19 Weeks!

It’s hard to believe I am almost half way through this pregnancy!  Ben and I are enjoying talking about Tippett and his arrival.  We started looking into daycare centers this week and visited our first of many on our short list.  I’ve heard horror stories of people getting on waiting lists even before they were pregnant and thought I was slightly behind in inquiring at several centers.  Turns out I’m ahead of the game and every single school I called had openings for November!  We’re pretty lucky I get to take a such a long maternity leave. 

We also spent Saturday test driving strollers and fell in love with the Baby Jogger City Mini.  It’s incredibly light weight, compact, turns on a time and folds so easily even single handed!  I was sold.  We can get an adapter bar to fit the infant seat.  I hated the idea of having 3 to 4 different strollers for different uses adn this one seems so universal.  We also spent almost two hours registering at Babies R Us…who knew there were so many choices for bottles, pacifiers, and even thermometers.  I even felt prepared after studying Baby Bargains for months now. 

I’m also feeling pretty good.  I’ve become obsessed with fruit – kiwis, strawberries and blueberries.  I also love peanut butter and not just any peanut butter…special kinds like Dark Chocolate, White Chocolate Swirl and Tropical Banana!  All are delish on cinnamon waffles for breakfast or stirred into oatmeal with extra banana.  While those seem like pretty “good-for-you” cravings, I’m also bad with cake!  Every single shopping trip to Target ends with buying a slice of cake from the bakery and all I can think about are cupcakes from The Cupcake Shoppe.

Our baby's sensory development is exploding! His brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. Some research suggests that he may be able to hear my voice now.  Baby Tippett weighs about 8 1/2 ounces and measures 6 inches, head to bottom — about the size of a large heirloom tomato.  His arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of his body now. His kidneys continue to make urine and the hair on his scalp is sprouting. A waxy protective coating called the vernix caseosa is forming on his skin to prevent it from pickling in the amniotic fluid.

How far along? 19 weeks!
Total weight gain/loss: 3 lbs
Maternity clothes? Still wearing the bella band with jeans, but all maternity dress pants and few maternity tops
Stretch marks? none
Sleep: Lots of sleep…feels so good.
Best moment this week: Registering for Baby Tippett!
Movement: almost daily, especially at night. 
Food cravings: Blueberries, strawberries, peanut butter and cake.
Gender: BOY!!
Labor Signs: None
Belly Button in or out? Still in
What I miss: Beer…we found some old favorites this weekend, but they’re put away until June
What I am looking forward to: purchasing nursery furniture
Weekly Wisdom: I highly recommend Baby Bargains for all things the baby needs…practical and has great reviews.
Milestones: Felling Tippett move every day!