Bumpdate ~ Week 17

Week 17...already?! The time has just been flying by! It seems like just yesterday, I was busting at the seams trying to keep our pregnancy a secret! I guess it's a good sign that the time is going quickly, but it also kind of makes me a little sad! I love being pregnant and I am loving knowing that our baby is growing steadily inside me...and is safe! Obviously, I can't wait to meet our Lil' Bit, but I am definitely reveling in the fact that I get to experience every good and bad not so good things about being pregnant. It already makes me look forward to Baby #2! and #3... and maybe #4 if I can convince the hubs! But that's many years down the road...

• Week 17
• Baby is the size of an : orange (from crown to rump)
• Weight :  5 oz. / Length : 5.12 in.(from crown to rump)
• Baby has had taste buds for a while, but now he/she can tell the differences in flavor. Baby is the same size as the placenta and Baby's heart is busy pumping. Baby's fingerprints are starting to form this week! It is so amazing to think about these tiny little imprints that make our baby unique. Baby even has some fat deposits building this week below his/her skin. Baby's skeleton is also starting to harden from cartilage to bone!

Gender: We still don't know what Baby Bishop's gender is, but according to all of the "data" that we've been collecting cracking up at from Old Wives' Tales and Gender Predictors. Don't worry, this Gender Predictor post has been in the works for about 4 weeks now...coming soon!

Weight Gain:I'm still at 8 pounds. Thank you working out!

How I Feel: Great! I haven't been sick at all! The biggest thing I've noticed? NO HEADACHES!!! I used to get a headache at least once a day around 2:30-3 pm. Migraines...we had a close relationship. However, since I've been pregnant...*drum roll*... I have only had 1 headache!!! Woohoo!

• Stretch marks: Still nothing!! Thank you Tummy Butter and good genes.
• Belly button: Still in, but it's starting to look quite flat.
• Other:I'm still a little tired, but nothing too bad!

Clothing: I'm wearing mostly maternity pants and leggings and about 50/50 on maternity and my regular shirts.

Cravings: Avocados and chips and salsa are still at the top of the list!

Food Aversions:There's nothing that I really don't want, but sweets are still not appetizing.

Movement: Baby Bishop is quite active! This week I am feeling more distinct "kicks" rather than flutters. I can only feel Baby on the inside...not the outside yet.

Sleep: This week I started not sleeping very well, but that probably has to do with little miss priss, Belle. We finally took off the collar on the both dogs that causes jingling. That made a huge difference. I am definitely a light sleeper now! I am mostly sleeping on my left side, but rotate every now and then to my right and then back to the left.

Best Moment This Week: Being able to RUN! It. feels. amazing!!

Worst Moment This Week: I was at a meeting and carried in my laptop bag, my purse, my lunchbox, and my tervis mug. The lady holding the meeting looked at me and said, "You're carrying way too much weight for a pregnant woman and especially in those heels!"

*Blank Stare*... um, what?!? I wanted to quickly reply, "Lady, I lift more in the gym than this!" I decided to cordially "laugh" instead. That is a HUGE pet peeve of mine. I'm pregnant - not disabled. Yes, I understand that some women have to take it seriously easy - I was one of them during the 1st trimester! But come on... that's too much weight to carry? Ha...you don't know me at all!

Looking Forward to: Week 20 and finding out what gender Baby is! then having our Gender Reveal Party on December 15th! Invites will be sent soon!! "Blue or Pink? What do you think??"

What I Miss: This week, I missed deli meat and having appetizers like sausage, cheese, and crackers. Just sounded yummy! 

Pregnancy Thoughts this Week:

•  This week it really hit me hard about "being prepared" to be a Momma. I have always wanted kids and always taken the responsibility of being a parent seriously. To us, it's more than just being a "good parent." The spiritual well being of us as parents, our family, and each individual child is the most important thing to us. So this week I was really struck with those thoughts.
• I read my devotions every morning, I pray throughout the day, I read my Bible, and Brad and I read a marriage devotional book. It never feels like it's going to be enough though.
• How can I prepare myself to be a Proverbs 31 Momma? I am still and will always be working on being a Proverbs 31 wife! 
• I want my babies to know how much their Momma loves Jesus and how she can't take one breath without Him. My life is valuable and worth something because Jesus died for my sins. 
• Jesus gave me a reason to live, He gave me my husband, and He gave and will give me each of our little ones. Those events alone are miracles by themselves. 
• We want to be spiritual parents, who guide our babies to Jesus. If I know that my babies are followers after Jesus, then my life will be worth it. I have been put here on this earth to show Jesus. That's the greatest thing I can accomplish. 
• That reality is incredibly emotional for me. I/we discussed this with our church small group this Tuesday and it brought me to tears. I know I'll never feel "ready", but the only thing I/we can do is follow Jesus, pray without ceasing, and seek His face daily. 
• Lord, I pray that through my life my babies will find you.
• The hubs and I found about 80 Christian parenting books last weekend at Family Christian book store that are now on our Christmas lists! ;)

Diet:  The clean eating is going great and I am feeling back to my old self! I've even started noticing a few "improvements" in my body! Woo! I am eating about 85% clean and 15% "cheat meals" and loving it.

Exercise: This is my favorite part, because working out is a part of me! It's "my thing." I've gone back to working one muscle group a day and lifting heavier. It feels awesome to get those dumbbells back into my hands and feeling my muscles work and get sore. I've also started running after I weight lift. I walk 5 min, run 5 minutes, and so on for 30-40 minutes. Love! so for right now, I am weight lifting for about 40 minutes and running/walking for 30-40 minutes. It feels amazing to be ME again!!