Growing Joys

I think I can already feel Liam moving in my belly. Based on the frequency, I want to say he's pretty active, and he's having fun in there doing back-flips and whatnot. :) I read in my What to Expect app to not confuse gas in your belly with discreet baby movements, and I'm beginning to be able to tell the difference between the two. (Plus, I think I'm pretty familiar with my gas symptoms by now, haha.)

I've had a growth spurt in my belly within the last couple of weeks (16/17 wks). It's like it came out of nowhere! It's a real joy, especially for me... I'm already underweight, and my lack of appetite and food aversions caused me to lose a couple pounds in my first trimester. It wasn't much of a worry to me or my doctors, so just like everyone promised, the pounds have started to build slowly but surely into my second trimester (and especially around the holiday season)! It's like I woke up and bam, I've got a belly -- and I can no longer zip up any of my pants! Every day, it gets more real. It's so exciting to see and feel him grow inside of me!

Product Review
I purchased this belly band from Target ($16.99) to help prolong the usage of my regular pants and jeans. It seems to work very well, aside from the fact that they're not "attached" to my pants, and occasionally, I'd have to go in and pull my pants up from sagging every time I get up from sitting (i.e. after a car ride). I would imagine it being a tad cumbersome for someone who is actively out and about all day, trying to make sure the band and pants are still sitting where they're supposed to be. For this, I'd just buy one staple pair of maternity jeans or slacks (or whatever you wear to work or on a daily basis). Other than that, as a student working from home who doesn't have to run around too much, I'm glad I purchased this because it's saving me a LOT of money from not having to buy a single maternity clothing item yet.

The Maternity BeBand in black (also comes in white and nude)