Junk Food Junkie

It's official....Luke is a Junk Food Junkie. He is similar to his brother in many things (like having my chin, lots of activity, love of carbonated drinks), but in his diet and my subsequent 'cravings' (I don't really have them, really) he is very different. I couldn't even think about eating sugar or sugary stuff for the first 6 months or so of my pregnancy with Matthew. This was very strange for me because I LOVE sugar!! Matthew liked routine and very specific things--Fiber One and orange juice for breakfast, peanut butter & jelly, fresh fruit and more juice for lunch and whatever healthy and nutritious thing John made for dinner, with *maybe* some ice cream for desert. Around 7 months, I added a bowl of Lucky Charms before bed. He did enjoy chocolate cake and chocolate shakes, but again, even in his like of chocolate, he was very specific (something his OCD mommy easily relates to!).

Luke likes junk. Nothing (but Mexican, and more specifically, certain Mexican foods only) really ever sounds appealing in the name of food. I have to purposely force myself to eat foods with nutritional content because left to what I'd like to eat, well...I'd live on junk. Luke likes Oreo Blizzards and sour skittles and gummi worms, Ho-Hos and Nutty Bars. Lunch today was peach pie with tons of whipped cream and pour-over butter popcorn. I eat cereal for breakfast, but it's Captain Crunch or Lucky Charms (I throw in Basic Four once a week for good measure).

I supplement with lots of juices (again cannot say how much I love V8 Fusion) and vitamins; DHA and Omega-3 and Iron and Calcium. John always makes a nutritious dinner. Luke's growing well. I'm not worried about all this junk, but have to say that I'd rather be craving more fresh fruits and vegetables!

My waist is now 32 inches, and started at 30. Definitely feeling him--little scrapes and bumps under my skin. His heartbeat is easy to find with the doppler now, even though he moves a lot, and the other night when listening, John started to talk to my stomach and Luke's heart rate totally sped up and raced. Of course, it probably scared the bejeepers out of him, but I like to think it's that he knew his daddy's voice!

Regular OB visit this week, then Dr. Sweeney next Monday. My back is starting to hurt in the same places it hurt with Matthew, and I know that just means there's more (and worse) to come. It started with Matthew at 9 weeks, so I'll be grateful for not having too many problems start until now as they have. Of course, that colors my sleep (or lack thereof), but par for the course and I'm glad for the reasoning.

We went out on the boat this weekend and there were no issues. I was about this pregnant when we went out the first time with Matthew and he didn't like it at all...I was sore and crampy and thought I might be like that this weekend, but wasn't. Luke seemed to enjoy all the acrobatics!

Here are a few pics:

Luke LOVES Slurpees!! This was wild cherry. YUM!

It was really a great day--warm but not miserable!

17 Weeks Today!

I'm carrying a bit higher than I was with Matthew. I was low from the start with Matthew!

Self-portrait of Mommy and Daddy in "The Hammock of Heaven" (what my niece called it this weekend!)

Here's what's going on with Luke this week:

	Week Seventeen: Fat accumulates
	You are 17 weeks pregnant. (fetal age 15 weeks) The umbilical cord is growing thicker and stronger. Fetus weight is just over 5 ounces (150g). Baby is about 5 inches (14cm) long crown to rump. and would be about 9 inches (23cm) head to toe, if it could stretch out. The retina has become sensitive to light. The first stools (meconium) are now beginning to accumulate. They recycle the amniotic fluid by swallowing up to a litre a day. Meconium (composed of products of cell loss, digestive secretion and swallowed amniotic fluid), is accumulating in the bowel. Fat stores begin to develop under your baby's skin this week. The fat will provide energy and help keep your baby warm after birth. Baby's eyes are looking forward now, but they are still firmly closed. The skeleton is transforming from cartilage to bone. The bones remain flexible to make the journey through the birth canal easier. You can feel your uterus just below your bellybutton. If you put your fingers sideways and measure, it is about two finger-widths (1 inch) below your bellybutton. Your uterus is the size of a cantaloupe. The crown to rump length of your growing baby is 5 to 5.6 inches (12.5 to 14cm) by this week. Weight of the fetus is about 5.25 ounces (150g).