16 Week Update

I am 16 weeks along now! I can't believe that in 25 days we will know if we are having a boy or a girl! We are SOOO excited and so ready to find out! Names are a constant conversation amongst Rusty and I, but we aren't really telling anyone else the names we are thinking yet. Even before we got married, we daydreamed and talked about what we would name our kids. Well, I think after sooo many years of discussing those names, we kind of got burned out on them. We have more boy names than girl names, but nothing set in stone for either yet.

Peanut is now the size of an avocado! That's an average of 4 1/2 inches and 3.5 ounces. According to TheBump.com: "Watch what you say...tiny bones forming in baby's ears mean she can now pick up your voice. A few more changes: Eyebrows, lashes, and hair are starting to fill in, and taste buds are forming." Earmuffs Peanut! ; )

I have been feeling pretty good lately! The only thing that really bothers me is my EXTREME sense of smell which can make me sick or give me a headache, and lightheadedness, especially when standing, teaching, and talking in my naturally loud and expressive "teacher voice". That has lead to keeping a chair at the front of my room that I sometimes sit in while I teach, which I think is perfectly fine. The kids can tell if I'm not feeling well and are usually pretty considerate...usually. : )

Since I have had more energy, I decided it was time to start working on Peanut's room. This weekend, we cleaned out what will be Peanut's bedroom closet. We were storing a little bit of it all in there - cocktail dresses, coats, suits, holiday stuff, etc.

SOME of the stuff from the closet:

Now it looks like this:

a yellow duckie hooded towel and a cream and yellow gown/sleeper convertible from my mom, and a cream minky dot lovey from Rusty's mom. They just couldn't stand not buying something until 20 weeks!

We went through the clothes in that closet and in our master closet which has led to our now growing "yard sale pile". We added some shelving and hanging bars that the cheap builder should have done in the first place to give us the room that we need. Ok, so it is mostly the room that I need. This is just one reason why Rusty needs a little girl - so he can see that I am not the only girl that "requires" so much stuff.

Rusty's side before:

Rusty's side after:

This wall was completely blank before. It now looks like this:

My original side did not change, but it is much cleaner thanks to the addition!

Maternity Clothes:
Still only wearings maternity pants with my regular tops. Finding these pants has been a real pain. I'm considering writing to Express about starting a maternity line. I'm serious. Finding long dress pants without them looking like construction paper, having a pooch in the front, and wads of fabric in the back has been a challenge. I wore a regular empire waist sweater dress last week which was great, but my tights were feeling a little tight in the tummy. Guess it's time to go up a size! I did find maternity leggings and tights, but I don't think my belly is near big enough yet.

Sleep:
Nothing to complain about. I have had some CRAZY dreams. Besides that, I am enjoying one of the "honeymoon trimester" benefits of not having to get up during the night to go to the bathroom. However, it seems I am making up for that during the day because it is worse than ever.

Cravings:
I tend to be thirsty pretty frequently. I don't really crave any certain things, but when I do, I want it RIGHT THEN. Last Friday, I went to a gas station close to work that has a Coke Icee machine. It was broken. I had been looking forward to that all afternoon, so when I got home I went to 4 more gas stations. I know I looked crazy going in, making a lap, and walking back out. No icee machines in sight. I was SUPER bummed, and still thirsty.

Aversions:
I'm still having to avoid milk in the mornings, but it is ok at night. I also avoid anything with a super strong smell. I would love some seafood, but I don't think I can handle the smell of the restaurant. Maybe in a month or two.

Belly Pic

Favorites Friday - Kitchen Stuff

I really enjoy writing my pregnancy blog posts, but I decided to do something a little different tonight. Many bloggers write a Favorites Friday post, so I thought I would try it, too.

Tervis Tumblers

Rusty and I registered for beautiful stemware and everyday glasses, but these are what we use. ALL day, EVERY day. I don't know what we would do without them.


www.plainchicken.com


This lady lives here in Birmingham. She posts a recipe (almost every day) that she has already prepared, taken pictures of, and tweaked so that inexperienced newlyweds Wifeys like me can try new things and know exactly what to do. She also tags her posts so you can search her blog archives by main ingredient, type of food, etc. Everyone loves and serves sausage balls, but to me they tend to be a little dry. I plan on trying these that she posted recently on a Football Friday post.


Casafina Stoneware
These are the dishes that I registered for when we got married. They are so great! They are stone; they are microwave, freezer, oven, and dishwasher safe! They are super durable and beautiful. You can't find them at department stores. I registered for mine at a gift boutique in my hometown, The Picket Fence.

What are your favorite kitchen things? Do you have a gadget or cookbook that you rely on?

14 Weeks - (Almost) Back to Normal

Well, I am officially in the second trimester! I can totally tell this week.

Things that have gotten better:
Headaches - less intense, less frequent
Morning Sickness (still a little "gaggy", but it is really random)
Tiredness
Moodiness

At my 14 week appointment, Peanut's heartbeat was 158 bpm. He/she is now the size of a lemon, averaging 3.4 inches and 1.5 ounces! I can definitely tell that Peanut is growing because I am having daily "growing pains" in my uterus. It is a random, sharp pain in your lower abdomen, usually one side at a time.

Maternity Clothes:

I am still wearing all of my normal tops, but I am wearing maternity pants. I found some maternity jeans at Forever 21 for $15! They are so cute and they have the little band in the front instead of the huge stretchy belly thing. LOVE them.

Sleep: I am still loving my sleep, but then again, I loved my sleep before I was pregnant. I told Rusty one Saturday that all I wanted was the opportunity to sleep until 8. We have been so busy during the week, and since we go to early service on Sunday, Saturday is my only day to sleep in. When he woke up, he took the dogs in the living room, closed the door, and I had the bedroom all to myself. Of course, I had to get up to go to the bathroom about 7, so then I was wide awake. It was still great to lie in bed and not have to get up and get ready.

Cravings:

ANYTHING I can find to drink. I am thirsty all the time.
Ice cream/sweets

Aversions:

Well, I thought milk and I were back on speaking terms, but as of this morning, we are feuding again.
Also, ANYTHING SMELLY. Walking by the trash can or the kids' bathroom at school is enough to make me gag. I seriously hold my breath when I walk by both of them.

Belly Pic

I forgot to post my 12 week belly pic, so here is the 12 week pic and a pic of Rusty and I this weekend before tailgating at our house on Saturday.





We had our turn hosting the Theta Chi crew at our house this weekend. I had my camera on the counter the whole night and this is the only picture I took! Super bummed. All the guys gathered outside and the girls watched the game inside. We were all updating each other on wedding plans, babies, new houses, etc and I just forgot all about taking pictures! I guess that is what happens when we are killing our opponents, and we aren't paying much attention to the game. ; )



Next month I should be able to start feeling the baby move and we will find out Peanut is a he or a she!