Swelling, Oh the Swelling!

So I was just plugging along, thinking the weight gain was normal. I knew I would be a swollen pregnant woman. I always swell easily. Well, last week it got worse in a matter of days. My legs were elephant sized and I was completely uncomfortable. At just shy of 25 weeks, I shouldn't have been uncomfortable. I made my first call to the nurse's line, and got an immediate response (nice work Metro OB/gyn). It was a simple fix, which is more common sense than anything. I've cut out a ton of sodium and upped my water intake.

With that, I was a pound and a half down in weight today from a week ago. The weight loss was of concern to Mark. He doesn't want to see the scale go down, but I convinced him that I probably had gained REAL weight and just lost that much more water weight. I'm still right on track at around 18 pounds gained in total.

As for decorating the nursery...it's been interesting! My mom and dad came over last Thursday to make and put up the curtains. We already had the fabric, but realized the window was much larger than we had thought. When we put the finished product up, it looked nothing short of sad. My mom, being the resourceful one she is, suggested we get more fabric for a valance and hold the curtains back with ribbons so that they don't have to reach all the way across the window. That's our new project. She bought more fabric and worked on it on Sunday. We are then going to put the same ribbon that we use as a tie back on the valance in hopes of coordinating. We shall see. Our plan B is a curtain rod with plain curtain panels from Pottery Barn. We can only try so hard!

We've Reached Viability!!

I'm 24 weeks today, which marks viability or when she could live outside the womb on her own. Now, it would be a long, tough road and there would be no guarantees she would make it this early, but it's the first time she would have a shot if she were to come early. It's another milestone!

I had my 24 week appointment on Monday. All looked and sounded good. I'm up 18 pounds (sigh), and our little girl's heart rate was 150, nice and strong.

Not much else is new. I'm still waiting on nursery deliveries. A new one that was just added is a dresser compliments of Grandma and Grandpa Muckerheide!

I attached a photo from our family leaf tour we took over the weekend. You can see my clothed belly for the first time!

23 Weeks and Mark Felt a Kick

I'm 23 weeks today, and feeling good! On Sunday night, 22 weeks and 3 days, Mark felt our little girl kick for the first time! We were watching TV on the couch, and I could feel her going nuts in there. I've been trying to feel for her on the outside for a few weeks, but haven't. I put my hand on my belly and pressed down hard and I felt her. I had Mark put his hand in the same spot and I pressed down on it. She kicked him! She didn't like that invasion of her space. Mark's face just lit up! It was so fun!

She now moves even more and I can feel her on the outside often. Last night when I was trying to fall asleep she was relentless!

On Saturday my mom and I went shopping for the baby's room. We found a couple of wall hangings and the cutest piggy bank! We also found fabric for curtains. It's coming along little by little!

22 Weeks!

I've hit the 22 week mark. Only two more weeks until viability, when she could live outside my body on her own. Now, we want to keep her in there far past that time, but it will be a milestone! As my countdown to birth calendar says, she's about the size of a football right now. She's also been moving a lot...especially when I'm wearing tight waist bands. This girl likes her space. I don't have another appointment until the 13th, so it's just the normal waiting game.

Not much has progressed on the baby room front either. I'm still waiting on the sheet and crib skirt. I did get a pillow (for the glider) and guilt. I decided to return the bumper. They really aren't safe, and it was $75, so practicality won out. Mark is so proud! :) My mom and I are going to go shopping for curtains. Like I said below, I think it will soften the PINK of the room. It will also hide the woodwork which I'm not crazy about. There's no charm in these newer houses, space, but no charm.

Other than that, life is the same!