21 weeks (and 2 days)

It has been a good baby week! The weekend was amazing. I was able to really start feeling the movement of the baby, and then felt the baby from the outside starting Saturday. Jeff felt the baby move on Sunday. It is really feeling like there is SOMEONE in there, instead of just fat building up on my belly! I had a doctor's appointment and all was very well! The doctor was happy with my weight gain, which at this point is really all in my belly, my blood pressure was great, the baby's heart rate was great and beautiful to listen to, and overall this week I felt pretty good, aside from really feeling this kid on my bladder all of the sudden! I have my big ultrasound on March 4th. I can not WAIT for it! Jeff will get to see the baby for the first time, and I can't wait to see how the baby has grown.

Here are my questions for the week:

How far along: 21 weeks and 2 days

Total weight gain: 11 lbs total

Maternity clothes: Yes! Really looking forward to switching to some spring clothes once it warms up! 

Sleep: Great right now, aside from a few awful or weird dreams, and every time I have to turn I wake up. 

Best moment of this week: It is a tie between feeling all of the movement I've been feeling and hearing that beautiful heartbeat. 

Miss anything: Eating without getting indigestion... this is new. I haven't had this "fun" problem yet this pregnancy, but this week it reared its ugly head.

Movement: It has been an epic week for movement! Can't wait to feel even more!

Food cravings: Fruit, fruit juice, fruity candy, and then bland foods. 

Anything making you queasy or sick: My dinner from Applebees the other night. It had nothing to do with whether or not it was good, because Jeff got the same thing and enjoyed it. I couldn't handle the smell of it from the start and didn't end up eating more than a few bites. :(

Have you started to show yet: I am bigger by the second.

Gender: Still not finding out! :) Still feeling that baby is a boy!

Labor signs: Too early! I better not feel them for a while!

Belly button in or out: Still in, but very weird feeling, haha!

Wedding rings on or off: On and very loose! Trying to enjoy that for now!

Happy or moody most of the time: Mostly happy! I've noticed I haven't been as moody, although Jeff doesn't agree with that. Haha!

Looking forward to: My ultrasound on March 4th!

20 weeks ALREADY?!

Wow! How am I 20 weeks already? This pregnancy is FLYING by! It is so exciting and terrifying all at once. Overall I still feel pretty good, minus back pain that started a few weeks ago and has picked up the more I grow. I was sick this week, which was tough because Tylenol doesn't do much! And sleeping while sick was difficult. I have been sleeping decently lately, so having a stuffy nose interrupts my precious sleep! But no matter how I feel at any moment, I just can't believe I am here... I am finally having a baby! I had a moment this week of "OMG!" because I can't believe that inside of me is a piece of my amazing husband and I just can't wait to see this baby and watch him or her grow and see who he/she is most like between myself and Jeff.

We have been making progress on the nursery too. When I say we, I mostly mean Jeff. The room is painted. I was mad one day and ripped up the carpeting (now, before you go "whoa! why would you do that when you shouldn't be doing stuff like that!"- realize that it was installed by the people who lived here before us and they did it themselves. They did a crappy job so the carpet wasn't connected to anything. The padding was stapled down, but that was easy to get up. I just pretty much rolled it up.). The hardwood underneath was in really good condition, so Jeff sanded it and cleaned it and will soon refinish it. We bought a beautiful area rug that will go on the floor as soon as he is done and the finish cures and then we are ready to DECORATE! That's where I come in (well, telling what and where things go... once again he will do most of the stuff).

OK- enough babbling... onto the questions:

How far along: 20 weeks! (well... 20 1/2 at this point. I am a few days late)

Total weight gain: Haven't weighed myself... avoiding the scale!

Maternity clothes: Yup! Going shopping in a few weeks with a friend who is also pregnant so that I can get a few more clothes for when it gets warm.

Sleep: Pretty good, aside from being sick all week

Best moment of this week: Buying the carpet for the nursery!

Miss anything: RUNNING and wine! And beer... Jeff has been brewing up a storm and some of his new beers sound amazing. I wish I could try them!

Movement: Still small movements here or there. I really want Jeff to feel the baby! And I really want the baby to kick a little harder!

Food cravings: Still fruit... I've been eating a lot of strawberries lately. This remains the same! I did have a big root beer craving this week too... weird because I don't drink a ton of soda, but I do love root beer. 

Anything making you queasy or sick: Oh my goodness... I actually haven't been nauseous since the first trimester, but Jeff was making some sort of crab chowder and I walked into the kitchen and almost threw up. It was HORRIBLE!

Have you started to show yet: More and more!

Gender: Still not finding out! :) (BUT SO TEMPTED!) That appointment is March 4th. Can't wait to see the baby!

Labor signs: Too early! I better not feel them for a while!

Belly button in or out: Still in

Wedding rings on or off: On and very loose! Trying to enjoy that for now!

Happy or moody most of the time: Mostly happy! I've noticed I haven't been as moody, although Jeff doesn't agree with that. Haha!

Looking forward to: My dr's appointment on Thursday! I really want to hear that heartbeat!

So God made a Teacher

So, as many people across America, I watched the Superbowl last weekend. While watching it there was a Dodge commercial, featuring the voice of Paul Harvey. I grew up listening to Paul Harvey with my dad and enjoyed this commercial and what it stood for... showing the hardworking farmer of America, someone who often does not get enough credit for their job. And while doing it, I was thinking "someone needs to do this for teachers". As a teacher, I know we are often overlooked and right now even unfairly villainized as many governors look at their state budgets and decide where to make cuts. Well... I decided to write a similar poem, crediting the idea to Paul Harvey, in honor of teachers everywhere. I am proud of what I do and proud of my hardworking colleagues. I hope you have a teacher in your life you can be proud of. I chose this field for the children. :)

And when the children came, God looked down at their beautiful faces and said “I need someone to help shape them”. So, God made a teacher.

God said “I need somebody to put in countless hours of planning and preparation outside of their workday, in the early mornings and late into the evenings, and then spend the day teaching these beautiful faces to read, write, and believe in themselves.” So God made a teacher.

“I need somebody with a large heart. Someone to bring a child into the classroom and show them love they may or may not be receiving at home, while educating them and teaching them that they are worth the world. Someone who takes the most precious person to a parent and treats them as if they are their own child. Someone who works with every child, no matter the learning ability, and shapes their education to fit them. Someone who helps every part of that child grow day in and day out, and then carefully pass them to the next grade.” So God made a teacher.

God said “I need someone who can fight for what they believe in. Someone who can turn a hardened shoulder towards people and governments who don’t believe their work is good enough, someone who can fight for education of children instead of education of standardized tests. Someone who can listen to the complaints that too much money is spent on education, and then smile even while spending their own hard earned money on supplies for each and every child in their classroom so that every child can learn.” So God made a teacher.

God had to have someone willing to give up their family time to planning and grading. Someone who would give up their lunch to a child who had none or give up their lunch break to a child who needed extra attention. So God made a teacher!

God said “I need someone who is willing to be paid less. I need someone who is willing to continue their education and who would give up evenings, weekends, and summers to further their education to show that they are life long learners, not only to set a good example for these beautiful faces, but to be able to serve these beautiful faces so that these children can choose who and what they want to be in life.” So God made a teacher.

It had to be somebody who was kind and patient… not easily deterred. Someone to cultivate, and teach. Plan, grade, learn, and then teach. Someone who is firm and consistent, loving and steadfast. Someone willing to put in the time and attention in school, in meetings, in analyzing past and present practices, while rarely taking time for themselves. Someone who understands the value of family, but who takes their cares home each night because of the 25 students whose lives they affect daily, and then smiles with pride, but also with fear, when their own son or daughter says they are going to spend their life “doing what mom does”. So God made a teacher!

19 weeks (well... this past week... I am behind)

Almost halfway!?! How did I get here? I have my next dr's appointment on Feb 21st, and then my ultrasound on March 4th. My dr's office doesn't do the midway ultrasounds until 22 weeks... which is killing me as I see a few friends get their's done even before 20 weeks! I haven't seen Charlie since 9 weeks and I am DYING to see a baby instead of a gummy bear!

A few of the kids in some of the other 2nd grades at school have started to ask if I know what I am having, but my kids, even though they know I am pregnant, really don't talk or ask about the baby much. Maybe as I get bigger they will. It is OK though, because it does avoid some weird conversations with them!

This week my back really has started to hurt if I am doing too much or if I am up walking around all day. I took a stool to school to sit on, but even still as a 2nd grade teacher I am always moving and always on the go. Sitting doesn't happen much! By the time I get home I am ready to just lay down.... oh and on my side because on my back is NOT comfortable now! But no matter how uncomfortable I am, I am thankful for every second of it!

How far along: 19 weeks

Total weight gain: Haven't weighed myself... avoiding the scale!

Maternity clothes: Yes ma'am... or sir

Sleep: Pretty good, but some weird dreams if I am not getting a restful sleep!

Best moment of this week: Deciding on the names. :)

Miss anything: RUNNING... Jeff has been running a lot lately and I really miss my distances. I know that I can do it while pregnant, but it was so uncomfortable when I tried throughout the first trimester that I switched to walking. It has been so cold and windy here that I haven't gotten many walks in lately though. :( Definitely ready for spring!

Movement: Bits here and there this week, but still nothing consistent. I really want to feel the baby move from the outside so that Jeff can feel the baby and realize that there is a baby in there and that I'm not just getting fat! Haha!

Food cravings: Still fruit... I've been eating a lot of strawberries lately. 

Anything making you queasy or sick: Not really... I just don't want meat still. 

Have you started to show yet: Oh yes

Gender: Still not finding out! :) (BUT SO TEMPTED!)

Labor signs: Too early! I better not feel them for a while!

Belly button in or out: Still in

Wedding rings on or off: On and very loose!

Happy or moody most of the time: Mostly happy, but I am feeling moody today. It may be partially cabin fever. I am so tired of cold!

Looking forward to: Getting the nursery stuff done! 

18 weeks and growing!

I love the outfit I am wearing. The shirt and cardigan are SO COMFY and the weather was nice yesterday. I was really in the mood for bright, spring colors.

Nothing too new this week, but we did go and register on Sunday. So fun and SO overwhelming and exhausting! We were very ready to leave and not think about anything by the time we left there. It was neat to pick out the things we wanted, etc. I was pretty organized with my list, but the store was all over the place!

OK- Now onto my weekly questions (edited, because who really cares about stretch marks???)

How far along: 18 weeks

Total weight gain: Haven't weighed myself... probably around 6 lbs total

Maternity clothes: Have been and will be for a while

Sleep: Definitely miss stomach sleeping, but I've been sleeping pretty well lately. YAY! I am trying to enjoy it while it lasts, because I know it won't be much longer!

Best moment of this week: Having 10 full minutes where I felt the baby move. Movements have been few and far between. 

Miss anything: Stomach sleeping and being thin (since I didn't have a ton of time to enjoy my weight loss until I got pregnant, but I am NOT complaining!). I also really miss wine, especially on days I want to relax and cozy down with a good movie. 

Movement: See "best moment of this week". :)

Food cravings: Still tons of fruit... moving more away from citrus and more towards sweeter fruit though. I am starting to deal with some indigestion though, so this might come back to bite me. 

Anything making you queasy or sick: Still meat and random smells, but overall the queasiness has gone. 

Have you started to show yet: Yes!

Gender: Still not finding out! :) (BUT SO TEMPTED!)

Labor signs: Too early! I better not feel them for a while!

Belly button in or out: In, but it is harder underneath it now. :)

Wedding rings on or off: On 

Happy or moody most of the time: Happy, but with mood swings. I can totally feel when I am moody too! I felt so bad at work this week when I had a moody moment! I try to warn people when I am moody and let them know that it is not them. 

Looking forward to: Visiting daycares this coming up week. 

17 (or so) weeks

Hello 17ish weeks! I say "ish" for a reason. I had a dr appt yesterday and the doctor was feeling where my uterus is, and it is closer to my belly button than it should be at 17 weeks, so there is a possibility that I am ahead of what they originally measured. I will know when I have my ultrasound at 22 weeks. We've been wondering all along if I was ahead because I seem to hit pregnancy "milestones" earlier than I should, for example: my belly showing, and feeling the baby moving (more on that later), etc. The appointment went really well! The doctor was happy with my weight gain so far (so weird to say that! I never feel weight gain is good, so it is nice that a doctor thinks it is good!). The nurse was trying to get the heartbeat on the monitor, but Charlie was moving around like crazy! Just when the nurse would get it, Charlie would move to a new spot and the nurse would have to hunt it down. She eventually gave up, but said the heartbeat sounded great.  We got the Quad Screen results back and all is normal! YAY! I was nervous about this one, but I wanted the test so that I knew how to prepare for my little one to enter the world. I was very glad the results came back A-OK!

How far along: 17 (ish) weeks

Total weight gain: 6 lbs total, although I had to pee pretty badly when they weighed me, so I am going to say 5 lbs, haha. 

Maternity clothes: Oh yes, and I finally found a comfortable pair of maternity jeans. :)

Stretch marks: Same as before... Nothing really, except old ones from when I weighed more before I lost weight.

Sleep: No longer on my stomach, but it is getting better for now. I don't have to get up all the time to pee right now, which is a blessing. :) I was sick this week, though, so I could barely breath and woke up because of that. I ended up sleeping on 3 pillows. 

Best moment of this week: Getting kicked. :) It isn't all of the time. The movement has changed from a flutter so I don't feel it as much anymore, but now is when I will start to feel the kicks. I was bending over to pick something up and was kicked. I stood straight up, so surprised, and then spent the rest of the night bending over trying to get it to happen again. No such luck... but it did happen again a few days later at school, again when I was bending over to pick something up, and it just happened a few minutes ago! What a neat feeling!

Miss anything: The same: Wine... sigh... and running (I try to do it, but it is so difficult). Jeff has been brewing his own beer and I want to try it so badly, especially this latest batch, which is chocolate peanut butter porter, and chocolate oatmeal stout. Oh well... they are saving it for me for when I can drink again. :)

Movement: See "best moment of this week". :)

Food cravings: Still FRUIT FRUIT FRUIT, all of the time. Yum! Nothing else really, but I am hungry all of the time!

Anything making you queasy or sick: Still meat and random smells, but overall the queasiness has gone. The sneezing is back, though that may be related to my cold too, and I get queasy just before I sneeze, and then I sneeze and the queasiness disappears. 

Have you started to show yet: Yes!

Gender: Still not finding out! :) 

Labor signs: Too early! I better not feel them for a while!

Belly button in or out: In, but it is harder underneath it now. :)

Wedding rings on or off: On 

Happy or moody most of the time: Happy, but with mood swings. I can totally feel when I am moody too!

Looking forward to: Registering, which I guess I should consider doing soon, and picking out a daycare place, because that is starting to make me panic! 

16 weeks

It was so nice to see comments from readers from when I wrote this blog before! I love the encouragement of writing! :)

How far along: 16 weeks

Total weight gain: 2 lbs as of the last appointment... my next appointment isn't until Thursday and I don't want to weigh myself between now and then!

Maternity clothes: Pretty much everything I wear, though I really want to go buy more because I don't have much and feel like I'm repeating all my outfits already! It is too early to feel this way!

Stretch marks: Same as before... Nothing really, except old ones from when I weighed more before I lost weight.

Sleep: A bit better because I'm not getting up EVERY night to pee, but I still have some crazy dreams. Oh and no more belly sleeping. I feel like I am laying on a bubble if I am on my belly. Darn! I am a stomach sleeper too! I can sleep on my side, so I will be OK for now. 

Best moment of this week: Having people comment on how much I've popped. :) I finally look pregnant and not like I ate too many donuts, so I am loving it and the comments I'm getting! :)

Miss anything: Wine... sigh... and running (I try to do it, but it is so difficult),  lunchmeat... I am craving a turkey wrap, which will be on my list for after the baby is born!

Movement: My guess is the baby's movement has changed from the jerky fluttering I felt before, so I'm not feeling as much as I was. I am paying attention for the kicking movement that I should start feeling in the next couple of weeks!

Food cravings: Still FRUIT FRUIT FRUIT! I also had an intense craving for a pickle, which I was able to satisfy right away and it was good. :) I walked around yesterday DYING for something, but I just couldn't tell what it was. Everything I tried did not match my craving. I was so bummed out. 

Anything making you queasy or sick: Still chunks of meat and random smells, but overall my morning sickness is gone. YAY! :) One of my weirdest symptoms is/was sneezing all the time, but I think that went along with my nausea. I am not as nauseous anymore so I don't sneeze as much! YAY! It was seriously 5-10 times a day! 

Have you started to show yet: Yes!

Gender: Still not finding out! :) 

Labor signs: Too early! I better not feel them for a while!

Belly button in or out: In, but it is harder underneath it now. :)

Wedding rings on or off: On 

Happy or moody most of the time: Happy, but with mood swings. I can totally feel when I am moody too!

Looking forward to: Hitting 24 weeks... I just want to know that there is something they can do to save the baby if something goes wrong. Also feeling those kicks! And getting the nursery together. We started! :)