20 Weeks (Halfway There!)

How far along? 20 weeks and 3 days. 
Total Weight Gain: Total weight gain is 24 lbs (up a little less than 2 lbs from last week).  Still not happy about my total weight gain, but learning to deal and make small adjustments along the way.
Maternity clothes? Lots of leggings and maxi skirts.  Some regular clothes, like long tanks or loose t-shirts, but mostly maternity for other stuff. 
Stretch marks? Nope, and still using the Palmer’s every night.
Sleep: I’m having a big problem trying to get myself to sleep on my side rather than on my back.  Even if I start on my side, I usually end up on my back.  Not sure what to do about that.  Otherwise, I’m sleeping pretty well.  My allergies have really been bothering me, so I’m trying Claritin for a week to see if it helps.
Best moment this week: Best moment this week was the “Light the Night Walk” for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in downtown San Antonio this past Saturday.  Justin and I raised money leading up to the walk, and were so proud to participate in the walk in memory of my father (David Alan Rapp, died of Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 1997) and my maternal grandmother (Elizabeth Madeline Holman, died of leukemia at age 39).  It was a very emotional experience, especially when I thought about how much my dad would have loved to meet his granddaughter, and how he will not get the chance in this life.  I miss him all the time, even so many years later.  We hope to make this walk an annual tradition, and to bring our baby daughter with us next year!
Miss anything? Yes, I have been craving a glass of champagne or red wine lately.  More than that, I still miss my family in Nashville, and of course, the experience of fall in New England.  I have also been missing Boston in particular a lot lately – just walking around the city and all of the delicious restaurants and fun things to do (and the way the city just ignites when the Red Sox make it to the playoffs!).
Movement: I feel little bubbles and flutters pretty regularly, usually at least once or twice a day.  Typically it is when I am sitting up or laying back at night and being more quiet and attentive.  She did move again during the Red Sox game on Saturday night, which is just so funny!  I can’t wait until Justin can feel too, hopefully within the next few weeks. 
Food Cravings: Smoothies and peppermint milkshakes.  Apple cinnamon organic oatmeal.  But I haven’t been as hungry this past week (even though I gained weight of course).      
Anything making you queasy or sick: Still not into Mexican food, and I am starting to not like meat as much these days (which is unfortunate because when I don’t eat enough meat, I usually make it up in extra carbs!). 
Have you started to show yet? Oh yes! Even got a “Oh look at the mother-to-be!” from a random waitress outside a restaurant bathroom this weekend.    
Gender: Sweet baby girl, and mommy and daddy love her already!
Labor signs: Nope.
Symptoms: Restless legs and some occasional heartburn.  A little more fatigue, and swollen ankles if I’m on my feet a lot.
Belly button in or out? Still in, but getting flatter and more stretched. 
Wedding rings on or off? On, and still with wiggle room.
Mood: I’ve been a bit of a worrier this past week.  For sure.  And the atmosphere at work can be quite stressful at times.  As always, I remind myself how much I have to be thankful for, and how important it is to stay positive and forward-looking for our sweet baby girl.  (Though this is sometimes easier said than done, but I’m still trying!)
Nursery Ideas: Starting to put together some ideas for baby’s nursery!  I think we are going to go with beautiful deep, rich purples with cool greys, and accented by some pops of other fun colors like grass green, peacock blue, and maybe even some pink too.  Not sure if we are going to go with any type of theme though – I still like the idea of animals like elephants and deer and birds, but at the same time, I like the idea of an “urban” nursery with more modern décor and even some cityscapes and such.  But since those don’t exactly blend well, we’re still thinking about all that.  Started a registry on Land of Nod, and I’ve found some beautiful things.  We’re going to register at two places – Land of Nod for sure, and then either Amazon or Diapers.com (haven’t decided on the latter quite yet).  I’d also really like to get a bassinet for her within the next month or two – just to have on hand ahead of time. 
Looking forward to: I booked my flights to Nashville for the end of December – arriving on Sunday, 12/22 and leaving on Sunday, 12/29 – a whole week, including Christmas, at home!  Justin will be staying here in Texas, so I will miss him terribly over the holidays, but I am so happy to be able to spend this time with my Mom and sisters.  It is so important to me to see them, and I have missed them every single day.  They have only seen me pregnant one time, when I was just four weeks along!  So this will be fun for sure! And as far as this week goes, I am looking forward to the start of the World Series tonight – GO RED SOX!!!