32 weeks

Another week down. 32 weeks under my belt. I'm slowing down, I'm one of those people you don't want to get stuck walking behind in the mall or grocery store. I'm bumping into people and things, dropping things and catching them on my belly. I'm still able to get my socks on in the morning and take them off at night but am thankful that the majority of my shoes are slip-ons. This week, we're gonna pack our bag for the hospital. Just so we can be ready! BR is as feisty as ever, still lots of kicks and punches. I did an ultrasound at work and she has gotten so big that it's hard to tell what we were looking at other than the heart. I'm pretty sure she even kicked at the ultrasound prob a couple times. Girl likes her privacy. She weighs as much as a large jicama, about 4.5 lbs. There isn't really an increase in length but she's plumping right up. My maternity shirts are getting more and more fitted and I've still got just under 1o lbs to gain. yikes!!

31 weeks

31 weeks... it's getting harder and harder to eat a full meal at one time. It seems like my days off are full of going to the bathroom, eating and napping. Of course Bella and Audie are insistent on getting their fair share of attention. I'm really excited because we only have a week and a half before Nick comes home from Texas....He's gonna be shocked at how much my belly has grown. I know, I know, it STILL doesn't look impressive in pictures.BR is about 17 inches long now and won't get too much longer and weighs about 4lbs (about 4 naval oranges). She moves all over the place and there are times my belly looks like a bag of popcorn popping! The kicks and punches are getting so strong and she's consistently found a tickle spot on my right side that can stop me in my tracks!

30 weeks

We're down to the last 10 weeks! I'm still feeling pretty good, but definitely sleeping less. Or, I guess I should say, less at a time. Between waking up to go to the bathroom and the dogs wanting to go out before 5 am, I've been getting up pretty early every morning, work or not. My naps during my days off seem to be getting shorter and shorter....Probably all just in preparation for BRs schedule! BR is working on controlling her body temperature. She is starting to loose all the fine hair that covered her body to keep her warm. Her brain is developing more and more wrinkles for all the thinking she'll have to do in life and she is continuing to practice her breathing. She can see, but her eyesight is terrible, about 20/400 vision, so she can only see what's in front of her. Too bad it's just the uterus! BR weighs as much as a large cabbage, about 3lbs and is about 16 inches long!

29 weeks

Ahhhhhhhh, we made it to 8 months!! Still feeling pretty good and getting around ok. Things are becoming more and more difficult though, like putting on shoes and socks, getting out of bed, that sort of thing. My legs should be pretty toned by the end of this from all the squats I've been doing!Here's the latest ultrasound of BR.....such a nice profile :) There isn't much developing any more for the baby, just gaining weight. From what I've read the baby weighs about 3lbs now and is about 15 inches long! A butternut squash :) BR will only grow a few more inches but will more than double the weight in the next 2 months. There are lots of movements and since the baby is head down, a lot of kicks to the ribs. I'm just amazed at how much I can feel and judging from the movements I saw on the ultrasound, I feel just about every little twitch. And here is our 3D ultrasound :) Sleeping peacefully, using the placenta as a pillow. You can see the little feet in the foreground. And best of all, we finally found out what we were having! A GIRL!!!

28 weeks

Here's my first picture on my own...Nick's in Texas for 5 weeks and set me up a little stand so I can still get my shot every week :) Such a good hubby!

27 weeks

Time just keeps clipping away...27 weeks and I'm feeling pretty good. I don't have the endurance I used to, I can really notice it when I'm taking the dogs for their walk. I'm really huffing and puffing by the time I'm a quarter of the way up the hill. I still feel like these pictures don't do justice to how big I really feel! I've had a lot of contractions lately, so I've had to really push the water. Sooooooo tired of water! BR is about 2.5lbs and about 14.5 inches long. Not a lot of development as far as I've read, just lots of practice for the life skills...breathing, opening and shutting the eyes, moving around, kicking, etc. After yesterday I thought I may have a bruised rib....BR was right up in there pushing around. I've heard if you put an ice pack where the baby is pushing, they'll move away. I haven't tried it yet...but can see it in the near future :)

26 weeks

We had our first birthing class this week, it was the tour of the hospital. We're delivering at GBMC and it seems like a nice place, and it was nice to see kinda how everything was gonna go so we know kinda what to expect. We have one more class this coming week, then Nick's going to Texas for 4 weeks. BR can open his/her eyes!!! Apparently it's not completely black in there either, it's a murky brown. BR weighs about 2lbs and is the length of a hot house cucumber. I'm still feeling lots of movements, especially at 4am. Sleeping is getting a little less comfortable but the naps on the couch sure feel good on my days off :) I'm gonna miss them in a few months! I've also had a few contractions, mostly at work. I've also started wearing the compression socks at work to keep the ankle swelling at bay.

early birthday

Nick has taken me to a special dinner and show for my birthday for the past 2 years...this year we went to Toby's dinner theater where we saw Dreamgirls! They had a decent brunch buffet and then the show. It was a great show and we had a really nice time.

Here we are in all our pregnant glory :)

7 months!

And here we are...starting the 7th month! The last 2 weeks I've been feeling really good, other than some occasional lower back pain. :) I can definitely tell a difference in how I sleep. Nick got me a wonderful pillow that I use every night that has made sleeping on my side a lot more comfortable. I had my first contraction the other day. It didn't hurt, just felt really funny and my entire belly moved up. It was an odd feeling and looked pretty funny.

BR is getting bigger and bigger....the weight is now about 1.5lbs and the length is 13.5 inches long! I can feel the kicks getting stronger and the movements are bigger. It sounds like this time is spent getting BR beefed up. The lungs are continuing to develop and the eyes will open soon! Nick was trying to talk to BR through my stomach, and BR started kicking! It was pretty cool to feel a response :)

24 weeks

We just had our Drs appt yesterday, everything is looking good. BR's heart rate was 152, which is normal. He measured my belly and said it was the right size (whatever that means). I've been feeling pretty good these last couple weeks and I hope it lasts the next few months! I can't believe this is the end of the 6th month....I guess time flies when you're feeling good ;)

BR is about the length of an ear of corn this week, weighing in around 1.5 lbs. The inner ear can now determine when BR is head up or down. Tiny eyelashes have formed and the face is developed, just lacking some baby fat at this point. BR is gaining about 6 oz a week so the plumping up has begun!

23 weeks

23 weeks down, 17 more to go...apparently my stomach will grow by about 1 cm per week as BR starts to really put on some weight (and inches). BR is as long as a large mango which apparently is decent sized because last week we were a spaghetti squash and I feel like those are pretty big! I can feel lots of movement and Nick and I can watch the baby moving in my belly. When the kid gets going, it's a pretty impressive show! BR's organs are all developed now except for the lungs, which are really developing this week. BR is still very skinny but will be putting on some weight in the coming weeks!

22 weeks

Ahhh, 22 weeks....I think I'm finally starting to enjoy pregnancy now that I'm in the middle of my 6th month. Whew. I'm slowly collecting a maternity wardrobe. I'm getting some pants hemmed because I have a feeling in a couple weeks my belly band isn't going to cut it :)
BR is moving quite a bit now, I think I can tell the difference between kicks and punches. I can push on my belly and BR will move from the stimulation. Pretty cool! BR's eyelids are still sealed closed, but the eyes are moving behind them. They still don't have a color yet (not that I can see them, but that's' what the books say). BR weighs about a pound and looks like a miniature baby.

6 months!!

And here we are at 21 weeks! BR is growing and growing and the clothes are getting tighter and tighter :) I finally gave in and exchanged my scrub pants for a larger size. I could still get the smaller ones on, but they weren't very comfortable to sit in. I'm still surprised at how unimpressive the belly looks in the pictures. Still feeling pretty good, but I pretty much eat the exact same thing every day. I've gained about 7 lbs which is just about where I'm suppose to be at. BR is the length of a carrot this week, swallowing little bits of amniotic fluid to let the digestive system practice. BRs bones are calcifying and movements are more coordinated so the kicks and punches are harder. I had a solid kick 2 days ago that really surprised me!

I'm pretty excited to be in the 6th month...BR will really start growing and gaining some weight now. Plus we're over half way now!

20 weeks! Halfway!

And here we are...20 weeks along. The halfway mark. I can feel the baby move multiple times during the day, especially late at night and early in the morning. I know the pictures don't look all that impressive, but I can't button a single pair of pants anymore. Thankfully my mom had sent me a belly band and I'm still able to wear my pants....and my wonderful mother-in-law came for a visit this past weekend and brought me some maternity pants that are cute and comfy. I've been feeling much better during the day and even have a little energy to go shopping and get stuff done around the house. When Nick's mom and Aunt Di came last weekend, we had a great time site seeing out and about in New York City! I felt great the whole day and was exhausted by the time we got home.

BR is the length of a banana this week. Like I said before, lots of movements and apparently the fingernails and hair are growing. The sleep/wake cycle is starting to become more regular....makes me a little nervous about the late night/early morning movements I'm feeling. Makes me think BR isn't gonna be one to wanna sleep in :) Right now the top of the uterus is at my belly button (which is stretching out). It'll be fun when we come home in December for people to be able to feel BR moving. You can feel the movements now but you still have to stick your hand down my pants to feel it. A little awkward :)

2nd Anniversary!

Last week was our second wedding anniversary. We last year we went on a cruise, but this year we decided to do something a little closer to home. We went to the Pocono!

We decided to stay at the Shawnee Inn Resort, which is right on the Delaware River. I'm sure it's lovely when you aren't there the same month as a hurricane and tropical storm. Other than a small wedding party, we were the only people staying at the resort. We never had to share the dining room with more than one other couple the entire week! Most of the activities were shut down due to the amount of 'high water' they were dealing with. Luckily there was an outlet shopping mall nearby and a mini putt course that occupied our first couple days. We did find an amazing park where you could hike about 3 miles around multiple water falls in Bushkills Falls park. They had a wonderful hiking path that took you around the 'Niagara of Pennsylvania' and thanks to the previous storms the falls were amazing! They said when there is a drought, the water is nearly a trickle over the falls....

This was our view.....

On our last day we did end up getting on the Delaware for a kayak ride. Over all a nice way to spend our 'babymoon' and 2nd Anniversary :)

18 weeks

I was pleasantly surprised this week by a few baby kicks! I finally felt them :) Just a couple kicks here and there but Nick was able to feel one last night. They're still really faint, but I pushed his fingers into my belly a bit and after about 5 mins of waiting, he felt one. Pretty cool. This week BR is about the size of a bell pepper and is working on how to breath and calcifying bones. Also working out regularly as I can feel kicks and punches or whatever is poking at me mostly at night just before bed.

Also, I let Nick know that his belly picks are being missed by you :) He said he'd make a guest appearance soon :)

17 weeks

And here we are....17 weeks. I've finally gained a couple pounds and they say you're suppose to gain about a pound a week starting around now. I still fit into my clothes, but they are definately getting snug. Maybe another week or two and I'll have to bring out the belly band my mom got me :) BR is the size of a turnip this week. The airway passages are developing more, sweat glands are producing a waxy, waterproof substance to protect the skin. I thought I might have felt a small movement the other night but it's really hard to tell right now. I haven't felt anything since, but I keep waiting for it!

late 16 weeks!

And here we are....16 weeks along. Obviously I just woke up to take this picture :) I've been feeling better and better...even went out to dinner with a friend I met in San Diego years ago. I actually ate my whole dinner which, after weeks of baked potatoes, Ramen noodles and cereal, was a big deal. I had sea bass with beans.

So, BR is the size of an avocado this week! BR's getting some control over the facial expressions and can squint, frown and suck the thumb. BR also had hiccups! I happened to be ultrasounding myself at work and was able to see the tiny thing hiccuping around in there. It was pretty cute! I still haven't felt anything moving around yet so I'm anxious for that to happen. We are scheduled for THE ultrasound where they can tell us the gender in about 4 weeks. Initially I was against finding out the gender, but as the time comes closer to finding out, the more I want to know.

15 weeks

And here we are at 15 weeks...

This past week hasn't been too bad. There was about a week or two that I was really tired, but I've felt pretty good these past couple days. I had a little heartburn yesterday, they say the more heartburn you have, the more hair the baby will have. I was very bald and if this is true, I hope our baby is very bald too!

The baby is about the size of an apple this week, about 4.5-5 inches from head to bottom. The eyes can sense light and the baby can start to hear things. BR is growing eye lashes and hair and is drinking and peeing. They say you can start to feel the baby moving around anytime now...and I'm really excited about this!

14 weeks

And here we are with the 14 week picture.... I'd read that nausea should ease up around the 14th week and I'm happy to report that at about the middle of the week, it was gone! I'm definitely more tired now and naps have become an essential part of my days off. On the days I work, I can really feel it and barely make it through a TV show before I'm struggling to keep my eyes open.

Now that the nausea is done, I'm hoping my appetite picks up. I know that Nick is excited about that also. I've been living off baked potatoes and milk....Nick's been eating dinner before I got home so I didn't have to smell whatever he was eating that night. It'll be nice to eat together again!

Big News!! Small delivery ETA Feb 8th

After much excitement, we finally announced that we're having a baby!!! So, to keep everyone updated, I'm going to TRY to take after my friend Tricia and update as close to weekly as possible on all the excitement :) So, we'll start by catching everyone up on what's been going on the past month and a half.
My first 'baby bump' picture. Nothing there, just thought we'd get something early on. I'm about 9 weeks here. Kind of a last minute idea as you can see by my 'just out of bed look' :)
Nick decided he'd be supportive and do 'belly' pictures also!

Nick left for school in PA at the start of June and was planning on being gone for 3 weeks with no breaks. That first week he was gone, I was planning all sorts of things to do with my friends from work, girls nights out, etc. On my first outing, a 4 hour bike ride on the Eastern Shore in sweltering 104 degree heat, I became very nauseous...thought I was just dehydrated. So for the next few days I was drinking tons of water and Gatorade and just trying to get through a couple days at work. I just felt terrible! Nothing was tasting good and something just wasn't 'right.' So after many jokes, I finally took a pregnancy test...and much to my surprise it was positive!!
Me at 11 weeks...still not much going on. At least I'm ready for a picture here!
Nick's cute belly again


I got real nervous and immediately called my friend Tricia who very calmly reassured me that Nick and I could do this, we already had two dogs and they're doing fine! So, in the next few days, I called to make a doctors appointment and planned on how I was going to tell Nick. Fathers day was coming up and I couldn't think of a better time to tell him! So, on one of his short days of school, he drove home from PA and I had a father's day card from the dogs and a small present wrapped for him. I wish I would have gotten a picture of his face when he saw the positive test!

Me at 13 weeks....I can tell I'm getting thicker but everything still fits!

summer cooking!

We came home from Michigan with a couple loops of homemade sausage. Nick wanted to cook it up on the grill and it turned out perfect. The seasoning was so good and the sausage was so juicy, it made your mouth water just walking out onto the balcony.

They made a wonderful dinner and equally great left overs for the week. Here is my 'garden' growing bigger and bigger by the day. Even our neighbor stopped by and asked Nick about it one day. I'm anxiously awaiting the first strawberry of the summer!

Easter

We decided to celebrate Easter with our friends Matt and Jen. They were making ham, but Nick decided we wanted to bring a little Polish to our holiday. He called his grandma and got her recipe for Glumpkis and City Chicken. I decided to take the dogs for a walk while Nick got started on the food....this is what I came home to....

Nick was making a homemade sauce, in MY apron! After we softened the cabbage leaves enough, we were able to wrap all the filling into the yummy packages! And pour over Nick's wonderful sauce.... They turned out amazing!! We'll be making these again for sure! They we quickly put together the City Chicken, which was pork and veal breaded, fried then thrown in the over to finish. They turned out wonderful as well.

We had a wonderful dinner with friends to celebrate Easter 2011!

This is Bella giving us the accusing look whenever Audie is around. I think there are many times she's upset at us for getting another dog. However, when they play, they seem to have a good time. I think that eventually they'll be best buds :) Audie is close to 10 lbs now....in contrast, Bella is just over 7lbs. Doesn't she just look mischievous??

And then here she is watching me get ready for work, looking all sweet and innocent, like a good little puppy!

Spring is in the air....

Since I had such great success with my topsy-turvy tomato planter last year, I decided to replant it again this year. The thing is a beast and takes up a good portion of our tiny balcony.

I decided to buy 3 tomato plants (grape, regular and one specifically bred for a planter) and we'll see how it goes. I also planted a yellow pepper and strawberry plant. Last year I had one red pepper but it rotted before it was ripe enough to pick. Big bummer. Hopefully we'll have better luck this year!

I also planted a basil and cilantro plant. Randomly a parsley plant survived the winter and is hanging on by a thread....we'll see if I can get more than 2 leaves to grow off of it!Spring is here! Nick bought me my first (two) bunches of tulips!!! Yay!

the girls

Audie has been desperately trying to snuggle with Bella, but Bella has made sure the little one keeps her distance. So, Audie has been inching closer and closer....they can almost share a pillow now but Bella has still not let Audie actually touch her. Probably has something to do with Audie biting her butt whenever she has the chance :)

Here's Audie in one of her many sleeping positions. She's a funny one......

New Addition....

We got a little Yorkie/ maltese mix on Sunday. Since I named Bella, Nick picked out the name 'Audie' (as in Audie Murphy) even though she's a girl. It seems to fit as she is a tiny but mighty little fighter. She's just starting to respond to her name and sorta comes when called. Potty training is in full force.

Nick made a little sweater for her out of his sock :) She's very sweet but I think she may have a little devil in her ;)

Crepes

This morning I decided to make an old favorite. Crepes! We had some strawberries, blueberries, bananas for the insides and yogurt for the sauce. They were really yummy!

Nick decided he didn't want his crepes rolled up, so we made a layered crepe. Each layer had yogurt and then either strawberries or bananas....he had 5 layers!

They were huge and needless to say, neither of us finished our entire breakfast :)