23 Weeks

I've been getting asked a lot why I chose to include my weight gain on my blog. Considering this is something most pregnant women dread, friends of mine have asked why I would share such a personal detail on a public forum. Well, the short answer is: weight gain is a part of pregnancy, so I wanted to document those changes as I would the other ones. The more in depth answer is: I think women are too hard on themselves when it comes to weight gain in pregnancy. On average, a woman gains 40 pounds during pregnancy. This means some women will gain more, and others will gain less. I don't want to obsess over how much weight I'm gaining, and worry about gaining too much, or how I'll lose the weight after the baby comes. I eat well and exercise a couple times a week, but I still enjoy ice cream and cheesy bagels every now and then. And I'm ok with that. Because pregnancy is hard enough as it is, my friends. Women go through a lot to carry a child for 9 months and then bring them into this world, it's incredible how God has designed our bodies to shelter life! I want to celebrate this gift God has given us, not worry whether or not I'll be able to wear my skinny jeans a month after giving birth. (Spoiler alert: I won't.)
To my pregnant friends: I hope you are encouraged by this small act of transparency I'm including in my blog. Pregnancy isn't pretty sometimes: morning sickness that lasts all day and beyond the first trimester, glowing skin being code for extra oil production and acne, and crying hysterically at the Sarah Mclachlan animal cruelty commercials. But guess what? There's a BABY developing and growing inside of you! That's pretty phenomenal. So give yourself a break. This is the verse I have been meditating on lately "consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials. knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." James 1:2-4.

How far along: 23 weeks   

Fruit comparison: A grapefruit: 10.5 - 11.8 inches in length, 12.7 - 20.8 oz.  

Total weight gain: 15.5 pounds 

Baby's new developments: Ears start to develop and eyes are forming! This week, baby can hear my heartbeat and voice, and can even hear sounds outside of the womb that are loud enough, like dogs barking or cars honking.   

Sleep: I'm sleeping pretty well through the night most nights, but baby usually kicks me a bit when I first lay down. A couple times he even kicked me awake! But it was in the morning, so I'm not mad about it ;) 

Best moment of the week: I went to the dentist this week and didn't have any signs of cavities! Woohoo!! That was a big concern for me, because I know oral hygiene is so important during pregnancy. So it was a big relief to know that (without x-rays, anyway) my teeth were fine. 

Miss anything?: I've noticed when I exercise lately I have a harder time breathing than I used to. It just means I have to take it easy, but I do miss feeling like workouts were challenging. Sort of ;) 

Movement: He's quite a mover, that's for sure! He usually starts kicking and moving when I've eaten recently, and when I sit down for awhile. Some of his kicks are getting to be so strong, I can see my belly move! 

Food cravings: Bagels and strawberries. Also raspberries. I bought the berries at costco this week because I knew I go through them in just a couple of days. 

Symptoms: I only really had nausea twice this week, thank the LORD! Maybe I'm finally starting to get past the nausea, I hope! Other than that, my breathing is getting heavier during physical activity. I also get sleepy almost every afternoon, so I usually have coffee after lunch instead of in the morning, to keep from falling asleep at my desk at work. 

Looking forward to: We have another doctor's appointment Monday, so I'm excited for that. We will also be having my high school girls over monday night to start a small Bible study methods class for a couple of weeks. I'm looking forward to the time with them!