25 Weeks

Woohoo!!!  We've moved on to an eggplant!

Funny story...I was doing my prenatal yoga on Friday and we did the pigeon pose (I can't even begin to describe this, but it requires quite a bit of flexibility in your hips).  I normally do well at it (I think because I'm short), but on Friday I was especially low.  I thought to myself, "wow, you're getting bendy!"  After class my yoga instructor pulled me aside and noted to be careful because as my body is getting ready for birth my ligaments are getting flexier which is why I did pigeon so well.  She noted that I could dislocate my hip if I'm not careful.  Well...sh*t!

TOTAL WEIGHT GAIN: 1 lb, total weight gain, 25 lbs.

MOVEMENT:  She's moving around on a daily basis, some days more than others.  I woke last night due to a swift kick or jab on some body part of mine, but was luckily able to go right back to sleep.

CRAVINGS: New favorite lunch...two scramble eggs, spinach, and cut up turkey.  Yum, yum.  I think I may dare to add tomatoes since I haven't had much heartburn lately.

SYMPTOMS:  Borderline gestational diabetic, emotional ups and downs, hot/stuffy all the time, missing feet, swollen fingers (wedding ring still fits), crazy dreams, heartburn, spicy food aversion, frequent urination, mild constipation.

New this week: some mild lower back pain.  I think I overdid it on Saturday (see preparations), but it's still lingering.  My hips have also started to pop if I pivot quickly on one foot (after yoga I now understand why).

Feet swelling still hasn't reared its ugly head along with the itching.

BELLY BUTTON: No change.

PREPARATIONS: Fan is done and hung!  It came out so cute!  Nick does get these good ideas every so often...Painting in the nursery is done!  The big priority next weekend will be getting the baseboards and door trim in and then I can finally put my adorable decals up!  Now I have to start focusing on finding some cute fabric for curtains.

MILESTONES: I can't believe I'm about to say this, but I can't think of a single milestone.  Movement is much the same, symptoms pretty much the same.  I feel great.  It's almost like I've gotten used to being pregnant...can that be possible?

WEEKLY WISDOM: Slow and steady wins the race.  I keep forgetting to take it easy and I can't pick things up or sit how I want or do all of the things I did pre-pregnancy.  I need to slow it down, take it easy, and listen to my body.  It's hard for me to remember my agenda doesn't necessarily coincide with the pregnant agenda!

24 Weeks and Pregnancy Brain

So, so, so tired of being a papaya!

So this week I have to start off with what will be my most infamous and best pregnancy brain story (at least I hope so). For those of you who have been to our house, you know we bought a bank owned foreclosure two years ago and you know how cosmetically ugly it truly is, structurally sound, just really, really ugly. We’ve been slowly fixing it up over since we’ve bought. We have a few priority items to get done before Cookie arrives.
In our master bathroom (which is particularly heinous), there is a fan/heat lamp. When we first moved in we turned the heat lamp on and noticed a funny smell so we’ve never used it since. We keep talking about buying a new one and replacing it since it gets cold in the winter (for San Diego) and it would be nice to have a heat lamp to use, but we just haven’t gotten around to it. We do use the fan to keep the bathroom from steaming up though.

So I turn the water on the shower to get it nice and steamy, flip the switch on the fan and jump in the shower. Only what I didn’t realize is that I turned on the fan AND the heat lamp. I was in the shower for about five to ten minutes and POP! A spark flies out of the fan/heat lamp and it makes a funny noise. Nick runs and shuts both flips off, looks up and can you guess what he saw?

Yup, fire. He grabs the fire extinguisher and lets it go. Then we take down the fan to make sure the fire was really out. We were both late to work. I was worried all day, but so grateful when I came home and the house was still standing.

TOTAL WEIGHT GAIN: So since I’ve started this modified diet due to the borderline gestational diabetes, I don’t think I’ve gained any weight this week (at least according to the home scale).

MOVEMENT: Nothing new in this department. Cookie is moving all around. She has taken a liking to my bladder as a pillow and punching bag. I notice she moves most when I’m eating and right after I’m done as well as just before I drift off to sleep at night. The night movement is making me think to the point when she’s much bigger and she starts waking me up.

CRAVINGS: No cravings this week. I had the most heavenly mango, kiwi, strawberry fruit salad this week though. It made me very happy (I almost didn’t miss indulging in some chocolate).

SYMPTOMS: Same stuff – borderline gestational diabetic, emotional ups and downs, feet swelling, hot/stuffy even though the weather is cooling down – I had to run out of Home Depot over the weekend because I felt like I was overheating, missing feet, swollen fingers (wedding ring still fits), crazy dreams, heartburn, spicy food aversion, and my new one is frequent urination. I can’t quite describe this, all of a sudden I really, really, really have to go, but when I do it’s not nearly as much as what my full bladder typically puts out.

Feet swelling hasn’t occurred all week and my belly and double D itching is gone for now.

BELLY BUTTON: No change.

PREPARATIONS: Mobile is done! Check it out below. Painting in the nursery is almost done; we’re just doing a couple of touch ups now and then we can start moving Cookie’s furniture in! We’ve starting painting the ceiling fan blades as well. I think we may have a resolution in our floor issues, full blog to come about that once it’s for sure finalized (in a week or two, we’re just waiting for our check). Also received the decals for Cookie’s room…I can’t wait to get them up!

MILESTONES: I was standing in the shower yesterday and happened to poke at my belly. The bottom was way harder than the top. I made Nick take a couple of pokes and he noticed too! I told him it was Cookie sitting at the bottom of the bump (although I have no idea what part of her we were poking). Cookie has also found my bladder and I’m not complaining, but she seems particular to it which has been kind of annoying. Nick got his first piece of “Daddy” baby wear. His mom sent us some gifts for Cookie and one of them was a “Daddy’s Girl” bib. I wish I had a picture of his face when he saw it, especially when I laid it on my belly for him to see.

WEEKLY WISDOM: Get used to the bathroom. I can’t wait to see our water bill this time around. I’ve been flushing a lot. I should calculate how much time I spend going to the bathroom now.

Here are the mobile pictures and pictures of the Week 24 bump…enjoy!

23 Weeks & The Mishaps of Little Mookie

Still a papaya this week...although in my pregnancy book, I read Cookie should double in weight by the end of the month!

So I have to start out with a Little Mookie story this week...he is in the poop house with me right now.  I love him, always will.  If some of you will remember, when Nick & I first got Little Mookie he used to pee on Nick's stuff, and ONLY Nick's stuff.  I thought it was really funny (although Nick didn't quite feel the same way).  I had always told Nick, just don't keep your stuff on the floor, problem solved.  Mookie would go far as to root through the dirty clothes pile while I was separating them for washing and pee directly on Nick's jeans (that happened only once, but it's a true story, and yes, I laughed really hard).  I think Mookie was trying to exert dominance (even though he's been fixed), but who knows what the issue was.  It stopped after about two months (and it wasn't like it happened all the time, just occasionally).

So Karma really sucks, I totally know it, and I should have never laughed at Nick's situation.  Mookie has always been a mama's boy.  He literally follows me all around the house (even the bathroom).  He can't stand it when I close a door and he can't get in, he gets really stressed out and meows and scratches constantly at the door.  I can barely sit down and get situated before he's trying to get in my lap for pets and cuddles.

Which makes Sunday morning so weird.  Nick had fallen asleep watching the TV (yes, our bedroom is still our living room, bedroom, and dining room and we are hopefully close to a floor resolution, but I don't want to jinx it so more will come later) and I woke up around 6 AM and nudged him and requested the TV be turned off.  Nick turns it off and I proceed to try to drift back off to sleep hugging my body pillow close (which for those of you pregnant, it really is a God send, get it sooner rather than later, trust me).  All of a sudden I hear something like water pouring and I think OMG, is Mookie peeing in our room!?!  Cats have accidents, it happens every so often, but rarely.  Mookie is particular about his litter box.  If it's not clean enough for him, he'll pee on the bathroom rug I put in front of it to catch all of his litter, but he NEVER pees outside of the bathroom, not for FOUR years!

I yell, "Mookie!  Are you peeing!?!" and flip on my bedside lamp and there he is mid squat on my gym bag!  I cannot believe it!  He has peed on my gym bag!  I was so freaking mad!  I chased him out of the room...came back into the bedroom and threw the bag in bathtub in our master bathroom figuring I'd wash it when I got up at a decent hour.  I waddled back to the bed and realized I was thirsty and my bedside Nalgene was empty.  In the kitchen, Mookie comes up and tries to be sweet and rub my leg and I go chasing him through the house yelling at him.

I get back to the bedroom and lay back down and the little bugger tries to get in bed with us!  I chase him out again, apologize to Nick because now I'm definitely keeping him awake, and lay back down.  Of course now I'm too worked up to go to sleep and am even more upset that I'm awake at 6 AM on a weekend morning.  Mookie tries to get back in bed to cuddle a couple of more times and each time I chase him away (I mean, he PEED on my stuff, he has to be punished, right?).  He finally gave up and was smart enough to stay away the rest of the morning.  He spent the day desperately trying to make up...I held firm.  Of course he was forgiven eventually (that night before bedtime when he sat by the side of the bed giving me a pitiful look is when I finally gave in and forgave him)...and like I said, Karma really sucks - Nick was really great about the whole thing and told me he knows how much it sucks.

Now on to the fun stuff...

TOTAL WEIGHT GAIN: I think it's only been 1 lb, but it's kind of hard to tell when you just have a home scale...the MD scale is more accurate.

MOVEMENT: Holy cow...had a really, really hard jab (maybe an elbow?) Sunday morning (yes, while I sat awake fuming at Mookie).  My hand just happened to be where the jab was and it was hard and pokey!!!  It was the weirdest thing I had ever felt.  I immediately woke Nick, he felt one too (although it wasn't as hard as the one I felt).  We can now see my belly move when Cookie moves.  It's just the slightest movement right now...no hiccups yet.  Nick likes to lay next to me and watch her move around. 

CRAVINGS: Nick's stir fry.  It's the first meal he ever made me and it made me think he could cook (he's that good at it).  Little did I know it was the only from scratch recipe he could make (the only other thing he knows is spaghetti from a jar, veggie burgers, and heating up left overs).  He made it for me Friday night and made enough so we got left overs Saturday night...pure bliss.

Another craving I've been having on and off is cantaloupe, which is weird because I did not like cantaloupe pre-pregnancy - at all.  It tastes so sweet and wonderful to me now.  I don't try to make sense of it, I just indulge since it's healthy.

SYMPTOMS: Same stuff - emotional ups and downs, feet swelling (although it's down graded to very mild rather than moderate - yeah for me keeping my feet elevated like a good girl), hot/stuffy (Nick still freezes at night), missing feet, swollen fingers (although I discovered I can still fit my wedding ring on if I keep the engagement ring off - it doesn't bunch of the swollen tissue on my finger as much - so I try to wear it when we go out - it makes me feel like I'm not knocked up), crazy dreams, not as much heartburn (I haven't used my Tums in three days!), spicy food aversion, belly itching and double D itching has downgraded and does not occur everyday.

The mild insomnia has not reappeared this week (happiness) and I haven't had another leg cramp since that one.  Another happiness note, I haven't had another bout of the pregnancy constipation (whew!). 

Some of you may think some of this is TMI, but honestly, some of this stuff I never knew about and wish I had known before rather than panicking when they occurred and then be giggled at by my previously/currently pregnant girlfriends (and mother too) and told it's all normal.

Had a gestational diabetes scare.  During my OB visit last week, I had glucose in my urine so that Wednesday I had to go in for a 1 hour fasting glucose test.  That came back high (I was 159 and they wanted it below 139).  So I had to go back Friday for a THREE hour fasting glucose test (that's 4 pokes total - yuck).  Nick went with me in support because I was upset about the whole thing.  Luckily the had Internet so I could get some work done while waiting.  That test came back with one result high and the rest normal so I'm more of a borderline...which means not much other than I have to repeat the test prior to my next OB visit and I have some modifications to my diet.  Not too bad, BUT I'm not allowed cookies, cake, jelly, syrup, ice cream, candy and all the fun stuff Cookie and I love so much, but in the end it's really better for the both of us to cut that stuff out.

BELLY BUTTON: Yup, still there.

PREPARATIONS: Paintings are done, check them out below!  We didn't make much progress on painting this week, We're trying to figure out the best attack.  I have a respirator I wear while painting and Nick does the big areas while I do the detail work (where the ceiling meets the wall, corners, etc.) that the roller can't get.  Nick isn't very good with these spots and he knows I'll make him do it a 100 times until it's right because I am that anal.  Even though I have the respirator, I don't want to do the trimming while he is doing the big areas so we're debating if he should do the big areas first or if I should do the trimming first.  Honestly, I think we were just lazy this weekend.  I got the sticks for my mobile during a walk through the canyon by our house Nick and I took this weekend (I heart nature) and other supplies to put it together.  I plan on working on the balancing act this week...hopefully you'll see a done picture next week.  I also ordered the decals for the fan blades and the one for the wall behind the crib this weekend, but you'll have to wait until they're received and up before you get a peek at those.  We also signed up for a child birth and preparedness class that starts in November.

MILESTONES: I think the movement section speaks of our big milestone this week.  I'm still in awe of that feeling from the outside I felt and Nick gets to feel them more and more each day.  Another milestone, Nick is really into decorating and making choices for Cookie's nursery!  He has opinions on everything, which is refreshing since he really didn't have any opinions in the planning of the wedding.  I can count on him to make the final decision if I present two or three choices of something I like which helps with my feelings of being overwhelmed.

WEEKLY WISDOM: It's OK to be lazy.  Nick and I spent a lazy Sunday in bed (and realized we wouldn't be able to do that any more come February).  We hadn't done that since we were still young and dating (not that we're old now)...it was one of our favorite things to do, just be together and snuggle deep into the covers and enjoy each other and talk about our future together.  Life had gotten in our way, but it brought back all those memories of the things we did when our relationship was still new.  We made a promise to do it again at least one more time before Cookie arrives (although we may do it more than once).

And here they are...nine painted pictures for Cookie's nursery (and yes, that's still our concrete slab - floor is still in dispute).  They don't look so bad if I dare to toot my own horn!

22 Weeks - and we have GENDER!!!

That's a papya up there in case you didn't know (I didn't).

TOTAL WEIGHT GAIN: Had MD visit today...20 lbs. compared to pre-pregnancy (ouch), but OB is happy with weight gain, but he did note I was a bit ahead of the curb and to watch my carb intake (which also hurt since I'm loving the carbs right now...time to put some limits and abstain a bit!)


MOVEMENT: The butterfly flutters/muscle twitches have moved into full on bat flutters.  Getting stronger and more consistent every day.

CRAVINGS: Hit the broccoli craving again and it's now combined with carrots...I'm happy that they seem to be sticking with fruit and veggies in the last couple of weeks.

SYMPTOMS: All the usual suspects: emotional ups and downs, feet swelling (although it's been a lot less due to the consistency with elevating my feet), I feel hot/stuff ALL the time (no matter how chilly it is), some mild insomnia (I woke up at 12AM last night and couldn't go back to sleep until 3AM!), feet still MIA, wedding & engagement ring still MIA, crazy dreams (the last one had to deal with spider - NOT a favorite of mine), yucky heartburn (I've been trying to stay away from culprit foods, but it's been difficult), aversion to anything spicy (which for those of you who REALLY know me, you know hell must have now frozen over!).  The itching of the Double D's and the belly have subsided somewhat (maybe Cookie was going through a growth spurt?).  Now for some gross stuff (as you know, I'm not shy)...first bout of constipation...and let me tell you for those of you who have not experienced pregnancy and constipation - it sucked!  Also my uterus is sore (I guess from all the growing).  No one told me about that one and I had to ask my pregnant girlfriend (she's 12 weeks with her second) if something was wrong or if this was normal.  It's strange feeling - it's like that feeling when you sit in one position too long and then get up to move and it's like "oh!"

BELLY BUTTON: Still an innie, but I looked at it this morning and it has this discolored ring around it now...I think it's stretching out, I can almost see the bottom whole of my belly button ring (that I no longer wear, but the whole is still there - whoever said they're not permanent was a LIAR!). 

PREPARATIONS: Ceiling is painted, ceiling fan purchased, all birds are completed.  I didn't get a chance to work on my painting this weekend.  I got adventurous and took a very long walk in our neighborhood while Nick was working on the yard.  It was a little hot that day and I shouldn't have done it.  I came home overheated and slept the rest of the day until dinnertime.  The next day was spent working on getting supplies to paint the ceiling and a debate over what color the nursery should be (I think we're going to stick with the navy carpet because it's there and it will be easier to just keep it that way).

MILESTONES: We have a gender!!!  Welcome to Bambina Muscolino (below)...Nick was right, it's a girl!  We are beyond excited!!!  It's strange to know what she is...it makes her a very real person to us now and calling her "she" has been a strange adjustment (shout out to Aaron our US tech who spent an hour with us to get the gender - this is after he got the shots he needed).

Nick felt movement!!!  This is probably the best thing that's happened so far, I've waited so long for him to be able to feel her.  It was Saturday morning.  I loved the look of wonderment in his eyes.  He hasn't felt it again, Cookie was a little quiet on Sunday, but he keeps asking if she's moving and if he can feel her.

WEEKLY WISDOM: Make sure you do as many things with your significant other as possible and spend as much time with your friends.  We're not parents yet, but we've been told SEVERAL times how much our lives will change.  A thought hit me the other day, Nick and I will never be just Nick and I ever again once this baby comes.  It will change our relationship so cherish the alone time you have left.

And here she is...Bambina Muscolino.  I think she's pretty cute, but I admit I may be biased!

21 Weeks

TOTAL WEIGHT GAIN: No really sure...it looks like maybe 1/2 to 1 lb.

MOVEMENT: Had what I imagined as an actual punch or kick this weekend.  I was reading after waking up with Nick still snoozing.  My hand was on my belly and, Kung-fu punch (or kick)!  I think I could just barely see my belly move with it.  Cookie didn't do it again and Nick has now taken to always keeping his hand on my belly to try and get that first feel.

CRAVINGS: Watermelon.  I saw it in the grocery store and immediately started drooling.  We bought one and got to share with good friends and their 2 year old on Sunday.  It was bliss.

SYMPTOMS: The weather every since Sunday has been hot, hot, hot.  The hottest days I've ever experienced living in San Diego in my eight years here!  Last night was pure misery trying to sleep.  It never cooled off until around 5AM this morning.  I made an ice pack with a hand towel and Zip lock bag full of ice which helped for a while, but I woke up with it leaking all over me and had to give it up.  Nick was blissfully sleeping next to me...I was really jealous.  I just hope this isn't the start of insomnia.  By belly and double D's are itching like crazy.  I wake up scratching the heck out of them.  I've been using baby oil and lotion, but it only helps for a little while.

BELLY BUTTON: Still an innie, but still getting shallower by the day.  Now when I press at the top of it, it goes from an innie to a full on outtie.  I have to say, this is the one part of pregnancy that creeps me out the most (other than delivery).  It looks pretty gross when I do it.

PREPARATIONS: The paintings are almost done.  I've started the last 2 and just have some touch ups on the 2 other ones.  All the birds are done for the mobile, including stuffing.  Now I just have to go out and get some sticks and put it all together.  Nick has been impressed with my crafty talents, I told I just needed inspiration.  We haven't done much to the nursery.  We were going to begin painting on Saturday until it was 95 degrees at our house.  It's been postponed until next week.  We registered for all our gear and my wonderful girlfriends Tara & Amanda have begun preparations for my baby shower...Nick & I feel so touched to have such wonderful friends!  Still debating on the carpet, but I think the navy blue may be winning out

MILESTONES: As noted above, I believe I saw the first movement, but nothing since Saturday morning so I'm not sure if I imagined it or not.  Repeat ultrasound on Friday!  Think positive thoughts about those little legs being uncrossed.

WEEKLY WISDOM: Enjoy this time.  I may complain about some of the symptoms, but I'm constantly in wonder at what's happening in my body.  I was complaining about, ahem, the feeding parts of my double D's exponentially growing to my mom and she told me I should be happy and proud and that it was beautiful because my body is making a miracle and getting ready to help that miracle adjust to the world.  At that point I was bummed at the ugliness of what was happening, but it really put it in perspective to me.  Yes, it's uncomfortable, yes, I don't feel like the sexy woman I was before, but, yes, it's a miracle and when I feel Cookie move around it's the most wondrous thing to realize you have an actual person in there.  It also amazes me that I made this person with Nick and there will never be another one like our Cookie.

20 Weeks! Half Way There!!!

TOTAL WEIGHT GAIN: Only 1 lb this week, but my belly seemed to really explode over the weekend (that may be my imagination).

MOVEMENT: Cookie is getting stronger and stronger.  I feel the flutters all throughout the day now (especially when I'm sitting still).  Nick still can't feel the movement and I know he's dying with jealousy.

CRAVINGS: The McDonald's cheeseburger craving has subsided somewhat, lately I've been really, really, really wanting fresh broccoli...there's a bowl of it next to me right now.  Finally, a healthy craving!

SYMPTOMS: My feet disappeared on me.  I looked down over the weekend and they were gone.  It was a sad moment for me.  Ankles are also starting to swell by the end of the day.  I have a foot rest in the office, by my shoes are always very tight by the time I leave work.  I've traded in cute heels for tennis shoes.  I tried flats for a while, but they weren't supportive enough.  I can no longer wear my wedding and engagement ring.  That was an even sadder moment when it wouldn't go on my swollen finger.  I cried.  Emotional ups and downs are ongoing...Nick is still being a trooper.  I've got the back pain under control with experimenting with chair positions and different stances when I'm standing for longer periods so it's much better now, but will get worse as this bump gets bigger.  No crazy dreams over the last week...baby brain continues.  It's very embarrassing.

BELLY BUTTON: Still an innie, but if I pull it from the top, it's practically flat.  Maybe a couple of more weeks and it will be flat?

PREPARATIONS: Working steadily on my paintings.  Four of them are actually done and halfway done with the fifth.  Then only four more!  made the first bird for the mobile (although I still need to stuff it).  It was more difficult to sew it together than I though it would be, but it's going to be really, really cute.  Nick moved the lighting fixture to the actual center of the nursery and has started patching the old hole.  We still need to find a new one...my idea is to find a ceiling fan, possibly spray paint the blades (if we need to) and then find alphabet decals to add to the blades.  We may not replace the carpet now...the  navy blue may go good with the light orange walls I'm thinking of...stay tuned.

MILESTONES: HALF WAY THERE and 10 more days until we get another go at Cookie's gender!

WEEKLY WISDOM: If you're a stomach sleeper it, enjoy it.  I've gone 8 weeks not being able to sleep on my stomach anymore because it just isn't comfortable (and now it's literally impossible).  I miss it more than coffee, soda, and booze.  And if you know me well, you know that says something.  Sleeping on your side blows...no matter how many pillows you have.

19 Weeks and Counting

For those of you who don't know, WE'RE PREGNANT!!!  We're at 19 weeks and our little Cookie is doing well.  Many people have asked me the nickname "Cookie" came about.

Cookie came about because when I travelled a lot I had access to the US Airways Club Lounge.  They had the most delicious daily made cookies and I would always bring Nick a couple home.  The day I took the pregnancy test, Nick didn't know I was taking it.  When I came out with it behind my back to tell him, he took one  look at me and my face and asked if I had a cookie for him that I had forgotten in my suitcase.

Now, it had been three months since my last trip, but he had such an excited look on his face, I laughed and tossed the test at him and told him the news.  He was very happy, but a little shocked and looked at me and said, "I thought it was a cookie"...and Cookie was named.  I think the nickname may stick after Cookie is born...stay tuned.

I'm going to copy one of my friend's (thank you CJM) blogs who is also pregnant (she's just 2 weeks ahead of me).  I'm hoping she takes it as more of a compliment and isn't annoyed by it...

TOTAL WEIGHT GAIN: A lot...I was very, very ill my fist trimester, but shoved food in my stomach three times a day any way.  The problem was, the only thing I could keep down was either cheeseburgers from McDonald's or plain pasta, potatoes, rice, and so on.  I also couldn't move much or I would throw up (don't ask me how I made it to work every day!).  I basically laid in bed every moment I was home and still threw up once a day (gross!).  So given I was eating high carb, high calorie foods and wasn't getting a lick of exercise, hello 12 lbs in the first trimester (I don't recommend it - you don't look pregnant, but really, really, really fat - because you are)!  The second trimester weight gain is more hitting the 1-2 lbs per week that is expected.  Total weight gains since the beginning of the first trimester (starting at 14 weeks): 5 lbs (that's 17 lbs total for those of you wondering).

MOVEMENT: Yes!!!  It started last Thursday at the Padres game...could this little one be a baseball fan???  The movement has been happening on and off ever since and it is seriously the coolest feeling ever!  The movements feel like anything from rolling bubbles, butterfly wing flutters, and involuntary muscle twitches.  I feel them daily, some days more than others, but it's there.

CRAVINGS: Not too much...the biggest thing I get a hankering for is cheeseburgers with extra pickles and ketchup.  Yes, my craving is that specific.  It also has to be McDonald's cheeseburgers to really quench the craving.

SYMPTOMS: Yes.  Ginormous boobs...went from a C cup to I don't even know how big anymore...let's just say I outgrew DD.  Scary, scary, scary.  I'm told they're only going to get bigger.  I've been trying to hold out on buying a really nice new bra because as soon as I get the next cup size, they grow again.  Some indigestion, my back KILLS - it's got to be the growing chest, but as much as the boobs have grown, the belly grew more, it now sticks out farther than my chest.  When I look down I see my bump popping out.  Very cool.  I also have baby brain like no other.  I feel very, very, very stupid and like I'm going crazy half the time.  Pregnancy dreams - they're really crazy...I won't even tell you what my twisted mind is coming up with, I just hope it's not affecting Cookie's psychological health.

BELLY BUTTON: Still an innie; however, it's getting shallower by the day.

PREPARATIONS:  The "junk room" has been emptied out and will become the nursery.  All the room baseboards and trim around the doors has been removed (we're going to replace it).  I haven't settled on a paint color, but we are replacing the carpet to a beige color (currently ugly navy blue).  The crib and mattress and changing table have been purchased.  I've also started painting these really cool pictures that will hang in the room.  I also have plans to make my own mobile (thank you again to CJM for the idea - and the pattern).

MILESTONES: 19 week ultrasound today!!! No gender though...Cookie did not cooperate and would not uncross his/her legs...even after 45 minutes of doing all kinds of things.  We do need another one...Cookie was uncooperative enough that the ultrasound technician couldn't get the most detailed look of the heart she wanted so we get one more chance in 2 1/2 weeks (Oct 1st, mark your calendar!).

WEEKLY WISDOM: Be thankful for your husband (if you have one), this has been a roller coaster so far - I'm happy, I'm scared, I'm angry, I'm hungry, I don't believe I'm actually pregnant - and through it all with a shoulder to lean on and nothing but a supportive, loving attitude has been Nick.  He even tells me how beautiful everyday no matter how fat I'm getting...

Here's a couple pics...
 

Cookie at 12 weeks!  Look at that Muscolino nose!



The 16 Week Bump



Cookie at 19 Weeks!