31 weeks

Hello!

I have not written in a while, but we have been out of town and then as soon as we got back I had work, dentists appointments, and we started our birthing class at the hospital!

We went home to Columbia for a week with a quick trip to Charleston thrown in for a babymoon. We really love visiting Charleston after all Tyler has a condo there and lived there for a few years. We stayed on my Dad's boat which would usually be okay except being 29 weeks pregnant and Charleston going from cool spring-y weather to rain to normal summer weather {HOT} it got a little uncomfortable. I had the a/c down so low in the boat Tyler woke up freezing! But, anyway we were able to eat our favorite place....

Oak Steakhouse. We enjoy their oysters rockefeller {THE BEST} and my husband was sweet enough to ask for our reservation on the third floor near a window! Please excuse my hair... it's difficult to get ready on a boat. Also, we got caught in a normal Charleston summer shower for about 30 minutes. But overall it was a great dinner and I highly recommend trying out Oak next time you're in Charleston. Then, I have heard Tyler talk about Kaminsky's plenty of times and we were supposed to go on our honeymoon, but for some reason didn't get by there. Well, even though I have to watch my sugars, how could you deny a pregnant lady some good dessert? I had figured that we had done so much walking in downtown Charleston from the car to Oak to Kaminsky's and back that I would be fine okay. It was totally worth it! 

The next day it had turned HOT! I guess the rain brought it in and so we got some breakfast at our favorite breakfast spot, The Marina Variety Store, and headed to the Charleston Harbor Marina pool {the Variety Store is not at the Charleston Harbor Marina where we stayed} and decided what was next. We decided that it may be a good idea to see some beach before we left the coast since that's not possible out here in the desert! So, we went back to the boat and got ready to hit Sullivan's Island. It was already lunch time by the time we made it to the island and we tried Poe's. Ehhh. I maybe was supposed to get a hamburger there, but considering how hot it was outside eating something so heavy didn't sound great. I had a buffalo shrimp salad {it was nothing to write home about}. But the atmosphere there was pretty cool! We didn't stay at the beach very long and headed back home after about 30 minutes. HAHA. It was hot and I am just not into tanning while pregnant. We headed back to the pool then back to the boat where Tyler had a few beers on the back. I took a shower and laid down for a nap rest. All in all it was a great babymoon and I couldn't have asked for anything better and I got lucky because I am pretty sure I got all my walking done in those two days for the whole week! 

Back in Columbia it was family every day. It was good for Tyler to see all his family since I had been in Columbia a few weeks before. Our schedule was packed every single day and we didn't stop, but that was okay. We were also able to bring home all the items I had received from the baby shower. And, our nursery is finally coming together and I would say is pretty much together except for a few odds and ends. Molly could go home now, but we definitely do not want that! We are prepared though! 

As I said before we started our birthing class last week, took a pediatrician Q&A class, and had an ultrasound. Last week was a nice welcome back from vacation. Now, we just wait and prepare for baby!

At our ultrasound, all went well... she's measuring right on track! 

How far along? 31 weeks 2 days

Size of Baby A? bunch of asparagus; 16.2 inches and 3.3 lbs {But Molly is weighing 3 lbs 10 oz according to our u/s}

Maternity Clothes? maternity jeans. larger size dresses. pre-pregnancy tops still work {kinda}

Weight Gain? 15.6 lbs{not happy about this but I am blaming all the good food in Columbia and Charleston}

Gender? girly girl!

Sleep? ehhh. if sleeping and waking every hour or every other hour counts. at least i am sleeping. i am a natural side sleeper so being uncomfortable hasn't really hit me yet. but i just wake up often. i guess it's better than not sleeping at all.. huh?

Movement? a lot. she seems to be calm while i am active, up, and walking around. but it's so comforting. i love every time i feel it. there have been no painful jabs except maybe a few times when she hits a specific nerve! 

Cravings? peanut butter crackers. waffles or pancakes with syrup {i try to stick with whole grain or whole wheat and sugar free syrup}. still ice cream! 

What I miss? still a glass of chard. iced coffee. pasta.  

Symptoms? congestion. usual aches and pains of getting around with a pregnant belly. 

Best moment of the week? well it's been a few weeks so Charleston and seeing our sweet girl on the big screen! 

27 weeks 3 days and hormones

Hello All!

I've been back in El Paso for a week since going to Columbia. It was so good to get home. Tyler and I will go back to Columbia next week {as long as is well at my appointment on Wednesday.} I see no reason why it wouldn't! I made Tyler go up to our grocery store pharmacy yesterday to check my blood pressure. It was higher than normal, but not high. I realized I was so nervous while taking it we walked around the grocery store a bit and I tried again- it went back to normal! Pregnancy has now caused me an irrational fear of the blood pressure monitor! I get very anxious. Even though I eat right, walk every day {thank goodness for Riley- she holds me accountable for my walks}, and have kept my weight gain slow I still get nervous!

But I will do everything I can to make sure my BP stays normal and I see no reason why it shouldn't! So Tyler can get home to visit Columbia and Charleston! I can't wait for our 'babymoon' in Charleston. I am not sure why I have this fear, but I naturally always worry about the worst. This pregnancy hasn't helped, either. I can do all I can to take care of myself, but in the end it's all left to one person and I am sure HE has a big plan for our growing family!

On the other hand, my poor husband. I am sure when he decided to marry me he didn't imagine that my hormones would cause me to be such a mean momma-to-be (basically a b*tch). Or, I have never been much of a crier and I cry at the drop of a hate these days. Lately, if my husband eats the wrong way or doesn't put things in the sink correctly... I become crazy. I feel so bad for him, but I am lucky he is very understanding of my changes and there is only 3 more months! I will definitely try to be more conscience of the way I react. Poor guy. Before I was pregnant you could have piled the dishes all over the kitchen and I wouldn't have cared. But, if this is the worst part of my pregnancy- then I consider us beyond lucky!

My shower in Columbia went great and I was overwhelmed with the support and gifts that we received. We really racked up! We could pretty much bring a baby home today if we had too. Well, we are picking up all the gifts when we are in Columbia. We also got the pack 'n play this weekend. So, all that's left are little things here and there. I have no pictures of the shower because I left the disc at home in Columbia, but I'll get those on as soon as I get to Columbia.

And last but not least, now that it's summer and holidays are all around... I am missing the beach, lake, and an ice cold adult beverage. Right now when my husband has a beer.. I am loving the smell of it. So strange! I want to go to the pool, but I am afraid I'll get bored without a cold one in my hand ;) j/k

Oh yeah, Tyler felt a kick the other night. I think he though it would feel like a small little foot kicking, but mine feel more like a thump in my belly!

How far along? 27 weeks 3 days

Size of Baby A? cauliflower;  14.4 inches; weighing 2 lbs.  

Maternity Clothes? maternity jeans, my normal tops, and cotton dresses all around

Weight Gain? 12.2- a little disappointed in myself. i think i gained a lot in columbia, but how can you avoid grouchos and lizards? 

Gender? GIRLY GIRL!

Sleep? falling asleep fine for the most part, BUT getting up ALL night to use the restroom! ahh! not looking forward to when i am too uncomfortable to sleep! 

Movement? she has picked up movement lately. she has had lazy days, but i notice her lazy days are the days AFTER i am active. like i got home tuesday...worked wednesday and i am pretty sure she slept all day thursday! she scared me! 

Cravings? no real cravings. just hungry. hungry ALL the time. 

What I miss? columbia. alcohol. south carolina. 

Symptoms? frequent urination. stuffy  nose. i will also often wake up and my hand has fallen asleep! - SAME except when i wake up with the stuff nose it causes my mouth to get SO DRY because I guess I sleep with my mouth open because i cant breath! 

Best moment of the week? well, last week being home and all the shower gifts :) 

23 weeks!

Hello All!

I have been waiting to blog until this second ultrasound for get confirmation that she is definitely a girl since we got conflicting information a few weeks ago! We had a second ultrasound so we could see her lips, spine, and brain since we were unable to see those things last time. Everything, from what the ultrasound tech said, looks good! We can't express enough how much we don't care boy or girl we just want a healthy and happy baby! We were also waiting to say her name (or at least I was) until I knew for sure it was a girl. I didn't really have any other reason to keep calling her Baby A! We are thrilled and good thing we are still team pink because we have started on her nursery and made very good progress!

We found the two small end tables at the yard sales on Ft. Bliss two weeks ago. Tyler refinished and painted them. They look great! He did such a good job. I wish I could find more furniture for him to refinish :) We have the Pottery Barn bedding, but I have taken out the bumpers, for now. And, the wall art? It's from Hobby Lobby for a few bucks! So happy with them! I think this side of the room is finished.. for now. 

Molly Bess Anderson is her name and this is her changing table and we found the white letters and again my crafty husband spray painted them pink and hung them on the wall- so happy with how it turned out. We weren't making her nursery super homey and a lot of the stuff will not return to Columbia with us so we didn't want to get too attached. 

The no sew (that's my kind of language) window valance idea I got from my sweet friend (who is expecting twins this summer!). It cost us all of $7! And, while I intended to do the whole thing... I forgot how much I lack patience and crafti-ness. Tyler ended up doing most of it... again... greatest Dad/Husband ever! 

Other than the nursery and finding out Molly is doing just fine, we are preparing for a long (and hot) summer! In two weeks I will be on my way to Columbia for my baby shower and to visit with family. I am super excited, but also sad to leave Tyler and Riley. Riley and I spend most days together while Tyler is at work so, we have pretty much become best friends.....

I am always taking her picture because I just think she does the cutest things (even though I am sure it's normal dog behavior). So, when Molly gets here you can prepare yourself for picture overload!!!

We have also decided to visit Columbia in June when Tyler takes block leave and right now we are being too cheap to buy plane tickets because they are just so expensive. We don't mind the road trip at all, anymore, but I will be 29 weeks going and 30 weeks coming back. My doctor said I was all good and we will just have to stop every few hours so I can get out and stretch my legs. Which, is nothing new to us since we do have a dog (another reason I don't want to fly--I would HATE to  board Riley here without anyone we know living here), So, I think Tyler has made a plan to make sure I am comfortable in the front seat and we will make our way to Columbia. This is to see family and make a trip to Charleston. We won't have a lot of time and Charleston will be our 'babymoon.' So, we may not get to see anyone but family while we are home! We will be back at Christmas though with a new addition :) 

That's it for now... Riley and I need to take our walk before it gets to hot for her (and me). 

How far along? 23 weeks 3 days

Size of Baby A? Pomegranate; 11.4 inches; weighing 1 lb.  

Maternity Clothes? maternity jeans. that's it. i still can wear pre pregnancy tops and all regular dresses that i have bought a size larger or already owned. 

Weight Gain? 8.4 lbs- my weight fluctuates between a pound or so. 

Gender? all pink... Molly Bess Anderson!

Sleep? this past weekend i had some trouble sleeping because she moved ALL night long and I had to pee ALL night long. i barely slept and worked all weekend. but the last two nights i have been knocked out and slept 11pm-9am. Oops! 

Movement? not strong kicks but definitely movement. enough to keep me up. she is active at night and in the morning. hope that changes!

Cravings? nothing in particular except raisin bread for breakfast with some butter! 

What I miss? columbia. nothing really to do with pregnancy. i am enjoying it :)---> Same!! 

Symptoms? constant need to pee at night. congestion. thats about it. 

Best moment of the week? seeing sweet Molly on the big screen this week (last time their tv wasn't working :( ) 

21 weeks!

Hello All,

Sorry it's been so long since I've posted! It wasn't that I have been busy in fact just the opposite, but I haven't really had anything exciting to write about!

I went in about a week and a half ago to the doctor because I was having some pains in the upper part of my stomach. Turns out everything is okay, but it was just heartburn. How embarrassing, but I have never felt heartburn that low. Usually I feel it higher in my chest! But, she did an ultrasound to check everything out and she said looks like a girl. So, hopefully no more surprises! I do get another one in two weeks because baby girl wouldn't show her lips or spine in her last one.

We sure hope girl because we went  I went to the Carter's outlet {Tyler was getting our watches fixed} and got a few girly things! I was so excited....

Next up... Her bedding arrived from Pottery Barn that my Mom and Grandmother ordered. When Riley and I returned from our walk, which might I add we do very often AND Riley has lost 14 lbs in the last year!! Woohoo!

There is still a lot of work to do to her nursery and I need to get the bed skirt just right because it's a little long. But, overall I am so excited about the first pieces of her nursery. 

How far along? 21 weeks 2 days

Size of Baby A? Carrot, 10.5in, 10.5oz 

Maternity Clothes? really just maternity jeans and a few maternity tops to wear with my leggings. other than that i have a ton of cotton dresses that work!

Weight Gain? 6.8 lbs

Gender? GIRL!

Sleep? not as sleepy during the day anymore, but sleeping just fine!

Movement? flutters all the time and i think i felt a kick last night-- it was a weird feeling so i'll be looking out for it again!

Cravings? nothing in particular. sweets again. yikes!

What I miss? columbia. nothing really to do with pregnancy. i am enjoying it :)

Symptoms? headaches, headaches, headaches

Best moment of the week? the crib bedding coming!!

Jon-Jon's or Smocked Dresses?

We are smocked dresses all the way! But, last week we were Jon-Jon's and all blue. Of course, we didn't care what sex the baby was we just wanted him or her healthy. I had originally went to the high risk doctor (who I do not have to see anymore because me and baby were doing just fine!) and he does a 3D ultrasound at every visit. He was the one who changed my due date so, it's all very confusing. My due date is somewhere between August 24th and August 28th.

Now, yesterday was our anatomy scan with our doctor. Making sure all the organs and limbs are measuring correctly. Tyler was able to come to this visit since I made it for Thursday afternoon. We were totally expecting for confirmation that it was a boy once she was able to see between the legs. At first, our LO was very active moving and kicking. The ultrasound tech could hardly get a good look at everything. Then LO settled down and went to sleep. She would not turn over or show her face for anything. We needed to look at her spine and lips, but she was having none of it. I even rolled over on each side! But, everything was measuring healthy and she has a good heartbeat so, we are incredibly happy. Now, she said she was trying to get a shot between the legs and asked if we wanted to know the gender. I told her that my high risk already told me it was a boy- I should have prefaced that with he took his best GUESS and said boy. He did tell me it was only a guess and was unable to get any good shots of anything at that appointment. She said no, I see girl. And showed me 3 little lines. She kept looking for the boy part or what he could have thought was a boy part, but nothing. I think she thought we were upset, but we were just shocked because I was so sure we were all blue. Tyler then asked her what percentage she would put on the fact that it was a girl (which, I was supposed to do last week at the high risk appointment- but didn't- oops) and the tech said 70% and she never gives 100% until the baby is born. After that visit, I was still kind of in shock and frustrated because I just wanted to know if it was a boy or girl. To me, 70% still isn't good enough, but she couldn't find anything and she kept looking. When I got home, I called a 3d ultrasound place to get confirmation and they could get us in as early as Saturday. As I was talking to the lady I told her I have had a 3d done and right now at 18 weeks you don't get much out of it. I told her I just wanted to see the gender and she said definitely do a 2d because it's easier to see the gender. 3D machines sometimes show shadows and are hard to tell. She said he could have seen the umbilical cord at a strange angle because he did show me what he 'thought' were the goods! For now, we are happy she is healthy and we are going to go with girl. Tyler had a better view of the ultrasound and he said he saw no sign of boy. Either way we are still so excited and I can't wait to start decorating with pink and bows! We are going with girl for now and we may go get an elective ultrasound just for confirmation. Or maybe, I'll just keep all of my receipts. I will say, I will be so embarrassed if I have to announce again that we are wrong. I am just too excited, too impatient, and that got me in trouble this time! Oops. Did I mention we registered last weekend? We registered all boy? Yeah, that happened and then last night I spend about two hours switching it all around!

Other than that, which is enough. I've been feeling fine for the most part. I am feeling flutters a lot more often and I am pretty positive I felt a kick last night when I woke up at 4am and couldn't get back to sleep. Which has been happening a lot. I will wake up and not be able to get back to sleep for a while. I am not really sleeping uncomfortably or anything. Using two pillows has been working out well, so far. Riley sleeps right behind me and I can't tell if it's comfortable having her there or not, but I never have the heart to tell her to move. I have noticed an increase in appetite. I will still have ligament stretching pain and a few cramps, but nothing too severe. My biggest complaint right now is congestion. I wake up with a stuffy nose every morning! My skin has also broken out and is a lot dryer than normal. But, the dry part could be just because I live in hELl Paso  El Paso.

Tyler will now be outnumbered! Riley, me, and baby girl! (We have a name, but I really haven't discussed with Tyler if we are announcing it online?). I don't see why not, but I'll get back to you on that!

How far along? 18 weeks 2 days

Size of Baby A? Mango, 6in, .5lbs) the tech told us how much she weighed- i forgot.. bad mom already! 

Maternity Clothes? still just maternity jeans and it's warm enough to wear my dresses! they are not maternity. i can still wear my pre-pregnancy dresses. 

Weight Gain? i only weigh once a week unless i go to the doctor and it fluctuates,but i am up 4.2lbs

Gender? GIRL!

Sleep? get it but it's not consistent. 3am-4am wake up every night (i do go back to sleep though-duh)

Movement? flutters all the time and i think i felt a kick last night!

Cravings? subway sandwiches in particular meatball subs and ice cream, but i settle for fro-yo. i don't eat the sub and fro-yo together;)

What I miss? columbia. nothing really to do with pregnancy. i am enjoying it :)

Symptoms? backaches, acne, nasal congestion

Best moment of the week? seeing our little girl together. i was so happy Tyler came!