23 WEEKS!
At about 10.5 to 11.8 inches and about 12.7 to 20.8 ounces, baby's not just getting bigger, he's getting even cuter. His face is fully formed now -- he just needs a little extra fat to fill it out. He's listening to your voice and your heartbeat -- and even to loud sounds like cars honking and dogs barking.
This is about where we quit using the fruit references because they don't seem to make sense size-wise anymore. According to the website, baby is the size of a pomegranate this week, but that seems pretty small, considering at 20 weeks he was a cantaloupe! What the..... anyway. We are so excited to be sailing through this pregnancy without any problems. At this point, the DIRT cravings started to really kick in, like it did with the other kids. It's called PICA, and it's an unexplainable craving while pregnant (if not pregnant, it usually means an iron or mineral deficiency). It's a pretty frustrating thing to be craving something that I cannot satisfy. Brittney was kind enough to bring be a bowl full of really, nice, rich, dirty smelling dirt! It sometimes helps me to go shake that bowl around and give it a big sniff!! :) I'm oh-so-tempted to just stick my tongue in there, too, but I'll hold off...... I've tasted a few raw potato chunks, which also seems to help a little. :)
Baby is SO SO active. I love it! He's kicking and rolling and punching around so much. Ryan can feel him and we can even see him moving in there. He remains nameless for now, but we have a little list of names that we like. Though, it's getting tougher to share them with people---since we get some strong reactions from some people.
Heartburn has really kicked in recently, too. There are tums on my nightstand, along with saltines and a glass of water every night.
26 weeks: He's still growing in the 13.6- to 14.8-inch and 1.5- to 2.5-pound range, and developing his senses, features and talents! His eyes are forming, and his eyes will soon start to open. His eyelashes are now grown, too. He's getting his immune system ready for life on the outside by soaking up your antibodies. He's taking breaths, too. They're of amniotic fluid, not air, but it's still good practice.
26 weeks seems like there was a big old growth spurt! Which, we expected, as the Doctor told us at the 23 week visit that baby would double his weight by the time we saw him again at 27 weeks. Seems like he has!! Everything seems to be going along just fine. As uncomfortable as it is to try and sleep, it has been a little better lately. My lower back and hips are aching..this baby is taking it's toll! But Ryan is a champ at rubbing my back when I need it the most. I went in for a bra fitting at a maternity store. Um--they didn't even have one to fit me!!! NO WONDER my back is tired and sore by the end of the day...all this weight in front is killing those muscles, hahaha!!
The kids are as excited as ever to have their baby brother on his way, and we are all getting a little anxious and restless about his arrival.
I'm trying to get his part of the room set up which is proving to be a bigger task than I thought. Why is it that when I have a theme in mind, there is never anything in the stores to fit? I always end up having to MAKE something! Cash decided that he wants to keep his part of the room in his cowboy theme, so we are just coordinating colors and putting "monsters" in the crib for baby's own space. I think it'll turn out cute, once I get this quilt all sewn together. Cash is pretty excited to share a room with his baby brother, and is just happy to finally be the big brother to someone else!
30weeks!
Your 15.2- to 16.7-inch, 2.5- to 3.8-pound baby continues to grow. His skin is getting smoother. But his brain is getting wrinklier -- to make way for all that essential brain tissue. He's now strong enough to grasp a finger!
Holy Belly!! That thing is gettin' outta control, people. Ya know when you get to that point where you say to yourself while looking in the mirror, "it is not possible for me to get any bigger" ?? Well, this was the week for that! I can't believe this belly is so big! (and my butt, for that matter) but I'm just happy we have a healthy baby boy in there. He's starting to really wear me out!! I have less energy and my feet are achy by the end of the day, but the official countdown has finally begun -10weeks!
I took my glucose test and passed with flying colors, but had a surprise in finding out that my iron has actually dropped quite a bit. My iron is generally high for women (40+) so it's not crazy low, but the doctor suggested I start taking an iron pill along with my prenatals every day. Ugh, another pill. Hopefully it helps to pick up the energy level a bit, though.
The Dirt cravings are still there, along with the heartburn and back aches, but all in all things are fine. I am a penguin by the end of every single day....WADDLE WADDLE WADDLE WADDLE...but I've indulged in some long bubble baths and back rubs from Ryan to help soothe away the long days! Ryan put me in tears the other day, simply by saying "I can't wait until he's here in our arms". Yep, I'm an emotional basket-case, more so with this pregnancy than the other two, I think. I just can't wait to have his chubby little cheeks here to kiss and to snuggle him up tight. xoxox
