Bumpdate: 15 Weeks

Here we are, chugging right along!  This has been a pretty good week so far.  I have been super pooped preparing the house for some awesome guests this weekend, but I get what I deserve after not doing a scrap of housework for three months :)

I am slowly building a bit of a prego-wardrobe.  Really, this is not that interesting, besides the fact that I would pay one million dollars to just be able to wear pajamas all day.  My poor husband.  Most of my work pants still fit, and that is surprising because I figured I would have outgrown them by now.  But if you know me, you know that I DESPISE anything tight around my waist, so I am looking for some dresses and other "loose" items of clothing for this little journey.

We have a very fun weekend coming up, with our first house guests since announcing Puddin'!  My best friend and her hubby Brandon are coming into town.  Tomorrow night we are going to a Prom-themed fundraiser for charity, which should be very fun.  Hopefully, I can keep up with everyone throughout the weekend.  Which means, I need to stay on my regularly-scheduled nap routine :)

Picture taken at 15 wks, 2 days (and no, pink doesn't mean anything:) )

P (Pounds gained/lost) - Not sure, but I would imagine it's slowly going up!  I have my official 16-week appointment next week, and I am sure after this weekend I won't be helping my cause all that much.
 

R (Really missing) - Energy that lasts past 9:30 p.m., oh and DR. PEPPER....
 

E (Eating this) - No weird cravings yet, but still love Skittles and sweets for some reason.
 

G (Gotta … ) - Get a pedicure.  I know that doesn't really pertain to baby, but it sort of does since squishing over to reach my toes is kinda uncomfortable.
 

N (Not gonna lie) - I love my bump!  I still feel like sometimes I may just look a little chunky and not exactly pregnant, so I will put my hand on my stomach or something to make it look a little more obvious.  I am sure I won't have that problem for too much longer :)
 

A (About Puddin’) - Little one is the size of an apple (let's hope it's a good apple - ha).  Puddin' is now breathing in amniotic fluid, which will help with lung development.  He/she may even be able to sense light, and it's said that if I shined a flashlight on my stomach, it would move away.  Not sure if I will try that weird trick, but it's cool to know!
 

N (Never forget this) - Having a gentleman ask me the other day in the lunch line if it was my "second," because "he could tell."  What the heck does that mean?!  Oh well, I guess it's the first of many stranger comments - bring 'em on :)
 

C (Can’t wait for) - Hopefully getting laminates installed in the house very soon. Beginning to plan our gender reveal party!
 

Y (Yet to come … ) - 16-week appointment and fun friend visit.

Bumpdate: 14 Weeks

For some reason, 14 weeks seems so far along - ha.  I suppose I will look back at 24 weeks and 34 weeks and say the same thing!  This week has been pretty good.  Besides from being pretty nauseous on Sunday, we were still able to have a good productive weekend.  I think I have finally nailed down the flooring we want to have installed, and have picked out some samples for the tile floor in the kitchen.  I know that having the house "under construction" for a few weeks will be a bit stressful, but I am so happy that will are able to get this stuff done before Puddin' arrives.

On a more stretchy note, I officially wore my first pair of maternity pants to work on Wednesday!  I am surprised I made it to the 14-week mark before having to bust them out (pun intended).  It honestly was out of sheer laziness (other pants were dirty, and I didn't feel like wearing heels to work that day), but I wore them nonetheless!  They were somewhat comfortable, but today I have a line at the top of my stomach where the fabric rubbed...I supposed I need to build up a tolerance for having pants up to my armpits now :)

Puddin' should still be growing away in there - I haven't felt any movement, and I think that will take a few more weeks to feel.  I have been having some back pain, but it isn't consistent, and for that I am thankful.  I get a few RLP (round ligament pains) here and there, but again, nothing consistent so far.

I promise this is a different picture from last week, but the bump looks exactly the same!  I have to say I am sort of relieved - I think the bump was a bit of an "overachiever" for a while there :)

P (Pounds gained/lost) - No clue.  Some of my normal pants are getting a bit tighter, and I have to leave a button or snap undone lately.

R (Really missing) - DR. PEPPER!

E (Eating this) - I miss having my cravings for salmon, but at least most other healthy foods sound appealing now.  I suppose after my 16 week appointment and we see how much weight I have gained will determine if I really need to buckle down, or can continue on as I have been :)

G (Gotta … ) - Finish those darn announcements (2/3 of the way there!)

N (Not gonna lie) - I like the funny fruit comparisons that websites give you to determine the size of your baby.  I have never heard of some of them, but Puddin' is about the size of a lemon this week, so at least I can visualize that!

A (About Puddin’) - Puddin' should measure about 3.5 inches long, and can now squint, frown, grimace, and pee!  It's also possible that he/she will suck on their thumb - let's hope that doesn't continue outside the womb :)

N (Never forget this) - Our puddin' will be quite confused: My mom told someone the other day she was going to have a "Granddaughter" and my step mom keeps calling Puddin' a "he!"  Two more months before we will actually know what to say!

C (Can’t wait for) - My next doctor's appointment, just to see how things are going.  A month in  between seems like such a long time to wait.  Having my friends Auntie Kim and Uncle Brandon and Aunt Allyson and Uncle Brian in town for a fun weekend!

Y (Yet to come … ) - Hopefully just being pregnant!  While it has been rough so far, I am still so amazed at this whole process - it truly is a miracle and I look forward to seeing how the rest of this journey will go!

Bumpdate: 13 Weeks

We are officially out of the first trimester, and I have to say I am feeling a good bit better - thank goodness!  Most of the nausea has gone away, and I find myself with a bit more energy each day.  I am thankful to have passed this milestone, and even more thankful to more closely resemble a functioning human being now :)

I did start the fun process of shopping for a few bits of maternity clothing this weekend, and I have to say it wasn't all that fun.  Everything is ONLINE, or either really expensive - boo.  Thanks to my Mom, I do have a couple of other pieces making their way to me today in the mail, so fingers crossed they fit.  Otherwise, I am wearing pajamas to work everyday - I loathe anything tight around my waist, so this pregnancy should be fun in that aspect!

 

P (Pounds gained/lost) - We don't own a scale, so I am not sure.  All of my clothes still fit the way they did last week, so I am guessing I haven't gained much, if any.
 

R (Really missing) - Sleeping on my back and stomach!
 

E (Eating this) - Thank goodness getting down healthy snacks is becoming easier again. No crazy cravings this week.
 

G (Gotta … ) - Get our announcements in the mail!  I am making them by hand, and they are taking me for-ever.
 

N (Not gonna lie) - There are a lot of weird pains associated with being pregnant.  I read on one blog, and she said that if you have a weird pain or symptom, you can relax - you are just pregnant.  It's so true.  Oh, and I think most maternity clothes are hideous.
 

A (About Puddin’) - Little one now has fingerprints, and is about 3 inches long (or the size of a medium shrimp).  Our shrimp is a shrimp - ha.  If it's a girl, she already has all the eggs her little body will ever make.
 

N (Never forget this) - The small things Anthony does to still make me feel incredibly loved.  Like carving a little heart out of my pork chop when he packed me lunch on Monday.
 

C (Can’t wait for) - Hopefully getting laminates installed in the house very soon.  Beginning to plan our gender reveal party!
 

Y (Yet to come … ) - Lots and lots of projects around the house to prepare for Puddin'.  Our timeline just got a major deadline imposed :)

12 Week Ultrasound/ Appointment

Yep, there is still a Puddin' in there!  Our 12-week ultrasound and appointment went great.  It was wonderful to hear that everything was perfect, considering I had a stomach bug and wasn't feeling anywhere near it!

The ultrasound tech assured us that everything looked great, and the baby was measuring right on schedule.  We even got a little "wave" at one point, and Anthony tried to capture a video as best as he could - we have a little bouncing bean, that's for sure.  Salsa dancing already!

I had the first round of bloodwork done to test for Down's Syndrome and Trisomy 18, and will hear the results in about 5 business days.  The second round of testing will take place later on in my pregnancy.  Fingers crossed, but I don't believe we have too much to worry about in this department.

My actual doctor's appointment got bumped (thanks Emory), but I was able to be squeezed in for a short appointment after my ultrasound.  My stats were great: 110/80 blood pressure, gained just shy of 1 pound (still down 2 pounds total), and bloodwork from last time showed that I am not anemic.

Next up: 16 week appointment early in May, and gender ultrasound right before Memorial Day!

Bumpdate: Twelve Weeks!

Oh my - 12 weeks down, and out of the first trimester!  I can't believe we are at this point already.  In some ways, it feels like time is flying.  On other days (being super sick) makes it feel like an eternity :)

This is the start of our weekly Bumpdates!  Hopefully, we will be able to post about 28 more.

(Sorry for the bad picture - I caught a stomach bug and hadn't put my face on that day!)

I have decided to do our weekly survey a bit differently: using the word "PREGNANCY" as our guide.  I know one day looking back on all of these updates will be super sweet.

Without further adieu:

P  (Pounds gained/lost) - Down three pounds at my 8 week appt. Will know more on Thursday.

R  (Really missing) - Feeling like a normal person with no nausea and energy!

E  (Eating this) - So far, healthy things are not that appealing.  Trying to continue on fruits and veggies, but honestly carbs and cheese sound way more appealing :)

G  (Gotta … ) - Buy some maternity clothes - oy!  My work pants are just about to require some help, and most of my casual pants are not all that comfy.  The rubber band-on-the-button trick worked for a while, but I don't think that will be the case before too much longer.

N  (Not gonna lie) - This is SO hard.  And, I feel like I look like I am carrying twins :)

A  (About Puddin’) - Little one is developing its reflexes and looks surprisingly human. Supposedly, if I push on my stomach, it will respond (even though I can't feel it yet).  Puddin' measures just over 2 inches long crown to rump, and is about the size of a lime.

N  (Never forget this) - Telling my family over Easter!  It was so wonderful to tell my parents that they will be GRANDPARENTS for the first time!  This little one will be so blessed, as we are, to call this family of ours its own.

C  (Can’t wait for) - My 12-week ultrasound on Thursday, and making it out of the first trimester.  Morning/all day sickness: you can go away now!

Y  (Yet to come … ) - SO much - I don't even know where to start.  We are both still a bit in shock, but at least we have six more months to prepare!

The photo we included in my Dad's (Doug or "Poppa") and Step dad's (Tom or "Ollie") late birthday presents (which is how everyone found out!)

 

 

Disney World 2013

Our trip to Disney World was a bit different than what we expected, but even better with our Valentine's Day news.

I didn't snap as many pictures as I normally would, but we still got out and about a good bit.  Florida experienced an unusual cold snap while we were there, but at least there was sunshine most of the time!

Day One: Valentine's Day
Our big surprise!
Dinner at Cat Cora's Kouzzina Restaurant at Disney's Boardwalk

 

Day Two:
Timeshare tour at resort (we did see an alligator on the golf course!)
Outlet shopping
Medieval Times Dinner & Horse Show

Day Three:
Gatorland (and cheating death)
Dinner at my favorite restaurant - Bonefish Grille

Day Four:
Magic Kingdom!

 

 

(This is what happens when it takes an HOUR to ride one ride!)

 

Despite being quite sick, it was a great trip the two of us will for sure never forget! 

So there's this thing...

that comes after the love + after the marriage part of the old school rhyme.  Yep, it's a BABY (just not in a carriage yet!)  I guess you could consider this belly our little one's carriage for the next nine months!  We are ecstatic to introduce to you our little Puddin' Valentine - due October 16, 2013!

And don't be afraid; as much as Anthony would like to have "Valentine" as the little one's middle name, it's simply our pet name for him/her until he/she arrives.  I honestly can't remember where the "Puddin'" part came from, but I certainly remember the "Valentine" part! (Get your mind out of the gutter, folks - like I would tell you that!)

Valentine's Day was the day we had one of the biggest surprises of our lives.  You see, in mid-January of 2013, we suffered a miscarriage of our first pregnancy.  So saddened and afraid by this event, we gladly took (what we thought) was a month off from "trying" at our doctor's suggestion.  Little did we know, that God had another glorious plan, and we became pregnant sometime in late January/early February!  I am sure you can see now where the title of this blog comes into play - through His Grace we kept going, and through His Grace we are here today, with this blessing.  I have never learned more about faith and perseverance than through this situation, but thankfully, God's Grace sees us through the dark times, and rewards us with more than we can ever imagine!

For about a week before Valentine's day, I had an inkling that I [could] be pregnant, but since I was pregnant for such a short time before, I really didn't know what symptoms to look for.  We were going out of town to Disney World on Valentine's Day morning, and I knew that I didn't want to take the chance of riding roller coasters or anything if I could be pregnant, so I decided to bite the bullet and take a test the morning we left.

I did not sleep a wink that night, and jumped out of bed at 6 a.m. (trying to do this quietly so as to not wake Anthony up in order to make it some sort of surprise!)  As I sat there in the quiet of the bathroom, heart pounding, I breathed sigh of relief when "YES+" popped up on the screen after a few short seconds.  I knew it!  I said a quick prayer with shaking hands, then immediately dumped out the little heart box of Reese's miniatures chocolates I had bought the day before and stowed in the bathroom as Anthony's little Valentine's present. I figured that would be a Valentine's Day gift Anthony was not expecting! (Funny now, that the box was a "miniatures" one).

So I crawled back into bed and tried to sit for a couple of minutes before I couldn't take it anymore and woke Anthony up.  After a couple of cuddles, I asked if he wanted to open his present.  I knew he had seen the box the night before at the store, but I also knew he would never guess what was inside!  He opened the box, and very confusedly looked at me. With tears in my eyes, I told him, "Yes, this is real, and I knew it this time!"  Of course hugging and more tears followed, while the dogs looked at us like we were crazy (or maybe they just really had to go outside).

Morning sickness had already begun to appear, so we slowly got ready and got on the road to Disney.  I think both of us were still in shock at what was happening, and we both (understandably so) were a bit worried after our miscarriage that everything would be alright.  But, thankfully, my biggest prayer during that hard time in January had paid off.  I prayed for peace.  I prayed for no fear.  I didn't want to live my life and every chance at pregnancy in fear of something awful happening again.  So, we enjoyed our trip (as much as we could with a sick and exhausted pregnant lady), and made memories we will share with our Puddin' someday!

We decided that our little tribute to our Valentine would be a heart ...

I even got Anthony in on it a time or two :)

Holy cow - we are doing this!!

 

(Our first ultrasound - and finding out we were already SEVEN weeks along!)