22 weeks

Baby is now the size of a:  spaghetti squash!  She is eleven inches long and weighs one pound; she now looks like a mini newborn - not an alien.  The facial features are completely developed, however her irises are still without pigment.  That totally just got me thinking about who's eyes she'll have.  Apparently the pancreas is under construction this week, developing lots of essential hormones.  Ah yes, and nipples have sprouted (good for you, dear!).  She has settled into sleeping cycles; she sleeps about 12 to 14 hours a day.  Her most active time is usually mid-day (after lunch) and occasionally late evening (right when I crawl into bed...ideal).

How I'm feeling:  large, hungry, veiny, bewildered...  My fingernails grow at the speed of light; I get bloody noses almost daily; and Casey and I counted five new freckles on my belly this morning (ew!).  Apparently blood flows through the umbilical cord at a rate of 4 miles per hour, hence my big BLUE veins.  I still have lots of back pain and its definitely unpleasant to bend down, but, overall, I still feel pretty darn good.  

Physical differences from last week:  still not weighing, and still not planning on starting.  I still wear my size two pants, but now there is a full belly panel in them.  Hehehe.  I guess what I'm trying to say is I don't totally hate my body (yet).  Here is your weekly pic:

What's been on my mind:  pff...uh...school, nursery decor and furniture, master bedroom decor and furniture, our black hole of a master bath, Thanksgiving, all the baking and cooking that Thanksgiving entails, Black Friday, Christmas baking, Christmas shopping, registering, reading my damn pregnancy book (haven't done that since week 15 - ha!).  Too much to do, and absolutely no time.  Three more weeks of school and I'm a free woman!

What I'm looking forward to:  school being over, finishing the house, same old-same old.  You'll notice I'm not looking forward to the gender determination ultrasound #3.  This is because I have become a complete and utter pessimist about the whole thing, and I doubt we'll find out the gender before March 28. 

Random thoughts:  I got my first "Congratulations" from a complete stranger, so I guess this means I really look pregnant now!  A big thank you to the friendly cashier at Safeway.  :-)