Me and LP - Weeks 17-20

Week 17
Busy weekend us as we started to organise ourselves and the guest room for Busters parents who were going to look after our house and cat while we went to New Zealand for our last "Couple" holiday or as I like to call it "Babymoon".

They say that my uterus is now about the size of a honeydew melon and is increasing to accommodate your growing baby. My stomach is now starting to look more like a baby bump than looking like I’ve just over eaten.

LP - Sized at approximately 12 cm (head to rump), LP's organs are starting to function, albeit within the amniotic fluid world it lives. At approximately 100 grams in weight. LP’s weight will increase approximately six times over the next four weeks. Good to know I won’t be the only one tipping the scale.
LP’s sense of hearing is developing and they say that I should start to feel him react through movement if it hears a loud noise; however I haven’t felt him move yet.

Week 18
I been waiting for the day that I would feel LP move. It finally happened on the 16th January, I felt 3 sets of movements within a short period of time. As I've read and been told it felt like butterflies - bring on the butterflies. It brought a smile to my face, told Buster and who was happy but as his unable to feel LP he misses out on the level of excitement. Give it time and I will start to feel like a football I'm sure.

We head off for out "Babymoon" this week, I'm looking forward to spending time reading and resting. One thing I'm not looking forward to is the air travel, due to the fact that I suffer from travel sickness. Doctor gave me some pills for nausea but I have my doubts about them working.
Flight to Christchurch - made it in one piece!

Flight to Queenstown - mmm and I'm looking and feeling green. Poor Buster and the other passengers (on the plane and the bus)

Part of the reason for the "Babymoon" is a wedding of one of John's friends. As I was packing the bag I changed my outfit. On the actual day of the wedding (just a week latter) the outfit was not looking quite as good and wish I had something else to wear; I was feeling fat. While quite a few knew I was expecting, my tummy wasn't really looking like a baby belly - more like I had a beer belly.

LP - At this stage, he is about 13 cm long and by the end of the week will weigh roughly 140-180 grams. His fingerprints are now formed as well his ears which are now facing forward and can actually hear us talking.

Week 19
Our last week in New Zealand, and while it has been good to get away I'm looking forward to returning home. I miss my comfy bed and pillow, not to mention the list of all the things I want to get done before LP arrives.
Flight to Christchurch - made it in one piece!
Flight to Melbourne - mmm and I'm looking and feeling green. Poor Buster and the other passengers.
Our last scan (providing pregnancy goes to plan) this week, the day we return. Before you ask; from day one we decided that we wouldn't find out the sex. In today’s world everything is planned to an inch of its life. It's good to have thing happen that are unplanned and unknown it keeps us on our toes and spice to our life. So while I call LP a he, the baby could easily be a she, only time will tell.

Belly has now popped out nicely and when I'm wearing a fitted top I'm looking and feeling pregnant.
I’m starting to worry about money now that holiday is over and the credit card bills will come in (not to mention the doctors next week) as well as only having 1 more month of regular employment left.

LP – his approximately 15.5 cm (head to rump), your weighs nearly 200 grams with a resting heart beat of 134bpm. Ears are now in their final position and eyes are pointing forward, rather than to the side. His kidneys are also fully functioning and producing urine this week, which means lots of diapers in the near future.
LP is busy growing a layer of fat called 'brown fat' which helps to keep him warm after being born, and will soon be covered in a waterproof layer on top of the skin called vernix (a sebaceous gland excretion that is usually gone by birth, unless his born prematurely) that protects him from the dehydration of the amniotic fluid. LP’s tastebuds have developed to the point where his aware of the flavours of different foods in my diet.

LP's cute little feet!

Week 20
Joined a walking group since I'm limited to the exercise I do. For a group of older ladies (50-65year old) they set a mean pace. I'm able to keep up with them at the moment, but in a month or so I'm not so sure.

Officially I now have 1 month left of work and half way through the pregnancy, yippee. My hours have been reduced from 4 days a week to 3, working Tue-Thu. However I receive a phone call early Monday afternoon from the manager asking if I would like other week off. While it was hard to get them to agree to have 2 weeks of to start with, I wasn't going to complain. So now there are only 3 short weeks to go, YIPPEE.

I'm now weighing it at 70kg. Only put on 4kg.

Received 2 compliments this week even though I have been feeling a bit flat - I must be now at my glowing stage :)

LP - approximately 14-16 cm (head to rump), and now weighs approximately 285 grams. With all of the developing done, it is now time for LP to just grow! He continues to grow hair and it's tiny fingernails and toenails develop further. Lungs continue to develop, but are not strong enough to be viable out of the womb.

And the bump appears