This little man has a name!

Ryken Spencer Patsey

This name was on the top of my list. It took Derek some getting used to, but he really likes it and we decided it should be baby boy's name! I heard the name Ryken years ago... I can't even tell you where because, frankly I don't remember. And Spencer is Derek's mom's maiden name (Derek was born Derek Spencer until his parents married). Naming him felt a lot harder than naming Owen. It was easy with Owen and with Ryken, it felt so weird... like I was hoping I wasn't doing the wrong thing. Everything is so different the second time around!

it's a.....

BOY!!!!!

We're so excited! Neither Derek or I had a preference so we're just excited he's healthy and from what the ultrasound looks like doing quite well and is active. We will get our official results from the radiologist on how the ultrasound looks tomorrow. I'm praying that everything is as good as it seemed to me.

He's measuring about a week ahead of schedule, so they might be changing my due date... which would put his due date right about Owen's 5th birthday. That idea stresses me out! Oh well, we will deal with whatever God puts in front of us ;] Oh, and stay tuned on a name... we've got one we like, but want to have it set in stone before we announce it!

19 weeks

Your Baby: Week 19

Vernix caseosa, a greasy white substance made of lanugo, oil and dead skin cells (yum) now coats baby's skin, shielding it from the amniotic fluid. (Picture yourself after a nine-month bath, and the need for protection makes sense.) You might actually get to see the vernix at birth, especially if baby is premature.

This past week has been pretty eventful as far as baby goes... lots of kicks have been felt! Only by me though. I'm finally feeling some kicking. Mostly at night when I lay on my back before rolling over to sleep. I even felt the baby on the outside... that was weird! I forgot how it felt and how weird it felt to feel a baby from the outside and inside. It's also reassuring feeling it move... I'm not as paranoid about our next appointment because I can feel that it's doing just fine. 6 more days til we find out what we're having!

cravings...

Just like every other pregnant woman... I've had cravings. At first it was tomato soup, egg mcmuffins and orange juice. Now, I have some cravings that aren't so good for me (not that the others were the best diet, but far better than these...)

Totino's Pizza's
Yes, the bottom of the frozen pizza barrel. You can buy these suckers for $1. I crave them... they're horribly not nutritious.

Sour Punch Bites
These were a craving of mine while pregnant with Owen, but this time I've tried to keep myself from the candy aisle. I don't need to be gaining 40 pounds this pregnancy Adding to the pizza with a sour dessert will only speed up the weight gaining process.

Why can't I be one of those girls who craves fruits, veggies and lean meats?? Grrr... I am hating my super unhealthy cravings and have been trying to offset them with nice long walks. I wish it were long jogs, but my hip is not allowing me to run :( I miss running... I read a blog basically profiling this mom's journey to a marathon starting at square one. It made me want to set a goal for post-baby. There is a 5k I do every year at the end of February... I'm going to run that again. As soon as my dr gives me the thumbs up for exercise, I'm running!

18 weeks

Your Baby: Week 18

Your fetus has become amazingly mobile (at least compared to you), passing the hours yawning, hiccuping, rolling, twisting, kicking, punching, sucking and swallowing. And, baby's finally big enough that you'll be able to feel those movements soon.

I'm getting increasingly anxious for our ultrasound on the 27th. Officially 13 days left! I can't wait to know what this baby is and give it a name. I hate just calling it "the baby", it's a person and needs an identity. We will have that crazy discussion of names after we find out ;] Owen insists it is a girl and has the WHOLE time! I'm ok with either, but I think a boy would be more financially friendly ;] Girls have so much cute stuff to buy and with my niece who isn't even her yet, I could go broke buying her stuff... I make myself stay away from the baby aisle. So, we will see. I'm feeling pretty good still. The last few nights I've been up again for about 2 hours... last night it was hard to want to move into a comfy position, cause the way I was laying I could feel baby moving a little bit. Very nice to feel...

Week 17

Your Baby: Week 17

Baby's skeleton is hardening, changing from rubbery cartilage to bone, and fat is finally accumulating around it. The umbilical cord is getting thicker and stronger, and those little fingers and toes are now topped by one-of-a-kind prints.

Well, not much going on these days. I'm still feeling really good... just fat! I'm so at that in between phase where I can't fit into my old clothes (mostly pants and skirts unless they're super stretchy) and the "maternity" clothes I have make me look like a frump. It's very frustrating. I had 2 showers yesterday and must've tried on 6 different outfits trying to look presentable. I've got a couple pair of maternity jeans that I love, but I wanted to look nice at the showers so there is where I hit a wall. Just felt icky. On a more exciting note, I'm feeling the baby move! Just little flutters here and there, but I can definitely tell it's moving! 3 more weeks until we know if it's a boy or girl and then Derek and I can start discussing names!