19 Weeks

How far along: 19 Weeks 6 days


Total Weight Gain/Loss: I think I’m up 1lb but still way below my starting weight

Maternity Clothes: Most of the time I’m in maternity now

Stretch Marks: Nothing really new and the others have quit stretching for now

Sleep: Pretty good but I keep trying to roll onto my belly at night

Movement: All the time but Daddy can’t feel it yet

Food Cravings/Aversions: Grilled cheese and lemonade

Gender: It’s a girl!

Belly Button In or Out: Shallow

What I Miss: Nothing this week

What I am Looking Forward To: Getting started on the nursery. I have just about cleaned out all the junk if I could just get someone to carry it to storage for me. I hope you’re reading this RJ.

Weekly Wisdom: Stay away from the greasy food. I enjoyed a nice lunch consisting of grilled cheese and onion rings that resulted in my 1st ambulance ride and my very own spot in the ER all afternoon. The good news is we finally know it’s my gall bladder giving me problems and the bad news is I need to try and hold out for surgery till September. I don’t want to do anything to put either of us in danger.

Best Moment This Week: Getting to see Gracie since she is growing so big and getting to watch her kick and move around. Also getting all kinds of precious little girl clothes.

Vernix caseosa, a greasy white substance made of lanugo, oil and dead skin cells (yum) now coats baby's skin, shielding it from the amniotic fluid. (Picture yourself after a nine-month bath, and the need for protection makes sense.) You might actually get to see the vernix at birth, especially if baby is premature.

It's A Girl!

Introducing Gracie Kimber

A 3D Shot

There is no mistaking that you are a girl

18 Weeks

How far along: 18 Weeks 2 days


Total Weight Gain/Loss: Well I think I’m either holding steady on weight or I’ve lost another pound. I’m sure after the mini vacation I may have gained.

Maternity Clothes: Still using both but I did manage to find a Motherhood Maternity store and got a nice pair of jeans and a pretty summer top for $40.

Stretch Marks: Can we just not talk about those right now, ugh.

Sleep: As long as I have my Unisom

Movement: I feel all kinds of movement now. I’m pretty sure I felt a flip the other day. I can’t compare it to any other feeling I’ve ever had before.

Food Cravings/Aversions: I still love lemons. I had a lot of good food this weekend. We ate at Lotawata where the food is southern and the portions are huge. Everyone I saw (because I’m a people watcher) took home at least 2-4 to go boxes crammed full of food. Then there is a heavenly little place called Kool Kreme. Somewhere there is an absolute genius that decided that a Krispy Kreme donut shop should also have soft serve ice cream. A sundae with a crumbled donut is not good on the waistline but oh so delicious. We also had to find an Arby’s on the way home because ours has been closed for at least 6 months for “renovations” and I needed a roast beef sandwich.

Gender: We find out in 6 days.

Belly Button In or Out: Getting more shallow everyday

What I Miss: Getting a nice mixed fruity drink when we have a nice dinner.

What I am Looking Forward To: The ultrasound of course

Weekly Wisdom: Don’t go baby shopping 6 days before your gender scan. It’s torture because you just get to browse all the cute possibilities and walk out empty handed.

Best Moment This Week: Getting out of town for a little while even if it was just one night. To tell you the truth I don’t think our backs would have survived another night on that bed. We had a really good time at the concert. The seats weren’t great but they weren’t terrible either and we had the camcorder zoomed in so that we could see it as if we were right on stage. I really hope RJ enjoyed it because it may be a while before we get out like that again.

Your fetus has become amazingly mobile (at least compared to you), passing the hours yawning, hiccuping, rolling, twisting, kicking, punching, sucking and swallowing. And, baby's finally big enough that you'll be able to feel those movements soon.

17 Week Pic

Because I'm lazy and it was a rough week there is no quiz.

Baby's skeleton is hardening, changing from rubbery cartilage to bone, and fat is finally accumulating around it. The umbilical cord is getting thicker and stronger, and those little fingers and toes are now topped by one-of-a-kind prints.

17 Week Letter

Hello Little One,

I’m enjoying a rare quiet moment when there is no TV on, your Dad and brother Xander are playing and I have a moment to think. I haven’t had a chance to tell you how truly excited I am for you to join our family. Let me introduce everyone:

     This is Mama & Daddy   

Your Brother Xander

And the Two Furballs That We Hope Will be Your Friends
(By the way this is who is always stepping on you)

   Chaos

Mr. Bean

We are very quickly approaching a rare glimpse into your world and can’t wait to find out exactly what your name is going to be and I am going to start decorating your room. Please cooperate for Mama and Daddy that day. I promise you won’t ever have to flash the goods again after that. I feel you moving around quite a bit these days and can’t help but wonder who you look like and if you’ll be a little high strung like Mom or be laid back and funny like your Dad. Speaking of Daddy I’ve already noticed him cuddling with you at night instead of me, he’s really quite charming and I’m sure you’ll love him just as quickly as I did. You also have your first concert and trip to St. Louis coming up next weekend and I’m sure it probably won’t sound the same as what we hear but I hope you enjoy Ben Folds because Daddy loves him and has hours of music on hand for your listening pleasure. Ok the quiet moment is over so we will see you soon and be on your best behavior because it’s going to be your first movie debut.

Love Mama

16 Weeks

How far along: 16 weeks 5 days


Total Weight Gain/Loss: Lost 1lb.

Maternity Clothes: still mixing old clothes in

Stretch Marks: are definitely there

Sleep: Better with the exception of the night that I tried to go without Unisom and slept about 3 ½ hours

Movement: Feeling quite a lot these days even though it is still pops and flutters. I have felt a good thump 2 or 3 times.

Food Cravings/Aversions: sandwiches, lemons, ice cream, chocolate. My appetite is pretty good this week.

Gender: 2 weeks till we know who is in there

Belly Button In or Out: just shallow

What I Miss: drinking here lately for some odd reason and being able to take something stronger than Tylenol for a headache.

What I am Looking Forward To: the ultrasound of course

Weekly Wisdom: Don’t cut Mommy off in traffic while pregnant.

Best Moment This Week: Being able to feel the baby consistently everyday now.

Watch what you say... tiny bones forming in baby's ears mean the little one can now pick up your voice. Eyebrows, lashes and hair are starting to fill in, and taste buds are forming. And, if you're interested, an ultrasound might be able to determine gender.