~83~ Kitchen Update

With Baby H on the way, Jake and I are using this time to finish any extra projects we want to do on the house.  For the past 2 weekends, we decided to redo our kitchen floors in a faux hardwood and add a tiled back splash.  When we bought the house, there was a tan colored linoleum all throughout the house.  I've always hated it, but putting in real hardwood floors just wasn't in our budget any time soon.  The last few times I've been at Home Depot, I've noticed a faux hardwood that clicks together and is much more economical.  

When we were in one Friday to discuss carpeting in the nursery, we asked about the faux hardwood and were led to a product called Allure that is a vinyl plank flooring system that is easy to lay and requires no prior treatment or underlayment.  After reading many great reviews and knowing it's backed by a 25 year warranty, we decided to go for it.  For our 180 square foot kitchen, 8 boxes was perfect.

This stuff is pretty darn easy to lay.  It looks great-AND-it doesn't ruin your pre-existing floor, so if you end up wanting to change it or do something differently down the line, it's easy to remove.  The biggest challenge we had was getting our cuts to cut straight when a full panel wasn't needed.  This resulted in some wasted panels, but that was to be expected, which is why we made sure to overestimate how much we would need.

Take a look at the before and after pictures.  What a HUGE difference it makes.

Please excuse my lopsided kitchen towels!  How embarrassing!

The next weekend we put in back splash.  We found some great clearance tile when we went to buy the Allure flooring and decided to go for it.  On Wednesday, we laid the tile and after the 2 day waiting period grouted.  By Sunday evening, our kitchen was put back together.  The hardest part was cutting the tile and placing it around the light switches and outlets.

Even though the pictures make it look like 2 different kinds of tile, they're the same.  It's just the lighting that makes them look different. 

Next up: New Craft table and getting the nursery ready!

~82~ Week 16

Once again, another week has gone by.  The definitely seem to be moving faster now that everyone knows about Baby H.  With the holidays soon approaching, I'm sure they'll go by even quicker. 

There's not a whole lot that's changed between last week and this week, so here's the rundown:

How far along: 16weeks

Baby's Size: Avocado (4.6in long, 3.5oz)

Symptoms: Still just fatigue.  I'm taking Monday off for a personal day, and I'm very much looking forward to sleeping in and being lazy all day!

Cravings: I had a craving for mint chocolate chip ice cream this week.  Salt/Vinegar kettle chips.  Sour patch kids. 

Can't Stand: Still the usual list.  Although, I've found that it's easier for me to eat chicken if it's mixed into something.  

Best Moment: Getting the kitchen projects done and my house put back together

Worst Moment: Nothing really sticks out in my mind this week. 

Movement: I think I'm finally starting to feel some movement, which the medical books call, "quickening".  It's not super pronounced, so I'm not certain that it's Baby H, but I'm pretty sure.  I notice it most often when I first come home and crouch down to greet Buckles and Viktor.  For a fleeting moment, I feel a little fishy swimming around just below my belly button. I'm looking forward to feeling stronger movements and for Jake to be able to feel them too!

Maternity Clothes: Still not yet, but I have a feeling they aren't far away.  Pants are certainly getting tighter, and I'm starting to get a more noticeable bump. 

Nursery: We've started to get the basics taken care of.  We have new carpet scheduled to be installed mid-November.  Between now and then we plan to get the walls painted (I'll have pictures and an update next week), and the closet cleaned out and reorganized.  We've decided to go with an elephant theme, so I also ordered fabric to make a box valence over the window and pinned a bunch of different things that I want to have. 

Next Appointment: Tomorrow afternoon! It's nothing too exciting, but we'll get to hear the heartbeat again and make sure that baby is growing on track. 

What amazes me most right now is knowing how much Baby H has developed since we first found out about him/her.  S/he can hear, sense light, move their arms and legs, swallow, and all of the organs are now functioning, with the heart pumping 25 quarts of blood per day! 

~81~ Week 15

Time is ticking right along and I am now a happy 15 weeks pregnant 

(Disclaimer: I  totally typed months instead of weeks by accident first.  Now that would be interesting...)

Not a whole lot new to report this week.  "Bump Watch" is in full effect and it is growing slowly, but surely.  The oddest part of it all is that I'm technically losing weight, but my stomach is gaining inches.  A little mind-boggling to see for sure.  In all honesty, this phase of pregnancy is a bit difficult for me in that I have worked in the past couple of years to drop weight and get rid of some excess belly fat so that I could be as healthy as possible before getting pregnant.  It messes with your mind a bit to see an expanding waistline that doesn't look pregnant, just paunchy.  I have to tell myself it's okay-that's supposed to happen!  Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to lose weight at.all.  My appetite just isn't back to normal yet, and baby is still so small, so putting on the pounds hasn't quite happened yet. But, I'm certain that in the next few weeks, that will be changing!

How far along: 15 weeks.  There are less than 6 months to go!

Baby's size: Naval orange (4in long, 2.5oz)

Symptoms: Really nothing right now.  Just fatigue.  Appetite is slowly coming back! (Although, this morning, Baby H wanted to remind me that s/he is still there with a little morning sickness episode-I thought that phase was over!)

Sleep: For the most part, I'm sleeping really well.  I still usually wake up once a night just to go to the bathroom and I switch positions more often, but overall, it's pretty good!

Cravings: Hash browns (from Jethros), Sour Patch Kids

Can't Stand: Chicken, Pizza-or really anything with lots of melted cheese, smell of cilantro (not sure if any of this will change over the course of the weeks)

Missing: Sleeping on my stomach (this will be here until week 40!)

Best Moment: Picking out carpet for the nursery and registering at Target!

Worst Moment: The exhaustion and soreness that resulted from putting in a our new kitchen floor. (more on that next post)

Maternity clothes: I'm in the awkward stage now where my regular pants are starting to not fit, but I'm not big enough to wear maternity pants.  The bella band has come in handy, but I think it accentuates what little bump I have more. 

Next Appointment: Next week! I can't wait!

Until next then,

~80~ Week 14

Hello 2nd Trimester!

Looking back, it's hard to believe that it's been over 10 weeks since I first found out that I am pregnant.  Saying/typing that out loud makes it seem like time has flown by, but in the day to day it feels like it's dragging.  Only 6 more weeks until we find out if Baby H is a boy or girl!

Here's this week's rundown. 

How far along: 14weeks

Baby's size: A lemon (3.4in long, 1.5oz)

Symptoms: I'm happy to report that the nausea/morning sickness seems to finally be subsiding (knock on wood).  The food aversions (melted cheese, meat) are still alive and kicking, but I'm starting to feel like a normal person.  

Sleep: I'm still waiting for the 2nd tri energy boost to arrive.  I am still tired pretty much all of the time (thank goodness grad school is over!).  Naps are my best friend and getting up in the morning is a really struggle.  I'm still dealing with some hip pain, and I am dying to sleep on my stomach, but am doing well at refraining. 

Cravings: Honeycrisp apples.  Hashbrowns.

Can't stand: Chicken, Pizza-or really anything with lots of melted cheese, smell of cilantro

Missing: Sleeping on my stomach, Wine, Ibuprofen

Best Moment: Not having to hug the toilet.  Buying a few things for baby :)

Worst Moment: Headaches.  Tylenol sucks.

Maternity Clothes: I'm still in my regular clothes, but I don't think that will last much longer in the pants department without the Bella-Band.  Things are starting to get a lit bit tight. 

Movement: I told Jake that I swear I've felt some movement in the last week.  It might be all in my mind, but I'm pretty certain I've felt something.  Could totally be gas though.  Feels kind of like a fish flopping around.  Weirdest feeling ever.  I've looking forward to more consistent and definitely movement!

Baby Gear: We bought a Pack N' Play and bouncer/jumper from some friends.  I also picked up a pack of white onesies and baby hangers at Target, and a carton of 1,000 wipes from Costco, but other than that, we're waiting until after the anatomy scan at the end of November to buy much.  My plan is to buy some of the little necessities (onesies, wipes, baby hygiene) throughout to start stock-piling, but we won't do a ton of shopping until the spring.   

Next Appointment: October 30th

~79~ Seasons of Love

525,600 minutes

525,000 moments so dear

525,600 minutes

How do you measure...measure a year?

In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights-

in cups of coffee. 

In inches, in miles, in laugher-

in strife.

In 525,600 minutes, 

how do you measure

a year in the life?

How about love?

Measure in love.

Seasons Of Love.

On August 1, 2014, Jake and I entered a new season of love.  

On this day, just over 12 weeks ago, we found out we are expecting our first child, due mid-April. 

Since then it's been a roller coaster of emotion.  

Excitement, disbelief, sheer happiness, nervousness, giddiness, worry, thrill, anxiousness, .  

But most importantly love. 

Love for each other. 

Love for the new life we've created together. 

On September 4, 2014, after waiting an agonizing 4 weeks, we finally got to see our little peanut for the first time and it was love at first sight. 

Although we didn't get to hear the heartbeat, we saw it rapidly beating away at 169 bpm. 

Since finding out that Baby H (as we affectionately call him/her) would be arriving soon, we started telling immediate family members and our closest friends.  It would be an understatement to say that all were very excited to be adding a new baby to the mix!

Another 4 weeks later, on October 2, 2014, we got to hear the most beautiful sound ever.  Baby H's heartbeat.  Knowing that s/he was growing right on track and having reached the coveted 12 week mark, we openly and excitedly shared our news with work and extended group of family and friends. 

Craig Erickson Photography in Des Moines, Iowa took some breathtaking photos of us, which we used in our announcement. 

For work, I baked 2 pink and blue checkerboard cakes (1 for each building I work at), and decorated them to announce our news. 

And now, here's the run-down on how things have been going thus far:

How Far Along: 12 weeks, 2 days

Baby's Size: A plum!

Symptoms: I'm finally starting to feel normal again.  For most of my pregnancy I've dealt with the unpleasantries of all-day nausea.  As a result, my diet has been a little bit off-kilter, but I'm taking it one day at a time and eating what I can, when I can.  

Sleep: I've also been more tired than usual and taking in as much sleep as I can. However, I've already started having difficulty sleeping due to painful hips and finding a comfortable position.  I've found that stretching before bed really helps minimize the pain.

Cravings: Fruit, soft serve ice cream, McDonald's oatmeal, pasta.

Can't stand: Meat (most of the time), melted cheese, eggs, the smell of cilantro (gag me!)

Missing: Eating like a normal person, sleeping on my stomach (I was doing it for a while, but my doctor advised that I really should try to stop now, or it might make it even harder to sleep when I'm too big to sleep on my stomach.)

Maternity Clothes: Not yet.  A friend of mine gave me a Bella Band to use with my regular pants.  I've used it once, but haven't really had to other than that.  I did buy a bunch of clothes from Old Navy when they had a sale, but aside from the maxi skirt, I haven't worn any of it yet. 

Next Appointment: End of October at 16 weeks. 

I probably won't update every week, but I will do my best to keep up with "bump" pictures and Baby H's stats :)

Until then,