26 Weeks

 I was just thinking about a post I put up on Facebook recently about the new chocolate Cheerios. I think they are pretty dang good and yet only 100 calories a serving. I also noted that I'm sure Ashley will love them too. They'll probably be one of those "staple" items we keep with us in a diaper bag on a consistent basis.
 Well, so that's one of the healthier items I have been eating for breakfast. But one thing I seem to be craving the most is apple fritters. I thought I was supposed to be finished with my cravings by now, but I guess I'm not. I have also been craving ice tea and lemon with pink-packet sweetener. Supposedly there is some "scientific" evidence out there to suggest that pregnancy cravings are an indication that your body is lacking a certain nutrient and you can get it via the items your crave. But most scientists say that pregnancy cravings are strictly hormone related and have really nothing to do with deficiencies at all. All I know is, I sure have been wanting my apple fritters and ice tea lately and a little indulgence now and then sure is great.
I want to comment here on just how wonderful my husband is. He has been nearly waiting on me hand and foot even when I don't ask him to. Just sweet little things he does for me to help make my life a little less stressful. I truly think he is going to be a great dad. We are both getting so anxious to meet our baby girl. Last night, he held his hand on my belly and we laughed together as our baby kicked and wiggled strong enough for him to really feel it. The moment was magical. I really love my husband, I really love our unborn daughter. Life in general...I mean what more could I ask for?

25 Weeks

Sometimes it is hard to believe that I am 6 months along. I don't really feel like my belly is all that big. I have seen other pregnant women who are 6 months along who are pretty huge. I have a round little pop belly, but it doesn't really seem huge to me. Perhaps my lil darlin' is taking up her space deep inside and is not pushing to much toward the outside. That's fine. It just means fewer stretch marks for me!

This week has been somewhat stressful for reasons not necessarily related to having a baby. What may be baby related is how I have handled this stress which hasn't been great. I'm talking about hormones. For the past two or three days I have felt a little blue. Today I am feeling much better. I'm going to have lunch with my father tomorrow which I am really looking forward to.


Last night, I awoke from a nightmare at 3am. I quietly said a quick prayer thanking God for pulling me out of that awful dream. About a minute later, something happened that was to my utmost delight. I felt my baby squirm inside of me a little. Before long, she was kicking REAL HARD. I started feeling hard foot stomps going in large circles from top to bottom all the way around my belly in a clockwise motion. I wondered "What on earth is she doing in there?" It was so weird! And so cool! I rested both hands gently on my stomach to feel the kicks. I nearly laughed out loud but stifled my laughter so as not to wake my husband, although I would have loved it if he were awake to feel the kicks. So I laid there, quietly chuckling to myself as my daughter practiced cartwheels inside me. It lasted about five minutes or so before she settled back down. She wiggled a little now and then throughout the rest of the night, but not nearly as wildly.

Right this second, I can feel some light kicks. Generally, I feel her almost all the time during the day. The kicks simply keep getting stronger with each passing week.

That's it for now. I am seriously hoping that one of my next couple of doctor's visits will include another ultrasound so that I can see what she looks like now....oh what I would really like is to already have her in my arms, but I can't have everything I want when I want can I?

24 Weeks

  Spring Break has been quite exciting! My mom came over the past couple of days and helped me paint the nursery and the bathroom. For my nursery colors, I am going with hot pink, light pink, and black. I will have pictures up as soon as I am finished putting it all together. So far, it still needs quite a bit of work.

Today, though, I am just relaxing a little bit. My muscles are a little bit sore from climbing up and down a step ladder painting flowers and princess castles on the wall. Don't worry, I was careful! But my neck, back, and legs are a little stiff this morning.

 As I have just mentioned, I am taking today at a more relaxed pace. Upon waking this morning I realized that it had been a little while since I had gotten out the stethoscope to listen to my baby's heart...just for fun. So, that's what I did. I heard the little "whoosh whoosh" of her little heart quite clearly and, as usual, she tried to squirm away so that I could not hear it anymore. She has ALWAYS done that whether it is me with a stethoscope or the doctor using a doppler or ultrasound machine to hear her heart, she tries to squirm away. The only explanation anyone can guess is that she does not like the small focused pressure from the listening device necessary to hear her heart. Hopefully she wont be as hard-headed outside of the womb, but my husband and I aren't betting on it.

That's it for Week 24. My next OB appointment in the first week of April. During this next appointment, I will be tested for gestational diabetes. That means I'll have to drink that liquid stuff that has a sugar content that is about the equivalent of my husband's Kool-Aid and they will test my blood sugar after an hour has past. Sounds like fun...

23 Weeks

 
The doctor's visit last week went really well! In fact, my doctor was quite thrilled with my last blood pressure reading in her office which was 128/76, and with my list of blood pressure readings over the past few weeks which have indicated that my blood pressure had fallen quite a bit during that time. My UA have also come back with great results with only a normal range amount of protein in my urine. The Lord really is taking such very good care of me and my Ashley, and I have faith that He will continue to do so.

Ashley has been doing a whole lot of wiggling lately. Her daddy, my dear hubby, is able to place his hand on my tummy when she is particularly active and feel her kicks, which is really special. I'm glad he is able to feel her movements once in a while, I think it help him form a bond with our child. I can bond much more easily because she is inside my body and I can feel her every time she moves, even if her movements are too slight to feel on the outside.

I am really enjoying the fact that I am feeling better. I have more energy and just generally feel pretty good. My husband and I have been taking our dogs out for a walk on days that are warm enough to go out. My birthday this past weekend was great. I got to spend some time with my mother, father, brother, and especially my hubby. This coming weekend, I will get to see my grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins (of course, hubby will be there too!). It is always great to see them and I can't think of a better way to celebrate my birthday than with the people I love.

Although I am feeling much better, there are some annoying symptoms that still bug me from time to time. My palms get red and itchy pretty often. My breasts feel tender now and again as they prepare to produce milk for my baby. My back aches at night and prevents restful sleep. I get a headache once in a while that is usually easily remedied with a cold rag on my head, Tylenol, or a shoulder massage from my dear hubby. Sometimes it feels like my heart is racing, I keep hearing from other people that it's normal and is just a result of the extra blood volume in my system. When it happens, I feel a bit tired and slightly out of breath. Thankfully, it doesn't last long and doesn't really happen too often. All these symptoms are rather minor and do not generally interfere with my daily activities, they are simply annoying. But I really can't complain, this pregnancy has been pretty easy thus far.

22 Weeks

 22 weeks pregnant and turning 22 years old this weekend. How cool is that? My blood pressure has remained high-ish, but stable and has not gone up any higher. Today, I have to collect 24 hours worth of urine to take to my doctor on Friday so that she can check for even trace amounts of protein. I suppose it is just a precaution to make sure I do not have preeclampsia. It sure is annoying to have to pee in a cup every time I go to the bathroom...which is pretty often considering this baby is growing heavier and putting more pressure on my bladder.

Ashley has been paddling away at the inside of my uterus. I can feel her moving almost all the time. I really hope that my husband will be able to put his hand on my tummy and feel her kicks soon.

As I said before, my birthday is this weekend. My birthday wish is that I receive something that is not related to my pregnancy or to the baby. My mother-in-law gave me maternity clothes for Christmas and my birthday this year. And it isn't like I do not really appreciate it, I absolutely do, I'd also be appreciative of some bath and body works or a new nail polish...some way I can get a little pampering. Some chocolate would be lovely... I've been under a lot of stress lately and much of that stress has caused me to get the blues once in a while. Sometimes a brownie and a self-manicure is the perfect way to lift me out of my pity parties. Regardless of what this weekend holds, it is that start of a new year for my life and I am optimistic that this will prove to be the best year yet.

Normally around this time, I would be going to a tanning salon to get a nice golden complexion to sport for the summer and making frequent trips to the gym. This year, I can't do either of those things. But, the sun is bright and it is finally starting to warm up outside after this long cold winter. I guess I can just enjoy the outdoors for now.