25 weeks!

25 weeks

How far along? 25 weeks, 2 days
Total weight gain?  14lbs. There, I said it. Hopefully the next weigh in won't be so bad. I have really reigned it in since the cruise.
Maternity clothes?  Maternity jeans and some shirts. It's funny to put on a shirt that is non-maternity, that I just wore a few weeks ago. They are getting shorter and shorter!
Sleep? Still sleeping well aside from the 2-3 times a night potty breaks. It doesn't really bother me. I have no problem going right back to sleep. 
Best moment of the week?  Finally getting a jump start on the baby room. We got everything out (and piled in our guest room) and started painting and hoping to finish this weekend. We still need to decide on a crib but other than that, things should move quickly.
Miss anything?  Not missing much. I am just loving every minute of this. Time is flying and then I know I will be missing him rolling around in my belly! If I had to choose, maybe my brain. I have been so spacey lately and dropping things all the time. I was told your brain never quite recovers...good to know.
Movement? I wish I would have recorded my belly a few times this week. He has been quite the mover! My belly has been moving all over! I will get "hard spots" and feel a little...something (a foot, head, hand?) and I will poke at it because it doesn't always feel good and he just stays there. I love it!! 
Food cravings? No. Occasionally, I will will wake-up and think about a certain food and that is what I end up eating at some point but no real cravings. I could probably eat chocolate all day, every day but I don't.
Anything make you queasy or sick? Nope. I feel great!
Labor signs? No, keep on cookin' little boy!
Gender?  BOY! I still get nervous that it will change which is silly. We got all the good shots to prove it's definitely a boy.
Symptoms? Heartburn and reflux!! Big time! Nothing that a little Tums can't handle though. I pretty much have stashes of Tums everywhere.
Happy or Moody? Happy!! I love feeling our little boy in my belly. I feel like every time he moves, it's a miracle and makes me smile.
Looking forward to...?  My ultrasound on Wednesday!! Crossing my fingers that my placenta has moved. I would really love to be off the "restrictions", which includes being intimate with my hubby. Sorry if that's TMI but I miss him...a lot. I also can't wait to see our little guy on the big screen again.
Realization of the week? Michael and I have been talking about labor and birth and how we would like to plan it. I stopped and realized we were talking about a day in the near (15 weeks) future instead maybe a someday. I have a little belly, I feel him all the time, and yet, I still don't think it has really sunk in for either of us. We have been so used to talking about maybe someday, that our minds can't really grasp that this is actually happening. Maybe it's like that for everyone? I am trying to find ways to make this seem more like a reality than a dream but maybe it will always feel like a dream come true. I can't say how in love I am with this little boy already and I can't wait to meet him!

24 weeks...

24 weeks 0 days

 How far along? 24 weeks, 3 days
Total weight gain? OH, MY! Dang that cruise!! I gained a ridiculous amount of weight this month, I don't even want to put it in writing. I have only gained about 1 lb. every doctor appointment so far. It's all catching up with me I guess. I'm hoping that because of the cruise, it will all kind of even out in the end. 
Maternity clothes?  I am wearing maternity bottoms. I am mixing in some shirts too. It's all so much more comfy than regular clothes.
Sleep? Still sleeping well. I am loving my Snoogle. I am finding I'm needing a little extra support under my belly and the Snoogle is the best for that. 
Best moment of the week?  Michael got his cast off!! Things seem to be getting back to normal and he so much happier. Also, Michael and I laying in bed and watching my belly move. That is so fun! I think baby boy is recognizing Michael's voice. He will talk to him and he starts to wiggle all around. I love it!!
Miss anything?  My appetite. I'm still hungry all the time but I seem to be back in the nothing-sounds-good phase and it's annoying. I'm trying to get back on track after the cruise and detoxing a little (eating more salads, etc.) I feel like I am lacking protein because it doesn't sound good. I am trying to make more smoothies...even though it doesn't sound good. 
Movement?  YES!! Crazy little man! I love it! I love watching my belly move and it's fun to feel him higher and higher in my belly. He is a wiggle worm!
Food cravings?  No. Like I said, nothing sounds good so I'm trying to eat better. Fruit sounds good sometimes but I can't live off fruit.
Anything make you queasy or sick? No, I'm feeling great for the most part.
Labor signs? No, keep on cookin'!
Gender?  BOY! 
Symptoms? Heartburn is a real thing! I am controlling it pretty well. I started taking Pepcid everyday and that has helped. My dad swears by apple cider vinegar but I haven't had a chance to go get some yet. I also thought I was getting a ton of stretch marks all over my belly and it freaked me out. Fortunately, it turned out to be a rash. No stretch marks yet...finger crossed!!
Happy or Moody? Happy! Things are finally getting back to normal in our house and we are slowly getting the nursery cleaned out. We are also picking out paint which I don't love. I am not good at it.
Looking forward to...?  My ultrasound next week. I am anxious to see if my placenta has moved. It would be nice to be off the restrictions. Also, I get to see my little man again! I can't wait to see how he has grown in 7 weeks!!
Realization of the week? Only 15 weeks to go! How did that happen?? I remember how quickly the first 15 weeks went so it's exciting to think how little time we have left before we meet this little man. I am a planner so I am antsy to get the nursery going and finish the small projects we have to do on the house.

Weeks 22 & 23...

A busy couple of weeks for us!  We went on a little getaway to Disneyland and a cruise to Mexico.  It was relaxing and we had a blast.  Disneyland was crowded but we rented Michael a wheelchair so he could get around easier, which meant, no lines! We were able to get on most rides in a matter of minutes. The cruise was fun and we mostly just relaxed and napped a lot.  It was the best to be with just my hubby, especially after all the craziness the last month. Baby boy loved it...he was so active the whole time!

22 weeks 3 days

How far along? 23 weeks, 1 day
Total weight gain? 8 lbs+...we will see on Wednesday.  Oh my gosh, my doctor is going to wonder what I have done after our cruise. I'm scared to find out.
Maternity clothes?  I am wearing the jeans and some shirts. I have yet to go through my summer clothes to see what is going to fit. I know that I will be loving dresses this summer. I wore some dresses on the cruise and I LOVE not having anything on my belly. I think it's maternity pants and shorts from now on. I doubt that any of my regular shorts are going to fit.
Sleep? I sleep pretty good still despite the 3-a-night bathroom trips. I have also heartburn in the middle of night that wakes me up (YUCK!). But, other than that, I still sleep pretty good.
Best moment of the week?  SEEING my belly move! How bizarre! I love my little alien. Michael is feeling him more and more and I love the way his face lights up when he does. We just laid in our cabin for a hour one night and watched my belly move all over!
Miss anything?  Not having to pee every 15 minutes! I can't go anywhere without knowing I have access to a bathroom and where it's located. Baby boy's favorite toy is definitely my bladder!
Movement?  All.the.time! I get nervous if it has been a while since I felt him.  I hate that feeling. For the most part, he is a crazy wiggler so when he is not moving, I get nervous. I guess he has to sleep sometime! I love just laying on my bed and feeling him wiggle.
Food cravings?  Nope. Of course I ate way too much on the cruise, despite the food being not so great. I did drink a lot of hot chocolate.  I couldn't seem to get enough. It was chilly for a lot of the time and it was so good!
Anything make you queasy or sick? I thought I would get sea sick but I felt pretty good for the most part. I did have to leave a show we were watching because the smoke from the "smoking area" was seeping into the room and it made me so nauseous. It was disgusting! We went to sleep pretty early that night.
Labor signs? No, keep on cookin'!
Gender?  BOY! 
Symptoms? HEARTBURN! This baby had better have a lot hair! The old wives tale says the more heartburn you have, the more hair your baby will have. Tums are my friends. At first it didn't hurt but now it wakes me up, burning and creeping up my esophagus. So gross! PEEING...A LOT! I am pretty sure I visited every bathroom in Disneyland. Michael has been a good sport and not said a word when I go to bathroom and then go right back, five minutes later. HUNGRY! Lately, I have been eating about every 3 hours. Sometimes, I feel even more hungry right after I eat until the food actually has a chance to reach my stomach.
Happy or Moody? Happy and feeling recharged!  Michael is more mobile and getting better everyday. That makes me happy.
Looking forward to...?  Dr. appointment on Wednesday and ultrasound in few weeks. I am really hoping my placenta has moved so I can stop worrying about it. I am also looking forward to getting a jump on the nursery. We have plans to start painting right after we get everything out of the room. My crib bedding is being made as we speak and I am searching for things to complete the theme. I will post a sneak peak of the bedding which I am absolutely in love with.

Realization of the week? Only a few more weeks until trimester 3! How crazy! This trimester is flying by and I feel the need to get things done when I still have the energy to do them! I'm hoping to have the nursery painted by mid-June so I can have somewhere to put baby shower stuff. 

21 weeks!

Sticking it out!

21 weeks!

Tate wanted to get in on the photo action. He is excited for his "boy cousin". My belly looks different sizes in all three of these pictures. I think the most accurate shot is the middle. Top one I am kind of sticking it out and bottom, kind of sucking in.

How far along? 21 weeks
Total weight gain? 8 lbs+
Maternity clothes?  I decided I kind of hate the full-panel maternity jeans. I can't stand to have anything on my belly. I feel like I can't breathe and I feel like it contributes to reflux and heartburn. It doesn't feel good when I am bloated either.  Oh, well.
Sleep? Sleeping very well. I can't say enough about The Snoogle. I still wake-up a few times a night to pee because I guzzle water before I go to bed but I don't care. I gotta get my water in and bed time is crunch time!
Best moment of the week?  It's been rough around here lately. I am just happy to be generally feeling good and love it when my little man wiggles like crazy. It let's me know he is okay.
Miss anything?  I miss Michael being able to walk. I know he misses it too.  I know he is getting depressed about his lack of mobility and I am trying to cheer him up by getting him to feel this little guy but no luck with that this week. 
Movement?  Oh, man! He loves bouncing on my bladder and I just laugh every time! Michael should come to work with me at night when he is the most active. This little man loves to be awake at night which I hope to correct very soon after he is born.
Food cravings?  I haven't had a great week with food. I haven't felt quite right since Monday and I haven't had an appetite. I had Jimmy Johns this week and it didn't do anything for me. I couldn't even finish it. I'm hoping to be liking food again soon.
Anything make you queasy or sick? No, thank goodness. Besides the lack of appetite, I have been feeling great and nothing really has made me nauseous this week.
Labor signs? No, keep on cookin'!
Gender?  BOY! 
Symptoms? It's getting harder to bend over. I definitely can still do it but it feels like I am bending over a softball. Breathing is getting harder and the bloating and reflux is fun too.  Of course, I'm loving every minute of it...so dramatic! :)
Happy or Moody? Happy but feeling stressed. I hate seeing Michael so down. He really can't do much so it's a little wearing on every one. I know it's a matter of time before he will be on his feet again but it's hard. I love him.
Looking forward to...?  Our VACATION! We leave Friday for California and we are going on a short cruise. It will be an adventure with Michael's foot but we both are really looking forward to relaxing and enjoying one last hurrah before this little guy arrives. I can't wait!!
Realization of the week? 19 weeks to go! I get really antsy thinking about my non-existent belly and how far I have to go but then I look back and I can't believe I am over half-way there. The last 21 weeks have really gone by faster than I thought they would. I just need to try to enjoy these next 19 weeks and not rush it. I definitely don't want him making his debut any time soon. He still has lots of cooking to do!

20 Weeks...Halfway There!

So, I didn't get around to taking a 20 week picture (I'm 21 weeks tomorrow). Too much going on, with too little motivation to get decent for a pic. This little guy will have to do for this week!

How far along? 20 weeks exactly
Total weight gain? 8 lbs...I gained one pound since my last appointment, 4 weeks ago. I find that amazing since I feel huge but I'll take it.
Maternity clothes?  I'm wearing the jeans more and more.  It's weird how much more pregnant I look when I wear the maternity jeans vs. regular jeans. I guess it has something to do with the panel?
Sleep? Still sleeping good and the The Snoogle is keeping me safely on my back for the most part. I love sleeping!
Best moment of the week?  Just today, Michael was able to feel him kick! I knew it was going to be any day. He was so excited and his face just lit up! I was so happy! And, seeing him on ultrasound to find out he's perfect!! I can't believe how much he's grown!
Miss anything?  Nothing!  I really am loving every moment of this!
Movement?  See above! All the time! He is such a good little boy. It's like he knows when I am a little worried something is wrong, he will give me a little kick as to say, "I'm okay, Mom"!
Food cravings?  I actually haven't had Jimmy Johns this week. I am not really craving anything this week.  Just super hungry all.the.time.
Anything make you queasy or sick? Not much.  I did feel familiarly nauseous when I went to lunch with my parents. Every bite I took, I would get a wave. That hasn't happened for a while. But overall, I have been feeling great.
Labor signs? None yet, thank goodness.
Gender?  BOY! No name yet.
Symptoms? As I am sitting here writing this, I'm pretty sure I am experiencing heartburn for the first time. It kind of hurts! I took some Tums, which seem to work pretty fast. I love the drama of pregnancy!
Happy or Moody? Happy but stressed. It's been eventful in our house lately. In the last month, Michael had a colonoscopy that found two pre-cancerous polyps so we will have to watch that closely.  Then, he had to have surgery on his ankle which was no cake walk. At his 2 week follow-up, an extensive blood clot was discovered and I was scared and sad for him. It's been pretty painful for him and has affected his mobility even more than his ankle has. He is getting tired of not being able to get around easily. The day after the blood clot discovery, I had my 20 week ultrasound. Baby boy is perfect but we found out I have a complete placenta previa which officially puts me in the high risk category. Placenta previa is when the placenta covers the opening of the cervix which increases the risk of the placenta tearing away from the uterus and causing less nutrients to the baby. Best case, it moves with my growing uterus and I can have a normal delivery.  Worst, other than the placenta tearing away, I have a c-section at 37 weeks. I will not be allowed to go into labor for risk of delivering the placenta first, cutting off oxygen to the baby. If I start bleeding between now and then, I am on bed rest until it stops. Our doctor thought there was a great chance it would move and things can progress as normal. Phew! It's been quite a month. I recently also found a lump in my right breast which is kind of freaking me out. My doctor seemed pretty unconcerned about it but said we can do an ultrasound if it was bothering me. He said there are so many breast changes in pregnancy, "it could be normal". I'm not taking any chances. It's bothering me. It kind of terrifies me. I'm going to have it checked. To be continued...
Looking forward to...?  The drama being over! I am working on not worrying so much but I have some things on my mind. I'm looking forward to seeing Michael feeling better. I am also looking forward to Michael feeling the baby more. I love his reaction!
Realization of the week? I used to think that infertility was our one trial, which is stupid.  I always said I was grateful that we have our health and that our trial wasn't cancer or something worse. Neither of us has cancer but everything that has happened has made me realize that just because infertility is one of our trials doesn't mean that is all we get. We have dodged a lot of bullets lately but having this baby makes me even more concerned for our health and even more of a worrier. I am just praying we continue to stay healthy for our little man.

19 weeks...

19 weeks 2 days!

How far along? 19 weeks 1 day
Total weight gain? 7+ lbs...We will get an official number on Wednesday but I don't know if I will share.  I feel huge!
Maternity clothes?  Just the jeans that I am now irritated I bought a size too big.  I guess maternity runs big to make you feel good because these jeans are a size 6 and there is no way I am size 4 right now but that is what I need.  They just sag every where.
Sleep? OMG!  The Snoogle. AMAZING!!  Totally worth every penny.  I thought the Snoogle would help me not turn over onto my back but I still wake up on my back if I fall asleep on my left side, which freaks me out a little as I get bigger.  But, like a good little boy, he reassures me he is okay by kicking away in there!
Best moment of the week?  Feeling real movement in there!  He is an active little guy.  I laid on my bed for hours the other morning just feeling him wiggle all around.  By far the best moment yet!  I have even felt him a few times on the outside!  I have been trying to get Michael to feel him but no luck there yet. It's a matter of time, I'm sure!
Miss anything?  Nothing!  I really am loving every moment of this!
Movement?  See above!  We went to Titanic and I had to pee five times during the movie!  There was one time where I swear he kicked my bladder just right. I thought it was little too early to be dealing with that!
Food cravings?  Still loving Jimmy Johns but wouldn't really call it a craving.  I really feel grateful that I don't crave anything.  I still don't feel like anything in particular but I'm glad that I don't want McDonald's all the time.  French fries always sound good but I don't give in too much.
Anything make you queasy or sick? My gag reflex has kicked into high gear.  I threw-up at work because of something kind of unpleasant that I had to do, which I didn't even end up doing (thank you, Sharon).  I can control it if I don't have anything in my stomach but if I do...I usually don't win that battle. But overall, I have been feeling great!
Labor signs? None yet, thank goodness.
Gender?  BOY! Confirmation on Wednesday and then on to shopping!
Symptoms? Just big, sore boobs! Ha!
Happy or Moody? Happy!
Looking forward to...? Ultrasound on Wednesday!!! I can't wait to see our little man on screen again! We are praying everything measures right on schedule and everything is normal.  
Realization of the week? There is a baby inside me!!!  He is so wiggly and I love it!!  It makes it so real to finally feel him.  Michael can't wait to feel him.  He says he is super jealous.  Also, I have the best hubby ever!  Since his surgery, he hasn't been able to do much and it has made me realize how much he does around our house.  He can't wait to be up and at 'em again to get started on the nursery.  I love him!

18 Weeks and Counting...

18 weeks...starting to get the belly!

How far along? 18 weeks 0 days
Total weight gain? 7+ lbs...I don't want to know.
Maternity clothes?  Still not wearing anything but the maternity jeans occasionally.  They are still way too big for me.
Sleep? Still sleeping pretty good.  I have been trying to sleep on my left side.  I hate it.  I usually sleep on my back and that is a no-no soon.  Michael surprised me and bought me a "Snoogle" today.  I can't wait to try it!
Best moment of the week? Feeling this little guy move!! See below!
Miss anything?  Nothing much this week. I'm loving everything right now!
Movement?  The flutters are not so much flutters anymore.  I am finally feeling real movement in there!  At first, it was very off and on but now I feel him several times a day.  I can't wait for him to get stronger and I feel him more often!
Food cravings?  Jimmy Johns!  I ate it three times this week.  I am loving it!  I also made a grilled PB & banana sandwich for breakfast the other morning.  I am not sure what possessed me since I have never had one before but it was SO good.
Anything make you queasy or sick?  I have felt pretty good this week.  Not really any nausea. There seems to be a fine line between hunger, nausea, and eating too much at time.  I am working on finding my limits.
Labor signs? None yet, thank goodness.
Gender?  BOY! My 20 week ultrasound is in 10 days.  I am nervous for some reason that we will discover it's a girl and although I would love a girl, I would be sad. I am loving the idea of my little boy.  But really, is there a question?...

15 weeks 4 day...It's SO a boy!

Symptoms? Just round ligament pain every now and then.  It's not that bad because it's not that often that goodness!
Happy or Moody? Happy and excited!
Looking forward to...? My ultrasound soon!  I can't wait to see how much he has grown.  I am also still looking forward to choosing a name!  We felt like we were getting close but we recently added a few more to the list making it even harder.  I swear we will be at the hospital without a name!
Realization of the week?  We are almost half-way there!  Every week seems to drag but I can't believe I am 18 weeks!  I am anxious to get things in order which will be a challenge now that Michael is laid up for a while.  He had surgery on his ankle this week and it's been rough for him.  He can't do anything right now and it will be a couple of weeks until he can bear weight.  As soon as we confirm it's a little man, we will get started on the nursery.  We picked out bedding and I love it!  Pictures to come!