13 Weeks

Written 8-6-13

How far along? 13 weeks. Baby is the size of a peach. Hair growth is probably starting this week. I have a feeling it's probably blonde. I was a natural blonde at one point in my life.

Total weight gain: The scale this morning had me down a couple pounds. Who knows. I'm sure it will all even out, so to speak, soon.

Maternity Clothes: We had a wedding last weekend and a rehearsal dinner and wedding this weekend. I went to a friends and borrowed all the loose and flowy dresses she owned. I also came home with some maternity shorts. If nothing else, the ease of getting them up and down for frequent bathroom breaks makes them my new favorite.But, my clothes still fit, just looks like I've eaten too many doughnuts (or in my case, Eggos)

Stretch Marks: No.

Sleep: Pretty good, with 3-4 bathroom breaks.

Best Moment this Week: Getting spoiled by Matt's parents. They've been so kind to treat us to lunches and cook dinners, which I haven't felt like doing much of lately. I even came home with enough leftovers from Sunday dinner to last a couple of lunches.

Miss anything? The open bar at the wedding on Saturday. I made up for it in caramel cake.

Movement: Sunburst is doing "water ballet" type movements. Can't feel them yet, though.

Food Cravings: The waffles. Oh my goodness, I have a problem.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Mostly sick at night, but I think it's easing up. I started progesterone when they discovered the hematoma, and finished it up Tuesday night, so I'm hoping that helps as well. The taste of any food in my mouth after a meal - blah. Enter cinnamon gum.

Exercise: Ran a few times last week- the humidity is killing me. Saturday I opted to stay inside and try a pregnancy strength workout via Apple TV. Lots of lunges, calf raises (pregnancy is no excuse to neglect your calfs - per the instructor), push ups and a little upper core work. I was sore Sunday, so I guess it did something.

Gender: Thinking boy, but we'll find out in about a month.

Labor signs: No thank you.

Symptoms: My face has broken out like a teenager. My sweet nurse practitioner was kind enough to write me a safe Rx to help clear it up. I think it's helping! Between this and the hair salon, I'll feel like a new girl come the weekend!

Most looking forward to: Officially starting second trimester next week!Wedding this weekend. Wedding = two varieties of cake. Unless the groom lets me down with an ice cream bar or other such nonsense.

Wedding Weekend

We've had weddings the past two weekends, which hasn't happened since our mid to late 20s. But, I love some wedding cake, so bring on the festivities.

I had to kick the weekend off right with some jelly toast, eggs and a cup of decaf. It was just what I needed to get off on the right foot.

It doesn't look appetizing, but I didn't think to take a picture until I was halfway done stuffing my face. The cafeteria downstairs can cook a good breakfast.

The rehearsal dinner Friday was at The Club, which easily has the best views in Birmingham. You'll have to imagine it, because I took no pictures.

The wedding reception Saturday was at the same place ours was, many a moon ago. Or three years.

I have no idea why my iPhone is making my pictures look so purple. Troubleshooting, anyone?

Me and sweet Haley.

 This picture brought to you by the color purple. Or Barney. Or penguins.

Looking handsome and so skinny (him, not me)...moments before the Harlem Shake (him, not me). I'll be a good wife and leave that video off the blog. It did make instagram.

Good times celebrating both brides and grooms. It also should be noted that the grooms cake at wedding weekend one was possibly the best I've had. Caramel cake with an outer edge of peanut butter brittle. It deserved to be put in print.

Details and Such

 We had such a good time sharing the news this weekend, and finally being out in the open. I think the grandparents were even more thrilled to share than we were:)

This baby was is very loved and was prayed for well before we found out we were expecting. We dealt with some infertility issues, and feel so blessed to be welcoming Baby S. My heart goes out to people who deal with pills and shots and ultrasounds for years. It's a scary place to be, and hard to trust when you feel so out of control.

We found out the news in early June. It was a Sunday morning and it was MS' month to open up the church. So I had just enough time to get it together and try to do something semi-memorable to break the news before he came home to change.

Writing this with shaky hands was about the best I could come up with.

We didn't make it to church and instead went to a celebratory breakfast at the Ranch House and swung by the bookstore to pick up What to Expect. Cliche. Such a fun morning though!

At my 6 week appointment they found a subchrionic hematoma, (basically just a bleed/bruise that can happen when the baby implants) so we came back at 8 weeks for another ultrasound and it had resolved. We were so relieved!

Back in the day, when we were first discussing baby names, MS declared all my names were weird, and we "might as well just call our child 'Sunburst'". It stuck, and so we have been calling this little one Sunburst since long before June. Hence, you'll be hearing Sunburst on the updates.At least until we figure out something respectable.

I'm 13 weeks today, but my 12 week 1 day ultrasound had us a couple days ahead, which leaves me..a little confused. All I know is we are heading into the second trimester and hoping to be eating something for dinner besides Eggos and cereal soon. Yay for the second trimester!

I've kept weekly updates in draft. It will be fun to go back and look when all is said and done.

 Week 8

Week 9

Week 10

Week 11

Week 12

12 Weeks

Written on 8.2.13

How far along? 12 weeks. Baby is the size of a peach! 

Total weight gain: 1 pound. Technically 1.6, but nurse Mary Jane was nice enough to round down. I did have breakfast. And clothes on.

Maternity Clothes: Nada.

Stretch Marks: No.

Sleep: Benadryl. Bathroom breaks. That about sums it up. 

Best Moment this Week: Seeing Sunburst kicking on the ultrasound.

Miss anything? Not terribly.

Movement: Yes and no. As of this week, Sunburst is flipping, but nothing I can feel just yet.

Food Cravings: Leggo my Eggo. Seriously. Leggo.

Anything making you queasy or sick:The smell of peanut butter. Odd, because I can eat it, but take that top off the jar, cue my exit. Gag.

Exercise: Still getting out there. Slow and steady wins the race. That's my new motto.

Gender: We should find out early September at our 18 week appointment. That doesn't seem too far away!

Labor signs:No thank you.

Symptoms: I did not know what sciatic nerve pain was. Now I do. Ouch. Knowledge does not always equal power. Remember that, kids.

Most looking forward to: End of the first trimester.

11 Weeks

Written on 7.23.13

 

How far along? 11 weeks. Baby is the size of a large plum. Sunburst can hiccup and hands can open and close into fists.

Total weight gain: I dared step on the scale and it was nothing so far - a sheer miracle considering the amount of Chick-Fil-A chicken strips that have passed through these lips in the past three weeks.

Maternity Clothes: Nada.

Stretch Marks: No.

Sleep: If I could check mark the pregnancy symptoms I would like, I would have gladly chosen exhaustion. This restlessness/insomnia is for the birds. On a related note, I've enjoyed many late night episodes of The Andy Griffith Show. Life lessons, I tell ya.

Best Moment this Week: Baby's first outfit from Mrs. Smith. The Royal Baby...oh, the excitement of watching alongside the relief I don't have to name Sunburst George or Arthur. 

Miss anything? A normal appetite.

Movement: Yes and no. As of this week, Sunburst is flipping, but nothing I can feel just yet.

Food Cravings: Salty. Me+Fritos = Love. Chick-Fil-A Diet Lemonade.

Anything making you queasy or sick: The taste of any food in my mouth. My oral hygiene would make 3 out of 4 dentists proud!

Exercise: I'm not very proud of my frequency, but I'm still getting out there. Pre-Sunburst days I was running 4 days a week. The past couple weeks have just been twice - sleep has won on Saturdays since it's just too hot after a 8 a.m or so. Hoping to get some weights in this week.

Gender: Still thinking boy. But everyone up to the royal family announced boys this week, so we'll see if we are trend setters or followers. Bottom line: I have no idea.

Labor signs:No thank you.

Symptoms: Dizziness - especially when getting up from the couch (to head to the kitchen - my favorite route). Good to know from this week's BabyCenter update, that's normal and I'm not being totally melodramatic.
Most looking forward to: 12 week appointment still trumps all.

10 Weeks

Written on 7.16.13

 

How far along? 10 weeks. Double digits!! Fingers and toes are no longer webbed and nails are forming. Sunburst can swallow fluid and is starting to kick. Vital organs are starting to function.

Total weight gain: Waiting until the 12 week appointment to assess the first trimester damage. Sort of wishing I hadn't eaten the entire box of Easy Mac Thursday night.

Maternity Clothes: Nope.

Stretch Marks: No.

Sleep: Still rocking the bendadryl. I'll try to wean myself at some point. But right now its the best relief I've got. PLEASE DON'T TAKE IT AWAY.

Best Moment this Week:  Felt good all day on Saturday, so was able to clean the entire house (well, the entire downstairs) with the attention it deserves before we host a shower next weekend. It felt great to get that done, and have a sparkling house by the time the nausea returned on Sunday. Note: Namath is not allowed to shed this week.

Miss anything? A normal appetite.

Movement: No. The kumquat is on the down low still.

Food Cravings: Salty food seems to hit the spot. The Chick-Fil-A I had Saturday may have been the best thing I've ever eaten.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Got a peanut butter protein shake for lunch Friday. Won't be making that mistake again. Stopped for mac and cheese at Publix (don't judge me) and the hot bar worker had a DANGLING TOOTH. I could feel the wind of the tooth fairy circling. I'm embarrassed to say this did not deter me from my mac and cheese mission, but was the cause of some dry heaves.

Exercise:  Also had my best run/walk since I found out I was pregnant. I plan to blog about this at some point in the future, because it's a big learning curve and comes with a lot of adjustment and worry (for me, anyways.) I actually ran the whole last mile! I was pretty proud of myself. I was not proud that I had to drop my Nike shorts for a potty break in the woods halfway through. A girls gotta do what a girls gotta do.

Gender: A friend's mom who predicts these things and has only been wrong once, looked at my hand on Saturday, and told me B-O-Y. Time will tell. Like 10 weeks time. So. Far. Away. But, I'm thinking we'll have blue in our future!

Labor signs:No thank you.

Symptoms: Crazy vivid dreams. All this royal baby talk had me dreaming about the royal family. Specifically, I spent the evening hanging out with Diana (in her maternity wear circa 1980s) and she was FABULOUS. Charles picked me up from said evening, and broke down in the car about how he just really messed everything up with her. I cried right along with him. All was better though when we went ice skating at the palace.

Belly Button in or out: In.

Most looking forward to: 12 week appointment to hear the heartbeat. Closing out the first trimester and feeling footloose and fancy free to spread the news as I wish.

9 Weeks

How far along? 9 weeks. Baby is the size of a prune. Gag.But, the heart has divided into four chambers and the embryonic tail is gone. Go Sunburst!

Total weight gain: As of last week's appointment, zero.

Maternity Clothes: Nope. Thanks to my love for Mexican food, I own quite a few pairs of stretchy pants.

Stretch Marks: No.

Sleep: Bendadryl is my friend, until about 3 or 4 am, in which I wake up and have all kinds of time to think about things like, how to organize the garage. It's important!

Best Moment this Week: Seeing how much Sunburst has grown in just two short weeks! He/She looked like a tiny baby, not just a blob. Heart was beating away at 186 bpm. Deduce what you will from that. Also, the subchrionic hematoma had completely cleared up and my doctor was SO excited. She and the nurse practitioner gave me big hugs and were SO kind to take all the time I wanted to answer any and all questions and even offered to let me sneak in for a 10 week check up if it would make me feel better. It makes all the difference in the world to have a great doctor and staff.

Miss anything? Not feeling nauseous. Hair without roots. Running - well, running fast(ish).

Movement: Nope -got a good 9 weeks left.

Food Cravings: Whatever sounds remotely good at the moment. Every meal is like Russian Roulette - will this make me feel better or worse?

Anything making you queasy or sick: The rotisserie chicken sitting in the fridge.

Exercise:  The wog is in full force. Hoping to start getting more running and less walking in the rotation in the next couple of weeks.

Gender: I would be lying if I said I hadn't checked out all the old wives tales. Most point to girl, which makes my cynical self think boy.

Labor signs: Heck no.

Symptoms: I believe we've covered that.

Belly Button in or out: In.

Most looking forward to: 12 week appointment to hear the heartbeat, ending the first trimester and hopefully feeling more like my old self (or as much as one can expect).