19 Weeks

About the baby:

By week 19, your baby is completely covered with a white, waxy substance called vernix caseosa, which helps prevent delicate skin from becoming chapped or scratched by the amniotic fluid. Also, it's going to help squeeze that watermelon sized thing through your grape sized thing.

Your baby is still very tiny, but this week they're going to fatten up some! Not only are they still in a big growth spurt, but they'll actually start putting on some healthy fat now. They're developing something called 'brown fat,' which will help keep them warm after birth. During the last trimester, your baby will add even more layers of fat for warmth and protection.

If you could take a peek through a special window at your tiny new residence, you'd also notice hair on their head, eyes and ears in correct locations, and that your tiny bean looks more like a tiny human now. 

The brain is hard at work developing the crucial sensory systems necessary for hearing, vision, touch, smell, and taste.

If you haven't already, either very soon (within days) or still soon enough (the next few weeks) you're going to start feeling a lot more movement. As your baby has grown to a size that's large enough for even the smallest of his or her movements to be felt by you. Watch out too, because as your baby's hearing continues to develop they may be startled by loud noises or new sounds - giving mom a few good kicks and punches on the inside.

I have seriously had an increase in appetite. It's crazy. I feel hungry all the time. Also, by feeling so hungry, I'm finding it harder to stick to my healthier choices. Admittedly, I've had too many sweets this past week. Gah! I'm working on it…

I've finally recovered from the Bronchitis and Laryngitis so this is my week to unwillingly jump back on the 'work out train' too. Back to it we go, Lovebug. This is for you, because I certainly don't feel like working out. Ever. But, I know it's a healthy choice for the baby - and for me. #grumble 

That, for some weird reason, reminds me that according to my scale I have gained 2 pounds. That puts me at a total of 3 pounds. It's kind of crazy to look at this week's picture and my pre-baby picture and know that I've only gained 3 pounds.

Today I had some intense cramping that was coming and going throughout the day. When it started, I remember I was getting up from a chair and it was so bad I couldn't quite stand up right. It eased up pretty quickly and then returned a half our later. This was my painful first half the day. The cramping has nearly stopped all together. Now I just feel a little sore in my lower abdomen/pelvis area.

My fluttering didn't happen much at all this week, which put me in a panic, but I spoke with my Nurse Practitioner about it and she said that's normal. It still seems odd to me that I felt it on a somewhat regular basis for like two weeks and then went down to like nothing for this week. But, heart rate is still good… 

I mentioned to a friend earlier in the week that I'd probably be one of those hypochondriac moms… and then it occurred to me that I think I'm already there. #sigh

As you know, we put together some nursery furniture, so I've been hunting crib bedding all the time. Seriously, like all of my free time has went to looking at them. But, for our unique theme in mind, apparently nothing exists. And I just don't think I'm crafty enough to make it myself; though, it seems like I might either be trying or make due with the few things I have found. 

I'm excited to almost be at the half way mark! I'm also excited for our big ultrasound on October 26th!

p.s. Sorry for the shirt change, I was going to try to make it longer with the other one, but it was becoming a pain to keep it from riding up.