Week 21

Baby gulps down several ounces of amniotic fluid everyday, both for hydration and nutrition and to practice swallowing and digesting. And, these days, those taste buds actually work! Studies show that after birth, babies are most interested in tastes they've already experienced through amniotic fluid. Meaning, think about what you want your future child to eat as you prepare your own lunch.

*Provided by TheBump.com

Week 20 Picture

How far along: 20 weeks. YAY, we are halfway there!!!!

Total weight gain: 12 lbs

Maternity clothes: I am officially in maternity pants and only maternity pants.

Food cravings: Nothing really. I just like to eat.

Gender: We know and are so excited to tell everyone Thursday!!

Labor signs: None yet

Belly button: Still there but slowly getting shallower.

Best moment of the week: Feeling the baby kick from the outside.

What I am most looking forward to: Telling everyone the gender of the baby on Thanksgiving!!!

Milestones: Feeling the baby kick from the outside and making it to the halfway point. Only 20 more weeks until we meet our baby!!!

Week 20

Baby's digestive system is busy creating meconium (a tarry black substance made of swallowed amniotic fluid, digestive secretion and dead cells), which will fill the first diaper after birth. And, speaking of the diaper situation....baby's genitals are now fully formed!


*Provided by TheBump.com

Doctor Appointment Update

We had our "Big" ultrasound today. We are very excited to share the news however we are waiting until Thanksgiving to tell everyone. But I do have some pictures to show you.



The first one is a profile of the baby, the second one is another profile of the baby flipped upside down and the last one is of the baby's tiny little feet. I think she has my nose (the Ward nose). We couldn't get very many good pictures of the features so who knows what s/he will look like.


The baby is stubborn like me. S/he would move every time the tech tried getting a measurement. S/he was only active when moving away from the wand so I think s/he has part of Shane's personality (the mellow, laid back part).

Week 19 Picture

How far along: 19 weeks

Total weight gain: About 12 pounds

Maternity clothes: I only have 1 pair of pre-pregnancy so I am mostly in maternity pants now.

Food cravings: Spinach artichoke dip and garlic bread

Gender: We know but are waiting to tell everyone until Thanksgiving!!

Labor signs: I have been having Braxton Hicks but no serious labor signs.

Belly button: In but getting very shallow

Best moment of the week: Finding out the sex of our little one

What I am most looking forward to: Telling everyone the sex of the baby. I hope I can hold out until Thanksgiving.

Milestones: Making it to 19 weeks and not gaining too much weight yet.

Week 19

Vernix caseosa, a greasy white substance made of lanugo, oil and dead skin cells (yum) now coats baby's skin, shielding it from the amniotic fluid. (Picture yourself after a nine-month bath, and the need for protection makes since.) You might actually get to see the vernix after birth, especially if baby is premature.


*Provided by TheBump.com

Week 18 Picture

How far along: 18 weeks

Total weight gain: 10.5 lbs

Maternity clothes: Started wearing maternity pants this week but I still have one pair of pre-pregnancy jeans I can wear

Food cravings: Taco Bell and cupcakes

Gender: Still think boy. We find out in less than a week

Labor signs: None yet

Belly button: In

Best moment of the week: Buying the material for the bedding and finding art work for the nursery

What I am most looking forward to: Well besides finding the out the sex on Tuesday, I am going to State (cheer competition) with my mom. It should be fun!!

Milestones: Making it to 18 weeks and finally starting to wear maternity pants.

Week 18

Your fetus has become amazingly mobile (at least compared to you), passing the hours yawning, hiccuping, rolling, twisting, kicking, punching, sucking and swallowing. And, finally baby's big enough that you'll be able to feel those movements soon.

*Provided by TheBump.com

Baby Bedding

So we had decided on the fabric for the bedding however when we went to get more than a sample they didn't have it so we decided to go with a different fabric. We are going to use the blue fabric (more of a teal/aqua color) for the top and the white fleece for the backing. We are doing the nursery in a teal blue, orange, and chocolate brown. I am so excited to get started on painting and finding decor to put it all together but Shane is making me wait until after the first of the year. BOO!!!! Oh well he is probably right. haha In other news we have less than 2 weeks until we find out the sex and I can't wait.

Week 17 Picture

How far along: 17 weeks

Total weight gain: About 9 lbs now

Food cravings: Nothing crazy now just food in general

Gender: Still thinking boy

Labor signs: None

Belly button: In

Best moment of the week: Feeling the baby move a little more (at least I think/am pretty sure it was baby)

What I am most looking forward to: Finding out the gender and Shane getting to feel the baby kick

Milestones: Making it to 17 weeks. I can't believe how quickly it is going.

Week 17

Baby's skeleton is hardening, changing from rubbery cartilage to bone, and fat is finally accumulating around it. The umbilical is getting thicker and stronger, and those little fingers and toes are now topped with one-of-a-kind prints.

*Provided by TheBump.com