bump update--weeks 22 & 23

 

{I'm not sure what has happened to me this summer...I feel like I can't quite keep up with anything...including blogging.  Maybe it's pregnancy? So this post is a week 22 and 23 post combined.}

How far along: Almost to 24 weeks (on Saturday)...I really can't believe how fast this is flying by.

Baby size: Papaya (average length is close to a foot and weight averages vary from 12 to 20 ounces)

Total weight gain/loss: About 9 or 10 pounds...I've gained so steadily.  I eat regularly and eat quite a bit, but for some reason pregnancy is the first time in my life it's been difficult to gain weight.  The body is a funny thing.

Sleep: Good! I transitioned into using a body pillow for the first time last night...heaven!

Movement: Oh my...all the time! It seems like she's most active in the morning and at night.  She must sleep all day.  When she's in her active time I feel kicks, jabs, and rolls.  A lot of times I can see large movements on the outside where my belly gets pushed out.  If she's in one of her busy times, she reacts when we put our hands on my belly.  Justin loves getting a reaction from her when he puts his hand on my belly. (She's making a liar out of me right now and moving around quite a bit at 12:40 in the afternoon. :)

Food cravings/aversions: We were on a mission trip this past week and were fed so well by our food team from church.  They kept amazing fruit out at every meal...and fruit has been tasting wonderful! They also had a warm dessert for us each evening accompanied by ice cold milk.  Cold milk has been a craving of mine.  No weird cravings...but an aversion is that I'm still not really enjoying red meat.  I mainly have my normal likes/dislikes at this point.

Pregnancy Symptoms: Heartburn has settled down.  I'm having some mild cramping occasionally but my "What to Expect" book said that's normal right now as everything continues to stretch and grow.  Mood swings...highs and lows.  I'm an emotional mess right now--some days super happy and positive, some days super sad and negative for some reason.

What I miss: Nada.  I'm starting to embrace this pregnancy thing (well, growing larger thing).  I think it's about time. ;)

What I'm looking forward to: Getting a good start on the nursery, finishing our registry, meeting this sweet girl.  Celebrating our last anniversary as just a couple next week...Justin has a surprise up his sleeve. yay! :)

Milestones: For me--strangers are starting to take notice of my belly.  I really don't care about that though...I don't like attention, so it's fine with me that most people still don't notice.  For Adeline--her face is fully formed and we would be able to tell who she looks like at this point.  Her days are really mainly about packing on the fat at this point.

Best moment this week: Being on mission trip last week was a blessing...especially since I had a job as blogger for the trip to keep our church updated while we were gone.  It was such a blessing that God provided a place for me on the team even though I couldn't do most of what they did each day in construction.  He taught me a lot about surrender and humility last week.

Moments with Justin: Really, I just need to brag on my sweet hubby.  God has blessed me with such a kind, patient man as my best friend and husband.  (I think I may have mentioned that a time or two. ;) There's not a topic or concern I can come to him with that he doesn't wholeheartedly take in and work through with me.  We've had some great discussions lately and he's held me as I've cried, whined, or cried until I'm laughing.  He's going to be such a good daddy and I'm so thankful that Adeline will have such a sweet, caring daddy to love on her like crazy.

On a funny note--I got a dreaded email from Baby Center earlier in the week about what to expect "down there" after delivery.  Let's just say I'm the "I will just find out when it happens" type of person with things I don't want to think about.  But something got into me and I read the email.  Big mistake.  Although I've heard most of what was in the email...it scared me to death.  I'm not scared of labor whatsoever...but I'm scared of the aftermath.  Call me a wimp, but it just bothers me to think of such discomfort.  I brought all my concerns to Justin and after he cracked up at me for even reading the email...he calmed me down reminding me that it will all be well worth it when we have her to hold.  True statement.  However, let's just say other than my Labor Class at the hospital, I'm not opening up any more emails like that.