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.