I am feeling AMAZING. Today marks 22 weeks and 1 day pregnant. I had a checkup today and baby’s heart rate was 156. It is usually around 154 so baby was extra active this morning. My doctor actually had to move around her “scope” a few times because the baby was flipping into different positions which made the sound of his heart rate less audible. Amazing. 
Everything with me and baby is right on track. My blood pressure was normal again and my iron levels are great. I feel so lucky because I am constantly thinking that something is going to be wrong. My weight gain is also on track – I have gained 11 pounds so far. My doctor said I should have a total weight gain of 30 pounds by the time I give birth which is right where they want me to be (since I was not a skinny ninny). Again, feeling so lucky and blessed that everything is just fine.
Just as I had planned, I am not going crazy with my eating habits. I still do not understand the entire craving thing. (Maybe it is coming later?) Most of the time it’s still hard to even eat and I just make myself eat. I get full very easily! I think it has to do with how I was losing some weight before I became pregnant. I was making sure to eat less and just eat better things. So it’s been a good transition. There have been a few strange things I guess like the time I bought portobello mushrooms and had three chicken salad, cream cheese and sauteed mushroom sandwiches in less than 24 hours. But I am just trying to get some different vegetables in my diet. I don’t consider it a craving. Bottom line is: I am not eating ice cream and pickles just yet. In fact most “sweet stuff” is too rich and I can’t even eat it. I just want to eat the good stuff! For breakfast I have cereal with organic milk, whole wheat bagels with cream cheese or a Chick-fil-A chicken biscuit and hashbrowns. I have the Chick-fil-A breakfast often really, and most often right before my doctor’s appointments.
For lunch and dinner it’s always random things. I still am not really into eating meat but try to eat it. (I do like tuna salad sandwiches though.) I love bread, things covered with cheese, pasta, and fruit. I am always trying to snack on different fruits. I’m loving mangos the most and hate waiting for them to ripen. There’s nothing worse than a teasing mango. (Oh, peaches are so good too. I need to get more today.)
The biggest lifestyle change for me is drinking water constantly. All day, all the time. There are some days when I don’t do a good job with it, but on most days I am completely determined to drink water every hour just about. Especially since it’s a good way to help with your blood pressure. I am amazed (and so is Daniel) that I bought a water bottle and actually use it every single day. What a smart purchase. Plus I also drink water to balance out the soda I am still drinking. Yes, I couldn’t give it up. I need my bubbly Mountain Dew. One or two a day is fine.
As for exercise, it hasn’t happened yet. I keep thinking I will go and ride my bike, but I never do. So far photography has been my only exercise and moving stuff into our new place is now an exercise. I think it’s enough for now. Plus I am not supposed to be doing anything too crazy since I have a marginal placenta previa. And I’ll know if that’s getting “better” at my next ultrasound on May 15th.
Symptoms: Still get heartburn each day, multiple times a day. I read to not drink any fluid while you are eating (only drink before/after) and it should help. I will start doing that today. My feet and ankles were swelled for a few days which was a crazy sight to see. But as soon as I told everyone about it, it went away! Looks like they were swelled because of my double-wedding weekend last week. Other than that nothing else crazy is happening. I definitely feel like I am losing strength in my abdomen – it is hard already to get myself out of the car or the bed. It takes an extra ummpfh to propel myself upright. Lastly, my hair is still falling out. But I still have a lot left, oddly. I only wash my hair every two to three days so I can try to ease the effects. I also try not to brush it often. Also started doing coconut oil treatments again when I don’t have to leave the house and can just be an oily ball. I will write more about this hair experience in a later post.
Soooo as revealed a few paragraphs up, we are moving into a new house by the end of the month! (In fact, all of my shoes are already there. So I’m basically finished, ha.) We are so excited about it. Finally, no more dark-vintage-Pier-1 house. We will be in a bright, happy house with fresh carpet and fresh paint. It is just super clean. We forgot what that felt like! Sure we really loved our current house (I’ll be writing about that later) but it was time to upgrade. The house we are moving into was built in 2000, and the one we are in now? 1972. So you can imagine how it is falling apart. It desperately needs updating and that just isn’t happening with a rental.
What else.. we still have no idea what to name our little guy. It is so hard for us. Naming our girl would have been easy, we had at least five names already which we were perfectly fine with. But for the boy we feel extra sensitive about how his name will carry him through his life. So I am happy we have a few months left to marinate on this.
But when they are able to come together, we can go have dinner and do something really nice. Plus I am definitely going to have a smaller, post-baby party in October or November I think. 
