~101~34 weeks=Baby Time?!?

Believe it or not, our little man has arrived!!
Introducing: Ethan Michael

After wrapping up spring conferences on Thursday and heading home, I knew something wasn't quite right.  I'd been having some sporatic contractions during the day and the previous night, but that evening, they were "longer, stronger, and closer together" to quote our prenatal instructor.  I had already seen and talked to my OB about them twice that week and after a check showed that I wasn't dilated, they chalked it up to braxton hick's contractions.  After 2 hours of intensely painful contractions, I made another call into my OB who advised that I drink some water and try to sleep.  I was told that if I couldn't sleep through them I should come in.

At 12:45, after an hour of trying to fall asleep only to writhe in pain just as I started to nod off, I told Jake we needed to go on.  We quickly packed bags and jumped in the car.  At this point, my contractions were so unbearable that I rode in the front seat fully reclined, leaning over the back of it. I probably freaked Jake out a bit because every time a contraction came (approximately every 3 min), I loudly moaned and screamed in pain.

As soon as we arrived at the hospital (around 1:20), the desk attendant called up to labor and delivery and before you can say "epidural", a team of 5 nurses came running out of the elevator and whisked me upstairs.  They quickly got me into a bed and discovered that I was dilated 9cm! I was floored and shocked.  There was no turning back at this point.  Our little guy was coming tonight whether we were ready or not.  Fortunately, because my water hadn't broken yet and baby wasn't in distress, they weren't in a hurry to deliver him and I was offered an epidural.  Thank goodness!  It was almost instant relief, and the best thing I could have asked for.  The anesthesiologist made a point give a low dose so that I was able to still feel my contractions, but not the pain associated with them.  By 3:30, I was at 10cm and ready to push.

Just over an hour later, at 4:32am, our sweet, beautiful son entered the world and cried his first cry! I remember holding my breath as the doctor suctioned his mouth, waiting to hear that cry.  And cry he did.  It was the most amazing, perfect sound I've ever heard.

Due to how early in the pregnancy I was (34 weeks, 2 days), Ethan is considered a late-term preemie.  Therefore, after a quick hello and kiss on the forehead, he was brought up to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) for evaluation.  Jake followed with him while I waited in the delivery room.  Unfortunately, I was not allowed to go up and see him until 2 1/2 hours later.  I decided to use this time to notify our family and friends of Ethan's arrival.  Jake came back down a little while later.  Ethan weighed 5lbs,4oz and was 18.25in. long.

FINALLY, I was taken up to the NICU where I was able to see Ethan and hold his hand before being brought down to the recovery room.  At this point, Jake and I had both been awake for 26 consecutive hours and could barely see straight.  He decided to go home to sleep and let the dogs out.  I laid down in our recovery and attempted to fall asleep.  That lasted all of an hour and a half.  After changing out of my hospital gown and refreshing my face, I headed up to the NICU to finally hold my son.  His tiny body had leads connected to his chest monitoring his heart rate and breathing.  He also had an IV in his hand to deliver antibiotics and fluids (glucose).

That day, both sets of grandparents came to visit Ethan for the first time and shower him with hugs and kisses. He is one lucky kiddo :)  We also met with the neonatologist who first assessed him and learned that while there were a few things we needed to monitor, he was doing great.  He was breathing fine on his own without oxygen, had good color, and good muscle tone.  We were so relieved and so in love!

And so began our journey as parents and our lives as a family of 3.

~100~ 100th Post!!! Pregnancy Favorites

In celebration of my 100th post, I thought I'd share my pregnancy "must haves" and favorites.

1. Snoogle.  I was lucky enough to snag this from my MIL who randomly bought one at a garage sale and had been storing.  A new cover made it like new and it's been my sleeping buddy since about week 8.  Pre-pregnancy, I was a stomach sleeper and this bad boy helped me recreate the feeling of stomach sleeping.  It was also great for supporting my hips while side-sleeping and the hook at the end was nice for when I would transition from one side to the other in the middle of the night. 

2. Burt's Bees Mama Belly Cream. This was a gift from a friend and it is amazing.  I didn't think it would be possible, but that little jar has lasted me all pregnancy.  I might have to buy 1 more because it's starting to get down there, I'd say that's pretty awesome regardless. It's unscented, smooth, and has good coverage.  After each shower, I rub it all over my stomach, hips, and butt.  So far-no stretch marks!

3. Belly Band. For whatever reason, my body just isn't built for maternity pants.  They are constantly falling off and are super uncomfortable.  Luckily, thanks to my belly bands, I've been able to continue wearing my pre-pregnancy pants without a problem.  I have 1 in black from Target and 1 in cream from Old Navy.  I recently realized that I've been wearing them "wrong" this whole time, but eh, it worked for me.  I always tucked half of it into my pants and then pulled the other half up and over the top of my jeans.  When looking for a picture of one for this post, I discovered that they all show it being worn just over the top of the jeans and sometimes on top of the stomach too.  

4. Old Navy Maternity Tanks. Speaking of maternity clothes and Old Navy, I have LOVED these long cotton tanks.  They are great for layering, are super soft, and long enough to cover my belly during all stages of growth.  I have one in black, white, grey, and navy blue.  

5. Well stocked go-to food-There have been many times during my pregnancy that certain foods either couldn't be stomached, or were the only things that I could eat.  During the 1st trimester, when my nausea was high and my appetite was low, smoothies and greek yogurt were my lifesavers.  They provided nutrition (particularly protein) that I needed without having to chew anything-something I struggle with when I'm not hungry.  Since then, yogurt has remained a staple as has Archer Farms french vanilla granola, Kraft Mac N'Cheese (particularly the shapes kind), fruit (strawberries, pineapple, clementines), steamed veggies (cauliflower, broccoli, carrots), bagels and cream cheese, and oddly enough-peanut butter and jelly-something I haven't craved in years. 

~99~ 2 months to go!

When I first posted about the impending arrival of Baby H, we were barely 2 months pregnant (ok, 3 months, but the first 3 weeks don't really count anyway); now we're just under 2 months away from meeting our little guy.  I thought that waiting 18 months between our engagement and wedding day seemed long.  And yet, somehow this 9 month wait feels even longer. 

With many exciting events coming up in the next month, I'm sure hoping it will fly by.  I have just 3 1/2 weeks until spring break and my first baby shower.  Then I only have another 3 1/2 weeks until baby's due date!!

This past week was quite fun.  My parents came to visit for the weekend and we had a great time.  Friday night I cooked a Korean dinner for them: Bulgogi, Mandu, Kimchi, and rice.  It was delish!

On Saturday, my mom and I got manicures while the guys watched the ISU basketball team win before heading to meet my aunt and uncle for dinner downtown at RoCA.  Fun Fact: the next night on The Bachelor, Chris and his date went to RoCA.  It was pretty neat seeing Des Moines on tv!  The weekend went by way too fast, but it was comforting to know that we'll get to see my parents again in just a month.  In fact, between February-June, we'll get to see them at least once a month :)

We also found out on Saturday that my cousin, who is due in June, is having a little BOY!  I can't wait for the cousins to get together and play!  It makes me wish even more that they didn't live half way across the country. 

On Tuesday I had a prenatal appointment.  I'm measuring right on track and it seems that Baby may already be head down.  All of my vitals were perfect and Baby's heartbeat was 140bpm.  It took a more than a few seconds for my doctor to find it which made me slightly nervous.  However, he was just moving around so much that it took a little bit to get a clear sound.  

Here's what else is going on with Baby H this week:

How far along: 32 weeks! 

Baby's Size: Squash (roughly 16in long, 3.5lbs)

Symptoms: Increased lower abdominal pressure-which leads to increased restroom breaks, Acid reflux, Braxton Hick's contractions, starting to get tired/out of breath more easily.

Movement: Now that Baby is head down, he likes to push his butt up on my right side and is slowly starting to creep into my ribs.  I occasionally have to push him back into place to relieve the pressure.  His movements aren't as concentrated to a particular time of day.  It's pretty much all day long with a few breaks here or there.  I can't remember if I've already mentioned it (pregnancy brain!), but I read that in utero, babies are at a stage where they sleep in regular cycles, but usually for no longer than an hour at a time.

Best Moment: Having my parents visit and finding out the sex of Baby H's cousin

Worst Moment: Nothing that I can think of.  My cold still hasn't completely disappeared, but it's getting there.

~98~ Single Digits

9 weeks left!!

I go back and forth between feeling like Baby H is going to be here SO soon, and feeling like we're forever away from meeting him.  Every time I wish he was here right now, I remind myself that for him to be as healthy as possible, I need to tap into the patience that's laying dormant deep down inside of me and just wait.  After all, once he's here, I know that I'm going to be wishing that time could slow down. 

Not a ton happened this week.  I'm finally starting to get over this stupid cold, which is relieving.  This week we had our last prenatal class.  It was only an hour long since we'd already had our hospital tour, so it was nice to get home at a little earlier.  At this point, we decided it'd be a good idea to start packing my hospital bag, just in case, so I've ordered a couple things that we used in class.  I'll do a separate post soon about the contents of my hospital bag. 

This week's updates: 

How far along: 31w1d

Baby's Size: A pineapple (approx 15.5-16.5in, 3.3lbs)

Symptoms: Congestion, acid reflux, feeling out of breath after walking up a lot of stairs or long distances. 

Best Moment: Finding out that some of my friends and my MIL are throwing me a baby shower in a few weeks

Worst Moment: Being sick with a cold. 

Movement: He's still moving all the time.  I'm pretty sure he's laying transversally with his head to my left and his feet along my right side.  Every now and then he'll pop his foot out and I'll have this random lump sticking out of my belly. I keep hoping he'll do it when Jake's around so that he can see/feel it.
Misc: I haven't had an uninterrupted night's sleep in months.  I keep thinking to myself that I can't wait for the day when I can sleep through the night and not have to get up.  Then I realize that's not going to happen for a very, very, long time.

My parents are coming to visit this weekend, so next week I'll post about that and Valentine's day.
Until then, 

~97~ 30 weeks down, 10 to go!

Even less than that by the time I officially publish this post.  

We're at the point in pregnancy now that I have regular check ups every 2 weeks instead of once of a month.  On Thursday I had my 30 week appointment.  Baby's heartbeat was 134.  I'm measuring almost a week ahead, so everything is looking good.   I asked my OB about my weight gain, because based on the scale, it doesn't seem like I've gained very much, but my belly says otherwise.  I feel HUGE! She reassured me that I'm gaining right on track for 3rd trimester and has no concerns.

We're also almost done with our prenatal class with only 1 class left.  This last week, we learned about the final stage of labor (transition) and birth.  Part of it included watching a video with a live birth-something I wasn't exactly expecting.  

Here's how this week went: 

How far along: 30w2d

Baby's Size: A Cucumber (appox. 15.5inches, 3lbs)

Symptoms: Muscle cramps at night, acid reflux, some right sided hip pain is starting to come back, lower abdominal pressure, and Braxton Hick's contractions.

Best Moment: Getting my dress for the my MN Baby Shower, hearing Baby H's heartbeat again.

Worst Moment: Dealing with a bad cold

Movement: I'm pretty sure I felt either his fist or foot poking out of my belly the other day.  His movements are most consistent at night between 9-11pm.  He'll usually kick multiple times in a row and each time I'll stop what I'm doing and just watch my belly do the wave. 

Baby Purchases: I was at Target the other night and found an adorable sweater vest and pant outfit on clearance.  I couldn't help but buy it.  My cousin is getting married the first weekend in May and if we're able to go, it'd be the perfect outfit.  

Belly Button: Out

Rings: On and comfy.  They even spin! Thank goodness for being pregnant during colder months so that I'm not having much swelling (knock on wood). 

Stretch Marks: Not yet-thankfully.  I use Mama Bee's belly butter every morning and have been able to avoid them so far.  From what I've read they're hereditary any way, so I may not be able to prevent them regardless. 

~96~Is it March Yet?

  As we wrap up the end of January, I can't help but want February to just disappear.  I guess on the upside it is a short month.  Since before Thanksgiving, it's the longest stretch of school that I'll have without a break.  Add in more cold, and now me getting bigger, it'll feel even longer than the 6.5 weeks it actually is.  

Anyone who knows me, or has been reading this blog for a while knows that March is my favorite month.  Considering the start of spring (along with spring break) and my birthday fall in this month, what's not to love about it?

In addition to the normal perks of March, Jake will be going to Vegas for a bachelor party, and then my MN Baby Shower is the following weekend at the start of Spring Break. I can't wait!

Ok, here's the rundown from this past week

How far along: 29 weeks! 

Baby's Size: An Acorn Squash (approx 15.5 inches long and 3LBs)

Symptoms: Braxton Hicks contractions, and lower abdominal pressure, acid reflux, needing to go to the bathroom all.the.time.

Best Moment: Jake getting to SEE baby moving around in my belly.  Definitely crazy and memorizing to watch.  

Worst Moment: Dealing with a leaky sink, clogged pipe, and broken dishwasher in the same weekend.

Misc: Thankfully, I'm still sleeping well, even though I miss being able to sleep on my stomach.  Typically I have to get up to go to the bathroom around 3 or 4am, but I'm able to fall back asleep quickly.  I'm starting to find it more exhausting to walk and climb stairs, and am running out of breath more easily.  As much as I love going to movies, sitting through one is not very comfortable at all.   I'm also very grateful that I have managed to avoid stretch marks, I have minimal (if any) swelling, and my rings are not only fitting, but loose.  

~95~ 28 Weeks

This week has been semi-eventful.  

On Monday, I had my 28 week appointment, where I got to hear Baby H's perfect heartbeat of 138bpm.  Everything is measuring right on track as we start to head into the final stretch.  By the end of January, we'll be down to 10 weeks to go!  At this point in my mind, I really just need to get through February.  

Tuesday we had our second prenatal class, which we both enjoyed.  A majority of it was spent learning about and trying different laboring positions.  One thing that I didn't realize is that early labor (which occurs prior to heading to the hospital) can last from 6 to 12 hours!  My thought is, do I try and do that at work if necessary, or do I go home?  I guess I'll only be able to make that decision when it happens.   Talking about and using some of the techniques in class makes everything that much more real!

Thursday, I went back to OB for my glucose screening test.  This consisted of drinking a very sugary drink within 5 minutes and then having my blood drawn to check my blood sugar levels.  I was anticipating that it'd taste horrible, but it wasn't bad at all.  I equated it to a Freeze Pop that had melted.  Thankfully, my blood glucose levels came back normal and I was not flagged for gestational diabetes!

Here's my summary of the week: 

How Far Along: 28w1d

Baby's Size: An eggplant (1.5-2.5lbs, 13.6-14.8inches)  

*Side note, I'm pretty sure these are the same measurements as last week.  In the 3rd trimester the growth of the fetus can vary the same way people can vary in height and weight.  

Symptoms: Acid reflux, increased urination.  I swear, I can't go more than hour without feeling like my bladder is going to burst.  

Best Moment: 

Worst Moment: 

Movement: Tons.  I'm not completely sure that I'm not growing an alien baby.  It can be pretty mesmerizing to watch my belly take on all sorts of shapes.  Sometimes, he'll kick so hard it hurts.  This week is also when I'm supposed to begin counting kicks.  A healthy baby should kick at least 10 times within 2 hours.  At this point, Baby H goes through regular sleep and awake cycles, and typically will sleep no more than an hour at a time.  Not only that, but Baby H can also dream!  What he dreams about, I can't even begin to imagine.  

Appointments: Now that we're well into the 3rd trimester, appointments are now every 2 weeks. This will continue until I read 36 weeks. 

Misc: My belly button is almost 100% outtie :(  It's flirting between being an innie and an outtie, but it's definitely leaning towards being an outtie now.  

~94~ 3rd Trimester

As of Monday, I am officially in my 3rd trimester! 

Only 13 weeks to go.  

This week, we started our prenatal classes.  They run for 5 weeks and are hosted by the hospital that we'll deliver at.  Best part-they're FREE!  In fact, our hospital offers all sort of different classes for free.  Jake will be going to another one in February that is just for Dads-to-be, and then we have a breastfeeding essentials class in March. 

This week's class focused on an overview of pregnancy and labor.  Most of the time was spent going over logistics, doing introductions, and talking about how our pregnancies have gone so far.  We both liked the instructor and are looking forward to next week's class.  A couple of things we learned:

1. Cold Sores exposure can be fatal for infants under 1 year old.
2. The power of massage, calming music, and a focal point for reducing pain and promoting relaxation.
3. Only 10% of women have their water break outside of the hospital.  I always thought it a much higher percentage. 

Other than that, here's what this what's going on with Baby H.

How far along: 27 weeks

Baby's Size: Rutabaga (13.6-14.8 inches long, 1.5-2.5lbs)

Symptoms: Acid reflux (at least that's what I Think it is).  Apparently this means that baby will be born with lots of hair.  

Best Moment: Starting prenatal classes.  Things are starting to get real!  We also bought an elliptical, which was exciting for us :)

Worst Moment: Nothing that I can think of. 

Movement: I am definitely feeling him all over.  I mostly feel him at night while sitting on the couch.   He is situated pretty low, so no jabs in the ribs yet, thankfully!  His movements are starting to feel less like punches and more like rolling. 

Appointments: Next Thursday I have my Glucose challenge test.  Fingers crossed I pass and don't have to do the 3 hour test!

Note: I apologize for the absence of "bump" pictures.  I never remember to take them in the morning, and as soon as I get home from work, I change into PJs, which are not photo worthy.  I promise to take one soon!

~93~ Happy New Year (weeks 25/26)

Happy 2015!
It's going to be a big year for me :)
We're having a BABY!
I'm entering my 30s (gulp).

When did I become such an adult?

In all honestly, I am so happy with where my life currently is, and where it is going.  Of course there are the expected ups and downs, and the road ahead can be a little daunting at times; but when I sit back and look at what I've accomplished before turning 30, I feel really good about it.  I have  an amazing husband, friends and family a girl could ask for, a beautiful home, the cutest puppies ever, the best , a career that I love, a Master's degree, and now I get the privilege of being someone's mom. I cannot wait!  We are now less than 100 days until little man's due date!

*Here's my update*
How far along: 26 weeks
Baby's Size: Head of lettuce (13.6-14.8 inches, 1.5-2.5lbs)
Symptoms: Not much except for what I think are Braxton Hick's contractions.
Best Moment: Being able to say that I'm due this year :) That and having 2 very nice, low-key, and relaxing weeks off.  It was exactly what I needed!
Worst Moment: Can't think of anything at the moment.
Movement: Lots.  I tend to feel him moving more at night than at any other time during the day.  Sometimes it feels like a vibration, other times, it feels like he's knocking.
Appointments: Our last appointment went great.  Heartbeat was 152bpm and he had the hiccups.  Next appointment is in 2.5 weeks when I take my glucose challenge test.  The lovely orange drink is currently chilling in the fridge.
Names: We've thrown around a few ideas, but have decided to wait on choosing a name until after he's born and we get to meet him face-to-face.
Other News: My belly button is on the verge of disappearing.  It's still an "innie", but not for much longer.

Until next week,

~92~ Christmas Recap & 24 weeks

Merry Christmas!!

I hope everyone had as wonderful a Christmas as we did.  Of course, it wouldn't be Christmas without a little crafting and baking involved.  Per usual, I made frosted sugar cookies to bring to school and to our Christmas celebrations.  Each year, I feel like I refine my technique and make better and better looking cookies.  Here's what the last 2 years looked like

and now, this year's

In addition to cookies, I also made a gift box of blank, any occasion cards, which were specifically requested.  I decided to create 5 different designs and make 4 of each.  I also wanted to make sure I had a variety of styles and color designs. 

Finally, I wanted to include a box to house all of the cards and envelopes together.  I have made card boxes before, but they were stand up boxes, and for this project, I wanted a more traditionally looking box.  I contemplated finding and buying one, but then ultimately decided to try making one.  I had some sturdy black card stock left over from my cousin's wedding invitations, so I used that for the base and then covered it with some pretty paper that I had received from my secret santa at school.  The final touch was adding adhesive velcro so that the box could be held shut and easily opened. 

I also just got done making some thank you cards for our family and friends who spoiled us this year. 

Our Christmas celebrations officially started on the Tuesday before when we drove up to Minneapolis to celebrate with my side of the family.  As usual, on Christmas Eve, I made Swedish meatballs - a much anticipated staple in our evening feast.  Unfortunately, much of my family was battle illness, and my nephew was unable to join us.  Thankfully, with the technology of Skype, we were still able to "see" and wish each other a Merry Christmas.  

The best part of that night was a surprise Jake had been keeping from me.  Traditionally, we spend Christmas Eve with my side in Minneapolis, and then hurry home early Christmas Day to be with Jake's side of the family.  However, this year, Jake arranged for us to stay at my parents for both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day so that I could see my aunt, uncle, and cousin who were coming Christmas afternoon, and live in Baltimore.  

I've always been particularly close to them, and what made this year even more special was the announcement that my cousin is expecting a baby in June!  I was incredibly touched by Jake's gift to me!  It was so special getting to see and share in the excitement with my cousin, especially since we realized it would most likely be over a year until we'd get to see each other again-due to busy schedules and both of us having newborns.  

The day after Christmas brought another fun-filled day with family as we traveled back to Iowa to be with Jake's side of the family.  We ate lots of delicious food, opened presents, and played a couple of games. 

I don't know what Jake or I did this year, that got us on the nice list, but we were beyond spoiled this year-by our families, and each other!  

Here are some of the highlights: 

A new bathmat for our master bathroom from my grandma.  We finished it off by getting a plush grey rug and a new scale.

Lots of crafting gear, including a crafter's encyclopedia, chalkboard craft paper, "The First Few Years" cricut cartridge, and a new embossing folder for my cuttlebug.  Side note: the Anna Griffin embossing folders are awesome! 

 Most of her designs are A7 (5x7) sized, which have been hard for me to find.  In addition, they tend to have more modern designs and include not only an A7 folder, but a border as well. 

Even with our limited amount of time, and time tight schedule, I always make time to see my BFF, Lauren.  She was able to come over for about an hour on Christmas Eve, when we caught up on our lives, and chatted about the Serial podcast, and exchanged gifts.  One of the items she gave me is this beautiful trivet that she got from the Korean Heritage House in St. Paul, MN, which is run by our dance instructor from Korean Culture Camp days.  I absolutely love it!

From my parents, I got a new computer bag that I desperately wanted.  The one I currently had was worn and starting to fall apart.  It was also very "college-student-esque" in style and I wanted something that looked more grown up and professional.  

It's a beautiful black quilted bag with lots of pockets, including one specifically for my laptop.  One of the first things I did when we got home was transfer everything from the old bag to my new one.  

Aside from my unexpected surprise, my favorite gifts were necklaces.  One was from Santa and features a beautiful pearl sitting underneath an iridescent bead.  The other is from Jake and features the Korean Hangul lettering for mom, or "Umma".  For many years, I had a similar necklace that I bought at KCC and said, "peace", which I sadly lost during one of our trips to Vegas.  the best part of the necklace is the adjustable chain that Jake bought from our favorite jeweler.  The chain easily adjusts to a longer or shorter chain and has a cute, tiny heart on the end.

Of course, Jake and I weren't the only ones who were spoiled this Christmas.  Baby H got quite a lot as well.  My aunt and uncle gave him an Iowa State knit blanket and hat, which goes perfectly the ISU onesies Jake got from his secret santa at work.  Baby H also got a bunch of books from my brother and sister-in-law which were some of my nephew's favorites.  Jake's uncle, got him a Walking Dead onesie, and lastly, Santa got him some adorable knit booties. 

Christmas Eve also marked my 24th week of pregnancy.  This week is significant, as it is the first milestone of viability.  This means that if I were to go into labor early, and Baby H were born, his chance of survival would be more than 50%.  While this provides a sense of relief and comfort, we certainly hope that he keeps baking for at least 13 more weeks. 

My brother, SIL, and nephew hadn't seen me in over 7 weeks, so my bump was one of the first things they noticed.  Even compared to 4 weeks ago at Thanksgiving, there was a noticeable difference for my parents and grandma. 

Monday we have our last appointment of the calendar year.  Our 1st appointment in January will include my glucose challenge test (hopefully I'll pass with flying colors!), and then our appointments will be scheduled every 2 weeks, as I'll move into the 3rd trimester!

~91~ 6 months

I am now in my 6th month of pregnancy and things are ticking right along.

It dawned on me the other day that in just a few weeks, I'll be able to say, "we're having a baby THIS year!".  It's still a bit surreal.  For the most part, I feel ready.  Here's what we've checked off so far:  

The nursery.

 Daycare is lined up.  

We've registered for baby things.

We've registered for birthing classes . 

Then I'll have those 'oh my gosh' moments and completely doubt myself.

Things we still need to do in the next couple of months:

Line up insurance for baby. 

Pick out a pediatrician. 

Decide on a baby savings/investment plan.

Make a list of names we like.

Discuss a 'birth plan'. 

Get a long-term sub for me and start writing sub plans. 

When I focus on the first list, I feel much more at ease.  When I think about the second list, I can feel my heart beat a little faster.  At this point, we're still far enough away from baby day (as I call it) that I haven't felt too much burning pressure to get the rest of the items checked off of the list, but I know that #1 and #2 are top priority at this point.  In fact after the holidays, those will be the first things to get moved to the done list. 

Aside from that, things are great!  I had a bit of a tough weekend last weekend, but things have much improved.  Here's the run-down:

How far along: 23 weeks

Baby's size: A grapefruit (10.5-11.8in, 12.7-20.8oz)

Symptoms: Lots of muscle strain and pain.  Hearty appetite.

Cravings: Call me a kid, but Mac N' Cheese.  Mmmm..., Clementines, and granola with raspberries.

Best Moment: Seeing friends and family over the weekend.  I also made some yummy Christmas sugar cookies. :)

Worst Moment: Having leg pain so bad that it kept me up at night.  Thankfully lots of tylenol, warm baths, and compression socks helped clear that up.  

Movement: Lots.  Still pretty low.  It's mostly at night or early in the morning.  From what I've ready, he now has regular sleep patterns/cycles, and since I'm up and moving during the day, that when I'd guess he's sleeping. 

Maternity Clothes: Same as last week -  I'm still in the awkward stage.   My regular pants are way too tight, but are manageable with the belly band.  Maternity pants are still way too big.  They don't really have a waist, so they are constantly falling off my hips.  They also don't have belt loops.  If it weren't for the full panel, I'd have a plumber's butt every time I wear them.  Leggings and maxi skirts are awesome. 

~90~ Weeks 21 and 22

Today's a double feature since I didn't get around to posting for week 21.  It feels like I just finished cleaning up from Thanksgiving-there's no way it's already been 2 weeks!

21 Weeks

This week was particularly fun because it's when I told my students that we're expecting a baby boy!  I decided it would be fun to play hangman last Friday and they took turns guessing letters to spell out the phrase, "Mrs. H. is going to have a baby boy in April!"  The rule before we started was that they weren't allowed to blurt out the sentence before all of the letters were in place, even if they knew what it said.  This is what made it especially fun.  Many students were able to figure it out once the B and Y were in place, but there was always 1 or 2 in the group who just hadn't put 2 and 2 together.  The excitement they had waiting to blurt it out was priceless.  I wish I would have video taped it.  They were all very excited.  Some were in disbelief.  Many are already giving me lots of name ideas.  

2 other teachers in my morning building are also pregnant and also due in April, so there is definitely a baby boom around here!

Here's how I felt that week:

Baby's Size: Pomegranate (10.5in, 12.7oz)

Symptoms: Increased appetite for sure.  I am definitely eating more than I did before.  Baby's growing a lot more each day now, so this is to be expected.  

Best Moment: Telling my students at school

Worst Moment: Bad headaches every day for over a week

Movement: I feel him everyday.  Usually in the morning, and around lunch time.  He typically kicks pretty low in my abdomen just under my pant line, so it can be a bit weird feeling since they're already tight to begin with.  At night, I feel kicks higher up around my belly button. 

Maternity Clothes: My grandma so kindly hemmed a pair of dress pants for me over Thanksgiving. I also ordered another 2 pairs in the same style, but different colors.  I had bought some cute cords with my other dress pants, but they were too tight.  Who's bright idea was it to make "slim fit" pants for a pregnant woman?  I'm still in the awkward stage though.  My regular pants are way too tight, but are manageable with the belly band.  Maternity pants are still way too big.  They don't really have a waist, so they are constantly falling off my hips.  They also don't have belt loops.  If it weren't for the full panel, I'd have a plumber's butt every time I wear them.  Leggings and maxi skirts are awesome. 

Weight Gain: I'm weighing in just under 3 LBs higher than my pre-pregnancy weight.  Thanks to Advocare, I was able to really get my health and weight under control before getting pregnant.  Even at 5 months pregnant, I'm still 8 LBs lighter than I was 3 winters ago, not pregnant. 

Week 22

Nothing too eventful going on this week. We've finalized Christmas present plans, which feels good.  Not all of them have been bought/ordered, but we at least know what we're getting everyone. We're now down to 12 days.  Ahh!  Only 6 more days of teaching.  It'll be nice to have a few days to mellow out and get stuff ready for the Christmas bustle. 

Not a whole lot is new from last week, but here's the rundown: 

How Far Along: 22 weeks, 1 day

Baby's Size: Papaya (around 11.5in, 13-20oz)

Symptoms: Lower back pain, dry sinuses/throat

Best Moment: Getting a new tub pillow for baths from my secret santa :)  I've never been a big bath person, but they've been great for getting some relaxation in and soaking away some of the aches and pains. 

Worst Moment: Nothing really

Movement: Lots.  In fact, he's kicking right now!  His kicks have gotten strong enough that I can see them from the outside.  I tried recording them last night, but they're hard to see on video. 

Maternity Clothes: Here and there, but mostly I'm still in my regular clothes. 

Weight Gain: I haven't weighed myself in almost a week.  My guess is that I'm up about 3 to 3.5lbs. 

~89~ Happy Halfway!

When I was on swim team in HS, we'd often cheer each other on during a particularly long practice or set by saying, "Happy Halfway".  I'm very excited to say that we've hit the halfway mark in my pregnancy.  We celebrated this milestone by getting to see baby again!

We are very pleased to report that Baby H was perfectly healthy!  Everything is forming and functioning exactly as it should be.  We couldn't be happier with this news!

On top of finding out that we had a healthy baby growing right on track, we also found out the sex of Baby H!  Prior to the appointment, I had a little feeling that it was going to be a girl, but I had also had a dream that it was boy, so I wasn't too sure which one it was going to be.  However, as soon as the ultrasound technician moved the wand over the area, I instantly knew.  

We are thrilled to announce that in April, 2015, we will be meeting our baby....

BOY!


In addition hearing that we have a healthy baby boy, we were pleasantly surprised by 3D and 4D images.  In the past, I've always thought that 3D images look kind of creepy, (and I still stand by that), but the 4D ones are incredible! The detail was amazing and it took my breath away to get a glimpse of what our little boy is starting to look like.  I can't wait until we get to see it in person!

After our ultrasound, Jake and I returned the girl clothes we had bought the weekend prior during an Old Navy sale.  We had wanted to take advantage of the deals, so we bought for both boy and girl, and decided to return what we didn't need.  We also stopped at JoAnn Fabrics to get some fabric for a curtain over the closet and a crib rail cover I wanted to make.  My parents graciously bought us the crib that we wanted, which arrived and was assembled on Tuesday.  I love, love, love it!  The white really pops against the teal wall.  

I'm a pretty novice seamstress, but I know enough of the basics that I felt comfortable sewing a basic curtain and attempting to create a crib rail cover that I had seen when shopping at Suite Dreams a few weekends prior.  While it's not exactly professional quality-I'm pretty darn proud of myself for being able to do as well as I did, and at a fraction of the cost. 

We announced the sex of Baby H to our families on Thanksgiving after dinner, using a carrot cake that I had baked the night before and filled with blue frosting.  The suspense was pretty much killing my mom and she kept trying to trick me into slipping, but I was too smart for that ;)

Many people thought that we were having a girl, so they were very surprised, and excited to find out that we're having a boy.  Shortly after, we went public in Facebook.  

Since I'm not friends with all of my coworkers on Facebook, I made 60 cupcakes on Sunday night to bring to school.  Each one was filled with blue frosting with blue and pink swirled frosting on top.  I placed them in the teacher's lounge along with a sign that said, "Boy or Girl? What will Baby H be? Take a bite, and you will see!"

Last, but not least, here's the run down for this week

How far along: 20 weeks, 5 days

Baby's Size: Banana (6.5 inches, 10.2oz)

Symptoms: Still having some hip and round ligament pain.  I've also been getting headaches almost everyday.  I'm thinking it's partially attributed to not drinking enough water.  I still stand by my opinion that tylenol is the worst drug ever made. 

Weight Gain: Up 2.5 lbs.  

Best Moment: Finding out that baby is healthy and perfectly formed and a BOY! And, telling our families.  And, getting the nursery mostly finished. 

Worst Moment: The recurring headaches that I've been getting for about a week now. 

Maternity Clothes: I'm still in the in-between stage.  Maternity pants are roomier, but they are still too big and I am constantly having to pull them up.  I have definitely fallen victim of the saggy butt syndrome.  Also, 2 out of 3 of the pants that I ordered were "slim" cut-so of course they didn't fit my chunky thighs.  Those are going back and I ordered some other, normal cut ones. 

Movement: All-the-time.  I mostly feel HIM at meal-times.  His kicks are finally strong enough that Jake was able to feel them from the outside!

Appointments: Next appointment is after Christmas.  From here on out, they will be routine checks. Starting in January-we'll switch to every-other week instead of every 4 weeks!

I probably won't do a 21 week update since I'm posting days away from it now. 

Until then, 

~87~19 weeks

I am well into my 5th month of pregnancy and it's starting to fly by.  With the holidays quickly approaching, I know it's only going to go faster.  

This week, we were busy getting things set up in the nursery.  The carpet was installed and we got a new, cordless blind along with our dresser/changing table this week. I am in love with our nursery already and sometimes yearn to just go sit in it.  I can't wait until we have the crib and glider!

We're only 1 week away from the halfway point, and here's what's going on this week:

How far along: 19w1d

Baby's Size: A Mango (6in long, 8.5oz)

Symptoms: Still tired, and I have some lower back and hip pain, but other than that nothing really. 

Weight Gain: Up 1 lb

Best Moment: Getting more the nursery ready.  The store we won a gift card to had a 15% sale along with an additional $25 gift card, so we were able to get our dresser/changing table for a whopping $37.  Can't complain about that!  We also had the new carpet and cordless blind installed.  Thursday night, we added a cute alphabet and elephant printed box valance over the window. 

Worst Moment: Waking up in the middle of the night due to back pain.  Nothing an extra pillow couldn't solve though. 

Movement: I'm feeling Baby H everyday and the movements are starting to get stronger.  S/he tends to move around more in the morning and around lunch time.  All of that good food during the day must lull them to sleep, because I hardly feel them at all at night.  I'm still waiting to be able to feel kicks from the outside. 

Maternity Clothes: I had to buy some maternity dress pants, which I'm anxiously awaiting to arrive. My other dress pants are working fine as long a I have a belly band with them.  You better believe that as soon as I get home, I'm in comfy sweat pants though.  I'm still wearing regular shirts though.  Thankfully with it turning into sweater season, it's easier to wear clothes that still fit. 

Appointments: Next week is our anatomy scan!  Can't wait to see baby again and how much they've grown.  We will also be finding out the sex of Baby H!  However, we're not announcing to our families until after Thanksgiving dinner, so you'll have to wait on pins and needle for the big announcement!

~85~ Noticeably Pregnant at 18 weeks

Something happened over the weekend and I think I've officially "popped".  There's no hiding this bump any more!  I'm starting to get more comments here and there, which I'm still working on getting used to.   Here's what's going on this week:

How far along: 18 weeks

Baby H's size: An sweet potato (5.6 inches, 6.7oz)

Symptoms: Round ligament pain.  And it hurts!  Feels like the cramping I would get after running. 

Weight Gain: I have finally gained some weight.  I am up 2 lbs and back to my pre-pregnancy weight.

Best Moment: Getting some good shopping deals and making plans for Thanksgiving 

Worst Moment: Scratching the cornea in my left eye.  It was the worst pain I've ever experienced and of course I wasn't allowed to take any pain meds.  I decided that if I could handle that, I can handle giving birth. We also had to take Buckles to the vet. 

Movement: I'm feeling some movement everyday, but I'm still waiting for stronger movement and for Jake to be able to feel it. 

Maternity Clothes: I just bought some maternity dress pants because I am not fitting into my regular pants comfortably any more.  Bring on the full panel!  

Appointments: 2 more weeks! 

~84~ 17 weeks!

We're getting closer and closer to the half-way mark.  Things are starting to feel a little more real.  It comes in spurts.  Sometimes I have to remind myself that I'm pregnant.  Other times, that's all I can think about. 

Since last week, we've made a lot of changes to the nursery.  Everything has been cleaned out, and Jake painted the walls.  3 of the walls are a soft grey, and the 4th wall is teal, which is where the crib will go.  Because the room is so small, we decided to go with white furniture to keep the room looking bright and open.  We're hoping to get the big furniture in the room by Christmas/New Years.

How far along: 17 weeks, 0 days

Baby H's size: An Onion (5.1 inches, 5.9oz)

Symptoms: Nothing new really. 

Best Moment: Getting to see family AND, winning Star 102.5's photo contest!  We are so thrilled that we won and very grateful to everyone who voted for us! We plan to use our winnings towards our dresser/changing table and glider

Worst Moment: The return of hip pain while sleeping and some round ligament pain, but nothing all that terrible.  Oh, and being told I'm getting fat. Even when pregnant, it's not cool. 

Movement: I'm starting to notice more and more movement here and there, but it's always for a fleeting moment and isn't consistent yet.

Maternity Clothes: Everyday, I'm getting closer and closer.  Today I'm wearing a belly band because there was no way my pants were going to button.  I'm wanting to hold off on announcing to my students until after Thanksgiving, so I'm hoping that I don't grow too much over the next 3 weeks!

Appointments: Our 16 week appointment was last Thursday.  Baby's heartbeat was a steady 150bpm. We'll have our next and last ultrasound in 3 weeks at our anatomy scan. We will also find out the sex that day!  As of right now I don't have any strong feelings either way.  Although last night I had a dream that it's a boy.  We shall find out soon!

Here's a pic from last weekend at my mom's 60th birthday party.  Black is naturally slimming, so it's hard to see my little bump, but trust me-it's there!

~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,