Simple Math

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That's right folks!  Ryan and I are expecting a new addition to our family in September.  I am just a  touch over 19 weeks right now.  We've been pretty slow about announcing and there are still some people we haven't told personally but it's starting to get a little hard to hide...18 week pic:

19 week pic:

Wow does it look like I changed tremendously in just a week's time.  And actually, I kind of did.  I was able to wear some of my real pants up until about 17 weeks but for the past couple weeks it's been all maternity pants all the time.  And maternity shirts are also starting to become a necessity.  But I also maintain that the 19 week picture might be slightly skewed because it was taken right after dinner, which included 1.5 large chocolate chip cookies and a large glass of milk.

Thankfully, I have a pretty good appetite now.  The first trimester had this girl (who usually lives to eat) running away from pretty much anything that wasn't a fruit or some type of bland carb.  Well, I should clarify - the first trimester other than the first 5 weeks when I was pregnant but didn't know it yet.  During those first 5 weeks we were tipped off that something might be going on with me because I would wake up every night and raid the kitchen.  Ryan thought we had raccoons or something!  He said he'd hear rustling in the kitchen late every night and then wake up the next morning to a mess and half the food was gone.  Anyway, back to the part where I started not eating.  I never knew such extreme feelings of food aversion were possible!  I still am averse to some food, such as meat and Asian food, which are two things I normally love.  I really hope I can start liking Asian food again at some point because that has always been my favorite thing ever and it's important to me to get back to Hong Kong more frequently than in the past and I'd like to be able to enjoy the cuisine while I'm there.

Also during the first trimester, I was so tired I could barely drag myself out of bed in the mornings.  And then I would feel EXTREMELY exhausted ALL DAY LONG.  Even though I was so tired I still wasn't able to sleep at night...which added to the exhaustion.  Thankfully, I don't feel quite that worn out now; however, I haven't gotten an energy boost like a lot of women and books say happens in the 2nd trimester.  I would say I'm much more energetic than I was first trimester but I'm nothing like I was pre-pregnancy and I still don't sleep very well.  But really all in all I feel pretty great and can't complain because I don't think I've felt nearly as bad as a lot of women do during pregnancy.    

I am still able to work out so I am happy about that.  I ran a 5k when I was 12 weeks and still jog (slowly) and attend spin classes now.  Tonight I tried this elliptical looking thing only it makes lateral movements instead of anterior/posterior.  Wow!  I think my glutes and abductors/adductors are going to feel it tomorrow.  I think I am now obsessed with this new to me machine.  

All of the doctor's appointments have gone well up until this point.  I've seen three different doctors on three different visits and each of them has commented on how "active" this baby is.  Basically, I think I'm having a mini-Ryan (whether it's a boy or girl) that is probably going to be up at the crack of dawn ready to go for the rest of the day.  Lord help me.  Maybe now Ryan will have someone that can keep up with him.

So next week is the ultrasound where, if baby cooperates, we find out if it's a boy or girl.  Based on my symptoms and pictures - any guesses on the gender?