WE ARE FINALLY REGISTERED!!!

So, I finally got off of my butt and set up registries for our sweet little boy. I was dreading having to go through the process of figuring out everything that we would need to bring our a little guy home to, but, it was actually kind of fun and now it's done. If anyone is interested in checking out our registries we are regsitered at the following places:

www.amazon.com
www.babiesrus.com

You can find us under baby regsitry at both places. Just run a search for Amanda Koiter. There are things we dearly need from both places!!! Thanks so much for taking the time!!

xoxoxoxo

WEEK 21: STRETCH MARKS

Your baby is grazing on whatever you are right now, but those stretch marks are yours alone, Mom.How big is your baby? About the size of a large banana — and speaking of bananas, if you eat one this week, there's a good chance your baby will get a taste, too. That's because he swallows a bit of amniotic fluid each day (for nutrition, hydration, and to practice digesting), so he eats whatever's on your menu. In other (not so welcome) news, you may start to notice some stretch marks as your body expands and your belly and breasts just keep on growing. These pink, red, or purple streaks appear when the supporting tissue under your skin gets torn as skin stretches (and stretches and stretches) during pregnancy. Not every woman gets them, though you're a likely candidate if your mom had stretch marks during her pregnancy or if you've gained weight rapidly.

OUR TWENTY WEEK BELLY PIC!!!

Here's my belly in all of it's 5 month glory!!! I'm really starting to show now and perfect strangers are asking me how far along I am. Finally, everyone else is beginning to notice!!!! Of course, there were the girls at the pool the other day who I chatted with for about 20 minutes and frolicked in front who didn't even realize I was pregnant until I got ready to leave. Go figure -- a 5 month pregnant gal in a bikini and they never knew -- I'll take that as a compliment!!! I'm feeling like a million bucks and really enjoying this part of the pregnancy. I'm showing enough that I feel beautiful and pregnant, but I'm still small enough that I'm not experiencing any of the aches and pains yet. Most of my shirts still fit at this point and my maternity shirts are still too big to wear. I am sporting quite a few pairs of belly band jeans (as you can see in the photo) and I'm loving it!!!! They are the most comfortable pants on the planet. And the baby agrees -- he doesn't like anything too tight pressing against my uterus. He gives some pretty decent kicks/punches if I'm wearing something tight or sitting bent over. He really likes his space. I love feeling him kick and move around in there. It feels almost like a fish swimming around in my belly!!!! It's so miraculous. Other than that -- I have to pee a lot and I miss sleeping on my back and stomach -- everything else is just life as usual!!!! Oh yeah -- and the Braxton Hicks -- and I should mention that Jason is so excited about the baby and me being pregnant. He makes me feel like a gorgeous pregnant goddess and he can't stop putting his hands on the baby and talking to him!!! He's already a proud and loving daddy!!!!

LET'S TALK BRAXTON HICKS.....

So it turns out that my uterus is apparently just as competitive as I am in my athletic life. Just as I used to run daily to practice for upcoming runs and marathons, my uterus practices daily for the upcoming labor. I swear at least once a day my uterus painlessly contracts and becomes like a rock in my abdomen. It freaked me out at first, and then I thought maybe it was the baby just pushing against me, and finally with research I came to learn that what I was experiencing were the ever famous braxton hicks contractions. I admit that it seems very early for such contractions, especially since I started experiencing them at 16 weeks, but it turns out that the uterus starts practicing like this as early as 7 weeks. Most people just can't feel them. I, however, can. My midwife says it's completely normal, and since I'm not experiencing any pain, patterns, or predictability (the three p's) I feel confidant that my uterus is just "getting in shape" for the big day. What a determined little organ!!!!

THE NURSERY'S BEFORE PICTURES

Now that we are officially moved in and all of the boxes have been emptied and moved to the trash bins, we finally have the time to focus on decorating the baby's room. As you can see the furniture that Nana Bernero bought for our little guy has arrived and we successfully put it together!!! The crib and dresser/changing table are so beautiful. The chocolate wood really pops in the room and I can't wait to see what it looks when all is said and done. As you can see from the pictures -- as of about a week ago -- this was what the nursery looked like at it's very beginning stages. I am excited to say that nana, Jason, and I have begun making changings to the room and the transformation is beginning to take place. Of course you can't see it until it's completely finished, but that shouldn't be too long!!! I can tell you that the red chair, fireplace, and rug are no longer in the room and have been replace with more appropriate items. Oh -- and the closet has been emptied to make room for baby's clothes and bins and what not. I will update on colors and patterns -- lots of love!!!