Yikes! It has been way too long since I officially posted an update on the little munchkin steadily growing inside of me.
The most exciting thing that has happened in the last few weeks, pregnancy related or not, was having our second ultrasound. I know that it is becoming quite popular to hold off on finding out the sex of baby until birth. Some mamas state that it helped to motivate them during labor, others are simply excited about the anticipation.
I knew with both Matthew and this pregnancy that it would drive me crazy to not know the sex of our little one. I am a planner by nature and want to ensure that I am ready (figuratively speaking) for our little one when he/she arrives. Plus, during pregnancy, birth and the newborn years, you let go of your control and surrender to God’s will more and more every day. Preparing for baby’s arrival (even if it’s simply a matter of pink or blue) is one way that I can savor my false sense of control for a little longer. 😉
During the final stages of my pregnancy with Matthew I carried around an ultrasound photo of his face taken at 41 weeks. I would often look at this photo and imagine what it would be like when we finally saw one another face to face. This image is what helped me let go, begin labor and sail through my intense, yet short labor.
Back to the ultrasound, at 20 weeks we took a peak and found out that we are having a BOY! We are very excited and in awe of this little blessing!
What Baby Peters has been up to at 23 weeks
He’s more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound, you may be able to see him squirm underneath your clothes (which I can). Blood vessels in his lungs are developing to prepare for breathing, and the sounds that your baby’s increasingly keen ears pick up are preparing him for entry into the outside world. (source)
Energy level and mood
My energy level has been noticeably lower and it definitely takes me longer to complete tasks that I would usually breeze through. I am not only slowing down physically, but have begun to slow down mentally as well. I am becoming increasingly forgetful and scattered. The increasing size of my pregnancy bump is making some tasks more difficult to execute, including rolling over and reaching for objects. Even washing the dishes in our new, extra deep sink can be a pain!
All things food
I am loving my fruits and veggies! I have noticed that I am VERY thirsty in the afternoon and have upped my water intake significantly. I am also keeping a pitcher of chilled water in the fridge with an added pinch of sea salt, sliced lime and a couple mint leaves for extra electrolytes and better hydration. I call this my mojito water. 🙂 I experienced heart burn for the first time, but have since found ways to minimize it (eating less tomatoes, smaller portions and not bending/squatting for long periods of time).
Exercise
This is one place that needs to improve. I have spent countless nap times in the garden limiting my workouts to one strength training sessions per week along with several walks with Matthew. To solve this, I decided to join Blooma, a local prenatal yoga studio, in the hope of getting on my mat more often. They even have a Friday morning Tots Yoga class that I plan to enjoy with Matthew. I feel so much better when I get in a workout and need to prioritize it in my days.
Visit my previous post for Nesting and Matthew updates.
Enjoy your day off and be sure to thank someone special for their military service. Without our troops, young and old, we would not be able to experience the freedom we take for granted each and every day!
kristinostevik says
You look great! And now you are expecting another boy! That’s great (my third was a girl..took a while to get used to that..)
Maria Peters says
Thanks, Kristin! We are very excited. Having a girl after arising two boys would be quite a mental shift, but I imagine it would be a lot of fun.