23 weeks 3 days

My child is made of apples.

I eat a raw apple every day. I also drink an apple flavored treat from Starbucks about 4 out of 7 days a week - the latest is the Carmel Apple Spice because it has no caffeine. I had been enjoying an Apple Chai Infusion until I discovered the limited caffeine in that drink. I'm not able to entirely omit caffeine from my diet, but where I can make substitutions, I do. It is now wintertime, so I enjoy warming up apple juice on the stove and putting tasty spices in it such as cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves...mmmm...so tasty. Also, the sudden surge of apple pie, apple crisp, and the Limited Edition Apple Pie ice cream by Edy's, around Thanksgiving is always welcome. (Oh, sweet bliss!)

Apples are my go-to food. In their original form, they are highly mobile, nutritious, and come in a variety of flavors and textures so I can satisfy the precise craving that I have. Sweet? Sour? Crunchy? Subtle?

It's delicious.

I've even heard that eating the seeds of an apple has an anti-carcinogenic effect. But it has something to do with the process of digestion on those seeds...not entirely certain of the details. Although, it is true that there are trace amounts of arsenic in the seeds, they are still beneficial for your health in small quantities - I don't recommend downing a cup of apple seeds each day. Because I have an offspring in tow, I've foregone the option to sample the seeds. I'll probably start that again randomly in the future. Hey, if eating a few apple seeds occasionally can stop cancer, that's a prescription that I'm willing to take.

I am personally pleased to report that I am holding fast at my 177 lbs - that's a total weight-gain of of 13 pounds since my "confirmatory" doctor visit. Not bad, considering I'm not being wise about my food choices (I used to be), compounded by the fact that I've altogether stopped exercising. (Make good choices!)

The lack of physical activity is getting to me, if not in my bodily structure then inside my head. Sometimes I feel fantastic and other times I feel like a heifer. But last night wash a real doozie. I was feeling tired, so I lounged on my bed, trying for a short nap. My leg felt uncomfortable so I tried adjusting it, only to feel a sharp POP and a corresponding pain! I feel like I may have popped a ligament or muscle - either the notorious Round Ligament or perhaps a Hip Flexor. Either way, that's just not cool. I injured myself taking a nap.

Nice.

23 weeks 0 days

What a fantastic day. I feel great and I am in an extremely productive mood despite some rather unpleasant pregnancy-related side-effects I'm experiencing.

The little Gupling Girl is kicking away, letting me know that she appreciates the Grande Carmel Apple Spice that her father procured for us from Starbucks. I love feeling her dance around. We are entering the 6th month - once we complete the next four weeks we will officially be in the third trimester. I'm not getting ahead of myself though, because out of all the trimesters, the third seems to be the most traumatic. There's a finality to the third trimester that I'm not yet prepared for. So, I will savor the next few weeks, feeling my daughter grow.

I have a doctor's appointment this Friday. It will be with one of the practitioners that I have not yet met. I'm considering asking him a few questions about his methods, philosophies and birthing record (e.g. what percentage of c-sections, interventions, etc.). That seems like such a confrontational question, but really it's just good information. I'm not sure why I feel that asking these questions might be too offensive. But I need to get over that concern.

I weigh 177.5 pounds - which I have weighed for the last few weeks, so I'm trying not to get too bent out of shape about the number...even though it's the most I've ever weighed in my life.

I can no longer wear my wedding ring, so it is officially retired to the jewelry box for the duration of the pregnancy.

Last night I was experiencing uncomfortable cramping/tingling in my leg, which I understand is a symptom of varicose veins. 

And this morning I awoke to find stretch marks forming on my once perfect baby bump.

19 weeks 2 days

The ultrasound was yesterday. It was amazing. We got to 'see' our little one for the first time. 

And...it's a....

GIRL!!!

Talk about a shocker. We were sure it was going to be a boy. But we have a girl!

She was very squirmy and active - which was incredible to watch. She is the "perfect" size for her stage of growth and she is estimated to be at 12 oz. right now. We got to see her little hands and feet. And all her insides (kidneys, stomach, heart) look like they are healthy. 

She has been kicking me strong enough for me to notice all morning and evening. I've felt little bumps here and there throughout the last few weeks (beginning around week 17).  But I can tell that she must be getting bigger and stronger because I can feel a lot more movement throughout the day. I can't wait for B to be able to feel her kick from the outside. I'm so glad he got to see his little girl on the ultrasound. 

I was so thrilled yesterday that I am exhausted today. I'm tired from all the excitement and the high of my emotions. I need a nap.

Up till today...

I tried doing the 'physical' pregnancy journal thing. It's not working out so well. I spend so much time in front of a computer that it is much easier to access an online 'journal' than to actually sit and write out what's going on inside my head. Also, I tend to edit myself when I don't make sense the first time around.

So I gave up on the romanticized image of me as a mother, peacefully and thoughtfully sitting in an overstuffed chair under soft lighting while penning my wisdom and observations about my budding child and the experiences that I will one day pass on to my young ones. Reality: I am an office rat who sits in front of the computer for 8 hours a day under harsh florescent lighting and then goes home to either a television or another computer - or, with the acquisition of my laptop, both!


So here's where we are at today...
19 weeks 1 day


Today is our mid-pregnancy ultrasound. This is the time when the medical profession can measure growth and evaluate health of the little fetus. But for us lay-folk, this is the big day when we have our first real opportunity to discover whether we are cookin' a boy or girl bun-in-the-oven.


And you better believe we are going to find out. B and I are too curious to wait. We also have a great affection for technology and if there is a gadget, widget, or "app for that" we will use it. This is our shot at using that ultrasound technology for its real value. We are on board with shooting sound waves at our child's bits-and-pieces with the purpose of taking a grainy picture and posting it on our refrigerator for all to see.


And who knows...if the little creature cooperates, he/she will probably have a name by the end of the day!