25 weeks!

This update is going to have to cover weeks 23, 24, and 25.  Ooooops!

Here's the bumps:

 23 weeks

24 weeks

 25 weeks

An aerial bump at 25 weeks!

I can still see my feet...sort of...

How far along? 25 weeks

Baby is the size of: A cauliflower

Total weight gain/loss: I have no idea – I’ve been horrible at keeping track. Definitely 10+ lbs though!

Stretch marks? Not yet. I keep slathering on that lotion, drinking tons of water, and saying some prayers ;)

Sleep: So I had a horrible week of sleep recently. I kept waking up and couldn’t to go back to sleep. I’ve also been having leg cramps and restless legs, which are keeping me awake a lot. Finally, Daniel suggested I ditch the bump nest pillow to see if it helped. Strangely enough, it did! Sleep has improved greatly.

Best moment this week: This was last week, but my brother Tommy came home from the Russia, Novosibirsk mission!! Best day ever. Even though I look like a giant prego in all the airport pictures.

Cravings: Still sweet things and cold things. I could eat cereal ALL DAY. Top 3 favorite kinds: Honey Bunches of Oats, Life, and Reese’s Puffs (so bad, yet so good). I also love these open-faced turkey bagel melts from Einstein’s, and chocolate milk.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope.

Miss anything? Sleeping on my stomach.

Have you started to show yet? Heavens yes. A cute little girl at church today pointed at my belly and said “baby!”

Gender: baby boy

Happy or moody most of the time: Happy.

Maternity clothes? Yep - pants, and a few shirts and dresses. I am on the hunt for the ultimate pair of maternity leggings, but I am picky. I also discovered these great tank tops from Target that help extend your regular shirts. So important.

Movement: Definitely. Daniel feels it all the time. My sister even got to feel him the other day! The craziest thing is seeing it from the outside…way better than TV. I’ve also noticed that I can feel him move in more than one place sometimes. An arm here, a leg there perhaps? It reminds me how big he is getting! Oh, and he’s definitely a night owl. #we’reintrouble

Labor signs: No.

Belly button in or out? In, but its looking a little weird these days.

Looking forward to: My doctor’s appointment on Friday, except the part where I have my glucose test. (gulp) I keep having flashbacks to all the sweet, sugary things I’ve been eating this pregnancy…let’s hope I pass. But I am excited to hear baby’s heartbeat and see how he’s doing!

Other news:

Baby is a cute little cauliflower this week! According to my app, he weighs between 1.5 and 2.5 pounds and is around 14 inches long. That is major!

I’ve been feeling a lot better overall these past few weeks. Not quite as tired or out-of-breath as I was before. I can’t exactly bend easier, but I’ve been much more comfortable walking and moving than I was a few weeks ago, and I’ve had more energy.

Funny preggo story 1: We ran out of milk on Saturday morning, which meant no cereal for me. That was not going to fly, so I went to the grocery store at like 7:00 am before breakfast to get milk for the express purpose of eating it with cereal.

Funny preggo story 2: Daniel and I were driving to the mall when suddenly I decided it was so.freaking.hot outside and I was going to roast to death right there in the car. We had the A/C up to the max and I was just sitting with my face in it. We then had to go to the grocery store so I could buy a giant refrigerated 1-liter bottle of water. I had to use both hands to drink out of it – it was that big. But so worth it. I drank about half of it on our drive, and then just held it on my lap so I could cool down. So random, but I have to admit it was pretty hilarious.

ALSO. I found out that 27 weeks is when you reach your third trimester. That is in...uh...TWO WEEKS!! Where in the world is this time going? Can I just keep him in there for a big longer...?

22 weeks!

Just a quick update for 22 weeks.

How far along? 22 weeks

Baby is the size of: A papaya

Total weight gain/loss: 9ish lbs

Stretch marks? Not yet.

Sleep: Still just fine. I fall asleep super quickly – it’s the staying comfortable throughout the night and getting up to go to the bathroom part. Still in love with my bump nest pillow.

Best moment this week: Going shopping with my mom and sister for baby things!!

Cravings: All things sweet. I get embarrassingly excited to eat a bowl of cereal in the morning. I also have been craving shakes, like the ones you get from iceberg or dairy queen or shivers. The vanilla ones with candy pieces in them. I haven’t given in to that one yet, though. Perhaps today…

Anything making you queasy or sick: Nothing.

Miss anything? Being able to eat as much as I want! I’ll still be hungry, but I know if I eat more I won’t be able to breathe with all the other stuff in there. So I just try to eat small things all day.

Have you started to show yet? Yes. The bump is getting so much bigger!! I look unmistakably pregnant at this point.

Gender: A small gentleman

Happy or moody most of the time: Happy!

Maternity clothes? Yep, but most of my shirts still fit.

Movement: Yep! Often and strong.

Labor signs: No.

Belly button in or out? In.

Looking forward to: Meeting baby!! Haha. Oh man. I've got a long way to go.

It was a great week! Some highlights included going to Park City this weekend for a super fun girl's night. Thanks to Marianne for letting us stay over at her family condo! I even squeezed myself into a swimsuit and took the bump swimming. Great times. We also discovered that baby is super sneaky, and will do great strong kicks right up until the moment I try to get someone to feel them from the outside! Then, he promptly stops. I also loved going shopping with my mom and Allison at a few baby stores this week. We bought baby boy some fly outfits (including a tiny Jurassic Park tee) but the crowning jewel was the baby bear suit we found. It looks just like this one:

DYING!!!

also, for documentation purposes...
the bump from every angle!

^^ This last one!! ^^ 
What?! Where did that come from? Hello legit baby bump!

21 Weeks...over halfway!!

I'm imagining  Bon Jovi's "Livin' on a Prayer" playing in the background as I write this post. 

*Ohh...we're halfway there....

Wooooah! Livin' on a prayer!*

And seriously, both of those things are true. As of last week, we are officially over halfway done with this pregnancy! I can't believe it. Only a few more months until this gets real and baby boy joins our family, ready or not. Man, I've got to get ready. Now, for the update!

How far along? 21 weeks
Baby is the size of: A pomegranate
Total weight gain/loss: 5+ pounds
Stretch marks? Not yet.
Sleep: Okay, other than going to the bathroom all the time. It's a bit harder to get comfy these days, but my bump nest pillow is my best friend.
Best moment this week: Finding out we're having a BOY!! And reaching the halfway point!!
Cravings: Breakfast cereal, raspberries, and cookies & milk. Ha! So random.
Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope.
Miss anything? Being able to move/bend any way I want. I'm feeling a bit more limited as the bump grows.
Have you started to show yet? Oh, yes. I think the bump has doubled in size. I feel huge already, and we're only halfway. I got super self-conscious about it this morning so I looked up a bunch of pictures of other ladies at 21 weeks, and made Daniel analyze them with me to decide if I was getting huge way early. The jury is still out on that one! 
Gender: MAN CUB!
Happy or moody most of the time: Happy.
Maternity clothes? My mom and I went shopping the other day to find me some shorts and dresses so I can survive the summer. Maternity clothes (especially pants) are totally underrated. They feel so much better!
Movement: Yes! Kicks and jabs and rolls and flips....especially while watching fireworks on the 4th of July. This little guy either loves or hates fireworks, judging by his acrobatics during the show.
Labor signs: No.
Belly button in or out? In.
Looking forward to: Meeting baby!! Haha. Oh man. I've got a long way to go.

So...this week has been interesting. Other than morning sickness, I've felt really good this whole pregnancy. However, the bump has really grown recently and I'm starting to feel it. Doing tasks that used to be no problem like vacuuming out cars, standing up after sitting on the floor, or getting pots and pans out of our lower cabinets have become interesting. I don't bend so well anymore. I also feel like I get tired and out-of-breath more easily. The worst is when I sometimes feel like I can't take a good deep breath because all this stuff is in the way of my lungs! It's especially noticeable after I eat, or when I'm sitting with poor posture. I know that is totally normal for pregnancy, but It's worrying only because I know I am going to get a LOT bigger, and I didn't expect to feel that so soon! It's not too bad yet, but I hope my other insides can sort themselves out around this growing baby so my lungs can have the requisite amount of space they need :). Any tips or advice on this is welcome and appreciated! I've only got 19 weeks to go....*insert terrified face here* and *cue Bon Jovi*

Baby Sorensen is a....

BOY!!

And we are thrilled!! Surprised would be an understatement. As evidenced by previous posts, we totally thought it was a girl. Here's why:

I went in for an ultrasound at 13 weeks or so, and while I was there I asked the technician if she had a guess on what the gender was. She told me it was still too early to tell, but that she was 80% sure it was a GIRL. Crazy! I went home and told Daniel the possible news. We both knew that it was far from certain, which is why we didn't say anything. But when we went in for our big ultrasound this past week, we thought we pretty much knew what the technician would say.

So imagine our surprise when the lady told us we were having a BOY!!! It was crazy! Honestly, it was SO fun to be surprised. It was like finding out we were having a baby all over again. A boy! A son! A man cub! I am seriously so excited to get to raise this little boy.

In other news, we were even more excited to learn that baby looks healthy so far. The doctor said all is well, and that was so reassuring. It's a lot of responsibility sharing a body with someone else. We've been so blessed with everything going well so far, and I never want to take that for granted.

Baby was the poster child for being photogenic and cooperative during the ultrasound. The tech burst out laughing when she realized how many pictures she had printed for us. She was so nice. They even let us see him in 3D!! This kid moves around so much, and his little kicks and jabs are getting stronger. It's magical to feel him moving. There's truly nothing like it. 

After the ultrasound, my sister Allison and I decided on a whim to make an ombre three-layer cake to celebrate baby boy! We had a great time.

Honestly, we totally winged it but it turned out great! Couldn't have done it without her. 

Now, we just need to start planning for a baby BOY rather than a girl! Ha. Back to square one with names, nursery ideas, etc...We've totally been in girl-mode. I even had to remind myself that the ultrasound picture that's been hanging on our fridge for weeks is actually a boy, not a girl. Yay for baby boys!!

What will Baby Sorensen be?

Our big appointment is tomorrow (!!) so we're making our final guesses on baby's gender. Here's what the old wives tales have to say:

The wives tales slightly lean toward GIRL, but it's super close!

What's your guess?

...

19 weeks

I skipped a few weeks on the updates, but all is going well over here! The bump is out of control. I swear it grows every day. I’ve been feeling really good, and I’ve gotten to be very productive since school has been out. But let’s be honest, the bump and I have also spent our fair share of time at the pool with Marianne, and catching up on Netflix.

How far along? 19 weeks (almost 20…oops)
Baby is the size of: A mango!
Total weight gain/loss: I’ve been bad about weighing myself, but probably like 3 pounds.
Stretch marks? Not yet.
Sleep: It’s been great lately! I get up an extra time to go to the bathroom (thanks, baby) but it’s fine.
Best moment this week: Daniel feeling his first of the baby kicks from the outside!!
Cravings: I love cereal for breakfast lately. And these peanut butter/chocolate/banana protein shakes I’ve been making.
Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope, but I feel like I am finally starting to smell things that other people don’t seem to notice…
Miss anything? Ibuprofen. Tylenol is not legit.
Have you started to show yet? Yep, yep, yep! But I’m still in that weird stage where I sort of just look fat.
Gender prediction: Girl? WE FIND OUT THIS TUESDAY!!!!
Happy or moody most of the time: Happy as a clam.
Maternity clothes? I bought a top, a pair of jeans, and a dress. All are amazing! Still a little big on me, but I’m sure not for long. I seriously underestimated how restrictive my clothes would feel after a while.
Movement: UM…..yes is an understatement. I think my child has a black belt in karate. Baby moves around ALL. THE. TIME. I love it! The kicks are super strong, too. Daniel has felt it several times on the outside, and I SAW my stomach move this morning!!! I know some people are just barely starting to feel kicks at this point, so I’m a little nervous about what my internal organs are in for in the later months when mango-baby turns into pineapple-baby….
Labor signs: No.
Belly button in or out? In.
Looking forward to: Finding out gender!!!!!! I seriously cannot wait.

I am so beyond excited to find out our little baby’s gender at our appointment on TUESDAY!! I got confused about when we would be finding out, so I was super bummed when I learned I had to wait 2 more weeks. Daniel and I both have the feeling that this baby is a girl. That probably means we’ll end up with a boy, right? HA!

In other news, I had another “pregnant lady” moment the other night. Daniel and I were talking in the living room, Baby was kicking up a storm, and suddenly I felt this really strong jab that just felt like…a body part. Like an arm or a leg. Of another human. My human. Growing inside me. Big enough and strong enough for me to feel it. I started thinking about what s/he must look like, how big it was growing, how it’s little heart was beating, how it could hear me talk, and how I will get to meet this little one in a few months and have the opportunity to be his or her mother. Suddenly out of nowhere in the middle of our conversation, I was on the verge of tears trying to explain to Daniel how much I loved our baby! He probably thought I was completely insane. He sort of just smiled and nodded and said “ooookay….” a lot of times. Haha! Poor Daniel, you guys.

...

16 weeks!

Here's a 16 week update on Baby Sorensen! It's been a great week. Now that we've told the world, it's nice not to have to be sneaky about this little one. I've also kicked pretty much all morning sickness to the curb, and I couldn't be more psyched about that. To top it all of...school is out in TWO days!! Can't wait for lazy summer days by the pool. Which will probably turn into not-so-lazy summer days of getting ready for a tiny new human to join our family.

How far along? 16 weeks 
Baby is the size of: An avocado!
Total weight gain/loss: Still about the same.
Stretch marks? Not yet.
Sleep: I'm getting a little better at staying up these days! No more 8:30 bedtime for me. I've also noticed I don't sleep quite as soundly as I did before I was pregnant. It's not too bad though.
Best moment this week: Having people start to notice the bump!! It's definitely made an appearance this week.
Cravings: All the cold, icy, fruity, ice-creamy things. Stealing leftover otter pops from the school's freezer like it's my job. #sorrykids
Anything making you queasy or sick: Not big on hamburgers or ground meat. And I still hate swallowing pills.
Miss anything? I made sugar cookies the other day, and I was super disappointed when I remembered I couldn't eat the dough! I held strong though. No salmonella for Baby and me!
Have you started to show yet? I think after this week, you could officially say YES.
Gender prediction: Daniel and I both think it's a girl. Who knows, though! We'd love either one.
Happy or moody most of the time: Just peachy.
Maternity clothes? Not yet. Belly band is a great thing though!
Movement: I've started to feel these little pop-flutter-jabs when I'm sitting down and relaxed! It's wild. But I don't feel it all the time.
Labor signs: No.
Belly button in or out? In.
Looking forward to: Finding out gender! And being done with school, let's be honest. TWO DAYS!!

With that, I'll leave you with the story of my first official crazy-pregnant-lady moment. 

I've been loving avocados lately, and I made some guacamole the other day to eat with chips. When I went into the pantry, I couldn't find the bag of tortilla chips I had just bought 2 days ago. Gone. No chips. I was so disappointed! I had to eat my guacamole with stupid club crackers. It was a tragedy. When Daniel got home and was interrogated, he admitted to eating the entire bag of chips in 2 days all by himself. So, I went to the store and bought some more a few days later. Unfortunately, the tale does not end there. On Saturday, the EXACT same thing happened. AGAIN! I made homemade guac and found the SECOND bag of recently-purchased tortilla chips completely decimated by my husband. Only this time, I was pissed. I put my guac in a tupperware and we drove to the store to buy two giant family-size bags of chips, one of which promptly got marked MANDY'S with a big black sharpie. Then I ate my guac out of the tupperware in the car on the way home from the store. Haha!! Now, I'd like to think this extreme overreaction on my part is a direct result of pregnancy. Poor Daniel. His argument of "just check the pantry before making the guac next time" is starting to sound more reasonable. ;)