Week 21 Bumpdate

AHHHH where did my summer go?!  I can't believe it's been 5 weeks since I've done an update, August has completely flown by!  Between working 3 jobs, enjoying my sweet Nora who has been talking up a storm, and loving the hot, hot summer we had, I have been unbelievably busy.  While I'm dreading the winter that I know is forthcoming, I am finding myself unusually happy about the arrival of fall.  It's partly because I'm excited about getting back to a normal routine with school and work, partly because I love scarf and vest weather, but mostly because it means I'm that much closer to meeting this sweet baby!  Who, by the way, has been growing like crazy, giving me a perfect little bump. :)

Sweet face and hands :)

Days Pregnant: 147

Days Remaining: 133, I LOVE that this is the smaller number now, more than half way there!
Total Weight Gain: Okay, this has not been the most exciting area for me.  So far, I have gained 16 pounds, which feels like a HUGE number.  I'm trying to keep it in perspective, though.  At this point when I was pregnant with Nora, I had already gained 3o pounds, so I'm doing much, much better this time around.  Also, the midwife said that my weight gain so far has been perfectly healthy, and if I stay on the same track of gaining a pound a week, I'll gain a total of 35 pounds (which is in the healthy weight range, yay!)  It's hard to balance being careful with my weight with not obsessing about it, but at least it's reassuring that, to this point, I'm doing a pretty good job.

Maternity Clothes: Oh yes! Though I can still fit in my stretchy skinny jeans, I much prefer wearing my maternity pants.  I've also made the transition to maternity shirts, thanks to H&M finally opening an online store!  8 maternity shirts for $80, yes please!

Best Moment This Week:  I had a little scare this morning, so I called the clinic, and the nurse told me it was probably nothing but I could come in and they would check the baby to give me some peace of mind.  I'm so glad I went in, because she made sure I had nothing to worry about and I got to hear my happy baby's strong heartbeat.  Nothing better than that sound!
Movement:  Lots!  His kicks are not strong enough to feel from the outside yet, but they are definitely getting more noticeable.  Feeling baby move is the BEST thing about being pregnant, I love those daily reminders that baby's doing just fine. :)
Cravings: Chocolate, oh my goodness.  I would eat nothing but ice cream and oreos if I wasn't afraid of the judgy looks I would get from everyone around me! ;)
Aversions: Eggs still, soooo yuck.

Snips and snails and puppy dog tails...

Gender: It's a BOY!  Oliver William Burcell will be joining our family in four short months. :) I am so so so thrilled and nervous and excited.  Taylor and all the brothers are of course so happy to be welcoming another basketball player to the Burcell team, and I can't wait to snuggle and kiss and chase after a sweet son.  Though I don't think this will be our last baby, I love that after Oliver arrives we'll have one of each.
Labor Signs: None.
Symptoms:  I've been enjoying the second trimester mostly symptom free, except for the awful head cold I got last week.  It's so hard not being about to take anything except Tylenol, I was miserable!  Luckily, I've been feeling better the last couple of days, let's hope I'm in the clear now.
Looking Forward To:  Feeling this boy kick from the outside so that Taylor and Nora can feel him move, too.  My baby apps say he should be big and strong enough in the next few weeks, yay!

**School starts next Thursday, so I should have no problem updating my blog from here on out (I love any excuse to procrastinate!)