Baby #3 // One Huge Bumpdate

The more kids you have, the less time you have to worry about bump pictures and updates. The less you care, too. (Probably because by the third pregnancy, you know what you look/feel like when you're pregnant, so recording/sharing it doesn't feel so momentous.) Heck, I didn't even get a good picture of my bump until the halfway mark! But I still kept record of the pregnancy, so here is a quick summary of each of my trimesters:

FIRST TRIMESTER

Two words: Exhaustion. Hormones.

I know I experienced fatigue in my previous pregnancies, but nothing like what I experienced for about two weeks during the middle of this first trimester. Ooooh man, it was bad. There were several nights where I went to bed right after the kids. Afternoons were spent napping. The moodiness was bad too. I'm glad it died off towards the end of the first trimester.

Those were the main symptoms, aside from some tenderness and noticing that it was harder to breathe when I got active. Occasional headaches. I wanted more water than usual. A few nights were it was very difficult to fall/stay asleep. That's about it.


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SECOND TRIMESTER

I started getting round ligament pain and had to be careful not to move too quickly/suddenly. That faded away after a couple weeks. I started having occasional heartburn, and then all of a sudden I had it almost every night for a week, and then it completely disappeared for the rest of the trimester. Starting around 20 weeks, my calves were always looking for opportunities to spaz out on me (charley horses) but I always managed to prevent them from seizing up.

I pretty much stopped shedding hair, which made my hair feel thicker than usual. It took me a bit longer to feel movement from the baby than with my previous pregnancies. It wasn't until 18 weeks that I started feeling definite, regular movements. Before then, I couldn't quite tell if I was feeling movement or just gas or something. By 21/22 weeks I could feel hiccups... so cute!

My belly didn't "pop" until around 25 weeks. Before then, people couldn't really tell I was pregnant unless I was wearing something form-fitting, sticking my tummy out on purpose (like in the picture below), or if I had eaten a rather large meal.

No strange, vivid dreams this time around, or dreams about the baby's gender. Huh. I guess I was too tired to dream! Haha.

The "nesting instinct" hit me hard at the very end of this trimester, too. By the time the third trimester started, I had already gone through all the baby clothes, washed all the newborn/3 month items and folded them away in the baby dresser, washed all blankets and burp cloths, and sorted out shoes and hairbows and such. Aside from installing the car seat and buying diapers, I was all set for that girl to pop out a good 3 months before my due date! It felt good to get all of those things done before the holidays set in.

^^^ Here I am at 20 weeks, the day before we found out the baby was a girl. Aaaannd below is a picture of Nicole and me in our matching pieces, just for kicks and giggles.

THIRD TRIMESTER

The final trimester started out with a bang; it all of a sudden got very hard to fall/stay asleep, not to mention difficult to find a comfortable sleeping position in the first place. Heartburn started again, and my sweet tooth was out of control. Just in time for the holidays, right? My weight gain rates went a little haywire around Thanksgiving. Oops.

I made it to 30 weeks before my belly size started making it difficult to put my shoes on or lean over to pick something up. It was also around this point that I couldn't let Austin sit right in the middle of my lap anymore; there just wasn't room for him. He had to learn to adjust his snuggling techniques, haha.

Between 33-34 weeks I started getting lots of aches and pains. Most notably, there was a week where I always ached sleeping on my left side, but not on my right side. HOWEVER, lying on my right side made my heartburn flare up. Basically, when bedtime arrived I had to choose between heartburn (sleeping on my right side) and the rest of my body aching (sleeping on my left side). I usually went with the heartburn. Fortunately, that phase didn't last.

At 34 weeks my wedding rings started getting tight and my belly button wasn't really an "innie" anymore.

At nearly 35 weeks I discovered that the baby was still breech. I was worried that I'd go in for my 36 week appointment to find that she still hadn't flipped and that we'd have to schedule an ECV to try flipping her manually, but I'm pretty sure she flipped 2 days before my appointment. Cutting it close, little girl!

At that point, braxton hicks contractions happened several times a day. At the 38 1/2 week mark, I had a suuuper salty dinner (nachos) and woke up the next morning to VERY swollen feet. The swelling stayed for the next week, during which I also got a 24-hour stomach bug AND my braxton hicks contractions became more frequent and had a bit of a "bite" to them. Once my sodium levels went back down (a couple days before my due date), the swelling went away and the contractions became less frequent. Then I got another illness right after passing my due date (let's call it a "full body cleanse") and frequent BH contractions came back (we're talking less than 10 minutes apart for HOURS, here) and by that point I was SO done and exhausted. Ah, what a way to finish the pregnancy.

Oh, and my heartburn pretty much disappeared for the final 2 weeks or so. Weird, but I'm not complaining about it!

^^^^Here I am at 38.5 weeks... I think this was the day after the nachos, so my feet were all swollen in those boots. Aaah, swelling. You can FEEL the tops of your feet jiggle with every step you take.

Baby #2 // 20 Weeks

I'm at the halfway point!!! I wish I could include a gender reveal with this bumpdate, but we don't find out the gender until later this week. Eeeek! Guess, if you want!

Truth be told, there isn't a whole lot that has changed in the past several weeks. I can feel the baby move on a daily basis now, and Doug was able to feel a kick about 2 weeks ago. I can see my belly move when he/she kicks too! Eeeeeee! :) I'm pretty sure that feeling the baby move will always be my favorite part of pregnancy.

I've gained a total of 7-8 lbs so far (right on track with my weight gain goals! Yes!), and I've already had a couple mild instances where heartburn has shown it's ugly face, but that's really it. Oh, and mild insomnia. No ligament pain, my mood has leveled out, no swelling yet... I'm cruising through pregnancy pretty nicely right now! I even have non-maternity pants that still fit me - button, zipper, and all!

I've already gotten a couple of "You don't look pregnant!" and "Wait, you're already 20 weeks? You don't look like it!" comments - because apparently you're supposed to get big way earlier with your second pregnancy. It doesn't help that I often walk around with tall posture and my core engaged, so that totally sucks my baby bump in and hides it.

I can make myself look really pregnant when I want to though! You just have to arch your back and stick out your gut! (Which is what I usually do in bumpdate pictures to show the bump off. I suppose it's kind of deceptive haha).

And now, just for fun... gender prediction test results! These are very often wrong, but still... they're fun! I dunno guys, things seem pretty even to me! What do you think?

Indications it's a girl:

• Mood swings
• I'm still pretty graceful and balanced
• We already have a girl name that we agree on
• I really want fruit and sweet things more than other foods
• The baby's heartbeat is above 140 bpm

Indications it's a boy:

• Doug hasn't gained sympathy weight
• I dreamed it was a girl (apparently, dreams are opposite)
• I sleep on my left side more than my right
• My age at conception + year = odd number
• No morning sickness
• The Chinese Gender Chart says so ;)

We'll find out in a few days! So excited! I mean, look at that last picture. That's the face of an excited mama. I feel like I can finally start planning for the baby once I know the gender.

{Bumpdate} 40+ weeks

Alright, folks.

I know I said I was putting myself on "blog time-out" until the baby got here... but I wasn't really expecting everyone to panic when I disappeared off the internet for the past week and a half. (Thank you for your concern, everyone!) So, for the sake of keeping you all in the loop and reassuring you that I didn't die in childbirth or anything (is that joke too insensitive?), I'm here to do another bumpdate! Besides... my bump has gotten bigger since my last bumpdate almost a month ago.

How far along: 40 weeks (40 1/2 weeks, if you want to be specific)

Baby is: The length of a jackfruit. Yeah, I had to look that up too.

Sleep: It takes a while to get comfortable, although I'm fine once I fall asleep (until I have to get up to use the restroom, that is). I get rather hot at night sometimes. It also takes a lot of effort to turn over. Yeah. The struggle is real, people. But overall, I would say I'm still getting all the sleep I need.

Symptoms: I thought my back pain was bad a month ago... but I must say it's gotten worse, which is one of the reasons why it's harder to fall asleep. I still have mild acid reflux, my feet are still swollen, and now I feel pain in my abdomen whenever I go on my daily walks. The doctors are still keeping a nervous eye on my higher-than-normal blood pressure, but it hasn't been high enough to truly cause alarm.

Mood: Still all over the place, but not as crazy as it was the previous week or two. One of the main reasons I suddenly cut myself off from my blog and facebook was because of a big old mood swing where I suddenly hated social media and everything about it. I have no explanation for you other than hormones. The results of this mood swing have been great though! I haven't been on facebook for a week and a half (except today to share this blog post) and it has been marvelous. I never realized how much time I waste browsing facebook and stalking everyone's lives.

Braxton Hicks: I have them every now and then... and they've been happening more often today, actually. And they feel a little uncomfortable. That's a good sign, yes?

Wedding rings: Off or on my pinky finger.

Belly button: Still in. I guess my belly button is determined to be an "innie" forever!

Doctor says: At my appointment this morning, I was 2 cm dilated and 70% effaced, so the doctor is pretty sure that this baby should be here any day. We have a day set up for me to be induced, but I'm hoping she'll come on her own in the next few days so I don't have to go through that process.

Favorite moment(s): I was pleasantly surprised at how much food I was able to eat on Thanksgiving with a full-term baby in my uterus. Thank you, baby girl, for not inhibiting my ability to enjoy yummy food. As impatient as I am, I'm also trying to soak up the last bit of time I have to feel a baby moving around in my tummy. It's such a cool feeling.

What I've done/bought for baby: The nursery is done (can't wait to show you guys some pictures) and we have everything ready to go. We're just waiting waiting waiting... and baby girl is taking her sweet time, that's for sure.

Forgive me, dear readers, for being "unsociable and taciturn" (name that movie!). All the waiting and discomfort is making me rather grumpy... it's understandable that I just want to hurry up and meet my baby, right?

What a stubborn little girl I have. She's probably ginger. I won't complain if she is... and I would say the chances of her having red hair are fairly good.

Exibit A:

We'll see soon enough! I am sooooo excited, you guys!

{Bumpdate} 37 Weeks!!!

Dress and Leggings - Mikarose  //  Coat - Kohl's  //  Boots - Forever Young Shoes

Before I say anything else, can we take one moment to appreciate these electric blue leggings? Okay. Thanks.

I've finally hit the wall. I was wondering if I would ever get tired of being pregnant... and I started getting tired of it about 2 weeks ago. Now that I'm full-term (according to the older medical standard), I just want her out! And if we're being realistic, she could come any time between now and the end of the month. Eeeeeek!

In any case... this is the home stretch!

Since I'm full-term, I figured I should squeeze in one last bumpdate post, just in case the baby comes earlier than expected. I still technically have 3 weeks until my due date, but you never know.

How far along: 37 weeks

Baby is: the length of a watermelon!

Sleep: I finally have to get up during the night to use the bathroom. I only have to get up once, but at least I know that my bladder is not completely abnormal. Goodness. Sometimes it takes a while to get comfy when I go to bed, and it can be hard to fall back asleep again when I get up to use the restroom, but other than that I'm sleeping fine. I take naps whenever I get the chance, too. So tired!

Symptoms: Back pain. Sore feet. My stretch marks get itchy if I don't keep them moisturized. It is SUCH a struggle to put shoes on, and sometimes getting out of the car is no picnic either. I can still bend over to pick things up pretty easily, but trying to grab something that's on the floor while I'm sitting on a chair or couch is a whole different story. I get mild heartburn almost every evening (it doesn't really burn though, it's just an uncomfortable pressure in my throat).

Mood: ALL over the place. One minute I'm happy, then I'm bawling, then I feel very productive, then I'm unmotivated and sad, then I'm anxious, then I'm "out-of-it" and can't seem to concentrate on anything. Mainly, I've been wanting my body back. I want to be able to be active without getting out of breath within 10 seconds. I want to be able to eat a hearty meal without the baby shoving my stomach acid back up my throat. Stuff like that.

Braxton Hicks: I get a fair few of them. They're not painful though, just uncomfortable.

Baby's movement: She doesn't really kick anymore because things are so crowded. Instead, she completely twists her whole body around to try to make herself more comfortable. I'm pretty sure she's a contortionist. She also pushes persistently against anything that squishes her, such as my arm resting on my belly or the mattress when I'm lying on my side at night. She also likes to shove her bum and/or feet into my ribs, and it's not very comfortable for me.

Wedding rings: Almost always off (or on my pinky finger).

Belly button: It's not an "outie" yet, but I can't really call it an "innie" anymore either. It's a halfway-in-halfway-out belly button, I guess. But definitely not an "outie" yet.

Doctor says: My blood pressure was a little high when I went in this past week, so he said we'll keep an eye on that. He told me to get off my feet more and elevate them because I have a lot of water weight in my feet and ankles. The baby's heart rate is right on par, though, and she's head-down! Getting ready to come out!

Favorite moment(s): It makes me laugh to hear everyone tell me my bump is small for being 37 weeks pregnant because my weight gain tells me otherwise. I think the only reason why I haven't freaked out about my weight gain is because of all the people who keep commenting on how small I am. But let me tell you, people, my weight gain has been more than average. So thank you to everyone who has told me I look great and that I'm a cute pregnant woman because that keeps me from dwelling on the number I see when I step on the scale!

What I've done/bought for baby: The nursery is basically done! I'm just waiting for a couple of wall decoration pieces to arrive in the mail :) Her clothes and bedding are all washed and ready to use, we finally started stocking up on diapers, the hospital bag is packed... I think it's safe to say that we are ready for this baby girl to arrive!



Now. Excuse me while I go freak out (again) and eat grapes. And a baked potato. I've been eating a lot of those this past week.

{Bumpdate} 34 Weeks

In a few days, I'll officially be 8 months along! I feel huuuuge, you guys! Although... a lady told me about a week ago that I was tiny for being so close to my due date. So I suppose I'm not that huge. And I'll definitely get bigger during the remaining weeks of my pregnancy.

How far along: 34 weeks (nearly 8 months)

Baby is: the length of an average-sized pumpkin! Perfect for fall :)

Sleep: I'm still sleeping like a baby. No middle-of-the-night bathroom breaks or anything. Am I just weird or something??!? Bladder of steel! I'm starting to have really strange dreams again, like I did during the first half of my second trimester. Some of those dreams include: giving birth and nursing. I had a "labor" dream just last night, actually! It was a very short and painless labor. Dreams predict the future sometimes, right??!? Haha. Ha. I wish. In the past week, I've started feeling more tired to the point where I often need a nap during the day. I've got to sleep while I still can!!!!!

Symptoms: I get tired more often, I've gained a couple more stretch marks, and usually by the end of the day my lower back hurts a fair bit. And it hurts after sitting in the drivers' seat of the car or sitting through 3 hours of church (aka - 3 hours of torture on my back). Lying down helps a lot. But those are my only main symptoms, thankfully!

Braxton Hicks: I have small, short, painless ones every now and then, but they aren't a common occurrence yet. Except yesterday... it seemed like I had more than usual yesterday. Hmmm.

Baby's movement: She still finds plenty of opportunities to turn, wiggle, and kick. I still haven't quite mastered how to identify which of her movements are from her legs, arms, bum, head, etc. but I'm trying to learn! It doesn't help that my placenta is attached to the front wall of my uterus, which cushions things. The benefit of that, though, is that her kicks and jolts still don't hurt me.

Wedding rings: Still wearing them, usually! Every now and then they'll be a little tight, but mostly they're fine.

Belly button: Still in. I'm starting to think that I'll make it to the end without it popping out at all!

Doctor says: At my last appointment, I was told that everything still looks great, although my blood pressure is a bit lower than average. Just a bit, though. I'll have another appointment this week, and I'm hoping the doctor might perform some exam or something to tell me what position this baby is in.

Favorite moment(s): I think my favorite moment of the past few weeks was when baby girl was dancing to the music. Of course, I love it any time she gets hyper (which happens every few days) and moves a ton.

What I've done/bought for baby: I had my baby shower a week ago (I talked about it a bit in this post) and we got some really helpful things from friends and family. We've purchased the remaining "big" items that we needed, I painted the baby crib (whoo!), and now I just need to finish pulling the nursery together and complete the decorations. I'll have more to say on that in a future post. Oh, and we still need to buy diapers. Lots of diapers.

Shirt - Target  //  Jeans - Motherhood Maternity  //  Boots - Forever Young Shoes  //  Belt - Urban Wear  //  Cardigan - old, gifted

Baby girl, your arrival is approaching almost too quickly! Your dad and I are so excited to meet you! Your mom is fine with you staying in there another few weeks, though. If you want to come a week early, that's great (maybe even 2 weeks) but no sooner! Do you hear me, little lady??? No sooner!!!

{Bumpdate} 30 Weeks

I have only 10 weeks left in this pregnancy. Life is getting a little surreal. It's crazy to think that I'll officially be full-term in only 7 weeks. Crazy crazy crazy!!!!

How far along: 30 weeks (or 7 months)

Baby is: The length of a good-sized cucumber (around 15 1/2 inches)

Sleep: Sometimes it's hard to fall asleep. I still don't have to get up to use the bathroom during the night, and it's really weirding me out. I have a strange bladder.

Symptoms: A bit of additional chubs on my face, my feet swell every now and then, and I have back aches more frequently. I've been so blessed to have such minimal symptoms during this whole pregnancy.

Braxton Hicks: As far as I can tell, I haven't had any yet. It's hard to know though, since this is my first pregnancy and I don't know what they're supposed to feel like.

Baby's movement: She doesn't hurt me yet, but sometimes she'll wedge herself against my ribs and it'll feel briefly uncomfortable. Her kicks are definitely getting strong! I love how my whole tummy changes shape when she moves around. She also gets hiccups every now and then. It's funny.

My movement: I'm still pretty much rockin' it. I have next to no trouble bending over, and I can get up and teach dance choreography to my students like it's nothing. Although... dancing = aching feet... but at least I can still move efficiently.

Stretch marks: I have some all over the lower part of my tummy and a couple on my hips. It's a good thing I never wear bikinis :P Nobody will ever see these marks, so there's really nothing to worry about. I haven't even tried to prevent them.

Wedding Rings: I have to leave them off when it's hot out or when I'm active (and my blood gets pumping) because my fingers swell. Sometimes I'll wear them on my pinky finger though.

Belly button: Magically, it's still in. I keep waiting for it to pop out.

Doctor says: "Everything looks perfect!" I'm measuring on-schedule, my blood pressure and weight are fine, and I passed my glucose test with flying colors. I actually didn't think that the glucose drink was nasty at all! Sure, it was very sugary, but it just tasted like off-brand orange soda to me.

Favorite Moment(s): Sometimes I have Doug lean over and speak to my belly in his "deep voice". We only have to wait a few seconds once he's spoken and then... movement! Doug's voice wakes her right up and sends her wiggling all over the place. We're such mean parents to interrupt her naps like that. (Sorry, little lady! Mommy gets paranoid and needs to feel you move!) It's really funny though. Doug's voice is our baby alarm clock.

What I've done/bought for baby: As shown in my last post, I got the dresser/changing table painted. My neighbor is giving us a crib that I plan on painting to match. I hope I can get it all done before things get too cold and wet!

I remember when I was only 10 weeks along... and now I have 10 weeks left. Ridiculous. Baby girl, we're excited to meet you! Your arrival is approaching quickly!

And... HOORAY for rainy days! Since Provo hasn't quite started changing colors yet, the rain makes everything look greener :) Doug mentioned that it's an "apple cider sort of day" and I completely agree. Today just makes me happy!

Have a wonderful Sunday, everyone!

Skirt - Target  //  Shirt - Burlington Coat Factory  //  Scarf - Ebay

{Bumpdate} 26 Weeks

skirt and cardigan - Mikarose  //  shirt - Kohl's (old)  //  necklace - Bella Ella Boutique  //  shoes - Target

Hooray for mustard skirts! Because, you know, the first official day of autumn is less than a month away. And I've been known to skip ahead a bit. The cooler weather and rain aren't helping my resolve, and I almost broke down and put up a decoration or two. But I'm holding out for September. I'll just wait that long.

In other news, I'm basically 2/3 of the way done with my pregnancy! I just reached the 6 month mark and only have 3 more months to go! You guys. Time flies. It's not even funny.Well, time for the bumpdate!

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How far along: 26 weeks

Baby is: the length of a head of lettuce

Symptoms: Some swelling in my feet and occasional mild acid reflux. But you guys, my hair is falling out less! When I brush or wash my hair, only a couple strands come out instead of a whole fist-full! At this rate, my hair will be thick and luxurious in no time. And then all that extra hair will fall out after the baby comes out, of course.

Sleeping: It takes a while to get comfy sometimes, but I still don't have to get up at night for bathroom runs. I must have a bladder of steel or something.

Belly issues: It is getting a little difficult to lean forward and reach for something when I'm sitting down. Especially when the thing I'm reaching for is on the ground. Belly in the way! But bending over from a standing position is still a breeze, so that's good.

Wedding rings on or off? On, but they got stuck once or twice the other week because I was outside and it was hot... not a good combo. But fingers are back to normal now.

Belly button in or out? Still in. Definitely not staying that way much longer.

Maternity clothes: I broke down and bought maternity jeans (thanks a lot, Allyson). You guys. They are so comfortable! They are a breeze to take on and off, don't pinch or squeeze me, and are very stretchy... but they're skinny jeans, so they'll work well with my boots for the fall! This girl is one happy preggo. I haven't gotten any other maternity clothes though. I'm rocking the maxi skirts/dresses while I still can!

Best moment of the week: I was on the BYU campus attending Education Week all this week, and I got a lot of people asking "when is the baby due?!" which is the first time people I don't know have been commenting on my pregnancy. So... my bump is very is obvious now and I don't just look like I've eaten too much ice cream. That's good to know.

What I'm looking forward to: I'm planning on taking a quick tour of the hospital I want to deliver at sometime in the next week or two, just to finalize my decision. I'm kind of excited about it... it makes everything seem even more real!

{Bumpdate} 23 Weeks

dress - Mikarose  //  necklace - BYUStore

Look at that bump! I love seeing how far I come every few weeks :)

And notice the lovely red marks on the inner part of my upper arms? That is the result of tubing down the Provo River yesterday and using my arms to paddle. The result was rubber-burn. But it was really fun - those of you who are in Provo should do it at least once in your life.

And, um, this vintage-style dress... those polka dots and retro puffy sleeves, I can't even...

Now... on to the bumpdate!

How far along: 23 weeks

Gender: In case you didn't hear... Girl!!!

Baby is: The length and weight of a hardcover Harry Potter book. The nerd in me loves this measurement analogy. Or, for those of you who like the food comparisons, the length of an eggplant.

Symptoms: I have had mild heartburn a couple times and it's not fun... but the whole first half of my pregnancy was so easy that I was wondering when the unpleasant symptoms would kick in. I also get charlie horses in my legs at night, but I can usually stop them before they get painful by flexing my feet. Speaking of my feet, they hurt a bit in the late afternoon when the day is at its hottest, but once I get them elevated for a while they feel as good as new! I've also gained some chubs in my face. Meh.

Sleeping: Once I toss and turn enough to feel comfortable, I sleep just fine. And I still don't have to get up at night to use the bathroom, so my sleep is pretty uninterrupted.

What I'm missing: Being able to walk around for hours at a time without my feet killing me by the end.

Wedding rings on or off? On, although they get rather snug when I'm out in hot weather.

Belly button in or out? Still in, but definitely not as deep as normal!

Maternity clothes: I'm still not wearing "official" maternity clothes. My maxi dresses/skirts and yoga pants are saving my wallet until I get a belly band I can wear to make my pre-maternity jeans fit (I really don't want to get an entire new collection of jeans just for maternity). It's too hot for jeans anyways, and I still have some capris that fit on me.

Movement: This little lady is very active! In fact, the sonographers at my 20 week ultrasound fondly used the word "hyper" to describe her and kept asking if I'd had caffeine that morning. Nope. Just a bagel, orange juice, and a hard boiled egg - although the sugar in the orange juice was probably what did it. Anyways, she's the most active in mid-afternoon and right after midnight, and I finally caught some of her movements on video!

What I did/got for baby: We have a stroller, and my sister-in-law just gave me some newborn clothes that my niece has already grown out of. Our spare room is also finally cleared out and ready to decorate!

Best moment of the week: I finally got Doug to feel baby kick again. She's really sneaky with her kicks when he's around and will only kick a couple times - so by the time I've summoned him over to check it out, she stops. The little stinker. But we finally managed to catch her off-guard!

What I'm looking forward to: Fall. I know that's not exactly baby-related, but this will be the first fall where I won't be in school. It will be great to go through my favorite season with so much time to enjoy it and with this baby bump in tow. PLUS I have some fun ideas for a fall baby shower.

So. Excited.

{Bumpdate} 20 weeks and Gender Prediction

Shirt - DownEast Basics  //  Maxi Skirt - CoziBear Boutique

Well folks, I've officially reached the halfway point in my pregnancy! Crazy! As you can see in the pictures, it has become evident enough that I am pregnant. The bump still isn't very large, but it is certainly noticeable. We will be going in for my ultrasound this week, and hopefully the baby will cooperate so we can find out the gender! But enough talk. Time for the bumpdate!

How far along: 20 weeks

Baby is: 6 1/2 inches, or the length of a banana

Symptoms: Very light nosebleeds in the morning. Round ligament pain. Occasional headaches.

Sleeping: I started feeling uncomfortable at night, which made sleeping difficult. Then I started using a body pillow that I can drape one arm and leg over. Sleeping patterns are now back to normal! (For now...)

Food cravings/aversions: Major cravings have died down, but I have small, brief cravings now and then.

What I'm missing: Being able to sleep on my back

Wedding rings on or off? On

Happy or Moody? Happy :)

Belly button in or out? Still in!

Maternity clothes: I finally broke down and bought 2 maternity shirts, although my normal shirts still fit. I haven't purchased any maternity pants. I still have a couple pairs of normal pants that fit me, AND I've basically converted to wearing maxi skits, maxi dresses, and yoga pants every day anyways.

Movement: YOU GUYS! Up until recently, I've only felt little flutters here and there. On Thursday evening I was sitting on the couch and this baby started kicking up a storm! I could even feel the kicks through my belly with my hand and could see a little bulge appear in my tummy when baby kicked. I finally got Doug to feel a kick yesterday afternoon. Sure, it was in a dark movie theater (awkward?) at the very end of How To Train Your Dragon 2, but it was an exciting moment nonetheless.

What I did/got for baby: We have a baby swing! Battery operated. Swings back-&-forth and side-to-side. We got it used and free from a lady in my church who wanted to get rid of it. Score!

Best moment of the week: Feeling those baby kicks (which seem to happen on a regular basis now!)

What I'm looking forward to: Gender! Gender! Gender!



That's right, folks. As I said before, we find out the gender this week! And for those of you who enjoy looking at what the old wives' tales indicate, I've put together a little chart based on what certain old wives' tales predict about the gender of our baby.

This is all for fun and I don't really set much in store by these indicators. Besides - they seem evenly balanced!

Some of the old wives' tales are rather strange. I mean... not eating the ends of bread? How does that indicate anything?! And that's not even the strangest prediction method. Meh.

So... what do you think? Boy or girl?
We will know for sure in just a matter of days!