Our Greatest Adventure: Week 17

1/22/2013 

How far along: 17 weeks 

How big is baby: The size of an onion. Baby’s cartilage is turning into bone and s/he is also getting some meat on them. The umbilical cord is also growing stronger and thicker. 

Total weight gain: about 6 pounds 

Maternity clothes: Still the same as last week. I’m wearing my maternity pants and shirts that I already had. I have worn the maternity shirt I bought at destination maternity and it’s super comfy. I wish I would have bought a few more. 

Sleep: This is also still the same. I thought I would have to pee less during the second trimester, but so far I’m still getting up about 2 times every night to go pee. Other than that, I’m sleeping ok. 

Best moment of the week: I think this section should really be titled significant happenings of the week, cause some of the things I’m going to write about aren't necessarily my favorite. 

1) On Jan 24th I had a doctor’s appointment with Dr B. Things went well, I didn't get to see Baby, but I did hear the heartbeat. It’s still beating right at 158 bpm. Dr B also said I’m measuring right at 16-17 weeks. While there I mentioned that I thought I had an ear infection and he was surprised. He said very rarely does he see that, but he looked at my ears to see what was going on. Turns out he couldn't see if I had an infection, because my ear was completely blocked. Unfortunately, he didn't have the tools in his office to clean it, but since I had a plane flight on Saturday he recommended a few things to clear it. First he said I could try over the counter ear drops and see if those worked, if not, I could try lying on a heating pad to melt the earwax. 

2) I tried both of those things that night, but neither of them worked. I did learn that Husbandy is completely grossed out by earwax though, even just the word. On Friday, I decided to make an appointment with the family doctor Husbandy has been to to get my ear cleaned. I felt bad having to leave work early again, but I really didn't want to go on a plane ride with an ear hurting as bad as it already was. At the appointment I learned, even though there were four doctors in the office with the one I was seeing, that no one cleaned ears. Seriously? I just paid you my copay for you to tell me, hey your ear is blocked, you should get it cleaned. Uuuhhh. By this time it was 5:00 and I was getting hungry. But, I had to get this taken care of so I went to Care Now. Ooof course their wait was an hour and a half. Knowing, there was another walk in place right across the street, I called to make sure they cleaned ears and check on their wait. It was only 45 minutes, so I went there. Finally, I was called back, and they confirmed for the 3rd time my ear was blocked. (I KNOW!) They put drops in my ears, but then I had to wait 30 minutes. If you ask me they could have put the drops in my ear while I was waiting, but that is just to reasonable. Finally, they flushed my ear and I could hear!! I could actually hear so well, it felt like my right ear was clogged. By the time I got home, it was 7:00 and I was super hungry. Husbandy and I used a Groupon and went to an Italian place which ended up being pretty good. 

3) Saturday morning we were on our way to FL! Once there, we were picked up by his parents, sister, and our niece! She is just as precious in person as in the pictures on fb. Sunday we had a family lunch with Husbandy’s dad’s side of the family. It was fun getting to see everyone. Other than that, so far we've just kinda hung out…Husbandy did get to go fishing one day while I hung out with his mom. 

Food cravings: Still no must have cravings, but hamburgers always sound good, even if I don’t eat them very much. Salads also sounds good most of the time, the only problem with this is that I usually want ranch and not a healthier option. 

Food aversions: Still trying to stay away from garlic and sweets. I have reintroduced spicy foods and they seem to be ok. 

Symptoms: Nausea has mostly gone away. I only feel bad after taking my prenatal and if I haven’t eaten for a while. My stuffy nose has somewhat gone away too. Since the whole ear debacle I’m taking my allergy medicine more, apparently stuffy noses lead to greater earwax. I do have general uncomfortableness where Baby is growing. 

Movement: Sometimes I think I feel something, but I’m never really sure. 

Gender: Don’t know 

What I’m looking forward to: Spending the rest of the week in FL. No work is wonderful. 

What I miss: A full nights sleep (let’s be honest, when is the next time I’m really going to get this??) 

Next appt: Feb 21st! There will be a sono at this one, and Baby’s gender could be revealed. (but it probably won’t be on that day) 

Workout/Fitness: While lying in the doctor’s office with the drops in my ears, I did some legs lifts. I’m sure I was getting laughed at if there’s a camera in there. Lots of walking, but that may be it.

Our Greatest Adventure: Week 16

1/15/2013

How far along: 16 weeks! I can’t believe it. 

How big is baby: About the size of an avocado. (yum) Over the next few weeks I’ll be experiencing a growth spurt. I definitely remember this happening to Becca. One day she had no bump and the next, there it was! This week lots of Baby’s features are moving to their correct spots, like the eyes, ears, head. Baby has also started to grow toenails, hair, lashes, and eyebrows. Baby can also hear my voice. This makes me so happy. :) Lastly, Baby’s heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day. 

Total weight gain: I'm not really sure, I go to the doc on Thursday the 24th though. I would guess somewhere around 5lbs.

Maternity clothes: Still rocking the maternity pants and most of my old shirts. I want to reserve the pregnancy shirts that I have for when I really need them, but some mornings I just don’t know what to wear, so I find the first shirt that fits. I think I’m going to have a very limited number of shirts that fit within the next couple of weeks, so people at work better get used to it. Which really means, I better get used to it.

Sleep: Same ole same ole 

Best moment of the week: 

1. It’s a good thing Baby is starting to hear me, cause GND made some pretty sweet harmonies while practicing a song from Pitch Perfect this week. :D I’m hoping with the opera, symphony, and now this, Baby will be very musical. 

2. This weekend I went to two lovely baby showers. One was for Aidan and the other for a close family friend who is due in just two weeks! Both of them were so much fun and put on with lots of love. 

Food cravings: No big cravings. I did have really good salmon and steak this week though. 

Food aversions: I still think it’s chicken and sweets that leave bad tastes in my mouth. I have a feeling this isn't going to change. :( I'm also still staying away from garlic.

Symptoms: I had a headache all of Tuesday. Though, I’m not sure if it was because of pregnancy or because I felt like I had a crick in my neck. Also, because of my stuffy nose, I have a lot of drainage (eww). When I wake up in the morning, I cannot hear out of my left ear (I think it is because this is the side I sleep on). For a while my ears would pop relatively quickly, but now I’m going hours without being about to hear. It’s really annoying. I googled it, and apparently there are other women that have this symptom, so I’m going with this is a pregnancy thing and not a bigger issue. I literally have to turn my right ear towards people when they are talking to me, or else I hear them, but it's real hard to make out words. Lastly, the fact that Baby can now hear me has only made me more emotional. Every time I think that s/he can hear me, I tear up. I’ve been telling Baby I love them since I found out I was pregnant, but now it gets to me every time. Please tell me this will go back to normal (which is still pretty emotional on the scale of ice in my veins to a wimp) later. *Update - friends have told me it only gets worse - eeek.*

Movement: YES! On Thursday night/Friday morning I had a terrible dream. I woke up not wanting to close my eyes again cause the dream was so vivid I knew it would come right back. Thankfully, the dream had nothing to do with Baby, but it was just soo creepy. Anyway, as I was laying there I decided I might as well go pee cause we all know I would need to soon. It took me a while to get out of bed, cause I was creeped out though. So, while in the bathroom I felt some strange bubbles in my tummy and then it hit me, I think this is Baby!!! When I got back to bed, I laid on my back with my hand on my stomach and felt the bubbles a few more times. I could not wait to tell Husbandy, I'm pretty sure I told him within the first 10 seconds he was out of bed. Since then I think I've felt it…but it hasn't been as distinct. Either way, I’m getting ready to feel these movements more often. 

Gender: Don’t know 

What I’m looking forward to: Vacation!! We leave the 26th and I’m so so ready for a break from work. I have a lot do to the week before, which will make vacation that much sweeter. 

What I miss: Waking up and being able to hear 

Next appt: Jan 24th! 

Workout/Fitness: I did random leg lifts throughout the week, but I don’t think they were enough to actually call a workout. I also played the dance game….I Whip My Hair Back and Forth, I Whip My Hair Back and Forth…..

Our Greatest Adventure: Weeks 14 & 15

1/1/2013
How far along: 14 weeks! So long first trimester!

 How big is baby: About the size of a lemon! Baby has lots of big developments this week like squinting, frowning, and grimacing. Also, the kidneys, liver, and spleen are all doing their jobs. Baby is also growing lanugo, a thin, peach-fuzz-like hair, all over his/her body which helps him/her keep warm. This is important since it's so cold outside!

Total weight gain: Right about 4 lbs

 Maternity clothes: I have been sporting the Bella Band all week. Husbandy and I went to Destination Maternity on Saturday to spend my gift cards I got for Christmas. I knew I wanted to get jeans, work pants, and a cami. I came away with just those things and a cute shirt! I wore the work pants to Mass and they are so. comfortable. All pants should be this comfortable. My SIL also gave me some jeans which I’m pretty excited about.

Sleep: Sleep has been a tad bit better this week. Though it could be with all the game playing going on late a night, I go to sleep so late that I don’t have time to pee before actually getting up. Either way, I’ll take the sleep.

 Best moment of the week:

1)New Year’s Eve was so much fun. Husbandy and I spent it with friends and family. Bec and I both had glasses filled with sparkling grape juice at midnight. 

 

(I would love to show you a picture, but blogger won't let me upload anything....)

2) Baby is finally facebook and Merit official! On Jan 1, facebook was graced with the news. We posted a picture of our most recent sono and I captioned mine with:

"For this child I have prayed and the Lord has granted the desires of my heart."
-1 Samuel 1:27
  Husbandy and I are thrilled to announce we are pregnant! Our greatest blessing is expected to arrive July 2. Please keep Baby Wagner in your prayers as he/she continues to grow and develop."

 

I’ve been so nervous about putting the news out there. But, we just couldn’t hold it back anymore. We are so excited and I know people have been waiting for this announcement…I mean we have been married for 3.5 years.

3) On Friday I took a half day and then headed out to Cowboy’s Stadium for Fightin’ Texas Aggie football! We tailgated for a while then headed to the Cotton Bowl. Bryan scored tickets from his FIL and was nice enough to invite us to tag along. :) It was so much fun. Baby must be good luck, cause the Ags BTHO OU 41-13. 

Food cravings: On Sunday the only real thing that sounded good for dinner was a hamburger. Again with the hamburger. I was proud of myself though, cause I’ve been nervous about spicy foods, but I got jalapenos on my burger. Even better, I liked it!

 Food aversions: I am still not loving sweets. I taste cookies and they just aren’t as good as I want them to be. Garlic is also still on my bad list.

 Symptoms: Thankfully the nausea was better this week. I do still get pretty tired somewhere between 3-4:00 which makes work fun. Heartburn has also set in. It’s not too bad, but I noticed some on Monday. Please don’t stay!! I’ve noticed this for a while now, but I do seem to cry a lot. I’ve always been a big crier, so I didn’t think anything was different…but I’m crying at things that I really shouldn’t. Like random emails and articles I read.

 Movement: No. :( I really want to feel the movement though!

Gender: Don’t know

 What I’m looking forward to: I’m helping throw a shower for Bec, Jason, and Aidan on 1/12! I’m hoping everything turns out super cute. I still have a lot of things to do and a lot of cleaning (it’s at our house)….so hopefully I get it all done.

What I miss: Hmmm…I can’t think of anything specific that I missed this week. I guess a full night’s sleep without getting up…that would be nice.

 Next appt: Jan 24th (soo long)

Workout/Fitness: I did pretty good with workouts this week. Husbandy and I went on a few walks and we also played this dance game on the Kinect. You might think that sounds funny, but it really gets your heart rate up. Husbandy and I both felt like we got some cardio in. Lastly, our seats at the Cotton Bowl were on the 4th deck. We didn’t exactly know how to get up there, so we took the first thing we saw….stairs. I started going pretty good….but they just kept going! By the time we made it to the top I was out of breath. Haha. Luckily, there was a place to buy water right when we got up there, so I made Husbandy stop. The guy selling the water saw me breathing hard and asked if I was ok. My response was “Oh, growing a baby…walking 4 decks of stairs….I wasn’t prepared for that.” I can’t remember exactly what his response was, but he pointed to Baby and said something like, “looks like he’s going to be strong.”







1/8/2013
How far along: 15 weeks!

How big is baby: An apple! That sounds so big! Of course, apples vary is sizes, so I’m betting it’s a small apple. Another article says naval orange, so maybe that provides a better picture. Even though Baby's eyelids are still shut, s/he can sense light. If I were to shine a flashlight on my belly, Baby would move away from it. Also, primitive airsacs in Baby's lungs are beginning to develop. 

Total weight gain: I’m not sure….probably 4-5 lbs?

 Maternity clothes: Yes, I have found that wearing maternity pants is soooo much more comfortable than work pants, so I just dove right in. I’m still wearing most of my regular shirts though.

 Sleep: Getting up to pee (sound familiar?) While I’m up though, I become very aware of my stuffy nose. I’m usually up for 5-10 (at the least) minutes longer blowing my nose and sneezing. Sometimes the sneezing gets out of control…one time Husbandy was like did you just sneeze 11 times in a row? I think it was more like 6, but Husbandy wasn’t convinced.

 Best moment of the week:  1) On Thursday we went to the vet clinic again and saw Baby! I figured it was about that time since it had been around 2 weeks since we last saw him/her. :) We didn’t get a video, but Baby was moving all around. Nancy said Baby is measuring almost 12 cm!

2) On Saturday I helped host Bec’s first Baby shower! Bec had the guests paint canvases to put in Aidan’s room and they all turned out so cute. I still need to do mine though. The shower was a lot of fun, I’m so glad I got to help host!

3) On Sunday night, our newest niece, Evalyn Miranda was born! Jason and I tried to plan it so we would be in FL when she arrived, but she decided to come a little early. We are so excited to get to meet her at the end of the month (and see the rest of the FL family). A few pictures have been posted on fb and she is absolutely precious!!

Food cravings: I don’t remember specific cravings. But, Husbandy did make some fabulous dinners. One night we had pork chops, asparagus, and rice. It was so. good. It also made for a really good lunch the next day. Other than that, I’m still eating a lot of popcorn.

 Food aversions: I’m skipping over most sweets these days since I don’t need them and they aren’t as satisfying as they used to be.

 Symptoms: The week didn’t start out as well as last week. I felt kind of nauseous at the beginning of the week. Maybe it’s almost all of my system….maybe??? On Tuesday I noticed two new pregnancy symptoms: headaches and heartburn. The heartburn was pretty mild Tuesday and Wednesday, but hit pretty hard on Thursday. I’m suspicious that it’s what made me get sick Thursday night, but I’m not positive. The headaches weren’t too bad, but they weren’t something I experienced in my first trimester either. One thing I thought was funny was my nose has been so stuffed up every night. It’s been so weird, and slightly annoying. Then I read an article about what’s happening to my body this week and I see this, “If your nose is stuffed up, for instance, you can probably chalk it up to the combined effect of hormonal changes and increased blood flow to your mucous membranes. This condition is so common, there's even a name for it: "rhinitis of pregnancy."” Well, what do you know! I don’t think I would have thought my stuffy nose is because of pregnancy. I am also still very emotional. Pregnancy has to be the answer, or else tell me why, WHY, I would cry at the end of this song.

 Movement: Still can’t feel anything.

Gender: Still don’t know

 What I’m looking forward to: In a few weeks Husbandy and I are heading to FL to meet our niece! I’m ready for a nice vacation!

What I miss: Not sneezing quite as much. I always wonder what Baby is feeling/thinking when I sneeze 4+ times in a row.

 Next appt: January 24th

Workout/Fitness: Nothing too formal, but lots of cleaning the house and running around to get ready for the The Fry’s shower.

WHEW! We are finally caught up to real life! Now all I have to do is remember to post weekly blogs. :D

Our Greatest Adventure: Weeks 12 & 13

12/18/2012

How far along: 12 weeks!

 How big is baby: The size of a lime or a plum. This week Baby has developed reflexes! If I poke at my belly Baby will respond, I just won’t be able to feel it. Most critical systems are fully formed and the face looks human. Yea!

Total weight gain: I think I’m still sitting right around 3-4 pounds.

 Maternity clothes: One of my friends went shopping for me and bought some shirts that I can grow into. I’m very thankful for that. I’m choosing more and more to wear loose clothing, but no real maternity clothes yet.

 Sleep: Still the same, nothing new here.

 Best moment of the week:

1) This week I gave my mom her Christmas present. It was tickets to the Dallas Symphony at the Meyerson! One of the girls in GND had a solo this year, so a few of us girls got together to go see her. I’m so thankful my mom got to go to! Kathy did absolutely amazing, and the entire concert was just so much fun.

2) On Sunday the 23rd we had Vrla Family Christmas at Aunt Kelly and Uncle Frank’s house. Most of the family was able to be there, so that made things fun. I also hadn’t told some of them I was pregnant, so I included a sono picture of Baby in the gag gift exchange. My cousin Sarah ended up opening it and was a little confused at first, but then saw my name of the sono! Everyone was very excited; Bec got some pictures so I’ll have to get some from her. Jason later found out that some of the family who we thought didn’t know actually did because my grandparents had let it slip. I was a little sad about that, but there was really nothing I could do.

Food cravings: I still can’t remember any big food cravings. I have really been loving my cranberry juice in the mornings. I always have a cup with breakfast and it tastes so good.

Food aversions: No big changes, just the same ole stuff as last week.

 Symptoms: Well, I felt better last week, but this week the nausea and sickness returned. I would really be ok with it if it went away for good! The second trimester is right around the corner, so I have hope. Though my sister was sick a little past week 13.

 Movement: There is movement in there, just can’t feel it.

Gender: We don’t know.

 What I’m looking forward to: Our appointment on Dec 27th!

What I miss: It’s been getting colder and colder outside, so for now I’m missing the warmer weather.

Next appt: Dec 27!

Workout/Fitness: Went to the gym after work, but not as many times as I should have gone.






12/25/2012

How far along: 13 weeks! Last week of the dreaded first trimester! My personal marathon is almost over.

 How big is baby: Baby is the size of a medium shrimp (hehe) or a peach. Baby has now formed vocal cords and fingerprints! This is just all too cool for me. Baby’s head is now only 1/3 the size his/her body, which mean s/he is becoming more proportional daily.

Total weight gain: I went to the doctor this week, but they didn’t weigh me for some reason. I thought that was kinda strange, but we go back next Monday because Dr B wasn’t in…so I figure they will then.

 Maternity clothes: For Christmas my sister got me a Bella Band! I’m really excited about this. I didn’t wear it this week cause we got to wear jeans all week (mine are now stretched out so much, they are comfy), but next week it’s back to work pants and I’m sure I’ll bust it out.

 Sleep: Sleeping well until I need to pee or eat. No real big changes.

 Best moment of the week:

1) Tuesday was Christmas with the Rice’s! It was wonderful getting to see family and of course play with Brooklyn. Around 2:00 it actually started snowing! We took Brooklyn out to get some pictures and she loved it! Lots of smiles and laughs. The snow of course made the roads a bit icy so some left a little earlier than usual, but better safe than sorry! It was a wonderful day with lots of food and family. I can’t believe next year there will be three babies! So much to look forward to.

2) On Thursday Husbandy and I had another appointment and got to see Baby again! It always makes me very happy to see the little heartbeat and movement. This appointment was also our nuchal translucency screening test. This test helps determine the risk of Baby having Down Syndrome and some other chromosomal abnormalities as well as major congenital heart problems. I know it’s not the sono tech’s job to tell me how things are looking, but it just makes me nervous when nothing is said about all the measurements she’s taking. After the sono I also had my finger pricked and blood drawn. We go back Monday (seems quick, but I’m ok with it) to go over results with Dr. B. I’m somewhat nervous, but all I can do is continue to pray for a healthy baby.

3) On Friday Husbandy and I babysat Brooklyn. As I was putting her down, she curled up against me and I said a little prayer for her. Then I broke down in tears, not sure why….it was just a really sweet moment.

4) Sunday we drove to College Station for a wedding. While down there we decided to drop of Husbandy’s diploma to have it framed at Benjamin Knox. Unfortunately, when we walked up, we saw it was closed. We started peeking inside at all the diploma frames, and before we knew it, a man opened the door and said, “We’re closed, but you can come look around if you want.” He saw we were holding a diploma so he asked about it and we told him we were in from Dallas for the day and wanted to drop it off. He said he could make that work, and then I realized “Hey, I’m pretty sure this is Benjamin Knox!” So, I asked if this was his gallery and he said yes! He was super nice about everything. He was working that day on a painting that was going to be hung in the MSC and walked us through it and his thoughts about how it should look. It was soo cool! We didn’t want to take up a lot of his time, so we dropped the diploma off and thanked him. I just thought it was so awesome how nice he was. At the wedding we told a few people about Baby Wagner. Some of our good friend’s mom told me right when she saw me, she knew I was pregnant. She didn’t know what it was, she just knew. I guess I’m getting that “glow” :). My favorite story of the night was telling Fr Brian. He said the Mass at our wedding, so Jason and I were so happy to see him. He of course was very excited about the news, and blessed me, which gave me chills.

5) Lastly, on Monday we went back to the doctor to get results. Dr B said things looked great and Baby has a low risk of having Down Syndrome and other heart diseases. We also got to hear Baby’s heartbeat! It was beating at 157bpm. Husbandy was shocked how high it was, but the nurse reassured him that was normal. Both of these things were music to this mommy’s ears!  

Food cravings: Some friends mentioned having sushi this week and now I really want it!

Food aversions: I’ve noticed this week how much less I like sweets and chicken. Sweets I can deal without, but I feel like I need protein in the chicken, so I’ll probably force myself to eat it. :(

 Symptoms: I am still sick this week. A little more sick than I was expecting to be. Boooo. Also, this is kinda gross, but I have so much saliva. I’m ready for that to be over. Also, this has been going on for a while, but I am so itchy! If I’m in the car it’s mostly my back. If it’s any other time it’s the right side of my stomach or my boobs. That tends to get a little awkward.

 Movement: Baby didn’t move quite as much during this sono as s/he did last time. I was kinda sad about that, but I am glad I saw some stretching and kicking.

Gender: Husbandy thinks he knows after the sono, but neither of us really know for sure.

 What I’m looking forward to: My brother got Husbandy and I tickets to the Cotton Bowl (he’s going too)! I’m really excited about the game, I'm just hoping for nice weather and that I feel well that day. Also, I think we are going to tell the facebook world our news next week! I’m pretty excited about this.

What I miss: Sushi and potbelly sandwiches.

 Next appt: Jan 24th

Workout/Fitness: Not too too much of that this week. :(

Pregnancy Brain Moments: On Christmas Husbandy and I got back from my mom’s and as we were unloading I gasped and and said, “Oh, no!” Husbandy just looked at me confused and I told him we forgot to give Becca her present! We had gotten her a gift, but it wasn’t here yet, so we printed out a piece of paper to give her. We completely forgot it, which meant she got nothing! I immediately called her to let her know we did in fact get her something and she just laughed. Apparently at the exact same moment, she was looking the things she got and said to Jason, “I don’t think the Wagner’s got me anything.” I’m glad she just figured that out so she wasn’t thinking how rude we were the entire day. Later that week, we were at some friends’ house playing games until way too late. My mom was there too, and when it was time to go Husbandy and I just left…without saying bye or anything. On the car ride home I thought, Wow…I didn’t say bye to mom…that was rude. So I sent her a text saying sorry and that I just, well, forgot. Geez.

Our Greatest Adventure: Weeks 10 & 11

12/4/2012 & 12/11/2012

Ok, so I completely missed writing my 10 week blog, so I’m adding it in with my 11 week. At this point, I can’t remember the differences between the weeks. :) Be thankful, I was tempted to put week 12 in there too.

How far along: 10/11 weeks!

 How big is baby: The size of a prune (or kumquat, not real sure what that is). Baby’s kidneys, intestines, brain, and liver are functioning. Baby also has limbs that can bend (as seen at our sono last week).

11 weeks! Baby is now the size of a fig and almost fully formed. WOW, that makes me excited. Baby’s fists will soon open and close, tooth buds are forming, and bones are beginning to harden. Baby is also kicking and stretching, though I probably won’t be able to feel it (or the hiccuping) for another two months. :(

Total weight gain: Didn't weigh myself....

 Maternity clothes: No maternity clothes yet, but I am definitely unbuttoning my pants a lot more. I cannot wait to get a bella band. I’m hoping one comes my way on Christmas.

 Sleep: Sleep hasn’t changed much. I’m still getting up to go pee 1-3 times a night. There have also been a few nights where I’ve gotten up, but then cannot go back to sleep. My mind starts racing about random stuff and it just won’t quit.

 Best moment of the week:

1. During week 11 I finally told the girls group at work that I’m pregnant! We were talking about Kate Middleton’s morning sickness and I mentioned that I knew a little bit about morning sickness cause I was going through it. At first they just kinda starred at me like wait, are you trying to tell us something or am I reading into this? Then Meredith was like come on people, she’s trying to tell you something! Annnd finally, excitement arose. I’m glad I finally allowed myself to let the secret out.

 

2. I also told GND the good news! I know a lot of the girls already suspected it because I hadn’t had wine in a while, so the suspicion needed to be laid to rest. On the way Bec and I came up with a plan. We were at Catie’s apt and I brought up babies by asking if anyone knew whether another one of the girls was having a boy or girl (she was supposed to be finding out), no one really knew, so then Becca was like, “Oh, I know someone else who is pregnant!” People immediately got excited and asked who, but it didn’t take them too long to figure out it was me! Everyone was of course very excited, they’ve been waiting for this announcement for 3 years after all!

 

Week 11: 1. On Thursday I started to get all worried again about Baby, so I convinced myself and my SIL that I needed to see Baby soon. Luckily for our family, Nancy is a vet and we can go to her office whenever and get a sono using the animal’s sono machine. The picture is not quite as clear, but you can definitely see a heartbeat and Baby moving around. I just love knowing Baby is doing ok in there. That night was kind of a family affair; me, Husbandy, Becca, Jason, Bryan, Nancy, my mom, and Brooklyn all went. So fun. Baby doesn’t seem to enjoy the sono noise so s/he was moving around, Aidan on the other hand seemed to be comforted by it. You could distinguish a lot of feature on him and he just looks so cute! The next day my brother and I were driving to CS for our cousin’s graduation and he mentioned how much he liked getting to see his nephew and yet to be determined niece or nephew. I thought that was so sweet.

 

Please excuse my comments and voice in this video. I find both kind of annoying.

 

 

2. On Friday we saw the last Vrla cousin graduate from A&M. It was definitely bittersweet. We embody what A&M stands for and I couldn’t be more proud.

 

3. Saturday night we went to Husbandy's work’s Christmas party. It was fun getting to meet the people he works with. The night went a little late, but we had a lot of fun.

Food cravings: No real big cravings. While on the drive to CS we were trying to decide what to eat when we got there. Bryan mentioned Freebirds and it sounded soooo good. Apparently that’s what he was hoping I would want and said he did a little happy dance inside when I wanted it too. It was so good I made Husbandy go there on Saturday too. :)

 Food aversions: Nothing too too big. Chinese food still doesn’t sound too good. And I know this isn’t food, but brushing my teeth still makes me gag a little. But worse than that is putting on my deodorant. For some reason that smell gets to me every time and I really can’t stand it.

 Symptoms: Still tired and a little bit of sickness. It felt better during week 11 which was nice, though Baby doesn’t seem to like the weekends. I always feel sick, but I think it’s cause my eating schedule is off cause I want to sleep. Apparently, Baby already likes routines.

 Movement: I’ve seen it! Just can’t feel it. Sometimes I think I feel little bubble type things, but I don’t know if I’m just making it up.

Gender: Don’t know yet.

 What I’m looking forward to: Christmas with the family!

What I miss: Still can’t wait to get to the second trimester and hopefully feel better all the time.

 Next appt: December 27th.

Workout/Fitness: I did actually do some work outs these two weeks. I went to the gym at work a few times and Husbandy and I went for a walk. Hopefully, I'll keep this up.

 

I really can't let this week go by without writing about recently happenings:

On December 14th our nation witnessed a horrific tragedy in Newtown, CT where a gunman went into an elementary school and killed 20 6-7 year olds and 7 adults. Being pregnant, I think it affected me more than what I was expecting. On Thursday, when I convinced myself I needed to go to the vet clinic to see Baby, I started to think about my mom and dad and how I always felt like they were worrying too much about me when I was growing up. And here I was, knowing I’m doing everything I can to make sure Baby is growing and developing safely inside my womb, and I’m already worrying about him/her. How much more would I be a worrier when they are out on their own, not by my side at all times. I also thought about how I’ve developed a relationship with this little one over the last few weeks and how devastating it would be to lose him/her. Then on Friday I heard about the unthinkable. Parents losing their precious children, just 6-7 years old. I would sit a watch the news and listen to stories and just break down. Even just thinking about it now makes me cry. It completely breaks my hearts for all the families who lost a child and for those families with children affected by the tragedy. Some kids saw their teachers and classmates killed, their innocence has been stripped of them. The only thing I can do is pray. Pray for the families, pray for our nation, pray for the safety of my little one. I hope to never have to go through such a tragedy again, but all I can do it pray.


I don’t know who wrote this, but it’s a poem that has been circulating facebook and I wanted to share it here:


Twas' 11 days before Christmas, around 9:38
when 20 beautiful children stormed through heaven's gate.
  Their smiles were contagious, their laughter filled the air.
They could hardly believe all the beauty they saw there.
  They were filled with such joy, they didn't know what to say.
They remembered nothing of what had happened earlier that day.
  "Where are we?" asked a little girl, as quiet as a mouse.
"This is heaven." declared a small boy. "We're spending Christmas at God's house."
  When what to their wondering eyes did appear,
but Jesus, their savior, the children gathered near.
  He looked at them and smiled, and they smiled just the same.
Then He opened His arms and He called them by name.
  And in that moment was joy, that only heaven can bring.
Those children all flew into the arms of their King
And as they lingered in the warmth of His embrace,
one small girl turned and looked at Jesus' face.
And as if He could read all the questions she had
He gently whispered to her, "I'll take care of mom and dad."
Then He looked down on earth, the world far below
He saw all of the hurt, the sorrow, and woe
then He closed His eyes and He outstretched His hand,
"Let My power and presence re-enter this land!"
"may this country be delivered from the hands of fools"
"I'm taking back my nation. I'm taking back my schools!"
then He and the children stood up without a sound.
"come now my children, let me show you around."
excitement filled the space, some skipped and some ran.
all displaying enthusiasm that only a small child can.
and I heard Him proclaim as He walked out of sight,
"in the midst of this darkness, I AM STILL THE LIGHT."

Charlotte Bacon, 2/22/06
Daniel Barden, 9/25/05
Olivia Engel, 7/18/06
Josephine Gay, 12/11/05
Ana M. Marquez-Greene, 04/04/06
Dylan Hockley, 3/8/06
Madeleine F. Hsu, 7/10/06
Catherine V. Hubbard, 6/08/06
Chase Kowalski, 10/31/05
Jesse Lewis, 6/30/06
James Mattioli , 3/22/06
Grace McDonnell, 12/04/05
Emilie Parker, 5/12/06
Jack Pinto, 5/06/06
Noah Pozner, 11/20/06
Caroline Previdi, 9/07/06
Jessica Rekos, 5/10/06
Avielle Richman, 10/17/06
Benjamin Wheeler, 9/12/06
Allison N. Wyatt, 7/03/06
Rachel Davino, 7/17/83
Dawn Hochsprung, 06/28/65
Anne Marie Murphy, 07/25/60
Lauren Rousseau, 6/1982
Mary Sherlach, 2/11/56
Victoria Soto, 11/04/85
Nancy Lanza

Our Greatest Adventure: Weeks 8 & 9

11/20/2012

How far along: 8 weeks!

 How big is baby: Baby is the size of a raspberry! The fingers and toes are only slightly webbed and Baby is apparently moving like crazy! I definitely wish I could feel these movements, but as of now I can’t. Baby is also developing lungs and in the brain, nerve cells are branching out to connect with one another, forming primitive neural pathways.

Total weight gain: With the help of Thanksgiving I’m right around +2lbs.

 Maternity clothes: Some of my work pants felt a little tight. I’m not sure if it’s because of Thanksgiving leftovers or I’m bloated or I’m just gaining weight. Sometimes I think it’s bloating cause my pants won’t fit during parts of the day, then they do.

 Sleep: Oh sleep. This week didn’t go so well. I woke up multiple times during the night, sometimes to pee and sometimes just cause. I had a lovely 4 days weekend for Thanksgiving and got tooons of sleep. People kept telling me they had a lazy break, and I just thought, ooh you have no idea! Sunday I was dreading going back to work, I feel like that night I couldn’t sleep cause I was anxious about going back to work…like the first day of school.

Best moment of the week: Thanksgiving! Husbandy and I hosted for the first time ever! Though I’m going to call this year half hosting cause it was a small crowd and we didn’t even have to cook to turkey. My aunt offered, and we were more than happy to let her. :) We did realize there are a lot of things people just have at their house that we have not stalked up on yet, like toothpicks.

Food cravings: Salad has sounded really good to me lately. I was super excited about my mom making “the salad” for Thanksgiving…it was so good.

 Food aversions: I don’t remember any real big food aversions. I guess I’ll put Chinese food…Husbandy has mentioned wanting it couple times and it never sounds good.

 Symptoms: I just asked Husbandy what my symptoms were last week, I mentioned tiredness and nausea…then he said and you were hungry all the time. I’ll give him that, I was. As mentioned above, I got to sleep a lot this week and it felt wonderful. I also discovered that our little couch is quite comfy. As for nausea, it hit hard this week, again. Nights were the worst, as I laid down I would just feel terrible.

 Movement: Not yet.

Gender: Time will tell.

 What I’m looking forward to: Our appointment on December 3rd! I am SO ready to see Baby!!

What I miss: Sleeping comfortably. I’m trying to only sleep on my left in preparation, but I miss sleeping on my back. I do wake up on my back sometimes though.

 Next appt: Dec 3rd

Workout/Fitness: I did it! I got on an elliptical and exercised. Granted it was only once this week, but I’m thinking it’s a victory.

 

 

 

11/27/2012

How far along: 9 (my favorite number) weeks

 How big is baby: A grape or green oilve! Baby’s heart now has four chambers! Way to go Baby. There have also been some other major developments this week, such as Baby’s tail going away, eyes are fully formed, there are tiny earlobes, and the mouth, nose, and nostrils are more distinct. Lastly, the placenta is developed enough now to take over most of the critical job of producing hormones.

Total weight gain: Well at my appointment this week, Dr B said I gained 4 pounds. I’m not happy about this…though I was wearing heavy work clothes so I think this had something to do with the weight. When I weigh myself at home, the weight gain isn’t as bad.

 Maternity clothes: Nope, still my regular ones. Though finding things to wear to work is becoming increasingly difficult. There are a lot of tops I won’t wear because they just don’t look good.

 Sleep: Umm pretty good. I’m still of course getting up 1-2 times to pee. In fact I saw on fb one of my friends wrote the another one saying, “I was up feeding A last night and thought about how you were probably up feeding R.” I wanted to respond saying and I was up peeing! But, seeing as I’m not ready for the fb world to know the good news, I didn’t. Also, speaking of sleep, Sunday I was extremely tired…so sleeping that afternoon was wonderful.

 Best moment of the week: Again, lots of things I need to put here.

 

1) At Thursday night dinner Husbandy and I finally got to tell Lauren! She was supposed to know a while ago, but then she wasn’t able to come to TND for a loooong time. I think by the time she came, she knew something was up cause I kept asking if she was coming. I’m glad she knows now.

 

2) Husbandy has also been so awesome this week. I know he has been stressed out with his MAI test, but he has also been doing so much stuff around the house. Lots of dinners have been made by him. Saturday I was especially impressed because he got up super early. I figured he would just go study, but a little while later he came into the room and told me breakfast was ready. While trying to get out of bed, I convinced myself I needed to do the dishes. I was wrong, cause when I got to the kitchen the dishes were done! He had also gone to the store and bought things for dinner. He’s so good.

 

3) On Saturday, my sister and SIL went to Babies R Us to register! It was just going to be Becca registering, but we figured while we had SILs undivided attention and expertise, I should register too! It was a lot of fun, though kind of strange cause, well, Bec is 29 weeks preggo, I’m 9. I.e. she looks like she should be registering, I don’t. Either way, I got scanner and created a registry! It was also kinda hard for me cause Husbandy and I haven’t even talked about colors, or themes or anything. So, I was making it up as I went. Bec and I also discovered just how similar we are. We would look at all the different options then end up going back to the same one. “Oh were you going to pick this one?” “Yeah” “Me too” At least we know our kids will feel at home at both our houses!

 

4) On Monday we had our second sono!!!! It was absolutely wonderful. As I had freaked myself out during part of the week I was a little nervous, but the sono tech didn’t seem concerned when first look at the screen, so I felt good about that. FINALLY I got to take a look at the screen and had a profile view of Baby. I could see the little heart beating away and it was perfect. THEN we got to hear the heartbeat. THEN Baby started moving around and stretching. THEN Baby turned full frontal. We got an amazing video…I’m so proud.

 

While actually taking the video, we were talking, but for some reason there is no sound. BUT you do get to see some pretty great shots of the heartbeat and movement.

Food cravings: Salads are still appetizing this week. But, I also discovered how much I’m loving apples.

Food aversions: Nothing new.

 Symptoms: Tuesday I turned 9 weeks exactly and that morning I had no nausea at all. I continued to feel great the rest of the day, though I was tired. It started to really worry me. Pregnancy is a funny thing, when you constantly feel sick, you just want to feel normal. BUT when you feel normal, all you can think are bad things. Wednesday, I felt the same way, and was real close to calling the doctor. Walking out of work that night, I started to feel nauseous and got pretty excited about it. Later I got sick….not typically something you celebrate…but I sure was happy (I also shared this news with my mom and sister, they think I’m weird). :) The next few days I was sick, and as I said, Sunday I was so. tired. I felt bad for sleeping when Husbandy had to study while he was also tired, I felt like I should stay up with him….but I mean, I just couldn’t. :(

 Movement: We saw movement on the sono!!!! I was so happy, I tried to make myself feel something when I saw it happening, but I didn’t. Soon enough, though.

Gender: External sex organs are there but not distinguishable.

 What I’m looking forward to: Telling girls at work the good news. So far I only have one confidant, which has been nice, but I’m ready for the rest of the lunch group to know.

What I miss: Having clothes that feel right.

 Next appt: December 27th!

Workout/Fitness: Well, I can’t say I went to the gym this week. But one night after work I went to Hobby Lobby then the grocery store in heels and I feel like that was a work out. :) Also, the registering…I’m counting it. (Is that a stretch?)

Our Greatest Adventure: Weeks 6 & 7

11/4/12 

How far along: We finally found out that we're 6 weeks! Looks like my intuitions were spot on. :) I had an appointment on 11/5 and I was 5 weeks and 6 days. So every Tuesday my “weeks” change. 

How big is baby: According to babycenter, Baby is the size of a lentil…but thebump compares Baby to a sweet pea which I think sounds much better! Either way, Baby is making some MAJOR progress this week. Blood is now circulating throughout Baby, and the eyes, nose, and ears are taking shape. The brain, muscles, and bones are also starting to form! Baby may also be starting to wiggle their hands and feet…which don’t actually look like what we know as hands and feet quite yet. :)

Total weight gain: -2 

Maternity clothes: Nope 

Sleep: Ahhh sleep. How I love thee. I’m sleeping whenever I can, and trying not to at work. Husbandy has mentioned several times he like this new routine, cause he’s getting to sleep more too! 

Best moment of the week: Oh wow. There cannot be just one! 

1. On Monday Husbandy and I went to the doctor and got out first sono!!! Dr. B was expecting me to be around 7 weeks already, but we found I was 5 weeks and 6 days. When the sono tech told us this, I got a little nervous because I didn't think we would be able to see a heartbeat, but low and behold there it was. Absolutely beautiful, just pumping away. We were both amazed and even got a short little video. Getting to share baby’s first pictures with our family was also super fun. Something to remember – Husbandy was so uncomfortable in the sono room, he had obviously never been in one before, and I think the stirrups freaked him out. Haha 

2. On Saturday our beloved Aggies took down the number one team in the country, Alabama. It was soo exciting!! I won’t write much about it, but trust me….if I didn't have all these other fun things going on right now…this would have made my year! On Saturday we also told my Aunt Carol we’re pregnant. She was hanging out with mom and we just couldn't hold it in. Brooklyn was our little model again, and she did just perfect! 

3. On Sunday we went to Papa Joe’s house to have lunch. I thought we would just be sharing the news with him, but it the whole family, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins…everyone ended up being there! We waited until after lunch and shared the good news while everyone was in the room. Well, we tried to wait for everyone, but I think some of my cousins were outside. Oops. Either way, it was fun and there were lots of hugs. Papa Joe made the point that we are a very fertile family. :)

Food cravings: After waking up from a nap on Sunday, I really wanted a PB&J and Husbandy was nice enough to offer to make it. OMG, best PB&J ever! Seriously, every bite was just so good. This week I've had a little bit more of an appetite, though I still get nervous about trying crazy flavorful foods. I've also had a lot of popcorn. I read it’s good for baby, so that just makes me want it more. 

Food aversions: Most things are still not sounding real good…I just force it in my mouth. :( And, this doesn't have to do with food, but I think I have an aversion to brushing my teeth. I want to brush my teeth cause it makes me feel clean, but lately it just makes me gag a little. Not fun. 

Symptoms: I have been so dead this week. On Sunday I got sick at Mass (I’m not really sure what that means...when you get sick at Mass), but the rest of the day was spent sleeping and laying around. Husbandy was super sweet though, he made that awesome PB&J, did the laundry, and the dishes! What a sweet Husbandy. My sister also told me she has gotten her energy back and she would come down and do these things if I wanted her to. How awesome is my family?!? I also got sick at work on Friday. I decided to go to the restroom before lunch, and it’s a good thing cause as soon as I got in there I decided to be sick. It was really weird. I was super thankful it was lunch time though, cause that meant there was less of a chance someone would be walking in. I was then scarred to eat, but I did cause I was really hungry! One notable thing I changed this week is I started to take my vitamin at night. I think it’s helped a little with the nauseous feelings. I just take it right in the middle of dinner. 

Movement: Nope. 

Gender: Don’t know. 

What I’m looking forward to: Telling the rest of our family! I still need to tell my dad and his side of the family, and we also have Jason’s grandparents/aunts and uncles. 

What I miss: Not feeling like there is a lump in my throat all the time. 

Next appt: December 3rd 

Workout/Fitness: Hmmm I’m trying to think if I did any of that this week. What’s making this harder for me now is the stupid time change! By the time I get home it’s dark and cold. I’m also really hungry when I get home, so I just want to eat. 

EDD: July 2, 2013!!!

11/13/2012

How far along: 7 weeks 

How big is baby: Baby is the size of a blueberry! Baby’s arms and legs are continuing to develop. Both hemispheres of Baby's brain are growing, and the liver is churning out red blood cells. Baby also has an appendix and a pancreas, which will eventually produce insulin. And, the umbilical cord has formed, which has distinct blood vessels to carry oxygen and nutrients to and from Baby. 

Total weight gain: Holding right around where I started 

Maternity clothes: Nope 

Sleep: I’m still getting tired right around 8:45pm and Husbandy still loves this new sleep schedule. I wake up every 3-4 hours to pee. It’s getting harder and harder to get up because Husbandy like the room sooo cold at night. I don’t think he understand my pain. :)

Best moment of the week: 1. This week I was finally able to tell my dad the good news. On Friday, Husbandy and I went to have dinner with Dad, Cindy, Granny, and Grandpa at G&G’s community senior living. During dinner Husbandy asked if anyone had seen the new Aggie picture posted on some blog. Everyone was a tad bit confused, so I handed the sono picture to Grandpa and Husbandy gave the video of Baby’s heartbeat to my dad. Dad was shocked and thought we were joking and Grandpa just smiled and starting crying He’s just so darn cute! Granny actually realized first that Grandpa was holding a sono and was just like OOOHH! I know what that is! It was nice to be able to tell all of them at once. On our way out of the dining area Grandpa stopped a waitress and told her that he just found out I’m pregnant. I think the girl was a little weirded out, but Grandpa was just beaming. 

2. Another great moment this week was telling our good friends Courtney and Jake the news. Saturday I had been at their house during the Aggie game (no worries – we won) while Husbandy was in class all day. I told him to drive up to Frisco after class, but was a little worried cause I knew J&C wanted to go see a movie after the football game. As soon as Husbandy got there we wanted to say something, but the timing was off. Luckily, J&C decided to go grab dinner and invited us to come along. On our way into the restaurant Husbandy mentioned something about Baby Wag and they just stopped and starred like, are you serious?! We were happy we got to tell them finally, it’s good to know we have friends praying for Baby. 

3. Lastly, something really touching happened at Mass this weekend. As I said before, Husbandy was in class all weekend, so I had to go to Mass alone. Afterwards, I was headed out and Fr. Paul stopped me and asked if I was expecting. I wasn't really sure how he knew, but I told him we just found out a few weeks before that we are! He just smiled and said, I saw you walk in a couple weeks ago and just had a feeling. He then gave me some advice about pregnancy and breathing techniques he’s learned from Tai Chi. How cool is that! 

Food cravings: I’m having trouble driving by Canes every day without stopping. Chicken tenders sound so tasty, not to mention their delicious lemonade! I had also really been craving a hamburger, so deciding what I wanted for dinner while out with J&C was a no brainer. I then had Whataburger on Sunday (before going to the opera…that’s right…opera. I saw Romeo et Juliet). 

Food aversions: Hmm I don’t remember any big food aversions this week. I’m still somewhat skeptical before I take a bite of anything (except for that hamburger). 

Symptoms: So tired and bloated. I changed toothpaste which has helped in that department. 

The worse thing this week was my sickness really kicked it up a notch. Friday was terrible. I got sick right when I got home from work and another time at dinner before telling the news. I know they were wondering what was taking me so long in the restroom (Husbandy told me). I then got sick twice on Monday too. I said a few prayers asking the Lord to help me remember this is a sacrifice for Baby and to help me get through it with love. It’s hard to remember all the time, but sacrifice is part of being a parent. I love you, Baby! 

Movement: Baby is just now developing arms and legs! So, no movement yet. 

Gender: Courtney gave us a good idea to help compromise when we find out the gender. While she is definitely on my side, and trying to convince Husbandy to wait, her idea was to open an envelope revealing the gender of Baby on our anniversary. That would be exactly 2 months away from Baby’s EDD. 

What I’m looking forward to: Thanksgiving is this week and we certainly have a lot to be thankful for. We have offered to host this year, which I’m not sure was 100% a good idea. But, at least cleaning will get me off my booty. 

What I miss: Not spending so much time in the bathroom! 

Next appt: December 3rd. 

Workout/Fitness: Maybe I’ll take this section out of my blog. :) JK, girls at work are starting a Tuesday/Thursday workout plan after work. Our office recently got a gym, so I’m going to try real hard to go after work on these day. 

EDD: This shouldn't be changing, so I’m going to take it out. But just as reminder, it’s July 2, 2013. :)