Nick + Lauren: )

Another day of firsts...

2012-02-18T17:41:00.002-06:00

The rest of our hospital stay marked some special firsts: our first family photo, our first night as a family, etc...and Hudson met many of our friends and family members for the first time!

Family photo in the recovery room!

(I REALLY needed a shower - yikes!)

With Daddy before bed on our first night!

Natalie came to visit, brought us AMAZING smoothies, and took my favorite picture of me with Hudson in the hospital!

Natalie

Zach and Bonny came by, too! They have a little one on the way as well - yay! A few days after this picture was taken, we found out that they are moving back to Kansas (from Germany!)

Bonny

Zach

Judy made her way back from her work trip, and she promptly came to meet her newest grandson.

Grandma Judy

When Mom finished work, she and Grandpa came by for a quick visit. It was pretty neat to see my grandpa with his first great-grandchild!

Great-grandpa George

I love this one: )

We also took time to have a little photo session...

Time with Daddy

(Hudson's little face still looks so swollen!)

On Friday, Jenny (Nick's sister), Tim, and Ryan made came to town from Texas!

Auntie Jenny

Cousin Ryan and Uncle Tim

Cousin Ryan checking out the baby!

After a great experience at the hospital, it was time to go home! Hudson wore his first KU outfit - even though it was a little big! - and we covered him up with his new KU blanket from the Laird family. SO cute!

I have to admit that it was a little terrifying to leave the hospital! As the nurse walked us down to the car, I couldn't help but think that we were about to start a very new - and very real - part of our lives! We went through Walgreens on the way home to drop off a prescription for my pain meds, and then we headed home for our first night together!

39 and 40 Weeks...Sort Of!

2012-02-13T15:31:00.004-06:00

Hudson Robert Adams

arrived January 18 at 12:34 p.m. (38 weeks/4 days),

so week 39 and week 40 turned out to be a little bit different than expected!

39 Weeks

(Ha! That is a really awkward angle!)

40 Weeks

(We forgot to take a traditional pic, but this was on Sunday at 40 weeks/1 day!)

The Beginning of Week 39

I felt pretty good on Sunday. I walked with Natalie for an hour on the treadmill in the morning, and I got some things done around the house. I went to the store, and Mom and I visited with Grandma and Grandpa in the evening. It was a pretty normal Sunday overall.

Monday was a little more challenging, and, looking back, the first signs that the baby was ready to make his appearance took place that day! It was Martin Luther King Day, so I didn't have to work. I was determined to get my work out done first thing in the morning, so I hit the gym when Nick's alarm went off at 6:31. After my work out (an hour of walking) and a shower, I spent the rest of the day with Mom and Claire. We had lunch at Pickleman's, and then we wandered in and out of some of the stores downtown. We made our way to Michael's, and they helped me pick out some frames for the nursery. My lower back was beginning to hurt, and I told Mom a few times that I was pretty uncomfortable. I didn't have any back problems throughout my pregnancy, so I'm thinking this was probably an early sign that labor was imminent. We went to Target and Walmart in search of nursing tanks/bras and thank you notes, and then I was READY.TO.GO.HOME. When I got home, I told Nick how uncomfortable I was, and I remember him commenting that he was beginning to think I may be ready to have the baby! He made me relax while he got dinner together. I wrote some thank yous, packed my bags (e.g., lunch, gym bag) for Tuesday, and called it a night.

On Tuesday, I went to the gym in the morning. I was a little bit late, so I only walked for about 45 minutes. I talked with Natalie for a while when she finished with her training group, and I saw my nurse ("Nurse Debbie" as my family affectionately calls her!) on my way to the shower. I told her I'd see her at my appointment the next day (not knowing that I'd have the baby instead!). I also remember another friend at the gym commenting that the baby had dropped, and I guess she was right! I didn't have any back pain at work, and I had a really good day overall. I was a little uncomfortable in the morning, and I sent my boss an email to tell her that I may work from home a couple of afternoons that week. I accomplished just about everything on my to-do list, and I felt like I'd be in good shape to be gone from work after Wednesday or Thursday that week if the baby decided to come early. Nick called me in the afternoon, and I remember telling him that my back pain was gone but that the baby felt heavy and low and that I had to go to the bathroom every time I stood up from my desk chair (I guess this may have been another sign that the baby was coming soon!). I stayed at work a little bit late so that I could update my maternity plans and update the most important people on our big projects...just in case I went into labor that night. On my way out, I ran into two former colleagues from when I was teaching at Free State. I told them the baby should arrive in a week and half - obviously I had NO IDEA he had other plans.

Nick was with some friends, so I worked on the last of my thank you notes until he came home. I finished all of the thank yous, and I emailed people for the remaining addresses. Finishing the thank yous was another task on my to-do list that I hoped to have crossed off before the baby came, so I was feeling pretty good about my progress! I made the beef for French dip sandwiches on Monday, so dinner on Tuesday night was easy to throw together when Nick got home. (Callie ate one of the French bread rolls, so that was frustrating - but I bought four so it worked out okay!) Tiffany and Elsie stopped by with a bassinet and swing for us to borrow, and I promised Elsie that she could visit me and the baby in the hospital (see below!). I was exhausted, so after dinner I laid out all my clothes and organized my backpack for work the next day. We got in bed between 9 and 10, and we started watching something from the DVR...

Labor and Delivery

(My college friends emailed with a long list of questions about Hudson's arrival, but I thought it may be easier to just share our labor and delivery story. While I'm avoiding the technical terms because they gross me out, there may be more details (TMI!?!) here than some people want to read. Beware!!)

As I was drifting off to sleep about 10:15, I felt a little trickle on my leg. I quickly jumped up (as quickly as a 38-weeks-pregnant person can jump!) to rush to the bathroom. I remember walking awkwardly because I couldn't "hold it." As soon as I made it into the bathroom, my water broke E.V.E.R.Y.W.H.E.R.E. I had just shut the door, so through the door I managed to shout, "Uh...I think my water just broke!" I opened the door and Nick was sitting up in bed. We were in shock!!! It was clear that either my water broke or that I had peed E.V.E.R.Y.W.H.E.R.E!

The overwhelming feelings began, and I can liken them to the same way I felt when I found out I was pregnant. I repeated "What do we do now?" a million times, and we tried to calm down. I wasn't having any contractions, so I knew we didn't need to rush to the hospital - but that wasn't too reassuring!

I called the hospital and the doctor. The nurse at the hospital said that we could come in then (about 10:30) or we could wait until morning to come. The doctor on call (not my doctor) called me back, and she said the same thing that the nurse had said. She also said that it could be that the baby was in a funny place on my bladder...and I just wet my pants (ha!).

We knew that if it was my water had broken we would have to stay at the hospital, so we decided to stay at home to see what would happen next. I did NOT want to labor for hours at the hospital! I had made a packing list over the weekend, so we packed our bags. I also emailed my boss to tell her that I might be in labor. After that, we reviewed our PowerPoints from our birth class (I know...NERDY...but it made me feel better! Ha!). I still wasn't having contractions, but since I felt like I was "leaking" more fluid I was pretty sure my water had broken.

Nick thought we should rest, so we turned off the lights and tried to sleep. Nick slept for a little bit, but I was awake and waiting, waiting, waiting...and then my contractions started around 12:45. I wasn't sure they were contractions at first, and I'd get up to go to the bathroom after each one. There started to be a little bit of blood, so I knew I was really in labor and having contractions. The contractions were about 15-20 minutes apart at first, so I even managed to drift to sleep for a half hour or so. We ended up wide awake, so we decided to watch some shows on our DVR (and pretend that we weren't about to meet our baby!). Nick timed my contractions on his iPhone (There's an app for that!), and we were actually pretty relaxed as we watched TV and waited to see what would happen.

Eventually, we realized we were pausing the TV too frequently to bother watching anymore, and the app showed the contractions were between 5 and 7 minutes apart. I started to panic a little bit. I was in more and more pain, and I started to worry that we were waiting too long to go to the hospital. I remember repeating "I really think we need to go now!" several times as we put on our shoes, put the bags in the car, said goodbye to Callie, etc.

The drive to the hospital was surreal! It was about 5:30 a.m., so the streets were deserted. I had a few contractions in the car, and I was kind of in shock that we were actually having the baby!

I was pretty nervous as the male nurse in the ER escorted us to the Family Birthing Center. He seemed nervous, and that made me nervous. I also felt awkward having contractions in front of him while we were en route (e.g., in the elevator!). We were assigned a room, but it took a few minutes before a nurse came in.

I FREAKED OUT until a nurse actually came in to see us because I didn't know what to do. I wasn't sure if I should get ready to have an exam. I wasn't sure if we had come to the hospital too early. I wasn't sure what would happen next. I was scared at this point, and I kept shaking as I'd talk to Nick. Eventually, a nurse came in, and she took down some initial information before the shift change. She also did my first exam in the hospital, and she announced that I was dilated to four centimeters.

Our second nurse, Cindy, came in around 6 a.m. and things really started moving from there. She confirmed that my water had broken, and she hooked me up to some machines to check my contractions and to monitor the baby's heartbeat. According to my phone, I called my parents at 6:34 - exactly six hours before Hudson was born! I even had to set the phone down for a little bit to have a contraction while I was talking to them!

I was unhooked from the machines for a while, and I tried to find a comfortable position for contractions. I didn't have much luck, and I must say I am a little disappointed in my attitude during some of them. I definitely uttered a few too many negative statements (e.g., "I can't do this!") along the way. Nick was so supportive, and he tried to stay calm and do whatever I needed him to do. I was NOT prepared for the pain in my back, but Nick was able to apply some counter pressure to alleviate some of the pain.

My sense of time from the day is totally thrown off, but Nick thinks my doctor came by a little bit after 8 a.m. to check on me. I was a mess when she was in the room, and I remember telling her that my contractions were making me feel nauseated. She said that some women throw up during labor and that it was totally normal...and I instantly became determined NOT to be one of them! I was dilated to a five by this point.

Soon after she left, I asked for an epidural (around 8:45 or so - ?). My goal going into the hospital was to labor without pain meds for as long as possible, and I think that I met that goal. I was worried about having an epidural because it can slow labor and can introduce the need for other interventions (e.g., pitocin, forceps, vacuum). I also wasn't sure that I would like being numb. I can't say that I liked being numb (especially since it didn't wear off until about 7 p.m.), but the pain from my contractions was much worse than being numb for a few hours; )

When I had the epidural, I was dilated to a six. Within minutes of the epidural, I felt like a whole new person. I was able to have a conversation again, and I was not so scared anymore. Nick and I watched my contractions on the monitor. Nick made a sales call (Got to pay the bills!), and I even dozed off for a few minutes.

Around 11 or so (?), different nurses began to come in the room to prep for the birth. Nick and I kept looking at each other in disbelief because just hours before we thought we had a week and half until the baby would arrive. Cindy also told us that my doctor would be there soon, and we'd get going! We did a practice push, and then we waited for my doctor to arrive.

Once my doctor came, everything happened so fast! There were eight people in place: two nurses from the nursery, two extra nurses (I'm not sure what they were there to do!), my doctor, my doctor's back-up doctor, Cindy (my nurse), and Nick! As an extremely modest person, I remember thinking that I hoped my doctor was "blocking the view" - ha! Nick and I think that I had around eight rounds of pushing and pushed for 45 minutes to an hour, but I really have no idea! I couldn't feel anything - except a tiny bit of pressure - so pushing was much more difficult than I'd anticipated. I couldn't feel my contractions at all, so they (Nick, my doctor, and Cindy) would tell me when one was coming so that I could begin the next round of pushing. It didn't hurt at all, but since I was numb I was trying to follow their instructions without knowing if I was actually pushing correctly!

Nick was AWESOME! He was SO encouraging, and I felt reassured each time I opened my eyes to see him between rounds of pushing. He would place the oxygen mask on my face and assure me that I was making progress. He told me that the baby was right there and ready to come out, and he was right the third time he said this - ha! Near the end of the pushing, the doctor had me reach down to feel the baby's head, and then I knew just how close we were! With the last few pushes, I could tell he was coming, and I could feel a little bit of pressure as he popped out at 12:34 p.m.

After Delivery

The first few minutes after delivery were AMAZING! There are really no words to explain the rush of feelings and emotions - SO happy, relieved, excited, amazed, changed...

Since all seemed to be well with the baby, he was placed on my chest as soon as he was born. I have never experienced anything like that moment. I can't remember now if I laughed or cried - I think it may have been both! - but I know that I was in disbelief that the little guy we'd been waiting for, preparing for, and praying for was finally with us. Although he had not planned to do so, Nick cut the umbilical cord at the insistence of my doctor (and I think he is glad that he did!), and then he snapped a few photos...

A few minutes later, I handed the baby over to the nursery nurses, and they did their initial assessments. As seen in the photos, he had no trouble exercising his little lungs, and his Apgar score was a nine! He was weighed (7 pounds, 7 ounces) and measured (19 1/2 inches), and then Nick put on the baby's first diaper before holding him for the first time.

My doctor finished up with me (I needed a few stitches!) around 1 p.m.; coincidentally, my regularly scheduled appointment was supposed to be at 1 p.m. that day! Since the baby came quicker than anticipated, my doctor said it looked like her afternoon had been cleared, and she'd have an unexpected afternoon off! In my opinion, she deserved it; )

I can't seem to recall exactly what happened between 12:34 p.m. and 2:30ish, but I know it involved officially naming the baby and preparing for his first visitors. Nick and I came to the hospital with two names in mind: Landon and Hudson. A couple of weeks earlier, I told Nick that I thought Hudson was the front runner, and he agreed that he'd been thinking the same thing. We still decided to meet the baby before making the final decision, and we were happy to see that "Hudson" would fit him just right: ) Hudson's middle name is Robert because my dad's middle name is Robert. My dad's middle name comes from my Granddad and my Granddad's dad. Once the baby officially changed from "Baby Boy Adams" to "Hudson Robert Adams," he was ready for his first visitors!

Meeting the Family

I did cry when our family members came in to meet Hudson! Again, I feel like I can't find the words to do those moments justice. Hudson obviously changes my life and Nick's life, but he also changes the lives of everyone close to us. My sisters go from being my sisters to being my sisters and my child's aunties. My parents go from being my parents to being my parents and my child's grandparents. The family dynamics shift, and I think it will actually bring us all even closer as our family grows and changes. 2012 is an exciting year for the Wilkinson family!

Auntie Claire
(She may have shed a tear or two...)

Grandma ("Cookie"!?!) Terry

Grandpa Butch

Auntie Lisa via Skype!

(SOOO glad it worked out to introduce her to Hudson on his first day!

Can't wait for them to officially meet in March!)

Unfortunately, my dad and Nick's mom, didn't get to come to the hospital on the first day as we'd/they'd hoped: ( Dad had a horrible cough and a fever, and Judy was out of town for work. Luckily, they both were able to meet him on Thursday (pics coming soon!)!

Evening Visitors on Hudson's First Day

Paul, Anne, and Lucy came to see us!

(Lucy ran all around the room,

and sometimes she'd stop long enough to point at Hudson and say "Baby!" So cute!)

Tiffany, Brad, and Elsie came, too!

For months - literally - Elsie talked about getting to meet the baby.
When she and Tiffany came by to drop off some baby items to us the night my water broke, I had no idea I'd get to introduce Elsie to Hudson so soon: )

I could go on forever...

Amazingly, I remember so much about the day and the time in the hospital! I thought it would be more of a blur, but I really think I could outline the rest of the hospital stay if I had time. Since it has taken me almost four weeks to publish this post, I'm thinking I'll skip the rest of the hospital details - except for some pictures; )

Overall, we had a great experience at the hospital! The nurses were SO helpful (especially with breast feeding!), and I would actually say that I enjoyed my labor and delivery experience. I heard so many horror stories while I was pregnant, and my experience wasn't anything like those stories! I plan to share my story with pregnant friends because there was nothing too scary about it! The best part of all is the sweet little baby that makes it all worth it: )

The weeks before Hudson's birth were emotional ones! With my friend Jerod's accident, the passing of my aunt's mother, Mary, and the passing of one of Nick's closest friend's father, Bill, Hudson was a bright spot for many people. As Anne so beautifully outlined, "Hudson is a welcome reminder of all that is good in the world."

38 Weeks

2012-01-27T13:09:00.001-06:00

Weekly Survey

How far along?: 38 weeks

(You guessed it...same top, different day!

Please note the red necklace to go with the blue top - I mixed it up for the KU game!!)

Total weight gain/loss: + 38 pounds (I guess staying under 40 is my new goal!)

Sleep: This was my worst week yet because I've had some trouble going back to sleep once I wake up. On Friday, I woke up at 3:11, went the restroom, tried to sleep until 4, got up, ate some oatmeal, played on the computer, and then went to the gym at 5 for BodyPump. The other nights, I tried to just rest in bed and hope that it counted a little bit toward sleep. I hope I get in at least one more good night before he is here, but I'm not counting on it!

Best moment(s) this week: Washing baby clothes, blankets, burp cloths, etc.!! I really don't mind doing laundry, and I've come to find out that I LOVE washing baby stuff: ) Everything is SO soft and tiny - I can't believe he'll be so small!

Movement: Now that his movements have changed, I have to try not to freak myself out all of the time because I don't feel him as much as I used to. I guess that it isn't that I don't feel him as much as I used to...it is just that it feels a lot different. It is more like he is stretching and shifting - MUCH less of the punching, kicking, etc. If I start to worry, I can usually just stop moving for a while, and he'll let me know he's still in there; ) He is DEFINITELY out of room!

Symptoms: HUGE and becoming a little bit more uncomfortable!

Maternity clothes?: ALWAYS.

Food cravings: Cottage cheese!! I went through three containers this week - and the third had to be picked up in the middle of the week when I ran out of the first two!

Food aversions: Nope.

Healthy eating?: I did okay. I feel like I ate a ton of dairy this week - cottage cheese, Laughing Cow cheese, cheese sticks...

Exercise: I only made it to one BodyPump class, but I did get in all my cardio + I did cardio instead of Pump on one day. I have to sign up in advance for the BodyPump classes, and several of the ones I usually go to were already full! I went Friday morning (when I couldn't sleep), and I felt great all day!

Gender: B.O.Y.

Labor signs: Hmmm. Feeling a little achy...but I think that is more of an 8-and-a-half months pregnant sign. The baby feels heavy, so I'm still thinking that he has dropped.

Belly button in or out?: Flatish...and stretched out. Gross.

What I miss: Running! The weather has been AWESOME lately, and I'm definitely craving a 6-mile run! This winter has been SO mild, and I'm sure runners are taking advantage of it! Can't wait to hit the pavement with Natalie this spring!!! I need to start looking at races...

What I'm looking forward to: Alright...I'll say it...BABY!!! I'm can't wait to meet him and to see Nick be a daddy: )

Weekly wisdom: It is okay to wear the same outfit over and over again if that is what is comfortable; )

Milestones: Baby made his first trip to Allen Fieldhouse! I could feel him squirming throughout the game. Rock Chalk!

What I'm Smiling About This Week V. 24

- I had a nice chat with Mom, Grandpa, and Grandma on Sunday. It is always nice to visit for a few minutes!

- Natalie and I had time for a LONG walk on Sunday!

- I love the AMAZING weather!! Callie has been soaking up the sun; )

- All of our latest purchases have arrived, and I think we're all set for baby. I still need to finish the artwork for the nursery walls, but everything else is ready to go.

- I'm overwhelmed with everyone's support and kind words! Julia calls regularly to leave me encouraging words, and Krista sent a "you-can-do-it" card and left a long voicemail full of support. The girls on the listserv constantly ask for updates, and it feels good to know that so many people are excited for this little guy to arrive!

- I'm SO close to feeling comfortable about leaving work. I have the major parts of my job finished, and I just have a few odds and ends to take care of this week! Almost there...

Maternity Photos

2012-01-15T13:29:00.001-06:00

Last Sunday (37 weeks/1 day), Claire took some maternity pics for us! She did an awesome job, and we are SO thankful that she was willing to help us out! Here are a few of my favorites...

Hmmm. The video is fuzzy, so I guess I'll post a few as well...

37 Weeks

2012-01-07T21:08:00.000-06:00

Weekly Survey

How far along?: 37 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: + 36.5 pounds (My weight at the doctor's office was actually a little less than last week.)

Sleep: I have been pretty lucky until this point, but things seemed to have taken a bit of a turn. I've now had several nights where I think I only really slept three or four hours total! Boo. Miraculously, I'm still productive at the gym and at work...but I'm EXHAUSTED at the end of the day.

Best moment(s) this week: I ordered the last few things we think we need right away (e.g., waterproof pads, breast pump), and Nick's parents picked up the Pack N Play sheets for us! We also organized the nursery furniture! Sneak peek...

Movement: Feet to the ribs and lots of side-to-side wiggling!

Symptoms: HUGE, hard belly! I constantly get comments that my belly looks like a basketball!

Maternity clothes?: Duh. Lots of tights and dresses this week!

Food cravings: Crackers!

Food aversions: Nope.

Healthy eating?: I did okay. I feel like all I want to do at work is eat. Luckily, it is all healthy...I just eat all day long!

Exercise: I got in all my cardio and weight sessions - including two BodyPump classes! I hope the one on Friday wasn't my last class!!!

Gender: Baby boy!

Labor signs: My doctor did a new pelvic exam on Wednesday, and I was 1 cm dilated. I don't know if it really counts as a "labor sign," but she said it is a good place to start!

Belly button in or out?: Flat and stretched out!

What I miss: Hmmmm. I can't think of anything. I do miss having a clean kitchen table. Does that count!?! Ha. I keep piling paperwork, coupons, etc. on it, so it hasn't been cleared off in days: (

What I'm looking forward to: Finishing the baby's room and wrapping things up at work! SO close...

Weekly wisdom: Find a nursing top WAY before you need it - even if you don't buy it. I'm having a terrible time even finding any to try on! I've only found them at Target and Wal-Mart, and these stores don't have much of a selection. I ordered some bras/tanks online over the weekend, so hopefully something will work! (Anybody have a suggestion?)

Milestones: Nick installed the car seat! We have the installation inspection on Friday. One step closer to bringing the little guy home!

What I'm Smiling About This Week V. 23

- I had a great Monday! Natalie and I had time for a nice long walk, and I had a good visit with Mom, Grandpa, and Grandma at Brandon Woods.

- Nick's 31st birthday was on Tuesday. Butch and Judy took us to LongHorn Steakhouse - yummy! I had chicken, but I will DEFINITELY get a steak next time we're there!

N + L

(I look tired!)

J + B

- On Wednesday, I had El Mezcal and Orange Leaf with Emma, my former student and friend. It was great to hear about her life at KSU and to eat some delish food!

- I started washing baby clothes, and they smell so good: ) For the most part, I don't mind doing laundry - but I especially like doing baby laundry!

- Callie has been acting out here and there, but sometimes she is SO sweet. On Saturday night, Nick and I watched Columbiana, and Callie chewed on her bone at the end of our bed. She is only allowed on the bed when her special quilt is covering our bedspread. When she finished her bone, she scooted up to put her head on the baby.

- Jerod Nieder, my friend from high school, was in a bad accident - which does NOT make me smile! What does make me smile is the attitude he has about his recovery and the number of people he has rallying around him! We went to his benefit on Saturday, and there were hundreds of people there. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers! Love you, buddy!

36 Weeks

2012-01-02T08:37:00.001-06:00

Weekly Survey

How far along?: 36 weeks

(Feel free to make fun of my outfit.

I wear this top most of every weekend and to work every other week.)

Total weight gain/loss: + 36 pounds (over the target weight-gain range...at least I'll be close, right!?!)

Sleep: I'm waking up a lot, but I usually can go back to sleep without too much trouble. I did have some trouble a few nights ago: I was WIDE AWAKE from 2:30 until 4:30. I had some cereal, read for a while, tried to force my eyes shut...all without much luck. Luckily, I went to bed before 10 and didn't get out of bed until after 8 (it was a weekend!), so being awake for 2 hours in the middle of the night could have been much worse!

Best moment(s) this week: Spending time with family: ) Although Nick and I didn't take much time off, our families were in town for over a week. This gave us some time to visit in the evenings: )

Movement: Lots of feet to the ribs! He also shifts back-and-forth and side-to-side quite a bit. For several weeks the doctor has said that the baby is head down, so I really just feel him wiggling and pushing off of my insides - weird, I know.

Symptoms: HUGE, basketball-like belly - and frequent trips to the restroom!

Maternity clothes?: Duh. The weather has been uncharacteristically warm, so I've been wearing tights and dresses A LOT.

Food cravings: Based on my pile of recyclables...I'm still craving cottage cheese. I go through two containers/week and would definitely go through three if I bought that many!

Food aversions: Not really...

Healthy eating?: Better - but I definitely still took advantage of the holiday treats, family dinners, etc.

Exercise: Somehow I'm still exercising! I think I'm about done with BodyPump - because I'm having trouble leaning over to pick the bar up from the ground. HA! I look kind of ridiculous, but it really feels so good! Moving feels good, lifting feels good - sitting in one place all day does not! Even if I don't do BodyPump, I hope to continue to do something. I do hate that it is so cold/dark in the morning and dark before I get home from work. I'd much rather walk outside than on the treadmill!

Gender: Little dude!!

Labor signs: Nope.

Belly button in or out?: Flat and kind of stretched out...gross.

What I miss: Hmmm. I know I've probably said this before, but I miss being able to hang out with Nick past 10 p.m. It makes me sad how short our weekend time feels when I fal asleep shortly after we start hanging out!

What I'm looking forward to: Installing the bases for the car seat! We scheduled our car seat inspections, so now we just need to get them all strapped in.

Weekly wisdom: If I did everything over again, I would finish the nursery by 30 weeks. It is exhausting to work in there now - but it looks so cute! Updated pics coming soon...

Milestones: We had our preadmission appointment at the hospital! When it is time to go, we just head that way, and they'll be waiting for us. Being in the "Family Birthing Center" and meeting with a nurse/filling out paperwork (We even filled out paperwork for how we want our names to appear in the Lawrence Journal-World!) really made things feel real!

What I'm Smiling About This Week V. 22

- Everything! Ha! I'm really having trouble with specifics because time if kind of running together. I have been feeling really happy, so I guess that is good: )

- We had a busy Christmas day! We spent Christmas morning at Nick parents' house. We ate WAY TOO MUCH for breakfast, opened presents, and had a delicious meal (made by Nick and Jenny!). We took a mini-nap on the couch, and I snapped this sweet pic of Nick with his hand on my belly...

We went to my parents' house for the afternoon. We opened presents, had some appetizers, and talked with Grandmom and Granddad. We went back to Nick's parents' house for Christmas night. We ate TONS of snacks and play Apples to Apples. Ryan can read now, so games are even more fun!

- On Monday, we spent time with my family. Aunt Diane, Uncle Paul, and Hayley came in town from Wichita, so we all went to lunch at Freddy's. We played a game and visited at Grandpa's until Nick and I had to leave to get ready for the work week.

- Lisa and Mom came over on Wednesday. We made a no-sew crib skirt with this tutorial (pics coming soon!!) and talked about some of Lisa's wedding plans! So fun: )

- On Thursday, I went to Mom and Dad's for family dinner. Nick didn't come with me because they had family dinner at their house, too! We had spaghetti - YUM - and chocolate sundaes: )

- On Friday, I went to Mom and Dad's for lunch. Mom made some terrific grilled cheese sandwiches to go with our tomato soup; ) I visited for an hour or so (and wanted to take a nap!), and then it was time to say goodbye to Lisa: ( I cried - as usual - as we said our goodbyes, and she reassured me that I will "do great" when it is time to have this baby! (Miss you, Sis! Can't wait to see you in March when I won't have to work!!!)

- On Saturday, I had lunch with a friend I hadn't seen in a while. It was great to catch up! Then, I finished returning all of the duplicates from the baby showers and used some coupons at Penney's, Kohl's, and Target. I still need to make a list of what we're missing for the baby, but it feels so good to be done with returns! After errands, Nick and I went to his parents' house for New Year's Eve. We got rowdy (a.k.a. fell asleep on the couch!) around 9:30. I didn't see the ball drop, and I didn't get a kiss at midnight; ( I did find out that my grandpa rang in the new year at a party that didn't start until 9...and he stayed until after 1 a.m.!! Grandpa = rock star!

35 Weeks

2011-12-25T16:17:00.000-06:00

Weekly Survey

How far along?: 35 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: + 34 pounds (one more pound until I hit the high end of recommended weight gain - yikes!)

Sleep: Not enough - but only because it has been so busy this week!

Best moment(s) this week: Seeing the baby on Monday: ) The ultrasound pics aren't very good - especially on here because I took pictures of the pictures - but we could see him really well during the exam. The technician estimated that he was 5 pounds, 2 ounces. She looked at the placenta first, and it has moved up (which is good! That is why we had one more ultrasound!). She showed us many different angles and parts which was reassuring! We could see his profile and little lips, and we could see him swallowing. We saw his four-chamber heart, his two kidneys, his little feet and hands, his spine (which is now too big to be seen in one shot!), his brain, and...his hair! Yep, that's right, he has hair! It looks like he may have a mullet because he has long hair in the back and not much on top - ha!

This is supposed to be his profile,

but you can't really tell: (

Movement: I can feel his feet up against the right side of my ribs most of the day. He seems to stretch and move a little bit, but I'm pretty sure he ran out of room to do the crazy twists and turns I once felt! I also feel him hiccup every other day or so, and my sisters have both felt that, too!

Symptoms: HUGE and tired!

Maternity clothes?: A MUST. The drying rack is always filled with maternity clothes as I move them through the rotation. Thank goodness for scarves and other accessories!

Stretch marks?: I don't think so.

Food cravings: Nope.

Food aversions: Nope.

Healthy eating?: Nope: ( As I anticipated, this was a rough week. I ate WAY too much and had WAY too many sweets. I'm a little scared to step on the scale later in the week when it all catches up to me!

Exercise: I was about 20 minutes short of my usual work outs - not bad for a holiday week. I got in both BodyPump sessions, so that was good. I can pretty much only walk for cardio now (because I HATE the way my belly sits on my legs when I ride the bike - ha!), so that is getting a little old. I didn't really run this week. I probably could have, but I did a couple of prenatal DVDs for a change of pace.

Gender: Still a boy: )

I can't tell you what any of it means, but supposedly this pic proves it!

Labor signs: No - but I'm getting nervous. People have started asking me less about what the baby's name will be and more about whether or not I've had any contractions.

Belly button in or out?: Flat or out!

What I miss: Being able to sit comfortably for long periods of time! I'm not much of a sitter anyway, but I'm finding it increasingly more difficult to sit in one place. I end up hunching over, and I think it squishes the baby!

What I'm looking forward to: Finishing up our to-do lists!

Weekly wisdom: The holidays make pregnancy FLY by! I can't believe we have about a month to go!!!

Milestones: I'm now far enough along that I can deliver at Lawrence Memorial Hospital. If babies in Lawrence want to come too early, the mom is sent to a hospital with a NICU. As long as things go well, we'll be at LMH.

What I'm Smiling About This Week V. 21

- I had dinner with Mom and the sisters on Tuesday, and then we sorted baby clothes at my house. It was fun to visit and to show them all of his cute stuff: )

- I took the day off on Friday to hang out with Mom and the sisters! We went ALL OVER Kansas City. We spent some time on the Plaza and then we went to the One Nineteen shopping center. It was a little chilly, but we had a good time: )

Mom and Me

The Sisters

Ha!

Worn out!

- Nick and I spent Christmas Eve at my parents' house. We had some yummy lasagna, homemade caesar salad, eggplant parmesan, bread, and pumpkin pie - YUMMY!

L and L

Mom and Grandpa looking up his favorite book from childhood -
Peter and Anneli's Journey to the Moon

Parents-to-be!

- I wanted to give Dad his gift from Baby A on Christmas Eve, and Dad said he had a gift for Baby A, too. He went to get it...and the package looked similar to the package I had for him. We opened them up, and they were the same - copies of Mr. Pine's Mixed-Up Signs! A few weeks ago, Dad told me about his favorite book (this one!), and apparently we had the same thought. I wanted to surprise him so that he'd have a copy at his house to read to the baby. Well...he wanted the baby to have his own copy! Now there will be a copy at each house - perfect! - and a great story: ) Thanks, Dad!

34 Weeks

2011-12-18T08:44:00.003-06:00

Weekly Survey

How far along?: 34 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: + 33 pounds

Sleep: I'm sleeping pretty well! I wake up a lot to go to the restroom, but I'm still falling asleep without too much trouble. I think I've been pretty lucky in the sleep department!

Best moment(s) this week: We had a doctor's appointment on Wednesday. The doctor said I'm measuring just right and that the baby's heartbeat sounds good, too! Also, Lisa is home for the holidays - woooooo woooooo!

Movement: Yes! The movement now is almost jarring - no more little kicks and wiggles! The movements I feel are more like he is squished in there without much room to move around. Sometimes there will be a hard spot where I think there must be a little hand or foot. When I press on it a little bit, the hand/foot moves away! He also moves a lot when I slouch. I think I'm squishing him, and he's trying to let me know!!!

Symptoms: I.AM.HUGE. I feel like my belly is multiplying in size. I'm still pretty comfortable, but I'm finding it harder and harder to do normal things like get off the couch, get out of bed, reach the bottom shelf of the fridge, etc. I guess I just can't bend at the waist (what waist!?!) anymore. It is kind of a amazing to be WAY over the most I have ever weighed...and know that I could grow for another 6+ weeks with baby growing 1/2 a pound or so a week!?! Mix in the holidays, and HUGE may have a new definition!

Maternity clothes?: Normal clothes are not really an option! As you can see in my photo from this week, I have been rocking my Old Navy top a lot! Nick told me he really likes the color on me, so that makes me feel good at least: )

Stretch marks?: Not that I can see - ha! I wouldn't be surprised if there are some on my belly already or if I get some on my sides in the next few weeks!

Food cravings: Not really...

Food aversions: Not at all...

Healthy eating?: Healthy eating is definitely getting harder and harder with the holidays! It seems like there are more and more treats at work, and I have a hard time resisting! Before I getting pregnant, I could easily skip the treats, but I think my willpower is lower now because I already weigh so much. That's bad, isn't it!?! This week will be rough as well: Monday - work holiday party, Tuesday - lunch meeting (I might bring my own food!), Thursday - reading team lunch at Free State; Lisa's wedding shower for dinner; Saturday - Christmas Eve; Sunday - Christmas!! I'll have to make sure I pack a lot of healthy snacks to much on throughout the day and try to make good choices at all the gatherings!

Exercise: I got in all of my normal workouts, and I'm still feeling good! This week I had many comments from people at the gym. People have been so supportive, and it has been so motivating to have people tell me that I inspire them or that I look like I must be feeling well: )

Gender: BOY - I hope he is still a boy because we sure do have a lot of "boy" clothes and toys these days!

Labor signs: No: )

Belly button in or out?: Flat and stretched - SO weird.

What I miss: Having energy! I do feel pretty well, but I'm EXHAUSTED at night again. I'm hoping the baby will wait at least a couple of weeks after Christmas before making his appearance so that I have some time to get some non-holiday-related things done after the work day!

What I'm looking forward to: We have an ultrasound on Monday morning!! I hope the little guy is doing okay in there!!

Weekly wisdom: Exercise! I'm confident that exercising during my pregnancy has helped me feel so good. I'm worried about these busy days around the holidays because I know that sleep is more important than making sure I get all of my workouts in. We'll see...

Milestones: I think I have felt him hiccuping a few times this week! I've always heard that pregnant women can feel their babies hicupping, but I didn't know what to expect. Such a weird feeling!

What I'm Smiling About This Week V. 20

- Natalie and I got in 2 runs this week! We met Sunday and Thursday for an hour on the treadmill. I still ran a little bit both days, but I'm only running at 5.8 for a few minutes at a time. I spend most of the time walking at 3.8. SO good to chat with a good friend: )

- After missing my visit to Brandon Woods last week, I was happy to make it this week! Mom joined me, and we had a nice visit with G and G!

- I'm managing to keep my head above water - barely - at work. I'm trying to make progress without stressing out too much. I'm determined to get some big tasks done before the end of the year and to have my maternity plans in much better shape. They have been done for months, but they lack specificity. Since I'm getting closer to my due date, I think I need to be a little more specific!

- Krista had a scary day at work - involving a fireball a few feet away from her - and I'm VERY thankful that she is okay!!! "Ozzy" needs his Auntie Krista!

- Nick = amazing; )

- We are stocking the fridge with some frozen entrees again. We have taco chicken chili, pizza casserole, pulled pork, and pot roast right now. They're not the healthiest meals ever, but it is nice to have some delicious meals ready to go!

- I finished the thank you notes for one of my showers!

32 and 33 Weeks

2011-12-08T18:58:00.001-06:00

Weekly Survey

How far along?: 33 weeks - but this post will talk about weeks 32 and 33 because I'm so far behind!

32 weeks, 1 day - Sunday 12/4

33 Weeks - Saturday 12/10

Total weight gain/loss: + 31 pounds

Sleep: I've actually been sleeping pretty well! I'm trying to drink more water during the day and less right before bed. I think it is working pretty well so far. I did have some weird dreams - including one where I was babysitting John and Kate's eight kids! Let's just say it was more of a nightmare than a dream; )

Best moment(s) this week (and last week): I have several...1) Nick has been able to feel the baby move A LOT! Now that the baby seems to move on more of a regular schedule, it is easier for Nick to feel him. 2) Nick finished the touchups in the nursery! Getting closer... 3) We got a new car!

Movement: I'm pretty sure I'm to the point in my pregnancy where I can tell that little feet are pushing on me! I laugh at night when he seems to move around to find a comfortable spot, and I laugh during the day when my belly shifts from left to right while I'm at work. If I were to imagine what it feels like to have a baby inside, the feelings I have now are EXACTLY what I would imagine!

Symptoms: My tummy (a.k.a. uterus!) is growing higher and higher! I have trouble breathing when I leave over, and I frequently lift my belly up or push my belly down if the baby is in a strange position.

Maternity clothes?: All the time - except for at the gym! I look pretty HUGE at the gym. I try to make myself feel better by reminding myself that I am at the gym, so that is good: ) I only have one pair of capris that really fit, so I wear them when I lift weights. The rest of the time I just look silly in shorts and Nick's big t-shirts!

Stretch marks?: Nope.

Food cravings: Hmmm. Not really!

Food aversions: Apples: ( I wouldn't say it is truly an aversion to apples, but I keep buying them and not eating them because they never sound good. Nick just received a holiday fruit basket from work. The apples look pretty good, so I may make some pumpkin pie dip and eat some of them!

Healthy eating?: Yes! I was WAY TOO BUSY to track my food this week, but I did track it last week. I do think that keeping busy at work keeps me from snacking too much!

Exercise: I'm still sticking with it! My original plan was to try to exercise until at least 34 weeks, and it looks like I should have no problem doing that as long as things continue as they have been. I really feel so much better on the days that I do exercise, and I'm convinced that I don't have a lot of the usual aches and pains of pregnancy because I've continued to move, lift, and run. This week I lowered my back and shoulder weights a little bit at BodyPump, but I've been able to continue everything else at my normal weight so far. If I'm still at it at 36 weeks, I'll probably drop down on some of the other weights as well.

Gender: Dude!

Labor Signs: Nope.

Belly Button in or out?: I don't even want to talk about it anymore...

What I miss: Staying up late on the weekend! The last few years I haven't been much of a party animal, but Nick and I used to watch movies or play video games past midnight on the weekends. Now I fight to keep my eyes open past 10, so I don't feel like we have as much time to hang out: ( Nick is AWESOME, though. He'll watch a movie with me in bed, and then after I fall asleep he'll hang out with Callie and play video games by himself for a while before going to sleep himself!

What I'm looking forward to: We go to the doctor on Wednesday, and we will set up our ultrasound. It will be WILD to see the little guy again! We haven't seen him since 17 weeks, 6 days!

Weekly Wisdom: Go to baby class! We've really enjoyed our classes at the hospital - Nick even said that he enjoys learning at them! We both think they're a little too long (2.5 hours/night!), but I'm not sure there is much of a way around that. We took: Baby Care, Newborn Safety, Childbirth, and Breastfeeding (just me!).

Milestones: We *might* have some baby names picked out! We're not sharing them, so don't get your hopes up; ) I think we'll probably go the hospital with 2 or 3 names in mind, and then we'll pick one once we meet him!

What I'm Smiling About This Week (and Last Week!) V. 19

- We got a new car! I'll feel much better about it all once we officially have all the paperwork (e.g., registration, etc.) done, but it seems like it has all worked out okay. We were hoping to get a new car in the spring, but the accident in October forced us to get a new car now. We received a nice check from the other person's insurance, and were able to get a 2010 Nissan Altima. She looks like this...

Now I just need to have Nick install the car seat; )...

and I need to give her a name!

- Cleaning out Nancy the Nissan was quite sentimental for me! It was like taking a trip through the last 10 years of my life! I found: an ET figurine that Mom sent to me my freshman year of college as a reminder to "phone home," CDs from my college friends, parking permits for Meramec Springs, a very nice sticky-note note from Jane, a mini-copy of the Chi Omega Symphony, my LFS faculty parking pass, miscellaneous St. Pat's flair, a manatee figurine from the summer after high school, a piece of paper with Krista's mailing address on it so I'd always have it handy, driving directions to Sarah and Steve's so that I wouldn't get lost...again, one of my H20 Project wristbands... I also found a few random clothespins, pens, playing cards, and bobby pins, but it was interesting to me that so much of what was in the car made me smile: ) Nancy and I really have been through a lot together! RIP, Nance!

- We've made so more progress around the house, and I'm starting to feel a little more ready for Baby to get here! I have a TON of paperwork to go through - especially since I'm a receipt hoarder - but I think I can tackle it over the next few weeks.

- I'm making progress at work! I should be able to finish a couple of the MAJOR tasks that I need to complete before our big deadline (and my maternity leave!), and I think I will feel so relieved when I can cross those tasks off my list!

- I found out that one of my college friends is pregnant! YAY! YAY! YAY!

- Cute Callie: )

- Krista and I had a Skype date, and it was glorious...and greasy: )

31 Weeks

2011-11-25T17:08:00.001-06:00

Weekly Survey

How far along?: 31 weeks

(31 weeks, 2 days - We forgot to take a pic on Saturday!)

Total weight gain/loss: + 29 pounds

Sleep: More dreams...

Best moment(s) this week: It was a good week - work baby shower, Thanksgiving with our families, LAZY Friday morning with Nick, Adams family baby shower, and high-school reunion!

Movement: Yes! I think he has his days and nights mixed up. I feel him throughout the night, and those movements are the strongest ones!

Symptoms: I'm slowing down these days! I feel like it takes me forever to do anything: ( Ha! Sometimes Nick will do something for me simply because he can do it much faster!

Maternity clothes?: Duh. I've been wearing Nick's t-shirts a lot, and I stole some of his sweatshirts this week, too! I'm not sure how women are pregnant in the summer - I can't imagine! I did make one final (I hope!) order of maternity clothes from Old Navy with a gift card I had from last Christmas...

Stretch marks?: Nope.

Food cravings: Nope.

Food aversions: Nope.

Healthy eating?: As long as you don't count Thanksgiving, I had a pretty good week! I need to force myself to drink some more water, but I think I'm starting to slow down on the constant need to eat! Sometimes nothing really sounds good - or at least worth the effort of making!

Exercise: Treadmill run/walk with Natalie (I ran 30 out of 67 minutes!), Body Pump + 30 minutes of cardio on Monday and Wednesday, 20-minute bike ride + 40-minute walk on Tuesday, Thursday OFF, 50-minute walk with Callie on Friday, and Saturday OFF - just about right: )

Gender: Little guy!

Labor signs: No - and hoping there won't be any for at least 6 more weeks!

Belly button in or out?: Flat or out!

What I miss: Hmmm. Fitting in tights! Ha! I couldn't find any maternity tights, so I bought tights in a size larger than what I normally wear. I wouldn't recommend it!

What I'm looking forward to: Organizing the baby's room!!

Weekly Wisdom: Don't try to wear non-maternity tights - ha: )

Milestones: We ordered the car seat, (Nick) set up the crib, and (Nick again!) finished the dresser!!! Judy graciously offered to use her credit-card rewards points to order the car seat, so we went with this Graco car seat:

Thanks, Judy!

We still aren't sure where everything will go, but it is starting to come together!

Even Callie likes it: )

What I'm Smiling About This Week V. 18

- This was actually the VERY end of last week, but I forgot to blog about it! Jackie, my friend from high school, offered to let me go through her baby-boy clothes before she donated them. She was SO generous and gave our little guy so much cute stuff! I will take a few pics of my favorites soon!

- It was AWESOME to catch up with Natalie during our run/walk! We've both been swamped lately, and I always feel better after chatting with her: )

- My work shower was AMAZING!! I was totally overwhelmed by how many people came and by their generosity! I'm lucky to work with such caring people. I wish we had more time to get to know each other and visit; unfortunately, we're usually too busy working! I'll take some pics of those things soon, too!

The shower was also for my coworker, Kristen. She was due Decemeber 9,

but her little guy, Gram, came four weeks early!

- Nick and I are SO lucky to have families that get along!!! We went to Nick's parents' house for Thanksgiving, and my parents, Claire, and Grandpa came as well. Some family friends, Jim and Diana, were there, too. We had great food and great company! SO SO SO good to spend time with people I love! I guess I didn't take any pictures: ( Hopefully someone will share some with me soon - hint, hint; ) I did steal the amazing pic below from Claire's Facebook page. RIP, Cheeseball Turkey...

- Nick and I had a VERY lazy Friday morning. We NEVER do that, so it was good to do NOTHING for a few hours. I woke up before Nick, so I read for a while. After he woke up, we let Callie come up to join us. When Nick was in the bathroom, Callie cuddled up next to me and put her head on Dwight with me: ) Nick reclaimed his spot, and we watched some TV. We had another busy week, so we were behind on our weekly shows!

- Nick has been spending more time on the floor so that Callie will be used to having people at her level. She is doing a great job for the most part, and she likes to get hugs from Nick: )

- On Saturday, Jenny (Nick's sister) and Tara (Nick's cousin) hosted a family shower for Baby Adams in Parsons, KS. Mom, Claire, and I drove down early Saturday morning, and we had a great time! Nick's family is HUGE, and it was fun to introduce my family to some of the women in his family! We ate a delicious lunch, played some fun - and not too cheesy! - games, devoured some AMAZING cake/cupcakes, and ended the shower with a gift-unwrapping marathon! We're so blessed to be a part of this family - and I'm glad that Baby Adams will be a part of it, too: ) I'm hoping some people will send me some more shower pics, too; )

- I almost didn't go to my high-school reunion after the shower in Parsons, but I'm really glad that I did! I was only there for about three hours, but it was good to catch up with old friends and with some people that I hadn't see...well...since high school! Once again, I didn't take many pics, but I did take this one...

***

(I'm sorry that I'm falling behind: ( I actually wrote a lot of this post on Thanksgiving, but it has taken me a week and half to finish it! I promise to post "32 weeks" - which I hit yesterday - soon!)

RAWR!!

2011-11-23T22:04:00.001-06:00

I must say that I'm kinda proud of myself right now. I plan to spend Thanksgiving relaxing...and trying some DIY projects to cut expenses in the nursery. I LOVE this $18 print...

...so I made my own version in Photoshop: )

I might tweak the font a little bit more, but I definitely should be able to make this myself and save a few bucks! I imagine the printing price will only be a dollar or two: )

30 Weeks

2011-11-19T19:48:00.001-06:00

Weekly Survey

How far along?: 30 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: + 27.5 pounds

Sleep: I slept okay this week. I'm starting to dream a lot again, but the dreams haven't been too scary!

Best moment(s) this week: Making more progress on the nursery! Nick painted the back of the shelves and sanded the dresser. The shelves should be done tomorrow, and the dresser will be done in a couple of weeks. He is going to touch up the wall paint soon and wash the carpet! It will be ready in no time: )

Closet curtains with the chair...

Priming/sanding/hole filling/painting has started...

Movement: Yes! Mom even got to feel him this week: )

Symptoms: HUGE belly!!

Maternity clothes?: This week I wore the same pair of maternity jeans three days in a row - ha! We were busy Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights, so I just didn't have the time or energy to get other clothes ready! I have a few things I haven't worn yet - maybe I'll try them next week!

Stretch marks?: Not that I can see...

Food cravings: Nope.

Food aversions: Nope.

Healthy eating?: I did pretty well this week. I'm starting to feel really full if I eat too much too fast. I need to learn to slow down a little bit because otherwise I'm sad when I finish my food and am too full to eat more - ha: )

Exercise: I wasn't able to lift twice this week, but I did get most of my cardio in. I had to rearrange my schedule a little bit because I worked out of town on Monday (one of my lifting days) and, since I wasn't sleeping as well, I didn't work out in the morning on Friday like I normally do. I went to work early instead and took Callie for a long walk in the afternoon. I didn't do much running this week either...maybe next week.

Gender: Boy: )

Labor Signs: No!

Belly Button in or out?: Outish - ha! It kind of hurts: (

What I miss: My innie; )

What I'm looking forward to: Putting the crib together next week!!

Weekly Wisdom: Completing nursery/house projects make me feel good!!

Milestones: I had my glucose test and hemoglobin test at the doctor this week...and now we start going to the doctor every two weeks! Crazy! I can't believe how fast time is flying by! Baby's heartbeat was in the 140s; ) We get to see him at our ultrasound in 3-5 weeks! Yay!

What I'm Smiling About This Week V. 17

- After registering at Blue Dandelion with Mom, I had dinner at Rudy's with Mom, Claire, and Aaron. It was nice to hang out with them - even though we scared Aaron by talking about babies!

- As I have mentioned several times, Nick is AWESOME!!! He has a break from school right now and has been SO helpful. He hasn't complained at all, and he is getting so much done! He knows how worried I was about getting things ready, and he is really working hard! Love him!

- Auntie Krista sent "Ozzy" a Pack N' Play. We set it up in our bedroom, and it will be the bassinet for a while. It is SO cute: )

- We survived our second birth class (and our first birth video!) and our newborn safety class. It was a lot to take in (and a lot of time not to be home relaxing!) for one week, but I feel a little more prepared; )

- We fInally got together with Nick's parents. Butch helped Nick paint a few weeks ago, but it had literally been weeks and weeks since I had seen Judy: ( We have all been so busy lately, so it was good to catch up!

- Grandpa went to Wichita with Mom and Dad on Saturday, so I spent some time with Grandma on Saturday afternoon. While I missed Grandpa, it is also nice to spend some time with Grandma sometimes.

- LIsa will be home in less than a month! WOO HOO!

- I caught up with Julia and Sarah on the phone: )

- Work is busy, but I'm banking some comp time while working a few extra hours! It will hopefully help cushion my maternity leave. I'm trying to only work a few extra hours per week so that I'm not 8.5 months pregnant and working CRAZY hours to meet our deadlines!

29 Weeks

2011-11-11T20:54:00.001-06:00

Weekly Survey

How far along?: 29 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: + 27 pounds

Sleep: I think the dreams are starting to come back: (

Best moment(s) this week: Making progress on the nursery!!!

Movement: Yes! My belly visibly moves off and on all day! I feel him the most when I'm on my side at night - and the rolling and wiggling sometimes makes me laugh: )

Symptoms: Big belly!

Maternity clothes?: A must! I even started borrowing Nick's t-shirts when I wear comfy clothes because my mediums just aren't long enough any more!

Stretch marks?: Any day now...

Food cravings: I don't think so.

Food aversions: Absolutely not!

Healthy eating?: Yes! I had a pretty good week. I'm pretty uncomfortable if I eat too much, so I'm trying to eat slower and to drink more water throughout the day.

Exercise: I had a REALLY good week! I lifted and ran throughout the week. On several of the days, I was on the treadmill for an hour - 10 minutes of walking, 10 minutes of "jogging", repeat. I wonder how much longer I can keep it up!!

Gender: sweet baby boy

Labor Signs: No!!

Belly Button in or out?: About the same as last week!

What I miss: Being able to roll over in bed without thinking about whether or not it is worth the effort - ha!

What I'm looking forward to: Painting furniture, putting together the crib, picking art/frames for the walls...

Weekly Wisdom: Baby class is worth the time and energy! We had our first birth class this week. We didn't really learn anything I didn't already know, but it does make me feel better to have a nurse tell us what to expect. Reading is comforting, but hearing someone talk is so much better. I think we'll be glad we went to the class!

Milestones: 1) First birth class!! 2) Closet curtains = D.O.N.E.!!

Ta da! SO cute! Thanks, Mom!

What I'm Smiling About This Week V. 16

- I keep forgetting to write about this!! I started volunteering at bingo at Brandon Woods, and I love it: ) I'm on a break right now because it is the same night as baby class, but I can't wait to go back - I love my oldies!

- Uncle Paul was in town on Sunday, so we had brunch at Brandon Woods. Claire, Aaron, Daddy, Mom, and Grandpa went, too. The food was delicious, and it was good to catch up with everyone. I also went to see Grandma with Paul, Mom, and Grandpa in the afternoon.

- I'm making progress at work! 11/1 was my one-year work anniversary! I am working on a project this year that is similar the project I worked on when I began last year. The reading team was SO FAR BEHIND (maybe 20% done...if that!) when I started, and right now we are about 70% done. I'm a little stressed, but I feel much better about where we are in comparison to last year!

- Callie continued to be cute and to love her pillow...until she ate him on Saturday. R.I.P. Pillow.

On top!

On the side!

Nick sent this to me when I was having a bad day!

I may have teared up a little...

- I finally wrote thank you notes and mailed wedding gift cards! I LOVE writing cards and notes, but it is such a process for me to actually mail something. I seem to work better once I have a bunch to write at once!

28 Weeks

2011-11-08T12:07:00.000-06:00

Weekly Survey

How far along?: 28 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: + 26 pounds

Sleep: I had a pretty good week! I fell asleep quickly, even though I woke up 3 or 4 times each night.

Best moment(s) this week: 1) Nick felt the baby REALLY moving around!! 2) Nick surprised me by painting the baby's room on Friday afternoon before I got home!! 3) Saturday night date night with Nick was SUPER fun!!

Movement: Yes! Baby continues to roll around. He becomes active in the evenings and stays that way throughout the night!

Symptoms: It is much eaiser for me to do many things I if sit down first: reach something on the floor, put on my shoes, blow dry my hair...

Maternity clothes?: Definitely maternity pants! I can't imagine even fitting in my regular jeans again: ( I sure hope I do, but they are SO far from fitting right now! Now that it is cooler, I've been wearing my maternity tees with different sweaters and scarfs. Everybody at work liked this outfit:

Stretch marks?: Not yet!

Food cravings: Hmmm. I guess I would say carbs - mainly crackers and pretzels.

Food aversions: Nope.

Healthy eating?: I did much better this week! I tracked everything I ate during the work week, and I did not eat as many snacks...unless you count Halloween candy as a snack; ) I did eat a lot of Halloween candy, but I think it is all gone now: )

Exercise: I got in all of my regular weights and cardio sessions, but I did not jog much this week. I spent a lot of time walking, but jogging wasn't really working out for me for some reason: (

Gender: Boy - and he goes by: Baby, Ozzy, Cliff, and Bullseye: ) He doesn't have a real name yet: (

Labor Signs: Nope.

Belly Button in or out?: It depends on how I'm sitting or standing, but I think the top part is "out" most of the time. Ha.

What I miss: I would love to go on a long run with Callie in the fall weather...but a long walk isn't so bad either: )

What I'm looking forward to: This weekend I hope to FINALLY make a decision about what stroller and carseat we want for Baby. I'm also looking forward to some more projects with Mom and Dad. We're hoping to get started on some of the nursery details - yay: ) Pics to come...

Weekly Wisdom: I should not have cut my hair off this fall. I thought it would be easier/faster...but it is not. I like it short, but it is much more time consuming in the long run. Since it is taking me longer and longer to get ready, I've been blow drying my hair and putting it straight into a little bun. I don't really like how it looks, but I'd rather do that than get up earlier, make my workout shorter, or get to work later (and have to stay later!).

Milestones: Nick and I went to our first baby class at the hospital! This one was called Baby Care Workshop, so hopefully we are a little more comfortable with some of the things we'll need to do for the baby! Nick even changed our baby doll's diaper and successfully swalded him: )

What I'm Smiling About This Week V. 15

- One of our favorite shows, Bones, is back on this week! YAY! We now have shows to watch Sunday-Thursday: Dexter, Homeland, How I Met Your Mother, Unforgettable, Modern Family, Person of Interest, and Bones. That seems like a lot, but it is only 6 hours worth; )

- I'm getting closer and closer to having our registry done and our list of "must-haves" finalized! BuyBuyBaby and Babies R Us will send us 10% off completion coupon so that we can finish up our shopping!

- Callie continued to adore her pillow: )

- This cute book from Blue Dandelion definitely made me smile: )

...but I wasn't a fan of this one!

- Nick is AMAZING!! He has been working so hard! The painting is SO close to being done (only touch-ups remain!), and the baby's room looks great! He has also been working on homework for several hours/night...AND still helping me cook and clean! He is AWESOME!!

- Nick and I had a great Saturday! I took Callie for a walk, and then Nick and I spent the rest of the day together! We went to Lucy's 1st birthday party at Paul and Anne's, and it was so much fun! We watched the KU football game, and we celebrated the birth of little miss Lucy. I can't believe it has been a year!

We gave her this book and a KU hair bow: )

After the game/party, Nick and I went to BuyBuyBaby in Kansas City. We registered for some more baby items, but we were a little unprepared and still didn't pick out a stroller and carseat. Ug. After that, we went to Cactus Grill (YUM!!!) for dinner. It was nice to have our weekly Mexican food - especially at a restaurant we don't normally get to go to. Last but not least, we went to Stanford and Sons for a comedy show. We saw Bobcat Goldthwait and had a blast! I like comedy shows because I like listening to Nick laugh: )

- 12 weeks to go...

27 Weeks

2011-10-30T10:48:00.002-05:00

Weekly Survey

How far along?: 27 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: + 24 pounds (I'm hoping to end up + 35, but I have a feeling I may go over that a little bit!)

Sleep: I did have a few nightmares this week, but I slept okay overall! I'm waking up a lot for potty breaks, but I'm still falling back to sleep without too much trouble.

Best moment(s) this week: Feeling baby thump during meetings at work; )

Movement: I'm still feeling the same kinds of movement as I was last week. I feel like at this point I can usually feel him if I stop what I'm doing and pay attention for a while. He always seems to be awake when I'm up in the middle of the night!

Symptoms: Ever since a marathon meeting a couple of weeks ago, my tailbone has been hurting off and on. It is more of an annoyance than crazy pain, so that is good. I guess you could say that I have a hard time finding a comfortable position - even when I'm at home!

Maternity clothes?: Um...yes. My regular dress pants are SOOOOO far from buttoning! It is a little scary.

Stretch marks?: Nope.

Food cravings: I think I'm craving carbs - or really anything that makes me feel full.

Food aversions: Nope.

Healthy eating?: I had a bad week: ( I didn't track my food well at all...and I gained more weekly weight than I have been. I also ate a lot of chocolate - SO hard to stay away from chocolate when Halloween is so close! My main problem with chocolate is that I can't just have one piece! Nick and I also had a week of college meals - pizza, mac & cheese/hotdogs, tacos, ramen & ham... - you get the picture! I did incorporate some fruits and veggies, but I'm hoping next week will be better!

Exercise: Yes!! I did have a great week of workouts!! I did all of my usual workouts - and ran a 5K with Natalie!! We were a little bit slower that usual (duh!), but we averaged about 9:30 minutes/mile. We jogged the whole thing - which is kind of amazing because this is a HILLY course, and we've been walking hills for a couple of months now! (Thanks for "jogging" with me, Natalie!)

The first pic makes it hard to tell that I'm pregnant - but it is pretty obvious in the second one! Ha!

Gender: Boy: )

Labor Signs: Nope.

Belly Button in or out?: It is still half out...

What I miss: I miss a hot cup of coffee on a cold morning...but I bought some hot chocolate to keep at work, so I'm not missing it too much: )

What I'm looking forward to: A date with Nick next weekend! We've been SO SO SO busy working on the house, preparing for/having the garage sale, registering, finding a daycare, trying to budget, figuring out health insurance, etc. that we haven't just hung out in quite some time! Can't wait!

Weekly Wisdom: Asking other people for advice about "must-have" items seems to be making me feel a little better about not having any idea what we MUST have.

Milestones: The second trimester is OVER!

What I'm Smiling About This Week V. 14

- I had an AWESOME Sunday!! I talked with Lisa on Skype for over an hour - finally - and it was SO good to catch up! Then, I had lunch with Malinda, Jane, Erin, and Brooks at Free State Brewery. It had been WAY TOO LONG since I'd seen/spoken with Malinda, so it was especially good to see her! Brooks, Erin's 6-month-old little guy, was so good, and it was fun to have him around! Can't wait to see them all again at Thanksgiving!

- I also spent some time on Sunday working on my maternity plans. They aren't finished, but I'm so much closer! I feel a little bit more relaxed about having things ready...at least for now: )

- Callie continued to be cute this week, and she continued to love her pillow. She even took it with her to sunbathe...

- The mornings - with my hot chocolate in hand - have been beautiful! I went to work at 7 a.m. on Friday so that I could leave early, and I remembered why I love being a morning person. It was dark when I arrived, but soon I could see the fog through the trees from my office window. A few minutes later, the sun crept over campus. SO pretty!!

- Nick and Butch made progress on painting the house!! The downstairs is almost done, and I love the color! This picture isn't very good, but you can now see that the ceiling and the wall are different colors. It makes the white doors and trim pop, and the walls seem fresh for the first time! I'm pretty sure nothing had been painted since it was built ten years ago! (Thanks, Nick and Butch!! You guys are awesome!!)

- They are hoping to paint the baby's room today! After trying three different colors, we were able to decide on a gray we like!

Too light and too dark!

Perfect!

- While the wreck Mom and I got in yesterday did NOT make me smile, the fact that we're okay does make me smile. We were rear-ended in Topeka on our way to register at Babies R Us. I'm trying not to worry too much about the car just yet, but I know figuring out what to do about it over the next few weeks isn't going to be very fun: ( Poor Nancy the Nissan...

26 Weeks

2011-10-27T19:55:00.002-05:00

Weekly Survey

How far along?: 26 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: + 22 pounds (almost!)

Sleep: I'm having a tough time rolling over without major sound effects: ( Nick hasn't complained, but it must be annoying to sleep next to me!

Best moment(s) this week: We went to the doctor on Wednesday, and everything seems to be moving along on schedule. We only have one more appointment before we start going more often! We also found out that my other ultrasound will be around 34 weeks - It will be here before we know it!

Movement: Yes! While I still feel some thumping, I feel like I'm feeling more rolling and twisting than I was before. Every little movement is so reassuring!

Symptoms: I'm starting to realize when I've been on my feet too long. My feet were throbbing some during the week!

Maternity clothes?: A must!!

Stretch marks?: No, but I feel like I should have them!

Food cravings: All food, all the time...

Food aversions: Nope!

Healthy eating?: Hmmm. I didn't do as well this week. I'm SUPER busy at work, and I MAJORLY fell off the food log this week: / I constantly feel like I need/want to eat something - even though I end up feeling pretty full.

Exercise: Still workin' it! Natalie and I weren't able to do a long run, but I did some shorter runs on the treadmill to make sure I'm getting in some challenging cardio. I went to both of my usual BodyPump classes, and I did take a nice LONG walk with Natalie on Saturday: )

Gender: BOY: )

Labor Signs: No!

Belly Button in or out?: Hmmm. Top half is kinda out...haha...gross.

What I miss: I think I'm reaching a point where I kind of miss what I used to look like. While I've never been thrilled by my own body, it is strange to rapidly gain weight, not fit into clothes, not be able to squeeze past the stupid support bar in the garage (true story!), etc. I definitely should have taken a "before pregnancy" photo because I honestly feel like I can't remember what my tummy looked like before baby! I'm hoping that all the growing means that baby is going to be plump and healthy: )

What I'm looking forward to: Nick is going to finish painting this weekend!!! We finally found a color for the downstairs walls, and I think we've agreed on a color for the baby's room. Nick's hard work will look awesome - I can't wait to start setting everything up!

Weekly Wisdom: Hmmm. I don't feel like I have any this week: ( I've been kinda stressed, so I guess I'd suggest finding good ways to deal with stress...but I need to take my own advice!

Milestones: Starting our registry! We've barely put anything on it - ha! - because we're totally overwhelmed...but it is started; )

What I'm Smiling About This Week V. 13

- I had a very productive Saturday: I cleaned the kitchen, walked 5.5 miles with Natalie, cleaned our bedroom and bathroom, showered, cleared out the baby's room, had a nice visit with Mom, Grandpa, and Grandma, had dinner with Mom and Dad, went to the store, and started researching and registering for baby stuff!

- I got this note from someone at work: "Hey Lauren! I saw you this morning getting out of your car and coming in to our building, and you were sure looking cute. Pregnancy ain’t near as stodgy as it used to be! Since I’m just too old and slow to catch up to you to say hi, I thought to send you the email." I don't know her very well at all, and I thought this was such a nice gesture. SUCH a good way to start the day!

- I know I'm forgetting all kinds of things...I guess I'll blame it on baby brain!

25 Weeks

2011-10-23T17:32:00.001-05:00

Weekly Survey

How far along?: 25 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: + 21 pounds

Sleep: I'm still sleeping okay. I'm waking up a lot, but I fall right back to sleep (usually). I read that a lot of women have trouble staying asleep around this time. I'm hoping to skip that phase, but I'm not counting on it!

Best moment(s) this week: More movement! I was worrying some about how much the baby was moving because there were some days where he didn't seem to be moving as much. Those few days were followed by some days with strong kicks. I think maybe he just changed his schedule up a little bit; )

Movement: Yes: ) I like waking up in the middle of the night and feeling him kick!

Symptoms: Hungry!!!

Maternity clothes?: Absolutely!

Stretch marks?: I feel like they'll appear any day now...

Food cravings: All food!

Food aversions: Uh...food attraction is more like it.

Healthy eating?: Although I am eating a lot, I do feel like most of it is healthy. I pretty much just eat healthy snacks all day long. A typical day is something like:

pre-workout breakfast: smoothie
post-workout breakfast/snack: oatmeal or fruit
lunch: cottage cheese, rye crackers, yogurt
afternoon snack 1: pretzels and nuts
afternoon snack 2: fruit
afternoon snack 3: cheese stick
dinner: something reasonable
after-dinner snack: applesauce

Hmmmmm. I guess I could cut back on one of my snacks if I start to gain weight too quickly! Ha!

Exercise: Feeling good overall! I did skip BodyPump on Friday morning. I was packed and ready to go, but when my alarm went off at 4:58 I knew there was NO WAY I was getting out of bed. I didn't take a day off on the weekend to make up for it.

Gender: Little man!

Labor Signs: N.O.

Belly Button in or out?: I'm still calling it "flat."

What I miss: Regular date nights! Nick is busy with football season, so our Friday nights together look something like this: eat Mexican food, do something to prepare for the baby (e.g., go to Home Depot, prep for garage sale, etc.) watch a TV show, I sleep/Nick does homework...

What I'm looking forward to: painting the baby's room in a couple of weeks!!

Weekly Wisdom: Create a baby budget BEFORE becoming pregnant! I've been working on our budget, and it is making me miserable. Making a budget is NO FUN on its own, but making a budget while thinking about a million other things - many of them things I need to buy - is overwhelming!

Milestones: We had three big ones this week: fabric for the baby's room, computer recycling event, and our garage sale!

Mom helped me pick out fabric for the baby's room, and it perfectly matches the crib sheets!

With the fabric, we're planning to make a cornice, a bed skirt, and closet curtains (by sewing a strip of the fabric on curtains that are kind of like these)...

What I'm Smiling About This Week (and Last Week!) V. 12

- I went on a long walk with Tiffany and Elsie: ) So fun!

- We had our garage sale! I made about $80 - which isn't much per hour - but it definitely helps out. More than anything, I'm just glad we got rid of so much stuff! Everything that went out of the house (except for two small picture frames) was either sold or taken to Goodwill! I think we donated 8+ boxes! Even though a garage sale may not make a ton of money, I think it helps to have a date in mind. If we hadn't had our sale, I'm sure all the crapola would still be sitting in the house!

- I knew I would be tired after the garage sale, so I brought Callie with me when I dropped Nick off for the KU football game. Callie and I went straight to the lake for long walk.

Here she is on top of the hill...

- Callie has a new love: an old, nasty pillow! I was going to throw it away, but I decided to throw it into her kennel.

She has been taking it everywhere with her around the house...

...and sleeping on it like she is a human; )

23 and 24 Weeks

2011-10-11T18:34:00.003-05:00

Weekly Survey

How far along?: 24 weeks - but this post will talk about weeks 23 and 24 because I'm so far behind!

24 Weeks - Saturday 10/8

Callie helped with pictures this week; )

23 Weeks - Saturday 10/1

Total weight gain/loss: + 20 pounds (almost 21!)

Sleep: The nightmares have subsided - yay! I think I've been sleeping a little bit better overall, but I find myself in the restroom 3-5 times each night!

Best moment(s) this week (and last week): Spending time with my friends in Omaha! They called the baby "Ozzy" all weekend, and it makes me giggle every time! We may have spent quite a few hours watching The Osbournes on MTV when we were in college. It was fun to spend time with them and to hear them talk about the baby! It was CrAzY to say goodbye, though - Krista pointed out that most likely I will have a baby the next time we see each other!!!

Movement: Yes! Sometimes I don't feel him as much, and that makes me nervous: ( I feel reassured every time I feel a little kick: )

Symptoms: I seem to be having some mood swings lately...poor Nick! I also had a meltdown after paying the bills...without moving money into the account. Nick called the bank, and they removed the overdraft fees...but it wasn't pretty when I figured out my mistake!

Maternity clothes?: Absolutely! I've even worn a few of my shirts. I think the ones from Gap may be my favorite - they're SO soft! The shirts still seem kind of loose, so I may try to keep wearing some of my regular shirts a little longer. I'm kinda sick of my regular shirts that do fit, but I'm hoping that I can wear some others now that the weather is starting to shift.

I have this shirt from Gap in white and black -

and mine were MUCH cheaper in the store!

Stretch marks?: Nope.

Food cravings: Hmmm. I don't think I'm craving anything like I once was. I'm really just hungry ALL.THE.TIME.

Food aversions: Nope.

Healthy eating?: Yes! I've been doing much better and really making some conscious decisions over the last few weeks.

Exercise: Yes, yes, yes! I have to say that I am SUPER proud of myself for working out in the hotel on Friday and Saturday in Omaha in order to make sure I fit in all of my weekly exercise! On Friday, I rode the bike for 20 minutes, walked for 20 minutes, and jogged for 20 minutes as soon as I woke up, and in the afternoon we walked around the zoo for 3 or so hours! Saturday I rode the bike for 30 minutes and lifted for 15 minutes as soon as I woke up. My friends were not quite as eager to get up after the late nights, so I didn't even really miss out on hanging out and felt great about getting my body moving!

Gender: Little baby boy!

Labor Signs: Nope.

Belly Button in or out?: Hmmm. It is kinda flat!

What I miss: My belly button - ha!

What I'm looking forward to: GARAGE SALE!!! I have very little expectations for making any money, but I'm excited that everything that goes into the garage will NOT come back in the house. I think the baby's room can really start to take shape after all this crapola is G.O.N.E!!

I'm also looking forward to going to the doctor next week! In the last five years, I've probably been to the doctor 7 times. I'm rarely sick or having health issues, so I guess I don't find myself thinking about the doctor much...until now. Now I'm constantly counting down until our next prenatal visit so that I can hear the baby's heartbeat and know that he's still in there. At the next appointment, we'll also ask about our next (and probably final) ultrasound. I'd love to see the little guy again!

Weekly Wisdom: Don't help with the painting! I was becoming a little nutty trying to help with the painting details (e.g., how much paint do we need, how much time will it take, how many brushes do we need, how will you keep the dog fur from sticking to the paint...), so I am trying to let it go and let Nick figure out the details. I keep telling myself that I'm not supposed to be around the paint anyway!

Milestones: Nick *thinks* he felt the baby kick. I didn't want Nick to try to feel the baby and then not be able to, so he's only tried once to feel him. The baby was kicking pretty hard, so we went for it. Nick said he felt a twitch - which is a good way to describe the feeling from the outside - so I think he probably did! So fun: )

We also visited three childcare centers! I still have some more calling and researching to do, but I think at least one of these may be a good fit!

What I'm Smiling About This Week (and Last Week!) V. 11

- My trip to Omaha for Molly and Ben's reception!! Congrats to Molly and Ben!! We all had so much fun, and they looked so happy: )

Thursday: drove to Omaha after work, airport runs, those of us that were in had dinner and checked into the hotel

Friday: workout, final airport runs, lunch, zoo, dinner, night out, lounging in the hotel room

Saturday: workout, window shopping, lunch, relaxing, Molly and Ben's reception, pizza/lounging in the hotel room

Sunday: airport runs: (, lunch with my college roomie, drive home: (

- Baby's wardrobe multiplied while I was in Omaha, and Sarah also brought some hooks I wanted for the nursery!

Sarah made this SUPER-soft baby blanket!

I affectionately named him Cuddles; )

Julia brought this ADORABLE newborn sweater set...

...and this sweater and hat for when he's a little bigger: )

Krista brought him these gems...

...and a little something for next summer; )

I guess Callie didn't like the way I arranged the Ikea dog hooks!

- Nick and Butch painted our downstairs ceilings! Our house is on its way to looking refrehsed! Now, if only we could agree on a wall color...

22 Weeks

2011-09-29T15:16:00.000-05:00

Weekly Survey

How far along?: 22 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: + 19ish (More on this in a second...)

Sleep: I got some sleep this week - but I'm still struggling: (

Best moment(s) this week: We went to the doctor on Wednesday, and everything looks good! She measured me for the first time and said all is well. We heard his little heartbeat, and it was over 150 bpm!

Movement: Yes! Little thumps - usually after I eat; )

Symptoms: WEIGHT GAIN!! I asked the doctor about my weight gain, and she said her records show I've gained 24 pounds! 24!?! I was too shocked to ask her what she has as my initial weight, so I'm hoping she just did the math a little too quickly. I'm trying to rely on my scale at home because I weigh myself at the same time every morning during the week. I'll be a little nervous when my scale jumps over 20 pounds! I know I need to gain weight - I just would like to do so a little bit slower; )

Maternity clothes?: Lovin' my skinny jeans - and wearing jeans in general now that it is cooler. I also received my maternity leggings in the mail - and they are awesome! I've decided that I'm going to start wearing some of my maternity tops soon!

Stretch marks?: I thought I saw one, but it was a false alarm!

Food cravings: Cottage cheese - duh! I'm also loving pumpkin, but that may be because it is feeling more and more like fall; )

Food aversions: Uh...no. See symptoms above!

Healthy eating?: Yes! I tracked my food a little bit better this week, and I tried to avoid a snack after dinner or to eat a smaller dinner and then have a snack. We'll see how the weight gain goes...

Exercise: Still feeling great!

Gender: BOY!!

Labor Signs: Not yet; )

Belly Button in or out?: In...but becoming more level with my tummy - if that makes sense!

What I miss: Hmmm. Not much right now!!

What I'm looking forward to: Seeing my college friends this weekend!!

Weekly Wisdom: Ask others for help!!

Milestones: I finally cleaned out the "stuff" from under our bed! We've made the house a D.I.S.A.S.T.E.R. as we prepare for our garage sale, but I'm hoping we'll feel lighter once the reorganization and purging is done!

What I'm Smiling About This Week V. 11

- Mom and I went to a Kids Closet Connection event in Lawrence. There was SO much stuff! I really just wanted to go to see what it was like, but we did pick up a few things; )

Mom bought us this Eddie Bauer Infant Travel Bed for $5!

I've seen it online for between $25 and $40.

It folds and zips into a little carrying case.

It will be perfect for our first trip to NC after the baby is born!

I bought these sweet little shoes for $1; )

I think they'll work for spring, summer, or fall!

SO cute!

I also bought a maternity dress for $8, but I haven't taken a picture of it yet! It might be perfect for one of my showers. I'm sure it will show up on here eventually: )

- Mom helped me organize my scrapbook stuff! It was fun to see how much the paper has changed over the last 10 or 15 years. Some of it was actually pretty funny! Mom also brought me some organizational cubes, and once they are all set up I'll take a photo for you!

- Dad brought over some shelves from Claire's old room. I think they'll be perfect in the closet eventually. I plan to stack these red and blue crates on them. I have four big ones and six little ones. I'm sure it will all look MUCH better once we get rid of the ugly closet doors!!

- Lisa's soon-to-be mother-in-law sent us a sweet gift from Australia! SO unexpected, SO appreciated, and SO cute!

Even the packaging was adorable!

- I went to lunch with Claire on Thursday. Even though we live in the same city, we do not see each other as often as I'd like. It was nice to catch up, and I hope we do it again soon!

- I went on a walk with Tiffany on Thursday. It was great to get some exercise and to catch up with a close friend! The weather was beautiful, too: )

- After visiting Grandma, I went to Freddy's with Grandpa and Mom. I'd been there for ice cream before, but this was my first time to go there for dinner. Delicious!!