Week 27

How far along: 27 weeks – began September 11, 2017.

Size of Baby: Bunch of bananas (15 inches long, over 2 pounds)

Milestones: BB's brain is developing rapidly at this point, and it's beginning to send more signals to the rest of his body. He is now opening and shutting his eyes regularly, dreaming, and coughing. Regulating his own body temperature and controlling his lungs are a couple other skills he's working on at this time!

Best Moment This Week: Feeling BB flipping around and more defined body parts poking through has been very surreal. He seems to like to poke out his head (or bottom?) whenever I touch my belly, which is really cute and makes me wish I could just hold him in my arms. There were a couple days when he wasn't moving as much and I started getting worried, but I had to remind myself that he might be facing a direction that makes it harder to feel kicks or he's just resting. Thankfully, the last few days he's been more active than ever!

What I’m Looking Forward To: My 28 week ultrasound is this Wednesday! So excited to see how everything is looking and to get some more pictures. I can't believe I'm so far along that the 20 week ultrasound pictures are now outdated. I'll find out if my placenta has moved... so we'll see what happens! If it hasn't, based on some research I did, they'll probably do one more ultrasound around 32 weeks and then decide the course of action. I'm at peace with it going either way - I'm just grateful that they're aware of the situation and providing BB and me with the best care they can.

What I Miss The Most: Each day, it takes more and more effort to find comfortable positions to sit and rest in, but at least I'm still sleeping decently and don't have to do a lot of strenuous tasks.

Symptoms: The rib pain is still persistent. BB has selected my far right side as his lounge and loves kicking the area. I get really sore after sitting at work all day and have to recline in specific positions to take the pressure off the area at night. Most people I've talked to said they had bad side pain as well and one of the only things that helps is stretching. I'll mention it to my OB next week to see if she has any other ideas to keep it from getting worse. I've also been waking up pretty sweaty, which I read is usually due to hormone fluctuations.  

Cravings: Getting enough calcium has been a challenge for me throughout the entire pregnancy since my vitamin doesn't have much and I don't eat a lot of dairy because of my stomach. BB is taking a stand because I've been having intense cravings for cow's milk, so I've been drinking more than I have in a long time. Luckily, my acid reflux hasn't been too severe in reaction!

Week 26

How far along: 26 weeks – began September 11, 2017.

Size of Baby: Butternut squash (just over 14 inches long, about 2 pounds)

Milestones: BB is busy gearing up for birth, from borrowing some of my antibodies so that his immune system is best suited to my environment to packing on more fat to regulate his body temperature. His eyes, which have been sealed for months now, are starting to open and he's becoming responsive to light. At this point, most of his development simply involves putting on height and weight.

Best Moment This Week: Spending time with Leif feeling BB kick has been a favorite activity of mine for some time, but lately, we've been able to do it more since he moves around a lot more. He's still pretty shy at first when Leif touches my belly, but if we wait long enough, he comes around. It's also really sweet when Leif talks to him about all of the fun things they'll do together in the future.

What I’m Looking Forward To: Still looking forward to my shower, even though we had another hiccup. Toys"R"Us/Babies"R"Us announced that they're closing most if not all of their stores, and even though I've read claims that this won't affect online baby registries, I created a backup one at Target that I'm directing people to. Also, we have another baby class this weekend - this one's for breastfeeding. The last one we took was Baby Basics, which was very helpful. It covered bathing, changing, burping, comforting holds, safe sleep, and even baby massages. The best things were getting hands-on practice and receiving a ton of informative hand-outs which I'm putting in an easy-to-reference binder. I adjusted my registry after learning about the different products and items they use at the hospital, and feel a lot better about my selections now. I know breastfeeding is usually challenging to get the hang of, so I'm grateful to be attending a class to get a head start. We'll see how it goes!

What I Miss The Most: I can't say that there's anything new that I really miss this week, I feel like everything's going pretty smoothly for the most part. Occasionally, I have to miss out on certain foods and activities due to my restrictions, but it's nothing bothersome or different than usual.

Symptoms: A new one recently has been rib pain. It seems like BB prefers to rest against my right side, so it's made the area very tender at times. It helps to make sure I'm sitting up straight and avoiding leaning on my left arm which strains it. My belly muscles in general have been pretty sensitive and sore at times, and I've had an intense sinus headache off and on. I've also been getting a little more emotional from time to time. Nothing that's unbearable though!

Cravings: You guessed it - Cheese-Its have still been my go-to snack. Blueberry yogurt, apples, figs, meat and veggies, twice-baked potatoes, peanut butter cookies, and sweet potatoes have also been on the menu a lot this week. We also picked up a banana caramel pie from Aldi, so looking forward to having that tonight!

Week 25

How far along: 25 weeks – began September 11, 2017.

Size of Baby: Napa cabbage (14 inches long, 2 pounds)

Milestones: BB's lungs continue to develop and his nostrils are starting to open. His hair is thickening (although, there's a chance he might be a bald baby like me!) and he's developing a sense of balance, which will help him rotate toward his birthing position eventually. Based on the way I feel him move, it seems like he still prefers lying sideways like he's in a hammock.

Best Moment This Week: Lately, I've been feeling different movements such as an individual limb shifting back and forth and what I believe to be flipping. There have even been a couple times when I swear he was spasming. I was a little worried at first, but saw online that a lot of people experience this sensation and it can anything from BB's developing nervous system causing him to twitch to a case of the hiccups... so it's totally normal.

What I’m Looking Forward To: I'm excited to send out all of my baby shower invitations this weekend. I meant to get them out earlier, but I changed venues at the last second and had to redo the invitations. You should be receiving yours soon! Originally, we booked the library since it's one of the only free locations in town, but it didn't end up having enough space to fit everyone. Thankfully, my friend told me about the Raygun Community Room and it's so much nicer and has pretty much everything we need. The seating and tables are eclectic and there's all of this great photography of local musicians hanging throughout the space. It's perfect, and I'm so grateful for everything my friends and family are doing to help make the day memorable.

What I Miss The Most: As time goes on, everyday tasks become more difficult. The other day, I lifted a relatively light bag of laundry and ended up pulling a muscle and hit the bottom of my belly on the table when I sat down for dinner. No harm was done, but it's challenging being so conscientious of my shape and limitations all the time!

Symptoms: Getting some aches and pains in my belly muscles and for a couple days, I was severely exhausted to the point where it felt like I wasn't even getting enough oxygen. I attribute this to the growing pressure on my lungs and BB taking all of my energy to grow. I checked my blood oxygen and that looked good, so even though I'm feeling winded, it's not as bad as it seems. Also, getting a little nausea from time to time, but that's also probably from BB starting to push on my stomach. Friday at work, everything started to smell overpoweringly perfumy and I thought that it was all in my head when one of my coworkers said she didn't detect anything. I began to chalk it up to sinus issues or a phantom smell, but I checked with another staff member downstairs and she said an individual was dosing herself in perfume near the lobby, so I was just picking up on it from second floor. My nose hasn't been very powerful since first trimester, so I was surprised the super sense of smell came back so strong! At least I wasn't imagining things.   

Cravings: White Cheddar Cheese-Its have been my go-to, but I've also been eating figs, apples, bananas, and a variety of desserts. One of my favorite sweet treats this week was coconut cream pie! Still working on eating lots of healthy protein and fat to help fuel BB's brain development!

Week 24

How far along: 24 weeks – began September 11, 2017.

Size of Baby: Eggplant (13 inches long, 1 1/2 pounds) 😮

Milestones: BB's lungs are starting to produce the substance that makes them inflate when he has to breathe on his own, and his taste buds are developing, which means he'll soon be able to taste the stronger flavors of the foods I eat through the amniotic fluid. These first exposures to flavors can contribute to his food preferences, so trying to eat healthier foods is that much more important at this point... Each week, he puts on a little more fat and is starting to take regular baby-shape and the appearance of capillaries is giving his skin a pink glow. 

Best Moment This Week: It was a big week for us! We had my 24 week appointment which went well, BB's heart rate was in the upper 140s-lower 150s and he was moving so much that my OB had to chase him around with the doppler monitor lol. I'm measuring exactly on target and at my next appointment, I'll finally have my glucose test and another ultrasound to see if my placenta has moved. My OB said she's pretty confident it will move by 28 weeks, so we'll see what happens! Leif and I also began our long line of prenatal classes/visits yesterday. We began with a tour of the St. Luke's Birth Center. I was impressed with all of their offerings and feel like BB and I will be in good hands there. The nurse who gave us the tour was very thorough and walked us through every step of what to expect when the big day comes. They have a well-equipped NICU and the rooms are homey. Next Saturday, we'll be taking the Baby Basics class, so I'll let you know how that goes!

What I’m Looking Forward To: Can't wait until my 28 week ultrasound to see how BB is coming along. Based on other photos/videos I've seen from around that time, he'll look somewhat close to how he will when he's born. At the Birthing Center's NICU, they have a "wall of fame" featuring photos of premature babies side-by-side with how they look years later to help comfort parents in that situation. The youngest baby was about 25 weeks and was pictured cuddling with a Beanie Baby that was a little bigger than him. I can't believe that BB could already survive on the outside!  

What I Miss The Most: As my bump continues to grow, it's getting more challenging to pick things up off the ground and get out of the car and bed. I just have to take it slow and it's fine, but it's easy to forget my limitations and feel like an upside-down turtle. There have been a few instances where Leif's had to help me up when I crouched down to get something at the store, and I know it will only get worse!

Symptoms: The kicks continue to intensify! If I look at my belly when they're happening, I can usually see ripples and sometimes shifting. BB is still on a pretty set pattern of activity, so that makes it easy to detect is anything is off with him. I was told I can begin counting kicks since I feel them so well, so basically once or twice a day when he's active, I'm supposed to count how long it takes for him to kick ten times, and if it takes more than two hours, it could be a red flag. Otherwise, I've had a couple bouts of nausea, but it seems to have been related to getting overheated, so my OB once again advised to to drink more water. Still pretty tired every other day and have some back pain from time to time, but nothing too bad.

Cravings: Working on cutting down on my sugar intake a little with the glucose test coming up... easier said than done though. Multiple people have told me that they failed the initial glucose test because they ate something sugary and had to go through the three hour test and ended up passing because they were more careful about what they ate prior. I've been eating a bunch of Cheese-Its, figs, and nuts for snacks and same-old chicken and vegetables for most meals. Still love gyros and burgers when we're able to get them!

Week 23

How far along: 23 weeks – began September 11, 2017.

Size of Baby: Bunch of grapes (Little over a foot tall, 1 1/4 pounds)

Milestones: BB's lungs are developing and he continues to put on fat (can't wait to see those little chubby cheeks!). He is very aware of my movements now and is getting used to outside sounds.

Best Moment This Week: I had a very busy week, but was happy to make it though everything in one piece! We held a fundraising luncheon at work on Thursday and I had to be on my feet a lot, but I can say it went a lot better than Waypoint Wonderland. The only downfall was that I got pretty dehydrated since there weren't refills on the beverages, so my kidneys were a little tender the next day. On the other hand, the dessert served was a pineapple upside-down cake, so at least I got to enjoy that! I got a lot of comments on my belly from coworkers at the event - most of them were astonished to see how much I've popped. The dress I was wearing accentuated my roundness and I had just eaten, so BB was definitely sticking out a lot more!

What I’m Looking Forward To: Tomorrow is my 24 week appointment, so I'll get to hear little BB's heartbeat again. I'll also get measurements taken, but otherwise, it sounds like it will be a quick visit this time. At my last GP appointment on Feb. 14th, I saw that I've gained about eight pounds, so it will be interesting to see how much has changed after another two weeks.  

What I Miss The Most: It's been getting harder to hug Leif properly with BB between us, but at the same time, it makes for a sweet little family hug. I can't say there's much I miss at this point since I've pretty well used to all of the lifestyle changes I've had to make.

Symptoms: BB is still kicking away, some days more than others, but I've noticed him traveling around my belly way more than usual. I've also had some intense round ligament pain and side stitches, but at least they away when I rest. My nose is still giving me trouble, especially at night, but my doctor said that chronic congestion is common during pregnancy. I also noticed that my belly button is shrinking! I've always been a deep innie, so at this point it's quite shallow and I'm curious if it will eventually go outie.

Cravings: Sugar, sugar, sugar! Doing my best to limit my intake, but still eating an average of 1-2 desserts a day. I was having some salivary gland pain, which I get from time to time, and my doctor recommended sucking on lemon drops to clear up any saliva that's backed up. Little did I know how much I love lemon drops until I found myself downing way more than I needed for medical reasons lol. Been enjoying teriyaki chicken, burgers, cookies of course, and hummus with pita bread, but pretty much anything goes down smooth nowadays!

Week 22

How far along:  22 weeks – began September 11, 2017.

Size of Baby: Corn on the cob (12 inches, one pound)

Milestones: Little BB is not so little anymore, he just hit a foot in length and weighs a whole pound! I remember when he was just the size of a blueberry. All of that growing contributes to him sleeping 12-16 hours a day. BB's inner ear is developing, and his sense of hearing continues to improve each day. I read that due to his ability to hear better, he may start reacting to sound stimuli more than he used to. I had a sneaking suspicion that this was the case because whenever Leif and I play video games, I think he goes crazy from the music!

Best Moment This Week: Leif and I have made more progress planning for the future and will be able to take care of a lot of our medical bills with our tax refund, so that's a relief! We've also been doing a lot better about cutting frivolous purchases and finding ways to lower ours bills, so the baby fund is coming along slowly but surely! 

What I’m Looking Forward To: Along with financial planning, we also have a lot of organization to do as well! I'm looking forward to changing up the layout of our room a little to fit the baby essentials. We already have a couple decorations, but will probably keep it pretty simple for now. I'm planning on creating a little diagram of the room layout changes and will have Leif help me with moving things. We also need to make space for baby bottles and utensils in our kitchen. 

What I Miss The Most: I've been waking up a lot more throughout the night and find it hard to fall back asleep sometimes, but luckily I was able to catch up on some sleep this weekend. Unfortunately, I had an incident last week where I was so tired at work that I made some errors on a grant I was working on. Thankfully, my supervisor is very understanding, but I still feel bad that I dropped the ball.

Symptoms: Boy, has BB been kicking hard! His kicking episodes are still on about the same schedule, but I've noticed him starting to become especially active in the evening. Some of his kicks are even making my belly sort of tender and I can see it ripple sometimes. And... he seems to have a liking for bouncing on my bladder.

Cravings: Still eating a fair amount of peanut butter cookies, but I'm also back on peanut butter crackers. My coworker made a cheesecake with BB and me in mind and he definitely approved with a cluster of jabs!

Week 21

How far along:  21 weeks – began September 11, 2017.

Size of Baby: Carrot (10.5 inches, 3/4 of a pound)

Milestones: I had to double-check the length of BB because it seemed like he grew multiple inches over the last week! It's true that his length did significantly increase from last week, but that's because after 20 weeks, the baby is measured from finger to toe as opposed to head to rump. His skin is still transparent and wrinkly with room for expansion once he starts putting on fat. Putting on fat is really important at this stage because it helps fuel brain development and regulate his body temperature. So that means I should put special emphasis on increasing my fatty snacks and desserts intake, right? Just kidding. 

Best Moment This Week: One morning this week, BB was super active when I first woke up, it seriously felt like he was having a dance party in there. It's so sweet to experience his movements first thing in the morning, and I've noticed that sometimes BB responds to my touch. If I put pressure on one side of my belly, he'll give it a little tap - he's so clever already! The first time it happened, my hand was just resting on my belly, so I consider that our first high-five lol. 😛

What I’m Looking Forward To: Plans are coming along for my baby shower! I have some amazing friends who are putting one together for me the second Sunday in April (more details to come). It's going to have a forest/animal kingdom theme and there will be a few games/activities. A bunch of people have offered us some baby items in good condition, so we're grateful that we won't have to put a lot of things on our baby registry and can hopefully focus on asking for gift cards and donations to the baby fund.

What I Miss The Most: I'm pretty hungry every couple hours, but can only eat somewhat small meals because of the pressure on my stomach. It can be distracting having to eat so often! Also, even though I'm normally a fairly cautious person, I feel like I've had to slow down even more to make sure I don't slip on the ice, bump my belly, or get sick from touching my face or not washing my hands enough. I feel like my belly has become a magnet for disaster! I've only really bumped it once or twice on a door handle, but a couple times, some boiling water splashed onto it when I was straining food, so I just continue to learn from these mishaps.   

Symptoms: My belly continues to grow and grow! Still pretty thirsty all of the time, so I'm trying to keep pace to avoid dehydration. Still feeling little (and sometimes really big) movements throughout the day and getting a little stomach and back pain from time to time. I've also had a few days of extreme fatigue, but I read that BB will experience a major growth spurt during these next few weeks, so it will likely take a lot out of me. Otherwise, everything's been going well!

Cravings: Peanut butter cookies are still at the top of my list! I'm picking up a pie tonight for a friend's birthday, so I'm pretty excited about that too lol. Still eating a lot of the same old healthy staples like oatmeal, bananas, apples, almonds, pea milk, and veggies, so it doesn't make me feel so bad indulging my cravings for sweets!

Week 20 and Ultrasound Results

How far along:  20 weeks – began September 11, 2017.

Size of Baby: Banana (6.5 inches, 10.5 ounces)

Milestones: BB's movement is really picking up, I can say that I feel at least a few movements almost every hour, especially if I'm sitting with my legs crossed for whatever reason. His skin, brain, and other organs continue to develop a little bit at a time. At this point BB can experience REM sleep, so he may be having dreams already! 

Best Moment This Week: The ultrasound was so wonderful! Leif and I were practically speechless the entire time since it was a lot to process. When little BB first appeared on their screen, he was gulping, but it looked like he was saying "hello" to us! He had his fists up by his face most of the time and wouldn't stop wiggling around, making it hard for them to get pictures at times! Everything checked out great and BB is developing as he should. The only issue is that my placenta is a little low - it's supposed to be 2 cm above my cervix, but it's only 1.6 cm. It's not too far off and might move up as my uterus continues to grow, but just in case, my doctor is monitoring me a little more closely. I'll have to have an additional ultrasound at 28 weeks to see how things are progressing, and based on a little research I did, it looks like I may be required to have a c-section if it the placenta ultimately isn't high enough. We'll see what happens! I'm just grateful and feeling blessed that everything else looked good. We weren't overly surprised that it was a boy - Leif and I both had very specific dreams that it was. I'm really looking forward to raising a little boy and Leif reminded me that I always used say "I'd love to have a little Leif around!" 

What I’m Looking Forward To: Now that we know it's a boy, we've been really trying to hammer out some names and thinking about what it will be like to raise a son. I'm looking forward to everything we'll learn throughout this process and the different skills and interests we and the rest of our family and friends can share with sweet little BB. Knowing what his face looks like makes me so much more excited to snuggle him and hold him in my arms. From this point on, he'll start putting on fat and will start looking cuter and cuter every day!

What I Miss The Most: Even though it's not that pronounced yet, my movements are starting to get more restricted, and I've already developed a little bit of a pregnancy waddle when I walk. Luckily, all of this has been gradual, so I'm adapting as best as I can. I find that getting in and out of the car takes a little longer and I have to be careful turning over in bed. Essentially, I'm just slower now, but I only have approximately 19 more weeks to go! 

Symptoms: I've noticed that my belly bump is becoming more defined and a lot of my regular shirts ride up or hang off me, so I pretty much exclusively wear maternity tops in public at this point. Otherwise, there aren't many new symptoms this week. I've been experiencing a somewhat chronically stuffy nose, but I'm not sure if that's the pregnancy, the weather, or both. 

Cravings: Still loving my sweets, especially peanut butter cookies! We've also been making a lot of turkey tacos with lots of guacamole, which have been delicious. Despite my best efforts to drink plenty of water every day, my OB said I should be drinking more. I normally get 8-10 cups a day, but she said it should be more like 10-12. I had been having some cramping and she thought it could've been from dehydration. So not exactly a craving but still something I'm going to be consuming a lot of!

And now for some ultrasound pictures and a couple videos!

Week 19

How far along:  19 weeks – began September 11, 2017.

Size of Baby: Zesty zucchini (6 inches, 8.5 ounces)

Milestones: BB's development is moving right along! His or her legs are almost proportionate to his or her body and BB is starting become covered in a waxy coating called vernix caseosa, which keeps his or her skin moist and will assist him or her with gliding down the birth canal when the time comes. 😲 BB's lips are developed and he or she is sprouting little hairs on his or her head! By the time I write my next blog post, I won't have to use "he/she, him/her, or hers/his" anymore... that is, unless he or she is being modest during the ultrasound and they can't tell the sex!

Best Moment This Week: Harder, more pronounced kicks that are all over my belly, and knowing I only have a little while longer to go until the big ultrasound! It's kind of nerve-wracking, but hopefully everything looks good. I can tell Leif is getting excited too since he has been rubbing my belly and talking to BB a lot more, so it will be great to have a better visual of what's going on inside my bump. My coworker said that it's pretty normal nowadays for the OB to use 3D ultrasound technology, so we may be able to see a really detailed image if that's the case. 

What I’m Looking Forward To: You guessed it... the ultrasound! Also looking forward to feeling movements more regularly. Right now, BB has a pretty consistent schedule of kicking for little periods of time in the morning when I get to work, around lunchtime, the later afternoon, and before going to bed.

What I Miss The Most: Food safety has become a little bit of a stressor again. Last Friday, I ordered a "super" mango turmeric smoothie with a bunch of healthy additives from a coffee shop. It was tasty and I didn't think much of it until I got home... then I started wondering if large doses of turmeric are okay since some spices are dangerous, and it turned out that turmeric is a big no-no because it can cause uterine contractions and bleeding. I freaked out since I had a fairly potent dose and there was pepper in the smoothie too which apparently boosts its bioavailabilty by 2000%. I called my OB and she said it would be fine, but to not do it again since that much turmeric is equivalent to taking a supplement which is highly discouraged. I'm used to eating quirky foods, but I think I need to keep my diet as mainstream as I can so I don't keep putting myself through this! 

Symptoms: This week's new weird symptom is back pain. I don't have a very good back and the pregnancy is putting a lot of strain on it. I keep getting a stabbing pain right in the middle of my spine at the bend and sometimes it radiates off to the side. My doctor said it sounds muscular and should resolve itself soon. It's been getting a little better every day, but I doubt this will be the last of it. However, it has caused me to reevaluate my posture, shoes, sleeping position, and anything else that might be contributing to the pain. These changes seem to help helping.

Cravings: Sweets! Last night, all I wanted was an apple pie, which is funny because I don't normally like it that much. We splurged a little and got one from the New Pioneer Co-op and it was AMAZING. I'm looking forward to enjoying the rest of it tonight. Been eating more baked goods, but trying to do so in moderation. I usually strive to balance out the junk food with veggies and protein, but some days that's easier than others. As always, just doing my best!

Week 18

How far along:  18 weeks – began September 11, 2017.

Size of Baby: Sweet potato (5.5 inches, 7 ounces)

Milestones: Baby Bear's nervous system and facial features are developing and he or she is starting to kick up a storm! Throughout the day, I experience flurries of movements, some of which I manage to catch with my hand! With the nervous system developing, it's key to get enough healthy fats to help the process along. Luckily, my oatmeal and other foods I eat are fortified with omegas and my multivitamin has algae-sourced DHA, so I don't really have to think about adding extra foods to my diet.

Best Moment This Week: Again, the increased movement has been magical! Little Baby Bear is actually fluttering along right now as I type, maybe he or she knows I'm thinking about him or her! It's been pretty interesting feeling the kicks rotate around my lower abdomen. A lot of the time, the movement is in the center or off to the left, but once in a while, I'll feel a jab on the right. The other day before work, Leif said "Hope Baby Bear gets lots of exercise today!" At this rate, it seems like he or she will come out an Olympic swimmer lol. I also signed up for most of my prenatal classes, including ones about birth, breastfeeding, baby basics, and a tour of St.Luke's Labor and Delivery Center. These will be in March and April. There are some others like car seat safety, CPR, and "happiest baby" that I plan on taking too.

What I’m Looking Forward To: The countdown continues until the big ultrasound! Only 12 more days to go! The other night I had a vivid dream that I was having a boy... but I guess we'll see. ☺ Also looking forward to feeling more kicks. Leif was able to catch a couple movements last weekend, so that was really exciting too.

What I Miss The Most: I feel like every week a new quirky symptom pops up for me, so that wears on me a little bit. This week, my left ear kept popping and it would turn into this obnoxious whooshing sound, almost like I'm breathing through my ear and all other sounds are amplified. It had happened once or twice before over the last few months, but never to the extent it did throughout this week. It gets better after laying down or putting my head between my knees, but that's not useful while at work. After a little research, it sounds like Patulous Eustachian Tube which pregnancy is a risk factor for. It's been better today, and it doesn't sound like doctors can do too much for it anyway, so I plan on just mentioning it at my next appointment if it doesn't get a lot worse.

Symptoms: My stomach has been in much better shape this week, so I'm grateful for that and hope it lasts for a while. Dry skin, especially on my hands, has become more pronounced, but I think that's mostly due to washing my hands more excessively to avoid getting sick. Work got pretty stressful this week, and I was feeling panicky for a while one evening, but luckily I was able to bounce back by the next day. Besides the ear trouble, I haven't really had many other symptoms, so it's been a relatively quiet week.

Cravings: I just had the tastiest bean, ham, and turkey soup at Greyhound Deli... it had a little kick to it, but I think it was worth it. I keep wanting cheesecake, but that's one of those cravings I'll probably want to deal with in moderation haha. Still eating cheesy popcorn and making sure I incorporate healthy snacks like almonds, apples, bananas, and yogurt.

Week 17 & Gender Prediction

How far along:  17 weeks – began September 11, 2017.

Size of Baby: Tangy pomegranate (5 inches)

Milestones: Baby Bear's coordination continues to progress and he or she can yawn, swallow, and even suck his or her thumb! It's the cutest vision picturing little BB yawning. 😍 The umbilical chord is getting stronger and better at delivering nutrients to BB, so I've been working harder on eating foods with a nutritional punch (... well, aside from the family-size bag of chips I ate in two days this week...). BB's bones are hardening and his or her sense of sight, smell, sound, and touch are coming along.

Best Moment This Week: Usually when there's movement, I try to feel it from the outside, but BB tends to get stage fright when I put my hand on my belly... it's a little game we've been playing. However, earlier this week, I managed to catch one little flicking feeling, so I think I officially felt the first kick with my hand! Leif has a habit of resting his hand on my belly for a minute or two, hoping he will feel something himself, but I know it will probably be a few weeks before it's consistent enough for that. 

What I’m Looking Forward To: Only 18 days until I get to see BB again at the ultrasound! Leif didn't attend the eight week ultrasound, so I'm really looking forward to experiencing this one together. I've watched a few Youtube videos of 20 week ultrasounds, and it's amazing how fully developed the baby looks.

What I Miss The Most: Leif and I have been spending a lot of time evaluating our budget, finding ways to save money, and all kinds of overall planning. It's been a bit of a stressor for both of us, but I keep telling myself that all parents find a way to make it work. The biggest thing has been doing our best to support one another as we make this major transition together.

Symptoms: Still having some stomach pain and acid reflux, but as usual, I'm doing most everything I can to reduce my symptoms. My coworker gave me a giant tub full of her old maternity clothes, and I'm so grateful to be more comfortable and wear clothes more tailored to my growing belly. The pants are amazing - not only are they stretchy, but they have nylon-like waist bands that are buttery soft. I don't think I'll ever want to go back to wearing regular pants, even after BB is born lol. With the way my stomach is growing and jeans are cut, I don't think I'll be able to use the Bellaband after all, so I retired all of my old pants for now.

Cravings: Still drinking a lot of water and pushing myself to consume more foods and beverages with calcium. I don't eat much dairy since it can be hard on my stomach, so that means drinking chickpea milk, almond milk, a little yogurt, and certain types of cheese when I can. As I mentioned earlier, I've been eating chips (specifically Harvest Cheddar Sun Chips), sesame chicken, apples, bananas, and fruity Tootsie Rolls.

With the 20 week ultrasound coming up, I thought it would be fun to test out some "old wives' tale" gender predictors before I find out for real!

1. Heart rate: Over 140 means you’re having a girl and below 140 means a boy!

Prediction Outcome: GIRL

2. Acne: More acne indicates a girl, less acne means a little boy.

Prediction Outcome: GIRL

3. Weight Gain: Mostly gaining around the belly means a boy, and gaining all over indicates a girl.

Prediction Outcome: BOY

4. Chinese Gender Chart: Compares your age of conception with month you conceived in.

Prediction Outcome: BOY

5. Morning Sickness: A smooth pregnancy indicates a boy, while more nausea and sickness means a girl.

Prediction Outcome: GIRL

6. Pregnancy Glow: A bright complexion with beautiful hair indicates a boy, a normal or dull complexion means a girl.

Prediction Outcome: GIRL 

7. Cravings: Salty cravings means a boy, and more sweet cravings means a girl.

Prediction Outcome: GIRL

8. Mama’s Intuition: 70% of the time, the mom-to-be knows what she’s having.

Prediction Outcome: GIRL?

9. Hands: Soft and warm mean a girl, dry and cold indicate a boy.

Prediction Outcome: BOY

10. Foot Growth: If your feet stay the same size, it's a girl, if they're swollen, it's a boy.

Prediction Outcome: GIRL

FINAL RESULTS – – – – – – – –  BOY: 3 / GIRL: 7