Baby H: Week 16

This week seemed to move much quicker than the last few which I am thankful for. It's mostly due to the fact that school has been crazy recently and filled with exams but regardless, it blows my mind that this pregnancy is already 40% of the way done!

I've really been feeling great which is such a blessing. The hip/round ligament pain I had a few weeks ago has mostly resolved even without the OMT appointment I thought I would be getting. My belly is growing and I've started to notice my abs almost feel sore, like I've been to the gym, but I know it's from the stretching. My energy is much more manageable, I've yet to have any heartburn, stretch marks, or anything else equally annoying and am really just loving being pregnant. Now I would especially love if I could start feeling this avocado sized baby squirm around already. I know I may have a few more weeks until this happens but I still lay extra still every once in a while just to trick myself into thinking gas is the babe.

Wednesday night J and I headed to a JBF sale near us to scope out baby gear and it was so much fun. Well, not the crowd/overwhelming nature of it but the fact that we finally bought some baby stuff was so fun. We came home with an awesome Graco duet swing/bouncer, a high chair in great shape, a video baby monitor, a Baby Bjorn Synergy carrier complete with cover for colder months, an Infantino Mei Tai wrap carrier and an extra bouncer for my mom's house. And we paid less than what the swing plus the high chair would have been brand new! The best part is that I can't help but smile when I walk by the guest room/soon-to-be nursery and see the baby gear sitting in there waiting for the little one.

This week was also extra special because J and I went to lunch with his mom on Friday and I met with my mom from frozen yogurt on Saturday. We're both so thankful to be going through this stage in life close to our families and love when we're able to spend time with them. Being busy makes it hard to see them often but that much more special when we finally get to. Not to mention that conversation tends to wander to baby talk quite often which I love.

We have our 16-week doctors appointment at the end of the week and then it's only one more month until our big anatomy scan where we get to peak at the peanut again. You're doing great in there little one, keep up the good work!

100 Days of Happiness pt 3

Weather is improving. 

Baby bump is growing. 

Cravings are being eaten. 

Prego wine is being drunk. 

Ollie is sleeping. 

J is making me smile. 

Sometimes it's the little things that truly are the most important.

Days 33-48.

Days 1-16

Days 17-32

Baby H: Week 15

Getting dressed every morning is definitely starting to get tricky. It's been difficult to find something to wear everyday that 1. isn't totally sloppy and 2. won't have me hating my waist-band come 4 o'clock. There have been a number of days this week where I leave in the morning feeling great but want to drive home in my underwear because my jeans are just uncomfortable. I need to be better about wearing my BeBand with all my pants just incase and hope that spring weather decides to show up soon.

At the end of last week I received my AngelSounds Fetal Doppler in the mail and I absolutely love this thing. Technology is seriously the coolest. I posted a video on Instagram the day it came of the sweet sound of that little heart beat and I've made a point to listen throughout the week when I think about it. I was a bit hesitant to order one because I've heard of mom's freaking themselves out not being able to hear the heartbeat but thankfully I've had no issues hearing it right away. Now if only that little gummy bear in there would stop wiggling away while I'm listening. Without doubt every time I use the doppler it's like the baby protests and says "no mom, stop listening to me!" and the heart beat slowly swims away. I try and measure the hear rate when I have my phone near me and have gotten between 164 and 156 most times.

As for other random facts for this week goes, I'm up about 6lbs from my starting weight which I feel happy about. I was nervous for a little while (mostly post-Mexico) that I would be gaining too quickly but it seems as if my body has it all figured out now. I even made it to the gym this week for the first time in quite a while and I actually welcomed the sore muscles that resulted the next day. I'm hoping that once neuro is over I'll have more time to get back in the swing of things at the gym. Sleep is definitely hit-or-miss these days as I sleep like a rock some nights and then find myself awake and not able to fall back asleep other nights. I'm contemplating asking J for a new pillow-top for our bed for Mother's Day in hopes that'll help me sleep better in the months to come.

Craving's have been timid this week as nothing in particular has popped up that I must have. I'm starting to miss adult beverages less and less recently which is always a plus however I would love some sushi right about now. I've been battling with some low blood pressure related dizziness and I'm not quite sure how to manage this one. Getting up too quickly has me seeing spots a lot of the time and I sometimes even get to the point of feeling faint if I'm on my feet too long. Other than sitting more and moving slowly, anyone have any suggestions about making sure I don't pass out?

Baby H: Spreading the News

Sometimes the best thing about good news is sharing it with others. 

J and I (and this little babe) are so blessed to have the family and friends we do and sharing our news with them has made this journey that much more special. We made the decision between us to keep our big news a mostly secrete for what seemed like eternity and then surprised everyone one way or another. 

The first people I told were my lovely med-school ladies. They found out at 6 weeks, complete with "early birthday cupcakes" for the little one. Out of my comfort zone definitely due to the timeline but inevitable unfortunately. Because of the lovely anatomy lab, Baby H news spread like wild-fire at school thanks to my hideous respirator. But I wanted to make it something special for these ladies since they've been my rock the last six-ish months. They're reactions were priceless, clapping, cheering, and even a few tears. I'm thankful for all 6 of them for sure.

A few of J's friends also knew early along. Mostly because we knew early along about their family-planning efforts/successes. It was somewhat comforting, sharing news with someone else who was in just as vulnerable of a position, and it was nice for J to have someone to talk to about it all.

Everyone else we told a bit later in the game.

My best friend from San Diego got a phone call from a thousand miles away around 8 weeks. We chatted numerous times about life plans over the years, weddings, babies, school, so she knew all along my thought process about starting a family and I knew she would be thrilled with the news. And boy was she! So thankful for her encouragement.

On our recent Mexico trip we tossed around the idea about whether or not to just come out with our news or try and hide it from our friends. I was only 9 weeks at the time and still a bit nervous. I've never been a huge partier and thought I might get away ordering virgin drinks. But once we were there we decided why not and it definitely made the rest of the trip easier. I was able to sit in the shade and go to bed early without being hassled.

Telling our mom's at 10 weeks was by far the most special. We bought two sets of "Grandma" bibs  and told them we had gifts from Mexico. My mom picked us up from the airport and we told her that night and she was and still is so thrilled. J's mom and step-dad found out the next day and were completely shocked. Our dog has been the "grand dog" of the family for years, hence his involvement in present opening (spoiled brat) as well as J's step-dad already referring to his mom as "grandma". Now there's a real grand baby in the mix. Both of our moms' reactions are something I'll forever hold close to my heart and I can't wait to some day show this video to our little one so he/she sees how much love there already is.

J's sister and extended family found out all together shortly after the mom's knew and my sister got a phone call since she's gone for school. We had J's dad and step-mom over for dinner to spread the news to them a week later.

While it was actually nice at times to have a secret, something just J and I knew, that we were so excited for between the two of us, sharing the news, giving our families this gift of sorts was so very special. I wish I had been able to capture everyone's reactions but the few that I did get and the memories we made for the rest will last us a lifetime. Watching the video again and again still makes us tear up.

There's nothing quite like bringing the first grand baby, niece/nephew into a family and sharing in the excitement with everyone.

100 Days of Happiness pt 2

100 Happy Days is making me focus more on the positive things in life. 

It's helping me realize that there's always something to be thankful for even on the bad days. 

I am already more intentional about finding the good instead of focusing on the bad. 

Here's days 17-32.

View part 1 here