--------------------------------------------------->>>>

See that----->
That is my goal for the New Year. I want to read 50 books in the new year. That is a lot...more than I have ever read really. But with the help of my Kindle I want to do it. Anyone want to join? The more the merrier :)

Bueller? Bueller?

Now I just need to finish the book I am on...

Viability!

Today we have reached Viability, which means our little one has good chance of living outside the womb...of course we still have quite bit of baking to do, and I prefer that would happen in the womb.

Baby's now the size of a papaya!
Baby's skin is becoming more opaque as the fat starts to pack on. And, thanks to the formation of small capillaries, her newly thick skin is taking on a fresh pink glow.

How far along? 24 weeks
Total weight gain:As of 1 week ago, up 10
Maternity clothes? All pants and most of the time shirts
Sleep:A good night's sleep is defined by how easily I go back to sleep after I wake up
Best moment this week: Spending time with family
Movement:Yes, but she is currently sleeping
Gender:Team Pink!
Belly Button in or out? Half and Half
What I miss: Good sleep
What I am looking forward to:My next sono in 7 weeks
Weekly Wisdom: Take it easy.
Milestones: Baby is 1.5 lbs :)

My christmas gift.

I have found my love. I wasn't even expecting it, I didn't ask for it. I have wanted it for years. Now I need to finish this pesky hardcover book so that my love affair can begin..and my sex life dwindle accordingly. And here I thought my mom was getting me a diaper bag....
It is something I would have never bought myself because I would feel too guilty, and she knew it. That is why I love my momma.

Merry Christmas!

Last year at this time, we were trying to have our first baby. This year, we are over half-baked with our little girl. I don't know what could be a better present.
Thank you Lord.

For those that didn't have a great year, I am praying for you. Hang in there. 2010 is bound to be better.

Much Love to everyone who reads this.

Guilt

I just spent too much money on clothes for my unborn child. That is all. I feel guilty and I need to get it out.

But it was Baby Gap.

23 down 17 to go

Baby's now the size of a papaya!
Baby's little face is fully formed...minus the baby fat, of course. The next task at hand for baby: sprouting two teeny-tiny nipples!

How far along? 23 weeks
Total weight gain:Up 10 :) Right on pace
Maternity clothes? Pants. Most Shirts...unless I want a little belly hanging out j/k
Sleep:I get really tired, but wake up a lot
Best moment this week:Getting all my appts set up at the dr.
Movement:More and more. She kicked the doppler yesterday
Gender:Team Pink!
Belly Button in or out? On its way out...kinda weird looking
What I miss: Not worrying about what I am eating
What I am looking forward to: Christmas...Giving Dan his gift
Weekly Wisdom: Grandma's have no concept of how much weight you should gain
Milestones:We have nipples!!

Wow, the face fully forming made me wonder what traits our baby got from each of us... That is so exciting. Time is flying by.

We have some nursery progress. We ordered our dresser/changing table last night. It is built upon order so it is 10-12 weeks out, so I am glad we got it ordered. I am getting the paint after work. We will actually start the nursery in the new year, and that is when Dan will start on the crib, once he gets the crop out!

She is kicking quite a bit more. I find it funny. I started calling her Kickin Wing :) I cannot believe how fast time is going. My mom met my other doctor at the hospital last night and he said how nice I was and that I was doing everything right :) That makes me feel good. I really hope I get him for delivery because I like him better than the female doctor. Even though, when it comes down to it, I don't care.

Appt. This morning

Everything went well. I had coffee this morning, and she was moving around so much that they couldn't get a steady heartrate. Also, she kept kicking the doppler, which was very funny. I told the nurse that I felt like the baby was sitting down low, based on my kicks, and she said I will probably carry low the further I get along. My weight gain is right on track. I have gained 10 lbs so far. Considering the holidays, I am proud of that. I was concerned because my grandma asked me if they had talked to me about my weight...I was like, well, not specifically, but they do weigh me every time. I don't know if she thinks I have gained too much or too little, but I was glad to be right on track.
I got to set three appts today! That shows how fast time is going. I set my next 4 week appt, which is just a boring one. Then, I start my 2 week appts. First, I go for a Rhogam (ugh!) and glucose test. Then 2 weeks after that I go for my last ultrasound...I will be almost 32 weeks by then!
That is crazy. Time is flying!

Score.

I just got the car seat I wanting in the style I wanted for 48% off!!!
It was orignally $159.99 and I got it for $82.02. It was too good to pass up!
Here it is (The Graco Snugride in Sachi)
I thought about the snugride 32..plus let's face it....that is just more for me to lug around. But I think I will just get a front facing car seat since I will hopefully have another kid soon after.

My Grinch Belly

For your Entertainment...

Since I am not getting any work done...

I changed the background on my blog and made a new header...What do you think?

Christmas this year At the Fitz house.

So I have been majorly slacking this year...for some reason that doesn't even bother me...
Anyway, here is some of our decoration for the season..
This is my main tree. Usually I do two real trees, one themed and one like this, with all our family ornaments on it.
This is a little 4.5 foot tree that goes in the kitchen, It has cookie cutters, sugar cookie like ornaments, kitchen utensils, and the like.

This is our staircase. It just now occured to me that this would all look a lot better if the lights were on...the garland is lighted.
Thsi is my stuffed animals( The moose is from when I was a little girl) and Christmas books. I may do something different with that sled next year because I love it so much. It was my moms sled when she was little, I don't think that this does it justice.

Well i hope you enjoyed some of my Christmas Decorations. Next year, they will be much much better.

Baby on the Brain...

My Pillow Sham came in yesterday...I love it! I am going to color match the tan and the taupe for the walls. One wall will be taupe and the other three tan I think. We have textured walls so I probably won't be doing any crazy painting.

This is what our baby is going to give Dan for Christmas..For right now, we are sticking with the name Kate so Dan calls her "Kate-rpillar" So I made this onesie at inktastic.com. I am going to embellish it with ribbon and such a bit.
And a close up
And lastly, this is the afghan I am working on for my little girl..it is in a half circle because I was halfway through a row on circulars.... It will be just a plain rectangle blanket...So far I am having fun with the variety and I love it!

22 weeks :)

Baby's now the size of a papaya!
Baby's settling into sleep cycles, snoozing about 12 to 14 hours a day. It shouldn't be hard to figure out when -- just pay attention to those kicks as they start and stop.

How far along? 22 weeks
Total weight gain:Three weeks ago up 8...we could call it 11 on the optimistic side
Maternity clothes? Pants. Some Shirts.
Sleep:I probably wake up 4 times a night.
Best moment this week: Getting part of my bedding in.
Movement:More and more.
Gender:Team Pink!
Belly Button in or out? In. Starting to come out!
What I miss: Wine
What I am looking forward to: Viability!
Weekly Wisdom: Time is flying by!
Milestones: Baby is 1 pound!

Good Mood

I don't know why...but I am in a good mood. My complexion has calmed down and evened out more. I go to sleep to kicks and usually get some kicks after breakfast, and throughout the day. Dan can feel them more. I am getting my pillow of my bedding set in this week...which it is just a pillow, but now I can color match and such, and it means we are finally starting to prepare. I am really starting to enjoy this pregnancy and it helps that it is the holiday season and I got to buy gifts for people (heaven help the credit card bill).
My bedding: (sorry its so big)

Have a wonderful Monday!

1st Tri Symptoms

I feel like the 1st tri symptoms have struck once again.
Nausea-Check
Constipation-Check
Exhaustion-Check (could be the weather)

What? I am 21 weeks along!
But I have a kicking baby to keep me happy :)

21 Weeks...the downhill slope begins!

Baby's now the size of a banana!
Baby's digestive system is busy creating meconium (a tarry black substance made of swallowed amniotic fluid, digestive secretion, and dead cells), which will fill the first diaper after birth. And, if baby is a girl, her womb is now stocked up with her lifetime supply of six million eggs (the number will drop to around one million by birth).

How far along? 21 weeks. 19 to go.
Total weight gain:Two weeks ago up 8...we could call it 10 on the optimistic side
Maternity clothes? Pants. Some Shirts.
Sleep:I probably wake up 4 times a night.
Best moment this week: Getting a big kick in the gut, and ordering baby clothes
Movement:Love it!
Gender:Girly Girl
Belly Button in or out? In. But getting shallow :/
What I miss: Not being nauseous
What I am looking forward to: More movement
Weekly Wisdom: 21 weeks is not too late for nausea
Milestones: Hmm...3 more weeks until Viability!

Just another Manic Monday.

We got our first snow this morning. Luckily for me, when I got home last night from my neice's Christmas concert, Dan had cleaned out one garage stall so that I could park inside. That's why I love him :)
Baby is a lot more active. The kicks are still low, which makes me think she is still standing on my bladder. I wish she would flip and stay there.
At home, Dan has been working or farming every day/night so I haven't seen him too much. I wish he was home more often. I know in like 10 days, he will be home more, when these projects get weaned down and farming is done.
Let me repeat that: We have snow on the ground and we are still farming. What a depressing year for farmers...
It is good I don't have much going on today, which is good because I don't feel very productive.

Halfway there..

My baby is half baked today. I can't believe that I am this far, yet I have been waiting since my first BFP in January to feel the kicks and have the belly, and know the gender. I still can't believe it.
We have decided on the bedding. Dan has yet to start on the crib. I am working on the registry. I bought my first decidedly girl clothes on the internet yesterday.
I am starting to embrace the last 4.5 months of it being just me and Dan. Our last Christmas together. I was thinking about this because we do a lot of driving around the holidays. And I know it will be all the more complicated with a baby on board. It will change everything. Currently, I go home, do some picking up and plop down in front of the TV. That will never be again.
And I couldn't be more excited for our baby, but for now I will embrace this last half of the pregnancy and out last months as just us. I love us.
Us with a baby will be undoubtedly better :)

Holy Cow..Halfway! (aka 20 weeks)

Baby's now the size of a cantaloupe!
Baby gulps down several ounces of amniotic fluid every day, both for nutrition and to practice swallowing and digesting. And, these days, those taste buds actually work! Studies show that after birth, babies respond best to tastes they've already had via amniotic fluid. Meaning, think about what you'd like your future child to eat as you prepare your own lunch.

How far along? 20 weeks! Halfway there :)
Total weight gain:Last week up 8...we could call it 9 on the optimistic side
Maternity clothes? Pants. Wore my first shirt today...still a little big.
Sleep:Overall much better.
Best moment this week: Being halfway.
Movement:Yes! Getting more frequent
Gender:Girly Girl
Belly Button in or out? In. But getting shallow :/
What I miss: Not being nauseous
What I am looking forward to: More movement
Weekly Wisdom: Time flies when you're pregnant
Milestones: Halfway!!!

19 Weeks...a little late..

Baby's now the size of a mango!
Vernix caseosa, a greasy white substance made of lanugo, oil, and dead skin cells (yum) now coats baby's skin, shielding it from the amniotic fluid. (Picture yourself after a nine-month bath, and the need for protection makes sense.) You might get to see the vernix at birth, especially if baby is premature.

How far along?19 weeks!!!
Total weight gain:+8 lbs
Maternity clothes? Pants. Shirts are huge on me.
Sleep:It has been getting better.
Best moment this week:Seeing a healthy baby girl at u/s.
Movement:Progressively becoming more active and stronger
Gender:Girl :)
Belly Button in or out? In. But getting shallow :/
What I miss: My clothes.

What I am looking forward to: Shopping!
Weekly Wisdom: Being thankful for what you have.
Milestones: Healthy baby at big u/s...and It's a Girl!

19 week pictures

My other little girl Molly giving the baby a hug...please excuse the double chin.

We are on Team...

Pink!
We are definitely all girl :) I will post pictures hopefully tomorrow. We measured a couple of days ahead and perfectly healthy :)
I think seeing the four chambers of the heart and then the foot were my favorite part of the whole thing.
I am really short on words for some reason. Words can't explain the joy I feel. I will write more tomorrow.
But today is good day for me and my little girl.

Onion hands...

Ew.
Dan chopped onion for chili last night. This morning when I got up, I told him he smelled like a mouse. He told me that his hands usually smelled for days after he chopped onions and proceeded to shove them in my face. It was terrible. I told him a couple of weeks ago I would have gotten sick over something so disgusting... I got up took my shower had a couple sips (or gulps) of his lemonade...not 5 minutes later I was getting sick in the toilet..
Really?
And to think just writing this is making me nauseous..

OK Pregnancy Hormones...

I have had enough!
I am so sick of looking like an adolescent. Seriously, this huge zit on the side of my mouth and the one under my nose can go at any point. My face is dry everywhere else, I have given up wearing makeup. Just give me the pregnancy glow. Enough already!
My scalp is dry, my hair is flat...
I am sure I can dig up an old wives tale for this somewhere...

Set me back on my heels

Just when I am feeling good a post on second try sets me back on my heels.
There is a woman who is 19+ weeks along and just found out at her ultrasound that her baby girl's skin is too thick and she will never survive outside the womb. The baby that is kicking inside of her. I know this stuff is rare.
But it is enough to knock the giddy right out of me.
Please say prayer for her tonight. And if you could say one for my little one too.

18 weeks...Holy Cow!

Baby's now the size of a sweet potato!
Baby's become amazingly mobile (compared to you, at least), passing the hours yawning, hiccupping, rolling, twisting, kicking, punching, sucking, and swallowing. And baby is finally big enough that you'll soon be able to feel her movements.

How far along?18 weeks!!!
Total weight gain:ugh....we will see next week.+4.5 as of 3 weeks ago.
Maternity clothes? Pants. Shirts are huge on me.
Sleep: What? I think my lack of sleep is preparing me for baby.
Best moment this week: Dan feeling a little kick.
Movement:Yes! More this week.
Gender: Not sure, will know in 5 days!
Belly Button in or out? In. But getting shallow :/
What I miss: Having clothes that fit.
What I am looking forward to: Big Ultrasound on Monday!
Weekly Wisdom:I am so blessed.
Milestones: More movement. I am pretty sure my baby was rocking out to Elvis yesterday.

What a Monday

Crummy weather: cold and rainy.
But my baby has moved quite a bit more today. Just little pokes here and there to keep Momma sane.
This weekend I felt this harder kick and I told Dan to put his hand there just to see...Usually my baby is one and done when it comes to kicks...there is no pattern. But another kick just for Daddy. He even felt it...barely. I am just so glad. It seems early for him to feel kicks..but That is what it was.
This is what I have to look forward to:
4 days until we go to visit my friend in a Chicago suburb. We will shop in her downtown, go outlet shopping and eat good food. She is one week ahead of me. My mom, her mom, and me will go see her. Her mom is going through weekly chemo until January for Breast Cancer. So this will be a fun getaway for us all.
6 days until our ultrasound. I think it is a girl. I cannot wait. I am so excited. Of course, there is some nervousness too.
9 days until Thanksgiving. Yeah for yummy food and eating for two. ( I know you are not really supposed to, but on this day I just might :) )
10 days until Galena (and Black Friday) I cannot wait to go shopping and spend time in one of my favorite places. A getaway is just what I need.

Today I am overcome.

I am overcome with emotion. With shear joy that I have this little one growing inside of me. I thank the Lord for everything he has blessed me with. Especially this gift. I can't believe I am this pregnant. I am truly blessed.
Now that tears are streaming down my face....

Thank you Lord.

17 (and 1/2) week bump!

Maybe Jealousy...

Ok, so I am totally being a blog whore today, but for some reason my emotions are running rampant.
A friend of mine (Carissa, don't ask me who, I can't lie to you) is 8 weeks pregnant after being off the pill for one month. She said the timing is perfect for her.
Here is something I have learned: Timing is shit. I thought an October baby would be perfect, was going to be born around my dad's birthday...it was perfect timing. Ended in miscarriage at 10 weeks. I have come to learn anytime is perfect for a baby. I can't control things...It is not up to me.
First, I was told to be off the pill for 3 months before trying to get the chemicals and what not out of the system..she is off for one month. Oh well. I hope the best for them. I just hate the naivety of it all I guess....no I don't hate it..I am extremely jealous of it. It isn't fair.
::goes to corner to pout::

Some people call it an addiction...

I call it necessity. I just spend $150 more on maternity clothes. I can justify every single piece though. A couple of weeks ago I spent $150 of birthday money. And before that I spent at least that. Whew! This has got to stop. I think I have all the bottoms I need. So just some more tops here and there ought to be enough. Below is my justification...
1) Black Pants: Church and any meetings I would have to go to. I bought some at Motherhood but they were crap...so I will wear them for working at the Banquet hall. But in the winter I usually wear pants to church...
2) Another pair of jeans. Lets face it one pair of jeans will not cut it. And I dress casual to work so they will be used.
3) 3 new long sleeve shirts. Well, for the same reason, I dress casual to work
4) A winter coat. I am not walking around in February in Central Illinois with my coat unbuttoned...mmkay?
5) Exercise pants. The ones I currently use are getting tight in the waist.

Above all, is the justification that it was 30% off. I would not be in a rush to buy a winter coat except that it was $30. Can't beat it.

So This post is what I will turn to when the wrath of Dan comes down upon me.

17 weeks...and an onions??? Really.

Baby's now the size of an onion!
Baby's skeleton is hardening, changing from rubbery cartilage to bone, and fat is finally accumulating around it. His umbilical cord is getting thicker and stronger, and those little fingers and toes now feature one-of-a-kind prints.

How far along?17 weeks!!!
Total weight gain:Lets see more than 4.5 (that was 2 weeks ago..)
Maternity clothes? Pants. Shirts are huge on me.
Sleep: Getting better.
Best moment this week: Feeling a kick.
Movement:I am pretty positive that is what I have been feeling.
Gender: Not sure, will know in 2 weeks!
Belly Button in or out? In.
What I miss: Wine.
What I am looking forward to: U/S in 2 weeks!
Weekly Wisdom:I am so lucky to have my husband.
Milestones: So many...First movement. Quad screen came back negative. We have fingerprints!!!

Excuse me, Mama, Can you turn that down?

I am pretty positive I felt my first movement this weekend. It was kind of like a tapping or popping on the inside of my belly..
We were at the Trans-Siberian Orchestra (which was awesome) and I get this tapping, a couple of seconds later, another tap..then same spot, another tap. Later I felt the tap more towards the center of my stomach, but this was on the right side.
I told Dan about it after the concert and said it was like:
::knock, knock:: Excuse me, Mama, Can you turn it down out there?
HAHA. My baby loves music :)

How I feel at 16 weeks

My bodily update (another "For the Record"):
I still have morning sickness and I at least dry heave most mornings.
I still have no appetite.
I love Lemonade (Simply Lemonade is the best) I could drink it all day long.
I go to bed way to early and wake up in the middle of the night.
My bump is barely there...I just look fat.
My face has been clearing up the past couple of weeks.
I still have back ache.
On a unrelated subject, I hate my hair.
I can eat meat now. :)
Lunch is my best meal of the day, everything else is a crapshoot.
Milk makes me sick.
My big pants are getting tight on me.
I am still one cup up from normal bra-wise...should be here awhile.
My nose will not quit running and is giving my sinus headaches.
I *may* have felt kicks this morning...more like pokes. I am not sure because it was too early.
I have been feeling more pulling and pains in the uterus..baby is growing.
I often have a bad taste in my mouth from whatever I have eaten.

For the record...

I feel like I must write these things down, so that later I have a record of when I thought what. But last night I had a dream we were at an u/s not the big ultrasound, but I got one like now, and they said that they could tell the sex. They looked and it was all boy. So now I have a dream of each so who knows!

I am starting to get nervous about the big ultrasound. We haven't seen our baby since 7 weeks and I am starting to go through the what ifs...
It will help when I get my call back from the quad screen. But the big u/s will reveal if there is anything medically wrong with our baby...can 3 weeks go by any slower?

16 Weeks!!!

Baby's now the size of an avocado!
Watch what you say...tiny bones forming in baby's ears mean she can now pick up your voice. A few more minuscule changes: Eyebrows, lashes, and hair are starting to fill in, and taste buds are forming.

How far along?16 weeks!!!
Total weight gain:From last week up 4.5
Maternity clothes? It would be nice if my order would come in. I think I could use some pants
Sleep: No good.
Best moment this week: Ordering my maternity clothes :)
Movement:Anytime now!
Gender: thinking girl
Belly Button in or out? In.
What I miss: enjoying meat.
What I am looking forward to: movement!
Weekly Wisdom: You are still having morning sickness...eating more won't fool your body.
Milestones: We have ears!

I am so excited LO has ears this week as we are going to see Trans-Siberian Orchestra on Saturday!

Weekends go by too fast...

Friday night, I went to see my beloved Fighting Illini play. They won. Since it is early in the season, they play crappy teams. BUT they are going to be pretty good this year and a ton of fun to watch. I can't wait. Downside: I am going to have to drag my pregnant ass up to the top of C-level. You gotta do what you gotta do.

Saturday: Slept In :) Then we went to my grandparents for lunch to celebrate birthdays. Went home and napped. Then we watched Marley and Me. Not so cool. I bawled through the entire thing. First the miscarriage, then Marley looking at John as he was being put to sleep. Both are personal experiences for me and I cannot handle either of them.

Sunday: Church, Sunday School, then we went to Peoria and ate at Panera :) I then went and bought a pair of black maternity pants since I was sitting in Church with my pants unbuttoned feeling highly inappropriate. They are the secret belly pants, I found if I folded them in half they fit perfect. I also got 2 maternity long sleeve tees at Target and a new bra. Dan did most of the shopping. Then we went home and Robin Hood Men in Tights was on :) It was an early night for me. (again)

Overall I had a nice relaxing weekend. The days are ticking by fast at this point. I have my big ultrasound in 3 weeks! I cannot believe it. I am hoping my clinic gets the H1N1 shot in soon so that I can get that. And I am super excited to see Trans-Siberian Orchestra this weekend!!!!

15 Week Belly

Ok, so I had just eaten my supper, like 5 minutes before this....I decided to expose the belly because I think it better shows the little bump that I have :)

Body Pillow=Fail

After we ate dinner at Pizza Hut last night, we went to K-mart for a search of, among other things, a body pillow. THEY DO NOT HAVE BODY PILLOWS! So I got a King Size pillow instead. Then as we are leaving my car decided to pull its shit again and not start. (Which finally drove me (no pun intended) to get an appt for tomorrow AM) Luckily we saw my best friend and fiance at Pizza Hut and they were a phone call away to jump our car. So we trudged home with still no body pillow. Side note: I looked at Wal-Mart this weekend also a fail. My King size pillow seemed to work and I put another pillow down by my feet. Hello to the 25 week China wall between Dan and I. I may have found my permanent fix.

Went to the Doctor today. Same ole' thing. Pee in a cup..blood pressure (110/70) weight....ugh....I am up 4.5 lbs. I guess that is okay...but my brain is telling my mouth to slow it down. I think I may finally break out my pregnancy pilates DVD... After weight, Baby Heartbeat. It was there pounding away (as it was when I checked this morning, only of course to give Dan assurance that he was not needed at this appointment :) ) Then I gave my blood for the quad marker screen, which I should know the results within a week or so. Next Appointment= BIG ULTRASOUND

Moral of the story: My love to my best friend who did not leave me stranded without a body pillow in the K-mart parking lot.

15 weeks!!!

Baby's now the size of a naval orange!
Continuing the march toward normal proportions, baby's legs now out-measure his arms. And, finally, all four limbs have functional joints. Your fetus is squirming and wiggling like crazy down in the womb, though you probably can't feel the movements just yet.

How far along?15 weeks!!!
Total weight gain:We will see tomorrow but I feel like I have been maintaining for the last week or so.
Maternity clothes? still just wearing bigger jeans/Ordering clothes, don't need them yet though.
Sleep: Must.Get.Bodypillow.ASAP
Best moment this week: My bump buddy Jacquie seeing her LO's heartbeat
Movement: in a couple of weeks probably
Gender: thinking girl
Belly Button in or out? In.
What I miss: caffeine
What I am looking forward to: Dr. Appt tomorrow.
Weekly Wisdom:I really need a body pillow.
Milestones: I think my belly is more noticeable?

9wk compared to 14 week

Can you tell a difference? I feel like my bloat shifted into a bump and had more shape..and well, I am definitely standing up straighter, my boobs haven't shrunk, although I kind of think they look like they do..in fact I have went up a cup size :)
What do you think?

Me at 14 weeks...

14 weeks down

Baby's now the size of a lemon!
Your adorable little fetus is busy with thumb sucking, toe wiggling, (not so cute but equally amazing) making urine, and breathing amniotic fluid as the liver, kidneys, and spleen continue to develop. Lanugo (thin, downy hair) is growing all over her body for warmth.

How far along?14 weeks!!!
Total weight gain:From the looks of my picture, I have gained
Maternity clothes? still just wearing bigger jeans
Sleep: Sporadic, and once I get up, I can't go back to sleep
Best moment this week: Getting two new sets of grandparents (close elderly folk that are so excited they are calling our little one their grandbaby.)
Movement: I keep hopin...
Gender: I think girl.
Labor Signs: None.
Belly Button in or out? In.
What I miss: Wine.
What I am looking forward to: Dr. appt next week for further assurance that I am indeed knocked up.
Weekly Wisdom: Don't do too much....lifting, cleaning, anything.
Milestones: Dan and I can tell I have a bump :)

Dan and I

Somewhere around this time of year (Oct. 18th I believe) 7 years ago, Dan and I started dating. We were talking about it the other day...I can't believe all that we have been through and that it has been that long. I was a junior in highschool and he was a senior. I feel so blessed to have had him in my life for 7 years already and can't wait for the many years to come.
I know that this isn't an anniversary or anything, but we dated for almost 5 years before getting married so we did celebrate the anniversary of our first date. And I am just as happy to celebrate today.
I think this is one of the reasons I love fall. I love the changing seasons and I love the feeling I had just being with Dan and riding in his truck with him. That excitement of a new love, what the next day would bring. Seeing Dan in the morning before school, walking to class together, not being able to be around eachother enough, getting to know every quirk and peeve. That is the part I love the most. Our first date was a football game and steak and shake. After the date, I told him if he was really desperate he could call me and maybe we could hang out again the next night. Well, he was desperate.
Thanks for reading my mushy story, but I feel incredibly blessed today for the baby in my belly and my husband by my side.

Oh, and I will post a 14 week update later today :)

I have not forgotten

I have not posted in so long. But don't worry...no news is good news! I am still suffering through morning sickness and some fatigue(but let's face it, I am always tired). Last night, D willingly went to Target with me to look at baby stuff while we were in Peoria. It was nice to actually see that strollers (not that impressed) and the car seats and everything. Also, last night I must make a note of the fact in my dream I was having a girl. We had just went to the big ultrasound and it was a girl and they drew everything out so D would understand because he wants a boy so bad. Haha. We went to Chevy's last night and that sounded great until my food arrived... bleh. I barely ate any of it. I always feel bad when that happens because I know they must be thinking that something is wrong with it. Today I am going to try to clean house since our wienie roast is on Friday. Hopefully, D can get outside and finish staining the deck. Have a great weekend all!

13 Weeks!

Baby's now the size of a peach!
Your fetus is forming teeth and vocal cords...savor this, their nonfunctional phase. Baby is approaching normal proportions, with his head now only one third the size of his body. And intestines are in the process of moving from the umbilical cord to baby's tummy -- much more convenient.

How far along?13 weeks!!!
Total weight gain:+1 lb up 3 from last time as of two weeks ago...currently just trying to maintain
Maternity clothes? still just wearing bigger jeans
Sleep: Some nights better than others; having trouble getting comfy
Best moment this week: Sending my SIL recording of heartbeat
Movement: It's going to be awhile
Gender: now leaning more boy
Labor Signs: None.
Belly Button in or out? In.
What I miss: My figure...I am losing it alreayd!
What I am looking forward to: Big u/s in 6 weeks!
Weekly Wisdom: A clean kitchen does wonders for curing nausea
Milestones: Hello 2nd Trimester!

10/12/09

That date has been so special to me. Today is my first EDD. I have mixed feelings. I mourn the loss of our baby and our naivety. I still cannot believe that it actually happened. It seems so surreal. But at the exact same time I cannot help but celebrate our little one growing inside of me. When so many people struggle with miscarriage, infertility, and just bad luck, I feel so fortunate to be pregnant today. I put the doppler to my belly and heard the best sound I could have heard today and I praise God for my blessings.

It's Friday

I am still charging through to the end of my 1st trimester of pregnancy..Onward!
Also, I am inevitably charging towards my first EDD...
I don't mean for this to sound cold or crass, but it doesn't phase me. What happened, happened. I would love to be less than a week away from my little one. And still have the naivety of a life without miscarriage. But it happens. I can't erase it. I will always love my first babe. That is a given and anyone who has gone through that would not doubt that. But I feel so thankful and blessed to be moving onto the second trimester within a day of the EDD of my first little one. It is a blessing in disguise that is for sure. I just feel so thankful to be pregnant during this time. I had kind of lost track of time until I read an update of someone getting a c-section that was due on my due date. It seems unreal that I could be that pregnant right now...not still dealing with first tri symptoms. I cannot fathom it really.

Weekend Plans:
Friday Night: Lay in bed, sort laundry.
Saturday: Lay in bed, wash sheets, work at banquet hall
Sunday: Sunday school, lay in bed.

You can see where my priorities lie this weekend. I am exhausted as I type this and cannot focus on work.

Happy Friday :)

12 weeks!!!!

Baby's now the size of a plum!
As you move into the second trimester, baby shifts into the growth and maturation stage. After weeks in the critical development stage, almost all of her systems are fully formed.

*will post picture...I promise I am taking it tonight...I have been terrible at this!!!
How far along?12 weeks!!!
Total weight gain:+1 lb up 3 from last time as of last week...
Maternity clothes? I bought a bigger size pair of jeans. But thats it.
Sleep: Some nights better than others; having trouble getting comfy
Best moment this week: telling family :)
Movement: It's going to be awhile
Gender: Still leaning girl?
Labor Signs: None.
Belly Button in or out? In.
What I miss: liking food...I wish I had just one craving..
What I am looking forward to: 2nd trimester is coming up!!!
Weekly Wisdom: You are not out of the nausea ridden woods yet!
Milestones: miscarriage rate drops dramatically in 12th week

My neices

Happy monday!

Not much new to report here. Morning Sickness is still hear, with her friends nausea, zit, and heartburn.
This weekend flew by. I finished my baby blanket and will post a picture soon...like all my weekly pictures lol. I started a new baby project :) We went on the spoon river scenic drive this weekend. I didn't find anything I NEEDED and the weather was crappy but we enjoyed good food. On Sunday, I took pictures of my nieces. I will put in a post with those pictures too. And they are on facebook. We got some really good shots I think. I heard the heartbeat yesterday morning...still the coolest sound ever and I know I have a goofy grin on my face everytime I hear it. I am just so happy it is there. Tomorrow I will be 12 weeks...I can't believe it. This is starting to go by fast! And I am under 200 days!!!
Grow Baby Grow!

My 11 week appointment

Ok this could get long...so I will try to summarize.

1. I waited over an hour to get in. And my Doctor's office had a motley crew in the waiting room that resembled a welfare clinic. I really felt like I was in the wrong place.

2. Heartbeat was found easily! We are in the 170's still.

3. My doctor would not listen to me that I was 11 weeks..not 12 weeks. So she was telling me how good I should feel making it to 12 weeks...and when I questioned it she proceeded to tell me when I change weeks and how they change...duh.

4. I am getting a quad marker screening..not NT scan. and I have my Big Ultrasound scheduled :)

5. As I was getting ready to go, I got a surprise flu shot...now I have a sore arm...yay!

Overall the appointment was perfect because my baby is still chugging along..I cannot believe I will meet my baby in approx. 6 months...CRAZY!!!

Doctor Appt.

I go to the Doctor today after work. I am not really nervous since I heard the heartbeat Sunday...but I am sure that will change on the way over! Here's hoping for the best!

11 weeks!!

Baby's now the size of a lime!
Your fetus currently enjoys a 1:1 ratio between body and head, and has skin so transparent that blood vessels show right through it. But fingers and toes are no longer webbed, and hair follicles, tooth buds, and nail beds are forming -- setting up a significantly more attractive future.



I actually held a lime in my hand yesterday and couldn't believe my baby was already that big!

*will post picture...I promise I am taking it tonight*
How far along?11w
Total weight gain:+1 lb up 3 from last time
Maternity clothes? I bought a bigger size pair of jeans. But thats it.
Sleep: Last night sleep was fabulous *note to self: don't drink liquids late
Best moment this week: buying my first maternity clothes :)
Movement: It's going to be awhile
Gender: This week I have been feeling Girly.
Labor Signs: None.
Belly Button in or out? In.
What I miss: Steak.
What I am looking forward to: My Appointment tomorrow and telling people!
Weekly Wisdom: I am thankful for everyday that God gives me with my baby.
Milestones: Continuing on the path to through the unknown. Second Tri here I come (in 2 weeks)

Monday Monday

Well my weekend in Chicago with Alice and Jen (Bump buddies) was wonderful. I got some new yarn :) and some new clothes including my first maternity clothes (I do not think I will need them for awhile, but hey the discount was good ;) The weather cooperated, we ate (or tried to) good food. And I got to take the train...which I love dearly.
My symptoms behaved over the weekend leading me to believe I was on the downhill slope. We heard the heartbeat on the doppler at home last night..still beating around 170...does this mean girl??? HAHA. Then I get up this morning and it is morning sickness all over again. I am glad I at least got the break for the weekend!
When I got home I sorted laundry and put it away, worked on my baby blanket, updated my belly book, and got out my winter clothes. I left form fitting clothes in the bin. But I was so excited to be able to get out fall/winter clothes. Fall is my favorite season.
Wednesday is our next Dr. appt. I hope I will feel comfortable telling more people then :) Also, I am hoping that I get to schedule an NT scan. If not, that is ok too.
My goal for the week is to finish the baby blanket I am working on so I can start one of my new awesome projects :)
Have a fantastic Monday!

10 weeks!!!!

Baby's now the size of a prune!
With bones and cartilage starting to form and vital organs beginning to function, baby is making major progress. Body length will almost double in the next three weeks, and arm joints are now working. (Soon, legs will start working too.)



How far along?10w1d
Total weight gain: -2 lbs :) as of 3 weeks ago. I know I have gained at least that back...
Maternity clothes? nope, but looking for some better fitting pants....
Sleep: not so much. can't get comfy
Best moment this week: Hearing the heartbeat yesterday with MIL
Movement: It's going to be awhile
Gender: not sure. I am thinking Boy though now.
Labor Signs: None.
Belly Button in or out? In.
What I miss: A glass of wine...shallow I know.
What I am looking forward to: My appointment next week!
Weekly Wisdom: Have faith.
Milestones: This is the most pregnant I have ever been!

7w vs 9w

So I finally got my pics uploaded and thought I would do a side by side comparison. Yes it is way to early in the morning to be doing this...but I can't sleep so here I am..
I can see a bit of difference...I have more pudge and more boobs.

Our new deck

Well, it's almost complete. It still needs to be stained to match our house. But here it is...
I cannot wait until next summer when we can eat outdoors.

My meltdown

So after I typed my last post, I had a mini meltdown. Well maybe mini doesn't start to describe it. I just started crying I called my mom crying....She called my MIL (who is head of OB) and she said I could come to the hospital and listen to the heartbeat. So that is exactly what i did. I picked D up from his jobsite and we went to the hospital. Of course, within 30 seconds she found the heartbeat. Then I felt stupid for all my worrying. I couldn't help it though.

So today is officially the most pregnant I have ever been :)

Hormones

My hormones have it out for me.
On Sunday, I heard the heartbeat. Nothing since then. I lost my baby in the 9th week last time. Today is 10 weeks and I couldn't find anything. I just want to curl up in a ball and cry. I know this happens and yada yada yada. But for today I just want to cry. I am so scared that I will lose this baby too. Every twinge that I have, I feel might be too much. I don't even know. I feel like I am going through a depression of sorts. Last night,I just laid in bed and worried. That was my night. I know I am not getting enough fluids,but I get nauseous just thinking about it. No fluid sounds good to me. Not one. I am still having morning sickness, which is a good thing. I just can't wait for next week to get here...I think I will take a couple of days off the doppler and try again on Friday or so.

There is a train in my belly..

This morning, at 9w5d, I officially heard the heartbeat. It was right around 176 bpm. It sounded like a little train in my belly and is officially the coolest sound ever. I officially love my doppler. If I get a heartbeat on Tuesday that will be the most pregnant I have ever been. I am so excited to pass this hurdle, then my appointment next week, and then through first tri. I think then I might be able to finally enjoy my pregnancy.
Right now, I am semi nauseous and have a bit of heartburn. The heartbeat was quite a relief because my symptoms have been waning and now I can eat more.

Doppler

So my doppler came in last night. It wasn't supposed to come in until next week, which would have been perfect timing. I got it out of the box and couldn't help it I tried it. D was so excited too...which didn't help the cause.
So we got it out put the gel on and started. D soon got frustrated that I wasn't doing it right and took the helm. We were able to find something between 150-190 bpm but could not hear it. I think since I was only 9w2d yesterday it had trouble detecting it, but I think it found something. So I was able to go to sleep in peace and will try again this weekend. I am thinking I will try on Sunday (9w5d). I am pretty tiny (5'4 122lbs) so I should be able to detect it early right? I am so excited to actually hear it.
I will try it again next Tuesday. If I get a heartbeat that will be the most pregnant I have ever been. I go to the Dr. at 11w1d and after that we will tell family and friends. Select family and friends know now, but it will be exciting to tell everyone. I cannot wait.
This is my sticky baby!

What M/s has taught me...

about my baby:
1) My baby is a vegetarian.
2) Even though LO thought a 99 cent bag for cheddar and sour cream chips sounded good.....now there is second guessing.
3) My baby likes carbs.
4) LO does not like water..

See, I already know my baby :)

9 Weeks Already

Ok, I look really bad, broken, out face, bloated tired. But it is what it is. :)

Confession: I did not get an 8 week pic. But I have serious threats against my husband if he doesn't bring the camera home tonight and take my picture.

Baby's now the size of a green olive!
Your little embryo has now officially graduated to fetus-hood. Adding to the excitement, a Doppler ultrasound device might be able to pick up the beating heart. With basic physical structures in place and increasingly distinct facial features, baby is kind of starting to look like...well...a baby!

How far along?9 weeks
Total weight gain: -2 lbs :) as of 2 weeks ago....
Maternity clothes? nope
Sleep: not so much. can't get comfy
Best moment this week: Ordered my doppler today.
Movement: It's going to be awhile
Gender: not sure. I am thinking Boy though now.
Labor Signs: None.
Belly Button in or out? In.
What I miss: days without nausea
What I am looking forward to: My doppler coming in!
Weekly Wisdom: There is no "safe" food.
Milestones: Baby is a fetus!!! Grow Baby F!!!