39 weeks

Pregnancy Highlights:  One week left!! Or more, or less, depending on the Lords plan! So exciting!
 How Far Along: 39 weeks!

Weight: 132lbs

Total Weight Gain: 22lbs.

Stretch Marks: None

Maternity Clothes: Love them! Although my sister gave me a gift card to go shopping after baby for new clothes, and I'm excited for that. :)

Gender:  Girl!

Names: Reese Elizabeth

Movement: I think her movement has amped up! Probably because she's so squished in there. I feel her A LOT.

Sleep: I haven't been as tired this week! My sleep hasn't been great, probably because I've been  anxious. I wake up for a couple of hours at night. Preparing for the baby, I guess!

Exercise: Doing surprisingly well with exercise! I walk the dogs as much as I can, which is about every other day or so, weather permitting. We even walked them in the blizzard yesterday! So much fun!

Symptoms: Braxton hicks and cramping all day every day, but nothing regular enough! I've been quite emotional too. I feel like I have the pre-baby blues! Just when I thought I was going crazy, my sister assured me she had that happen too. Phew!

What I miss: Sleeping on my back!

Cravings: I think I've satisified my Christmas cookies cravings. I can easily turn them down now. But this morning around 3am I woke up NEEDING a cherry icee. Badly. I'll have to wait 'till tomorrow, and I don't care if it's 20 degrees outside, I'm getting one!

Aversions: Nothing!

Things to do: Install the car seat. Have Jake pack his bag for the hospital. Clean the house. Have the baby!

Best Moment this week:  Hearing my little girls heartbeat. It's so great. I can't believe how close I am to meeting her.

Looking Forward To: New Years! It'll be SO fun to be in 2013, the year I have my girl! Unless she comes early, of course. AND my sister, her husband, and her baby are coming in just under two weeks! I'm SO excited to see them!
Belly Pic:

This was 38.5  weeks! Could it be the last official belly pic? If not, I'll definitely be getting a 40 week picture!

38 weeks!

Pregnancy Highlights:  Sorry this is late! As always, I can't believe I'm 38 weeks! It's getting soooo close, and it's crazy knowing Reese can come at any time!
 How Far Along: 38 weeks!

Weight: 132lbs

Total Weight Gain: 22lbs.

Stretch Marks: None

Maternity Clothes: I almost always wear maternity clothes, but this week we were late on laundry so I wore some pre-preg jeans and shirts. They still fit! I was so thrilled. I couldn't button the jeans to save my life, but it was appropriate to wear in public! So proud. :)

Gender:  Girl!

Names: Reese Elizabeth

Movement: Lots of movement! Such a good girl.

Sleep: I've been soooooo tired. I've always heard of people saying the third trimester is just as bad as the first, but I hadn't experienced that until the last few days. Holy moly. It's intense! I could sleep a ton. Sleep at night is still great.

Exercise: I've actually kept active this past week! As many walks as I could force myself to bundle for, and doing squats and lunges and such!

Symptoms: Braxton hicks every day, being sleepy, morning headaches, some overall discomfort at times, but for the most part things are going well! 

What I miss: Not much. :)

Cravings: EVERYTHING SUGARY. It's so, so bad guys. With Christmas here and all the gifts of sugar cookies, I wouldn't be surprised if I gained a billion pounds this week. Why must it be so hard to just say no?

Aversions: Nothing!

Things to do: Install the car seat. Finish packing hospital bag. FIND SOMEONE TO WATCH THE DOGS.

Best Moment this week:  Being 1cm dilated! Not sure how much effaced. My dr also stripped my membranes, which hurt like crap. I love progress though!

Looking Forward To: Christmas and New Years! They are one step closer to meeting our baby! And, as always, meeting this little girl! I am trying so hard to not be impatient.
Belly Pic: No belly pic this week, sorry!

37 weeks!

Pregnancy Highlights:  How did we get to 37 weeks already?? Time is FLYING. My husband and I can NOT believe Reese will be here in 3-4 weeks!! We are SO excited. Still so nervous. But SOOOO excited to meet our little girl.
 How Far Along: 37 weeks!

Weight: 131lbs.

Total Weight Gain: 21lbs. Still right on track!

Stretch Marks: None

Maternity Clothes: All I wear. Comfy cozy!

Gender:  Girl!

Names: Reese Elizabeth

Movement: As always, she is quite the mover! She is getting so strong, some of her movements do hurt or take my breath away. Her little bootie likes to stick up between my ribs sometimes, or she'll jab me with a heel. Sometimes she'll even scrape the heel across my stomach! And since she's dropped and low now, I feel lots of movement very low. It's weird. If I'm sitting in a position that has my belly resting on my thighs (weirdest feeling ever), it's fun feeling her move and hit my thighs. Keep growing, baby girl!

Sleep: Sleep is still going very well. My hips have started hurting again and I've been longing to sleep on my back, but I won't let myself.

Exercise: Exercise? What is that? I've been attacked by the pregnancy migraines the last two weeks (hence not posting last week). It has been AWFUL. But I'm beginning to feel better now and I told my husband he needs to encourage me to bundle up and start walking!

Symptoms: Acid reflux (waking up with vomit in my mouth is the best way to wake up!), hip pain at night, overall discomfort every once in a while, etc. etc. I still feel really good though, besides the headaches!

What I miss: Sleeping on my back/stomach. Can't wait to be able to do that!

Cravings: Twizzlers! Which my husband helped ease by buying me a TWO POUND BAG of them! Don't worry, I've barely even dented the bag. Even though most of the time I don't feel hungry, I eat like a pig. It's very weird and I don't like doing it. At this point I just love to eat!

Aversions: Nothing!

Things to do: Pack my hospital bag. Pre-register at the hospital. Install the car seat. Make sure clothes are well organized. Buy more diapers?

Best Moment this week:  Hearing her heartbeat at yesterdays appointment! After a miscarriage, hearing her little heart is the BEST thing ever. So reassuring. And my sister-in-law had her baby this week! That was great! I got to meet him about 5 minutes after he was born.

Looking Forward To: Christmas and New Years! They are one step closer to meeting our baby!
Belly Pic:

This was last week, at 36 weeks. Reese is no longer measuring behind! I'm 0cm dilated and 40% effaced. I love hearing about progress! Makes those uncomfy checks way more worth it!

35 weeks!

Pregnancy Highlights:  Sorry for the delay, guys! Week 33 my computer was broken, and week 34 I was in Texas! So here I am. week 35. One week away from being full term! Five weeks (roughly) away from meeting my baby girl! Wahoo!
 How Far Along: 35 weeks!

Weight: 130lbs

Total Weight Gain: 20lbs. It didn't hurt as much as I thought it would to see this number! I've also stayed at it for the last two weeks or so. Even if I continue with a pound a week, it will put me right at my 25lb weight gain, which is where my doctor wanted me. My goal all along was 135 or less, so I think I can do it!! 

Stretch Marks: None

Maternity Clothes: My sister sent me a TON of maternity clothes! So that's all I wear now. So comfy!

Gender:  Girl!

Names: Reese Elizabeth

Movement: Lots of movement, as always! This past weekend we had a bit of a scare. I woke up really sick and with a high fever. I noticed Reese's movements were down, too. I quickly emailed my doctor and he said to do kick counts and keep him updated after two hours. Thankfully, Reese decided to wake up! 39 counts in two hours. My doctor was very happy!

Sleep: I feel like something MUST be wrong, because sleep has still been BEYOND GREAT. Everyone always complains about sleep in the last few weeks, and I do feel like I qualify being in the "last few weeks". I know it can change any day, but right now I'm loving all this sleep I'm getting!

Exercise: I've been super sick this week. Exercise has not existed. And it's COLD. And dark. But I NEED to get back in to the habit.

Symptoms: Heartburn up the wazoo, oh my word! Some hip pain (not much), pelvic pain, and now that little Reese has dropped I feel much heavier. I'm really still feeling great though!

What I miss: Nothing!

Cravings: Nothing really. My appetite has felt pretty normal the past few weeks. Although with a super sore throat, I've been loving an ice cream sundae. :)

Aversions: Nothing!

Things to do: We got a dresser! And a bassinet! And more pacifiers! And I've washed most of her clothes and all her bedding. Now it's the little things. Pack my hospital bag. Install the car seat. Put away the rest of her clothes. Train the puppy to sleep out of his crate (that will be fun). Be patient!

Best Moment this week:  Probably finding out Reese has dropped at my doctor appointment! I know it's not a HUGE thing, and it doesn't mean she's coming early or anything like that. But it DOES mean there's progress. And my baby is doing the right thing, as is my body! I LOVE that!

Looking Forward To: Every week that passes. Each day is so precious right now! Filled with such anticipation and excitement! Of course, I'm looking forward to meeting her! And Christmas! And getting our Christmas tree!
Belly Pic:

I am measuring a bit small right now. 33 weeks instead of 35. My doctor is confident it's because Reese has dropped, so I am not worried!

32 weeks

Pregnancy Highlights:  I can NOT believe I'm already 32 weeks. Time is FLYING. Each week I am still so thankful to be progressing, but I'm beginning to feel like the weeks could be a bit longer. I know I may bite my tongue in a few weeks, but for now I'm like.. woa. Slow down there. We don't have much longer!
 How Far Along: 32 weeks!

Weight: 127lbs.

Total Weight Gain: 17lbs.

Stretch Marks: None

Maternity Clothes: I guess kind of whatever I want. Today I'm wearing maternity jeans but a pre-pregnancy shirt. Yesterday I wore regular jeans and a regular shirt. I can fit both, which makes me happy. Usually, though, maternity clothes are more comfortable.

Gender:  Girl!

Names: Reese Elizabeth

Movement: She's been a busy girl lately. Lots of rolling and moving and being in more than two places at once. Jumping jacks? Sure feels like it!

Sleep: Sleep has been wonderful. I woke up with nearly excruciating pain in my hip one night so I just rolled over (once I figured out what it was) and stretched it out and went back to sleep. I wake up feeling SO rested. I am so thankful because I worry sleep is going to get worse soon.

Exercise: Exercise has been better this week! A few walks when the weather has allowed it. I realized I can't walk both dogs at once anymore. They're too crazy together and I end up getting BH. Not a big deal, it's just uncomfortable. I've also been doing squats.

Symptoms: Regular stuff for me; pelvic pain, some hip pain, etc. I'm surprised I haven't been overly tired. Everyone always says the third trimester is just as exhausting as the first. I find it waaaay easier than the first! There may be a day or two where I'm really tired, but if I just keep myself busy I find my energy picks right back up.

What I miss: Not gaining weight. I know I shouldn't complain, but it's like... when will the numbers stop climbing??? I know I have eight weeks left to gain weight, it's just harder to see some weeks than others.

Cravings: Candy! But I haven't given in. Although I've been very close.

Aversions: Nothing!

Things to do: Find a dresser. Wash all her clothes/bedding. Buy more pacifiers, blankets, a changing pad to take places, and waaaaay more diapers. Figure out where she's going to sleep in our room for the first few months. We're seriously considering a padded dresser drawer at this point.

Best Moment this week:  My baby shower! It was GREAT and so much fun. We were blessed with so much stuff! I think I can say Reese really doesn't need anymore newborn clothes! Hopefully she won't grow out of them too quickly. ;) Oh and we LOVED our birthing class. Jake really enjoyed it!

Looking Forward To: My doctor appointment next week! I can't believe I start doing weekly appointments that soon! My birthday next week. Going to Texas in a week and a half (yikes).  Reese being here!
Belly Pic:

My husband and I both agree that Reese had a major growth spurt this week!

31 weeks

Pregnancy Highlights:  My sister had her baby this week! She had a pretty easy labor (as far as they go, I guess) and Paige is beautiful! That's been the big thing this week. It makes me SO excited to have Reese! I am still content to wait 9 more weeks, though. :) I also had my doctor appointment yesterday. It was the first time I didn't get an ultrasound and I was little bummed, but I got over it. Overall things are still looking really good. When they tested my urine they told me I had low keytones (is that the right one? I get it confused with keynotes. Haha) so I needed to be drinking more water. That discouraged me because that's what I've been struggling with this whole pregnancy. They said it's not a big deal, but to be trying to aim for over 64oz during the day, and that has always been my goal. So far today I've already had 32oz and the day isn't even half over, so hopefully I can get back to where I need to be!
 How Far Along: 31 weeks (1 day)

Weight: 126lbs.

Total Weight Gain: 16lbs. Not doing too bad!

Stretch Marks: None

Maternity Clothes: Always maternity shirts, and now that I have another pair of maternity jeans I think I'll probably be living in them for the remainder of the time. Even though I still fit in my pre-preg jeans, maternity jeans are WAY MORE COMFY. 

Gender:  Girl!

Names: Reese Elizabeth!

Movement: Lots and lots. I'm beginning to distinguish her pattern. Ali (my sister) told me to pay attention, because so far her daughter has a very similar pattern outside of the womb as she did inside! Reese also hurt me for the first time this week. It was actually shocking how painful her kick was. It wasn't even in the ribs, just in the side. Since then she's been a good girl though. :)

Sleep: Sleep has been great! The night Ali was in labor I was up from 2:45am until 7am, so that was a pretty long night. But I've been able to get caught back up! My hips still hurt VERY badly sometimes, but I just start stretching them and they calm down.

Exercise: Thanks to hurricane Sandy, we've had four days of rain. So it hasn't been great and it NEEDS to get better.

Symptoms: I've had quite a few braxton hicks this week. I mentioned it to my doctor and he said it was normal, as long as they don't become painful or more intense. I think they've calmed down for now though. I don't like them, they freak me out!

What I miss: Nothing!

Cravings: Nothing much. My stomach gets so full so quickly these days that eating is jut not exciting!

Aversions: Nothing!

Things to do: Lots. Biggest thing is find a dresser! We need a place to put all her clothes! My brother and sister-in-law blessed us with some of their old baby clothes. So exciting!

Best Moment this week:  My sister having her baby! AND finding out Jake has a negative blood type also! No rhogam shots for me! It is SUCH a blessing from the Lord.

Looking Forward To: My baby shower tomorrow! Starting birthing classes on Monday! Going to Texas in 2.5 weeks (although I'm also rather dreading that)! My birthday in just under 2 weeks. November is a busy month!
Belly Pic: 

Oh and by the way, when my doctor measured my uterus he said "perfect!". So I'm assuming I'm right on track. To all the people who say I'm too small... psh! I'm not. So ha. :)

30 weeks! Ten weeks left!

Pregnancy Highlights:  Hitting the 30 week mark feels GOOD! I'm so excited! 10 weeks left! Jake is officially freaking out. Knowing she could potentially be here earlier is almost more than he can handle. I am glad for the 10 weeks. :)
 How Far Along: 30 weeks
 Size of baby:  This little section, to me, is ridiculous. Call it pregnancy hormones, but I hate it. The charts are ALL different. One site said 15.7in long, one site said 17in long! That's a big difference, people! I'm nixing this section next week.

Weight: 124lbs

Total Weight Gain: 14 pounds. I think. The scale was going crazy. At first it said I weighed 120, then 122, then 124, all within thirty seconds. It depends on where I put the scale. So I guess I'll go with the highest number. ;)

Stretch Marks: None

Maternity Clothes: Loving my maternity shirts. I hardly wear anything else now, they're so comfy and I like the way they make my belly look. Still fitting in to both kind of jeans.

Gender:  Girl!

Names: Reese Elizabeth!

Movement: Lots. She's such an active little thing. :)

Sleep: Sleep has been good this week, even with a cold! My hips have still been hurting but I've found a way to stretch them out at night that will ease the comfort enough for me to sleep.

Exercise: Not good. :-/ I came down with a cold and apparently colds + baby are not a good mix because I'm just exhausted. Hoping to get back on track soon though, this is not the time to stop!

Symptoms: A little bit more discomfort than I'm used to, but overall nothing extreme. Few nose bleeds, some pelvic pain, a little back pain. Nothing to complain about!

What I miss: Nothing!

Cravings: Heartburn makes food way less interesting. I still love it. But now I'm forced to limit my intake because I hate heartburn! So no strong cravings. At all.

Aversions: Nothing!

Things to do: The Lord blessed us with a mattress for the crib this week! I'm so excited! Still have lots to do.

Best Moment this week:  Hitting the 30 week mark, obviously. :)

Looking Forward To: My baby shower in just over a week! My next dr. appointment in a week! Getting my hair done in 6 days! Going to Texas for Thanksgiving to see my family.
Belly Pic: 

I feel really small for being 30 weeks, so I am eager to be measured by my doctor next week. I feel her everyday so I'm not really worried. I just want to make sure I'm on track.

29 weeks

Pregnancy Highlights:  I can't believe I only have one week left until I'm in the 30s! That's insane to me. 11 weeks does NOT sound like much time at all!
 How Far Along: 29 weeks
Size of baby:  Oh goodness, I just looked this up and I still can't remember. It ranges so much. Over 2.5lbs and around 15in maybe? Haha.

Weight: 123lbs

Total Weight Gain: 13 pounds. Still no change from last week.

Stretch Marks: None

Maternity Clothes: I can still wear both. I just bought some long sleeve maternity shirts and I plan on buying a few more today. I was planning on buying another pair of jeans, too, but I don't know if I should bother with only 11 weeks left. I still fit my other jeans just fine with the help of a belly band or hair tie. I'm sure eventually they will stop fitting, so maybe when they do I'll just lounge around in Yoga pants. :)

Gender:  Girl!

Names: Reese Elizabeth!

Movement: Lots of movement. I can feel when certain body parts drag across my stomach. I can also see it and watch it. So weird! Jake is still weirded out by it. :)

Sleep: This week started out AWFUL. My hips were hurting sooo badly I could not fall asleep. But the last four days have been Heaven. Wonderful, wonderful sleep! I think my trick may be not falling asleep on the couch beforehand. That always makes me feel achy. When I go to bed without napping on the couch I tend to sleep way better. And the dogs are NOT allowed on the bed during the night anymore. I need my room!

Exercise: It's been good! Walked the doggies and staying active!

Symptoms: Nothing extreme this week. Typical pain, and I think maybe one braxton hicks contraction. I've also been a little crampy, but nothing that has me concerned.

What I miss: Nothing!

Cravings:  Eh.. food is just food again. Nothing special. And I get full way easier, so I have to stop myself before I even feel full or else I will be miserable.

Aversions: Nothing!

Things to do: So much, it's getting overwhelming. We need to find a way to store her clothes (hopefully a dresser), I want to continue to decorate her corner with wall decals and such, Jake wants to paint the room her corner is in. She needs more clothes! Hopefully that'll be resolved after my baby shower though. There's A LOT left to do. It's just finding the money to do it. The Lord will provide!

Best Moment this week:  Being so close to 30 weeks! Feeling her move! My sister-in-law had her baby this week so the Baby Boom has started. Next up is my sister (in two weeks or so), then my other sister-in-law (end of Nov) then me!!! It's going to be so baby crazy.

Looking Forward To: My baby shower in two weeks! Also figuring out my whole RhoGam fiasco. I need RhoGam because I am RH-, so when I went to go buy the shot the other day I was told it was going to cost $110!! Now we never believed having a baby would be cheap, but SERIOUSLY?? So my doctor, who is very understanding, and I are trying to figure out any cheaper alternative. Jake may get his blood drawn to see if he is negative. Or I'll just bite the bullet and get the shot. Who knows!
Belly Pic:

28 weeks!

Pregnancy Highlights:  So I am officially in the third trimester!! Although according to my super smart friend who's going to med school, most OB's count the 27th week as the beginning of the third! Oh well! I'm definitely in it now, and it's so exciting! Home stretch. 12 weeks left. Unbelievable!
 How Far Along: 28 weeks
Size of baby:  Around 14.5inches and just over 2.5pounds, according to babycenter. Every baby is different though, and for some reason I have a hard time thinking my baby is really that big. She's healthy though and that's what matters! As she continues to grow she will really start packing on the pounds!

Weight: 123lbs

Total Weight Gain: 13 pounds. No change from last week, and that is okay with me!

Stretch Marks: None

Maternity Clothes: This week I have worn mostly regular clothes. My maternity jeans are dirty and while doing the laundry yesterday I realized I forgot to put my maternity jeans in the wash! Stupid. So it'll be another week 'till I wear those again. Thankfully my pants are still comfy with the help of a rubber band or a belly band. Makes me pretty proud. :)

Gender:  Girl!

Names: Reese Elizabeth!

Movement: Lots of movement! Last night she did a big kick in something that hurt. It took my breath away and I said out loud, "Reese!" I was sleeping so it was surprising. Poor Jake was terrified for a second. Haha. But it's still mostly fun, wonderful movement. Nothing painful! She hasn't made it to my ribs yet. :)

Sleep: It has been okay this week. My hips have really started hurting, so that's made sleeping hard. If I can get comfortable with a pillow between my legs then I'm set. But if not, it's a pretty long night.

Exercise: It's been good! Walked the doggies and staying active!

Symptoms: Two nose bleeds a day. And I'm talking about SERIOUS I-look-like-I-was-just-beat-up nosebleeds. They make me laugh. I find them hilarious. Pelvic pain, some round ligament pain.

What I miss: Nothing!

Cravings:  Nothing really... my appetite has been pretty normal this week, hallelujah! I've wanted Dr. Pepper a few times but never had any. And I've really been loving milk. But nothing extreme (although don't get me wrong, if someone tempted me with a donut or other type of carb I'd be ALL over it)

Aversions: Nothing!

Things to do: So much, it's getting overwhelming. We need to find a way to store her clothes (hopefully a dresser), I want to continue to decorate her corner with wall decals and such, Jake wants to paint the room her corner is in. She needs more clothes! Hopefully that'll be resolved after my baby shower though. There's A LOT left to do. It's just finding the money to do it. The Lord will provide!

Best Moment this week:  Officially being in the third trimester! I'm kind of dreading the energy level going way down, but so far it hasn't been awful. I have a 16 week old puppy, I need all my energy! I still LOVE feeling her, obviously.

Looking Forward To: My baby shower in three weeks! Also totally random but getting my hair trimmed. My mother-in-law bought me a hair cut/color for my birthday (in a month) and I can't WAIT to get it done. It's been over 8 months since anyone has touched my hair. I will feel so pampered. :)
Belly Pic: 

27 weeks!

Pregnancy Highlights:  This was another "slow" week. I felt like I had been 26 weeks pregnant forever, and that 26 wasn't an exciting number. Now that I'm 27 weeks I feel much further along! Silly, I know. But still!
 How Far Along: 27 weeks
Size of baby:  According to babycenter, she is about 14inches and anywhere between 1.5 - 2.5lbs. I forgot to ask my doctor to take a guess at her weight yesterday. Oh well, not a big deal to me. :)

Weight: 123lbs

Total Weight Gain: It looks like I gained three pounds in one week. But really, I didn't. I weighed myself last Thursday morning and was shocked to see 120, because it was always at 121. By Friday morning I was back to 121. The only number I didn't see this week, much to my dismay, was 122. Just jumped right on past it. But, all in all, from my last dr. appointment to the one yesterday I only gained four pounds. Perfect. Painful for me, but perfect.

Stretch Marks: None

Maternity Clothes: I can comfortably wear both maternity and regular clothes. I usually choose maternity though, unless it's cold then I have to wear older clothes.

Gender:  Girl!

Names: Reese Elizabeth!

Movement: So much movement every day, and I love it! I know, kind of, where she is positioned after my ultrasound, so I am able to find feet a bit easier. This morning I felt a foot and kept poking it, and she kept poking back. It was the BEST way to wake up!

Sleep: It has been bad most days this week, beside the last two. I'm hoping it's not the start of the awful sleep everyone says you'll get. Since the last two nights have been great, I think I'm safe for now.

Exercise: It's been okay this week. We've had one sunny day, so I made sure to walk the dogs that day. I'm making sure to keep active while in the house too.

Symptoms: A couple braxton hicks contractions but less than normal. Some pain in my pelvis, which my doctor was able to describe for me. 

What I miss: I miss my flat stomach this week. I know, it's SO selfish and awful of me, because I am SO grateful for this little girl. And I would rather have a baby bump than a flat stomach! But I'm getting excited about working out after Reese is here. I'm thinking of buying a bikini for next summer and hanging it up as motivation. Ha!

Cravings: I still want to eat everything! Obviously, I don't. But I so wish I could. Right now, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are my fave! I love them and could easily eat them for breakfast, lunch, and dinner!

Aversions: Nothing!

Things to do: So much, it's getting overwhelming. We need to find a way to store her clothes (hopefully a dresser), I want to continue to decorate her corner with wall decals and such, Jake wants to paint the room her corner is in, blah blah blah. I keep freaking out no one will buy us anything for our baby shower and leave us to get other things on our own too, like a breast pump and car seat cover (obviously not a need, but REALLY handy for a Jan. Maine baby!), all those type of things. Just gotta trust in the Lord that He will provide!

Best Moment this week:  Seeing her on the ultrasound! She looks great. She had her head smooshed into my pelvis and refused to move, and she was sitting cross legged. She had one of her hands up on her chin like she was having a serious thought. My doctor showed me her eyes, then her eyelids. We saw her precious heartbeat, of course. Even her tongue! She stuck it out at one point. It looked VERY weird. I loved it!

Looking Forward To: Hitting the third trimester NEXT WEEK! My baby shower in a month! Seeing her in three months. :)
Belly Pic: No belly pic, sorry. I'll get one next week. And my doctor finally explained why he hasn't sent me any ultrasound pictures. His machine is broken. If he were to just take them off like he normally does to email the pics, he'd lose all the pictures. There'd be A LOT of unhappy mamas out there. So, he's figuring out a way to transfer the pics without losing them. Poor guy. He said there were some pregnant women that were very upset. It made me feel bad, and grateful that I had decided to just be patient and not push the matter!

26 weeks!

Pregnancy Highlights:  So the time had been FLYING, up until this week. I'm not sure why. But I feel like 26 weeks?? That's all? I know time really is going by quickly and before I know it Reese will be here. But it's hard to be patient!
 How Far Along: 26 weeks
Size of baby:  According to babycenter, she's about the length of a long (I forget the actual name) cucumber, and weighs between 1.5 - 2 lbs. I'm hoping my dr will be able to take a guess at her weight next week! Although I know it will really only be a guess.

Weight: 120lbs

Total Weight Gain: 10lbs. I don't know how I lost a pound this week. I've been more careful with what I've been eating but I certainly don't think I'm eating too little. I'm not concerned, hopefully my doctor won't be either!

Stretch Marks: None

Maternity Clothes: I can comfortably wear both maternity and regular clothes. I usually choose maternity though, unless it's cold then I have to wear older clothes.

Gender:  GIRL!!!!

Names: Reese Elizabeth!

Movement: Her movements lately have been so weird. Big, rolling movements. She's getting strong enough to wake me up sometimes and it ALWAYS freaks me out. For just a second I think "what's wrong with my stomach??" Then I remember Reese, and I love it. :)

Sleep: I discovered the wonderfulness that is sleeping with a pillow between my legs and under my belly. I had been telling Jake it was getting harder and harder to support my belly on my own, especially when I lay on my side. My doctor said after 26 weeks I should only be laying on my back for no longer than 6 minutes. I was surprised by this, I thought he would have no issues with it. Thankfully I've trained myself long beforehand to sleep on my side, and now it's SO MUCH EASIER with the help of a pillow!

Exercise: It's been BAD this week. Another reason I'm surprised I've lost a pound!

Symptoms: I finally realized I've been having braxton hicks contractions! They do not hurt and I maybe get 1-2 a day, some days I get none at all. But it's still a little unnerving. I know it's my body practicing. But it's just weird. :)

What I miss: I've been missing Baby #1 lately. It's weird to think, with all the holidays coming up, that I could have had a baby with me. But he/she is in Heaven and Reese is on her way and the Lord has plans. I am content. :)

Cravings: I could eat carbs like it's going out of style. But I stop myself. All my real "I would get up and drive to get this" cravings are for things out in CA. I guess I should be happy, but it makes me want to cry when I can't get them. Oh well!

Aversions: Nothing!

Things to do: Last weekend we FINALLY painted her crib and set it up. We also arranged the gifts we've been given in her dresser to free up some closet space. Next big thing is a dresser. 

Best Moment this week:  Same things... just feeling her so much.

Looking Forward To: My doctors appointment next week, of course! And meeting her!
Belly Pic:  No pic of my belly this week, but here's a picture of Reese's corner! (we live in a 1 bedroom apartment so when she starts sleeping in a crib she'll be in a corner of our nicely sized living room)

25 weeks!

Pregnancy Highlights:  I can't believe I'm already at 25 weeks! It's going by SO quickly and I'm loving every moment of it! 15 weeks left!
 How Far Along: 25 weeks
Size of baby:  Appx. 1.5lbs! And around 13inches (says the baby sites. Of course Reese may be totally different.)

Weight: 121lb

Total Weight Gain: 11lbs. I guess if I just keep gaining one pound a week I will be right in my target range when Reese comes! Personally I hope the gain slows down at some point, but for now it's fine. :)

Stretch Marks: None

Maternity Clothes: I'm wearing mostly maternity shirts now, and I found some maternity pants that fit! I am so happy! I can still fit in to my regular jeans, it's just not nearly as comfy. I really need to find long sleeves that work too. It's getting cold!

Gender:  GIRL!!!!

Names: Reese Elizabeth!

Movement: She is an active little girl! I feel her every day! I think I even felt hiccups for the first time this morning, although I'm not sure.

Sleep: It's been pretty decent this week. I woke up for a few hours a couple of nights, but for the most part I wake up feeling well rested.

Exercise: Walking the doggies every day! Climbing up and down our stairs every hour with the puppy. That has to count!

Symptoms: Besides some heartburn, I've been feeling really great!

What I miss: Nothing!

Cravings: Everything. Well, not necessarily a "craving". But I could eat just about everything I see. My sister, who is 33 weeks pregnant, always talks about how she has "no appetite". I wonder if I will ever hit that phase!

Aversions: Nothing!

Things to do: Basically... everything still. Need to paint her crib and set it up but her dad is being a slacker. ;) Really need to find a dresser for her, and set up her section of the room! I am gettin impatient to do it!

Best Moment this week:  All the strangers commenting on my pregnancy! I LOVE looking pregnant! FINALLY!

Looking Forward To: Progressing more and more, of course. And as the weather has gotten cooler and Fall is just about here, it's begining to dawn on me that Reese herself will be here soon! I can't believe it. It's terrifying and wonderful all at the same time. I CAN NOT WAIT to meet her.
Belly Pic: 

 

24 weeks!

Pregnancy Highlights:  Supposedly, 24 weeks is considered the "viability" week. Meaning, if I were to go in to labor and the baby had no choice but to come out, there is a chance the baby could survive. I also heard it means that the doctors won't tell you "sorry, you're losing your baby" but that they will actually try to help it. Obviously it would means months and months in the NICU, but it was an exciting milestone to pass, even though it's a bit worrisome to think about. So I don't think about it!
 How Far Along: 24 weeks
Size of baby:  Two websites seem to differ greatly here. One said baby was around the size/length of an ear of corn. Another said the baby would be around the size/length of a cantaloupe. Those seem SO drastically different than the other! Who knows for sure. I do know my baby is growing, because I sure am!

Weight: 120lb

Total Weight Gain: Finally, for sure, hit the 10lb mark this week. Eh. Whatever. It was a big deal, now it's not. :) One of those pounds is probably the baby, so how can I say no to that? :)

Stretch Marks: None

Maternity Clothes: Thanks to some friends and my awesome sister, I have seven maternity shirts so I mostly wear them now. They are the most comfortable. Jeans.. don't even get me started. XSmall are still way too big. I'd need to grow two more pairs of thighs. So I'm going to just buy some belly bands I think in the right color and use those until further notice. 

Gender:  GIRL!!!!

Names: Reese Elizabeth!

Movement: She is an active little girl! I feel her every day!

Sleep: It's been great!

Exercise: Walking the doggies every day! Climbing up and down our stairs every hour with the puppy. That has to count!

Symptoms: Nothing too bad this week! I think I got my first varicose vein. I wanted to cry, it was so ugly. But it's a small price to pay and I don't want to be one of those girls that complains about something so silly!

What I miss: Nothing!

Cravings: Donuts. But I don't eat them. Maybe once or twice a month. Other than that my appetite has been normal.

Aversions: Nothing!

Things to do: Find a dresser, paint her crib and set it up, find a wall decal!

Best Moment this week:  Feeling her so much. She is such a blessing! The other night I was sitting on the couch and she had some body part pushed hard up against my stomach and I could totally feel it, although I couldn't figure out what it was. It was so sweet KNOWING that was our baby.

Looking Forward To: Progressing more and more! My baby shower has been decided on and the invites have been sent out!

Sorry no pics this week. I emailed my doctor asking about the ultrasound pics but still haven't heard back. Hopefully this video will suffice. :)

23 weeks!

Pregnancy Highlights:  Seeing the baby at the ultrasound today!! Feeling her kick like crazy. Same ol' same ol'. :)
 How Far Along: 23 weeks Size of baby:  My doc guessed roughly 7in from head to rump. He didn't measure her body, although he did measure her head and said she was right on track. I think her head was 6cm from front to back, and 5 (almost 6)cm from side to side. Or, as baby center says, the size of a large mango!

Weight: At home I'm 119. I weigh myself without clothes on. At the doctor I was 121 (with clothes on).

Total Weight Gain: Around 9 - 10lbs, depending on who's scale you're going by. :) My doctor looked at me today though and the first thing he said was "wow, you don't even LOOK pregnant!" so I'm sure the weight is going somewhere appropriate!

Stretch Marks: None

Maternity Clothes: Still wearing normal clothes! Going to look at some maternity jeans tomorrow, but I'm doubting they'll fit seeing as the only thing I don't fit about my jeans anymore is the belly part. We'll see though! I could use more maternity shirts but that's just for comfort, I still fit my normal shirts just fine. 

Gender:  GIRL!!!! We got a great shot at the last appointment. My doctor said he'll never say it's 100% sure, but "it's a girl". :)

Names: Reese Elizabeth!

Movement: Quite a bit. She still has some quiet days, but I've felt her every day. 

Sleep: It's been great!

Exercise: Walking the doggies every day! Climbing up and down our stairs every hour with the puppy. That has to count!

Symptoms: Round ligament pain, which my doctor was able to confirm today which was always a relief (although I wasn't worried).

What I miss: Nothing!

Cravings: Sweets and carbs. Although I can still live without them, so I'm not sure they're really "cravings". I'm not asking my husband to get up at 3 in the morning for anything! 

Aversions: Nothing!

Things to do: Register! My mother-in-law is forcing us too because we scheduled the date for our baby shower! Set up the crib. Buy almost everything. :)

Best Moment this week: Seeing my sweet little girl. She moves so much, the doctor was chasing her around with the ultrasound wand. When we were trying to get a booty shot she kept moving her legs, so I said "Baby! Stay still!" And she did. She's so obedient. :)I loved watching her heart beat. We watched it for a while because my doctor was counting the beats. It was so cool. We got to see her profile for the first time, and she stared right at us for the second time. She's looking more and more human! I can't wait to really see her and hold her and kiss those little cheeks of hers.

Looking Forward To: Registering! Having her crib set up!

22 weeks!

Pregnancy Highlights:  It's been a good week this week! I have had some very interesting a new symptoms which have been fun learning how to deal with. Baby has been very active lately (which is so great, of course). I am SO ready to look pregnant. People keep asking me if the baby is OK, because I'm still so small. I just say "every body is different". But I'm tired of hearing that and also the "Oh I had NO idea you were pregnant!" or "You don't look pregnant at all, be thankful!" or "I was HUGE at 22 weeks!" Thanks everyone. Soon it'll be my turn!
 How Far Along: 22 weeks Size of baby:  11in head to toe, about the size of a spaghetti(?) squash. And just under or around a pound. I am so curious to know how my baby is growing.

Weight: 118lb

Total Weight Gain: Gained 8lbs (7 according to my Dr.s scale). Another week, another pound! I've been eating well this week and I know I haven't gained weight anywhere BUT my belly. So I'm trying to accept the numbers for what they are: proof my baby is growing!

Stretch Marks: None

Maternity Clothes: Still wearing normal clothes. Jeans need a belly band but they try to fall off. I sometimes wear my maternity shirts, but they're still not necessary. I did put on my sweatshirt the other night for the first time all summer, and there was the proof that my belly was bigger! It still fit, but it just fit totally different. I'm going to need a new one before Fall. 

Gender:  GIRL!!!! We think. :)

Names: We have a name picked out, but we're not announcing it until my next ultrasound where hopefully we will get a better view and confirm my doctors "pretty confident" guess of girl! In the meantime I'm busy brainstorming for boy names, one I love just as much as my girl name. That way if we find out it's a boy, I will have a name I love!

Movement: I think I've felt her every day this week. There was one day where she was SO active and high up I could see her movements. It looked so weird and funny! I love it.

Sleep: It's been great still! I get tired around 8:30 every night (again) and finally sleep around 9:30. Then I wake up at 9am (if the puppy lets me) with an hour break in between to get Jake sent off to work. Plenty of sleep for me!

Exercise: Walking the doggies ever day! Climbing up and down our stairs every hour with the puppy. That has to count!

Symptoms: Lots of growing pains still, bloody noses, SUCH BAD LEG CRAMPS, and some other private stuff. I love seeing my body adjust to pregnancy and prepare to deliver the baby!

What I miss: Nothing!

Cravings: Ice cream I guess. But I go without it, treating myself maybe once a week (although it could easily be every day!). Loving bread, as always.

Aversions: Nothing!

Things to do: We had a productive weekend last weekend! We bought a bigger car AND the crib! We are going to paint the crib. Everyone either has white or wood color. I used to LOVE the white, but eeeeveryone has it. So we're going with a really beautiful, gender neutral color! I'll post pics once it's done, but it may take a few weeks. We also just got a ton of stuff from my dad, including the car seat (which I would totally install now if I didn't think it'd make me crazy) and lots of bottles/pacis/bibs/clothes/etc.

Best Moment this week: Feeling and seeing my baby kick so much. 

Looking Forward To: Obviously my Dr. Appointment next week! It's been soooo long. I'm SO glad this is the only time I have five weeks between appointments. I'm looking forward to hopefully knowing the gender "for sure".
Belly Pic:

New car!

So much new stuff going on here! Of course, what do you expect when you're five months pregnant, you moved to this apartment five months ago, Jake started a new job five months ago, AND you just got a new puppy? Lots of changes. :)

Back in 2009 I got my brand new VW Beetle. It was my dream car and I loved it. But sometimes dreams change, and as I have slowly become a wife and a mother, I have sloooowwwlly started toying with the idea of trading in my perfect little car. Back in January Jake and I went to the used car dealership and talked about trading it in for a more family friendly vehicle, but after my miscarriage we basically stopped cold turkey. After finding out that we were pregnant a few months later, we started back up the car search. With winter coming and my belly growing ever bigger, I wanted to find a car sooner rather than later. And this time, I was emotionally ready to trade in my car and buy something that would better suit all of us.

Last week we found the car that we thought would be the car for us. We test drove it and loved it. We prayed about it, and on Wednesday evening went back to go talk about trading in our Beetle for the Highlander. It wasn't there though, it had been taken down to Augusta to be test driven. We were a little sad that we missed out on it, but we didn't regret taking our time thinking and praying about such a huge purchase. The next day we got a phone call saying that the person test driving it didn't want it, and would we still be interested in it? YES!

So this morning we went off and test drove it again, still loving it. Three hours later, the Buggy was traded in for our new (to us) Toyota Highlander. We have been blessed in that we were able to completely pay off the Beetle with the trade, and our new car payments have been reduced significantly. It is so us, and it will fit 2 dogs, 1 stroller, and 1 baby very very well! And of course, Jake is have something that isn't so girly. :)

21 weeks!

Pregnancy Highlights:  It's been another good week of pregnancy! Happy to hit every milestone I get!
How Far Along: 21 weeks

Size of baby:  10.5in head to toe, and about 3/4 of a pound! Amazing. I am going to try soooo hard at my next appointment to ask for specific measurements/weight for my baby. I am so curious!

Weight: 117lb

Total Weight Gain: Gained 7lbs (6 according to my Dr.s scale). I'm happy to have easily maintained my weight this week, after feeling like I just exploded the last couple of weeks! I ate healthier so that must have helped, although I miss my sweets!

Stretch Marks: None

Maternity Clothes: Still wearing normal clothes, jeans with a hair tie in the button hole, and normal shirts. As I begin to look actually pregnant, I don't mind the tighter shirts so much, although I still avoid them if I'm going out in public. But I'm happy to wear them around the house!

Gender:  GIRL!!!! We think. :)

Names: We have a name picked out, but we're not announcing it until my next ultrasound where hopefully we will get a better view and confirm my doctors "pretty confident" guess of girl!

Movement: Feeling her almost every day, although she still has a few quiet days. I don't usually like those days, but she reassures me with a busy day the next day! (As a matter of fact she's kicking right now!)

Sleep: It's been pretty good! I feel like a rock when I get out of bed though. My body feels so heavy! But I usually sleep just like a champ.

Exercise: I'm making sure that if I don't walk the dogs every day, I do something active anyway. Yesterday I cleaned out the car. That involved a lot of squats and lifting, so I'll take it as exercise!

Symptoms: Quite a bit of growing pain this week. Dealing with back pain today. When I go on walks my stomach feels like someone is stretching it, and occasionally I get sharp shooting pains "down there". I'm not worried about them, and am grateful my body is growing along with baby!

What I miss: Nothing!

Cravings: I really wanted Bagel Bites this week, and waited two days before I caved and bought them. Well, Jake bought them because he's such a good husband. They were yummy, although I didn't eat nearly as many as I wanted! Fruit has also been great this week.

Aversions: Nothing!

Things to do: Umm.. everything. Buy crib, find a dresser, get a bigger car, etc etc. We haven't bought her anything yet. I think once we hopefully confirm gender in a few weeks we'll start buying more. 

Best Moment this week: Feeling my body grow. It can be painful but it's such a great reminder! And

Looking Forward To: My doctors appointment in two weeks, of course! And Jake said we might get the crib this weekend!!!

HALFWAY THERE! 20 weeks!

Pregnancy Highlights:  Hitting the halfway mark has been a huge deal to me!!! It's so exciting!
How Far Along: 20 weeks

Size of baby:  According to the books and websites, baby is about 6.5in from head to rump, or 10in from head to toe. I think. About the size of a small cantaloupe or the length of a banana! 

Weight: 117lb

Total Weight Gain: Gained 7lbs.. holy cow! I don't think I gained 3lbs in a week. Actually, I know I didn't. I don't know why I didn't update the numbers last week. It's been hard seeing the scale go up so much the past two weeks, but I remind myself I'm right on track and it's normal. Plus, I ate poorly this past week so that may not help things. Gonna get back on track this week!

Stretch Marks: None

Maternity Clothes: We bought my first maternity shirts this weekend! They are a little big still, and not necessary. But I love them because they are adorable and way more comfortable than the rest of my tight shirts! I'm still able to wear my jeans and shorts.

Gender:  GIRL!!!! We think. :)

Names: We have a name picked out, but we're not announcing it until my next ultrasound where hopefully we will get a better view and confirm my doctors "pretty confident" guess of girl!

Movement: Feeling little kicks and jabs almost every day!Occasionally she has some quiet days, but I don't worry because I know she's still small enough to hide out for sometime. But usually I feel her quite a bit and I LOVE it.

Sleep: Oh I have been SO tired lately. I'm praying it's just from the stressfulness of a new puppy and that the baby is growing. My sis said this would happen around now, so I'm crossing my finger my energy comes back SOON. 

Exercise: It's been hard getting out every day because of the puppy. I still try to go on a walk at least every other day although it should be more often. Once Finnick gets all his shots we'll be good to go, but for now we're playing it safe. Poor Fala.

Symptoms: Sleepiness, and constant hunger. A bad combination! It's no fun having to fight all your "cravings". :(

What I miss: Nothing!

Cravings: Nothing I would classify as cravings. Almost every food sounds good.

Aversions: Nothing I can think of!Seriously, all food is delish at the moment.

Things to do: Umm.. everything. Buy crib, find a dresser, get a bigger car, etc etc. We haven't bought her anything yet. I think once we hopefully confirm gender in a few weeks we'll start buying more. 

Best Moment this week: Hitting the halfway point! And feeling her kicks of course. :)

Looking Forward To: Doctor appointment in 2.5 weeks! Dang August for being such a long month! Five weeks between an appointment is way too long!

Belly Pic:

Finnick!

Remember years and years ago I posted that Jake and I had decided that eventually we were going to get a Golden Retriever? Yeah? No? Well we did. :)

We have been searching for just the right guy for about a year and a half. It's taken FOREVER, but we're so glad we waited. Finnick is a sweetie. We picked him up yesterday and so far, so good. He has always gone potty every time we take him out (although right now we're fighting the fact that he should poop out his lunch, and he doesn't want to), he only cries in the crate for about 2-4 minutes before settling down, and he's a smart boy. He is happy to play on his own or play with us. Fala is "eh" about him. She'll play with him, but only on her terms, and if his puppy teeth get too sharp she jumps on the couch. Fine by me. Belle has gone insane. She won't run away from him, but she won't defend herself. There have been multiple tackles made by Finnick where Belle just ends up flat on her back as he licks her to death. She screams bloody murder; but she won't run, and she won't swat at him. Weird. Also, when he cries in his crate, she sits by him and cries too. REALLY annoying when he keeps barking at her and I can't keep her away!

Finnick grew up outside (sort of) so that has introduced new problems to me that I'm not used to, having only raised for guide dogs before. He already knows and appreciates the benefits of shade, and would rather pull me down the lawn to go pee, then to go pee quickly in the sun and get back to the coolness of our apartment. I'm having a hard time with this. On one side, I do NOT want to let him get away with this. But on the other, how can I blame him? It's freaking hot outside.

We have open stairs leading up to our apartment and he does quite well with them. He mastered walking down them yesterday, and today he has walked up them all on his own every time except once. He gets a little anxious and expresses that by whining. But for such a little guy, who could easily fall through the cracks, he is so brave!

At his 6 week check up, Finnick weighed 12lb 6oz. Big boy!! I've never picked up a GDA puppy over 10lbs before. Now at 7 weeks he is 13lbs. His birthday is June 22nd (a day after my hubs'!) so he will be 8 weeks on Friday.

We are loving this little guy. Sure, he was up every hour last night, but he slept for TWO hours this morning so I got to sleep too which made me happy. It's completely disrupted our regular routine, but it is good for us! With my baby coming in just 5 short months, my main goal is to get his basic commands down reliably, and for him to be sleeping through the night. Oh and obviously potty trained completely. We shouldn't have an issue, but it's going to be a fun five months!

19 weeks!

Pregnancy Highlights:  Sorry for not writing last week! I was busy. This week was great! We had our doctor appointment last week and we are pretty sure (about 75%) we know the gender!
How Far Along: 19 weeks

Size of baby:  About 6 inches, or the size of an heirloom tomato/mango! Also appx. 8oz. Of course I totally forgot to ask my doctor how big my actual baby is, but all looked well!

Weight: 114lb

Total Weight Gain: Gained 4lb.

Stretch Marks: None

Maternity Clothes: None yet! I'm desperate for loser fitting shirts because tight ones are just SO uncomfortable. But I'm not even close to fitting in maternity shirts, so I just have to find shirts in a bigger size. 

Gender:  GIRL!!!! We think. :)

Names: We have a name picked out, but we're not announcing it until my next ultrasound where hopefully we will get a better view and confirm my doctors "pretty confident" guess of girl!

Movement: Feeling little kicks and jabs almost every day! Jake was even able to feel one the other day, it was so much fun!

Sleep: Getting lots and lots of sleep! About 10-12 hours a night. I am sleeping like a ROCK. It takes forever to wake up.

Exercise: Trying to walk a mile or more as often as possible, usually comes out around 5 times a week.

Symptoms: Bad round ligament pain a few days ago, but it's stopped for now. Other than that I feel pretty normal! Just like I swallowed a melon, but that's okay!

What I miss: Nothing!

Cravings: Nothing I would classify as cravings. Almost every food sounds good.

Aversions: Nothing I can think of!

Things to do: Our stroller arrived last week and we loved it! I am hoping to buy a crib in the next week or two. And next week we start buying diapers! I also need to find a little dresser for her. She's getting a lot of clothes now that we know the gender and I have no place for them!

Best Moment this week: Finding out gender, seeing her move soooo much in the ultrasound and knowing she is healthy, and feeling her a lot!

Looking Forward To: This Sunday, for a reason completely unrelated to pregnancy. Stay tuned. :)

Belly Pic:

17 weeks!

Pregnancy Highlights:  Man! Doesn't 17 weeks sound so far along?? And don't even get me started on the fact that that means it's only 3 weeks away from the halfway point! Yikes! It's been a very good week this week!
How Far Along: 17 weeks

Size of baby:  About 5inches, or about the size of a turnip/onion! Not a very lovely comparison this week.

Weight: 112lb

Total Weight Gain: Gained 2lb.

Stretch Marks: None

Maternity Clothes: None yet! I can still fit comfortably in my jeans as long as I have something to hold them up because I don't button them anymore.

Gender:  Who knows!

Names: Eric James for a boy (could still change) and I keep wavering for a girl! I just have no idea. :-/

Movement: Pretty sure I have felt quite a bit, especially today! I think baby was sitting pretty low this morning and I felt like it was constantly shoving against me!

Sleep: Sleep is about the same. If I can stay asleep I'm golden. But if something wakes me up I'm awake for another hour or two. Not fun!

Exercise: Walking a mile every other day, trying to be once a day! But the humidity kicks my butt so on those days I stay inside.

Symptoms: Feeling relatively normal this week, besides feeling like a cow! I swear my belly is so big, I can't believe I've only gained 2lbs.  My husband is amazed by it. Haha. 

What I miss: Nada!

Cravings: No strong cravings, but carbs almost always sound lovely! Although this is not new to just pregnancy.

Aversions: Sugar candy this week! Which is SHOCKING because I loooooove my sugar candy. But it has been giving me headaches so it's been easy to give it up almost cold turkey. 

Things to do: We bought our stroller this week! So that is one thing down! We also have $120 left of the stroller money my dad gave us so we're going to buy a crib hopefully soon! So that's done! YES! Still have everything else left to do.

Best Moment this week: Feeling the baby so much. 

Looking Forward To: BABY APPOINTMENT NEXT WEEK! I am soooo praying we can determine gender! I'll admit, I'll be so sad if we don't! Also looking pregnant instead of just chubby. I've thickened so much but no apparent baby bump! I know it'll happen soon!

Sorry, no pic this week either. I know it's lame, but it's hard to get a picture when you only have one mirror. I may have my hubs take a picture later.

16 weeks!

Pregnancy Highlights:  This has been a good week all around! I had some bad cramping Tuesday night and emailed my doctor. I wasn't that worried but he wanted to see me for an ultrasound just to be on the safe side. So I got to see my baby again! And again, he/she was so shy! Refused to show us the face or the privates! But my cramping has all let up and I'm a happy girl!
How Far Along: 16 weeks

Size of baby:  About 4.5 inches, or the size of an avocado! So happy to know that this belly I have is baby!

Weight: 112! And I haven't seen 111 in a few days so I think it's real weight gain!

Total Weight Gain: Gained 2lb.

Stretch Marks: None

Maternity Clothes: None yet, although today I'm sporting an awesome belly band because my pants don't button anymore.

Gender:  Who knows!

Names: Eric James for a boy (could still change) and Jake finally maybe caved in to one of my all time favorite girl names! Elizabeth. He brought it up randomly the other day. I was SO HAPPY!

Movement: I felt the baby this week! So cute and happy! I feel like I could still be feeling him/her every once in a while, but that popcorn feeling could really be anything! So I have no idea how to distinguish what is really the baby.

Sleep: Sleep this week has been a bit harder to come by. My stomach feels so heavy and like it's constantly stretching if I'm on my side, so I flip around a lot. This morning I finally got GOOD sleep and that made me happy.

Exercise: Besides the day or two of cramping I've had, I've still be walking!

Symptoms: Some growing pains, and hungry! Never feeling full.

What I miss: Nada!

Cravings: Nothing really. Pretty much any food sounds good to me!

Aversions: Hmm.. not much.

Things to do: EVERYTHING. Jake and I agreed that once I hit week 20, we'll start buying diapers every week to try and stock up, but I may start sooner. I am eager to BUY BUY BUY!

Best Moment this week:  Seeing the baby and hearing the heartbeat that they could find on the doppler! And feeling the baby! It was a good week!

Looking Forward To: My next OB appointment in two weeks! And feeling the baby more and more! And basically everything that has to do with this baby!

15 weeks!

Pregnancy Highlights:  This has been another great week! I'm still just on cloud 9 from my ultrasound last week, AND I finally got the pictures! Baby is so cute. :) 
How Far Along: 15 weeks

Size of baby:  About 4 inches, or the size of an apple! Baby sure is growing!

Weight: 111.5lb

Total Weight Gain: Gained 1lb.

Stretch Marks: None

Maternity Clothes: None yet, although when it's cool enough to wear jeans I have to put a rubber band through the button hole so they fit more comfortably.

Gender:  Just for fun Jake and I tried one of those silly gender tests the other day. I strung a piece of my hair through my wedding ring then held it over my tummy. It went side to side. I have heard that that means a boy and I've heard that means it's a girl! I guess someone will be right. ;)

Names: Eric James for a boy (could still change) and Jake finally maybe caved in to one of my all time favorite girl names! Elizabeth. He brought it up randomly the other day. I was SO HAPPY!

Movement: Patiently waiting. :)

Sleep: I've been sleeping like a rock! I don't even realize how tired I am until I get in bed and I crash. I still sleep for about 11 hours and it's lovely. 

Exercise: I've slacked off a bit this week with my yoga, I've only done it once this week. BUT I've walked a mile every day. So that's good!

Symptoms: Lots of growing pains. Very emotional; when I'm happy I am HAPPY. When I'm sad/mad... watch out.

What I miss: With the warm summer here, I'm missing enjoying some yummy alcoholic drinks. But it's such an easy sacrifice to make because I never had that much to drink anyway.

Cravings: I have been LOVING a piece of toasted bread with peanut butter on it. I tried it for the first time this week and it was SO GOOD. I'm also enjoying fruits, and steamed veggies are making a comeback! And RICE! Chicken flavored rice. Or Spanish Rice. I could eat it forever. 

Aversions: Going out to eat. It just sounds so heavy. :-/ 

Things to do: EVERYTHING. Jake and I agreed that once I hit week 20, we'll start buying diapers every week to try and stock up, but I may start sooner. I am eager to BUY BUY BUY!

Best Moment this week:  Just passing more milestones! And getting the baby pictures! I can NOT wait to find out what this baby is! My sister-in-law found out this past week that she's having a boy and it's making me so impatient! She's 5 weeks further ahead.

Looking Forward To: My next appointment three weeks from today!! I'm not sure if we'll do an ultrasound, but I hope we do so that we can try to see what the wee one is! I am desperate for this baby to have a name so I can stop calling it an "it"!

Here's some baby pictures!

Belly Pic:

14 weeks!

Pregnancy Highlights:  This has been a GREAT week! We had our first OB appointment and it went SO well, despite me being a nervous wreck. We even got an ultrasound and saw the baby moving all over! My doctor emails the pics instead of prints them out, and I am SO impatient to get them! Our baby was so cute!
How Far Along: 14 weeks

Size of baby:  I think three and a half inches? We meant to ask our OB during the ultrasound, but we were too distracted by the baby. ;) The size of a lemon! 

Weight: 111lb still. Doctor said that was a healthy weight to start out as. 

Total Weight Gain: Gained 1lb.

Stretch Marks: None

Maternity Clothes: None yet, although when it's cool enough to wear jeans I have to put a rubber band through the button hole so they fit more comfortably.

Gender:  Well if I were to believe the wives tales, according to the heartbeat we saw (160bpm) we're having a girl. But I honestly don't know at all. :) I can't wait to find out though! 

Names: Eric James for a boy (could still change) and zero idea on a girls name.

Movement: Still waiting to feel it! Doctor said it should be in the next couple of weeks!

Sleep: Sleep has been great! Except for when my husband forgets to set his alarm and the next morning I keep waking up worrying that we'll miss his alarm again.

Exercise: I've kept up with my prenatal yoga, five times a week. I also started walking 1 mile a day. Hopefully I can keep up with it! 

Symptoms: I am the bottomless pit. If I wanted to (which I do, I just don't) I could eat forever.

What I miss: Nothing really.

Cravings: Cold fruits, but our grocery budget this week was seriously lame and we couldn't afford any. I can't wait for next week! Also I finally got my fill of deli meats. My doc said of course I can eat them!

Aversions: Nothing I can think of right now.

Things to do: EVERYTHING. Jake and I agreed that once I hit week 20, we'll start buying diapers every week to try and stock up.

Best Moment this week:  SEEING MY BABY! The doctor pointed out the flutter of the heart to me and I was SO excited to be able to see it! Knowing my baby is safe and sound! And knowing it's only 4 weeks away 'till I get to see him/her again!

Looking Forward To: Rascal Flatts concert tomorrow! Hahaha. And just moving right along in this pregnancy!

Belly Pic: I've decided not to do one every week. I was hoping I'd have a baby picture to share, but still nothing from the doctor! When I get it I'll try to post it. :)

13 weeks!

Pregnancy Highlights:  This has been a good week! Part of me has felt like my symptoms have come back full force, but I've still had the energy to deal with it!
How Far Along: 13 weeks

Size of baby:  Right around 3inches, the size of a peach! One website compares it to a medium shrimp, and I think that's just disgusting. I'll take a peach, please!

Weight: 111still!

Total Weight Gain: Gained 1lb.

Stretch Marks: None

Maternity Clothes: None yet!

Genders:  Lately I have NO idea what I think it may be! I go back and forth all the time!

Names: Eric James for a boy (could still change) and no idea on a girls name. I tossed around the name Wren Elizabeth to my husband, but he was very "eh" about it. I like it cause it's unique.

Movement: Still haven't felt any, and I'm tired of people saying "oh I felt my first baby then!" I'm just trying to be patient. Plus I'm pretty sure my uterus is pointed the wrong way, which could also say why I'm not feeling anything yet. Either way, I'm not worried. :)

Sleep: Ahhh, glorious sleep. Lots of it, but still feel like I can't get quite enough. When I do wake up to pee I feel like I'm mostly sleep walking to the bathroom, which is lovely as it makes a quick trip back to sleep! I have had a few weird dreams that wake me up all upset though.

Exercise: This rainy week hasn't been great, so I started up prenatal yoga! I know it's not exactly strenuous or anything, but it's a good 45 minutes off the couch!

Symptoms: Being constantly hungry (refuse to just ALWAYS eat though), some stretching pains seem to be more dominant this week, and I've broken out like a teenager again!

What I miss: Nothing really.

Cravings: Guess what I finally found at the grocery store this week? Cantaloupe! Wahoo! I bought this adorable little one and devoured it in one evening and one morning, and I may go buy another today. SO GOOD. I'm also loving eggs lately! And grapes!!

Aversions: Carrots. Yuck.

Things to do: EVERYTHING.

Best Moment this week: Hmm.. it's been an emotional week for me. No real reason, probably everything has just been amplified because of the wee one. But every day that goes by well, I'm a happy girl!

Looking Forward To: Seeing my doctor on Tuesday! Finally it's almost here!

Belly Pic:Ignore the smudge on my mirror. Haha. I feel like I am HUGE this week, which is surprising seeing as I haven't gained a pound. Maybe there really is a baby in there after all? ;)

12 weeks!

Pregnancy Highlights:  So far, finding out I was pregnant has been a big one! Seeing the baby and hearing the heartbeat for the first time!
How Far Along: 12 weeks!

Size of baby:  I'm getting conflicting info here. One website says baby is 2 inches long, the size of a lime. Another says around 2.5in long, about the size of a plum. I know every baby measures differently, but I'm going to stick with a plum for this week! 

Weight: 111 today. Don't know if that's from the baby or just from bad eating habits.

Total Weight Gain: Gained 1lb.

Stretch Marks: None

Maternity Clothes: None yet!

Genders:  My gut tells me boy, but who knows!

Names: Eric (James?) for a boy, and no idea on a girls name. Maybe Shannon? It's way harder than a boys!

Movement: Well of course I haven't felt any, but we did see the little baby wiggle away at the ultrasound!Also this week it says baby is developing reflexes, so if I push on my belly the baby can wiggle away from it. So cute!

Sleep: Sleep has been ideal, and I'm learning how to manage my water intake so that I'm not up all night. I'm getting my energy back and it feels weird being able to stay awake until 10pm!

Exercise: It's been HOT and rainy this week but we've still managed in a few hikes.

Symptoms: Being constantly hungry (refuse to just ALWAYS eat though), yucky veins making themselves known, and some regular stretching pains.

What I miss: Nothing much, I like being pregnant.I do miss eating cold meat sandwiches. I'm so hoping my doctor will say it's okay!

Cravings: Cantaloupe. But I don't even know if it's cantaloupe season, and seeing as no grocery stores are selling it, I have to assume it's not. Sugar is also a big one right now, but I'm doing my best to limit it. AND MEAT! Hamburger every night would be fine with me!

Aversions: Veggies sound disgusting, but I'm doing my best to eat them anyway.

Things to do: EVERYTHING.My dad and his wife just had a baby not too long ago and they told us today they will give us a lot of stuff; car seat, bouncer thing, baby bjorn holder, bottles, pacis, everything! They had a little girl, but I'll take it anyway! If we end up with a boy I'm sure he will just be oozing masculinity, and wearing girly things (probably in the privacy of his own home) won't harm him. :)

Best Moment this week: Hitting the 12 week mark. I'm not sure why it's such a big thing though, I'm not in my second trimester 'till next week. But everyone says it's a big deal, so I'm celebrating! 

Looking Forward To: Seeing my doctor in a week and a half!


Belly Pic:

Not sure if that's a tiny baby bump or just my lunch. I'll go with a little baby bump though, why not?? :)

11 weeks!

Pregnancy Highlights:  So far, finding out I was pregnant has been a big one! Seeing the baby and hearing the heartbeat for the first time!
How Far Along: 11 weeks

Size of baby:  About 1 1/2 inches long, about the size of a lime! Growing so quickly!

Weight: 109 (STILL! I'm waiting for the gaining to start, pretty sure it will soon)

Total Weight Gain: Lost 1 pound

Stretch Marks: None

Maternity Clothes: None yet!

Genders:  My gut tells me boy, but who knows!

Names: Eric (James?) for a boy, and no idea on a girls name. Maybe Shannon? It's way harder than a boys!

Movement: Well of course I haven't felt any, but we did see the little baby wiggle away at the ultrasound!

Sleep: Sleep has still been great, although this week, even if I stop drinking water around 7pm, I'm still up 2-3 times a night to go to the bathroom. I think it's ridiculous, especially since this is a new symptom!

Exercise: Went on a few walks and hikes with the dog and the hubs this week! Felt good!

Symptoms: Eating and never getting full (I think this terrifies my husband), sleepy still around 9pm, sore, some cramping/stretching.

What I miss: Nothing much, I like being pregnant.I do miss eating cold meat sandwiches. I'm so hoping my doctor will say it's okay!

Cravings: This rice dish my sister-in-law made the other day. I couldn't stop saying "This is SO good" when I was eating it; it was almost embarrassing! Definitely going on the menu this week! Other than that, really not much.

Aversions: Anything fried; yuck.

Things to do: EVERYTHING. We've decided to stay at this apartment for the next year, unless the Lord has other plans. AND we put a baby seat in our car and it fits! It'll be tight, but we'll be able to make it work 'till we can pay it off and buy a new one!

Best Moment this week: FINALLY getting a hold of my doctor and scheduling my first appointment in two weeks!

Looking Forward To: Being 12 weeks on Thursday! It's going by so quickly! I've also been anxious to find out the gender, particularly cause my sister is planning her baby shower and choosing themes/colors so it's hard for me to be patient! I'm also excited for my doctor appointment in 2 weeks, I'm still nervous things aren't as they should be!

Belly Pic:  No pic this week, too busy (seeing as I posted this four days late). Sorry!

10 weeks!

I've seen a lot of women do these things on their blogs and have always wanted to do it with my baby too! As I get further along I may add/delete some as I see fit, but for now I'll stick with these!

Pregnancy Highlights:  Seeing the baby and hearing the heartbeat for the first time, for sure!!!
How Far Along: 10 weeks

Size of baby:  1 1/4 inch, about 1/4 of an ounce in weight. :) Tiny baby. Or the size of a kumquat/prune!

Weight: 109

Total Weight Gain: Lost 1 pound

Stretch Marks: None

Maternity Clothes: None yet!

Genders:  My gut tells me boy, but who knows!

Names: Eric (something) for a boy, and no idea on a girls name. It's way harder than a boys!

Movement: Well of course I haven't felt any, but we did see the little baby wiggle away at the ultrasound!

Sleep: It's been awesome. I get about 10-12 hours a night. :-D Loving it while it lasts!

Exercise: Not good during this rainy week. Walked Fala a few times, and cleaned the house and did dishes... does that count?

Symptoms: Some nausea the past few days although today I finally have my appetite back, very sleepy all the time, still sore up top, and noooooo energy.

What I miss: Nothing much, I like being pregnant. But I'm excited for my energy to come back, hopefully in a few weeks!

Cravings: Taco bell taco. Just the regular one. I want it so badly. And cheese and potato soup. Oh and saltines dipped in ginger ale. So good!

Aversions: It changes all the time. Nothing in particular at the moment I guess! 

Things to do: EVERYTHING. Determine whether or not to move to a bigger place, buy a bigger car, and buy everything!

Best Moment this week: Seeing the baby, hearing the heartbeat, and getting past the 9 week mark! 

Looking Forward To: Being out of the 1st trimester in just a few weeks!! And hopefully scheduling my first doctors appointment soon!

Belly Pic: