16 Weeks

How far along? 16 weeks. Baby is the size of an avocado. A fruit (?) I can get excited about! Baby is getting ready for a growth spurt and will double its size and add a few inches in the next few weeks. Toenails are growing. I think I will celebrate with a fall mani/pedi.

Total weight gain: The beach was kind to my mental state, I don't think it was so kind to my waistline. Looks to be about 2-3 lbs so far, but we'll see at today's appointment. Although I don't think afternoon appointments offer a fair and accurate weight assessment. Just saying.

Maternity Clothes: Just about there. I bought a couple of pairs of jeans at the outlets thanks to a very persistent saleslady. I'm hoping I can pick up some leggings and be good on bottoms.Any favorite maternity clothing stores/tips??

Stretch Marks: Nope. Although I feel like I should invest in some kind of lotion or potion.

Sleep: I borrowed the Snoogle from a friend this week. So far, it's my friend too.

Best Moment this Week: Vacation for sure. We got our calcium fix on ice cream and listened to the waves hour after hour.

Miss anything? Feeling normal all day. I'm beginning to think the headaches and bouts of nausea will never end. But, it's all for a good cause.

Movement: Nothing yet. I'm hoping in a couple more weeks it will start to pick up.

Food Cravings: Salty and sour. I dominated some sour punch straws on the way to the beach, and some boneless buffalo wings on the way back.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Eating. Almost always nauseous after a meal, no matter how good. I caved at 15 weeks and had the doctor call in a Zofran Rx when the fourth person told me, "You should be feeling SO much better by now." I think it helps....some. Or maybe it's just placebo effect.

Exercise: Highlights include running 4 on Saturday and running the entire 3 miles at the beach- no walking, just a stop every 1/2 mile to catch my breath. The flat terrain helped a lot. I was unreasonably proud of this accomplishment - even if I was slooow.

Gender: Thinking boy. We started name lists on the road trip....it's a lot of pressure to name someone. Maybe I'll just turn on the TV one day and hear it, like my mom did with The Waltons. No joke.

Labor signs:Nope.

Symptoms: Headaches have picked up. I hear dehydration can be to blame, so I've tried to up my water intake. I think it's just the hormones and there's not much I can do.

Most looking forward to: Doctor's appointment today!  We'll get to schedule the big ultrasound, which I'm getting really excited about!

15 Weeks

How far along? 15 weeks. Baby is the size of an apple.Baby can sense light, even though his eyes are still fused shut. Taste buds are developing - hope you like Mexican, Sunburst:)

Total weight gain: My scale is squirrely, but looks to be about 1 lb. We'll get the real scoop at my 16 week appointment. After vacation. Greaaaat.

Maternity Clothes: The rubberband trick is coming in handy and is just about necessity. Before it sneaks up on me, I need to get some fall clothes. Hopefully while we are at the outlets at the beach I can hit up a few stores.

Stretch Marks: Nope. 

Sleep:I can't complain. I can tell a big difference since stopping the progesterone. 

Best Moment this Week: I got to spend lots of time lounging at night with my two favorite boys. It was nice to just spend time together, watch Scandal and the Andy Griffith Show and bark randomly at inanimate objects.

Miss anything? I really miss my normal dinner appetite.I did have a couple of good nights of cooking, to assuage my wife guilt. So what if it was in the crock pot?

Movement:Nope. I'm trying to tune in and take notice, but I think it will be several more weeks.

Food Cravings: French fries. See below.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Nights have been bad this week. Enter the Milo's french fries. I sound like such a faker. "I'm SO sick. Can I have some french fries?" But the salt...it does my nausea good. I'm really hoping I'm not in the 25% that are nauseous the whole pregnancy.

Exercise: We've had crazy unseasonably cool weather for August the past few days. Highs in the low 70s over the weekend. I think I ran past the four horsemen of the apocalypse, but besides that, it's been very pleasant. 

Gender: Predicting boy.

Labor signs:Nada.

Symptoms:Not much has changed here, add a couple headaches to the mix. I still feel like I've had it pretty easy, since some have it a whole lot worse. I'm thankful I feel good enough in the mornings to eat a healthy breakfast and do some running. I think that's success for the first trimester, early second. The sciatic pain is really bad if I overdo it. Saturday's running, cleaning, grocery shopping and yard work left me on the couch for the rest of the evening. But the couch of a clean house.With groceries in the fridge.

Most looking forward to: Doctor's appointment next week. Then it's just a mere two weeks until we find out pink or blue. Whew! Time is flying.

Vacation All I Ever Wanted

Let me just say to start off, there's nothing better to me than a beach vacation. Just the mere act of packing to head south puts me in great spirits. 

I might have gotten overambitious on the book packing. But, who knows what you will be in the mood to read? Turns out, it was psychological thriller, and I had my bases covered. 

I was sad Namath couldn't come with, but it was a strict No Dogs Allowed policy at the condo we stayed at this year. He didn't look too sad to be heading to "camp". Tip: If you're boarding your dog at a vet, if you choose one where he hasn't had his leg sliced open and put back together in the past year, he's in much better spirits. 

He loves going to the vet near Matt's parents, and they treat him like one of the office staff. I'm pretty sure he's been sitting at the front desk 9 of the past 10 times we've picked him up.

After a stop at Starbucks, the BP in Georgiana for Laffy Taffy and Sour Punch Straws, and Arby's for some lunch, the first site of the beach was a sight for sore eyes, and a belly full of sugar. 

I was just discussing with someone, "What ever happened to Kate Gosselin?" Unfortunately, I'm not kidding. Fortunately, People heard my cry, and answered with this issue, which I snapped up at the local Publix.

Much like last year, frozen drinks before 10. Unlike last year, mine was sans alcohol.

Matt was such a gentleman and took up the slack for all my water drinking.

The wait for a table at Stinky's Fish Camp was worth it...I think we got the best seat in the house.

It rained a bit Friday, but it was the perfect opportunity to come inside, read a few pages and take a nap. It cleared up and we were rewarded with this beautiful sunset.

Matt rewarded me with bacon and cheddar cheeseburgers and zesty fries. Zesty fries just take me back to my childhood.

Saturday night, we met some friends for drinks before dinner. I gave in to the O'Douls. I couldn't stand another fruity mocktail. It wasn't terrible, even if ordering was a little embarrassing.

Scenes from the Gulf. The water wasn't very clear...it was my only disappointment. It was so, so nice to get away and enjoy each other's company and some quiet.

It should be noted here in writing what a gem I married. He waited on me hand and foot the whole trip - cooked breakfast every morning, made me a separate pot of decaf coffee, fixed it and brought it to me while I layed on the couch watching the Today show, cleaned up breakfast, did every single dish the whole trip, and cooked dinner one night, and assured me I did in fact look pregnant, not fat in my bikini. Not to mention lugging everything down to the beach and back every day. Sunburst and I are lucky to call him ours.

This about sums it up - my happy place.

We were all worn out by last night. Namath begged to go in his crate this morning after his walk. I put the fan in his room and he was snoring in no time.

In the spirit of a good attitude, if every week were vacation, we wouldn't enjoy it nearly as much, right? Thankful for the time to get away and relax. Onward to the long holiday weekend....

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?