Author: Lindsey Koetje

How far along?  25 Weeks
Size of Baby:  Cauliflower
Total weight gain/loss: 10lbs.
Best moment this week:  Spending some much needed time with hubby!  We have had most of the discussions we have needed to have about baby’s arrival this week along with a lunch date!  I also loved the night that Wes was talking to little one and telling it to move and kick him and s/he did!  Let the games begin 🙂
Miss Anything? Comfort when relaxing!  My hips have been so achy and sore.  I’m starting the stage of not being able to get comfy sitting or laying down because of my hips.  This is going to be a long 3 more months if I can’t figure this out!
Movement: This week baby decided to jump on the bed, no joke!  I was laying on my side and I felt major kicks on the side that was touching the bed but was seeing it on the opposite side my belly!  It was awesome and pretty hilarious. 🙂
Food cravings: sherbert!  I may or may not have already gone through 2 tubs in about a week 🙂
Anything making you queasy or sick:  I am slowly learning more things about my iron pill.  I have to take it on an empty stomach but apparently not totally empty.  If I take it when I first get up, after about 30 min (suppose to wait an hour to eat) I get really nauseous.  However if I wait and take it the 2 hrs after breakfast, I am fine for the hour.  Really weird but I’m learning.  This is the one vitamin that has too many rules and facets to it that it is taking me a while to figure out.
Gender prediction:  The majority of people I talk to all think boy since I am carrying lower.  I am still trying to not get my hopes up one way or the other but I tend to agree.
Labor Signs: maybe starting Braxton Hicks contractions… not sure though
Symptoms:  major hip pain, minor cramping, Braxton Hicks contractions, always peeing, minor leg cramps, and a hearty appetite.
Belly Button in or out? In, although it is starting to look more flat
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy all week!
Looking forward to:  I get to see my beautiful nieces in a few days!  I’m so excited to see them and spend some time with Wes’ family.  We haven’t been up there since we announced to them back in Feb. and probably won’t be back up until Christmas time.

How far along?  24 Weeks
Size of Baby:  Cantaloupe
Total weight gain/loss: According to our dr. visit, 9 lbs.
Size of Belly: 25 cm
Maternity clothes?  Oh yes, and still on the search for jeans and shorts!  Not an easy task apparently!
Best moment this week:  Hearing our little ones heart beat and watching him/her move around.
Miss Anything? Not really anything this week, it’s been a great week!
Movement: Baby is definitely able to been seen moving around now!  Baby loves to kick daddy’s hand when he is playing with little one. 🙂  I love watching him connect already!
Food cravings: strawberries this week, they are so good!
Anything making you queasy or sick:  not this week
Gender prediction:  Sticking with my gut so far and getting more impatient to find out 🙂
Labor Signs: Nope
Symptoms:  major low back and hip pain, minor cramping, always peeing, and starting to get uncomfortable rolling over in bed.
Belly Button in or out? In, although it is starting to look more flat
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: For the most part, happy this week!  It was a busy week with friends and Simba time.
Looking forward to:  Seeing Wes’ family in Michigan!  We are going to get to see our beautiful nieces! 🙂 My sister in laws and mother in law are also super sweet and throwing us our first shower.  We are so excited to celebrate this little life with family and friends!

How far along?  23 Weeks
Size of Baby:  Grapefruit
Total weight gain/loss: I think I’m still at about 5 lbs.
Maternity clothes?  Normally I am in all maternity clothes, but the dress in the pic happens to be a pre pregnancy dress that still fits!  Yay for shopping in my closet 🙂
Sleep:  I’m doing well with it this week.  I have found out that my parents mattress is way better than mine!
Best moment this week:  Spending the weekend with my mom.  We went fabric shopping, went to see my grandmother, and spent hours just talking.  I love that I am now close enough to go spend some time with her when Wes is really busy at work.
Miss Anything? I know it is silly because it is still so early and I have quite a ways to go, however I am starting to miss bending easily.  I have to repaint my toes because they look awful after the sand and waves did a number on them but I am dreading it since bending is uncomfortable that I haven’t done it yet.  I wasn’t planning to do a pedicure until later on when it was impossible to do my toes not just uncomfortable but doable.  However, I’m starting to rethink that and I may go treat myself soon!
Movement: Baby is moving everyday and I think I may have seen my belly bulge at one point.  It was in my peripheral vision and once I started staring baby didn’t cooperate but I think the visual of movement may be starting! 🙂
Food cravings: bread!  I love it and can eat it at every meal!
Anything making you queasy or sick:  not this week
Gender prediction:  Thinking it is probably a boy.  As I was praying over the baby this week I got a very clear vision of me baby wearing a little boy at church.  We shall see!
Labor Signs: Nope
Symptoms:  major low back and hip pain, peeing often, and a very hearty appetite… I think my feet are starting to swell if I stand too long too
Belly Button in or out? In
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy!  My energy has been up for the most part and I have been able to get things accomplished!
Looking forward to:  Hearing our baby at our appt this week!  I know it is something that we have been able to hear since week 9 but it is still so exciting and I love it every time! 🙂

How far along?  22 Weeks
Size of Baby:  Papaya
Total weight gain/loss: about 5 lbs.
Maternity clothes?  Yep, fully in maternity wear out in public since non-maternity is snug and short!
Sleep:  For the most part, it is working.  There was one night that I woke up at about 4:30 and couldn’t get back to sleep.  I am happy that my body and Simba are starting to let me nap!
Best moment this week:  It is very basic, but I loved Sunday afternoon!  Wes no longer has youth in the evenings so when church is done about noon, he is done for the day.  So we went home, I took a nap while he played with Simba and worked.  We then walked into town and had some great discussions!  It was just a relaxing and wonderful Sunday with my love!
Miss Anything? My energy on a consistent basis!  I have learned and seen a cycle that when I feel great I do a lot and then my body takes about 2 days to recover with no energy and headaches.  I need to start pacing myself so I can stop this cycle.
Movement: Baby is moving so much and getting so much stronger!  Baby likes to either think my bladder is a trampoline or kicks on one spot consistently causing me to be sore.  I think baby is bruising me from the inside, but I still love it since that means baby is getting so much stronger!  Baby is also moving more and more with each passing day!
Food cravings: strawberries
Anything making you queasy or sick:  I hate my vitamins!  They don’t make me sick but just feel crappy.  I take them at night so I can sleep through it but the nights I can’t get to sleep it comes up on me and delays sleep even longer.
Gender prediction:  No strong feelings this week.
Labor Signs: Nope
Symptoms:  Constantly peeing, leaking milk, and major low back and hip pain
Belly Button in or out? In
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy!  I have been feeling really good and the kicks are getting so strong that every time I feel baby I get a huge smile and just talk to him/her.
Looking forward to:  Fabric shopping with my mom!  We are making the baby bedding and started looking at fabrics a few weeks ago but we are heading to the biggest fabric store in the area and I am so excited to get started with things for the nursery!

How far along?  21 Weeks
Size of Baby:  Pomegranate
Total weight gain/loss: about 5 lbs.
Maternity clothes?  Oh yeah! My normally loose shirts, like t-shirts I sleep in, are now getting pretty snug!
Sleep:  I think I may have figured it out… crossing my fingers it stays that way for a bit.
Best moment this week:  Wes and my family getting to feel baby move!!! We spent the week at the beach with my family and my mom was talking to the baby.  As she had her hands on my belly, the baby rolled over and she got so excited!  Wes ran over and about that time, the baby kicked him 🙂 Every night when we get in bed now, Wes just holds my belly and the baby will kick him most nights!
Miss Anything? Laying on my belly!  At the beach I couldn’t lay on my belly so I felt like I was half tan/half pail.  This is also proving to be an issue when Simba rolls or pushes a toy under the couch… no longer able to bend down and get it out from under there for him, just have to wait for daddy to get it! 🙂
Movement: Lots more!  Feeling it from the outside and some of the kicks are no longer fluttery!  Our little one is getting strong!
Food cravings: Nothing too bad this week
Anything making you queasy or sick:  Nothing making me queasy but baked potatoes still do not sound good.  I used to LOVE them and now I just don’t want one at all.
Have you started to show yet: Definitely
Gender prediction:  Still thinking boy… this could be because my mom thinks it is a boy and I was with her all week.  She kept referring to the boy as “he” and “fella” so it rubbed off.
Labor Signs: Nope
Symptoms:  Constantly peeing, eating everything in sight, cramping, major low back pain (I think it is my sciatic) and indigestion has begun!  I also think my milk is starting to come in
Belly Button in or out? In
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy!  This week we were at the beach, how can you not be happy with that!  Plus, my hubby can now feel baby!  I love just sitting and holding my belly feeling our acrobat in there!

Plus to top the week off, we finally completed our registries (for the most part)!  One more thing done and many more to go in preparation to meeting our little one.  It is so exciting to dream of our home being taken over by these things with a little one! 🙂
Looking forward to:  Not really pregnancy related, but I can’t wait to see my new niece!  My beautiful sister-in-law just had their second amazing daughter and I am one lucky aunt!  Kelcie is gorgeous and I know Kayla is being a wonderful big sister.  We get to visit them in about a month, too long!  🙂