20 Weeks - Halfway!!

From baby-gaga:

Your baby is now about 10.5 inches long from head to foot and their little limbs and head have finally reached their relative birth proportions, although they've still got loads of growing to do. On average, you should've gained about 10 lbs by now, although that's just an average so, don't be too devastated if you're over or under slightly.

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Baby Girl has been SUPER active lately; definitely making her presence known! Lots of growing pains and I'm pretty uncomfortable by the end of the day but that's par for the course, right?

The name discussion has begun and we're actually agreeing on a few! This is SHOCKING for Ryan and I, really it is. I'll keep you updated!

Life and Loss

For those who know what happened in Iowa City today, hold your kids a little bit tighter. Tell those you love how *much* you love them. Be thankful for all that you have.

Love and prayers to all those hurting tonight.

Well...

"It" is a GIRL!! We could NOT be more thrilled, though I'm totally shocked. Piper is over the moon as she's wanted a sister since day one. LO looked wonderful and even waved at her big sister!

EIGHT MORE HOURS!

How, oh HOW, will I make it through this day?? I got up at 5:40 because I couldn't sleep and now (of course) I'm exhausted. So lame. Piper's going to work with me this morning and then we'll grab some lunch together before we head off to the appointment. I'm so excited!!!

TOMORROW

I really think I could pee my pants, I'm so excited!!! In just 29 hours, we'll be at our ultrasound getting a nice, long look at Baby R. Finding out the sex is just an added bonus! I will be updating just as soon as I can (we probably won't be home until 5 or so), though I will definitely be texting many of you like crazy. Ha ha ha!

Oh, and according to baby-gaga, LO is approximately 10 inches long now! No wonder I can feel him EVERYWHERE! Little sweetie. <3

Week 18

From baby-gaga:

Your child is nearly half a foot long (CR measurements that is) and nearing a half pound (about 7 ounces). Their skin is now covered in a waxy substance known as vernix and their external genitals are now developed enough to be seen from an ultrasound. As for you, well, there's a good chance you've noticed some odd dark spots on your skin, which are a result of your body overproducing melanin.

Piper Update

I'm bummed to say that my sweet girl has officially been "diagnosed" with migraines. Now, really, isn't that the MOST depressing thing you've ever heard?? She's FOUR! Ugh. Of all the things I could have passed onto her, she gets THAT. I was pretty upset for a few days but now I'm just taking it one day at a time with her and watching her like a hawk. Sometimes she'll catch me and say "Mommy, I'm FINE!"

The thing with this child is that she doesn't complain and she won't tell me she has a headache until it's too late. From the time she says "Mommy, my forehead hurts" to when she's sound asleep, it's no more than an hour. No warning whatsoever - just "My head hurts", then she vomits, then she goes to sleep. I'm hoping I can convince her to tell us when she first feels a headache so we can give her Tylenol or something. I've talked it over with everyone who takes care of her and we're all aware of the warning signs now (slowing in activity, she gets very pale and quiet, and just looks odd) so hopefully we can catch them and deal with them before they're full blown.

Such a bummer. :(

Appointment Update

Another routine and uneventful appointment this morning. Piper didn't want to go with me so she stayed at Kari's and played with Isaac. Let's see... I've gained a total of 1.5 pounds (she even said "Now, no dieting, okay?" Yeah, like I'd be doing that.), BP was 110/62 (I'm a zombie), LO's heartrate was in the 150s and I go back in 4 weeks, on April 10th. That's about it! She gave me my instruction sheet for the ultrasound and told me to go ahead and schedule the appointment; I just laughed. "Yep, did that already!" I was also told to double my dose of iron (blech) and see how I feel after 2 weeks. I've been very, very tired lately and have been getting headaches pretty much daily. Hopefully this will help a bit!

The Belly at 17w1d

Week 17

From baby-gaga:
As your baby is in the middle of an impressive growth spurt it should come as not surprise to hear that they've already added nearly another inch to their length and over an ounce and a half to their weight (they're around 5 ounces and 5 inches). You're definitely feeling the growth as your belly expands enough to make you feel a bit off balance now and again. Also watch out for that round ligament pain...

From babycenter:
Your baby weighs 5 ounces now (about as much as a turnip), and he's around 5 inches long. The umbilical cord, his lifeline to the placenta, is growing stronger and thicker. Your baby can move his joints, and his skeleton — until now, rubbery cartilage — is starting to harden into bone. Some of it will remain cartilage for years after he's born. A newborn's skeleton has 300 parts (a combination of bone and cartilage). As your child grows, some of these parts harden and fuse together. By the time your baby reaches adulthood, he'll have just 206 bones.

Fun in the Snow!!

Yesterday was an absolutely BEAUTIFUL day so Piper and I headed out to enjoy the sunshine!