24 weeks...

what's happening this week...

baby is the size of a cantaloupe! whoa!! (i've also been eating a lot of cantaloupe lately too - can't get enough - i could live off of fruit these days)

fighting a cold this week and a lot of stuffiness. i even purchased some breath-rite strips in the hopes that it would help me breathe better at night. 

our doctor's appointment is tomorrow - so i will have some updates on that next week

it's been rainy and cold around here lately and just makes me want to take a lot of naps - not going to complain about cuddling up at home though - i love it

found a fun consignment shop here in town that i think i will be frequenting often. it carries maternity clothes, all kinds of baby and kids clothes, toys, baby accessories like slings and diaper bags, and books. i purchased a pair of Gap shorts and a tank top for myself the other day and then went back this week for a mini brown leather recliner for the little one! it is so cute and currently sitting in our living room just waiting to be used!

realizing quickly that this summer is going to be b-u-s-y! i'm working, taking three classes for school (which includes scheduling 52 hours of clinical hours in a community health setting), planning for baby showers, hoping to enjoy some summer activities (like cabin time at the lake), and relishing the last few months of pregnancy. it's is going to go by quickly...hopefully i won't forget to take time to fully enjoy it all!

22 & 23 weeks...

what's happening this week (22 weeks)...

baby is the size of a papaya

starting to get some pregnancy aches and pains...upper back aches, rib pain and extra bloating...i even told todd the other night that i just don't think there is enough room in here for this baby! i can feel my body stretching and pulling as i get bigger and bigger...it's, at the same time, amazing and painful!

purchased a few more items for the baby room...curtains, fitted crib sheet and a curtain rod. i guess our theme is somewhat "tribal", although i haven't really chosen any specific set of designs to make this easy. i mostly just know what colors i want and have been trying to find items that fit to keep with this.we're going with blue, green, orange and brown. and of course white...since the crib, changing table and walls are white. i'm on the hunt for a rocker/glider that will fit in there and eventually will repaint and replace the hardware of an old dresser that i have in the basement...

todd felt the baby move!! he/she was having a particularly active night one night while watching The Voice on tv...so i laid down next to todd on the couch and he got to feel 5 or 6 karate kicks! i think he loved it

sleeping has become more difficult and uncomfortable. i know this is just going to continue to get worse as i get bigger...but i'm already annoyed that i can't sleep on my back or my stomach. sleeping on my side isn't bad, because i am pretty much a side sleeper anyways - but my legs and arms seem to fall asleep more often now and my upper back gets a little cramped too. oh - and the leg cramps have started too!! ugh....

my adorable sister-in-law who is due on Aug 2 - here we are at 22.2 and 25 weeks

what's happening this week (23 weeks)...

baby is the size of a grapefruit

this past weekend i spent with my whole family back in davenport! it was so fun to see everyone and all my littles. we did all kinds of fun things and the weather was just perfect.  i enjoyed every second of it. i even got to see an old friend for a few hours before i left town...

i had my first dream about labor. well, actually it was just about going to the hospital.  apparently i had a scheduled induction and most of the dream was spent standing at the admitting counter getting checked in. it was a little weird though to imagine myself as a patient on the L&D floor...instead of a nurse

this weekend i feel like i formed a really strong emotional bond with my little baby.  don't get me wrong, i've been excited and thrilled about this pregnancy all along....but i did kind of worry for a little while that i was missing this special feeling of intense love - i just chalked it up to not being able to actually see or hold my baby yet. but for whatever reason, this weekend that all changed! i'm emotionally attached and get a little weepy when i think about how i get to meet this peanut in just a few short months! i'm soooooo in love

yesterday afternoon i started to get kind of an icky feeling - and i think i'm coming down with something...not sure if i picked it up from one of the kids over the weekend, i did give and get a lot of kisses! but i think i'm gonna head back to bed now and hopefully can sleep it off before i have to get to work tonight!

sorry for the "face" - i was about to leave for work and i didn't feel well ;)

21 weeks...

what's happening this week...

baby is the size of a pomegranate

tried to get todd to feel baby moving on sunday night but baby was being shy and decided not to cooperate...

forgot to mention that we made our baby news"social media" official last week with an ultrasound picture. we debated about whether or  not to put it out there at all...but decided we were too giddy not to share - we got tons of love and congratulations and quite a few surprised comments! 

been trying to walk outside as much as possible lately - i've been going between 2 and 2.5 miles each time...and it feels sooooooooo good! i miss running...but this will have to do for the time being

trying to plan some sort of babymoon in the coming weeks - to celebrate our last few months of life without kiddos...but it's proving to be kind of difficult since this summer is going to be pretty busy...i'll post updates on this as things (hopefully) pan out...

21 weeks

20 weeks...

what's happening this week...

this baby is half baked!

baby is the size of a banana and sits REALLY low in my belly

we had our ultrasound! it was so amazing!! just so incredible to be able to peek inside of there and see what this little munchkin is up to...according to the tech and the doc, all is good from what they can see. we did not find out the sex...so we are going to be surprised on delivery day! what do you think? boy or girl??

up until wednesday (which was ultrasound day) i was convinced this little peanut is a girl...but now i am finally starting to consider that it might actually be a boy. i don't feel strongly either way right now though

we had our 20 week appointment after the ultrasound this week too - things are checking out well so far. i was weighed again and am up to 143! i think that's roughly 10 pounds since i started seeing the doctor. but my true original weight was 137 (before i got so sick), so i'd only really say i've gained 6 :)

this baby moves around A LOT. i even thought todd might be able to feel it from the outside. but he didn't try. he is still a little unsure if he wants to. he said it kind of creeps him out. i hope i can convince him that it is sooooo cool and he's missing out!

overall, i am still feeling pretty darn good. my appetite is definitely back - and i have a decent amount of energy

i do suffer a little bit from heartburn at random times. but it's nothing too overwhelming right now

20 weeks

i put two bump shots in this week because i think i look so much like my mom in this one!!!

that little nose kills me!

i already want to smooch on those cheeks

little snuggler'

todd and i loved this shot of baby's leg - it kind of took our breath away!