24 Week Update

How far along? 24 weeks - 16 left to full term!

Baby's size? Clocking in at about 13 inches long and 1 1/2 lbs.

Weight Gain? 9 lbs as of Monday. The constant weight gain, I admit, is always shocking to me.

Stretch marks? Not that I know of. My doctor insists this cannot be prevented with Cocoa Butter, still I can't help but use 2 handfuls (yes handfuls) a day trying to lather myself up.

Belly button in or out? Out. And it is strangely odd to see it through my shirt. The first day I noticed it I spent the entire day trying to push it back in. Chris finally caught on to what I was doing and told me to stop- it was no use. I have stopped obsessively trying, but every now and then I still give it a little try- maybe it will stick one of these days. :o)

Sleep? Getting comfortable at night is a challenge, but staying comfortable is even harder. I have to switch sides every few hours to fall back asleep. And switching sides really isn't all that easy either...

Foods I am loving? SWEETS!!! I hope it is just this time of the year and the fact that sweets are everywhere because I don't normally like sweets that much. (Sugar plums dancing in anyone else's head?)

Foods I am hating? Not alot, but still struggling with chicken, oddly enough. Not sure if I will ever understand this one. Will our little boy also dislike chicken? Strange.

Movement? Oh yeah, this little man is active all day and all night. Last night I was sitting on the couch when he went into one of his marathons, so I lifted my shirt over my belly to show Chris how strong and active our baby is. Funny thing is, Dusty, our over spoiled- momma's boy- must be in your lap if you are on the couch- dog would not sit with me for the rest of the night. I guess he was freaked out by all of the movement in my belly. I wonder if he understands at all? I am guessing no.

Symptoms? This week hasn't been much different than the last, but this month has been vastly different than last month. Should be no surprise since it took me 20 weeks to gain my first 5 pounds and only 4 weeks to gain the next 4- my body is trying to adjust to these drastic changes. I am having: sharp pains in my sides (well uterus to be technically correct) if I lean the wrong way or rollover at night too quickly (I hear this is called the round ligament), a really sore tailbone pretty much every day, and pain in my upper rib cage which I have found I can relieve if I stretch or straighten up my back which tends to lead to more sharp pains in my sides. I am not complaining at all, just observing the odd nature of pregnancy and how it manifests in every woman so differently!

What I miss? Not being stared at while walking across the office at work, the gym, or the grocery store. I suddenly realize I have always been the person staring before and now I am the one being stared at. I miss some of my favorite clothes, but more than anything I miss my workouts- Step class, running, Total Conditioning and dancing. I took for granted being able to make my body uncomfortable for the fun of it. It doesn't require a whole lot of exercise these days to reach my maximum recommended heart rate of 140.... sigh. It's all worth it!

What I will miss? Being able to carry around my baby 24/7 in a nice convenient place where he is automatically fed and does not need a diaper change. Oh yeah, and of course I will miss my free time, I hear that is a rarity for parents of newborns.

What I'm looking forward to? Umm besides holding, kissing, and gawking at the miracle God created when he arrives.... In the near future I can't wait to paint the nursery, assemble the crib... well get the crib first, then assemble it, and spend some much needed R&R with my hubby.

Weekly Wisdom: If you find yourself walking out of your heels, but are having a hard time figuring out why, you may have developed a waddle. And never assume your legs are ready if you stand up too fast, they may have not gotten the message or are not use to supporting your new and improved bod.

The bump:

Next appointment: In 4 weeks, January 17th for my glucose test. Not too excited about this one.