You’ll notice the huge lack of updates last week, that’s because I flew home to the land of cows on Thursday morning, and just got back last night!

I was thrown a wonderful shower by my BFF Martini, and all my girlfriends from back home came! It was SO nice to see everyone, and all my girls were incredibly generous. This lil’ ninja will be set when it arrives! I’ll load up some pictures of the loot (and the adorable diaper cake Martini MADE HERSELF. That’s right, SHE made it. Awesome.).

And I know I still owe the internets a 19 week belly pic and some ultrasound pics too. Well, bad news, I’m lame and never took a 19 week pic. But I will scan the u/s pics and hope to have them all up along with a 20 week belly pic a little later on.

So, I had my ultrasound and 19 week appointment this morning. All is well. The little ninja is right on track, nothing out of the ordinary on the ultrasound, just a beautiful profile and some long legs. The babe wasn’t moving nearly as much as the last time we saw it, but it seems like it’s twice the size it was the last time, so it makes sense – less room to move around!

(You’ll have to wait for the ultrasound pics – I want to show them off to my parents on Thursday before I show them off on the internets. Sorry!)

And…I stayed strong and we didn’t find out the sex. Not that we could have if we wanted to – the babe had it’s legs crossed the whole time!

So, to celebrate seeing the ninja again, I took myself to Macy’s to peruse the maternity section and to buy myself some new bras (since mine are slightly ill fitting now-a-days). I bought a nice shirt for my shower on Friday, and then headed to the “intimates” section. Forty minutes later, I had three new bras in hand, and new knowledge about my new body. I went up TWO SIZES. (insert look of shock here.) But my god, are my new bras comfy. All I want to do is go home and put one on. Sooo sad.

New belly pic will go up later today. Keep your eyes peeled below!

How far along? 19 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: About +5 lbs.
Maternity clothes? Indeed. Same rotation of pants and shirts.
Stretch marks? Still only pre-preg thigh variety.
Sleep: Have some nights where it’s good, some bad.
Best moment this week: Getting the loud noise kick.
Movement: I haz it.
Food cravings: Nothing in particular. Just more of everything.
Gender: Back to thinking boy but wishing girl.
Labor Signs: Still a few Braxton Hicks now and then.
Belly Button in or out? Just barely innie. Still wider.
What I miss: Being able to stay out past 11pm.
What I am looking forward to: The ultrasound in ONE HOUR!
Weekly Wisdom: I’ll stick with the importance of water. Drink it. Love it.
Milestones: The noise/movement combo.

Vernix caseosa, a greasy white substance made of lanugo, oil and dead skin cells (yum) now coats baby’s skin, shielding it from the amniotic fluid. (Picture yourself after a nine-month bath, and the need for protection makes sense.) You might actually get to see the vernix at birth, especially if baby is premature.

Mangoes and greasy white substances. Mmmmmm.

So far in this pregnancy, I’ve noticed one constant. I’ll have a symptom or milestone (backackes, movements) and then I’ll get an email from “What to Expect” or a Bump email saying “Aching back?” or something. It’s like this kiddo is stoked about making me feel most effects of pregnancy…right on time.

Today is no different. The Ninja moves around on a definite schedule. Two of the more normal times are around 9am and 11pm. However, this morning, while on the train around 8:15…the “door closing” signal went off (imagine a loud, ear piercing screech) and then WHAM! – a huge kick that made me jump out of my seat. That’s the first time that I can tell that there’s been a direct correlation between noise and movement.

I check the blog this morning and my nurturedfamily.com ticker says, “Day 118: Loud noises may startle the baby.”

Check.

In other news, I’m totally scurred about the drinking 32 ounces of water by 8 am tomorrow and not being able to pee until after the u/s. How in God’s name will I avoid pissing in my pants?! HOW?!