21 weeks

Your pregnancy: 21 weeks

How your baby's growing: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.See what your baby looks like this week.Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.
How your life's changing:
You're probably feeling pretty comfortable these days. You're not too big yet, and the usual discomforts associated with early pregnancy are, for the most part, gone. If you're feeling good, relax and enjoy it while you can — the third trimester may bring with it a new crop of complaints.That's not to say you won't have some minor glitches to deal with now. For example, increased oil production may contribute to the development (or worsening) of acne. If that's the case, be diligent about washing well with a gentle soap or cleanser twice a day, and make sure that any moisturizer or make-up you use is oil-free. Don't take any oral acne medications — some are very hazardous during pregnancy — or use any topical acne products without first checking with your practitioner.You're also more prone to varicose veins now. As your pregnancy progresses, there's increasing pressure on the veins in your legs; higher progesterone levels, which may cause the walls of your veins to relax, can make the problem worse. You're more likely to get varicose veins if other family members have them. Also, they tend to get worse with each successive pregnancy and as you age. To help prevent or minimize varicose veins, exercise daily, prop up your feet and legs whenever possible, sleep on your left side, and wear maternity support hose.

19W 3D

Boy bedding

I haven't put any boy bedding up...only girl. That's not really fair- especially now that we KNOW there is no need for floral bedding. So, here are some boy sets from Pottery Barn Baby I like. Since I'm doing wallpaper in pin stripes (medium blue and navy over white) or just some tone on tone in med & light blue wide vertical stripes, the bedding needs to be relatively simple. No animals and PLEASE no arbitrary sports parafanalia. Now, a little Colts hoodie (or Cubs for Uncle Pease) is fine but the stuff that just had a random football on it is not for me! White furniture and sticking w/ the crib I put in an earlier post. I'd love an upholstered rocker in navy blue w/ white piping but we'll have to see if that's in the budget. I did find one at Babies R Us if it's a really true navy. We're doing coastal look w/ sailboat accents. If anybody else finds something, let me know!

Picture 1- this is the only set from Babies R Us I found. Too busy? CLearly the colors and the sailboars are what I'm looking for.

Picture 2- this is the rocker I'm thinking of. Have to see to make sure it looks navy and not Colts blue. I LOVE the one at Pottery Barn but it's twice as expensive so that's not gonna happen! I'm also not a huge fan of microsuede but it does clean up well. I've looked at the gliders (less money) but there are very few that are white and I think the stained gliders look a little "old school".

Picture 3- it actually has some zebras on it but doesn't so much fit my theme. Just really like the colors and the simplicity. Just a smidge of pattern

Picture 4- ABC Toile bedding- some of you know how much I love toile. But prob'ly a little tooty fruity for a boy. Just dreaming...

Picture 5- Pique white bedding w/ pale blue detail. Also can monogram. Very tasteful I think but is white a great idea? I'm not sure. I guess I could always buy some blue sheets.

Picture 6-"Chase" striped bedding. Super cute- but only if I do the wide stripes in paint. The wall paper looks to similar to this I think.

Picture 7- Ok, there's a snowman seasonal set on here that I really don't need but it's freakin adorable! And would go w/ my normal colors in the winter. I have about 87 purses- this should be no surprise that I like duplicate accessories!

REVISED: SUPER DUPER SALE AT PBK SO I WENT AHEAD AND GOT THE ZEBRA BEDDING. EVEN CUTER IN PERSON! WOO HOO!!

Names updated...for a BOY.

Here's my list...thoughts?

Frontrunner...Hunter Daniel
Parker
Caden
Carson
Colton
Jordan
Oliver...might be a little "sissy" during the teen years but super cute when he's little

And the final answer is....dun, dun, dun...

BOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ho-ly crap...Matthew and I are having a boy. I've already been warned about getting peed on by about six people today. Has anyone heard of a pee-pee teepee? Well, I haven't but it sounds genuis! Anyway...it came as a shock to us b/c those of you who know me would have prob'ly guessed I tend to lean toward the girly side. But, almost everyone (including myself) has actually guessed little Bean was going to be a boy. And I have all those girl clothes from Lindy, darn it! Who's going to know if he wears some pink pajamas :) He didn't much cooperate w/ the ultrasound tech. this morning. I had to get up and jiggle around and go to the bathroom two times so we could get a better view. But there it was...Bean is a Beaner?? Hmmm...is that right? Anyway, we're very excited to know who this little guy is. Certainly feels more real now. He looks to be in good health. We have to go back for another ultrasound in 4 weeks b/c he was too small to get a good look at the heart and kidneys which somtimes are hard to see before 21 weeks or so (and I'm only 19). Heart rate is 148 bpm so it's gotten lower. Does this mean I'm supposed to carry high or low? I can't remember. My offical weight gain is 4.5 lbs. Doing ok there. AND there's nothing wrong w/ my cervix...no stitches for me! My length is 3.7. Not sure what that means but I was told if it was over 3 then I'm in good shape. Whew...glad I don't have to deal with that. What happens if one was to go into labor early and the baby was sewn in there? I'm sure there's a contingency plan for that but I'm glad I won't have to worry about it. My BP is back to normal...great. It had been a little elevated the couple previous appts. I am having tons of headaches...like two a day. But, the doc says that's normal in the first and middle part of the second trimester b/c of hormone shifts- especially if you're prone to them anyway- which the Downing girls are. The doc says I can basically take Tylenol to my hearts content which is good b/c I've been trying not to take too much having concerns about the baby. I'm feeling really good these days. Still a little tired but that could be b/c it gets dark at 5pm and it hasn't been sunny in 6 weeks. This is the plague of Indiana! Glad I'm having a spring baby so me and Bean don't get stir crazy when he's born.

My little Bean is a person now. Weird...

Hunter Daniel here I come. I know honey...we haven't agreed to anything yet but I'll wear you down- just watch :)

Matthew is scanning in ultrasound pics as we speak. I'll make sure and get those up soon. Now to find some boy bedding since all the pics of are of girls...hmmm...

Nursery

Here are some GIRL bedding options I really like. All from Target Shabby Chic actually. I like the cottage look so that's where I'm leaning. I already know what I'm doing for a boy and the bedding will be farily plain since I don't care for cars, baseballs, animals, etc. It's too "themey" for me. But, a girls room has many, many options. I was going to have mom make something but seeing as she's already done so much manual labor at my house (she just painted my family room & kitchen- and not to mention the hours of cleaning and prepping she did beforehand) I'm going to try and buy something reasonable if I can find what I like. I'm really leaning towards the top two but the one below is kind of interesting and a little vintage. Now, toile- pink and white paper (above some bead board hopefully) or go to a wide vertical stripe in two tone or tone on tone? Choices. The green paper in the top picture is awfully cute isn't it? My husband is thrilled for another project :) Hmmm...I have some of both in the house already so that's not the issue. (If I sell the house in 5-10 years and every single wall has pattern on it then the buyers will have to deal!) Or maybe a subtle floral paper-that may be too bust for me and little Bean. I've looked at the local wholesaler but haven't found exactly what I like. We'll see..but if anyone has favorites let me know! Or if you come across anything you think might fit the bill. I've looked for toile bedding (can't do the paper and the bedding in toile I realize, but could go striped wall) please email me the link. I've found a few that are either sold out or crazy expensive. The crib below is what I'm using either way- boy or girl. Gives me the style I'm after and is still reasonable. I'd love to go all crazy on Pottery Barn Baby but it's not in the budget. They have some really cute stuff. Also looking for a well priced upholstered rocking chair. Either navy or pink w/ white piping. No glider for me...just always thought they were funny looking.

I think this will represent my cape cod look perfectly- boy or girl. For a boy I'm doing vintage sail boats, etc.

??????

The damn line..

So, we've all heard and seen about the H1N1 vaccine- and the debate as to whether or not it's safe. As I've said in an earlier post, I'm just going to do what the doc says and get me and Bean our shot. I was supposed to get it at my 16 week check up. Nobody said anything at the OB so I called the next day assuming it had been forgotten. Apparently, my doctor's office (w/ 6 doctors mind you) had only gotten 75 vaccinations- not enough for one doc let alone the entire clinic of 6. I asked Mrs. Nurse "well, then what am I supposed to do". She said "well, you're supposed to find one somewhere else". Me.."any idea where that might be?" Her..."no, but you really need one". Thanks. That helps.

There are public vaccinations all over the news but mainly in Marion County as they've gotten 10x as much as any other county. Not sure why that is but mom calls and says there is a clinic at Lafayette Square (ie: scary ghetto mall on the west side of Indy) Wed at 3 until 7pm. The last clinic reportedly had lines out the wazoo lined up in advance but apparently the late comers just walked right in. Knowing that I had the office to run (dad is out of town on vaca for his 60th), I thought, well, I'll leave at 4 and get there by 4:30 and beat the work crowd. Boy was I ever wrong. I walked to the place where said clinic was going on and the guard said (yes, there were guards) "oh, it's outside". Thought that was odd until I spotted the line...3000 people deep and about 2/3 of a mile long wound along several department stores in the parking lots. I guess my plan was not as good as I had hoped. I really considered leaving but then thought, no, I'll wait it out. So, I got my ticket and I was #2926 out of 5000. That's one big ass line and the cold setting sun made it seem much longer. It was like I was at Kings Island and never got on the ride! The screaming children-cold and bored- also seemed to make the wait longer. What had I gotten myself into (with the baby having that is)...but then realized I would only have one baby, not hundreds all screaming at the same time. So, I immersed myself in some Edward (some of you know what that means) and I just tried to block it out. Now, why didn't I bring a snack and a chair and a coat. Damn. But, come 8:30p- 4 hours later, I was put at the "special" pregnant table, and I got the shot! Woo hoo! I am officially vaccinated. :) Glad that's over...the mommy sacrafices have already begun. Maybe I should just get used to it!