So I feel like I am getting worse and worse at these pregnancy updates! I was really sure when I got pregnant that I would be all in to it and life would afford me the time to sit at my computer for 30 measly minutes to write an update. Yeah…In case you didn’t realize, I’m a bit delusional at times. But I have a ton of great excuses why I haven’t done them!!! See – I was wanting to post them all on my new website (OoOoO exiting, I know!!!) because I kind of grew out of my old blog. However, my dear husband and I have been quite busy doing other things to continue working on it. Plus, why do my website for free when he’s got quite a few paying website gigs. So there’s that. And then work started back up, which has been wonderful! It’s amazing how quiet a campus gets when there are no students!! Alas, all I’ve got are excuses, but what you really want to know is the baby stuff. Let’s get on with the goods!
How big is the baby?
The last time I wrote, the nugget was the size of a lemon! This week, 3 weeks later, the babe is the size of an avocado! Can you believe it?? It’s always amazing to me how fast it grows! Just wait until week 18, 19, and 20. At week 20, they usually stop measuring the baby crown to rump and measure it head to toe, so the measurements REALLY take a growth spurt. Really though, I am noticing the baby more and more now. In fact, I think I felt the baby quickening the other night! I was laying in bed (which is when it generally happens) and Seth was being a good daddy and rubbing my tummy when all of a sudden I got this weird feeling deep in my abdomen, kind of on the left side. It almost felt like muscle twitches and like tapping. It was crazy! It’s happened a few times since then and it gets more defined each time. Also, new movement development: I can sometimes feel when the baby moves to a certain location in my tummy, I get this weird pressure in that spot. The only thing I can liken it to is like a hand trying to reach from the inside out. It’s not a very accurate…or good description, all admit. But when you’ve never had a baby it’s hard to articulate things you never felt. So don’t hate. 🙂
What I’m eating
I feel like I am finally coming around to a variety of foods again. However, I am really thinking chicken is still off my list. It’s just not appetizing. I told Seth the other day, “If I am going to eat meat, it’s not going to be the froofy chicken stuff. I want RED MEAT!” It’s not that I have anything personal against chicken (in fact I am cooking one right now), it’s just that a big, juicy steak sounds so much more appealing! I also have really been loving apples lately. The crunch and the sweetness are just totally hitting the spot. Between that and the big box of cutie tangerines I bought on sale this week, my daily fruit intake is very good. I could still be a bit better about the veggies I think…especially those not of the starchy variety, but I am getting there! Winter veggies just in general have never really been my favorite, so come spring, I should be ready!
How I’m feeling
I think this week I’ve really started to understand what women mean by the greatness of the second trimester. For the most part, my nausea is gone (if I go too long before eating, it’s faintly there) and I am starting to feel more peppy throughout the day. I actually can make it through a full day without wanting to have narcolepsy and fall asleep just about anywhere. I feel like it’s easier to get up in the mornings and my sleeping is MUCH better now! I can make it through the night without having to get up like 3 times! It really is a beautiful thing. This week though, I came down with my first pregnancy head cold. It really sucked. It really make me think through things though because for the first few days, all I really wanted was medicine. I was like, “If I could just take some dang dayquil I could nip this stupid thing in the bud!!” Then after a few days, I really started processing how attached my body has been to medicine. And I’m not talking like antibiotics or anything. Just 2 advils to deal with a headache. Or nyquil to help me get rest. Having those things removed from me fairly cold-turkey (even my allergy medicine!! *GASP*) I’ve realized that if I really do rest, eat better, and drink a lot of liquids, I don’t NEED the meds to make it through the day. For a headache, a cold compress works just fine. For a cold, I have a nasopure netti pot thingy that works wonders combined with a hot washcloth on my sinuses. Just interesting thoughts…
Some Random Thoughts
Quite a few people have asked some basic questions so I thought I would write a couple of answers for you all too. Seth and I have decided not to find out the gender of our baby. We just like the element of surprise and for our first, decided to keep it as much of a surprise as possible! The doctor on our last visit said that she could see what the gender was and apparently, our baby is NOT bashful, which is great! We just think it’s going to be a great time keeping it fresh and exciting. We’ve also decided that we are not going to tell anyone the names we’re potentially naming our baby. Our plan is to have about 3 or 4 of each gender and then when we meet the baby for the first time, decide on a name. Naming is so important to us and is also important in the Bible, so we really want to choose something strong, with good meaning, and also maybe a bit different. We are always accepting suggestions though! 🙂 So there you go! Hope you enjoyed reading all about week 17! I’ll leave you with a great picture of something I bought last week from my Alma Mater and current employer!
