24.3 weeks along, but who's counting? :)

It seems crazy we are pretty much halfway though April now...it felt like it was just January...or maybe that was just the crazy weather we've been having.  Either way, time is speeding by.  I'm now a little over 24 weeks along.  This little girl is a mover, although she's not an aggressive mover.  It took me until around 21+ weeks to really even feel her and I was consciously aware of what it would feel like.  The other kids I felt between 19-20 weeks.  I think it's because she feels more like lots of gentle flutters all the time rather than big kicks and nudges.   Time will tell if that will last or if those intense rib kicks are on my horizon.  I'm so excited to find out about her personality and the important role she has to play in our family.  The kids are getting more and more excited every day, and keep trying hard to help come up with names.  Sadly for Asher, we are not naming his baby sister Bob.

They say every pregnancy is different...'they' are right! :)  Last night some ugly veins started popping up, literally. I think they look like badges of honor on other women, but mine have been grossing me out.  I almost cried, or maybe I did...can't remember.  And then there are those awesome ligament pains (I'm sure there is a more technical term for them).  I found a belly band of sorts at a local used kids' clothing store, and it has helped a ton.  I bought a thick and a thin one.  The thick one definitely works better.  I used to hate tight things around my stomach, but this has made it so I don't hurt nearly as often which is a pretty great trade off if you ask me.  I just feel grateful to be able to carry her, and to not be like some of my friends who are so dreadfully sick the entire nine months.  I know it could be much, much worse.   And like Bryan reminds me, at least I know most of this stuff will only last a few more weeks, and I'll have a beautiful baby to show for all this fun stuff.

We have been trying to get a lot of spring cleaning done this week.  My mom was nice enough to let us borrow her truck so we could take advantage of 2 free weeks of the dump.  We've collectively made 9 trips to the dump this week so far, and are slowly but surely chipping away at our to-do lists.  I look (and probably smell) like I've been rolling in a dumpster, but I promised Bryan that I would make serious attempts to be and look cute again once cleanup is over.  He says he doesn't care, but I'm pretty sure he's just being nice...either that or he's scared of making me cry :)  With less than a month until we plant the garden, it's sometimes hard for me to stay focused on any one project, but I'm trying! :)  I feel very blessed I'm still able to do stuff, and hope it lasts a little longer than last time, but realistically, I'm pretty sure I don't have many productive days in front of me, at least until after this little baby gets here.  And that's okay.  Most of the time.  Except when it's not :)