Week #22

I'm feeling heaps better this week, mainly due to the progress I've made in the nursery (read below for details!) and since the weather cooperated by being warm, I was able to do some painting with an open window.  I've been trying to eat better this past week (and succeeding most of the time); considering how active the kid is, I try to keep in mind that I don't need to make him MORE hyper by feeding him so much sugar.  It is difficult to keep him in mind when I eat, but I think I'm making some progress.  It's also hard to ignore something that kicks so often.

My little guy is now 27.8 cm (or 11 inches) in length from crown to heel and weighs about 430 grams (15.17 oz) - so he's roughly the size of a Barbie.

My uterus is now 2 cm above my waist line and about 22 cm above my pubic symphysis (pubic bone) this week.  Although, to be honest, I don't really know if that's where mine is at the moment.

My baby's brain is rapidly developing this week and that will continue until he's 5 years old.  It is now possible to wake him up via external stimuli (like loud noises or my movement) while he sleeps, and even though his eyes are still fused shut, he'll still make blinking motions.  Since we know that he's male, his testes will hopefully descend all the way into his scrotum.  His other internal organs are becoming more specialized now: for example, his liver.  Bilirubin is produced when blood cells are broken down; in an adult liver, the liver functions to help break down bilirubin.  However, since blood cells have a shorter lifespan in a fetus, their liver actually helps to produce bilirubin.  His bilirubin will then be passed to me, via the placenta, which will then be broken down by my liver.  If he were to be born with a high bilirubin count, he would have a yellowish tinge to his skin - jaundice - and would be treated with phototherapy.

Although dizziness is not uncommon during pregnancy, due to the strain placed on the body, if it happens frequently, a doctor should be notified.  Increased fluid intake is extremely important - and not just to replace the amniotic fluid.  Fluids help to process nutrients, develop new cells, maintain blood volume and to regulate the internal body temperature.  Since calorie needs increase, it stands to reason that fluid volumes would need to increase too.  Drinking water also helps to relieve headaches, uterine cramping and bladder infections.  FYI.

How am I feeling?  Great!  I've managed to get some things done in the nursery so I feel better about that part.  I find that I'm tired, since I get up once or twice a night to use the bathroom; however, I find it hard to fall back asleep when I am awake.  It can be difficult to find a comfortable sleeping position at times too.  The Little Stinker's kicks are stronger and a little more frequent, but not enough for Kevin to feel them - I think I just happen to be in the right place at the right time.  I also think he's been camping out under my ribs on the right side.  You know that feeling when you sit crooked (as in, lean to one side for too long) and it feels like you've been leaning on your ribs?  I've been feeling that a lot lately.

Any weird cravings?  I should just change this to "what am I craving this week?" since that is more appropriate to me.  This week I've been addicted to mandarin oranges; I loved the because they are sweet and juicy at the same time, and they make a perfect mid-day/late-evening snack. 

Mood swings?  Just the usual sensitivity.  Kevin & I have been getting along really well lately, and I find that when things are peachy between us, I'm in the best mood.  We've been talking more and depite our desks being back-to-back, I feel like we are still hanging out, not just hanging in the same room together.  I've been doing more to keep me busy, like working on the nursery or getting outside a little more often, and I think that's been helping my mood immensely.

Any baby purchases?  I found the coolest night light at Home Depot for $6 (pictured below)!  Isn't that adorable?!  It fits with the astronomy theme and is also ECO Options Certified.  I also finally bought the paint for the nursery.

What about the nursery?  On the weekend, Kevin & I finally cracked down and moved our office into our spare room.  Moving the office was an ordeal, since the new office wasn't wired for telephone or internet, so that had to be done first, followed by moving all the furniture out of the new office to make room for our office furniture.  After discovering that the nursery would be big enough to hold my twin bed (for me on late nights), it is currently waiting to be placed in the room after it has been painted.  The nursery itself has painted walls - to be followed by trim and doors. 

Before ---------------------------------> After

 

We have some black-out panel drapes (from Sears), which, coupled with the curtain rod we have chosen, should look super cute.  The design on the curtain rod was initially what set my heart on a fantasy themed nursery for a girl; however, I think this design should also go nicely with our astronomy theme. 

       

In case you haven't noticed, I am loving the fact that I can just paste pictures from websites into my blog!  Sooo much easier than taking pictures myself, plus there's an artistic quality that I just can't quite capture in my own photos.

I'd like to take a moment to say "thanks" to my lovely tenants for the Christmas gifts for the baby.  We received a beautiful bear dressed up like Indiana Jones (sans hat), an adorable black toque with the word "Dude" stitched on it, some white socks, tablets that turn into wipes when added to water (!!), as well as some Rockin' Green laundry detergent for the baby's stuff.  The gifts are awesome and so are you!