Week 24

24 weeks has many milestones.  We moved, Chris had a birthday, my dad and step-mom celebrated 25 years of marriage, and I really have started to feel Little Smith move.

Our living situation has been quite the whirlwind.  You might remember we were previously under contract in December and it fell through.  We then put our place back on the market after the holidays and were quickly under contract again.  This time we had 2 1/2 weeks to find a place to live and move. There are not many places to rent this time of year, but we found a place that has everything we need (for now).  Since we downsized, we sold a bunch of stuff.  This helped purchased a new couch and chair (our Christmas presents to each other). Now, we are all moved in, boxes everywhere.  It is time to get settled and really start to prepare for Little Smith's arrival!

24 weeks also marks the "Oh, wow, I really am pregnant" phase.  Not that I have been questioning it, it has just become more real this week.  When Chris took pictures I realized I really do have a baby belly!  It is one of those things where you know your body is changing and you can see it in the mirror everyday, but it takes a picture to realize all the changes at once!

Things to look forward to this week...officially closing on our home and becoming debt free!

Week 22

Well, another week knocked off the clock.  I can really feel Little Smith moving around now!  Rather than the little pops I was feeling before it is more like jabs and pokes.  Sometimes, it even feels like a ball rolling around on the inside!  Chris also got to feel Little Smith kick (or punch) for the first time.  I have been waiting for him to experience this moment.  Every time the baby would move I would place my hand on my stomach to see if I could feel anything on the outside.  Finally, one late evening (the little one takes after dad and is a night owl) it happened!  As I was lying in bed waiting for Chris the movements really started going.  I shouted for him to come in.  Of course it took a bit, but the little one was still moving around.  All of a sudden Chris felt the movements.  It was quite the moment.  I love that Chris can finally start experiencing some of the things I have been feeling!

Christmas Eve

Baby Smith's little foot

Today was a very exciting day for the Smith family...we got to see our little one up close and personal in our 20 week ultra sound.  It is amazing to see the human being growing inside me, it makes it seem more real.  From head to toe, we got to see (almost) all the little parts of our soon to be child.  At 20 weeks it is easy for the doctor to tell the sex of your baby.  However, right when Chris and I found out we were expecting we made the decision to not find out the sex of our baby before they were born. Although we did not want to find out the doctor still needed to look at that area.  So, when the time came, she turned off our viewing television and began searching.  However, our little one had also made the decision with us and simply would not let the doctor discover his or her special secret.  His or her little legs were crossed, pushed down into my pelvis.  It simply wasn't meant to be.

Baby Smith

After our appointment Chris and I celebrated our own little Christmas together.  We had delicious bruschetta and cheese as an appetizer.  We then enjoyed a yummy dinner of crab, mashed potatoes and zucchini.  We relaxed, watched a couple of movies, exchanged gifts, and enjoyed our last Christmas as a twosome.  The anticipation of next Christmas with a little one was on our minds all night.  We are simply enjoying each other in the months to come before we welcome a new person into our lives forever.

20 weeks

Today marks the half-way point!  It's hard to believe my pregnancy has reached the half-way mark.  It seems like we just started sharing our wonderful news.  Now, we are fast approaching Little Smith's due date.  He or she will be here before we know it!

Week 19

This week I started to get the first comments from others about my belly popping!  I am still able to wear my regular clothes; although some are beginning to feel tight (I am much more comfortable with my pants unbuttoned!).  Therefore, I invested in a belly band this week.  I love that I can wear it over my pants and it holds them up.

Week 18

I am starting to feel our little baby move around more.  The movements tend to last a bit longer and feel stronger.  It is not the sensational popping anymore, more like flutters.  Each time it happens I am expecting it to hurt, just because it is such an abnormal feeling.  I start to clinch up, but then realize it really doesn’t hurt.  As time passes and I get more use to the feeling, I think it will become more normal and I won’t expect it to hurt!

Bummer

Yep, that is bacon!

Adding a little Flare!

Our eager anticipation of selling our home and starting a new chapter before Christmas came to a halt today.  The contract for our home fell through today.  It is disappointing.  On the bright side, I got to decorate our home one last time for Christmas.  The stockings are hung.  The ornaments on the tree, including our new additions from our family exchange.  And the smell of Christmas is in the air with the candles lit.  We will put our place on the market again at the start of the new year.