Week 15 (9/21 to 9/27)

How big is baby?  An orange!

Weight gain/loss:  Unknown

Maternity clothes?  Not yet...all that walking in NYC slimmed the belly down. 

Stretch marks? Same as week 5

Sleep?   Pretty good but my hips are really starting to ache :(

Best moment this week?  Going home and spending time with my parents!

Worst moment this week?  Feeling some nausea coming back.....

Food cravings?  Cinnamon rolls!  Thankfully Shaun was nice enough to get up early and make me some...from SCRATCH!  Yes you can get jealous now!

Gender?  Unknown yet; hoping the ultrasound technician will be nice enough to let me know at our appointment :)

Belly button in or out? In.

Movement:  Starting to feel more flutters!

What I miss:  The sun!  It's been cloudy and rainy for the last week!

What I'm looking forward to:  Our appointment!

Weekly wisdom:  "Careful!  You are in a delicate state!"  as said by our adopted grandfather, Harold.  Too funny!

Milestones:  Baby is busy moving amniotic fluid through nose and upper respiratory tract, which helps lungs begin to develop.  Legs are growing longer than arms and can move all joints and limbs.  Eyelids are still fused shut but can sense light.  Taste buds are forming even though baby can't taste.

Week 14 (9/14 to 9/20)

How big is baby?  A Lemon!

Weight gain/loss:  Unknown

Maternity clothes?  Pretty close.  I can't button most of my pants anymore. 

Stretch marks? Same as week 5

Sleep?  Still going strong and sleeping good. 

Best moment this week?  Seeing my "nestie" friends in NYC!  You ladies are seriously the best!

Worst moment this week?  I had some brown spotting/discharge on Friday and FREAKED out.  The doctor's office calmed me down and the spotting stopped a few days later.  Also, the headaches...they were debilitating!

Food cravings?  Store bought cookies.  Turned out not to be as great as I thought though :(

Gender?  Unknown yet

Belly button in or out? In.

Movement:  Feeling more "flutters".

What I miss:  Warmer weather.  I feel so cold all.the.time!

What I'm looking forward to:  Seeing the baby in 10 days (September 30)!

Weekly wisdom:  Be sure to drink LOTS of water!  Headaches abound otherwise :(

Milestones:  Your baby can now squint, frown, grimace, pee, and possibly suck thumb. Thanks to brain impulses, facial muscles are getting a workout as tiny features form one expression after another. Kidneys are producing urine, which releases into the amniotic fluid; baby can grasp, too, and if you're having an ultrasound now, you may even catch him sucking his thumb.

Week 13 (9/7 to 9/13)

How big is baby?  A Peach!

Weight gain/loss:  Unknown

Maternity clothes?  Not yet...bump is coming fast though! 

Stretch marks? Same as week 5

Sleep?  Feeling pretty tired...

Best moment this week?  Starting to see the bump get bigger.

Worst moment this week?  Still feeling queasy.  Just wish it would stop!

Food cravings?  Apples!  They are ready to pick off our tree and soo good!

Gender?  Unknown yet.  We did the needle test again and it said girl!

Belly button in or out? In.

Movement: Nope. 

What I miss:  Working out....

What I'm looking forward to:  my trip next weekend!

Weekly wisdom:  The baby is just as stubborn as it's mamma!

Milestones:  Forming vocal cords and teeth; already has fingerprints; intestines are moving from the umbilical cord to the tummy (yikes! sounds gross!)

Week 12 (8/31 to 9/6)

How big is baby?  Plum

Weight gain/loss:  152.2 (lost a few since first visit to doctor)

Maternity clothes?  Not this week...bloat went down some but I have to do the hair band trick with my pants otherwise they are a little too tight at the waist!

Stretch marks? Same as week 5....

Sleep?  On and off.  I get up several times at night to pee, and my last time up (usually 4:30) I can't fall back asleep.

Best moment this week? Seeing "da baby" (that's usually what we say)!!  It was awesome!  And having my parents over to help with some housework and remodel our pantry!

Worst moment this week?  Throwing up...yet again :(  Isn't it supposed to be done?

Food cravings?  Pizza.  For some reason, I always want it.  Oh and Shaun's homemade spaghetti sauce!

Gender? Heartbeat was 165 so I'm saying girl!

Belly button in or out? In.

Movement:  We saw bébé kick during the ultrasound and I could have sworn "da baby" kicked me when I was at work on Tuesday (9/6)

What I miss:  Working out!  My muscle tone is starting to disappear.  Hopefully I can get back to a regular workout soon!

What I'm looking forward to:  Seeing my parents for the Labor Day weekend!

Weekly wisdom:  Bear hunting is not a recommended activity to do while pregnant. lol.  The Dr. said someone actually asked her recently about this!  Too funny!

Milestones:  Most critical systems are fully formed; about to enter growth and maturation stage, which organs and tissues will grow and develop rapidly; now developing reflexes (if you poke, baby will move!); opening and closing fingers and curling toes, brain is developing fast!  Phew that's a lot of activity going on!

Note:  This post was written during the week indicated in the title.  

Pantry Remodel

So after this year I think I'm done remodeling !!  We've racked up quite the list:

1. Main Bathroom
2. Flooring in downstairs "family room"
3. Deck
4. Patio
5. Garage Concrete raised (we hardly did anything but it cost us some money)

And now our pantry in the kitchen!  SIX!!  Yikes!

Here's the story behind our pantry...the original owners or whoever did the kitchen were, to be honest, STUPID!   Take a look for yourself:

Note:  This inside is even an upgrade from when we moved in.  There was like blue checkered wallpaper and blue pieced together shelves.  It was a mess!

 Seriously?  What good do two separate closets do?  Sure one may have been a coat closet but that still doesn't make any sense!

So on to the demolition!  Shaun started early Saturday because my parents wouldn't be getting there until late afternoon.

Dad checking to see if the doors will work.  We had such a weird size opening....

 The paneling up so we could cover the pieced together work...

Shelves going up!!  YAY!

The finished doors.  We the door on the right is actually warped so it hangs lower and you'll notice there is a larger gap towards the top of the door!  Only fitting!  Nothing ever goes right!  So we had to take it back and get a new one and I am hoping that it is free of defects!

And the finished inside!  Still room for everything I need and more!

Ahhh!  Pantry sweet pantry complete!  Thanks so much to my wonderful Mom (who mowed our entire yard which was not easy since the grass was long and thick) and Dad who helped Shaun the entire weekend!  Honorary mention goes to my sister, brother-in-law and nephew for stopping in on Saturday!  

After doing this remodel, I wish I could say we are done for a while but I can't!  With baby coming, we may need to do some painting for the nursery!

Week 11 (8/24 to 8/30)

How big is baby?  Lime! (go Margaritas!!)

Weight gain/loss:  No idea.  Will find out at Dr.'s appointment on 9/1!

Maternity clothes? Getting close.  Not sure if it is previous belly fat, bloat, or baby protruding but my clothes are getting tight! 

Stretch marks? Same as week 5

Sleep?  A little better.  I tossed the full length body pillow for a normal size pillow and it's working much better!

Best moment this week? Sitting around the campfire with Shaun picking out baby names!

Worst moment this week?  Throwing up....again :(

Food cravings?  Nothing really this week.  Although we made homemade salsa and I couldn't stop eating it!

Gender?  Unknown yet.  I won an Intelligender test from a blog giveaway.  I took it Saturday morning (8/27) and it said.....BOY!  I'll have to redo the needle test to see if it says anything different!

Sort of hard to see the girl color.....

Belly button in or out? In.

Movement: Nope.

What I miss:  Cooking food.  I haven't had the stomach for it so thankfully Shaun has come to my rescue and do most of it!  Oh I also miss not having to shave everyday.  My leg hairs are so dark and long!  I feel like a cave woman some days!

What I'm looking forward to:  The morning sickness being gone!

Weekly wisdom:  Salsa counts for daily intake of veggies!

Milestones:  Baby is moving fluidly and gracefully; skin is see through but starting to look more baby-like; no more webbed toes and fingers; and tooth buds, hair follicles and nail beds are forming!

Note:  This post was written during the week indicated in the title.  

Week 10 (8/17 to 8/23)

How big is baby?  Prune (um ewww)!

Weight gain/loss:  Don't know.  I refuse to weigh myself....Shaun said my calves are looking skinny :)

Maternity clothes? Nope not yet. 

Stretch marks? Same as week 5

Sleep?  Doing pretty good.  Starting to get restless early morning and then don't want to get up in the morning...

Best moment this week? Having energy again!  I cleaned the entire house and some of the garage on Saturday (8/20) and felt so good.   Paid for it on Sunday when I didn't feel the greatest....

Worst moment this week?  Don't remember.....

Food cravings?  Ice cream!  Not sure why....

Gender?  Unknown yet.  

Belly button in or out? In.

Movement: Nope.

What I miss: Being able to cook my own food!  I can't stomach standing there that long!

What I'm looking forward to:  Our appointment next week!

Weekly wisdom:  I'm at a loss.....

Milestones:  Baby has working arm joints and cartilage and bones are forming; vital organs are fully developed and starting to function; fingernails and hair starting to appear; baby is swallowing and kicking!

Note:  This post was written during the week indicated in the title.  

Week 9 (8/10 to 8/16)

How big is baby?  Green Olive!

Weight gain/loss:  Unknown

Maternity clothes? Nope not yet. 

Stretch marks? Same as week 5

Sleep?  Don't feel as tired but still need a daily nap!

Best moment this week?  Being able to visit with my sister!!

Worst moment this week?  Throwing up for a second time!

Food cravings?  Barbecued chicken!!

Gender?  Unknown yet.

Belly button in or out? In.

Movement: Nope. 

What I miss:  Cuddling with Shaun!

What I'm looking forward to:  Not having to run to the bathroom thinking I'm going to throw up!

Weekly wisdom:  You threw up so you should feel better right?

Milestones:  No longer an embryo--now a fetus!!  Starting to develop more distinct facial features; and now has a strong enough heartbeat to be pick up by a fetal doppler!

Note:  This post was written during the week indicated in the title.  

Week 8 (8/3 to 8/9)

How big is baby?  Raspberry!

Weight gain/loss:  Probably loss.  I threw up a couple of times and haven't had much of an appetite.

Maternity clothes? Nope not yet. 

Stretch marks? Same as week 5

Sleep?  If I could do it all the time, I would!

Best moment this week?  Spending an entire weekend with Shaun without having anything to do (well besides a wedding).  Oh and we told Grandma E about the good news!

Worst moment this week?  Throwing up!

Food cravings?  Arby's Roast beef!  It was so yummy!

Gender?  Unknown yet.  We did the needle test over the belly and it said Girl!

Belly button in or out? In.

Movement: Nope.

What I miss: Not feeling like I have to throw up all the time.

What I'm looking forward to:  A salad!

Weekly wisdom:  Just throw up.  You'll feel better!  (Pshh yeah right!)

Milestones:  Baby is moving arms and legs like crazy, but can't feel yet.  Fingers and toes are now only slightly webbed and tail is gone.

Note:  This post was written during the week indicated in the title.  

Week 7 (7/27 to 8/2)

How big is baby?  Blueberry

Weight gain/loss:  The doctor's office scale said 153 which is a few pounds less then the home scale :)

Maternity clothes? Nope not yet. 

Stretch marks? Same as week 5

Sleep?  All.the.time

Best moment this week? Being able to cook all day in the kitchen on Saturday (7/30) when we did our OAMC.

Worst moment this week?  The uneventful visit to the doctor's office.

Food cravings? Still just happy to keep any food down.

Gender?  Unknown yet.

Belly button in or out? In.

Movement: Nope.

What I miss:  Eating whatever food I feel like.  Especially salads!

What I'm looking forward to: No more morning sickness!

Weekly wisdom:   Food only tastes good for a day or two, so enjoy it while it lasts!

Milestones:  Hands and feet are emerging from developing arms and legs--although they look more like paddles.


Note:  This post was written during the week indicated in the title.  

Week 6 (7/20 to 7/26)

How big is baby? Sweet Pea size (awww)

Weight gain/loss:  Nothing..still the same

Maternity clothes? Nope!  Still fitting into normal clothes.  Noticing the belly is getting a little tighter though which I've read is mostly from bloat.

Stretch marks? Same as week 5

Sleep? Better this week

Best moment this week?  Margaritas with friends!  Even though I couldn't drink it was nice to get out of the house and scarf down some awesome food! 

Worst moment this week?  Not being able to drink margaritas!

Food cravings? I'm happy just to keep food down!

Gender?  Unknown yet.

Belly button in or out? In.

Movement: Does severe morning sickness count?

What I miss:  Margaritas!

What I'm looking forward to: Being done with morning sickness

Weekly wisdom:   Coming from Shaun:  "You're pregnant, you can do what you want!"

Milestones:  Baby is developing ears, eyes, nose, chin, and cheeks!

Note:  This post was written during the week indicated in the title.

Week 5 (7/13 to 7/19)

As of July 13, I am 5 weeks pregnant.  I'll be doing this survey every week throughout the pregnancy.  Should be fun to see how everything progresses/changes!

How big is baby? About the size of an appleseed

Weight gain/loss; N/A

Maternity clothes? Nope!  Surprisngly, the bloat isn't that bad either and I can fit into all of my clothes pretty good.

Stretch marks? I've had them since I was a teenager and notice them becoming a little more pronunced.

Sleep? Had a few bouts of insomnia.  I was up from 2 a.m. to 4 a.m. one day.  Another time, I couldn't sleep so i moved to the couch.

Best moment this week? Finding out we were pregnant and telling my family.

Worst moment this week?  Nothing really...still in the honeymoon phase!

Food cravings? Nothing weird yet except sweets don't sit well with me :(  I usually ALWAYS have to have sweets after meals!

Gender?  I think it's a girl.  Actually I HOPE it's a girl!

Belly button in or out? In.

Movement: Does severe cramping count?

What I miss:  Feeling energetic and being able to work out.

What I'm looking forward to: Our first appointment!

Weekly wisdom:   God is Good!

Milestones:  Baby is forming heart and kidneys!

Note:  This post was written during the week indicated in the title.  

March (is going to be) Madness!

When Shaun and I were on our honeymoon last year, I told him that I wanted to start a family the fall of 2011.  Hard to believe that it is almost here!    I've been reading up on the subject of fertility and conceiving quite a bit.  So I told him that I thought we should start trying now (June 2011) because it takes the average couple 3-4 months to conceive.

Well, it looks like we should have waited another month or so because we struck gold on the first try!  I first took a Dollar Tree test on July 12 and it was pretty clear:

The next day I took a First Response just to be sure that the Dollar Tree test was accurate and it had the same result:

I sort of knew I was pregnant a couple weeks before these tests, just the way I was feeling and how my body was changing.  Call it woman's intution if you want!

After the First Response test was positive, I called the Dr's office and they got me in for a blood test on July 12.  The results:  PREGNANT!  hCG level was 2,103.  I had to go back on July 15 to see if it is continuing to double and it was (at 4,503)!!

Finding out we were pregnant that week worked out nice, because I was able to tell my parents in person!  I got a little creative and "made" a shirt for Minnie....

Then we made Minnie prance around in front of my parents.   Here's the video:

So our estimated due date is March 14, 2012.  Looks like our March will be coming in like a "lion"!

Note:  This post was written shortly after we found out.  I haven't been ready to post until we notified our families and just in case something did go awry.