23 weeks

For the moms out there: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/allison-tate/mom-pictures-with-kids_b_1926073.html

I am so excited (and yes, at times scared) about being a mom and bringing up our baby boy. I know there will be good and bad but I just can't wait.

23 weeks 2 days. This is why I am not wearing regular clothes anymore. I used to wear Large sizes and this is XL (Women's) and looks pretty tight

23 weeks 2 days with a maternity shirt on

How many weeks: 23

Size of baby: A papaya and measures 21 cm or 8.3 inches. (This is crown to rump, not head to toe.) The baby also weighs 500-600 grams or 1.1-1.3 pounds. 

Total Weight Gain/Loss: I am up 2 and a half pounds so overall I've gained 11.5 pounds. 

Maternity Clothes: Yep I'm in maternity clothes. No be band for me. Even though I bought one, I just don't like it.

Gender: It's a boy!

Movement: To me, the movement is getting stronger but Dave still isn't feeling it. Tigger continues to sit on my stomach and the baby either loves it or hates it but either way it definitely gets our baby moving.

Sleep: I'm really, really tired. That's part of the reason I haven't had any blog posts and why this one is short. I'm busy at work and when I get home I just... crash. :) 

What I miss: Same old stuff. Surprisingly, add lunch meat this week. We went to a birthday party and all they had food wise was lunch meat (and soup), which is a no no because of listeria. Well, I have to admit, I was hungry so I ate it anyways. WOW did I scarf that down, practically smacking my lips. (Can I say poor Dave again?) And now in the cafeteria at work I'm eyeing up the deli counters. I was amazed at how GOOD that sandwich tasted. 

Cravings: None.

Aversions: None. 

Symptoms: It seems to me like this is too early but I'm starting to get some back aches. Actually, so far it's just on my one side and part of my back. I'm a bit worried if I'm already feeling this now, how much worse it's going to get! I'm also pretty tired and am finding if I stay out late (ha which is really early) it affects me for days. Another side effect that I want to ask the dentist about- my gums are bleeding a LOT. I have had issues with my gums anyways and thankfully I have an appointment next week. Gum disease or whatever can cause pre-term labor, low birth weight, etc. So I want to find out what I can do to make this better or if it's just normal and I'm being too sensitive about it. 

See you can definitely tell in the belly shot!

Best moment this week: One of my friends had her baby and I got to hold him when he was less than 24 hours old! Both mom and baby are doing great, and it was just amazing to hold him and think that in about 4 months I'll have my own son in my arms. AND, wow. Ok so I always thought newborn babies were tiny (and they are) until I looked down at my own stomach and thought oh crap, something that size has to come out of ME somehow??? That's something I figure is just going to happen so usually I don't think about it too much and I'll deal with it when the time comes. Denial? I don't know. But it keeps me from freaking out about it. 

Looking forward to: See my sleep comment above.  I can NOT wait for the weekend and getting some extra sleep. Every morning it has been harder and harder to get out of bed when that alarm goes off.