21 Weeks Pregnant {Banana}

Today, the little banana and I have reached our 21st week together.

(Average measurements: 10.5 inches, 12.7 ounces)

• I attended my 1st baby shower, pregnant.  I admit that in the past, although I have enjoyed the few showers I've been to, I was a bit envious of the mother-to-be's position.  I longingly hoped to one day be in her shoes, to be "showered" with so much love and thoughtfulness and to be so close to bringing another life into the world.  Well, this was the first time that I finally didn't have to brush off those feelings and I got to fully and completely enjoy myself and be 100% happy for the guest of honor.  There were a few other pregnant women there, so we snapped a photo with Santa.

From left to right: Jenna (due Feb), Julie (due any day), Santa (festively plump), Reno (guest of honor, due Feb), ME (due April 22)

• At the beginning of the week, I felt Mia move for the first time at work, in the morning and afternoon.
• A friend of mine, Noelle, was nice enough to give me a trash bag full of maternity clothes that she doesn't need anymore.  She's due in 3 weeks and has decided that this baby (her 2nd) will be the last.
• We had another doctor's appt. with my OB/GYN.  I thought it would be a more exciting visit and that all kinds of baby measurements would be taken, but she only put a Fetal Doppler Stethoscope to my belly so we could hear Mia's heartbeat, along with these "whoooosh" sounds...that was her moving.  She was moving so much, the doctor had to constantly move around the instrument to find her heartbeat again.  Little Stinker! 
• I've gained a total of 7 pounds...so the doctor says.
• My fiancé (Dominic) FELT Mia move for the first time, after our doctor appointment.  I was laying on the sofa and I put his hand on my belly where I started to feel her move.  It was subtle, but he felt her.
• I SAW my tummy move for the first time!!!  Two nights in a row!  I was just sitting up in bed, relaxing while reading a book, minding my own business...when suddenly I felt Mia.  I glanced down to see my belly "twitch" or move, right where I felt her.  No way!  Unfortunately, her daddy wasn't there either night to witness it.
• I've been sick with cold-like symptoms for about 4 days now.  Ugh...sore body, low energy, twitchy eyes, sneezing, runny nose, sore throat, trouble breathing.
• Since I'm finally starting to feel and completely recognize little Mia's movements throughout my days, I'm becoming more connected with her and more thoughtful of her presence.  I was starting to feel like a "bad mom" because I haven't been feeling like a mom yet, or have felt mushy gushy over the fact that I have a baby inside me.  Now that she's making her presence known, it's all the more real to me and my heart flutters whenever she does.

My phone's baby app, BabyBump, says "As your baby's digestive system develops, he will begin to swallow amniotic fluid and absorb small amounts of sugar.  However, most of your baby's nutrients are still delivered from the placenta.  Inside your uterus, while there's still room, your baby is actively moving around, kicking and flipping positions.
For many women, this period marks the most comfortable stage of their pregnancy.  Your first trimester discomforts have subsided and you've grown more accustomed to many of the changes in your body and you're finally beginning to enjoy that pregnancy "glow" you've been hearing about.  Other welcome changes by some women are thicker hair, better skin condition, and increased breast size."