20 Weeks: Halfway There!

20 Weeks-- so hard to believe!

I think that I'm finally starting to experience the "glow" of the second trimester. I still stay pretty tired-- but that seems to be related to my job more than the pregnancy itself, and unfortunately, I don't think that's going to change until the day I deliver this baby!

(More to say about my job situation, but that's another post.)

This week, baby is the size of a Red Bull:

And looks like this:

Baking Baby Blakely

"Your baby has established sleep patterns akin to a newborn now. Many babies even have a favorite sleep position already. Some snooze with their chins resting on their chests, while others nap with their head flung back. Many babies at this age fall into noticeable cycles of sleep and activity, so you may know before she arrives whether you have a night owl or an early bird.

If your baby is a boy, the testes have begun descending from the pelvis into the scrotum. If it's a girl, her uterus is completely formed and the rest of her "parts" are in development. (Is that TMI?)

From this point forward, your baby will put most of her energy into gaining weight and, not coincidentally, so will you! Right now your baby weighs approximately 10½ ounces and is about 6½ inches long, about the size of a can of Red Bull (which has way too much caffeine for a pregnant woman to be drinking)."

Additional Updates:

Food Aversions: Not much! Although, after Rob and I saw the Bodies exhibit in Atlanta this weekend, I'm having a little trouble eating chicken this week. Blah.

Cravings: Still Chinese Food, aka anything with soy sauce. Also, still loving any kind of fresh fruit: fruit smoothies (peaches, strawberries, mango, papaya), watermelon & grapes. Oh, and ice cream...always ice cream.

Movement: Not yet-- I've felt a few flutters (I think) but every time I think I feel something, it doesn't happen again, so I'm never able to confirm! When we had our ultrasound two weeks ago, the doctor said that my placenta is in the front of my uterus, so it's acting like a cushion between the baby and my tummy-- this can make it more difficult to feel kicks. Doc said I'd probably start feeling something by 20 weeks, but as of today, nothing.

Nesting: We've registered and purchased a lot of stuff in the past few weeks. Will post soon about our purchases and the plan for the nursery! I'm finally feeling like there are things that we really need to get done!

Weight: Down 6 lbs pre-pregnancy weight again. Hallelujah. Last appointment, my doc said I seem to be fluctuating around the same weight-- up a pound at one appointment, down a pound at the next. I keep bracing myself for the weight gain because I know it's coming but I'm really happy with where I am right now. I am confident that any weight I gain in the second half of my pregnancy will be reasonable. Today, I signed up for a prenatal aquatics class at the hospital where I'll deliver. I love to swim and I really need the exercise. Plus, I'm hopeful that maybe there will be some cool pregnant ladies in my class. It would be great to make friends with someone due around my same time-- maybe we could work on getting in shape together in the fall.

The 20 Week Belly Pic!

20 weeks down, 20 more to go!