Week 22 #Bumpdate (5.5 months!)

How far along? 22 weeks!

Baby is the size of a papaya, 10.5 inches and 1 pound approximately.

Image from TheBump.com

What's new for baby? 

• Now that he's got more developed eyes and lips, he's looking even more like a newborn.
• He's sleeping in cycles — about 12 to 14 hours per day (hint: they're probably those times you're not feeling any kicks!).

Total weight gain/measurements: 6 lbs in total... I am starting to feel big... 

Maternity clothes: Yes! I wear the best pair of denim shorts almost everyday!

Stretch marks? Not yet! We'll see. I added Honest Co. Organic Oil to my beauty routine. I use it after I shower in my belly, breasts, hips and tights.

Sleep: It's all good. Yesterday I had to put a small pillow underneath my belly to feel a little bit more comfortable.

Best moment this week:  Just feeling the baby moving around is amazing. She likes to move a lot when daddy talks to her or touches my bump.

Movement: Yes ;) As I'm writing this, she is moving and  I am here smiling like crazy.

Food cravings: avocado, olive oil and bread... oh, and protein chocolate shakes.

Anything making you queasy or sick? strong coffee smell.

Gender: Our little lady!

Symptoms: I am feeling at my best right now! My back hurts everyday, but other than that, I am feeling good!

Belly button in or out? In. I do not think it will ever be out.

Wedding rings on or off? On, my fingers are still the same. Yay! :)

Happy or moody most of the time: Happy

Looking forward to: My family is visiting from Costa Rica on Thursday! They have been buying a lot of presents. Baby already has a fabulous wardrobe.

Ps. I know I do not look at my best in these photos but I wanted to portrait myself in the most natural way possible: without any make up or poses to make myself look thinner.

Week 21 #Bumpdate

How far along? 21 weeks!

Baby is the size of a pomegranate, 10.5 inches and 12.7 ounces aprox.

What's new for baby? 

• Your baby’s brain and muscles are working in synchronisation this week which means there’s intent behind those movements.
• Your baby is constantly taking amniotic fluid into its mouth and swallowing it.
• Tiny tooth buds for your baby’s permanent teeth are starting to form in their gums from this week. 

Total weight gain/measurements: 5 lbs in total... Can you believe it? 

Maternity clothes: Yes! This week I realized it was time to invest in new comfy bottoms. After going to three different stores (GAP, Old Navy and TJMaxx) and finding out that they do not carry any maternity clothes, I found myself at Target and added three new pieces to my wardrobe: a pair of denim shorts, a sleeveless dress and a denim top. All three pieces are extremely comfortable (specially the shorts, most comfortable pair of shorts I've ever got) and the fabric is really good quality. Liz Lange is definitely a good option for maternity clothes! So this it, I am not planning to buy anymore clothes anytime soon. Most of my clothes still fit and time goes by fast; I'd rather spend the money in baby gear or diapers.

Stretch marks? Not yet! We'll see. I added Honest Co. Organic Oil to my beauty routine. I use it after I shower in my belly, breasts, hips and tights.

Sleep: It's all good. Trips to the loo at 2am are ritual.

Best moment this week:  Our brother visited us from Seattle and we had lots of fun. (I ate too many burgers yumm). On Saturday, Jay and I spent the day together shopping new stuff for our bathroom and maternity clothes; we couldn't stop joking at every silly thing...

Movement: Yes ;)

Food cravings: water, bread and butter.

Anything making you queasy or sick? strong coffee smell.

Gender: baby girl!

Symptoms: I am just amazed by how much my belly is growing. Finally, it's becoming more obvious.

Belly button in or out? In. I do not think it will ever be out.

Wedding rings on or off? On, my fingers are still the same. Yay! :)

Happy or moody most of the time: Happy

Looking forward to: My family visit and this week's appointment at the doctors.

Shopping: Jenny bought four different dresses for our girl (she already has a nicer wardrobe than me). I am constantly daydreaming about our family of three. Oh baby, daddy and I are so excited! 

Week 20 #Bumpdate "It's a....!"

How far along? 20w+3d 

Baby is the size of a banana!, 6.5 inches and 10.2 ounces.

What's new for baby? 

• She's got working taste buds.
• Now, she's gulping down several ounces of amniotic fluid each day — that's significantly more than before.

Total weight gain/measurements: 4lb...I'm in shock (seriously), but then I think it's perfectly okay since I already passed the halfway mark. My midwife seems to be happy about it and says that it's all baby weight (boobs, baby, placenta, fluids, more blood...)

Maternity clothes: Ok here we go: I think I need some maternity pants or shorts. This morning my pants' zipper wouldn't go up unless I pushed my belly back. So I might go to Old Navy for new bottoms...

Stretch marks? Not yet! We'll see.

Sleep: I get tired only by doing the common everyday chores.

Best moment this week:  My husband was leaving to work and he placed his head next to my belly and then our baby gave a big kick that made him jump. It was adorable!

Movement: Yes ;)

Food cravings: slurps, bananas and ice cream.

Anything making you queasy or sick? I do not know if this one applies here but yesterday, the smell of asparagus turned my appetite down... ugh

Gender: After an unsatisfactory previous ultrasound, we felt like it was better just to wait. But then on thursday they called me back and told me they needed more shots of the baby's heart. So we went back on Saturday; I was not afraid because they assured me that everything was alright, they just needed the pictures they couldn't get before. This time our sonographer was a sweet lady, she had a smile and even took some time to show us the baby's face... and to our surprise the baby was smiling and laughing, the cutest thing ever. Finally, they told us the baby's sex: IT'S A GIRL! All this time, I thought it was a boy and I was wrong. Hubby is still processing the idea that he's gonna be the daddy of a little girl. I am convinced his going to be a wonderful father, he's genuinely loving and caring and that's what us girls love.

Symptoms: growing belly and hunger...

Belly button in or out? In. I do not think it will ever be out.

Wedding rings on or off? On, my fingers are still the same. Yay! :)

Happy or moody most of the time: Happy

Looking forward to: Seeing my family on May, working on the baby shower, starting to get the nursery room ready... I think that the nesting-effect is hitting me and I am constantly thinking on cleaning and organizing.

Shopping: Our mum got us a play yard. It comes with a changer, it's spacious and serves as a rester and playing area. So for now, the crib purchase has been postponed. Our second acquisition came as a gift from Uncle Nathan. He got us the Ingenuity Intrust35 Pro car seat:It clicks and unclicks easily and it is very light. I loved it, I'll do a review later once we start using it with our baby. The third gift came from Jenny, she got us three lovely dresses and is currently quilting a baby blanket. Thank you so much to all you that are already making our baby feel loved.

Week 19 #Bumpdate (Ultrasound was not what I expected)

How far along? 19w+5d 

Baby is the size of a mango, 6 inches and 8.5 ounces.

What's new for baby? 

• Developing a protective coating over her skin, called vernix caseosa. It's greasy and white and you may see some of it at her birth.

• Working on her five senses. Nerve cells for her sense of taste, hearing, sight and smell are developing in her brain.

Total weight gain/measurements: 2.5lb, for a total weight of 117lbs! I guess it's okay, Im half way there ;)

Maternity clothes: I think I might need a pair of jeans soon or a Bellaband. My skinny jeans feel really tight. All my weight gain is concentrated on my belly!

Stretch marks? Not yet! We'll see.

Sleep: too much -embarrassing...-

Best moment this week:  Somedays I feel the baby in the morning, I think it's super cute.

Movement: Yes ;)

Food cravings: bagels with cream cheese, banana split and slurpees.

Anything making you queasy or sick? strong coffee smell...

Gender: So here's what happened this week: On april 7th we had our appointment for the big ultrasound. I woke up all excited because they were gonna tell us the baby gender. I could already imagine my little one in navy blue boyish onesies or with a big bow on her head. Anyways, right from the beginning, our sonographer seemed to be bored -I-hate-my-job-face-. She took like an hour and half because the baby was not in the right position for her. Just imagine it: MORE THAN HOUR IN A ROOM IN SILENCE and a grouchy lady taking tons of photos of the baby's organs. I got a little upset because I started having all these fears that maybe something was wrong with the baby. We asked her what was the baby gender and she answer that it 'might' be a girl but she was not sure. Big disappointment. I am genuinely excited for this baby but I guess the negative vibes from that lady got me down a little bit. I don't want a guess, because in my opinion that would be the same that trying the baking soda test or the carrying high or low thing. So, it is what it is. I think I'll wait until baby is born. In my eyes, this baby is already a precious gift.

Symptoms: big breasts and tiredness.

Belly button in or out? In. I do not think it will ever be out.

Wedding rings on or off? On, my fingers are still the same. Yay! :)

Happy or moody most of the time: Happy

Looking forward to: planning the baby shower. I already printed out the invitations and they will delivered them on the next week. It's gonna be a neutral gender baby shower and as entertaining as possible. 

That's what mothers do...

Today as I was folding shirts and pants, a lot questions were floating around my head 'Will I be a good mom?', 'Will I be patient and loving?', 'Will he still love me?'...

I do not talk much about this because it is not something that makes me feel proud. I do not have many memories of my mother. For some reason it is as if my brain put them inside a casket with a lock and bury them in the deepest shadows of my soul. Sometimes they emerge and touch the surface.

My mother had me at a very young age and I always remember her telling me all the things she could have done in life if she did not had me. Quickly, I learned to smile at other people even when I knew that last night my parents had a big fight and dinner ended up as a work of art, smeared on the walls.

The worst part was when I was 13.

Her thirties came like a hurricane and destroyed all of our family. We became very distant. She not longer talked to me. I became this lonely girl. Oh how I wanted to leave that house! It never felt like home again.

I moved in with my dad. But my relationship with my mother died. It died the day I saw her betraying my father. That day she was not my mother anymore, she was a stranger. I remember going into my room, locking myself up and crying a river as my heart was breaking into millions of pieces. I was not sure if I could ever be able to mend it back. She never talked to me again. I tried to keep myself busy and not to think on her. She disappeared. She did not went to my graduation, baptism or wedding. And to be fully honest, I did not missed her... I missed having a motherly figure when a boy broke my heart, when I was having a bad period or when I wanted to have a girl talk. It was the little things that I missed the most, the things that I never had.

It's been years since it happened. But when someone tells me how happy my mother must be with the new addition to our family, I simply nod while I can hear a little crack in my heart. 'I will never know'.

I do not know where she is, I just assume she is happy. It took us sometime to build our family up again but we did it.

Somehow her absence makes me feel in lack of the maternal virtues. I just keep telling myself that I can do it. I can be a good mother, made my baby feel safe and loved and never ever leave.

I love my husband and our baby. I will never leave them because that's what mothers do.