It's a....

Baby!

Weeks pregnant: 19
Baby size: heirloom tomato
Total weight gain +12lb
Total waist gain: +6"

We had our first and hopefully only ultrasound this week. The tech was able to get all of the measurements she needed, so we shouldn't need another one. This one was supposed to be at 20 weeks, but since we're moving next week, my midwife let me schedule it a little early so that we wouldn't have to worry about getting it done as soon as we move. It was so fun to see little Bugabug and all the little baby parts. Everything looks good and healthy, which is such a blessing. Baby measured a day ahead according to my calculations and 3 days ahead according to my "official" due date. I let the midwives stick with the official due date they calculated because it was two days later than my estimate. I figured the extra two days couldn't hurt just in case I need them. But either way, we are definitely in the ballpark. We did end up finding out the gender. We had good reasons to wait with the first baby (getting a stash of gender-neutral baby stuff, helping me get through labor), but we couldn't think of any reasons for us to wait this time, so we found out! So fun! Want to know what Bugabug is? I will tell you, but first you have to take my poll. It's over on my sidebar. Leave your guess, and then I will share in September.

Physical stuff: Ah, pregnancy! I am finally in the happy pregnancy groove where I feel awesome. I have no ill symptoms. Ok, I am winded carrying my toddler up the stairs, but the headaches and nausea are gone. No nosebleeds yet. My belly isn't getting in my way yet. Baby is moving around a lot. All is good, and I am happy.

Nursing/boobs: Still nursing about once/day. Maybe a little more this week, as molars are popping through, but not much change here. We did go one full day without nursing at all last week, but it was the first thing she asked for the next day. When I got out of the shower the other day, Penny pointed at my breasts and said "Mommy's mommy milks". I told her they are called breasts, but I think they will remain "mommy milks" in her mind, at least for the time being.

Food: Big crunchy hard pretzels with cheddar cheese slices. I crave them every day. I even make special trips to Trader Joe's because Whole Foods only carries the skinny pretzels, and they just don't cut it. Black licorice. Bacon. Ah bacon. Thick, fabulous, $9/pound bacon from Whole Foods. I limit myself to once/week, but oh how I look forward to Saturday mornings.

Baby/birth prep: I have meet & greet appointments with two midwife groups in Chicago for the week we move in. Both deliver at the alternative birth center near our new house (which I've also scheduled a tour of), but I am about 90% sure I will also set up some homebirth consults. January in Chicago? I am thinking preparing for a home birth might not be the worst idea. Ha! I am also planning to attend a babywearing class on Saturday. I want to get some more info on babywearing newborns. Penny had zero interest in being worn as a newborn, but I am thinking Bugabug will have to suck it up and get used to being worn b/c I'm going to need these arms to tend to big sister Penny. I am especially wanting some info on woven wraps and ring slings, which might be the only two types of carriers I don't already own. Oy.

Other: I dragged out my bin of maternity clothes a few days ago. It's just so much more comfortable to wear actual maternity pants than the belly bands at this point, so why fight it? And it's kind of fun to pull out a whole new wardrobe without having to buy anything. Stay tuned for when I share a cool maternity-related sewing project soon. Oh, and please bear with me over the next couple of weeks as we move. I will still try to post a few times, but no promises.