How far along: 25 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: As of Saturday up 16.8 lbs

Sleep: is starting to get uncomfortable. When I wake up my left side is beginning to get sore!

Best moment this week: My mom bought 3 snappis and 2 covers and a BG AIO for the little one!!!!

Movement: he is kicking up a storm in there! I love it!!! Poor Mike though, our little one is a little stinker and likes to stop as soon as Mike puts his hands on my belly!

Food cravings: carbs!

Food aversions: still warm white meat (ie chicken or turkey, I had cold turkey leftovers today and it was great!) that is cooked in my house and Ketchup!!!! YUCK!

Gender: BOY

Labor Signs: None

Belly Button in or out? Innie

What I miss: Sleeping through the night

What I am looking forward to: 16 school days until Christmas break, we will be painting the babies room :)

Weekly Wisdom: Sleep is great!

Milestones: I made it to 25 weeks!

How your baby's growing
Head to heels, your baby now measures about 13 1/2 inches. Her weight — a pound and a half — isn't much more than an average rutabaga, but she's beginning to exchange her long, lean look for some baby fat. As she does, her wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out and she'll start to look more and more like a newborn. She's also growing more hair — and if you could see it, you'd now be able to discern its color and texture.

See what your baby looks like this week.

Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.

Your baby's not the only one with more hair — your locks may look more full and lustrous than ever. It's not that you're growing more hair, but thanks to hormonal changes, the hair that you'd normally shed is sticking around longer than usual. Enjoy the fullness while you can — the extra hair will fall out after you give birth.

You may also notice that you can't move around as gracefully as before. Unless your caregiver has advised you otherwise, it's fine to continue to exercise, but follow a few safety rules: Don't work out when you're feeling overly tired and stop if you feel any pain, dizziness, or shortness of breath. Don't lie flat on your back and avoid contact sports as well as any exercise where you're apt to lose your balance. Be sure to drink plenty of water, and make time for both warm-up and cool-down periods.

When you have your glucose-screening test at 24 to 28 weeks, a second tube of blood may be taken at the same time to check for anemia. If blood tests show that you have iron-deficiency anemia (the most common type of anemia), your caregiver will probably recommend that you take an iron supplement.

Week 24

So week 24 has come and gone but I still wanted to update on how everything went. I finally had my first big pop during week 24 and finally look pregnant. I will take another picture next week and put it up. I also had the biggest weight gain so far last week, I am up a total of about 16.5 lbs but still am in the normal range. It is pretty much all in my tummy so I still look pretty good. My parents also came last week for Thanksgiving and we got SO much done!

My mom and I prepped all of the prefolds (we had to wash them 8 times!)We also looked at paint colors for the nursery and have it narrowed down to 3. Once Mike gives his opinion and we decide what we are going to pick I will post it on here for everyone to see :)They will be back in 3 weeks and there is a list of things for us to do. The weeks are just flying by!

Ok, I will add week 25 a little later :)

23 weeks

How far along: 23 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: As of Saturday up 12.4 lbs

Sleep: is great! inbetween getting up to pee ")

Best moment this week: I got fluffy mail today!!! 2 wool covers, SO cute!!

Movement: he is kicking up a storm in there! I love it!!!! I can actually see him at night kicking if I am laying on my back.

Food cravings: carbs! cereal, oatmeal, pbj etc...

Food aversions: still meat that is cooked in my house and Ketchup!!!! YUCK!

Gender: BOY

Labor Signs: None

Belly Button in or out? Innie

What I miss: A glass of wine or a blue moon!!!

What I am looking forward to: My next OB appt on the 18th.

Weekly Wisdom: Stress is not helpful!

Milestones: I made it to 23 weeks!


How your baby's growing:
Turn on the radio and sway to the music. With her sense of movement well developed by now, your baby can feel you dance. And now that she's more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound (about as much as a large mango), you may be able to see her squirm underneath your clothes. Blood vessels in her lungs are developing to prepare for breathing, and the sounds that your baby's increasingly keen ears pick up are preparing her for entry into the outside world. Loud noises that become familiar now — such as your dog barking or the roar of the vacuum cleaner — probably won't faze her when she hears them outside the womb.

See what your baby looks like this week.

Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.

How your life's changing:

You may notice that your ankles and feet start to swell a bit in the coming weeks or months, especially at the end of the day or during the heat of summer. Sluggish circulation in your legs — coupled with changes in your blood chemistry that may cause some water retention — may result in swelling, also known as edema. Your body will get rid of the extra fluid after you have your baby, which is why you'll pee frequently and sweat a lot for a few days after delivery. In the meantime, lie on your left side or put your feet up when you can, stretch out your legs when you sit, and avoid sitting — or standing — in one place for long periods. Also, try to exercise regularly to increase circulation, and wear support stockings (put them on first thing in the morning) and roomy, comfortable shoes. You may be tempted to skimp on liquids to combat swelling, but you need to drink plenty of water because staying hydrated actually helps prevent fluid retention. While a certain amount of edema in your lower extremities is normal during pregnancy, excessive swelling may be a sign of a serious condition called preeclampsia. Be sure to call your midwife or doctor if you have severe or sudden swelling of your feet or ankles, more than slight swelling of your hands, swelling in your face, or puffiness around your eyes.

New Pictures

Well tomorrow I will be 23 weeks and my mom has been begging for a picture so I had Mike take some tonight. I still look like a mix between fat and pregnant, I haven't had any strangers say anything yet. I still think I am in the "Is she pregnant or cubby?" stage.





On another note the little boy is starting to kick up a storm! On Mikes 28th birthday he got to feel him move for the first time! He had the biggest smile on his face! Now the baby is starting to kick alittle harder and I can see him kick when I am laying in bed. Mike is still waiting to see it though, I think the baby knows when Mike leaves the room because he will start kicking, but when Mike comes back he stops. Poor Mike, hopefully he will see it soon!

22 weeks

I almost forgot to update this week! It has been so busy and I am not feeling that great today, I have a terrible headache!!!! But here is 22 weeks, a half a week late!



How far along: 22 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: As of Saturday up 11 lbs...ugh, at least it is only in my tummy, nothing else looks bigger.

Sleep: is great! I even went a whole night (on Monday) without having to get up and pee....one night out of the last 50 or so isn't bad!

Best moment this week: Mikes Birthday was Tuesday and he felt the baby move for the first time while we were laying in bed. It isn't very strong yet but he still felt him. It was SO cute, Mike had the biggest smile on his face!!! I loved it!

Movement: he is kicking, or at least moving on a pretty regualr schedule! In the morning around 6am, in the mid morning, around 10am, around 3pm and then from around 8-10pm. I love it!

Food cravings: apples and carmel.

Food aversions: still meat that is cooked in my house.

Gender: BOY

Labor Signs: None

Belly Button in or out? Innie

What I miss: Wegmans subs! Mike and I went on Tuesday for his birthday and I had to get my roastbeef sub heated....it wasn't so good.

What I am looking forward to: My next OB appt on the 18th.

Weekly Wisdom: I need to sleep while I can.

Milestones: I made it to 22 weeks!

How your baby's growing:
At 11 inches (the length of a spaghetti squash) and almost 1 pound, your baby is starting to look like a miniature newborn. His lips, eyelids, and eyebrows are becoming more distinct, and he's even developing tiny tooth buds beneath his gums. His eyes have formed, but his irises (the colored part of the eye) still lack pigment. If you could see inside your womb, you'd be able to spot the fine hair (lanugo) that covers his body and the deep wrinkles on his skin, which he'll sport until he adds a padding of fat to fill them in. Inside his belly, his pancreas — essential for the production of some important hormones — is developing steadily.

See what your baby looks like this week.

Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.

How your life's changing:
At this point, you may find your belly becoming a hand magnet. It's perfectly okay to tell folks who touch your tummy that you'd rather they didn't. And if people are telling you that you look smaller or bigger than you should at this point, remember that each woman grows — and shows — at her own rate. What's important is that you see your practitioner for regular visits so she can make sure your baby's growth is on track.

You may start to notice stretch marks on your abdomen as it expands to accommodate your growing baby. At least half of all pregnant women will develop stretch marks by the time they give birth. These small streaks of differently textured skin can range from pink to dark brown (depending on your skin color). Although they most commonly appear on your tummy, stretch marks may also show up on your buttocks, thighs, hips, and breasts. There's no proof that lotion helps prevent stretch marks, but keeping your skin moisturized may help with any itching

Cloth Diapers

So I have offically decided to cloth diaper (CD) and am lucky that Mike is agreeing to do it. I have done MONTHS of research and let me just say that it isn't the same as the CD's that my mom did 28 years ago! There are hundreds of different brands and types but I think I am narrowed it down. I am posting it on here so I don't forget what I have decided to use for my stash and maybe it will help someone else.

I am regiserted at :

www.abbyslane.com

I am also using:

www.greenmountiandiapers.com

I have decided to get:

DIAPERS:

24 newborn prefolds (from green mt)

24 small prefolds (from green mt)

3 Bumgenius one-size pockets (for night time diapering, and daycare)

1 blueberry delux one-size pocket

2 xsmall AIO (all in one) bumgenius- bought

1 xsmall bumbkin AIO- bought

2 small AIO bumgenius

1 small Swaddlebee AIO

2 xsmall sposoeasy AIO (from green mt)

2 small sposoeasy AIO (from green mt)

DIAPER COVERS

1 xsmall imse vimse organic diaper cover

1 small imse vimse organic diaper cover

2 thirstie duos size 1 diaper covers

1 newborn bummis super brite diaper cover- bought

1 newborn bummis whisper wrap diaper cover -bought

1 small bummis super brite diaper cover

1 small bummis whisper wrap diaper cover

DIAPER ACCESSORIES

2 Planet Wise Pail Liners (these line the diaper pail and get thrown in the wash with the CD's)

1 Medium Wet bag by Leslie's Boutique (for diaper bag)

1 diaper sprayer (I did find a blog that had a make your own for 1/2 the price that I am going to see if my mom and I can do and if it works I will post the directions)

3 snappis (newage diaper pins)


I am hoping to buy a little at a time so it doesn't seem like so much. The good thing is that this is still WAY less expensive than disposable diapering (probably about 600-800 (and hopefully not all spent by Mike and I) once I figure in every diaper I ever get but hopefully these will last through all of children and disposable diapers cost on avg. 2500-3000 until potty trained) Also it is so much more eco-friendly, CD's cause less diaper rash and our little one will be potty trained faster.

I figure we will try it, if we hate it will will turn to disposables and sell our stash. Wish us luck :)

How far along: 21 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: As of Saturday up 10.4lbs...ugh, I am thinking maybe some of it was water. I am right on track but I still was sad to get into double digits. I know I am crazy, but I just don't want to over do it.

Sleep: is great! Until I have to pee. At night when I first wake up to pee before I get up I don't feel him move, but as soon as I make a move he is like "oh we are up, let me dance in your belly then..."

Best moment this week: helping out someone else on my bump board when they were asking about cloth diapers.

Movement: lots has been going on in the last week. it is like bubbles in my stomach. I think they are little kicks but they aren't full on, nothing I can feel from the outside yet. And poor Mike can't feel it yet, I can't wait until he can. I have tried to have him feel it the last 2 night but everytime his hand is on my stomach the little one decides to stop.

Food cravings: ceral or oatmeal...so I guess carbs :) yum!

Food aversions: still meat that is cooked in my house.

Gender: BOY

Labor Signs: None

Belly Button in or out? Innie

What I miss: red wine! I am used to having a nice glass or 5 when handing out candy to trick-or-treaters and couldn't do it this year, sad.

What I am looking forward to: Having Mike feel him kick. Hearing Mike talk to him...I can't wait until he does that.

Weekly Wisdom: having a bathroom in my classroom is great!!!

Milestones: I made it to 21 weeks!

How your baby's growing:
Your baby now weighs about three-quarters of a pound and is approximately 10 1/2 inches long — the length of a carrot. You may soon feel like she's practicing martial arts as her initial fluttering movements turn into full-fledged kicks and nudges. You may also discover a pattern to her activity as you get to know her better. In other developments, your baby's eyebrows and lids are present now, and if you're having a girl, her vagina has begun to form as well.

See what your baby looks like this week.

Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.


How your life's changing:

You're probably feeling pretty comfortable these days. You're not too big yet, and the usual discomforts associated with early pregnancy are, for the most part, gone. If you're feeling good, relax and enjoy it while you can — the third trimester may bring with it a new crop of complaints.

That's not to say you won't have some minor glitches to deal with now. For example, increased oil production may contribute to the development (or worsening) of acne. If that's the case, be diligent about washing well with a gentle soap or cleanser twice a day, and make sure that any moisturizer or make-up you use is oil-free. Don't take any oral acne medications — some are very hazardous during pregnancy — or use any topical acne products without first checking with your practitioner.

You're also more prone to varicose veins now. As your pregnancy progresses, there's increasing pressure on the veins in your legs; higher progesterone levels, which may cause the walls of your veins to relax, can make the problem worse. You're more likely to get varicose veins if other family members have them. Also, they tend to get worse with each successive pregnancy and as you age. To help prevent or minimize varicose veins, exercise daily, prop up your feet and legs whenever possible, sleep on your left side, and wear maternity support hose.

You may also notice so-called spider veins (a group of tiny blood vessels near the surface of your skin), particularly on your ankles, legs, or face. They may have a spider- or sunburst-like pattern with little branches radiating out from the center, they may look like the branches of a tree, or they may be a group of separate thin lines with no particular pattern. Though they may be a bit unsightly, spider veins don't cause discomfort and usually disappear after delivery.