The three of us

went on a date

to Los Hermanos.

I wore maternity pants.

20 Weeks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have hit the halfway mark today! I can't believe how long she is now (according to this website). I don't think she is quite 10 inches, but hey what do I know?

How your baby's growing:

Your baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. He's also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom and about 10 inches from head to heel — the length of a banana. (For the first 20 weeks, when a baby's legs are curled up against his torso and hard to measure, measurements are taken from the top of his head to his bottom — the "crown to rump" measurement. After 20 weeks, he's measured from head to toe.)

He's swallowing more these days, which is good practice for his digestive system. He's also producing meconium, a black, sticky by-product of digestion. This gooey substance will accumulate in his bowels, and you'll see it in his first soiled diaper (some babies pass meconium in the womb or during delivery).

See what your baby looks like this week.

Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.

How your life's changing:

Congratulations! You've hit the halfway mark in your pregnancy. The top of your uterus is about level with your belly button, and you've likely gained around 10 pounds. Expect to gain another pound or so each week from now on. (If you started your pregnancy underweight, you may need to gain a bit more; if you were overweight, perhaps a bit less.) Make sure you're getting enough iron, a mineral that's used primarily to make hemoglobin (the part of your red blood cells that carries oxygen). During pregnancy, your body needs more iron to keep up with your expanding blood volume, as well as for your growing baby and the placenta. Red meat is one of the best sources of iron for pregnant women. Poultry (especially the dark meat) and shellfish also contain iron. Some common non-meat sources of iron include legumes, soy-based products, spinach, prune juice, raisins, and iron-fortified cereals.

It's interesting that I have only been interested in red meat--I'm turned off by chicken and white meats. No weird cravings--just crave the usual foods as always. I would love some chocolate ice cream with reeses cup right now. For the most part I have been eating pretty healthy food, mostly because I have been buying groceries more often to save money. We hardly eat out, which I miss! Now for the gaining a pound a week--yikes. I still have 20 more weeks! How is that going to work out? A 20 lb baby?

I can't wait to hold her!

In the last two weeks,

pregnancy has started to feel really different. I still go to bed early and get pretty tired, but have more energy and feel more like myself. I other news, I have started wearing some of my maternity clothes. The baby seems to be growing at full speed. I have felt a lot of movement in the last few weeks, and love feeling her little kicks. She seems to want more space. She is, after all, the size of a large heirloom tomato. I am excited for my next appointment coming up. It is requiring a lot of patience not knowing where this baby will be born and where she will live. I want to start working on a baby room, but we will just have to take this semester one week at a time. Raimo is really swamped, so I am just trying to be the most positive pregnant lady. Hopefully by April we will have some options. I am so excited for him to be done with school!

He is mine

Last night as we were putting a frozen pizza in the oven, Raimo and I realized this is our 5th Valentine's Day together. We have been together for a long time! 5 years ago was our first kiss, and 3 years ago we got engaged, so it is a pretty special holiday for us. We both had to agree last night that this was our worst Valentine's so far!!! haha we laughed as we said it because it was still a nice night, but the previous years were pretty spectacular. This year we chose to buy a Valentine laptop instead of going out to eat and doing gifts. It was a pretty expensive gift, but one we have needed for a while! So last night we just had pizza and watched some tv together and just said some I love you's, and as usual I fell asleep on the couch at 9:15 PM. What a party. Honestly though, Valentine's should always fall over a weekend--it is so much better than a Monday night. Still, we had fun and I love love love my hubby. Here are the only recent pictures of us. I was one month pregnant and was starting to figure that out that weekend.
Love him

It is a little scary...

just how fast my belly is growing. There seemed to be absolutely no change for the first 14 weeks. Then I had a small doughnut below my belly button. Then I hit week 17, and suddenly I am growing every single day. It's still not very obvious to other people because I don't wear any of my small clothes (they definitely don't look good--just make me look like I ate a small animal whole). Thankfully my wardrobe is pretty flexible with some bigger shirts. But Raimo and I just look at my belly when I'm getting dressed, and we're thinking "what's going on in there?!" I have a firm, low pooch right between the hip bones. Yikes! I pretty much leave my jeans unbuttoned all day. It is all happening so fast! I will have to upload some photos if we ever get a new computer.

I am dying over..

baby clothes. They are so unbelievably adorable, and I made the mistake of looking at baby gap online. So many cute things!!!! Floral rompers, ruffle dresses and skirts, leggings, ballet flats! Also I got a catalog in the mail for Macy's one day sale this week. Also have a little money left on a gift card at Nordstrom. Must. Be. Strong.