January 13, 2009

  • Week 18


    How your baby's growing:

    Head to rump, your baby is about 5 1/2 inches long (about the length of a bell pepper) and he weighs almost 7 ounces. He's busy flexing his arms and legs — movements that you'll start noticing more and more in the weeks ahead. His blood vessels are visible through his thin skin, and his ears are now in their final position, although they're still standing out from his head a bit. A protective covering of myelin is beginning to form around his nerves, a process that will continue for a year after he's born. If you're having a girl, her uterus and fallopian tubes are formed and in place. If you're having a boy, his genitals are noticeable now, but he may hide them from you during an ultrasound.

    Wow, I can't believe how close to half way we are. Seems like just yesterday that we found out we were pregnant. The second trimester has been good to me. I really can't complain about the pregnancy in general (though I am sure I did during times I wasn't feeling great). Outside of the hernia issue, I haven't felt sick. Outside of not pooping, I haven't really even been uncomfortable (that was enough thank you). Of course, not even half way, there's still alot of changing and growing to go. I have had, what I would like to consider, typical headaches and backaches at this point. Nothing major. Sometimes moving around helps, other times not so much.

    I've noticed how quickly my body lets me know that I need water. Usually by rapidly swelling hands and sometimes feet as well. I don't have slender fingers, but I've never had chubby hands either... when I can look down and they look 2 inches shorter and that much wider, I know its time to hit the bottle (of water that is). Seems that my bowel issues have subsided for now. However, now there's a ton of gas in my belly. Not exactly lady like, lucky for me I am home alone all day. LOL.

    I have continued to lose weight (no, I am not trying to lose weight. no, my doctor doesn't feel there's any cause for concern). I think, to date I've lost about 16 pounds (comparing my last weight at the doctor to the weight yesterday on the Wii). I will have a more accurate number on Monday. We should also know if its a boy or a girl (though I will warn you... if its anything like Momma, it might be too modest to let us see).

    I continue to be frustrated with my clothing options. I have a pair of maternity pants that fit, but if I don't set them just so on my belly are a bit short. I have a pair of maternity pants that are long enough but much to big at this point. Outside of that, I have regular pants (worn before I got pregnant) that are even bigger now than they used to be. Not that I am complaining, it could be worse, I could be sewing a sheet to fit over my ass because I can't find anything else. LOL. Which, hey, could happen before its all over with. Haha, lets hope not though! Casie is sweet enough to bring her maternity pants to Mom for me to try on and see if they fit. I am a bit concerned about the size difference between the two of us, but it doesn't hurt anything to try them on. (I don't have alot of options for hand-me-down maternity clothes; too tall, too fat, boobs are too big.... whatever!)

    Believe it or not (it surprises me) I have found more comfort with my body and have a better body image currently than I have in a long time. Yes, I am still over weight. Sure, I'd still like to be skinny with a little pregnant belly showing. But I am depressed about my size. I don't feel bad about me, how I look or don't for that matter. I am less concerned with what number is on the scale than I have ever been in my entire life. I just want to eat what feels right to be eating and to not allow myself to feel negatively right now. I want this time to be a good and happy time, a time where everything feels good to me, including myself. I think I am there. Again, certainly more than I ever remember being. Maybe this outlook will stick! That would be fantastic!! I guess, to sum it up, I feel like I am right where I am suppose to be... and I am who I am suppose to be. There's great comfort in that.

    I've had crazy dreams which I chalk up to being pregnant... but there's no way to know that for sure. Last night I had two ridiculous dreams. The first one I was traveling alone and needed to make a potty stop. I went into a McDonalds and right off the bat slipped in some ketchup on the floor. I managed not to fall, but I wasn't pleased with the public display of clumsy. One of the workers followed me, making sure I wasn't hurt. I'm fine, go away. I get to the bathroom and into a stall and I see this amazon of a woman peeking over the stalls (she had to have been 7' tall). Then I see her mamoth son doing the same. The stop at mine and the kid starts interviewing me. Hello, I am sitting on the toilet trying to pee!!! Do you mind?! He reaches over the top of the stall and lets his little pip squeek friend in, who has a camera, to take my picture for the interview.  I proceed to threaten the little one with breaking his camera, and him, if he doesn't get out of my stall. He's shocked and appauled, I reassure him that I am very serious and to get out of my stall! They leave, the end.

    The second dream disturbs me and makes me laugh at the same time. Tancy fixes herself a bowl of cereal, only to find that we are without milk. I whip a boob out and fill'er up. I then realize that I need to be pumping and freezing this milk, I have 20+ weeks to go. I start talking to a few people about milk storage, etc. They all tell me there's no way I have breast milk in yet... I tell them the story and they are absolutely horrified. I start pumping anyway, in disbelief myself. That's how that ends.

    My sleep patterns have definitely changed, but I seem to manage enough sleep. Though there are days I feel like I could sleep all day! Oh, and I've had a "break out" recently. My face has been relatively clear thus far... but suddenly I am a pre-pubescent kid whose face looks like it could explode at any moment! Aren't you glad you have that mental image?!

    Alright kids. That's all I got on the pregnancy front. On to my regular daily blog now.