21 Weeks

Sorry for skipping week 19 & 20, but I was away visiting family and friends!

Yippy......I am now halfway through my pregnancy, just 19 more weeks to go!!! Baby girl H is now the size of a banana. According to the bump.com, baby girl H is gulping down several ounces of amniotic fluid everyday, both for nutrition and to practice swallowing and digestion. Apparently, her taste buds are already working and once she is born she will respond best to the tastes she has already had via amniotic fluid. I really better start considering what I put in my mouth or else this baby is going to be demanding Reeses Peanut Butter Cups and Starbucks gingerbread lattes when she comes out.

Chad and I made our first big purchase for Baby Girl H yesterday. We bought all the furniture for the nursery. We drove two and a half hours to Baby USA in Grand Rapids to find the brands we were interested in. We focused on brands that were highly rated in my Baby Bargains Book, otherwise known as that bible for having a child. For those of you who are not familiar with this book, it is incredible. It gives reviews and recommendations for everything you need for a child (furniture, car seats, strollers, clothes, etc.). The book also tells you the best ways to save money!

When we got to the store we were very pleased with the layout. They had a very large selection of furniture and each of the sets were on display as a mock nursery. Chad and I had two big decisions to make, color and brand/style. We focused on color first as that would narrow down the style possibilities. When we first talked about furniture we decided to go with a dark wood (cherry or espresso) so that the furniture would be gender neutral and could be used for all of our future children regardless of sex. Then when we found out baby H was a girl, Chad brought up the possibility of getting her a white set and having her keep it. The amazing thing about today's baby furniture is that many cribs convert into a full size bed so that children can continue to use it as they grow. I thought it was cute that Chad wanted to make her room more girlie so I went along with the possibility of buying white. The only problem we had was that I had already ordered a cherry colored glider. After debating back and forth we decided to go with an antique white finish figuring that she will not always have the glider in her room. Then came the tough choice of which set to purchase. Luckily not every style was available in antique white so we quickly narrowed our choices down to the Creations Summer's Eve set or the Munire Newport set. Chad being Chad said it was my choice. In the end I liked that the Munire dresser and hutch were a little larger and the set overall seemed more mature and not so baby looking.

The sales women helped us put our order in and of course took our AMEX. In the end we got the crib, changer/dresser combo, hutch and mattress. We are also hoping to get a nightstand, but she had to see if one is still available. The furniture should be available for pick up in mid-December! I know Chad can't wait to get it and put it together! Next up for us is to pick bedding for our little girl, which for us has been a nightmare. I have searched every brand of baby bedding and cannot find one I love and Chad and I agree on. I think the biggest problem is Chad would like to do our little girls room Brown and Pink and I want to do it in a light green and light pink. This debate has been going on for two weeks. Hopefully we figure it out before she gets here!!

How far along? 21 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: 7 lbs

Maternity clothes? Just started wearing them while I was in NJ. It is amazing I actually look pregnant in them.

Sleep: I was up for 4 hours on Friday night....not fun.

Best moment this week: Seeing my Chaddy after being apart for 10 days.

Movement: I feel her a lot when I am in the car with the music on. She must be a dancer although I do now know who she gets that from.

Food cravings: Reeses Peanut Butter Cups

Gender: Girl

Belly Button in or out? In

What I miss? Mojitos

What I am looking forward to: Thanksgiving

Milestones: Buying nursery furniture

I took this weeks belly pics after Chad and I returned home from our date night. I purchased this maternity dress so that I would have one for the upcoming holidays and for when Chad and I go out, which is not often in Midland.

Me in my normal workout clothes.