Went to Lane Bryant (of all places) to see if they had any good bras since my back has been hurting. The lady there offered to measure me and I didn't really see the point but agreed. 37 F. ha ha. So, I pick out this huge looking bra that, according to the tag, is a 40DDD, but hey I'm gonna try it. It looked big enough. NOPE. It was super tight (which was great-it felt like a breath of fresh air-really supportive!) but bowed out in the armpits..you know, where it would cause lots of chafing later on?. She said that was because it was really too small and I had "overflow". Grrreeaaat. Then she said she couldn't help me because they didn't carry any bras anywhere near size F. Not even online. She also gave me the speel about if a bra really fits you the middle part should sit right against your sternum. I told her a bra has NEVER done that for me and she said basically that I have always been in bras that were too small! I sure didn't think so, but what a learning experience! Then she told me about this place that specially makes your bras and referred me to them. Don't know how interested I am in that since, well, you know, I am not done growing!

And it doesn't help that the first thing everyone is seeing is my boobs. Seriously, my friends..that is the first comment I get..."wow, look at your boobs". Jeez. People are supposed to notice my nice little growing bump! I mean, you can't really blame them..I know they are large and in charge, but I really didn't think they had grown THAT much since getting preggers but guess I was wrong. Not sure how I am going to alleviate this problem. I think an internet search is in my near future. I think I am just going to go to an online bigger bra place and just order a 37F and see what happens!

Oh..and...since I am starting to get HOT I wanted to look for a bathing suit. I can't decide if I should just go with one made for a hugely fat lady or really go maternity. But, apparently neither will work because I tried both, too. The tankini thing makes the most sense but the bottoms just fall off while the top barely fits. They were pretty cute too. It is just sooo frustrating! Maybe I'll be searching online for this too. I just really am dissapointed how the one time in my life I really thought shopping would be easier, it only has gotten harder. I purchased some XL maternity T-shirts this week and I am telling you they look like they are tight already. I mean....where is the belly supposed to go people? I just don't get it. I am frustrated too to spend money on something that may not fit in 10 weeks. I just have no clue how big I'll get....I think I am just going to lay naked by the pool the whole summer. Save me the frustration and $$$$ of having to clothe myself.  (I'm only half kidding on this one!)

So if you need me....I'll be in the pool. On my "island" mattress. LOL

My feet/ankles/calves have been hurting so bad the last couple of days that I really am questioning whether this level of discomfort is normal at this stage.??? I am only 21 weeks pregnant! I am actually going to ask the doctor about it. There is some thought in my mind that it is from several year-old flip flops (my footwear of choice) so I went out and got a new pair of Teva flip-flops. But they only helped marginally. I am thinking that flip-flops in general just aren't going to cut it but since I soon won't be able to put on tennies, what are u supposed to wear?? So..now, I am also researching "best shoes for pregnant women". I just think it is crazy that I can't shop for a few hours without feeling like I have been walking non stop for 3 days. And I am most likely going to gain 20 more pounds! It has been bad enough that I thought maybe I am anemic, since that is common in pregnancy, but I don't think so. I'll ask about that too. Guess 170 lbs is just too much for my 5'0 size 7 feet body.

I am also getting some cramps in my calves at night where it feels like someone is trying to rip the muscle right out. Last night was a doozy and I pulled my foot back which I think is what you are NOT supposed to do (I think you are supposed to flex it forward) and now it feels a bit strained. What on the earth causes this?? What a weird pregnancy thing!

Munchkin is moving a lot more.  I am feeling it throughout the day now but she is still much more active at night and in the early AM (on most days). I swear I can actually see my belly jump but Chad still claims he can't feel anything. Really soon though!

Oh--and the appetite is ramping up to a whole new level! I am now getting hungry for lunch at 10:15 am rather than noon.  I mean full on stomach grumbles when I just ate breakfast at 8:30 am! Yesterday I ignored the hunger pangs cuz I was actually like, "Ok no way am I really hungry yet!", and ended up actually shaking by noontime. Guess the blood sugar is getting pretty labile now. Gotta feed the beast! I guess this is ineveitable but I kinda thought that since I had gained in the first tri that I wouldn't be as hungry or something now. Guess not. And my weight has gone up about 5 lbs in the last 2 weeks so I guess we are in a growing stage!

On a POSITIVE NOTE: We are getting very excited now! I am still very nervous and worrying-not so much about baby but about the future.. but that is my personality. Chad, however, is full on taking charge of the nursery!! He painted the closet and closet doors this week so as far as painting goes we are done! It looks very nice. I have to get the bedding so I can complete the look but it is nice to smell that fresh paint. It is like smelling the odor of a whole new life..a fresh start....a new beginning. Corny, I know. But it is making it very real for us. And he even moved his clothes out of that closet and there is now a baby onesie hanging in their place. Awwwwww. We are looking for a dresser next week, I just didn't have it in my feet last week to make the trek. It will be nice to have some place to put the clothes and things I am acquiring.

That's all the complaining for now, all! Thanks for reading!

Results are in: The AFP test is negative/normal!!

This is what the AFP test is:

The AFP test, sometimes called the MSAFP or maternal serum AFP, is where a blood sample is drawn from the mother to check the levels of AFP. AFP is a protein secreted by the fetal liver and excreted in the mother's blood. It is generally used for detecting neural tube defects, but it can also indicate: abdominal wall defects esophageal and duodenal atresia, some renal and urinary tract anomalies turner syndrome, some low birth weight fetuses, and placental complications. A low level of AFP could also indicate Down Syndrome.

So.....another reason to be happy!

Chad and I have been shopping...got a glider (sage green with black frame), the crib (black), a toy chest (black). Now all we need is the dresser so we are on the hunt for that. Chad is going to paint the rest of the nursery this week (hopefully) and then after that really not much decorating has to be done. We are trying to keep it simple and not too overwhelming. I'll post a pic of the nursery theme we decided on in the photo album!

Pregnancy wise...well, things are really boring still. Boring is good! My weight is approaching 170, my hands are going numb when I sleep, and I am starting to get a little hint of a ring around my ankles where my socks are (at the end of the day). Must be why my feet are hurting more too. Guess I am getting kankles, ha ha. But so far, only feel like a house after I eat. The rest of the time I feel pretty normal.

Did I tell you that Munchkin is a Kung Fu baby?? I have been feeling little punches on and off but nothing like the little "butterfly whispers" everyone told me I would feel. Oh no....these are full out whacks! (must be those looonnggg legs)Then the other night before I fell asleep she must have been just flipping around in there, kung-fuing me all over the place cuz I felt her punches everywhere! It was quite comical. And strange. And sort of alien-horror-movie ish. Feeling that from the inside is so weird! It was very cool though. Unfortunately since Chad never makes it past 9:45pm he'll never feel it. At least not that late! But since then we have been doing the "put your hand on my belly" thing but he still has the deer in the headlights look. So....he can't really feel anything....YET! But the day will soon be here!

New unsatiable craving is Wendy's Chili. I can't get enough!! We make several runs a week and each time I get 2 small chili's..one for now, one for later. Perfect size for a meal....and for satisfying my cravings! That chili is pretty lean and healthy though..besides the salt..so for now I am OK with that. YUMMO!!

Anyways, other than that, no new news! Chad and I are doing the name thing but that won't be revealed till the end! Something has to be a suprise!

Thanks for reading and caring! And check out the photo album for the nursery decor pics!

Well, went for the "big" ultrasound on Wed. It wasn't as neat as I thought it would be...less than 20 minutes! She took some measurements but not of everything, but still said all looked good, very normal, right on track, etc. Baby weighs 10 oz at 18 weeks 4 days which is pretty hefty I think, although weight at this stage is not very accurate in general. She also said Munchkin had nice long leg bones which shocked Chad and I cuz we are both pretty short! Baby was just hangin' out at the very top of my uterus, refused to move. It made getting the measurements hard because apparently she kept losing signal when she would have to go over my belly button. Baby was even partially above my belly button, which might explain why I feel so winded all the time now, especially after I eat! She was all curled up too, just didn't want to stretch out at all. We found out I have an anterior placenta, which is totally normal, it just means I might not feel baby move for a while (it acts as a cushion to the front of my abdomen). It also means if i go C-section that they will have to cut through the placenta. The nurse said my weight was right on for dates...she even congratulated me on that....  I had some sugar in my urine which concerned me at first but they felt it only had to do with what I ate for breakfast (shredded wheat and OJ) since it is normal for pregnant women to spill sugar over into their urine when they eat a high sugar meal. No more frosted shredded wheat for me! They will check it again next time but no need to be worried yet about that! The glucose nasty drink comes around Week 28 I believe unless I show problems before then. We also listened to the heartbeat..I had to show them where to find it and of course, it was thumping away at 152 BPM. I also had blood drawn for the Triple Screen and AFP..basically screening for abnormalities. Those results will be in next week. Think good thoughts! My next appt is not until the end of March so another month to wait now.......

I am now getting heartburn. I have never had this before so didn't really know if this was the real thing or what. It only lasts for 30 seconds or so each time, my chest burns and gets hot and then I get real nauseous for a sec like I am going to throw up. I choke it back and then POOF! it's gone. I think my stomach acid just gurgles back down. But I'll take that! I am sure that is something that will get worse though as baby grows. I don't notice that it gets worse with spicy foods or whatever they say. It seems to happen HOURS after I eat so I don't know... Very strange feeling.

And no movement yet. I don't think. Ok, well maybe. Just weird thumps very sporadically. But I am not sure that what I am feeling isn't just huge gas bubbles going off in there (TMI, I know, but very well a possibility). Hopefully all this excitement isn't far off but I know with an anterior placenta it can take all the way to 26 weeks and I have even heard that you might NEVER be able to feel it from the outside! I hope that isn't the case for me!

Chad and I went shopping!! Oh my gosh it was so much fun! We actually didn't buy anything except a four pack of onesies but we went a-lookin'. OMG, the clothes at BRU are to die for!  I need my sister and/or Mom with me to do the big time stuff tho..and for the registry. I think we are going to register at Baby's R US since it just has everything. I am a one stop shop type gal. We got this great book that is really helping us called "Baby Bargains"...not only does it tell you about bargains but it tells you what you really need as opposed to what is "fluff". It also reviews everything baby...consumer reviews and safety issues. Having family who have done this before is a better option though (Thank God) but man that book would be a Godsend if you didn't have any family to help you figure it all out!!! So Chad and took our handy dandy book and went to Baby's R US. We mostly looked at the cribs and pushed em' around some but we also looked at strollers and pack n' plays. We even think we decided on one! So now we can't wait to go along with that scanner thingie and start beeping everything we want! Chad even got pretty excited over it all..it was neat! I think we both breathed a sigh of relief to find out that for now baby is healthy.

My sis got baby some cute onesies and things..one says "Party in my crib: 2AM" and another says "Daddy did my hair". So cute. I wish I could post pics but can't figure out how to do that! My Mom has been buying some stuff too. I don't know what I would do without their input and help! (THX guys ILY!)

So....here's a link to our favorite nursery theme thus far. We are 95% sure we are going to use this...soooooooooooo cute! The complete nursery pic in the link also has one of the cribs/dressers we picked out as our fav!

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2557686

That's it for now guys! Go to the photo album for the most recent ultrasound pics!

We are so weak. So, so weak.

We could not wait until next week so we booked an appt at a local non-diagnostic US clinic for a "gender check". That is literally all they did is check for the goods. The pics aren't too great either but remember, better pics and video to come next Wednesday when we have the true "anatomy scan"! But for now....IT IS A GIRL!!! We are going to play stupid at next weeks ultrasound just so we can get another 100% unbiased opinion on the gender. Make sure there is no penis hiding out anywhere!

We are very excited! Chad is looking at paint colors for the nursery and trying to talk me into pink Camo! I did tell him though that little girls can be hunters too! Hee-hee. Poor guy, he really, really wanted a little hunting buddy! He is excited though!

But FUN FUN FUN...we get to shop for girlie stuff! Woo hoo!

The pics from today are pretty rough but you can check em out in the photo album!!

And...make sure to check back next week for the details (and visuals) on Wednesday's ultrasound!