20 Weeks Baby!

Baby is now the size of a cantaloupe!
Baby's digestive system is busy creating meconium (a tarry black substance made of swallowed amniotic fluid, digestive secretion and dead cells), which will fill the first diaper after birth. And, speaking of the diaper situation... baby's genitals are now fully formed!

How Far Along: 20 weeks and 5 days
Total weight gain: I was down 2 lbs at the doctor's office on Monday, making me 2 lbs less than at my first visit. The doctor isn't concerned because Amelia is growing normally. She's actually in the 60th percentile for weight (at 14 oz), so she's definitely getting most of my groceries!
Maternity clothes: My jeans are still fitting normally, without a belt though. I need to go shopping for more shirts!
Sleep: This week it's good! I still wake up around 7:30 or 8 on my days off to pee, but I'm able to go back to sleep and don't get up until 12 or so...usually because my phone wakes me up by then.
Best Moment this week: Seeing our baby girl on Monday and hearing that everything is going great. My blood pressure was better and the doctor was pleased with my progress. We also got the bedding in this week. We put it in place, but the rest of the room is in disarray, so I'll post pictures when it's all done!
Movement: I'm feeling it now! It's an odd, but absolutely amazing feeling. I can't wait until Thomas can feel her kick!
Gender: Sweet baby girl!
Labor signs: None and I hope not to see any for a long time!
Belly button: Innie
Cravings: I'm having the opposite problem....I can't find anything I want to eat. Nothing seems appetizing and even when I start eating something that I think I want, I'm like, "Blah. This is definitely not it." Hopefully that will pass soon.
Nausea: I've only thrown up a few times while brushing my teeth this week...yay! Progress!
What I miss: Being able to get through a day at work without excruciating leg pan. My pelvis has been kind of sore the past couple of weeks and I knew that was normal. But at work, or at home even, if I've been sitting for a little bit, the first step I take with my right leg when I get up is really painful and it makes me want to hit my knees and curl up in the fetal position. Once I get moving, it feels a lot better, but it's those first few steps that are really awful. I talked to the doctor about it and he said it's the ligaments stretching in response to the progesterone making everything else stretch. Fun. He suggested I try some of the exercises in the "What To Expect" book.
Stretch Marks: Still present and accounted for.
Weekly wisdom: My co-workers are really protective of me and won't let me do anything too strenuous. I'm used to doing everything myself, so it's an adjustment to let go of certain things. But it's so nice to know they're looking out for me!
What I am looking forward to this week: Having dinner with my mom and going to see "Sex and the City 2" tonight, then going to her Red Hat luncheon tomorrow. Good times with mama!

Sweet Baby Girl

We had our 20 week ultrasound this morning to make sure everything was growing as it should be. She was an active little girl weighing in at 14 oz. They couldn't get a good view of her heart to make the appropriate measurements, but the doctor said that was common and they will do another ultrasound around 28-30 weeks. I'm progressing nicely as well. I still haven't gained any weight (actually, I'm 2 lbs down from last month), but he's not concerned because she's growing as she should. My blood pressure was also good, so that's a relief.

Here are some pictures from our visit this morning....

This is a profile shot with her head to the left and her belly to the right.



Here's one of her looking straight at us. I still think this view makes her look like the Terminator!! Ha ha!



We didn't get any surprises when it came to gender. I was afraid something might have been hiding a few weeks ago! When I called my mom after the appointment, I said, "Well, it's a boy!" and she said, "WHAT?!??!" like she had just been given the biggest blow. While it was a tad mean, it was definitely hilarious! This is a shot of her business....she's going to love having all this stuff on the Internet one day!



And this is my absolute favorite from today. Her sweet little feet! I can't wait to kiss on those cute little toes!

It's Half-Way Day!

Yay Sweet Amelia!
20 weeks - way to go!

19 Weeks!

Baby is now the size of a mango!
Vernix caseosa, a greasy white substance made of lanugo, oil and dead skin cells (yum) now coats baby's skin, shielding it from the amniotic fluid. (Picture yourself after a nine-month bath, and the need for protection makes sense.) You might actually get to see the vernix at birth, especially if baby is premature.

How Far Along: 19 weeks and 4 days
Total weight gain: Still down a few pounds
Maternity clothes: I wore maternity khakis and a t-shirt again on Sunday when we went to Augusta to buy the furniture. Yay for not being too hot!
Sleep: I'm waking up around 8:30 on my days off, but I'm usually able to back to sleep for a few hours. And I'm sleeping pretty well during the night when I have to work the next day.
Best Moment this week: Getting our furniture on Sunday! We got the crib, mattress, dresser, and hutch. The chest of drawers is on back-order and we had to order our recliner. I also won the bedding on eBay, so it should arrive next week!
Movement: I think I feel stuff, but I'm still not completely sure. I'm sure once I am sure, I'll realize the stuff I'm feeling now was really her.
Gender: Sweet baby girl!
Labor signs: None and I hope not to see any for a long time!
Belly button: Innie
Cravings: Not really craving anything this week
Nausea: Still throwing up during brushing my teeth. I went to the dentist on Monday and I was afraid I would throw up, but I didn't even gag. Yay!
What I miss: Loving every minute of my life!
Stretch Marks: I think there are some news ones on my belly. I REALLY need to start using my lotion again.
Weekly wisdom: I don't know what I would do without my mom to keep me calm when stuff gets crazy.
What I am looking forward to this week: Seeing some friends I haven't seen in a long time at a work conference tomorrow.

Nursery Bedding

This is the bedding we've chosen for Amelia's room. It's by Cocalo. The color palette is red, yellow, and brown. I absolutely love it and can't wait to get the room all decorated! I've been trying to find the best price online and it looks like it's at eBay. They're offering free shipping, so I'm just waiting on the auction to come to an end because the beginning bid is $20 cheaper than the "Buy It Now" price. And the auction price is $60 cheaper than most other websites want for it.

18 Weeks!

Baby is now the size of a sweet potato!
Your fetus has become amazingly mobile (at least compared to you), passing the hours yawning, hiccuping, rolling, twisting, kicking, punching, sucking and swallowing. And, baby's finally big enough that you'll be able to feel those movements soon.

How Far Along: 18 weeks and 4 days
Total weight gain: The scale said I was down a few pounds the other day. We'll see what it says officially at the doctor's office on the 25th. As long as Amelia is growing properly (and she was right on target at the May 1st ultrasound), I guess I shouldn't worry about my lack of weight gain
Maternity clothes: I wore maternity khaki capris last Saturday to GSU's graduation. It was still hot, but much more bearable than if I had been wearing jeans! I classed up the otherwise boring outfit of khakis and a brown t-shirt with a cute necklace and sandals. No matter what Thomas says about being comfortable and wearing "sneakers," I have to look cute!
Sleep: That's become a pain again. I'm waking up between 8 and 9 on my days off. I usually take a nap in the afternoon, but it's still annoying!
Best Moment this week: Celebrating my first Mother's Day. Thomas brought me a box of Russell Stover chocolates from his trip and my mom gave me a picture frame for an ultrasound picture that says "The first time ever I saw your face." So sweet! We also created our baby registry at Target on Sunday. It was definitely fun...except for Thomas acting like a 5 year old by pushing every button on toys that make sound. He's 30 years old! I'm going to be raising 2 kids at once!
Movement: Last Friday and Saturday I thought I felt some small stuff that was like popcorn popping. I've heard it referenced like that before and that's what it felt like. I don't know for sure, of course! I'm ready for undeniable movement!
Gender: Sweet baby girl!
Labor signs: None and I hope not to see any for a long time!
Belly button: Innie
Cravings: Not really craving anything this week
Nausea: No nausea, but the obligatory teeth-brushing vomit session is still occurring!
What I miss: Loving every minute of my life!
Stretch Marks: No more than were there last week...I think.
Weekly wisdom: Swimming is my new fave way to exercise!
What I am looking forward to this week: Going to Augusta on Sunday to order our furniture. I'm ready to get the nursery started!

17 Weeks!

Baby is now the size of an onion!
Baby's skeleton is hardening, changing from rubbery cartilage to bone, and fat is finally accumulating around it. The umbilical cord is getting thicker and stronger, and those little fingers and toes are now topped by one-of-a-kind prints.

How Far Along: 17 weeks and 5 days
Total weight gain: I haven't gotten on the scale this week, but I'm guessing I'm still around the same as last week
Maternity clothes: I haven't worn any maternity pants yet, but I think I will be breaking out the maternity capris (which Thomas hates!) tomorrow for the OUTSIDE graduation at Georgia Southern. Yikes! I wore a maternity t-shirt to the Mart the other day and I asked my mom if it looked stupid since I don't have a big belly. She said, "Well, you are starting to show, so it looks fine. It is kind of tight up-top though." I said, "Well that isn't going to change! It's only going to get worse!"
Sleep: I've been sleeping decently well this week. It could have been better, but Thomas has been out of town. Boo. I'm not a fan of him leaving!
Best Moment this week: Shopping at The Mart in Atlanta with my mom, Aunt Charlotte, and Kristen. We got some amazing stuff and I can't wait to see Amelia in her new clothes! She is going to be one well-dressed baby!
Movement: Every now and then I feel something, but I don't think about it possibly being her moving until well after the fact. Hopefully we'll have some no-doubt-about-it movements soon!
Gender: Sweet baby girl!
Labor signs: None and I hope not to see any for a long time!
Belly button: Innie
Cravings: I gave in to my sushi craving this week. I had all cooked stuff, but afterwards, I felt guilty, like, "What have I just poisoned my child with?!?"
Nausea: Still gone, but still having the gagging/throwing up in the shower and while brushing my teeth. Blah.
What I miss: Loving every minute of my life!
Stretch Marks: I think there are some new ones popping up on my belly. I need to start using my Stretch Mark lotion more often!
Weekly wisdom: I love my husband so much and he is going to be a great father. (I already knew this, but with him being gone this week, it just made me realize it more.)
What I am looking forward to this week: Seeing more family this weekend...even if it means sweating to death while doing it!

Here's another picture of sweet Amelia from last weekend at First Glimpse

Amelia Caroline Moore

It's a girl!