That's new.

It's no longer comfortable or easy to bend over. I'm not that big yet, so I didn't expect this quite so soon. Simple tasks, like picking something up off the floor or unloading the dishwasher, are uncomfortable experiences for me. Shaving my legs in the shower is a PROJECT, let me tell ya. Makes me wonder how pregnant women that don't have the shower/tub combo ever shave their legs - without that ledge to elevate my leg that extra foot and a half, I'm pretty sure I'd be done shaving for good. Mom - did you, like, prop your foot up on a bucket or something in your standing shower when you were pregnant with me? So yeah, the whole I-get-winded-and-crampy-when-I-bend-over thing, that's new.

Baby Reeder has found my bladder, and she's using it as a trampoline. No joke, my mom and I were going to walk yesterday so I went to the bathroom right before we left. I had to stop about 20 minutes into the walk to pee again. Not 5 minutes later, I felt like I had to go again. That's new.

I can now feel my little one moving around when standing (used to be just when I was sitting). And it's much, much stronger when I'm standing for some reason. To the point that she startles me with a swift kick to the ute about twice a day while I'm moving about. She also kicks the kitchen counter when my belly presses up against it. That's new.

Apparently I "walk like a pregnant person" now. In other words, I waddle. Already. Ay yi yi. That's new. And awesome.

It's almost Sept....

How far along?: 23 weeks, 0 days
Total weight gain/loss: +0 again this week, still just +5 overall. sigh.
How big is baby?: Just over a pound and roughly 11 in. long
Maternity clothes?: Wore the maternity jeans for the 1st time this weekend. God bless the Gap.
Sleep: Afternoon nap = don't get to sleep until after 11. Not getting to sleep until after 11 = desperately need an afternoon nap. It's a vicious cycle.
Movement: All. The. Time. The husband's comments when he's felt the baby move: "Doesn't that get annoying?" and "How do you sleep with that?"
Labor signs: Ditto last week.
Food cravings: It's been a rough few days, so food has not been my friend. But the Funfetti cupcakes that are sitting on my counter should help me get back on track :)
Gender: I'll guess Boy this week (to appease everyone, even though I really think Girl.)
Belly button in or out?: Still deep.
What I miss: My pre-pregnancy hair. It's coarser and thicker now, i.e. gross.
What I am looking forward to: December 11th - my (tentative) last day at F+W. Forever.
Best moment this week: The baby jumped yesterday when the phone rang while it was sitting right next to me. It made me laugh.
Weekly Wisdom: Home-grown onions will wreak havoc on your digestive system.
Milestones: It's been a very unexciting week, and I've been sick. So I got nothing.

Another belly shot.

Thoughts:
1. The aforementioned belly button crater really shines in light-colored shirts. Lovely, eh? Ugh.
2. I really should start taking these in the morning, or at least before all the make-up has disappeared from my face and my hair becomes utterly gross. Thank god I'm getting my hair cut tomorrow...
3. Some of my maternity shirts actually make the Girls look smaller (and by that, I mean average sized.) This is clearly not one of those shirts.
4. Though the husband said I was "popping out" of this shirt, I still don't think I've grown at all in the last few weeks.

Baby Reeder at 22w5d

Nursery update :)

When I said exciting things were happening in Baby Reeder's nursery, I wasn't kidding! Here are the first photos of the not-quite-finished nursery (but boy are we making progress!) I must say - I'm in love. IN LOVE. It's been a busy 2 weeks for us in this little room. We started off with 2 coats of a beautiful soft blue paint last week. Since then, we've hung blackout shades, washed all the bedding (I heart Dreft - makes it smell like a baby in there!), made the bed, and built a new bookshelf. It's an overcast day today, so some of the pictures are a little dark, but you'll get the idea :)

Still to come: overhead lighting, valences for the windows, a rocking chair, frames/artwork for the walls, baskets for the new bookshelf, and all the crap that comes with babies that we have yet to buy/receive (monitor, books, toys, clothes, etc.)

This just in...

I just got my first stranger comment!! You know, the one I've been looking forward to since week 13? Hooray!

Had lunch at McAlisters with an old co-worker/friend who stopped in town for a quick visit. The woman behind the register asked me as soon as I walked up "So how many months along are you?" I was totally taken aback and stumbled for a minute before coming up with "5 months." She proceeded to tell me I was tiny and asked me to step back from the counter for a minute so she could show her co-worker how "big" they'd be in another month, as they are both 4 mos. pregnant. She told me my baby would be a Capricorn, which is apparently a good thing, and to make sure I make her birthday special (this was after I heard a story about how her Grandma would just freeze cake from the holidays for her birthday in early Jan.)

I was such a proud "tiny" mama, standing there with my bump, shootin' the breeze with the crazy McAlisters girl. I've been waiting to look pregnant and not just fat, so I guess I'm finally there! (This is so ironic to me, as I just finished telling the husband last night that I don't think I've grown at all in like 3 weeks.) Yay!

Donuts galore.

How far along?: 22 weeks, 0 days
Total weight gain/loss: +0 this week, +5 overall. Rewarding myself with a donut (see Food cravings.)
How big is baby?: Around a pound and roughly 11 in. long
Maternity clothes?: Getting bored of rotating my cotton skirts. Ready for fall and my maternity jeans!
Sleep: Not enough (thanks to the rambunctious night owl in my stomach.)
Movement: Slowed down over the weekend, but she's back to hyper-mode. Oh, and she really gets a kick out of moving about when I'm trying to fall asleep (pun intended.)
Labor signs: Ditto last week.
Food cravings: Bill's Donuts, specifically the whole-wheat ones. Taken care of on Sunday with the girls :)
Gender: Boy or girl, my child will have a blue room (progress pics of the nursery coming soon!)
Belly button in or out?: Possibly moving to the surface, possibly wishful thinking.
What I miss: College naps. sigh.
What I am looking forward to: September. We have plans on the calendar for every single weekend, which helps time fly by (and we're definitely in the "wishing time would fly by, bring on winter!" school of thought right now.)
Best moment this week: Our surprise baby shower! The reasoning behind the pressure to register early was revealed :)
Weekly Wisdom: Excessive sneezing should be in the books as a pregnancy symptom. Good Lord.
Milestones: Considering we didn't know we were pregnant until I was 4 weeks, this is the true halfway point (and I feel like I've been pregnant forever.) 125 days to go tomorrow!! :)

Playtime.

Dear Baby Reeder,

We need to have a talk. You seem to be enjoying yourself inside Mommy's tummy, flipping around without a care in the world. I want you to do what you can to entertain yourself, as I know there's nothing to do in there and things are getting more cramped by the day. Trust me, if I could throw a ball pit or a swing set in there for you, I would. I'd do anything for you.

That being said.... 11 p.m. is not playtime! 11 p.m. is sleep time. It won't be playtime until you're in college like your uncles. While I enjoy feeling you moving around in there, I don't appreciate it as much when I'm trying to fall asleep. If Mommy is still awake at 1:30 a.m., it's only going to make her miserable the next day - not good for you or me (or Daddy, who has to deal with my tossing and turning).

So for now, I ask that you try very hard to cool it around 10:00. Thanks munchkin!

Love,
Your Mommy :)