Pics taken at 17 weeks 2 days

1. How far along? 17 weeks 3 days
   
2. Maternity clothes? still not quite there yet...
   
3. Stretch marks? None yet...(hoping this statement stays a "no")
4. Sleep? still sleeping like a champ
   
5. Best moment last week? Having my niece (3 years old) name my belly "charley/charlie", and stating that it's a girl
   
6. Movement? None yet...I don't think...felt some stuff but can't be sure it's baby movements
   
7. Symptoms? getting some aches in my back...most likely from working crazy long and busy days in the lab with little down time
   
8. Gender? We will find out ASAP (ultrasound on Oct. 19th!!)
   
9. Labor signs? NOPE-way too early for that
   
10. Belly button in/out? Still very in there
11. What I miss? eating raw cookie dough...SO tempting when I make cookies and hot chocolate on certain nights
    
12. Looking forward to? feeling the baby move, and knowing that it's the baby!
13. What's going on with Baby A? (from www.thebump.com)

your baby's the size of an onion!

Baby's continues to beef up. Now she's about 5.1 inches long and weighs about 5.9 ounces.

your baby at 17 weeks

• Her rubbery cartilage is now turning to bone.
• And she's growing some meat on those bones -- putting on some fat.
• She's growing a stronger, thicker umbilical cord, too.

Ramblings of a pregnant woman

Ok, so I don't necessarily think I am

"craving"

anything yet...haven't made the hubby run to the store at 2 am for _____.

But there are a list of things that do pop in and out of my head throughout the day that I would enjoy, if you will...

1. Soda, preferably Dr. Pepper, and by the barrel full in one sitting
2. sushi, with raw fish...no avocado rolls!
3. RAW cookie dough...OMG!
4. Chocolate chip eggos
5. Bacon, egg and cheese on a salt bagel (I tend to get one every Saturday morning...)
6. Green tea
7. a nice glass of wine or a beer to relax after having the week I have had so far... (is it Friday yet?)
   
8. sour patch kids...a whole 1 lb bag of 'em
9. chocolates...most any will do
10. pizza rolls
11. chocolate ice cream with sprinkles and the works on top...mmmmm
12. did I mention sushi?

I am sure there re tons of other things I would "enjoy" but with "baby brain" in full swing I tend to forget most things unless I write them down immediately...

And don't get me wrong, I do indulge in some of these from time to time...but some I cannot..

Although I did find an alcohol free alternative for wine that I thought was delicious!
Check out this site:

http://www.frewines.com/




But, on a happier note, my niece (Lillie) has now changed her name for the baby from Charlie (a girl's name) to Lola

I think Lola is a really cute name!

Guess we will have to see what Baby A is going to be on Oct. 19th...countdown!!

Family fun...in the rain

This past weekend Mike and I went to Sandbridge Beach, VA with my family

of course, it rained on us

all
weekend
long

Lucky for us, my sister's kiddos could have cared less and loved every minute playing in the rain/ocean/pool

I mean, if they are going to get wet from jumping in a pool then why should it matter if it's raining, right?

I think the cutest part about this weekend was asking my niece and nephew what I should name Baby A...Corbin had no ideas for me, but Lillie (my 3yo niece) had one option that was sure to be it...hands down

(Lillie and I)

She has decided to call my belly (and baby inside) Charley/Charlie

and it's a girl in her mind

We will find out mid-October

More pictures from vacation weekend:

(Corbin and Lillie staring at a frog, named Gomez, in our pool)

(up close and personal with Gomez the frog)

(My sister, Megan, and her kiddos...gearing up for Monopoly...and cleaning up a lil mess)

(Megan helping Lillie walk to get in with flippers on)

(My parents out for a spin on the paddle boat that came with the rental house)

Despite the weather, I know I had a relaxing time with family :)

16 wks 5 days

Pics taken at 16 weeks, 5 days

1. How far along? 16 weeks 5 days
   
2. Maternity clothes? still not quite there yet...
   
3. Stretch marks? None yet...(hoping this statement stays a "no")
4. Sleep? still sleeping like a champ
   
5. Best moment last week? I guess since 16 wks happened on my hubby's birthday, I will include that with this post...we went to a fabulous dinner at our favorite sushi place...naturally I had avocado rolls and the like, but he enjoyed his delightful favorites along with a beer :)
   
6. Movement? None yet...
   
7. Symptoms? feeling pretty great :)
   
8. Gender? We will find out ASAP (ultrasound on Oct. 19th!!)
   
9. Labor signs? NOPE-way too early for that
   
10. Belly button in/out? Still very in there
11. What I miss? not really missing too much right now...things are going pretty smoothly (thank goodness!)
    
12. Looking forward to? oddly enough, my chiropractor visit... I haven't been in about 4 weeks and I always seem to feel better after a visit...also hoping to feel some baby movements
13. What's going on with Baby A? (from www.thebump.com)

your baby's the size of an avocado!

Now, she's about 4.6 inches long and weighs about 3.5 ounces, and she's big enough that your doctor may be able to hear her heartbeat.

your baby at 16 weeks

• She's listening to your voice, thanks to tiny bones forming in her ears.
• She's growing hair, lashes and eyebrows.
• And she's forming taste buds.

this feeling...

I can't quite put into words what I am feeling,
but here goes anyways.

I am still mesmerized(?!?) by the fact that I am pregnant.

I guess in some ways I don't even feel pregnant

weird, I know

but let me attempt to explain

• I can still wear normal clothing
• I can still workout (just not as hard/long as I used to)
• I have my energy back now (yay 2nd trimester- woohoo!)
• I haven't had weird cravings/sent the hubbster off late night to get anything

• I only have a mini-bump which has become noticeable more recently (within the past week or so)
• I don't feel like there is anything other than a huge meal in my belly since I can't feel the baby moving yet/don't hear the heartbeat/can't have an ultrasound to "check in" everyday

odd, I know, considering I am 15 1/2 weeks right about now...

But I guess I have SO much to look forward to!

• getting a true baby bump
• buying new clothes (even though they will be maternity)
• registering for baby things
• getting hand-me-downs from my sister and possibly neighbor (depending on what we are having)
• finding out what we are having October 19th!
• planning out a nursery room
• decorating
• taking tons of preggo pics and framing them/putting them up around the house
• "nesting" (I always have loved deep cleaning and I hear you go even more nuts when it comes closer to baby's arrival!)
• and, naturally, all the joys of motherhood once Baby A arrives into this world ~March 6th, 2012

So, for now, I will enjoy this moment, but look forward to many moments to write to Baby A in my journal...like the first time I feel a kick, what we did/said when we found out what gender Baby A is...etc

you know, the good stuff

So here's to a Happy Thursday, (cuz it's ALMOST Friday)
and I can't wait to have a girls night in this weekend at my house!

15 weeks

Pics taken at 15 weeks

1. How far along? 15 weeks
   
2. Maternity clothes? not quite, although I wore a maternity shirt today, it just looked like it swallowed me a bit
   
3. Stretch marks? None yet...(hoping this statement stays a "no")
4. Sleep? sleeping peacefully!
   
5. Best moment last week? Getting girly time with my sister (nails, sushi (although nothing raw for me), and Sweet Frog), and seeing a couple of my girls last Thursday for an evening get together AND going to a lake this past weekend and really showing off the "mini-bump" I got going on
   
6. Movement? None yet...although I hear this should start in the next few weeks or so
   
7. Symptoms? feeling pretty much like a normal person, other than my belly starting to stick out a bit
   
8. Gender? We will find out ASAP (ultrasound on Oct. 19th!!)
   
9. Labor signs? NOPE-way too early for that
   
10. Belly button in/out? Still very in there, no signs of trying to come out yet
11. What I miss? being able to wear my tank tops, although the temperatures are supposed to drop to about 60 F by the end of the week, so I prolly won't miss them too much longer!
    
12. Looking forward to? Girls Night In at my house this weekend, full of movies, gossip, makeovers and wine for the other ladies....and lots of yummy treats and candy-like things! The boys are going on a mountain bike adventure, so us women are gonna bond!
13. What's going on with Baby A? (from www.thebump.com)

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

Reasons why yesterday was a good day

It's kinda rare to have a "Happy Monday"

so I must toot the horn on yesterday a bit...

Here are my 10 reasons why yesterday, a Monday, was a good day.

1. I stayed busy at work, making the hours fly by
2. I got my hair cut and styled after work
   
3. The lady at the hair cutting place put really good smelling stuff in my hair
4. I went maternity clothes shopping at Target
5. I also bought a BUNCH of candy at Target
6. I went to McDonald's drive-thru for dinner and they got my order right (which hasn't ever happened at this place before)
7. I also got a free Coca-Cola glass with my order
8. When the hubby arrived home after his soccer game, he had also gotten McDonald's and a 2nd free glass
9. we have 2 new cool glasses!!
10. I got to watch WAY too much tv last night, but still woke feeling refreshed

Smoke-free please!!

First off, I would like to say...

to each his own

Maybe you are a smoker and enjoy your cigarette and I don't blame you for it, I have my things too...

But, really, I work in a cancer lab and every morning when I come in and go to the ladies room (which has 4 stalls), it

SMELLS

of cigarette smoke.

So, please, cautious smoker person, at least smoke where it is allowed and not INSIDE a women's bathroom IN a CANCER lab...

sheesh

14 weeks

Pics taken at 14 weeks, sorry for the iPhone in the mirror ones this week, the hubby is outta town :(

1. How far along? 14 weeks exactly!
   
2. Maternity clothes? Still not yet, but I told my sister I need to "borrow" hers soon :)
   
3. Stretch marks? None yet...(hoping this statement stays a "no")
4. Sleep? Tried out a new technique of pillow stacking a tempur-pedic pillow on top of another pillow and still using a body pillow for between my knees, seemed to help tremendously and my neck doesn't hurt today at all
   
5. Best moment last week? My Best Friend visited this past weekend and we got to catch up on life :) I hadn't seen her in MONTHS!, and I guess since it happened this afternoon, another Dr. check-up and hearing the heartbeat thumping away and being relieved that Baby A is still safe and sound and growing well :)
   
6. Movement? None yet, hoping for something soon!
   
7. Symptoms? Beginning the 2nd trimester today (WOOHOO!) Not as tired and feel more like working out since things don't feel so crummy. Sleeping through the night now which is nice.
   
8. Gender? We will find out ASAP (we are scheduled for an ultrasound on Oct. 19th!!)
   
9. Labor signs? NOPE
10. Belly button in/out? Still very in there, no signs of trying to come out yet
11. What I miss? This week, my husband...he is gone for 3 days for work training and when he left yesterday I thought I was going to cry a river...all night long. Being pregnant and hormonal is not a good thing when your hubby leaves...
    
12. Looking forward to? My husband returning!
13. What's going on with Baby A? (from www.thebump.com)

your baby's the size of a lemon!

At 3.4 inches and 1.5 ounces, he's almost doubled in weight since last week and keeps on growing.

your baby at 14 weeks

• He's probably sucking his thumb and wiggling his toes in there!
• His kidneys are making urine, and his liver and spleen are doing their jobs, too.
• And he's growing lanugo, a thin, peach-fuzz-like hair, all over his body -- it will help him keep warm!

I'm pretty amazing when it comes to car stuff...

My husband can attest to this statement.

He LOVES to take apart and put back together (of course with fancier Turbo like things) his car and truck, it's what he does (he's an engineer). He's been doing this as long as I've known him (11+yrs) and way before that (apparently lawn mowers and other things at his parents' house).

So one night this week, he was installing something under the blue baby bomber (as I like to call it) and he had been out there since 5pm and it was about 9ish and he had only been in for checking what to do next online or to eat some dinner with me.

(picture from autocross)

I went out to check on him and asked was there anything I could do...

"I could use your womanly advice..."

Nice, he knows from previous times I have worked on vehicles with him that I typically don't take ALL day like he and his buddies do, partly because I don't take random tools and start making noise and drink tons of beers (especially any at all with peanut in my belly)...so work tends to progress smoothly, uninterrupted and efficiently.

So, I changed into my "ditry work" clothes, and came to help

I squeezed my way under the car to see what he needed and he explained that this bolt needed to go through this black thing with a hole and then into the hole in the car...easy enough sounding, but he had been under there trying at this stupid thing for over an hour. I explained to him the scenario..."Now, if I get this bolt in on first try, you can't get mad at me, OK?" He seemed fine with this

So, I did exactly that...

I aligned the hole and started turning the bolt at the angle that looked right to me...and SHAZAM...a woman's touch has fixed the problem. He was SUPER relieved and merely laughed at the ease of what I had done, considering he had been trying forever. He later told me I should have messed around and acted like I was trying for a while...but what's the point of that?

I had to do it the 1st time :)

He was really happy and finished up/cleaned up/tested the car out and was finally able to come in and spend time with me :) Of course, it was my bed time (this baby peanut makes me sleeeepy much earlier now)...but it was fun to spend time with him doing something I know he loves...

Plus, I love being his lil grease-monkey!

13 weeks (and 2 days)

Ok, a little late in posting some pics...been hectic week/not feeling too great, so this is what you get, deal with it :)

I am hoping that she won't mind too much, but I am going to follow along (for the most part) what goes on at Sarah Says... if you haven't seen her blog, jump over and see how she is doing!

She has kinda inspired me to keep track of this pregnancy weekly and make notes, I think it will be fun!! (and something really cool to look back on with Baby A)

Pics taken at 13 weeks 2 days

(although I don't think I should look this big yet,

taken after a large dinner,

so may be partly "food" baby and regular baby :)

1. How far along? Today marks 13 weeks 2 days!
2. Maternity clothes? Not yet, but definitely can't wear a belt anymore and the thought of putting on jeans (especially skinny jeans) makes me wanna scream...I go for comfort!
3. Stretch marks? None yet...(hoping this statement stays a "no")
4. Sleep? Having issues with sleeping through the night (gotta get up to pee, aftershocks still happening from an earthquake over a week ago, get too hot, etc.) and then my neck hurts badly all day the following day. I tried a different and more firm pillow only to realize that I think it was too hard (is that even possible) and may have bruised my neck, which feels tender and hurts to touch = even less sleep since I can't lay my head down (awesome!)
5. Best moment last week? Going in for an ultrasound and getting to see peanut whirling around in my belly, opening and closing his/her mouth and just being too cute (plus my husband had his face glued to the screen, he loved it!)
6. Movement? None yet, I don't think, although some women have told me that early movement feels more like gas bubbles...anyone else confirm that???
7. Symptoms? Almost out of the first trimester so I have been having lots of belly issues as far as feeling queasy (thankfully not vomiting) and trying to see what I feel like eating, it's kinda hit or miss really...and absolutely ZERO energy...going to bed at 8pm or earlier and falling asleep practically at 2 pm during the day (oopsie!)
8. Gender? Haven't found out yet, I will be happy with a healthy child, but I think my hubby is pulling for a boy, we have friends pulling for a girl and some for a boy...so it's mixed at the moment...we DO plan to find out (we can't wait!)
9. Labor signs? NOPE
10. Belly button in/out? Still very in there, no signs of trying to come out yet
11. What I miss? Having some sushi and a good beer to wash it down with...and my energy!!
12. Looking forward to? My best friend ever comes to visit this weekend, and I haven't seen her since a few months before I got pregnant, so I get to re-live everything from the beginning and get super excited with her!
13. What's going on with Baby A? (from www.thebump.com)

your baby's the size of a peach!

She's about 2.9 inches long and weighs about .81 ounces, and -- proportion-wise -- her head's now about 1/3 the size of her body (remember? It used to be bigger!).

your baby at 13 weeks

• Can you believe she's forming vocal cords and teeth?!
• And even though she's still teeny, she already has fingerprints.
• Her intestines are moving from the umbilical cord to their more permanent place, in her tummy.

And one more pic of my baby belly to show how much I love this little belly monster!