5 Months
(next picture I'll put on a maternity shirt so you can see it better!)

3rd OB appointment results:
-lost another 3 pounds...so far haven't gained, only lost
-measuring a week ahead...I'm considered 20 weeks.
-Ultrasound scheduled 1 week from today!!!

week 19. The baby is growing very quickly, I can tell because I have gained a much bigger appetite lately! It weighs about 8 1/2 oz. this week. I have my 3rd appointment this week Thursday and we'll be setting a date for the ultrasound. I'm getting sooooooo anxious to know the sex! This Thursday Ryan and I decided that we would like to do a blood test to test of down syndrome as well as few other things so we will be praying for healthy results on those. It sure has an active life though, I feel it kicking and moving around a lot! I can't wait until Ryan can feel it. As for a baby bump...I have not posted pictures of one well cuz...I'm still not really showing even though pants are tight.

week 18. What a crazy week this has been! I have actually been feeling the baby move! What a fun feeling!!! For the last few nights I have been feeling the baby moving at 9:30pm. The morning and afternoons haven't been as regular as at night. I can't wait till Ryan is able to feel it as well, I'm sure he is very anxious to feel it. Also this week I have completely lost any and all control I had left of my emotions! I was told "you're just a mirror of however I feel" by a co-worker. Last week I mentioned that I felt as though there wasn't enough time so I decided to start getting ready for the baby by emptying out the baby's room. I still have a ways to go but it did make me feel a lot better. My next appointment is next week and at that appointment we'll make a date to do the ultrasound to find out the sex and to make sure the baby is growing like it should. This week the baby is the size of a bell pepper and is about 5 1/2 inches long...the mind boggling part is that the baby is going to double in size in the next 2 weeks! By week 20 it will be 10 inches long...think BANANA! Remember when it was the size of a sesame seed? I can't wait to finally be able to say "he" or "she" is....instead of "it".

week 17. Wow so far this week has been a doozy! I feel like I have thoroughly lost it! I have this huge feeling that "THERE'S NO TIME!" I realize how ridiculous that may sound...trust me, however it doesn't help me think any more rational! Maybe this feeling comes from being 3 weeks away from being halfway through, or the fact that we're having a baby right after the busiest time of the year...or as a teacher I am making plans months in advance. Whatever it is I realize this time is going to go by so quickly and I have so much to do before we bring the baby home.
I did buy a heart monitor this past week and have had a lot of fun trying to find the heart beat. My mom was able to hear the heartbeat with me this past weekend, I was so excited and proud to share that sound with her! That was certainly worth the $10 I spent to buy it!
This week the baby is 5 inches long and weighs 5oz. About the size of a turnip!

Week 16 . I have not received any baby bump comments only "have you lost weight?" I have been pretty sick at dinner time so I no longer eat much of a dinner, only a few snacks and that seems to work. I have developed a new aversion in the past 2 weeks: meat. I haven't had any cravings as of yet, at this point usually nothing sounds good.
The baby is growing to the size of an avacado this week while growing fingernails and toenails! I keeping thinking of those few seconds when we got to hear the heartbeat and kicking sounds and I want to hear that again!! This week I think i'm going to buy a fetal heart monitor so I can listen to it when I want! I haven't heard wonderful things about these, but I think it would be fun to try! It may help me recognize the kicks earlier...who knows!

I had my 2nd appointment yesterday with the nervous hopes of hearing the heartbeat for the first time. I believed there was a baby in there and I've been changing my whole life because of this belief but yesterday I heard the life of a baby that is living in me! What a truly amazing experience! The heartbeat was strong and my doctor found it immediately unlike last time she searched and searched and then gave up. The heart rate was 150 which is very normal so all seems good so far! Not only was there heartbeats but lots of swishing and some (violent) kicking! I'm so excited to be able to feel those kicks pretty soon! Ryan said "sounds like we'll have a soccer player!" Ryan also believes I'm just starting to show a baby bump...and ya know...just in the last couple days I really believe I am! At my "weigh-in" I actually lost a pound since last visit due to all the dinners I'm not digesting! At my appointment in September I will have my first ultrasound and hopefully find out the sex...I can't wait for that!!! Any guesses?