weekly wednesday update

How far along? 21 weeks 6 days!

Total weight gain/loss: Haven't weighed myself since my last Tuesday doctor appointment, but as of then, I was up 4 pounds. I have another appointment this coming Tuesday, so I’ll have a more up-to-date number then. I feel like maybe I’ve started gaining more, but who knows. It’s so hard to tell. I definitely FEEL like I’ve gained more than 4 pounds, because all of my new weight is up front.

Stretch marks? Yes. A few more. Whee.

Maternity clothes? I don’t know how much this section is going to change. I mean, from here on out, I’ll be wearing maternity clothes. I did just order 2 more pairs of Gap maternity boot cut pants, because they’re awesome and will probably help me make it all the way through the pregnancy for work clothes; I have 3 pairs total. They’re very cute and comfy.

Sleep: I think this is another category that just isn’t going to change much; in fact, it will probably get worse. I still wake up every hour and a half or so, my hips really hurting and needing to switch sides. The good thing though, is that I wake up, use the restroom, flip over, and go right back to sleep. Also, I have been getting really hot at night, and needing to open the window; but Ian gets cold. It kind of sucks, and we might have to switch sides of the bed or something so that I can be closer to the window.

Best moment this week: Snuggling on the couch with my husband last night. :)

Movement: I’ve definitely felt more movement this week! It’s pretty cool. I don’t always feel it during the day, but I think that’s just because I’m at work and not focusing on it. But sometimes there will be a really hard kick or flutter and I’ll feel it no matter what I’m doing.

Food cravings: Nothing special recently.

Genders: Still two girls!

Labor Signs: No. We had a nurse come by our house this weekend to show us a DVD on pre-term labor and to talk to me about recognizing the signs. It was covered by our insurance since I’m a high risk pregnancy. It was nice, but still didn’t really answer all of my questions. I think I’ll just have to make sure I’m really in tune with my body and all that is going on.

Belly Button in or out? Technically it’s in… but it’s TOTALLY on its way out. It’s very odd.

What I miss: I can’t say I’ve been missing much lately. If I had to choose, I’d say (once again) that I miss not getting all out of breath when I have to climb a bunch of stairs. Other than that though, I still very much am loving being pregnant.

What I am looking forward to: I have an ultrasound to check on my cervix on Friday, and last time I had one, they let me see my babies too! So I’m hoping that happens again.

Weekly Wisdom: This isn’t MY wisdom, but it is wise. My friend Kate posted this little paragraph on her blog, and I really liked it. It really made me feel a little less bad about the stretch marks:

“Our bodies are tools, not treasures. You should not spend your days trying to preserve your body in its eighteen-year-old form. Let it be used. By the time you die, you want to have a very dinged and dented body. Motherhood uses your body in the way that God designed it to be used. Those are the right kind of damages…We are not to treat our bodies like museum pieces. They were not given to us to preserve, they were given to us to use. So use it cheerfully, and maintain it cheerfully. You want to fix your body up in order to be able to use it some more. We should not be trying to fix it up to put it back on the shelf out of harm’s way or to try to make ourselves look like nothing every happened. Your body is a tool. Use it.”

- Rachel Jankovic

Milestones: Over halfway there!

Have a lovely Wednesday all! :)

~M