Week 23

Its week 23 and for the first time we have felt the baby on the outside of my belly!! It was so startling!! On Sunday night Robert and I had just settled down to engage in one of our favorite guilty pleasures, a SVU marathon. We had a long day of driving back from a wonderful weekend with friends in the snow, yard work, and some chores, so laying on the couch sounded appealing to us both. Sometimes when I feel Baby Gerrans kick I put my hand over the area to see if I can feel anything, this time I felt my normal pulse and as I became distracted by the TV I felt a "big punch." I think I screamed a little as Robert thought something was wrong with me. I quickly grabbed his hand and placed it over the punch but no movement came, I must have scared him. A few seconds later I felt it again at which time I grabbed Robert's hand again and after a little while he was able to feel it too. None of the movements have been quite as strong as the first one but now Baby Gerrans is much more active. I am not going to lie those first few moments of the initial punch freaked me out a little bit. I had this slight feeling of a sci-fi film with some sort of extra-terrestrial being inside of me. I have known he has been there all along, but it has just become so much more real to me. Now I am over the freakiness and have moved on to pure enjoyment. It is so fascinating and he is so active. He is especially active when I am working, as he's probably saying "I am bored mom, lets do something else."

Some other changes I have noticed this week, my tolerance for spicy food has increased and I am eating much more. Many of you know me well and know that even the tiniest hint of spice sends me crying, so try to believe it when I say I have been putting red pepper flakes in most of my recipes and piling on the salsa. I cannot believe it. Even the "long life shrimp" from Panda that is normally too much for me was nothing. I don't know why this is happening, probably because my nose is so stuffy, but I like it. No fear eating is very nice. I am trying to be good knowing that what I eat Baby Gerrans eats, but I cannot help but notice the change in my appetite. Hunger finds me much more frequently. I am consuming two croissants at the Farmer's Market instead of my normal one, and quickly looking for my next meal. Yesterday I had a serious craving for Mexican food that I could not ignore and as I was scrapping every last grain of rice and smear of beans off my plate the waitress brought me another small side of rice and beans, "for the baby". Here I was pregnant, eating by myself in the middle of the afternoon, and practically licking my plate; I wasn't sure if I should be embarrassed or flattered by her gesture. She probably felt sorry for me, but I like to think she has been pregnant before and understands.

No new nursery updates this week, just busy cleaning out closets around the house. Is it possible to have early nesting?

Robert & I at the Higginbotham's cabin in Huntington Lake for President's weekend. This is the day before we felt the "big punch."

xoxo

Welcome - 22 weeks

Today I am 22 weeks, can you believe it? According to my pregnancy app the baby should be the size of a spaghetti squash. We are more than half-way through this journey and loving every minute of it. I am one of those people who loves being pregnant, is it too soon to say that? I am feeling great and have been the whole 22 weeks with the exception of a few where I had a terrible cold. Yes I am having growing pains but walking everyday makes those so much easier to bare. The most annoying thing is the adult acne, I feel like I am in college again. The last few days I have developed a sore belly button, as it is getting ready to pop out, which is pretty shocking. Robert usually loves to poke fun at my abnormally deep belly button, so for us to see the bottom of it has been a trip.

Baby Gerrans is moving around like crazy in the belly. We can't feel him on the outside but I feel him all the time. He especially goes crazy on our walks with the dogs, when I have any heated conversations, and when we go to the mall - which makes Robert think he's a girl :) He stays pretty still while I am sleeping and that is wonderful!

Everyone always wants to know what I am craving and the truth is not anything interesting. No dryer lint, chalk, or dirt, sorry; I did almost eat a napkin out of desperation but that certainly was not a craving! I have been desiring strawberries which is torture as we have strawberries all over the farmer's market but they aren't organic. They are one of the "dirty dozen" which means this pregnant lady has to stand clear for now. I had one "i have to have this right now" craving for steak. Such an odd feeling, especially since the smell of it cooking grossed me out. Once I put it in my mouth I was so happy, who knew food could take you to whole new level of satisfaction? I am filling up on cottage cheese, cornichons, and avocados everyday (not all together)  but those aren't cravings either just what I love eating.

My belly is big. Thank you to those of you who tell me I only look pregnant from the side view, you are too kind. We broke out the measuring tape last night and found my belly to be a whopping 35 inches, meaning I have grown ten inches in 5 months, wow. Grandma you will appreciate this, so far I have not purchased any maternity clothes I am simply wearing many of my clothes that I saved from the good-ole freshman-15 days (more like 25 lbs for me). I knew I should keep those for something and they have come in very handy. I haven't hit that weight yet, but I probably will. The other night Robert said to me "it must be crazy to have your body go through all those changes", yes honey it is very crazy, but an exciting crazy.

Lastly I refer to the baby as "he". We are still waiting to find out the sex until Baby Gerrans is born. I have an overwhelming feeling that we are having a boy, Robert is becoming less sure than I, so that is why I write/say "he". We do not know, I swear, nor do we want to. Sorry if that is confusing.

Below are some recent and not so recent photos that we would like to share.

Cheers!

Robert loves to capture me at my finest moments. Here I am at a doctor's appointment (18 weeks) and terribly sick with a horrendous  cold. I wore a mask to protect the other pregnant patients. I can't remember ever being this sick. This has to be one of the least flattering photos I have ever taken, Robert thinks the mask suits me.

Here I am taking a break from wrapping presents to snap a photo infront of our tree. (12 weeks)

A picture from our last ultra sound appt., amazing! Sorry that it is turned the wrong way, my computer is smarter than I am.

The nursery so far. Robert put up the new light fixture, more to come in the next few months.

Mandi and I on Christmas Eve, I am 15 weeks she is 19 weeks.

I have been a sewing mom-to-be, here is my first baby item, aren't they precious? I have also gotten the crochet hooks out for a hat which will probably be too small :) On to booties and a crib skirt next.

Last weekend in Monterey for a 5k walk on lover's point. The belly is trying to hide behind my numbers and scarf ;)