Sleeping Beauty

25 weeks 4 days

Let your spouse put an ear to your belly -- he might be able to pick up baby's heartbeat (no stethoscope required). Inside the womb, the formation of tiny capillaries is giving baby a healthy pink glow. Baby's also soaking up your antibodies, getting the immune system ready for life outside the womb. Eyes are forming, and baby will soon perfect the blink -- perfect for batting those freshly grown lashes.

How far along? 25th week
Total weight gain/loss: Woohoo, we've broken the trend! +1lb the last week, +21lb total. Who knew I would be so excited to gain a pound.
Stretch marks? While I was admiring a stretch mark-free belly, I started to notice the mapping that my veins have created all over my body. It looks like I've morphed into a Smurf with the biggest blue veins I've ever seen! I'm sure the fact that my vampire skin not seeing the sun in 6 months doesn't help, but I really hope we don't have a Smurfette in there.
Sleep: It's getting worse. I dread going to bed now, just because I know in 2 hours I am going to wake up with a shoulder that came out of a NFL playoff game, or a hip that feels like I am straight out of the "I've fallen and I can't get up!" commercial. Screw the new mattress pad, I'm going all out with a new mattress this week.
Best moment this week: Getting the invitation for my baby shower Lulu & Mom are graciously throwing for us...SO CUTE!!! Who knew the nickname peanut would go so far.
Movement: So the las t somersault the little one took last night as I laid down to go to bed was not cute...it was down right uncomfortable. So much that I jumped. And then Troy tried to talk to the belly to say "Don't do that to Mommy" and he or she kicked his ear! haha I was dying laughing. Sounds like they've got my 5-year-old darling attitude already.
Gender: I had a dream we had a boy, and the very next day the lady who works at Lowes told me we were having a boy. We shall see!
Labor Signs: The labor of staying awake. It almost has Troy worried at this point as to where his wife has gone...oh wait, she's on the couch napping. Just like the switch that appeared in the second trimester to turn off the fatigue, someone played an evil trick and turned it back on. I'm not kidding when I say that this is my schedule as of lately:

1. get 10 hours of sleep a night (well if you want to call it that)
   
2. eat
3. get ready, but without work it's more like the 5-minute hair & makeup plan. Not a routine I would want to meet George Clooney with.
4. I am drained of energy by the time I get ready, I make myself do something for an hour to be productive. You know, like Facebook :) No seriously, there is usually some project of the day to tackle. But then I need to...
   
5. eat
6. read one of the pregnancy or parenting books that make me laugh at the thought of having to put pads in my bras soon
   
7. nap for an hour or 2
8. wake to Troy making sure I'm still alive
9. eat
   
10. leave for an outing to Lowes or the grocery store to make my day somewhat purposeful again
    
11. eat
12. watch TV while fighting off sleep
    
13. repeat

Sounds like the good life, but trust me it's a downer. I tried to throw in some exercise, but it just makes it worse. On a serious note, I am looking forward to the anemia test in 2 weeks as I recently discovered this might be the problem with the 50% more blood my body is trying to produce and lack of red meat that it wants.

Food Cravings: Tomato sauce, which has led to pizza 3 times this week...including last night & tonight. Troy is in heaven since this is his I-can-eat-this-everyday food. But I always top with veggies to make me feel less guilty.
What I miss: Being able to operate a full day without whining and feeling like I pulled an all-nighter studying for a Physics final.

What I am looking forward to: Putting the finishing touches on the nursery. 9 canvases are done and up, furniture is in place, and it's ready for the accessories. Off to figure out the bedding tomorrow!
Weekly Wisdom: As my good mama-friend Trisha filled me in on, a day of nesting must be followed by a day of resting. Good to know to not re-stuff the couch when I've actually got things to do the next day. Oh and on a side note, I was so intensely nesting with the couch makeover- I gave myself rugburns on my knuckles from stuffing so much!!!
Milestones: Apparently after 25 weeks, your baby is considered a-ok to survive outside the womb with medical help of course. Even though it would be a rare steak, we're aiming for well done. Ew, why did I have to bring up my arch nemesis steak.
Baby Brain Moment of the Week: Having to make a list every time I go out for errands, but then forgetting the list on the fridge. I have been meaning to get a lint brush for 4 weeks now.

Weekly Belly Pic: I had a similar outfit on in week 18. This is a really entertaining side-by-side comparison. I will never again say I am fat at my pre-pregnancy weight.