Week 14: All Things Baby!

Hello second trimester! It’s nice to finally meet you and PRAISE GOD I’m finally here! I’m not going to lie, I did a little happy dance this morning when I woke up and actually had some energy for the first time in a few weeks. Yes, I said it. I did a happy dance. You know you do them, too.

How big is the baby?

This week the baby is the size of a lemon. I don’t know about you but I swear that last week’s peach was bigger than this week’s lemon but who am I to argue with the people who decide what piece of fruit is representin’ the baby. Here is what BabyCenter.com has to say about Baby’s development:

Your baby can now squint, frown, grimace, pee, and possibly suck his thumb! Thanks to brain impulses, his facial muscles are getting a workout as his tiny features form one expression after another. His kidneys are producing urine, which he releases into the amniotic fluid around him — a process he’ll keep up until birth. He can grasp, too, and if you’re having an ultrasound now, you may even catch him sucking his thumb.

How cool that Baby is sucking his/her thumb! I won’t have another ultrasound until I’m 18 weeks and we find out the gender as long as he/she cooperates. Fingers crossed that Baby takes after Carl and isn’t stubborn like me 🙂

How am I changing?

Even though I know some of my bump is bloating I feel like I am starting to look more pregnant now. I can still wear my lower shorts and pants but I have started considering maternity clothes and have worn the BeBand a few times now. My friend Brandy recommended just wearing it on my jeans so it’s not on my belly at all and this works much better for me. Instead of feeling a bit firmer and rounder on the right side, like I did last week, I notice that Baby has moved a little more to the center. I have also noticed that down low, under my belly button and above my pubic bone has gotten much firmer to the touch. Hello, uterus! You are now the size of a grapefruit!

I gained a pound this week so I’m only down six pounds from my pre-pregnancy weight. It’s a weird feeling to step on the scale and have it read one number but then not be able to comfortably wear my clothes because my belly has gotten bigger. It’s kinda like I have “cheese belly” but it doesn’t really go away. For those of you who don’t know, “cheese belly” is what would happen when I would eat too much cheese before I got pregnant. It is never a pretty sight. Once, early on in our relationship, Carl and I went to The Melting Pot and I ate too much cheese fondue. I knew he was the one for me when he saw my “cheese belly” for the first time and didn’t go running for the hills. Ah, true love.

I also get random hiccups now. I like to think it’s Baby saying “hello, I’m here” and makes me smile 🙂

How have I been feeling?

I certainly don’t want to jinx it but the last few days I’ve been feeling pretty darn good! Today has been the best that I’ve felt in weeks and I’m even craving some healthier foods. Don’t get me wrong, I still had Ramen for lunch, but the thought of fruits and veggies actually sound good to me. I even meal planned and went to the grocery store (after taking a shower and washing my hair!) today! I’m on a roll! I definitely have more energy and I’m loving every minute of it because I don’t know how long it will last. I’m just thankful for more good days than “bad” ones right now. I am still getting sick three times a day so hopefully that will start to decrease.

What am I eating?

There is still no rhyme or reason to what makes me sick but the fact that I am entertaining the thought of eating fruits and veggies is definitely a step in the right direction. I even made a smoothie yesterday! We were out of spinach but that didn’t stop me from adding bananas and blueberries into my diet! Carl bought me a Camelbak Groove water bottle with a built in water filter and that has helped me up my water intake. They are a little more expensive than a traditional water bottle, obviously, but if it’s getting me to drink water, I’m happy.

What am I looking forward to this week?

• Reading books for book club
• Getting out of the house a little more and meeting up with friends
• I actually have a bit of the running bug and hope to get out at some point this week for a quick, slow run if the smoke ever clears up
• Cooking dinner and doing more around the house
• Writing another “Confessions” post and hearing more of your confessions, too!

What were some of my favorite moments from last week?

• Playing video games with Carl
• Still having people share in our excitement as they find out we are having a baby
• Taking naps with Bradley
• Going on our first stroller adventure and having my first maternity clothes shopping adventure

Check out my other All Things Baby posts:Week 13