17 Weeks!

I'm 17 weeks today- or rather B (aka Mango, Munchkin) is. I snapped a couple quick bump pics before heading out into the rainy day. It's crazy how much things change literally overnight. I woke up this past weekend with a bump that could actually looked like a pregnancy bump, not just a beer gut. Also- thanks mostly to my neti pot- I'm feeling pretty amazing. Very little middle of the night waking, headaches are almost  non-existent, and I can breathe! And this morning as I was putting myself together I just looked at my face for a moment and immediately thought that pregnancy suits me. I love my pregnant body at this point (though I'm sure come July and August I'll be totally over it) and just marvel over the little bump that's steadily getting bigger and bigger.

That's the light hitting my hair, btw.
Don't worry parents- I did not get any large tacky blond streaks put in.

So what's new with B? Well s/he is the size of an onion and now weighs about 4-5 oz. B can start to hear us now and if I'm listening to a good song I'll usually play it again and hold the ear buds to my belly. S/he is practicing sucking and swallowing and every once in a while my stomach gets a flipping over feeling, usually in the evening. I'm excited for when Bill can feel the baby, he keeps asking what it feels like, though I'm not looking forward to rib or bladder jabs. B is also working on that adorable baby fat this week, which I guess explains why my stomach is all of a sudden bottomless it seems. Still, am trying to eat healthy and stay active, and am actually attending my first prenatal yoga class tonight.

Taken this morning at
17 weeks exactly

And on the doula front, I met with 2 lovely ladies last week. The first one, Lori, I immediately clicked with. We talked for an hour and everything came very easily. She's only done 7 births on her own, but will have another 10 by the time I give birth but I loved her "team" mentality and also how open she was in getting advice from the other more experienced doulas in the Collective (the service where I found both). The second, Lindsay, was great too, a little more experienced but there wasn't that personality click I felt with Lori- which is what everyone says to look for. I'm waiting to hear back from another doula service, but if they don't get back to me by tomorrow I know my choice and am 100% confident in it.

Bill and I also discussed it when I was first thinking about hiring one and he was interested in my takeaway after I met with them, so he's on board but deferring to me for decision making purposes. And since I've had lots of questions from Bill, family and friends I decided to include some great articles for anyone who's interested or curious.

What is a doula 

Benefits of hiring a doula

A Dad's take on having a doula (hilarious!)- I Challenge You To A Doula

And his follow up, Doulas- Part Deux, had me dying laughing at my desk (though the parts I was laughing at probably won't be so funny when it's me they're happening to)