Tag: pregnancy

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 :)

Merfbaby is 18 weeks today!

Merfbaby is 5 1/2 inches long and about the size of a bell pepper.

How I’m Feeling: Hungry. Ha! Overall I feel really good. I’m much more comfortable since I got some clothes that fit better. My appetite is normal, my energy is back and I’m sleeping pretty well. My bionic ankle was killing me last week! I know swollen feet and ankle’s are a symptom of pregnancy, but I was really starting to wonder if I had injured my ankle. I asked a few friends that I know have old injuries and they all said it was a painful week! Since breaking my ankle I was determined 9% permanently disabled with a high probability of early arthritis. Yay! I kept it elevated and I’m feeling much better now.

Belly/Weight:  I think I’ve officially “popped.” I’m still wearing a few of my regular pants with the Belly Bands and most of my tops are too snug. I went shopping on Sunday for Maternity Clothes at Macy’s with Momma-son. I took my gift cards and they were having a sale so I got 1 nice pair of jeans, 3 tops and 2 bras! Some of the clothes were so expensive, like $70 for ONE shirt?! Are you crazy!? Everything I got was buy one get one 50% off. I’m most happy with the bras :) TMI warning – my old bras weren’t cutting it anymore. It was not cute. The ones I got are also nursing bras so I know I’ll get a lot of use out of them in the coming months.

Life Changes: Maternity clothes are strange. They do fit better, but they are kind of awkward. But I guess everything is going to get awkward in the fit department in the coming months…I’m also finding it a little more difficult to bend over and pick things up. I’m also trying to appreciate putting on my socks and shoes since I know that’s also going to become more challenging.

Movement: I really thought I felt something one day, but I still can’t count it yet. I’m so ready to feel something!

Sleep: I love sleeping. I’m still going to be around 9:30pm and sleeping until 6:30am or 7:00am. I wake up a few times during the night to roll over and once every night at 2:30am to go potty. I’ve woken up several times in the last week with my hands asleep which I hate. Such and icky feeling. Kelly and I discussed pillow options…I think I may need a body pillow but I’m unsure if I’ll like it? I feel like having smaller pillows would be more comfy, but one lager pillow would make it easier to roll over.

Cravings: I had a serious pregnant lady moment this week…We were sitting in the office at work and I randomly said, “doesn’t a Wendy’s frosty and some french fries sound good?” Everyone agreed with me, and our office PA offered to make a run for me. I was like no, that is WAY too pregnant of me to ask you to do that. Eventually everyone else admitted that they wanted something from Wendy’s so a trip did happen :) And it was so tasty!

Exercise: It was a walking week for me. I wasn’t sure how my ankle would feel so I planned to take it easy and just do walking at the gym and around the office when I take Betsy out for her potty breaks.

Favorite Pregnancy Moment this week:  We went to Babies R Us on Saturday at 5:30pm. It was totally the witching hour for all the kids there since it was close to dinner and they were going nuts. It was intense. We looked at Car Seats and Strollers and a few other items. It’s overwhelming how much “stuff” you’re expected to get. I have a feeling we’re going to pass on a lot of the stuff just because I don’t see the immediate need. Obviously we need to cover the basics, but we both feel like there’s a ton of stuff that we won’t use. When I pushed my first trial stroller down the aisle I felt so funny, thinking “am I old enough to be doing this?” It was funny! We both felt better after seeing some things in person but I plan to register for most items online. After Babies R Us we went to Best Buy and got a new Fridge!!!! I’m calling this a pregnancy moment since it falls under our “nesting” plans of updating our kitchen :) Hooray for President’s weekend sales, open box specials and paying cash!

On My Mind:  I’ve been reading The Baby Whisperer and I get what everyone’s been telling me. I LOVE the book so far. It makes so much sense to me. Merfman and I have talked about it and I think we’ll have no problem using her E.A.S.Y plan. We talked a little about our work schedules and maternity leave. It’s hard to be in a freelance business since you never really know how work’s going to line up a few months down the road. My job is much more set and routine, but the cycle of Merfman’s work is much different…sort of you have to take work when it’s there since you don’t know if it’ll be there in a few weeks. I feel comfortable with the plan we have and I know it’ll work out when the time comes. It’s just one more thing I can’t force into a plan since there’s so much that can happen between now and when Merfbaby comes :)

Merfbaby is 17 weeks old!

My emails today told me Merbaby is the size and weight of a iPhone or a turnip.

How I’m Feeling:  Good! It was another busy week at work, so I was tuckered every night when I got home. Cooking dinner seems to be more effort than I’m capable of, and since it’s just me most nights I have a lot of egg dinners or leftovers. I’m starting to feel a little off balance, and I find myself waddle waking sometimes.

Belly/Weight: There’s for sure a baby bump! I have one pair of jeans I can still button and wear comfortably, and my trusty leggings  have a hole in them so I may need to upgrade. I have a few shirts that I feel comfortable wearing, but I’m having to get really creative with most of my wardrobe. I don’t have many clothes anyway, so it’s a challenge. I got two gift cards to Macy’s for my birthday so I’m thinking I’ll put those toward Maternity clothes. I’m also wondering if it would be worth looking at thrift shops? Since not many of my close friends have had babies there isn’t a floating pile of maternity clothing I can pull from. To all my furutre baby-having friends: I promise to start a pile for you!

Life Changes: I don’t often have to lift heavy things for work, but lately there have been a few situations where I’ve found myself helpless. I’ve NEVER been that girl, and I always changed the water jug in the office kitchen, or moved the desk with little to no help. I constantly want to jump in and help, but my co workers have been really great about reminding me that I’m preggers and to stand back.

Movement: I almost thought I felt something the other night, but I think it was just hunger? Soon I hope!

Sleep: We recently moved our big yellow lab downstairs at night to sleep since the stairs aren’t agreeing with his aging body. I’ve been sleeping really well this week because he doesn’t wake me up snoring! I did catch Merfman snoring a few times this week, he rarely snores so I know he’s really tired when he does. I need to purchase a few more pillows so help support my hips and tummy while I sleep, but overall I’ve been pretty comfortable. Minus the nightly potty break.

Cravings: Orange Juice and strawberries! I’ve eating so many strawberries in the past week! I’m happy I’m having healthy cravings though ;) For the past two weeks no matter what I bring for lunch with me to the office it just doesn’t sound as yummy as what the rest of the office orders. So I’ve been ordering in a few times. I still choose healthy options, but I know it’s not the best use of my food money. If I cook more dinners, I have more leftovers, which I need to start doing. I do love leftovers :) I think I get that from Momma-son.

Exercise: I did 1,400 yards at the pool on Sunday. I was so happy to be swimming! I brought my kick board and fins and did 600 yards of kicking. My legs were sore Monday and Tuesday! I’ve taken a few walks around the office building at work. When I bring Betsy with me I tend to be better about walking since I take her out for potty breaks throughout the day. We have these really steep stairs at the office, which I know I’m going to loathe during the later months of pregnancy, but even now they feel like a big work out!

Favorite Pregnancy Moment this week: On Saturday morning Merfman and I slept in, and made breakfast. Then, we sat on the couch and researched baby items! He looked at strollers and car seats while I checked out diaper bags and play pens. We’re planning to go to Babies R Us this weekend to look at a few things and maybe start working on a Registry. We were planning to register at Babies R Us, is there anywhere else? Target?  We also had a date night on Saturday. I’ve read a few places that it’s good to start a weekly date night before the baby comes. We also counted our date night as my Birthday dinner. We went to dinner at the Smokehouse in Burbank and it was so so good!  I’d never been before and since I’m not a red meat eater I didn’t know what to expect. I got the shrimp scampi and it was so good! I also ordered a baked potato, and they bring the toppings to your table and serve them to you! So cute. I also had the BEST green beans of my life!!! Seriously. Amazing. You know how green beans are always mushy and overcooked at restaurants? No.  These were perfect. Crisp. Bright green. Cooked with garlic. Ah, I want to go back and order them again.

On My Mind:  There’s all these different things you’re supposed to be worrying about. Baby development, weight gain, diet, glucose levels. I’m at the point where I know I have zero control on what’s happening inside my body. God’s taking care of that. All I can do it take care of me. Make sure I eat well, get enough rest and take care of my body. I’ve been pretty relaxed and laid back so far, there’s not much I can “control” so what’s the all the worry worth? And after the baby comes there’s nothing but non-stop worry for the rest of your life, right? Are they hitting their development stages? Are they happy? Healthy? Socially adjusted? Upstanding citizens?  So, no worry for now.