Ticker Change Thursday - HALF WAY!

Noemi is 20 weeks today - that's half cooked!! Woohoo! She is about the size of a small cantaloupe. Noemi's digestive system is busy creating meconium (a tarry black substance made of swallowed amniotic fluid, digestive secretion and dead cells), which will fill the first diaper after birth.

How far along? 20 Weeks Today - half baked!

Weight gain/loss: Up 16ish pounds. :-( I got a speech from my OB about this involving eating healthier. I guess I will have to give up the bagels for breakfast.

Sleep? We finally dug the body pillow out of the garage this week. It is my new best friend. I can't believe how much better I am sleeping now. Stomach sleeping is officially impossible, so the pillow is a must.

Best moment this week? I got all of the real results from the anatomy scan on Monday. Everything looked perfect and all of our risk levels for various problems were way down. yay!

Movement: I can feel her now and then, but I have to be sitting still to notice it. Just like last time, this is because I have an anterior placenta, which means that the placenta is between Noemie and my skin. So, when she kicks or punches, I don't feel it much because she is kicking or punching the placenta.

Food cravings: Sushi. Sushi. Sushi. Yum!

Belly button in or out? In, barely. I give it maybe 3 more weeks.

What I miss? Heels.

What I am looking forward to? Jay's birthday and our anniversary this weekend! 35 years and 7 years.

Milestones: We are half way to seeing our healthy baby today!

What I'm nervous about: Not much.

Belly Picture Friday - 19w1d

Ticker Change Thursday - 19 Weeks

Noemi is 19 weeks today and about the size of a mango. Vernix caseosa, a greasy white substance made of lanugo, oil and dead skin cells (yum) now coats baby's skin, shielding it from the amniotic fluid. (Picture yourself after a nine-month bath, and the need for protection makes sense.)

How far along? 19 Weeks Today

Weight gain/loss: I think about 11-12 pounts. I am not gaining weight as quickly as I did last time, which is normal I guess.

Sleep? I really need to find that body pillow in the garage....

Best moment this week? The anatomy scan yesterday was very reassuring. Also, we had a great weekend with Jay's counsin Ana, who was visiting from Spain. We went to Sea World Sunday and it was so fun watching Joaquin get so excited about Shamu. Very cute. Despite it being a very long day, it was a blast.

Movement: I can feel her now and then, but I have to be sitting still to notice it.

Food cravings: Seafood and sushi.

Gender: The tech yesterday was the third to guess girl. I guess we are pretty sure at this point.

Belly button in or out? Half and half.

What I miss? Joaquin, while I'm at work.

What I am looking forward to? Next weekend is Jay's 35th birthday and our 7th anniversary!

Milestones: I am hoping that this pregnancy last for about 38 weeks, so I guess we are half way there if I can last that long!

What I'm nervous about: My insurance denied the Makenna, which was the injection my OB wanted to me start to help prevent pre-term labor. She prescribed an alternative but it is not the FDA approved kind. So, after much deliberation, Jay and I decided not to take the drug and try to be more vigilant about proper rest, etc. once I get into third trimester. It was a difficult decision but we just aren't comfortable with the risk of taking the drug.

Anatomy Scan Results and Pics

I have my anatomy scan this morning and everything seemed to look good. I will get the official results from my OB in the next few days. The tech confirmed that baby is a girl. Here are some pics:

Belly Picture Friday - 18 Weeks 1 day

Ticker Change Thursday - 18 Weeks

Noemi is 18 weeks today! She is now passing the hours yawning, hiccuping, rolling, twisting, kicking, punching, sucking and swallowing.

How far along? 18 Weeks Today

Weight gain/loss: I'd guess I'm up 10 pounds.

Sleep? I think I need to break out the body pillow. I was having a very hard time getting comfortable last night.

Best moment this week?Snuggling with Joaquin on the couch for almost an hour reading books after work. I couldn't believe how long he stayed focused.

Movement: I think I feel movement every now and again but I haven't felt a good kick yet.

Food cravings: Salad.

Gender: In a week we are having the anatomy scan and will confirm that it is a girl.

Belly button in or out? In, barely.

What I miss? Energy.

What I am looking forward to? This weekend. Ana is visiting from Spain and we have lots of fun activities planned for her.

Milestones: Only 5 months to go!

What I'm nervous about: Nothing today.

(Belated) Ticker Change Thursday - 17 Weeks

Noemi is 17 weeks today and about the size of an onion. Her skeleton is hardening, changing from rubbery cartilage to bone, and fat is finally accumulating around it. The umbilical cord is getting thicker and stronger, and those little fingers and toes are now topped by one-of-a-kind prints.

How far along? 17 Weeks Today.

Weight gain/loss: Up 8 pounds last time I checked.

Sleep? It's still pretty good, although there have been a lot of parties for the week of the 4th in our neighborhood lately that have been keeping us up.

Best moment this week? Going to the beach with Joaquin over the weekend was great. He is really starting to get comfortable playing in the shallow water and it is so cute.

Movement: II'm pretty sure I'm feeling tiny little movements here and there. I can't wait for that first big kick!

Food cravings: Sushi.

Gender: We are having the big ultrasound in about a week and a half and then we will know for sure!

Belly button in or out? In, barely.

What I miss? Nothing.

What I am looking forward to? The weekend. I could use a break from work.

Milestones: I'm officially 4 months pregnant now, which sounds so far along. I am so happy to have made it this far without complications. I am hoping my good luck continues.

What I'm nervous about: Surviving the next few months at work. It's tough being pregnant, having a toddler and having this job all at the same time.