Sweet 16

I haven't posted in two weeks, and it feels like it has been about two months! I got back in from Denver late Friday and have spent the entire weekend in bed making up for lost time last week.  While I have been resting, Baby O has been growing straight into week 16.  My stomach is rapidly expanding and people have gone from questioning whether I am pregnant to greeting me with comments such as, "Whoa, there IS a baby in there."  Not only is Baby O making his/her presence known, but apparently he or she is now eavesdropping on us as the baby can now hear voices, so feel free to chat up my belly next time you see me.

Prior to heading out to Denver, Kevin and I had an opportunity to hang out with some great friends in Springfield, and Miss Kelsey delivered with the goods.  She gifted us with this beautiful book inscribed with a special message for Baby O.

Kelsey and Kate... Love these girls!

Next up for us, a doctor's appointment at the end of this week.  This one will be quick and painless as they are just checking in to make sure all is progressing well.  The most exciting thing about this appointment is that I get to make my appointment for our 20 week ultrasound at the end of September.  We will finally get to find out whether we are team pink or blue and can let the baby buying begin!  

Outside of that, all is well and we are doing great.  The only thing we have to do to really get ready is sell the house and thanks to some friends who made me aware of the tradition of  burying a St. Joseph statue in the front yard of a house for sale, I feel like the market is looking up.  Any spare thoughts or prayers you have to send our way regarding the home sale, we would appreciate it as my stress level rises with every day the house sits on the market and we need to start spending money on diapers, not mortgage payments for a house we don't live in.  

Finally, I hope everyone is gearing up for a big Labor Day like the Ools are.  Kevin is headed to NYC on Friday, and I am prepping for a friend's wedding in Chicago.  We are both excited to visit with friends and family over the extended weekend, and we hope that you all get to do the same.  Safe travels to everyone who will be on the move!  Onto the questions...

Are you feeling sick?:  Tired, but good.

Are you sleeping?: Depends on the day... getting used to the lack of sleep at this point.

What was the best moment this week?:  I had a good time in Denver, work and all. I gained some valuable work experience, enjoyed some good meals and even played some pinball at an arcade/bar called one up.  Overall, a good trip.

Do you miss anything?: Caffeine!  It was desperately needed this week.

Any cravings yet?:  Nothing really striking me lately.

Do you want to know if Baby O is a boy or a girl?: Finally get to nail down the day we find out this week!

Any other symptoms?: Still good.

Mood lately?:  Pretty good.  Missed Kev a lot last week, and my puppy who we won't see until next week, but other than that, doing well.

What are you looking forward to?:  Getting to hear baby's heartbeat again this week.

Baby Bump?:  Rapidly expanding.

Need any maternity clothes?: The Belly Belt has been a savior.  If you tend to bloat after a big meal, it may come in handy for you as well.  HA!

Have a great week everyone.

The weeks are rolling by!

This was a big week in our family for birthdays.  First of all, Baby O's Grandma Ool had a big birthday on Monday and while we were not there to celebrate, I am sure her boys took good care of her.  Next up was my Grandma.  I was lucky enough to have my Momma and Grandma come down for a visit this weekend and we celebrated  Grandma's birthday with cupcakes, Chinese food and Crystal Bridges. 

We also fit in a little shopping.  My mom was pretty excited to buy me some maternity clothes... I was less enthused.  The thought of getting so huge I will require these clothes made the experience a little less enticing to me.  In the end we settled on a great outfit we both loved and a few other essentials.  Thanks Mom!

In baby world, it was a pretty quiet week.  We are now in WK 14 and it feels like the time has flown by.  The only thing of note this week is a bit of an injury.  I hate even admitting it because I am tired of people, mainly men, telling me what I should and shouldn't do as a pregnant woman, especially when it comes to my workouts.  Anyone who knows me knows that I Crossfit.  I love the workout, I love the community, and I love that I have kept up my workouts even while pregnant.  I avidly believe this is why I felt so good through my first trimester.  Unfortunately, as my body becomes home for our new little person, I may have to take it a bit easier than I would like.  Activities that feel completely normal may or may not have caused pulled muscles that put me out of the gym for a week.  A word of warning. After some rest... and a called in prescription from the doc, I am ready to head back tomorrow - even if I plan on taking it a little slower than I have been.

We have three more weeks until the next appointment and I am counting down the days until our next confirmation that Baby O is happy and healthy in there.  In the mean time, I am looking forward to spending next weekend with some old friends before heading to Denver for work again.  That is about all the excitement we can take for now... in fact, Kevin has now asked me three times when dinner will be ready so I guess I will answer the FAQ and then get to the mashed potatoes.  :)

 

Are you feeling sick?:  Feeling great.

Are you sleeping?: Much better after a little something from the doctor to help my pulled muscle. 

What was the best moment this week?:  Once we found an outfit that I can love now, or three months from now, I really enjoyed clothes shopping with my mom.  It was really sweet that she was so excited to buy me a special outfit.

Do you miss anything?: I miss a cold beer after a long week... in a bad way!

Any cravings yet?:  Still doughnuts but I am trying to stay away.

Do you want to know if Baby O is a boy or a girl?: Only 5 or 6 more weeks until the big reveal.

Any other symptoms?: Still good.

Mood lately?:  Ok... unless Kevin asks me about dinner again. Then I may lose it.  HA!

What are you looking forward to?:  I am just ready to hold the baby.  I need something to snuggle. 

Baby Bump?:  Bigger by the day.

Need any maternity clothes?: Proud new owner of some staples including some camisoles, cardigans and an awesome little contraption that will help me stay in my regular pants vs. the spandexy maternity type.

Have a good week everyone!

One trimester down...

This week we move into WK 14 of this pregnancy and therefore into the second trimester.  I thought this deserved some sort of party, but settled for a date night with Kevin over the weekend... He even opened my door - TWICE!  Someone this week referenced me and said I can't believe you are three months pregnant and for some reason this sounded so much better to me than 13 weeks.  Three months feels like some sort of accomplishment, so in my book we are three months in. 

It is a strange time however because as I begin to look more and more pregnant, I actually feel really good and had a great week at the gym.  I got personal records on two different lifts so maybe the baby is actually making me stronger.  I am excited to be well into the pregnancy now and it is odd to talk about things like Christmas and New Years realizing that we will be bringing home sweet Baby O just a few weeks after the holidays in early February. 

It was another long week at work as I settled in from being out of town, and actually gear up to head back to Denver in two weeks for our Holiday Meeting.  The good thing is that when I get back from the meeting, I get another appointment with the Dr. and get further confirmation that Baby O is growing big and strong.  I had to wait an extra week since I will be out of town so it is a little stressful going so long without reassurance, but Kevin keeps promising everything is fine so surely nothing could be wrong. :)  Also this week we headed to visit my Aunt Marty and Uncle Wes.  Both my brothers and my cousins were there so it was a really nice day spent in the pool catching up and joking around.  It was one of those moment where I remember being the kid in the pool flipping off of the diving board, and next time we swim in their pool, I will probably be floating Baby O around the shallow end.  The trip wouldn't have been complete without a gift, and this one is precious.  My Aunt Marty gave us a stuffed bunny tor Baby O because when I was a little girl, I carried around a stuffed bunny for years.  I can't wait to put it in the crib!

Now onto the questions... belly pictures ahead!  You are welcome Morgan.

Are you feeling sick?:  I think we are past that...

Are you sleeping?: Not so much.  my pillow helps sometimes, but it may be time to bring our big bed from Springfield so I can stretch out.  

What was the best moment this week?:  Date night with Kevin was nice.  He gifted me with a charm for my Pandora bracelet - the baby carriage charm.  It was very sweet.

Do you miss anything?: I miss feeling like myself.  I have been lucky to not be sick, but I am definitely a bit out of it.  

Any cravings yet?:  Doughnuts... then another doughnut.

Do you want to know if Baby O is a boy or a girl?: I CANNOT WAIT TO FIND OUT!

Any other symptoms?: Can't complain.

Mood lately?:  Strange.  Like I mentioned above, just not myself.  Maybe this baby is just sucking the personality out of me.  

What are you looking forward to?:  Can't wait to work on a nursery.  It is looking like home will be the apartment in Arkansas when Baby O first comes home until our lease is up and we can pick out a new house down here in the summer.  Fingers crossed the house sells and we can make the move sooner rather than later.

Baby Bump?:  Growing.

Need any maternity clothes?: While some pants have been retired, I am making it work in what I have.

Happy Olympics season everyone!  Go USA!