From the Peanut Gallery- Week 20: The Banana

Baby is as long as a banana- 10 inches!  (I tried really hard to come up with a good 10-inch "That's what she said!" joke here, but I failed.  Blame it on the pregnancy brain.)

Folks, we've reached a milestone this week.  Yes, we've reached the HALFWAY point!  I am halfway to the day when I get to meet my beautiful little man.  Huzzah!

Q: How have you been feeling?
A: Pretty great.  Physically, I'm still in that second trimester happy place.  I am starting to deal with some soreness in my lower back, and am starting to feel some awkwardness of movement with my changing body, but I suppose those things just come with the territory (and really aren't that bad- yet)!  Emotionally, I am feeling more and more attached to and in love with baby with each little (or sometimes BIG) kick, and more and more ready to meet him.

Q: Can J feel the baby's movements on a regular basis now?
A: Unfortunately, no.  He's gotten lucky two or three times, but I guess the peanut still isn't quite big enough for all of his kicks to be felt from the outside yet.  It also doesn't help that he seems to stop moving every time J puts his hand on my belly.  Jerk.  J says he already loves his mommy more than his daddy.  (Doesn't that just break your heart??)

Q: Have you started to get any of that dreaded pregnancy-related swelling?
A: Luckily, NO.  My wedding rings still fit beautifully, and I even attended a wedding this weekend in my big girl shoes (and even danced a little!) without my feet ballooning.  I'm feeling pretty lucky.  However, I am waiting in fear for this to pop up anytime now, and am constantly checking to make sure I can still remove my rings if need be.  I have nightmares about having to have them cut off!  Plus, I will experience real sadness if the day comes that I can no longer wear them, and want to be prepared with a larger cheapie backup if required.  (I love my rings, yes, and want to be able to wear them as a symbol of my love for my husband and his love for me...but also, I really don't want to go through any of this pregnancy with people wondering if my little one is a bastard.)

Q: Now that you're really showing, how is the weight gain going?
A: It's not, really.  At my lowest, I was -8 lbs from my pre-pregnancy weight.  As of this morning, I will call it -6 (I have a pound that is still fluctuating, coming some days and going others).  I am F.I.N.E. with this.  I know that the baby-sometimes lovingly referred to as the parasite- is taking all that he needs from my body.  Babies have the amazing ability to do that!  And, I fully expect the weight to catch up with me at some point in the next 20 weeks.  Truth be told, I'm pretty excited to have this "buffer," if you will, and hopeful that this start means that I will not have a 50-lb weight gain.

Q: How has your growing belly impacted your wardrobe?
A: I am completely out of my old clothing and fully into the maternity section now.  My WONDERFUL mama took me shopping this weekend to help me round out my new wardrobe.  The two pair of jeans and 5 t-shirts just weren't cutting it for the everyday anymore!  I was feeling a little sloppy at work, and really wanted a little bit more choice when I entered the closet each morning.  I believe I am now fully stocked, and am having even more fun showing off the bump in my new duds.  PLUS, now I can concentrate my monthly baby budget on buying for the wee one, instead of buying clothes for myself.  (Yes, you all read that correctly.  I am most certainly turning into a mama when I want to spend my money on something other than new clothes for myself!)

Q: What have you bought for the baby so far?
A: Today I passed on my order for his nursery bedding.  (BIG shout out to my girl Heather and her mom for helping us place our PBKids order!)  I CAN'T WAIT to start working on his room.  I have LOTS of ideas, and grandma is excited to come help me paint in a couple of months!  I'll keep you all updated with pics as we make progress.  But for now, enjoy a sneak peak at his precious nautical nursery items!

 Q: What's new with the peanut this week?
A: Grossness, really.  He's started swallowing a lot more (yep, his own urine), and so his insides are working on producing meconium.  Meconium is otherwise known as the horror that is found in baby's first diaper.  Can't wait for that magic to happen!   

And finally, here's the Week 20 Belly Shot! 

In my new duds- thanks, Mom!