Let's talk Details!

How far along: 17 weeks/ 2 days

Total weight gain: + 7-10 pounds (up 1 pound from last week!)

Maternity Clothes: STILL wearing bella bands over my existing pants, which are totally unzipped. Eeeek! My Ann Taylor LOFT maternity pants have become a twice-weekly favorite... NEED more maternity pants ASAP! Still doing OK with regular tops and sweaters.

Stretch marks? Nope

Main symptoms: My co-worker shrieked this week that I "popped." Not sure if I have, but my belly is getting more noticeable. Having WEIRD dreams. Still pretty forgetful. Bouts of being emotional. Hair and nails growing very fast, strong.

Exercise: Barre Technique class with weights and leg lifts on Thursday! Prenatal yoga on Sunday.

Best moment of the week: Hearing Lima Bean's heartbeat at our doctor's appointment yesterday! It was strong and loud and made us proud!

Movement: Maybe, but not sure. Have felt weird feelings in my tummy that remind me of being on a roller coaster...

Food cravings: Still frozen yogurt and ice cream. And almonds. Apple sauce. Cereal. Rice with tomato sauce. Have I mentioned frozen yogurt?

Gender: We find out on APRIL 15th! So get your vote in early... :-)

Labor signs: None.

Belly button in or out? Still in.

What I miss: Running hard and racing in races. Passed on running in the National Half Marathon last weekend and was sad to miss the fun, especially since my friend Judes came down from Boston to run the race with me!

What I am looking forward to: Finding out if Lima Bean is a boy or a girl!

Weekly wisdom: Discovered The Breastfeeding Center for Greater Washington, which offers FREE breastfeeding classes to expecting moms!

Milestones: Sent in our check and registration form to sign up for the July 12 Childbirth Education class at Sibley Hospital!

17 Weeks down ... Only 23 to go!

Yesterday marked the passing of Week 17, which, as you all know, we at Growing Lima Bean traditionally mark with a fruit or vegetable of some sort.

This week, it's the onion:

I'm sure you all are glad now that Lima Bean didn't get stuck with a nickname like "Onion." Although that might have brought tears to your eyes...

This diagram (below) might be more helpful in showing you what the onion-sized Lima Bean looks like inside my belly right now:

So, what happened in Lima Bean's world over the last week? What's coming up?

This past week, Lima Bean began his or her lifelong relationship with our favorite friend and foe: FAT. Yup, this is the week that Bean starts to add some FAT to his or her bones. This will make Bean rounder and cuter, so we support this kind of FAT. And it's not like Bean will put on a LOT of fat. When Bean is born, fat will account for just 2-6 percent of his or her total body weight. This will help keep little Lima Bean warm both inside my belly and outside in the cold, harsh world.

Also in this week, we are reminded that Bean can by now FEEL and HEAR. So rubbing my belly is recommended (not by strangers, though!) and playing music is also suggested.

And, finally, in the upcoming 18th Week, some really amazing things are going on. From WebMD, here is a description of what we have to look forward to this week!

It can yawn, stretch and make facial expressions, even frown. Taste buds are beginning to develop and can distinguish sweet from bitter tastes. The baby will suck if its lips are stroked and it can swallow, and even get the hiccups. The retinas have become sensitive to light, so if a bright light is shined on your abdomen, baby will probably move to shield its eyes.

Awwww... Bean is yawning and maybe even smiling! And hiccuping! Wow...