AHHHHH!!! 20 weeks! That's half way through!!!!

Today marks week 20 of pregnancy. That is the halfway mark! I absolutly cannot believe I am now 5 months pregnant. I still don't even feel pregnant, so how can I be 5 months pregnant already? If the second half goes as fast as this first one did, our little girl will be here before we can even be prepared! I feel so bad for David because he has to miss such a huge chunk of all this. Then again, I bet many husbands wish they were not around to be yelled at, complained to, and sent out at midnight for ice cream cravings.

Speaking of cravings, I haven't had those weird "Let's mix maple syrup with salmon" cravings [coughcoughLEXIcough]. I actually feel like I really haven't experienced pregnancy cravings at all so far. I don't count wanting things to be extra salty as a craving. Any "cravings" I have had are all things I used to crave pre pregnancy. I used to get cravings for potatoes, or spaghetti pre-preg, and I would want them so badly. So I don't see anything different with how I react to wanting those same foods now. David used to say whenever I was pregnant I probably wouldn't notice any changes because of this. lol. I liked sour things, but preferred sweet. That has actually switched. I would rather have sour over sweet now a days. But even that really isn't a craving. I just decide to choose sour over chocolatey whenever I snack on something sweet.

HOWEVER ... as of yesterday, I have been yearning BADLY for this pizza that I ate at Tina's. Tina is a friend I made in South Carolina, who moved to CT as well for the navy at the same time that we did. She is originally from Long Island, and the whole time I have known her, she has talked about NY pizza. I have never had NY pizza, so I have been fine with Pizza Hut or Dominoes. Turns out I have been missing out. Tina found a pizza place run by a guy who is from her hometown, and she feels this is the closest you can get to NY pizza. The pizza is mighty expensive, but they treated themselves to two pies yesterday and invited Lexi & I over for lunch. IT WAS AMAZING! Ever since eating that pizza yesterday, I just want more!! I guess I can count this as my first pregnancy craving, since I never had cravings for this pizza before. lol

It's probably a good thing I have no idea where this pizza place is though, because I do not need to be adding to my weight gain! This morning I weighed in at 170.2 pounds. I did notice some growth in my belly. Well rather I have been told by Tina and Lexi about how my bump now sticks out. Thanks guys. Haha. My belly button now measures out at 37 inches, and my roundest part of my tummy is at 38 inches. It seems like massive growth to me! I can still wear my cloths, and button my pants though. The day I can't do that will be the day I spend crying for hours I am sure! I would like to try to stay under 180 until David returns home. This goal is going to be TOUGH with how long he has left. I have been including swimming laps at the indoor pool here after the gym. If I can keep my gym days to 3 times a week, and at least swim once a week, and not eat out but once a week, I think I could do it. I just have to keep busy and keep my metabolism pumping! And eat more veggies. Stupid veggies. Ok pictures time!

I hardly ever include both sides. I think I look bigger on this side somehow?

Your baby is now about 10.5 inches long from head to foot and their little limbs and head have finally reached their relative birth proportions, although they've still got loads of growing to do. On average, you should've gained about 10 lbs by now, although that's just an average so, don't be too devastated if you're over or under slightly.

Week 20:Congratulations, you now have a mini-baby!

Fetal development in pregnancy week 20:fetus in fifth month This week you're carrying about 10.5 inches and 10.5 ounces of solid baby-miracle-goodness! Their little delicates bones continue to ossify and toughen while their itsy bitsy finger and toe pads are finishing up. Your little monkey now has teeth buds, although they’re hidden beneath the gum line. And finally! Their limbs have reached their relative proportions—no more alien baby! Their cute pink lips are more defined, and might be helping out in a bit of prenatal thumb-sucking. If you have a little boy, then their tiny testes are descending, though they have not yet passed the abdominal wall. What’s more, eyelashes and eyebrows are also visible. At this point, your little one really looks like a miniature baby—and we do mean miniature as your little swimmer currently weighs a mere eighth of their final birth weight. With half the pregnancy behind you, the most significant gains are yet to come!

And how's mom doing? Not that we need to tell you, but your baby may sometimes seem like a kick-boxer in training with no appreciation for your exhausted-pregnant-momma sleep needs. Still, before you start yelling at them to calm it down in there, remind yourself that your busy baby really have no idea if you’re rolling If you have already enrolled in a Lamaze course, consider coupling it with either a swimming or yoga course (or both!)out of bed or cozying up to your partner for a good nights rest. Unfortunately for your sleep schedule, your little independent thinker will continue to operate on their own time table throughout the rest of the pregnancy. And you thought rebellious behavior only started around puberty!

Have you enrolled in a Lamaze course yet? The now-renowned courses teach various alternative birthing and breathing techniques, not to mention the oh-so-valuable lessons involved with natural pain management. (Visit http://www.lamaze.org/Default.asp for more information.) If you have already enrolled in a Lamaze course, consider coupling it with either a swimming or yoga course (or both!). Both forms of exercise focus on controlling your breathing (a large part of the Lamaze philosophy), while at the same time increasing blood flow, strength and flexibility. What’s more, many yoga studios and swimming pools cater to pregnant women (and couples) offering low impact sessions perfect for you and your partner.

Your Pregnant Body This Week

Week 20 of Pregnancy: Hair and Nail Growth

You can credit (or blame) those pregnancy hormones again for changes in your hair and nails during your pregnancy. The increased blood circulation that's bringing more nutrients to them also deserves some thanks.

Congratulations, at 20 weeks pregnant, you're at the midpoint of your pregnancy. Keeping pace, your fast-ballooning uterus has also reached the midway point, just about even with your belly button now. So go ahead — take a feel. That's one of the perks of being pregnant — you get to rub your belly anytime you want (in fact, it's expected when you're expecting). Happily, there are other good side effects of pregnancy too. Can't think of any? Well, here's one: Have you checked out your nails lately? They're likely growing faster than usual, and faster than you can manicure them. What about your hair? Does it feel thicker and look more healthy than usual? It's probably growing faster, too (not to mention growing in unexpected places, which may not be such a good thing). You can credit (or blame) those pregnancy hormones again for these changes. The increased blood circulation that's bringing more nutrients to your hair and nails also deserves some thanks.

The hair and nail changes during pregnancy are temporary…once again, good and bad news. Because even though your nails might be long, they can also turn dry and brittle (of course, it's those pregnancy hormones). And though you may love your lavish locks now, don't get too attached to them. Your good-hair-day run ends with delivery — when the normal daily hair loss that's suppressed during pregnancy (thus the thicker hair) resumes with a vengeance. Once the baby is born, all that hair that didn't fall out during pregnancy will — making you wonder whether you'll need to reach for the Rogaine (don't worry, you won't).