Week 18

How Far Along: 18 weeks

Total Weight Gain/Loss: I think I may take away this little portion soon.  I'm avoiding the scale like the plague, although I will have to face my fears Monday when I go to the doctor. 

Maternity Clothes: I got some maternity jeans this past week when I was off for Thanksgiving break and hallelujah amen they are amazing! So much more comfortable. A few weeks ago I went to Motherhood Maternity and was less than impressed with their jean selection, however, the other day I just happened upon a maternity section in Ross and it's great! The jeans feel just like my regular ones, except with a giant, elastic panel. :)

Gender: almost time! 

Name: After we reveal to our families next Saturday the gender we will also tell the name. Still trying to decide on a boy and girl middle name. Who knew Ryan had such strong opinions on this!?

Movement: I think so! For about a week I kept feeling this weird sensation in my stomach but didn't know if I could really say for sure whether it was movement or not. After describing it to my mom and realizing that it really only occurs when I'm sitting or still, I've pretty much decided that it's the baby moving around in there. I can't wait for Ryan to be able to feel it as well. 

Sleep: Pretty good. My go to sleep position is on my back, so I'm trying to keep that down to a minimum and stay on my sides.  

What I miss: Not much

Cravings: No big cravings this week. 

Best Moment This Week: Feeling the baby move. (and those stretchy jeans after Thanksgiving dinner were also pretty nice)

Thankful

Maybe it's my hormones, but more than ever I feel as if I have so much to be thankful for this year. 

I am thankful for my job.
I have made some of the sweetest friends, like Rebeca, who encourage me, bring yummy homemade enchilada leftovers for me to have at lunch, and know what I mean when I say that I am going to lose my mind if I hear one more person tattle. Three years ago when I was desperately looking for a job, I couldn't imagine how perfectly things would fall into place. I work at a school where I love my coworkers and more than anything those sweet kiddos I get to spend every day with.

I am thankful for our home.
 I think so many times I get caught up in wanting our house to look perfect; I focus on the rooms that still need to be decorated, the counters I want to redo and the paint that still needs to be touched up that I forget how lucky we are to even have a home.

I am thankful for my family.
(and my amazing mother and father in law, too!)
I can't wait to see my parents become grandparents and know that our baby is going to be so, so lucky to have so many people love him/her.

I am thankful for my husband.
There was an article floating around the internet a few months ago written by a women who said that she didn't believe God designed one perfect person for anyone. And while I do think that there are a number of men who could have fit the bill for my husband, I do wholeheartedly believe that God had a hand in putting Ryan and I together. I am thankful for all Ryan does for our family and I can't imagine doing life with anyone else.
Plus, there isn't anyone else who would put up with my crazy. :)

I am thankful for our baby. 

My pregnancy has been a dream so far and I cannot even put into words the joy it brings me to know that there is a precious little baby growing inside me. I can't even type any more on that topic or I'll become a crying mess and I've already done my makeup today. :)

But more than anything I am thankful for Jesus. 

I am thankful for my Saviour who not only gave His life for me, but has blessed me beyond measure. I pray that I always have a spirit continuously praising and thanking Him for his faithfulness, love and undeserving grace. Homes, husbands, children and loved ones are all just the icing on the cake, because if we truly know Jesus then we understand that He is all we need in this life.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Week 17

Sorry for the sleepy eyes, this was taken right before I left to teach Sunday school. 

How Far Along: 17 weeks (I skipped week 16 because, well, nothing had really changed and I also couldn't manage to take a decent picture. Call me vain...whatevs)

Total Weight Gain/Loss: + 4 pounds (give or take a few) 

Maternity Clothes: Still just my trusty ole Bella Band

Gender: T-minus 11 days! 

Name: We've got one for each gender! 

Movement: none yet

Sleep: Has been ok...nothing to write home about. I was already a frequent wake-up-and-pee'er so now it's even worse. 

What I miss: I am dying for an adult beverage. I think it's mainly because I know I can't have it, because I would go weeks without one before getting pregnant. 

Cravings: I hit another low point in my pregnancy/life this past week when Ryan and I went to Cici's after church. If you remember I talked about my previous low point here . I may have taken two pieces of BBQ pizza (my absolute favorite) with me in my purse. Ryan was mortified. I wish I could say I regret it, but I kinda wish I would have taken more. :) 

Best Moment This Week: Momma got a new car! Post coming soon! 

Week 15

How Far Along: 15 weeks 

Total Weight Gain/Loss: + 4 pounds...guess those cheeseburgers and chocolate donuts are catching up. 

Maternity Clothes: none yet. I am planning on going to get a few things this weekend. 

Gender: we will find out on December 2nd! 

Name: We've got one for each gender! You'll have to wait and see! :)

Movement: none yet

Sleep: I've been sleeping great this week and have held off on my urge to buy one of those pregnancy pillows. So far I'm just using two pillows on either side...quite clever, right?! ;)

What I miss: Nothing really

Cravings: I'm still on the pickle kick, but this week I haven't had any other really strong cravings.

Best Moment This Week: I had a doctor's appointment on Tuesday, so it was nice to hear the heartbeat again. I also go to schedule our sonogram to find out the gender! The countdown is on until December 2nd! 

Gimme the Pickles

I'm just going to be honest and throw something out here...before I got pregnant I thought pregnancy cravings were a bunch of hokey. (yes, that word is hokey...like in the hokey pokey. I have a very refined vocabulary)

I knew that they were real, but I didn't think they could be so random and so very I HAVE TO HAVE IT THIS VERY SECOND OR I WILL NOT SURVIVE like.

My very first pregnancy craving hit in the middle of Wal-Mart. I had run in to buy some apples for a taste test we were going to be doing in class the next day and somehow happened upon the pickle isle. Suddenly I felt as if I needed to have those pickles and I needed them right that second. I snatched up a jar and purchased them along with a few other things. Now, here is where the story takes a turn...

When I got into my car I realized that I was still thinking about those pickles. So obviously-I turned on the car, grabbed the jar, opened it and sat right there in that parking lot and ate devoured 3 pickles. It may have been a low point in my life. I mean for Heavens sake! My house was 15 minutes down the road!

My pickle obsession continued on until a few weeks later I took it to the next level. Ryan walked in the kitchen to find me doing this:

Drinking the juice.

 I wish I could say this was a one time occurrence, but sadly I have done this several more times. #sorrynotsorry

This past weekend I came face to face with my problems when I moved a few things around in the refrigerator only to find that I had four jars! I think somewhere there is a rule stating that if you have more than two jars of pickled objects in your refrigerator you are either a redneck or have an obsession. I'll stick with the latter.

Y'all are just gonna have to love me through it. 

Week 14

*this is a bit late...I was actually 14 weeks on Wednesday

How Far Along: 14 weeks 

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Do people really lose weight during pregnancy?! I am not that person for sure. I go to the doctor Tuesday, so we shall see. 

Maternity Clothes: none yet. I do have a Bella band and have worn that with my jeans several times. Most jeans still fit, but are getting a bit uncomfortable. For the most part I can still hide my tiny bump pretty well. 

Gender: I am 95% sure it's a boy, but we won't be able to find out until mid-December

Name: We've got one for each gender! You'll have to wait and see! :)

Movement: none yet

Sleep: Besides getting up to go to the bathroom a million times, I've been sleeping pretty well. This past week I've had some allergies which have kept me awake for a few hours a night, but hopefully that goes away soon. 

What I miss: Being able to drink cokes or take an allergy pill without feeling like I'm poisoning our baby! Even though my doctor has already told me not to worry about drinking a Diet Coke once a day and even given me a list of meds ok to take, I still do. 

Cravings: Food in general :) cheeseburgers, pickles, turkey sandwiches, and poptarts have been constantly on my mind. Of course I never wanted to eat sandwiches until I got pregnant and now I constantly want Subway. I've been avoiding the lunch meat though due to the listeria factor. So annoying.

Best Moment This Week: Ryan and I are going to look at cars today. I don't really look forward to a car payment, but I'm excited to have something bigger to fit all the stuff that comes along with a tiny baby! Not to mention having a four door vehicle will be awesome!  

Catching Up...

I haven't been posting these weekly updates since it was still so early in the pregnancy, but now that we are into the second trimester it's time to do a little catching up!

After our first doctor's appointment 

(I already feel like I was so much skinnier. Lord help me cause I've still got a LONG way to go!)

We had our first officially appointment at 9 weeks where we got to see that sweet baby for the first time. The doctor said everything was measuring perfectly and the heartbeat was at 175. One of the best parts (besides seeing our baby) was Ryan's reaction. I can't wait to watch him as a dad. 

(in addition to watching my face get larger, you can also see my roots grow out at an alarming rate!)

So if you're a bit confused as to why is says baby G instead of baby D it is because Ryan and I have already decided on a boy and girl name...and ironically both names begin with the letter G. 

I've been going back and forth as to when to start the weekly updates, but figured I might as well. I know one day I will enjoy looking back on this exciting time in our lives, so get ready for more weekly baby G lovin'!