Expecting the Unexpected: 23 weeks

Week numero 23! This week's produce: an ear of corn! This week, you're about 8 inches and slightly over a pound. However, these next few weeks mark the beginning of some serious weight gain for you. You're supposed to double in size within the next few weeks! By 25 weeks, my uterus is supposed to be the size if a soccer ball! Stop what you're doing right now, go find a soccer ball, and put it under your shirt. That's me in two weeks.

Also this week:

Your blood vessels and lungs are developing to prepare for breathing.
Your ears are picking up more sounds and you are starting to recognize loud nosies you hear a lot. (Like me talking and Jax barking.) You'll be used to these loud noises, then, we're your born.
And your face is fully formed! You just need some fat to fill it out.

Wow. You can really start to see a big change in the weekly shots. Just look from Week 20 to 23!

Symptoms: This week I've definitely felt like a pregnant woman. I feel like I'm moving a little slower and leaning back a little more when I walk, getting closer to the waddling phase. :) The linea nigra (the dark line that appears down the stomach of pregnant woman) has started to show. I've also officially moved from the "Is she pregnant? It's to close to call. I better not say anything." -stage to the "She's definitely pregnant! I'm going to ask her about it." Which is so nice! I love that I look seriously pregnant now and not just like I'm gaining weight. I love being able to talk about my little baby inside. I've definitely noticed my belly more this week, too. It's harder to bend forward or over without realizing that there's a big belly in the way.

Sleep: Still not having a problem here. (Knock on wood.) We had a few hot days that were a little uncomfortable, but I still slept pretty good.

Best moment this week: I went to cheer runners on for the half marathon I was supposed to run, but decided against it. Anyways, I wore my maternity running shirt that says "running buddy" over the stomach. I got so many sweet comments and congratulations. It was so nice.

Baby items purchased this week: I got a nursing pillow that I ordered a while ago because it was on sale. I also got a few cute maternity dresses for my showers. Plus, your Gma McChain bought you some nice outfits. (She said they were gender neutral, however, if you're a girl, you may be looking awfully tom boyish in a few of them.) I also won a $25 gift card to an online baby boutique from a blog contest online. That was really exciting! I'm not going to spend it, though, until you're born and find out what you are. I don't want to buy a tutu for a boy or some Vans with skulls on them for a girl.

Suspicions on gender: This week, my BFFs Katy and Cari decided I'm having a boy. However, I went to get my haircut and my friend/stylist Krystal said she thinks I'm having a girl.

Miss anything? Nope! I've been so utterly happy to be pregnant all this week.

Movement: I'm pretty sure that I felt a kick from outside this week. I had my hand on my stomach and was sure I felt it. It's so hard to tell, though, because I can definitely feel it from the inside. So, it's hard to tell if my hand actually felt it or if I just knew it was happening because I could feel it on the inside.

Looking forward to: Seriously, you being here. I was thinking about how far along I was this week and was just amazed at how fast the time was going. Then, I was thinking about the day you enter this world, the first time you smile, when you sit up, when you laugh, when I give you a bath, and all those other things I can't wait to do, and I seriously started bawling tears of just pure joy. I can not wait for you to be here.

Next prenatal appointment: 2 weeks.

It's been a really busy week over here! Your dad and I went to two Brewers' games during the week. I went to Green Bay on Saturday and Sunday to cheer on a friend running the half marathon. I was originally signed up to run it, but decided I wasn't really up for it and didn't want to push myself too hard for your safety. It was a hard decision to make, but in the end I think I made the right one. Now, next year I can run the race, but you and your dad can be waiting for me at the finish line!

I also went to get my hair cut by a good friend and I love it! I needed to switch up my look a bit and am so happy with it. It makes me feel so good about myself.

Also, something I've been struggling with a lot lately is how our first (fur) baby is going to react once you arrive. I know he's going to love you and be such an amazing "big brother," but I feel really bad about not being able to give him as much attention once you arrive as we do know. There's no doubt that there's more than enough love in my heart to love both of you to the moon and back, but I just don't want him to feel neglected or discarded. Thinking about that makes me feel so bad. I'm sure the transition will go well and within a few months you'll be able to show Jax lots and lots of attention, but I still worry that he's going to feel left behind. I guess I'm just going to have to make a conscious effort to show him lots of love whenever I can once you get here.