Bump Update: 19 weeks

This pregnancy is speeding by. I can't believe I'll be at the halfway mark (20 weeks!) this Friday. I'm really excited to be growing our little family... literally. :)

19 weeks

The baby is the size of:
A mango

I'm feeling:
Really great, still. Things have been crazy at work (I'm teaching an overload as I won't be working next semester) but I'm surprisingly relaxed and generally optimistic. I'm convinced this is a happy, peaceful baby.

Exercise:
Started going to prenatal yoga and I love it, both for the workout and the chance to chat with other mamas-to-be, compare symptoms, etc. I try to go a few times a week, and really look forward to it.
Also, my midwife is encouraging me to walk 2 miles a day, so I need to get on it.

Food love:
Bagels and cream cheese, and salty proteins. I've had the appetite of a trucker.

Food aversions:
Still not into sweets or eggs, but no major aversions. Pretty much eating everything in sight at this point.

The best thing about this week:
Feeling first flutters. When I drink something cold and lay still, I can feel the little bubbles that are the the baby's movements. It's exhilarating.

The worst thing about this week:
Hip pain while sleeping and overall, restless, interrupted sleep.
Also, bloody noses and bloody gums. Lovely.

Interesting turn of events:
Veins everywhere! My stomach looks like a roadmap. Fun fact: a pregnant woman's blood volume doubles during pregnancy (see bloody noses/gums above).
Also, my hair and nails have been growing crazy fast.

Favorite pregnancy items purchased:
My Snoogle Pregnancy Pillow is pure heaven. You wrap your arms and legs around it, and it's helped my nighttime hip pain tremendously. Flavio steals it when I get out of bed and Guiri loves to cuddle up next to it.

Wearing:
Leggings all weekend, and mostly maternity skirts for work.

Reading:
Ina May's Guide to Childbirth. Hoping to birth this baby drug-free. 

Really looking forward to:
Feeling more powerful kicks, so Flavio can feel them, too.
And, our 20-week ultrasound next week; seeing the bouncing baby playing on the screen is mind-blowing.

Daydreaming about:
Transitioning our guest room into a space for the baby.

Noted on a Friday

It feels so good to be winding down the work week -- it's been a busy one. We're treating my mother-in-law to dinner tonight, and then I'm looking forward to recharging this weekend with some early Halloween decorating, catching up with the Parenthood season premier, and maybe a trip to the movies to see this. I hope you enjoy. xo

Butterfly fluttering by.

So excited!

Friends at the park. :)

Colorful decisions at a Wednesday pedicure.

First day of fall

Today is the first day of autumn, best season ever. I'm looking forward to crisp mornings,  pumpkin-inspired everything, crackling fires, homemade soups, and cozy sweaters.

Noted on a Friday

This past week was an effort to bid this long, hot summer farewell. We barbecued, enjoyed cold drinks at our local bar (ginger beer for me), hung at the dog park, went on long walks in the warm evenings, and generally spent our after-work time outside. San Diego even had its own mini-hurricane this week (at least that's what I'm calling it) and I'm just waiting for the autumnal weather to come rolling in... The first day of fall is this Tuesday. Fingers crossed!

Some little things making me happy lately...

Though it was nearly 100 degrees this week, these leaves are telling me my season is right around the corner.

Can't stop staring at this photo of Baby C. at 12 weeks. Life is such a miracle.

Guiri and her boyfriend Bowie had their first sleepover at our place. Love bugs.

The tastiest deep-fried catfish at Phuong Trang with Jan and Gary.

Monday Night Football at Sycamore Den.

Minding our own business at the dog park when rain and 70 mph winds flashed through. Wild.

Bump update: 17 weeks

So this summer was tough. I felt like I had a 2-month hangover, and while I was just teaching one summer school class, I struggled. On a scale of 1 - Kate Middleton, I'd say my morning sickness was a 7. The blog, and pretty much everything else, fell by the wayside. I was so zoned out, headachy, nauseated, and constantly fatigued. It's true: the first trimester is just as miserable as everyone says it is. But, at about 13 weeks, I started to feel like my old self again, and it's also true: the second trimester is a magical time. I'm feeling better than ever! Because this site is sort of my personal time capsule, I thought it would be fun to keep track of my pregnancy, documenting my shifting feelings and rapidly changing shape here. I'll pop in with bump updates sporadically.

{17 weeks}

17 weeks

The baby is the size of:
An onion

I'm feeling:
Completely energized!  I feel so positive about life and really alive, if that makes sense. I haven't had a bad day in weeks.

Food cravings:
Bread, potatoes, beef, fish, Chinese and Mexican food. All savory. All the time. It's really put a damper on my baking.

Food aversions:
Eggs. Do not put them near me. Weird, because I was such an ovatarian previously.

The best thing about this week:
The baby can now hear, so we've been singing a lot and listening to happy music around our house. Flavio speaks Spanish to my belly at night, quietly whispering sweet nothings to the baby. It's so tender - makes me tear up every time.

The worst thing about this week:
Depending on what I'm wearing, I'm still at that awkward stage where people glance at my belly, and wonder if I've just had a really great summer with a lot of food and beer, or if I'm pregnant. I can't wait to have a full-on bump to stop the questioning stares.

Interesting turn of events:
Guiri seems to sense the pregnancy. She stares at me with her head cocked, looking confused. It's hilarious. Someone told us dogs can smell and hear the changes? She's also overly protective of me at the dog park, chasing off any other dogs that come near. Sweet girl.

Best reaction to our pregnancy:
Besides Flavio, my parents! They were shocked and elated, and shocked! I wish we'd gotten their reaction on film. We gifted them this little clock and they didn't quite know what to make of it at first, but after it set in, there was cheering and hugs and tissue-paper flying, and pure joy. One of my all-time favorite life moments, and so glad we got to tell them at their 50th. 

Currently living in:
Lots of loose dresses and skirts that still fit and my beloved pair of H&M maternity jeans (see photo above) which are the comfiest pants ever. 

Really looking forward to:
Fall! My favorite.

Daydreaming about:
Whether this is a boy or a girl. We're not going to find out the sex, but I can't help but wonder.. My intuition says boy. We'll see in 5 short months.

Three Plus One

We have some very happy news...

...we're expecting our first baby this February!

We are over the moon, and I've been dying to write about it on the blog, but we wanted to make sure we told all of our family members before putting it on social media. So, now that the cat's out of the bag, I can't wait to post about this exciting time here. So much to look forward to! xo