22/23 weeks

So this last week has been exciting.  Ryan got to feel the baby for the 1st time.  It seemed like everytime I'd call him over to feel it, the baby would cease to kick anymore.  I've started to see the kicking in my belly.  A few times it has kept me from being able to concentrate at work. 

Last weekend we went and bought our 1st baby purchase!- a stroller and car seat (thanks to Paul and Lisa, one set of future grandparents).  I went and bought an old junky car seat and traded it in for 25% off our new combo set at Babies R Us.  I have price compared a bit against Target and Babies R Us is more expensive, but they have a lot of sales and we keep getting 20% off coupons being a 'rewards' member that, the few things we have bought have all been on sale.  With the money I saved I headed over to Marshalls and picked up a few things they had.  Now that our guest bedroom is getting filled with baby stuff it feels like we may actully be prepared by the time the little one arrives!

For Valentines Day we went and bought me a body pillow to help me sleep and I love it! It takes up half our bed but it really has helped keep my hips from hurting so much.  I may want to keep it around even after the baby is born, but Ryan may put up a fuss.

This morning we headed to a big, charity garage sale that one of Ryan's ex-coworkers was helping put on and found a few baby clothes (both unisex and a few really cute things for one sex or the other), blankets, and a baby sign language kit. 

Next week we have another ultrasound and hopefully we will get a better photo of the baby's face!

20 week belly

Well I decided that it was time to take another photo of my growing belly since it had been about 4 weeks.  It feels and looks bigger looking down at it then it does seeing it here from the side.  So far not uncomfortable, but I imagine that will be sooner than I'd like. I'm restraining myself from playing anymore volleyball, which is a bummer because the intramural season in jsut about to begin.  I've contemplated trying the water arobics class on campus, but am hesitant.  It seems that only old ladies take the class, will I get a workout or enjoy myself?

We saw my doctor today and everything still looks good.  And I had only gained 5 pounds!  Guess I wasn't accurate in my starting weight here at home.  So only 20 more pounds to gain.  I'm starting by making a homemade King Cake (a Mardi Gras tradition).  Its in the oven, so we will have to wait and see how it turns out.  If its edible I'll bake another to take to work.

This weekend I exhanged a few books at the used bookstore and got, among other books, a baby names book.  I'm only a few pages in and already I have more names than I hope to ever need.  Do I really have to let Ryan have input?!  Its fun now, but I don't imagine it will be narrowing them down and mutually agreeing on one (I guess 2, one girl and one boy).

19 Week Ultrasound

So this morning we had our 19 week ultrasound.  It was very exciting!  Overall the baby looks good with a wieght of about 11 ounces and a heartbeat of 156 bmp.  It was fun to see all of the organs and bones.  I enjoyed watching the heartbeat.  Only 21 more weeks to go! And we didn't find out the sex, but it was very tempting since the tech just had us look away as he surveyed the legs and pelvis. The baby was very active and moved around a lot and at one point it looked as though it was punching me.  Unfortunately it never gave us a very good face shot.

I think that I have been feeling the baby move now since last Sunday.  Its an odd feeling, but I can imagine that it will get even more wierd when it becomes stronger.  Just in the past few days have I started to feel the need to eat more.  Until now I've eaten about the same amount as I had prepregnancy, but now I am always hungry.  Ryan has been rolling his eyes as I repeatedly head to the kitchen. I've gained about 10 lbs, which is on the low end of what they 'recommend' at this point, so I have some 'room' to work with.

I am finally feeling pregnant (and look it too)and it feels more real everyday that we will be having a child shortly.  The worries and what-ifs have started setting in.  I just continue to hope and pray and try to keep myself healthy.

I am very thankful for friends and family that have bought or given me hand-me-down maternity clothes.  They are working out great!  I love having a whole new wardrobe, but am a bit sad that I can't/shouldn't/don't need to go out shopping for myself. I am hoping spring arrives shortly because I am ready to get out of Ryans sweatshirts and into cute tops that show off my belly.

Ryan and I have ventured to Babies R Us and Target to look around a ALL the baby stuff that we will  be needing soon.  Its all a bit overwhelming.  But is should be fun using the GUN to register (which I had a blast doing when we got married).  I think once we have our few necessary basics I will feel a bit more comfortable and prepared, if that is fully possible.