bump-date: week 20

20 weeks down. 20 weeks to go.
Happy Halfway to Me!

Before we delve into my 20 week update, I have to let you in on a fun little bond that Natasha from Hello! Happiness and I have -- Natasha and I are "due date buddy's" aka we have the exact same due date of June 28th. It has been so fun going through this process with her, as we've shared things like pregnancy, gender and baby names before they've hit the blog world. And although we're only halfway through our pregnancy's, I know I'll be leaning on her more and more for support and advice as we embark on the nitty-griddy and exciting weeks that lie ahead. Sharing my due date with a friend is a pretty cool coincidence, so please hop on over to Natasha's blog to read about her 20 week update and how it coincides/differs from mine!

Due Date: June 28, 2013

Gender: Tonka trucks, Legos and all things blue.... it's a boy! 

Movement: He's an active little one! From what I've read, you generally start feeling your first baby move between 18-22 weeks (can be as early as 16 weeks)... the more active the baby the earlier you will feel them. I first felt baby boy flutter at 18.5 weeks and by 19 weeks I could feel him move all throughout the day. This just lines up with everything we've been told at our ultrasounds... we have an active little guy on our hands and I'm in for a world of trouble :) 

Feeling: I feel really, really great! I have more energy than I did last year this time. I keep telling everyone that "I'm back" and that's exactly how I feel! I have my personality back, I'm fun again and I'm more than able to stay out late with Bryan and friends... And I want to enjoy this time to the fullest extent, as I don't know how long I'll be feeling this amazing!

Stretch Marks: My belly is definitely growing outward, but it's not to the point where my skin's stretching out yet

What I Miss: Sunny side up eggs, salami and brie cheese

Food Cravings: I am still not craving anything, but throughout my entire pregnancy I've really wanted a lot of fruit, of which is not cheap this time of year. Sams Club might just have the best pineapple out there these days... I'm loving it!

Food Aversions: I'm still staying away from salmon, vegetable soup and juice

Clothes: I'm able to fit into all of my tops still, but some jeans that fit tight to begin with are out. Other pre-pregnancy jeans I'm still able to wear easily are F21's skinny jeans because they are so thin and stretch easily (cheap much?), but I've worn pregnancy jeans twice and can't get over how much more comfortable they are... especially when sitting for a long period or eating a lot.

Sleep: Sleep was tough week 18. My lower back and hips were killing, so Bryan rotated our matresss and we switched sides for a couple nights. This seemed to help up until the past couple of nights. As of this weekend, my hips and legs ache when I sleep and my back hurts throughout the day like never before...

Symptoms: Vomiting (finally!) officially ended in week 18, yay! Linea nigra is slowly making an appearance and I've had a stuffy nose for months. Heartburn is a killer and Tums are my best friend. I was out in the sun this past weekend and was burnt to a crisp... in 55-60 degree February weather -- I did a little research and found out that you tan much quicker while pregnant. Other than that, weeks 18-20 have been my best thus far! My acne has completely gone away (thank the Lord!) and my hair is back to its normal look... it was so dull for months

Best Moments: 
* Having my morning sickness fully go away and getting my energy back has been life changing! This whole burst of energy in the 2nd trimester is the real deal -- I feel so amazing! 
* Getting to dress ubber fancy in a tux and gown all while knowing that it's my bumps only formal outing it'll make. 
* Entertaining until midnight and staying up until 1:00am the night of our Super Bowl party. 
* My mom booking her flight out to NC for my baby shower. 
* Researching and beginning to purchase items for the nursery

Memorable Moment: Feeling baby boy move in my 18th week and then really feeling the baby rockin' and rollin' in the 19th week has just been incredible. I'm officially in the process of popping, which started in the 19th week, and couldn't be more thrilled (this is what I have been waiting for). It's so awesome that I feel baby boy all day long, mostly when I'm sitting or laying down. Having this confirmation that baby boy is doing okay in there is just the best!