Alright, alright… I’m doing something that I swore I wouldn’t do: I’m posting a photo of me, pregnant, on my blog.  Ack!  I’m making a face as I type this.  I’ve never been a fan of “belly pics” for two reasons: (1) I hate the phrase “belly pic”, and (2) I don’t like having my photo taken.  But I’ve decided to stop being a cranky-pants and just take the photo already.   That, and my sister Cassie keeps telling me she wants to see the baby bump.

So, here you have me at almost 20 weeks… practically the mid-way point!  And yes, it’s a hot day in January, which is what it would have to be before I posted this.

Yep, that’s me.  In our guest bathroom.  After having just returned from a 4.8 km walk around Newmarket and lunch with a friend in sunny, 75F weather.  Not the best photo, but when the inspiration and mood struck, I figured that I’d better just do it and to heck with the photo quality and my hair.

Oh, I’m filling out one of those pregnancy questionnaires, too.  I’m on a roll today!

How Far Along?

Almost 20 weeks

Baby’s Size?

According to BabyCenter.com, our little one is about 8.5 ounces and is 6 inches long.  Or, according to TheBump.com, baby is roughly the size of a mango.  I saw mangoes at the fruit market today, picked one up, and thought, “Huh, my baby is about this size!”

Weight Gain?

I was almost back to my pre-pregnancy weight at last week’s appointment.  I’m not hungry these days and still have the occasional bout of nausea {with 1 episode of throwing up mid-workout – nice}.  I thought that I was done with that!  Even though I’m about the same weight that I was pre-pregnancy, I’m definitely not the same shape, particularly around the midsection.  That baby is taking up all kinds of space.

Stretch Marks?

Nope, none yet.  I should start looking for stretch mark cream, but I’m still having a hard time finding stuff in New Zealand.  I’ll just use regular lotion in the meantime.

Foods I’m Loving?

Peanut butter on toast with a side of grapes.  I’m just not very hungry.  I think I’d be fine eating one big meal for lunch and nothing more.

Foods I’m Hating?

I’m not hating anything, but I’m not a big fan of avocados, pizza, anything fried {blech!}, or anything that requires heating up my oven.  It’s pretty warm over here, so I’m all for stir-fry, salads, and sandwiches.  And peanut butter toast 🙂

Maternity Clothes?

Have ’em and love ’em!  Thanks heaps to my sister Valerie for lugging a suitcase-full of them from the States.  And thanks to my mom for sending over some of her own selections for me.  And thanks to my mother-in-law for mailing a few maternity clothes in our Christmas box.  I’ve worn just about everything.  If I get around to it, I’ll do a post on what I’m loving and what I could live without.

Sleep?

Yes, please!  I get up at least once a night, usually more like 3 or 4 times a night.  I have a hard time opening my eyes and am sometimes in the bathroom before I can see where I’m going.  I would sleep for 12 hours straight if I could.

Best Moment This Week?

It’s the best moment each time I feel the baby move, so lots of best moments 🙂

Movement?

ALL THE TIME since week 17.  I’ll be lying in bed and feel a “kick, kick”, then roll over and feel a “kick, kick”.  I wake up in the morning and once again it’s “kick, kick”, and when I’m sitting and relaxed or, like right now, typing at my computer, I feel a “kick, kick, kick”.  And they’re all over the map – sometimes on the side, sometimes up high, sometimes down low.  It’s the coolest thing and I can’t wait for all you other first-time mommas to feel it, too 🙂  Chris has even been able to feel some of them.  I have a mini-mental pause each time it happens.  Pausing again…

Symptoms?

Not much appetite and some dizziness thanks to the increased demand on my circulatory system {I’m pretty sure that’s why I threw up mid-workout… wave of dizziness followed by wave of nausea}.  This is the time of pregnancy where your blood pressure drops, so I’ve been more careful about suddenly standing up.

What I Miss?

My family.  I wish that they could be here and share some of this with me 🙁  I miss them.  I’m so happy that my mom is coming for two full weeks once the baby is born.  You’ll have to pray for my mom – she’s only flown twice in her life: (1) 30+ years ago when Dad was doing a residency interview in AZ, and (2) with my SIL to visit my brother at his AFB in TX about 3 years ago.  For her to do a 25 hour international flight by herself is proof of the pull of a grandchild.  I’ve told Chris that I may not want her to leave.  She doesn’t know how to get to the airport in Auckland, so we just won’t take her.  So there!

Gender?

Hopefully we’ll know by next Tuesday – eeek!

Name?

We’re naming the baby… oh wait, that’s right, I’m not telling you!  Not until the littlest family member makes their arrival.  We have a full name for a girl and a first name for a boy.  I’ve picked out a boy’s middle name, but Chris hasn’t decided if he likes it yet.  I know how he operates – he won’t decide until we know what we’re having.  That’s fine.

Prepared For The Delivery?

I’m not too nervous about it.  I had 1 semester of L&D/Maternal Child Health in school where you were required to assist with births, do prenatal care, postpartum care, work in the nursery and the NICU, and do home visits with recently discharged mommas and babies.  Plus I work in an ER and I see pregnancies in all sorts of stages, up to and including deliveries.  Other than taking classes, staying fit, eating right, and listening to my midwife, there’s not much else that I can do, so why worry?

I won’t be doing one of these every week like some choose to do, but it’s fun to do every now and again.  Thanks for reading!