Cowgirl In Training

I can't believe another week has already flown by! 

And crap, I'm due for another post in like 4 days. HOW is this happening. 

This past weekend, instead of celebrating Easter like the rest of the world, my hubby and I took an amazing weekend getaway to a beautiful ranch up in Redding, Calif. We have family friends that purchased a ranch a few years ago, have adopted some horses, cows, and doggies to accompany them, and now live on a 42-acre slice of heaven. It was honestly like living in one of my very familiar day dreams. 

I'll put up some pictures at the bottom  of the post from our time!! Lucille was a great sport while mama got to pet the horses (not ride them), go kayaking, go on an ATV, learn how to throw a lasso, shoot some shotguns, play with doggies, and eat lots and lots of steak. Oh. And rellllaaaaax. That was by far the best part. 

UPDATE! 22 Weeks! (Did anyone else just have a semi-douchebag moment and think "DEUCESSSS" and throw up double peace signs in their head? No? Alright.)

Baby is the Size of:  a spaghetti squash!! Weighing in at 11 inches long, and nearly one full pound! I read another blog site (Pregnant Chicken) that informed me that my baby is the size of a fat Barbie doll. It was really awkward to think about, so I liked the spaghetti squash version a little better. 

Baby’s New Developments (According to Baby Center): Lucille is looking more and more like a miniature newborn. Her lips, eyelids, and eyebrows are becoming more distinct, and she looks undeniably like herself. No more alien baby, she's already a cutie! Her eyes have developed further, but there isn't color in her irises yet. (One of the things I can't wait for - will she have blue eyes like her mama, or deep brown like her daddy?) 

Food Cravings: Fruit!! Fruit fruit fruit. This kid loves strawberries, apricots, peaches, grapes,  blueberries, you name it. Still a little iffy on raspberries, but blackberries are back in the game. 

Food Aversions: Chicken still sucks. Oh, and last night I refused to eat anything hot. All I wanted was frozen peas. Don't judge me.

Most Common Symptoms: Guess who found her way into the hormonal, cry-y stage of pregnancy? THIS GIRL. Two nights this week have been weepy for no reason. Like, the "I'm just really tired and I don't want you to go to work tomorrow and my pjs fit funny and I don't want to lay down and we're running low on soap" kind of weepy. Oh and dear god. I watched the movie August Rush with my folks this week - this super adorable, heartwarming tale of a little boy is this total musical prodigy and he tries to find his biological parents through music and I just can't even handle it - tears. Rampant tears. Like the good, warm and fuzzy, blowing into a tissue while cry-talking "its-gasp-just-s-s-s-s-so-gasp-cuuuuuuute-sob,sob,sob." So that was fun. My parents got a good laugh out of me.

What’s New: Lucille is kicking like crazy! She's definitely getting stronger. Oh and my sweet husband finally felt her kick this weekend at the ranch!!!! 

Hopes: Uh, these emotions need to get under control. If things keep going how we're going, I'm going to be dehydrated. (And probably really annoying).

Belly Button: Still in! Just getting stretched out and shallow.

Ring: Still on! Fingers haven't swollen up yet. Feet are getting tingly though…. 

Best Moment of the Week: Best moment of the week is really hard this time. I want to say when Jason felt Lucy kick for the first time. But I also want to say relaxing, hand in hand, by the pool. I also want to say walking the ranch property, watching the dogs run around us, breathing in the fresh air and melting into the most gorgeous sunset. Can I just say the whole trip?? The ranch was the best moment of the week. 

 

T-R-O-U-B-L-E

My hubby's favorite picture <3

I can't wait to go back!!!

The Time Traveling Baby!

Ok, so this time I delayed my post on purpose. (I swear!) 

I turned 20 weeks on Saturday (WHATS UP FIVE MONTHS!) but I knew I had a doctor's appointment on Monday, so I figured I would just hold out and wrap it all into one. 

Well then Kaiser called and rescheduled my appointment to today (Wednesday). So I swear, its not like I was slacking. I'm late blogging...on purpose? 

And honestly its a good thing that I waited! I was going to write a whole long post about being 20 weeks, and how excited I am to finally hit that big land mark. Well at our doctor appointment today, we got a big fat surprise! During our anatomical ultrasound scan where the doctor took a LOT of measurements and recordings, we found out that our sweet little lady is not just 20 weeks and 5 days like I thought she was, but actually 21 weeks and 1 day! My due date has been bumped up from the early prediction of August 30th to a final statement of approval for August 26th. Also, my week-turning-day has changed from Saturdays to Tuesdays.

So, I guess here goes the update for... 21 weeks?!?!?!! 

UPDATE! 21 Weeks! Past half way, past 5 months, flyin through time! 

Baby is the Size of:  a carrot! Ok let me explain why my child now sounds super long and skinny, and more like a broom than a baby. This whole time (up until 20 weeks) the measurements have been from head to rump. So being a mango, kiddo was short and squat. Now that her legs are proportional, measurements are from head to toes! Basically, my kid grew 5 inches in a week. She measures about 10 1/2 inches long, and weighs approximately 3/4 of a pound. 

Baby’s New Developments (According to Baby Center): Kicks. Kicks and nudges and kicks and nudges! Little flutters have turned into distinct kicks and nudges since she's gained strength, bone, and size. I should start being able to figure out a pattern or routine through the day of when I feel her. So far the only consistent kick action is around 10 to 11am, around 3:00 to 4:00, and sometimes again at night after dinner. I also always feel her when I settled down in bed for the night, I think she realizes that gravity has turned sideways. In other news, Lucille has eyebrows and eyelids, and her girly parts are forming :) 

Food Cravings: Strawberries still rock my world! Peanut M&Ms which once were like heaven are just so-so now. Don't get me wrong, I'll still rip apart that yellow bag like a ravenous beast, but I might not sprint across the apartment to get to it.  

Food Aversions: I know I've said this a hundred times now, but seriously, HOW is chicken so boring. HOW. 

Most Common Symptoms: Ok!! I get to talk about my Mumanu pillow now, right? And how its basically relieved ALL of my hip pain!?!? I was so bitter and angry about having to throw a chunk of money away on a pillow, but OH my lanta is it worth it. Its pretty much an inflatable tube that doesn't lose its shape. I can inflate it to be as high or low as I want it, ensuring customized comfort. Its maybe two to three feet in length, and fits perfectly starting at my knee and down to my ankle. The purpose of the pillow is to align my hip, knee and ankle parallel to the floor so nothing is tweaked out of alignment. With my fancy pillow I can now sleep through the night comfortably, and I'm able to wake up in the morning without feeling like my entire hip joint is out of its socket. 

What’s New: Uh, the fact that this kid just jumped a week in progression is pretty cool.

Hopes: I've been using Burts Bee's unscented body lotion on my belly since I found out I was pregnant, and I recently purchased Palmer's Belly Butter to test out. I'm on the fence about it; it feels really greasy going on - the kind of greasy feel that you wonder if it will stain your clothes. Then after it rubs in, it leaves an invisible film on your tummy that causes friction when you run your hand across it. I'm used to the velvety soft lotion feel, and this friction, stuck feeling just doesn't provide that luxurious feel. I'm hoping that I either get used to it, or find something better to help prevent stretch marks! 

Belly Button: Still in! Just getting stretched out and shallow.

Ring: Still on! Fingers haven't swollen up yet.

Best Moment of the Week: Definitely seeing our little lady today. She's so stinkin cute!!! And it was also beyond exciting that we can expect her 4 days sooner than originally thought! Who knows if Mother Nature will give two hoots about the date change, but its still fun to cross days off your countdown without even trying :) 

My friends on facebook have already seen my preggo pic, but here's a fun ultrasound pic from today as well. I think she has my nose :) 

1/2 cooked baby!

The only clear shot we got of Peanut's face!

Well this mama is tired, and the little wiggle worm keeps kicking. Maybe if I settle down for bed she will too! 

...or not. Probably not. 

Such is Mango!

GAH I'm the worst blogger ever. 

Soooo, week 18 flew by. Packing, moving slowly, new job, the works. Somehow blogging didn't quite make it into my schedule, I'm sorry! I've gotten nailed by a few friends now with "SO…ABOUT THAT BLOG YOU HAVEN'T UPDATED." …Can I hide in the corner and blame preggo brain yet?!

Well, here we go! 

UPDATE! 19 Weeks! NINETEEN, PEOPLE!

Baby is the Size of:  a MANGO! If you didn't think of this Mango instantly, we can't be friends anymore. Anyway, our little girl is weighing in at about half a pound, and six inches long. 

Baby’s New Developments (According to Baby Center): Lucy's legs and arms are fully proportional to her body, and all her organs have been created and ready to go. They just need some finalizing and fattening up! Her sensory pallet is exploding right now - everything from her eyesight to hearing to tasting to touching. She is completely in control of her movements now, so she can willingly kick and punch me as much as her little heart desires. Ahem. This is where we decide how much she really loves me back.

Food Cravings: I'm back on a fruit trend! Strawberries are our favorite (I saw our since she gets REAL excited when she gets strawberries), and she also loves blueberries, kiwis, and cold oranges. Also, phish food ice cream and frozen thin mints.  

Food Aversions: I am the biggest wuss when it comes to spices now! Like, the embarrassing level of gringo-spice-intolerant. And it took so long to build up my abilities…. 

Most Common Symptoms: Hip pain. Freaking hip pain. I've done some research on it, and apparently I can blame my lovely hormone increase of 'relaxin.' (I'm not even kidding - there's a hormone that makes it sound like I should be super chill right now. Too bad its TOTALLY not the kind of relaxing I want, Frankie.) Aside from my rant, relaxin is the hormone that physically relaxes my muscles and ligaments. The ligaments in my hips that would normal be tight enough to keep my hips aligned have now taken a chill pill, and my hips are slipping out of alignment. Sleeping on my side has become literally excruciating, so I'm forced to sleep on my back. I think I have a little more time till its OFFICIALLY a no-no for baby (sleeping on your back reduces blood flow to the bebe) but its still nerve racking. 

What’s New: My belly! Well, obviously its not new, but its bigger. Like, taking-on-new-territory bigger.

Hopes: I bought a Mumanu pillow that just got delivered today!! I'll be testing this bad boy out tonight to see if it helps alleviate my hip pain, and actually be able to sleep through the night. Instead of a typical body pillow that can be bulky, hot, lose its shape and flatten out, this pillow is self-inflating and more of a squishy air tube than a conventional pillow. I can release air to make it thin out, or let it inflate itself till its nice and fat. The goal is to keep my hip, knee, and ankle in line, which is damn near impossible with a conventional pillow. Cross your fingers for me - this thing might keep me from going crazy in the next 4 1/2 months. 

Intuitions: …Should I change this category? I feel like I should change this. I know its a girl. 

Best Moment of the Week: Beside seeing my Mumanu pillow delivered on my door this afternoon?! My glimmer of hope!? My new best friend that might be more important to have in my bed than my husband? (Too far?) Well, this week has been busy! We're slowly moving over to our two bedroom apartment, so I've been packing and dragging things over. Its really exciting to see Lucille's room slowly have more and more things added to it. A huge gigantic thank you to Tanya for lending us TONS of baby stuff; I don't know what we'd do without you! I promise I'll keep it all in good condition for whenever babe #2 comes around!

And time for a big collective group "thaaank you kaaatyyy" for taking a selfie right now PURELY for your blog-reading pleasure. Not only am I a week late, but to also not give a picture would be total cruelty, amiright, you little stalkers? 

This is what 19 wks & tired looks like.

Alrighty, I'll do my best to promise you an entry next week. Maybe it will be sooner, maybe I'll fail at life again. And I'll either be ecstatic or enraged at the success or fail of my $80 freakin pillow. Remind me to tell ya'll about that.

And one more for good luck. You can not have the Mango!