1/3 of the way!

***I apologize in advance - this is a long post!***

12 Weeks

I am now 12 weeks - the end of the first trimester! EEEK! It seems like it is going by so slow, yet so fast at the same time. At 12 weeks, Peanut weighs approximately half an ounce and is 2 1/2" long. 12 week milestone: Peanut is now able to move his/her fingers, curl his/her toes, clench his/her eye muscles, and brain synapses are forming rapidly. I'm already so proud of my Peanut. ; )

It's a bird, it's a plane, it's...Super Dad!

The past few weeks Rusty has been so great. He has been very patient and helpful during my many changing and unpleasant pregnancy symptoms. He searches out things I might like to eat/drink, cooks, cleans, goes to the store/picks up food. One weekend, I was just flat out miserable. I think some of it was preggers symptoms, but I also think I may have caught a bug. I was extremely weak and had intense headaches. On that Sunday, I stayed in bed alllll day, only waking up/getting out of the bed to use the bathroom and get something to eat or drink. I woke up at 8pm to find an empty house. I called Rusty and he was at the grocery store. I had not made a list or discussed dinner plans or anything, so I was wondering what in the world he was going to come home with. I was pleasantly surprised to see my Boo has actually listened to me plan out my shopping list by looking at the weekly sale paper online before I go to the store. Look at what he did...

Buy One Get One Free Items


LOOK AT THAT!! YOU GO BOO! ; )

I was so proud of him, and I think he was pretty proud of himself, too.

Sidenote: I have been loving sour candy lately. I opened my car door for work one morning and someone had placed these heavenly morsels in my front seat. Yep, he's awesome.


Shameless

I have prepared myself for the day that my favorite shirt may be ruined by spit up or poop. I am ready for the days of looking not so glamorous after being up all night with a newborn. However, I didn't realize that I would become shameless this early.

#1. Baby Bump - Although I am only 12 weeks, I am definitely showing. OK, so I am definitely showing in my eyes. I realize for strangers at the mall and the grocery store that I may look like the girl who has let herself go...eaten a few too many doughnuts...whatever. But you know what? I don't care. To some, it may look like I have mysteriously gained weight only in my front stomach area, but I have wanted this pooch for about 2 years now, and I am proud to have it. It may not be a defined, super round baby bump yet, but it is my baby bump and I am not going to hide it with tent style shirts. So there.

#2. Refer back to Super Dad when I talked about being sick. After being in bed all day that Sunday, I still didn't feel good on Monday morning. I woke up and just could not get to feeling well. I tried to slowly get ready and eat tiny amounts of a few different things, hoping that they would agree with me. I thought I had conquered the morning until I got to school. I whipped into the school parking lot and jumped out of my car. As I started to walk across the (what I thought was deserted since the bell was going to ring in 5 minutes) parking lot, I started to gag uncontrollably. I ran across the parking lot to the edge where it is wooded. I puked several times as soon as I got to the grass. *Visual* - Arms full with purse, lunchbox, drink, binder...bent over with eyes watering and everything that I have put in my body the past 2 hours deciding it didn't want to be in there anymore* I didn't even know what to think because it happened so quickly/unexpectedly, but I was relieved that the parking lot was empty and that I didn't embarrass myself in front of anyone. UNTIL I heard a voice VERY close say "It will get better friend. Is there anything I can get for you?" One of our sweet janitors was in the car RIGHT NEXT TO ME with his window rolled down. He was probably enjoying his last few minutes before going into work until it was rudely interrupted by someone sprinting across the parking lot and puking in front of his car. Needless to say, again, I was shameless. He knew I couldn't help it and I could tell he felt terrible. There was nothing either of us could do besides try to forget it happened and go on in to work, so that is what we did. He checked on me again later that day and frequently asks how "we" are feeling. : )

Saturdays in the South

...are often spent on the quad or in front of the TV, especially for my husband. This past Saturday he graciously gave up watching football to come shopping with me. We started the day out by shopping for nursery furniture. We had already been to Buy Buy Baby and Storkland, but I wanted to check out TD's Kids and Baby Furniture. We made the quick trip up to Sumiton and found a girl and a boy set that we both really liked. Then we went to the Galleria where for the next three hours my precious husband followed me from store to store to store to store. I was determined to find some maternity pants just as cute as my regular dress/work pants. If you don't really know me, I am EXTREMELY picky and pretty frugal, so I'm not going to buy something unless I really like it. I have been wearing the same style, cut, and size black pants from Express since I was in high school. Most of my jeans also come from Express. They fit the best and are good quality. After a recommendation from a friend (thanks Hailey!), I went to Gap Maternity first. I was thrilled to find a pair of SUPER cute jeans!!! Whew, what a relief. They didn't have my size in black dress pants, so we tried Macy's and Motherhood Maternity. I wasn't really finding anything that I liked, but I finally bought a pair from MM.

Sleep: Sleeping has not been as great because I have been sick, but it is getting better. Rusty bought me a Mommy Boppy pillow for my birthday and it is my new bff. He gave it to me, I went to "try it out" while he ran to the store, and I woke up 11 hours later. I am having to get up more frequently during the night, but according to one of the 5 articles in my inbox everyday, that should get a little better soon.

Cravings/Aversions: About the same. I am getting to have some milk/cereal every once in a while, but it makes me feel bad sometimes. I usually love Mexican, but the thought of it makes me sick. : ( No more Cocina Superior Girls' Nights for now.

My next appointment is October 4th, and I am so ready to hear Peanut's heartbeat!

Ten Weeks

Non-Routine Appointment:

So let me back up before I technically start the 10 week update. I had been having pain in my left lower back (honestly, more like left upper hiney area) for about two weeks. The pain was worse at night and was very dull. Then last Wednesday, the pain became much more intense. I mean, to the point of crying when I tried to lift my left leg to get in the bed. I couldn't walk right, couldn't sit down or get up, ... it was just all around painful. So, I finally broke down and called the doctor. After a few tests and an ultrasound of my kidney and bladder, they were confident that is was something muscular/skeletal, and could very likely be my sciatic nerve. I thought no way... this baby is 1 1/2" long... how can it be causing this much pain?? But, everyone swears that's what it was. Anyways, thankfully the pain eased up a lot the next day and I was able to enjoy my long weekend.

*Bonus - I was able to get a sneak peak of Peanut!! He/she was kicking and punching! That was one super active baby! I had no idea they were going to do an ultrasound, so I told Rusty not to come to the appointment, that I would be fine on my own. I hate he didn't get to see it. The ONLY way to describe seeing MY baby moving inside me: LIFE CHANGING. It was the absolute most amazing thing I have ever seen! I even whipped out my phone to video it for Rusty until the u/s tech told me that wasn't allowed. : (

9 Weeks 3 Days

10 Week Appointment:

Everything looks great. Baby was sleepy today, but he/she did finally wave to daddy, so I was happy that he got to see the baby move a little. Heartbeat was 168 (it was 178 last Thursday during all the kicking and punching) and I am measuring 11 weeks, so we may meet Peanut by the end of March! I had lots of questions for the doctor about good signs, bad signs, and genetic testing. We still haven't decided if we want to get the genetic testing (quad screening). This tests for chromosome abnormalities, such as Downs Syndrome, Trisomy 18, and other neural defects. Of course, no matter what the outcome, we will still have the baby. It is just a way to prepare yourself instead of being shocked at the time of delivery. This is something we will be praying about for the next 4 weeks until my next appointment when they will do the screening (if we choose to). It is a standard blood test, but I still just can't decided what I think about it.

Symptoms:

I have been a little tired, but really not enough to complain about. The morning sickness has eased up A LOT (Hallelujah!), but I still have my good days/bad days. I have started getting headaches, which is typical, but Tylenol is helping. I have had a few "stretching cramps"... guess Peanut has decided he/she needs some more room! And my sense of smell...let's just say I feel like a Bloodhound! I smell EVERYTHING. I opened up a pack of Busy Bones for the dogs and I gagged from the smell. Oh, and then there is "pregnancy mask" aka preggers acne/blotchy skin/etc.. I was blessed not to have acne as a teenager, but I am now getting to experience breakouts at the age of 25...lovely.

Maternity Clothes:

Speaking of more room, Morgan and I braved Motherhood Maternity today. Since school was closed, we tried to make the best of it (since neither of us had power) and met at Brookwood Mall for lunch and a little shopping. I was relieved to find some cute clothes at MM. Although I know I don't need them yet, it was fun to browse. Ok, so the pants were a little creepy, but they had some super cute tops and tunics!

Cravings/Aversions:

• Milk has made a gradual, sneaky comeback. I was REALLY missing milk and cereal, so I had a bowl of cereal a few nights for dinner. One morning I paid the price for it, but the other two times have turned out ok. It was almost worth the gamble.
  
• I'm still staying away from extra greasy food.
• I usually LOVE ice cream, but right now I only want frozen yogurt. Not any of these new hip "Fro Yo" places all over Birmingham ...just a good 'ole swirl cone from TCBY. I also wouldn't turn down a chocolate glazed Krispy Kreme doughnut. I don't really crave sweets except after a meal.
• I am loving soup for lunch or dinner and dry Eggo waffles for breakfast.
  
• I have been more thirsty lately. I know I haven't been drinking my 60-40 ounces of water a day, but hopefully I will get better at that. I have been having one Mt. Dew a day, usually at lunch. I was never a big soft drink drinker, but it is nice to have something to drink besides Gatorade and water. I made some decaf sweet tea this week and that has been a wonderful addition to my drink menu.

Gender:

We have made our gender ultrasound appointment for Friday, November 11th! I will be off that day, so I made my appointment first thing in the morning so I can spend the rest of the day shopping!!!! I can't wait!!! The Chinese Gender Chart shows girl.... we will see! I really just can't make up my mind! I have had two girl dreams, but boy thoughts have been popping in my mind a lot lately! We will be perfectly happy either way.

I have really got to start taking this belly pics in the morning... these 8:00 pm after I have been working all day pics are just not flattering, but oh well.

10 Weeks, 2 Days