23 Week Update

How far along? 23 weeks (The size of an ear of corn.  About 8 1/2 inches and a little over 1 1/2 pounds.)

Total weight gain/loss: Holding steady at plus seven pounds from pre-pregnancy weight.
 
Maternity clothes:Yep.  Pretty much all maternity tops but I still rock the unbuttoned pants with the belly band just because I have yet to meet a pair of maternity work pants that were anything even close to being flattering.
 
Have you told family and friends?  Everybody knows now :)

Have you started to show yet? Yep. In fact, I had my first blatant stare the other day.  The guy held the elevator for me and when I got in he just looked completely taken aback while out and out staring at my stomach.  I said, "It's ok, it's a baby human, not a baby alien."  I thought it was humorous but the way  the red creeped up his neck and face so quickly I assume I won the 'Who Can Make the Other One Feel More Uncomfortable Game' that I unknowingly had entered into.

Sleep:  Better.  Still having issues with the temperature thing and uber weird and LOTS of dreams but still better.

Best moment this week: We came up with a list of names.  Don't get too excited.  It's a pretty lengthy list and there isn't one name on there that we both love but at least we have a list and neither of us hates any of the names on the list.  So, we have decided to start calling her each name off the list for about a week and hopefully by the end of the pregnancy we will have narrowed the list down to two or three and will decide when we see her which fits best.  All that to say, we have started calling her a name and that is fun :)

Miss Anything? Having more control over my thoughts.  I have always prided myself in really being in charge of my emotions and feelings and being able to "talk myself down" when needed.  When someone does me wrong I have been able to REALLY try to 'do what Jesus would' and think and pray before speaking.  I have always believed (and still do) that if you go off every time that someone does you wrong or you perceive they are doing you wrong or you get upset or get your feelings hurt that you are a weak person.  I have become that weak person.  These days, I have no patience with things that have always bothered me.  And I am quick to tell you about it if you happen to cross me.  And I am not letting things go.  I HATE these qualities in myself right now.    They are so UN-Christlike and I do not accept pregnancy hormones as a good excuse.  I pray about it multiple times daily and I really miss having that control over my thoughts.  

Movement: I feel her everyday, almost all the time.  What I read said she should be sleeping 12-14 hours a day but she definitely isn't.  I'm not complaining (right now ;) I LOVE feeling her!  So if you see me sitting around you just smiling the biggest, goofiest smile, it's a good guess that she is kicking away.

Food cravings: Not really.  It's weird though, I get in my mind that I am going to eat something and if someone changes the menu or restaurant I CAN'T really get into the new place or thing.  Once I have a meal or dnack in my mind, I pretty much don't feel happy about food until I have had it.

Anything making you queasy or sick? Overeating.  Once I get anywhere past hungry I need to stop because there isn't much space these days between 'I'm hungry' and 'I overate and feel sick'.

Gender prediction: GIRL.  According to the sonogram the Chinese Gender Calender and every single old wives tale was WRONG!  (Refer to my earlier posts!)

Labor Signs: Nope.

Symptoms: Hemorrhoids, "growing pains" in my stomach, terrible gas that gets stuck in my stomach and back and hurts SO BAD, my feet are growing and exhaustion. <-----  Yep, all that still.