Baby E. 20 Weeks

Yep, I’m behind again! Are you really surprised? I’m actually 21 weeks today, but this is the first chance I’ve had to write this bump date.

Baby E’s Stats

Baby: About the size of a carrot or small banana! At our last ultrasound 2 weeks ago baby was measuring between 11 & 12 ounces with crazy long fingers! Baby can swallow now & the teeth are developing! Her organs are shifting into the proper places!

Sleep: Finally bought a body pillow! It’s just a cheap one from walmart, but it’s helping so far! I’m also going to bed every night with my rice pack. Anything to try to prevent those hourly wake ups I've been having. And I can't even blame it on having to pee. I just can't sleep.

Clothing: I’m rotating through the same things lately. I feel like I just kind of blew up and all of the things I bought just a month ago, are now snug. Still loving my maternity leggings. But I will say those jeans I’m rocking in my picture are not maternity. Don’t be fooled though, they weren’t zipped our buttoned. Thank heavens for the belly band!

Food Cravings/Aversions: A peppermint hot chocolate every night has become a must. Hubby makes a mean one & I’m certainly loving his want to make me one every night! Since I can’t have regular coffee, this is a tasty replacement for now.

Symptoms: The pain around my belly button isn’t so sensitive except for touching it now! My back pain has actually intensified. I thought I had pinched a nerve last week. I bent over and immediately had intense, sharp pain. Now I randomly get that. Usually when I’m in bed and changing positions or simply being still. Or it will randomly hurt when I turn the wrong way. A friend of mine says she thinks it might be bulging from my L4 or L5, whatever that means. Luckily I have another friend in nursing school who doesn’t mind rubbing out the knots I’m now getting where my hips are shifting in my back too. Yea, this mama’s back is not in good shape.
 

Movement: OhYEA! I wouldn’t call it regular at this point. But little bit is definitely letting me know she’s in there! It’s such a strange feeling. Now that I can figure out the difference between gas and baby, I think I can admit that I felt her “poke” weeks ago and just didn’t’ realize it!

Doctor’s Appointment: At the end of this month!

Gender: GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We are overcome with joy! If you missed our announcement, you can see it here.

Best Moment of the Week: Daddy got to feel baby girl kick!!! I wasn’t sure if he would be able to. My mind was playing tricks on me. I could feel her when I had my hand on my tummy, but wasn’t sure if that was only because I could feel it on the inside and knew she had just kicked. BUT…Mike let his hand rest on the area I told him she was moving and then I ignored it. Didn’t want to tip him off to movement. He got a big grin at the same time she kicked! It was so cool! Now he wants to just have his hand on my belly so he can feel her!

Thoughts: Where is time going?!?! How am I already halfway there? It doesn’t seem possible. I know people say it will start slowing down towards the end, but right now I can’t imagine that happening. We celebrated the 100th day of school last week, which means there are only 80 left. I know that doesn’t include weekends or vacations, but just seeing those numbers and knowing that once school is over I’ll have a baby, is CRAZY.

How funny is it that this picture was taken 10 minutes after the one up top, but to me my stomach looks insanely different? 
Different clothes, different looking bump.