19 Weeks!

How far along? 19 Weeks! Baby Rivera is 6 inches long, 8 ounces, and about the size of a large mango.

Total weight gain/loss? I am up 5 pounds in total. I definitely went through a growth spurt this week (as you will see in my picture.)

Feeling Sick? Feeling quite good. I did start to experience round ligament pain this week and some abdominal pressure, which I am attributing to the growth of the baby and the uterus.

Clothing? Getting good use out of the maternity items I purchased. I still find myself mostly living in stretchy pants and baby doll dresses. I am lucky that I wear scrubs frequently throughout the week because that has saved me from having to buy work clothes.

Stretch Marks? Nope.

Sleep? Sleep was good this week despite the fact that John was gone all weekend and I was sleeping alone. Usually I have a tough time sleeping at night when I am in this big house all alone, but it actually wasn’t too bad.

Movement? A lot of fluttering sensations going on in there. I am still waiting for that one big powerful kick and/or punch to come; maybe in a few more weeks?

Cravings? Fruit, English muffins, soup, and cupcakes (of course.) I definitely have favorite food items and not necessarily cravings. John experiences way more cravings then me. He is on a Chinese food kick right now.

Gender? My anatomy ultrasound is scheduled for October 4^th, so I will make the big announcement after that. I will post pictures too.

What I miss? I miss taking care of myself and only myself. It is all about nurturing the baby at this point. I stress about what I eat, sensations I feel, am I inhaling too much hairspray when I do my hair? It all seems silly, but it truly is all about the little peanut I am growing and her well-being. I did not realize how pregnancy can physically and emotionally drain you. It almost feels like an outer body experience at some points.

Upcoming Events? October is going to be a busy month for John and I. I am leaving for Seattle on Thursday. I am so excited to see my mom, sissy, and my best friend, Jessica, who just had her beautiful baby boy on 9/24.

Best moment of the week? My friend Jaime and I participated in the AIDS walk this weekend and we had a blast. I met a really nice couple that is expecting their first baby a month after me. Probably the most exciting news of the week was the birth of Ben Ingle. Hearing my friend talk about the joy she felt having her son made me even more thrilled to have my baby. I cannot wait to feel that sense of indescribable love that every new mom feels.