Pregnancy, Week 24

Physical Symptoms: I have been experiencing some round ligament pain in my lower abdomen. This is due to my body physically stretching out for baby girl.  It just feels like a constant cramping. Lying down seems to help for me though some women say walking around works for them. It's scary the first time this happens but soon you learn what ligament pain feels like and you relax about something really bad happening.

One of the best things about pregnancy for me is I have the most incredible skin! I have always had problem skin/hormonal outbreaks but now my face is completely clear. Maybe its my pre-natal vitamins, or the increased production of blood running through my body, who knows! But I am enjoying while it lasts.

Speaking of blood. Did you know that a woman increases her blood volume by 50% during pregnancy.It can add almost a pound to your body weight! CRAZY!

Food Weirdness: None. Love food.

Size of little (girl) bug: Still an Eggplant

Workout: Now that break is over I am back in action.  My coworker and I walk around 2 miles a day and we do "fit breaks" together.  UCLA has this great program where for 15 min 2x a day a trainer will come to the office and do strength training, dance, stretching, etc. Chris and I hope to get back into working out at home too.

Preparation:  Just been researching some stuff online. Crib vs. Bassinet, Pacifier vs. No Pacifier, etc.,etc.

Discovery: My uterus is now the size of a soccer ball. Umm what?

Funny Moment: I just realized I had left funny moments off the past few posts. Probably the funniest thing that has happened regarding pregnancy is, how big you look is totally dependent on what you wear.  On Monday, someone said "you are so tiny!" the next day "wow, you are getting so big."

Life tip: For what its worth, never tell a woman she is big. Pregnant or not pregnant.

Feelings: I am feeling much more positive this week.  After having a nice long talk with my hubby I am feeling much better. Many of my fears lie in how will he and I keep our marriage a priority in midst of baby land. I'm sure we wont be perfect but I am glad we are already talking about it and implementing practical ways to make our marriage a priority. Love my hubs!

Pregnancy, Week 23

Physical Symptoms: Weird random pains.  I contribute this to my body making room for baby girl. Natalie is kicking up a storm. My hubs and step-son have now both felt her. She kicks hard too. It is so weird.  It's like an alien has invaded my body! I also am starting to feel quite large...and this is just the beginning of the major growth stage.

Food Weirdness: At this point eating ice cream every night is not weird. Its just normal.

Size of little (girl) bug: Eggplant

Workout: Well... I was on break from work last week due to the holidays so I did not do anything consistent except sit on the couch and watch college bowl games.  I did walk a few times which included about a 4+ mile walk when we went to the Rose Bowl Game.

Now that I am back at work my pregnant friend and I are back on track.  In fact, we walked close to 3 miles during our break yesterday.

Preparation: Bought some Belly Buds so Natalie can listen to music/our recorded voices, etc.  Does this really help with brain development? I have no idea but why not try, right? Also, realizing we need to be more prepared, like going to make a registry/setting up the baby corner/etc. The year turning to 2015 has made me much more aware that this train is coming...fast.

Discovery: She can hear now! Hello there little babe!

Feelings: This past week was pretty hard if I am completely honest.  Spent a lot of time thinking about how things will change; relationships, time, priorities, home life and it got me down. I am really content at how life is moving right now, anticipating the change makes me a little (or a lot) emotional. Luckily, I have a lot of support around me to build me back up when I am feeling down.

In other news, I got an Iphone 6, so hopefully you wont have to endure terrible quality photos like the ones I posted last week. Lordy.

Pregnancy, Week 22

I have been on Christmas Break so sorry for the lack of updating but here is my Week 22/23 belly picture.

Pregnancy, Week 21

Physical Symptoms: Sadly, I came down with a cold this week. So I have been battling that with medicine the doctor recommended (Robitussin DM). I have also experienced some leg cramping this week which seems typical of this stage. She is continuing to move a lot though! Its so cool!

Food Weirdness: None this week and I have been able to keep an appetite despite being sick.

Size of little (girl) bug: Cantaloupe (wow! she is getting big fast)

Workout: Haven't worked out as much because of my cold but still have the desire! Next week Ill be back in action.

Preparation: Received our shower gifts in the mail from our surprise shower over Thanksgiving and a sweet co-worker gave me some hand me down girl onesies!

Discovery: Chris was able to feel her kick or move for the first time the other night! It was so exciting!

Feelings: This week I turned 33. So crazy to think I will be having a baby at age 33. Not that its bad, but you just always wonder growing up how old you will be when you have your first child.  I thought it would be earlier than 33 but the Lord knows best.  Now I feel this is the perfect age to have a child!

Pregnancy, Week 20 Half Way!!

Physical Symptoms: I am getting really tired at night and my appetite has amped up a fair amount. I had some sharp pains in my lower abdomen that really scared me. After calling the doctor and a few pregnant friends and taking a long nap I concluded they are just growing pains. Chris read that sometimes your ab muscles may rip to make room for the baby. I will continue to keep a watch on this symptom though, in case it comes back!

Also, she continues to move around a lot, especially at night when my dog Bailey is laying up against my stomach. They have already bonded.

At the 20-week scan the ultrasound doctor said I have slight placenta previa which means my placenta is close to covering my cervix. 80% of these cases resolve on their own and the placenta moves up to its proper placement but because of the risk I will be going in for another ultrasound at week 32 to see if it has moved.  If it has not, we will need to schedule a c-section when the baby is due. Praying the placenta moves!

Food Weirdness: Yesterday my smelling sensitivity of a super hero came back in full force. I had a bag of Special K with strawberries sitting on my desk and I could not stand the smell of the freeze dried berries.  It had to go.

Size of little (girl) bug: Mango

Workout: Still enjoying working out with my hubby. We keep each other accountable and it is benefiting us both. My workout is slightly modified from his though, less jumping and running around. I'm focusing more on strength (squats and weights).

Preparation: Scheduled our birthing and breastfeeding classes for February.

Discovery: We had our 20 week scan last week and it could not of went better! Little Natalie is developing perfectly.  All her major organs looked great and she is progressing normally. It was really cool to see how big she is. The ultrasound doctor was incredibly thorough and explained everything she was looking at. She kept saying that we have beautiful and perfect little babe. So thankful!

Feelings: Hitting the half-way point was emotional for me! Very soon our daughter will be born and life is going to change forever! Its hard to explain how that feels, except its a bunch of emotions mixed into one big ball of "this is really happening!"

Natalie was shy for the cameras...

Pregnancy, Week 19

Physical Symptoms: Hello heartburn and also not sleeping well as of late BUT I have been feeling her move around! She feels like flipping goldfish! My baby belly has also been getting much bigger.

Food Weirdness: I just want more and more vanilla ice cream with chocolate sauce. Trying to figure out what foods give me more heartburn than others.

Size of little (girl) bug: Zucchini

Workout: My workouts have been going great.  I worked out every day last week for at least a 1/2 hr. I have a lot of energy and can tell working out not only makes me feel better but gives me more energy. Motivated!

Preparation: We scheduled a hospital tour in February and I bought Burts Bees belly lotion to try to keep those stretch marks away.

Discovery: Feeling her move around has been an amazing discovery. I love it.

Feelings: I have been concerned about having lack of community with new moms after she is born. I know my social world is going to completely shake up with a baby and it is something concerns me. I am a super social person and am afraid of feeling alone. Praying for some new mommas that live close to me to surface.

Pregnancy, Weeks 17 & 18

These two weeks are combined because Chris and I were in VA for Thanksgiving! I did not look at a computer the entire time we were there. It was so great relaxing spending time with family and friends.

Physical Symptoms: I was able to get lots of sleep over the break which was really nice. I felt refreshed everyday! Sometimes I get leg cramps which from what I have read is typical for this stage of pregnancy.  I had a lot of energy over break. So thankful!

Food Weirdness: None. Stuffed myself silly the entire week! Especially Thanksgiving day!

Size of little bug: Week 17: Naval Orange, Week 18: Dragon Fruit

Workout: I did 0 working out while on vacation which I think attributed to my leg cramps. But Chris is starting a new workout regimen this week so I am going to try to join him. I probably wont do the full program but do whatever is comfortable. Also, I am still doing the 15-min fit breaks at work and walking!

Preparation: My mom's side of the family surprised us on Thanksgiving Day with a baby shower! We were so shocked and it was so fun.  At the shower we received a diaper genie, a few toys and lots of baby clothes.  We are so thankful! It was a very special time with family.

Discovery: During the shower my mom gave me two quilts that my Mamaw made for me when I was a baby.  I didn't remember these quilts so I was very shocked. It was an emotional moment and I am so happy to have part of my grandmother be a part of our child.

Also, my parents discovered that the baby is a girl! We filled a white box with pink balloons and at the Thanksgiving meal my parents opened the box to discover the gender.  It was so fun and they are ecstatic!

Feelings: Being home in VA was so good and much needed.  But it was really hard to leave this time.  Knowing a baby is coming and my immediate family is very far away is hard. But we will just have to make the best of it. Hopefully, in the future we can afford to visit more than once a year.

Also, here is our family picture we took a few weeks ago: