So close, yet so far away

I'm in my 32nd week of pregnancy and really, so far so good.  Appointments have been normal.  The cookie has been moving like crazy.  Kicking and jabbing me under the ribs.

I have been experiencing some braxton hicks contractions, nothing major just some tightening.  About 29 to 30 weeks along I stopped wearing my wedding ring.  :(  I just couldn't get it past my knuckle and definitely didn't want it stuck!  I've also been experiencing some edema.  Hello cankles!  Mostly during the week, when I'm stuck at my desk at work.  After a busy weekend at home it's mostly gone.

We've been walking several times a week, thank goodness for the nice evenings!  We've been blessed these last several weeks with great weather.  The walking is a love/hate relationship.  I never want to go, but I feel much better after I do.  It's nice when the kids come too.

We start our birthing class this Thursday.  I'm quite excited since I usually have a slew of questions for the midwife at my appointments.  We'll get to tour the birthing center at the hospital which should be fun too.

And now for the pictures.

24 to 27 weeks.
28 to 31 weeks. 28 weeks marked the beginning of the third trimester. I guess I really like striped shirts huh?

24

I'm exactly 24 weeks pregnant today.  Only 4 more weeks and I'll be in the 3rd trimester.  It's really going by so fast.  I can hardly believe there is a little person in there.

We had a check up and I got the drink the glucola, which to my surprise wasn't that bad.  It tasted like flat 7up.  Then they drew my blood.  We heard Cookies heart beat, going strong in the high 140's.

My second trimester has been pretty uneventful.  Aside from the heartburn I've felt pretty darn good.  I still get occasional tired spells, but for the most part I'm trucking right along.

Now for the good stuff, the belly growth.

Ignore that middle photo. We were lazy and didn't feel like getting the camera out. Yay for phones with camera, boo on the quality.

Your baby is sticking out.

I am terribly behind on pictures.  Actually, I pretty much behind on life right now.  Blogging isn't high on my list and I've been neglecting it.  Oops.

Today I am 18 weeks and 5 days.  But I only have pictures to share up to 16 weeks.  Weeks 17 and 18 are still on the camera.  So yeah.

I finally look pregnant I think.  I mean, before I could have easily been confused with someone who just ate a REALLY big meal, or drank a lot of beer.  BUT now, whoa.  My baby is sticking out. 

Friday night while Marty and I were lying in bed watching HGTV eating otter pops and kits kats I felt the baby move for the first time.  Heh, the inside tickle.  It was so weird, but so dang cool.  Now, I know it's in there, cookin' away!




And check me out! I chopped my hair off! LOVE IT!

15 Weeks (yesterday)

This last week has been pretty uneventful in terms of pregnancy.  Nothing crazy has happened and I still seem to be growing.

My symptoms have shifted slightly.  No more annoying all day nausea, now it's just mostly in the morning and I really think it has something to do with the fact my nose runs a marathon in the mornings.  I have some fatigue, but nothing in comparison to how it was.  I actually have energy when I get home after work.  WIN!

Food is still my main obsession, I mean it always has been, but more so with pregnancy.  Fresh fruit is a top contender.  From strawberries to oranges, I can't seem to get enough.  Orange juice too.  Every morning I have a big glass.  AND milk.  Wow, I can drink two or three glasses in an evening with dinner!

Marty discovered dark chocolate kit kat bars, can you say hea-ven!  I'm looking forward to Easter dinner so I can enjoy chocolate pie afterward! 

There is no denying I have a pregnant belly now.  It sticks out like a sore thumb, even beneath the baggiest of shirts.  No more regular jeans or pants now either, I'm in the maternity stuff for sure.

Other observations: 

• my belly button seems to be less deep
• I have a dull ache in my tailbone
• I love Wheel of Fortune (wait, that's not pregnancy related, sorry!)
• cooking ground beef still grosses me out
• I got heartburn from a banana.  I know?! A banana!

We've got a doctor appointment Monday and we'll get to heat the heart beat again. YAY!

My coffee tastes like crap - The First Trimester

Today I am officially 14 weeks and can say I made it out of the first trimester with only limited disaster.  Okay, so there wasn't really any disaster, per say, but I did keep track of some of the more interesting things that happened in the last 7 weeks.  It's so crazy!

2/14/2011 2AM - laying awake with a rumbling tummy.  Really, am I really this hungry!  I got up and had a few slices of cheese, walnuts, and a glass of milk.

 2/16/2011 9AM - I love my one cup of coffee in the morning.  It's my thing.  I don't need it, I just like it a whole lot.  After the last 4 days of trying to forcefully drink my coffee, I've come to the conclusion that it tastes like crap!

2/17/2011 - 6 weeks today and I feel queasy all day!

2/19/2011 3PM - Grocery shopping I have the sudden urge to eat Lay's Sour Cream and Onion chips while shopping in the store.  I can't stop thinking about them in my cart.

2/22/2011 7:20AM - Almost lost my breakfast.  This was the first time I've actually really felt the urge to throw up. Oi.

3/5/2011 4:47AM - Hungry again.  It's almost 5 AM.  What the heck?! Carrot sticks, peanut butter and jelly toast and a big glass of milk.  My Husband thinks this is a strange combination.  I thought it was lovely!

3/16/2011 7ish PM -  Threw up my dinner.  Awesome.  Did you know I can puke so hard that it will hit the toilet water and splash back up on my face?  That's a neat trick isn't it.

The first trimester was, you know, normal, in terms of pregnancy.  Constant low grade nausea, EXTREME fatigue, uh, slow bowels, weird food aversions, bathroom breaks in the middle of the night.  This past week or so my energy level seems to be picking up and the nausea is, well, less.  Still there, but not nagging me all day.

Raw meat is still difficult for me, which it has NEVER been.  I have to just look away from it sometimes, regain composure and then complete the task.  Although, the other night Marty had to cook the ground beef until it wasn't raw anymore.  I just couldn't look at it without gagging.  So weird.

Anyway, moving on.  Time for progress of the belly growth.  We began taking pictures at 7 weeks.   Here is the first trimester.




There is definitely something going on in there.