To celebrate hitting the 17-week mark, I signed Geoff and I up for some classes at the hospital where we are planning to have the baby. We signed up for “Labor, Birth and Beyond,” “Bringing Baby Home,” “Breastfeeding Your Baby – The Basics” and “Breastfeeding Your Baby – Beyond the Basics.” The only one I wanted to take but couldn’t get into was the Infant CPR and Safety class (it was full). Hopefully they will add more dates soon. The classes are spread out in August, September and October, so I’ll post about each one as we go.

I forgot to mention in my last post that when we listened to the heartbeat at the doctor’s office it was in the upper 150s, which (if you believe in these things) means that the baby might be a girl! Four weeks until we can find out for sure, so don’t forget to let us know which one you think it will be using the poll in the sidebar!

I am also very excited to announce that I definitely felt the baby move (and yes, that was it moving around last time)! We went to a choir concert and I was so tired out that I basically sank into the chair and let my entire body relax to the music… and all of a sudden I realized I could feel the baby. It moved around quite a bit for the first half of the concert, but after I got up and walked around during intermission I didn’t feel it again. I think the key for me to feel him/her is to be completely and totally relaxed. It is also very light/faint right now, but I’m assuming that will get stronger as the baby grows.

For those of you who know me well, you’ll know that one of my guilty pleasures is watching The Bachelor/Bachelorette. Every week my sister and I will make dinner and watch the show together and we have so much fun together. I’m calling it right now – Brooks is totally going be the last man standing.

Apparently this has been around for awhile, but I had to share it since it is so adorable and awesome: Baby Bachelor. You can’t help but smile watching it! What do you think – will Wesley choose Jessi or Gabrielle?

This week according to What to Expect:

Your baby is practicing sucking and swallowing as she gets ready for the real thing: a breast or bottle! As for Mom, you may be warding off some unwanted belly touching.

Your Baby in Week 17 of Pregnancy

My how your baby has grown! She’s about the size of your palm, weighs about five ounces, and is developing some body fat (join the club, baby!). Her heart is now regulated by her brain (no more random beats) to beat 140 to 150 times per minute — about twice as fast as yours! What else is up? She’s practicing the survival skills she’ll need at birth — like sucking and swallowing.

Your Body in Week 17 of Pregnancy

Now that you’re starting to show, chances are that friends, coworkers, and even strangers may feel the urge to reach out and touch your belly. If you don’t mind, that’s fine. But if you do, speak up kindly but firmly. More new developments with your body: a greater sensitivity to allergens these days and the appetite of a truck driver now that the queasy feeling is (probably) gone.

WIAW Weekly Recipe: Grilled Ham and Havarti Sandwiches

Courtesy of Weight Watchers Online

This is a super easy grilled cheese sandwich that tastes gourmet! So delicious, but we have made a few variations since the first time we made these: I don’t care for mustard, so I leave that off, but Geoff loves it on his. We also swap the rye bread for whatever looks the best at the bakery (usually some sort of french or focaccia bread). The onion really adds to the overall flavor of the sandwich, but if you do one or two thin slices it helps to not overpower it.

Ingredients
4 tsp stone ground mustard
2 tsp Dijon mustard
8 slices reduced-calorie rye bread
8 oz cooked lean ham, sliced
2 oz Havarti cheese (4 slices)
4 slices fresh tomatoes, 1/2 inch thick
4 thick slices uncooked red onion
Cooking spray

Instructions
Step 1: Combine stone-ground and Dijon mustards. Spread mustard mixture evenly onto each of 4 bread slices. Top each evenly with ham, cheese, tomato and red onion. Cover with remaining 4 bread slices.
Step 2: Place a large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray over medium-high heat. Add 2 sandwiches to pan; cook 4 minutes on each side or until lightly browned. Repeat procedure with remaining 2 sandwiches. Serve immediately.

Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 1 sandwich).