24 Weeks and Counting

Today, our little guy is 24 weeks and 3 days or about 5 1/2 months. We have about 16 weeks until the due date! He's growing and moving around several times a day. The schedule I thought he was on no longer exists, though I'm not surprised!

He's starting to gain about a 1/2 lb per week, but right now he's about a foot long and 1.25 lbs! He's practicing breathing by inhaling up to a liter of amniotic fluid per day with his developing lungs. The fluid is also starting to increase in volume and by the end of the pregnancy there will be 2 pints surrounding him. Because the growing baby is getting plumper, he no longer has room in my tummy to do cartwheels and somersaults.

My belly is growing so rapidly I've been taking pictures every couple of weeks. I try not weigh myself except a couple of times a month. I've only gained about 15 lbs to this point, which I feel like is pretty good considering all the sweets I crave!

We've decided on a name and I don't think we need to keep it a secret. We've decided to use our Father's middle names so he is Joseph Tennyson Kochevar. He may be called Joe, Joey, JT, Ten or Tenny. We'll see when we meet him what we end up calling him. :)

We're also pretty much registered for the baby shower. It took a lot of work! Our nursery now awaits all of his cute little stuff!

We also decided on a theme for his room! It took a lot of deciding, but Ruggs picked out something cute!

Next week I have another check up with Dr Huynh. I expect it to be fairly unexciting so I'm hoping it'll give me a chance to talk with the Dr. about some of the (normal) issues I've been having with my feet and back.

Get Your Kicks

I've been updating the baby blog weekly, but since our fruit has changed to monthly I may only update monthly or when something exciting happens - we'll see how it goes. At this point, there's not a lot changing externally except that my belly is growing bigger and bigger.

Since last Thursday, I've been feeling the baby kick a few times a day, but it's sporadic and no one else has had a chance to feel it. I know Ruggs is excited to feel him and it's disappointing when the baby won't cooperate. [He's already calling him a mama's boy. :)] I know soon enough it'll happen, but for now it's just me getting the surprise kicks and jabs. He's on a pretty regular schedule too, which surprises me. He's moving around at about 8:30am, Noon, 3:00pm, 6:00pm and 9:30pm. He'll wiggle around for about 15 mins - 1/2 hour and then he's still again for a few hours. He's most active when I'm quiet and still… or maybe I can just feel him more?

Now that we know he's a boy I've started registering for stuff at both Target and Babies R Us. I think I may have had an easier task to pick stuff out for a girl, but with Ruggs' help, we're making it through. We have plenty of time since I can't imagine we'll be having a baby shower until August or September. I'm thankful to our family and friends who have been so supportive and helpful to us. Loaning us baby cloths/items, helping us buy things he'll need and other supportive gestures really makes this a happy time!

We're also talking about names. We have a couple of names picked out, but we're having a hard time deciding. Again it's good we still have plenty of time! So for now, I'm just trying to enjoy our summer and daydream about next summer when I have a little 8 month old boy to take swimming!

Your Baby: Month 5  - Papaya

Watch what you say -- baby is now able to hear outside noise from down in the womb. Studies show that baby finds gentle music and your own voice most soothing. Nipples are starting to sprout, and that little face is fully formed. And, baby's starting to settle into sleep cycles, snoozing about 12 to 14 hours a day. It shouldn't be hard to figure out when -- just pay attention to those kicks as they start and stop.

Snips and Snails, and Puppy Dogs Tails

It's a boy! 

Most people thought it would be a girl, but he surprised us! 

I think this Dr.'s visit was the most exciting next to the very first visit. During the ultrasound we were able to see all his little fingers & toes, his arms, legs, head and even his spine & ribs! We could see him moving his little arms and legs, but I still can't feel them due to the anterior placenta. I can only feel the large movements, but I feel them daily now. I usually feel him kicking around after I eat or when I eat something sweet. He LOVES watermelon and wiggles around a lot when I eat it.

In this one baby is clasping his hands. So cute! The ultrasound tech said she doesn't normally see babies doing this. I wonder if he'll still do this after he's born?

We have several of his little face. They don't offer the 3D ultrasound at my Dr.'s office but there is an independent place we can call in Westminster called First View Ultrasound I'm thinking of calling to schedule one. I believe even friends and family can sit in on them in stadium style seating on comfortable couches! How exciting!

At this visit Dr. Huynh measured my fundal height (from your pubic bone to the top of your uterus) for the first time. The top of my uterus is just at my bellybutton now and the fundal height measured 22cm. Your measurements are supposed to coincide with the weeks you are pregnant. So, technically I should've measured at 21cm, but the baby is also measuring a little bigger. Today, I am 21 weeks and 2 days, but the baby is measuring 21 weeks and 6 days. He's been measuring a little bit ahead pretty consistently. Dr. Huyhn said he's measuring in the 85 percentile, but she doesn't consider it big or out the ordinary until it's in the 90th percentile.

See how the bottom part of my bellybutton piercing is no longer inside my bellybutton!?

Baby gulps down several ounces of amniotic fluid every day, both for hydration and nutrition and to practice swallowing and digesting. And, these days, those taste buds actually work! Studies show that after birth, babies are most interested in tastes they've already experienced through amniotic fluid. Meaning, think about what you want your future child to eat as you prepare your own lunch.

Kryptonite

This week, at 20 weeks, we're officially half way through the pregnancy! It's gone by pretty fast and we're very excited to find out whether the baby is a boy or a girl next week. We've received all the baby furniture and have the room ready to be filled with trucks or dolls. I thought it might be fun to do a poll and see what everyone thinks it might be:

Poll results: 3 votes trucks
Poll results: 9 votes Dolls

There are lots of changes that happen with your emotions and body when you're pregnant. I don't think I could have anticipated the way I would feel emotionally or physically. Emotionally, I'm a little more sensitive. I get my feelings hurt more easily. I get teary eyed at anything sentimental. It feels a little silly, but I can't help it. Physically, this baby is my kryptonite. I used to do anything I wanted for any length of time. Now, I'm tired from just doing normal things like vacuuming or walking the dog. I had intended to exercise (and even purchased a pregnancy workout DVD, Gaiam Summer Sanders' Prenatal Workout), but I'm too tired to do anything but small exercises and stretches. I also sunburn easily now and have to use sunscreen (like normal white people). My lower back hurts when I lay or stand and I use ice, chiropractic adjustments or hot baths and they seem to help. The arches of my feet get swollen and hurt when I'm on my feet too long. I purchased some Dr. Scholls Customized Inserts which do seem to help a little, but are tough to wear with flip flops. Overall, though I feel pretty good most of time, I'm definitely a weaker version of myself.

Belly news:
My belly is growing and the piercing that looked so cute when I was 18 has moved outside my belly button (which has not popped out, but is definitely more shallow). I'm also developing a faint linea negra that runs up to my belly button and peach fuzz is covering my belly as well. I'm starting to feel him/her move undeniably now. It's surprising how strong the kicks are! I'm not sure if he/she is big enough now that the anterior placenta doesn't buffer the movements or if the placenta has migrated out of the way. Either way it's exciting to finally feel baby moving! My sweet tooth is in full force right now. I'm not sure if I've gained much weight since my last Dr's appt, but I don't see how I wouldn't eating sweets like I do everyday. I'll be sure to get some new belly pics up next week with our fun news!

Baby's digestive system is busy creating meconium (a tarry black substance made of swallowed amniotic fluid, digestive secretion and dead cells), which will fill the first diaper after birth. And, speaking of the diaper situation... baby's genitals are now fully formed!