Week 24! Does it get any bigger?

Well this is a real belly! Crap...you can't even see my boobs! :) Well the changes in my body are really starting to take place. I am officially sleeping solely on my sides (mostly the left). Baby is also moving quite regularly now. It even has a schedule...Joao felt it kick the first day he got home from Rwanda...what a nice gift, huh?

The size of my belly is starting to affect my ribs which in turn bothers my breathing when I am sitting down. Sometimes I think it would be best to sleep sitting up. I can also feel baby shifting my body organs around b/c sometimes when I get up I feel like I can't stand up straight. jaja

And the other biggest change is my stupid hernia...what a pain in my butt. The worst part is that it is my fault...trying to move a friend's classroom was not a smart idea. Although I don't know for sure if this is what caused it...it really doesn't matter at this point. Now, I have to be very careful....so Joao is picking up a lot of slack for me! What a great man!

FYI: baby is just over a pound! Holy cow, right? I can't believe we only have 16 weeks left! YIKES!

Week 22!

Baby and I have been connecting since papá is away in Rwanda. I have been trying to calculate when baby is kicking but it's not quite on a schedule yet. Sleep is starting to stink...I have to sleep on my sides...no more tummy sleep! :(

20 weeks...DONE!

1/2 way there!

So- I am officially done with 1/2 of the pregnancy...super exciting...and kinda sad to think that 1/2 of it just flew by so fast! I feel really good right now!

On Monday, January 3rd, I had my last ultra sound to check the anatomy of the baby. Again, it was so amazing to see this life inside me. The lady said we have a VERY active baby. She had asked if I had felt any movement yet, and I said 'no'. She told me that as soon as I did it would be all the time b/c how much baby was moving already! :)

I was really sad that Joao was not with me b/c I knew this was probably the last time we would see baby. That morning, Joao left for Rwanda. :(

Anyhow, that day I went home feeling really good (like I always do after an ultra sound) and decided to go for a run. When I came home I ate some food and then chilled on the couch. That was the first time I felt the "POP". It was like I had just eaten some street tacos in Mexico and my stomach was not loving the aftermath. I was kinda not sure what was going on....and then I realized....I was feeling my baby! OMG! Words cannot describe it!

I just sat alone on the couch, laugh and wishing I could tell Joao all about it. What a day to finally feel the baby...ironic...maybe?

Well, no worries...b/c once Joao gets home he will have a chance everyday to feel the baby b/c it is a moving fool!

I just adore the feeling b/c I feel so connected to the baby! I am trying to convince myself to start singing to the baby but I think it will never want to come out if it hears my singing voice! hahaha

Ohhhh...there it goes. It loves to move at night and when I am sitting down. Well, I am going to end with this...it seems like the right spot. Next post will come soon again!

How about that belly!

Well... as you can see from the pictures below, Renee's belly has really exploded in the last couple of weeks. It all started right after thanksgiving. I imagine all the food may have helped to stretch those stomach muscles and bumped the belly out...

The pregnancy is getting pretty exciting now that the baby is clearly on its way. I love interacting with it (through the belly... hehehe!)

I cant wait to be able to feel some sort of movements in there... It will come soon! So awesome!

Renee is taking most of the pregnancy in stride... except for the tail bone pain... holy cow, she is really suffering it. I feel so bad, but there is very little I can do other than give her a few massages (more to distract her than to do anything medicinal I'm sure).

Starting the 18th week!

Would you look at this belly? It really did pop after Thanksgiving! I look at this picture and cannot believe it's me nor that there is something inside me growing that is part of Joao and I!

The latest thing with my pregnancy is that my tail bone has been killing me! Seriously, I can take a good amount of pain, but this was like a pinched nerve in your back. Each time I moved my right side I would feel a shooting pain. Joao has been the most wonderful husband. He rubs whatever hurts even if he doesn't know what he is rubbing :)

Speaking of Joao...this entry is devoted to him! I have the world's best husband. He is so patient with each my whines and cries! :) Everytime I start to get mad I need to come back to this post and remember how much Joao really does for baby and me! I am a lucky woman!

Well, at this stage I cannot button any of my work pants. Not sure why, but jeans are still fitting me quite well! I have been using the belly band but it can be a little annoying when you have to pull it up or down all day long.

Oh yeah, now most of the 3rd graders know I am pregnant b/c this girl Yasmin came up to me and asked, "is there a flower blooming in your belly?" Surprised by her question, I smiled and said yes...she was so happy. She kindly asked me if she could tell a 'few' people and I also agreed. Wow...does word get around fast. Most of the intermediate hall knew I was pregnant before lunch started...hahaha

Everyone was so cute. Makenzie, a former student, asked me if she could tell her mom...how considerate to ask, no? I just love my students! Anyhow, I am feeling well and looking forward to feeling baby start kicking in the next few weeks.

Starting the 16th week!

I know that we pretty much skipped a week for our pictures, but our lives have been pretty busy lately. Particularly with Joao finishing finals last week and organizing our huge yearly Thanksgiving dinner... but now we are back on track!

I think these pictures don't do justice to how my belly popped immediately after Thanksgiving... maybe all that food gave it a kick start!

We had a great thanksgiving with all our friends coming to Baltimore once again... awesome! It was particularly cool to have Claudia and Iliana pregnant here with me! I love it... The baby is supposed to be 3 inches now! The size of an apple... WOW!