21 Weeks

Whew. What a week!

During the last week, we have flown back and forth to California, which let me tell you - is ridiculously uncomfortable while pregnant. The swelling is outrageous, as well as the dehydration factor. I still can't pull my rings off.

What's going on with the pregnancy? Emma is now kicking much higher than before, once kicking my belly button. Her arms/legs come out from all sides of the belly. I had an appointment this morning, my 20 week appointment, even though I'm 21 weeks just because of the trip we had to push it back. Shortest appointment ever, really. Measured my uterus - I'm measuring about 20 weeks right now, I'm not surprised they change their minds every time I go in. Found Emma's heart beat, racing around 150bpm. Blood pressure was alright, 119/74, weight was good, with tennies and a sweater jacket on I was at 136lbs.

Signs and symptoms - not much going on. Still pretty acne ridden, which isn't cute. I think I felt a braxton hicks last night, on my right side. It was kind of weird, but not painful or anything. Then after the plane ride and everything fun like that, I was really really sore and I still am, my whole body hurts and aches. A little nauseous but I haven't gotten sick again since last Tuesday when I couldn't keep anything down, so that's a big plus!!

I'm pretty sure Emma is on a schedule. She kicks at the same times each morning and in the afternoon, does dances around lunch time, and loves sweets, because every time I eat anything with sugar in it she does flips and goes bonkers.

In other news, the baby shower was FABULOUS! I got some great little things for Emma, outfits, hair bows, blankies, bibbs, bottles, toys, slippers, along with some fabulous gift cards. We came home to some big boxes, a stroller/car seat combo, a rocking sleeper, and a boppy! Also in the mail, a doppler from a friend! I was hoping to have it before traveling home so my Mom could hear the heart beat but it came the day after we left. She sent it to me after I had some anxiety a few weeks ago when Emma stopped moving for several hours.

Current Weight (on my scale):134 Waist: 33inches

20 Weeks Pregnant

Does time fly, or does time fly?
I can't believe I'm half way there... in 20 weeks I'll be saying hello to my little baby girl.  Top that off with our 5 year anniversary just at the half way point in pregnancy, it's a very exciting day.

This week Danny and I participated in our first child birth class. It was really awesome, very informative, and I've already learned so much. I've been doing my squats and stretches in preparation for labor, and Danny is working on relaxation techniques. I think it'll help the both of us when the time comes. My Bradley Class instructor told me that soft tissue injuries hurt more than labor - so that broken ankle I had after prancing around in japan after a pedicure in flip flops in the rain she said probably was a worse pain to endure than labor itself. She had nearly the same thing happen, a bone in her foot broke, which she said was worse than labor. I think it's really the fear of labor that is probably worse for most people than the act of labor itself. You hear horror stories and are told you need the pain meds to help with the pain, we're such weenies now a days! This is what our body was made for, after all. I'm excited to experience it all. It's only a few hours of "pain" to endure for something so wonderful.

Let's see, other than that, Emma still moves, she responds to Danny's voice, and doesn't like it when my bladder is full. She'll kick it until I go to the restroom. She loves to dance and do somersaults in there especially first thing in the morning. She's kicked hard enough to wake me up in the middle of the night, but still Danny hasn't felt her movement yet.

I had a cold last week, which brought on the morning sickness again, that was fun. And working has been difficult, I can't eat much while I'm there and I get to this sick, hungry, dizzy point.... and if it's too busy or there aren't enough employees there I'm not allowed to take a break. (which is crap, makes me miss California law.) I've started keeping track of protein intake for Bradley class, we're recommended to eat 90g of protein each day, so far I've done really well maintaining about 100g of protein each day, give or take a few grams. I keep the protein bars and drinks handy if I'm missing some at the end of the day I'll eat or drink one of those before bed. I've noticed lately I'm not eating as much fruit as I was during the summer fruit season, so I started to use frozen fruits in smoothies.

I suppose that's about all for this week, until next time! xoxo

Weight: 131.0 (haven't kept anything down today though.. last night I was at 132.5.)

19 Weeks

The biggest thing this week: Movement.

Emma baby must be a gymnast in the making. It started with intense poking and some prodding feelings. Then one morning as I was laying in bed, belly exposed, she started kick/punching pretty hard, and all of a sudden a little arm or elbow poked out. It was SO WEIRD! It was alien like, to see something trying to poke my tummy!
Then today I was sitting in the waiting room at WIC (a program for lower income families, providing them with nutritional foods for the women, infants and children in the household. Things like milk, cheese, cereal, whole wheat breads, eggs, and fresh produce) and I could feel Emma squirming around like crazy. After a few continuous minutes of this romping around I lay my fingers across my tummy and she did some kind of somersault against my fingers! I could feel her whole little body roll against my fingers. It was AMAZING!

There is this realization coming over me, there's a little something growing in there and I'm making it!!!

A little bit of sickness hits every once in a while, especially if I'm working and don't have a chance to sit down to eat. Speaking of eating, I've discovered hostess cup cakes and I've fallen in love. I think I've had two boxes the past week and a half (Danny helps of course but I'm sure I eat the majority).

Emma responded to Danny this morning, he put his mouth on my belly and yelled "EMMA" and she kicked in the opposite direction, I think he scared her. He still hasn't been able to feel her from the outside yet though.

Next week's update will be a day early, as we are going out of town for my California baby shower. This shower will be super fun, I get to see all the friends and family that I miss so much! And they get to see my expanding belly.
Weight: 130.5lbs

18 (and a half) weeks

Myy bad. I thought about the blog on Wednesday, and then I didn't do it. And then Thursday ended up sick, and Friday I don't think we were doing anything but being lazy after work and today I'm still sneezy but had to do this.

So this week: Very well. Only had morning sickness once, though I came close a few times. My legs are feeling better after taking that calcium this week. I seem to have lost my appetite, could be because of the cold, but I've had to force small meals because I'm just not hungry at all. As a result, I've lost some weight, down to 126.5, but along with not eating as much I'm also doing more through the week. This week was particularly busy, with work and vet appointments and church obligations. Our house is a desaster as well, from having a cold to being busy, things have gotten a little out of hand and it's totally grossing me out. Since we don't have any obligations until 5pm this afternoon (Saturday) I'm hoping to get the laundry and some of the house cleaned up. ok that's off topic.

So Emma has been kicking up a storm the last few days, it's pretty cool. I'm really hoping she gets strong enough to kick so we can feel from the outside. It's pretty surreal and hard to really take in that this is happening, and soon. I'm already almost 1/2 way through the pregnancy!

Weight 126.5 Baby Girl Emma