19 Weeks & A Survey

How far along?  19 weeks exactly

Total weight gain/loss: At my last appointment it was 6 lbs. I don't weigh myself at home, so I'm not sure how  much more I've gained since then!

Maternity clothes? Oh yes, non maternity pants don't fit at all, and non maternity shirts are just simply too short to fit over this growing belly!

Stretch marks? Fortunately, I haven't noticed any.

Sleep:  Totally depends on the night! Some nights I've been sleeping really well and others I'm tossing and turning and up to go to the bathroom about 6 times.

Best moment this week: Lots of movement! Also we reached the "less than a week to go" point of finding out what Mini Musa is!

Movement: Quite a bit! Sometimes it feels like he or she is doing kickboxing in there.

Food cravings: Still hamburgers and fruit. Oh my goodness, now I want Wendy's!

Gender: We find out next Thursday!

Labor Signs: Oh no thank goodness

Belly Button in or out? In

What I miss: Not being SO hot! My hands and feet are constantly miserably hot.

What I am looking forward to: Anatomy scan this coming Thursday!

Milestone: Really looking pregnant and not just fat! ;)

Your pregnancy: 19 weeks

How your baby's growing:

Your baby's sensory development is exploding! Her brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. Some research suggests that she may be able to hear your voice now, so don't be shy about reading aloud, talking to her, or singing a happy tune if the mood strikes you.

Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces and measures 6 inches, head to bottom — about the size of a large heirloom tomato. Her arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of her body now. Her kidneys continue to make urine and the hair on her scalp is sprouting. A waxy protective coating called the vernix caseosa is forming on her skin to prevent it from pickling in the amniotic fluid.

Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.

How your life's changing:

Think you're big now? You'll start growing even faster in the weeks to come. As a result, you may notice some achiness in your lower abdomen or even an occasional brief, stabbing pain on one or both sides — especially when you shift position or at the end of an active day. Most likely, this is round ligament pain. The ligaments that support your uterus are stretching to accommodate its increasing weight. This is nothing to be alarmed about, but call your practitioner if the pain continues even when you're resting or becomes severe.

You may be noticing some skin changes, too. Are the palms of your hands red? Nothing to worry about — it's from the extra estrogen. You may also have patches of darkened skin caused by a temporary increase in pigment. When these darker patches appear on your upper lip, cheeks, and forehead, they're called chloasma, or the "mask of pregnancy." You may also notice some darkening of your nipples, freckles, scars, underarms, inner thighs, and vulva. That darkened line running from your belly button to your pubic bone is called the linea nigra, or "dark line."

These darkened spots will probably fade shortly after delivery. In the meantime, protect yourself from the sun, which intensifies the pigment changes. Cover up, wear a brimmed hat, and use sunscreen when you're outdoors. And if you're self-conscious about your "mask," a little concealing makeup can work wonders.

Memories

I was just looking at some pictures of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. The oil has reached the beaches, and it's awful. It makes me so sad. My family started going there the summer after I graduated high school in 2003. There has only been one summer they have not gone. I missed a few because I was taking summer courses, but Taylor and I went with my family in 08 & 09. Without a doubt those were the best vacations I have ever been on. It makes me so sad to think of that place not as beautiful as it should be.

Below are just some pics from our 08 & 09 vacations.

*that one is for you, Sarah & Taylor! GENE MORRIS! lol*

Forgetful!

I forgot to post my 18 week belly pic. Taylor took this on Saturday, so technically I was 18 weeks and 1 day. ;)

18 Weeks

Your pregnancy: 18 weeks 

How your baby's growing:

Head to rump, your baby is about 5 1/2 inches long (about the length of a bell pepper) and he weighs almost 7 ounces. He's busy flexing his arms and legs — movements that you'll start noticing more and more in the weeks ahead. His blood vessels are visible through his thin skin, and his ears are now in their final position, although they're still standing out from his head a bit. A protective covering of myelin is beginning to form around his nerves, a process that will continue for a year after he's born. If you're having a girl, her uterus and fallopian tubes are formed and in place. If you're having a boy, his genitals are noticeable now, but he may hide them from you during an ultrasound.

See what your baby looks like this week.

How your life's changing:

Hungry? An increase in appetite is pretty common about now. Make it count by choosing meals and snacks that are rich in nutrients instead of empty calories (chips, French fries, candy, and other sweets). Bigger, more comfortable clothes are a must now as your appetite and waistline grow.

Your cardiovascular system is undergoing dramatic changes, and during this trimester your blood pressure will probably be lower than usual. Don't spring up too fast from a lying or sitting position or you might feel a little dizzy.

From now on, when you do lie down, it's best to lie on your side — or at least partly tilted to one side. (When you lie flat on your back, your uterus can compress a major vein, leading to decreased blood return to your heart.) Try placing a pillow behind you or under your hip or upper leg for comfort.

If you haven't already had a second-trimester ultrasound, you'll probably have one soon. This painless procedure helps your practitioner check how your baby's growing, screen for certain birth defects, check the placenta and umbilical cord, determine whether the due date you're working with is accurate, and see how many babies you're carrying. During the exam, you might see your baby moving around or sucking his thumb. Bring your partner along, and be sure to ask for a printout for your baby's first photo album!

A quick check in

Just a little quickie!


I went to the doctor yesterday. She said, "Hear that? That is a perfect heart beat. It sounds so great and strong!" That made me happy. It's such a relief to hear good things from the doctor. MM's heart rate was 160 again. I asked Dr. Ku if she thought that meant it was a girl. She laughed and we listened to it again. She said that it is a pretty fast heart, and if she had to guess she'd say girl. Then she told me to come tell her after our sonogram in two weeks to tell her if she was right or wrong. So maybe we do have a baby Laynie on the way! We will see. :)

18 weeks tomorrow. I'll have Taylor take a new pic tomorrow evening, and I'll post it then!

17 Weeks

Yes, it's been SEVEN weeks since I updated. That is unacceptable! I really need to stick with this blog, and update at least twice a week.

Let's see... what's been going on?.Well, just the usual really. I feel good. I'm still a little tired, but nothing too bad. I'm not nauseous anymore. THANK GOODNESS! I feel like a normal human being again! My belly is growing. Here is me at 15 weeks:

(Thank goodness I've had my hair cut since that picture. It was looking bad. I had about two inches taken off.)

I've been to the doctor since my last post. I went at 13w6d. I got to hear MM's heartbeat. At that point it was 160. I go back to the doctor this Thursday too. It'll just be a routine check up... blood pressure, get any questions I might have answered, and listen to the heart beat. Now, on July 1st we have a BIG appointment! That is when we have our anatomy scan scheduled. We cannot wait! It's now less than 3 weeks away, but it still seems like forever away. I am just so excited to find out what MM is and give this kid a name!

Not too much else has been going on around our house. Memorial Day came and went. It was nice to have a three day weekend. We spent Sunday of that weekend with Taylor's family, and he wasn't feeling well that Monday so I went to my parents while he stayed home and rested. I swam with my family and ate some good food. It was a nice relaxing weekend. Now on the weekends we've been trying to make only one night our "going out" night. We're doing real well on sticking to our plan so far. Since I'm home constantly all week I like to go out on Friday nights. A couple of weeks ago we went to Trail Dust (the original is down the street from our house). Last Friday we had a late (9:30) dinner at IHOP, woohoo! I'm not sure where we'll go tonight. All I do know is that wherever we go will be good!

Time to leave you with the 17 week update from Babycenter. If you're curious and want to see the weeks I skipped you can go here, http://www.babycenter.com/slideshow-baby-size

Your pregnancy: 17 weeks

How your baby's growing:

Your baby's skeleton is changing from soft cartilage to bone, and the umbilical cord — her lifeline to the placenta — is growing stronger and thicker. Your baby weighs 5 ounces now (about as much as a turnip), and she's around 5 inches long from head to bottom. She can move her joints, and her sweat glands are starting to develop.

How your life's changing:

Starting to feel a bit off balance? As your belly grows, your center of gravity changes, so you may begin to occasionally feel a little unsteady on your feet. Try to avoid situations with a high risk of falling. Wear low-heeled shoes to reduce your risk of taking a tumble; trauma to your abdomen could be dangerous for you and your baby. You'll also want to be sure to buckle up when you're in a car — keep the lap portion of the seat belt under your belly, drawn snugly across your hips, and also use the shoulder harness, which should fit snugly between your breasts.

You may also notice your eyes becoming drier. Using over-the-counter lubricating drops may help. If your contact lenses become uncomfortable, try wearing them for shorter stretches of time. If you still have discomfort, switch to glasses until after you give birth.