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.