It's hunger pangs, it's indigestion, no- it's a baby!

So to-date, I have gained a total of 13.5 pounds (yeah baby!) and still have a due date of October 30th. The little girl's kicks are getting stronger by the day, as my baby bump gets bigger. Have a look-see (22 weeks tomorrow)...

Prince or Princess?

I'll cut to the chase- IT'S A GIRL!!!! We had our appointment with the perinatologist this morning and he confirmed my suspicion. We even saw the girly goods- the view we had of her goods was, and I quote the doctor, "as if she were sitting on a glass coffee table". Too funny. You can check out the ultrasound printout of her goods, labeled with a tiny, white arrow (first pic)! Yea... I couldn't see it either. We also have a 2-D photo of the bottom of her foot (second pic) and three 3-D photos of her face and leg (third pic). I must admit, I've seen better ultrasound snapshots, but I'm just glad that she's healthy.

Next step... choosing a name!

Parasite ecstasy!

If this isn't worthy of a new blog post, I don't know what is. Check it out folks, your own Rachel Melissa Fogelman is now a published author. You can read my manuscript entitled "Mancae of the parasitic cymothoid isopod, Anilocra apogonae: early life history, host-specificity, and effect on growth and survival or preferred young cardinal fishes", published in the journal "Coral Reefs". Simply click on the link to be taken to parasite ecstasy! 

Another new haircut

I've decided to go a tad shorter this time around. I got the popular a-line/wedge style: short in the back and long in the front. I wish I had discovered short hair a long time ago! I don't know that I'll ever have long hair again!

On the baby front, the little one is very active. I've felt relentless kicking for the past 2 weeks. Its such a funny feeling being kicked from the inside. SO cool though. I love being preggers!

Upditily-date, neighbor

My appointment with the perinatologist for my 3-D sonogram is set! June 19th will be the day where we will hopefully find out the sex (come on little baby, spread those leggies!) and get another cool photo or two. I can't wait! In the meantime, I keep getting bigger and bigger and feeling better and better (thank goodness!). Still a little bit tired during the day, still peeing like a race horse, still have strong 'growing pains', but my allergies are subsiding and I'm gaining weight, cos darn it, food tastes good again!

On the other front, uni for Andreas and me is coming to an end (for this year at least) and we are very much looking forward to spending more time together (actually we'll be doing our research in the same place, not having too much fun), not having to teach!, frolicking in the summer sun, setting up the nursery and spending more time with the family in San Diego.

Oh, and this is my baby gut at 18 weeks, 3 days.

Baby gut

This is my baby belly at 15 weeks and 5 days. Me so sexy.

All I wanted was a backrub...

... but, I also got this! Yey! Andreas and I couldn't be happier. I'm currently 14 weeks and 5 days with a due date of Oct 30th. The first three months were pretty rough with "all day sickness" (whichever tool coined the term "morning sickness" was totally off!), food aversions and fatigue. Now that those are mostly a thing of the past, I have quite severe allergies... thank you swollen nasal membranes. Oh, and as a side note, I am allowing those of you who haven't experienced this yet (or ever!) to be blissfully ignorant to some of the more subtle symptoms of childbearing. Ahhhh, so far, being pregnant is truly a godsend.

P.S. This ultrasound is from week 9 and 6 days. The next one will be 3-D (where I also believe we'll find out the sex).