Halfway there! A 20 Week Pregnancy Update

Info graphic showing positive pregnancy test stick

It’s hard to believe that on Sunday, I hit the halfway mark of my pregnancy. Where the HECK has the time gone, y’all?

In an attempt to document some of the things about my pregnancy here, I’m going to be sharing a monthly update on pregnancy happenings from here out.

Let’s get this thing started, shall we?

Women in blue dress posing for camera

It only took 19 weeks for me to start looking pregnant. Hooray for a baby bump that actually LOOKS like a baby bump!

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    How far along? 20 weeks.

    How big is baby? At last Thursday’s sonogram appointment, we were told she is around 10″ long and weighing in at around 12 oz. My pregnancy app says she’s the size of a banana this week. A really big banana, apparently.

    Total weight gain: ~9 lbs., according to the scale at my doctor’s office.

    Updates? Due date is still March 1. Lady Baby is right on track, growth-wise, and we’re still over the moon.

    Symptoms? I’m tired. Not nearly as tired as I was during the first trimester, which I’d to equate to running a marathon without the exercise, but I don’t feel “normal.” I hear I won’t for a while… or maybe never again. Haha.

    Picture of tiger on baby onesies and bib

    My little sister, who attended the University of Alabama, sent us these LSU onesies for Lady Baby when she first learned the news. Yes, we understood what a big deal it was for a Bama fan to purchase LSU gear for her niece, and we are so grateful. … I might have even cried when I opened up the package.

    Missing… Running. Eating sushi and a delicious rare steak. Drinking an occasional beer during a football game.

    Feeling… Pretty decent, all things considered. I’ve gotten more energy during the last month or so, and it’s comforting to know I do not need to lie down every afternoon for a nap these days. During the first trimester, if I didn’t, my body would revolt, and I’d fall asleep on the couch around 6 or 7 immediately after dinner.

    Exercise? Lu and I walk daily in the mornings, and we’ll sometimes go out for an evening jaunt with Winston when he arrives home from work. I’ve never been much of a walker, but I’m adoring this slower pace and spending time with my sweet pup as we both get in a little exercise. Running has been out of the question since it’s still so warm in Texas, and I haven’t wanted to risk it with the heat, but I’m hoping I can pick that up in the next few weeks as the temperatures cool down some.

    Sleep? Some nights, I sleep like a baby. Other nights, I’m wide awake into the wee morning hours. I’ve started waking up around 2:30 some mornings and can’t get back to sleep until nearly 6 a.m. It’s exhausting, and I’ve been struggling with backaches for the last week, which makes sleep less comfortable, too.

    Man and woman posing for camera

    Trying to look stylish while tailgating in Houston at 14 weeks. We trekked south to cheered on the Tigers as they kicked off their football season in a thrilling fashion.

    Movement? I think I can feel her, but I’m still uncertain. At last week’s appointment, the sonogram technician told me that the movements I probably think are her actually are her because she was moving around so much during the sonogram!

    Food cravings?: Cheerio’s. Chilled green grapes. Cheese sticks. Cocoa-dusted and/or lightly salted almonds. Anything fried and/or unhealthy. I’m trying not to go crazy with the sweets because I think they’re a slippery slope. Everyone keeps saying, “You’re pregnant! Eat all the things you want!” And I get it, and I am certainly not denying myself… but when Lady Baby arrives, I don’t want to be stuck with a bunch of extra weight from eating Cheeto’s and french fries daily throughout pregnancy, ya know? It’s all about balance, and I’m doing my best to get as balanced a diet as I possibly can while avoiding the foods that currently make me want to puke.

    Aversions? Scrambled eggs. Sautéed spinach. Anything with a slimy texture. Mint toothpaste. (I’ve been using cinnamon-flavored toothpaste, and it’s so much more palatable, even if my husband is completely disgusted by this.)

    Woman listening to her belly with stethoscope

    Trying to hear Lady Baby’s heartbeat through my sister’s stethoscope during a visit to Memphis in August. It was too early to hear anything, but this is one of my favorite random pregnancy photos to date!

    Anxious about… Travel in the upcoming weeks and months and being comfortable during said travel. Actually birthing Lady Baby. Trying not to think too much about the latter just yet.

    Excited about… Travel in the upcoming weeks and months. We’re visiting our families for Thanksgiving and Christmas, and I am really excited to see everyone before I become too big to travel comfortably.

    What I’m loving… The outpouring of love and support we’ve received since announcing the pregnancy last month. This is such an exciting time for us as we prepare for Baby S, and we’re so happy everyone has been so supportive and kind during this time. Lady Baby is already so loved, and I have no doubt she’ll be spoiled rotten by her grandparents, aunts and all of our family members and friends.

    What I’m looking forward to… Winston and I are babymooning in New York later this month, and I am stupid excited. We’ve been so many places and seen so many things during the last few years, thanks mostly to friends getting married all over the place, but we’ve only taken three vacations together in the span of our 7.5 year relationship when we weren’t going somewhere for someone else. Winston has never been to NYC, so I’m thrilled to get to explore the city with him, check out some of my favorite spots, do some touristy things and enjoy the fall weather!

    Two pictures of woman holding blue and pink cupcakes next to pink roses

    The day we learned the gender of our baby, I baked blue and pink cupcakes to do a reveal! Since we don’t live anywhere near our families, we recorded us opening the envelope from the doctor, and after we read the card aloud, we cut into the pink cupcake and devoured! That weekend, my sister got me the most beautiful pink flowers upon my arrival in Memphis for a visit.

    And that’s it!

    20 weeks, y’all. Time is flying!

    Interested in following along? Here are all of my pregnancy updates to date: 20 weeks | 25 Weeks | 29 Weeks | 32 Weeks | 36 Weeks | 40 Weeks

    A woman with dark curly hair wearing a black tank top in front of a white wall

    About the Author:

    Erin Parker is a Southern gal living in Texas with her husband and two daughters. She started The Speckled Palate to share what she was cooking as a newlywed… and over the years, it’s evolved to capture her love for hosting. Specifically, the EASIEST, lowest key entertaining because everyone deserves to see their people and connect over good food. Learn more about her

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    20 Comments

    1. I love this so much! This is such a fun way to get to know you better and to get to see your progress with Lady Baby! You are such an adorable pregnant lady! 🙂 I totally understand your want to control your eating and not just use being pregnant as an excuse to eat anything you want. I’m thinking that takes a lot more self control then I have though!

    2. Yay baby!! Did you grow up on Memphis or is that just your sister? That’s where we are! What’s her name?! Too weird!

      1. Crazy! Have we talked about this before and I’m just losing my mind? I went to high school here, at St Agnes. My husband’s sister went to White Station as did tons of my friends! What year did you graduate? I feel like we’ve had this conversation….. and I am indeed just losing my mind. We have to meet up for lunch next time you’re in town!

    3. Let me rephrase.. next time you have time when you’re in town, of course!! And that’s so weird – I graduated in 2005. I think there must be another blogger I follow who went to White Station too, because I’ve DEFINITELY had that conversation with someone. White Station was really pumping out the food bloggers apparently!

    4. You’re coming to NYC? And Winston has never been to NYC? Where are you guys staying? I wish I could invite you to grab a beer at our favorite craft beer bar, but that seems like bad timing what with being pregnant and all. Email me if you want any recommendations or need any kind of help/advice.

    5. This is too cute! You and lady baby are just too stinkin’ cute! Congratulations to you and Winston! Lady baby is absolutely lucky to have you as a mommy! 🙂

    6. Oh, you’re giving me pregnancy nostalgia! (And it’s only been ten months! I am SO NOT READY to be pregnant again! AND YET.) I remember the terrible sleep, so I feel your pain for sure– I think I might have slept better/more when C was a newborn than I did during the last couple months of my pregnancy. The picture with the stethoscope is super-cute. 🙂 Looking forward to your monthly updates!

      1. That’s awesome that this is giving you pregnancy nostalgia… gives me hope that I’ll feel the same way one day. 😉 I’m sorry you had horrible sleep during pregnancy, too. Mine hasn’t gotten any better, sadly, but maybe I’ll have the same luck as you and actually get better/more sleep when Lady Baby arrives… which is bonkers! Happy you’re following along!

    7. My babies are 37 and 31 years old now, but I remember it well. There are some odd things I still carry over from those months of strangeness. I’ve only recently returned to mint flavored toothpaste! If the cinnamon starts to get you, check the kiddy flavors. I used to do fruit punch and bubble gum. They were good! Tom’s of Maine also has some good, non-mint flavors.

      Before babies, cherry Life Savers were my favorite. Now, I still don’t like them, or anything with that particular cherry flavor. Orange is what sends me! Go figure.

      I know it’s uncomfortable, but enjoy these exciting months to the fullest. It’s such a special time in a woman’s life. With a wonderful payoff!

      My husband and I still look back fondly (and sometimes with tears in our eyes) at the days when our grown up kids were little. Try to savor every day of parenthood as well as you can. It’s not an easy job by any means, but wow, those 18 years fly by in retrospect.

      Blessings to you and your little growing family. I think we are privileged to be able to witness something no less than a miracle.

      1. It’s amazing that you still remember your pregnancies so well, Orea! Too funny that you still carry some of the odd things from those times… including the toothpaste thing! I wonder if my aversion to mint toothpaste will be the same as yours. Great recommendations on the kiddy flavors. I’ll have to do that if I get tired of the cinnamon!

        I’m definitely doing all I can to enjoy these months to the fullest. It’s incredible to be a part of something like this and to know/feel it all going on inside my body. We’re still over the moon, and it’s hard to believe I am about to enter my fifth month of pregnancy — time flies!

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