Week 24

My lower back has started hurting a lot.  I'm already feeling uncomfortable.  The last few nights I've had to get up numerous times to go to the bathroom or readjust.  I wasn't expecting this at this point.  Bending over is becoming more challenging.  He keeps me alert with all his kicking plus all the Braxton Hicks contractions.  Natalie likes to give my belly a kiss at night or when she leaves; it's very cute!

This week, our baby weighs about 1 1/4 pounds with a crown-to-rump length of about 8.5 inches.  He's starting to fill out as he gains more muscle, bone mass, and growing organs and tissue.  His face and body look more like that of an infant at this time.

Week 23

Although I'm posting this photo on Sunday, my mom took it on Friday when I was 23 weeks pregnant.  My girls and I were in Wisconsin visiting my family (they had a great time) so my mom was able to take my photo for me. 

I have been getting a lot of Braxton Hicks contractions this last week.  My stomach gets so hard when that happens.  He's still moving around a lot and he sure is a kicker!  Maybe he'll be a soccer player :).  My pregnancy has been going pretty well. No major complaints now that morning sickness is past. 

By this week, our baby weighs almost one pound and his crown-to-rump length is about 8 inches.  He's about the size of a small doll.  Our baby's body is getting plumper but his skin is till wrinkled.  Lanugo hair on the body occasionally turn darker at this time.  Our baby's face and body begin to assume more of the appearance of an infant at birth.  His pancreas is also developing now. 

Week 22

Emile felt our little guy kick this week (21 weeks 4 days).  He's definitely a mover.  He kicks, rolls and punches constantly.  Drinking water or juice makes him even more active.  I can see him kicking and definitely feel his body parts pushing out. 

My belly is very hard and feels stretched a lot, especially as the day goes on.  It's hard to picture that I'll have room as he gets even bigger, even though I've done this two times already.  I'm starting to have a hard time sleeping - have to move around a lot and now that I'm getting bigger I have to get up to use the bathroom more often.  I also struggle to bend over now.

I bought our first set of newborn boy clothes last weekend.  I think the little jogging sets and pants and button up shirts are so cute.

Our baby is probably close to a pound, has a crown-to-rump length of about 7 2/3 inches, and is very thin but very developed. His eyelids and eyebrows are now formed, and the brain begins rapid growth. His testes have begun their descent from the pelvis to the scrotum.

Wee 21 - 5 months!

I can finally say I'm 5 months pregnant which is nice given I feel at least 5 months if not 6 months with how big my belly is.  My belly has gotten very hard and firm lately.  And I'm pretty sure I'm starting to waddle.  But the best part is that I can feel our son moving around a lot now.  Daily he does flips, kicks and punches.  Hopefully soon Emile and the girls will catch him at a time that they can feel him kick. 

I'm getting up more now in the middle of the night to use the bathroom and have more aches when I move around in an odd position but over all, everything continues to be low key which is great.  I haven't weighed myself this week (probably shouldn't after all the Halloween candy) but earlier this week I was on par with where I should be weight-wise which is great given I haven't had much chance to work out given how hectic work has been (hopefully that changes soon).  I did stop wearing my rings but mostly because it bothered my knuckles and not because of swelling.

I've been looking into bedding for his room.  We'll be moving Claire to Natalie's room (which they're very excited about) and convert Claire's room back to a nursery.  We'll probably make the transition in January so that we can paint the room (lavender may not be the ideal color for his room) and get the crib and everything else set up.  I think I'm going to get the following bedding.  Emile likes the idea of having a car theme given how much into cars he is.  We have chair-rail in the room so we'll probably paint the top a blue or green color and keep the bottom the cream that it is now.  I think I'll also use the green curtains we have in there now that are green.

The rapid growth phase begins to slow down this week. The heart grows stronger this week, and the legs are reaching their relative proportions.  He is probably swallowing amniotic fluid now which contributes a small amount to his caloric needs.  He now weighs about 10.5 ounces and has a crown-to-rump length of 7.25 inches.  He's about the size of a banana.