23 weeks 2 days

Penelope is the length and weight of a Harry Potter book!  Just wish I knew which one since books 1 and 7 are quite different.  But it's still crazy to think there is a Harry Potter book in my belly. 

So the big event for this week was registering for the baby shower.  We went to Target, almost on a whim.  I wasn't prepared at all.  I knew I wanted to register at Target but that's about all I knew.  I have seen lists for essentials, like how many wash clothes you will need and things like that.  I have also seen blogs and tips from moms about amazing baby products and which ones you shouldn't live without.  But I didn't review any of that.  I should have.

First off, the first thing we looked at was Pack N Plays.  We wanted to get one that was gender neutral so we can use it for future babies.  The Target lady told us that we needed to scan the actual product and not the barcode on the shelf.  So we looked below the display to find it in the box and it wasn't there.  None of the ones we liked were.  So frustrating.  We ended up picking one that was an off-brand and like $40.  I might go online and try to change it, but then I don't know if they would carry the same one in the store.  And I don't think anyone I know is going to order a Pack N Play off the internet.  They would probably skip over that on the list and go to something else they can find in the store.  So anyways, the first 15 minutes were frustrating with that.  Then I just had no idea what else to get and what we actually needed.  When I saw the nursing section, I was so overwhelmed.  I plan on breastfeeding, but that's really all I know so far.  I bought a breast pump too.  But I don't know if I need storage bags, or nursing pads, or creams or any of that other stuff.  So I guessed on some and skipped over most of it.  And we decided what kind of bottles we were going to use in 3 minutes.  There are so many kinds of bottles!  We just went with the kind that have the bags inside so there are less air bubbles.  There was a bunch of other stressful decisions I was not ready to make.  But at the same time, it was fun looking at cute baby things and trying to picture Penelope in a pink hooded bath towel.  It was also pretty cute to see what Josh picked out.  Hairbows, rubber duckies and baseball pacifiers. 

Then I was getting all sorts of advice from other mothers who saw I was registering.  I was told you can't rely on the sizes of clothes based on their age.  Like, a 5 month old could be wearing 9 month old clothes.  Which I already knew.  It's just a range to get an idea.  But I still had to smile and act like this was the best piece of advice I have ever heard.  Another woman told me that if you have a baby boy, you are not supposed to use lavander bath soap.  Neither of us knew why, but that's something she heard.  Don't have to worry about that though.  She also said that the best diaper rash cream is Mr Smith's or Dr. Smith's.  Can't remember but I scanned her tube to put on my registery!  Haha.  She said it's only available behind that pharmacy, so that may confuse my baby shower guests if they go to look for it. 

Josh and I don't really shop well together.  Mostly because I know he doesn't like to shop so I try to hurry and get frustrated because I don't want to take too long because then he will be grouchy.  So were both kind of short with each other when we were leaving.  I wish I could have actually shopped instead of just registering because it was an hour drive to get there.  But I'll go back sometime; there is an Old Navy near it too.  Nothing but Walmart is close to us.

Today I think we finally set a baby shower date.  September 1.  The plan is to drive home with Reaver around Aug 28 or 29.  Still don't know what we are going to do with Annie.  Cats don't travel well and we will be gone 2 weeks.  Would feel bad leaving her alone with just someone to check on her for that long.  So, get to Ohio a few days before the shower, have the shower on the first, hang out and visit for a week. Bruce Springsteen concert on Sept 8! So we will drive with my parents and sister to Chicago for the concert and leave Reaver with his mom.  Drive back to Ohio after the concert then finally back to Missouri.  A lot of driving, but the easiest solution we could come up with since we are bringing Reaver to Ohio and the concert is the first week of September. But all very exciting!

How far along? 23 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: 22 pounds
Maternity clothes? yes
Sleep: been getting up at 530 for work.  been sooo tired lately.
Best moment this week: working out shower details 
Miss Anything? thinner thighs
Movement: she's kicking a lot, mostly while i'm in bed
Food cravings: nothing really for this week
Anything making you queasy or sick: nope, thank goodness the first trimester is over
Have you started to show yet: yes
Gender: It's a girl!
Labor Signs: nope
Belly Button in or out? out, since like, week 10.
Wedding rings on or off? on
Happy or Moody most of the time: eh, kinda moody, kinda happy
Looking forward to: finishing the nursery

22 weeks 3 days

So I found out that I start a new week on Mondays, not Tuesdays.  But it's not that big of a deal.  I feel like this last week went realllly slow.  I had a checkup a few days ago. Penelope's heartbeat is in the 140-150 range.  We met a new midwife and intern and they were great.  At our next appointment we meet the last one.  There are 3 total and one of them is always on call, so we don't know who will deliver the baby.  Whoever is on call that night. 

So at the checkup, I was weighed and it shocked me.  I gained 10 pounds in one month!  I know my belly had grown a lot in the last month, but still... I honestly can't believe I've gained 22 pounds since I got pregnant.  I'm not gaining weight in my face at all.  If I put my arms over my head, I can still see my ribs, backbone and hip bones.  So where is all this weight going?  I know I've gained some in my legs, but not ten pounds a leg.  So I guess I need to just start being more careful if I don't want to gain a whole bunch.  I've gained about a pound a week pretty much throughout my whole pregnancy.  I've started eating grapes and bought a prenatal workout dvd.  It's a start.  Yesterday a stranger guessed that I was only 3 or 4 months along and was really surprised when I told her I was 5 1/2.  So that makes me feel better.  Just can't figure out where all this weight is hiding... I'm just worrying about getting the weight off after Penny arrives, but I heard that if you breastfeed, you loose the weight quick.

How far along? 22 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: 22 pounds
Maternity clothes? yes
Sleep: still no good. i wanna sleep on my belly!
Best moment this week: hearing her heartbeat
Miss Anything? being skinny
Movement: she's kicking a lot!
Food cravings: italian subs
Anything making you queasy or sick: nope, thank goodness the first trimester is over
Have you started to show yet: yes
Gender: It's a girl!
Labor Signs: nope
Belly Button in or out? out, since like, week 10. you can tell in this weeks picture
Wedding rings on or off? on
Happy or Moody most of the time: eh, kinda moody, kinda happy
Looking forward to: finishing the nursery

21 weeks 1 day

"Josh, do I always look this big?" "no" =]

I felt lazy with the chalkboard this week. At 21 weeks, Penelope is larger than a beer bottle and might weigh a pound now. She can also start to taste what I'm eating through the amniotic fluid. I can for sure feel her moving now.  She moves a lot when I first wake up, like not even out of bed yet.  Her and Josh play "hide and seek" which means she kicks, and when he trys to feel her, she stops.  Dad's here, better stop kicking mom.  Haha.  He felt her kick once, maybe. But I'm not worried because she will keep getting heavier and it will easier for him to feel her.  Oh, and I was reading about week 21 on some website and it said, "You're probably feeling a lot more comfortable now." And I'm thinking, who told you that? My back still hurts.  And since my belly is getting bigger, it's harder to bend over.  I think I'm just going to get more any more uncomfortable as Penny gets bigger.

My parents left a few days ago.  My mom was basically sewing the whole time she was here.  I don't have a sewing maching so she brought hers.  We decided to make a crib sheet first because it seemed the easiest.  Well, there was something wrong with her sewing machine and we couldn't figure it out.  It took 3 hours to make one crib sheet.  It was stressful. I was worried we wouldn't get any of the other things sewed.  Finally we figured out what setting was loopy.  Then we were good to go!  My mom made a cover for a bumper to go over my old baby bumper.

measuring fabric for bumper

Annie helping measure

With left over material from that, she made a valance for the window.  We went to WalMart and they had fabric on sale for $1.50 a yard so we made three more sheets for $4 a piece. Much cheaper than buying and more variety or colors and patterns. The last thing to do was the crib skirt.  It looked really simple, but turned out to by very time consuming and stressful.  My mom did about two rows (there will be three on each side) before giving up.  She decided to take it with her and mail it when she finishes.

oh, ruffles....

Husband's job is to spray paint the crib.  He is almost done. It will be exciting to see the crib finished with our custom bedding. 

How far along? 21 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: 12 ish pounds
Maternity clothes? yes
Sleep: still no good. i wanna sleep on my belly!
Best moment this week: making progress on nursery
Miss Anything? feeling healthy instead of fragile.
Movement: she's kicking!
Food cravings: cold reece cups
Anything making you queasy or sick: nope, thank goodness the first trimester is over
Have you started to show yet: yes
Gender: It's a girl!
Labor Signs: nope
Belly Button in or out? out, since like, week 10. you can tell in this weeks picture
Wedding rings on or off? on
Happy or Moody most of the time: i've been pretty happy lately.
Looking forward to: finishing the nursery

20 weeks 1 day

Whoaaaaaa we're halfway there!  Whoaa-ooo! We're livin on a prayer! That song always pops in my head when I hear "halfway there."  Penelope is the size of a banana this week and I think I felt her kick from the outside this morning.  Hoping she starts getting a lot more active soon.

Big news this week is the nursery. My parents are here visiting too and they are sleeping in the guest room/nursery on an air mattress.  My mom hates to paint but she painted the whole nursery.  My dad helped too.  It was really a pain because we still had furniture in there and didn't have a ladder so she had to scoot around on a chair.  Then we ran out of paint because the primer we had was gray and one coat of yellow wouldn't cover it. So I'm really thankful they were willing to paint my nursery because Josh is working almost 12 hour shifts and I'm not supposed to be painting.

Mama painting



Their poor living conditions while painting was going on

My mom, dad and I went to Hobby Lobby to look at fabric.  I got fabric for a bumper, crib skirt and sheets. But just one sheet.  I know I will probably buy or get more sheets but I wanted one set to look perfect. Tomorrow we will start sewing it all.  We also have to paint the crib and the baby gate.

The nursery is all painted and here is a sneak peak.  I will have one post dedicated to just the nursery when it is all finished.

How far along? 20 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: 12 ish pounds
Maternity clothes? yes
Sleep: still no good
Best moment this week: parents getting here and working on the nursery
Miss Anything? red bull
Movement: felt her kick this morning!
Food cravings: kit kats and smoked sausage and milkshakes and mcdonalds
Anything making you queasy or sick: nope, thank goodness the first trimester is over
Have you started to show yet: yes
Gender: It's a girl!
Labor Signs: nope
Belly Button in or out? out, since like, week 10.
Wedding rings on or off? on
Happy or Moody most of the time: i've been pretty happy lately.
Looking forward to: finishing the nursery