My Pregnancy: Week 20

Baby's 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!

Halfway there baby!  And the best part is that your dad and I got to see you yesterday!  If I thought hearing your heartbeat was incredible, this surpassed it.  For the first time, we got to see you: your head, your arms, your fingers, your legs, your heart, your brain, even your stomach and kidneys!  And, we also found out that I am carrying a baby girl.  

You were moving around like crazy during the ultrasound.  You'd flip from your stomach to your back, hide your face, and flail your arms and legs.  Your dad was amazed that you had enough space to move around so much.

If my ever growing tummy wasn't enough of a reality check for me, this ultrasound certainly was.  You are really there and I already love you so much!

20 Weeks and Growing!

Profile

Waving! 

It's a Girl!

My Pregnancy: Week 19

Baby's 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.

Sorry, no picture this week.  Life has gotten a bit busier this last week, and I seem to have come down with a nasty head cold as a result.  Even took the day off of work today.  But thankfully, you still seem to be moving around and each day I feel a little bit better.

Two Years Already! My How the Time Flies...

On Monday, May 16, Jason and I celebrated our 2 year anniversary!  I can't believe it has already been two years, but considering all that we've done, I suppose it makes sense.  In the past two years we have: moved 5 times between 2 states, put something like 65,000 miles on our car, held 3 different jobs each, dealt with unemployment for 2.5 months, lived with both sets of parents for a time, and have started our own little family (among others)!

Some highlights from year 2 include:

Annual Passes to Disneyland

Enjoying the Outdoors

Being with Extended Family

Meeting up with Good Friends

Making Halloween Costumes

Finding out about Baby Z

To celebrate, Jason took over the planning and surprised me with a trip to Cheesecake Factory for dinner.  Cheesecake Factory has special meaning for us, as it was a restaurant we went to together while we were friends in Hawaii.

After dinner, we went and walked around Babies R Us to start getting some ideas of things we'll need.  As first time parents, it was helpful--albeit a bit overwhelming.  We ended the evening with a quiet night at home watching movies.

A few days early, Jason bought his own anniversary gift (with my go-ahead): hamsters!  Jason was never able to have pets growing up and has really wanted to get something since we got married.  Unfortunately, the timing has never been right.  Even now, our current apartment doesn't allow cats or dogs.  So, we decided to start small and have welcomed Lucy and Ethel into our home.

I am so glad that I made the decision to marry Jason.  I truly can't imagine my life without him.  Personally, I have gone through some pretty tough times in the last two years, but having him with me has made all the difference.  He is so loving and supportive and would do anything for me.  It has been really fun to watch him take care of pregnant me.  He may be slightly overprotective, but that's a dad's job, right?  I look forward to beginning this, and many other stages, of life with him at my side.

My Pregnancy: Week 18

Baby's 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.

Another week (and another doctor's appointment) down.  The doctor said everything is still looking good and was encouraged that I have finally managed to gain some weight.  I got to hear your heartbeat again and still can't think of a single sound that brings me so much joy.  I'm also fairly certain I've started to feel some of your fluttering kicks.  Being a first time mom, it's hard to know if that's what I'm feeling of if that's just what I want it to be.  Regardless, all seems to be going well!

We also scheduled the date for the first ultrasound.  May 25th can't come soon enough!

My Pregnancy: Week 17

Baby's 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.

This week has been one of the best of my pregnancy thus far.  I had so much more energy and hardly felt sick at all.  It has also been fun that I can feel my baby bump now.  Your dad has really liked that too.  When I come home from work he always asks, "How are my babies?" with one hand on my stomach.  It is pretty sweet.  You are so lucky to have him for a dad.

We also went on your first road trip this weekend.  We went to Las Vegas just because we needed to get away.  I'm glad we did, since your grandparents woke up to a couple inches of snow Saturday morning.  I much preferred the sunshine and warmth we found in Vegas.  Taking this quick little trip also made me excited for all of the wonderful family vacations we are going to be able to take over the years.  I hope you enjoy them as much as I always enjoyed the ones with my family.

And, finally, since I am starting to show a bit more, I decided to start taking weekly belly shots.  Here's the first one!

P.S.  When we went to Vegas, I forgot my camera.  Jason, being the kind husband that he is, bought me a disposable camera so that I could still take pictures.  The only downside is that now I am waiting to get them developed.  So I promise a Vegas post as soon as I get the pictures back!