Baby Bump Wednesday: Week 21

What a week.

That's right, Caleb felt the baby move tonight, just hours ago actually, while we were waiting for our salmon to bake. Unlike this cartoon however, he doesn't have a black eye. He barely felt it, a minuscule little twitch, but movement nonetheless, and that was just fine with him. You'd have thought he'd just won a lifetime supply of Twinkies. Or Dr. Pepper. Or felt his baby move for the first time. Or something.

This week the baby is 10.5 inches? 11? Sort of the same as last week, and about the same weight as well. As long as a carrot. I'm sort of beginning to think that this isn't exactly a science. A quarter of a pound though, that sounds substantial. Right? He's sleeping and waking in regular intervals and has full on eyebrows and eyelashes. And...that's about it. He's sort of in the fattening-up stage. "Brown fat" as they call it. Whatever, I just want to be able to stuff my nose in all those wonderful neck folds.

I experienced Braxton Hicks for the first time this week, my first one being mere minutes after writing last week's post. I didn't know quite what it was at first, I just knew it hurt. And of course, nearly every site I've read talks about how painless they are, how some women don't even know they're having them until a doctor points it out to them, blah, blah, blah - they hurt. My entire stomach tightens up, and especially in one area on the left, the exact spot the doctors keep finding his heartbeat. It feels like a bad cramp and lasts a good 30 seconds. I had a few that night, none the next day, and then several on Friday. A lot of the sites said to change positions, drink more, take a bath, but nothing really seemed to help. Several times they started when I changed positions, like getting up in the morning or after sitting down for a while. I haven't had one in a few days which is great, because I don't know how much longer I could have appeased Caleb, if he'd had his way I would have gone straight to the ER. Thankfully we didn't need to go there.

I think I've already said it, but I really popped this week. Like the baby was like, what? We're halfway? BAM. Out I go. Enough that on several occasions Caleb has looked at my belly warily and asked if it is supposed to do that, supposed to be this big so suddenly. Um...yeah. I'm pregnant. Duh. I've got like, a baby in there, and it's growing and stuff. It's true though, this week there's no hiding it. Laying on my stomach is no longer comfortable, which made laying out last weekend a little awkward. We're going to Lake Powell in a few weeks, and I'm not quite sure how to avoid coming back looking like one of those two-toned cookies that I can't stand. My lovely friend Kelly suggested buying a Boppy and stuffing my baby bump in the hole, which sounds like my best option. Clothes are becoming quite a chore.The last pair of pants I own that still zip up are tighter, and probably not going to zip up much longer. Thank heavens for that Bella Band.

Caleb has already decided what his favorite part is of me being pregnant, and it's not the baby bump. It's not my two other bumps (surprisingly), it's my belly button. Specifically, the possibility of seeing the bottom of it. We've always joked about the stark differences between our belly buttons, his being a wide, flat, open crater, big enough to comfortably fit a quarter. Mine is tiny, a little line really, and you need a nice thin finger (rather than Caleb's big man fingers) to get to the bottom of it. Now that my belly is growing, the bottom seems to be coming up, the tiny hole opening up a bit, and Caleb is anxiously waiting for when it finally pops out. Like a turkey timer. I don't know why this is such a fascination of his, but it is.

I'm blooming. Like my plumeria.

Talk about Baby Bump Wednesday.

Comments

[turleybenson]

Braxton Hicks, huh? I don't think I've had that. My tummy has never tightened up like they say happens. I'm SURE Mike would freak if I did, too. These men. They're adorable!

[Liv]

I can't believe how teeny your baby bump still is!! I mean, I know it's obviously bigger than you're used to non-pregnant, but it still seems so very little!! How can a baby really be in there?!

I'm going to be in for the shock of my life when Kev and I decide to have kids. I'm glad I get to read about your experiences and learn.

[Erin]

Your blog comforts me and my spasmatic uterus to no end. When I first started with Braxton Hicks (around 20 weeks, I think...) everyone freaked out and wanted to rush me to the ER. I've read enough stuff online and talked to the doctor enough to know that unless they are consistent and worsening...they are normal. But still- everyone freaking out makes me freak a little...too...nice to hear someone else is enjoying them as much as I am :) As for the belly button- my husband John is waiting for that, too. However, I don't think mine is going to pop. I have a deep dark abyss of a belly button, and I hear my Mom's never popped. You'll have to let us know how it goes!

[Heather]

So i'm going to have to go ahead and say the belly button fascination is foreign to me. Ryan never had any such interest. I did however get Braxton Hick's, it is a strange thing. Just wait until you have the real ones, you'll wonder how you even noticed them. Oh and as for the bump, it is like it is all baby and no beef. I think I can see his bum pushing up against your belly. So cute!

[Abby]

sometimes your blog makes me sad. because i'm here. and you're, well. you know. there.

[Rachel]

HOW FUN! I am missing being prego! Yea, but the false labor isnt fun, but totaly normal Caleb:) The real thing doesn't feel anything like that thoough. At least for me. My real deal stuff felt like cramps times 1,000!!! Have fun!

[Camille]

I love your cute little belly! You look so good! I want to invite you to my blog too, what is your email address?