21 & 22 Weeks

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How far along? 22 weeks
Size of baby? Spaghetti Squash
Total weight gain/loss: I weighed in at 126.4 lbs.
Maternity clothes? Leggings, please. 
Stretch marks? Nope, but itchy!
Sleep: I sleep well, but I have to pee all the time.
Best moment this week: Baby R was kickin' up a storm the other night and Shane was able to feel the boxing match going on in there.
Miss Anything? Rare Steaks. 
Movement: So much movement! It's getting almost painful.
Food cravings: I neeeeeeded a corn dog this week. When the poor lady at Carl's Jr. told me they do not offer corn dogs, I about had a compete melt down. 
Anything making you queasy or sick: I had a horrible run in with some hot wings this week. It was the worst day of my life. 
Have you started to show yet: Yes. 
Gender: Boy
Labor Signs: I've had some painful "tightness" this week.
Belly Button in or out? In. 
Wedding rings on or off? On.
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy
How Toby is handling the baby: He's been learning some new training tricks to help with baby boundaries.
Weekly Wisdom: Staying hydrated helps with round ligament pain.
Looking forward to: Getting more baby things!

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How far along? 21 weeks
Size of baby? The size of a carrot, about 10.5 inches long
Total weight gain/loss: I'm not sure what my weight gain, I will see at my Dr. appt. this week. 
Maternity clothes? I was determined to make it to at least 20 weeks before trying any official "maternity clothes." The second I put on those stretchy pants from Target, I had tears in my eyes. HOLY COW I've never been so comfortable. I am struggling with the idea of buying more maternity clothes though. I find it silly to buy clothes I will only wear for the next 5 months.
Stretch marks? No
Sleep: I've been sleeping okay recently. The hardest thing for me is sore hips. I can't lay on one side for too long or my hips feel like they just might crumble.  
Best moment this week: Painting Baby Boy's nursery!
Miss Anything? Not this week
Movement: I feel like his movement has slowed down this week. I usually feel him the most when I'm laying down and I haven't been doing that much, so maybe that's why.
Food cravings: Sushi will always be here. I need it delivered to the hospital room the second this boy is out. 
Anything making you queasy or sick: Not anything in patricular. I haven't barfed in a long time, which is nice. However I've started to get the headaches. I was never a "headache person", I didn't get them very often. But now that I'm getting these horribly strong headaches, its pretty rough. 
Have you started to show yet: Yes, but still hangin' low. 
Gender: Boy
Labor Signs: Nope, but I read you can start experiencing Braxton Hicks as early as 21 weeks. WHAT. Not okay with that.
Belly Button in or out? In. But getting scarily more and more shallow every day. My friend's mom suggested I tape a penny over it. What in the world?
Wedding rings on or off? On, still loose.
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy, but tired. A little overwhelmed. (Let's be honest, alotta overwhelmed. Having a baby is overwhelming okay?!)
How Toby is handling the baby: He still likes to lay his chin on my belly every night to get kicked in the face. 
Weekly Wisdom: Open the window when painting the nursery. Don't be dumb and wait until you're woozy to remember you need ventilation.
Looking forward to: My next Dr's appointment where we find out if anything funky showed up on our anatomy scan. 

20 Weeks

5:27 PM 0 Comments A + a -


Welp, I have officially made it half way! Baby Rainer is 50% cooked! How crazy is that? Being pregnant is a very "interesting" experience. There is a lot of planning, learning, eating, worrying and advice receiving-all day everyday. Sometimes it can be overwhelming, but I have loved being pregnant and growing this little human mini-me (/Shane). We are so grateful for all the wonderful support and love we've received. Thank you to all of you beautiful humans for sticking with us on this journey. I know my blog has been overrun with Baby R posts, but my life as been overrun with Baby R! I know it can be boring, but this blog is for my future reference and is the substitute for my complete lack of ability to properly journal. Here's my last few weeks in updates and a few half way photos just for fun. Thanks again to those who have stuck around to see this baby grow! 20 more weeks to go!



How far along? 20 weeks!
Size of baby? Banana
Total weight gain/loss: 128 lbs!
Maternity clothes? I had to dig around the work office "uniform bucket" to find a larger size shirt for myself. My old one couldn't be tucked in anymore! The whole time I was frantically delving into this horribly organized plastic tub of ugly blue polos, I could hear giggles coming from my boss behind me. When I asked him what was just so dang funny, he told me he's saving the one XXL shirt for me when I need it. HA! 
Stretch marks? Nope, but I do feel like the more my stomach skin stretches the more see-through it becomes. I never knew I had so many veins in my belly!
Sleep: I've been staying up really late recently, getting my noggin to calm down is really hard. 
Best moment this week: Finally making the half way point! Woo!
Miss Anything? Not really missing anything this week. 
Movement: I can see my belly moving from the outside now, which is so crazy!  
Food cravings: Fried rice still, I don't know what it is, but some Tepanyaki fried rice sounds so bomb right now!
Anything making you queasy or sick: Car rides where I am not driving. If I am in the back seat, forgettaboutit. 
Have you started to show yet: People who know me can see me growing a little bit everyday. But to strangers I don't look pregnant at all.
Gender: Baby Rainer is ALL boy and is not shy about showing us. 
Labor Signs: Nadda.
Belly Button in or out? In.
Wedding rings on or off? On.
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy, emotional at little things, but for the most part very happy.
How Toby is handling the baby: I have a very well behaved dog. I have worked extremely hard to train him that way. However, he does get nervous when things are moved around. I think this comes from Shane and I's habit of moving apartments frequently. So when things are getting moved in and out of the nursery, he gets a tad curious and anxious. We have to move furniture in one at a time to get him used to the change so he knows we are NOT moving any time soon. He is getting better every day with the big "scary" crib. 
Weekly Wisdom: Start working on a "birth plan" early. We have to reserve our hospital stay soon and are deciding all the details for delivery. It seems so far away!
Looking forward to: Finally getting a belly soon? Please? I'm pregnant I swear!

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How far along? 19 weeks
Size of baby? Heirloom Tomato (Which apparently is not the same thing as a "regular" tomato. I checked. Online.) 
Total weight gain/loss: Still staying around the 123-125 lb. range. 
Maternity clothes? I am down to my LAST pair of skinny jeans that still kinda fit. My zipper can't quite get allll the way up. I am just not ready to get rid of my pants just yet! 
Stretch marks? No. My mom didn't have stretch marks and since they're genetic, I'm not particularly planning on getting any of those. 
Sleep: I toss and turn all night which wakes Shane up. When you have to be up at 4:30 AM most mornings; having a crazy, uncomfortable, floppy wife next to you can be no fun. I've been sleeping in the nursery for a few nights to give Shane some sleep. 
Best moment this week: We found out the gender and got to see everything is right on track in there!
Miss Anything? Sushi. I guess I can have tempura rolls...we will see...
Movement: So so much. This might be horrible of me to say, but sometimes when the baby is super active it kinda scares me! I love knowing everything is okay and he's getting stronger, but when you feel and SEE your belly moving involuntarily it can kinda freak you out! There is a human in there, what in the world?! I'm getting more and more used to it, but it's just such a strange feeling I can't quite describe yet. 
Food cravings: Root beer and fried rice, man. 
Anything making you queasy or sick: I recently received a big "bear hug" where I was lifted up and twirled around. These do not go over well with pregnant women, FYI. Baby was fine; I was so dizzy, I might have had to excuse myself to bow to the porcelain throne for a few. Thank you for the hug though Shane, I love you too, but no more twirls. 
Have you started to show yet: If you were to see me naked (sorry) you would say, "yes". But from the outside, fully clothed, I look normal. I am carrying very low, so most of the bump is hidden in my pantaloons. 
Gender prediction: Baby Rainer is a BOY! 
Labor Signs: No, thank goodness. 
Belly Button in or out? In.
Wedding rings on or off? On, I found them. 
Happy or Moody most of the time: I've been pretty happy, I received some awesome news this week!
How Toby is handling the baby: He seems to be more needy recently and attached to Shane, which I guess, is good. Once this baby comes, a lot of my attention will be taken away from Toby and given to Baby R. Shane will have to be Toby's main squeeze for a while. 
Weekly Wisdom: This one might be a little TMI, but it has really helped me! Try to lean forward when you pee, it helps empty your bladder all the way and you won't need to make as many bathroom trips. 
Looking forward to: Gaining weight!

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How far along? 18 weeks
Size of baby? Sweet Potato
Total weight gain/loss: I weighed in at exactly 123.8 lbs at the Dr. this week So I am up 3.8 lbs. I was a little worried I wasn't gaining enough, but Dr. E says everything is A-OKAY. 
Maternity clothes? Still squeezing into my regular clothes. 
Stretch marks? Nope.
Sleep: Alright....I guess. 
Best moment this week: Hearing Baby R's heartbeat!
Miss Anything? Alaskan Seafood. Mostly because it's Alaskan.
Movement: Lots and lots of jabs goin' on in there. 
Food cravings: Fried rice and orange soda!
Anything making you queasy or sick: I've felt really good this week! 
Have you started to show yet: I look the same, I feel like I'm not growing at all.
Gender prediction: We find out next week!
Labor Signs: No.
Belly Button in or out? In.
Wedding rings on or off? Off :( They were so loose, they fell off! They're somewhere under my bed though. I just gotta crawl around under there and find those guys. 
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy, however I feel much less talkative then usual. I am not regularly what people would call a "quiet" person, but recently I haven't felt the need to speak up much. I wonder if that will be the personality of this baby?
How Toby is handling the baby: Toby is so chill, I don't think he really minds anything crazy going on right now. 
Weekly Wisdom: Do nursery stuff on those days you feel good, because you never know when those days might just slip away!
Looking forward to: Baby R's anatomy scan! Woop, one week!

IT'S A.....

8:16 PM 2 Comments A + a -


We went to our anatomy scan today! We got to see all of Baby Rainer's...parts. Baby R's heart is beating strong at 143 bmp with all four chambers of the heart working wonderfully! We saw two kidneys, a stomach and a bladder. The ultrasound tech was amazed at how long and folded in half the baby was. Apparently there's enough room in there, but Baby R's all nice and cozy hangin' down low in a ball. We opted to find out the gender right away and we are so excited to announce to everyone what we are having! We had planned a few elaborate gender reveals and life just got in the way, but that's okay! The u/s tech gave us some pretty cute print-outs so we figured sharing these would be sufficient. Scroll down to see some photos and find out!