21 week update

I am 21 weeks pregnant, which means I am more than halfway there! A few updates on me and baby:

• baby is about 7 inches long (length of a banana)
• baby weighs between 10 and 11 ounces (not quite a pound)
• I have had numerous women tell me that I am "pretty big" or "huge" or something of that nature for only being 21 weeks. How lovely. However, when our midwife measured me at 19 weeks, she said the size of my belly was 19 centimeters (exactly on mark!) So take that everyone who thinks I'm "probably having twins."
• the baby begins to start swallowing amniotic fluid around week 21, so it becomes increasingly important to eat the right foods. If I eat a salad, the baby eats salad. If I eat an entire box of sour watermelon candies, well... you get the picture.
• the baby's heartbeat is getting stronger and we should be able to hear it soon using just a stethoscope
• the pretty green shirt in this picture was a surprise gift that my mom and sister mailed to me from St. Louis. I've already received lots of compliments. Thanks mom and Colleen!

One of these things is not like the other...

Now, I've heard people say that you can start to lose your mind when you're pregnant. I'm not sure if I buy into that idea or not. After eating breakfast this morning, I came into the kitchen to clean my dishes. To my surprise, the juice was not in the fridge. No, it was sitting with the glassware.Maybe I would've done this even if I wasn't pregnant. But isn't it a lot more fun to blame it on the baby?

Happy Easter!

I feel like Easter is a perfect time to reflect on God’s graciousness. So often, as I prepare for this baby, I think about all of the “things” that need to be accomplished in the next twenty weeks. We need to buy a crib, stroller, changing table, etc. for the nursery. I need to read books on how to be a good mother and how to breastfeed. I'll go to classes on how to give birth. We will baby-proof our home, and the list just goes on and on.

I am reminded today, Easter Sunday, that God loves me and takes care of me. God is huge. He created the universe and keeps the world in motion. Yet he loves me and has the hairs on my head numbered. Jesus was fully man and knows what it is like to be tempted by worldly things. I can call upon Jesus and ask him to give me the strength not to be consumed by everything that American culture tells me to worry about. Our nursery does not have to be “perfect” by the world’s standards. Everything does not have to match. I do not need the best and newest stroller. The only thing that matters is that Jesus died and rose from the dead. Now his spirit lives in Austin and in me, and hopefully one day in our child. If we are fortunate enough to have a child who knows the Lord some day, all the rest is just details.

"Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.” Luke 12:27-31

SOUTH BEACH

Thanks to my wonderful parents, Austin and I got to spend the last five days of spring break with my family in South Beach, Florida. It was the first time that my mom, dad, Colleen and Fes got to see me as a pregnant lady! (well, I was pregnant at Christmas, but I didn't know it then).

The vacation was filled with laying on the beach, swimming in the pool, playing "30 Seconds" (a fun board game), eating delicious food, going on long walks/runs, watching a lot of basketball, and telling vendors that we were not interested in henna tattoos.

Colleen is so certain that our baby is going to be a girl that she purchased a pink bib souvenir. She also commented, "So do you think I'll have a girl niece or a boy niece?"

Even with the Jayhawks' heartbreaking loss, we were still able to have fun our last night of the trip. My mom was of course in good spirits because she picked St. Mary's to go to the final four! My dad and Fes gave her a hard time, but she figured they have the Virgin Mary cheering for them, so they'd probably do well in the tournament. Pretty great.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

This is the baby and me on St. Patrick's Day, 17 weeks pregnant.

Surprise Camping Trip

It was the first afternoon of my spring break. I came home from school, Austin looked at me and said, "Hey, you ready to go camping?"

He had spent all day gathering our tent, sleeping bag, food, and supplies

for a one-night campout. He even remembered to pack my prenatal vitamins.

So Austin, Fable and I set out on the road. Austin's dad has some good friends with property just west of us. Acres upon acres of open fields as well as forests. As we arrived at our site, a herd of cattle was running through. Then, as we sat by the fire later that evening, we heard coyotes howling. Austin said they were far away, but they certainly sounded like they were pretty darn close.

It got down to about 40 degrees in the middle of the night, but thanks to our arctic weather sleeping bags, we survived.

Even with the coyotes and the chilly weather, it was a WONDERFUL way to start my spring break. :)

15 weeks and counting...

We had our 15 week checkup today with our midwife. It was the second time we got to hear our baby's heartbeat. Pretty awesome. Here are a few updates:

• The baby is about 4 inches long (or the size of a softball) and weighs around 2.4 oz.
• My belly is definitely growing! I'm sure it won't be long until I need to be wearing strictly maternity clothes. But for now, my "normal" clothes are still holding up.
• I have lots more energy than I did a couple of weeks ago. I don't feel the need to nap every day after work, which is nice.
• I've been ultra-sensitive to smells: spicy smelling foods, school cafeteria food, and even the smell of the dishwasher running can make my eyes water. Austin thinks it's hilarious.
• No weird cravings yet! Just the normal things, like mozzarella sticks. If I ever start craving mozzarella sticks dipped in ice cream, I will let you know.

We will have our first sonogram done at 22 weeks. So in seven more weeks, we will get to SEE this baby for the first time. That is normally when people find out if they are having a boy or a girl, but Austin and I have decided that we are going to wait. We won't know the baby's gender until he/she is born. This is making some people a bit hostile, but I'm pretty sure we're going to stick with our decision. :) Until next time!