BJ at Week 17

The week of May 18th 2009: My Little Onion



BJ's skeleton is changing from soft cartilage to bone, and the umbilical cord — her lifeline to the placenta — is growing stronger and thicker. Most babies around this time would weigh about 5 ounces (as much as a turnip), and be around 5 inches long from head to bottom, but she is measuring a little big at 6 inches (about the size of a jumbo baked potato!) She can move her joints, and her sweat glands are starting to develop. (Babycenter.com)

It is kind of ironic that this week is an onion for the simple fact that before I was pregnant I loved onions and now that I am pregnant I barely eat them! This is definitely Chip's princess because he has a hatred towards onions as well. I've been feeling great still and am so thankful the Lord has blessed me with this baby. Sometimes I still forget she's there, but now that my baby bump is growing, it's a constant reminder! I feel random twitches and tinges in weird places as my BJ's temporary home makes room for her. I know it's all part of the whole journey so I try not to freak out too much. Every now and then I feel little flutters in my belly as BJ makes sure mommy knows she's there. For example, we went to Bible study last night and everything was fine, then the organ got louder and so did the singing and the clapping and that must have excited BJ, because she was moving around like she was gettin her praise on! I was thinking, OMG! there is something crawling on my stomach? Oh, wait! That was the baby!!

What's going on with me? Well after spending much of my life after 25 trying to avoid gaining weight, now I'm told to pack on the poundage. But not too many pounds, of course. And not the wrong kind of weight. It's exhausting. So, I enrolled in prenatal yoga and an aqua fit class. Both of which I really really like. So, hopefully, the weight I am gaining I can lose after the baby is born.

Speaking of packing on the pounds, that what it's all about for BJ this week. She's adding fat stores that will keep her warm and cozy after she's born. Her weight will increase approximately six times over the next four weeks. Wow!!

BJ is also hard at work making sure her sucking and swallowing reflexes are in working order —all the better for eating that 2 AM (and 5 AM, and 8 AM ...) meal in a few months! Goodness! Will I ever sleep??!!!