10 weeks!

How far along? 10 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: I haven't checked since week 9 to be honest... I will at Publix tonight (we always use the same Publix scale to keep it accurate, haha)
Maternity clothes? Wearing my first pair of actual maternity pants today!
Stretch marks? No - but I have awful awful dry skin that has spread to my stomach. In that same Publix run tonight I'm going to buy some stretch mark cream to start using as preventative maintenance
Sleep: I've been getting a little more energy lately - but still can sleep for 9-10 hours a night! 
Best moment this week: Being asked if I was pregnant because the bump has officially popped. It was surreal but also nice that people went with preggo instead of lazy! 
Have you told family and friends: Yes! And going to start telling my school administration this week and then everyone will know!
Miss Anything? Cheese sticks. And sangria. 
Movement: Nothing yet!.
Food cravings: I want a medium rare prime rib like nobody's business. But the Dr said cook all meat well done. So I've been supplementing my steak cravings with meat I won't notice is well done like in tacos...it helps a little. 
Anything making you queasy or sick: Hot showers. It has been awful :(
Have you started to show yet: yes! I know I popped really early but a few people have already asked me about it based on the bump! 
Gender prediction: I still think it is a boy!
Labor Signs: No
Belly Button in or out? In
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy!
Looking forward to: Our doctor's appointment next week and getting a definite due date. And it being April - Brian gets 5% cash back on all home improvement purchases that month so a ton of baby prep around the house will be getting done!!

Baby To-Do List

I feel like I should start by saying that yes, I realize that babies don't actually need much. And that I have a fair amount of time to get this stuff done before it really needs to be done.

However, it doesn't keep me from knowing it needs to be done eventually. And, as you'll get to know very well, I am a planner. I feel overwhelmed at the beginning of any big project but as soon as I figure out the steps I immediately feel better and can easily accomplish the task.

So... here is my list of what I would like to accomplish in a timeline in about the next year including what we have already started!

Before the end of May (when school gets out):
-Move things around in our bedroom to fit a chair (for late nights feedings/ cuddle time)
-Actually decorate our bedroom (paint wall, hang curtains, hang paintings)
-Register
-Put all the holiday stuff in the attic (purchase attic stairs and flooring for the attic first, then put it away)
-Move the exercise room stuff to the garage to clear out that room
-Go through all the stuff in both extra bedroom closets and clear it out so it all fits in one closet
-Move the guest bedroom furniture into the exercise room
-Find nursery furniture
-Plan nursery
-Sing you are my sunshine to Caiden every time my stomach aches (it really helps!)
-Do as much yoga/stretching/walking/possibly running as I can to keep as active and ready for labor as possible

Over the summer:
-Get everything nursery wise finished
-Figure out exactly what is needed for the first 4 months of baby. Get it all and have it ready.
-Figure out things with HR and such for being out for maternity leave
-Write birth plan
-Attend some sort of birthing or parenting class
-Start planning what will go in the hospital bag.
-Start prepping the puppy-boys for a baby. Bring a stroller on walks sometimes. Put the carseat in the car and get them used to not sitting in it.
-Sing you are my sunshine to Caiden whenever I remember to.
-Arrange someone to watch the boys when we are at the hospital
-Do as much yoga/stretching/walking/possibly running as I can to keep as active and ready for labor as possible

Once school starts until the baby comes:
-Make all video lectures for the entire first half of the school year (Unit 1 already done!)
-Start creating pre-tests for the first half of the school year and accompanying activities
-Find an awesome, or at least decent, long-term sub.
-Sing you are my sunshine to Caiden whenever I remember to.
-Do as much yoga/stretching/walking/possibly running as I can to keep as active and ready for labor as possible

Mid-September:
-re-wash all baby bedding types things (changing pad covers, bassinett sheets, etc)
-actually pack hospital bag
-Do as much yoga/stretching/walking/possibly running as I can to keep as active and ready for labor as possible

Before Caiden crawls...:
-prep house for a baby (outlet covers, cabinet door locks, toilet locks)
-get the boys used to a moving baby
-Remake the den into more of a second living room/play room with a couch/sectional and shelving for baby toys... no real need for a glass top desk anymore! Especially since we always use laptops now...

So that is all I can think of for now. Obviously it isn't all necessary and probably won't all get done (my goal was to get everything wedding done before the school year started and October and early November before the Thanksgiving wedding were SO busy doing wedding prep) BUT it is a plan and it is an amazing feeling to see it all written down and most already being accomplished!

I'll be posting more nursery ideas very soon - I'm SUPER DUPER excited about the whole nursery and the ideas I have - I can't wait for it to be a reality!

Week 8 and 9

How far along? 8 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: down 2 lbs
Maternity clothes? Nothing yet... I'm quite intimidated by going shopping for them BUT I know I need to soon. I've already got a little belly and my work pants just don't fit anymore :(
Stretch marks? No
Sleep: SO tired and SO annoyed with the whole waking up in the middle of the night to pee... can't wait for spring break next week to sleep in!!!
Best moment this week: Emailing our video to our family and friends we didn't get to text it to and getting everyone's reactions. 
Have you told family and friends: Yes!
Miss Anything? Publix Subs. Jimmy John's subs. Even Subway...
Movement: Nothing yet!.
Food cravings: I need satly meaty foods. GIVE ME PROTIEN!
Anything making you queasy or sick: Eating too much in any one meal OR trying to eat something super sweet :(
Have you started to show yet: looking chubby for sure
Gender prediction: Nothing yet... I really want to have a feeling though!!
Labor Signs: No
Belly Button in or out? In
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy!
Looking forward to: Having a gut instinct about the gender and telling everyone! I'm hoping it will give me the courage to realize this is really happening and I'm going to grow and that I need to buy some maternity clothes. 

8 weeks: I realize I am late writing this post so I am going to reflect on what week 8 was like by looking at my calendar.

I think this was actually the worst week so far. I was battling a cold, not sure what I could take, so exhausted with school and bored at the same time (I have an intern teaching my class right now but it was his second week - we were sort of co-teaching where he was leading some stations and I was doing data chats with my students. I am also taking on a lot of other projects to keep myself busy once he takes over completely. He is doing a really good job! But obv still new and still has a lot to learn which means I need to be one step ahead just in case!). My stomach aches were the WORST this week and I really miss being able to work out in the evenings or mornings but that is when I am worst. I am glad I have only had 2 actual throwing up episodes, since those were so miserable  - I literally had no voice for a whole weekend after one awful awful night. 

How far along? 9 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: down 4 lbs
Maternity clothes? I finally took the plunge and went shopping for some. Mommy, Grandma, and I went to a bunch of second hand stores to get some and my mother in law, LuAnn, brought me some from their recent trip to Minnesota. I also tried the scrunchie trick with my favorite jeans and it made the biggest difference! I am really just uncomfortable in my pants when sitting or if they come up near or above my belly button. 
Stretch marks? No. I am getting a BAD case of dry skin like never before though. Working on hydrating everywhere but especially the belly!!!
Sleep: I take naps again. I sleep like 12 hours a night. I cannot get enough sleep. And it is spring break so I can take all the sleep I want!!!
Best moment this week: Tie - posting the video the facebook for everyone to see and comment on (and hitting almost 600 views!) AND finishing actual decorating our bedroom with all sorts of future baby in mind including a chair next to an empty space that will be a bassinet in a few months! 
Have you told family and friends: Yes! The reactions have been AMAZING!!!!
Miss Anything? The hot tub. The in-laws just got one and I've been able to work out again so my muscles could def use a dip... :(
Movement: Nothing yet.
Food cravings: Protein at every meal, but I've found if I don't have carbs at a meal I get sick. 
Anything making you queasy or sick: Eating too much in any one meal OR trying to eat something super sweet :(
Have you started to show yet: to me, yes. To the world... not unless I point it out. 
Gender prediction: I FINALLY HAVE A FEELING!! I keep talking about Caiden as a HE! So I'm thinking a boy right now! 
Labor Signs: No
Belly Button in or out? In
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy!! Very very Happy! 
Looking forward to: Our next doctors appointment in 2 weeks and accomplishing more baby prep around the house! Plus getting back into working out!

So over the past week and a half I finally figure out how to eliminate my stomach aches for the most part. I still get some but the intensity is much much less and they don't last as long. The only problem is it involves cutting back my portion sizes BIG time. I have been trying to eat more often but it appears it isn't enough and I am down 2 more pounds. I am conscious of it so I am trying get even more carbs and protein in and hopefully that will help me start going in the opposite direction! It is so weird to be disappointed in losing weight, haha. 

1st Trimester Update

So I've known about our pregnancy for 5 weeks now.

And it has been 6 VERY long weeks of nausea.

I keep getting the same advice - which is frustrating but to be expected. I eat small meals, ginger anything always gave me a stomach ache, so I can't imagine trying it when I already have a stomach ache.

I've figure out some additional things.

If I can keep anything from touching my stomach that helps A TON. No belts around my waist or pants above my bellybutton.

I figured out yesterday for sure that I can't eat cheese sticks anymore. Which makes me sad because a cheese stick and pretzels was my best pre-run snack.

I crave meat. Salty red meat. I know. It almost sounds perverted.


I'm drooling.

The saddest part has been I haven't really ordered any good steaks like I want because the Dr said to have it cooked well done. Gross. Why bother.

On a new level - I have been battling a cold for about a week. I know exactly why. I am exhausted. February-March was the worst time in the school system to get pregnant. It starts the final push of information for the standardized tests that are coming and it marks the time of the year when students can't see the light at the end of the tunnel and stop working hard so you have to push them.

Enter - the most tired I have ever been in my whole life...



No - I didn't fall asleep at my desk, but I've been close.

My skin is SO itchy and dry. It is awful. I know part of it is coupled with the fact that it has been pretty cold here lately (I realize it is South Florida and "cold" is relative) but it has been awful. As I am typing this I am ignoring the fact that my legs and lower back and shoulder are super itchy. If i'm not so exhausted after my shower I am trying to remember to use nice lotion to keep my skin hydrated. When I remember, the itchyness is much much less. The key is remembering.

Beyond that - my regular pants already don't fit. I am currently wearing pants from before I started running. They look awful everywhere but they button! I'm really not ready mentally for maternity clothes but my body is ready so I'm going to get maybe 2 things over break next week. I also have to do my blood test - something I"m not super excited about... but something I know I need to do.

Stay tuned for hopefully more happy side effects coming soon! I'm hoping for them!

Week 7

So tonight we will start taking our weekly pictures in the shirt I bought! I'll post the picture as soon as I have it.

I figured I would also start posting the whole blogger pregnancy questionairre thing as well as a few facts about where the baby is growth wise.

Also - HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BRIAN! I know you are going to be an amazing father to Caiden! This birthday is fun, but imagine next year :) Eek!


How far along? 7 Weeks
Size of the baby: blueberry (so teeny!!!)
Total weight gain: down 2 lbs... of course from not eating due to my stomach being rude
Maternity clothes? no - but my favorite pants that button at my belly button don't fit anymore... boo :(
Stretch marks? none
Sleep: waking up to pee in the middle of every night is REALLY getting annoying... 
Best moment this week: making our video and sharing it with people - every time my stomach hurts I send the video out and their reaction excitement makes me feel better, haha. 
Miss Anything? I found my woozie (wine glass koozie) for the first time in months on Saturday... I got so excited and then SO disappointed...
Movement: none
Food cravings: bread. meat. salty snacks.  
Anything making you queasy or sick: sweets. I turned down froyo for the first time ever. It was crazy. Gender: not sure... I don't have any intuition either way yet...
.Labor Signs: wayyyyyy to early. 
Symptoms: lots of awful stomach aches and I am SO SO SO tired. So tired. 
Belly Button in or out? in
Wedding rings on or off? on.. I got a second band for our anniversary that wasn't sized right (too big) and lazy me just wore it on the inside. Now it is convenient so hopefully I can always wear one even if I swell. Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy and EXCITED 
Looking forward to: Camping trip next weekend - Brian, me, and the puppy dogs. Probably our last for at least a year... while I can still sleep normal and the weather is cool enough to camp in FL... and we don't have a baby to worry about... eek!

Wyss Wyss Baby

How we announced our big news!!!