20 weeks

Pregnancy Highlights

How far along? 20 Weeks

Size of the baby? Baby girl weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now (well she was approximately 11 ounces last week so this may be a little off). She's also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom and about 10 inches from head to heel — the length of a banana. (For the first 20 weeks, when a baby's legs are curled up against her torso and hard to measure, measurements are taken from the top of her head to her bottom — the "crown to rump" measurement. After 20 weeks, she's measured from head to toe.)

She's swallowing more these days, which is good practice for her digestive system. She's also producing meconium, a black, sticky by-product of digestion. This gooey substance will accumulate in her bowels, and you'll see it in his first soiled diaper (some babies pass meconium in the womb or during delivery).

Maternity Clothes? I am wearing my regular tops and mix them with my wonderful elastic maternity jeans and a couple of other maternity pants. Scrubs are my friend, thank goodness work clothes are easy!

Gender? We are having a baby girl!

Movement? I feel like a twisting motion, every now and then, and I can pretty much tell where she is hanging out, I think my belly is uneven with the left side a little more pudgy.

Sleep? I am getting enough sleep but still wake up once to go to the bathroom and numerous other times to readjust the pillow in between my legs. I am an obligatory stomach sleeper so this is a real adjustment. My hips are achy when I wake up in the morning but other than that, sleep is good : )

Cravings? I have been drinking a lot of milk, and Wednesday night after work all I wanted was a Waffle House waffle with milk. And that’s just what I got…ha! Also, so cliché, but pickles and ice cream. Not together, just both. Often. But if anyone knows me this is not weird but normal. I have been cooking a lot of potatoes, not usually a carb fan.

Symptoms? My hips being achy. Still having some breakouts on my face. Gotta love hormones.

Best Moment of the Week? Jordan took Monday off after working all weekend, it was nice to hang out and catch up. We registered and organized our thoughts about what to get baby girl! Wednesday when my alarm went off at 5:15, baby girl woke up too! It was nice to know I wasn’t the only one waking up considering Karma and Jordan were still tucked in bed. Thursday we went to the Arboretum with Hal and Sarah to hear music. Before they met us, we watched several families with little girls. The girls were so sweet, playing, dancing, and climbing all over their daddies. I cannot wait until we can take our little girl there and share one of our favorite spots in Dallas with her.

Baby Girl

Last week, we had our 20 week appointment, I was actually (19 weeks, 3 days) pregnant. We had the BIG sonogram and saw baby from head to toe! We have already looked over baby at 13 weeks and 16 weeks, because there has to be some benefit to Jordan working in the Radiology department right? Baby has been active from the very beginning, doing flips and waving to us at our 13 week sneak peek.

This day she did not disappoint! She was all over the place. My whole belly was full of goo, with the ultrasound teach chasing her around. The tech said she hopes baby calms down before she arrives. And yes, we are having a little girl!

She already looks like she is packed full of personality. Jordan is already adding up the costs between clothes, and a wedding!

It's amazing how when you find out the sex, the perspective sets in! We have been saying "baby" for almost 16 weeks now but now it's little girl, little woman, and a young lady we will be raising. How awesome!

We are so incredibly blessed, baby girl is healthy, she measured 11 ounces and all of her measurements placed her a day early, at 19 weeks 2 days. My doctor said her numbers were so tight with her growth that she is a bit of an overachiever.....oh no! Not that I am surprised since I married one. :)

A little about baby at 19 weeks.....

Your baby's sensory development is exploding! Her brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. Some research suggests that she may be able to hear your voice now, so don't be shy about reading aloud, talking to her, or singing a happy tune if the mood strikes you.

Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces and measures 6 inches, head to bottom — about the size of a large heirloom tomato. Her arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of her body now. Her kidneys continue to make urine and the hair on her scalp is sprouting. A waxy protective coating called the vernix caseosa is forming on her skin to prevent it from pickling in the amniotic fluid.

I also like how it mentions that if I think I am big now, just wait! Nice, thanks.....

The morning of our ultrasound

BABY GIRL

check out that bicep, cannot wait to feel the real punches : )

One of her many flips! perfect little spine : )

We cannot wait to meet you sweet baby girl! We are so excited you are part of our family!

Love, Mom and Dad

18 Weeks

So far, I have no complaints about my pregnancy. It's been smooth (fingers crossed) and I feel great. I was so incredibly tired during the first trimester and although I do have much more energy in the second trimester, the 12 hour shifts at the hospital are long. I have always been someone who usually gets dressed very quickly, my husband would probably disagree BUT I am not the type of girl who goes through five different outfits before I can walk out the door! INSERT--new situation entirely. Each day is new as far as what fits and what does not! It's wild and by far the biggest surprise of my being pregnant. Seems silly that I am surprised, I knew I would grow a belly but I had no idea how in between I would feel!

So far dresses have been my BFF, and I broke down and bought a couple of maternity pieces with Christy, my sister-in-law when she was in town. I have broken down and bought jeans with an elastic waist and have found

A WHOLE NEW WORLD.

They are wonderful! No zipper, no button, just stretchy comfortable greatness! Sound sexy huh?