19 weeks, 6 days

Earlier this week I ordered a home doppler on Amazon because it was very inexpensive. It arrived today and we have been listening to the baby's heartbeat! I told myself I wouldn't spend the money on a doppler but it was so affordable that I couldn't resist. Mom and I were listening and Toby barked in the same room we were in. The baby's heartbeat sped up. It was pretty cool. When Justin and I were listening, I noticed the heartbeat would speed up when we were talking too! Oh, and Mom was able to feel the baby moving for the first time this evening.

19 weeks, 2 days

I think I felt our little one move for the first time today! It didn't feel like anything I've felt before during the pregnancy. It felt like a bubble popping. That is the best way I can describe it. I felt it two or three times pretty close together. I wanted to feel it again but nothing! I look forward to seeing if it feels similar to movement as the baby begins moving more and more!

19 weeks

How far along: 19 weeks, almost halfway there!

How big is baby: Our little one is the size of a mango, about 6 inches and 8.5 ounces on average.

Weight Loss/Gain: As of yesterday, I was up 10.7 pounds. This week I ate a lot of food and it wasn't always the best so I will focus on healthy eating this week!

Maternity clothes: Yep!

Next appointment: July 28th! We're going to be going in for the big ultrasound!

Movement: I don't think I've felt anything yet, but I'm looking forward to it.

Food cravings: Just sweets in general again this week.

Food aversions: Had a few days where chicken held no appeal again.

Best Moment this Week: Justin and I enjoyed a few days in San Antonio. It was hot, but it was also a nice change of pace.

Worst Moment this Week: I had horrible back and hip pain on Friday night that made it nearly impossible to sleep.

What am I looking forward to: The big ultrasound! I cannot wait to see that everything is healthy and on track. Hopefully our little one will cooperate and we'll get to find out the sex as well! Our furniture is also being delivered on Sunday so I'm looking forward to working more on the nursery!

18 weeks, 2 days

So, I found a link to a message board where people discuss all sorts of gender prediction websites and old wives tales. I couldn't help trying them out just for fun!

The predictor at http://www.chinesefortunecalendar.com/PredictSex.htm said girl for the dates I think are most likely for conception. The one at http://www.babygenderprediction.com/chinese-gender-chart.html was a little complicated to figure out but I think I did it correctly and it also said girl. I got a third girl prediction using the chart at http://www.webwomb.com/chinesechart.htm so it seemed there was a trend in the sites I visited today! Oh, I also answered the questions at http://www.amazingpregnancy.com/oldwivestales/index.phtml the best I could and got 40% of a boy and 60% chance of a girl.

I was reading a message board and someone posted about the biorhythm method. If I did it correctly, it looks like this one points to boy. This chart also had the new moon and full moon and we were in the new moon which points to girl. Of course, everything has a chance of being 50% correct! I guess this one will be correct one way or the other! I also tried the ring test and it circled which means girl. I was also reading about how your dreams show the opposite of what you are having and this does nothing at all for me since I had dreamed about having both. Of course, one was a robot so I don't know if that counts! :) Oh, and I read one more thing about the baby's heartbeat. It said that if it sounds like galloping horses then it is a girl and if it sounds like a steam train then it is a boy. At my last appointment, it definitely sounded like a stampede of horses. Do horses stampede?

According to Moon Theory (which I don't completely understand but it believes that the moon influences gender) it looks like the baby will be a girl. I believe I conceived in a new moon which sway towards girls. This also says that the sign the moon is in when you conceive can also sway. This is trickier because it could have been Aries (boy sign) or Taurus (girl sign) so I'm not counting it in "the count" I started on the post in June.

Adding all of these results to what the ones I did last month the count is: girl, 13; boy, 2. Either way, I'm entertaining myself while I wait until the 28th!

18 weeks

How far along: 18 weeks
How big is baby: Sweet potato!
Weight Loss/Gain: As of this morning, I've gained 8.1 pounds.
Maternity clothes: Nothing new this week but I'm going to need some t-shirts soon.
Next appointment: July 28th! We're going to be going in for the big ultrasound!
Movement: I don't think I've felt anything yet, but I'm looking forward to it.
Food cravings: Just sweets in general. I'm enjoying Grape Nut Flakes and oatmeal still. Oh, and Arby's!
Food aversions: Nothing that I can remember this week!
Best Moment this Week: Our new floors were finished in the living/dining room. We also had ceiling fans put in the bedrooms. Plus we saw Wicked on the 4th and it was wonderful.
Worst Moment this Week: Thursday morning I had a horrible bout of nausea with dizziness and claminess. A window in our house was also broken in the middle of the night on Sunday.
What am I looking forward to: I'm looking forward to my 2nd wedding anniversary and spending some time in San Antonio. I'm also looking forward to our ultrasound, of course!

17 weeks, 4 days

I had an appointment with my midwife this morning. I ended up having to wait awhile because someone was having a baby in the birth center! I didn't mind waiting because you never know if someone might have to wait when I'm giving birth.

Everything looks good. The baby's heartbeat was 160 today and I could hear it so clearly. The baby was off to the right but that is probably because my bladder was full and nothing to worry about. Measuring with her fingers, she said I'm about 18 weeks. So, even though my official due date on file with the midwife is December 11th I still think it's probably a few days earlier like I originally thought. Of course, our little one will make a debut when the time is right no matter what the estimated due date!

The most exciting news is that we got to schedule our anatomy scan. I'm looking forward to the ultrasound and getting to see the baby again. We're scheduled for the afternoon of July 28th. As long as the baby cooperates we will know if we're having a girl or a boy! I look forward to being able to call the baby by name for the second half of my pregnancy. In terms of names, we are definitely set on Evan for a little girl and now also been discussion Weston for a boy with the nickname Wes. Justin is still convinced that it is a girl and I admit that I can see us having a little Evan around. Most importantly, I'm hoping to see that everything is developing correctly and see a healthy little baby!

17 weeks

How far along: 17 weeks
How big is baby: Onion!
Weight Loss/Gain: As of this morning, I've gained 7.4 pounds. Down a little from last week.
Maternity clothes: We ended up getting some great bargains at the Gap and then we also stopped in Motherhood Maternity because I am getting close to needing jeans. So now I have a good little assortment, some of which is going to work well for work in the fall.
Next appointment: This Wednesday and we should get to schedule the big ultrasound!
Sleep: Sleep was a bit better this week although it varies from night to night and I toss and turn a lot.
Movement: I don't think I've felt anything yet, but I'm looking forward to it.
Food cravings: This week oatmeal tasted pretty good and I also bought some summer peach ice cream that was delicious!
Food aversions: Nothing really set me off this week. I even had some chicken for dinner a few nights this week!
Best Moment this Week: Our nephew, Grant, was born! Both mom and baby are well!
Worst Moment this Week: Had a bad bout with nausea last night. One of the worst lately.
What am I looking forward to: I'm looking forward to seeing Wicked tomorrow, my appointment on Wednesday, and going to San Antonio next week to celebrate our second anniversary!