hallelujah!

Spring Break is in 2 days. Count it, 2 DAYS!!!

I am almost as excited as I was when I discovered this little fella...

15 weeks

*How far along?: 15 weeks
*Total weight gain?: weighed myself this morning...about 2lbs!

*How big is baby?: an orange...about 4-5 inches long!
*Sex: we find out in EXACTLY one month!! hurry up, April 27th!
*Maternity clothes: so far, so good!
*Stretch marks: Nope. I am lathering up with my Mama Mio lotion once or twice a day. I am really hoping it works!
*Sleep: Still waking up to go the bathroom at night...guess I have 25 more weeks of that? Nice.
*Best moment this week: Not really a "moment," but I am starting to see that there is a baby down there! Pretty cool!
*Movement: not yet...but we should be getting kinda close to that point!
*Food cravings: fruit, cape cod salt & vinegar chips, and chocolate milk...still not a fan of sweets right now which is weirding me out!
*Labor signs: not for about 25 more weeks...
*Belly button in or out: in
*What I miss: nothing...just enjoying this baby in my belly:)
*What I'm looking forward to: Going to Atlanta for my Spring Break & seeing my family...perhaps doing a little baby browsing with my mom!

14 weeks

*How far along?: 14 weeks

*Total weight gain?: still no gain, which I don't understand. I feel like I have a beer gut!

*How big is baby?: a lemon

*Sex: we find out April 27th!

*Maternity clothes: not yet..hoping that holds off until my summer break

*Stretch marks: Nope. I am lathering up with my Mama Mio lotion once or twice a day. I am really hoping it works!

*Sleep: I have been sleeping better...but I have been getting up to go to the bathroom! Could do without that!

*Best moment this week: Got my first "You look pregnant!" comment! My cousin Scott & his wife, Emily, welcomed their 2nd little boy into the world...I can't wait to meet Collin!!

*Movement: starting to swim around...but I can't feel it yet

*Food cravings: fruit, cape cod salt & vinegar chips, and chocolate milk

*Labor signs: not for about 26 more weeks...

*Belly button in or out: in

*What I miss: nothing...just enjoying this baby in my belly:)

*What I'm looking forward to: April 27th! 5 weeks seems so far away!

the thoughts of Loma.

Ben works nights a few times during the week. Right now, it is just me & 3 canines. These are the nights that thoughts just kinda run through my head. (I got nothin' on you though, Kristy) Here is a random walk through my brain...

• Chocolate milk is really good.
• You get what you give, people. Really...it is not a hard concept.
• I wonder what it would be like to not be some sort of sick? I have had a cold since early December. That is 3 plus months! Seriously...what does it feel like to be able to breathe through both nostrils? I can't remember.
• I may be young, but please don't think that you can "talk down" or yell at me. There is just no need.
• Ben is now on a first name basis with our as-of-now-genderless-baby. That makes it seem very real, very fast.
• There is nothing better than the imagination of a 6 year old!
• I am really lucky (I won't say the "b" word, CJ!). That is all.

menu plan almost monday

Sunday: lemon pepper chicken, roasted garlic cous cous, and green beans

Monday: Chicken with mushrooms, leftover cous cous, and sauteed zuchinni

Tuesday: sesame chicken over white rice & stir fry veggies

Friday: breakfast...pancakes!


Now if I could only figure out my lunch for this week...

13 weeks

*How far along?: 13 weeks
*Total weight gain?: went to the doctor on Thursday...no gain!
*How big is baby?: a peach
*Sex: we find out April 27th!
*Maternity clothes: not yet..hoping that holds off until my summer break
*Stretch marks: Nope.
*Sleep: horrible. I woke up every night this week.
*Best moment this week: 1. hearing the heartbeat! I was so nervous & that was such a relief. Our doctor said he/she is perfect! 2. I am officially in the 2nd trimester!
*Movement: starting to swim around...but I can't feel it yet
*Food cravings: I don't want sweets (amen) but I am loving fruit and salt & vinegar chips!
*Labor signs: not for about 27 more weeks...
*Belly button in or out: in
*What I miss: being able to sleep well & having a glass of wine
*What I'm looking forward to: April 27th! 6 weeks seems so far away!

156.

....and it hit me!!

156. The perfect sound of our perfect little baby's heartbeat! I had my 2nd OB appointment this afternoon and was so nervous. I was so paranoid that something might be wrong...but as soon as our doctor found that little heartbeat I was relieved! She said it was actually a really loud & strong heartbeat since I am not even 13 weeks yet.

I still think it is a boy. Ben thinks it is a girl based solely on the heartrate. Apparently girls have a faster fetal heartrate? Old wives tale? We'll see! We scheduled our big "gender reveal" sonogram for April 27th. 6 weeks away! I am so excited to find out!!

Wordless Wednesday

Jack's first love: Lucy.

Layla Grace

This family has been on my heart for quite some time now. Their precious little girl lost her battle to cancer today. Please lift them up in your prayers. Go to http://www.laylagrace.org/ to read their story.

Weekend Update

It seems as though Winter has ended & Spring is just around the corner! We had awesome weather this weekend. Seriously, the sunshine has never felt so good!

Friday night was spent lounging. Well, the last half of Friday night. Ben & I had to drive downtown to sign some papers on his new truck. Did I fail to mention he traded the 4Runner in for a Nissan Titan? Oh boy is he a happy camper! I must say, I feel a little like a road warrior in his truck. It is huge! Can't wait until I have to climb in that bad boy when I am 9 months pregnant! After, we went to eat at Nacho's (our favorite!) where we indulged in queso and enchiladas. Remember, I am lactose intolerant. Hmm...I sure am smart with my food choices!

Saturday was gorgeous. We drove around in the country for a while daydreaming about having land of our own one day. Trying to be patient with that. Really, I'm trying.

My cousin Brad is in Nashville all week for work so we got to hang out with him on Saturday night! We went to Tin Roof & then the boys had a Guitar Hero battle all night long. I was proud of myself...it was the latest I have stayed up since the beginning of January!

Now we are shifting rooms upstairs to make room for our little babe. I'm procrastinating by writing this...maybe I should get to work...

12 weeks

*How far along?: 12 weeks...woohoo 3 months!

*Total weight gain?: Weighed myself this morning...no gain:) My thighs have shifted to my belly though...very strange...

*How big is baby?: a plum

*Sex: Still predicting a boy..

*Maternity clothes: no...hopefully that will be a little while longer!

*Stretch marks: Nope.

*Sleep: I've been waking up all night..boo for that.

*Best moment this week: I got a little baby towel from a student...pretty sweet:)

*Movement: not yet!

*Food cravings: not really

*Labor signs: not for about 28 more weeks...

*Belly button in or out: in

*What I miss: red wine!!

*What I'm looking forward to: we go to the doctor on Thursday...I want to HEAR the heartbeat this time!

Just some thoughts...

• I have always wanted a big family. I want 4 kids...and that was taken down a notch from 5! Every time I tell people this, they say "that'll change after the first one..." I don't think it will. The fact that you tell me this makes me want to prove you wrong.
• Don't text talk in an email...or worse, a hand written note. I can't handle that. It iz annoying 2me.
• Mr. Sketch smelly markers may or may not be one of the reasons a person teaches elementary school...just sayin'...
• The fact that I need to start getting on daycare waiting lists freaks me out!! My lime already needs daycare!
• Did you know there are 49 days of school left? [cue "Hallelujah Chorus"]
• I am convinced that my baby will come out of the womb dancing judging simply by the fact that I dance on the way to work every. single. morning.