Family is Nature's Greatest Masterpiece

Family is what it’s all about.  It really doesn’t get any better than surrounding yourself with your family.  At least for me, that’s the case.  My hub and I are blessed with the most incredible family – both his and mine.  And the past two weekends involved us being blanketed with love and fun from almost all of our favorite family members.  (To those of you who we weren’t able to see, we miss and love you!!)

As I stated in my last very brief, very disappointing post, we spent last weekend celebrating one of our nephew’s first birthdays.  We are fortunate enough that both my sister and hub’s sister BOTH live in Atlanta, which means when we travel to the chaotic, traffic-filled city, we are showered with slobbery kisses from BOTH nephews – the two coolest toddlers on the planet.  The big birthday celebration meant that hub’s parents were also in town, and though the time was short and jam-packed, it was so awesome spending time with them.

With this past Sunday being Easter, we ventured back down south to good ol’ Seneca for a weekend with my family.  Even some of our favorite northern relatives were in town!  (Though we desperately missed those who weren’t!)  I think we exceeded the legal capacity of my grandma’s condo, but who cares – we had a blast.  During both weekends, some of my favorite moments were simple, happening when everyone was sitting around the couches (or in grandma’s condo’s case, floors/doorways/kitchen tables/fireplaces/corners of the room/etc.).  Just talking, and laughing, and making fun of each other – the simple joys are what life is all about.

These two weekends really had me thinking emotionally about the family my hub and I are creating.  It blows my mind to really wrap my brain around the fact that we are creating a new generation.  That one day, we’ll be old, and a little more grey and wrinkly, with a houseful of grandchildren and cousins and loud laughter and the best kind of noise there is – family noise.  The kind of noise that makes a house feel warm, and full, and bright.  The kind of noise that, when it’s gone, leaves a house feeling as if it’s missing something.  The kind of noise that makes you feel so blessed to be part of the greatest masterpiece of nature – family.

So to all of my family members who read this, thank you for being the most selfless, supportive, incredible, unconditionally loving people I will ever know.  I am so lucky to be your daughter, daughter-in-law, sister, sister-in-law, cousin, niece, granddaughter… I’m just so lucky to walk through this life with you by my side. J

As for our family of soon-to-be-three, we’re doing just great.  Our little one is now the size of a navel orange, or a softball for you men who avoid the produce section.  My tummy continues to protrude, and got quite burnt this weekend during a brief pool visit.  (Note to self – buy 100+ sunscreen for the stretching belly skin!)  I also attempted to play a little tennis this weekend, realizing very quickly that my upper body doesn’t quite like to twist anymore.  Oops.

Pregnancy brain is starting to find its place in my life.  I realized this on Saturday when after about ten minutes of searching, I found my car keys in the freezer.  The funniest part about it was that my grandma was in the kitchen when I found them there, and she said, “Oh!  There they are!” So nonchalantly.  Like, “Of course they’re in the freezer!  I do that all the time!”  Oh, how I love my Gram.

My skin is still having it’s own little fiesta, and my hips feel like they’re going to break.  (Thank goodness for the pregnancy pillow my sister-in-law let me borrow!)  Other than the general everything-is-starting-to-spread-out and wow-my-cheeks-look-chubby-in-that-picture, I’m still just trucking along through the beginnings of the second trimester.  The nausea seems to almost be gone for good, except for when I take long car rides, or try to read in the car, or let my stomach get empty, or get too tired.  All controllable circumstances for the most part!  Our next appointment is this Friday, and we can’t wait to hear the beautiful sound of our baby’s strong heartbeat…  I can’t think of a better way to ring in the big 2-8. J

Hello 15 Week Baby Bump!  (I swear I'm not poking it out!)

It doesn't look quite as big covered up, huh?!

Too Busy!!!

As I referenced in my last post, life has picked up its pace and I feel like a chicken with my head cut off.  For this reason, I have no fun Week 14 post.  Other than a Top 5 list of why I’ve been so darn busy!

1.    We had a busy, fun-filled weekend in Atlanta with the two coolest toddlers in the world!

2.    The aforementioned fun-filled weekend involved celebrating one of our nephew’s birthdays!!

3.    This semester of grad school is coming to a close and therefore kicking my butt.

4.    My job is also now officially kicking my butt.

5.    Pregnancy is still sort of kicking my butt… But I’m finally starting to kick back.

14 Weeks!!

14 Week Bump (under one of many new maternity shirts!)

We're 1/3 of the Way There!

As I type this, I’m technically at the END of Week 13, which means…

         HELLOOOOOOOO 2^nd TRIMESTER!!!!!

         I’m so glad you’re here.

When I tell people I’m in my 2^nd trimester now, they’re like, “Oh wow!  Didn’t that go by so fast?!”  Um, no people.  It’s been the longest few months of my entire life.  Don’t you remember?  I was miserably sick.  And tired.  And expanding.  And MISERABLY SICK.  So no, it didn’t go by so fast.  The 1^st trimester was full of the slowest days I have ever experienced in my entire life.  And I am thrilled to bid it adieu.

So get the HECK out of here, and let the 2^nd tri wonderfulness commence.

You see, that’s what I keep hearing… that the 2^nd trimester is the absolute best.  You feel great, start to pop out a little baby bump (that looks less like a muffin top), and get that glow (that is not the result of nausea sweats).  I’m hoping this all happens soon!!  As I wrote previously, I have wanted to be pregnant my entire life.  The desire has been amped up since about September.  So when our dream came true, I was so excited to embrace and enjoy pregnancy in all its glory.

         Ha. Ha. Ha.

So now, I’m ready to truly embrace and enjoy being pregnant.  And I’m not going to sugarcoat it and say I’ve loved it so far – because truth is, it’s been the toughest few months of my entire life.  Physically, emotionally, and mentally.  I believe it all happens this way to prepare you for the extraordinary rollercoaster of motherhood, I’m just ready to enjoy it a little more – That’s all.

We had our monthly OB checkup last week, which was great.  There were a few more LBS on the scale than I anticipated, but I refuse to stress over weight gain so I’ve brushed it off and chalked it up to the water I chugged before the appointment.  We got to hear our precious baby’s heartbeat.  I got my awesome hub to record it, and just like the ultrasound dvd, I refuse to admit how many times I’ve listened to it or the attempts I’ve made to make it my ringtone.

I’m not sure how long this link will work, but you can check it out here!!

http://pictures.sprintpcs.com/share.do?invite=bEG44nYVzhaS48v7oh3U&shareName=MMS

I also bought a few items to add to my maternity clothes wardrobe, realizing that all of the spring/summer clothes I recently pulled out of storage won’t be fitting for too much longer.  We scheduled our next appointment – April 29^th!  Kate and William’s wedding!  (And my birthday!)  And we also scheduled our anatomy scan for May 19^th.  Now, we still don’t plan on finding out what our little booger is, but I have to admit that having the date set for when we COULD find out makes it a little more tempting to change my mind.  But, my hub would kill me and has already told me not to even think about pulling any sort of reverse psychology to try to change our Team Green plans.

I’ve been feeling about the same – still not 100%, but much, much better than weeks past.  My craving for the Ruby Tuesday’s salad bar was quickly replaced with that for grilled hotdogs, so I’ve had 4 in a matter of 36 hours.  And they were AMAZING.  I probably would have eaten more, but I realized my hub needed to eat, too.

So yay for the 2^nd trimester.  I am now anxiously awaiting those first kicks that I should feel in the next few weeks.  I swear I MAY have felt something last week.  I know, I know – it’s still WAY too early.  But I know which way the baby is facing right now, and I swear it felt like little tiny kicks.  But it was probably just gas.  At least, that’s what they tell me. J

13 Week Muffin Top Baby Bump!

13 Week Baby Bump Clothed

The Coolest Day

Friday was one of the coolest days of my life to date.  I’m sure a future of pregnancy and motherhood promises to bring many more – But for now, Friday almost tops it all.

We got to see our baby again.  But this time, it actually looked like a baby and not a fish.

We had our NT Scan on Friday, which is part one of a three-part screening that assesses the level of risk of chromosomal and/or genetic issues (Down Syndrome, etc.).  During the NT Scan, the ultrasound tech measures the fluid at the back of the baby’s neck, then combines those results with blood they drew Friday and more blood they will draw in about a month.  Anywho, we won’t have any results back for awhile.  But the good news is – There’s definitely a baby in there!

The ultrasound tech squirted the jelly on my stomach, started the machine, and there he/she was… And the tech’s first words were, “Wow, now that’s a big baby!”  Mind you, my husband was over ten pounds when he was born, so the fact that our little squirt was measuring a week big did not surprise me in the slightest bit.

After telling us how big he/she is the tech went on to say over and over again how active the baby is!  It took her awhile to get the measurements she needed, because OUR BABY (it feels so good typing that) kept kicking his/her little legs, flipping over, putting his/her hands up by his/her mouth… It was so incredible to see.  I cannot believe how much things have changed since our first ultrasound a month ago.

Also, I loved that it took her awhile, because I could have stared at that screen all afternoon.

And another also – it’s going to get annoying typing his/her for the next twenty-eight weeks, but it’s a small price to pay for a delivery room surprise.

So we got a few more pics of our little one…

A little blurry - But there's our sweet baby!!  From his/her head down to his/her little legs sticking straight out!

And, as I typed in a previous post, our doctor’s office is awesome and updates a dvd every time you have an ultrasound.  I’m tempted to walk up to random people on the street, flip open my laptop, and show them the ultrasound dvd, like “Look!!  That’s our baby!!”

         I think my hub and I have both been on Cloud 9 since Friday.  It sure is nice up here.

Along with an awesome day at the doctor’s office, I then headed to Charleston for the Cooper River Bridge Run.  A few years ago, my family decided to make this a tradition, and I had been looking forward to it for weeks.  Unfortunately, my hub couldn’t go because of work, so I trekked down south and east (luckily hitching a ride with my parents for part of the way) and had an AWESOME weekend.  I have an incredible family.  And the weekend went by way too quickly.  Baby Peele rocked his/her first Bridge Run walk, and all I kept thinking about was being there next year, pushing a stroller.

I continue to feel better, though I’ve noticed that when I’m overly tired, I revert back to the nausea-headaches-queasy-I’m-gonna-toss-my-cookies nonsense.  So after a long drive, a busy weekend, and sleepless nights, I’m struggling today.  But the weekend was totally worth it.

Also, I still don’t really have any specific cravings.  My food desires are more like, “Okay, I have to have this right now.”  (insert cheeseburger Happy Meal I walked out of McDonalds with after I only went into to relieve my ever-full bladder.)  But it’s not like there’s any food item I want over and over again.  Well, other than having to have the Ruby Tuesday’s salad bar on Friday and then again today when I got back into town.  I guess we’ll see if that sticks. 

Our next appointment is actually tomorrow (yippee!) for our monthly OB checkup.  I think they just weigh me (oh joy) and listen for the heartbeat.  We won’t get to see our little stinker again until the anatomy scan somewhere around twenty weeks (an ETERNITY away), so thank goodness for the dvd.

The second trimester continues to get closer and closer… I’m not necessarily looking forward to the next two months of my job, for they are the busiest and most stressful; however, there are certain parts of pregnancy you want to put on fast forward, just to get to more solid ground, so I’m hopeful that the busy weeks ahead will help me focus on something other than the little life growing inside of me.

I am so thankful always – but especially today.  For the incredible love and support of the man of my dreams, for the miracle that my hub and I are experiencing firsthand, for a family who makes me feel so special every time we are together, and for the answered and unanswered prayers from God.  He has a Plan… and while it may not always be clear, and while it may take awhile to unveil itself, the Plan is always there, waiting on us – waiting on us to realize just how the steps of our past promised to lead us to the brightness of our future.  We just have to Trust…

12 Week Baby Bump

12 Week Bump (under one of my new maternity shirts!)

Maybe Tom Cruise Wasn't So Crazy

I’m thinking maybe Tom Cruise wasn’t such a nut job when he had his own sonography machine in his house.  Honestly, I would love to have the ability to see our little one everyday, just to reassure myself that all is well in there.  And to convince myself that yes, indeed, I am really, really pregnant.

11 weeks – You’d think that after 11 weeks, an ultrasound, and hearing the heartbeat TWICE I’d be able to at least start wrapping my brain around the fact that there is a baby growing inside of me.  But no such luck.  I think it’s just me trying to guard my emotions, not letting myself get my hopes up.  But it’s starting to frustrate me.  Why can’t I just embrace this and let myself relish in the joy and excitement of it all?!

         Hormones.  I’ll blame it on hormones.

I guess hormones get the blame for all pregnancy ups and downs, so that’s what I’m going with.

Anywho, our last appointment was on March 11^th, and we are dying for the next appointment!!  Every time we have an appointment, I leave the doctor’s office feeling so excited, overwhelmed, and at peace at how things appear to be progressing.  This high seems to last a few days, then it begins to taper off, then the worry slowly creeps around the corner, until it’s staring me in the face.  And then I take a deep breath, and hold that breath until my next appointment – which will be our NT Scan on Friday (to check for any genetic issues) and then our monthly OB appointment next Monday.

         This is going to be a s-l-o-w week.

I’ve been feeling okay lately – And if you’ve read all of my previous posts, you know that feeling “okay” is a huge step here.  So I decided to try to do something sweet for my hub and actually plan a date for us (since he’s been so sweet).  So Saturday we went to the movies, and out to dinner.  I actually went into a restaurant.  Huge success.  It was really nice to feel like a normal couple for a few hours, even if it did leave me exhausted… It was totally worth it.  We even batted around a few name ideas, though we are nowhere near making a decision.  We have a loooong time to decide, though, since we won’t be finding out what our little one is until his/her birthday.

Speaking of our little one, he/she is now the size of a lime.  A lime, people!!  Wasn’t it just a few short weeks ago that I was excited about graduating to the size of an appleseed?!  Now we’re talking actual fruit, which is super exciting if I do say so myself.

I’ve been trying to continue to stay calm and at peace, convincing myself that this is all totally out of our control.  All I can do is try to take care of myself, not read into every twinge or lack of twinge, and trust that God made women’s bodies to do this.

And I’m also telling myself that the following five things should be enough evidence that yes, Jessie, you are knocked up.

1.     My pooch.  Still looking more like, “Wow, she’s really let herself go” and less like, “Awww, she’s got a baby bump” – But that’s okay.

2.     My skin.  It looks like that of a teenager at band camp.  ‘Nuff said.

3.     My starting to dissipate, but still randomly appearing nausea.  Like a constant hangover – minus the alcohol.

4.     My need for larger undergarments.  TMI, sorry.

5.     My inability to finish any food item I purchase at the grocery store.  As in, omigosh, I have to have this right now, but after I have a few bites, I can’t look at it ever again.  (See desk drawer pictures below… Embarrassing, but honest.)

Cheez-Its, Rice Cakes, Saltines, Ginger Cookies, Ritz Bits, and Peanut Butter.  But wait...

There's more... Sour Patch Kids, Sweet Tart chews, Trail Mix, Raisins, Oatmeal, a packet of mustard, Peeps...  I'm laughing out loud typing this.  Geez.

So on we go… I can see the second trimester on the horizon.  And while sometimes I feel like a cartoon character whose feet are running frantically, but aren’t getting anywhere, I am thrilled that we are at the end of Week 11.

And by the way, maybe Tom Cruise was a liiiittle crazy, because I just priced ultrasound machines, and they appear to start around $75,000.

11 Week Bump - No real change from last week!

11 Week Bump covered up - Go Tigers!

Mama Love

I have been waiting to see my mom since about 5:15am on Monday, January 31^st.  That was just about the time the second line popped up on the pregnancy test (I STILL can’t believe it!) – it was just about the time I woke up my dear husband to tell him that our lives had instantaneously changed – and it was just about the time that I craved a hug from my mama.  There’s something about realizing you’re going to be a mom that makes you want to see your own mom desperately.  It’s been a long month and a half.

But I finally got to see her!!!!!!  I went ~home~ this weekend for one of my oldest friend’s wedding, which meant a weekend with my mama.  All of the guys in my family were at their yearly boys’ golf weekend extravaganza, so some of us girls gathered in Columbia for our own get-together.  I anxiously waited at my mom’s house on Friday night for her to get home from work, and as soon as she walked in the door, all we could do was hug.  Man I have the best mom in the whole world.  I can only dream of being half the woman she is when I welcome our sweet pea into this world.

We had a GREAT weekend.  My sister, nephew, her sister-in-law, and her daughter all stayed at my mom’s house, which meant the ultimate weekend of toddlers-taking-over-the-house, tons of giggles-and-snotty-noses, the-best-kind-of-fun EVER.  All I could think the whole time was how I was surrounded by three incredible moms, and two awesome toddlers – and how I couldn't wait to have my own little one join the gang.

We got some sweet baby gifts – some precious little booties, onesies, a sleeper (with little yellow ducks all over it!), and more.  Man I love getting baby gifts!  Just because it continues to make it all feel like this is really going to happen… my dream is going to come true.

On Saturday night Mom and I headed to the wedding.  I squeezed myself into a black dress I bought over a month ago (which, when I zipped it up on Saturday, it fit quite a bit differently than it had a mere four weeks ago… My how things are spreading out!!)  I also purchased a four-inch pair of gold, sparkly heels to try to lift up my self-esteem (since I’m feeling a little less “glowy” and a little more “doughy” these days!).

The wedding was beautiful, and perfect, the way all weddings are when the right two people end up falling in love.  It was so awesome to see my high school girlfriends.  You know those friends who you may not see for months, even years sometimes – But then when you reunite, it’s like you were in the Commons of your high school just the day before, gossiping about the latest breakup?  Yeah, that’s how we are – But better.  I can’t wait to see them again!!!!

So the weekend was awesome, ending in a teary goodbye between my mama and me.  I can’t wait to see her (and the rest of my fam!) in two weeks!!!

When my hub finally got home from the golf weekend, he immediately came in and said, “Let me see the baby!”  So I got my lazy, doughy toosh off of the couch so he could see my “bump.”  (Which, after being around two gorgeous moms this weekend who are MUCH more pregnant than I am, I realize it’s possibly a little ridiculous to call what I have a “bump” – but oh well.)  He kissed our little one (which again, caused me to be teary-eyed – dang hormones!).  I can’t WAIT to see him be a dad.  He’s going to be the best.

So this past week has been pretty decent.  I continue to have some okay moments inbetween the miserable ones, so I continue to hope that I’m crawling out of the morning all-day sickness cave.  I haven’t had any cravings to speak of, just I-have-to-have-this-to-eat-right-this-second.  (Like the chicken McNuggets and fries I had to have TWICE in 48 hours this weekend… I haven’t had chicken McNuggets in 15 years!)  I think I’m going to order my first maternity clothes online tonight!!  It may be a bit premature, but my clothes are getting uncomfortable and I refuse to wait too much longer.

In the meantime, thank you for the continued thoughts and prayers for our prune-sized blessing.  We can’t wait until our next ultrasound, which will be our NT Scan on April 1^st.  Stay comfortable in there, little one!

10 Week Bump Sans Shirt

10 Week Bump Covered Up

Baby Peele Has Gone Public!

What a big week for Baby Peele!  He/she has gone public, and everyone knows our big news!  I can’t believe it’s not a secret anymore.  It’s almost bittersweet.  For awhile, it was like this private information between me and the hub – Our little secret… like we were in on the best news in the world, and not a soul knew.  We could look at each other from across a room, and we both knew what the other was thinking.  Now, though, it’s kind of nice to have EVERYONE (and I mean everyone!) know.  It makes it feel more and more like a reality.  I finally got to shout it from the rooftops!  (Or more like, I got to announce it at a staff meeting, and on Facebook… but hey, rooftop is up for interpretation.)

Wednesday was the big day for me to make our baby public knowledge.  We start every staff meeting at school with “Celebrations.”  Well, our principal asked me to start the Celebrations (she already knew), so I said, “Well, my hub finished grad school with a 4.0!!”  And everyone cheered… And then I snuck in, “And I’m pregnant!”  The cheers and claps were enough to make me forget about my nausea for about twelve and a half seconds, which was nice.  The staff’s overwhelming congratulations, love, and support since making the announcement has been incredible.

Later that night, I finally went public on Facebook, and yeesh – Talk about being even more overwhelmed with well wishes!  I mean, I know it’s just Facebook, and it’s all only virtual support, but it definitely makes a miserable pregnant girl feel good!  So now, I don’t have to hide any of it anymore.  I don’t have to hide my excitement, my struggles, or the hair elastic keeping my jeans “buttoned.”  (Thanks for the trick, Lu!)

This past week was a week of ups and downs as far as how I’ve been feeling.  I had a couple good days inbetween the rough ones, which led me to believe I was on the back end of the glorious first trimester.  But then, lo and behold, today has been a whopper.  The fact that I am sitting vertically to type this is a huge success.  I’m still in my pajamas, trying to find the wherewithal to do something productive and push through the discomfort, so updating my blog is as good as it’s going to get today.

But let me get something straight, if I haven’t emphasized it enough – I am THRILLED to be miserable.  Seriously.  Even though I sound like I complain, and cry to my hub, and act like a sloth, I wouldn’t have it any other way.  This sweet baby can do whatever it needs to do to my body to grow… It just makes it easier to document it all on here.  Like getting the emotions and discomforts out on here will help make it all better.

In other exciting news, we had another appointment this week.  It was just supposed to be an internal exam and we finally got to meet with our doctor (instead of nurses), which was nice.  The doctor informed us that it was too early to hear the heartbeat through a Doppler (on top of the belly), so we’d have to wait until our next appointment.  He could tell we were bummed, so after the exam he told us that my uterus (sorry if it’s TMI) had already started to move toward the front of my body, so there was a good chance we could, after all, hear the heartbeat.  So my hub says, “Don’t do it, because if you can’t find it, she’s gonna freak out!” (Think he knows me at all?!)  But the doctor says, “Nah, we’ll figure something out…” So hub says, “Alright, you’re about to ruin my weekend!” And so he put the jelly on my stomach, and start searching, and there it was!!!  You could hear both my heartbeat and the baby’s (mine was 90, the baby’s was 180) – What a GREAT sound!  And then my hub says, “Well, you just made my weekend!” with a huge smile on his face.

The other good news about my body already shifting inside is that I’m not imagining the teensy, tiny little “baby bump.”  Come on, baby bump!!!

Here's 9 weeks - a HUGE difference from last week... or at least I think so!  I swear I woke up one morning and things just started poking out! (Look back to the post from 8 weeks for pictures I added!)