estee's birth story: part 2.

You can read part 1 here.

We jumped in the car and started toward the hospital (10-12 minutes away). I called my mom to let her know that it was baby time and at that point it was a struggle to talk through the contractions. I kept urging Ben to drive over the speed limit and got frustrated on the freeway when he was going 5 mph over and there wasn't a car in sight. ;) He upped the speed to 10 mph over the limit and I focused on breathing.

We pulled up to the main entrance and rushed in to the Women's Evaluation Unit check-in right inside the doors. Fortunately, no one else was in labor at 4am and the nurses could see that my water had broken, I was in pain, and I wasn't going to be heading home anytime soon. While they wheeled me into a room to get my vitals checked, Ben ran to park the car. By the time he got back 5 minutes later we were taken up to a labor and delivery room and I was given a gown to change into. My nurse entered things into the computer while asking Ben questions since I couldn't talk (contractions were coming every 1-2 minutes) and I lied down on the bed as she started my IV. She checked me and let us know that I was at a 4. At this point the pain was pretty intense and I either dealt with each contraction quietly or said "ow" over and over. I'll admit, I cried a tear or two right before the nurse called for the anesthesiologist!

By 5:15am the anesthesiologist had arrived and worked her magic, and I was feeling pretty darn great. (I thought epidurals would make everything go completely numb. Instead, I could feel and move my legs/feet/toes but didn't feel a single contraction. It was amazing!) The nurse checked me again but since I was only at a 5 she told us to get some sleep and she would be back right before her shift ended at 7am. Because of that blessed epidural, Ben and I were able to sleep for the next hour.

At 6:45am the nurse came back in to check me. To everyone's surprise, I had dilated to a 10 but baby was still sitting ridiculously high! In order to get her to work her way down, the nurse gave me a peanut ball to put between my knees and told me to again get some sleep. The new nurse on shift, Jenny, was absolutely amazing and came in to check on baby's progress a few times over the next two hours. Finally around 9:30am Jenny had me start pushing with Ben and a nursing student each holding one of my legs. ;) After an hour and a half of pushing and chatting in between each push, my doctor came in and decided to hang out/help me push since there wasn't a whole lot else going on that morning. After another hour and a half of pushing and watching baby's heart rate slowly go down, the doctor gave me the option of either having a C-section or trying to suction baby out 3 times with a C-section after that if she didn't decide to come.

Without any hesitation, Ben and I both agreed on trying to suction baby out; a C-section definitely wasn't our first choice. Within a minute the room had filled with nurses and residents and it finally sunk in that baby was almost here! The doctor did a quick episiotomy, counted out pushes for me, and baby came on the third suction.

The next few minutes I'll never forget. It was such a sweet and special moment, and I felt like I was officially meeting someone I already knew.

After the NICU team had checked baby out (there were some breathing concerns) and the nurses had done all of their tests and measurements, we were left alone to settle into our new normal as a family of three.

Second best day of my life.  :)

estee's birth story: part 1.

During my 9 months of being pregnant I found that most people love to share their negative experiences with their labor(s) and delivery(ies), which is really a bummer because no pregnant lady wants to hear about all of the things that could go wrong! I promise that you won't read anything negative about labor and delivery here. ;)

I spent my pregnancy trying not to think about the actual labor and delivery part of it all and instead focused on being pregnant and also what I thought motherhood would be like. Unfortunately, as I got closer to the end of my pregnancy I started to panic a teeny, tiny bit as reality set in and I realized that A) baby was coming out one way or another, and B) I couldn't plan any of it! I hadn't taken any birthing classes, I didn't read up on breastfeeding, I hadn't done any research on controversial parenting decisions, my birth plan merely consisted of getting an epidural if there was time, and I didn't even know what being effaced meant until my doctor explained it to me at 38 weeks pregnant. I was totally and completely "winging it." And to be honest, it was actually really great, minus those few moments of panic.

I figured that women have been giving birth for thousands of years without having first taken a birthing class and they definitely figured out how to feed their babies without first meeting with a lactation consultant. I was 100% banking on the fact that maternal instincts would kick in. . . or that my nurses would tell/show me what to do. 

Going into the whole labor and delivery experience with zero expectations and no concrete birth plan was fabulous; I didn't get hung up on things that were "going wrong" because there was no right or wrong in my mind. . .

(Birth story below. Read at your own risk. :))

sweet pea.

We're head over heels in love with our sweet pea and have been soaking up the last few days as a new family of three. And we really, truly couldn't be happier.  :)

baby growing: week 39.

 week 39 // 1-28-15 

How far along? 39 weeks.

How big is baby? The size of a mini watermelon.

Total weight gain? 27 pounds.

Maternity clothes? Oh, most definitely. Unless I'm at home - then I just throw on a pair of sweats and a pajama shirt.

Sleep? I'm waking up every 2 hours on average and am still sleeping sitting up. It's fine, I'm just excited for this heartburn to go away so I can lie down again!

Food cravings? This week potatoes sounded delicious! I thought of Cafe Rio at one point and got sad that the closest one is almost 13 hours away.

Food aversions? None.

Movement? Every few hours she'll get pretty wiggly. At one point this week she was moving in 3 directions all at once. It was comical and painful.

Belly button in or out? It's still half in, half out.

Weird pregnancy things? The usual + lots of swelling this week! My body is retaining water like it's going out of style, and that's a real confidence booster. ;) I can still wear my wedding ring, but if baby doesn't come for another week or two I might have to forgo wearing it for a little bit.

Best moment of the week? Ben's great and has been giving me the best foot rubs each night!

At my appointment on Monday the doctor said that I was still sitting at a 2 and she expected me to be back the following Monday. Boo. We discussed some potential induction dates, but my hope is that Baby A will decide to come on her own in the next few weeks. Until then, I need to find a craft to start, or a good book, or something!

baby growing: week 38.

week 38 // 1-21-15 

How far along? 38 weeks.

How big is baby? The size of a leek.

Total weight gain? 25 pounds.

Maternity clothes? Oh, most definitely.

Sleep? It's hit or miss. People keep joking with me that I'll actually sleep better once baby arrives and I can lie down flat again, even if it only for 2 hours here and there. ;)

Food cravings? Burgers. Always. There's just something about the thought of ground beef with fresh, crispy veggies and ketchup. . . In fact, I could go for a burger right now and it's barely 7am.

Food aversions? None.

Movement? Lots. Unfortunately, there isn't much room in there for her to move around and it's getting extremely uncomfortable. (Probably for her, too. Haha.)

Belly button in or out? Half in, half out. So confused by this.

Weird pregnancy things? All of the usual things + lightening crotch. That's a new one this week. I'm finding that although it painful, it isn't as awful as everyone makes it out to be. Hoping that this means full-on contractions won't be as bad as everyone says, too?? Wishful thinking, probably.

Best moment of the week? Had an appointment on Monday and was dilated to a 2, but the doctor didn't seem to think that things would be moving along too fast. Baby is still sitting high and has yet to drop. Mentally preparing myself to be pregnant for eternity.

baby growing: week 37.

week 37 // 1-14-15 

How far along? 37 weeks.

How big is baby? The size of a swiss chard.

Total weight gain? 24 pounds.

Maternity clothes? Completely! Minus a few lounge-around-the-house shirts that still (barely) fit.

Sleep? About the same as last week - sleeping better and only waking up 3-4 times a night. I wake up with a sore back each morning from sleeping sitting up, but it's temporary! Only a few weeks left!

Food cravings? This week I craved a burger & fries, mozzarella cheese, and fruit.

Food aversions? None.

Movement? Yes! She's been bouncing on my bladder quite a bit this week, so that keeps me on my toes. Pretty sure I'm just going to pee my pants one of these times, ha ha.

Belly button in or out? It's flat.

Weird pregnancy things? Itchy skin, heartburn, lots of trips to the restroom - just the usual. :) This week I've become so tired and blahhh. I told myself months ago that I wouldn't cave and use elevators around work (a medical campus) or walk the shorter routes just because I'm pregnant, but I can't help it now. Elevators are my friend and if there's a chair nearby, you can guarantee I'll be sitting in it. Also, I'm pretty excited for baby to drop one of these days so I can breathe easier/have some more room. I painted my toenails this past weekend and felt like I deserved a gold medal for that stunt.

Best moment of the week? Had an appointment with the doctor on Monday and it looks like things are starting to (slowly, slowly, slowly) move along! I'm 1 cm dilated and hoping that the next time I go in I'm at a 2.

baby growing: week 36

 ^^Things got a little carried away at the baby shower. Who knows where this stance came from, haha.^^
week 36 // 1-7-15 

How far along? 36 weeks.

How big is baby? The size of a crenshaw melon.

Total weight gain? 23.5 pounds overall, 18.5 pounds up from my starting weight. Party.

Maternity clothes? Yes.

Sleep? Sleep has been better! Some nights I'm waking up 3-4 times to use the restroom, but my heartburn hasn't made me throw up this week! (!!!)

Food cravings? None.

Food aversions? None.

Movement? Lots of kicks and jabs and dancing going on in there. It can be a little painful when she's up in my ribs, but besides that it's fun. It's pretty rare that she gets the hiccups, but this week Ben was able to feel them for the first time. :)

Belly button in or out? It's flat, haha.

Weird pregnancy things? I had some kind of rash break out on my neck that was really itchy, but I kept up on the lotion and that seemed to get rid of it. I've also had to make sure I'm putting lotion/belly butter everywhere morning and night or else I start clawing at my skin like a feral person. I'm also sick of swelling a little bit more each week. ;)

Best moment this week? Baby showers! I was so blessed to have some friends from my ward throw a shower on Saturday and my coworkers threw a (surprise!) shower on Tuesday. People were so incredibly nice to come and spoil Baby A with the cutest little blankets and clothes and books.

baby growing: week 35

 ^^See those bags under my eyes?? That would be from not sleeping. Someone please slip something into my water and knock me out for 12 hours.^^

week 35 // 12-31-15 

How far along? 35 weeks.

How big is baby? The size of a honeydew melon.

Total weight gain? 23 pounds.

Maternity clothes? Yes.

Sleep? It's hit or miss. I've been sleeping sitting up either in bed or on the couch, and was able to make up for some lost sleep over the long weekend! (Ben and I didn't wake up until 11am on New Years Day and it was the best thing ever.) However, this work week I haven't been sleeping.

Food cravings? It seems like all week long the only thing that's sounded good is fresh fruit. I've made quite a few smoothies this week, but unfortunately the acid gives me heartburn and I have to suffer the consequences if I give in to my cravings. ;)

Food aversions? None.

Movement? Yup. Lots of movement whenever I'm sitting or lying down.

Belly button in or out? It's flat.

Weird pregnancy things? The usual (heartburn making me throw up, no acne, super itchy skin, great fingernails, swelling everywhere, etc.) plus a really sore back! I also found my first stretch mark this week, so there's that. :) With baby getting bigger and pushing on my bladder more, I've had to use the restroom more frequently. It's comical/super annoying when I walk out of the restroom and climb into bed and realize that I need to go again.

Best moment this week? Not having to go to work on Friday and sit at my desk! Also, starting to get baby's room put together and doing a few loads of baby laundry. All the heart eyes for small clothes and blankets. 

My goal for this next week is to pack hospital bags for baby and myself!

baby growing: week 34.

I'm skipping week 33 since I was in Utah for Christmas and didn't crack open my laptop once to write anything down. :)

 

week 34 // 12-24-15 

How far along? 34 weeks.

How big is baby? The size of a cantaloupe.

Total weight gain? 23 pounds.

Maternity clothes? Yes.

Sleep? Sadly, my heartburn came back with a vengeance within the last week and a half and has made sleeping a little miserable. I'm throwing up most nights and average 4-5 hours of sleep each night. If you have any tips for managing heartburn, I will love you forever! (I'm already sleeping sitting up, avoiding foods with grease or acid and especially anything with too much spice, I've cut out chocolate, and am sticking to plain foods. I could eat 10 Tums/Rolaids in one night and it doesn't do a thing.)

Food cravings? Didn't really have pregnancy cravings this week. There were quite a few yummy desserts around with it being Christmas and all and I definitely gave in to those cravings when I knew it wouldn't make me sick. ;)

Food aversions? None.

Movement? Yes, lots!

Belly button in or out? In. It's pretty darn flat now, ha.

Weird pregnancy things? My goodness. . .itchy skin for sure!

Best moment this week? Loved spending time with family and friends this past week one last time before baby comes!

baby growing: week 32.

 week 32 // 12-10-15 

How far along? 32 weeks.

How big is baby? The size of a large jicama.

Total weight gain? 22 pounds. No weight gain this week.

Maternity clothes? Yes.

Sleep? Haven't been sleeping very well this week. . .

Food cravings? Between nausea and a cold, I haven't had any cravings.

Food aversions? Food in general hasn't sounded fabulous this week.

Movement? Lots of kicks to the ribs!

Belly button in or out? In, although it's on the verge of turning into an outie! Noooo.

Weird pregnancy things? Nausea, super itchy belly, bad heartburn, sore back. The usual. ;)

Best moment this week? 
Had an ultrasound this week! 
1) Baby A isn't bald and has quite a bit of hair according to the ultrasound tech. We'll see if that's true once she arrives, but my money is on a mullet. ;) 
2) They estimated her weight at 4 pounds 7 ounces and the doctor told me to plan on an 8 to 9 pound baby if we make it to 40 weeks.
3) She has a cute, little nose that slightly turns up at the end, but I'm biased.

Awkward moment of the week? I bought a Groupon for a prenatal massage and showed up to find an extremely tall and large man in his late 60's/early 70's waiting for me. I asked him to focus on my lower back and feet, but instead he massaged my butt and I wanted to die. Haha.

baby growing: week 31.

week 31 // 12-3-15 

How far along? 31 weeks.

How big is baby? The size of 4 navel oranges or a pineapple.

Total weight gain? 22 pounds. (That frosted lemonade from Chick-fil-a was definitely worth it though. ;)

Maternity clothes? Yes. Although I did wear a pair of non-maternity tights a few times this week and that was immensely uncomfortable. 

Sleep? I'd be sleeping great if it wasn't for heartburn. I've woken up a few times in the night this week to throw up (yuck) or to move to the recliner or couch to sleep sitting up. C'est la vie! (I hear heartburn goes away as soon as baby is born. Is that true?)

Food cravings? Sweets. Again, not really a pregnancy thing. . .that's just normal. I really wanted chocolate ice cream with brownie pieces this week so I caved, and then threw it up and now it doesn't sound so appealing anymore. Ha. I guess that's one way to curb a craving.

Food aversions? None.

Movement? Yes, yes, yes. She's all over the place sometimes!

Belly button in or out? In.

Weird pregnancy things? Getting light headed and breaking out into a sweat at times, and this week I hit a point where I'm feeling large and a bit uncomfortable all of the time. :)

Best moment this week? Went to Target and bought a package of diapers and some wipes! Hopefully Baby A continues to cook for another 8 weeks, but if not we now have the means to change some diapers!

baby growing: week 30.

I know, it might just be the blurriest picture you've ever seen, but my phone's camera was struggling with the Christmas lights in the background. So here's the 30 week bump in all its glory.

  week 30 // 11-26-15 

How far along? 30 weeks.

How big is baby? The size of a cabbage.

Total weight gain? 21 pounds.

Maternity clothes? Yes!

Sleep? Sleeping well, waking up sore.

Food cravings? This week it's been burgers and BLTs.

Food aversions? None.

Movement? Absolutely! I think it's starting to get a little cramped in there for Baby A and when she's kicking around, she's really kicking around. My doctor declared baby was a feisty one as she was checking for the heartbeat with the hand-held Doppler and baby kept pushing back.

Belly button in or out? In.

Weird pregnancy things? Surprisingly clear skin, moments of feeling lightheaded and short of breath, and needing a hand rolling out of bed or standing up when sitting on the couch. And I'm not sure if it's pregnancy related or simply random, but I've never had so many freckles show up after a week out in the sun!

Best moment this week? Flying home from Florida and still having the weekend to stay bundled up inside with blankets and Netflix and a batch of homemade chocolate chip cookies. Mind you, the most perfect batch of chocolate chip cookies to grace this household to date.

baby growing: week 29.

week 29 // 11-19-15 

How far along? 29 weeks.

How big is baby? The size of a butternut squash.

Total weight gain? 19 pounds.

Maternity clothes? Yes! This week especially. I purchased a few maternity swimsuits and short sleeve shirts for our trip and they've been fabulous!

Sleep? The difference between last week and this week has been night and day. . .literally. Since picking up a prescription from my doctor for my heartburn, I'm sleeping through the night and waking up to my alarm each morning. My Christmas wish for 9 hours of uninterrupted sleep came early. :)

Food cravings? A burger has sounded good most days this week!

Food aversions? Nope.

Movement? Yes! She went absolutely crazy one of our flights this past week and it was hilarious/uncomfortable/rather unbelievable. This is also the first week I've been able to see my stomach move when she moves.

Belly button in or out? In.

Weird pregnancy things? I've had to use the restroom quite often my whole pregnancy, but this week has been insane. Must be something about being by the ocean/pool most of the time, haha. My back has started hurting pretty bad at night - let me know if you have any suggestions for that! I'm thinking I'll set up an appointment with a chiropractor soon. 

Best moment this week?  Lounging by the pool in the sun. :)

baby growing: week 28

week 28 // 11-12-15 

How far along? 28 weeks.

How big is baby? The size of a Chinese cabbage. (The picture I've linked to made me laugh.)

Total weight gain? 18.5 pounds.

Maternity clothes? Yes. My non-maternity clothes are mostly too small and maternity clothes are just so much more comfy!

Sleep? Ahh. I feel like my sleep did a complete 180 this week! I woke up with some raging heartburn one night this week and - brace yourself - it made me throw up. A lot. (Sorry for sharing.) The next night I was up 3 or 4 times and was certain I was going to throw up at some point. Most nights I've been going to sleep in my bed and then bouncing between that and our recliner each night. All I want for Christmas is to sleep for 9 hours straight. :)

Food cravings? None really.

Food aversions? Maybe chicken a tiny bit? However, I'm avoiding salsa like the plague. Pretty sure that's what made my heartburn so awful on Saturday night.

Movement? Yes!

Belly button in or out? In.

Weird pregnancy things? Regular BH contractions, constant congestion, and some swelling. And I realized this week that I haven't had a headache in months! That's pretty amazing.

Best moment this week? Cafe Rio! :)

Random: a lady at work asked me today if I was having twins. Now I know why pregnant ladies don't like that question, ha.

baby growing: week 27

I'll be honest. My bathroom mirror was so dirty at this point, that the black and white filter was necessary. Ha. Too bad you can still see some of the toothpaste. . .
week 27 // 11-5-15 

How far along? 27 weeks.

How big is baby? The size of a head of cauliflower.

Total weight gain? 18 pounds.

Maternity clothes? Maternity pants and dresses mixed with old sweaters and shirts.

Sleep? Sleeping great! Heartburn woke me up a few times on some nights, but it's nothing unbearable.

Food cravings? Sugar.

Food aversions? None this week!

Movement? Yup.

Belly button in or out? In.

Weird pregnancy things? Regular BH contractions, heartburn that refuses to be controlled by anything, bending in the middle to pick things up is out of the question, and I'm started to get a little puffy in my face, feet, and hands.

Best moment this week? Went and got a prenatal massage this week and not to be too overly dramatic, but I'm a whole new woman. ;) My back would hurt after sitting for an hour or when I woke up in the morning, but now, now I can sit for 3 or so hours without getting too sore and I don't wake up in pain. I can guarantee another prenatal massage is in my future. 

Also, had my glucose screening test this week and that was not my very favorite. Drinking (gross) things quickly and heartburn don't mix so well. Fortunately, the results came back negative for gestational diabetes! Unfortunately, my iron was low.

baby growing: week 26.

week 26 // 10-29-15 

How far along? 26 weeks.

How big is baby? The size of a head of lettuce.

Total weight gain? 17 pounds.

Maternity clothes? Maternity pants and dresses mixed with old sweaters and shirts. I'm definitely having to tug at my old tops all day long to keep them pulled down. . .probably a sign that I need to put them away for the next little while.

Sleep? Sleeping well, waking up sore. I've been thinking about going and getting a prenatal massage. Or buying a pregnancy pillow or mattress topper! Something's gotta give. ;)

Food cravings? Sugar. All the sugar. (I'm also getting really excited thinking about ordering a Cafe Rio pork salad and an In-n-Out hamburger next week when I go home!)

Food aversions? None this week!

Movement? Yes. I don't think I'll ever get over how weird it is to be able to feel a kick from the inside and outside at the same time. Most of which, for now, are on the sides of my stomach.

Belly button in or out? In. It's getting flat, haha.

Weird pregnancy things? Although they're still there, my hives have gone down in size and they aren't itchy anymore! That's been really nice. :) I have crazy baby hairs at my part that take after Miley Cyrus - they just can't be tamed. I'm having 4-5 BH contractions every hour usually up at the top of my stomach, but nothing painful or regular.

Best moment this week? Went to the optometrist and finally ordered some new glasses. Looks like pregnancy hasn't temporarily changed my eyesight though!

baby growing: week 25

Oh, hey! Another photo from yesterday's post. I'm all about doubling up and going the easy route. ;) 
week 25 // 10-22-15 

How far along? 25 weeks.

How big is baby? The size of a rutabaga.

Total weight gain? 15.5 pounds.

Maternity clothes? For the most part.

Sleep? I wake up a few times a night to switch sides, but no issues with insomnia so far!

Food cravings? I didn't really have any strong cravings this week. Although I wouldn't have turned down anything with sugar or ground beef. (Actually I take that back about no cravings - a panini with pesto sounded really good at midnight last night. . .)

Food aversions? Still not a fan of preparing raw chicken and I'm trying to stay away from anything too spicy.

Movement? Yup!

Belly button in or out? In.

Weird pregnancy things? Broke out in hives this week. . .looks like I'm allergic to the baby. Haha. Kidding. My heartburn has started acting up each time I eat or drink anything, so I've been trying a few different over-the-counter meds. Fingers crossed something works!

Best moment this week? Had an appointment with the doctor and everything looks good. Plus, the whole appointment took 10 minutes total and that deserves a fist pump or two. :)

baby growing: week 24

 week 24 // 10-15-15 

How far along? 24 weeks.

How big is baby? The size of an ear of corn.

Total weight gain? 15 pounds.

Maternity clothes? Yup! I'm still trying to make a few non-maternity shirts and sweaters work for now, but for the most part I'm in maternity clothes. Best move this week: stopping by the Distribution Center and buying new underclothes a size up! It was time. ;)

Sleep? Sleeping pretty well.

Food cravings? I don't think I've really had any cravings this week, except for sugar. ;)

Food aversions? Chicken. This week I ended up defrosting some chicken that had gone bad and the awful smell turned me off from chicken again. Ha.

Movement? Lots!

Belly button in or out? In. I'm 99.9% sure it'll stay in the whole pregnancy.

Weird pregnancy things? I've been congested for weeks now! Getting up from the couch and rolling out of bed is getting harder. And pregnancy brain is real.

Best moment this week? I made my first apple pie from scratch on Sunday (thanks to the Additional RS Meetings committee for the baking lesson and recipe ;) and it was hands down the best pie I've ever had! My mouth is watering just thinking of that flaky crust and delicious apple filling.

baby growing: week 23

Hanging out with the bump at work. Haha. 
week 23 // 10-8-15 

How far along? 23 weeks.

How big is baby? The size of a grapefruit or large mango.

Total weight gain? 13 pounds.

Maternity clothes? Yes. Picked up a pair of maternity leggings this week and they're the best!

Sleep? Had a little trouble sleeping this week. My heartburn was pretty bad Sunday night and the giant pile of pillows I was using to elevate my head/upper half didn't seem to help, so I slept sitting up in a recliner. My back and hips have started hurting at night and I'm waking up multiple times to switch sides. Rant over. :)

Food cravings?
1) Ground beef! In fact, it was the only thing that sounded yummy on Monday so I switched up our meal plan and spontaneously made some Sloppy Joe's for dinner- they were amazing. Anyone else probably would have thought they were mediocre, but. . . cravings! I've also had hamburgers and cabbage pies on the brain all week.

2) Chocolate. But, sadly, I realized that it's one of my triggers for heartburn, so I'm trying to avoid it.

3) I've also been going through an impressive amount of milk the past few weeks which is a huge deal for me since I hate milk. Pre-pregnancy: Ben and I would go through maybe 1.5 gallons in a month. Now: we're averaging a gallon of milk every 4-6 days. Hahaha. Lots of cereal and breakfast drinks being consumed over here.

Food aversions? Chicken? It hasn't been grossing me out, but it's still not my first choice of meat.

Movement? Yup!

Belly button in or out? In. Thank heavens.

Weird pregnancy things? Bad heartburn, swollen feet, regular Braxton Hicks contractions (I feel so lame calling them contractions when they feel like small cramps), and fabulously long nails! I am, however, still waiting for that great pregnancy hair to arrive... ;)

Best moment this week? Getting foot rubs from Ben!

baby growing: week 22

Again, completely forgot to get a picture this week, so this is actually my week 23 picture. ;) And as always, keeping it classy with the mirror photos.

week 22 // 10-1-15

How far along? 22 weeks.

How big is baby? The size of a papaya or a spaghetti squash.

Total weight gain? 12 pounds.

Maternity clothes? I'm almost to the point of saying goodbye to the last of my non-maternity stretchy skirts, and as a result I've been sticking to scrubs for work and maternity jeans on the weekend.

Sleep? Sleeping well but definitely waking up with a sore back each morning.

Food cravings? I really wanted fresh mozzarella cheese with tomatoes and balsamic vinegar at one point this week. Mmm! Most of the time food doesn't sound particularly delicious so I've learned to just eat whatever is on the schedule for dinner that night and not think too much about the taste. Also, chocolate chip cookies. Those always happen to sound good. ;)

Food aversions? Still not a big fan of chicken, but I've eaten it a few times this week without wanting to die. #improvement

Movement? Yes! I feel like a few times this week the movement changed from "light" to "medium," and Ben was able to (lightly) feel the baby kick for the first time.

Belly button in or out? In.

Weird pregnancy things? My heartburn will decide to act up one day and then it's non-existent the next. Oh, and I got my first Charlie horse in the middle of the night this week. That was a little surprising. :) I can no longer bend in the middle- sitting on our deep couch is nice on my back, but getting up is tricky, and forget about bending over to pick anything up! I now understand why pregnant women squat down to grab things off the floor.

Best moment this week? A friend made dinner for us one night this week and I swear food tastes 10 times better when you don't have to make it yourself. That was pretty great!