week 21...

Sorry, I've been on hiatus, but I'm back. Today I am officially 21 weeks along. We are past the halfway point! I am really showing now, which is exciting and hard to adjust to all at the same time. Its very strange for someone to ask if you are expecting, because they are pretty much saying, " Wow, your stomach is huge!" Before this moment, that has always been a massive insult, so I have to change gears and just enjoy it. The first time someone asked I felt my jaw drop to the floor. What did this lady just ask me....oh wait, I am pregnant. Let me pull my jacket back so I can flaunt it in her face. Why yes, yes I am, expecting, feel free to bask in my radiating glow.

Thankfully, I can still fit all of  my clothing. However, depending on the jeans I'm wearing I do have to do some adjusting. For example, last weekend after going out to dinner, before I went to the movie theater, I took my belt off....it gets worse. As soon as the lights dimmed in the theater, I unbuttoned my pants! I felt like an old man, but it was so nice to be able to breathe. I almost bought my first maternity item, but I just wasn't ready for that yet. So I carefully placed the item back on the rack and ran the other direction. But I'm pretty sure in the next week or two I'll be purchasing a belly band ( its kind of like a tube top, but it only goes around your waist to either cover the fact that your pants don't zip, hold up maternity pants that are still a bit too big, or to hold up your maternity pants post delivery).

So last Friday we had our big 20 week ultrasound. To prep, you have to drink 32oz of water, so that the tech can see you cervix. On paper that sounds fine, but when you already have a weak little bladder like me, this is a major feat. When I drink water it goes right through me, usually in 6 minute intervals so I have to run to the bathroom every 6 minutes. Its quite the inconvenience. Not to mention having a small child sitting on and kicking my bladder. But imagine me having to hold it for over an hour, it was a nightmare. When she said I could finally go, I was praying, literally, not to wet myself. I did quite the little dance in the bathroom while trying to unbutton my pants....I hope they don't have cameras in there.

So from what they can tell from the ultrasound, our little baby is healthy. And everyone can have a sigh of relief, it looks like our baby probably does not have cleft lip or spinal bifida. Those were a couple of the defects that were keeping me up at night, even though no one in either of our families has those disorders. I'm a worrier, what can I say? And guess what? We are having a little baby boy! A boy, I knew it! I guess that maternal instinct is kicking in already. During the ultrasound, there was absolutely no mistaking it was a boy. I was kind of hoping for a girl, but I'm thrilled to be having a boy. I can't wait for that "mother-son" relationship. Andrew, watch out, there's a new man in town!

Here are a few pictures taken during the ultrasound. Enjoy!

This is a view of his little face. It looks like a skull, which is creepy, but I guess that's what it should look like.

This is his cute little profile.

He is all boy!