You want to know how week 19 started for me? I woke up last Thursday morning, the day I began my 19th week in this pregnancy, and I went to Google "19 weeks pregnant" so I could learn about our baby's development. I do this every Thursday morning, as I like knowing the new things that are going on in this pregnancy and what to expect in the coming week.

As soon as Google revealed the results of my search, and before I opened any browser windows, I panicked. 19 weeks?! This pregnancy suddenly became a whole lot more real. And the thought of ending the pregnancy with labor, was what made me panic. 

Now, I've had 3 great birth experiences, my best two being my home births, and the last, a hospital birth, the best outcome with minor interventions due to arriving at the hospital with only 20 minutes to spare before the baby was out. But no matter how many births you've experienced, or if its your first time, you still panic. And for me, that panic hits around 20 weeks. 

When I was talking to a pregnant friend a few weeks ago, I was telling her my thoughts about pregnancy. When I'm not pregnant, I think of pregnancy and giving birth as a beautiful experience, easy even. Then, when I actually find out I'm pregnant, my thoughts turn to, "What have I done?!" Next comes week 20, give or take, and suddenly I'm panicking. But, knowing it is WAY too late to worry and that it is time to just suck it up and accept what the next 4 1/2 months brings, I shrug it off and try not to think about it too much. And then, from 20 weeks onward, its just downhill from there. After that, there's never enough time to accomplish all you want to do before Baby comes. And finally comes LABOR. When that starts, I look myself in the mirror, and tell myself that no matter how hard it gets, or how painful it becomes, to just push through it and remember to relax as much as possible to make it easier on my body. So, now you have it. My pregnancy philosophy in one paragraph! 

Now, on to week 19! 

How Far Along: 19 weeks 6 days (Picture taken at 19w 3d)

How I'm Feeling This Week: Still great. Needed a nap again this week. Those naps are a blessed relief, since they are so few and far between with 3 toddlers in the house!

Braxton Hicks Contractions: I seem to be getting a few each day, for the past couple of days. They are normal, and not in any pattern. It seems to happen the most when I need to get up to use the bathroom, but I feel the contractions first before feeling the urge to go. That's the same thing that happened when I had an irritable uterus with my first two pregnancies. I hope this isn't the beginning of another pregnancy with Mildred the Angry Uterus!

Aversions: Same as last week, people's breaths. This week it was my husband's breath. 

Pregnancy Symptoms: 
•bleeding gums when I brush
•vivid dreams 
•skin break-outs 
•slight breast tenderness 
•dark hair on my belly 
•brittle nails 
•darkened areola
•leg cramps, happens only when I'm pregnant
•sharp ligament pain, occasionally when I cough or sneeze (ouch!)

Doctor/Midwife Appointment: None this week.

Weight Gain So Far: Since I was only eating a little over 2,000 calories up until now, this week I added another 100 calories to my diet to make sure I'm getting the calories I need to provide for both me and Baby.

After gaining weight too fast at the beginning of this pregnancy, I turned to calorie counting to help me know what my body needed. Nick and I use My Fitness Pal on our iPhones, and we bought a smart scale that syncs up to the My Fitness Pal app. If you'd like to see my diet, you can look me up and I'll add you on my friends list. I'm listed as horseopeaceranch. 

During the second trimester, I'm supposed to add only 300 extra calories to my regular diet each day, which translates to about one banana and a glass of milk. None of this "eating for two" business!  

Starting Weight: 119 lbs.
Last Week's Weight: 126 lbs. 
Today's Weight: 128 lbs. 
Goal Weight Range For This Pregnancy: High: 154 lbs. Low: 144 lbs.

Food Cravings: Asparagus! Finally back to craving something healthy! About this time each spring, the asparagus would be growing in Wisconsin where I spent my teen years and early twenties. My mom had a few patches growing in our garden, and there were several wild patches growing in the ditches along the roadside of our country lane. It was so tender and had a great mild flavor. Not so with store boughten asparagus, I have found. It has a sharp taste compared to what I was used to, but it still curbed my craving. As soon as I got home from purchasing the asparagus, I washed a few stalks and ate them raw. Yummy and crunchy!

I also really wanted some broccoli salad, and being that Easter was this last Sunday, I made some up for everyone at our family gathering. To make it low calorie, I used broccoli, raisins, shredded carrots, and turkey bacon, and then made the dressing with greek yogurt, spices,and natural cane sugar. It turned out exactly like I wanted it to, with just the right flavors of the higher calorie version.

Regular or Maternity Clothes: None this week! Still holding out until I have to wear maternity clothes.

Starting to Show: I think the bump grew this week!

Boy or Girl: Anatomy scan is scheduled for week 20 (next week! Eeek!), and Nick will find out, or maybe not. He's beginning to think he might not find out after all. Knowing him, I think he will. Me however, I'm hoping to wait to the end to find out! Weird, I know, but since my husband and I talk about EVERYTHING, I have a feeling I'll know the baby's sex before the end of this pregnancy.

Baby Movement: Lots. This baby lets me know they are ok every few hours. The movements are getting more distinct, stronger. 

Size of Baby: Baby had a growth spurt this week! He/She are now over 1/2 a pound, and around 6" long from head to bitty bottom. About the size of an heirloom tomato. From here until 40 weeks (if we make it that long) this baby will grow 15x's it's current weight! Wow.

Pregnancy Thoughts this Week: I'm starting to think about all the preparations I need to do for this baby's arrival. Register with the nearest hospital, put the infant seat together (I've washed the fabric, but need to wash the carseat base) and make sure it still hasn't expired for safe use, make some meals for the freezer (yeah, right. Never happens!), buy baby girl clothes (in case my reign as the only female in this house is about to end), and a bunch of miscellaneous stuff. So it begins!