As I'm comparing these pics to the ones I took a few weeks ago (I took these tonight and Friday, respectively), I guess I really haven't grown that much. In my head, I've practically doubled in size. And gained 10 pounds.
Truth is, per the Wii Fit board this evening, I'm still up only the 3 pounds I gained two weeks ago. I FEEL like I've gained at least ten though. I mean, the baby's gaining weight and there's additional mass around my middle that wasn't there the week prior, or the week before that, so...I don't know. Doesn't matter. And yet I can't help pondering the mystery because I LOOK like I've grown...but perhaps the weight has just been redistributing itself?
I'm definitely growing out of my clothes and am too big to fit comfortably into any of my current work pants, even leaving them unbuttoned. Then again, I'm still too small to really merit going out and buying new clothes yet. So I'm going to rock dresses for the time being. And hope the weather warms a bit.
So...I finally finished selecting items and organizing the baby gift registry; I never want to do that again. I'm much too OCD for that serious a research project and thank Kenny for the help he provided when I became overwhelmed. I feel for all the buildup, this should be the most awesome registry ever. Well, it's the most awesome registry for us I guess. Hope it doesn't disappoint! http://www.myregistry.com/public/Stefanie-Kenny-Mikkalson.
For those of you reading this...please let me know if you have any issues viewing the items, seeing the correct prices/quantities or linking to the store websites. I imagine there will be some hiccups in simply how "flexible" this site appeared to be.
Having completed the registry, I'll be focusing now on finding a pediatrician and potentially looking further into a birthing assistant. And getting the house in order (cheap home improvement projects, here we come). And moving Kenny out of his office and starting a nursery. And naming the baby. And whatever else is on the to-do list.
I'm still feeling great physically, though the heartburn is building and lasting for longer periods. I'm still working out 3 x week but that's cardio only and I really need to start getting back into yoga/pilates on my non-gym days as I hear that most definitely helps with labor. Just add it to the list of baby-related things on which I'm procrastinating... I suppose I do have two new complaints. I'm starting to notice more frequently that I get dizzy fairly quickly and my balance is a bit off. I tried to slip on a pair of workout shorts a week or so ago, missed a leg hole and ended up on the floor on my knees, almost having hit the wall. I haven't fallen in a long time, (not that that was really falling, and I was on carpet), and it's given me pause when hastening down stairwells at work; the handrail is now in easy reach at all times. My other complaint: ALLERGIES (the seasonal, pollen-related kind). Bothersome to the max. It's become a necessity to spot-treat with Zyrtec which, luckily, seems to do the trick in a jiffy, but makes me drowsy and I'm pretty sure makes the baby drowsy too. I'm trying to avoid taking any medications (see my Hawaii postings...) but when it comes to making a choice between functioning and losing my body weight in snot...I choose the former.
Emotions are still heightened, but not unruly like a few weeks ago. I'm still having issues with frustration and will soon be incorporating meditation/relaxation into my daily routine (added to the to-do list of course...) I almost intentionally yanked out our kitchen ceiling fan and nearly tossed Kenny's laptop because I couldn't get either to comply with my direction (after maybe three attempts at trouble-shooting). Luckily, both survived as I'm proving to be slightly more patient than my hormones belie, and gave the ceiling fan one more chance and handed the laptop over to Kenny before I could destroy it.
And now it's past my bedtime. I do enjoy getting into bed as the baby seems to move around a lot when I initially lie down. His movements are fascinating, and getting stronger. I even watched my belly move for the first time the other night, when he was being fairly violent in his actions. I think Kenny likes to think he's practicing ninjitsu :) Kenny also got to feel him move for the first time this past week, and will probably feel him tons more going forward. I can't wait to interact with him when he's on the outside :)
One more week down and it's been a good week. There aren't any pictures to post as my appearance doesn't differ much from that captured in last week's photos.
The baby should be about a foot in length and a pound in weight right about now. He's like a legitimate mini-baby (though still nameless...) Other things slated in growth this week: http://www.babycenter.com/6_your-pregnancy-22-weeks_1111.bc
My hormones have behaved themselves since the last post; even Kenny concurs :) It's sporadic, that's for sure, and I've no idea what's in store for next week, or the week thereafter...I'll just make it a point to appreciate normalcy when I have it!
Kenny and I have been focused on trying to make some real progress on outstanding to-do items: registry completion and daycare review. I'm on track to be done with the registry by the end of the month (maybe by next post), and that's a giant relief (I'm FAR too anal retentive in reading customer reviews, consumer reports and comparing prices and this process is taking FOREVER). I also got us registered today for an abbreviated birthing class; I'm just glad I found an open class and can check this off the list.
We've also finished identifying potential day care arrangements. I think I'll be checking out one more close to my office, and be officially done. Kenny and I split the list and with a divide and conquer mentality, knocked it out in the past two weeks. We even formally signed up for a wait list at one place, and plan to get on another after a meeting I had today. These corporation-run day care centers offer sooo much of the same stuff; I'm rather sick of hearing the same spiel from six different places, as though they're the only ones with extended hours, daily progress sheets, toy sanitizing procedures and safety evacuation plans. My criteria? Location, cleanliness, safety, appearance and cost. Some places didn't even put prices in the provided packet of information. I thought that was one of the "perks" of coming in for the tour - if the rates aren't posted on the website, I'd better be able to get the rate sheet in-person. And, after all research and nine packets in hand, the rates varied from $1200/month to almost $1900/month. And I thought $1667 was bad. I'm just glad I don't have any more internet research to do and don't foresee any problems getting into one of the two places we liked. My stress level is slowly coming back down to a normal range...
So, with daycare, registry research and labor class registration out of the way...I can focus on getting a pediatrician, registering for the hospital, home improvement tasks, travel arrangements, and nursery creation. Not too much...
Things are good overall this week. Making some progress on the never-ending to-do list, feeling good and looking forward to month five. I do have moments, especially when comments are made about how small I am still for 4+ months, where I get sort of hit with a sudden wave of reality and I realize I'm really, actually pregnant. I mean, obviously I know I'm pregnant, especially when the baby's twirling about, but I think my brain stalls out every once in a while in getting wrapped around the idea that there's another life growing inside of me and that we're going to be parents. Forever. It's only like the biggest commitment ever. I can sympathize with my brain if it struggles every now and then to fully comprehend these impending life changes... ;)
As a PS, thanks go out to brother Jeff for a job well done on my labor playlist. Not sure if I'll get to fully appreciate it in labor, but I'm hoping to train myself to center my chi with the tunes now so that it may serve as a relaxation trigger. I'm thinking of making a second playlist too, with songs by Flight of the Conchords, Tenacious D, Stephen Lynch and the like...in the rare event that I retain my sense of humor during delivery...
So this is me at 21 weeks. Working on a belly, which is still rather concealable under work clothes as it fluctuates based on whether I've eaten, how I'm standing, etc. I even wore regular work pants today (my looser pair), buttoned and all. Though I feel like my body is changing considerably from week to week, it may just be because I was on the slenderer side to begin with and any change seems more pronounced to me. At my OB visit on Friday, I had my official weigh-in....I've gained only three pounds. I saw my sister this weekend and she concurred that appearance-wise, it certainly looked like I'd gained more than three pounds! Ultimately, it doesn't matter. My provider was pleased to see that I'd gained weight (three pounds is still three pounds more than I was...), and wasn't concerned with the amount. Most importantly, the baby is weighing in at a very healthy 13 oz (which is actually 3 oz more than my work colleague with the same due date - and she's gained 12 pounds so far...)
I'm feeling great physically with only three complaints: increasing heartburn, increasing skin blemishes (like I'm 14 all over again...) and upsettingly frequent charley horses. I had TWO separate cramps this morning alone - one in my foot and one in my calf and both excruciating, even for being half asleep. It's hard to avoid slightly stretching my legs and feet in the early morning hours when I'm still unconscious! Doc says there's really nothing I can do about it, and getting more potassium and calcium don't seem to be doing the trick. Other than that though, I'm feeling really healthy and fit!
Emotionally...I'm not doing as well. This past week I was irritable and maybe a bit cranky to the husband...he was sweet enough to not bring it up until I broached the subject and only then confirmed that perhaps I had indeed been rather short and cranky...I just didn't seem to have any patience this past week and weekend and was raging over the littlest frustrations and not sure why. I was famished the other night after getting home from a long drive and couldn't cook my dinner fast enough and was on the verge of a full-on rage fit within a few short seconds...all because I was hungry and my brain and hands couldn't accommodate my hormones' sense of urgency to remedy the situation. Work too has been upsetting. And usually I can fake it like no one else - I've got a ridiculously high tolerance for irritation on a normal basis. Luckily, I haven't felt as out of control these past two days so maybe I'm turning over a new leaf this week and will be a bit more mild-mannered...at least for Kenny's sake...
I'm still a bit overwhelmed with how much to-do stuff we still have pending (daycare wait lists, childbirth classes, pediatrician interviewing, gift registry completion, etc) and how it's getting harder to prioritize. This week is focused on daycare. Getting on a wait list will be priority numero uno for now. And finishing the registry will be a priority for this weekend while we're at home dogsitting. And I do need to continue researching childbirth classes since guidance on labor would most likely be helpful...all while fitting in home improvement contractors and projects because, well, the baby needs a pretty house ;)
So I'm off to bed. The baby apparently is digging the blog this evening as he's pretty much been moving/kicking the entire time I've been typing this. I can't wait for Kenny to be able to feel him move too and hope to be able to share that with him sooner than later!
