Baby Update: Week 22

First of all... I know! Where did that belly come from? This child is obviously growing and my belly is showing the signs. While it's not uncomfortable yet, I can only imagine what the next few months have in store for me. The paint is on the walls (can you see it?), the molding is done-- what a huge pain in the behind that was, and the moose is hung! We're not quite ready for the reveal. We only have on item on the walls at this point and no clue what to put on the others. Many have asked me if there is a theme. My answer: no. Not only do we not have a "theme", but we're not trying to have one because it's too limiting-- and maybe we don't care enough. We care very much for our child, but not for the tiny little things that aren't as significant in the long run. I asked Ray what our "theme" was last night and he said, animals and nature. So there you have it. That just about sums up every single baby item you can buy in stores anyway.

We've decided to post a belly photo every 2 weeks since I'm growing at a more rapid pace. Perhaps I am slightly larger in this photo because I just consumed a piece of apple pie?! Please excuse the way I look. Focus on the mid-section and not the face or hair. At 11p.m. (when Ray is home to take these photos), I don't care much for what I look like. It's pajama time.
Comparison shots: Month 1, Month 2, Month 3, Month 4, Month 5, and this one is Month 5.5 = 22w.

How far along?: 22w3d
How big is Baby?: Baby is around 10 inches long-- almost a ruler! The weight is around 12 ounces and the fruits are hard to compare at this point since all babies grow at different spurts. Just picture an almost ruler.
Maternity clothes?: Yep. Same thing as last time and the times before. I have some nice stretchy tops that I wear with the maternity pants/shorts.
Sleep?: Sleep is great except--- except, that the last THREE nights I've woken up, moved my right leg in a way it obviously doesn't like and have had an incredibly painful leg cramp in the same spot. You'd think I'd learn.
Best moment of the week?: Putting the moose on the wall and hanging one of the sweatshirts we bought Baby on the rack-- and the mittens too. It's pretty much adorable. Here's the sweatshirt outfit we bought him.
Movements?: Oh, tons! He even gives us some strong kicks and pushes at this point. It startles us both when he does that, but it's also really special to have the interaction.
Food cravings?: No, but I'm definitely back into cooking again. I'm enjoying it, finally! The past few months have been full of microwaveable foods and whatever I can scramble together in minutes.
Aversions?: Nope.
What I miss?: Well, this weekend I'm hosting a baby shower at our house-- and the alcoholic drink is none other than margaritas. I might be a lot little jealous. I'm also sad that I can't play Whirlyball tonight-- a bunch of friends are going to play for our friend Derrick's birthday. It's basically a game of bumper cars and your job is to steer the car (reason I can't play--dangerous), use your racket cup to catch, pass, and score the ball into the net. It's like lacrosse and basketball in one, but in bumper cars.
What I'm looking forward to?: I'm looking forward to a fun weekend with friends and seeing/entertaining our friend Sascha from Germany as he comes in to town...
Anything else?: This is really exciting. Baby's brain is now starting rapid brain growth that will continue until he is 5 years old. He is also developing his senses and can hear what is going on outside the womb much better and is responding to touch well-- touching his face with his hands, etc. I read somewhere that he is starting to look like a miniature infant. Woah. Knowing I only have 18 weeks left is crazy to say the least. 18 weeks until we meet our son. So so so cool and yet so incredibly surreal.
This week in history: Prop 8 in California is staying open, terrible mudslides in China have taken the lives of many, and the bizarre story of the Jet Blue flight attendant who exited through the emergency exit, slid down the plane side, caught a shuttle and went home-- he wants his job back.

What's going on this week (with us)?: We're having a great week. We spent Wednesday evening with a friend and his girlfriend (Michael & Ashley) who came to visit the Chicago area. He and Ray have known one another since they were in preschool, I think. Ashley is such a wonderful person that we've known for a few years now. She and Michael introduced us to the Nintendo Wii and we played with them a couple Christmases ago. They were also at our wedding. They took the train out to see us and we treated them to dinner at Lou Malnati's. While the pizza is good (not stellar, sorry Chicagoans), what is really good is the pizza-cookie. In California, we call these pizookies since there is a pizza place there that sells a pizza-cookie. Anyway, it was pretty much amazing and I plan to eat many more of those in the future. We should've taken a photo. Last weekend we had a great time at the Brooks & Dunn concert and painted the nursery. This weekend we're spending our time with friends (tonight) at Whirlyball and visiting with Sascha as he visits from Deutschland. Monday we're going to a Cubs game v. the Padres!