24 Weeks (okay... 27 weeks!)

6 months along : 24-27 weeks! 

And Im 27 weeks... yes its almost 7 months... almost is the key word.

The 100 day countdown has begun!

Matt has some problems getting my EOS to focus on me and not the door, so we did some practice shots....

I just have problems. Period.

im pretty sure my forearms and my hands are the only things that haven't changed size!

Its amazing how much the baby can grow in just 1 month!

How far along: 27 weeks, 1 day. Apparently my "monthly pictures" have become pics at the END of the month... Which still meets the criteria I suppose... Technically I'm still 6 months along until this Sunday when I'll be 28 weeks and at the beginning of my 7th month.  But holy moly, time is flying! Official countdown till our due date is only 88 days!!! Which means only 68 days till baby is FULL TERM! 68 days is a whole lotta growin' still, so bake you little bun, BAKE!

Weight Gain/Loss: +9lbs more, total gain of 27lbs, totaling 149lbs. I started at 122lbs... So tipping the scale at almost 150lbs is such an odd experience... For one, I can't even see the numbers on the scale because my belly covers them!!!  And secondly... I don't want to!  I know that I'm still very much at a healthy weight considering I'm growing a human inside of me, but wow... Those numbers are not pretty!!!  And to think that I might have to see "160" pop up in the next 2-3 months.... Eeeeek. 

Maternity Clothes: Yes yes yes.  My wardrobe includes : yoga/stretchy pants, maternity pants, dresses made of stretchy knit, maternity shirts, maternity underwear (!!!!) (so comfy btw), and some big ol jammies.... I haven't bought maternity jammies yet, but I did buy medium sleep shirts... And when I held them up they were HUGE compared to my XS of the past... And they fit...what a slap to the face. 

Sleep:  Great!! I wake up about 6 times a night to go potty, but I waddle to the bathroom and waddle right back to bed.  And if I don't step on a rawhide chew or stub my toe on a sleeping dog, I normally fall right back asleep.  And at one of these potty sessions, normally between 2-3am baby needs cookies, so I have 2 Oreos, a swig of milk, and then back to sleep.  :)

Best Moment This Week: I altered a sleep-shirt into a birthing gown!  It's black which is my favorite color to wear, it's knit which is much better than starchy cotton, and it will be cuter than the hospital gowns they provide... It will also keep me from showing the world my tushy as I put snap tape all the way down the back of it.  I also altered some tanks, nightgowns and dresses so that they are nursing friendly!  I had been given a bunch of nursing bras by a few different ladies, most of which were too small for my growing goods.  So I got an idea to make some alterations to some items so that I wouldn't have to splurge and buy those pricey nursing tanks and pajamas!  What do you think?!

Here's the back of the gown, snap tape ALL the way down!

Why dont hospitals do this to theirs? Consider the average person dressed in a hospital gown - no one wants to see their backside...

Snap tape along both shoulders to allow for IV, nursing and skin to skin.

Two tanks that I've have for-ev-ver (think sandlot here...) that I simply cut the strap off the front attachment, then hand sewed in snaps. 

For this nighty, I cut the nursing snaps off an old gifted nursing bra and sewed them onto the straps.  Instant nursing nighty!

This nighty didn't have thin straps so I wasn't sure what to do with it.. I could use rivet snaps, or snap tape, but it's a really silky material and I wasn't sure how it would hold up.  Then I saw the hook and eyes on one of the bras I had been given.  Solution!!!  I think this one is my favorite... Excuse the red thread... You can't see it from the outside so I frankly didn't care to change it :) 

For this dress, I added the nursing snaps and the bra straps to the original straps of this dress.  This dress was a handmedown from a friend and had some good use so the elasticity in the straps was no where to be found, and they weren't adjustable!  So my goodies looked pretty low and pitiful in them.  I figured if I attached the bra straps to the dress straps it would give it more structure and support... And it did! 

Disclaimer: I'm not planning on wearing these outside the house, so I wasn't too worried on what they looked like, just as long as they were functional.  They should hold up pretty well! 

Miss Anything: Still missing being horseback, but would I trade it for this lovely baby inside me? No way.  I also miss restaurants that are back in Cali... I've been craving CPK especially their cilantro lime fettuccini, In & Out, Carls Jr western bacon cheese burger, anything from Panera, Splash Cafe fish tacos with the avocado dressing, Jaffa Cafe chicken shwarmas, anything from Coldstone, the list is pretty much endless. So I guess other than foods, I'm not missing anything much... And I wonder why I've gained 27 pounds!

Movement:  This babe is a ninja.  In the 26th week your amniotic fluid starts decreasing and they say you are supposed to feel more and more - and I can tell you, this baby wants out!  Punching and kicking and stretching... Wowza!  It's only 2lbs and is only 14 inches long, but it's a Kung fu fighter! 

Food Craving:  See the things I miss... I could relist them but then I'll just make myself more hungry!  I am eating my weight in breakfast cereal tho...

Showing:  Yes.  There is no hiding this bun or this oven... 

Gender Prediction:  So far it's a healthy baby :) 

Labor Signs:  When we had our first fertility consultation, our OB said that my realistic goal for my first pregnancy would be to carry to 26 weeks.  We have made it to 26 weeks+!!!  So now that the baby is "viable" they will not be measuring my cervix for changes unless I have contractions or notice fluid.  I am starting to get Braxton hicks, but other than that things are good!  GOD is good!!!  The OB asked me to have my bags packed at 26 weeks, so mommy, daddy and baby all have bags ready to go.  I'm not planning on using them for at least another month or so, but baby will come when baby is ready. (Just stay in there little peaches!!! Only 10 more weeks till your fully cooked!) 

Belly Button: Out-ish.  And I'm so glad I took my belly ring out ASAP because I think it will look relatively normal post pregnancy... I'm pretty sure it has closed up, but as long as it doesn't make me look like I have 3 belly buttons, I'll survive! 

Wedding Ring: On - with plenty of room for swelling fingers, but I hope that doesn't happen!  

Mood:  fabulous!  They say the second trimester is when you feel your best... But I swear the further along I go the better I feel!!!  I'm not as tired anymore as I'm sleeping better, I no longer have those awful ligament pains, I constantly feel our little baby moving and growing, it's fabulous! Baby alternates from breech to head down, so the little buddy does occasionally kick me in the ribs, but it's not a constant pain and I love feeling it kick.  When baby is breech, it stands/kicks on my bladder which is a very interesting feeling... "I gotta pee....nevermind, it's gone.... Oh my goodness move out of my way it's coming!!!....nevermind, false alarm". Then I sneeze and it's all over... Literally.

Weekly Wisdom:  I can't believe that this pregnancy is so far along, that we will get to meet this baby in  less than 3 months!!!  I am trying to enjoy and soak up Every. Single. Minute.  And I feel like I do a pretty good job.  And I'm still in awe that I am going to have a baby, that Matt is going to be a daddy, that God has blessed us with this child!!! 

Side Notes:

I'll officially be in the third trimester on Sunday!!!  

Babies nursery is good to go, it just needs a fresh coat of new paint... Any takers?!

Before i fall asleep, I lay in bed and imagine who this baby will be... Is it a sweet Sonora?  Or is it a baby Bridger?  Will this baby come at night or in the day time?  Will it look like its handsome daddy or will it come out with red hair? I get teary eyed just imagining the day we get to hold this sweet baby.  And it's coming so soon!!!

Pregnancy Must Haves : How to Survive the First 20 Weeks

Now that I'm 26+ weeks into this pregnancy, I have decided I have adequate experience to post my "survival tips" & my "must-haves" for the first half of pregnancy. 

Granted, I'm not as experienced as you mommas with multiple kiddos, but I'm pretty sure every woman who goes through the first 20 weeks of pregnancy gets her own opinion on which items she feels are necessary to survival.  I mean...she is carrying a baby inside of her... That alone should give someone enough credit :)

So, without further adieu, my list.

(In no particular order)

1. The Snoogle.

Or the "shhhhhnnnnooooooogle" as I like to call it. 

This bad boy will be your cuddle buddy.  

You already have a cuddle buddy?  Trust me... The Snoogle beats a snoring hubby any day! (Sorry Matt) 

When I started getting terrible round ligament pain, nothing could help me sleep.

Then I got this lover... And boy did it change my sleeping!  I still got the ligament pain, but I could at least curl up in the fetal position and stay that way!!!  

I never had to worry about ending up on my belly, and it almost always keeps me off my back.

It's also perfect to have between your thighs/knees as you sleep so that your hips won't start aching from being "out of place".

I got mine at motherhood maternity, but you can buy them in many stores and many websites. 

Tip: Hubby will hate it... But just remind him that it's "for the baby" :)

2. Anna's Ginger Thins.

The cookie of all ginger cookies.

This little sweetie is light and delicious.  

The ginger helps settle your nauseous stomach in the first trimester, and is much tastier than eating saltines.  

I found mine at the market in town... I'm pretty sure Abertsons would have them, and if not, they could order them for you. 

Tip: Hubby will love these... They are just too yummy to resist a taste.. And once you taste them, you can't just stop at one. Keep them hidden.

3. The Belly Maternity Band.

I have this little jewel in White, Black and Tan.

I really feel this thing is better than wearing a tank top under your shirt as it doesn't add layers and it stays in place!

When your jeans start to get a little (ok, a LOT) snug, get one of these belly bands and no one will ever know that your pants aren't buttoned!

I like to loop a hair tie through my button hole and around the button.  THEN I wear this on top... The hair tie keeps my pants a bit more snug than if they were just undone, and the belly band keeps all the goods hidden.  

Now that I'm 26 weeks, I even have jeans that won't zip... And you can still use this!

I also heard it's good for post delivery when you are breast feeding.  You can wear it to give you a little more coverage if you have to lift your top for nursing.  

I have both the BeBand from target and the TummySleeve from motherhood maternity.  I think the BeBand stays a little more snug as it has sizes to choose from, where the TummySleeve is one size.  

Tip: There is a seamless tag imprinted on both... Just make sure you wear it right side out so that you don't look "tacky" and then have that one Gucci adorned Benz driving lady at the market tell you that your tag was showing and that it was "tacky" ..... Lady, I'm growing a baby right now, you're lucky I have clothes on at all!

4. A Reusible Water Cup.

All doctors recommends staying overly hydrated during pregnancy, especially in those early months when you may be throwing up a bit.  

I don't know about you, but drinking water is so much easier for me to remember to do when I always have it in front of me.  

And when I have a straw.  

Sometimes I do get sick of plain ol water, so I will fill my cup almost full with water and then add a splash of juice or a splash of a caffiene free soda like Hawaiian punch or Squirt.  Mmmm.

Tip: I have had multiple plastic water cups, but they always seem to break or crack or smell funny.  This one is my new favorite - stainless steel! 

5. Sparkling Water: Perrier and LaCroix.

Perrier: Ol Reliable, around since 1898!!!  My mother used to drink this when I was just a wee one.  She always had the lemon lime flavored one.  I never really liked it much until I started trying to drink less soda and more water.  I soon discovered that I missed the carbonation that soda had.  I didn't miss the flavor, I didn't miss the caffiene.  I missed the bubbles.  I craved the bubbles.  I needed the bubbles.

So I tried this, and I was hooked.  I can turn down a soda any day if I have this as an option.  

(Or S.Pellegrino with both a lemon AND a lime)

LaCroix: New Age sparkling water.  Originally made in 1981, but not widely distributed until 1996.  My mother would LOVE this water.  Not only does this water come in a CAN - which is so much cheaper than buying bottles - but it comes in 11... ELEVEN flavors, including unflavored or "pure", cherry-lime, apple-berry, peach-pear, coconut, lime, lemon, orange, berry, cran-raspberry and grapefruit. 

I try to only drink soda every so often.  (As in one soda every 2-3 days)

But I can't go a day without bubbles.

So I turn to Perrier and LaCroix.  

When I was about 12 weeks along, I needed the bubbles even more desperately then I ever had before... The carbonation does wonderful things for an upset tummy.

I never had the morning sickness that doubled you over, or the kind that brought you to the porcelain throne, but I did have the kind that made you dizzy just to stand at times.

These delicious drinks made all the difference.

You can find them both in almost any market or gas station.

Tip: Totally try out each flavor... Especially since your tastes change all the time during pregnancy, it's nice to have a few different ones in the pantry. 

6. Prenatal Vitamins.

These are my vits of choice.  I've never had a problem with taking pills (so not a hint to any kind of self harm I swear!) but I have always had a problem with not throwing up my vitamins.  I don't think I have a weak stomach - I can gut and skin a hog with the best of em - but for some reason, vitamins make me queasy, even if taken after a meal.

These gummies are gentle on my tummy.

And they don't even taste that bad as they are flavored with carrot and blueberry juices.

My doc still has me on an additional 2mg of Folic Acid QD and an extra D3 supplement (about 1000iuQD), but I've known many women who just take this chewable and have very healthy pregnancies and babies. 

(Extra folate is just excreted by your body, but don't overdo it on the extra D3)

Here's the stats on these gummies: 

Vit A: 4000iu - 50%dv

Vit C: 30mg - 50%dv

Vit D: 400iu - 100%dv

Vit E: 15iu - 50%dv

Niacin: 20mg - 100%dv

Vit B6: 2.5mg - 100%dv

Vit B12: 8mcg - 100%dv

Folic Acid: 800mcg - 100%dv

Iron: 0mg - 0%dv 

Zinc: 3.8mg - 25%dv

It also does contain 65mg Omega3 and 50mg DHA, but the dv hasn't been established. 

I buy mine at the drugstore.  I swore cosco had them, but they were nowhere to be found during my last cosco run.

Tip: I'm really bad at remembering to actually take these every day, so I put stickers by the calendar and every morning after I take them I put a little butterfly sticker on the day of the month... That way it's an easy reminder to take them when I haven't!  Also, my husband is now aware of when I do or do not take them, and he is great to remind me that "the baby needs vitamins".

7. Palmers Cocoa Butter.

Not the lotion, the good ol tub o butter. 

The kind that makes your hands greasy for the rest of the day.

The kind that makes you repel water the next morning while in the shower. 

This stuff works.

Now... I could lie and say that I have great skin and that I'm just not the kind of person that would get stretch marks... But I am that kind of person.  

A few years ago I lost about 15lbs in just a few days due to a medication switch and my boobs and my butt just shrank!  I had no idea that you could get stretch marks from losing weight too quickly!!!  So, my teeny little butt and my size A cup boobies were covered in stretch marks. 

The moment I found out I was expecting, I started using cocoa butter.

I lathered it on all the growing areas - boobs, belly, love handles, butt and thighs.

And 22 weeks later (as I found out I was pregnant at week 4) I have yet to have a new stretch mark.

I do get itchy skin every once and a while so I know my skin is changing, but I keep it lathered up enough so that it doesn't get dry enough to get stretch marks.  

It is kind of pricey, but I've only gone through 2 tubs so far... So I'm thinking 4 tubs total for 9 months? Not too bad, and worth every penny.

If only it kept away the cellulite... :(

I get mine at target, but I've seen it at the market too.

Tip: When you don't feel like getting your hands oily, take this little tub to your hunny and tell him you need to be lubed up and where... Chances are he will not turn you down.  You might even get a back rub too :)

8. Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel.

If your face reacts to pregnancy anything like mine did, you will need some routine hydration. 

This stuff is brilliant.

The gel seems to make this lotion last all day and even throughout the night.

However, during the first few months my skin was a mess due to all those lovely pregnancy hormones.

I had lizard skin on my forehead, and this lotion kept it manageable.

I put this on before I put on my foundation, and my peely skin never shows through. 

Also, it's nice and satiny which leaves your skin feeling hydrated but not sticky. 

I buy my Clinique at Macys but you can also order it offline where it will often come with free shipping and free goodies. 

Tip: if you haven't used it before, ask the Clinique counter for a sample.  If you like it, buy the "super" sized one... It lasts forever and is a better buy.

9. A Journal.

I had begun a journal the day after I found out I was pregnant.  I wanted to keep track of all my feelings, all my symptoms, what Matt and I were excited about, our questions, my "firsts", my dr visits, etc.

I especially needed to keep track of it all so I could blog about it later!!!

Now that I'm safely past my 1st trimester, I don't use it as much since i write everything straight on the blog or post it to fb.  

However, this little teal "one line a day" journal is very handy.  It gives you space for about 1-2 sentences and is small enough to keep in your purse, or later in your diaper bag.  

I think it'll be nice to go back through it each year and see what I was doing or what happened the year before. 

I found my little book at target, but I'm sure you can get them at bookstores or online at amazon. 

Tip: Keep your book somewhere visible so you'll be more likely to write in it daily. 

10. Stretch Maternity Footless Leggings.

"I am lovin these tights!  They're Fantastic!  They lend support everywhere you need it, but they breathe! ... These tights, I'm tellin you - the best!" - TJ off Gilmore Girls.

TJ is pretty ridiculous... BUT he is so right about these leggings!

They give you the belly support you need, they don't bunch up, and they are not see through! 

I wish I could wear them everyday, but alas, some occasions call for real pants and not leggings.  

They are perfect for days spent around the house or for running errands. 

And I'm excited to pair them with loose tops now that spring is here! 

I got mine at target.  I need to go back and see if they have other colors! 

Tip: If you're first and second trimester is mainly in the winter months like mine were, especially if you live where it's below 0*F like I do, make sure that you take the time to shave your legs before wearing these out in public... If you catch my drift...

11. A TV Show Series 

My classic go-to tv show is Gilmore Girls.

It happens to be fabulous for expecting mommas as there are 6 pregnancies throughout the series!

There are lots of fun mother-daughter laughs, father-daughter moments, and cute little anecdotes about pregnancies. 

It's always good for a laugh! 

Reba is another tv show that is fabulous to watch!

My sister got me season one when she found out I was pregnant, and my hubby has since bought me the remainder of the seasons. 

I have to admit that I'm only on season 4 but it's great so far!

There are pregnancies, babies, father-son, father-daughter, mother-daughter, mother-son, mixed families - it's just terrific for a 30 min sitcom :) 

And Van is hilarious, he makes every episode worth watching! 

The first trimester I didn't feel Iike doing much besides sleeping or lounging as I was either exhausted or nauseous.  

You'll need to have a few good books to read, some good snacks and drinks, and some good tv shows.

If you don't have any favorites, try one of these two... I'm sure you'll like one of them. 

Tip: I'm in no way endorsing that I support teenage pregnancy nor do I fully agree with any of the other socially or morally shocking moments in the above tv shows... However, it's not trash tv like a reality show, yet it's also not the discovery channel or PBS.  It's something to help pass a couple nauseous hours and to help you laugh and smile and to look forward to the new baby to come! 

12. Doterra Peppermint Beadlets

Peppermint is said to aid in the treatment of nausea.

These little guys are about the size of a water droplet, maybe even smaller. 

They are filled with peppermint essential oil.

You just pop one in your mouth and not only will it help tame your nausea, but it will also freshen your breath!

DoTerra oils are not sold in stores, but you can buy them from a rep, including me! :)

Tip: don't take too much peppermint as too much will give you a tummy ache and/or heartburn.

13. A hubby. 

I could forego numbers 1-12 just to make sure I had this guy.

He has been the best husband and friend a girl could ask for.

He lets me slack on my chores around the house, he offers to fix dinner (BBQ, Mac n cheese, or spaghetti) :), and he will even give me a massage here and there.

Now that I'm becoming more and more like an elephant seal, he is even being sweeter.

He helps me off the floor when I'm stuck sitting criss-cross-applesauce, he gets me things when my fat booty is too tired or lazy to get them myself, and he has started to help me with my feet/socks/shoes since bending over is becoming increasingly problematic.

He loves to feel the little buddy moving around inside me and he is always eager to tell it goodmorning or goodnight or that we love it :)

He is going to be the best daddy.

And if you don't have a hubby, I'd recommend anyone close to you who you're around all the time. :)

Support is a huge thing to have when you're growing another human inside of you. 

Tip: the hunk pictured above is taken... Sorry ladies! I'd like to say that I snatched him up, but the truth is he snatched me before I even knew what hit me! Now we both have the ball & chain and are loving every minute of our lifetime sentence :)

That's about it for the first half of pregnancy ... What would you add to the list? 

A SURPRISE Baby Shower!

The lovely ladies at work threw me a baby shower!

Of which i had no clue i was attending!!!

We were having our quarterly meeting where we review our goals, do some training, figure out any problems we might be having, etc.

Our boss always springs for lunch, and this time the meeting was in Hailey so we ordered lunch from Big Belly Deli.  

When my boss asked if i would go with him to pick up lunch, i thought nothing of it as i am the only person who lives in the Hailey area.  

So we pick up the order and head back to the office.

As we pull up to the building, a few ladies head on out to meet us and asked if we needed help with carrying the lunch in.  We only had two bags, so we didnt need help, but I thought it was sweet of them to ask!

Little did i know they were stalling me so that they could finish decorating the office!!!

When i walked into the hallway before our office door, i noticed the lights were off, but i figured they had turned them off so that we wouldnt be bothered by patients who thought the office might be open for business.

When i walked in, they turned on the lights and all yelled SURPRISE!

They had turned the audiology clinic into a lovely baby shower :)

left to right: Debbie, Vicki, Misty, SuAnn, ME and baby, Amy, Amanda, Nicole.

Misty made yummy YUMMY goodies (if you live in Idaho you should so have her make the goodies for your next event!), including apple pie caramel apples that tasted even better than the ones they sell at Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, 

we had lunch provided by the boss, and they had presents all around for me.

We played some fun baby shower games including "Guess the melted chocolate bar that now looks like baby poo", "How many baby items can you remember?", and "Drop the quarter into the bottle with a balloon (or baby) under your shirt", the latter being so funny to watch everyone waddle around. 

I was spoiled and received many wonderful items!

Amy made a cloth diaper cake from everyone.

The girls all pitched in and bought me a baby bjorn and a travel bassinet.

I opened clothes, blankets, bath items - so spoiled! :)

I am so thrilled to have the opportunity to work with such lovely gals - little baby peaches has so many aunties that love him/her! 

Thanks ladies!!!! (And Gregorio, the bossman)

You are amazing :)

20 Weeks

5 Months Along - 20 weeks!!!

HALF WAY!!!

(ok so it is more like almost 24 weeks... but its still in the 5th month)

wowza!!! can you believe the difference 20 weeks makes?!

AND this is the first time ive noticed that my butt is bigger... hmmmm

How Far Along: 23w6d - seriously, i know i said this at 4 months, but how is it so hard to just post an update pic once a month?!?

This month has been particularly crazy due to two things: 1. A 6 month old Border Collie pup who now calls the living room home due to her broken femur and its healing process... i swear she is getting me ready for a toddler. 2. Its calving season - full swing.  That means Matt is working 16 hour days at times... so its hard to get anything done that requires him - ie. a photo. 

Weight Gain/Loss: +7lbs more, totaling 140lbs.

Maternity Clothes: Yes!  Ive decided at this point i need maternity pants and maternity jeans to be happy - if i leave the house in regular jeans and a belly band, normally around lunch time i have the desperate need to take off my clothes. This would be highly inappropriate at work, so ive started wearing maternity pants - underbelly or overbelly, i have no preference.  They are much more comfortable, and i can stay in them throughout the day - big plus. My shirts all need to be maternity in order to be long enough to cover the baby belly.  Good thing there are SOO many cute ones out there!  I do need to invest in some maternity pjs... ive been lusting over some at target, i think i need to break down and buy some. 

Sleep:  When i find sleep, its very VERY restful.  Yet lately the baby has been spreading my ribs apart, which always makes sleeping difficult. I swear that little baby is doing jumping jacks or perhaps just doing something like this kid is doing between two walls but instead the baby is doing it between my ribs!  

(pic courtesy of erinscreative.blogspot.com)

Best Moment This Week: (errr... this month) our 21 week ultrasound.  We got to see babys profile, babies leg, babies arms... its the cutest little baby ever :) and im so not biased...
Miss Anything: I miss riding.  Matt has been tagging calves all week, and i wish Oakey and I could go help him.  I miss roping, holding down the baby calves, loping out in the pivot field looking for new babies.  Riding is so cathartic at times, you forget about everything else in the world and just spend the moment with your horse... its so wonderful and i do look forward to getting back on my mare.  I also have a bottle of JLohr in my fridge... it calls to me every so often.  Other than that, i miss sleeping on my belly.

Movement:  LIKE CRAZY!  this baby never stops moving, which is lovely.  And due to the fact that my placenta is attached to the top of my uterus, i feel everything right on my tummy.  Which also makes it easy for Matt to feel it too.  And SEE it!  Sometimes it just sits there and kicks over and over again in the same spot.  We are surprised at how hard it kicks our hands... this little baby is gonna be strong! 

Food Craving:  Im always hungry.  And not for snacks, for meals.  I feel like i belong in the Shire - Breakfast, Second Breakfast, Elevensies, Lunch, Afternoon Tea, Supper & Dinner.  I so eat all of these meals. However, how did the hobbits skip dessert?!?  

Showing:  Yes.  I love this belly :) 

Gender Prediction:  I keep asking mommas if they "knew" what their first baby was before finding out. Because i dont have a feeling, an instinct, an inclination one way or another.  All i know is that it dances like its daddy and eats like him too. 

Labor Signs:  My cervix at 22 weeks was 3.2cm.  The docs dont like to see it drop below 3.0cm.  So its thinning fairly quick for only being just past half way.  They encouraged rest and days spent horizontal, so im taking their advice.  The couch and i have a great relationship, not to mention ive watched seasons 1-6 of Gilmore Girls in the last month or so... 

Belly Button: Out-ish.  

Wedding Ring: On - i have been cursed with my mothers LARGE knuckles, which makes me take a ring thats a full size too big in order to get it over my knuckle.  I have bony fingers, so once its passed the knuckle, it freely spins around and around - i doubt ill have to take it off, but we shall see.

Mood:  Great - i am tired in the mornings due to lack of sleep (see sleep habits above), but after i get some food in me, im a happy clam.  

Weekly Wisdom:  Dont sit on the floor/ground unless there is something nearby to help you up.  This can include a couch, a tree, a dog... chloe is a lot stronger than she looks :)

Side Notes:

Weeks 20-24 have been marvelous.  I finally stopped getting round ligament pain as my growing uterus has finally stretched the ligaments to the max.  And the rib pain, although very uncomfortable, is a constant reminder that there is a baby in my belly - a healthy, growing baby!!!  I love being pregnant.  I can sit on the couch with my hands on my belly ALL day, just taking it all in.  Of course i'll trade this belly in for a healthy baby when its ready to come out... but in the mean time, ill take this budda belly over being skinny any day! 

I swear this little miracle is by far the COOLEST thing ever! 

16 Weeks

4 Months Along - 16 Weeks!!!

(although that tummy does not say mango.. more like a whole bushel of mangoes!)

How Far Along: 16 weeks, 1 day (on 1/19/14) (yes im late at posting this... it is actually surprising how hard it is to get this up on time! im glad i chose to do updates in months and not weeks!!!)

Weight Gain/Loss: +5 lbs more, totaling 133lbs

Maternity Clothes: Yes!  The maternity band is lovely.  My jeans all still fit my thighs and such, they just will not button around this baby!  And maternity shirts are long enough to cover my "openness" down there, so they are my top of choice.

Sleep: Ever since i invested in the Snoogle, sleeping is much better!  I still wake up to pee all the time, and im really trying to sleep on my left side (i read that it is better to do that at this point) However, i still find myself on my belly at times. 

Best Moment This Week: It was a toss up between getting the nursery more complete and having baby announcement photos taken! *thanks Christine!!!*

Miss Anything: Missing sitting down without pain... apparently my pelvic bone has migrated into my tailbone... makes sitting very uncomfortable.
Movement: Not yet... so wanting it tho!

Food Craving: Im always thirsty!  Perrier, Ruby Red Squirt and Caffeine Free Diet Coke.

Showing: Yes! Baby belly is unmistakable now.

Gender Prediction: Old wives tales say boy... i still have no "instinct" on it... all i know is its a baby... :)

Labor Signs: No, praise the Lord!

Belly Button: Even more Out-ish 

Wedding Ring: On

Mood: Great! But i seem more tired now than the last few weeks.

Weekly Wisdom: Im simply amazed at how fast it is going by and im loving being pregnant!

Looking Forward To: My second ultrasound on the 22nd and getting to hear that lovely heartbeat again!

Side Notes: 

On the 22nd (since as mentioned above, im a slacker...) at a little more than 16 weeks, we were able to see the little baby again on the VJ ultrasound, little bright backbone and all!!!  My "cervix" was about 3.7cm on average, which is great for all my surgeries!
On the February 5th (again, slacker) we had another ultrasound at 18 weeks, and this time all you could see was the babies head because it has grown SO BIG!!!  We could see all the little parts of its brain, it was amazing!!!  It also threw its hand up into view a few times.. what a sweet little hand! Cant wait to hold it!!!  My cervix actually measured longer this time, which is great!!! So far, this pregnancy thing has been lovely :) 

Daily Discovery #3: What is Your Choice?

David Foster Wallace was a commencement speaker for his graduation class of 2005 at the Kenyon College graduation ceremony.

A video, which uses an exerpt of his speech, is below.

I hope you find this video as life changing and as empowering as I did.

What I took away from this short video:

"The most obvious, important realities are often the ones that are the hardest to see and talk about."

Why is it that we seem to overlook the obvious?  

"In this life, you'll find boredom, routine and frustration.... Dreary, annoying, seemingly meaningless routines."

And everyone feels this way!  

It's a situation that we can all relate to in one way or another.  

This ability to relate should cause empathy, and yet emapthy doesn't seem to be a very common emotion amongst the people interacting all around us.  

Frustration yes.  Empathy???

"If I don't make a conscious decision about how to think and what to pay attention to, I'm going to be pissed and miserable everytime I have to __________ (insert activity here)"

For me, it might be dealing with "entitled" people, or driving in traffic, or having to repeat or explain myself multiple times, or being ignored...

"Your natural default setting is the certainty that every situation is all about me... that everyone else is just in my way.  My natural default setting is the automatic way that I experience the boring, frustrating, crowded parts of adult life when I'm operating in the automatic unconscious belief that I'm the center of the world and that my immediate needs and feelings are what should determine the worlds priorities."

Your natural default setting is not making a conscious choice... It's not being patient and not being open minded.  It's not having empathy toward others, regardless of how you feel or what has happened to you.  

I am not the center of the world.  Yes I have my own priorities, my own agenda. But this does not matter to anyone but me.  

Imagine what the world would be like if we all thought of ourselves being in others way, instead of others being in our way. 

"There are totally different ways to think about these kinds of situations...Some of these people probably have much harder and more tedious or painful lives than I do"

Everyone is fighting a battle, and we are almost always completely unaware of the struggles that they are facing.  The financial difficulties they are having, the loneliness they are feeling, the depression they are fighting, the physical ailments that are bringing them down.  

The loved one they just lost, the cancer that is eating away at them, the job that they were just let go from, the divorce they are going through, the child that is rebelling, etcetera etcetera.

"(Choosing) is hard, it takes will and effort...If you're aware enough to give yourself a choice, you can choose to look differently."

Making this choice is especially hard when you yourself have had a rough day, a rough week.  It's hard to put your own battles aside and think about others.  Selfishness is always easier than selflessness.  

"If you're automatically sure that you know what reality is and who and what is really important then you probably won't consider possibilities that aren't annoying and miserable.  But if you really learned how to think, how to pay attention, then you will know you have other options."

You get to decide how you see things!!!

You get to decide if you are going to let someone else ruin your day or make you angry.

You get to decide if you try to help others or if you try to ignore them.

You get to decide if you will see a possible reality that includes pain and sorrow and humanness, or if you see the blind certain reality of anger and annoyance. 

"You get to consciously decide what has meaning and what doesn't - that is real freedom, that is being educated and understanding how to think "

We live in a country where we are free to choose, free to act, free to speak.  And yet so many people do not actually make this decision... They do not consciously decide how to behave or what to say - they let themselves fall into that rut and react out of habit, out of selfishness.  

"This is about life before death"

What choices will you make on this earth?

What daily choices will effect your routine, your seemingly meaningless routine?  

Ultimately, what choices will you make to better achieve happiness, not only for yourself but for others? 

"It's about a single awareness, an awareness of what is so real and essential, so hidden in plain sight all around us all the time, that we have to keep reminding ourselves, over and over, that this is water."

After watching this video at a conference I recently attended, I have made a conscious decision to remember that this is water, that this is my life, that this is a world where I have a choice in every situation.  I will need to constantly remind myself that I have this choice, as i do not want to slip into my natural default setting.  

I choose to be critically aware.  

I choose to be a little less arrogant.

  I choose to not look through my lens of self, but to look through a lens of others. 

I choose to see the truth in my daily consciousness.  

I choose to truly care about others and to make sacrifices for them.  

Ultimately, I choose joy. 

What is your choice?