Merfbaby is 19 weeks today!
Weighing 11oz (a little over 1/2 lb) and measuring right on track. We had a special ultrasound this morning where they check all the organs and growth progress and everything is looking good! Merfbaby is the size of an heirloom tomato, or as I prefer a softball!
How I’m Feeling: I’m feeling really good! I’m a little tired in the evenings after work, but I typically do my normal “after work chores” like laundry, dishes, sweeping, light cleaning when I get home and I’m still feeling good. I’ve started to notice some funny little pains on the side of my stomach, but apparently this is normal. It’s called round ligament pain. Huh, good to know. I was wondering what I was feeling. It was too sharp and achey to be kicks so it makes sense that my body is stretching to accommodate a growing human!
Belly/Weight: Belly for sure! I haven’t had any strangers comment on my tummy yet, which is nice…I might be offended if they started saying something when I was hardly showing ;) My tummy is sticking out more and more each day and it feels tight, I know I have a long way to go, it’s just crazy to think how much my skin will stretch to make room….nuts. I’m not sure on weight, I have an appointment on Monday with my OB so I’ll get a weight check then.
Life Changes: I’m starting to feel a little more off balance sometimes, and I cling to the handrail when I’m going up and down the stairs. Slipping on a hill to break your ankle will do that to you too…I have a scary fear of falling down the stairs while I’m preggo. We have stairs at home, and really steep stairs at work. I’m always careful, but I have this sad image of me tripping and falling and hurting myself and Merfbaby. I think a big part of that is my fear from falling when I broke my ankle. I’m also having some crazy dreams. I had one the other night where the gender of Merfbaby was revealed and it was the opposite of the gender I’ve been thinking it is! I also have fight dreams with Merfman…we totally DON’T fight, but for some reason I dream about us having these massive screaming matches. What the heck?
Movement: YES! Finally I’m feeling the kicks more often and stronger. It’s a funny sensation and sometimes it catches me off guard. This morning for the appointment I wanted to make sure Merfbaby wasn’t sleeping so I had a big glass of OJ before we left, and it totally worked. Even the doctor said how active Merfbaby was! I can’t wait until Merfman can feel the kicks on the outside :)
Sleep: Since Merfman is working late on set I tend to go to bed early. Sometimes I’ve only been asleep and hour or so when he gets home and I’m a groggy mess! He always lets me know he’s home but lately I’m so out of it I just grunt :(
Cravings: Still OJ :) I have a glass every morning with my oatmeal. I’m also really liking grapes. I haven’t had too many of the insane cravings people talk about, mostly it’s about the level of what everyone has normally. Like, french fries sound good sometimes? But you don’t HAVE to HAVE them right then. I dunno, maybe I’m a mild case ;) Mostly I’m frugal and I don’t want to give into random cravings because I don’t want to spend the money on it! Ha!
Exercise: I went to the gym after work this week and I confirmed my suspicions yet again. I am NOT and after work gym-goer. I am a BEFORE work gym person. BIG time. After work there’s zero parking, the locker rooms are crowded and all the dreadmills are all being used. Boo. I like quiet gym mornings with all the elderly people. Seriously, I love the 65 and older crowd at the gym. After years of waking up to swim at 5:00am I still struggle with morning swims, but I need to get over it and just put my big pregnant girl panties (suit) on and do it. Fellow swimmers can relate, gym swimming is not fun when you have to split lanes with s.l.o.w folks. I’m no speed racer, my days of 100’s on the 1:20 were long ago. But I do not love sharing lanes with floaters, literally. People floating back and forth in the lanes. This feeling doesn’t match well with my endearment for the over 65 group, hm.
Favorite Pregnancy Moment this week: Our ultrasound this morning! Merfman was able to come and we got to see all the cool inside parts of Merfbaby :) The doctor showed us the brain, spine, ribs, leg bones and heart. It was so cool! My inner biology nerd was loving it. Each week I am so amazed at the development and growth.
On My Mind: Merfbaby’s GENDER! At the appointment today we asked the doctor to write the gender down and seal it in an envelope. Merfman took the envelope to a cupcake bakery where they are going to make special cupcakes with pink or blue insides. <— PS this was totally Merfman’s idea. Cue the “awwww’s!” We are planning to open our cupcake tomorrow at date night, then Saturday we’ll take some to Merfman’s parents, and then Sunday to mine. I’m really excited to see if Merfbaby is what I’ve been thinking :)
The Merfett 