23 week update

Along: 23 weeks

Size of baby: LBMH is the size of a banana - 8.5 inches long and 1.5 pounds. He's about the size of a standard letter and growing about 6 ounces a week. He also can hear all sorts of sounds from the outside world. Tex is taking that very seriously and has started talking to his brother whenever he gets the chance.

Total Weight Gain: 14 pounds

Maternity Clothes: Yes, definitely.

Gender: It's a BOY! Reed Lewis Hill

Movement: LBMH is moving all the time now. I'm starting to see little twitches from the outside, so I think Erik will be able to feel his kicks and punches soon.

What I miss: I miss regular clothes! My former roommate, Jeana, is getting married this weekend, and I miss wearing all of my fun, cute dresses. Guess I'll have to settle for whatever fits...

Cravings: I'm hoping the rapid weight gain is mostly attributed to the abundance of Christmas cookies and treats. That way, they'll go away soon and I'll get back to a slower pace. They are so good, though!

Symptoms: My feet started swelling a little this week. It must be the heels, because it definitely hasn't been hot enough to cause that by weather alone. My left ankle is worse than my right -- probably left over from an old injury.

Best moment of the week: Erik surprised me tonight with a really thoughtful Christmas present. The office closed early today, so I decided to treat myself to a manicure and pedicure. When I got home, Erik met me at the door. I noticed that the house smelled especially clean. When I asked him if he had mopped the floors, he said, "I didn't, but someone else did!" He had the entire house cleaned from top to bottom - just in time for the holiday! It was the best surprise, and I love that I can sit back and enjoy our vacation.

Looking forward to: A full 11 days of vacation! We're traveling to Dallas to celebrate Jeana's wedding with friends, then we'll celebrate Christmas with our families. My grandma is coming in from Iowa, and Erik's grandma will be here from Arkansas. We're also going to take our nephews and niece for a day at the Dallas World Aquarium. It will be such a fun week!