet their baby to do the final selection. Rob and I love this idea. On the bright side, even though I wanted a surprise, this will help with the naming process. Rob will only half-heartedly discuss it till we know what is coming.

Movement: The baby wasn't very active AT ALL yesterday and had me worried but today seems to be back to normal. I have read that regular movement is not to be expected, and I am not skinny so until I can pick my doctor's brain about it, I am going to go with the notion that things are as they should be. I am amazing myself at the lack of panicking I have done this pregnancy. I always figured I'd be one of those women who calls hysterical at the slightest cramp, etc. but it has been the opposite. Even when I had spotting I didn't call. Maybe having no insurance has something to do with it, LOL.

Sleep: Not too shabby, actually.

What I miss: Nothing, really. It would've been fun to enjoy a green cocktail last night but it really wasn't a big deal.

Cravings: Chicken wings and cupcakes. I always thought women who would make statements like, "It's what the baby wants" were simply making excuses to indulge in their cravings, but I am eating crow. I literally ate chicken wings for dinner two nights in a row. I don't even like spicy foods but I have been pouring hot sauce onto different things, such as eggs. As for the cupcakes, well, I just can't help it. Fortunately/unfortunately, Rob is catering to my every whim in this department. We'll see how that one goes. At least chicken is semi-healthy.

Symptoms: My skin is looking somewhat decent and I bought a deep cleaning shampoo so for this week I am practically presentable. That said, it is too dang hot to style my hair so a ponytail it is! Gah! I hate wearing a ponytail because for me, they are NEVER stylish and always a cop-out.

Best Moment this week: Good health!

Blogging Fail and Miscellany

Well, I didn't take a picture for week 20! FAIL! I have a good reason, though: I was travelling and it just felt off to ask anyone other than Rob or my family to take my picture. Too bad, too, since I was rocking non-clownish hair for once. Ha! I thought about taking one mid-week, and I still might. Or not.

I saw a lot of friends this past week and it was really fun to gauge their reactions to my pregnancy belly. When I got off the plane, Rob remarked that I looked noticeably more pregnant. If at any time I had delusions of still fitting in my pre-pregnancy pants, those fleeting thoughts are gone. And, this might sound odd, but I am sort've excited to see my post-baby body. I am curious what it will look like. I haven't packed on the pounds the way I feared I would so I have a glimmer of hope. I'm down almost a pound from last week, and considering the way I indulged with my girlfriends, this is a small feat.

Flying was pretty uncomfortable. I'm no waif to start and the seats only get smaller. Baby felt like it didn't have much room to maneuver, despite not being very big. My hips were killing me the entire flight. On my first flight the turbulence was quite severe. Somewhere over Arizona the captain came over the loudspeaker and said, "I've spoken with air traffic control and they've confirmed this is the best altitude we can do." Uh.... On my return flight, I had the row to myself but couldn't quite get comfortable.

I'm pretty confident I can feel the baby at this point. I know most people claim it is just gas, but pregnancy hasn't made me gassy (yay!) and it doesn't feel like any sensation I've ever felt before. What do you guys think? Is 20 weeks to soon to feel movement?

I have another confession: I ate 2 cupcakes today. For shame, I know. The odd thing is, I am normally a HUGE sweets fan, but this pregnancy have not been into much dessert. I had a cupcake craving and I satisfied it.

18 Weeks

How Far Along: 18 Weeks

Size of baby: Sweet potato. I really love sweet potatoes so this is fitting.

Total Weight Gain/Loss: I am up 5 pounds. I have spent a lot of time out of the house this week which means I have actually been eating. I'm doomed now.

Maternity Clothes: Same issue as last week-which is that crop tops on pregnant bellies are not sexy, even for Kate Hudson.

Gender: We will know in a couple of weeks.

Movement: Sometimes it feels like someone is shifting their position in there but it is the lightest flutter so I can't truly confirm or deny.

Sleep: No rest for the wicked.

What I miss: Nothing. I'm blessed to be pregnant so I don't dare say anything negative.

Cravings: I wanted a soup and salad combo from Panera and I got it.

Symptoms: Bad acne, bad hair and a gut. <--This never changes.

Best Moment this week: Another healthy week.


Confession time: I joke a lot about how I didn't know I was pregnant for a long time, but if I am being honest there is a very serious reason why. This pregnancy has been marred by grief and agony over a family crisis. If I am being extra-honest, it has pretty much overshadowed most everything pregnancy-related. I am convinced God gave me an easy pregnancy because He knew I would crumble. I truly believe we're only given what we can handle, even if it feels like the depths of despair when we're in the trenches. Some days my baby is the only thing I have that feels positive so I am thankful for a brief daily respite. I am trying to document as much as I can so that I have not only a distraction, but a chronicle of joy. Happiness is circumstantial whereas joy is to be found in the heart.