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: