Weight Gain Update -- Week 19

To date, I have gained 18 lbs. According to "the rules", I should have gained about 10 (3 the first trimester and 1 for every week in the second). I gained 5 in the first 12 weeks, and 13 over the last 7 weeks.

Ummmm, for those of you not doing the math, I'm gaining twice as fast as I should!!

I'm not worried.

As far as girth goes, we are now at a 12-inch gain. Gee whiz.

Clint went with me last night to register for Lorelai (or Lorelei) at Target. He knows just a little bit more than I do, so I was grateful that he assisted! However, he told me that he will not be helping at Babies 'R Us, because there are lots of pregnant women there, and pregnant women are crazy.

By the way, I have changed my mind, once again, on the furniture. It is so tough to find matching crib/dresser/armoire sets!! Maybe if the companies would stop having recalls . . . So now, it's cherry finish.

I am lucky enough to have two showers -- 1 in Indiana at the Mosier homestead (Jeff and Lisa), and 1 at the Fralick house (Don and Francie). Mom and Aunt Cheryl are going to take part in the one at Dad and Francie's house, which is so cool. I am totally grateful!!

Another issue we're facing: vehicles. I drive a Focus, and Clint has a Civic hatchback. Both are small, and neither are kid-friendly. Even with just Natalie, we sometimes have to drive both vehicles to our destination! So, we are trying to figure out a way to get a different (not necessarily new) auto that can carry us, 2 children, and 2 little dogs if necessary (plus everything we pack). And we want to do all this without financing through a bank or car company. Yikes. So, wish us luck!

18 Weeks and Counting

So, I've been trying to take photos in the same shirt every two weeks or so, but this morning I snapped one really quick just to get one . . . I will try to get a pic in the right shirt later this week.

As you can see, I've gained quite a bit of girth over the last two weeks . . . I'm wondering if I should start taking photos every week now??

My emotions have become almost unbearable over the last several days. Everything makes me cry. I'm afraid to watch dramatic shows or movies. My friend's sister died this week, and I am afraid to go to the funeral (I've never met her, but have been considering attending for the sake of said friend).

They say morning sickness is worst in the first trimester . . . well, once again, I go against the flow. I've vomited more over the last week than I have in my entire life! I'm sure you were curious about that . . . but it's true.

I still have 2 weeks to go before we find out the gender, and it is absolutely killing me to have to wait. Plus, I have a friend who is 6 weeks behind me in this pregnancy ordeal, and she's had 3 ultrasounds already!! And her doctor told her she could find out gender in 3 weeks!! But there's this place nearby that does 3D/4D (I assume 4D is sound, but I don't really know) and for $60 they will give you photos and identify gender anytime after 16 weeks . . . Clint doesn't seem that thrilled about it, but I think it would make me feel so much better.

After all, I shouldn't be giving the baby a stressful environment to live in, right?

There seems to be deals everywhere on seasonal clothing . . . but alas, I cannot buy any. How fantastic would it be to buy everything on sale??? (Actually, it wouldn't mean that I would be saving money. It just means that Peanut would have twice as much stuff).

I also discovered that very few Target stores carry the Classic Pooh bedroom stuff in their stores -- most of it is online only. This will make it very difficult to paint the baby's room the right shade of sage . . . which is something I wanted to get done this weekend.

Furniture Picks

I know I can probably find some used furniture, but this is the stuff I'm really liking. I have to have the armoire, because Peanut will not have a closet. Also, I like the convertible cribs -- you can use them much longer than regular cribs.

Bedding Choice

This is the style I've picked out for Peanut. It's Classic Pooh. The sucky thing is, you can only buy it online through Target . . .

I like the "Classic" style much better than the others, and I think this is gender-neutral enough that I can start planning the room out now. (Plus, Dad's coming to visit in the next month or so . . . maybe I can get him to paint the room for me!!)

So . . . . I'm back!

I've been away from a solid internet connection now for two weeks, but I am finally back.

I took a photo of my 16-week belly, but the website is not accepting my photos for some reason . . . I will continue to try and upload the update.

Not much is new, except for the size of my belly. I have gained significant inches in the pelvic region, but not really anywhere else.

My food intake is frightful. I am always hungry. No constant cravings . . . I mostly want something different every five minutes. Last night, I wanted apples. Today, I want bananas.

I still feel tired, but that could be because I have been sick for the last week and a half. Sinus infection. Bleh. And now my ears are aching. Dr. Kathy gave me some weak antibiotics, but they'll only get me so far.

The holidays were spectacular, and throughout the entire season, I kept thinking about how next year we'll have a little one to tote with us to the get-togethers!!

For New Year's Eve, we took Peanut to its first concert. It exhausted me. And I cried for absolutely no reason. But that's getting more typical.

I am sooooooo wanting to feel the baby move. I think I felt it a week ago, but it was surely not definitive enough to rest my worried mind (My mind is always in a state of worry). Maybe our next visit with Dr. Dedelow this week will help (Thursday at 4:30, central time). I don't think we will get an ultrasound or find out Peanut's gender, but by February we should know!!

I've looked at every single gender myth I could find, and signs are generally pointing to boy. However, the Chinese gender calendar (which is over 90% correct -- and I tested this!) says it's a girl. Mom says I would be better with a boy. I can't argue with that. Everyone on my side of the family thinks it's a boy . . . I just want 10 fingers, 10 toes, 2 eyes, a nose, and a mouth. Well, and everything in-between.

Peanut is sitting very low still (which you would be able to tell on your own, if I could upload the pic), and so visits to the bathroom are increasing in number.

I am starting to really think about what we have to do before Peanut gets here (which is only 5 months from now!!!) . . . we need a new vehicle, because Natalie and Peanut cannot easily fit into the Honda. We have lots of little projects around the house that need to be finished up . . . and we still have to remove the spare bedroom furniture and prep Peanut's bedroom. Yikes!! I am trying not to get overwhelmed, but it seems like there is a lot on my plate these days.

For Christmas, my mother gave us money to prepare the new bedroom (and also a stuffed animal and receiving blanket for baby), so that will help quite a bit.

That's all for now. Let me know if you have questions!! And expect to see a new photo soon!

Fickle as a Pickle --- mmmmm, pickles.

So, I've changed my mind. I'm a woman. And I'm preggo. It's my right, then, right?

I've decided that even though Natalie is the older child and is currently in the smallest room of the house, she will not be moving into the larger, currently spare room. She has a big room at her mom's, and she is only at our house 4 nights out of 14 . . . I feel bad about it, but I think it would be better for everyone. And that doesn't mean that she's stuck there forever. Just for the next few years . . .

Peanut will have the "larger" room (which is still only 10'x12') . . . this room is right next to ours, so that will help a lot.

Now I just have to figure out where to put all of the antique furniture that's in there!

Still haven't taken a belly shot. I keep forgetting. And now we're approaching the 12 week mark! I will try to do it tonight.

And one more thing: I'm turning 30 tomorrow. Yikes. Like Mom said, though . . . I have everything I want.

Sick!

So, I thought that I might be one of the lucky ones who didn't get morning sickness. Wrong. So wrong. I haven't vomited yet, but it is coming. I can barely stand up right now without feeling queasy and lightheaded. Delightful.

On a lighter note, I think I've decided to go with Winnie The Pooh. That way, it's gender neutral and I can start collecting decor gradually, and I already have a few Pooh things that I can add to the room. I like the Classic Pooh Stuff from Target . . . I broke the news to Natalie last night. She seemed to be okay with it.

Bedrooms and Upgrades

We have decided that Natalie deserves an upgrade -- she will be moving into the spare bedroom, which is a little bigger than hers currently. Then, the baby will take over her room. She is super excited and would like to be a part of decorating the baby's room . . . however, I will probably have to coach her through this decorating endeavor a little.

Natalie thinks the room should be purple and the theme should be oceanic. I was leaning more towards Winnie The Pooh or Bugs, and I don't think Clint has an opinion whatsoever. We may have to see if Peanut is going to be a boy or a girl before we make a final decision.