OMG. I'm pregnant.

I know that you guys all knew that.   This pregnancy has been a whirlwind. 

How far along? 24 weeks 4 days

Size of Baby: According to thebump.com

Your 10.5-to-11.8-inch fetus weighs about 12.7 to 20.8 ounces and every week she gets closer and closer to being ready to survive (and thrive!) in the outside world.

Total Weight Gain/Loss: At my last check up, 23 weeks, I was up 4 pounds.  I will leave out the fact that I gained all that weight between my 19 week check up and my 23 week check up.

Maternity Clothes: I'm really attached to maternity pants.  I wear scrubs to work, but I am growing out of scrubs much faster than I did last time, so I bought a few t-shirts to wear to work, and I hope that that doesn't offend anyone.   We'll see.

Gender: TEAM  PINK!  We actually have had 3 u/s that told us the sex of the baby.  The first one said boy, but I was never really comfortable with that assessment.  It didn't feel right.  When we went for our official a/s, the baby was clearly a girl.  That made sense to me, but I was still uncomfortable, so we went back for another u/s which also said girl. 

After all that, I really feel like it's a boy now.  I'm trying not to get myself psyched up one way or another, and as far as preparations go, we haven't made a whole lot.  






Belly Button In/Out: In.

Stretch Marks:  My skin has seen better days between the 2 pregnancies.

Labor Signs: I had some braxton hicks contractions last night, but other than that all is well.  That's the way we want it after all!

Movement: This baby moves a ton...at night.  I usually feel her when I'm laying down at night.  The hubs has not been able to feel much movement.

Sleep: Sleep's been ok.  I get up about 2:00 A.M. to pee, but other than that, everything's ok.

Cravings/Aversions:  We've actually eaten Mexican food twice this pregnancy.  The hubs is excited!

Symptoms: I've been having some lower back pain, usually on one side or the other, so I really thought that it was like a kidney stone, but I talked to a doctor (not my ob) and told me it was probably muscular.  This doctor described the uterus as a "tricky beast."  Some stretches have really helped with the pain. 

Feeling:   I feel great.  I'm holding up much better this pregnancy than I did with DD.  My bp was 122/68 at my last check up, which is awesome.

Best Moment this Week:  Pregnancy related? Viability day! 24 weeks.  Not pregnancy related, my baby girl had her first birthday.

What I Miss: Beer, wine, sangria, etc.

What I am Looking Forward To:  Making some plans.  I want this baby named and the nursery decorated, but it has to be cleaned out first.  Ohhhh, what am I going to do with my junk??

Milestones: Viability day!
 
Baby Milestones: According to thebump.com:

At week 24, baby’s progress isn’t just about internal stuff, it’s about her looks too. With pinker, more opaque skin, she’s looking more and more, well, like a baby. You, on the other hand, are probably experiencing some of the discomforts of the later months of pregnancy at week 24 -- leg cramps, backaches, swollen feet. Hang in there, mama-to-be!

Next Appointment: October 31st.  I get to take my glucose tolerance test.

10 Things Tuesday

1.  I have a love/hate relationship with Tuesdays.  The further along in this pregnancy I get, the more I'm leaning towards love.

2.  I got my avon order today, and I'm super excited.  It consisted of eye liner, eye shadow, a new avon purse, and a lip exfoliator.  I love Avon because it's super budget friendly, but higher quality than that crap they sell at walmart. 

3.  I really love my new job. 

4.  Even though I love my new job, there are some personnel issues that started before I got there and have been brought to life recently.    There's an ongoing investigation.

5.  I also ordered an awesome wreath that I'm so excited about! The hubs probably won't be that excited.

6.  Since I started my new job, I've started doing more eating out of boredom.  This usually takes place after work/before dinner.  This may contribute to some weight gain at my next doctor's appointment.  I've got to get some control.

7.  Another great thing about Tuesdays is the Law and Order: SVU marathon on USA.

8.  Another note about my new job:  HR director is an idiot.

9.  I got HC's party invitations in the mail today! Crazy that she's almost a year old.

10.  I have to clean my house before the birthday party.  It's disgusting.

22 Weeks Pregnant

This information came straight from the bump, but I'm going to share it with you.   You can take note of my symptom commentary below.

your baby's the size of a papaya! 

 

 

During month five, the average fetus measures about 10.5 to 11.8 inches and weighs about 12.7 to 20.8 ounces.

 

 

your baby at 22 weeks

• Now that he's got more developed eyes and lips, he's looking even more like a newborn.
• He's sleeping in cycles -- about 12 to 14 hours per day (hint: they're probably those times you're not feeling any kicks!).

pregnancy symptoms at 22 weeks

• Increased libido. (We hope you're enjoying it!)
• HAHAHAHAHA
• Stretch marks and maybe even a brand-new "outtie." These come with the explanding belly territory.
• Present and accounted for.  the belly is ever expanding. 
• More vaginal discharge, a result of increased blood flow down there.
• Present
• Steady weight gain -- about 1/2 pound each week from here on out.
• Possibly present, but I'll let you know next week.  At my last appointment...not true. 
• Minor swelling in your hands and feet. 
• Minor? HAHA. 
• Back aches, due to extra pressure from baby and carrying around the extra weight.
• Present
• Hair growth (maybe in strange places -- sorry!). Thank you hormones.
• Actually, not present.  Decline in rate of hair growth, a definite perk. 
• Trouble catching your breath, as baby continues to crowd your lungs.
• Present

Emotional. Wreck.

I know that all my readers my one-two blog readers are ecstatic that I am finally blogging again, but good gracious.  I'm actually writing my second blog today because I've been browsing the internet.  I have a few child/husband free hours on Tuesday afternoons, so I've had time to browse the internet.  It started as, "Oh, I'll look up some new therapy activities for work, " which lead to, "I'll just see what's going on on the bump...." which lead me to read about

1.  A baby about HC's age falling out of a shopping cart *tears*
2. Thinking about HC's birthday *tears*
3.  Thinking about the fact that HC now says, "Bye bye" and lays down instead of trying to spend as much time as humanly possible with me and her daddy before bed.

All these things then lead me to catch up on my blog list.

4.  A woman who lost her 4 month old son 3 years ago
5.  The same woman who is about to be induced with her third child.  She's been getting comments about how now that she has a boy and a girl, she has the "perfect family."

This lead me to the baby name generator.

6.  Why can't we name this baby girl?  Probably because nothing has been right.

I know I'm forgetting something on my tear inducing list, but there have been waterfalls in my house this afternoon.  It's making me more excited than usual about picking up baby girl tonight.

I feel like a domestic diva....

....but anyone who knows me,  knows that that is a lie.      I,  however, in all my awesomeness, made my own laundry detergent.

I originally wrote this post on 6/24/12.  A co-worker had brought in some information about endocrine disruptors.  In case you didn't know, endocrine disruptors are chemicals found in products we use EVERY day, including Dawn and Tide.  I LOVE my Tide, but armed with new information about how these products were going to kill me, I finally made my own laundry detergent.

Two months later, I've noticed more ruined clothes because my homemade laundry detergent doesn't wash out all the gunk and grime I acquire in a day.  I mean, let's be honest,   I work in skilled nursing, and I LOVE my job, but I can acquire some gunk in a day.  I broke down this weekend and bought some Tide.  I will continue a search for a crunchier alternative to my current laundry detergent, but until then,  my clothes will be cleaner.

SURPRISE....

Baby Girl

I know that I have been absent from the blogging world for awhile. I've got exciting stuff coming, it's just not here yet.

The thing I need to tell you today is that I got an email with the subject, "Your Baby: Week 38," and I thought, 'Aww, HC has been on the outside almost as long as she was on the inside,' which was followed by, " Wait a minute! They delivered her at 37 weeks!'

HC has been on the outside longer than she was on the inside.