Week 24

How far along: 24 weeks

Due date: January 7th, 2015

Maternity clothes: It's all I wear these days. Although I really have been surprised how many of my tops pre-pregnancy have been able to double as maternity tops. But some of them are definitely to the point of retiring as my belly hangs out the bottom, and I'm showing a little more tank top than I'd like them to.

Sleep: On a good night I only get up once to go to the bathroom … but when I do get up I am dying of thirst and can chug a whole glass of water in one gulp. Then I crawl back into bed. Only to wake up every time I toss and turn. Turning in bed has become quite uncomfortable, but not impossible yet.

Best moment of this week: Hmm this is a hard one, but I am going to say, starting our child birthing class. 

Miss anything: Eating spicy foods, this little girl is not a fan.

Movement: This last week was actually a little scary in that department. The week before last I felt our little lady move a lot. Like a lot, a lot. Sam had even been able to feel her move most nights before we went to sleep as she always seems to be most active just as I am laying down for bed. But this last week has been a different story. I really hadn't felt her move at all and there was absolutely zero kicking. When I did feel her, it was just for a brief second as pressure would build in one spot and move across my belly, almost like her bum was sliding across me. But I did feel something, so I just kept telling myself she was fine and I was being paranoid. But man, that first day I didn't feel her I was super anxious. I did everything I could think of to get her to respond. I would jiggle my belly, push around and try and agitate her into kicking me, have Sam talk to her … and nothing. Eventually though, after a few days of this, when I still hadn't felt her move very much or kick at all, I called the doctor's office. They had me come in right away. When I got there they checked her heart beat which they said was okay, but they wanted to hook me up to the fetal heart rate monitor for an hour and observe her through an activity cycle. And I swear as soon as they fastened that band to my belly she started kicking. She did not like that sensor pushing on her. It was reassuring to feel her kick over and over and over. After observing her for a while they said their was enough response to stimulus that they felt like she was okay and that I would be alright till our next scheduled appointment. I was so glad to know she was okay. And it was kind of fun to hear her little heart beat for an hour straight while I laid there hooked up to the monitor. 

Food cravings: Doughnuts. I think that might be the one thing I have consistently craved throughout this whole pregnancy. Plain glazed doughnuts. I don't allow myself to indulge very often … but the 3 or 4 times I have … it has been like eating a round slice of fried, sweet, heaven every time.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Doing pretty good. Although the smell of meat still gets me every once in a while. 

Have you started to show yet: Man, this question is a little depressing. Last night, just before we went to bed I told Sam my abdomen was aching. It had a tight, pulling, uncomfortable thing going on. And then this morning I wake up and it's like I doubled in size. Who knew you could go to bed one night and wake up sooo much bigger the next morning. NOT THIS GIRL. It was a little horrifying. Ha. Let's hope that doesn't happen again this pregnancy … or we may have some issues.

Gender: We are so, so, so excited to be welcoming a little girl into this world. Our sweet little Evangeline. 

Pregnancy signs: Hmm. It might be easier to tell you the ones I don't have at this point… well I take that back, today brought a new one on. So you know how all pregnant women talk about how hungry they are, how they are starving all of the time? Like wake up in the middle of the night because they are so hungry?? Well I haven't felt it. I mean I've been hungry but nothing unusual. Today though. Today was a different story. I could NOT get enough to eat. I'd have a snack and five minutes later I'd be hungry again. I guess now I can say I've experienced that lovely feeling. If this hunger thing keeps up, there's no way I'll escape the next 3 months without another morning, of waking up and almost doubling in size. Ha.

Belly button in or out: Inny.

Wedding ring on or off: On. 

Happy or moody most of the time: Happy and exhausted? I don't think there's been a night this week I didn't fall asleep quickly. I mean some nights it was so bad that I may or may not have fallen asleep while Sam was praying.

Here's a picture of me today after I got home from work. Maybe it's just me, but I swear my baby bump doubled in size overnight ...