Week 17

Hello everyone! 

Week 17 is here and our baby can hear. That blows my mind and now I think a lot more about what I am hearing around me and what I am saying. So, according to what I have been reading the baby can hear loud noises around me now. Like a dog barking or a car horn or other things like that and it can even startle the baby. Apparently the more the baby hears those noises now the more used to them he will be. So, later on he will be able to sleep through a dog barking for example. This makes me want to play loud noises aimed at my belly so baby is able to sleep through anything. Obviously the baby can't understand what I am saying, but it still makes me feel closer to him knowing he can hear me tell him "I love you."Or even knowing he can hear me laugh. I want this baby to know how truly happy our lives are and how much joy we are waiting to give him. 

I had a doctor's appointment on Friday(the 19th). It was painfully uneventful. I was made to wait in the lobby for half an hour while multiple people who had arrived after me were escorted back. I don't mean to overly complain. An OB office is perhaps one of the best people watching locations I have ever been to. I made a game out of guessing how far along all the ballooned pregnant ladies were and imagining all the other aspects of their life like, are they married did they try to get pregnant, what sort of name are they going to inflict upon their child. 

Anyway, so once I finally got hustled back by a gruff but refreshingly genuine black woman she weighed  me and took my blood pressure. And then another weight. This one far worse than the last because I was sitting by myself on one of those uncomfortable table things. I read about 75 pamphlets sitting on the counter before my Dr. arrived. This doctor was a new one. There are, I think, 8 doctors at this practice as well as a couple midwifes and nurse practitioners, Anyone of those doctors could be the one on call when I have my baby so for now we are sort trying to do a meet and greet at each appointment and at least meet all the doctors before we reach that point. This doctor was a man and boy was he excited about everything. He guaranteed me that my next appointment with the BIG ultrasound would be one of the top 3 moments of my life. He was practically giddy telling me how my belly is soon going to be so big and how I will need to buy so many new clothes. He listened to the heartbeat and it was about 150bpm this time. He said it is a strong baby and a healthy mommy and it was going to be a safe delivery and those are the only three things that are required, the rest are just nice. Anyway, after answering a couple questions I had the appointment was over and I went home. 

As far as the rest of my life goes.... I have less than 4 weeks left of school!!! There are no words to express the happiness this brings me. We are still on the hunt for a new apartment. Matt is going to look at one tomorrow that I feel really good about, so fingers crossed. I have 6 saturdays left of my internship (and one of those days I have off). Which means sleeping in on Saturday!!! I am trying to pick a 3 credit class to take this summer as my very last class of my undergrad career. Also, the job search will start in the next month or shortly thereafter. So, if anyone knows of a place around Milwaukee hiring social workers let me know. 

So... now that you have been updated on t the weekly stats. 

How far along? 17 weeks, 2 days

Total weight gain: I am not even going to tell you what I supposedly weighed at my doctors appointment. I was very annoyed that they took my weight RIGHT after eating an enormous gyro. So, I am going to go by the more consistent and believable weight that I have been getting at home. That would be a 5 pound gain so far. That is perfectly normal and I am ok with that. 

Showing?  It really depends on what I am wearing. The tank top I wear for the weekly photos makes me look a lot bigger than I normally do. In regular clothes you can barely tell. But, it is indeed a bigger belly than last week and some tighter pre pregnancy clothes are looking a bit ridiculous. 

Maternity clothes? Same as before pretty much. I found 1 pair of normal pants that still fit so that is fun. I really only have a couple maternity shirts, so I think I may need some more of those soon. I am so ready for it to be spring outside so I can start wearing my cute springy clothes and the new clothes I have been buying. 

Baby Items bought? hmmm... I don't think anything new. Still doing a LOT of looking, which is fun. I don't think we will buy much until we move because it is just less stuff to move. 

Stretch marks? not so far. I have been lotioning up pretty good lately as well. 

Sleep: I am still so tired. I could sleep 12 hours a day. I am looking forward to this supposed energy that I should be getting in the 2nd trimester. Maybe just the normal parts of life are sucking that out of me. I don't know. 

Best moment this week:  I would have to say hearing the heartbeat. I am still about 50% sure that something will be wrong at every appointment, so hearing it nice and strong was a nice relief. 

Miss Anything? Not really, I guess having energy. 

Movement: Same as last week pretty much. I'm pretty sure I felt a couple more wiggles in there, but it isn't obvious yet. I am really hoping that is SOON!

Food cravings: They calmed down a bit this week. They are : mexican food, milk, chocolate and I had some garlic bread tonight that I could literally eat my weight off. 

Anything making you queasy or sick:  Not really. If I eat a lot I really, really need to lay down for a few minutes. 

Gender: Less than 4 weeks!!!

Labor Signs: don't even think it

Symptoms: Being tired all the time. I have been slightly lightheaded now and then. Still quite crampy and uncomfortable in my abdominal area. 

Belly Button in or out? innie

Wedding rings on or off? on and sparkling

Happy or Moody most of the time: mostly happy, although again I wish I wasn't so tired. 

Looking forward to: Feeling obvious kicks and MAY 17th!!!