Week 17

 

How far along? Week 17
Total weight gain/loss: +4 lbs

Maternity clothes? None at the moment, however, I think I may need some soon!
Stretch marks? None
Sleep: Sleep has been rough the past week
Best moment this week: Getting to relax!
Miss Anything? Being able to breathe out of my nose!
Movement: I thought I have felt movement, but I'm not quite sure yet
Food cravings:Not much of anything right now

Anything making you queasy or sick: The same smells as before
Have you started to show yet: Yes I have!
Gender: Hopefully we will find out at week 20
Labor Signs: None

Belly Button in or out? Still in
Wedding ring on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy but not feeling so good!

Looking forward to: Going home for Christmas and seeing friends and family :)

Well we had the second trimester appointment with my OB/GYN on Monday, December 17th. Everything seems to be going really well and Daddy got to hear the heart beat this time with the Doppler! :)

We also got to see baby in another ultrasound, which was amazing to see how different Baby looks since the last time we saw him/her.

 

The little bean sure is growing fast! 

We were also hoping to find out the gender, although 16 weeks seems to be the earliest you might be able to find out, but the little bugger wasn't showing us! It was hard to get a good position to see, but also, it is so early in development still that it would only be a guess. (The ultrasound tech did guess at being a girl, but we will see!) I have my next appointment on January 15th at 20 weeks, so maybe we will have better luck then!

 It was definitely nice to have this week off before traveling home, since when we found out we were expecting I've been so busy with student teaching, I just really needed some lazy days! However, it hasn't been all that fun with this sinus/nasal congestion I have going on! It feels like a regular sinus infection, but it could also be a side affect from pregnancy. Thank goodness I have Theraflu to help me sleep a little bit during the night, and it really is my only option for medication. I'm thinking once we are home, I will feel as good as new! I'm just eager to talk baby stuff with friends and family :)

 

Week 16

How far along? 16 weeks and 2 days
Total weight gain/loss: Possibly 4-6 lbs. We will know Monday!
Maternity clothes? None, however, I can't button my pants! As long as I wear a long tank top, we're all good :-)
Stretch marks? None
Sleep: Sleep has been good with a few times of waking up and shifting
Best moment this week: Getting to see family!
Miss Anything? Nothing as of right now
Movement: None yet ;-)
Food cravings: Just pickles!! 

Anything making you queasy or sick: The majority of food smells and all perfume/hair spray smells
Have you started to show yet: Yes I sure have!
Gender: We will find out soon!
Labor Signs: None
Belly Button in or out? Still in
Wedding ring on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: The happiest!

Looking forward to: Spending time with family, showing off my baby bump, and eating a lot of yummy holiday food!

I am a little late at updating the blog due to getting ready for family arriving in Kansas, and my graduation from College was today! I can't believe it has finally happened, but I am so thankful for been given this opportunity to pursue I career I love that is all for my family that Justin and I are building :)

Part of me has always believed that going through College isn't just for myself - and since meeting Justin, he has pushed me to work hard and do my best to succeed, and now our little bean has pushed me that extra mile to complete my degree because all I want is to provide my family with a wonderful, loving, stable home.

We get to finally see our little bean again on Monday December 17th since October! I'm so excited to see the difference and growth the baby has made, and we hope to find out the gender! We are still planning to have the ultrasound tech write it in a card, and we reveal it with family and friends while we are home! Other than finding out the gender of the baby as being a gift from Santa, I would love nothing more than to share this special moment with my family and closest friends. I can't wait for it. I can't wait for May!

Week 15

 How far along? 15 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: About 4 lbs gained!
Maternity clothes? None so far, however, my pants are becoming uncomfortable to wear without having it unbuttoned  =P
Stretch marks? None, and hopefully I won't get any!
Sleep: Sleep is going pretty good, aside from my sinuses burning at night
Best moment this week: No morning sickness!!!
Miss Anything? My energy
Movement: None yet! Hopefully very soon!
Food cravings: I haven't had any food cravings in a while. Foods don't sound or smell appetizing to me right now
Anything making you queasy or sick: Just the smell of foods
Have you started to show yet: Oh yeah!
Gender: Hopefully we will know in a week!!!!!
Labor Signs: None
Belly Button in or out? Still in
Wedding ring on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Very happy

Looking forward to: My next appointment in a week, and showing off my belly to friends & family over Christmas break!

After recovering from the wonderful stomach flu, I am starting to get energy back and I am having very little to none morning sickness. It's great to wake up and not struggle to get ready for work in the morning! My belly is definitely growing, but it's only visible in certain tops. 

My next doctor's appointment is in a little over a week, on December 17. At that point I will be almost 17 weeks, and we are hopefully finding out the gender of baby Gale!

Week 14

Well this week sure has been a rough one! Thanks to the stomach flu that I've had Wednesday - Friday, and now my husband has it, we weren't able to get up and get well enough to take a pretty picture for this weeks update. However, with all the fluids and weight I've lost, there really isn't much belly growth showing compared to last week. I was really hoping to avoid getting the stomach flu while being pregnant, but what can you do! I was worried about how it may affect the baby, but after calling my doctor, they said the only thing to do is to just ride it out and keep hydrated. It has been tough to eat/drink anything without feeling nauseous, but I/we am getting there.

On the brighter side, I had my second checkup on Monday, November 26. It was a very short visit, but my doctor used the Doppler so I could hear the heart beat which sounded fast but normal, and that was pretty much it! Also, my next appointment is December 17, and we are getting a second ultrasound to hopefully find out the gender! I think that is really all I want for Christmas! Justin and I don't want to know the gender right on the spot, so we plan to have the ultrasound tech write it in a card, then we hope to have a gender reveal party back at home in Michigan after Christmas where we find out with friends and family. One thing that has been extremely difficult is being pregnant and not being close to family and friends to share this exciting time with them, so I'm hoping this will happen and we get to share this moment with some very special people in our lives and who will also be special in our baby's life.

Second Trimester!

I can't believe it's already here! The second trimester, and Thanksgiving of course! I'm ready to eat a lot of yummy foods and go into hibernation mode for the weekend. Unfortunately, I am starting the second trimester feeling a little under the weather. Last week we finally bought a humidifier for our room, and that has helped with the burning sinus issue, but now I've had a soar throat, sneezing, running and clogged nose, and all of the other fun symptoms of being sick. I am still fighting off the morning sickness, and it decided to be really bad today, but hopefully it will pass in time to eat some turkey!
I decided that I still wasn't satisfied with our chalkboard frame, so I painted it white, and it looks tons better than before! I can finally say I am done with fixing it up, and I really hope the chalkboard spray hold up on the glass. If not, it's off to get some plywood instead. Not much else has changed in the past week except my belly size. It is definitely growing!

How far along? 13 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: I'm sure there is some weight gain, I'm just not sure of the number yet
Maternity clothes? Not yet, but I am starting to need a belly band
Stretch marks? None
Sleep: Sleep is a struggle with the sinus stuff I have going on
Best moment this week: Having a day to completely relax and not have anything to do (expect clean)
Miss Anything? Feeling good
Movement: None
Food cravings: Still with the pickles, but nothing else sounds very appetizing
Anything making you queasy or sick: Everything right now! I'm not sure why the nausea came back :(
Have you started to show yet: I sure have!
Gender: We still don't know
Labor Signs: None
Belly Button in or out? Still in
Wedding ring on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy, but exhausted
Looking forward to: Eating delicious food and hoping to start feeling better!

Week 12

How far along? 12 weeks 3 days
Total weight gain/loss: None that I've noticed, but won't know until week 13
Maternity clothes? None
Stretch marks? None!
Sleep: Sleep is okay, except for waking up with dry/burning sinuses
Best moment this week: Getting to satisfy my craving by eating pizza!
Miss Anything? I can still do just about the same things
Movement: None yet!
Food cravings: Pickles!
Anything making you queasy or sick: Just a little morning sickness and a little throughout the day at random
Have you started to show yet: Yes, a little!
Gender: Still unknown
Labor Signs: None
Belly Button in or out? Still in
Wedding ring on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy, with some mood swings mixed in!
Looking forward to: Using the new humidifier to get rid of my burning sinuses (fingers crossed!)

This week we finally got a picture frame that is way better than the one we used at first! Getting this one ready made it a little difficult to be on track to take the picture on Thursday at exactly 12 weeks, however, we won't have to replace this one again. There hasn't been much of a difference since my last update, I'm still experiencing some nausea here and there, but not as extreme as the very beginning, and I'm definitely still exhausted and tired! But we're noticing a lot more growing happening in my belly area! I'm excited to finally start showing and getting bigger and not being in this awkward stage where it just looks like just have some belly fat going on.
Next week it will officially be the 2nd trimester! I can't believe I'm already 1/3 of the way there! I hope to get back to feeling more like myself soon. I can tell I've been a lot more moody, and Justin let's me know, but it's more noticeable when I'm REALLY tired. Yes, I am tired all the time, but when it really starts to take it's toll on me, that's when the mood swings kick in! And while I'm at it, Justin has his mood swings too ;-) however, I can tell it's because he's nervous. We're both really excited about having a baby, but that comes with worries about finances, becoming good parents, where we will live, and the drastic change from it not being just him and I anymore. As excited as I am and how I know that I was always meant to become a mother, it is still hard that this is our first year of marriage, and we already are jumping into parenthood. There's a lot of things that have to change and get cancelled because of it, but I would never regret it for one second. Out of all the great things we have accomplished in our lives, this will be the best thing that we ever do. No matter where we live, our jobs, how much money we have and so on, I know it will all work itself out and be worth it.

Chalkboard Tracker: Week 11

I have decided to finally begin chalkboard tracking my pregnancy! Thanks to Pinterest for introducing this brilliant idea to me! After our first appointment with my Obgyn on October 26th, we were confirmed that we do in fact have a little bean growing, (only one!) and that everything looks great so far! And now we have official announced to every one we know, and began the first photo with this one...

I also love filling out these little surveys, so this will go along with my weekly picture. :-)

How far along? 11 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: No weight gain yet
Maternity clothes? None, I still fit into my regular clothes
Stretch marks? None, and hopefully I won't get any!
Sleep: Sleep is always interrupted with a pee break about 3-4 times per night. I've gotten used to it!
Best moment this week: I've had no nausea this week. Hopefully it stays that way!
Miss Anything? Laying on my belly at night; I'm too nervous to do that now.
Movement: None yet!
Food cravings: Weird cravings! Pickles, Pizza, Chocolate Shakes (And not all at once! yuck!)
Anything making you queasy or sick: Sometimes when I do the dishes, or smell random foods 
Have you started to show yet: I'm starting to show a little bump already!
Gender: Hopefully finding out around week 16/17!
Labor Signs: Not this soon
Belly Button in or out? In as of right now, however it is looking more strange
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: I can be pretty moody, only due to stomach pains, but otherwise I'm happy!
Looking forward to: Feeling better and my next appointment

Two Pink Lines...

This has been such an eventful year for me and my husband. After moving to a new state, getting married, and I've started student teaching, the most wonderful that could happen next is happening! 

It can be such a frustrating thing when you think your pregnant, and look up all the symptoms you're having, and realizing they are exactly like menstrual  symptoms! Although, this time I just kind of knew that I was pregnant (and hoped)! 

Since we got back from getting married back home in Michigan and enjoying a nice little honeymoon, I just haven't been feeling myself. It would start off with feeling a little nausea's here and there, and over the past four weeks it has just gotten more extreme. I go to work and teach from 7:30am to roughly 4:30pm everyday, and I have just been unable to function when I get home. I literally have struggled to stay awake passed 8:30pm! 

Then I noticed I wasn't sleeping much at all. I've had this routine of waking up about 3-4 times during the night having to pee, I would feel stomach pains and cramps and would just be completely uncomfortable.That was the biggest eye opener for me that I must be pregnant!

Justin and I were getting extremely anxious, but wanted to wait to test because I already have my annual Gyno appointment coming up next Thurs, Oct. 4th. After missing my period on Saturday Sept.22 , then Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, I finally had enough with the suspense! Thursday night we decided to get the First Response at home pregnancy test, although I made myself hold off until Friday morning to take it. With all my eagerness and research I've done from the past weeks about pregnancy, I realized my best bet for results is waiting until the morning. 

Finally morning came after a long night of tossing and turning and I got to finally take the test. I continued to get ready for word as normal and I waited patiently for Justin to get ready for work before saying "It's time!"

We had everything packed up to go to work, and stood in our kitchen before walking out the door when I flipped over the pregnancy test and looked quietly for a few seconds without saying anything. At first, I was thinking "Oh my gosh, I can't believe I'm not." But I continued to stare at it until I made sure it was correct. I'm not sure if it was my eyes playing tricks on me, or it if was the shock my brain could not process, but sure enough there were two lines! The second one (the most important one) was slightly faint, but there it was! 

Justin looks at me and says, "What does that mean?!" and I say, "We're pregnant!" At that moment, we didn't have a care that we were already running late for work. We stood there hugging and kissing each other while tears filled our eyes as we realized we have created life. 

We have a little bean. The most wonderful that could happen to anyone, and God blessed us with it. 

I wish I could say when my due date is for sure, but it still is early and my appointment, which has been changed, now isn't until October 15th. Since my last period started on August 22nd, I'm assuming it will be somewhere around May 29th, 2013! 

What an amazing feeling it is to know that baby Gale is there, growing every day. I don't think we have stopped smiling since.