19 weeks - mango

We had a dr. appointment today. Everything looks a-okay. We heard the heartbeat again. It was tough for the nurse to get a good read, because BD was moving around and kicking so much. It was kinda funny (we all laughed), but I felt bad for her. 

Baby is the size of a mango

Not expanding fast enough

Yes, I am small and I am barely showing. I know the baby is growing, because I am getting more and more uncomfortable. My belly is not expanding to accommodate. Instead, I think BD is pushing against all of my internal organs. How can there be enough room in there? Well, there isn't! Tonight, I baked a lasagna and I could only eat one piece (I also had a piece of garlic bread), and I was starving. My stomach and back hurt so bad afterward that I had to lay down on the couch. OUCH! So FULL!

Matt and Sydney just left to get ice cream...

(Sushi's) Baby's New ExerSaucer

This happened within 30 seconds of Matt bringing it in the door.

checking out every inch

milestone first real kick?

We were watching the movie the "The Next Three Days" when I was about to start reading a book or something, because it was getting pretty violent...at the same time as a loud gun shot, I felt a quick, sharp pain in my lower abdomen. My first instinct - was that a kick? Ow! I don't know, but I know by 18 weeks they hear and react to loud noises.

That'll wake you up.

18 weeks - Sweet potato

BD is about the size of a sweet potato

GIST List

1. I found dress pants in my closet that actually "fit"
2. I work until 9pm tonight, but so far I am still awake and in a good mood (it's only noon)
3. Tea tastes good :)

I'm really reaching today...but #1 really made my day.

4. (15 minutes later...) I found more girl scout cookies in my desk drawer at work!!

16 weeks, 5 days - avacado

Sorry, my camera phone is awful and so is the lighting in my bathroom this time of year.

Baby is the size of an avacado

New addition to nursery

I visited with my Grandma today. She gave me a blown-up picture she had of me as a baby. It's so cool - it looks "antique" because of the light damage. I really love it!  It's about 2 1/2 ft x 2 ft.

It will go in the nursery until my kid says: "why is this creepy picture of my mom hanging in my bedroom?"

Milestone

Last night when I couldn't sleep, I put my hand on my right side and I felt a kick. It felt like a flick of a finger from the inside of my belly. So awesome.

Pregnant Stepmom Realizations

As I'm writing this, I am enjoying some delicious girl scout cookies. Life is good.

Not many of my friends are step-moms, so it's difficult to deal with sometimes, but I finally found a blog with hundreds of posts by women who are step-moms and pregnant. If you don't know what it's like during this special (pregnant) time in one's life - it's like this...hormones make being a step-mom more difficult. According to what I've read and what I feel, it's all about the normal "nesting" response - to want to focus on your own child and husband. No matter how much you LOVE your step-child, it's really tough to deal with these NORMAL, negative feelings of resentment and guilt during pregnancy. And no, I don't take these feelings out on my step-daughter. I know most of you don't understand, but I'm going to go out on a limb for this post and ignore the PC response to being a step-parent. I won't do this often, but there is no support out there.

Since reading about others' experiences, I have come to this conclusion:

My husband is the BEST. He is totally supportive and understanding, and makes me feel so special.

I've read things like this: when I ask my husband to touch my belly, he says "I know." Kind of like- been there, done that. (oh my god, how rude! My husband loves to touch my belly. Before we go to sleep, he puts his hand on my belly while we watch tv. It's become a bonding ritual between the three of us.)

Another post said that after trying and trying to conceive with her husband (which I can relate to), she finally got pregnant. But now her step-daughter is 20 weeks pregnant. Yikes! (I have it good).

There are so many examples of bad relationships between husband/wife; step-mom/step-child; step-mom/child's biological mom. Again, I have it good.


Also, my step-daughter is the best. She is really excited about a new brother or sister and we have her complete support.

Baby's first pictures

Baby Durham (BD) moving hand around the face

feet up and resting on my uterus. we actually saw the feet resting (this image doesn't show)

the back; and below is the heartbeat

You are looking at the top of the head and the right hand moving around by the head.

All the digits are there :)

Legs

What a lovely spine :)

Cute profile view. I love this.

The brain and skull. The tech said it has a big noggin - no joke.

Mom and Dad are very proud. 

We could have watched our baby moving around all day. 

It was bliss.

Funny!

So I don't forget these funny moments:


Somehow an orange cone got caught under matt's car. 
MD: I thought it was a muffler draggin'. 
Syd: what's a muffler dragon?

Sushi enjoying the sun.

Sushi is also sick of winter