24 Weeks: Feeling tired.

24 Weeks Chalk Board.

This week is going fast. Too fast. We leave a week from today to visit my hometown for a month. Lots of stress since yesterday due to our neighbor, whom we share a yard with. I may or may not speak more about it- I don't want to sound like a ranting lunatic... (oh wait, that's her specialty!)

The Bump and Baby Center say this about Week 24:

“Your baby's growing steadily, having gained about 4 ounces since last week. That puts her at just over a pound. Since she's almost a foot long (picture an ear of corn), she cuts a pretty lean figure at this point, but her body is filling out proportionally and she'll soon start to plump up. Her brain is also growing quickly now, and her taste buds are continuing to develop. Her lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" as well as cells that produce surfactant, a substance that will help her air sacs inflate once she hits the outside world. Her skin is still thin and translucent, but that will start to change soon.

(Source)

You know what’s sweet? Those movements and kicks you’ve been feeling. They seem to get stronger every week. At week 24, baby’s progress isn’t just about internal stuff, it’s about her looks too. With pinker, more opaque skin, she’s looking more and more, well, like a baby. You, on the other hand, are probably experiencing some of the discomforts of the later months of pregnancy at week 24 -- leg cramps, backaches, swollen feet. Hang in there, mama-to-be!”

Pregnancy Tracking Questions

How far along: 24 weeks

Size of Baby: As long as an ear of corn.

Sleep: I’ve been staying up late and it’s really affected my daytime routine. I’m just too tired to even the simplest things. I’ve always been this way- I always fight sleep. Sigh.

Am I looking bigger?

Maternity clothes: Same as last week. I looked for “Cyber Monday” deals online (at Old Navy, Motherhood, etc), but I chickened out because I have not tried on any maternity clothes and don’t really know what size I am right now.

Stretch marks: Not yet.

Best moment this week: Going to the Bay Harbour Market in Hout Bay and the Kirstenbosch Craft Market. Hubby was up for the crowds, and with food, managed to stay in a good mood.

Worst moment this week: Having our crazy neighbor threaten to have our dogs taken away.

Miss anything: Turkey, cranberry sauce, candied yams, and pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving!

Movement: Hubby started to really be able to feel her jabs and kicks this week. Brought a lot of joy to his eyes.

Cravings:  Cold slices of orange. So refreshing as the summer is heating up! Also, this week, we were really enjoying the last of our pepperoni that people have brought us from the USA. It’s a shame that nobody here knows what a glorious thing a simple slice of pepperoni pizza can be. Salami just does not do it for us- doesn’t crisp up or have the spiciness that pepperoni has.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope.

Belly button in or out: In.

Looking forward to: My father and grandmother being the first familiar faces we see as we arrive in the USA!

Song of the Post: Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now by Starship (not to be confused with Jefferson Starship).  It’s an oldie but a goodie (or no?), and the video is hilarious because it uses clips from the movie Mannequin, which the song was featured in.

23 Weeks: Lots of Singing Going On.

 This week, I’ve started to sing to my baby girl. It started because someone paid me a flattering comment about my “natural talent” that should be developed…and made me realize that I don’t sing hardly enough (like I used to). 

Also, I started catching up with season three of The Voice (my first time watching it) and am really enjoying it, singing along when I know the song. And maybe dancing too…

This week was Thanksgiving in the USA, and we celebrated it South African style. We met up with the same American friends as last year, and had a braai (BBQ) of lamb, chicken, and boerewors (a type of sausage). I made all the sides: Camembert mashed potatoes with garlic and fresh herbs, steamed green beans, and glazed carrots (with orange juice, cinnamon, and pecans). 

Hubby and I were talking about tradition and the customs that we want to pass on to our daughter. With her possibly growing up in South Africa, we feel it will be very important to make sure she is connected to the American and Mexican cultures and traditions. She will be a third-culture kid, and every culture will have is place in our lives.

 

The Bump and Baby Center say this about Week 23:

“Turn on the radio and sway to the music. With her sense of movement well developed by now, your baby can feel you dance. And now that she's more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound (about as much as a large mango), you may be able to see her squirm underneath your clothes. Blood vessels in her lungs are developing to prepare for breathing, and the sounds that your baby's increasingly keen ears pick up are preparing her for entry into the outside world. Loud noises that become familiar now — such as your dog barking or the roar of the vacuum cleaner — probably won't faze her when she hears them outside the womb.

23 Weeks: Baby is the size of a large mango. (source)

 At 23 weeks, baby’s really getting ready for her big debut, listening in on what’s going on in the outside world. At about 10.5 to 11.8 inches and about 12.7 to 20.8 ounces, baby's not just getting bigger, she's getting even cuter. She's forming little nipples (yeah, really!) Her face is fully formed now -- she just needs a little extra fat to fill it out. She's listening to your voice and your heartbeat -- and even to loud sounds like cars honking and dogs barking.”

Pregnancy Tracking Questions

How far along: 23 weeks

Size of Baby: Mango or grapefruit.

Sleep: Hubby has been waking me up at 4:00 a.m.; then I have fitful sleep until the alarm goes off. I’m having trouble sleeping on my left side (recommended for adequate blood circulation), and often am on my back.

Maternity clothes: I definitely need them! Most of my normal shirts are not looking right anymore, even with the Bella Band. I think my shirts from Target are going to go into heavy rotation now. Pants: I have been using the Bella Band with my regular jeans, however, the jeans are not feeling comfortable anymore and I have to adjust the band more often now. I can’t wait to get home where I can buy some new and used clothing for cheap.On a side note, I think my face is filling out a little...

Stretch marks: Not yet.

Best moment this week: My belly dance performance. I’ll have a post on that soon.

Miss anything: Turkey, cranberry sauce, candied yams, and pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving!

Movement: Hubby started to really be able to feel her jabs and kicks this week. Brought a lot of joy to his eyes.

Cravings:  Cheas Naks. I talked about them here. They are my “crack” and I’ve limited myself since being pregnant, because they don’t last more than two days in this house.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope.

Belly button in or out: In.

Looking forward to: Buying maternity and baby clothes soon.

Song of the Post: Wake Up (Dreaming of You) by Mark Haze. I wanted to highlight another South African singer this week- He was runner up on the 2012 Season Seven of SA Idols and is very talented (Even Simon Cowell liked him! See here).

The first video is an acoustic version of his first radio released song, the second is the “official video” (but I don’t prefer it because you can’t see him perform it really). What do you think?

Kamers Vol Geskenke 2012: Fabric.

For the final post about my experience at Kamers VolGeskenke, I thought I’d do a fabric themed post. This is because I noticed this year, there appeared to be many more fabric vendors, selling rolls of fabric, or stalls that utilized fabric in many of their designs (pillows, bags, clothing, etc.). You can find my previous posts on Kamers here, here, and here.

LOVE this doxie bag!

Square pillow cases in wonderful patterns.

Amazing color work on this quilt!

Quilted Color!

Cute little bags.

Natural colors are so pretty.

Lovely prints.

Love the Kudu print bag.

Love the clock bags.

Sweet.

It was only since coming to South Africa that I really began to appreciate small, hand crafted fabric designers. I wish they were a little cheaper- I understand that small businesses can't always be the cheapest, but I know they have quality craftsmanship on their side.

What's your favorite print?

 

Song of the Post: Save Me by Elvis Blue. He won Season 6 of the Idols (South Africa) television show. He’s got a bright future ahead for himself.