21 Weeks – Size of a Carrot!

21 WEEKS PREGNANT!

OFFICIALLY over the halfway point and Baby Sandee is the size of a carrot! Or at least I believe just as tall as this one, nearly 1 foot long (around or taller than 10.5 inches)! If baby is anything like us parents, he/she will definitely be a tall one since we are both 6’1″. More roller coaster feelings this week, a few crying sessions, but lots of smiles as well!

There are so many life changes happening right now and I’m feeling absolutely overwhelmed…but then I feel the baby kick and somehow all the worries fade away. Winecoach and I are enjoying it so much. Seems baby is developing a routine, mainly kicking when I want to go to sleep! Or when I first wake up in the morning….actually, basically every time I stay still. Winecoach thinks it’s bored if I’m not moving around, and I move around a lot! I get startled throughout the day since I’m still not very used to it so it makes me smile. Sometimes the kicks tickle too! So funny.

NEW SYMPTOM: Wicked heartburn. My stomach, or at least what feels like is my stomach burns immediately after all meals. It used to happen if I were overeat, but now any significant amount of food is enough to do it. Can be quite painful, but what to do. A girl’s gotta eat! I’m managing with sitting up straight after meals and with Tums. What else…

The coolest thing about the growing belly is definitely feeling all the movemevent: the somersaults, me back flips (literally feels that way)! I always play around as I watch the olympics saying this baby will be competing in the trampoline modality! Anyway…this week was good, got more energy again so started prenatal yoga. I have a DVD and have also been looking on YouTube. There are a lot of good videos, going from 10 minutes a workout to over an hour, so you can do as little or as much as you’d like. I also shared my first full back stretching video, appropriate for first and second trimester preggos for the first time

• Cravings: Still Nutella. I don’t know what else to do. It is what it is. 
• Aversions: I’m thankful for this everyday. I don’t really ever repel from any specific foods, not since the end of the first trimester.
• Mood: I’ve had some days that reminded me of 19 weeks, which were so rough. The uncontrollable crying happens, it will happen. whether you want it or not. I say this because I never ever cry, especially for no reason, but I do get quite emotional at times, become overwhelmed, it’s really a lot to take in. Emotionally this week has been pink, with hints of the 19 weeks baby blues.
• Ultrasound and Baby’s sex: I think I might be pretty sure what the sex is, but awaiting one more ultrasound to make sure. Bare with me you guys! I will share soon. I just don’t want to say something and it end up being something else!
• Movement and Positioning: WOWZA! Can you say, HELLO!  Fish bowl feelings to the max, I can feel this baby doing back flips in there! So much so, if I lie against winecoach, he too can feel the kicks. It’s a really incredible sensation. So fun, except when you’re trying to sleep and the baby picks the side you WILL sleep on.
• Weight gain: Oh yea, the scale is starting to tip. I am hoping not to gain more than the 35 lbs that are recommended, but am not too worried about it as long as I keep exercising to the best of my ability and eating right. I’ve been traveling a lot these days which means a lot of eating out as well. Perhaps that’s the reason I started noticing some consistent weight gaining, but 1 lb a week is normal during the 2nd trimester. I think in total I’ve gained 15 lbs so far.
• Nursery and registry: The registry is up, but I haven’t fine tuned it yet. Would love some experienced feedback on it. HELP! Check it out by clicking here to see our registry from Babies R us, or the consolidated list on The Bump.
• Names: We think we have a name. Remember it has to sound good in Portuguese, Dutch and English. Rough!
• Midwife or OB: Still want to try the Bradley birthing method. Also looking into hypnobirthing. So many options….doing research. Please feel free to add your suggestions below in the comment section.
• Aches and pains: Managing well with stretches! Have you guys checked out my FULL BACK STRETCHING ROUTINE? Well come on over to my instagram page: @colorfulpregnancy to see. This really helps my achy and stiff lower and upper back, as well as hips these days. I hope it helps you too!

• Sleep: On my sides, whichever one the baby is not taking possession of at the time which is typically the right. I always preferred to sleep on the left, but no more she/he says.  Pillow between legs since I’m still not friends with body pillow, it’s too hot, but I do like the belly wedge I got from my registry.
• Currently wearing: Still haven’t bought a piece of maternity wear, and I’m kinda proud of that, although I sense that will change in the next month. I feel like I’m growing by the day, and I probably am. Still living in my maxi dresses!

• Traveling – Worked all week, spent the weekend in St. Louis, MO as you can see from the pictures with the Gateway Arch in the background.  Winecoach and I went to see Sir. Paul McCartney! The goal is to see as many living legends as possible before they go. This year we already saw Bruce Springsteen and Barry Manilow (Insert laughing face here), but in all seriousness it was AWESOME! As I said before, I’m planning on getting all the travelling out of the way until the beginning of the first trimester. I’m just still small enough that shorter flights shouldn’t be an issue. Will postpone the international flights until next year though, I think!  Flying is safe until 34 weeks, or at least that’s what my midwife says! 

Enjoyed some delicious food at Cielo, the Italian restaurant at the Four Seasons St. Louis. Dinner and brunch the next day were just amazing!

Celebrated 3 years of ColorfuFoodie this week as well! Four Seasons sure made it special for me!

Thank you for following my journey! Please leave me comments with any tips for the upcoming months as baby continues to grow, especially on birthing classes, birthing methods and what I need for the registry (or anything else you can think of).  Tips for the heartburn are also welcome. I sure appreciate you! Don’t forget to follow @ColorfulPregnancy on Instagram for my nutrition tips during pregnancy!

Xo, Ana
Count Colors, NOT Calories!
Color your Plate, Color your Life.
Instagram: @ColorfulFoodie
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Twitter: @AnaSandee
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SNAPCHAT: AnaSandee – I will continue to snap and cook so get the recipes in real time before they make it to the blog! Of course I’ll also be sharing some more awesome things about the pregnancy as I learn them! Videos stay up for 24 hours. I may condense them into YouTube videos after!