22 Weeks Pregnant!!

It feels like it's been forever since I've updated (sorry Hunter)! I think it's just because I've been so busy! But here we are... starting our 23rd week:):)
I have an appointment with the perinatologist on the 12th! My mom is going to try and come up to be with me for it, and we are all staying very positive about everything!! Please say a little prayer for my "moms"! My mother is having surgery on her wrist on the 5th and Thomas' mother is also going through something with her health right now as well. So please just lift them both up in your thoughts and prayers this week!

I have started to feel the Braxton Hicks contractions! They aren't painful at all but are uncomfortable! I get them a lot when I'm standing or walking around a lot but as soon as I sit down they get better! It really is a weird feeling... knowing that I'm getting closer and closer to them being the "real thing"!! But I'm excited nonetheless!!

I feel like my belly is bigger every time I see it, but I still think it's a small baby bump! I've started using this great oil (I guess it's oil... it's thick though, almost like honey) that I got from amazon.com... it makes my skin so soft and it smells like chocolate! I'm praying that it will help keep the stretch marks at bay... even though I know that there isn't much you can do to stop them... if I'm going to get them then I'm going to get them! But at least this stuff helps me feel proactive lol!!

This morning was a big morning for Thomas!! He pinned on SSGT:):) I made it pretty clear to him that his life was at risk if someone didn't take pictures for me! So hopefully I will have those soon and will post them for all of you!! He also found out that he pasted his final CLEP test (surprise surprise!) and has all the credits he needed to complete for his Associates Degree:):) I'm a verrry proud wife! He is doing SO great! God gave me such an amazing provider!

I should be hearing back from the insurance company by Thursday about the damage to the Durango and then we'll go from there! I'm still hoping it's not totaled! I miss it soo badly! But we just have to wait and see!!

I finally got in touch with the fence company! They should be here at the beginning of the week to get started! Woo Hoo:) It's going to be so nice to be able to let the dogs run around out there!!

I also gave my notice at work! I'm not sure if I mentioned the situation on here before! When I started working for this family in august, i had to sign a contract saying that I would work for them through May of this year, when they would be moving. Well, the contract never stated when in May (beginning, middle, end). So when she told me last month that she found a house in her next town I asked if she knew when they would be leaving in May! She told me that they weren't moving until July and would need me to work all through June! Well!... If you know me, you know how much I have been looking forward to my last day! So I talked with Thomas and my family and pretty much decided that I would fulfill the contract and work through May... and that's it! I really hated this situation because I felt like I was quitting... but I'm confident in the decision now!! And I can't wait to have a whole month to myself before Thomas gets home and then the baby comes!!

Well now that I have rambled on and on... I'll leave you to enjoy all the fun facts about Lily's development over the next week!!


WEEK TWENTY-THREE:
*Proportions of the body are now quite similar to a newborn although thinner since he hasn't begun to form body fat.
*Bones located in the middle ear harden.
*Your baby is able to hear. (Dads, did you know: low-frequency sounds mimicking a male voice penetrate the abdomen and uterine wall better than the higher frequencies of the female voice?)
*The eyes are formed, though the iris still lacks pigmentation.
*The pancreas, essential in the production of hormones, is developing steadily. She has begun producing insulin, important for the breakdown of sugars.
*If born now, your baby has a 15% chance of survival, his odds going up with each passing day. .
*The average baby at this stage weighs 1.1 pound (501gm) and is 11.38 inches (28.9cm) long.