More nursery pics and new belly pic

Here is my 20 week belly picture and some more pictures of the nursery!

Wow...definitely out there...I just keep telling myself "he's a big boy, he's a big boy..."
Monkey hanging from the tree

Elephant finished

Rhino finished

20 weeks, it's a.....

BOY!! So today I'm 20 weeks and it's absolutely crazy that I'm almost done! We had our anatomy scan yesterday and found out that we are having a boy! We are through the roof excited, in fact Dan almost started crying he was so excited. All of the organs were measuring on time so they are not changing my due date. However, the legs and arms are measuring over 2 weeks ahead of schedule! This means we are having a LONG baby boy! Not that we're surprised, I'm just surprised that he's growing so fast so early! They estimated his weight at 14 oz when 10-12 oz is normal for this time of the pregnancy. I have only gained about 2 pounds so far, even though it feels like more. The doctor said that since I was on a diet beforehand and was losing weight, that I am probably still losing fat but gaining baby weight. Here are some pictures from the appointment!

Defintely a boy!

Profile of his cute face!

Kicking up a storm!

2 thumbs up!

All curled up

Here is what is going on with little man and me! (He's supposedly the size of a cantalope!)

Your baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. He's also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom and about 10 inches from head to heel — the length of a banana. (For the first 20 weeks, when a baby's legs are curled up against his torso and hard to measure, measurements are taken from the top of his head to his bottom — the "crown to rump" measurement. After 20 weeks, he's measured from head to toe.)He's swallowing more these days, which is good practice for his digestive system. He's also producing meconium, a black, sticky by-product of digestion. This gooey substance will accumulate in his bowels, and you'll see it in his first soiled diaper (some babies pass meconium in the womb or during delivery).

Congratulations! You've hit the halfway mark in your pregnancy. The top of your uterus is about level with your belly button, and you've likely gained around 10 pounds. Expect to gain another pound or so each week from now on. (If you started your pregnancy underweight, you may need to gain a bit more; if you were overweight, perhaps a bit less.) Make sure you're getting enough iron, a mineral that's used primarily to make hemoglobin (the part of your red blood cells that carries oxygen). During pregnancy, your body needs more iron to keep up with your expanding blood volume, as well as for your growing baby and the placenta. Red meat is one of the best sources of iron for pregnant women. Poultry (especially the dark meat) and shellfish also contain iron. Some common non-meat sources of iron include legumes, soy-based products, spinach, prune juice, raisins, and iron-fortified cereals.If you haven't already signed up for a childbirth education class, you may want to look into one, especially if you're a first-timer. A structured class will help prepare you and your partner for the rigors of labor and delivery. Most hospitals and birth centers offer classes, either as weekly meetings or as a single intensive, one-day session. Many communities have independent instructors as well. Ask your friends, family members, or caregiver for recommendations.

19 weeks

So only 6 more days until we find out what we're having! Most people have said I'm having a boy, with only a few guessing that it's a girl. Whichever it is, they are going to be a gymnast because they are turning somersaults inside of me! It's the weirdest feeling, and of course it only happens when I'm still so sleeping is getting tough.

On Friday, I had to leave work early due to some really bad cramping. It was worse than usual and since my doctor closes at noon on Fridays they told me to go to triage at the hospital. They checked me out and everything was fine, they said that I need to drink more water and that from 18-22 weeks the uterus is going through a major growth spurt and it's pulling at the ligments more, making it more painful. I was glad to know everything was ok, and they checked the baby's heartbeat and it's at 142 now. Dan was excited to hear that due to the old wive's tale that a slower heartbeat means it's a boy. He'll be excited either way.

I did have high blood pressure when I went in though. I think it was 135 over 84, and this is the second time it's been high. They took it again a couple hours later and said that it was fine after that but that I needed to reduce my stress level. I laughed and told them that that would require me quiting my job! However, I am trying to take it easy.

I also told my homeroom students yesterday. Well, actually one of them asked so I went ahead and told them. They were very excited, one of the girls even cried. However, they're upset that I won't be having the baby until next school year, and they'll be in middle school. I had the students put their heads down so that they couldn't see each other and vote on whether they think I'm having a girl or a boy. All 20 students said by, not one said girl! It was very odd. Today I'll be telling my other 2 classes and letting them vote.

I don't know how I'm going to make it through the next 6 days, I'm so excited! My cousin James and his wife, Amanda, are coming down this weekend, so hopefully that will help the time to fly!

Here is what is going on with me and baby this week:

Your baby's sensory development is exploding! Her brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. Some research suggests that she may be able to hear your voice now, so don't be shy about reading aloud, talking to her, or singing a happy tune if the mood strikes you.Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces and measures 6 inches, head to bottom — about the size of a mango. Her arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of her body now. Her kidneys continue to make urine and the hair on her scalp is sprouting. A waxy protective coating called the vernix caseosa is forming on her skin to prevent it from pickling in the amniotic fluid.

Think you're big now? You'll start growing even faster in the weeks to come. As a result, you may notice some achiness in your lower abdomen or even an occasional brief, stabbing pain on one or both sides — especially when you shift position or at the end of an active day. Most likely, this is round ligament pain. The ligaments that support your uterus are stretching to accommodate its increasing weight. This is nothing to be alarmed about, but call your practitioner if the pain continues even when you're resting or becomes severe.You may be noticing some skin changes, too. Are the palms of your hands red? Nothing to worry about — it's from the extra estrogen.

Nursery Pics & Baby's Heartbeat

So we bought the at home doppler and I attempted to record baby's heartbeat. Here is what I have, I hope it works!

Here are some more nursery pictures too!

Tree (individual leaves will be added later)

beginning of the lion

belly picture

So here is my 18 week belly pic  (the bottom one) in comparison with the last 2 pictures I took.  Hopefully I'll remember to take it every 2 weeks from here on out!  I have definitely popped.

4 weeks

13 1/2 weeks

18 weeks

18 weeks

14 more days until the big gender ultrasound!  So far I've had EVERYONE guess that I'm having a boy except for 1 person.  Even my friend's 2-year-old daughter said "Manda, you have a baby boy in your belly!"  Guess we'll have to wait and see who is right!

So tomorrow I'll be 18 weeks.  It's crazy!  Not much has been going on here.  I just got done with Spring Break and I am back to work (ugh!) but the nursery is in progress, so that's exciting!  I know a few people have mentioned that I need to take another belly pic, and I was going to do it today, but Dan doesn't get home until 10 pm tonight.  He needs to be there to take the pic, so I'll probably have to wait until tomorrow to take it.  Oh!  We recently got an at home doppler and it's pretty cool.  We can listen to the baby's heartbeat at home!  It takes a while for me to find it since baby still isn't too big and is moving around so much in there, but when we hear it it's awesome!  I might try to get a video of it sometime soon so that I can share the sound with everyone. 

Here is what is going on with me and baby this week:
Head to rump, your baby is about 5 1/2 inches long (about the length of a sweet potato) and he weighs almost 7 ounces. He's busy flexing his arms and legs — movements that you'll start noticing more and more in the weeks ahead. His blood vessels are visible through his thin skin, and his ears are now in their final position, although they're still standing out from his head a bit. A protective covering of myelin is beginning to form around his nerves, a process that will continue for a year after he's born. If you're having a girl, her uterus and fallopian tubes are formed and in place. If you're having a boy, his genitals are noticeable now, but he may hide them from you during an ultrasound.

Hungry? An increase in appetite is pretty common about now. Make it count by choosing meals and snacks that are rich in nutrients instead of empty calories (chips, French fries, candy, and other sweets). Bigger, more comfortable clothes are a must now as your appetite and waistline grow.
Your cardiovascular system is undergoing dramatic changes, and during this trimester your blood pressure will probably be lower than usual. Don't spring up too fast from a lying or sitting position or you might feel a little dizzy.
From now on, when you do lie down, it's best to lie on your side — or at least partly tilted to one side. (When you lie flat on your back, your uterus can compress a major vein, leading to decreased blood return to your heart.) Try placing a pillow behind you or under your hip or upper leg for comfort.

2nd day of nursery pics

So our friend came and did some more painting today.  He will come a few days throughout the week as well.  Here are more pics!

The elephant (with toenails now)

The rhino (with toenails and tusks now)

Beginning of the giraffe

Tree with all of it's branches

sketching of the lion

Beginning of Nursery Progression Pics

Our friend has started the mural in the nursery.  We are going with a jungle theme to match the bedding that we plan on getting.  Today he drew it free hand on the wall and began painting.  He has the base coats down for the elephant, the rhino and the base of the tree.  There is also going to be a bird flying over the elephant, a monkey hanging from the tree, a giraffe next to the rhino, a lion on another wall and of course, leaves on the tree.  So exciting!  He'll be doing more tomorrow as well as later in the week.  He plans on being done by the end of next weekend!  Here are some pics!

Elephant next to the tree

Elephant closer up

Rhino and the tree

Close up of the rhino

Close up of the tree

17 weeks

First of all, 20 more days until we find out the gender!  AHH!
So I really can't believe that I'm already 17 weeks, but I also feel like there is SO much time to go!  I'm on Spring Break this week and I'm trying to take it easy but I'm already getting bored!  Our friend that is doing the mural in the nursery for us is supposed to let us know how much paint and what colors to get today and then will begin painting at the end of the week, so that's exciting!
There is bad news though, they passed a bill yesterday that will pay all teachers in Florida based on their students' test scores and not on their years of experience.  I will be guarenteed 1//2 of my salary and then the other 1/2 is based on how well a bunch of 5th graders do on a test that takes place on one day...  It's not going to go into effect for another year or two, but it looks like after this baby comes we may have to look into moving to another state for me to teach.  That, or a new profession for me.  Crazy times...
On the bright side again, I have been feeling the baby move!  Last Friday and Saturday I thought I was feeling baby move, but I couldn't tell if it was baby or gas bubbles.   Then on Easter morning, I felt something that was undeniably baby!  Since then I've felt little flutters here and there and it's so exciting!  We also bought a fetal doppler on Ebay that will let us listen to the baby's heartbeat here at home, just waiting for it to arrive!

Here is what is going on with baby and me this week!

Your baby's skeleton is changing from soft cartilage to bone, and the umbilical cord — her lifeline to the placenta — is growing stronger and thicker. Your baby weighs 5 ounces now (about as much as a turnip), and she's around 5 inches long from head to bottom. She can move her joints, and her sweat glands are starting to develop.


Starting to feel a bit off balance? As your belly grows, your center of gravity changes, so you may begin to occasionally feel a little unsteady on your feet. Try to avoid situations with a high risk of falling. Wear low-heeled shoes to reduce your risk of taking a tumble; trauma to your abdomen could be dangerous for you and your baby. You'll also want to be sure to buckle up when you're in a car — keep the lap portion of the seat belt under your belly, drawn snugly across your hips, and also use the shoulder harness, which should fit snugly between your breasts.

You may also notice your eyes becoming drier. Using over-the-counter lubricating drops may help. If your contact lenses become uncomfortable, try wearing them for shorter stretches of time. If you still have discomfort, switch to glasses until after you give birth.

1st gifts off the registry!

So my Dad was anxious to play his Grandpa roll and bought us our highchair and stroller/car seat combo!  We are super excited and had to put it together immediately!  Here are pictures of the process and the final products!

Tank inspecting the packages

All the pieces for the stroller combo

stroller

stroller with the car seat

Callie trying out the stroller

High chair (it pretty much came out of the box ready)

all folded up so that the cats can't climb in them!

Thanks Dad!  We love them!