Baby Thoughts, Nursery and Names - Entering Month 6

week 21

Your baby now weighs about three-quarters of a pound and is approximately 10 1/2 inches long — the length of a carrot. You may soon feel like she's practicing martial arts as her initial fluttering movements turn into full-fledged kicks and nudges. You may also discover a pattern to her activity as you get to know her better. In other developments, your baby's eyebrows and lids are present now, and if you're having a girl, her vagina has begun to form as well.      

Last night Karl and I had this fabulous apple cheddar salad and about ten minutes later, Baby K was kicking like crazy as we were snuggled on the couch watching The Biggest Loser. I sure hope there wasn't arsenic or something in the apple dressing with all this bad talk about apple cider. But it was pretty awesome to feel baby go wild! I have noticed I'm feeling baby move more and more, which makes me smile.

Baby K's nursery is going to have a little Africa in it!

I feel like this Christmas is extra special because I have a little miracle growing inside of me. It's weird. I kind of don't even mind the weather. I mean, it's going to get down to 0 degrees tonight. I just feel happy...a lot. I look at things differently. Things that would worry me normally (buying Christmas presents, stressing about Christmas cards, etc.), just doesn't really matter right now. There are other things going on! If I get them done, I get them done, if not...oh well.

I do notice I'm tired a lot. My mom was worried over the weekend because I'm not normally a tired person. I'm the one with loads of energy wanting to go for a run or wanting to play volleyball for hours on end, but lately, I just want to nap. I think it's because I've been getting up at least 3-5 times a night to go to the bathroom. Then, I tend to get up every time I roll over, so that's another handful of times. To me, that sounds like someone with sleep apnea, ya know? So of course I should be tired. Not to mention I'm creating life - that can take a lot out of someone!

Another thing I've noticed is the weight gain. Dear Lord. I gained seven pounds in ONE month. I'm still in the same maternity jeans....so that's good, right? I kind of gigged at the doctor's but he looked at me and said, "YOU ARE PREGNANT. And trust me...you are one of the very few normal ones. And I'm serious."

His words didn't totally sink in until we walked out into the waiting area and two women from the Shakopee Women's Prison were sitting with their guards, very pregnant and big. So yes, things could be worse...

Our five month check up went great. Baby's heart was super fast this time. I keep thinking we're having a boy, but I don't know how many friends have told me they swore up and down they were having a boy and found out it was a girl! So, I can see that happening to us too. I really don't care. I just want HEALTHY, and a baby with personality!

Right now we're thinking of names. No, we're not doing anything weird like Apple, Owlie or Cockadoo. We're sticking with pretty traditional names. Those will be determined in April!

My mom and I worked on our shower invites for my first shower in Illinois!! She sent them out yesterday. They were so stinken cute. They reflect what the nursery is going to look like. We're turning one of our guest bedrooms into an African safari (now you know why there are animal pics pasted throughout this post) since two Christmases ago my family and I flew out to visit my younger brother and sister in law in South Africa. What a trip of a lifetime. There'll be little lion cubs and giraffes and all that fun stuff!! I can't wait. Of course there will pictures after it's completed.