26 Weeks

Friday, 30 August 2013

How far along: 26 weeks

How big baby is: 1 ⅔ pounds, 14 inches

Baby is the size of: a scallion (in length anyway)

Baby’s development: The network of nerves in her ears is now better developed and more sensitive - she should be able to hear different voices, including her daddy’s and her sister’s! She is inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid which is important for her developing lungs.

Mommy’s weight gain: I so don’t want to post this anymore… but I will continue to include it for posterity’s sake. 2 pounds this week; 18 total (Ugh… It doesn’t help at all that I have been craving sweets so much!)

Mommy’s belly: David takes my photo each week and when he’s done I usually look at the photo to make sure I don’t hate it before putting the camera away. Today he took the picture and then said, “The way you’re standing makes you look big.” I said, “Babe, I am big. This is just how I look now.” Haha!

Baby’s movements: I have not had any of those days that make me nervous this week. This sweet girl has been moving a wiggling a lot. I read that between weeks 24 and 28 is when I should expect to feel the most movement because she is big enough to kick and push hard but small enough to have plenty of room to wiggle. I hope she is comfy in there!

Symptoms: I. Am. Exhausted. I mean, I am sleepy all the time. It’s so frustrating. Naps don’t seem to help at all. I have taken a 45 minute or longer nap every day this week and I still feel like going to bed at 8:30. I’m hoping this is just related to my allergies more than to the pregnancy, because I still have 14 weeks to go and I don’t want to be dragging myself through each day for that long. Also, we are going on vacation with some friends next week and I don’t want to be a complete party pooper!

Food cravings: I have been craving cookies & cream ice cream from Braum’s. Really, I’m sure another kind would probably do, but Braum’s has the best cookies & cream. I have also really had a thing for pancakes. A couple of days ago I made pancakes for an afternoon snack and they were divine. I think I could eat them every day right now! Could someone please get me a craving for fresh fruits and veggies?  :)

Emotions: I’m still emotional - little things like commercials or sad parts of a book I’m reading make me cry.

Sleep: I need more. I always need more.

Anything else: I’m still having lots of Braxton-Hicks contractions. They don’t necessarily hurt, but they are sometimes pretty intense.

What I am looking forward to: I’m looking forward to our vacation next week. I wish I could do all the things that I can’t due to my pregnancy - like go to the amusement park, go rafting, go 4-wheeling. But I am ready to get away and enjoy myself anyway. It will be good for us to do - especially since I won’t really be able to go away for a whole week like this for about a year after baby A is born. I plan to nurse her and want to avoid pumping as much as I can this time around. (I hated having to pump when P was a baby!)