MMMM Holiday Treats!

So week 23 was hectic to say the least. Work was insane...just how i like it! I didn't get to post, but it was eventful none the less. For the first time in a while I felt dizzy and exhausted by the time i got home. I forget sometimes I should be taking it easy. On a fun note, Cookies, cake, candy, and chocolate are some of my favorite things about the holidays. And I definitely didn't hesitate to indulge this year.

Christmas Eve was at our house, things were going....well they were going lol. Gotta love family drama. We had a nice ceiling leak at about 8:00, just in time to bring out the tiramasu cake. My uncle and dad proceeded to cut holes in our ceiling trying to figure out the problem. Luckily it's just a shower plumbing issue that can be fixed without breaking the bank. Hopefully. Hooray for added stress Nick and I didn't need, but we were lucky it happened when it did. Me and my belly however were a hit!! I wore the same dress I wore to Ryan and Dana's wedding. It still fit ok, so that made life easy.

Christmas morning Nick and I exchanged gifts. He thinks he is funny and proceeded to put nipple cream and nursing pads in my stocking. Ok so it was actually hilarious at my expense. But he more than made up for it. He got me an awesome baby book, a few cute natalie gifts, Wii active game, Toms (shoes), relax fit sweet pants, and some (cover my hiney, comfy) underwear. He did very good :) After I tried on 4 different dresses until finding one that fit we headed to moms in the afternoon. She cooked up a storm! I ate like royalty!! It was amazing. Sober holidays are a new thing for me, but I'm enjoying watching the demise of everyone else. ENTERTAINMENT!

Mom's birthday the next day was also fun, more eating, and deserts! Nick and I got her a "I love going to Grandma's" onesie. She proceeded to place it on her shoulder all night and ask people if they wanted to hold Natalie. I think she is a little excited...or slowly slipping off her rocker. Either way I love her :)

I had a check up this morning. Today I am exactly 24 weeks. Wow time is flying! Everything went well at the appointment. I gained 3 pounds this month!! I'm so excited! I've gained 8 total so the doctor was happy with that number. She then referenced how smaller framed girls tend to BLOW UP (yes she said that) in the 3rd trimester. So I shouldn't concern myself with low wait gain anymore. I wanted to ask her what the medical terminology was for "BLOW UP," but i skipped it. I'm comfortable with being the size of a small villa before this baby shows up :) I have to do a glucose test in 3 weeks, then in 4 weeks at my next checkup they will administer the blood type shot I need. I'm A negative so to prevent any possible complications with the baby they have a shot to make sure there aren't any issues at birth. Whatever works, sign me up!

Other than that, I'm still as text book pregnant as ever. I have pretty much every listed symptom in the book, but its ok!! I'm getting so so excited. She has also been kicking up a storm lately. We are going to have an excellent soccer player. Nick has felt her several times, and mom did too a little. I sat on the couch after dinner tonight with my hands on my belly just smiling. Even at work when it's busy and I can feel her move it puts an immediate smile on my face. The coolest is when I can tell she just shifted herself, more than just a leg jab....it's awesome!! Did i mention my belly button is still awkward??

Ok I'm hitting up the freezer, I bought ice cream sandwiches today to mix it up. I was getting bored with plan vanilla. I also bought these fruit things I love, they are for kids but i don't care. They were on sale 7/$5.00, so I stocked up. I did have to explain to the checkout women why two of them were empty when I got to the register. She clearly looked down at my belly and then told me I was cute.

22 weeks!

Soooooo I finally felt a little kick last Thursday night!! Haven't felt anything else since but it was awesome. I think I smiled for 20 minutes straight afterwards. I still feel flutteries but I can't wait till the kicks are more consistent.

My struggles this last 2 weeks have been weight gain. I'm eating and eating, I've stopped exercising, protein shakes each day!!! What the hell. Since my last appointment on November 30th (dr yelled at me) I haven't gained anything. Im making it my main focus, I want 4 pounds before January 1st.

Nick and I also did our registries online a few nights ago. That was fun, and confusing lol. So much unnecessary stuff. Tried to stick to basics. We (meaning nick lol) looked all of the big stuff up on consumer reports first and went with the top choices there. Nick is great, he has done so much research and is so involved in all of this, it's amazing. I'm a lucky girl. He had the most fun picking out all kinds of cool toys, and books for the little monkey. Overall registering was exciting. Just a side note, amazon baby registry...best idea ever!! So many more options, free shipping, and way less expensive!!

I had chili for dinner, courtesy of my mom :) it was Delicious as always, but I need my ice cream. Heartburn is kicking!!

21 weeks!

Last week we were in IL for Ryan and Dana's wedding!! It was absolutely amazing, they are the most perfect couple :) The snow was beautiful, it was insane amounts of cold!! But will make for some great photos!! Can't wait to see them. It was so awesome to see family!! I miss them lots, and wish we all lived closer. Mama Peggy got our little monkey some really cute shoes for St. Nick's Day. They are so tiny, I cant believe a foot will fit in there lol.

Sooooo last night it happened...... I sent nick to Burger King.....yes i said Burger King. I NEEDED a whopper jr at 9:45PM, it came over me like a tsunami. He was more than happy to laugh his way all the way there and get it for me lol such a good husband!! It was delicious...i didn't even feel gross afterwards.

As for the Belly, it is growing. Nick got me a scale because the doctor told me i need to be gaining more weight. She wants to me add a protein (whey only) shake to my diet each day. I'm hitting up GNC today to buy some since the container in our pantry expired. Just a fun fact, Soy protein is a no go when your pregnant. The soy can produce more estrogen in your body.

I'm feeling good, but i have been slacking on my workouts. Its so busy this time of year and traveling definitely got me out of the swing. I have a list 2 miles long today so maybe tomorrow ill get back on the wagon. Still a LARGE amount of heartburn. This child might be an actual monkey if that heartburn = hair myth is true. Finally starting to feel some movement. No high fives or kicks yet but those bubbly feelings are popping up a little more regularly.

Ok I need to get to work. I promise ill be more on time next week!! My arms look oddly huge in that picture, but i was told in the last picture you couldn't tell how big the belly was with my arms next to me. great.

Week 20...half way baked!

There are many things this week I am in disbelief about. 

1. I'm already half way through my pregnancy!

2. I gave in and bought a bigger bra yesterday hoping to grow into it over the next few months and apparently a 34D is my CURRENT size....SHEESH! 

3. I still don't think I felt her move yet ::sigh:: I had some weird bubbly feeling last night but I'm unsure.

4. Subscribing to Consumer Reports as a parent-to-be is an awesome way to completely confuse yourself more than you were before. Although it did help change my mind on a stroller. 

5. Finding out the sex of the baby really makes everything so much more real!! 

Ok so aside from all those discoveries I'm still feeling awesome. Still hanging out with H&H (headaches and heartburn). Leg cramps are a new fun symptom. The real excitement comes after you cramp when you wake up the next day sore like you ran an uphill 5K. 

Got a chance to take mom to Buy Buy Baby over the weekend. That store is like the Disney World of baby gear!! It was funny listening to her talk about how they used to do things when I was little. "Babies for dummies" is her favorite line. It's true though, some of the things they have for basic baby care are sooooo over the top.  Vibrating mattresses?!?! $50 for an infant bathtub?!?! Diapers that change color when wet?!?! It's a little much. Regardless, registering should be fun, and hopefully I'll get some good tips on what's necessary and what's ridiculous. I've already started getting boat loads of advice from every Estelle, Sylvia, and Harriet at work... Gotta love it. Many of them still convinced that ultrasounds don't work.... you're having twins. Ok ladies, calm down lol. 

I get to see Nick's family this week!! I can't wait for Ryan and Dana's wedding!! 

It's going to be B-E-A-UTIFUL!! And I'll be sober which means I'll remember all of it lol. They all seem so excited for us but it will be fun to hear it in person :)

I have an OB appt tomorrow at 9:45 to do the routine heartbeat check and questions with my Doctor. Then I have another ultrasound scheduled for January 4th, and by then I'm sure I'll be gearing up for baby shower planning!! 

It's that time of night...Breyer's is calling :)

Our little girl sucking her thumb!

Hey V...your belly is showing!

The last few days I wake up, look in the mirror and say "Woah...that's a belly!" Even at work today everyone was making comments about my suddenly completely obvious preggo tummy. I love it! Actually looking pregnant is here to stay. It does however make people (mainly my clients) think it's totally ok to rub the belly without warning lol. It's cute :)

The guesses on boy or girl are starting to role in also. Mostly everyone in the beginning said girl. Now I'm getting a few boy guesses. Friday is the ultrasound where they will be able to tell for sure. Now it's just the wait till Christmas eve! Getting so excited!

Still feeling pretty darn good. Even got on the bike two nights in a row...in the garage of course. No more traffic filled streets for me. Plus the bike shorts look even less cute with a big belly sticking out of the top.

The maternity shopping over the wknd was interesting. Not to much luck. I think I have to suck it up and hit the mall. Gross. Got a few suggestion to go in motherhood maternity...that just sounds...large. I definitely need a pair of jeans that fit comfortably for the Wisco wedding trip coming up. Getting a dress for that was also a different experience lol. I'll just leave it at that.

New cravings this week: cottage cheese doubles and artichokes. Not together obviously :)

I'm off to get ice cream. Rockin heart burn this evening! Tums aren't working. I'll try and post the ultrasound pic at the end of this week :)

17 weeks!

I wanna feel!!!

So Tuesday I was 17 wks. Now I just can't wait to feel some movement in my belly!! I find myself sitting on the couch watching my tummy lol. One of the preggos at work is 7 months and she pushes on her belly all day to get her little girl to move in there. I WANNA DO THAT NOW! I think that will just make being pregnant feel so much more real. Everything I read says 18-22 weeks, but all my customers have been asking if I've felt anything yet for weeks. I think they like to stress me out.

I feel fantastic...other then the headaches and heartburn. Tylenol and tums are my new BFF's. I try to just deal with the headaches though, I feel guiltily taking something every time. I def have tons more energy, I clean a lot, and have really been able to get back into a steady workout routine. I'm thrilled to be able to eat healthy again too! Makes me feel so much better, however, I love me some ice cream! Every single night! I'm convincing myself that it helps get rid of my heartburn before bed. And no one is going to tell me otherwise!

I think this is the weekend I give in and go shopping. The b-band and my regular jeans have just about had it. I figure I'll just get one pair of pants for now. Still have a long way to go and I don't want to buy a bunch of stuff. Most of my shirts are fine now that I'm ok with everyone seeing my bump. Oh and funniest part so far. My belly button is so weird!!! I can stop looking at it lol. Not so funny part... My tummy is getting all furry...gross!!
I have to figure out how to put photos on here. Maybe this wknd I'll have time to expand my blogging horizons. It's ice cream time...I'm out :)

I'm Hungry.

When I started setting up this blog I had a belly full of pizza...now that its finished I'm pretty damn hungry. That being said i will make this first post short and sweet. I wanted to do this so my close friends and fam can be updated on me and my new bump!! I have a hard time with Facebook because I really don't want the 300 something "friends" I have to see pictures of my bare belly and ultrasounds (which happen to be the inside of my uterus)...a tad too personal for all those folks.

OK! So I'm 16 weeks this week and I feel super-fantastic! I generally can eat anything I want without gagging and losing the entire meal. The minimal heartburn and slight headaches I've developed are a lot less aggravating :)

I should start to feel the little monkey moving around in my belly within the next few weeks. I'm sooo sooo excited for that!! My next ultrasound is November 19th and they should be able to tell if its a girl or a boy. But because we like to keep things interesting we aren't going to let the dr tell us or show us. We will have them put the results in a sealed envelope and open it Christmas Eve as a surprise!!!

Nick and I have done some serious goodwill donating the past few weeks. He cleaned out his office and went from a huge desk to a space saving one. We moved the guest bed in with his condensed work space and have the start of an empty room. Still a long way to go, but we have PLENTY of time :)

I'm off to eat, take vitamins, and hit the rack.

ehem

testing....testing...1, 2.