My 20 week update...a little early

Baby's digestive system is busy creating meconium (a tarry black substance made of swallowed amniotic fluid, digestive secretion and dead cells), which will fill the first diaper after birth. And, speaking of the diaper situation... baby's genitals are now fully formed!

I figured I'd post this a little early since I'll be gone next week!

Leaving for our babymoon!

Jordan and I can hardly contain ourselves we're so excited! My mom called me on Thursday and asked me if it was okay if they booked the same cruise too because it was such an awesome deal! Of course I didn't mind :) It's worked out really well actually because we're all going to make the road trip together to the port in Charleston.

Next week will be quite the week! I'll hit my 20 week mark on Monday and then Tuesday is my 23rd birthday! I can't believe I'll be 1/2 way done with this pregnancy, it's unbelievable. Anyways, I'll be back with TONS of pictures!

Almost 1/2 way there!

Vernix caseosa, a greasy white substance made of lanugo, oil and dead skin cells (yum) now coats baby's skin, shielding it from the amniotic fluid. (Picture yourself after a nine-month bath, and the need for protection makes sense.) You might actually get to see the vernix at birth, especially if baby is premature.


I know I've been lacking posting updates and belly pictures. Honestly, I haven't had time! I feel like I'm always on the go. I'm more mad about not getting my weekly belly bump picture. I'm making a promise to myself to take one every week once I hit 20 weeks (next week!). I'm not showing too much right now, so it's really not all that exciting :)

I'm still feeling little kicks just about every day, usually at night when I'm laying in bed. They're small but I feel them!

It's official, I'm feeling kicks just about everyday!

It's happening as I'm typing this. Very weird/cool! I wish Jordan could feel it. My doctor says that he won't be able to feel the kicking for a little longer, but soon! I love hearing the baby's heartbeat, but actually feeling the baby makes it seem so much more real.

Not much to update on this week. My pregnancy has been (thankfully) very uneventful so far...and I don't mind keeping it that way :) We're basically just counting down the days until we leave for the cruise! We're departing out of Charleston, SC so we've decided to just make the drive out there. We're planning on getting into Charleston a little early so that we can explore & eat lunch in the downtown area before getting on the ship. 10 more days!

How far along? 18 weeks, 2 days
Maternity clothes? Just pants for the most part. Most of my maternity tops are still too loose for me to fill out.
Stretch marks? Nope, please stay this way!
Sleep: Actually pretty good! I've been waking up at 7AM everyday, but I am sleeping well.
Best moment this week: Feeling the baby kick MUCH more often!
Movement: Just about daily or every other day, comes in little spurts
Food cravings: I'm ravenous this week, anything and everything looks good!
Gender: I don't know, I wish we could find out already -- For some reason this morning I feel boy.
Labor Signs: Nope
Belly Button in or out? Innie
What I miss: Nothing really...I'm sleeping better, got my appetite back, and feeling good!
What I am looking forward to: Our Bahamas cruise next week!!!
Weekly Wisdom: The morning sickness/nausea DOES eventually go away. It's hard (I know it was for me) but it will get better!
Milestones: Lot's of baby kicks! I can't wait until Jordan can feel them!

Time is flying...18 weeks!

Your fetus has become amazingly mobile (at least compared to you), passing the hours yawning, hiccuping, rolling, twisting, kicking, punching, sucking and swallowing. And, baby's finally big enough that you'll be able to feel those movements soon.

I have been having little tiny flutters for the last week or 2...Not until this weekend did the flutters last longer than a second or 2. Especially on Saturday, the baby felt like it was going crazy and I felt it off and on for a couple of seconds over a period of a couple minutes. It's really cool!

Diaper bags are ugly.

It's true. They all either LOOK like diaper bags or if they have any kind of style to them then they cost $300. My solution? This gigantic purse for $39.99 from New York & Co.

The babymoon is booked!

We got an AWESOME deal on a last minute 7-day cruise to the Bahamas. This will be our last alone vacation before baby comes, so we're VERY excited!

We will be departing out of Charleston, SC and going to:

Nassau Bahamas
Freeport, Bahamas
Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas


Cape Canaveral, Florida


Then back to Charleston, SC. We leave in 2 weeks, it can't come fast enough!!

The To-Do List

Alright Jordan, here's everything you get to do before baby comes. I'm evil :)

• Put all new wood flooring in living room, kitchen dining room, and hallways. We'll be able to do this as soon as we can come to an agreement on which flooring to pick.
• Re-paint living room, dining room, kitchen and hallways so all of the paint actually matches
• Clean out garage. Much easier said than done...We're going to have a big garage sale and whatever isn't sold is being shipped off to Goodwill.
• Clean out the spare bedroom so that we can start work on the nursery.
• Put a closet system in the nursery closet
  
• Re-paint nursery.
• Re-paint our bedroom.
• Put a closet system in our hallway/linen closet
• Replace back door with a french door. This will be a last minute thing, if anything. It's just something I want to open up our house :)

I cried this morning

Luckily Jordan was already off to work so he didn't have to witness my moment of self-loathe. I'm just really frustrated with my clothes. My pre-pregnancy clothes look ridiculous on me but I'm still not big enough to fill out any of my maternity tops. It's especially frustrating because I have to dress up for work everyday and I feel like I don't look professional at all. Then the weekend comes and I never have anything cute to wear anymore. I feel like a big, fat ugly woman.

Where is this "pregnancy glow" that everyone talks about? I think it's some cruel joke someone made up...because it doesn't exist!

It's petty and stupid but it really bothers me...I like to dress cute/nice! I feel like it's impossible to look good right now. So there it is, my little meltdown I had this morning. I'll blame it on my hormones.

Back from Dr. appt!

Everything looked great...He was extremely happy with my weight gain, or lack of. I haven't gained a pound since my last visit, even though I feel way bigger. Baby's heartbeat sounded great at 153 BPM and we scheduled my BIG ultrasound for April 9th. That feels so far away!

I keep saying this, but I swear I'll post a new bump picture soon!

Weekly Ritual

How far along? 17 weeks, 2 days
Maternity clothes? Finally got some maternity jeans this weekend, sweet relief!
Stretch marks? Nope
Sleep: Not bad...
Best moment this week: Finding the cutest little brown jacket for the baby
Movement: I feel the tiniest, quickest little flicker every once in a while
Food cravings: It's strawberries this week...or any fruit for that matter
Gender: I still think it's a girl. Jordan is determined that it's a boy.
Labor Signs: Nope
Belly Button in or out? Innie
What I miss: Sleeping in, I wake up at 8AM on the dot every day
What I am looking forward to: Doctor's appointment tomorrow. I love hearing the heartbeat!
Weekly Wisdom: Drink your water!
Milestones: I made it over a week with no nausea or morning sickness!

17 weeks

Baby's skeleton is hardening, changing from rubbery cartilage to bone, and fat is finally accumulating around it. The umbilical cord is getting thicker and stronger, and those little fingers and toes are now topped by one-of-a-kind prints.

Sorry for the lack of updates! I've been a little busy and just haven't had the time. Our next Dr. appointment is on Thursday and we'll get to schedule the BIG ultrasound then! I can't wait :) New belly picture coming soon!

P.S.
I'm afraid I'm jinxing myself here...BUT I've had no nausea or morning sickness in over a week. It's glorious!

P.P.S.
Check out my little baby ticker over there to the right, it's starting to look more like a baby and less like a sea monkey.

Today is 16 weeks!

Watch what you say... tiny bones forming in baby's ears mean the little one can now pick up your voice. Eyebrows, lashes and hair are starting to fill in, and taste buds are forming. And, if you're interested, an ultrasound might be able to determine gender.



How far along? 16 weeks today
Maternity clothes? Not wearing maternity tops yet, just pants.
Stretch marks? Nope
Sleep: Still not as good as it used to be, but it's better
Best moment this week: Buying our stroller!
Movement: I swear I thought I felt a flutter when I was laying in bed...who knows!
Food cravings: Nothing has sounded good this week except chicken burritos from Qdoba and Chipotle
Gender: Who knows...I'm thinking girl still
Labor Signs: Nope
Belly Button in or out? Innie
What I miss: Loving food
What I am looking forward to: 4 more weeks until the BIG ultrasound!
Weekly Wisdom: Get a good body pillow to sleep with...It works wonders!
Milestones: Making our first big baby purchase, a stroller!

Our first BIG purchase!

Jordan and I have had our eye on this stroller for months now...I am so excited! We wanted something lightweight, gender neutral and modern so this definitely fit that.

It's the Evenflo Aura Travel System in "Oh".
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3232437

It has 2 cupholders and a really cool baby wipe compartment that also lifts up and has a spot for snacks, keys, etc.
Another thing we thought was cool that it had this awesome handle that lets you push one-handed

15 week "beer gut"

Well, I'll be 16 weeks tomorrow so this is a little late. Hm, much different than my 13 week picture?