23 Weeks

I can't believe that I only have 17 more weeks until our little boy is here. I'm definitely enjoying the 2nd trimester, more so than the first one. It's such an awesome feeling when baby boy is moving in my stomach. Even more so when I can see him kick it out. He's like a flapping fish in there! It gives me great relief that there's finally a physical sign that he's doing okay.

I'm holding up pretty good, especially since I'm working so much! I have worked 8 days straight, though last Friday was only a 4 hour day. I do enjoy working...well, at least at one of the two facility and so don't mind working so much. And my body, thank goodness, is holding up pretty good. Once in awhile my back is achy, but I just rest a bit and then it's back to normal. I'm hoping to make it to at least the end of May.

My belly is definitely getting more noticeable and people are starting to finally recognize me as pregnant. I still do get that I'm pretty small for 5, going on 6, months pregnant. I say, relative to my pre-pregnancy size, I'm huge!! No stretch marks...yet! I'll post some more pictures soon.

I'm so excited that I only have 1 more week and I'll be in Seattle. I'm am craving filipino food and seafood. Jenny and I are going to have to go to Ray's Boathouse for dinner. I'll have to research and see if I can eat sablefish because I've been craving Ray's sablefish entree. Oh yummy! Anyways, I just can't wait to see everyone in Seattle because I have missed everyone!!

How Far Along: 23 weeks
Total Weight Gain: 17 lbs. I'm hoping to still be in the 30-35 lb. total weight gain!
Maternity Clothes: Definitely! I'm hoping to find a cute maternity dress on my days off.
Sleep: I get about 6-7 hours. I have too much energy late at night, but don't have too much trouble willing myself to sleep. Woke up twice to pee last night.
Best Moment of the Week: It continues to be seeing and feeling the baby kick. I hope he's a very active little boy :)
Movement: Yes! And I can see it too.
Food Craving: Filipino food (1 more weeks until I eat some!).
Food Aversions: None really, but I still don't eat too much poultry.
Morning Sickness: None this week.
Gender: A sweet little baby boy, the first son for my dad!
Labor Signs: No, hope not for 17 weeks!
Belly Button: Still an innie, but I see it poking out.
What I Miss: Alcoholic drinks, deli meats, caffeine, sushi.
What I'm Looking Forward To: Being home in Seattle for 2 weeks!
Weekly Wisdom: Having big boobs is a nuisance.
Milestones: For me, working 8 days straight and surviving through it.

22 Weeks

Exactly two weeks and I'll be arriving back home to Seattle! I'm so excited to see friends and family, but of course, I will miss Chuck. I wish he was coming for a visit too as he's been homesick and would love another visit to Seattle. It won't be until Christmas, maybe, that he'll be home for a visit.

When I'm in Seattle, I'll be 24 weeks pregnant....6 months pregnant! It's crazy how time flies by so quickly. I definitely feel and look pregnant. People still think I'm a bit small for being 5 months pregnant, but I'm just deceiving them because I wear baggy shirts!! I still have yet to fill them out, but I will be soon enough. It'll be the 2nd time since my family has seen me pregnant. The 1st time I was only 3 months pregnant and wasn't showing at all. So, I'm glad that I can visit Seattle before I deliver in June as I know my family really wants to see my pregnant belly before the baby pops out in June.

My sister is organizing a "Seattle" baby shower and it will be quite a gathering as it will have friends, family and our extended family (my mom's friends). I'm hoping that some of my former co-workers will be able to make it to Olympia. It was a bit short noticed and quite a drive for some people who are coming from Seattle or north of Seattle. So if I won't be able to see you then, we'll definitely have to make plans to meet in Seattle while I'm visiting. For those who don't know, I will be in Seattle March 2nd until the 13th.

How Far Along: 22 weeks
Total Weight Gain: 15 lbs. and holding.
Maternity Clothes: I bought more maternity clothes, 2 more pairs of pants and a shirt. I want to get a cute little dress.
Sleep: Mostly sleeping through the night, but get up a max. of once to pee. I need to sleep earlier, but I've always been a late night person. But sleeping 6.5 hours isn't enough.
Best Moment of the Week: Feeling the baby move a lot, for sure! I'm trying to figure out his schedule...it seems like he's kicking every 2 hours or so. More at night, but then again, I'm busy working and not paying too much attention during the day.
Movement: Yes! And I can see it too.
Food Craving: Filipino food (2 more weeks until I eat some!), sweets.
Food Aversions: None really, but I still don't eat too much poultry.
Morning Sickness: I've been a little queasy in the morning before work, but it settles down once I'm working. A little queasy after eating lunch, but goes away once I'm working once again.
Gender: A boy...name will be a surprise.
Labor Signs: No, hope not for 18 weeks!
Belly Button: Still an innie, but I see it poking out.
What I Miss: Alcoholic drinks, deli meats, caffeine.
What I'm Looking Forward To: More baby kicks that I can see! And of course, being home in Seattle.
Weekly Wisdom: Having your fingernails grow faster isn't necessarily a good thing, especially when you work in healthcare. I've been clipping my nails more frequently this past month...ugh.
Milestones: Having a patient ask me if I was pregnant and when I was due.

21 Week MD Appointment

I had my doctor's appointment today. So far, everything is going smoothly. The baby's heart rate is a healthy 135 bpm. And boy is he active! He kept kicking while we were listening to his heart. I am also starting to feel him while I'm working, mostly when I'm not still, but I'm noticing it more and more.

My nosebleeds are a common symptom, especially in women who have issues with allergies, sinuses and any nasal problems. My doctor said if my nose doesn't clot, then I'd have to see an ENT to have it cauterized. I'm hoping that doesn't happen. She recommended I'd do a saline rinse to keep my nasal passages moist. I have done it in the past for my nasal problems, but have been lazy to do it. I guess I'll have to start doing it again.

I got the glucose drink today. I don't have to do the test until the 27th week, a week before my next doctor's appointment.

We also got information for childbirth classes as well as the hospital registration. I'll be giving birth at a hospital. Fortunately, we'll have a private room. I'm not sure who'll be in attendance. My sister won't be able to be there for the labor because of work, but I'm sure my parents will be here. It's their first grandchild....the first boy (after my dad, of course), for that matter. I'm not sure of Chuck's parents, whether they plan to be there for the birth or post-birth. I'm still debating whether I actually want anyone besides Chuck in the room during the labor. It would be nice to have someone take pictures of the event, so I might have my mom at least in the room with me. We'll see. I haven't thought about those details yet.

Anyways, I'm glad everything is progressing well and that the baby is healthy. We got the results of the 2nd trimester screening and our risk for baby boy Rust to have Trisomy 18 or Down's Syndrome is really low. And our AFP test was negative!

I Love Etsy!

I just purchased these Milestone Stickers for baby boy Rust. This will be a cute way for us to capture a photo of baby boy Rust's first 12 months. You just apply the sticker on a white onesie each month on their birthday, grab a camera, and snap a picture. You can purchase them at www.etsy.com or at www.PickyStick.com.

21 Weeks

It's been a very exciting baby week as I saw little Mr. Rust kick my stomach! He's been moving for a few weeks, maybe as early as 15 weeks...or at least I think so. It felt like tapping, popcorn popping. Little Mr. Rust has been kicking harder. So hard that I saw my stomach move! I saw my stomach move 5-6 times....so cool! I wonder if he's been making my stomach move for awhile but haven't noticed it because I'm working most of the day. Yesterday, I had the day off and was just relaxing my day away on the couch....that's when I saw him kick me. When Chuck came home, little Mr. Rust decided to take a nap because he wouldn't kick for his daddy. An hour later, though, little Mr. Rust was waking up and Chuck put his hand on my stomach and he kicked so hard that he made Chuck's hand and my stomach jump up! It made Chuck smile. I'm glad he's kicking away....makes me reassured he's doing pretty good in there, or at least I hope so. Little Mr. Rust also likes the right side of my uterus and I noticed when sitting on the couch that my stomach looked lopsided. And it felt firmer too.

I have my doctor's appointment on Friday. Besides the baby moving, the only thing else to report is my nose bleeds. I know it's common during pregnancy, but what a nuisance. I've never had nose bleeds before, but then again, I didn't have so much blood going through my body. It's only been bleeding from my problem child, the right nostril. It's always been the one to be more congested, more runny and now, more bloody. Luckily, it's been a couple times during the week and not a daily occurrence. But it's not a pretty site, especially with big blood clots....I know, TMI!!

How Far Along: 21 weeks
Total Weight Gain: 15 lbs. I'm hoping to gain just 15 lbs. more.
Maternity Clothes: I need to buy more! I'm getting tired of my rotating wardrobe.
Sleep: I've been a little restless for a few days...having to get up to go pee.
Best Moment of the Week: Seeing the baby kick my stomach!!
Movement: Definitely kicking away and I can see it too!
Food Craving: Filipino food (3 more weeks until I eat some!) and anything tasty.
Food Aversions: None really, but I still don't eat too much poultry.
Morning Sickness: Nope!
Gender: A boy...name undetermined.
Labor Signs: No, hope not for 19 weeks.
Belly Button: Still an innie.
What I Miss: Alcoholic drinks.
What I'm Looking Forward To: More baby kicks that I can see!
Weekly Wisdom: I always thought you tilted your head back when you have a nosebleed, but you keep your head forward. If you tilt it back, blood can go down your throat and make you nauseous.
Milestones: Finally see that baby kick my stomach and Chuck being able to feel it too!!

20 Weeks - Halfway Point!

I can't believe I'm halfway through my pregnancy! So far, it's been a great adventure and glad that it's been a smooth and non-complicated one...crossing my fingers as I have 20 more weeks to go! I'm just hoping it continues to be that way too.

How Far Along: 20 weeks
Total Weight Gain: 14 lbs.
Maternity Clothes: I need to buy more!
Sleep: I'm sleeping through the night still, getting at least 6-7 hours of sleep.
Best Moment of the Week: Buying baby boy things.
Movement: A little, I think.
Food Craving: Filipino food, Mexican food, and sweets.
Food Aversions: Still poultry. I can only eat it sparingly.
Morning Sickness: All gone!
Gender: A boy...name undetermined.
Labor Signs: Heck no!
Belly Button: Still have one!
What I Miss: My smaller boobs.
What I'm Looking Forward To: More baby shopping:) And my trip home to Seattle.
Weekly Wisdom: Don't Google too much.
Milestones: 20 more weeks!

Baby Purchases

Since we've found out that we're having a baby boy, I have gone on a full-blown shopping spree. Well...not really that bad, but I have made a few purchases. Here are a few of my favorite baby purchases-to-date:

Tea Collection offers children's fashions with the tagline "for little citizens of the world", celebrating the beauty found in cultures around the world. Tea is based in San Francisco and started in 2002. Their clothes tend to be expensive, I think, to spend on growing infants and toddlers; but they do have good sales. The shirt pictured above is one of my purchases.

Zutano is another children's clothing line I absolutely adore because of their colorful and playful patterns. I found great deals at Baby SuperMall and the Zutano's website has other on-line stores for a broader selection.

Swaddle Designs' Ultimate Receiving Blanket is oh-so-soft! I have heard great reviews on their swaddling abilities. And I love their super cute designs. They have a very lightweight swaddling blanket (SwaddleDesigns Marquisette) that I bought for the warm summer days in San Diego.

Aden + Anais also has great swaddling blankets made from muslin with cute and fun designs. They also have other great muslin baby products, like burby bibs and sleeping sacks.

I like the ERGObaby Carrier because it allows you to carry your baby in the front, the back or on the hip. It is comfortable....though I haven't tried it with a baby in it yet! I was fortunate enough to buy the last one of the Galaxy Grey pictured above as they are temporarily out-of-stock on their website as well as our local store, Agana Baby.

So there are a few of my favorite baby things.