Week 19: What a Fun Week!

Size of Baby: Mango (6 inches long, 8.5 oz)
What's that Babe up to: working on himher's 5 senses, developing protective skin layer, and growing hair?
Symptoms: random crying (for no reason at all!), heartburn in the evenings
Food Cravings: whatever someone mentions.
Food Aversions: none, i'll take it all- including those leftover fries my co-worker, Ashley, keeps throwing away.
Weight: 161... hit a new milestone this week!
Weight gain so far: 13 lb. give or take a couple pounds depending on the day and time
Maternity Clothes: when I can! They way more comfy and long. Thanks to my awesome sister-in-law for passing the goods to me. (and my sister)
Stretch Marks: not on my belly...
Sleep: good. I don't wake up for the bathroom until 6-6:30 in the morning, and we get up at 6:45. so... Also- I asked my Dr if I could sleep on my back and she said YES! score.
Best moment this week: It was a great week, but the BEST part: my niece Greta hanging out with me all weekend
Miss Anything: knowing why I'm crying.
Movement: just a tiny little bit. I told himher last night that I like when heshe moves and heshe should do it more obviously. (heshe was moving last night while I was bawling my eyes out for no reason)
Belly Button: In, but getting flatter... I can see it all!
Wedding Rings: still fit
Looking Forward To: my massage on Tuesday and being at the halfway point of meeting my baby!

Journal:
       So really, this past week has been a really great week. So many times I thought, "I can't wait to blog this week, I have so many fun things to journal." So let me get started here....

First off, I didn't work last week, except for Monday. So Tuesday through Thursday I enjoyed my time at home getting rooms cleaned out, projects worked on, and feeling like a Stay At Home Mom while the kids are at school all day long. Since I brought that up, let me diverge into that topic.

Andrew and I were at church last Sunday and our pastor had mentioned to a small group of us that our vocations should be our calling in life and that it should be a mission field, etc, etc. I mouthed to Andrew across the room: "MOM" and he mouthed back "FARM." Andrew and I talk often about what our heart's desires are and our dream jobs. All my life there is only one job that I've always wanted and never changed my mind on. It's what I long to do. It's being a mom. More specifically, a stay-at-home mom. God has blessed me as I'm on my way to becoming what I've always wanted to be, and I could not be more grateful and excited!!! I won't get to be a stay-at-home mom for a couple more years, though, since being a dental hygienist is too beneficial to our financial department! I do enjoy what I do now, but I know it's not what I was made to do, even though I try my best at it and think I do a pretty good job, trying to please my Lord. And I plan on continuing my job even as I'm a stay-at-home mom in the future, because again, let's be honest- every mom needs to get out and see some adults every so often!

photo credit: erikamarie photography

photo credit: erikamarie photography

Back to my great week- Friday morning Lowen came over as usual and we hung out until about noon when we scampered to the car to go pick up my niece, Greta, who came to visit us from 5 hours away!!! We were so excited!!! :) We got a Happy Meal for lunch and played together for a couple hours before erikamarie photography came over to shoot some 4 year photos for Greta! Let me just tell you that I'm so amazed by 2 things: my niece's beauty as a 4 year old and my friend's God-gifted ability to take beautiful pictures. Saturday we babysat Erika's adorable little boy and Greta and I had fun tag-teaming that fun! She's such a great helper. I already knew this from when my sister had her second adorable girl and

photo credit: erikamarie photography

 I've since decided that I would like to have Greta around for when my baby is here. Which, reminder: is in 21 weeks.. or so. We enjoyed having a picnic in the living room, making colorful cupcakes, and enjoying fall snacks with friends. Sunday we went to church and Greta went to Sunday School all by herself because she's a big girl. We went to our favorite lunch spot: Casa Vieja. yum. I'll take this moment to point out that no matter how much you love your kid (or your sister's kid) no one is perfect. Our biggest only struggle with Greta this weekend was getting her to eat! Except for our picnic- that was easy, and the Happy Meal was too, oh and the donut for breakfast. :)

enjoying quad rides with Uncle Andrew!

Our colorful cupcakes!

Sunday is also the day that I fell down the stairs. We have really steep, carpeted stairs, and I can't believe I haven't fallen down them more since we moved here. And I'm really not looking forward to those stairs when I am 30-40 weeks pregnant!!! Anyway, Andrew was outside relaxing in the hammock and Greta was finishing up in the bathroom and I was coming down the stairs in my WAY slippery moccasins while trying to adjust the strap on a sandal.  Second step from the top I started sliding- I threw my hands up in the air trying to catch the ledge and instead caught the jumbo frame sitting there and all three of us (sandal, frame, me) went sliding the WHOLE WAY DOWN. Actually I think I stopped at about the 2nd to last step. It happened so fast, but felt like a really long fall. I got to the floor and laid there moaning and groaning and Greta came running out to me and so sweetly asked what I did. I told her and she started talking to me for like 5 minutes about how to not fall down the stairs. "you should be more careful on the stairs" "why didn't you put your hands out to catch yourself" "you should have a railing on your stairs" was some of the advice I remember. I like the railing idea for that dreaded 30-40 week preggo part I mentioned earlier... we might have to talk to the landlord about that!

After taking Greta back to her ride home's house I thought about how much I hope for a girl like her so we can have fun like I do with her. But then I realized it won't be the same. For so many reasons, of course. So then I decided: If I have all boys (my nightmare, Andrew's dream) I will be consoled by weekends like this past one when Greta and I can hang out together and do girly things like play with dolls and barbies and picnics and toe-painting and someday spa days, shopping, chick flicks. .... off to dreamland....

I had another Dr appointment on Tuesday and got to hear the darling little rapid heartbeat. It was wonderful. I also think my Dr measured by belly. She did not mention a word about it, but I'm pretty sure that's what she was doing. Anyway- I know my BP was really high again but they didn't talk to me about that either. I also only ate a cupcake and hot chocolate before the appointment so hopefully my sugar levels were ok! haha! Anyway- I thought we were going to be able to schedule my ultrasound for the next week- Oct 1st, but she said a week and a half- but with my schedule that means 2 weeks. SO I will talk more about our decision on finding out the sex of the baby next week!

I know this is getting long, bear with me, funny stories ahead:

Yesterday at work was exhausting and generally unfun. I got home from work and Andrew was already gone for the evening, helping his dad on his truck. I knew he would be gone when I got home and I figured he'd be gone most of the night. I was ok with it, of course, I didn't have to make supper. But after the long unfun day I grabbed some cheese and crackers, my ipad, and the tv remote. I fell asleep a couple times, moped around the house a couple times, loaded and unloaded the dishwasher twice, and moped on the couch some more. Andrew got home around 10ish and we chitchatted for just a few minutes and then he asked how my day was. I instantly started bawling and... never.... stopped. Finally I sat up and said I was going to bed. Went to bed, laid there for an hour, all the while still crying until I eventually fell asleep. The whole time there was NOTHING I was crying about. My day wasn't so bad to warrant tears, and sometimes when I'm already crying I'll just think of something sad, like my family being so far away, and that will give me a reason for the tears. Last night, I thought of that and it didn't really make me sadder. I was just so upset that I was crying that it made me cry more. Dumb Progesterone.

Finally- my last snippet: I will give a warning: Remember at the beginning of this pregnancy blog when I said things that made people say "she kinda says it all!" This will be one of those times when half of you will think I've said too much. You've been warned. But I'm so excited...

This week. I had diarrhea.
I wish that's all I could say because that would be funny, but I have to tell you more. I have been basically constipated with impassable stool for like 4 months - and suffered all the horrible things that go with being constipated. And this week that has all changed with not external help. As in, I didn't start taking stool softener, my diet didn't change, nothing. And I love it. I dreamed of a loose stool and it came true.

That's all, my friends! Hope you have a great week with normal bowel movements!

-brittany.

Week 18: Was That Baby Movement???

Size of Baby: Sweet Potato (roughly 5.5 inches)
What's that Babe up to: moving all around, yawning, hiccuping, sucking, swallowing, making faces
Symptoms: the typical unmentionables (that i've mentioned before), random crying
Food Cravings: whatever someone mentions. a fb friend said they were eating an egg in a nest. Guess what I had for breakfast, and I don't even like dippy eggs. Someone else on fb said Stoltzfus Meats is having a special on their DELICIOUS chicken salad. Being a former employee I really know how good this stuff is. Guess what I want so bad right now.... and it's 9 hours away.
Food Aversions: none, i'll take it all- including those leftover fries and chicken nuggets you were about to throw away! ;) (yes i did save that food from the garbage at work...)
Weight: 159. oh yikes...
Weight gain so far: 11 lb. give or take a couple pounds depending the day and time
Maternity Clothes: Oh sure, I love the comfiness of the pants and the length of the shirts! I told Andrew last weekend that I may just keep these maternity shirts because they're nice and long for this long torso body! Still fit into most of my longer shirts, and my sisters old jeans from before she got super-skinny
Stretch Marks: no- checking weekly and using coconut oil
Sleep: still good. catching myself laying on my back (my preferred sleep position) and trying to remember to stay on my side (my least favorite position)
Best moment this week: camping with some of Andrew's family. I also enjoyed 2 bike rides and a long walk around Maumee Bay State Park
Miss Anything: Sleeping through the night without having to go downstairs to pee
Movement: I was getting pretty annoyed and frustrated that I hadn't felt the baby move and then as I was watching the Steelers game at a friend's house I felt a little something weird right below my belly button! It was either my child moving in anger towards the many Steelers' incomplete passes or my stomach churning in anger towards the many Steelers' incomplete passes. I'm gonna go with it being the baby. I felt it yesterday too and can't wait to know FOR SURE that was definitely the baby!
Belly Button: In, but looking different
Wedding Rings: still fit
Looking Forward To: My niece, Greta, coming for the weekend (!!!), Alexa being home for the weekend, and babysitting my friend's ADORABLE little baby boy on Saturday! Oh! and I'm also excited for my appointment on Tuesday so I can get some solutions to my unmentionable problems.

Journal:
  I kind of said a lot in my stats portion that I don't know if I really have more to say!
  This week I only worked on Monday, due to my Dr being out and not having patients scheduled for me to see. The bank won't really like this week (the bank, AND my husband seeing the bank) but I am simply loving it. Yesterday I FINALLY cleaned out our front porch room. If you haven't been to our house, let me explain the problem with this room. It's good for nothing. Honestly, it's a closed in porch that is hot in the summer, cold in the winter. It is directly beside our dining room and has a big bay window going outside, but also two windows and a windowed door between the dining room and porch. Since it's basically unusable, it became a catch-all of random things that have no home (or just never made it there.) Because of all the windows, everyone can see it all from the dining room upon entering our house. Andrew hated that, and I can't say I was a huge fan either. I finally got that all cleared and cleaned out yesterday!!! Of course, some of the stuff still hasn't found it's home and is scattered around the dining room. I will finish that project today. I kept our stroller out there, and also a cedar chest that is holding more baby stuff that we won't need for a while. Feels good to have a clean room. That's 2 in one month!
  Today and tomorrow will be spent cleaning the rest of the house of it's clutter, decorating for fall, and making some delicious foods. Then it's time to make the house messy again as 4 different kids invade to have fun. (that would be: Lowen, Harley, Greta, and Alexa). How exciting! :)
  I guess I don't have any other fun baby stuff to tell you... I'm planning on my diapers coming today and I must say I'm pretty excited about it! :)
 Have a great week!!!
-b

Week 17: Getting Ready for Nursery!

Size of Baby: large onion (roughly 5.1 inches)
What's that Babe up to: turning rubbery cartilage into bone, puttin' on some fat, just like the babe's momma
Symptoms: Round Ligament Pain, and the typical unmentionables, increased SWEATING, pants not wanting to stay up, itchy boobs
Food Cravings: just gummy bears today.
Food Aversions: my green beans at supper. I actually almost gagged after I finally swallowed my bite.
Weight: 156
Weight gain so far: 8 lbs. I read this week that I probably gained 5-10 lbs. hurray!
Maternity Clothes: I've worn a dress, 2 skirts, a pair of pants for work, and a new shirt
Stretch Marks: no- checking weekly and using coconut oil
Sleep: on the couch this week since Andrew was sick. He gets an uncomfortable sore throat... I get full blown cold/flu. Not this time, mister.
Best moment this week: spending the weekend with my sister getting my room ready to become a nursery.     And also, shopping at Target.
Miss Anything: Sleeping through the night without having to go downstairs to pee, leaning over to pick           something up without grunting
Movement: ... no. Nothing. Come on, baby... MOVE!
Belly Button: In, but looking different still
Wedding Rings: still fit
Looking Forward To: camping in fall weather this weekend with some of Andrew's family. Also- would         really love to feel this amazing creation inside my womb.

Journal:

Last weekend my sister caught the bus and hauled herself out here to help me out. I am SO super-grateful for her help in getting all my crap valuables reorganized to make room for a baby. :) I forgot to take a true before picture, though I did take some during and post photos. I did find this before photo, though, from my instagramming days (before I smashed my ipad) And it pretty much looked the same as this when we started.

Before: Craft stuff everywhere

During: moved sewing machine and cubby to "craft side" of room

During: before the move...

After: The "nursery side" of the room

After: so clean!

Where everything went!

 So now I just need a bunch of baby things for the nursery side! Actually we just need a crib and a dresser. And of course all the necessary supplies. Speaking of supplies... last night I ordered 10 cloth diapers in adorable prints and got them for HALF OFF! Amazing. With shipping, it came to $7.40 a diaper. That's amazing. :) I want to make some curtains (valances) and some wall art for the nursery side too, but let's be honest... I still have 23 weeks to get that done. Oh did you see those awesome coral lamps?? The colors I'm trying to go for the nursery are Gray, Coral, Turquoise and Navy. My sister (and others) think if I have a boy that the coral will not be fitting... I think with THREE boy colors and ONE girl color... we'll be alright.

Other than that this has been a pretty boring week. I worked every day-- which means Mon-Thurs, for those not familiar with my dental schedule.

FYI- my new "baby age" week starts on Wednesdays. Sometimes I write these on Wednesday, sometimes Friday, and lets be honest, sometimes Saturday. This post's stats were done on Wednesday but this journal, today, Friday. So today I watch Lowen while trying to get a million things done for the weekend. We are camping this weekend and I'm so excited to be outside by a fire in sweatshirts pants and fuzzy socks. I think Autumn came last night. I like that.

Still waiting on this baby of mine to move! Have a great weekend!

Prayer:
God you are an amazing Creator! Thank you for sharing your beauty with us in the changing seasons, the trees, their leaves, the flowers, your people. Help us all to take time to notice and appreciate these gifts you've given us. Amen.

Week 16: Funny story...

 Size of Baby: Avocado (roughly 4.5 inches)
What's that Babe up to: listening to me, growing hair, eyebrows and lashes, making taste buds
Symptoms: Round Ligament Pain, and the typical unmentionables
Food Cravings: buffalo chicken
Food Aversions: none
Weight: 155
Weight gain so far: 7 lb. (i think it's time to slow down... i still have 24 weeks to go!!!
Maternity Clothes: I've worn a dress, 2 skirts, and a belly band so far. Oh and a pair of pants for work.
Stretch Marks: no- checking weekly and using coconut oil
Sleep: multiple nights of fitful sleep due to suffocating dreams!
Best moment this week: hanging out with our friends from PA- The Derr's!!!! :) Also- fair food.
Miss Anything: Sleeping through the night without having to go downstairs to pee
Movement: nothing yet, but anxious to feel something this week! They say I could this week...
Belly Button: In, but looking different
Wedding Rings: still fit
Looking Forward To: My sister coming this weekend for baby organization! and feeling my baby move!

Journal:
 Ok so I have a funny story that actually probably isn't nearly as funny as I'm sure it was in real life. You know, one of those, "had to be there moments." Anyway- so last Saturday evening Andrew's family all got together for his sister's birthday (which is today!) and as the later evening was rolling by we went inside for a game of Up and Down the River. Classic card game. There were 10 of us sitting around the table playing. About half way through (we'll say around 9:30pm... getting really late you know) people were getting funnier and funnier. Ultimately- someone (I don't remember who) said something REALLY funny (I don't remember what) and I started laughing. Really, everyone laughed a little... the difference is I was laughing a lot. And I couldn't stop. I kept laughing and everyone starts looking at me and laughing that I'm laughing so hard. My sweet husband tells me that it wasn't really that funny. Oh, he meant well.. I'm sure. But my uncontrollable laughing fit immediately turned into an uncontrollable sobbing fit. I kid you not. I was bawling- tears and snot everywhere- sobs, like where you hiccup your back. It was awful. I was completely out of control of my own body. HA! Everyone else was still watching me and now not know what to do (I remember my bro-in-law saying he couldn't tell if I was laughing or crying) How awkward.
I finally recover from that and we continue in the game... then again someone says something and I just chuckled. That's it. Again, my sweet, well-meaning husband says- "don't laugh too hard and start crying again." My response: "Don't say that, I feel like... I'm.... on... the.. verge!!!!" As I'm speaking this sentence I cry out the last part and start crying ALL OVER AGAIN. uncontrolled. unstoppable.
This is a true story.

In other news... Our friends spent Sunday and Monday morning with us and it was quite delightful!!! We usually see them about twice a year, only this year they were much closer in the calendar! We hung out at home, saw my brother-in-laws homemade airboat, went to the Fulton County fair, and played some Chutes and Ladders and Sequence. Fun-filled day! Monday morning Andy helped Andrew with some moving/lifting things that I don't do, and Amber and I watched Dr Quinn while putting together a puzzle. :) Every time they leave or we leave them, Andrew and I always seem to say, "They are such fun people. I wish they lived closer." And it's so true.

The rest of Labor Day Andrew and I spent digging potatoes out of the garden- which was actually pretty fun! We weren't sure if we were going to get very many potatoes but with the first dig the plant had like 5 or 6 potatoes on it and we both were yipping with glee. We ended up with over 125 pounds of potatoes. I don't hardly ever make potatoes (which as a member of a potato farming family is probably shameful) so I'm going to have to change that here this year! The best part is we have a lot of red skin potatoes. The reason I never make them is because of the prep time involved in washing, peeling, and cutting them up. I had to do that almost every night after school when I lived at home (where a meal without potatoes... isn't really a meal). I think that's why I hate it. The beauty of red skins is they don't need peeled! Hallelujah! :)

Andrew and I then picked up some tomatoes from the field that had just been harvested.... SO many wasted tomatoes!!! We got way more than we needed (with a whole field full still there) and that's what I worked on on Tuesday.

To end our productive day at home we took the cycle to Bryan to get a movie and eat pizza and buffalo chicken dip together. We got Flight, because we both love Denzel Washington. Neither of us was a fan of the movie. Probably his worst ever. Sorry Denzel... but the best part was of the home video he was watching where he was "coaching" his son on his backyard football play and it was reminiscent of Remember the Titans (my favorite Denzel movie) Too much nudity, drugs, and alcohol for these folks!

That was our week! Now as my 16th week begins I'll be anxiously awaiting to feel our little avocado's movements! Look for some before and after photos next week on our nursery preparation!! :)

16 weeks.... I thought this was interesting...

10 weeks ago I looked like this!

Now I look like this!

YIKES!