14 Weeks

Written 8.14.13. Someday I will catch up on these posts.

How far along? 14 weeks. Baby is the size of a lemon! Which reminds me I recently learned my beloved Chick Fil A diet lemonade is unpasteurized. I mourned appropriately. Who even knew juice could be unpasteurized?

Total weight gain: My scale has me holding at about the same weight. Either it's broken or it's THE BEST SCALE EVER.

Maternity Clothes: I've been loving the maternity pants and shorts. I don't need them yet, but they are so comfortable, and less muss and fuss for the 92 bathroom breaks of the day. Otherwise, my normal clothes still fit, which is odd, because there is a definite expansion of my waistline. 

Stretch Marks: Nope. 

Sleep:Breaking news: I have weened myself off the Benadryl. Mostly out of laziness since we ran out. I think the progesterone was having an opposite effect on me and giving me a bit of insomnia. Now that I'm not taking it, I haven't had near the trouble falling or staying asleep.

Best Moment this Week:Moving into the second trimester. But I'm still waiting for that 'switch to flip' as everyone tells me, and start feeling good all day.

Miss anything? Weddings without wine just aren't quite as fun. I stuffed my feelings with two pieces of cake. 

Movement: A lot of people have told me they felt around 15-16 weeks, so not far from now, but I'm expecting to be more in the 18-22 week camp. Speaking of camp, I could eat some smores. 

Food Cravings: Still loving the salty and savory foods. MS made me an egg sandwich last night and it was divine.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Eating. Hunger. It's a fun little hamster wheel I'm running on.

Exercise: I think I ran 3 times last week and did some weight exercises once. I have high hopes for when it cools off, which in Alabama, is still several months away.

Gender: I still think boy. I will be genuinely shocked if we are having a girl.  

Labor signs:Nada.

Symptoms:Whew. The sciatic pain. I'm hoping this doesn't last until February.

Most looking forward to:Vacation next week! Having no place to be and no reason to get dressed up. And lots and lots of food. Mocktail recipes welcome in the comment section.

Family Fun Weekend

After running around for wedding festivities last weekend, I declared this weekend Family Fun Weekend. Which, in so many words, meant basically we were making no plans and wearing minimal makeup.

All in all, the weekend was a total success. We ran (me), played basketball (him), cleaned, bought groceries, did some garage organization, randomly and most likely incorrectly, clipped hedges with my new hedge clippers, killed the black widow spiders in the backyard (I DIE) and cut the grass.

Lest you think we had no fun, we also watched hours of Scandal, ate Papa Johns pizza and a half gallon of cookies n' cream ice cream. Did I mention I ran?

We also had a little chore by the name of Namath's yearly vet visit to get out of the way. I've been hesitant to take him for his visit since last year's surgery. Tearing the ACL is usually a bilateral condition, which means we'll probably be in that same camp again at some point, and I couldn't bear the news. So, like an adult, I've procrastinated. Because that changes the diagnoses...I digress.

It was past time for shots, so we loaded up and headed in. This one thinks he belongs in the real chairs in the exam room, not on the table.

They took him back for his fecal sample and he came back ill as a hornet. "Well, we were going to take the fecal sample, but before we could, he pooped all over the table. And then on the floor all the way back to the exam room." Much like Frank Sinatra, Grizz does it his way.

He was very pleased with himself.

Besides the fecal incident and 'having trouble finding heartbeat because of agitation and loud breathing' he got a glowing report. Including a smiley face for his weight loss. Good work, Grizz. We are proud?

Five on Friday

 Here it is, Friday of a looong week. While productive at work, the home front has left something to be desired. I have big plans to scratch a few things off the list this weekend. In the meantime, a recap of the past week in the form of Five on Friday.

 ONE - Almay Lip Gloss. This is a balm and lip gloss in one. The color selection left something to be desired for me, and its much lighter on than it looks in the tube, so keep that in mind. But, it smells wonderful and is not at all sticky. It does work like a balm, just like it says. Imagine that. I purchased "Blooming" and I've really liked it.

 TWO - Milo's French Fries. It's the only thing that has sounded good for dinner the past two nights. This train is going off the rails. The cheese salt. The Milo's sauce for dipping. Everybody goes to Milo's! Yes, I got mega size. It was my whole dinner.

 THREE - Ridiculous pregnancy reminder #48. No, I wasn't thinking of doing that. Other reminders I don't need - to eat, not to take LSD.

FOUR - DogTV. I'm not sure who was more entertained with the free trial of DogTV - us or Namath. The stimulation program was hours of fun. 

FIVE - They came to measure for hardwoods in Namath's room last night. He was none too happy. Not sure if he was mad at the tape measure (likely) or if he knows he's getting evicted.

Beach Read Help

We are headed down to my most favorite place in all the world soon and I need some good books to read while my toes are in the sand, mocktail in hand.

Last year, we took Grizz. He was mere weeks post ACL surgery, and I couldn't bear to board him. He loved it. I'm very sad we aren't able to take him this year.

 All that to say, what have been your favorite reads this summer? I feel like I should read something about newborn care, or something, so we know what to do with this baby come February, but some mindless reads would be welcome and much more beachy.

Bueller? Bueller?

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