How far along? 24 weeks – 6 months!

Total Weight Gain: Somewhere in the 17-22 lb range! I am not keeping track as closely as I was. I am enjoying not worrying about it and focusing on being healthy and active.  J

Stretch Marks: None

Belly button: Still innie, but its starting to push out and I can see the BACK of it now – strange!

Movement: She is most active in the evenings and the mornings. The other day we were with my parents and she was facing inwards, kicking all around, but kicking my insides! It was very uncomfortable, but cool to be able to tell which way she is facing now! I was even able to manipulate her a bit to turn to the side so my mom could feel a kick. We are also able to see my belly move whenever she does, so that’s been fun!

Feeling: Feeling great! I’m starting to move a bit slower, mostly sitting down and standing and stuff like that. I have also been feeling a little achy in my abdomen, from my uterus stretching. Weird. And I feel HUGE! And the belly is only going to get bigger so I am curious as to how I’ll look and feel over the next 3 months!

Cravings: I’ve really been wanting applesauce lately but I don’t think it’s a pregnancy craving. OH, but all of a sudden I LOVE mustard! I have always hated mustard – the taste of it just turned me off. But I had a bite of Donovan’s turkey burger recently, with mustard on it of course, and it was so good I kind of started craving it. Now all I want is sandwiches with lots of mustard! It’s the craziest thing. Donovan is thrilled because he’s always loved mustard and couldn’t get why I was so repulsed by it!

Symptoms: I don’t know if its technically indigestion or not but that sick feeling I had a couple weeks back seems to be pregnancy related, and I felt it again earlier this week (but luckily only for half the day). Its just like I was so full that any amount of food made me feel nauseous. Also, food always feels like its right at the base of my throat. All. The. Time. That’s kind of annoying.

Missing: Summer! We had some odd, sunny, 60some degree days and now we are craving summer fever!

Looking Forward to: Baby shower here, our trip to El Paso and the shower there, and our trip to Bahrain!

Sleep: Its been an adventure finding what’s comfortable! I am a stomach sleeper so for a while a pillow shoved under me was working well. Then I switched to the pregnancy pillow, which was working fine but I wanted to sleep more on my stomach so I tried a pillow again, this time fluffier, and that’s doing the trick! A nice, fat, fluffy pillow wedged under me so I’m on my stomach but angled. I’m going to ride that as long as I can!

Exercise: I’ve been feeling energetic and strong in the gym, but definitely am slowing down! I am still lifting – I haven’t had to drop any more weight since the last time I dropped weight, but we will see how long that lasts. There are some exercises I used to love but can no longer do because they focus on my core too much or involve me leaning on my stomach. Donovan and I continue to do our workouts together and he is just the best workout partner ever! We are still able to push each other and he is very protective and watchful over me – my form and stance and definitely my belly and how I’m feeling. I love that we can workout together and he continues to adapt to my changing abilities without letting it affect the quality of his workout. Love him so much!!!

Eating: 6 meals a day, lots of veggies and protein and healthy carbs!

Thoughts this week: I have been feeling like from here out, everything’s going to go really fast…We have the showers coming up soon, then Bahrain, my sister’s graduation the end of May, and then she will be here! Ah craziness.

How far along? 22 weeks !

Total Weight Gain: I have been feeling frustrated lately with watching my weight change so drastically, so I decided to stop focusing on it! I am on the HIGH end of weight gain thus far and it started messing with my mind. In reality, I was very small to start – I was also watching everything I put in my mouth and throwing myself into my workouts. When I got pregnant, I decided that this was going to be my time to enjoy foods I don’t normally let myself enjoy as often. Most of our meals have been clean and healthy (still veggies and lean protein with every meal), but I am indulging more frequently and not worrying so much about portion sizes. I think this change in eating habits has influenced close to half of my pregnancy weight gain so far, and I have decided that I am ok with that. I am still working out and eating healthy, so I am just going to enjoy this pregnancy, enjoy food, and when the baby comes I know my mindset is going to go back to clean eating and heavy lifting all the time so I might as well enjoy this time while its here. And my husband is enjoying it right along with me.  :) 

Stretch Marks: None

Belly button: Still innie, but its starting to push out and I can see the BACK of it now – strange!

Showing: Yes, and I am getting the belly touching now. I am one of those people that doesn't mind though.  :)

Movement: Oh my gosh, all the time. I feel like she never sleeps! We had our 20 weekish sonogram this past week and I was surprised to see her wiggling all around, and I couldn’t feel it! Here I was thinking I felt EVERYthing. I really can only feel with she kicks or punches or rolls (which seems to be all. The. Time.). But she was wiggling and moving a lot. The sonographer said she was “a wiggler”! I don’t mind that, because thanks to her wiggling, we get to go back for another sonogram because they couldn’t get a clear picture of her heart – 20 weeks is typically the last sonogram they do so I don’t mind this at all.  :)

Feeling: The last few days I have felt really sick. At first I thought it was a bug, because I felt so nauseous and had no appetite. Once I would start to feel better, I would eat, and then immediately feel sick again. I soon realized that I don’t have a bug – this is actually pregnancy related. I don’t feel sick in any other way, I just don’t really have an appetite at all and I feel nauseous when I eat. However when I just have a few bites, I feel ok (and get full very quickly). I think what’s happening is that since all my organs are being compacted and my digestion is slowing down, my stomach just can’t take a normal portion of food right now? I am thinking that I just need to graze all day – a few bites of food here and there. Tried this yesterday and I felt mostly normal. However after dinner, of which I ate more than a few bites but about half of what my normal portion would be, I did feel a little sick, but not as bad as I had been feeling. Its odd because if you compare this week’s photo with last week’s, my actual stomach looks bloated and full – but in reality, this was in the evening after 2 days of eating nothing but a few bites. Of course this lack of food has affected my strength and energy in the gym, but I’m just going to roll with it. Hopefully my appetite will return soon! Pregnancy really is strange!

Cravings: All cravings are gone this week! I don’t know if its because of this nauseous thing or just natural but I literally want NOTHING. Ha.

Symptoms: Damn nausea!

Missing: Some of my tops and dresses that no longer fit!

Looking Forward to: Our baby showers we are planning in March!  

Sleep: Can’t complain in this area – feeling great! Holding on to it while it lasts!

Exercise: Still lifting light weight with incorporating cardio as well, but energy took a plummet at the end of this week due to the weird food thing. We went to the gym twice over the weekend but my workouts were…lame to say the least. Haha. I am definitely not pushing myself past what I feel comfortable, so we shall see how this plays out!

Eating: Barely

Thoughts this week: Everyone’s pregnancy is different! I try so hard to read about what to expect at every stage and I haven’t been accurate yet – and I’m talking about since the time we started trying and I was trying to figure out what symptoms to look out for before a pregnancy test would come up positive! From weight gain week to week, sleep patterns, symptoms, where you feel your uterus…I might as well just stop reading!

 Our baby girl!!!!  <3

Baby's first rattle! My best friend, Rachel, brought this home for her from a trip to Burkina Faso, a country in Africa. Love it!

Getting' in some Insanity - with many modifications! First time trying it pregnant.

How far along? 21 weeks !

Total Weight Gain: Somewhere between 15 and 17 lbs. Im trying not to think about it (slash OBSESS over it) too much.  ;)

Stretch Marks: None

Showing: Definitely! 2 people at work that didn’t know asked. Fun!

Movement: I am starting to notice sleep and wake patterns – so interesting! She’s most active at the gym and in the evening. I guess all the moving around during the day and the kids voices sooth her. Ha.

Feeling: Good and energetic, but starting to feel big! Most of my clothes, minus pants, have fit up until now but I am starting to feel like I’m growing out of them.

Cravings: So my craving completely switched gears this week – from clementines and watermelon to CEREAL! Can’t figure out what my body is trying to get out of cereal but Im definitely noshing down on some Honey Nut Os.

Symptoms: Just a growing belly!

Missing: Skiing! This is such a good winter for skiing – I sooo wish I could go. I could technically go and just do the small slopes but it would be a waste of money in reality and not much fun. Booo.

Looking Forward to: Completing the nursery! Donovan put the crib together this weekend – it becomes more and more real which each week!

Sleep: I’ve actually been sleeping better this week. I got a pregnancy pillow from my aunt Christy…aunt? Step-Step aunt technically but she feels more like a cousin! Haha…anyway, I haven’t had to use it yet because I’ve been pretty comfy on my stomach with a pillow wedged under one side of me. It gives enough cushion and room for my belly so I’ll take that while I can!

Exercise: We are going 3-5 times a week and still lifting. I’m going to be incorporating some more cardio with a friend a couple times a week at work – T25, I’ve been missing me some Shaun T! I am looking forward to that. I’ve been feeling frustrated lately at my inability to lift heavier and I haven’t been breaking much of a sweat during my lifting workouts. :(

Eating: I am not as hungry as I was – she must have been going through a growth spurt. I’m eating at my regular meal times and enjoying many bowls of cereal daily…  :p

Thoughts this week: Her closet is full, toys are already scattered around, and the crib is built! Woohoo for 2^nd trimester progress! I am already in nesting mode. We also got a futon for the basement – we are trying to make it a great space to hang out before she comes. We’ve got the man cave thing going on with a play area in the back. He’s happy to share.  :)
 My students are so excited about the baby. I think they FINALLY get that she isn’t coming until summer – for a while there they would ask me on Mondays if the baby came over the weekend! Funny moment – a child was rubbing my belly, felt my belly ring, and gasped, “I can feel its head! Its HEAD!!!!” Hahaha, that made me literally LOL.

A book given to a friend and recommended by another friend! Apparently its good to we are beginning our reading.

New futon! The basement is coming together.

My husband started his grad classes again this week.  :( That means class on Wednesdays and Thursdays (he's home by 7:30 so not that bad) and lots of homework and studying!

Have to widen my stance to make room for baby belly! Lifting tip: Your joints start to soften during pregnancy, so keep your depth at 90 degrees, not lower.

14 weeks vs. 21 weeks! The first picture was when I first noticed a bump. Hehe.

A note from a student this week - how poetic!  :)

"You're pregnant Mrs. B! A flower (I mean a girl) will bloom out your stomach!"

The crib is done!!! Soooo exciting! Donovan said he had the thought that this would be the first of many things he would build for his daughter.  :)

Mirror selfie before work.  :)