Bumpdate ~ Week 24

Whew. 24 weeks means another appointment! The 4 weeks between my appointments have been going by so quickly.I wasn't super excited about going to this appointment because I knew I wouldn't be getting an ultrasound and more sonogram pictures....but I was going to my favorite doctor at least. This is our 5th appointment and the first one where I didn't get to see our sweet pea. Boo.

The appointment went really well though! Dr. G came in while the nurse was listening for Baby D's heartbeat. She put the doppler on my stomach and boom, there was baby's heartbeat. No searching needed! - which is normally what happens. Dr. G measured my belly and told me that everything looked great! I had a few questions, so this is what we discussed:

• I have gained 19 pounds!! Holy cow. I have never seen the scale go so high, so it's still a little weird. I asked her if that was too much weight and she said, "Absolutely not." She then went on to explain that since I was "tiny" when I first came in, that I should actually expect to gain 35-40 pounds! What?!? So she explained that the 25-30 pounds is for the average woman. She said that since I was so "tiny", I'm not an average woman and I wasn't carrying that weight previously to becoming pregnant, so my weight gain will actually be more. Yeesh!
• We also talked about my clean eating and exercise lifestyle. She said she was very happy to hear that I was still eating clean and exercising and that I should definitely continue to do so. She said it will only help me and the baby! Whew. She particularly was happy about my clean eating since that is what is supplying our baby. Yay!
• I also talked to her a little bit about our birth plan and how I want to go completely natural - no epidural. She said, "I am a huge advocate for natural births. I encourage you to do that and if I deliver the baby, then I will do everything I can to help you get there." YES!! Finally.
• This led to questions about a doula. I asked her opinion on them. She said, "I highly recommend getting a doula, especially since you want to have a natural birth. It is medically, research proven that they help mother's to their goal of a natural birth," YES!! I was so so excited to hear all these positive things about our birth plan! Woo!

Overall, I was really pleased with the appointment. The hubs didn't come to this one because we knew it wouldn't be much. Although, he did ask me about 5 times if I was sure I didn't care if he was there or not. He's so sweet. He just wants to be as involved as possible and I think he's done great! He's going to be a good daddy. Here's week 24...

• Week 24
• Baby is the size of an : ear of corn (crown to heel)
• Weight :  1.32  lb. / Length :  11.81  in. (from crown to heel)(average size)
• Baby's hair is beginning to change to the color it will be when little man is born. Baby's weight will double in the next 4 weeks! Baby's lungs are developing branches this week and preparing for his first breaths. They are also producing a substance that keeps them from collapsing or sticking together. Loud noises may startle baby, causing him to jump in uterus. In fact, Baby has basic control over all of his senses!

Gender: BOY!

Weight Gain:According to the doctor...19 pounds, but she was pretty happy about that. I told her as long as she was happy, I was happy. I don't feel like I've gained that much weight and so far I am pretty much all belly, so I can't complain!

How I Feel: I'm feeling pretty good! I think I've reached the stage where things are just starting to get slightly uncomfortable. Putting on my socks and shoes, getting up from the couch, rolling over in bed, etc. have just become a little more awkward. Comes with the territory! Since this is my first pregnancy, I'm kind of enjoying it and all the new experiences.

• Stretch marks: None.
• Belly button: Still in...surprisingly.
• Other: Stuffy nose! Pretty sure I've had one since we found out we were prego. According to all of my "baby sites" this symptom is called rhinitis of pregnancy and up to 30% of pregnant women "suffer" from it. Well, at least I'm not alone! The hubs tells me this is what allergies feels like. Ugh.

How Daddy's Feeling: The same...happy and excited! Our little man is kicking hard enough that the hubs can feel him whenever he kicks and see my belly moving! The hubs is also doing an awesome job of clearing out the office so that we can start on the Nursery!

Clothing: 90% maternity clothes. Zulilly is great!

Cravings: None.

Food Aversions: For a while there, I was not liking steamed broccoli, but the hubs finally convinced me to make it again on Monday night. I ate it and it wasn't terrible, but I didn't love it like I used to. 

Movement: This Baby is an active little man! and I love it! Now that I've been feeling him so much it's become part of my day. At night, after dinner when the hubs and I are hanging out I love to sit on the couch and just feel our Baby move and watch my belly jump every now and then. It's one of my favorite times of the day now!

Knowing that eventually I will be able to watch my belly jump and move is a weird thought, and let me tell you, it's even weirder when you see it! Watching my belly move is pretty cool and weird all at the same time. It's not moving too much, but I probably see my stomach "jump" once a day or every other day. Weird!

Sleep: Sleeping great! I am really passing out at night and waking up in the same position in the morning.

Best Moment This Week: Although I didn't have an ultrasound, my 24 week appointment was great!

Worst Moment This Week: The pain in my shins from running. It makes me feel so out of shape! Ick. 

Looking Forward to: Starting the nursery!! Colors and patterns are picked out and we're ready to work!!

What I Miss: Not really anything. I'm a pretty content prego.

Pregnancy Thoughts this Week:

•  The nursery has been on my mind the most. I'm so excited to get it started and am starting to worry that it will be done! I mean, I'm 24 weeks along!! We only have 16 weeks and a packed schedule for January and February already. Yikes! 
• Chevron...it was fun for a while, but I am SO over it and it does not belong anywhere in a little boy's room in my opinion. I'm almost to the point of hating chevron. Hating. I o own a few pieces for myself, but that is it. I want our little man's room to be a little man room. I don't want it to resemble anything girly at all. Somehow, finding baby bedding without chevron on it has almost been impossible. Ugh.
• On that note, baby bedding is ridiculously expensive!! What in the world?! I mean, it's a sheet, a crib skirt, some pillows maybe? Most sets are $200-$500?!? Are you kidding me? It's itty bitty. Ugh...end of rant. I want my baby's room to be adorable, but I am not willing to pay that much for some cute bedding. That's ridiculous.

Diet: I finally did it. I finally ordered the Tosca Reno Eat Clean cookbooks. The hubs and I dedicated to eating clean and this will only help provide some delish recipes! I've been using my own recipes as well as ones found on the internet, but now I have 4 cookbooks to try new recipes from! My first recipe was a Canadian Stew and instead of using beef, I substituted the deer meat that my hubs brought home in December. It turned out great! As always we try t eat 80% clean and 20% cheat meals.

Exercise: Still lifting 4-5 days a week and getting 1-2 cardio days in. I don't know if I've been running too much or a lot, but my shins have been killing me. The elliptical has become my best friend this week. Hopefully, I can figure something out and get back to a regular running schedule. I need my running time!

Inside Pregnancy ~ Week 24

4 weeks until we reach the 3rd Trimester! Yay!! and Yikes!!