Week 21: The Ultrasound!

There's our baby!!!

Size of Baby:  pomegranate! (Said like Malcolm in Israel... Pomee granite) the ultrasound tech said I'm measuring 21 weeks and 2 days. So that moves the due date up to February 16! But I'll just stick with the 19th... 
What's that Babe up to: MOVING! The babe was facing my back for our ultrasound.... Way to go kid... This better not be a sign that you will forever be hard to get pictures of!
Symptoms: moodiness seems to be on the mend. It was a rough 2 weeks...

Food cravings or aversions: none
Weight: 166
Weight gain so far: 18 lb. give or take a couple pounds depending on the day and time... On my way to 50 I'm sure....
Maternity Clothes: yes and loving it.
Stretch Marks: not yet, but I feel doomed since I have them elsewhere from my freshman 15...
Sleep: great!
Best moment this week: seeing our HEALTHY baby at our ultrasound!
Miss Anything: not having a roll under my chest... That's annoying.

Movement: feeling it more and more every day! At our ultrasound this week we saw the baby moving like crazy! Kicking its little feet all over!
Belly Button: In, but getting flatter... I can see it all!
Wedding Rings: still fit
Looking Forward To: making applesauce and cider this weekend with the in-laws! 

Journal:

    SO EXCITING!!!!! We got to see our baby with the ultrasound this week!!! It was the most amazing experience. And so relieving! The tech told us the baby is looking very healthy and normal. Well, as normal as a King-Spotts genetic combo could be... Like I mentioned in the stats, the baby was facing my back the entire time and refused to turn around for the whole process so she couldn't get a good profile picture. This is a little disappointing, but it was still so amazing! She mentioned that hopefully it's not a sign that the babe will hate pictures! Surely not... And hopefully it also doesn't mean that it won't be photogenic! Haha! The baby was also kicking its tiny little legs almost the whole time, that was so cute to see! Maybe the baby will be a soccer player like its momma! Seeing our child brought Andrew and I one step closer to realizing the reality of what's going on here.... We are going to be parents in just a few short months! Eeek!

That's really the big news for the week. Oh and maybe since the start of my new pregnancy week is on a Sunday now I will change when I post these updates... Maybe... 

Last weekend we didn't do a whole lot and it was nice to be at home and rest up before our schedule gets crazy again. I completed another nursery project and I love how it turned out. I had a pennant banner hanging in that room already that I had made a couple years ago for a family reunion. And I really do love me some bunting. I decided to make a new banner with my chosen nursery colors of gray, coral, and blue. The first bunting I made was of fabric scraps I already had... But I didn't have fabric in those colors that worked so.... I went to Joanne's to get some more but found a stack of scrapbook paper in those exact colors!!! So I made this second one out of paper and attached it to some bias tape with my sewing machine. Very simple, and very rewarding to my soul. Here's a picture: 

The coral turned out to be more pink than coral once I got it home, but some were better than others... I think it still looks pretty gender neutral. One of these days we have to go pick up our crib!!! I'm super excited to have it so I can arrange the nursery side a little better and start oooing and ahhing every time I go upstairs. Ok, you're right, I kind of already do that... 

Whoa! Baby must have just woken up because WOW I'm feeling it move A LOT right now!!! HURRAY!!

Here are some more sonogram pictures! 

The alien head shot

adorable foot!

other adorable foot!

we kept seeing it's little ear sticking out so she got us a picture of it! She did mention that if she's printing pictures of ears, she must be getting pretty desperate!

Well...time to get some more things done before I head in to work for the day. Happy hump day!

One last instagram pic from last week...

Week 20: Half Way There!

Size of Baby:  Banana. (really?? what does that mean? oooooh just looked it up- here on out it is measured head to toe instead of head to butt) (6.5 inches long, 10.2 oz)
What's that Babe up to: heshe's got tastebuds... and drinking amniotic fluid... yuck
Symptoms: random crying, moodiness- I'm real touchy these days, just ask Andrew.
Food Cravings: whatever someone mentions.
Food Aversions: none, i'll take it all- including those leftover fries my co-worker, Ashley, knows to save for me now.
Weight: 163
Weight gain so far: 15 lb. give or take a couple pounds depending on the day and time
Maternity Clothes: yes and loving it. I went through my jean collection again, and got rid of the half that didn't fit anymore- only one pair of non-maternity ones fit!
Stretch Marks: not yet, but I feel doomed since I have them elsewhere from my freshman 15...
Sleep: good, although I had a few minor leg cramps last night (eek!) and I'm congested laying down, which is apparently bothersome to my husband. So I slept propped up on 3 pillows last night- I felt rich.
Best moment this week: potluck at church. ;) and the hymn sing Sunday night. It was a moody week...
Miss Anything: knowing why I'm crying.
Movement: a little more frequently now! Still not terribly obvious, though. I would normally just think it's gas or food moving through my intestines (or whatever food is called once it's in your intestines...)
Belly Button: In, but getting flatter... I can see it all!
Wedding Rings: still fit
Looking Forward To: last week I was looking forward to my massage on Tuesday. My therapist was sick. Boo. Now I'm looking forward to another weekend at home doing nothing!

Journal:
 Seriously? My kid is half-baked right now? My pregnancy is halfway over? If I would turn around and go backwards it would take as long as going forward and meeting my gift from God???? Hallelujah!!! I have thoroughly enjoyed being pregnant, as I think I may have mentioned last week, so I'm not like "oh good I'm halfway done with this pregnancy awfulness just give me the child already!" I am more so thinking "oh good! I'm halfway through the journey of meeting my baby!" Cool. But let's get some honesty in here too: I can't wait. at all. As much as I am afraid of the baby coming early (my parents will be away!) I don't want it to come a day late either!!! February 19th is a good day. It's gotta be! My birthday is the 19th and it's done well for me. Merciful heavens, I just realized something... probably half of the people reading this right now have their birthday on February 18th. Not really, but honestly- I know SOOOOO many people who have their birthday on the 18th. I think February 20th sounds nice.........

In other exciting and big(gest) news... we get to SEE our baby on Tuesday!!!!!!! My first ultrasound is Tuesday at 10:00 and I'm so excited to see what it looks like. Surely, they all look the same, but I'm pretty sure if it's going to have a huge nose I'd like to get a warning sneak peek! hehe! Andrew and I have decided to not get any other tests to see if the baby is all healthy, well, and good so this will be our first clue to whether something is wrong or baby is fine. I'm not one to worry much, so I'm assuming everything is great. If it's not, you know I'll be freaking out in tears on here next week.

You can't mention ultrasound (or anything pregnancy) without mentioning whether you're going to find out or not. That seems to be everyone's biggest query. Andrew and I had a pretty standard answer for the first 19 weeks of this pregnancy: we don't know, we haven't decided yet. Well... it's decision time and the decision has been made. We will find out and we will share the exciting news at our baby shower! Until then the word is mum, and don't even try to get it out of me early because no one thinks I can keep it a secret.... well all those naysayers have underestimated my stubbornness. I am glad we are telling people before delivery because let's be honest- no one likes secrets.
Have you seen the new fad of gender reveal parties?? I considered that as an option too but hadn't decided if it was cool or crazy yet. I mean, I would love it, but would anyone else?? My sister is actually the one that suggested having a gender reveal at the shower. I'm pretty pumped about it. Actually I'm really really anxious for it and cannot wait. eeeeeeek!!!! :) See what I mean? I'm thoroughly enjoying being pregnant. In fact, I told my sister that I'm excited to pack our hospital bags. She asked if I was aware that it is way too soon to do that. I told her, yes of course, I'm not that ridiculous... I'm just looking forward to it!
That takes my thoughts to something my friend wrote about in her blog tonight: (Kimberly Wyse)... something I've thought a lot about too, especially in the last 5 months. Is my excitement and joy of being pregnant hurtful or painful to people who read it? I know many friends and family members who long to be pregnant, to be a mother, but haven't been able to yet and I wonder- do you read this and twinge with pain? I guess I don't really know where to go from there.... except to say that my heart breaks and breaks and breaks for you. And I hope God's merciful grace gives me compassion and gives you hope.

In other unrelated babbling thought-news:
If you see me in other social media- you may have noticed my name change. I have been Brittany Spotts for about a year and a half now but when I introduce myself on the phone, or even real life, when I see my name written anywhere- It looks or sounds so awkward, funny, or just not me. I had a hard time giving up my name entirely which was a surprise for me. It was an identity crisis thing... I literally cried when I got my new driver's license. It said I was Brittany Spotts from Ohio... when all my life I've been Brittany King from Pennsylvania. Not that I was interested in staying Brittany King for the rest of my life, but when I went to the SS office I was planning on keeping my whole name and just tacking Spotts on at the end. Well, I get nervous under public pressure like that and I just simply became Brittany Spotts. No King. Anywhere. Except-- on Facebook, Pinterest, Emails, Instagram, etc.... I became Brittany King Spotts. I never liked having a short last name and Spotts isn't really much of an improvement in that department so having all three there (plus my middle name) looked more satisfying. Well in this last week, I've given it some more thought and I decided that maybe the reason why I say "Hi, this is Brittany King" when I call my Dr's office is because I'm not used to seeing Brittany Spotts. So I've gone through all my email and social media and changed my name to display as Brittany Spotts- my friends should remember who that is by now... so I think it's ok. (although, I confess, I put Brittany King in parentheses for Facebook... baby steps...) Brittany Spotts. That is my name. And it will someday be the name I've had for most of my life.... once I turn 51.... What are your thoughts on name changes??

Here are some more nursery projects that I got done in the last week or so:

i drew and painted this, but did not come up with the design- no creativity here!

painted a trashcan on the right and covered an old play-doh tub with wrapping paper. Maybe another trashcan?

added a background to the bookshelf. 

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!

Week 15: Only One!

How about some more stats?? :)
Size of Baby: Naval Orange
Symptoms: Round Ligament Pain
Food Cravings: none
Food Aversions: none
Weight: 152
Weight gain so far: 4 lb
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!
Sleep: With a snoogle pillow which I love!
Best moment this week: hearing the heartbeat again!
Miss Anything: Yes! sleeping through the night without having to go downstairs to pee!!!
Movement: nothing yet, just gas bubbles!
Belly Button: In, but looking different!
Wedding Rings: still fit
Looking Forward To: My sister coming next week for baby organization!

Journal:
   Check it out!! Amalah answered my question on her blog!!! I'm so excited! I read through the comments and found someone else claiming to be the original poster... funny- she must have used the same words as I did!  See it here! Amalah's blog is one I started following once I became pregnant because of her pregnancy calendar. It's much more interesting and entertaining than The Bumps.

I had my second OB appointment on Tuesday this week. When the nurse took my blood pressure right away it was super-high! 140/78! I was then nervous that this orange was giving me high blood pressure and, oh goodness, am I going to have to take medication?! Well... after sitting down for a while and getting to hear that precious heartbeat that I'm in love with my doctor took it again and it was 114/58. MUCH better and much more normal for me! *phew! Other than that it was a pretty short and easy appointment. Oh! I almost forgot! When she was checking the baby's heart rate she said, well let's make sure there's just one in there... Immediately I thought "oh shoot- Andrew isn't here... what if she finds two!!!" So she found the sweet baby's heart beat first on the left, then she went to the right and found mine, then she moved a little more towards the center and heard the baby's again. My eyes got big (because she wasn't close to the first spot) and she paused and said... "I think that's the same baby." It was the exact same heart rate and she said it was just from another angle/side. OK!!! If you say so! I'll breathe a little easier once I only SEE one. (although I think twins would be AWESOME... we're not quite financially prepared for that!!!) Anywho... from my last visit (5 weeks ago) I gained 4 lbs. Awesome... I've started to become more concerned about gaining too much weight too fast and not exercising enough. But when I put it like that, that's less than a pound a week. I think now that I'm in my second trimester I'm supposed to gain about a pound a week. Of course I gain 5 lbs in a day but seem to somehow burn it off in my sleep!

I've started taking walks with my dog more too. I'd like to make it more of a regularity but when work is exhausting and then I have to preserve my garden I don't much feel like going for a walk. I'm pretty excited about the new leash I got her though! It's one of those retractable kinds... since she likes to run off when I'm walking too slow. Actually she's pretty good about coming back and we don't walk on a very busy road, but still-- a little more peace of mind. I think she's going to be my post-baby workout too. I'll take this little orange inside me for a walk in the stroller and Libby on the leash. I daydream about those days!

Speaking of daydreams... the other day I was daydreaming about my water breaking and going into labor. I was picturing different possible scenarios and none really sounded great... I pictured it happening at work first, which is probably the worst possible place. Can you imagine your hygienist using her sharp instruments in your mouth and then suddenly writhing in pain from a contraction?? Or better yet have her polishing your teeth and all of a sudden hear a some water dripping/splashing below your head which is placed right in her lap as her water breaks?! Whoa. Talk about traumatic dental experiences. Perhaps I won't be working that late into my pregnancy though... Then I started daydreaming about my water breaking at home. I decided the only acceptable rooms would be the kitchen or the bathroom everywhere else has carpet and I don't even know how you go about cleaning that up. eeeeee......
I also daydreamed about these happening and Andrew being at work. If I am at work then I'd be REALLY close to the hospital and Andrew wouldn't be terribly far but my hospital bag would be at home.... maybe that means I should keep that in my car. :) I pictured what his reaction would be to a phone call, or his reaction to waking up in the middle of the night. How exciting.... what lovely daydreams...

In other news- my feet have been getting SO sore by the end of the night... which I'm pretty sure has nothing to do with being pregnant and has everything to do with that they always do when I'm on them a lot. I have a new routine now that I LOVE. Every night at supper I soak my feet in COLD water with Epsom salts as we're eating. It is incredibly rejuvenating to my feet and my soul. :) Last night I came home from an extra long day at work and was pretty mopey about it all and I was going to lay down in bed for a while when I saw that my awesome husband got me a bouquet of flowers. What a dear! :) So instead I laid on the floor of the dining room under the ceiling fan with my feet up on a chair. It was a sight, apparently. Andrew came in and thought I was crazy... then he gave my feet the most amazing foot massages ever. I love him. :)

You know who else I love??? (In a different way of course)  My sister, Michelle. She is coming out to visit next week and I CAN NOT WAIT!!! She's bringing the MegaBus out to Toledo (which is what I told you about and then deleted) and we're going to head straight to Babies 'R Us to register for some goodies!!! :) Well, we may make a stop at Steak & Shake on the way. (WOW I love that place!) Once we get home we're going to have so much fun ORGANIZING everything. I'm super-psyched. We have to convert my craft room/closet overflow/guest room into a nursery... while still keeping all those other things in there. I love to organize- really I do... but when it's something so huge a project like that I need reinforcements and my sister is the perfect candidate.

Much love!

Prayer:
Father, I thank you for providing a loving husband, a plentiful garden, and a home to live in. I thank you for this amazing miracle inside my womb and I marvel at the beauty of you knowing who this baby is and the person this baby will become, for you have been knitting him together for 15 weeks! I pray that you would continue to be with my baby and shape her into a healthy strong child. I pray that you would help Andrew and I as we prepare to become parents and have the unforeseeable decisions to make. Give us wisdom as we get ready to welcome our child into your world. May we be a blessing to your name forever. Amen.