27 Weeks

How far along?: Twenty-seven weeks!

Baby is the size of: A Cauliflower! :D

Total weight gain/loss: +19 from pre-pregnancy weight. Yikes...

Symptoms: Some pelvic and cervical pain, especially in the evening. In general I've just been more tired and been having more aches and pains.

Food Cravings: Hot sauce, mangoes, and salad.

Anything Making Me Queasy or Sick: Not anything in particular, just completely random nausea it seems.

Sleep: Reasonably good, except for horribly painful leg cramps waking me up some nights.

What I miss: Being able to squat, kneel, get up and down without a ton of effort.

Wedding rings on or Off: They are now off, too tight.

Movement: Lots of movement, so much that I wonder if the baby ever sleeps...

Maternity Clothes? I'm now into all maternity clothes except for yoga pants.

Labor Signs: Nope!

Best Moment of the Week: Last week of the second trimester! So awesome to think I'm two-thirds done.

25 Weeks

How far along?: Twenty-five weeks!

Baby is the size of: A Rutabaga. 

Total weight gain/loss: +13 from pre-pregnancy weight. 

Symptoms: This last week or two has been a little tougher than usual. I'm very tired, dealing with some nausea and loss of appetite, and some unfamiliar pains that I'm learning to work through.

Food Cravings: I haven't really been hungry, but the two things that sound consistently delicious are a Chipotle veggie burrito and the Olive Garden minestrone soup and salad. Of course both restaurants are far away...

Anything Making Me Queasy or Sick: Not any one thing in particular, just random waves for no apparent reason.

Sleep: I've been needing a lot of sleep, like 15-18 hours a day/night.

What I miss: Just my husband. I wish he didn't have to work so much, I've been very clingy and lonely during pregnancy and I'd love to have him home more.

Wedding rings On or Off: On. 

Movement: Plenty. Some crazy head-butting of my cervix too... not so fun. 

Maternity Clothes? I bought a new wrap sweater yesterday that I'm very happy about. I'm also returning a dress I ordered from Old Navy that was not the right color, and instead getting a pair of comfortable stretchy skinny jeans with a full panel. 

Labor Signs: Nope!

Best Moment of the Week: We reached viability! That was a huge load off my mind, and I do feel a little less nervous about the pregnancy now. 

Letter to My Little One - 3

Dear Little One,

It didn't take you long to completely change my life.  Each day that goes by I feel my identity becoming more and more wrapped up in being your mommy, and I don't mind that one bit.  It's an honor to be a mommy to someone as special as you.

By now your tiny features are completely formed. Each finger, each toe, each tiny nail is already perfect. You   are even growing hair, and if we could see you now we would be able to tell the color. Your eyelashes, your taste buds, your fingerprints... all magically and wonderfully complete.

You can hear us talk and sing to you, and sometimes you dance to the music you hear. I can see you moving around when I look down at my belly and the weird and wonderful sight never fails to make me smile.

People think I'm crazy when I say I'm looking forward to giving birth, but it's true. I can't wait for those first contractions that tell me you will soon be here. I can't wait for the moment I tell your Daddy - "It's time.". I can't wait to put you on my chest and hold you tight. But most of all, I can't wait to look into your eyes and tell you "Happy birthday Baby. Welcome to the world.".

Waiting to meet you,

Mama

23 Weeks

How far along?: Twenty-three weeks.

Baby is the size of: A Papaya. 

Total weight gain/loss: +13 from pre-pregnancy weight. 

Symptoms: I'm starting to get lower back pain that's tough to deal with. I'm sure it will get a lot worse though... 

Food Cravings: I've been making smoothies out of coconut-almond milk and strawberries every night. Mmm!

Anything Making Me Queasy or Sick: Not really.

Sleep: My sleep is going back to daytime, which stinks. I end up going to sleep at 3AM and waking up at 3PM. *sigh*

What I miss: Some Albanian foods that I could make here, I just haven't gotten around to it yet.

Wedding rings On or Off: On, but a little snug. 

Movement: Lots and lots. My husband can see it moving from the outside now. 

Maternity Clothes? Wearing them about half the time, and then stretchy pants or yoga pants the rest of the time.

Labor Signs: Nope!

Best Moment of the Week: I might have found a doula! We're meeting with her soon for an interview, but I have a good feeling about it. 

21 Weeks

How far along?: Twenty-one weeks.

Baby is the size of: A carrot. 

Total weight gain/loss: +10 from pre-pregnancy weight. 

Symptoms: I've been feeling some pretty significant round ligament pain. It's not especially fun. 

Food Cravings: Coconut-Almond Milk.

Anything Making Me Queasy or Sick: Lettuce, green stuff in general. 

Sleep: Reasonably okay, but I have to wake up a couple of times to pee.

What I miss: Espresso Fudge ice cream. I keep staring at it in Publix. 

Wedding rings On or Off: On, but a little snug. 

Movement: Crazy movement. I think it's doing back flips in there. 

Maternity Clothes? I've finally gotten a few things and my parents bought me some things as well, so I'm doing a little better in the wardrobe department. 

Labor Signs: Nope!

Best Moment of the Week: Ultrasound last week! We got to see our sweet little baby yawning and sucking it's thumb. 

Nineteen Weeks

How far along?: Nineteen weeks.

Baby is the size of: An Heirloom Tomato

Total weight gain/loss: +7 from pre-pregnancy weight. 

Symptoms: I started experiencing some braxton-hicks contractions this week, which scared me until I figured out what they were. Also having trouble sleeping and dealing with some "growing pains" in my midsection. 

Food Cravings: Raspberry Smoothies 

Anything Making Me Queasy or Sick: Pasta. 

Sleep: I have a hard time getting comfortable enough to get to sleep, but once I fall asleep I'm usually okay.

What I miss: Soft serve ice cream.

Wedding rings On or Off: On.

Movement: Definitely feeling movement now! My husband can even feel it if he puts his hand down at the right place at the right moment. 

Maternity Clothes? Still really need some, still haven't bought any. 

Labor Signs: Nope!

Best Moment of the Week: Feeling all kinds of movement, and my husband being able to feel the baby as well!

17 Weeks

How far along?: Seventeen weeks.

Baby is the size of: A Turnip!

Total weight gain/loss: +3 from pre-pregnancy weight. I'm finally putting on some weight!

Symptoms: Feeling like myself again! I'm still tired a lot, and occasionally get dizzy, but I feel much better. 

Food Cravings: Tacos. I've eaten them every other day. And mint ice cream, which I never liked before.  

Anything Making Me Queasy or Sick: Milk. 

Sleep: Still going to sleep in the afternoon, waking up in mid-morning.

What I miss: Soft serve ice cream. Starbucks. 

Wedding rings On or Off: On.

Movement: I think I can feel it now, although its not very strong. I'm waiting for something definite. 

Maternity Clothes?: I really need some maternity yoga pants and jeans, and some tanks, but I haven't bought anything yet. 

Labor Signs: Nope!

Best Moment of the Week: Feeling what I think was the baby! :) AND, the seconds sale at Cotton Babies that saved me hundreds and almost finished my stash.