21 Weeks

According to Babycenter: Your baby now weighs about three-quarters of a pound and is approximately 10 1/2 inches long — the length of a carrot. You may soon feel like she's practicing martial arts as her initial fluttering movements turn into full-fledged kicks and nudges. You may also discover a pattern to her activity as you get to know her better. In other developments, your baby's eyebrows and lids are present now, and if you're having a girl, her vagina has begun to form as well.

You're probably feeling pretty comfortable these days. You're not too big yet, and the usual discomforts associated with early pregnancy are, for the most part, gone. If you're feeling good, relax and enjoy it while you can — the third trimester may bring with it a new crop of complaints.

Holy crap - we are big enough that we get the full picture this week!

I'm not sure a carrot is any longer that last weeks banana. I am sure however, that I only eat my carrots in cake form!

20 Weeks

Holy crap... we are exactly half way there at this point. Yikes! Lots has been going on this past week. The most fun thing is that all of a sudden starting this past Friday (19w2d) I have been able to feel the little guy pretty consistently when I am laying down or relaxing or whatever. Before that for a couple weeks all I was getting was the occasional kick every couple days or so. We also registered at a few places and picked up our crib! Also, at some point in the last week I woke up and there was a real deal belly - literally it happened overnight.

Please ignore how fat this shirt makes me my arms look. Or maybe its the camera. Or whatever you want to blame the on is fine by me!

According to Babycenter: Your baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. He's also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom and about 10 inches from head to heel — the length of a banana. (For the first 20 weeks, when a baby's legs are curled up against his torso and hard to measure, measurements are taken from the top of his head to his bottom — the "crown to rump" measurement. After 20 weeks, he's measured from head to toe.)

He's swallowing more these days, which is good practice for his digestive system. He's also producing meconium, a black, sticky by-product of digestion. This gooey substance will accumulate in his bowels, and you'll see it in his first soiled diaper (some babies pass meconium in the womb or during delivery).

Congratulations! You've hit the halfway mark in your pregnancy. The top of your uterus is about level with your belly button, and you've likely gained around 10 pounds. Expect to gain another pound or so each week from now on. (If you started your pregnancy underweight, you may need to gain a bit more; if you were overweight, perhaps a bit less.) Make sure you're getting enough iron, a mineral that's used primarily to make hemoglobin (the part of your red blood cells that carries oxygen). During pregnancy, your body needs more iron to keep up with your expanding blood volume, as well as for your growing baby and the placenta. Red meat is one of the best sources of iron for pregnant women. Poultry (especially the dark meat) and shellfish also contain iron. Some common non-meat sources of iron include legumes, soy-based products, spinach, prune juice, raisins, and iron-fortified cereals.

A much less freaky baby pose this week:
And the obligatory produce picture. I don't really see how a banana is bigger then last week but I guess we are just talking length this week.

19 Weeks

According to Babycenter: 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, taking 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.

Think you're big now? You'll start growing even more rapidly 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.

Umm, can we say creepiest picture yet?! Thanks, Babycenter.

I like that Milo is the the size of the good kind of tomato, none of that crappy grocery shenanigans!

Cribs!

Yay, we picked out our crib and get to pick it up tomorrow!
Next up is picking out a dresser from Ikea. Oh, and here is the bedding to go with this crib:
Obviously we had to get airplane bedding since Doug loves airplanes, but no one has JUST airplane bedding right now, so we settled for airplanes and helicopters. Works for us!

It's a BOY!!

Today we had our big ultrasound and got to see our SON moving around in there like crazy. Seriously, when I can feel all this movement I'm never going to get any rest!

Introducing Milo Thomas Cole:

Full Body side profile with legs curled up.

Waving Hello
Sucking his thumb.
Face profile.

18 Weeks

Lets see, this week we have our big ultrasound (tomorrow!) where hopefully we'll see the "cash and prizes." The monthly doctor appointments now last about 5 minutes (weight, pee in a cup, blood pressure, see ya!) Not much else going on this week.

This weeks tummy...

According to Babycenter: 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.

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.

And in case you live under a rock, this is a bell pepper...

Happy Birthday Bella!

Bella turned 2 on Thursday and she had quite a birthday weekend! (I should only hope for so much fun and games on my birthday!)

Of course she got a few new toys..

On Thursday we went to Nick and Stef's for dinner and fireworks and she wore her new 4th of July outfit.

Saturday went to check out Snoqualmie and found a fancy doggy store where we bought tiny PB&J flavored dog treats.
Sunday we went to Seattle to explore some parks - one that I can't remember the name of and also Gasworks Park.

All in all, a pretty good long weekend - especially if you are a dog!

17 Weeks

According to Babycenter: 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.

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.Oh and what the hell is a turnip anyways? Apparently this is a turnip...