23 Weeks

We survived registering!  I hope I'm not the only mom-to-be who found registering for our McBaby to be overwhelming and exhausting.  It didn't help that dad-to-be was tapping his feet the whole time hurrying me up because there was lots of football waiting for him at home.  But he insisted he should be part of the registering extravaganza!  We got a late start on Saturday and only made it to one store before it was time to head to the house.  We completed part two on Sunday, and by the weekend's end, we were pooped!

Registering for a baby is not like registering for a wedding.  Vases and linens do not compare to choosing between the endless rows of diapers, bottles, and pacifiers.  We don't even know if McBaby will like a single thing we registered for!  I'm being dramatic of course.  It was a fun experience overall, but I'm glad we are done.

After registering, this is what the rest of our afternoon looked like.  Two good games requires two TVs so that Michael doesn't miss anything.  He rarely has a Saturday off during football season, and this was all that he could ask for.

Here is my 23 week picture that we took right before heading out Saturday morning.

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 23 weeks

Size of baby: 11 inches long and just over 1 pound. The size of a grapefruit! 

Maternity Clothes: Maternity jeans and stretchy or flowy dresses. I have added dress maternity tops and leggings to my wardrobe. 

Gender: Not finding out!

Movement: Lots more movement these days, and I love it!

Sleep: I've enjoyed great sleep this week in my pillow fort I have created.  Poor Scarlett and Michael don't stand a chance for the next few months.  

Symptoms: I have felt good this week.  Just a little tired, but I can't complain.  

What I miss: Sleeping on my stomach or back, the occasional adult beverage, sandwiches, and caffeinated coffee

Cravings: Sweets

Best Moment this week: Feeling stronger kicks and registering with Michael.  I'm glad he wanted to come along and register together. 

What I am looking forward to: Having no plans on Saturday and enjoying the day all to myself.

21 & 22 Weeks

I'm having to do a catch up post today, especially since I realized I'm 2 days away from 23 weeks.  Life has been so so so busy lately, and I am looking forward to slowing down for a few weeks before October comes and the schedule gets crazy again.  My mom came in for Labor Day weekend, and we got so much accomplished with shopping for McBaby and putting parts of the nursery together.  My mom can get more accomplished in 3 days than Michael and I can in a month.  I don't know how she does it, but I usually need a vacation after she leaves and has whipped me into shape!  In the midst of our chaos, she took my 21 week preggo pick for me.  Our other baby wanted to be in the picture too!

This past weekend, we travelled to Arkansas to watch the Samford Bulldogs play the Arkansas Razorbacks in Little Rock.  Michael got tickets for my family as well, so it was nice they got to go with us.  Thankfully we did not tailgate because it was 101 degrees when the game started, and I was miserable.  Once the sun set, it wasn't too bad, and the game was really fun to watch.  Samford held on for most of the game, even winning in the fourth quarter, but the Hogs came back and defeated us.  It was a fun night!  Here are some pics we took before the game, including my 22 week picture.  

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 22 weeks

Size of baby: 11 inches long and about 1 pound. The size of a spaghetti squash! 

Maternity Clothes: Maternity jeans and stretchy or flowy dresses. I have added dress maternity tops and leggings to my wardrobe. 

Gender: Not finding out!

Movement: Flutters and light movement, mostly at night

Sleep: Hit or miss.  I'm dreaming a lot, and I wake up a few times a night with back pain or leg cramps 

Symptoms: I feel good the majority of the time, but I'm tired and starting to feel pregnant as my belly grows and makes life a little more uncomfortable

What I miss: Sleeping on my stomach or back, the occasional adult beverage, sandwiches, and caffeinated coffee

Cravings: I've wanted ice cream a lot lately

Best Moment this week: Feeling stronger kicks  

What I am looking forward to: Registering with Michael on Saturday morning before spending the entire afternoon at home together on the couch and watching football!

20 Weeks - Half Way!

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 20 weeks

Size of baby: 10 inches long and about 10.5 ounces. The size of a banana!  I feel like I've grown as well over the last week :).

Maternity Clothes: Maternity jeans and stretchy or flowy dresses. I steal Michael's t-shirts now, and I desperately need a few casual maternity tops.  I have a few tops that fit,  but I'm running out quickly.

Gender: Not finding out!

Movement: Flutters and light movement, mostly at night

Sleep: Sleeping ok on my left side.  Lots of pillows have invaded the bed, and my shoulders hurt from sleeping on my sides.  

Symptoms: I'm feeling good these days

What I miss: Sleeping on my stomach or back, the occasional adult beverage, sandwiches, and caffeinated coffee

Cravings: I love cheese, potatoes, fruit, and salt & vinegar chips, but I don't know if I manically crave anything.  I've enjoyed being able to cook again and eat the few things I couldn't during the first trimester.  I was on a Greek yogurt kick for the past few months, but I'm not feeling yogurt this week.

Best Moment this week: Having friends over and getting to show the nursery progress.  

What I am looking forward to: Spending Saturday morning at the spa enjoying a prenatal massage, mani and pedi thanks to my wonderful husband!  My mom is coming Labor Day weekend, and I'm excited to do go shopping with her!

At some moments, it seems that time has flown by, and I can't believe I'm halfway through this pregnancy, and at other times it feels like time stands still.  It may seem silly, but there is a sense of accomplishment for making it this far and enjoying the journey as much as I have.  Four weeks in, I was terrified that I could not physically, emotionally, or mentally handle being pregnant mostly due to the anxiety and panic attacks I've experienced for the past five years.  I would call my mom and cry because I felt so bad the first few weeks, and she told me that I would learn to be stronger and would make it.  She told me that something happens when you become a mom, and you can endure so much more than you ever thought possible and strength draws from some once unknown place getting you through the tough times.  For me, my strength has come from God, Michael, my mom and a few great friends who are willing to let me talk when I need to.

 I am so thankful for Michael.  I want him to know how this journey has wonderfully confirmed how perfect he is for me.  He is the foil to my madness, always calming me and helping me to see the other side of things.  He is so willing and eager to walk alongside me through every decision, every doctors appointment, every parenting book I pick out, and so many things in between.  I'm thankful we are a team, and he is so willing to be there for me and McBaby even after working a thousand hours a week.  I don't know what I have done to deserve him, and I am so blessed!