23 weeks

How far along? 23 weeks.
• Total weight gain: +5 lbs.

• Maternity clothes? Oh yes, pants HAVE to bematernity. Maternity shirts are muchmore comfortable than the regular ones I have.

• Stretch marks? Not yet, I’ve been slathering upwith lotion 2-3 times a day. Although I’mnoticing my puberty stretch marks more lately. I don’t know if I’m noticing them because they are more apparent, or ifI’m just looking at them more often.
• Sleep: Once I fall asleep, I usually only wake up once per night. But it’s uncomfortable trying to fall asleep. My back has been very sore and it’s hard tolay on my back or side. So finding theright angle for that specific evening is tough.

• Best moment this week: Getting a bunch of stuffknocked off our to-do list. Purchased a(new) crib, stroller, carseat, and pack and play!

• Miss Anything? Not getting sore really easily. Oh and a good Strongbow. J

• Movement: A TON. All day the baby is moving and grooving.
• Food cravings: Pizza

• Food aversions: Nothing particular.

• Gender: Unknown.

• Labor Signs: Nothing new here.

• Symptoms: Getting aches and pains in mymid-section and back, sore, pressure when the baby moves around.

• Belly Button in or out? Flat-to out. The top part is sticking out, but the bottomis still in. This is new to me, so I’mnot sure if it will completely pop. I noticedin the last few days that I can see it under my tank top, so I guess that meansit’s out.

• Wedding rings on or off? On, and hoping to staythat way.
• Looking forward to: Painting, narrowing down our list of names andfinding a daycare.

Starting callingdaycares this week, and very few are calling me back! What’s the protocol on calling themagain? How much is too much? I did a ton of research before I called, butif they don’t get back to me, do I really want them wanting our baby?

I’m startingto feel huge this week. I’ve beengetting a lot of comments at work about how I’m really starting to show. People are being nice and telling me I’mcute, but I still feel big. I look downand wonder where this belly came from. It’s still a little surreal. Isee my reflection in the glass doors when I make my nearly daily trip to Targetand it still catches me off guard that I’M THE PREGNANT lady in thereflection. It’s fun, but still hard towrap my head around it!