Week 17

How far along? 17 weeks (March 9-15^th)

Baby is the size of… A onion (5.1 inches, 5.9 ounces)

Maternity clothes? All pants this week were either maternity or stretchy pants.  We haven’t graduated into maternity shirts yet.

Stretch marks? None yet

Sleep: Just like a baby J  I’m averaging 8 hours a night and rarely even wake up in between.  I’ve had to sleep more on my side than tummy, though.

Best moment this week: Starting to feel little flickers in my tummy.  I think it’s the “little critter” but I can’t be too sure!

Miss Anything? The weather is beautiful this week.  Today is a high of 74 in the month of March!  We’re grilling out with my parents and this is the first time I really missed having a beer.

Movement: I think the little flickers have begun!

Food cravings: There really haven’t been any food cravings this week.  Although, I had REALLY wanted a gyro one day but it just didn’t work out.  I started drinking a morning glass of orange juice and that has been really yummy.  My friend Mandy craved orange juice during her pregnancy….maybe that’s where I got the idea from!

Embarrassing moment? Thankfully, none yet….other than the fact that my gas has been out of control!

Anything making you queasy or sick: Second trimester has been fantastic.  I really haven’t been sick this week.

Gender: Not sure yet.  We are two weeks away from finding out, but my instinct keeps saying girl!

Labor Signs: none

Symptoms: At the beginning of this week I was really crampy at night.  By the end of those two days I felt like my belly had definitely grown!  If you ask Mike, he would say that I am much more irritable…thanks honey!

Nesting? Preparations? What have you done? We went crib shopping this week.  They didn’t have the one we wanted in stock, so hopefully we will get to pick it up this week!

Belly Button in or out? For the first time this week I looked at it and thought it was “deformed.”  It’s definitely starting to stretch a bit!

Wedding rings on or off? On

Happy or Moody most of the time: This week has been pretty moody…I can be riled up pretty easily!

Looking forward to: March 27^th when we have our anatomy scan….and the gorgeous weather this week in the 70’s!

Week 16

How far along? 16 weeks (March 2-8^th)

Baby is the size of… An avocado (4.6 inches, 3.5 ounces)

Maternity clothes? Two pairs of pants.  Although I tried on a pair of khakis that were perfectly tight pre-pregnancy and I couldn’t zip them!  This was a big shopping week for me.

Stretch marks? None yet

Sleep: Sleeping great.  Trying to sleep 8.5 hours a night, but I’m noticing that it’s a little uncomfortable to lean too much on my stomach.

Best moment this week: My belly popped out!!!  It looks huge suddenly!  And…joking around with Grandma and Grandpa to be!  If our little critter is a boy we want to name him Charlie….but Grandpa seems to think that he will be calling him Chucky.  Oh boy….

Miss Anything? Looking cute!  I felt like I kept looking through my closet and didn’t like putting anything on.  I’ve been settling for hooded sweatshirts any moment that I’m not at school.

Movement: Maybe a flicker here and there….but I’m not too sure.

Food cravings: I think the fact that I can eat at night is food craving enough!  Although, I did want fresh fruit pretty badly.  I’ve been buying plenty of bananas, apples, strawberries, pineapple, you name it!

Embarrassing moment? Shopping for maternity clothes!  I almost felt like I was headed to the “naughty” section of the store when I was hunting for clothes.

Anything making you queasy or sick: No sickness this week…yippee!

Gender: Not sure, but I just keep picturing a little girl.

Labor Signs: none

Symptoms: Constipation has improved a bit….maybe it was switching my vitamins!

Nesting? Preparations? What have you done? I haven’t done much preparing, but I started looking into an online registry for the baby.  I don’t even know where to start!  What makes for a good car seat?  Stroller?  Playpen?  Yikes, I feel clueless!

Belly Button in or out? Looks the same to me

Wedding rings on or off? On

Happy or Moody most of the time: Pretty happy, but I’ve noticed more and more crankiness.  Look out!

Looking forward to: My weekend with nothing planned.  Also, looking forward to getting a bigger bump.  I can feel the hard spot on my tummy where baby is.  The little critter is always hanging out on my right side.  It’s strange to feel it!

Week 15

How far along? 15 weeks (February 24^th - March 1^st)


Baby is the size of... An orange (4 inches, 2.5 ounces)

Maternity clothes? I just bought my first pair of maternity jeans at the end of week 14.  I might try them out this week.

Stretch marks? None yet

Sleep: Sleeping well!  8-9 hours a night if possible.  I rarely ever get up in the middle of the night anymore.

Best moment this week: Most definitely hearing baby’s heartbeat!  He or she was at a steady 150 beats per minute.  Doctor thought it was sounding very healthy!  Also…at parent/teacher conferences I was speaking to another teacher who is expecting in June.  When I told her that we get to find out the gender at spring break, she didn’t know I was that far along.  I loved the compliment that I was still looking pretty good at 15 weeks!

Miss Anything? This week I’m just happy baby is growing….that I cannot possibly think of anything I am missing!

Movement: Nope

Food cravings: I just love sweets.  Chocolate and fruit specifically, as well as strawberry or blueberry waffles.  Yum! 

Embarrassing moment? The doctor asked me if I had thought about a pediatrician for baby yet.  I just looked at her and said, “Jeesh, I came here thinking that I was just hoping for a heartbeat today…pediatricians were the last thing on my mind!”  We both got a giggle out of that one.

Anything making you queasy or sick: I’ve been feeling significantly better.  But at conferences one evening, someone popped a bag of microwave popcorn next door.  YUCK!  I had to walk away to someone else’s room because I couldn’t take the smell.  Who knew?

Gender: Unknown, but we got to set up the appointment for March 27^th!  I cannot WAIT to find out!

Labor Signs: none

Symptoms: Constipation, constipation.  I’m lucky if I can go twice a week!

Nesting? Preparations? What have you done? Not much for prep work.  My friend, Sarah Oftedahl, gave me her copy of “A Girlfriends Guide to Pregnancy.”  I’m working my way through that book.

Belly Button in or out? No changes

Wedding rings on or off? On

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy as a clam J

Looking forward to: My next doctor’s appointment when we get to see the baby!  

Week 14

How far along? 14 weeks (February 17-23^rd)


Baby is the size of... A lemon (3.4 inches, 1.5 ounces)

Maternity clothes? Not wearing any yet, although I did resort to the “rubber band” trick when I was wearing jeans

Stretch marks? None yet

Sleep: I’m sleeping through the night without a bathroom break.  Allright!    

Best moment this week: Having Thursday/Friday off to go to the School Counselor’s Conference.  Baby and I had tons of rest and relaxation on Friday!

Miss Anything? Soda….I’ve really been wanting to have a Diet Coke and I just shouldn’t be having it!

Movement: Not yet, I think it’s a little early.

Food cravings: Does soda and coffee count?  Neither of them sounded very appealing to me in the first trimester.  I really had a day where I had to have Buffalo Wild Wings.  Lucky for me I was in Madison.  My food that day consisted of LOTS of craving foods….6 boneless wings from BW3’s, a hot pretzel, and a Fazoli’s breadstick.  What on earth was baby doing that day?

Embarrassing moment? Ummm….none, I think?

Anything making you queasy or sick: My sickness has really disappeared this week.  Every once in a while I night I will get nauseous, but nothing near what I had early on!

Gender: I can’t wait to know!

Labor Signs: none

Symptoms: Still a bit tired.  I can tell that weekend naps are still necessary.

Nesting? Preparations? What have you done? I stopped at Baby’s R Us for the first time.  It was quite overwhelming!  Where to start?

Belly Button in or out? Same belly button

Wedding rings on or off? On

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy go lucky!

Looking forward to: My upcoming appointment next week.  I hope that doctor can find a heartbeat much easier this time!

Week 13

Thoughts back on the past few weeks….

How far along?   13 weeks (February 10-16^th)

Maternity clothes?   Still wearing regular clothes

Stretch marks?   None yet

Sleep:   I never used to get up in the middle of the night, but now I’m usually up once after sleeping for a few others.  The bathroom calls!  Good thing that we have a bathroom in our bedroom now.    

Best moment this week: Knowing that I have a baby growing inside of me has been over joyous.  And…..I finally announced to my staff and school and closest friends. 

Miss Anything? My appetite.  My nausea kicks in during the afternoon and evenings.  I miss sitting down to a nice dinner.  Although, I’m seeing signs of hopefulness in week 13!

Movement: No

Food cravings: I’ve had a variety.  Sushi (the cooked kind)…ice cream…fruit…Culver’s burgers…Chobani yogurt….one night I really wanted white rice and breadsticks but the smell together was miserable!

I’ve had plenty of food aversions.  Pickles, which I usually love!  Chicken, turkey, and anything poultry.  Lunchmeats.  Microwave popcorn.

Embarrassing moment? Can’t remember

Anything making you queasy or sick: The clock.  Anytime after 1 pm-9 pm is fair game for sickness!  Week 12/13 had nearly nightly throw-ups.  Suggestion- do not eat blood oranges and then get sick.  Ouch!

Gender: My instinct says girl

Labor Signs: none

Symptoms: Tired and nauseous…as well as SEVERE constipation.  Did I mention constipation?  UGH

Nesting? Preparations? What have you done? Just spending this time being “cautiously optimistic” as Mike calls it.

Belly Button in or out? It’s the same “innie” I have always had

Wedding rings on or off? on

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy go lucky, with a tinge of emotional crying

Looking forward to: This whole journey…and feeling like a normal human who wants to eat dinner and stay awake at night J