Since my placenta was low last month, they had us come in for a 2nd ultrasound yesterday (7/11).  Nothing changed placenta-wise so we'll go back again in 6 weeks for another one.  The tech said it's a partial previa and I was put on pelvic rest for now.  Hopefully things will be better next time and I don't end up on bed rest or anything.. they didn't say that's what would happen, but that's what I've heard, so we'll see.  The tech said chances are good that the placenta will migrate up as I get bigger.
 
In 4 weeks and 2 days since my last ultrasound I could tell a definite difference in his size!  Since the last ultrasound, Declan more than doubled his weight - he went from 8oz up to 1lb, 2oz!  I'm not sure how long he is at this point.. somewhere around 12".  And, since the tech last month didn't give us any proof that he's a boy, Brandon asked for a pic of his "manhood" this time... you can see that and a couple of other profile pics in my photo album.

I go for a follow up with the Dr. next week so I'll post another belly shot of myself at that time.

My belly is getting bigger by the day so I finally had to cave and buy maternity clothes... I was bursting out of my regular pants.  Maternity pants are suprisingly comfortable and I've got lots of room to grow into them!  :)

I haven't had as much heartburn lately, but it's still there every once in a while.  I have, however, had a few very restless nights to the point where I've gotten up to come downstairs because I just couldn't get back to sleep.

Here's info about the baby at 22 wks, since I didn't make an entry last week: At 11 inches (the length of a spaghetti squash) and almost 1 pound, your baby is starting to look like a miniature newborn. His lips, eyelids, and eyebrows are becoming more distinct, and he's even developing tiny tooth buds beneath his gums. His eyes have formed, but his irises (the colored part of the eye) still lack pigment. If you could see inside your womb, you'd be able to spot the fine hair (lanugo) that covers his body and the deep wrinkles on his skin, which he'll sport until he adds a padding of fat to fill them in. Inside his belly, his pancreas — essential for the production of some important hormones — is developing steadily.

And @ 23 weeks: Turn on the radio and sway to the music. With her sense of movement well developed by now, your baby can feel you dance. And now that she's more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound (about as much as a large mango), you may be able to see her squirm underneath your clothes. Blood vessels in her lungs are developing to prepare for breathing, and the sounds that your baby's increasingly keen ears pick up are preparing her for entry into the outside world. Loud noises that become familiar now — such as your dog barking or the roar of the vacuum cleaner — probably won't faze her when she hears them outside the womb.

It's official, we've named the baby!!

Declan Michael Asay  .. Declan is pronounced like "Deck-lan" .. apparently some people are having issues w/ that, but we've decided not to change the spelling.  It means "full of goodness".

Declan is Irish, Brandon picked it... he's very proud of his Gaelic heritage!  And Michael is Brandon's middle name (and his Grandpa Vichirilli's first name).  I actually hated the name Declan when Brandon first said it too me - crinkled nose and all - but it kept coming back to my mind and the more I said it, the more I liked it.  So, it's here to stay!

It's weird, but very cool to now be able to call "the baby" by his name  :)

I didn't do an entry last week, but I am now 21 weeks..  here's what BabyCenter says:  Your baby now weighs about three-quarters of a pound and is approximately 10 1/2 inches long — the length of a carrot. You may soon feel like he's practicing martial arts as his initial fluttering movements turn into full-fledged kicks and nudges. You may also discover a pattern to his activity as you get to know him better. In other developments, your baby's eyebrows and lids are present now.

I have in fact started to notice movement patterns and I love it!  He moves everytime I eat (or shortly thereafter), he also wakes up w/ me around 7am and will kick around a little to say good morning.  Then around 4pm or so he'll swim around a little, and again around 7-8pm or so.  It'll be interesting to see if he keeps any of these patterns once he gets here :)

I've been sleeping better these days, so that's good...  anyone who knows me knows I need my sleep!  But I'm still getting up to pee several times a night.. that probably won't change for another 4 months or so.

Heartburn is still prevalent, and is sometimes more like acid reflux than anything.  Ouch!  Maybe this baby will have hair like Kenna did :)

I think I'm getting bigger by the day, but I've had several people tell me I don't even look pregnant...  yeah, right!  Brandon's sweet... while he laughs at me everytime my pant buttons have a bigger gap, he does it endearingly, and he's always rubbing my belly and telling me how cute it is.  I wonder if he'll think the same thing when I'm waddling!

I made it... I'm 1/2 way through my pregnancy!!

Here's what Baby Center says: Your baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. He's also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom and about 10 inches from head to heel — the length of a banana. (The way your baby is measured changes now.) He's swallowing more these days, which is good practice for his digestive system. He's also producing meconium, a black, sticky by-product of digestion. This gooey substance will accumulate in his bowels, and you'll see it in his first soiled diaper (although some babies pass meconium in the womb or during delivery).

I'm still having heartburn.  It's not as bad yet as I remember having w/ Kenna, but it's still miserable when it comes on.  I'm hungry all the time.. that probably won't change for another 20 weeks, so I better get used to it.

I had an odd dream the other night.  Brandon detached my big, pregnant belly and took it to the hospital for the baby to be "born", then I went in later to see the baby.  Weird.  Maybe I'm trying to hand some of this over :)

I'm officially busting out of my regular jeans.  Less than a week ago, I could do the zipper up 1/2 way then use the bella band to cover the rest.  As of this morning I couldn't do them up AT ALL!  Ugh.  I guess it's time for maternity wear.

The nursery should be finished (paint wise) this Saturday!!  It's turning out so well!  I love Brandon for being so willing to do it.  Even Kenna has been helping a little bit.  Then I can order the crib and get it set up.  I already ordered the bedding set (http://www.kidslineinc.com/products/infant/t_for_tiger.php) ... Some of it got here yesterday, the rest should be here soon.  It's so cute and soft!!  I was so excited when we found out what we were having, I just had to buy something!  I want to try to go this weekend and register, too, then use that as a checklist to get what we need, as well as for any shower I may have.

I've been doing something I never thought I would while I was pregnant.....  swimming!  In a swimming suit.  I feel self conscious in it, but I don't care.. it just feels good to get into a pool.  We'll see if I feel that way through the whole summer once I'm even bigger.