Huge!

I've been declared "huge." Thursday, during an afterschool homework session, Miss A was working on the long "u" sound -- clue, use, fuse, dude, etc. After matching a series of words to pictures, she was instructed to draw something "huge." I looked at her and asked what she would draw, and she responded, looking directly in my face, "you." It was the most serious response from the least serious 6-year-old I know. She must have sensed my slightly bruised ego -- or figured my round belly was too difficult to draw -- because she decided to draw a beach ball instead!

It's not as if I'm unaware of this round mass growing in front of me, and if I ever forget, I am quickly reminded with cute little nudges and kicks. It just sometimes comes as a shock to hear it put so bluntly! And this morning, I definitely tipped the scales at the doctor's office. My doc said the scale must have been off because the gain was uncharacteristic for me, but since I was her first patient of the day, she'd have to wait and see how everyone else weighed in. But, I feel like the scale was correct ... there was no need to sugarcoat it for me. :-)

The baby and I are doing well. The little heartbeat was recorded at 155 bpm and baby is measuring right on track. After next month's visit, we will be going every other week, then soon it'll be once a week. I can't believe how quickly time is passing!

Well, I'll probably regret this, but here are the pics of my belly at 15 weeks and on Saturday at 24 weeks.

Week 24 Developments*:

Baby's Age: 22 Weeks
Baby's Size: About 8 1/2", head to rump
Baby's Weight: About 1 1/2 lbs
Other changes: Baby's skin is very wrinkled right now but will smooth out when more fat is deposited and muscles further develop. The baby's skin is very transparent at this time, if you could see the baby you could see the bones and organs through the skin.

The site says I can can expect to gain about a pound per week this month as "both you and the baby grow!" OK, I guess I should get off to the gym today so I can justify indulging on Thursday. I am so excited about all of the yummy food, but I should keep in mind there are still 16 more weeks of pregnancy to go. No need to overdo it. Happy Thanksgiving everybody!

*according to babyfit.com

Perfection vs. Proficiency?

Well, the big sister has kept me quite busy and, thus, with little time for blogging. I can certainly say that her arrival has been nothing short of an adjustment -- for all of us, including the little baby. Whereas I used to sort of maneuver my way through yoga, water fitness, housekeeping, cooking, eating and sleeping with little-to-nothing to worry aobut, I now find time to fit in homework, hair-braiding, regimented meal times, bed time stories, etc. I'd like to think that I'm managing, though last week was a little rougher than the first. This week is off to a smashing start though!

The whole situation has made me a little OCD, and I've begun to plan and overplan almost every aspect of my life. Jeremiah insists that perfection is not really attainable, but I'm really going to try to prove him wrong. (OK, kidding) He likes to quote his favorite prof: "Practice begets proficiency" (not "perfection"). But I keep thinking that if I get a strict plan, with a detailed schedule outlining daily and long-term goals, then it will be easier when the baby arrives. Granted, I'm going to have to be flexible. But, it seems like it'd be better to have a plan and veer off of it a bit than to not have one at all and have a totally unorganized and wacky life. Am I being silly?

About the baby: S/he has definitely found my bladder, and all I can say is OUCH!!!!!!!!! It's the strangest feeling ever! This baby's activity has only increased and strengthened, so much so that I can see little movements around my belly that correspond with his/her kicks! Jeremiah even saw him/her move. S/he especially likes yoga class ... after an hour of stretches and movements in class, s/he wiggles, bounces and bumps incessantly during Savasana, the resting portion of the class. Just when I'm getting my snooze on, this little one reminds me who's boss. I love it!

And to answer everyone's burning question, the belly pics are forthcoming. I *have* been trying to avoid it, but it seems like we should be documenting this. My belly has grown more than 10"!! My doc says that since I'm so short, there's no where else for the baby to go but outward.Stay tuned. I'll post. :-p

Week 23 developments (sorry, we totally skipped week 22!)

Baby's Age: 21 weeks
Baby's Length: 8", head to rump
Other changes: The baby continues to grow and gain weight. The smallest bones in the human body are found in the middle ear (hammer, anvil, and stirrup) and are forming. This will make it possible for the baby to hear in the near future. A heat-producing fat (called brown fat) is helping to keep the baby warm. The baby's body is becoming more normally proportioned, though the head continues to look out of proportion.

The Big Sister arrives

That's right! She's has arrived with all of her 6-year-old wittiness and she started school here on Tuesday. She is such a strong and happy-go-lucky little kid; considering how huge of a change this last week has brought, her transition seems to have been seamless. It's fun to have a little helper around; I know she is going to be a fantastic big sister! She has already chimed in with a few name suggestions, and last night, she was even reading to the baby and pretending to show him/her the pictures. Each night before bed and randomly throughout the day, she is sure to kiss my belly and dance with and talk to the baby.

Speaking of my belly, she can't get over how big it is! One of the first things she said when I saw her Saturday was, "It's so biiiiiig!" The next day, she got out her ruler and tried to measure the baby. And here's the kicker: yesterday, she described me to a woman in the complex as the "lady with the big stomach." Granted, I have rounded out nearly 8 extra inches, but I still like to think of my tummy as medium-sized! I have about 19 more weeks for it to become gigantic!

I've done away with a lot of the babyfit.com stats I used to post. Some of them have been rendered useless after we got real measurements last week. But, here are a few tidbits from the site:

Week 21 developments

Baby's legnth: About 7.25 inches (head to rump)
Other changes: The baby is getting stronger (yes s/he is!) and looking much like a tiny newborn with a natural formed mouth and lips, nose and closed eyelids. The baby's legs will be close to the final natural proportion to the body and head. The baby's heart can be detected by a standard stethoscope.

Right now the baby is about the size of a large banana. (Or so they say! Since this baby was 10 inches last week from head to foot, I'm thinking this is either one genetically modified banana or a massive plantano! It feels more like a watermelon.)