How about a little change of scenery for this week’s Baby Tooth update?!
Yeah, I think I could get used to that kind of scenery every week.
*And just in case you’re wondering, the dress is a maternity dress from Old Navy (and so is the pink one that I wore in Mexico, too!). It’s actually much more flowy than it looks, but I wanted to be sure you could all see Baby Tooth in there. I absolutely LOVE the dresses and am so thankful to have them for this coming summer.*
SO…Baby Tooth is just over 19 weeks today and is about the size of an heirloom tomato.
Here’s what Baby Tooth has been up to this week:
- Baby Tooth’s sensory development is exploding! The brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. Baby Tooth may even be able to hear us by now.
- He/she weighs about 8 1/2 ounces and measures 6 inches, head to bottom.
- The arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of the body now.
- Kidneys continue to make urine and the hair on the scalp is sprouting.
- A waxy protective coating called the vernix caseosa is forming on the skin to prevent it from pickling in the amniotic fluid.
And here’s what’s been happening with me this past week:
Weight gained: After this past week in Mexico, I can only imagine.
Workouts: While we were away, I did make it to the gym once to do about a mile walk + a strength circuit. Another day, us girls took part in a water aerobics class in the pool which was fun and actually pretty tiring! On Thursday night, we wound up having a crazy awesome dance party which lasted well after midnight in la plaza (just like last year, but without the rain) which REALLY worked up a good sweat. Other than that, just a lot of walking. I’d say swimming too, but I’m more of a floater/relaxer.
Symptoms: This week included a few:
- Round ligament pains and low back pain. There were a few days this past week where it would get tough for me to get comfortable, especially on our flights back home.
- A few occasions where there was some slight nausea, but it probably had more to do with the extreme heat than anything else.
- Lots of trips to the bathroom…like, INSANE amounts. I was trying to drink a LOT of water while we were away since it was so hot out and I wanted to stay hydrated. But this meant that the bathroom was a very good friend of mine. I mean, we’re talking like 4 trips within an hour on a couple of days. Sheesh!
Movement: LOTS of it this week! It’d be so fun to be lying in the pool chair or sitting at dinner and suddenly feel he/she making his/her presence known. I’d start smiling out of nowhere and if anyone was looking in my direction, they knew what was up. I’ve actually noticed Herm (see below) more in the evenings – probably between 6-10pm – but it’s still all day.
Food Aversions: There were a few times where I ordered shrimp while we were out to dinner, thinking it sounded good. But when it was placed in front of me, I’d have a bite or two then couldn’t handle anymore. Now the thought of it grosses me out. So weird.
Food Cravings: Most of these had to do with being in Mexico, but while I was there I could NOT get enough guacamole. Seriously. It was on my plate every day at lunch. Another lunch time staple for me was their ice cream; every day after lunch, I’d have a small bowl of either lemon (which is actually lime down there, who knew?!), strawberry, or coconut ice cream with mini chocolate chips. It was the bees knees.
Sleep: Not bad…the bed we slept in wasn’t super comfortable for me, but because we had so much going on everyday, I really had no problem falling asleep at night.
Maternity clothes?: Yup! I got to wear three different maternity dresses this past week, which all came from Old Navy. Although there are some regular clothes I can still wear, I’ll probably remove this question from here on our since they’re pretty much a given at this point.
Stretch marks? Not yet…but I feel like I might be seeing the faint beginnings of the lovely linea nigra I was hoping to avoid. Ahh well, what can ya do!
Miss Anything? I did miss being able to sip on some of the different cocktails by the pool this week, but the staff was super accommodating and able to make me pretty much anything sans alcohol. We also went out for Japanese/sushi one night, and I did miss being able to eat some of the different rolls; however, there were some killer veggie rolls that totally made up for it.
Fun and/or Interesting Things from the Week: While we were away this past week, I wound up naming the baby Herm. I kept referring to it as he/she or him/her (although, more times than not, I’d refer to it as a he…intuition maybe?!) which got a little tiresome, so I somehow came up with Herm. Now, our whole group refers to Baby Tooth as Herm and it’s a fun little joke we all have. Apparently, amongst our group of friends, the bet is that Herm is a GIRL…but we’ll find out soon enough!
Baby Items Purchased: Yes! Some new books!
- Potty (Leslie Patricelli board books)
- Yummy Yucky (Leslie Patricelli board books)
- Baby Happy Baby Sad (Leslie Patricelli board books)
- Blankie (Leslie Patricelli board books)
- Tubby (Leslie Patricelli board books)
I wound up purchasing these on Rue La La a couple of weeks ago because I thought they just looked too cute to pass up.
Looking Forward To: Next week’s 20 week prenatal appointment…which should also tell us if Baby Tooth is a boy or a girl!!! I’m also looking forward to putting together a registry, but to be quite honest with you, I’m finding it TOTALLY overwhelming. There’s just SO much stuff out there!
So that being said, today’s question is…
For the moms: What items would you totally recommend putting on a baby registry? Anything you’d say to not worry about?
Jana @ Happy Wife Healthy Life says
Love the black and white dress…(and the change of scenery)! So glad you were able to relax and have a great time! Are you and Jay planning on taking a ‘babymoon’ before Baby Tooth makes His/Her arrival?
Liz @ The Lambent Life says
I think every mother needs a wrap and good carrier. I joke around and say that both my younger daughter and I wouldn’t have survived the first year without babywearing but it’s true. She loved to be worn close and it made life much easier. I highly recommend a stretchy wrap (moby) or ring sling for the first few months and a carrier (ergo, boba, angelpack) for when they’re older.
Stellina @ My Yogurt Addiction says
Love that dress on you! Can’t wait to find out if baby tooth is a girl or boy!
Jenn@Be ME says
I am just getting to the point of putting our registry together and need some advice and direction as well. The Baby Bargains book helps a lot. It’s like the consumer reports for all things baby!
Ashlee @ A Step in the Right Direction says
Cute Dress! Most of my maternity clothes were from Old Navy.
We LOVE the Fisher Price Rock N Play – Mason slept in it when we came home from the hospital next to our bed for the first 6 weeks. Our room is not that big so it was nice to have something small. We now use it around the house when we are doing things and need a place for him to be.
We would also recommend a Bottle Warmer – We did not think we would need one and ended up buying one when Mason was a week old.
Also check with your insurance to see if they cover breast pumps before you buy one – mine covered 100% so I did not have to pay for it.
The one thing we did not really use was the Bumbo Seat & it was pretty pricey to not really use.
Courtney says
Wow, I can’t believe it’s almost the halfway point already! Can’t wait to find out if Herm is a boy or a girl. Those ON dresses are adorable… I might just go check them out and I’m not even preg LOL!
Katy @ HaveYouHurd says
I am the first of my close friends to get pregnant so I was also clueless when it came to my registry. I read a lot of blog posts and got advice from people I knew that had kids and actually ended up doing 98% of my registry online (meaning we only went into the store once with ‘the gun’ and scanned < 5 things).
I also looked at a lot of the ratings on Target's (where I registered) website for suggestions. If you want to check out my registry on Target.com you can – just search for Katy Hurd!
Hope this helps :)
P.S. You look great and I can't wait for you to find out if it is a boy or a girl – that's when the planning/nesting REALLY gets fun!!!!
Christy says
I found the idea of putting a registry together pretty daunting as well. We used Myregistry.com because we could add items from all across the internet, which allowed me to price shop quite a bit. I also used BuyBuyBaby’s registry checklist as a guideline for what to put on my registry and how to categorize it. You can find that here: http://www.buybuybaby.com/regchecklist.asp?
Misty Lynn says
Even if you plan on cloth diapering (I did) having disposibles in the early days is the way to go…you’re tired and they go a lot! I would def. register for a big box of newborn size and size 1. Since you don’t know how big your baby will be born or at what rate they will grow I wouldn’t get more than that at first.
Sleepers with zippers are SO much easier than trying to line up 15 snaps in the middle of night.
My girls are 3 & 7 and we still use the humidifier/mister we got at my oldest daughter’s baby shower. Great when they are stuffy.
California Baby Overtired and Cranky bath wash is the best. It’s pricey, but would totally chill my kids. I use it when I have a bad day too!
Maybe not for the registry, but make sure you have plenty of pads, comfy undies that you don’t mind staining/tossing, and breast pads. You will bleed for a few weeks following a natural delivery. Take all the ones you can get from the hospital/birth center/midwife/etc.
Ok. I’ll stop there. As far as gizmos and gadgets…buy secondhand. Nobody wants to spend $100 on a baby swing that the baby hates. I would register for a new car seat, of course.
One more thing. My youngest LOVES the books you bought on RLL. We’ve been getting them from the library since she was a baby and still picks them out to take home. Her favorite is Yummy/Yucky.
All the best!
Christy says
If you are really interested in a sling/wrap, check out sevenslings.com. Use Promo Code “carseat” for 100% off (a $39.95 value). They only get you for Shipping ($11), size exchange insurance ($3.50) and tax.
Samantha says
Hey Courtney! I just love these weekly updates- where do you get such neat info regarding Herm’s development? Do you recommend any books for expectant Moms?
Thanks!
Courtney says
I get all of the info on Herm’s development from various emails I sign up for (The Bump, What to Expect, BabyCenter). I’d definitely recommend the Baby Bargains book for sure. And for a good laugh, Belly Laughs by Jenny McCarthy was a GREAT read! :)
Susan says
I second the Moby wrap for the early months. My second slept comfortably in that until close to 6 months. I would also put things on your registry that are “big ticket” items that you know others may not buy for you (like your crib or changing table/dresser). Like a wedding registry, you’ll be able to complete your registry and get a discount on anything that hasn’t been purchased for you.
Chelsea @ Cardio and Cocktails says
My next step after this comment is to go straight over to Old Navy’s website and check out their maternity dresses! That black and white one is so cute and I can’t wait to stock up on flowy dresses for the summer. We had my bridal shower this weekend and I found a perfect maxi dress for it from the outlets. I have a feeling that it will be making appearances all summer. I am very jealous of your Mexico trip and of all the guacamole!
Danica @ It's Progression says
Love that black and white dress!! And the scenery, of course, is just gorgeous.
Elaine @ Cooking to Perfection says
You look absolutely amazing! Love how baby tooth is starting to be more noticeable. :)
Britt says
Can’t wait to find out if baby tooth is a boy or girl!!!
Let us know as soon as you can! Don’t keep us in suspense LOL!!
Karen says
Can’t wait to see if baby tooth is a boy or girl!!
Karen says
Hit enter too soon, I would def recommend the boppy pillow, great for nursing and laying the little down for short naps. My daughter (over a year now) still plays with her boppy pillow. I would also recommend a swing & infant seat as they both come in handy when trying to get things done around the house. DIAPERS, DIAPERS, lots of DIAPERS!!
Ashley @ Life and Fitness says
Glad everything went well on your vacation! You look so stylish. Old Navy has some pretty maternity dresses!
Avery @ Southern Belle Living Well says
Beautiful as always! You’re vacay pictures were stunning!
Kristin M says
I second the zipper onsie sleepers! So much easier than fighting with all those buttons on a wiggly little baby. We also used the hooded towels a lot…infact my kids are 7 and 3 and they still love them(the bigger versions of course)
Swing or bouncy seat was a must for us..bouncy seat is easy to take with you while visiting friends/family
I would also recommend good thick burp cloths and keep them everywhere(around the house, in Herms room, in the diaper bag) they come in handy!
One more thing….a nice, functional, large diaper bag that you can also fit your wallet, car keys, cell phone, etc in so you don’t have to carry a diaper bag and a purse. Makes leaving the house a lot easier.
So excited for you guys!!
Ashley @ My Food N Fitness Diaries says
Well aren’t you looking as cute as ever! I’m so jealous of your awesome tan!
Christine says
We had a portable vibrating bassinette. My daughter was a preemie and she slept in it for the first 3 months! The cradle just seemed to swallow her up; this was more her size. And the vibrations would soothe her and rock her to sleep. I am pretty sure Fisher Price makes one; my daughter is 13 now, so I have no idea what brand I had. But that was by far the best baby item I had!
Angie says
You look fantastic, it is great you guys got to have a nice vacation before the baby. the Boppy pillow is the best you will use it a lot.
Allison says
Herm, hahahaha I love it! You look absolutely wonderful :)
Laura says
You look so beautiful pregnant and seem to be just GLOWING! As a new mama to a 9 month old, here are my suggestions: medela double electric breast pump, hands free bra, freezer bags and accessories, Dr. Brown bottles, Fisher Price Rock N Play Sleeper (my son, who has reflux, slept in this until he was 6 months old and transistion to the crib was easy!), a swing, bouncey seat, baby Bjourn carrier or baby Ktan, Diaper Genie, swaddle blankets, diapers, wipes, and bottle brush/cleaning supplies! Thats about all I can think of, but I feel if you have these necessities then you will be good to go!
Emily says
You look adorable! These posts make me so excited to have kids some day. :)
Can’t wait to see if it’s a boy or girl!
Carissa says
I would say keep it simple! It soo easy to feel like you have to have all these gadgets that are really unnecessary. For me it was so much less stressful to do with less and add a few things here and there after the baby came if needed than dealing with so much stuff.
I know some people love the bobby, but I didn’t feel it was all that necessary for us. I do love my Moby wrap and still use it with my 6 month old. We opted to forego the crib (she sleeps in her pack n play with a mattress to make it more comfortable for long term sleep). Also, I would suggest borrowing things like swings, bouncers etc. if you at all possible to see if your little one even likes them. It’s so easy for the baby stuff to accumulate and at least for me that is more stressful than getting by without some convenience gadget, but you know your personality so do what you think will be the best for you.
Lastly, don’t worry too much about getting it all perfect. Your little one needs a car seat, a safe place to sleep and a mommy and daddy who love them! The rest is really just details. :)
Sarah W. says
glad you had a blast and are groooooowing.
the sushi thing is funny to me. i mean, japanese people still eat it while preggers, why is the US so averse to it?
Courtney says
I have a 20month old & am also actually 19wks. into my 2nd pregnancy! You do *not* need a wipes warmer! But as far as baby gear we used the most w/our 1st-def. a good baby swing-they make a lot of them these days that swing in different directions-this was a lifesaver for us! We have this one, which I would highly recommend: http://www.target.com/p/fisher-price-my-little-snugabunny-cradle-n-swing/-/A-13269834#?lnk=sc_qi_detaillink
The boppy is just the best, esp. if you plan to breastfeed. Make sure to buy a couple extra covers though! Also, the little wearable blankets that you can put over their clothes/pjs are great!
Nicole @ Curly Mommy says
I’m just going to echo what a bunch of other people said- but I figure the more people that recommend it, the more of an idea how necessary it is!
Baby Sling (Moby, etc..), new car seat (duh), diapers, ZIPPER PAJAMAS, a pack n’ play with a bassinet top (that way you dont have to buy a separate bassinet, and it will grow as baby gets older- think, naps at Grandma and Grandpas without having them buy a whole crib). Those are the pretty much the ONLY things that I needed for the first 6 months. Anything else I found was just unnecessary clutter. Just please, do NOT get sucked into the wipe warmer!! It’s a trap!!
Jessica M. says
Hi There!!! I have been reading your blog for quite awhile and I am so happy you are preggars with your first baby!! I am currently pregnant with our 2nd and our due dates are like a week apart! With our first I was so overwhelmed with the baby registry. I researched everything we would need till my brain hurt. I realized after she was born we had way too much unnecessary stuff. When you go to those baby stores (Babies R Us) they give you these checklists of things you should register for. Don’t follow it!!! It is such a waste of peoples money and lots of space. I think the most important things are a good swing, a good bouncer, a travel system stroller (we used ours a lot, we were always on the go), a fun interactive gym mat for tummy time or even back time, if you use bottles the Dr. Browns bottles are the best for newborns through 6 months, and a few different types of pacifers (my daughter had a small mouth so at the beginning she had a hard time with some of the bigger pacifers). Don’t bother registering for clothes, blankets, burp rags (towels work better anyways) or throw blankets. You will get plenty of these anyways and you end up with way more then you need. I am sure I could go on and on but trust your instincts and do your research on the big stuff. It pays off. Congrats again!!!
Taran VB says
We must have due dates days apart!! I am also 19 weeks!!! This is my second child and we also find out next week what we are having!
I think if I buy anything this time around it will have to be a good sling. Especially since I will still have a daughter to tend to it will keep my hands free in order to do so! Others have suggested a pack n’ play while I think it is necessary to have one for overnight trips I don’t believe in using it at home. We wanted baby to get used to her crip ASAP so that we didn’t have to worry about transitioning later on. Even if we did have to let her sleep in her carseat a few nights I think it was the best decision we ever made. She started sleeping through the night at 8 weeks! Good luck – Try to stick with the necessities!
Breanna says
One thing I added to my registry today that I don’t think I would have thought of is TWO BASES for the car seat. One for my car and one for my husband’s truck so we can keep them installed. There’s tons more on there but that’s one that I had kind of forgotten about. Also I found out you can get a free breast pump through most insurance plans – so check into that instead of registering for one or buying one!!
Baby Bump Bundle, LLC says
Looking great Courtney and glad you had a fab vaca!! For your registry- we recommend picking out the perfect car seat and stroller, plenty of burp cloths, swaddle blankets and sleeping sacks (we love aiden & anais, woombie, miracle blanket, and bitsy), onesie’s galore and beanie hats and socks, a quality diaper bag, tons of diapers and wipes and butt paste. Try not to get too overwhelmed and when you go, take advantage of the help they offer at Babies R Us or Buy Buy Baby! They will give you check lists and walk you right through what you may need! Also look out for your BumpBundle 2 and sooner than later your BumpBundle 3, where we have you covered with some of your nursing necessities!
Erin @ Axell's Kitchen says
The number one thing I recommend is a good breast pump if you plan on breast feeding! Like I’m talking one of the good Medela ones..they are very expensive but 100% worth it. Also we have gotten a lot of use out of our swing and bouncer. Definitely a good monitor, boppy pillow, wipe warmer and ask for TONS of diapers!! Also something that you don’t necessarily have to have, but is nice, is a nice diaper bag. You’re going to be using it all the time so it’s good to have a cute one you like. I got one from Coach that is suuuper cute and can even be used as a weekender once I don’t need it for a diaper bag anymore.
Shel@PeachyPalate says
Glowing! And you’re just bump! :) Love the books!
Sonya says
I’m 19 weeks as well, and I hear you on being overwhelmed with what to get. Everyone tells you something different and in the end I heard you only use a few things. Here’s my definite list after a ton of researching and comparing… UppaBaby Vista stroller with bassinet stand so I don’t need a separate bassinet, Gracco Snugride 35 car seat, bobby pillow, ERGO baby carrier, Aden and Anais swaddle blankets, Medela breast pump, NUK pacifiers, LA Baby 4 sided changing pad and organic cotton crib mattress.
Sara says
I’m 15 weeks and we just started registering. I agree. 100% overwhelming. I kept asking my husband, “Do we really NEED all this stuff”. Good luck!
Kristen @ notsodomesticated says
You look amazing, girl! I’m glad you had such a nice time in Mexico. I don’t have tips yet about the things you’ll definitely need for the baby, but give me another 6 weeks, and then I’m sure I’ll have PLENTY to say on the subject! ;)
Danielle @ Truffles n' Treadmills says
You look so cute! BioOil works really well on stretch marks and scars! If you feel them coming pick up a little bottle of this at the store and it will do magic for you
Erica @ For the Sake of Cake says
Ah I bet you can’t wait for next week’s appointment!
Janet says
We bought those books for my sons and love them! My must haves: swing, lots of burp clothes, swaddlers (the kind with velcro so you don’t have to go crazy) and a really nice diaper bag. Don’t worry too much about the rest. I panicked and bought all kinds of stuff and then realized I was at Target or Babies R Us every week anyway.
Bek @ Crave says
Always enjoy these updates :) Thanks for sharing!
Jolynn says
You are absolutely glowing! You and your baby bump couldn’t be any cuter!
Lauren says
The Rock N Play sleeper saved my sanity when our little guy was born back in October! A lot of babies hate being flat on their backs or have reflux so this sleeper is great for that and it doesn’t take up a lot of space. There was some controversy about it causing flat spots, but anything can cause flat spots if a baby is in it too long. My son only slept in it at night (naps in his swing) and his head is just fine! Also, the Ergo carrier has been worth its weight in gold. I wear him at the grocery store, around the house, on walks…it puts the weight on your hips so you don’t get back pain like you might get with some other carriers.
Thick burp cloths are a MUST! Gerber prefold cloth diapers are actually the best things to use because they soak up so much spit up.
And finally, zip up clothing is oh so helpful in those first few weeks. Buttons/snaps are no fun in the middle of the night!
Molly Petsch says
I don’t have much to say about the registry because everyone has different tastes and preferences but since you bought books, I requested for my baby showers that instead of cards, people buy a book and write a note in it for the baby! You can never have enough books and this got the little library off to a good start! You may have already heard of this idea but it was so nice!
Courtney says
AWESOME idea!!!!
Jillian says
I love your blog. Could not figure out where in upstate NY you were in your pic with that scenery( since i live there too) but then i realized your in Mexico. I have a 5 month old and a 9 yr oldso I knew it would be different this time arounf. I def could not live without the Moby wrap the first few months, an udder cover(for nursing in public), and a vibrating bouncy seat. Definitely would say you do not need a diapergenie, you can totally do disposable nursing pads, and dont spend the extra money on an expensive bassinet. They are only in it the 1st month and half or so. My son is in our room in a pack and play that has a bassinet in it. Multi purpose. Good luck with your pregnancy and remember to enjoy it:)
Nicole says
Hey Courtney! You look great!
One of my friends sent me their “registry must have” list when I was working on mine. I found it to be super helpful, and I’ve since added my own thoughts and sent it around to some of my friends. If I remember, I’ll email it to you tomorrow :)
Courtney says
That’d be awesome! Thanks, Nicole!!
Jen says
I have two and the best thing has been the rock n play sleeper we got instead of a bassinet. It’s inclined so you don’t have to worry about them spitting up in their sleep. Plus, if you have it on hard floors when they move it rocks so a lot of times they’ll rock themselves back to sleep!
Kat says
I wanted to chime in and second the fisher price rock n play. Our store carries the “snugabunny” version. I’m 23 weeks pregnant and we just registered and definitely added this to our list because so many new mothers recommended it. There are also hundreds of rave reviews online.
Oh and thankfully we had an awesome store manager helping us with our registry. We were soooo confused and overwhelmed but the manager knew her stuff. Helped big time. So don’t be afraid to ask them.
Have fun!!
Ellie@Fit for the Soul says
thaaaat’s it! I need to make a trip to Old Navy, maybe today since my husband wants to shop for new maternity clothes! :D I have gift cards waiting to be used and your dress looks so refreshing~thanks for sharing. And I’m so excited for you and feel like even though we don’t know each other, we’re going through this “together” in some ways :D