24 weeks

How far along?  24 weeks--- YES!
How big is baby? Cantaloupe- about a foot long and just over a pound

What’s baby doing this week?

• The child is now gaining around 3 ounces (90 grams) a week.
• Baby weighs about 1.3 pounds and is 12 inches long.
• The eyelids can be seen very clearly.
• If born at this stage is officially considered viable, she may well be able to survive.

  Her lungs are developing branches of the respiratory tree and cells that produce surfactant. This is a substance that helps the air sacs inflate easily and also keeps the small air sacs in our lungs from collapsing. The baby practices breathing by inhaling amniotic fluid into developing lungs. The unborn baby is covered with a fine, downy hair and the skin is protected by a waxy substance. Some of this substance may still be on the child's skin at birth at which time it will be quickly absorbed.

Baby gains about 3 ounces this week. The weight is in muscle, bone mass and organs. The body begins to fill out with its appearance increasingly becoming more like that of a newborn. Taste buds begin to form. If I drink something strange or bitter, baby may be observed showing her distaste.

Total weight gain/loss?Around 7 pounds when I weighed myself last night, but that was after a big dinner so I'm thinking I am still sitting at the 5 (maybe 6 pound) mark. I will find out when I go in for my appt on Monday!

Symptoms? Holy pinched sciatic nerve Batman! It just never ends. Dead leg galore! But, I'll take that over puking any day of the week.
Maternity clothes?  Yep
Stretch marks? I think I have one starting. I have had such incredibly sore skin, like a bruise. So I finally looked in the mirror at the bottom of my bump and I see a little pink stripe. YUCK! There goes my dreams of no new stretch marks. But it's a stretch mark within a stretch mark. Who knew that was possible? Hopefully that means it won't be as noticeable since it's already in stretched out skin.
Sleep?  The pregnancy induced insomnia is starting. It's awful. I think a  lot of it is due to my hubby's never ending snores (seriously guys- it's bad!) I usually wake up around 4:30-5 and am up for awhile, then I fall back asleep for a few more hours. The weird preggo dreams are kicking in on top of it all and combined with my dead, aching leg that keeps me tossing and turning I would say it's safe to admit I'm pooping out! Might be time to add a nap into my day ;) (hee hee, "yeah right" says every other mom of a three year old)
Best moment of the week? I was talking with Nathan about how it would be his job to help look after his baby sister and keep her safe. And as part of a "practice drill" I asked how he would react if he saw a boy kissing his sister. He told me he would run and get dad (not the answer I was looking for.) I asked what he would get his dad for and he told me it was so that he could get his gun, since he (Nate) is not allowed to touch them. Oh boy! It looks like this little girl's boyfriends are going to have to contend with not just one, but two disgruntled men cleaning guns at the dining room table on date night!!!
Food cravings Do Resee's Peanut Butter Cups count as food??

Movement? TONS! This kid is a little wiggle worm and I love every second of it. She is quite the crotch stomper though and will get you out of nowhere. I love watching my belly roll back and forth with her.
Labor signs? No
Belly button in/out?Flat with one half looking like it might be about ready to pop

What I miss: The gym! The way this girl lays it seems I can't even get the dishes done without an achy pelvis, working out seems to be out of the question. I am really looking forward to getting my butt back in shape though. I never thought I would be that person but I really do miss my exercise!
What I am looking forward to: Every day from here on out as my little miss grows bigger and stronger and more ready to meet this world.

 Milestones: Today is V-day!! Also, this week we will pass the gestation where I had Noah. 

23 weeks

How far along?  23 weeks
How big is baby? Grapefruit (about 11 inches and 1lb 4 oz)

What’s baby doing this week? 

• She's forming little nipples (yeah, really!)
• Her face is fully formed now -- she just needs a little extra fat to fill it out.
• She's listening to my voice and my heartbeat -- and even to loud sounds like cars honking and dogs barking.

Total weight gain/loss? Well, I officially weigh what I did the day that Nate was BORN!!! Where is this weight? I don't feel like I look like I have that much extra padding on me!

Symptoms?  Well, have another cold (this makes number four--ridiculous!!) Otherwise I am doing pretty good on the lame symptom train. My boobs are killing me and I get a backache and crotch pressure but otherwise not doing half bad!
Maternity clothes?  Yup!
Stretch marks? I thought I saw one starting the other day but it turns out it was just a red pressure mark from something on my belly. So, we are still good in that department!!!
Sleep?  I have been waking up to pee again the last few nights, and been having some weird dreams-- but otherwise it's been pretty good.
Best moment of the week? Watching my belly jump around-- and I got my first baby items gifted to me. An adorable little tutu skirt and two onesies (and not one stitch of it is pink!!) They are an electric blue color that I love.
Food cravingsNot much for cravings, still just a chocoholic. Only 16 weeks left to blame that on the baby.

Movement? After a lazy morning that made me a little nervous (and 2 cups of coffee to perk her up), she is now going bonkers on my bladder. Quite the wiggle worm she can be.
Gender? Little lady!
Labor signs? nope
Belly button in/out?Flat-- won't be long before it pops!

What I miss: This is the first week I kind of wanted a beer. I saw some in the crisper drawer and thought how good that might taste!
What I am looking forward to: One more week until V-day!!!! SOOOOOO close!

 Milestones: Nothing really this week

22 weeks

How far along?  22 weeks!
How big is baby? Papaya

What’s baby doing this week? 

• Now that she's got more developed eyes and lips, she's looking even more like a newborn.
• She's sleeping in cycles -- about 12 to 14 hours per day

Total weight gain/loss? 5 pounds

Symptoms?  Puking is back, along with the worst crotch pain ever! I don't remember this until about 35 weeks with Nathan. I literally feel like someone nailed me in the clam with steel toed boots. OUCH!!! Also lots of weird aches and pains. Little girl is pushing on nerves a lot so I end up with a random dead leg (and my crotch feel asleep the other day!! Weird!)
Maternity clothes?  I think it goes without saying that yes, I am well into maternity clothes.
Stretch marks? None yet!
Sleep?  I will hopefully be getting more of it soon! I am dozing as I type this after a cram until 4 AM session last night. But I took my last final today so hellooooooo Christmas break!
Best moment of the week? David got to feel his first round of baby hiccups
Food cravings I was craving a cowboy burger like crazy yesterday- otherwise just chocolate

Movement? Tons of it. This little girl is moving sooo much. I just love it!
Gender? Girl!!
Labor signs? Nope
Belly button in/out?In (with the exception of the few seconds this morning when the baby kicked it out)

What I miss: Walking without feeling like I just got punted in the vagine
What I am looking forward to: 2 more weeks until viability!!! The countdown is on!

  Baby picture time:

 

21 weeks

How far along?  21 weeks
How big is baby? Pomegranate

What’s baby doing this week? 

• As her digestive system preps for the outside world, she's manufacturing meconium -- the tarry black substance you'll find in her first dirty diaper (ew)!
• If it's a girl, she's already got a lifetime's supply of eggs in her womb -- about six million of them!

Total weight gain/loss? 4 pounds according to the OB scale!

Symptoms? Headaches! Wow, they just never give up. I can hardly take it anymore. Not to mention this horrible cough I have been battling all week has caused me to pee my pants on more than one occasion!! I actually had to give a presentation in front of my entire class on Monday night wearing pee-pants because I had coughed so hard. Then last night I coughed so hard I threw my lower back out, I'm pathetic! lol. I have been battling with the fatigue this week too. Only one more week of school to make it through and then I can get a nice long break!
Maternity clothes?  Goes without saying (yes!!)
Stretch marks? Nope! My belly is still teeny tiny
Sleep?  Need more of it! I have been awake coughing all night.
Best moment of the week? Our anatomy scan!!
Food cravings Chocolate cookies

Movement? Tons of is,but it's so delicate. Much different than the last two. This one feels like a ballet dancer while the boys used my uterus as the Rampage stomping grounds.
Gender? Sorry Bloggies-- you have to find out like everybody else in my life and watch the video!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TNye2iOlFo

Labor signs? Nope
Belly button in/out?In between

What I miss: Mucinex!
What I am looking forward to: This is not baby related, but I'm headed into the last week of the semester and can't wait for Christmas break!!

 Milestones: Anatomy scan and making the most important milestone of all: I MADE IT PAST MY PPROM DATE!!!!!

Now for the belly pics: (The second one is a little nasty but just for fun to show what the true side view looks like- and just how low I am carrying!!)

20 weeks

How far along?  20 weeks!
How big is baby? Banana

What’s baby doing this week? 

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

Symptoms? Only puked three times this week! However, my newest annoyance is that when I lay on my left side I end up with a pinched nerve that leaves my leg feeling like it's having a horrible tendonitis flare up. Usually I wake up at night and roll over but last night I was so tired that I slept like a rock and this morning I had a dead leg and boy oh boy did it hurt! Hormone headaches are in full-swing too. But I don't even care, I'm just so excited to be halfway done!!!
Maternity clothes?  Although I feel like my belly is not growing at all, it must be because my normal shirts are way too short in the front if I put them on. My belly seems to have taken on the strangest shape. SO much different than with the last two! Also, it might be time to admit defeat and switch to maternity underwear. I am tired of my buttcrack hanging out! Not to mention my underwear are riding up my butt like some ill-fashioned thong. Not cool.
Stretch marks? Not yet
Sleep?  Probably the best it's going to be for the next year!
Best moment of the week? Tons of baby kicks-- and Nathan got to feel the baby kick for the first time :)
Food cravings Nothing really-- just food.

Movement? Tons of it!
Gender? We find out in 55 and a half more hours!
Labor signs? Nope
Belly button in/out?In

What I miss: Excedrin again
What I am looking forward to: Monday's ultrasound!!!

 Milestones: Hitting the halfway point!