Weeks 20-21

My inlaws were in town for most of this week (and I just got back from visiting my parents the prior week), so I think that distracted me my posts. Also, I normally write these in the morning and on the morning of the 20th week I had my ultrasound, so things were crazy when I got back.

Mostly a pretty normal week. I started up my magnesium again (Natural Calm). I'm not having stomach problems but I am having sleeping issues! Super weird dreams and constantly up tossing and turning - it's starting to catch up to me now. I'll probably have to stop again to see if this goes away.

We registered Sean for Kindergarten this past week too!!!! Aaaahh!

I had my 1st true pre-natal massage this past week too. It was really great. A LOT better than I expected. Normally they are uncomfortable and annoying, but this was relaxing and I felt really good when it was over.

The most exciting thing that has happened over the last few weeks is that I had my 20week/anatomy scan! I took Sean and Dan to the scan and the prenatal appointment. Overall, it went really well.
Baby's heartbeat was good
No fluid in the brain
Measuring right on track
No cleft pallet
We saw a little bit of movement, but not a ton. Baby was probably sleeping.

Sean was pretty nervous but also very curious. He said the whole thing was weird.
When the tech was looking in the area where you can see the gender, I told Sean he can look but we weren't - and he still chose to look. He thinks it's a boy, but when the tech was scrolling through all of the pictures she took, I thought what I saw was a girl (so I saw a pic or two I wasn't supposed to).

My midwife wants me to see a Maternal Fetal Medicine doc - so I'm going to one tomorrow. At this point it's just a consult to see if they need to be involved later on.

19 Weeks

We are in Wisconsin this week; lots of time chilling and squeezed in a few naps.

The coolest thing that happened this past week is that I started feeling kicks! I felt the first one the day of the flights  - during a nap I took that afternoon.

Since then I felt a few stronger kicks maybe every other day :)

They feel like bubbles popping - which is what I thought it was the first time.

I went to the maternity store with mom and got a few pairs of pants. I really wanted to buy some maternity bras, but they did measure me and I went up to a C cup (one full cup). I had a feeling that was the case since my bras are not comfortable anymore and they even just look bigger.

18 Weeks

Soooo Tired!!

We created our announcement photo this week, but aren't going to post until we've at least told my grandparents in person (which will be this Saturday, when I fly back home).
I was trying to come up with a cute, cost-effective, and easy way to tell them - I ended up finding a St. Patrick's Day shirt for $10 that says, "Kiss Me I'm Pregnant"

I realized later that when I told them about Sean it was around St. Patty's day too. Just a coincidence.

We finished interviewing photographers this week.
The last one we met on Sunday was my favorite as far as her pictures go, but only my 2nd favorite regarding personality. However, I decided soon after that I just wanted to go with the best, since it's only $200 more than my 2nd favorite (for talent). However, she mentioned at the end of the meeting that she would send me more information tomorrow (Monday) on her post-partum serious and she never did. I followed up on Tuesday (and now it's Wednesday) and I still haven't heard from here.

I'm not sure if she's at an epic birth or is ignoring me???? I really want to text her about it, but I'm trying to hold off another day or too so as to not be too annoying. However, I want to book someone before the end of the week b/c everyone I talked to only has 1 spot left for August.

17 Weeks

Busy week, just like I planned:

• I met Kate and Ashley to start planning my shower. We had lunch together and it seemed to go well. We essentially just picked a date and location and then chatted the rest of the time. It was fun. My face was actually hurting from laughing so much.
• Later that night, Dan, Kate, and I went to a big consignment pre-sale and it was a lot of fun and we got a tone of stuff! I want to say we spent about $360 bucks, but we got a:
• Stroller (retails for $200)
• Pack n play - with the infant seat (retails for maybe $160)
• Wagon (retails for about $90)
• Bouncy/rocker seat (retails for maybe $50)
• Maternity clothes
• High chair (retails for $150!)
• Diaper pale (retails for about $40)
• Not including maternity clothes - that's $690 worth of stuff!!!

The main item we are missing is the Halo Bassinest.

Dan's sister is giving us:

• A care seat with an extra base
• Bath tub
• Bobby

I also stopped my ashwagahnda this week. My stomach problems haven't gone away, but my level of anger/irritability seems lower and my dry-mouth has gone already.

16 weeks!

Dan finally told his last sister last night (Lisa), only to find out this morning that Marv didn't even know yet! I thought for sure if Vickie told Sarah that meant she told Marv.

I started my new supplements this week: Magnesium, Vit K, and Ashwagandha. They are all supposed to help support my mood. So far, (though I'm only on 3 day of this), I feel a lot more on-edge, like I get irritated way more easily. I've also been waking up everyday with a stomach ache and having to go to the bathroom.

I plan on telling my work this week - kinda nervous, but also ready to stop hiding it.

This upcoming week will be pretty big, so I think I'll save those updates for week 17 :)

15 + 5

I think I felt "fire baby" with my hands for the first time!
1st thing in the morning I felt some very strange and strong movements (and I normally don't feel much of anything early in the morning). So I decided to see what I could feel with my hands and I felt a large, hard lump in that lower part of my stomach! and that area is normally flat. Even if I thought I could feel something firebaby normally runs away from external contact, but the bump stayed :) It was kind crazy. I double-checked later and that lump was flat again.
No actual kicks felt yet.

15 Weeks

I had my 1st appointment yesterday with my new midwife. Overall it went really well, but was also strange and tiring:

• We head the heartbeat! She didn't tell me the number, but said it was nice and strong. she also had a little bit of a hard time finding the heartbeat (which initially scared me) b/c the baby was moving around so much :) almost like they were running away from the wand.
• The stressful/tiring part was that I was honest with them about my PPD and PTSD. I cried a lot but they will already start getting me the help I need already - by starting on a bunch of supplements/vitamins.
• The midwife seemed hesitant to let me birth in the water, but she said it would be OK as long as I don't birth the placenta in the water - i'm totally ok with compromise.
• My nurse broke her foot during our appointment. 
• Since last week, my boss was let-go so yesterday I just told my new interim boss. that went easier than expected. But I haven't told anyone else at work yet.
• As of Tuesday I had my last progesterone pill. I'm glad to be off one less thing, particularly a medication and so far everything is looking good. :)

I almost forgot that we told Sean this past week too. I was still holding out until closer to March, but he happen to see me in a tank top and asked why my stomach was so big - so I told him.

At first, he said Yay and smiled, so I was then excited to share in that and reached out to give him a hug, but then he immediately backed away and said Nay, and then ran and hid under the blankets.

For maybe the next 30 min he said he didn't like the idea and it was terrible. But later that evening I was looking through my pregnancy book and asked him if wanted to see some pictures of the baby, and he said yes and looked through a couple of pages with me - so that seemed like a good sign. We haven't talked about it anymore yet.