A 'Bump'date {In Pictures}.

*Disclaimer: This post will be picture-laden (to make up for all the weeks I've kept from you), so consider yourself forewarned. Moving on...

The bump. The baby bump, to be precise.

I wondered what it would look like from the minute two pink lines appeared on the stick. Would I pop late? Would I pop early? Would it look like a baby bump right away? Or would I just look like I had too much for lunch? Would I be cute preggo? Or would I just be lumpy and awkward? The jury's still out on that one...

Aside from some vicious pregnancy symptoms (nausea, exhaustion, headaches, food aversions), I didn't really start to notice anything physically until around week 13. At that point, my dress slacks - that sit a little higher on my tummy than my jeans - started feeling a little tighter through the middle. I didn't think much of it at that point; simply purchased a belly band and continued on on my merry way.

Then, I popped. Around weeks 14 and 15, the belly became noticeable to me. The belly band became a necessity, as buttoning my dress pants was no longer an option. It no longer looked like I had had too much for lunch. My belly, while still small, was hard and rounded, like I had swallowed a tiny cantaloupe.

And it's only gotten bigger. It really can't be hidden anymore. I am almost 19 weeks, and facing the fact that I look slightly pregnant now. In fact, my husband's very favorite thing as of late has been rubbing my tummy and saying, "Oooh, look at that belly." I guess he thinks it's really funny. Me? Not so much. But hey, there's a baby in there. Not much I can do about it. There is no sucking in anymore. The bump is here to stay. And, truly, as odd as it feels to walk around with a bump where there was never one before, I am so grateful for the this evidence of the little life growing inside of me. I can't be anything but thankful. This bump has been a long and emotional time coming. So, grow little bump, grow!

Week 12. First bump pic. Didn't quite know how to stand or what to do with my hands.

Week 13. Getting over a Thanksgiving cold...See the red nose? Like Rudolph. But at least I figured out the 'pregnant stance.'

Week 14. The bump had really become noticeable  to me at this point...

As had the pregnancy boobs...TMI? Sorry.

Week 15. Feeling much better this week. No more nausea!

Week 16. Wore my first maternity dress to work. It was WAY too big in the tummy, so I belted it and threw a cardigan over it. What can I say? I was excited.

Week 17. First maternity shirt. Rocking one last picture in front of the drooping Christmas tree.

Remind me to do a little something with my hair and make-up in next week's pic. Ugh.

Week 18. A hastily taken bathroom mirror 'selfie' done last night when I realized I had no 18 week photos. And my photog (aka the hubs) wasn't in a 'picture taking' mood.

And there you have it. The 'bump'dates through the current week! Also known as: more pictures of me than you ever needed or wanted to see. Like, ever. But don't worry. From now on,  now that we're all caught up, we'll just go a week at a time. 

Weeks 19 (and possibly some better shots from week 18) to come next week. And the story of how we found out about baby boy. 

Happy Friday!