Halfway there!

20 weeks!

With each day I'm pregnant, I realize how surreal the whole experience is. For months you try and hope and pray and wish and then some piece of plastic tells you it's real, and it takes another nine months or so for you to finally get it. Because I am starting to think it won't totally all fall into place until this little guy is placed in my arms.

I know I'm pregnant. If the side effects and the increased waist haven't convinced me, seeing the baby during the ultrasounds sure did. And I know I'm going to have a baby. A real, crying, laughing, diaper-dirtying baby. Soon. But it all seems so impossible. It's like my brain cannot corolate the squirming image on the screen with the need to go to the bathroom every hour. It knows the facts, but it thinks this has to be some big hoax.

It's crazy that you can be so anxious and excited about something that you haven't completely wrapped your mind around yet. It's nuts that you can willingly hand over your body to another being and not be aware of it every second of every day. They say birth is a miracle...then pregnancy is a divine mystery.

OK, in more simplistic news, still feeling really good. Sleeping better. Worrying about finances and the like.

We are starting Lil G's registry this coming weekend, which I'm very excited for. I have done all the research and want to get my hands on the goods. I'm sure the experience is going to be overwhelming -- I get lost in Babies R Us when just picking up a shower gift -- but if we pace ourselves and make sure there's a snack break involved, all will turn out well. :)

And to sum it all up, the 20 weeks photo. The baby seems to be moving north these days to the bottom of my pelvis is flat again and then justs out at like 90 degrees. Who knows...

BIG u/s results in! It's a...

I had no clue, so it was going to be a surprise either way. The hubs claims he knew it was a boy...

We got to see the little man doing his thing, and it's amazing how much bigger he is since the NT scan two months ago. All the organs and arteries looked great and he's measuring right on schedule, currently weighing around 13 ounces. Here are some of our favorite pics:

The money shot, which we got about 10 seconds into the u/s.
He must have known what we were really there for. ;)

Laying on his stomach, with a good view of the spine.

Looking right at us. We affectionately call this one "Skelator."

Little baby foot!

Now we need to find this little guy a name!

19 weeks! And we have movement!

We have for nearly a week now! Seems like as soon as I spilled about how insecure Lil G was making me feel sitting still and all, he/she felt bad and decided to do it's stuff.

It started last Wednesday with a few little pops while I was getting ready to leave the office. Thursday I got a few more, especially after meals. By the weekend all I had to do was drink water to get the little one to say hello. And it seems like now he/she is swimming laps! Such a quick change!

The feeling is still very light -- little pops which I assume are kicks and punches mixed with a rolling sensation (kinda like one of those wooden massage rollers, only from the inside). I love it!

And we get to see exactly what all these movements really are on Friday when we see Lil G again. DH and I are beyond excited. Getting to hear the heartbeat again at my monthly appointment last week (162 bpm) was a relief, and now I just want to see the lil bugger. Everything hinges on Friday at 3:30 pm -- the name, the nursery, the registry. It's like I'm at the top of a rollercoaster hill and you are just waiting for the front of the cart to tilt down and get things moving.

Voting ends tomorrow, but it looks like you guys are going with GIRL! I'll let you know!

I forgot to get a weekly photo this weekend (it's March Madness, I was kinda busy kicking ass in my bracket), but here's some updates:

How far along? 19 weeks, 1 day

Total weight gain/loss: About 5 lbs. gained

Maternity clothes? Yup. Still can get away with some regular clothes, but I'm going to have to go spring shopping for the bulk of the maternity wardrobe soon.

Stretch marks? Nopers.

Sleep: Getting better. I miss the nights of sleeping all the way through, but I'll settle for only two bathroom breaks.

Best moment this week: Feeling Lil G move. Totally amazing.

Movement: Yes! Still light and very random, but I'll take it!

Food cravings: Still loving fruit, especially grapes. I've also got a thing for marinara sauce.

Gender: We'll know in TWO DAYS!

Labor signs: Noooo.

Belly button in or out? Still in.

What I miss: Being able to put together an outfit for work in less than 10 minutes.

What I am looking forward to: Finding out if it's a he or a she, getting the nursery started.

Weekly wisdom: Drink water. Lots of it. Even if you feel like you are drowning from the inside.

18 weeks

Yikes. Time is starting to fly by. At a snails pace, of course.

I am scared to say it but I think my face is starting to clear up! Hoorah! It may be that my hormones are just finally evening out, it may be the fact that I threw the Rx the whack-job derm gave me out and am now just using a gentle wash and a Bare Minerals spot treatment. I'm just happy not to look totally blotchy. There's a ways to go and some old scars to deal with, but I'll take any sign of improvement.

They say horrid acne like mine is a sign of a girl -- she takes away your beauty. If there's any truth in it, this is one gorgeous baby. Of course, I've never bought into old wives tales. If I did, I would say this baby has to be a girl. All the signs point to it. And it looks like most of you are feeling female as well, per the poll. Interesting... You'd make my MIL very happy.

Of course, I have one friend who is convinced it's a boy. So much so that when she and her huband met us for brunch this weekend, she brought us the cutest little baby boy picture frame. She gave us the gift receipt too, just in case, but I admire her confidence. :)

Just 10 days until we know for sure. I can barely breathe I'm so excited to see him/her again and see how much they have grown!

Speaking of growing, here's the week's bump pic, taken at 17 weeks, 5 days:

17 weeks (and a day, again)

I'm really slacking here, huh?

Not too much to report. I'm lucky enough to be feeling really well, and even stayed up the other night until 10 pm! I know, be proud.

Right now, I'm just totally anxious about how Lil G is doing in there. The novelty of hearing the heartbeat at 14 weeks has worn off and I want to hear it again. Now. Please!? My next doctor's appointment is more than a week away and I hate sitting here hoping that all is well. What makes it worse is that all the pregnancy books say I could start feeling the baby move any day now, and each night I fall asleep without so much as a flutter or a wave I feel like a failure. Why can't I feel him/her? Why aren't they moving enough that I can sense it? Is everything ok? I am without any information and feel so helpless. My days now consist of me sneaking pep talks in to my stomach. Come on, little one, just kick me as hard as you can. Enjoy torturing me while it's still cute. Take advantage of this!

But for now, I guess we wait.

I did get the hubs to start what should now be a weekly bump photo shoot. Not my greatest photo, and after the fact I realized not the best shirt to show off the goods, but here it is, taken at 16 weeks, 4 days:

In other news:

How far along? 17 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: Looks like I'm finally gaining. From the bathroom scale, about 3 or 4 lbs. above pre-preg weight.

Maternity clothes? My new best friends. I can still wear my dress pants with the Bella Band, but it's maternity jeans now and about 50 percent maternity tops.

Stretch marks? Nopers.

Sleep: Slowly adjusting to side sleeping, probably due to the exhaustion of not getting a good night's sleep for the past few weeks.

Best moment this week: Firming up the purchase of Lil G's nursery furniture.

Movement: No. Booooooo. Come on!

Food cravings: Fruit of any kind, bagels with extra cream cheese.

Gender: 15 days to go!

Labor signs: Noooo.

Belly button in or out? Still in.

What I miss: Clear skin.

What I am looking forward to: Finally feeling him/her move! Any day now, right? You can do it, Lil G!

Weekly wisdom: Do not pay full price on maternity clothing. It's always gonna go on sale.

16 weeks (and a day, cause I'm lazy)

Hello theres!

So it's week 16 and I officially look pregnant. I mean a stranger on the street wouldn't know for sure, especially with the giant jacket I've been sporting through Philly's latest chill, but those who know me now know. I didn't announce my pregnancy to any of my clients (it would be kind of odd to just bring up during a status meeting, don't you think?), and this week I got the first sideways glances. One was bold enough to come over and go, "So you can hit me if I am so off base, but..." I think she was so releaved when I told her it was true!

I've been feeling pretty good. My face is still a mess, I'm itchy as all hell, I cannot sleep for more than two hours straight...but in the grand scheme, not too shabby. I went to the dermatologist for my itchy skin and she was of no help at all. She thinks I have pregnancy-onset excema, but she's not sure. But just in case, she gave me a presciption for some steroid cream. Well it's level C, sister, and I did my Googling and it caused club feet and extra ribs in the rabbits it was tested on. No thank you. So it's me and my Gold Bond cream, getting through the old fashioned way.

In other news, we picked out our lil one's nirsery furniture! We will be going with the Bonavita Metro collection, and I'm quite happy with our choice. Clean lines, modern, but not too much so. I think it will grow well with Lil G. And my parents were suckered into being members of Direct Buy a few years back, and they have all the pieces for about $200 off retail per piece. Woot!