21 Weeks

Since Scott only sees me in my pajamas during the week, we'll have to settle with this 20 wk 6 day shot when he was around to take my picture. Darn night school.

How far along are you?: 21 Weeks

Total weight gain: 15 pounds

How big is the baby?: 3/4 lb. and 10 1/2 inches long.

Maternity clothes: Yup!!!

Stretch marks?: No new ones yet.

Sleep: My reflux has subsided in the past week or so (knock on wood!). I look forward to going to bed because I'm so wiped by the end of the day, but I just wish I slept better and didn't wake up so early. I can't ever get my body to relax enough to fall back asleep after I wake up usually between  5:30 and 6:30.

Best moment this week: Spending the early evening outside my parents home watching the sunset and the kids play.

Movement: Feeling some jabs and little peanut punches. Can't wait for Harlie to feel her!

Food cravings:  Peach and berry cobbler, lemon pie, orange juice
 

Food aversions: Not so bad this week.

Labor signs: None

Belly button in or out: In.

What I miss: I've missing my FACTO days when I only had to go into the office 3 days a week and I could spend part of my pregnancy taking it easy and going on prego walks on my mornings off with Ali.

What I'm looking forward to:  Fall! Also, to start my new job tomorrow.


 

19 weeks - It's a GIRL and more BIG News!

Okay, this is technically me at one day shy of 19 weeks, but I can't help myself from sharing this photo of me and Mel-Dawg and our bellies! Thanks Keri!

How far along are you?: 19 Weeks, 1 Day 

Total weight gain: 12 pounds

How big is the baby?: 8 1/2 ounces and 6  inches long...about the size of an heirloom tomato.

Maternity clothes: Thanks to Keri and Mel, I now have some good basics for fall! Yay!

Stretch marks?: No new ones yet.

Sleep: I have started having terrible heartburn/reflux at night....and it sucks so bad...makes my whole chest ache unbearably. Tums is not very helpful at all. I'll have to talk to the doc about this at my next appt.

Best moment this week: Well this has been a pretty good week. As far as pregnancy goes, finally confirming that out little peanut is a girl was pretty darn exciting. Which means now we can finally call her by name, Ashlynne Marie. Gosh, I still can't believe this is happening and I'm getting so so excited!

Movement: Definitely more movement this week! Love it!

Food cravings:  Cheesecake (thanks Keri!), lemon anything, sushi, horseradish
 

Food aversions: I've had a little bit more nausea this week, and there is a god awful smell at my work. Bleh....eating at work is no fun.

Labor signs: No more Braxton Hicks this week.

Belly button in or out: In.

What I miss: I've been missing the Woolwich house A LOT lately. Especially Harlie's old room.

What I'm looking forward to:  My new J-O-B!!!!!!!

I just found out today that I was selected for the SSA position I interviewed for last week! The increase in salary will be enough to pay for Ashlynne's daycare when I go back to work and this is SUCH a huge relief! Aside from that, the job is in our Business Services Unit (facilities) and will be way more interesting than my current one. I won't be tied to desk work! Yay! AND I get to stay in the same building, just one floor up! You guys...I just cannot even tell you how exciting this is. The timing is also perfect with Aust and Harlie's b-days and Christmas coming up! Hallelujah!

18 weeks

Since I didn't take an official progress pic yesterday, I'm going to use this super flattering photo Scott took of me last night after dinner using the whole "Hey Honey!" surprise photo method. Nice guy right?  Anyway, am I the only one that forgets when they have a kiddie crown or hat on?

How far along are you?: 18 Weeks, 1 Day 

Total weight gain: So the scale says 8 pounds, which is 2 pounds down from last week...either the scale LIES or I've actually lost weight since cutting back on the 24/7 carb fest now that my morning sickness has abated. I'm thinking the scale lies.  My mind is trying not to go to "OMG the baby is shrinking!!!"

How big is the baby?: Better be 7 ounces and 5 1/2 inches long...about the size of a bell pepper.

Maternity clothes:Yes please!!

Stretch marks?: No new ones yet, but I just started the belly butter routine.

Sleep: Ack. I'm back to peeing 4-5 times a night.

Best moment this week: Finding out I probably get to keep my OB for the delivery...it's like a freakin' miracle. Things like this don't happen to me....lately.

Movement: Feeling some flutters, primarliy at night and when I first wake up.

Food cravings:  Granola, soft serve ice-cream, milk, margaritas (!), SWEETS!
 

Food aversions: I have actually worked my way back into the kitchen which pleases the crap out of me...I feel more and more like my normal food lovin' self again.

Labor signs: No! But some Braxton Hicks-like tightening....I actually kinda like the feeling...more proof there is really something going on in there!

Belly button in or out: In. I was telling Mel today I think it's gonna stay in like last time.

What I miss: I missed cocktails like crazy this weekend....

What I'm looking forward to:  Our gender scan redo on Friday and Sara's birthday brunch on Saturday!!!

17 Weeks

***No progress pic today***

How far along are you?: 17 Weeks, 1 Day -- At my doctors appoinment, Dr. Juhn  made it clear that while she respects the perinatologists opinion, she is not changing my due date to Feb. 9th. It's Feb 4th and that is that!!! She said the farther along in the pregnancy, the less accurate the measurements get and going off the calendar is the best way to determine due dates...Well okay, then, hey I'll take it!

Total weight gain: 10 pounds. I also recently receieved a copy of my medical records from Dr. Bu and will be able to compare my weight gain now with my first pregnancy....kinda cool! Bummer news, no records of the Harlie's actual birth in Dr. Bu's records...guess I need to contact Mercy for those.

How big is the baby?: 5 ounces and 5 inches long...about the size of a turnip.

Maternity clothes: Just about time.

Stretch marks?: No new ones, yet.

Sleep: Sleeping a little bit better...fewer times to the bathroom!

Best moment this week: Going for our gender scan and finding out that there's a 90% chance we are having a girl!!!  Peanut was tucked with her bottom to my back and her feet to her head. :-)  Kathy was only able to get one of the 3 views she likes to get to guarantee the sex...but she said it certainly looks like a little girl to her. We go back next week to hopefully confirm it's a baby sister on the way!

Movement: Feeling some flutters, primarliy at night and when I first wake up.

Food cravings:  Lot's of water! No new cravings this week. My nausea is almost gone (thank heavens!), and I've also found my cravings and aversions to be less extreme. Pregnancy is weird.

Food aversions: Hot Meat. Still.

Labor signs: No! But lots of twinges and aches....must be round ligament pain.

Belly button in or out: In.

What I miss:  Sangria...darn you Autumn.

What I'm looking forward to:  Calling the baby by name and window shopping for baby girl! (or boy!)

15 Weeks

How far along are you?: 15 Weeks

Total weight gain: 8 pounds

How big is the baby?: 4 inches long, about the size of an apple

Maternity clothes: Just about time.

Stretch marks?: No new ones, yet.

Sleep: I've been having intense dreams, almost nightmarish. Sleep is still interrupted and restless.

Best moment this week: When Harlie woke up and came out into the kitchen with a pink plastic comb and told me it was for her baby because she doesn't need it anymore.

Movement: I swear I felt something that felt like movement once yesterday, but it's still too early.

Food cravings:  CHOCOLATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Food aversions: Cooked fish

Labor signs: No!

Belly button in or out: In.

What I miss:  My friends

What I'm looking forward to:  The gender scan next Sunday and naming Peanut.

14 weeks

I know I skipped a week, but at 13 weeks we were on vacation in Tahoe:

Which was fun and exhausting and something I hope we keep doing every year.

The day before we left I had my 12 week check-up and I was able to listen to the baby's heartbeat (yay!) and meet Dr. Juhn. She was lovely and answered my gazillion questions with a smile, I was glad I felt so comfortable since the drive to her office is the worst ever. Alllllll the way down Sunrise Boulevard, until it dead ends...I'm not joking.Not sure if she'll actually be delivering my baby, as we might be switching to Kaiser, but I know I'm in good hands until then.

Then, 2 days after we got back from Tahoe I had my first trimester screening ultrsound. It was SO exciting to see our little peanut and he/she looked so BIG. She is only the size of my finger, but you can already see so much detail, it's amazing. The doc said everything looked great, but he is going to request that my doc change my due date to Feb 9th, since baby measured 13 weeks, 3 days on the ultrasound. This jives with the nurse practictioner's estimation of a Feb 8th due date, so I'm happy the baby is showing consistent growth. Here's a peek at Peanut:

And here's a peek of my 14 week bump. Doesn't look like I've grown much, but people at work have noticed and it's too hard to hide under clothes anymore, really.

Sorry about the no make-up-or hairstyle. Am LAZY!

No onto the fun part!

How far along are you?: 14 Weeks

Total weight gain: I weighed myself a couple days ago in the morning and it was still 7 pounds.

How big is the baby?: 3 1/2 inches long, about the size of a lemon

Maternity clothes: Not yet....almost time.

Stretch marks?: No new ones, yet.

Sleep: I feel like I might be sleeping a little bit better I had the best sleep of my pregnant life one night in Tahoe. Only got up 2 times to pee. And they had these glorious memory foam beds and a king size down pillow I spooned with.

Best moment this week: Seeing peanut in action for sure! He/she was so active kicking it's legs and moving it's arms up and down and in and out of it's mouth. Amazing! Bummer part is I found out I have an anterior placenta (it's in front of the baby), so I might not feel kicks as early as I had hoped.

Movement: Not yet.

Food cravings: New ones this week were chocolate cake and chocolate donuts. Also craved cheese enchiladas and sushi again.

Food aversions: I basically have no desire to cook anything ever. It sucks.

Labor signs: No!

Belly button in or out: In.

What I miss:  Energy, lunch meat, egg yolk,

What I'm looking forward to: My gender scan on the 26th!!!!

12 weeks

How far along are you?: 12 Weeks, 2 days

Total weight gain: 7 pounds. Although it's entirely possible that I've gained 4 pounds this weeks in carbs...I also didn't weight myself in the morning post-pee like I normally do, so we'll see what the scale says next week.

How big is the baby?: 2 inches long, about the size of a lime

Maternity clothes: Not yet.

Stretch marks?: No new ones, yet.

Sleep: I'm still tired all the time. I hit a major wall at about 2 pm. However, I have been going to bed a little bit later this week, like 9:30. :-)

Best moment this week: This morning, Harlie was snuggled up next to me and I said to her, "Mama's belly is getting big, huh?" Harlie then laid her head on my belly, then sat up and started rubbing her hand on it. She said "She likes it when I rub her. " So cute.

Movement: Not yet.

Food cravings: New cravings this week have been egg salad and peach cobbler.

Food aversions: I guess it's just scrambled eggs that seem yucky to me now as far as eggs go. I also don't want soda anywhere near me, unless it has lemon in it. And meat it still blech to think about as well.

Labor signs: No!

Belly button in or out: In.

What I miss:  This week it has been margaritas and white wine.

What I'm looking forward to: TAHOE!  Also my 12 week appt on Tuesday.

12 weeks

Harlie wanted to join in. :-)

11 weeks

How far along are you?: 11 Weeks, 2 days

Total weight gain: 3 pounds

How big is the baby?: 1 1/2 inches long, about the size of a fig

Maternity clothes: Not yet, but I'm not able to comfortably wear so many of my clothes anymore (jeans especially). I'm most comfortable in dresses and skirts with elastic waistbands.

Stretch marks?: No new ones, yet.

Sleep: I'm still exhausted all the time.  I go to bed between 8 and 9 most nights, and don't sleep very well at all, between bathroom wake-ups every hour and tossing and turning to get comfortable. Dreams are crazy too and I just don't wake up rested.

Best moment this week: Hearing how Harlie told Emelia at preschool about the new baby.

Movement: Not yet.

Food cravings: I can consistently eat and can tolerate bagels, cottage cheese, berries, cereal and peppermint tea. Sometimes bean burritos sound good. But my latest craving is Indian food. Had it last for dinner and it did not disappoint. Now I want it for breakfast. Also ice cream is something I consistently crave, but that's not any different from pre-pregnancy.

Food aversions: Most meat. especially chicken. I sometimes enjoy cheeseburgers, but not until I'm actually eating them. The thought of them makes me nauseous. Eggs are unappealing as well...and tuna fish.

Labor signs: No!

Belly button in or out: In.

What I miss:  Pepsi (sometimes I crave it, although sugary sodas make my mouth taste disgusting), and SUSHI!!!

What I'm looking forward to: The second trimester (more energy, less nausea) and the gender scan.

Another Twist and the Biggest Gift

Four years ago, on my 30th birthday I looked like this:

20 weeks pregnant with Harlie

 
 And today, I look like this:

11 weeks pregnant with "Peanut"

Yup! "Peanut" is Scott's nickname for the new little baby that will be arriving on or around February 8th.  I'm really getting excited as the weeks tick by, especially for that sweet newborn smell and a little playmate for Harlikins. When we told Harlie about the new baby, she didn't have much of a reaction at first but then she reached down and hugged my belly, putting her head in my lap. It was so sweet.  She wants a baby sister and when I asked her what we should name it, she proclaimed, "Little Crownie!"  Okay then, princess obsessed much?  It took her awhile to let her friends at daycare in on the news...she had told me she wasn't going to tell because it was a secret, but just the other day she spilled the beans and Jessica kindly wrote me an email to tell me about it:

So Emelia finished her snack early and was flipping through a book and saw a picture of a baby with umbilical chord/in utero. She asked "what is on this baby?!"

and it spurred a little convo on what babies look like when they are growing in the belly. Harlie sort of whispers "I'm going to have a new baby."

And I said, will you tell Emelia, too? And Harlie puts her hands in the air (like a gym ta-da) and says pretty loudly, "My mom has one of those. I am going to have a new baby!"

And I asked Emelia, "Did you hear that??? Harlie's mom has a baby in her tummy!" And Emelia says, "I already knew that! I found out at Christmas. It is going to be a girl with polka dots right here (she points to her head, like a head band)." 

haha funny girls.

 Austin was pretty surprised I think but since he has so many little kids in his family these days, he doesn't have preference for a girl or a boy...he's surrounded by them all!

We had our first doctor appt a couple weeks ago and Peanut looked great. We got to see the two hemispheres of the brain, the leg and arm buds, the umbilical cord and best of all the flickering heartbeat!  Here's a photo of Peanut at just about 9 weeks:

I've been so tired and soooo sick this time around.  I'm going to look around for a pregnancy survey to complete each week or so, because I think it will be fun to track my symptoms along the way.

I've gotta good feeling that this is the start of something beautiful. Life is a crazy wonderful adventure, I know that for sure!

First Haircut

Harlie decided it was finally time to cut off her long locks. No more did she want hair like Rapunzel's--she wanted her hair cut like Grandma's!