My 23-week belly!

July 20, 2011

22 weeks, 6 days

As I write this, Baby is playing away inside my uterus.  Kicking, prodding, poking, dancing….enough for CJ to feel when he puts his ear to my belly and whispers, “Baby?  It’s your Papa…I love you!”  I think it is one of the most wondrous feelings I have ever experienced.  I am truly blessed!

What is even more incredible?!  Baby is officially a pound this week.  A POUND!  Wild.  And about 8 inches long, from crown to rump.  I am still in awe over the growth that this new human has to overcome in just a mere 40 weeks….and now to gain another 6-7 pounds in 17 weeks?!  I will naturally be gaining that as well plus the necessary additional blood volume, fat stores, etc to support Baby.  Phew!


We took our first big family off-road trip to Colorado last week (first with Baby onboard, that is!).  We joined CJ’s sister, Julie, and family and embarked on an adventure from the North Rim to Durango to Silverton to Ouray to Telluride.  What magnificent country!  We explored peaks and passes and relished in the color green.  Southwest Colorado just seems to be exploding with color!  From fields of luscious green grass to paintbrushes, columbines, and blue bells…oh my!  We off-roaded to silver and gold mines and camped in the high mountains next to mountain streams (which were quite chilly!) and snow fields not yet melted.  Thunderstorms rocked the evening skies, somehow managing to hold off just long enough for dinner and s’mores.  My nieces asked me nightly, “Does the baby like s’mores?!”  And my reply? Of course! Maybe a little too much ;-)

High Camp, San Juan Mountains outside of Silverton, CO

I will admit, however, that driving bumpy roads 22 weeks preggie is not the best decision I have ever made.  I eventually managed to determine the best method: pillow braced to the belly and seat tilted as far back as possible.  Relaxation is key.  Sightseeing consists strictly of viewing those things window level and above.  But it works wonders!  

We are set for girl names. We are in a search for some rad boy names.  We’ve got some goodies in the running but we always appreciate input.  Maybe I’ll bake you cookies if we choose the name you give us!  I make a mean oatmeal peanut butter chocolate chip….

Fun Baby Fact:  My nieces nicknamed Baby “Mayo” on the trip…I had a rather fitting mayonnaise container that was determined to be the size of the said babe this week.  And approximate weight.  Although, the picture of a large jar of mayo in my belly is a bit disturbing…. Baby’s inner ear is developed – giving him his own sense of balance.  We’ll make a climber out of Baby yet.

Fun Pregnancy Fact:  According to my daily email from “What To Expect”, babies of moms who exercise throughout pregnancy score higher, on average, on general intelligence tests by age five.  If that’s not motivation to get my groove on, I don’t know what is!

Half Way There!!!

Family time at Glorietta Bay in SD

July 2, 2011
20 weeks, 3 days

We have officially hit the halfway point!  So exciting....We had our ultrasound on Tuesday and Baby weighed in at a whoppin' 11 ounces.  CJ remarked, "It still has a lot of growing to do!"  Yes, yes it does.  And apaprently so do I! 

From our ultrasound, we ventured south to San Diego for a quick few days...Baby got its first boat ride (although I opted out of tubing off the back of the boat....)!  As I was laying in the bathtub later that night, Baby was going crazy.  One kick even made my belly rise!

You may be wondering, "What do we look forward to now that the 20 week ultrasound is over?"  I was asking myself the same question.  And then I realized, "The REAL deal, people!"  Hehe.  We are starting to collect our things and have spent many an hour talking over names and plotting the best way to cram baby stuff into our little home.

Here are a few shots from Tuesday of our precious little dumpling:

Baby chillin' out in utero



A fabulous 3-D shot of our photogenic Baby


Fun Baby Fact: Baby's uterus is fully formed....or its testicles are dropping from the abdomen!  Exciting times....

Fun Pregnancy Fact: I learned something new about my husband - he eats watermelon with a spoon scooping out circles from the bottom up!  How did I never know this?  I have officially recovered from my gnarly attack of The Canyon Bug (aka coming out both ends....) and have regained the lost 4 pounds with diligence ;-)