22 weeks

I'm really enjoying pregnancy right now! I've gotten compliments that pregnancy suits me...and I must say, it sure is nice to hear that after the 1st trimester AND while gaining weight:)! Not often do you get to gain weight and have people tell you how great you look! It is fun having a belly and being able to feel and see so much movement. The other afternoon Ryan and I were able to just sit and watch Baby B move and kick. What a great moment. There are of course the downsides... I think Baby discovered my cervix this week, I'm pretty sure I've never been kicked there before and I've heard from other moms how great it feels (sarcasm). Heartburn is a big enough problem that I've moved from Tums to Zantac. Apparently, eating as many Tums as I was can give you kidney stones...NOT something you want while pregnant (since you can't have most of the medicines used for kidney stones). Zantac seems to be helping quite a bit.

In the next four weeks Baby is supposed to double in size...but I think Baby B might be ahead of the curve on this one. I'm feeling stretched and tight and even less-hungry. In the last two weeks my uterus has gone from my belly button to my rib cage...now the only place to go is out! My belly seems to grow every day and I've invested in multiple 'belly balms' and lotions to help ease the stretching and itching. Speaking of belly buttons, I think mine is getting close to flat...and then popping...I'll keep you updated:)! I definitely can't do all that I'm used to doing...lifting things, walking long distances, deep cleaning the house, getting in and out of our truck, bending over, getting off our couch- these things are all getting more challenging and exhausting!

This last week was so busy and fun with Janae and Matt's wedding and all the family in town. Grandma Ruth, Aunt Carolyn, Aunt Ruth Ann and cousin Marilee all got to feel baby move...hopefully Grandma will be able to make it to Minnesota in September for Nathan and Amber's baby (great grandchild #6) and then Washington in November for great grandchild #7! Plans are being made:)! Seeing so many family and friends at the wedding, listening to the toasts and all the visiting going on made me realize what a great extended family (beyond blood relations) Baby B belongs to!

Baby B went to the movie theater for the first time today too...we saw Eclipse, movie #3 in the Twilight Saga. I intentionally drank very little so I wouldn't miss the whole movie running to the bathroom...and Baby B was very nice to me! I made it the whole movie with minimal movement and no bladder shots:) Movie gets two thumbs up from me!

Aunt Janae and Uncle Matt

Matt and Janae were married today and Baby B did very well...calm when I needed it and active when it was okay! The day turned out fabulous with perfect weather and no major catastrophes...just the prerequisite minor glitches that make for funny stories later. It was so great to see so many family members and friends. And afterwards when were laying around the house recovering Ryan, Marilee, Carin and Jessica got to see Baby B kick- even from across the room! What a wonderful day...looking forward to putting all the stress behind us and enjoying summer now.

21 Weeks- random ramblings

Well...even if I'm overdue, I'm halfway there now. Wow! This last week has been so busy I've barely noticed time going by. We celebrated Grandpa Joe's birthday and Father's day- and I'm finally on summer break too. We're just a couple days away from Janae's wedding, with just a few small details to wrap up. Family starts flying in tonight! So exciting:) Baby B is definitely an active baby, moving and kicking a lot. I bought a belly support band but I don't think Baby likes it...as soon as I put it on, Baby starts kicking as if I'm cramping his/her style:) Also, I most definitely do not fit in any of my pants anymore and I've discovered just how comfortable full-panel maternity pants are! OH and we bought a blue BOB stroller this week, now we're just waiting on a buyer for our orange one...I simply didn't like the color. It's a silly thing, I know, but the blue makes me so much happier:)

midwife and ultrasound appointments

We had our 20 week midwife appointment and ultrasound today. Everything looks and sounds good. Heartbeat was strong and all four heart chambers were equal sized. Two arms and legs, 2 hands and feet, detailed and straight spine. And lots of movement! Still no gender....we'll wait until October or November to find that out:)

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20 weeks...halfway (or so)

I have 'popped' and feel like I'm growing faster than my body can handle this week! Ryan is all done with school for this year and I have just two more days! A whole new level of exhaustion has hit me, I'm sure its mostly pregnancy but it probably also has to do with working full-time and actually having classroom responsibilities.

We got a really fun surprise today on our doorstep...Baby B's first present from our registry on amazon:) Its the ERGO baby carrier that we really wanted- we're planning on wearing Baby B as much as possible and these carriers are so comfortable and can be worn on your front, back or hip. Now I just have to wait patiently for 5 months to use it:)!

This week also brought the arrival of two new babies! Zoe Gruber arrived right on her due date June 13 (Zoe's mom is the teacher I'm subbing for) and Reagan Lincoln arrived only two days late on June 14th. I've always loved babies but now that I'm pregnant and feeling kicks and movement...there is a new emotion and excitement for me when these little ones join us!

I saw it!

I saw Baby B kick me for the first time yesterday! We were at Central Washington University's graduation for our good friend Jeremy...and the keynote speaker was so entertaining...that I stared at my belly for most of her speech and was rewarded with a visible kick:)!

19...almost halfway!

Tomorrow marks 19 weeks according to the midwife! Another busy week as Janae's wedding approaches. We had a co-ed party (shower) for her and Matt on Saturday and on Sunday celebrated the 50th wedding anniversary of Ryan's great-uncle and aunt Larry and Leila. At the party Ryan felt the baby kick for the first time...it was also our first day trying to feel from the 'outside'! This morning both Ryan and I were able to feel Baby B kicking from the 'outside'- a first for me! What a crazy experience...and I haven't even been trying to feel it from the outside because I didn't think I was big enough/ far enough along to feel it. Thanks to all my pregnant and recently pregnant friends for telling me to start trying:)!

This last week I also got to spend a couple of days watching my friend's twins, Allie and Kara. Their big brother Trevor has a heart defect and went to Children's Hospital to have his heart worked on. All three are the sweetest kids and I hope I get more chances to 'borrow' them...just no more heart surgeries! If you want, you can check out their blog too- or if you know someone who has a child with a heart defect send them their way: http://www.trevorsexcellentadventure.blogspot.com/.

Only 2.5 more days of school for Ryan and 6.5 more days for Sarah! Now we just need some summer weather to show up and we'll be all set!

18 weeks

Another eventful week! Wrapped up my "regular" subbing and got started in "my" classroom for the rest of the year! I'm covering a maternity leave for a 6th grade Language Arts/Social Studies class at my favorite middle school. It's only 14 school days, but its still nice to know where I'm going every day in advance!

Baby B is moving around lots, what a weird and fascinating feeling! The baby bump is more pronounced but still not as obvious as I look forward to! Can't wait for the day a stranger asks me when I'm due:)

Found a bassinet on craigslist this week as well- practically brand new for $20!! The shopping will need to take a hiatus however as June will be particularly spendy...we're planning to convert our office space into Baby B's bedroom this week! In addition, June 26 is the wedding event of the year and I still need to get my dress altered and find shoes (among many many other things!)

Memorial Day weekend was fairly uneventful out here in Washington...it was RAINY and cold, more like our November or January weather:( I had been hoping to tackle the weeds that are growing....well, like weeds in our backyard but that will have to wait for a drier weekend...or until school is out and I have family in town to help:) (haha, I know, I'm SO funny!)