Weekly Update

Weekly Update

24 Weeks

October 2, 2012

My baby bump at 24 weeks from the side:

And from the front:

Total Weight Gain: I gained about 1.5 lbs this past week.  That means I’m only 2.5 lbs less than pre-pregnancy.

Movement:  Cullen moves all the time…especially when I’m trying to rest.  His kicks are getting stronger every day, too!

Boy or Girl? Boy!!!

Food Cravings: Nothing this week.

How I’m Feeling: Still pretty good.  Just the same ol’ hip and and back pain.  Nothing I can’t handle.  I think the nesting bug has hit as well.  We have gotten so much done at our house in the past week, and I haven’t dreaded it.

Size of Baby: Ear of Corn (8.5 in, 1.5 lbs)  

Baby’s Development:  Baby’s face (though still tiny) is almost fully formed.  What’s still missing is the fat that will be piled under baby’s skin.  That very tender skin is still very transparent until those fat deposits are made.  But that won’t last much longer.  At this stage, baby is gaining about 6 ounces each week.

Best Part of this Week: Corey and I had a fun mall date this week.  We did some shopping for ourselves and picked out Cullen’s going home outfit.

What I’m Looking Forward To: My 24 week appointment this next week.  I always love hearing our little one’s heartbeat!

Weekly Update

23 Weeks

September 26, 2012

My baby bump at 23 weeks from the side:

And from the front:

Total Weight Gain: Gained one more pound this week!  That puts me back to being down only 4 lbs.  I feel like I am finally going in the right direction!

Movement:  Cullen moves all the time for me, especially early in the morning and later at night. I get to feel him kick all the time!  But, every time anyone else touches my belly, he stops moving.  Corey has only felt him twice.  Silly little Cullen, your grandmothers are ready to feel you move too!

Boy or Girl? Boy!!!

Food Cravings: We had our first late night run to get something to satisfy a craving.  Thursday afternoon, I all of a sudden really wanted a KFC biscuit.  Random.  I was able to hold off until after our hospital orientation that night, but Corey and I went through the KFC drive through on our way home to get two biscuits and a large side of mashed potatoes.  Not healthy at all, but it was delicious after dreaming about it all evening!

How I’m Feeling: Still pretty good.  Just the same ol’ hip and and back pain.  Nothing I can’t handle.  I think the nesting bug has hit as well.  We have gotten so much done at our house in the past week, and I haven’t dreaded it.

Size of Baby: Papaya (8 in, 1.2 lbs)  

Baby’s Development:  This week marks the beginning of some serious weight gain.  Baby’s weight in the next four weeks alone should double.  We have heard baby’s heartbeat through a doppler several times, but by now we could also hear it through a standard stethoscope!

Best Part of this Week: Getting the house cleaned up and organized.  We have the nursery cleaned out, have put in our paint order, and should be able to start decorating soon!  It feels good to be working on preparing for this little one.

What I’m Looking Forward To: I am excited about all the things we have to do to get ready for Cullen’s arrival!

Weekly Update

22 Weeks

September 18, 2012

My baby bump at 22 weeks from the side:

And from the front:

Total Weight Gain: Gained one pound this week!  That puts me back to being down only 5 lbs.

Movement:  Cullen is moving all the time and occasionally the movements are strong enough to feel on the outside.  My mom is anxiously waiting to feel him, but every time she puts her hand on my belly he stops moving.  Silly little boy!

Boy or Girl? Boy!!!

Food Cravings: Nothing really specific.  I just want to eat carbs and sweets though.  Definitely not a good thing.

How I’m Feeling: Other than the hip and lower back pain that seems to have permanently set in at this point, I’m feeling pretty great!

Size of Baby: Spaghetti Squash (8 in, 1 lb)  

Baby’s Development:  Baby is making more sense of the world as he develops the sense of touch.  In fact, his grip is quite developed by now – and since there’s nothing else to grab in utero, he may sometimes hold on tight to that umbilical cord. Cullen is…we saw him holding onto and snuggling up to it at the last ultrasound.  So cute!  The sense of sight is also getting more developed.  He can now perceive light and dark much better than before.  The eyelashes and eyebrows are well formed now, and hair is probably sprouting on his head.

Best Part of this Week: Getting to see our little boy again and finding out that everything is perfectly normal.  We had to go in for a level II ultrasound because the technician saw an EIF on his heart during the anatomy scan.  Everything measured normal at the follow-up ultrasound though, so no worries!

What I’m Looking Forward To: Getting Cullen’s nursery put together.  We almost have everything cleaned out, so we should be able to paint soon!

Weekly Update

21 Weeks

September 10, 2012

My baby bump at 21 weeks from the side:

And from the front:

Total Weight Gain: No change this week.  I’m still down 6 lbs so far.

Movement:  Little Sprout has been really active lately, mostly in the afternoons and evenings.  And when I have on tighter pants…I don’t think he likes being squished.  Corey has even felt a kick already!

Boy or Girl? Boy!!!

Food Cravings: No real cravings at all.

How I’m Feeling: Wonderful except for being uncomfortable whenever I sit in the same spot for more than 10 minutes.  I was so squirmy during church yesterday…I thought Corey was going to kill me!

Size of Baby: Banana (7 in, 11 oz.)  Although our little boy weighed about 12 oz. at our ultrasound on Tuesday.

Baby’s Development:  Baby is now swallowing at least several ounces of amniotic fluid each day (for hydration and nutrition as well as to practice swallowing and digesting.)  He also has very developed taste buds already.  With all the movement going on lately, its hard to believe it, but baby sleeps as much as 12 to 14 hours per day!

Best Part of this Week: Seeing our little boy!  It was so amazing to see that he is a boy and to see how much he has changed in the past 12 weeks.

What I’m Looking Forward To: We get to see our little boy again tomorrow.  There was something on our ultrasound last week that they want to follow up on.  I’m praying that everything is okay, but excited about the fact that we get to see him so soon.

Weekly Update

20 Weeks

September 4, 2012

My baby bump at 20 weeks from the side:

And from the front:

Total Weight Gain: No change this week.  I’m still down 6 lbs so far.

Movement:  Little Sprout has been super active this past week. I feel those sweet little kicks all day long.

Boy or Girl? We get to find out tomorrow!!!

Food Cravings: Nothing new, I just want lots of sweets.

How I’m Feeling: Still pretty great.  I love feeling our little one move, and I feel good overall.  I have gotten to that point where I can’t sit in the same spot without getting uncomfortable.  It makes work and church very interesting.  And I have had a few nights where I can’t get comfortable enough to go to sleep, but it will all be worth it.

Size of Baby: Large Mango (6.5 in, 10 oz.)

Baby’s Development:  By this point, baby’s boy or girl outside parts have formed enough to tell the gender, and his or her inside parts are almost fully developed as well.  It’s hard to believe that this little one is that far along already!

Best Part of this Week: Feeling little kicks more often.  It makes me smile every single time!

What I’m Looking Forward To: Seeing our little one again!  Tomorrow! I am so excited!!!

So, what do you think?  Is this little one a boy or a girl?

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Weekly Update

19 Weeks

August 27, 2012

My baby bump at 19 weeks from the side:

And from the front:

Total Weight Gain: I gained another .5 lbs this week!  I’m still down 6 lbs so far, but at least I’m starting to gain weight.

Movement:  I definitely felt some little kicks this week.  I am feeling them several times every day now!

Boy or Girl? Only 9 more days before we find out!

Food Cravings: Nothing new, I just want lots of sweets.

How I’m Feeling: Pretty great!  I love being pregnant so far!  

Size of Baby: Mango (6 in, .5 lbs)

Baby’s Development:  Arms and legs are finally in proportion, neurons are now connected between the brain and muscles, and cartilage throughout the body is turning to bone.  All these upgrades combine to give baby more control over limb movements.

Best Part of this Week: Feeling those first little kicks!  I love knowing that our little one is moving around in there.  I can’t help myself from smiling every time I feel a kick!

What I’m Looking Forward To: Seeing our little one again!

Weekly Update

18 Weeks

August 22, 2012

My baby bump at 18 weeks from the side:

And from the front:

Total Weight Gain: No change this week.  I’m still down 6.5 lbs so far.

Movement:  I think I have felt a few little flutters, but still waiting on definite movements.

Boy or Girl? Two more weeks ’til we get to find out!

Food Cravings: Nothing new.

How I’m Feeling: I’ve been feeling pretty great lately.  Nothing uncomfortable other than a few headaches and some round ligament pain.  

Size of Baby: Sweet Potato (5.5 in, 5 oz)

Baby’s Development:  Baby has now mastered the art of the yawn.  He or she is also working on twists, rolls, kicks, and punches.  Nerves are forming more complex connections.  Those in the brain are further specializing into the ones that serve the senses of touch, taste, smell, sight, and hearing.  

Best Part of this Week: This week, a few strangers have noticed that I am pregnant.  One person only whispered something I wasn’t supposed to hear, but that was probably only because you never really want to ask someone if they are expecting.  It’s good to know that I actually look pregnant enough for people I don’t know to say something.

What I’m Looking Forward To: Our next ultrasound…only 14 more days!

Weekly Update

17 Weeks

August 14, 2012

My baby bump at 17 weeks from the side:

And from the front:

Total Weight Gain: I gained .5 lbs this week.  That puts me back to only being down 6.5 lbs so far.

Movement:  Nothing definite yet.  I think I may have felt a couple of little flutters, but it’s hard to be sure.  I can’t wait until I know for sure that I am feeling little kicks!

Boy or Girl? We will find out on September 4th (hopefully)!  I really feel like we are having a boy.

Food Cravings: Nothing new…but I finally got some pretty amazing apples this weekend!

How I’m Feeling: Pretty great!  I finally got some yummy apples.  I’m sleeping better thanks to a body pillow that takes up half of the bed.  I have the energy and motivation to finally get the house organized…maybe the ‘nesting’ everyone talks about has made a little appearance.

Size of Baby: Turnip (5 in, 5 oz)

Baby’s Development:  Baby’s body fat has started to form and will continue to accumulate through the end of the pregnancy.  Baby is almost certainly listening up by now.  In fact, loud noises will actually startle baby.  Baby’s eyes are making small side-to-side movements and can even perceive some light.  Within the next week or so, the pads on baby’s fingertips and toes will become adorned with completely individual swirls and creases (aka fingerprints).

Best Part of this Week: Finally getting some pretty delicious apples.   Baby M and I have thoroughly enjoyed them!

What I’m Looking Forward To: Our next ultrasound…only 22 more days!

Weekly Update

16 Weeks

August 7, 2012

My baby bump at 16 weeks from the side:

And from the front:

Total Weight Gain: I gained one lb this week, bringing my total weight loss so far to 7 lbs.  I hope I have finally stopped losing weight.

Movement: I thought I felt a little flutter or two last week, but I haven’t felt anything since.  Could have just been wishful thinking.

Boy or Girl? Hopefully we will schedule that ultrasound at my appointment this week.

Food Cravings: Apples of course.  I think we are going apple picking soon though!

How I’m Feeling:  I feel pretty great until it’s time to go to sleep.  I can no longer get comfortable.  I am going to buy a body pillow today, so hopefully that will help.  I am also hungry all the time.  I have to eat at least every 2 hours, but I can’t eat very much at one time.

Size of Baby: Avocado (4 to 5 in. and 3 to 5 oz)

Baby’s Development:  Tiny bones in baby’s ears are in place this week, making it likely that he or she can hear my voice.  Baby’s face now has both eyebrows and eyelashes.

Best Part of this Week: We ordered the crib this week, I ordered supplies to make the mobile, and I have picked out the fabric for the bedding.  I am so excited to be working on the nursery!

What I’m Looking Forward To: My 16 week appointment this week!

Weekly Update

15 Weeks

July 31, 2012

My baby bump at 15 weeks from the side:

And from the front:

Total Weight Gain: According to the scale, I lost another 2 lbs this week, putting me down a total of 8 lbs so far.  I have to start gaining weight soon, right?


Movement: I haven’t felt anything yet.  It’s probably still too early, but occasionally I find myself concentrating really hard looking for those first little flutters.


Boy or Girl? I can’t wait to find out!


Food Cravings: Still apples.  I look for good ones with every trip to the grocery store.


How I’m Feeling:  Pretty good overall.  I love having a pregnant belly.  I can eat like a normal person again (or at least as well as I ate before.)  And for the most part, I have my energy back, unless I stay up too late, which is happening a lot lately.  Thank you Olympics.  My only complaint is that since the Little Sprout is squishing everything, I get uncomfortably full after lunch, no matter how little I eat.  I don’t mind too much though, it usually doesn’t last long before I’m hungry again.


Size of Baby: Navel Orange (4.5 in and 2 to 3 oz)


Baby’s Development:  Baby is now constantly practicing breathing, sucking, and swallowing so he or she will be ready to survive after birth.  By now, baby’s ears are positioned properly on the sides of the head and the eyes are moving from the side of the head to the front of the face.


Best Part of this Week: It’s not baby related, but the Olympics started this week.  I am super excited!  In other news, I feel like I am really starting to look pregnant now, not like I ate too many cookies!


What I’m Looking Forward To: My next appointment is next week.  I love having that confirmation that Baby M is doing well!