Week 16

16 weeks

How Far Along? 16 weeks
Maternity Clothes: After a minor meltdown in the closet (nothing seemed to fit) and after sitting through a week of meetings in uncomfortable pants, I caved and went to a maternity store.  I was wanting to wait until I was bigger and/or find things at the consignment shops but nice looking pants seemed to be non-existent in the used stores.  Despite the money I spent, I'm glad I went.  I stocked up on some basics that should carry me through as I get bigger and as the weather warms up.
Have you started to show yet?  I'm finally starting to feel less "squishy" in the gut and more "round" and actually pregnant.  A few people have commented that the bump is getting more defined.  I've also found myself subconsciously rubbing my belly.  I've always wondered why pregnant ladies did that.  It must be an instinct or something.  Or itchiness.  My belly itches.  A lot.  We were at Babies 'R' Us (now that is a version of hell if you ask me) and The Pilot whispered that he caught another prego lady scratching her belly.  :)  I just told the internets that I have an itchy belly.  Wow.
Symptoms: Heart burn that stops me dead in my tracks and keeps me awake at night, despite medication.  Lower back pain.  Also, my hands fall asleep at night.  I may need to ask the doctor about that one.  I haven't read about that yet.
Activity: a 5 miler!
Best moment this week?  Let me set the scene.  I'm sitting in the front row of a business meeting listening to someone speak about LED lighting (exciting, I know!).  I felt a little something in my abdomen but didn't think much of it.  Then I felt it again and became VERY aware that I was not alone.  It was very distinct that it was not gas or anything else.  It was exactly like they describe it in books (ginger ale bubbling or popcorn popping).  The baby is still so small so it was probably doing flip flops in order for me to feel it so distinctly.  I couldn't wipe the smile off my face.  The speaker was probably wondering what on earth was wrong with me...that or I must really LOVE LED lighting in order to be smiling that big.  I was dying to tell someone right then but I don't think the person sitting next to me wanted to hear about the weird bubbling going on in my belly.  I was able to talk to The Pilot for a few minutes several hours later and I blurted it out to one of the other meeting attendees later in the evening.

Miss anything? I would have given anything for a deli sandwich last week (no lunch meat for prego ladies unless it's been microwaved into submission).  The sleep disturbances are still annoying.  I know it's just going to get worse and is only a taste of what it will be like once the baby is here, but I didn't expect the sleep to be this interrupted so early in the pregnancy.
Movement: See "best moment this week." :)
Food cravings:  I haven't had anything really this week but my appetite is slowly increasing.  I finally gained a little weight.  I went through the entire first trimester without gaining a pound.  I was a little worried but the doctor was ok with it since I was carrying a few extra pounds pre-pregnancy.  I've still only gained about 2 pounds but we will see what the doctor's (more accurate, IMO) scale says next week.
Anything making you queasy or sick? Nothing specifically any more but I have noticed if I go too long between eating, I get really queasy.  Also, I get horrible heart burn if I wait too long to eat.  I really need to be eating smaller, more frequent meals but that's hard to do at work.  I was traveling last week and forced into a different schedule so I hope now that I'm back in the office I can keep some snacks handy.
Gender: Won't know until April.  One of my BFFs is having a girl so I think it would be fun I had a girl too and then our girls could be BFFs.  :)  Silly reason, but I don't even have a hunch as to what we might be having.  My doctor voted boy but a few others have voted girl.  Who knows.  As long as it isn't a monkey, I'll be happy.
Looking forward to: Feeling the baby more often...and when the movements get strong enough for The Pilot to feel.  I can't wait for him to feel this so he can feel even more involved.
What I am NOT looking forward to: More interrupted sleep.
Milestones: The baby can now hear my heartbeat and my muffled voice.  That's crazy to me.  The books say to start talking to baby, even if it's just reading the newspaper out loud but that still feels weird.  It's like talking to yourself...but yet someone else is present.  Weird.  :)  I might just have to practice.  Now that the baby can hear, it makes me wonder if it's little developing mind was blown last night during the Muse concert that The Pilot and I went to.  I know my mind was blown.  The baby missed the best parts though, the lights and lasers.  The music was pretty awesome but if you've ever seen Muse live, you'll know what I'm talking about.  Total mind melt.