Week 24

Pregnancy Highlights

How Far Along: 24 Weeks

Size of Baby: a cantaloupe

Appointment Updates: Yesterday I went to my 24 week appointment. The baby's heartbeat is continuing to go down and is now at 150 beats per minute. People keep saying how small I am which definitely made me nervous that the baby wasn't growing enough.The doctor also measured my belly and I am right on schedule which was a relief. I also gained a few more pounds from the last appointment which Josh was just thrilled about. I am starting to get used to the fact that I need to gain weight to have a healthy little one. Our next appointment is our last monthly appointment because then we go down to meeting every two weeks. I will drink the lovely concotion to test for diabetes and we will get to see the baby again to check on my placenta.  

Symptoms: Other than my belly continuing to grow and a little more pressure, I can hardly even tell I am pregnant. I pray that I will continue to feel just as good as I do now during the next few months.  

Movement: The baby is moving a lot within my belly but not that much for Josh or anyone else to notice. I know I might regret this but I CAN'T wait for the baby to be able to kick and for Josh to feel it.

What I Miss: There is nothing that I am currently missing.

Cravings: I read on one of my baby journals that the baby is just starting to get taste buds which is maybe why mine are still constantly changing. I think I have a new favorite food every day. Last week was teacher appreciation week and we were spoiled with barbecue pork sandwiches one day and cake pops another. After eating both items, that is all I wanted for the rest of the week. I am still LOVING ice cream and salty foods such as doritos, chips, etc.  

Weekly Hightlights: We "celebrated" my first Mother's Day this weekend! Josh was adorable and sent flowers to school from the baby. Saturday, I got to see Alyssa for the first time since December so she finally got to see my baby bump. I think Alyssa thought the baby would magically kick for her but no such luck. We spent Saturday at the Cubs/Brewers game with the Pasiewicz Family. The game was very chilly but I still managed to get a horrible burn. Sunday we spent the day in Milwaukee with the TeBeests and G & G Heinen having lunch walking though the Milwuakee Domes. Grandma T also made us a lovely dinner. To say I was exhausted after a long weekend was an understatement.

Nursery Updates: As we I write from the couch, Josh is working on moving the electrical boxes in the nursery. After the electrical is fixed he will begin the installation of the wall. Josh is such a hard worker that he has been staying up way past my bed time working on the nursery. I must be exhausted because I slept through the hammering and screw-driving last night.

Prayers: I have been having a lot of anxiety over my job for next year. My caseload is continuing to change so I am completely unsure on how many students I will be having. I have been giving a full time contract but there is a possibility that I might be able to discuss options depending on my exact case load. Please continue to pray for me tht I will continue to give my anxiety over to God as he has a plan for me.

We tried to take a picture this morning but I hated it so we will try again soon. :)

Week 21 1/2

Pregnancy Highlights

How Far Along: 21 1/2 weeks along, Wednesday will be 22 weeks

Size of Baby: a banana

Appointment Updates: Our next appointment will be on May 15th and will just be a regular heartbeat routine.

Symptoms: Before being pregnant, I never had a problem with bloody noses but that has changed now. Every morning I have been waking up with blood in my nose and now am having blood in my flem. Gross, I know. I am hoping nasal spray and/or vaseline will help my nose. Other than that, I am truly feeling great!!!

Movement: In the midlde of the week I felt little to no movement but God is good and Friday the baby began moving a lot more! Josh was laying on my stomach today and finally got to feel the baby!!

What I Miss: It was Jess' birthday this weekend so we met her and some friends in Milwaukee. I definitely would have enjoyed a cocktail but was fine with a water.

Cravings: In the beginning of my pregnancy I loved eating scrambled eggs for breakfast, then bagels, and now I am CRAVING sausage biscuits from McDonalds. I am holding back and have only gone to McDonalds twice so far. Just like my grandpa, I am loving sherbert ice cream. Josh was ever so kind to me today and bought me a gallon of sherbert.

Weekly Highlights: Yesterday Josh and I registered at Babies R Us for our little one! Yes, Babies R Us is far for our Sheboygan friends and family but there is one about twenty five minutes from my parent's house. Before going shopping, we got some great suggestions from other new moms so shopping went better than expected. I got a little sad after shopping thinking about how much more or different items we might have registered for if we knew the sex of the baby. On a positive note, we will have baby items for any future kids and we can always but pink or blue blankets and bibs after the baby comes. 

Nursery Updates: Poor Josh moved from tax season right to another home construction project. For those that don't know, we have two bedrooms on our main floor and two upstairs. Josh and I have decided that we would like the baby on the main floor with us. The family before us had a handicap daughter so they installed a sink and toilet into the second bedroom. To make a long story short, Josh is installing a wall to seperate the bedroom and bathroom as well as putting in new flooring and a vanity. After removing the old fixtures, Josh is hoping to begin putting in the wall this week. I am truly blessed to have such a handy husband!

The second picture is off the quilt colors that my grandma will know quilt together for the baby's quilt! I am very anxious to see the final quilt project!

20 Weeks

April 17th has came and almost passed which means my husband is done with tax season!!! It has been a huge weight lifted off both of our shoulders that he can now spend some time relaxing and enjoying life.

Size of Baby: TheBump says the baby is a cantaloupe which is very hard for me to think about. My belly doesn't seem that big that a cantaloupe is hiding in there.

Appointment: Today we had our 20 week appointment and it went great! The baby is measuring exactly what it should be for its arrival date of September 5th. It is so amazing to think that the baby is 14 oz yet you can see the ventricles of the heart, the thigh bones, spine, etc. Just as the baby is gaining weight so am I which I think is at a steady rate. The baby was not camera shy so we got at least three or four profile shots of it's face. Josh says the baby has a pouty lip just like it's mom. No glimpses of the baby's sex. The doctor did a great job not even hinting one way or the other. We will get another ultrasound at week 28 so the doctor can check on my low placenta which is something he told me to not even worry about now.

Symptoms: My headaches have disappeared this past week therefore I have not gone to the chiropractor in almost two weeks. I think I am drinking a lot more water so I am not feeling as dehydrated either. I am pretty sure I felt the baby flutter this past weekend which was a very neat feeling. The doctor said Josh probably won't feel the baby kick til about week 24-26.

Cravings: Bagels, particularly from Aldi, are the perfect breakfast food for me!! I can't say I have many other cravings. My love of ice cream has definitely not gone away either!!

Weekly Highlights: After many more hours of searching for fabric I finally found different ones. The original plan did not work because you could not buy the fabric in yards so we could not match the fabric for the valance or crib skirt. The new fabric came in today which I do need to look at for a little while to "triple check" that I really do like it. Josh and I are beginning to look at baby registry items which is exciting yet very overwhelming. Which bottle brand, nuk brand, etc? Way too many choices for me!! Now that Josh is nto working 80+ hours a week we can finally talk more about the nursery and will hopefully begin the installation of the wall in the next few weeks!!

Wow, do I feel blessed and loved right now!! This little peanut is so very special!

Photos of our little one at 20 weeks:

How Far Along: 17 Weeks- wow is time flying

Size of Baby: Every size states a different fruit or vegetable for the baby so it is hard to predict exactly what size the baby is. The doctor stated the baby is the size of an orange and TheBump says the baby is an onion. Whatever fruit or vegetable the baby is doesn't matter, all I know is that it is growing!

Appointment: Our seventeen week appointment was yesterday! The appointment went the same as usual. My Mom and Jess were elated to be able to hear a healthy 150 beat per minute heartbeat. Our next appointment is on the 17th of April where Josh and I get to have the 3D ultra sound done.

Symptoms: My every other day headaches went away until the Saturday of Spring Break. Being in a routine at school definitely helps with my water intake and consumption of the proper foods. I pray that the headaches will only continue to go away.

Cravings: I am loving ice cream! Bad news for me is that there is a cute, tiny ice cream shop walking distance from our house.

Gross: I am not really having any problems with eating. Jess, Hayley and I went for Olive Garden over Spring Break and all of the garlic did give me a tiny stomach ache. I can do without the greasy breadsticks for awhile.

Weekly Highlights: I am on Spring Break from school! I spent Saturday until Wednesday morning in Illinois relaxing and spending time with my Mom, Jess, Grandma and Grandpa. Dad left for Tennessee on Sunday so he only got to spend a day with lovely me! Grandma and I thought a lot about the nursery colors and finally have the colors chosen. Josh and I thought we had an idea on the colors we wanted but after putting colors side by side in JoAnn Fabrics my mind quickly changed. Good ole technology and picture messaging was able to keep Josh involved in all the decisions.

This is the website that I found the quilt on:

http://www.bijoulovelydesigns.com/2010/02/circle-quilt-tutorial-part-one-creating.html

Baby Bump:

14 Weeks- 2nd Trimester

How Far Along: 14 Weeks

Size of Baby: An orange

Appointment: My next appointment is during my spring break, March 28th. My Mom will be joining me for this appointment so she will get to hear the heartbeat too!

Symptoms: My headaches/head pressure are still consistent in that they are occuring every other day. I have seen a chiropractor three times now and he hopes that realigning me might relief pressure on my head and neck. I am still uneasy about going but I did feel less pressure this week after going. I might have found the right dose of vitamins and supplementals to help with my stomach issue.

Cravings: I guess it should not be a surprise to me but I am enjoying greasy/junk food. For example, friends wanted deli sandwiches for lunch but I prefered Culvers or Taco Johns.

Gross: I am still at the point where one idea for a meal sounds great in the morning but by the time I get home from work it is disguisting.

Weekly Highlights: Today is the first of two classes for my final grad class. I can't believe that I will be completed with my masters this May. What a relief and God blessing that I will not be working on my masters with a newborn.

Baby Bump: One minute I feel like I see a small bump and the next there is nothing. The What to Expect book stated that around this time I might feel a little frustrated about the stage my body is in. Frustrated might be much but I do feel overwhelmed when one outfit looks decent in the morning but akward later. Soon I will be at the point where nothing fits and then I will really be angry yet excitd for new clothes.

12/13 Weeks

Pregnancy Highlights

How Far Along: 12 and a half weeks

Size of Baby: A plum!

Appointment Updates: Today we had our second appointment. The baby cooperated and I got to hear the heartbeat immediately. It's heartbeat is a healthy 165 beats per minute. I am also doing great in the weight area which is a relief for me. Josh left work early just to make the appointment but we caught each other in the stairwell walking out. Poor Daddy was bummed he didn't get to hear our little one!

Symptoms: The lovely symptom of constipation has not subsided. What used to work in the past (i.e. fast food, chocoloate milk, hot chocolate) doesn't seem to work anymore so I am trying some pills. Over the past month I have started to get more headaches or head pressure. The pressure will even wake me up in the middle of the night which is frustrating. I am going to see a chiropractor tomorrow to see if they can relieve any of the pressure. Something I did not realize would happen is the shift in my hormones which means lack of patience and irritability. A good friend told me "Make every moment with someone a divine appointment not as an annoyance." I really hope to be able to remember this saying everyday at school and home. I am also slowly losing my mind which people told me only gets worse. Great!

What I Miss: Nothing at this point as I am feeling very blessed

Cravings: I feel like I crave something new or different everyday. One item that I am really loving is ice cream but particularly a vanilla cone from Dairy Queen with crunch.

Gross: For some reason chicken is hard for me to eat but it all depends on how it is cooked. Who knows, I might love chicken next week.

Week Highlights: On Saturday, I went shopping to Babies R Us with my Mom, Dad, and Grandma P. Surprisingly we did not even spend a penny but just had a great time looking forward to the future. It was great to look at strollers and cribs in person rather than the internet.

Drum Roll Please.....12 Week Belly Picture (Please remember that it may look like this today but tomorrow might look completely different depending on my lovely "symptom").

10+ Weeks

Pregnancy Highlights

How Far Along: 10 and a half weeks

Size of Baby: A prune!

Appointment Updates: Our next appointment is on the 28th where we will hear the heartbeat again!! What a great feeling!

Symptoms: I am starting to hit a good point in my pregnancy. Nausea has almost subsided and queasiness to any type of food. It is interesting how one minute I want one type of food and then next it doesn’t even look or sound good. I am still enjoying my sleeping but getting through a full day of school is not as painful.

My newest symptom did pop up on Monday and was horrible. I have had stomach issues in the past but did not associate these symptoms with being pregnant. The pain began in my back during the early school hours and got worse. Of course, me the worry wart, started to get panicked when the pain came around the front. Relief came around 3 a.m. when I finally remembered having these lovely problems in high school. I am still working on daily relief and hope to find a remedy soon.

What I Miss: Josh and I went to a Valentine’s lunch at Olive Garden and I really missed not having a glass of wine. A sip of wine would probably not hurt but I would not be able to stop at a sip. Cravings: I am still really enjoying salty items! One item I have been eating a lot of is macaroni and cheese or any other type of pasta. Gross: Can’t think of anything right now

We have gotten the question a lot lately if we will find out the sex of the baby and the answer is . . . No! We can’t wait to hear the doctor announce the sex upon arrival! The only downfall/positive is that we can’t find any unisex outfits for the baby because most are boys/girls. If we knew the sex I would go crazy shopping so I think it is a positive!

I hope to post a picture of my slowly growing baby bump this week!!!!