25 WEEKS!

YOUR BABY: MONTH 6

Let your spouse put an ear to your belly -- he might be able to pick up baby's heartbeat (no stethoscope required). Inside the womb, the formation of tiny capillaries is giving baby a healthy pink glow. Baby's also soaking up your antibodies, getting the immune system ready for life outside the womb. Eyes are forming, and baby will soon perfect the blink -- perfect for batting those freshly grown lashes.

WEEK 25 OF PREGNANCY

As baby prepares to take his first breath, pesky hemorrhoids may make you swear under yours.

Your baby is growing by leaps and bounds, reaching nine inches in length and passing the pound and a half mark. Under his skin, capillaries are forming and filling with blood and by week's end, air sacs (also lined with capillaries) will develop in his lungs, getting them ready for that first breath. Mind you, those lungs aren't ready for prime time just yet - but they are developing surfactant, a substance that will help them expand after birth. And speaking of breathing, your baby's tiny nostrils, which have been plugged up until now, are starting to open, and his vocal chords are getting ready to roar.

WOW! Once again, I am amazed at how much baby boy is going to grow and change in the next week. We had another doctors visit this week, so got to hear his little heart beat again. :) Such an amazing sound. He has been moving more and more, and because he is getting bigger and bigger hubby can feel him pretty much all the time now. Which I'm so glad about because he was really feeling left out of all the "fun". :) Baby boy still has no name, and is still measuring about 2 weeks early. So the doctor said we'll continue to watch, and if he keeps at this pace, then we'll have another ultrasound to check things out and make sure he's not getting TOO BIG....lord......

Here's my stats! Have a great week!!

HOW FAR ALONG: 25 Weeks

TOTAL WEIGHT GAIN / LOSS: 16 lbs GAIN! Having my glucose test next doctors visit....she said my weight was okay, I just need to continue eating lots of fruits and veggies, and try not to eat so much JUNK....but donuts are my weakness.....

MATERNITY CLOTHES: Yup still wearin 'em! I need more....I wear like the same 5 or 6 shirts to work during the week. I'm sure they're starting to get sick of them already!

STRETCH MARKS: None new that I've noticed! WOOHOO!!

SLEEP: Still waking up often in the night....of course there's my nightly potty break, and anytime baby boy decides it's party time I tend to wake up too. Wish he liked to party during the daytime.

BEST MOMENTS LAST WEEK: Hearing my sons heartbeat again. It never gets old. :)

MOVEMENT: ALL THE TIME! I think he must really like green apples, because I've eaten one just about every single day this week, and afterwards he goes CRAZY.

FOOD CRAVINGS: Donuts....same 'ol same 'ol....and McDonald's french fries....but I can live without those....I don't know that I could make it a week without donuts. Isn't that so sad??

GENDER: B-O-Y

LABOR SIGNS: None yet thank goodness!

BELLY BUTTON IN OR OUT: Still technically in! Which is weird...it's getting flatter and flatter though. ;)

WHAT I MISS: Being able to roll over in bed and not ache. It's like every time I move too fast I get pains in my belly because of my little basketball in there not moving as quickly as the rest of me. LOL!

WHAT I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO: Hmm...Well, not my baby related, but I'm getting a niece today. :) So that's super exciting. She and baby boy will be best buds I'm sure.

MILESTONES: Over half way there....it's insane to think that my son will be here in less than 15 weeks! Well, more like 15 weeks or less. :) Kinda like a pizza....30 minutes or less or it's free....now if only the labor and delivery were free......

WEEK 24

WOW!!! Talk about craziness! I was looking up information for week 23 and I was like that's weird, all of this looks familiar to me...HA! That's because I'M 24 WEEKS!! I put the month 5 picture back up, because this is the last week OF MONTH 5! NEXT WEEK I'LL BE ON MONTH 6!!!!!

Your baby's facial features are really filling out...and your belly button may be really popping out!

YOUR BABY WEEK 24

Your baby is about eight and a half inches long and weighs one and a half pounds, gaining steadily at a rate of six ounces per week. Much of that weight comes from accumulating baby fat, as well as from growing organs, bones, and muscle. Those little ears of his are getting sharper and can hear very loud sounds, from a yapping dog to a jackhammer. Also by now, that fabulous face is almost fully formed, complete with eyelashes, eyebrows, and hair. Is your baby a brunette, a blonde, or a redhead? Actually, right now his locks are white since there's no pigment yet.

It is so weird to think that baby boy's little face is almost fully formed! SO EXCITING! As I type he's kicking away in my belly. I just love this little boy so much I could cry. It's hard to believe you can love someone so much that you've never even met...yet here I am. Hubby has started kissing and talking to my belly more. He's been able to feel baby boy moving A LOT more often now. So it's becoming real to him now I think...well more so than it was before he felt him wiggling around in my belly. Still no names decided. We have a new one that we both like, so we'll have to see what happens with that....it has plenty of nickname options that's for sure. :) I go back to the doctor on Monday, so we'll have another of MY updates next Friday....I'm sure the weight is gonna go up up up again. I don't know what my deal is....it's insane. I have cravings for the weirdest things....like stupid Krispy Kreme Donuts....lame. LOL!

SO...last weekend was my first of three showers! It was SO much fun. My bestie did such a wonderful job, and everything was perfect. Great punch, great food, AMAZING CAKE, not to mention all of my fabulous friends in one room. :) I had such a great time. And my goal was to have my stupid thank you notes done by now....yet all I've done is address them. I haven't written a single one! AND I HAVE ANOTHER SHOWER TONIGHT! Guess I'll be doing that tomorrow! Tonight is my Thornton Family Tea Party. I'm excited about that. Should be fun. Well, I guess that's all of an update I have for now. Have a fantastic weekend!! xoxo

Shocked

So yes, I know you are expecting my weekly update, and I'll be posting that a little bit later....but first, I just wanted to say a few things. There are several blogs that I follow...I read all of their updates, no matter how short and sweet or long and lingering. Some of the writers of the blog I know personally, and see out and about town. Others I have never met, but I feel I have become involved in each of these peoples lives. I have gone through one woman's struggle with her husband as he returned from Afghanistan. They had some major troubles, financially, emotionally.....they just went through a divorce a couple of months ago, but were on the way to repairing their relationship so they could always remain friends. Well, I saw on her blog this morning that he has passed away. It's weird to think of myself as being so upset about the death of someone that I have never even met. But like I said, I am emotionally invested in each blog that I read....

It is weird to think that we live in a world where people can connect on so many different levels, yet not be able to pick a person out of a crowd. I wouldn't be able to pick this man out of 3 different men....yet I mourn his loss. I just ask that you all keep her in your prayers today, and tell everyone in your life how much they mean to you. You just never know....

23 WEEKS!!

WOW.....hard to believe another week has gone by. Here is this week's update :)

Baby is getting (a little) plumper, but Mommy may notice something completely different when she glances at her own belly: the linea nigra.

YOUR BABY IN WEEK 23 OF PREGNANCY

Your little doll-sized babe is about to chub up a bit. His saggy skin will start to fit his frame as fat deposits fill things out. Beginning this week, he'll start to pack on the pounds (which means you will too!) and by month's end he'll be double the weight he is now (though you won't be--WHEW!). Right now, your baby's organs and bones are visible through his skin, which has a red hue due to developing veins and arteries beneath. But once those fat deposits settle in, he'll become less transparent.

So not a whole lot that's new to report this week. I am still feeling great, I'm eating like a nut job....so I need to start making healthier choices...I don't want to double my weight this month like baby boy! Yes, I said baby boy. Still no name for my little man. We are actually back to square 1. No names at all. Yes people that's right....we have actually gone backwards. Thought we had it narrowed down to 2, and now we're back at 0. Who knew this would be that hard?!?!

One exciting thing yesterday the girls at my office had a small "shower" for me. So that was fun and exciting. Got some ADORABLE hand made cloth books, and a fantastic gift card to Babies R Us....that will definitely come in handy. :) Tomorrow afternoon is my first "official" baby shower. I'm super excited. It's a New York Chic shower. I still have to find the shoes I want to wear in my closet....but other than that I am good to go. :) SO EXCITED!! :)

Well, I guess that's all for now. Hope you have a great weekend, and I'll talk to you next week!

Week 22

So, apparently one of my pregnancy readers has decided at this point in the pregnancy to go by months instead of weeks. I'm not thrilled with this prospect, but what can I do? Not a lot. LOL. So here we go....

Your Baby Month 5

Watch what you say -- baby is now able to hear outside noise from down in the womb. Studies show that baby finds gentle music and your own voice most soothing. Nipples are starting to sprout, and that little face is fully formed. And, baby's starting to settle into sleep cycles, snoozing about 12 to 14 hours a day. It shouldn't be hard to figure out when -- just pay attention to those kicks as they start and stop!

Week 22 of Pregnancy

These days, the only things growing more rapidly than your baby's senses may be his mommy's feet!

As if an ever-expanding belly wasn't enough -- now your feet are getting in on the act! That's because the pregnancy hormone relaxin, which loosens your pelvic ligaments when you're expecting, loosens every other ligament too -- including the ones in your tootsies. In turn, the bones beneath those ligaments spread slightly, which results, for many women, in a half or whole shoe-size increase. So if you haven't already stashed away your stilettos, now's the time to bid farewell -- at least for a while. Besides, you need sensible shoes to help you balance that big belly and your changing center of gravity. This week, your baby weighs in at a whopping pound and measures nearly eight inches, about the size of a small doll. But your doll is a living one who can now perceive light and dark. He can also hear your voice, your heartbeat, your gurgling stomach, and the whoosh-whoosh of blood circulating through your body.

So WOW. What a week I have had. First off, baby boy still doesn't have a name. LOL! Hubby felt the baby kick on Monday night. :) Baby was going CRAZY in my belly, and I told him to just put his hand there and let it rest for a minute and sure enough POP! He was like "OH MY GOSH WAS THAT HIM?!?!" Yes it was. :) It was a very exciting moment. Of course baby boy hasn't been that active since....I don't know what got into him. haha. OH...and this morning I found a chin hair. I thought I was going to die. It was SO LONG! I seriously thought I would die. LOL. Instead I just pulled it and moved on. Got some new maternity clothes this week. I hit up a consignment shop in Middletown...and I tell you what, I got some great deals! I spent $70, got a pair of jeans, khaki shorts, khaki pants that you can cuff, and like 6 or 7 shirts! I didn't pay over $7.50 for any of the shirts, and I think the most expensive thing was the jeans, and they weren't over $15. I was so excited! :) Well, I guess that is all of an update I have at this point. Hope all is well with all of you, and talk to you soon!!

21 Weeks!

WHOA! 21 weeks...I am now on the downhill of this part of life called pregnancy. So hard to believe! Here is what's going on with no name baby this week!!

Your Baby: Week 21

Baby gulps down several ounces of amniotic fluid every day, both for hydration and nutrition and to practice swallowing and digesting. And, these days, those taste buds actually work! Studies show that after birth, babies are most interested in tastes they've already experienced through amniotic fluid. Meaning, think about what you want your future child to eat as you prepare your own lunch!

Week 21 of Pregnancy

Your baby is grazing on whatever you are right now, but those stretch marks are yours alone, Mom.

How big is your baby? About the size of a large banana - and speaking of bananas, if you eat one this week, there's a good chance your baby will get a taste, too. That's because he swallows a bit of amniotic fluid each day (for nutrition, hydration, and to practice digesting), so he eats whatever's on your menu. In other (not so welcome) news, you may start to notice some stretch marks as your body expands and your belly and breasts just keep on growing. These pink, red, or purple streaks appear when the supporting tissue under your skin gets torn as skin stretches (and stretches and stretches) during pregnancy. Not every woman gets them, though you're a likely candidate if your mom had stretch marks during her pregnancy or if you've gained weight rapidly.

HOW FAR ALONG: 21 Weeks!!

TOTAL WEIGHT GAIN/LOSS: Oh I'm so embarrassed.....I gained 6lbs this MONTH! Putting my total weight gain to 11lbs. Time to cut out those cupcakes!

MATERNITY CLOTHES: Yes. I am actually going out shopping for more today. It's amazing how much MORE pregnant I look when I am in something that is actually maternity. Like these 2 dresses I got from a friend of mine....tried them on and hubby was like OH wow! LOL!

STRETCH MARKS: I haven't noticed anything new....but after reading my 21 week post I'm thinking perhaps I should take a closer look!

SLEEP: I am sleeping through the night SOMETIMES...but the second I wake up I have to rush to the potty.

BEST MOMENTS LAST WEEK: Watching my son on the ultrasound monitor. I tell you what...there is nothing like it. He was wiggling and moving around like crazy. Hubby said it was as if he had add....but really....(I had a caffeinated iced tea on the way to the appt.) I just wanted to make sure he'd show us his goods. :)

MOVEMENT: LOTS more movement now. In the mornings after I wake up and use the restroom he moves around like CRAZY! And also after I eat.

FOOD CRAVINGS: Nothing really specific. I had a B-A-D one last week for cupcakes. And we didn't have any. So I was going to buy some mix and make some....and then hubby had some delivered to my office! So incredibly sweet. I cried. LOL!

GENDER: B-O-Y!!

LABOR SIGNS: None yet

BELLY BUTTON IN OR OUT: Still in....but it doesn't look the same. It's definitely on it's way out.

WHAT I MISS: I miss my old jeans.....I miss not feeling fat.....but it's all worth it when he moves. :)

WHAT I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO: Finally deciding on a name!!

MILESTONES: OVER HALF WAY THERE!!!