Bumpdate: 13 Weeks

Written: 16 November

13 Weeks

Size of baby: Peach

Pregnancy Symptoms: Weird straining muscle feelings in my abdomen

Things that make me nausea: Still damn meat

Cravings: Sprite and sour foods

Sleep: Back up to 8 hours, peeing 2 hours now before I have to wake up :(

Exercise: Crossfit 3 days a week, yoga once a week, running once/twice a week

Baby Movement: None

Weight Gain: Up to this point, 3 pounds!


Last week in our first trimester.  1/3 the way down!  This milestone makes me incredibly excited because we're out of the dark (mostly) for miscarriages, but also gets me a little scared because already 1/3 of this journey is over!  I can feel myself start to panic about not having things ready for him/her yet, silly right!  But nonetheless still happening.

This week I have been reflecting a lot on my husband and I.  Probably because I'm seeing him finally in a week!  I'm so thankful that we waited for this.  I always knew I wanted to be a mother.  I just didn't really know when.  By the time this miracle makes an appearance into this world we will  have been together for just shy of seven years, 5.5 of those years married.  We've definitely took advantage of our time with just us two.  We've literally traveled the world many times, paid off all our debt, both graduated college, went on hundreds of date nights, had thousands of sleep-in mornings, taken those spontaneous adventures, and I finally feel like we're ready for that most exciting adventure of all.  I'm beyond grateful for the memories we've made before this kid, because we wouldn't be as strong, stable and so sure that we're ready to take this on without that time.

Now we look forward to different adventures like first steps, first family photos, first family vacations.....

You are our greatest adventure.

Bumpdate: 12 Weeks

Written: 11 November

Size of baby: Plum

Pregnancy Symptoms: Face break-outs bad, sore breasts, muscles in stomach straining

Things that make me nausea: Dog poop (had to scoop the yard) and meat

Cravings: Mexican food, tengo hombre!

Sleep: Back up to 8 hours, no peeing in the middle of the night anymore

Exercise: Crossfit 3 days a week (the past couple weeks have been rough), yoga once a week, running once/twice a week

Baby Movement: None

Weight Gain: 3 lbs

I can't believe we're almost 1/3 the way through this already.  We can't wait to spill the beans on this secret, it's been a long time to wait.  Two more weeks.  We heard the heartbeat at my last appointment.  To say it was incredible is an understatement.  I recorded it for daddy, and we haven't stopped listening to it.  McBaby measured at 155 bpm, so my mom in convinced it's a girl.  As you can tell I'm slightly starting to FINALLY get a baby bump!  I'm at this akward stage though of just looking like I had too much queso, but I'll love it anyway.  My maternity ABU's came in this week as well.  Nothing is more flattering on a pregnant woman than maternity ABU's...detect my sarcasm?  Ah well, they're definitely more comfortable then the real ones!

I still haven't had to modify much workout wise.  I've noticed my cardio stamina is declining.  I can hardly do double unders (jump roping twice under on one jump) without breathing hard after 5 or so.  My running pace has steadily became slower as well, about 10:45 mins/mile now vs 10:15.  It's a lot harder mentally to gear up for the gym, but I'm really trying to make it a priority.  I haven't declined weight yet when I lift, but I'm soon going to be modifying that come my second trimester.

I've started cleaning out our middle bedroom to make room for the nursery.  It's weird thinking they'll be a nursery next door to our bedroom.  The task it daunting and slow going, but I've been in a nesting mood so it's working for me right now.  I have to get it all cleaned out before Dad comes home from school for Christmas break, because we'd like to paint and set up the baby furniture while he's home.

So far this 12 weeks has been amazing, can't wait for the next 28!

Bumpdate: 10 Weeks - Halloween!

Written: 1 November

Happy Halloween!

Size of baby: Prune

Pregnancy Symptoms: Face break-outs, fatigue, nails growing like crazy, ABU pants feeling tighter some days, sniffer like a hound dog

Things that make me nausea: Meat, smell of chewing tobacco and crab cakes

Cravings: CEREAL, cinnamon, green apples and Warheads

Sleep: 6-7 hours, waking up only once a night to pee so improvement!

Exercise: Crossfit 4 days a week, yoga once a week, running once/twice a week

Baby Movement: None

Weight Gain: None

I can't believe a fourth of this pregnancy is behind us already.  This week I celebrated Halloween with me, McBaby, Zeus, a couple pumpkins, scary movies and candy!  Last year we spent the holiday dressing up together in coordinating costumes and hitting a beach club with co-workers.  We partied into the night, drank and had a blast.  How a year can change you!

Halloween 2013

I had to finally breakdown and order my maternity ABU's this week.  On one hand it's exciting because I'm really looking forward to my bump coming in!  On the other hand I'm a little bummed because what woman likes having to buy bigger pants?  

My husband had another dream about our baby, this time it was a boy!  The man needs to make up his mind.  We've been discussing finding out the gender a lot lately.  He prefers to wait until the baby is born, but I want to find out while he's home for Christmas break.  We'll see who can break who down first!  I really miss him and wish he were here.  Not so much for my own selfish reasons, but for him.  We knew this could be a possibility when we started this adventure, so we know we asked for it.  It still makes it hard when he can't come to any of the appointments or see us grow/change each week.  So instead he gets many many photos and updates!

I did a couple things these last weeks that if I weren't pregnant wouldn't be a big deal, but since I am I'm fiercely proud of myself.  I figured I'd toot my own horn a bit!

1) I worked 72 hours in 6 days for a huge exercise at work at 9 weeks pregnant.  Normally this hasn't phased me too much in the past, but this year the fatigue has hit me hard with the baby.  I did it with my troops and kept my complaints to a minimum.  Small victory but I'll take it!

2) In Crossfit I participated in a fundraiser for breast cancer, Barbells for Boobs.  The classic WOD for this is Grace.  Grace is 30 clean and jerks at 95lbs (prescribed female weight) for time.  I've ever tried Grace, but I thought, what the hell?  If I feel strained, I'll stop.  I even tried it RX (at 95#s).  I started going and all I felt was this huge rush of energy!  Next thing I know I'm finally finished.  I RXd Grace for the first time at 4:10!!  I was third in our gym for females for fastest time RX.  Not only did I kill it, but I did it 9 weeks pregnant.  Big victory for the Crossfit Mom-to-be!

I also bought my first maternity shirt this week, which for some reason like the first ultrasound, makes this seem just a little more real.

We also received our first McBaby gift from a best friend, do babies really come this little!?

Bumpdate: 7 -8 Weeks

Written: 10 Oct 

Size of baby: Blueberry

Pregnancy Symptoms: Sensitive breasts, mild periodic cramping, HUNGRY, fatigue, pee every 30 minutes, sense of smell like a werewolf!

Things that make me nausea: Meat and chili

Cravings: Sprite, pickles, queso, chocolate milk and cereal

Sleep: 8-9 hours + naps when I can, waking up 2-3x a night to pee :(

Exercise: Crossfit 4-5 days a week, yoga once a week, running twice a week

Baby Movement: None

Weight Gain: None

These last couple weeks have been full of new changes to my body, so much that I almost feel out of control.  I've known my body for 26 years, and all of a sudden it's experiencing things I've only read about in books. I had a big scare a few days ago when I woke up to some bright red spotting.  Luckily it only last for a minute, then it turned to brown for a couple of days.  I immediately called my OB and she asked me a couple questions and eventually put my mind at ease.  I know some woman experience it during their normal pregnancy, but it still doesn't stop your heart from panicking when you see it for the first time.

Exercise has been a challenge since my motivation has suddenly zapped.  I'm always SO tired that hitting the gym is the last task I want to do after working all day, but I know it's important.  I have found a new love for yoga, especially after a stressful day at work.  I've become really picky on what I eat after ready that awful long list in all those pregnancy books about what not to eat.  Initially it's terrifying!  I'm constantly reading labels, making sure my dairy is pasteurized, counting my tuna ounces for the week (I used to eat 12oz/week!), and monitoring my caffeine intake.

Kit had his first McBaby dream this week that it was a girl.  Time will tell!

Physically nothing changed, but here's a fun picture I took marking 8 weeks along!

We're Expecting a McBaby!

That aint no Etch-A-Sketch.  This is one doodle that can't be undid, Homeskillet.

I still can't believe it.  This crazy chapter started on 12 September.  I woke up and after already peeing on a couple tests a couple days before (negative), I decided I had one left in my 3-pack box, so why not.  I set it on the sink and walked back into my room with no expectations.  What's one more negative?  I walked back in to check and to my surprise....

First try is a charm!

TWO LINES!?!  Holy F*cking $h*t!!  That's all I could keep screaming the first five minutes, so loud Zeus had to run in to check on me!  I find it funny that in the past I've peed on these little fortune tellers and swore I'd be a perfect angel, change my ways, never cuss if only I can only have one line instead of two.  It feels much better to be on this side hoping for two and seeing exactly what you wished for.

Had to get big brother involved too!

Since we're basically in a long distance marriage for the time being, I knew that if this time came I couldn't tell him he was going to be a Dad for the first time ever over the phone.  That's just not my style.  Plus, this one is extra special.  This pregnancy makes him a father, and this only happens once.  See a future blog for how I broke the news to the new Dad!

I'm due 24 May 2015 which is perfect because my husband will just be finished with his first year of law school, and hopefully still have time to enjoy a few dates before the wee one arrives.  I'm 14 weeks along now!  We got pregnant on the first try, and prior to pulling the goalie I charted for about 6 months.  I learned all I know from the book, Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler.  I very highly recommend this book because it teaches you how to naturally practice birth control along with how to best achieve pregnancy when you're ready.

8 Week Ultrasound

We told both our families when I flew to Oklahoma for Thanksgiving.  It was the HARDEST secret to keep, but we couldn't resist the opportunity to tell our loved ones face to face.  Since I live far away I've really come to appreciate the value of face to face experiences, and the timing was perfect.

My in-law's surprise!

My Dad's gift, my mom got one too!

We're both so incredibly excited for our new chapter to begin.  After almost five years of marriage we both feel we've had our time together to travel the world, load up on date nights, sleep in countless mornings, build our relationship up and get quite a bit of life experience under our belts.  I couldn't be more lucky to turn this new page with my husband.  I can't wait to see him hold our child for the first time.  He definitely melts my heart with each kiss he lays on my belly.

We're Going To Be Parents!!!!

Labor Day Weekend 2014

This labor day, like last year, brought the opportunity to return back to Oklahoma!  Except this time I was visiting my husband instead of readying for his homecoming.  First stop, to lay eyes on my husband's new home for the next three years!

His trailer is actually nicer than our one bedroom we lived in in Texas!  The park he's located in is wooded, near the river and easy access to the highway.  This will be something I know we'll chuckle at later in life!

The first day I visited I dropped into a crossfit gym in town, thank you 918 Crossfit!  Had to get my hands on a barbell.

Then my law student showed me around his new campus.  We even got a look at his law building, The Pit, and their courtroom where they hold actually proceedings at.  It all felt really intimidating!  He even has his own locker, hasn't used one since grade school.

Fancy lockers!

Courtroom

Selfie <3

That night we visited our best friends, their two adorable children and stole away for a girl's night!  It was SO needed!  A lot has happened in the last 6 months and we needed this time to catch up desperately.

Uncle Kit and Aunt Andie lovings

I love this woman.

Saturday was our college's first football game of the year, so we headed to campus to wonder around, visit our old homes and watch the game on The Strip.  My dad and little brother even joined us, Go Pokes!  Stillwater, OK will always feel magical to us.  It doesn't matter how much is changes, or how long since we've been away.  We get butterflies in our stomachs, smiles on our faces as wide as Texas, and can't help but reminisce on our college years together here.  Our story began here, and this place will always be special to us.

<3

Go Pokes!

Thought of our bestie Brie!

Sunday morning we met some awesome friends of ours, The Fowlers, for breakfast.  I loved catching up with Elle and her family in person, because often a cell phone just doesn't cut it.  Their daughter Evelyn had us rolling with laughter most of the time!  She's definitely another reason I'd love to move back to Oklahoma!

Later that afternoon we reunited with my husband's old Army crew and their families.  We both agree that family isn't about who you share blood/marriage certificates with.  It's who you love, depend on and can't live without.  These people are family to us, and always will be.  The kids were hilarious and the company was perfect.

She's a rider!

Cheese!

They loved taking pictures!

Selfie with my bubba!

She's so affectionate!

Uncle Kit playing trains, Jaxon insisted!

So serious

Tickle Tickle

Strong, Beautiful Army Wives

Our Lucky Soldiers 

The kids ALL looked at me and sat still for a photo! 

I also got my hair done with my lovely hairstylist who I've faithfully had since I moved to Stillwater for college in 2008. Lucky me she just moved to Tulsa too!  Did I mention she's amazing?  Last year she helped me cut off 12 inches before my husband's homecoming this time last year.  Crazy what a difference a year makes!

Left 2013, Right 2014
Labor Day 

She makes me feel beautiful every time.  I even got cat-called by my husband when he picked me up!

Overall the trip felt long and exactly what I needed.  My husband has only been away from home for about 3 weeks, but I will never pass up a chance to see his handsome face when I can.  Next big benchmark is Thanksgiving...is it November yet!?!?