How your baby’s growing:
Your baby now weighs about three-quarters of a pound and is approximately 10 1/2 inches long — the length of a carrot. You may soon feel like she’s practicing martial arts [AMEN – I’M FEELING SOME MIGHTY MOVEMENT] as her initial fluttering movements turn into full-fledged kicks and nudges. You may also discover a pattern to her activity as you get to know her better [she moves alot after meals and especially when I eat cheese]. In other developments, your baby’s eyebrows and lids are present now.
How your life’s changing:
You’re probably feeling pretty comfortable these days. You’re not too big yet, and the usual discomforts associated with early pregnancy are, for the most part, gone. If you’re feeling good, relax and enjoy it while you can — the third trimester may bring with it a new crop of complaints.
That’s not to say you won’t have some minor glitches to deal with now. For example, increased oil production may contribute to the development (or worsening) of acne. If that’s the case, be diligent about washing well with a gentle soap or cleanser twice a day, and make sure that any moisturizer or make-up you use is oil-free. Don’t take any oral acne medications — some are very hazardous during pregnancy — or use any topical acne products without first checking with your practitioner.
You’re also more prone to varicose veins now. As your pregnancy progresses, there’s increasing pressure on the veins in your legs; higher progesterone levels, which may cause the walls of your veins to relax, can make the problem worse. You’re more likely to get varicose veins if other family members have them. Also, they tend to get worse with each successive pregnancy and as you age. To help prevent or minimize varicose veins, exercise daily, prop up your feet and legs whenever possible, sleep on your left side, and wear maternity support hose.
You may also notice so-called spider veins (a group of tiny blood vessels near the surface of your skin), particularly on your ankles, legs, or face. They may have a spider- or sunburst-like pattern with little branches radiating out from the center, they may look like the branches of a tree, or they may be a group of separate thin lines with no particular pattern. Though they may be a bit unsightly, spider veins don’t cause discomfort and usually disappear after delivery.
I am having to sleep on my left side all the time – nothing else is comfortable, though I do sometimes wake up on my back (again, though, I wake up because I am uncomfortable). I can feel her move a lot more often and they are strong enough for Jeff (or who ever is close) to feel them too. We are still talking about her name, so no news on that to share.
I’ll post a picture from tomorrow (Dogwood Dell!!!) as my 21 week picture. Miss Bean Cronin will have her first exposure to fireworks. I can’t wait to see if she reacts. According to everything I’ve read, she can hear loud noises that are around me.
Ministering Through My Mess 
I didn’t apologize for being an old poop this morning at church. My new medicine is supposed to reduce my appetite, not make me queasy. Oh well. At least Sweet William the kitty had company all day July 4th. Now that he is an only cat with Varmie gone, I worry about him being lonely and bored.It is so good of you to keep folks up to date on the baby’s progress. I have not known anyone else to be so kind to share!!!