Tis' the Season!

Wow, time is really flying!  I can't believe that we will be meeting our little one face to face in approximately 13 weeks!  Holy smokes.  I am getting ready to enter the last and final phase of this pregnancy, the third trimester.  I am still feeling really good!  My energy level is still the same and I've been making sure to still hit the gym at least 5x/week.  Sometimes when I wake up in the mornings I forget that I'm pregnant until I look in the mirror & think, "wow, look at that belly!"  I'm definately growing...every single day.  I don't feel too big yet, although there is no doubt that I am pregnant.  I am still enjoying this time, I think the 20's (of weeks, that is) is going to be the best time of this pregnancy.  Baby "Kicks" has to be the most active little one on the entire planet.  S/he lets me know that they are alive and well numerous times during the day and night.  It is still so foreign to watch my stomach contort in ways I never thought possible when "Kicks" is changing positions or throwing me an elbow.  It is simply amazing.  My weight was 139.8 this morning (yay!  still in the 130's!)  That is putting my total weight gain, thus far, at a little over 12 lbs at 27 weeks. I can't complain about that!  Sleeping has been pretty good for the most part, sometimes it is hard to get comfortable.  Thank goodness for my Boppy pregnancy pillow, it makes side sleeping more bearable.  I'll be looking forward to sleeping on my back after little one arrives.  I have been having some severe cravings lately!  First of all, the thing that I crave more than anything, is puppy chow.  That shit is like crack.  Not the puppy chow dog food, but the Crispix cereal coated in butter, peanut butter, and chocolate and then shaken in powdered sugar.  It's crunchy, sweet, and freakin' to die for.  This baby LOVES it.  I swear I can taste it in my mouth now, but I refuse to make it.  I've already made 3 batches and I haven't even began baking any of my other Christmas sweet treats.  I'm sure before it's all over and done with, "Kicks" will get some more puppy chow goodness.  Also, I am in love with Horizon 1% organic chocolate milk.  I could drink about the entire half gallon in one sitting, but I try and refrain.  It just tastes so delicious.  Those are about the only serious cravings I have.  I could care less about ice cream or pickles, just give me the chocolate milk and puppy chow and no one get's hurt.  : )  Have I mentioned lately how wonderful my husband is?  I seriously do have the greatest husband on Earth.  He steps up to the plate more and more everyday without me even asking.  He cleans, cooks at least 2 meals per week, and takes care of me (rubs my feet, brushes my hair, rubs my back) all without complaint.  What did I do to deserve such a wonderful husband?!  I am just BEYOND thankful for him!

Side note: The floor is DONE in the baby's room!  It looks so good!  Everything is cleared out and the oversized rocker has found it's permanent home in the there.  We are waiting to pick up the crib this weekend.  We need to get to work on refinishing the dresser, but that will most likely happen after the Holidays.  We also found a bookshelf at Target for $89 that we might just have to have.  I can't wait to see the bedding that Lisa and Mrs. Terry are working on, I know it's going to be just right.  After that arrives, then I need a rug and some throw pillows to pull it all together.  No rush, I've still got 3 months of "putting it together".  Will try and update the blog with pictures in the very near future.  P.S. - glucose test is on Dec. 26, fingers crossed all will go well!  Merry Christmas!

Almost 25 weeks!

Baby Bailey is growing by the day!  It is truly amazing to watch my belly get bigger and bigger as each day goes by.  This little one is still so very active.  I call s/he "baby kicks a lot" because that is exactly what it does!  I'm loving feeling all of the movement, it is a feeling that is undescribable unless you have had a human growing inside of you.  This part of pregnancy is just awesome.  Big enough to be showing, not too big to be uncomfortable.  I better enjoy it while it lasts!

We went to see Olivia last Monday when I was 23 weeks 3 days.  I weighed in at 138, total weight gain of 11 lbs.  I wasn't that terribly surprised because I have been eating out of control.  I was measuring right at 23.5 weeks according to the tape measure, which is great.  Anatomy scan of baby Bailey came back perfect.  Heartrate was 160 bpm, everything looked just right.  I scheduled my next appointment & glucose test for Wednesday Dec. 26.  I better watch what I eat on Christmas so my blood sugar isn't too sky high.  Thanksgiving has already come and gone.  We went to visit Cathy & Gaylon for the holiday, it was nice.  Always nice to get away and take some time off of work.  Christie & the kids came, we got to visit with Jimmy & Melanie a lot, it was nice.  I spent time cooking, reading, and relaxing.  And eating...did I mention eating?  I have not been eating as well as I should be.  I have good days and bad days.  I weighed yesterday and figured I would have hit 140 lbs.  Some how, by the miracle of God, I was 137.  I don't know how, but I will take it! : )  Christmas is right around the corner, I can't believe it.  We are really having a low key Christmas this year, keeping the spending down to a minimum.  I am just looking forward to spending time with family and friends, and being thankful.  That is what it's all about.  It's hard to believe that next year we will have a 9 month old crawling around.  9 months?!?!  Wow. 

Baby Bailey's nursery is getting ready to be "put together" in the very near future.  Mason is coming over next weekend to put in the floors.  Lisa and Terry are working on the crib skirt this coming weekend.  The crib is waiting on us to be picked up. We bought a dresser that we are going to refinish on craigslist for $65.  Any deal we can find, we will take!  I can't wait until it's all put together, when that happens I will know that meeting my sweet baby is just around the corner.  Looking forward to all of the wonderful things that 2013 has to offer!

Finally, a new blog!

So much has happened since my last blog!  First and foremost, David and I had our first ultrasound of our baby Bailey.  It was amazing, to say the least.  I could not believe that the image we were seeing on the screen was OUR baby growing inside of me.  It is completely surreal.  The ultrasound took longer than I expected, we were in there a full hour getting measurements of the baby's limbs, images of the 4 chamber of the heart, etc.  The ultrasound tech was nice enough to turn the screen away when she was getting measurements on the lower extremities, so needless to say, we did not catch a glimse of him/her.  The baby was measuring at 19 weeks 3 days, putting the projected due date at March 17, St. Patricks Day.  According to my period, baby is due on March 15.  I could care less, as long as he/she comes sometime in March. : ) She gave us a CD of some images of our baby Bailey & we took them to CVS drugstore to print out immediately.  One picture is just perfect.  Baby Bailey looks so fully formed in this profile pic, with the sweetest lips and nose a mama could ever imagine.  : )  We have that picture hanging on the fridge so David and I can catch a peek everytime we go to get something out.  When I look at the picture, I think "it" has the profile of a girl.  I see a girl in the picture.  But lately, the past two days, I feel more like I'm having a boy.  I really have NO idea.  I love that!  I have had 3 specific dreams thus far about the gender of baby Bailey.  In the first two, I had a living, breathing, healthy, baby girl.  The dream skipped over the labor part, thank goodness, haha! In the third dream, I went back for another ultrasound and baby Bailey lifted "his" leg to show us his testicles.  Hilarious right?!  I love hearing all of the guesses from my girlfriends also, they all have different guesses.  I would have to say most people are guessing 60% boy, 40% girl.  I try and imagine my life with either one, I picture David holding our sweet baby girl and I can also picture him holding our handsome little son.  We will get to find out in approximately 18 more weeks!  OMG, I only have 18 weeks to go?  I just thought about it and we have SO much stuff to still get done. 

Also, breaking news, the baby is moving A LOT!!  I felt the baby move for the first time on the outside at 20 weeks 5 days.  David got to feel that little guy/gal the very next day!  I was sitting on his lap in the rocking chair on the front porch, and the little one gave a nice "thump" right below my right breast.  David was like, "you did that!"  I said, "honey, I can not make my belly jump like that!"  It was an exciting, memorable moment for the both of us.  Now, since I'm 22 weeks today (based on period), that kiddo rocks and rolls pretty frequently.  Yesterday, 3 of my girlfriends got to feel him/her within a 2 minute time period.  It was awesome for all of us.  So glad I have an active (which I'm assuming means very healthy) baby growing everyday inside of me.  A stranger mentioned something to me for the first time this past week, saying something to the effect of, "aww, look at your little pregnant belly".  I am without a doubt showing.  I feel really big, but I have to only know I will be getting much bigger.  I'm happy that atleast I'm looking more pregnant now and less "chubby".  I am enjoying everyday of this part of my pregnancy.  It is such a blessing to be growing an individual inside of me.

Our appointment with Olivia went great!  I weighed in at 132 on her scale at 19 weeks 3 days.  That was putting my weight gain at a total of 5 lbs.  Baby's heartrate was in the 150's, beating strong and healthy.  We talked about choosing a pediatrician and also a birthing class.  She gave me information on two different classes, which I haven't had a chance to look into yet.  We return back to see her in 1 week and 3 days and I can assure you that I have put on some extra weight!  Since our camping trip, which was AWESOME by the way, I have not been nearly as focused on my diet as I need to be.  With Halloween just passing, I can not seem to get enough chocolate!  I wasn't really much of a "sweets" person before, but lately I've been killing it.  It seems I have to have atleast a bite of something sweet everyday.  An oreo, a kit kat mini, anything I can get my hands on pretty much. I figure what the hell, I am 22 weeks pregnant!  I'm sure I will pull it together soon, espcially when I step on Olivia's scales in a little over a week, eeeek! 

I think I've covered everything that has been happening lately.  I hate that I haven't had a chance to blog until now, I've just been busy playing catch-up from the vacation.  Also, on my weeks that I'm home at night, the bed has been calling my name between 8:30pm & 9:00pm.  I'm absolutely spent after the day is over.  I guess that is how it's supposed to be when you're growing a little one.  : )

It happened!

It happened!  Tonight is the first time I am almost 100% sure I felt my little one move!  I have been anxiously awaiting for that first "flutter" & tonight during the end of one of my favorite movies, Meet me in St. Louis, it happened.  It was similar to a gas bubble feeling, but it was about an inch lower and to the left of my belly button.  Two quick little "bump bumps".  Wow.  I'm hoping now that it will actually sink into my brain that I AM pregnant and I AM going to be a Mommy to this little person growing inside of me.  : )  Alllll smiles right now!

One week today we will get to see our little guy or gal on the big screen!  I am looking forward to that adorable profile picture of our sweet baby Bailey.  I am going to very sturn with the technician about making sure we do NOT find out the sex.  We really want a surprise.  That is going to be one very exciting day (both next Wednesday & also the day our little one makes a grand appearance into this world).  We see Olivia in less than a week, looking forward to that as well.  I am proud to say that my hard work with nutrition and exercise has payed off.  This morning I was still holding steady at 131 pounds.  I am not dieting what so ever, I am just being really cautious of what I am putting down my throat.  I have cut out almost all processed foods.  I eat a salad every day.  I am eating something healthy every two hours.  It feels good to know that I have been "clean eating" not only for my health, but to make sure that I can give this kiddo the best possible start to grow a healthy brain and body.  I am one very happy Mama right now on so many levels.  : )  Looking forward to blogging after our camping trip next week.  I wouldn't rather be spending my 20 week half-way mark doing anything else, there is nothing like hiking and camping the Great Smoky Mountains.  : )

It's October, I love this time of year!

Man, this is my favorite time of year!  I love when the humidity is dropping, cool nights by the fire, and the beautiful changing color of the trees.  I am currently 16 weeks & 3 days pregnant and I feel GREAT!  I am at that in between stage of really not looking pregnant & really not feeling pregnant, but obvioiusly I'm pregnant.  : )  Still no big changes in my bi-weekly "bump" pics, but I'm OK with that.  I know soon enough that it will be very evident that I'm expecting a little miracle.  David and I met with Olivia last Monday & everything looked pretty good.  I weighed 135 on her scale, but I've came to the conclusion that was due to retaining water and being constipated.  On Mrs.T's scale today I weighed in at 131.  I am going with 131 as the more accurate weight for me right now.  : )  That puts me at gaining a total of 4 lbs. thus far.  I am definately OK with that.  Baby Bailey's heartrate was 140 bmp & s/he was moving around like crazy!  As soon as Olivia would get a good heartbeat on the doppler, that little one would move right out of the way.  I still haven't felt any movement yet, but sometime between now and 20 weeks I should feel some sort of "bubble" or "flutter".  I'm waiting for that...maybe then it will hit me that all of this is real.  : )  It truely does feel completely surreal.  Olivia also mentioned I should be kicking up the protein & veggies, so that's what I've been doing.  I am opting to snack on pieces of pepperjack cheese, cinnamon almonds, or greek yogurt as opposed to apples or other stuff filled with more carbs & sugar.  I never thought I'd be able to eat a piece of cheese without a cracker, but I have definately mastered that now.  Nuts really weren't my thing either, but these cinnamon almonds are incredible!  I'm still eating every 2 hours, this baby growing stuff makes you hungry.  I'm not half as hungry as I was in the beginning, but I still know when it's time to have a snack.  I usually eat oatmeal with craisins & cinnamon for breakfast or my oatmeal, greek yogurt, chia seed, PB2 powder, banana blend.  They both fill me up & give me the energy for my morning workouts.  Monday, Wednesday, & Friday I do atleast 30 mins of cardio on an eliptical.  Tuesday & Thursday I do weight training to keep from losing muscle mass.  I love doing squats & lunges, nothing like feeling the burn.  I am confident that maintaining this active, healthy lifestyle will not only benefit me & baby in the long run, but hopefully will also shorten the labor & delivery process (a woman can dream right?) : )  David and I have also been looking into childbirth education classes.  I think we are going to go with the Bradley Method, which puts emphasis on the Father playing the primary role as caregiver/support for the labor.  Also, the method encourages going "all natural" & encourages breast feeding.  All of which I am interested in.  The course is 2 hours per week over a 10-12 week period.  I had no idea we would be spending that much time in a class, but the more information David and I can gain, the better off we'll be!  A lot of exciting things are going on in October.  We have our next appointment with Olivia on the 22nd, our ultrasound on the 24th, and we leave for our mountain camping trip on the 25th!  I am looking forward to all of those things : )  On an end note...still need to figure out how to upload pics!

DONE with the 1st trimester!

I am so very happy that my first trimester is coming to an end.  I'll be 14 weeks in just 2 short days!  I have been feeling SO, SO, SO much better!  I cannot stress how much better I've been feeling these last few weeks.  All of the nausea has gone away, what a relief.  Now I can understand why women have more than one child, because that nasty nausea feeling that was just there a few weeks ago is so easily forgotten.  I feel like a million bucks, really!  I have been able to pick back up my gym regiment 4-5 times per week, which has been great.  I actually (usually) feel like going to the gym and breaking a good sweat.  I haven't participated in many classes since I found out I was pregnant, but the elipticals & some mild weight training have become my new best friends.  My eating is primarily under control for the majority of the day, but come 4-5PM, I am STARVING!  I mean, I could seriously chomp on some cardboard.  According to the scale at the twins house this a.m., I'm up a total of 5 lbs.  : /   Not feeling so great about that.  I know I'm going to gain weight, I am just having a hard time with the thought of it.  I feel like I've worked so hard to lose 40 lbs before becoming pregnant & I just don't want to "let myself go".  I need to work on giving myself a break and being a happy, healthy, mama to be.  So what if I gain 40 lbs., that's what I need to keep telling myself.  I know I can get it off.  I just need to remember smart food decisions, working out, & giving in to some of the cravings.  I have to find that balance.  I'm just an extremeist, I'm one extreme or another.  Either I'm 100% on the wagon or 100% off.  I have to work on the balance for my sanity and health, as well as the health of that little bambino growing a million miles a minute inside of me.  Screw the weight talk, let's talk about my little precious Baby Bailey!

That sweet little kiddo is already the size of a peach.  S/He is starting to produce urine from the working kidneys, which becomes part of the amniotic fluid.  Crazy to think little one swims around in its own pee, but that is exactly what happens. : )  My belly is starting to feel stretched out & tight, sort of like I went to the gym and did a ton of ab excercises & I'm "sore" feeling.  I don't, per say, have a "bump" yet, but it will not be too much longer before it will be visible.  My boob tenderness has backed of some (yes!) which is a relief.  I haven't had any lower back pain lately, which I am thankful for.  More positive news, I've had a lot less insomnia!  I am so thankful these days to get a good night's rest.  A good night's rest still involves 2-4 middle of the night bathroom trips, but that's no biggie.  All in all, I am feeling so great.  The fact that the weather is changing & I can spend a lot more time outside definately adds to the happiness I've been feeling.  We see Olivia in a little less than 2 weeks, can't wait to hear little ones heartbeat again. : )  I am going to try & figure out how to post pictures soon.  This blog is not complete without some "bump pics" : )

Music to my ears!!

The day has finally come, we heard baby Bailey's heartbeat!  What an amazing sound to our ears!  I'm 11 weeks and 4 days along in the pregnancy.  I have been counting down the days until this appointment; I have been looking SO forward to some further confirmation of this pregnancy.  When Olivia put the doppler to my belly, she assured me that it may take a few minutes to locate the heartbeat.  I tried not to worry, although I was so nervous.  As she moved the doppler to the left, she picked up that sound.  There was no denying it!  That puppy was beating hard, fast, and loud!  160 beats per minute!  She said it sounded "nice and strong", just what a Mama wants to hear. : )  David recorded some of it on his phone, but the file is too large to send to people.  I'm hoping we'll figure out how to download it so that everyone who cares to can give it a listen.  Nothing like the sound of your growing baby's heartbeat...nothing can wipe the smile off of this face today!

I still haven't been feeling the best.  I need not complain, at least I haven't been throwing up all day every day.  I have thrown up, but worse than throwing up is the terrible feeling of nausea.  That feeling reeeealy blows.  I've been sucking on life savers to help me when I'm having a "bout", and they do help.  I have good days and bad days, I'm hoping that my good days will become more frequent and that my bad days will subside.  I have been doing much better on my eating habits these last few weeks.  I have been trying to make smart decisions for me and the kiddo.  I just constantly have to eat, I am always hungry.  I've been eating yogurt, apples, cereal with bananas, strawberries, along with whatever the baby is tricking my mind into eating.  Cravings are the worst!  I have been having some insomnia episodes and when I can't sleep at night my mind goes into overdrive about food.  I obsess about it.  What I'm going to eat the next day, what I would eat if I could eat anything I wanted, how I want Cinnamon Toast Crunch or a Taco Bell double decker taco...crazy shit!  Ugh, that part is frustrating.  I have been trying to workout more and I feel SO much better when I do.  I was thinking about cancelling my trainer, but I know that would be a bad idea.  I have worked so hard to lose this weight and I damn sure don't want to gain it ALL back.  I know I am going to gain weight during this pregnancy (duh!) but I just want to make sure I gain "good" weight and not all "bad" weight.  Today at Olivia's office I weighed 129.  That means I've only gained 2 lbs thus far, according to her scale.  Man, I really love her scale! : )  Other pregnancy symptoms I have include a drastic change in my boobs (they are waaay bigger, still sensitive, and my nipples are getting darker), lower back pain (still...), nausea (of course), some occasional cramping, crazy ass dreams (I mean, crazy!), occasional insomnia, and unreal food cravings.  That's about it for now.

My next appointment is set for Tues. Sept. 24.  We will listen to the heartbeat again and then ask Olivia some questions we have for her.  I am looking forward to telling the world about our sweet baby in the next few days, that is going to be exciting : )  Life is a true miracle, and I feel so blessed to be able to carry and mother this incredible baby I have growing inside of me.  I am thankful beyond words.  Life is good!

7 weeks and some change...

7 weeks along and definately feeling the signs of pregnancy!  Wish I could tell you I feel wonderful, energetic, and fit.  I don't.  I have felt nauseous for the past few weeks, no throwing up, but none the less, nauseous.  People told me "morning sickness" felt like you were hungover without a cure, they were exactly right!  All the time, that hungover feeling.  On a positive note, I'm getting closer day by day to being over the first trimester.  I have also been SO hungry. I don't think I've ever been this hungry in all of my life.  I have to eat every few hours or else the nausea kicks in worse.  I wish I could tell you I've been eating healthy (like I was prior to pregnancy), but I want nothing healthy.  I want weird stuff that I don't normally ever eat.  Examples: soup, bread, french toast, etc.  Soup especially.  (Weird!)  I hope this phase passes and I can go back to eating salads & good stuff.  I really miss sushi!  David and I ate raw sushi atleast 2x/week.  Other symptoms I've had are: extrememly sore boobs & nipples, indigestion & gas, belly bloat, lower back ache, & having to pee atleast 3x/night.

Baby Bailey is the size of a blueberry.  The reason I have to pee so frequently is because my uterus has doubled in size and I have 10% more blood in my body than before, therefore, making my kidneys work extra hard.  Guess getting up extra at night is preparing me for the parenting journey ahead. ; )  We met with the midwife last week & she is awesome!  Our initial meeting lasted an hour and 20 mins, and she answered every question we had.  I feel very confident in our decision to hire her as our midwife.  We set up another appointment for Aug. 28 for bloodwork & to hear the heartbeat.  I can't wait!  Also, we have already recieved a gift in the mail!  David's sister Christie sent us a week by week calander to fill out important events & dates.  Our baby is going to be so lucky to have such wonderful people to love him or her.  I look forward to feeling better & updating my blog in the very near future : )

It's been a long time since Key West and.....I'M PREGNANT!!

Long time no blog!  Key West was great, blah, blah, but more importantly...I AM PREGNANT!!!  It took a year longer than expected, but my dreams of being pregnant (& my fears of being unable to get pregnant) have been confirmed!  I found out I was expecting on July 5, the day after the 4th of July.  On the evening of the 3rd, I went over to Mason & Marcy's house for some delicious margaritas and paid for it later.  I got home and puked my guts out!  Needless to say, I felt like trash the next day for the 4th & had no problem being the designated driver.  The morning of the 5th, David left for work and I decided to take a pregnancy test.  I used the cheap dollar store test and thought I saw a faint line, but then thought I was seeing things (because it was 5:50am).  I then used a digital test and sure enough it popped up "pregnant"!  I called David right away because I could not stand keeping it to myself.  When I called him, I told him I was so happy I was shaking and thought I might puke.  As soon as I said the word puke, David said "hold on" & pulled over on the side of the road to yack. Haha!!!  He was super excited, but his nerves got the best of him : ) 

According to a due date calculator, baby Bailey is due in the middle of March (sometime between the 15-17th).  I am currently around 4.5 weeks pregnant.  No signs or symptoms yet.  I have found a midwife in the Wilmington area named Olivia Marshburn.  David and I have a "meet and greet" appointment set up with her for Thurs. July 26th.  She is a CNM that does home births, I am thrilled that I found her!  She doesn't have an ultrasound machine in office, so I will go to the medical mall around 20 weeks for my one and only ultrasound/anatomy scan.  We are still planning on keeping the baby's sex a surprise : )  I will go in somewhere between 10-12 weeks for a doppler fetal heartbeat check.  Good Lord willing, there will be a heartbeat.  We have told our families and lots of close friends that we are expecting.  We aren't going to make it "facebook official" until after the 12 week mark.  Everyone is so thrilled for us!!!  David and I are over the moon!!  I have lost 40 lbs since last August and was down to 127lbs this a.m.  I am going to continue to eat right and exercise throughout this pregnancy.  I have no idea how much weight I will gain, I guess as much as I am supposed to.  Can't wait to update the blog soon!  So, so, so, EXCITED!!!!!