wiggly baby

So we are now at 20 weeks and 5 days....

Or 21 weeks and 6 days, depending on who you ask.

According to when I know we conceived, I am earlier. According to the ultrasound we had on Monday, the baby is measuring about a week or so older. I am not sure what to think, really, but my instinct is telling me that HE is just big.

Yes, that is right, a baby boy!

We were so sure it was a girl for the majority of the time, but I started to doubt it about a week and half ago when he started kicking the snot out of me. It was strange to go from feeling nothing to practically constant wriggling. All of a sudden, my mindset just sort of changed, and I began thinking that perhaps it was actually a boy.

When we went to the ultrasound, as soon as she put the paddle on my belly, it was the first thing we saw! We got a ridiculously clear picture of his "additional appendages" (as the tech said) and no one needed to tell me we were getting an eyeful of penis.

To tell the truth, I am not totally sure how I feel about having a son. I was sort of anticipating a girl, and I have such a close relationship with my mom, that I really want to have a girl some day to experience that. I really have no idea how to raise a boy - especially if he turns out to be a BOY boy, playing sports and things like that. But we will figure it out! I keep reminding myself that historically, I have gotten along better with guys than with girls... so it cannot be so bad. ;)

Everyone keeps telling me that now the fun really begins as we start to plan for the boy. I am just happy to know that summer is coming. I will have about a month and a half before he shows up where I have little to no obligations, and I am really looking forward to that.
We are painting upstairs and getting new carpets. After that, baby furniture! Jon swears that my nesting instinct is kicking in. I don't think it has yet, though I am trying to "Get stuff done". Of course, the stuff we are getting done is stuff that has been on the list since we MOVED here! I just know when he finally arrives, that nothing will be accomplished. :)

We have decided to keep our list of names secret. There is a frontrunner, but it is a name that easily lends itself to teasing, so I am not sure what we are going to do about that. I love it though! It sort of feels like what he is... but we also plan to see what he looks like when he comes out. The only experience I have with this would be when I got Lily. I had a list of names, but when I finally picked her up, I knew she was Lily. So I am hoping the same for our boy.

Suffice it to say things are going really well. I feel good, getting decent sleep, keeping hydrated, and putting on weight! I know I am only halfway there, but hopefully the remainder will go as well as the first half has.

baby updates

Well, it has been a few weeks, there are a couple of new baby updates...

I popped around 14 to 15 weeks. All of a sudden it was like BAM! BELLY! I had not really gained much weight (a few pounds), but it was like I woke up one day and nothing fit and I could not hide it. It is pretty fascinating to see the changes in my body.

I am at 17 weeks today, and it is just sticking out more and more. Two or three days ago, I started to feel some flutterings. They call it the "quickening", which reminds me of the movie Dune. It is hard to tell though - I feel my heartbeat so strongly that the light tiny taps that I am feeling from the baby are hard to distinguish.

I had another check in at the doctor, and, as usual, things are normal. The heartbeat sounds nice and strong, and the next "big thing" is Monday, March 26th, when we get to have another ultrasound and find out the sex of the baby.

The only other major development has been... wait for it.... BOOBIES! I mean, deeeeeamn. I usually am like a large B, small C, but I am at full C capacity at the moment. They are heavy. And from talking with some other moms, many of them went up 3 or 4 cup sizes when they started out in the same general area. I cannot really imagine myself as an E! Yikes! Should be interesting to see how that turns out.

Today I scheduled our birthing class (one Sat, all day, cram session!), re-ordered my prenatals, consulted a friend on whether I should take a breastfeeding class (answer: meh), and downloaded documents to create our first wills. I also started writing a list of who should be invited to my (gulp) baby shower. Baby bonanza!



One thing that has been hard to explain to people is my, uh, lack of excitement. I mean, I think it is cool, and I am happy to be pregnant, and it IS fun to see my body growing and changing... but so many people *GUSH* with excitement for me that I simply do not feel. I think for me, I only really get excited anymore when the event is at hand. Even for Australia, I only got hyped up when we were packing.... and when we finally landed!

So you will have to excuse me, if you are talking to me, and I am not totally baby crazy and overflowing with pride and glowing and stuff like that. I AM happy, I promise you, and it is constantly on my mind - practically every second. There is a constant monologue I am pregnant I am pregnant I am pregnant but most likely I will not be WHEEE! until we get closer to having it in my arms. And, lest you think I am totally inhuman, I do have smiley times... like when we heard the heartbeat the first time, and when we saw it for the first time.... its just usually those times are special between just Jon and I.

Still, I do appreciate your gushing, and its fun to have friends who are so happy for me. It makes me happy when people are happy for me...so keep it up, I like it. :)