bump update: week 24

Due Date: June 28, 2013

Gender: Blue, blue blue... It's (still) a boy! 

Movement: There is always lots of movement going on with the little guy. Nothing much has changed with this subject over the past 4 weeks... he's always been a puncher and a kicker, but I'm feeling him roll and adjust his position more and more. And let me tell you, that is the strangest and freakiest feeling ever!

Feeling: I'm feeling great! I have more energy than I did before I was pregnant and am able to finally enjoy almost all foods again. I gave up salt, ice cream and frozen yogurt for Lent, which I'm hoping will help with healthy weight gain and bloating in the long run.

Food Cravings: No true "I need it and I need it NOW" cravings, but I've been loving on fresh fruit since I found out I was pregnant - apples, watermelon, grapes, blueberries, cantelope... I just can't ever get enough.

Food Aversions: Salmon, v8

Clothes: I'm wearing a mix of my regular clothes with maternity clothes. I can still fit into all of my pre-pregnancy yoga pants and a few pairs of my pre-pregnancy jeans. The jeans are so uncomfortable when I sit down (the button digs into my stomach and it hurts... plus they give me mad muffin top when I'm sitting (belly bands don't work on my body shape)) that I've been sticking to maternity jeans and maternity work-out capris. As far as tops go... I've always worn tighter clothing, so I'm noticing that I'm keeping to my same style - tight tanks with a sweater over top. Flowy tops/sweaters and tunics make me look gignatic and wide, so they're a no-go right now. All of my pre-pregnancy tops still fit, but some are getting short, so that's when I'll throw on a maternity top (for length) (again, belly bands don't work on my figure).

Stretch Marks: None

Sleep: Sleep comes and goes in waves. My hips were extremely sore while sleeping throughout weeks 19-22, so I got myself a medical prenatal massage. It felt more like physical therapy and it was truly wonderful. She loosened up my hips, back and relieved pressure from my tailbone, so I had been sleeping much better, but the past few nights I'm noticing my hips start to ache while sleeping again.

Symptoms: Vomiting 1-2 times/week. Sore hips while sleeping, sore back while standing and sore tailbone with sitting... all tolerable, but present. Occasional heartburn, but nothing Tums can't handle. Overall, feeling wonderful and have no major complaints!

What I Miss: Sunny side up eggs, salami, hot dogs

Best Moments: 
* Popping and officially looking pregnant! 
* Lots of kicking, punching and rolling going on in my mid region -- little guy is practicing martial arts
* After much research and plenty of impulse purchases, I have 3/4 of the nursery furniture and decor
* Having his closet fully orgnanized
* Registering for my shower at Pottery Barn Kids and amazon.com
* Decorating my house for spring (my fav season) and fantasizing about having a 10 month old at Easter (my fav holiday) next year!
* My mom shipped me a large box of organic lemons, oranges and avacado from their backyard tree... I've been devouring the citrus like it's going out of style... so has Bryan. Thanks Mom!

Memorable Moments: 
* Bryan's reaction when he saw my bare belly at 23 weeks, March 2nd. I was slathering on my Palmers Cocoa Butter when he walked into the bathroom... he stopped dead in his tracks and just stared at my belly. According to him, I really popped that week and it made it just that much more real for him! 
* Bryan felt the baby move for the 1st time on March 6th, at 23 weeks 4 days... It was the most thrilling moment for the both of us! He was totally freaked out, not going to lie, that I really have a human inside me and that I feel that all the time... from the inside. His reaction was too funny!
* Bry and I were laying in bed Sunday morning (March 10th, 24 weeks 2 days) when I told him our little boy had just woken up too. The movement was nuts, so we looked at my belly and low-and-behold, we could see him move. It looked like I had an earthquake erupting in my belly, from left to mid to right, and was the coolest visual. It was a great 1st for us to experience together!
* The baby was punching and kicking me so much and so hard that he woke me out of a deep sleep this morning, March 11th (24 weeks 3 day). He had me up for 1 hour, just using my insides as a jungle gym. After an hour of this I started rubbing my belly... and he stopped. Instantly. As I was crying tears of joy, I told Bryan that I had just communicated with the baby for the first time. Bry proceeded to tell me I "comforted" him... melt my heart.......

Don't let these pictures fool you, my ass has grown in direct proportion to my belly... and the cellulite? Oh damn you cellulite.....

To view my:

 week 16 update: click here

week 20 update: click here