Growing

I am now on my 22nd week! On to my sixth month and I am happy to have this appetite and craving I so waited for. The past days I have been gorging. It was amazing how my stomach felt like a bottomless pit. Then after feasting, I'd suffer from heartburn and burp fest! I need more space, the baby is growing and so is my appetite LOL!

My stomach definitely feels heavier and I think I need some help lifting it. It feels too low. I am starting to feel this difficulty of switching positions while lying down and sitting. Aside from this chronic left hip pain, I still feel round ligament stretching as I get bigger.

Baby's kicks are getting wilder. As she moves I feel my whole insides are going with her. At times it tickles, sometimes it hurts. My husband can feel the little nudge now, soon he will see my deformed stomach as our munchkin squirms with all her delight!

Above is our little family's picture with the baby bump =)

(b)Ac(k)ne

Since I got pregnant, pimples have been popping like crazy across my forehead. When I was in Cebu, I had the luxury to get facials when I needed to have it scrubbed and polished. Here, I made do with apricot scrub that supposedly helps prevents acne and blackheads. It has gone wildly and spread to my back! Grrr! Sadly, I cannot put any medication. I guess I have to live with an overactive oil gland...

I hope that after I give birth this will go away. Otherwise, I'd be fat with pimples, and I don't want that! Waaaah!

The only consolation I have now is that my pits are not that dark, I have no linea nigra yet, and my face hasn't ballooned that much. I do hope I won't have a new set of stretchmarks when I reach my third trimester.

Ah the vanity woes strike again!

Registry

I just had so much fun clicking away through Babies R Us online and adding stuffs to my baby registry. Some sort of wishlist and list at the same time... little trinkets that are not too necessary for now, some essentials, and some whatnots. It's a fun time, although I think I am having carpal tunnel syndrome-like pain on my wrist because of all this clicking. Phew, even online shopping is an ordeal LOL!

Ultrasound

This morning, I went for my thorough ultrasound check. Fingers and toes all accounted for, heart chambers, lungs, brain, etc. The sonographer and my OB knows the gender hehehe! But we asked them not to tell us. We had to look away while the gender was being checked. Ah so exciting! There is fun in analyzing those black and white images if a 'dingdong' would show or otherwise, but we can wait until it's due time. We are very patient hahaha!

Note, I gained 8lbs so far...

I am very happy the husband obliged to come with me. I want him to enjoy the scan especially now that the baby is big enough, 14 oz at that. He missed my previous scans because I was in Cebu and the very first one was at the emergency room.

Everything has been very wonderful! I was baby giddy and decided we trooped to our neighborhood Babies R Us store because they have a clearance sale this week. We got an infant car seat, stroller, playpen mattress and linens, baby detergent, nursing bras and a supposedly belly belt but I carelessly got the postpartum belt! I have to decide which breastpump to get -- Avent or Medela? (Any thoughts?)

Now, I am on my nesting spree washing all the linens and folding the mountain-ful of loads unkempt since I don't know. I think I am going to throw them into the dryer again, that should save me some time un-creasing them with an iron (because I suck at it). Yes, I am not gifted in the laundry department -- washing, folding, sewing, ironing -- I admit!

I have to get this house ready for the little one while I am still having bursts of energy. They say that the second trimester is the golden stage of pregnancy, might be for me save for this nasty hip pain (which I will discuss with a chiropractor, should I really go see one?). I have to wash the playpen mesh, the crib linens and bumpers, the baby clothes, and sanitize the baby toys. I think it will still be sanitized enough until Spring. One amazing fact about Colorado is that we barely gather dust.

I blabber and blabber, it's our monthsarry today! One more month and we'll be celebrating our sixth year as a married couple hurray! Second baby on the way as a trophy LOL!

Guilt

I haven't been food logging because, well, I feel guilty knowing what I ate. I am sorry baby... so today, I will start again:

Breakfast: Twix! then I dozed off. (I know!)

Lunch: Chicken Afritada leftovers, rice pudding, and coffee

...

Halfway

Officially twenty weeks today!!! I am halfway my pregnancy, feels like a whiff of air went by and poof I'm huge... if only it didn't come with aches and discomforts. Oh well, I still get those nasty hip pain and sleeping is not very welcoming anymore. My tummy is definitely bigger and so is my nose (bummer!).

Baby is now approximately ten inches long, but will see how big this munchkin is this coming Thursday when I go for my thorough ultrasound. Her kicks are definitely stronger! She tickles my insides like crazy, it's cute but sometimes I wish she will only do that during my waking hours.

Libido has gone mad. I never thought I'd run out of that. This pregnancy is different from my previous one. I almost cried last night, because I wish I can just summon ecstasy when I need to. I am too sensitive and irritable to be caressed. I am too conscious to even enjoy it. Please say this won't stay this way forever?!

My appetite is still the same, although I have been enjoying a few dishes -- pasta and chicken. I found Indian cuisine a delight as well. I crave for soda and ice cream, and sometimes bbq (specifically Litang's at Pardo!). I am itching to bake banana muffins too. I guess this time, I have to manage what I like to eat because I have to make them from scratch unless of course I indulge myself pretty much by ordering in or dining out.

So far, so good. Everything else is magical!

Appetite

It has been a struggle to find something that I will actually enjoy eating. I don't really eat that much but now that I am pregnant I think I am even worse. I eat close to none. I take bite just because I need to. Where's the fun in that? I long for that appetite, even probably a sixth of what you have I'll be happy! This is like sex without the orgasm at all (sorry to be so graphic, but how else will I describe it? Hehehe!)

I am now halfway through my pregnancy and I still don't enjoy food at all. Last night, after a few days of craving and intending to roast a whole chicken, I finally just did it! It came out crunchy and crispy outside just like a chicharon, tender and juicy inside with a lemony and buttery flavor! Oh divine! This really sounds awful because I am shamelessly proclaiming a victory over a roasted chicken LOL! Who cares? I loved every bite of it.

Midnight snacks was rice with the chicken, ohlalala! Something I needed because I only had macaroons for dinner. I hope baby is happy now =)

Lunch today was leftovers from last night. Not crunchy anymore but tasty just the same and I capped with it strawberry cheesecake ice cream... I AM SO HAPPY!!!

Knee

Life is too hard with just one knee! My left knee is failing me... it started yesterday. I could barely walk much less go up the stairs. I need a cane, I'm not joking. If I get any heavier than now, I don't really know how much pain I can possibly bear. First the left hip, now the left knee. It is like I need new spare parts =(

Cookies

I woke up from a very sad dream, sulked in my sad thoughts, cried buckets, and couldn't console myself. In between my sobs I heard my stomach growling, furious, and made me weak. Too weak to grab my own food. I woke my dearly beloved. He obliged, went down and came back with a pack of cookies and warm milk. He didn't notice that I was crying, oh poor thing he must have been very tired.

The crying can be hormonal, but the tears of joy of having to share this pregnancy with someone who co-authored it is overwhelming. I munched on the cookies, downed it with milk, still crying but happy. Oh but then the thought of someone bringing me my milk made me cry a little bit more. After all, I was grieving for the loss of my father who passed away six years ago. He was that kind of man. I miss him and too bad my children will not experience his warmth and love.

Anticipation

(borrowing Mika and her Tita Kharla)

On my eighteenth week now, and getting excited as ever! I never thought it will still be the same way the second time around. That longing and anticipation of seeing the little one soon is just enough to make my day. Whenever she squirms and jolts, the big blob tickling my insides just feels like heaven!

I am still worried about my lack of appetite... although it's quite comforting to know that I love pasta with white or red sauce... I am happy I can stuff my mouth with it and be satisfied. This, coupled with a nutella sandwich.

Two weeks from now I will have a 45 minute ultrasound to check on the baby's vital parts. I can't wait! I am even tempted to check her gender, but I promise I won't. I still like her to be a surprise. I want to know if my instincts are accurate (after all, I was right about Akio).

Oh, I measured my waistline last night and what do you know... it was like this a year ago before I got serious on losing weight! Dear! Hahaha! Even my weight now was the bulge I've been carrying for two years post partum. I just find it funny! Hahaha!!!

(Kuya kissing little Mika's feet)

The little big boy in the house is very excited too! He wants the crib in his room because he loves the baby and the baby loves him 'daw'! He said he's going to bathe his baby (yes, his... very possessive!) and take her to gymboree (still fixated on going to gymboree).

We are taking out the baby stuffs and toys from the box this weekend. For sure, the big brother to be will be happy to help. I've been scouting for a few nursery items online as well just so I know how much to shell out, that and the hospital bills and etc. Yes, having a baby is costly! Phew!