Week 24 - Cantalope

Happy 24 weeks my little cantaloupe/eggplant! :)This week, you are about a foot long and almost 1.5 lbs! You are no longer my "little bean", and growing so quickly! Speaking of growing - mommy's tummy has definitely gotten bigger, rounder, and harder. Daddy is happy. Mommy (and the scale) are not. =P

I can now feel you moving around every day, and can even *see* when you kick. Daddy got to feellast weekend and I thought he was going to explode into a pile of a million hearts. He was soooooooooo incredibly happy and couldn't stop smiling. Grandma even got to feel you kick - after mommy poked you for a good 30 minutes. ;) My favorite part of the day is still coming home from work, giving your fur-siblings their dinner/lots of loving, then laying down to feel your kicks. No matter how rough my day was, feeling you in my tummy *always* makes it better. Thank you for bringing so much joy into daddy and mommy's lives. <3

This week, mommy and daddy got a new washer & dryer delivered/installed (can't wait to wash all your little clothes in a few months!) and your auntie Jade and I have been planning the details of mommy's baby shower next month. A lot of the 'prep' for your arrival has been done for several weeks - and now we are waiting for the shower, and then will be patiently waiting for your arrival in December/January. (Grandma thinks you will be here in early December. Not sure if she was insinuating that mommy's belly is huge, or that it's because you are so active already... I think the first one... =P

This week, I have been really stressed out about weight gain (what's new?). I actually cried after I stepped on the scale a few days ago. So... I am now decreasing the amount of calories I consume, increasing my exercise (hope the doctor is okay with this...), and trying not to gain any more weight for the remaining 3-4 months. I'll have to get the OK from my doctor next week, but considering how big I am already - I'm sure she'll be fine with this. (fingers crossed)

Oh! I almost forgot -- the heartburn! Owwieeeee. I've had horrible heartburn this week. I've heard that really bad heartburn means that the baby will have a lot of hair. If that's the case, baby girl will come out with a little Asian afro. Seriously...

Your brother *still* loves to boop mommy's belly and say hello to you, and even taught Juju how to do it! Kitsune prefers to just lay on mommy's tummy. Btw - she gave mommy the stink eye when she was laying on me a few day ago because she felt you kick! You guys are already competing for attention... ;)

I've been playing music even more this past week, and so far you seem to enjoy Queen, RHCP, Amy Winehouse, and Mariah Carey. Also, I started talking to you more (even though it makes me feel so silly and ridiculous) and you've been more and more responsive. Maybe it's all in my head and it's just a coincidence, but I have noticed that you move around/kick a lot more when mommy talks to you. Love love love. <3

Speaking of noise, sorry about that weird noise you hear every night. That's your daddy snoring. Get used to it because it'll be even louder when you are out of mommy's tummy. =P

This week, the swelling has gone down in my feet. There's still a little bit of swelling but no where near as bad as they were last week (and the week before). I've been keeping my feet elevated at work, wearing flip flops on certain days (since all my other shoes feel so uncomfortable!), and wearing compression socks at home. Goodbye cankles! No one likes you. ;)

*A* -- mommy loves you so very much and can't wait to meet you. <3 Just the thought of finally meeting you and holding you in my arms makes me so emotional. I can't believe that in just a few months, you'll be here. You are so loved by so many people already... :)

<< Sorry if this post is all over the place. I'm at work and trying to keep up with the group messaging between my mom and mother-in-law about the baby shower, ha. >>