20 Weeks: Banana

Your baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. She's also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom, and about the length of a banana. A greasy white substance called vernix caseosa coats her entire body to protect her skin during its long submersion in amniotic fluid. Your baby is swallowing more, which is good practice for her digestive system. She's also producing meconium, a black, sticky substance that's the result of cell loss, digestive secretion, and swallowed amniotic fluid. This meconium will accumulate in her bowels, and you'll see it in her first messy diaper. (Babycenter.com)

I. am. HUNGRY.

That about sums up this week.

Poppy must be growing a lot this week. All I know is that I am hungry all the time. I can't go more than an hour or two without a little snack, and am eating as much (or more) as Jared at dinner. I am downing a tall glass of water every hour too. I have been trying to increase my milk supply this week too, since pregnancy basically kills it. I think that has a lot to do with the need for extra calories.

Poppy has been kicking like crazy now. I feel the babe moving around usually around lunchtime, dinnertime, and always at bedtime. Poppy also kicks back whenever Sophia bounces on, sits on, pokes, or squishes my belly. Ahhh, siblings already.

I am now down to three pairs of jeans and almost ready to move into my maternity pants. I have grown a lot over the past week, eliminating several options quickly.

I am still very comfortable, though I am starting to loose my breath quicker now.

My desire for sweets is quickly beginning to wane. When I do indulge in a sweet treat, I usually pay for it with an upset stomach and immediate regret. Salty foods and proteins are replacing my cravings to sugar. I have been flying through eggs like you wouldn't believe. Milk is another hot item in my fridge (pun intended). Meat of almost any kind sounds incredible. Potatoes sound heavenly... I could go on for awhile.

Overall, a good week.

Belly Check

19 week belly check

SOPHIA POPPY

I still think I'm showing slower than last time. I think Poppy is going to be a little babe. Watch me have a 10-pounder now ;)

19 Weeks: Heirloom Tomato

Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces, and he measures 6 inches, head to bottom — about the size of a large heirloom tomato. His arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of his body now. His kidneys continue to make urine, and the hair on his scalp is sprouting. This is a crucial time for sensory development: Your baby's brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. If your baby is a girl, she has an astonishing 6 million eggs in her ovaries. They'll dwindle to fewer than two million by the time she's born. (Babycenter.com)

(I totally forgot to change the sign from "22 weeks" to "19 weeks." I'll get it right next week. I hope.)

I feel like I've popped out over the past week or two. I have actually been enjoying my new silhouette. It is starting to look like I'm actually pregnant now, instead of a little chubby. I have found myself subconsciously caressing my belly with endearment. I am falling in love with another child I have never met.

The itchies have returned a little. Mostly on my lower belly where my stretch marks are. I am hoping this will only be a temporary phase and not last the remaining four months.

I have felt really good this week. I have felt slightly more energetic (always a plus!), but am still having a few food aversions. Everyday, I get ravenously hungry, but when I go to eat something, nothing sounds appealing. I have been extremely thirsty lately too. I am guzzling liquids, and still feel thirsty!

Most of my normal pants are too tight now. I am moving up to the next size in my jean collection. Most of my maternity pants are capris or light pants meant for warmer weather, so I haven't gotten much use out of them yet. (Dumb weather!)

Jared is on vacation in Florida this week, enjoying some much needed R&R. He promises and insists that I plan a little vacation for myself in the near future. I can hardly wait;)

The Reveal

BOY!



The end.

Prophetic

Last night I had a dream...

I gave birth to Poppy. It only took 5 minutes. But I was so exhausted that immediatly after the baby was out, I fell fast asleep. I didn't even know the gender of my baby. When I awoke, the room was empty and dim. I wandered into the hall and found Jared showing off the new babe to Richard. I asked eagerly what sex our baby was. Jared pulled the legs apart to show me.

It was a...


Tune in tomorrow for the rest of the dream.

(18 Week) 21 Week Check-up....NOT!

NEW DUE DATE: October 14th, 2008

It's true, they changed my due date. I am only 18 weeks, 3 days pregnant. They said the "20-week" ultrasound has a two week margin of error, but since I was almost 3 weeks off, they decided to change it. Oh well, I'd rather have a new due date, then watch September 25th pass me by and wait around for another two weeks, thinking I'm overdue. All that matters is that baby is healthy, and still on the way, no matter when it arrives!

I went back and changed the titles of each post, putting the accurate week in parenthesis. For the next three weeks, you will have to bear with me as I repost some of the same material.

My appointment was good. Gained 3 lbs. BP: 102/54. Baby's heart rate: 160bpm! I'm measuring at 20cm, which she said was great for either 21 weeks, or 18 weeks. So all's well. My midwife said I need to come back in for another ultrasound in about 10 weeks, just to make sure baby's growing well and still lining up with the new due date.

(18 Weeks) 21 Weeks: Carrot

Your baby now weighs about three-quarters of a pound and is approximately 10 1/2 inches long — the length of a carrot. His eyebrows and eyelids are fully developed. And you can certainly feel him move. He's oblivious to your schedule, though, so don't be surprised if he starts working out just when you're settling down for the night. If you're having a girl, her vagina is formed now, though it will continue to develop until birth. (Babycenter.com)

The pregnancy hormones are in full effect. I have been so emotional and sensitive this week, and believe I have cried at least once every day, for no apparent reason. I'm just sad. Then happy. Then crabby. Then cheerful. Then exhausted. I get so annoyed with myself that sometimes I cry because I am so annoying. It really is quite a sad state of affairs. I apoligize in advance if you are ever subject to one of my roller coaster mood swings.

I am starting to feel a little more pregnant now. My body is changing the way it operates, and I am trying to adjust. Yesterday, I found myself waddling like a did toward the end of my last pregnancy. I was so disgusted that I stopped walking and forced myself to walk normal again.

I still haven't been feeling Poppy very often, but the movements are slowly turning into gentle little kicks. The only time of day that I normally feel the little squirt is around 10pm.

I am in that horrible state of clothing-transition. Up to this point, I have easily gotten away with wearing all my normal clothes, but now about half of my jeans are getting snug. It is a little funny to me when I sift through my jeans and find a 6 size range! But that is about the range I go through during the pregnancy. My trusty jean collection will last me to the end!

(17 Weeks) 20 Weeks: Banana

I know I am day late in writing this update, but somehow I don't feel as motivated knowing that I may be writing this same post again in 3 weeks. Being 17 weeks pregnant right now would explain a few things though, such as: Why am I way smaller now than I was at 20 weeks last time? You are supposed to show faster the second time around, not slower. Also, I was confused as to why I hadn't felt Poppy moving much yet. Last time I felt Sophia by 19 weeks, and supposedly you feel the second baby faster. Not so though. If I am only 17 weeks however, I am feeling baby two weeks faster.

I took the calendar out today and tried to figure things out. Jared and I had pinned January 10th as the date of conception (Happy Birthday Andy and Ben!). I counted backwards 17 weeks from Tuesday, and landed on January 8th. So that makes perfect sense. The only part that puzzles me is that I would have gotten pregnant on Day 21 of my cycle, which is very late. I know that my last period was December 20th, and according to the due date calculators, it still comes up with September 25th as a due date.

All this to say, I am sure that I am only 17 weeks pregnant. Somehow, because it I got pregnant so late in my cycle, it is screwing up the due date calculator. So I am guessing my new due date will be October 14th. Like I said, I will keep you posted.

I feel Poppy moving around every day now! I have only felt a few gentle kicks so far, but lots of wiggles. I have started getting a similar ache in my foot as I did last year. I am sure a foot rub from the huz will remedy that;)

Belly pictures will be posted later. I plan on taking them tonight. Like I said, I haven't felt as motivated knowing that everything I have posted thus far may be rendered inaccurate.

Meet Poppy!

We had our "20-week" ultrasound this morning! It was amazing as always. We invited our parents, and my sister to come witness the grand event. It was fun having everyone in the room with us, marveling at the miracle within.

Poppy looks healthy and beautiful! However, we did have one huge surprise: the ultrasound put my due date at October 14th, which would mean I am only 17 weeks, 1 day pregnant (which I cannot work out in my mind at all). That means I have to rewind and relive the past three weeks of pregnancy again. This was quite a big disappointment to me. Then over our breakfast date, Jared gently reminded me of the amazing miracle I get to experience carrying a child. He pointed out that he would never get to feel a baby kick and grow inside him, and that I need to remember how incredibly special the gift of pregnancy is. I am so grateful to have a husband to help me adjust my perspective.

My due date has not officially changed yet. For now I will continue with my updates as normal. At my appointment next week, the midwife will decide if we should change the date or not. I will keep you posted.

Poppy's foot, toes pointing north-west

Poppy's hand
Poppy's profile, very similar to Sophia's in-utero

(16 Weeks) 19 Weeks: Heirloom Tomato

Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces, and he measures 6 inches, head to bottom — about the size of a large heirloom tomato. His arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of his body now. His kidneys continue to make urine, and the hair on his scalp is sprouting. This is a crucial time for sensory development: Your baby's brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. If your baby is a girl, she has an astonishing 6 million eggs in her ovaries. They'll dwindle to fewer than two million by the time she's born. (Babycenter.com)

I am now moving into my "fat pants." So far, I have not needed to wear any maternity clothes, though I have on occasion because they are so cute:)

I had a horrible headache on Monday, that I suspect was a migraine. My head throbbed and pounded for ten hours straight. I drank more water than I ever have in a day (peed every 20 minutes) and took two tylenol, but it just pounded on through. Finally, the next morning my head ache went away. (Thank you Lord!) I have been experiencing frequent headaches over the past few weeks, but none that bad.

I have also started to notice a little ligament pain now when I jump off the couch. It has only happened twice so far, but I suspect that will increase in the near future.

I have been so blessed by all my recently-pregnant friends showering me with their maternity clothes and baby items they will not use. It is so wonderful to go through this with so many good friends!

Next time I post, we will have seen our beautiful Poppy for the first time! We have our 20-week ultrasound scheduled for next Wednesday! We are very excited!