Almost 23 weeks...

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

The baby bump is now quite huge! I went from having a bit of a waist at the wedding to having a huge bump. Mark took me shopping for some new dress shoes that slide on since putting on regular shoes is already sometimes a difficult task. Plus you know how I love to buy new shoes!

I put on 4 pounds on the cruise but then lost 2 after returning to non-cruise eating so I am now 4 pounds above my pre-pregnancy weight. This is about 10 pounds below most folks at this stage but my doctor isn't concerned so I'm not going to fret about it. And I figure this means I can eat all the turkey and cheesy pie I want at Thanksgiving dinner.

The baby is very active now. He woke up with Mark this morning (at 5am) and is usually fairly active about an hour after I eat. Midway through the cruise Mark was able to feel him move for the first time. Nik has asked if he can take the baby out to see him. Julian is hoping he will be able to feel the baby moving but it hasn't happened yet.

In sad news Mark has declared that his son cannot be named after Colin Firth, so we are going to have to come up with a new middle name to go with Maximillian. I'd like a C name so I'm recommending Clive until I come up with something I like more. :)

I got the test results back and although they were not perfectly normal they were within a normal range so that means no toxemia. Yay for that!!!

And here is the 23 weeks scoop:
http://www.maternityandbabyshoppingmart.com/pregnancy_week_23.html
Your Baby's Growth and Development
By pregnancy week 23 your baby is measuring in at a hefty one pound... that is huge considering how small your baby was just a few short months ago. Keep in mind your baby was less than one ounce and is now fully weighable on most ordinary scales! Most babies are also between eight and eleven inches long by pregnancy week 23.
During pregnancy 23 weeks your baby is quite capable of hearing loud noises outside the womb. You may notice your baby shift in response to your voice or that of your partner. Don't be surprised if your baby is still flopping around quite a bit inside your tummy. This is very normal during the second trimester when your baby still has plenty of room to shift around.

http://www.babycentre.co.uk/pregnancy/fetaldevelopment/23weeks/
Your baby now weighs a little over one pound/ 500 grams and measures about 11.4 inches/ 29 centimetres from crown to heel. Her hearing is well established and she can make out a distorted version of your voice, the beating of your heart and your stomach rumblings. Loud noises often heard in utero, such as the barking of a dog next door or the roar of a vacuum cleaner, probably won't bother your child when she hears them outside the womb.
Numerous studies seem to indicate that the unborn prefer classical music, especially Vivaldi. Play The Four Seasons for your child and pay attention to her movements. Does she quieten down during adagio sections and speed up for the allegro portions? You may have a budding conductor in your womb. In addition to advances in your baby's hearing, her lungs are developing to prepare for breathing. She's swallowing but she normally won't pass her first stool (called meconium) until after birth.
If your baby were to be born now, she would have a small chance of survival (about 16 per cent) with the right care. Every day in the womb makes a difference at this stage. If she was born at 24 weeks her chance of survival would rise to 44 per cent. As for you, you may feel clumsy now that your centre of gravity has shifted. Your gums may bleed when you brush your teeth and your belly button, once an 'innie', may now stick out. Don't worry. It'll revert to its pre-baby state soon after you give birth.