Week 19 Bumpdate

Well all those weeks that I spent waiting, hoping, holding my breath, and coaxing baby to move have finally caught up with me. Ladies and Gentleman we have a mover and a shaker among us. Fred Astair or Ginger Rogers child must be in my belly because so.much.kicking. Or belly flopping. I pretty sure baby did a belly flop yesterday. It was such a big movement I let out a little gasp.

But maybe Baby was excited about the new addition to our family, a 1967 Chevy pickup which we've named Lucille, It's my tradition to name vehicles and crazy enough my husbands trucks have female names because we joke they are the other women of his life with whom he spends all his spare time. Anyway we went to pick up the pickup (yes I totally did just say that) yesterday and Baby was kicking from before we left until we got home 3 hours later. At one point I started getting nauseous from all the movement I think. I swear I thought babies only move at night when the Momma's are relaxing on the couch or trying to sleep but apparently our baby has no sleep mode because it's always party time!

Helloooo Lucille

Anyway here is the 19 week bumpdate

Is it me or do those stripes make me look huge? Oh well, I love stripes!
And..yes..I know I broke my "don't relate baby to fruit" rule but Mangoes are seriously the foods of the gods and I will let this one slide.

How far along: 19 weeks

Gender: we find out in 3 days!               

Weight gain: 8lbs

Maternity clothes: Are still a dream of mine

Sleep: Also a dream of mine...I usually get a good solid hour of sleep and then I'm up for 2 hours, toss and turn for another hour, sleep for an hour, then I usually end up on the couch or I toss and turn until my husbands alarm wakes him up

Best moment this week: Oodles of movement!!

Worst moment this week: Sleep has got to be the worst this week. "It'll get better" I tell myself. Lies. 

Miss anything: Fitting into certain clothes

Movement: Flips, belly flops and kicks. Ok, mostly kicks.

Cravings: Fresh Pineapple, Pineapple, Pineapple. I bought one on Wednesday and I have one bowl left to eat. I had 3 bowls in one day. Officially a real pregnancy craving? I think so. 

Queasy or sick: None

Anything making you queasy or sick: None

Looking forward to: our ultrasound

Belly Button in or out? Still in but flatter than last week
Wedding rings on or off? On

Will I be keeping the pink outfit or the green outfit???

Fresh Pineapple for days....

I seriously have the best co-workers ever... 

I get a little present in my mailbox for an anonymous co-worker once a week. It seriously makes my day every time. Last week it was the above bath ducky. This week it was a homemade dishcloth and scrubby with the note "clean up for 3". Insert swoon here.....

So cheers to an awesome weekend and a Monday that comes quickly with a baby whose ready to reveal it's gender! I've never looked forward to Monday so much on a Friday in my life. #ababychangeseverything 

Week 18 Bumpdate

We'll get to the Bumpdate rather quickly this time, then I will share my thoughts about labor and delivery. I just had my 2nd Birth Centering Group session last night and I need to put my thoughts down before I forget.

Baby has also been doing some serious triple sow cows in my uterus the past 12 hours. I give you a score of 10 Baby. Every time. 

How far along:  18 weeks

Gender: 11 more days away I can hardly wait!  

Weight gain: 6lbs

Maternity clothes: nope

Sleep: When I actually sleep it's great. When I'm tossing and turning it's not so great. 

Best moment this week: Sharing baby's heartbeat with my Momma

Worst moment this week: Sleeping and heartburn are real buggers these days

Miss anything: At this point I cannot say that I do. 

Movement: mini flutters when I least expect it

Cravings: Lemon hummus. We had this at Group and let me tell you...it combines my love of lemon, with the healthy vegetable asset...I could eat a whole tub. 

Queasy or sick: No

Anything making you queasy or sick: no

Looking forward to: Our first and only ultrasound. Getting pictures and a gender to share with family, friends and coworkers 

Belly Button in or out? Oh the turn of events this week in the belly button department. It's getting flatter each day which I find hilarious and amazing. It's also a bit more sensitive at times. 

Wedding rings on or off? On

So this week in our Centering Group we talked about changes in our body during pregnancy. We were able to see a side cut out of the female body at 20 weeks, 30 weeks and 40 weeks about and oh the changes the body has to make to accompany Baby. We also talked about our grievances this far in pregnancy. Heartburn, back ache, swelling feet, acne, mood swings, itchy skin etc. And we talked about each one, why it happens and what we can do to keep discomfort at a minimum. I was able to add to the group discussion with my woes but I also found myself saying "nope not me at all" for some things. For instance, they say the first trimester is the most exhausting and in the second trimester you get your energy back but for me I feel it's reversed sometimes. I was barely tired in my first trimester but now at 18 weeks even washing dishes wears me out. The other thing that was asked is if we've gone up bra sizes or bought maternity clothes. Most of the women said yes, I said no. Some women expressed their cravings but I have yet to have the same craving for more than a day. (right now it's lemon hummus and I'm pretty sure that's going to stay a while but I'll probably forget all about it tomorrow. Let's be honest)

Towards the end of the group we started discussing next months topic of relaxation and preparing for baby. We talked a little about how to relax and a tiny bit of what to expect for labor in terms of what your pelvis goes through. During this whole point of discussion I felt like I was jumping up and down inside because right now and for the last few weeks the thought of labor and delivery excite me. Like super excite me. I'm excited to see how I cope with the pain. How I move through contractions. How I breathe and focus on breathing to get me through. Different positions I'm anxious to try during labor. The thought of contractions and being on deaths door in terms of pain does not, at this point scare me because I know in the grand scheme of things the time of labor is so short. You go through this miserable, painful, excruciating time but as my midwife put it "you get a prize at the end!" and I feel that if I know my body how I think I know my body, if you tell me to do something (push, breathe etc) that I will do it for as long as you tell me and exactly how you tell me as long as I'm promised a reward. I'm like a puppy I guess. Want me to sit for 24 hours straight and you'll give me a single treat? Done.

Growing up and spending 5 years of my life in the chair of my orthodontist was miserable. But I knew that if I brushed like he told me, avoided eating certain things and came in for my regular appointments I would get fabulous teeth. I was able to keep it up for 5 years because I knew the prize was bigger than the pain. In so that is my thought on labor, the prize is bigger than the pain. It's mind over matter completely. So on this day you can mark my words that the thought of labor excites me. But this does not mean I won't change my mind at hour 21 (ok more like hour one and my first contraction probably) when I'm exhausted beyond all means and want to give up. I probably will. Even the most prepared, strong and determined women are taken down a notch with labor. No one is above it. You can be trained in every aspect of it. Go through it more than once. Have tons of tricks up your sleeves but you're not above it. It will hurt but that baby has to come out one way or another. But it's worth it. It's so worth it. 

Week 17 Bumpdate

So I went grocery shopping this week, did Yoga 3 times and felt baby growing. I was sitting on the couch one night and I just felt SO full. Like I just ate the Captains Feast at Red Lobster with a side of those delicious biscuits and followed it up with ice cream. That's pretty full. But I didn't eat that much. I ate my normal size dinner. I later learned that's a sign that baby is growing - feeling extremely full because the uterus is growing and thus moving all other organs, including the stomach, around to make room. That's OK baby...I didn't need those organs anyway. You just take as much room as you need. 

How far along:  17 weeks

Gender:  A mystery for 3 more weeks....drag               

Weight gain: 6lbs I actually got tired of doing math when I stepped on the scale so I wrote up a chart with the number on the scale = how many pounds gained. This will also serve double purpose for when baby is out and I'm trying to loose. 

Maternity clothes: No but sometimes I wish I did have some

Sleep: Restless. I toss and turn all night. I'm lucky if I get 4 solid hours. At least when Baby gets here I'll have a reason to be up every few hours. 

Best moment this week: Everyone noticing my bump! I also received my very first "belly pat" this week. As a girl whose dreamed of being pregnant for years it was adorable but I know it will get old. Fast. 

Worst moment this week: Trying to squeeze into jeans that - I need to admit - just don't fit anymore. I did go shopping for bigger jeans so I guess I need to start breaking those in now...sigh. 

Miss anything: Testing cookie, brownie, and cake batter with my finger...lets be honest. Thats the best part of baking. 

Movement: itty bitty feather-y feelings but nothing big

Cravings: Lemon anything. Finally bought ingredients for a lemon bundt cake ("a boondt cake!" if you watch My Big Fat Greek Wedding, "oh it's a cake with a hole in the middle!!") but I'm afraid to make it because I know I'm going to eat most of it. 

Queasy or sick: nadda

Anything making you queasy or sick: nadda - but the heartburn is serious business. 

Looking forward to: My next Dr. Appt at which my Momma will join me.

Belly Button in or out? In
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy with a dash of sad sometimes

Also this week I've noticed a new excitement in my Husband about Baby. I think it's because I'm officially showing and he is realizing it's really happening. (Don't worry honey, up until a week or two ago I had my doubts too!). But his newest thing is instead of tickling or poking me he tickles and pokes my stomach i.e. the Baby. This also happened the other day with my niece who wanted to tickle the Baby. I told her that Baby couldn't tickle her back so I would do it instead. The mind of a 3 year old is truly fascinating to me! 

This poor baby is going to come out ready to face a family who is very hands-y. We poke, tickle, tease, and wet willy each other all the time. It's our way to show affection. Oh just wait Baby, your grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins are going to have a ball with you!

Week 16 Bumpdate

For some reason Week 16 was one I was looking forward to for a while now. Maybe it's the beginning of when you may feel movement, or it means you're already 4 months down and 5 to go or for most this is when clothing becomes tight around the bump - and crazy as I am - I was looking forward to that moment. I'm not sure but here we are week 16 almost done. Crazy.

At the beginning of this week the Husband and I went with my parents and Nephew to the nearby National Park for some hiking. Such beautiful landscape around us that I've never seen before and lived in Ohio most all my life. However in pregnancy you gain 50% more blood in your system and for me I thought "Ok yeah that's no big deal. I was in shape before pregnancy I'll be fine". This lie came to face me full on when I was hiking back up the hill to get to the car. I was breathing like I had just run 3 miles, in the heat, no breaks, no conditioning. It was rough. My poor heart. My poor baby's heart. But I checked my heart rate and I was under (not by much) the 140 beats. Still, That 50% more blood in your system is no joke.

I was also doing a prenatal workout video with an Instructor whom I've followed for a while now who was also pregnant during the video. We were (almost) gasping for breath and the workout wasn't even that hard. Don't you just love it when the leader of the video goes "man that was hard" or "wow I'm really out of breath" during your workout? It made me feel like we were equal because she was struggling as much as I was. I took so many breaks during that 30 minute workout. No shame.

Ok, enough with my "I work out while pregnant" stories. Here is the information you really came here for.

Hey look my skinny jeans still fit! They don't button but they fit!

How far along: 16 weeks

Gender: Baby                

Weight gain: 5lbs

Maternity clothes: Nope

Sleep: The 2am "call of the bladder" is back. Also I'm using a throw pillow to help me sleep at night. Between my legs, under my arm. Anywhere that is comfortable it goes. 

Best moment this week: This is more for last week but I'll talk about it now - movement! Baby A gave me a "hey I'm in here" one-milisecond feel of s/he moving. It was awesome. 

Worst moment this week: My jeans don't button. I knew this was coming and before this week I could squeeze into jeans but added the hair tie for extra comfort. Now it's all hair tie. All the time. Well if that's not considered the "worse" thing because it is a part of pregnancy I would say the constipation is terrible. 

Miss anything: Sleeping on my stomach it's going to be a long 5 more months.......welp

Movement: One milisecond but nothing since

Cravings: Fry pies which I indulged in today. I've been craving them for weeks now and broke down and bough two - one for the husband of course. 

Queasy or sick: no

Anything making you queasy or sick: no

Looking forward to: More movement!

Belly Button in or out? in
Wedding rings on or off? on


I've also been spending my spare time doing research for baby items like cribs, car seats, baby monitors etc. These two books I picked up at the library helped me a bit. I also made two lists "Baby must haves" and "Baby nice to haves" and the must have list is not as long as I thought it would be. Thereby confirming my original thought that Baby's don't need that much stuff.

And..because it's Friday and this quote fits me so much this week. 

Two bumpdates in one!

I was without my computer for a few days which is why week 14 is a week late and week 15 is just now being blogged about. Apologies to the masses. The masses who do not read my blog. Or who do and I'll never know.


15 Week Bumpdate

A baseball, an avacado, a fist, a lemon, an orange, a donut....I look at any of the apps or lists on my phone and these all are supposed to reflect the size of my baby this week. So since no one knows the exact size of baby Anderson I'm choosing to say it is the size of a donut. Because donuts are delicious and have all the right in the world so say my baby is that big.

I have always been in love with stripes on a pregnant woman. 

How far along:  15 weeks

Gender: 4 weeks until we find out!

Weight gain: 3lbs

Maternity clothes: Nope

Sleep: Recently I've been sleeping so well. Even skipping my 2am bladder emptying the past 2 nights which is thrilling for me. 

Best moment this week: Attending a family reunion proudly bumping it out!

Worst moment this week: Seeing a co-worker eating a turkey, cheese, pickle sandwich and trying not to drool. I'd kill for that sandwich right now. 

Miss anything: Said sandwich. And stomach sleeping

Movement: none

Cravings: Milk. I drank 3 glasses in one day. Baby Anderson's bones must be growing!!

Queasy or sick: Neither

Anything making you queasy or sick: No

Looking forward to: Movement!

Belly Button in or out?  in
Wedding rings on or off?on
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy for the most part

*but wait, there's more!*

14 Week Bumpdate

Oh week 14, you have come and gone already. Wow. This picture was taken on date night and we were heading to Red Lobster so I could eat my fish quota for the week. I previously knew that maxi dresses are fashion's gift to women but I bought this one that day and didn't want to take it off. It shows my bump but doesn't cling. It's amazing. 

Also, mood swings got the best of me this night. Dinner was miserable as I was almost keeled over in pain from gas all throughout my mid-section. Even after using the restroom twice nothing was resolved. I just wanted to leave and go home. So after we leave the restaurant I started feeling a tad better (murphy's law right?) and we get the car, I close the door and bawl. I just loose it right there. Leftovers and purse on my lap. Hand still on the door handle. Bawling. You may think I was crying because of the pain but by now it had subsided. I was just crying because hormones made me incredibly sad. My poor sweet husband asked me what was wrong and when I answered "Nothing" he simply put the car in drive to take us home. He didn't console me or try and decypher my problem. He was perfect. He let me cry it out and when the worst was over he held my hand. This is all I want sometimes and he read my mood perfectly. 

How far along:  14 weeks

Gender: Still a baby I think               

Weight gain: 2lbs

Maternity clothes: no

Sleep: Good besides the 2am call of the bladder

Best moment this week: Attending my first "Pregnancy Centering" group. Basically a support group for moms. They had snacks. That was one of the main reasons I went. Not ashamed.

Worst moment this week: Finding out in said Centering group that I had no symptoms the other women had. I felt like "Wait am I even pregnant? My midwife would tell me if I wasn't right?"

Miss anything: Same as every other week

Movement: none

Cravings: Golden grahams cereal. 

Queasy or sick: no

Anything making you queasy or sick: No

Looking forward to: Finding out the gender!

Belly Button in or out?  in
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy. Besides my random bawling sessions. 

So there you have it. Two weeks in one. Booyah Batman. 

Week 13 Bumpdate

This week has truly flown! I feel like I cannot get a grip on life and I have to hang on by my fingertips and let my legs dangle behind me. You know the feeling. Week 13 was good to me. I spent hours watching Youtube videos titled "Baby items I regret buying" and I wasn't expecting the consensus that I received. From the 12-18 videos I watched I created a list of at least 18 items that mothers have found to be useless. And even though I don't have a child yet, I agree with every one of the items. My philosophy - if they didn't have it to use 30 years ago - why do I?

I set my mind in the beginning to be a mommy minimalist - to not be so weighed down and overwhelmed by all the baby items out there that people, society, other mothers tell you they loved or "I wish I had THAT when I had kids". Don't get me wrong, the baby companies have made huge strides in products that really do help. Come on... breast pumps? That was pretty genius. But an all-in-one baby food/spoon gadget? Not so genius in my opinion. I did flip to the other side of the coin and watched "Baby items I cannot live without" videos and after a handful of 12-15 minute long videos I found that 1. People love to rave about items or tell stories about their friend "Jill" who loved said item and 2. Babies don't need many things. Which I already kind of knew.

But I digress. Let's get to the Bumpdate for 13 weeks. Baby is the size of an Espresso Cup. How cool and amazing is that? I'm pretty determined to find things that reflect baby's size that are not food related.

Hair. Makeup. Clothing. A complete 180 from last weeks picture. #lazy

How far along: 13 weeks

Gender: baby

Weight gain: 2lbs

Maternity clothes: Nope

Sleep: Sleep was rough for a while. I found only 2 positions that I was comfortable in. But right now that has passed and I'm more comfortable and trying to enjoy these last precious weeks of stomach sleeping. 

Best moment this week: Hearing the heartbeat!!!! Also Telling my co-workers. Specifically one who has been telling me for the past 3 months that she cannot wait until I'm pregnant. You do the math. She called it just as it happened. Weird. 

Worst moment this week: I got my first dose of baby heartburn. Mild but still hurts. 

Miss anything: Raw cookie dough still and a nice cold deli meat sandwich. With crunchy lettuce, cheese, a slice of pickle, a little mayo. Oh good heavens yes. 

Movement: none but counting down the weeks until it arrives!

Cravings: Ice cold drinks

Queasy or sick: none. I think I'm passing that stage. Knock on wood. 

Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope. I was finally able to go grocery shopping by myself for the first time in 3 months without getting nauseous. Score. 

Looking forward to: Feeling flutters

Belly Button in or out? In
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: I try to be happy most of the time. But I find my fuse is shorter these days. 

I mentioned that I told my coworkers about baby and I was met with 99% "Congratulations", "So excited for you" and so on and so forth. However I was also given a recommendation for a pediatrician and then told "Now you can start saving for College". Wonderful. The child isn't even born, let alone starting pre-school and I should be planning for College. This is how people get so sucked into life they miss all the important things. Well baby Anderson, let's just get you into this world and then we'll take things as they come. 

Also, here are some items I'm pretty set on getting for baby. The two carriers are up for discussion and a look at finances when the time comes but one or the other will be bought. Pay no attention to the gender-neutral (mostly boy looking) colors here. They are the most gender neutral I could fine. Except for the Ergo - Turquoise is my color yo. 

1. Ergobaby Original in Teal - this is the one I strive to have but there are equally good ones for half the price. Which let's be honest have a better chance ending of up in my cart. 

2. Baby K'Tan Wrap - it's a pre-wrapped baby wrap. How easy is that?

3. Aden Anais Muslin Blankets - muslin blankets are my jam!

4. Fisher-Price Rock and Play Sleeper - I don't necessarily need one that rocks, sings, vibrates, walks the dog etc but this is how most of them come. I will probably end up getting one I have to rock by hand. Oh the humanity!!

Until next week my friends...

Week 12 Bumpdate

This week was a somewhat milestone as we announced our pregnancy to the world aka made it "Facebook Official". We are so blessed to be surrounded by so many family and friends that are excited with us and looking forward to Baby Anderson's arrival with us! Everyone you hear talk about their pregnancies say it flies by with the exception of last few weeks I guess and I honestly didn't believe them. But now I'm 12 weeks in, Approximately 27 or 28 to go and it now seems like it's going by fast. Thinking about things in terms of weeks instead of days or months makes it seem like less time to go. Oh baby baby! 

Oh and yes, part of my bangs are pink. Booyah. I feel like a rock star. 

I spy a teeny tiny bump...!

How far along: 12 weeks

Gender: alien?

Weight gain: 2lbs

Maternity clothes: nope but the hair tie trick is my best friend sometimes.

Sleep: still sleeping well

Best moment this week: announcing it to the world!

Worst moment this week: the stuffy noise I've had for a few weeks now has officially worn out its welcome 

Miss anything: I've never had sushi before in my life but for some reason I have a hankering for it. weird

Movement: none

Cravings: sushi? But mostly I'm still craving raw cookie dough. And the taste of a margarita to be honest. I'm going to start binge eating margarita jelly beans to get my fix. 

Queasy or sick: feeling fab!

Anything making you queasy or sick: nope

Looking forward to: hearing baby Anderson's heartbeat with the husband

Belly Button in or out? In
Wedding rings on or off? On. I hope they stay on for my whole pregnancy but should my fingers become tiny sausages I have my Great Grandmother's ring that is 2 sizes to big and I plan to wear it during my labor. 
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy go lucky

Oh and I came across this shirt last week from Motherhood Maternity and fell in love. And it's on sale! I might just have to try and find it at the mall tomorrow. 

I also wanted to thank everyone who text, posted, or told me in person their congratulations and excitement. You make my heart so happy!