Week 18 Kicking!

On the day of 18 weeks, I had quite a shocking surprise.  It was sunday night and we just had friends over for dinner, once they left I wanted to use my heartbeat monitor.  I was listening the heartbeat and suddenly the baby pushed against the monitor so hard, and I screamed I wasn't expecting that. I of course moved it and the same thing baby pushed against it. Mark came over and tried to push gently with his fingers but the baby didn't kick him. It was so neat to feel the baby so strong.  Up until that day I had been feeling flutters and a little bit of movement on occasion and when I would eat something sweet.  Ever since that day I feel my little one moving, bumping, and kicking everyday. It is truly the most amazing thing you can experience.

17 weeks

We had a wonderful thanksgiving. Made it to Williamsport just in time to sit down and eat. Nice drive up to the mountains. Mark was hoping to get to shoot some guns, and boy did he.  We started out with a great game of football. Mark is so good at kicking my cousins butts so he made sure to do that again. My moms friend Veda's husband Bill had a gun and let Mark shoot it. He looked so professional like he knew what he was doing. He ran to check his target and hadent hit anything :(  I gave my grandfather a haircut that was just terrible but he tipped me $10 bucks anyway. We enjoyed some fresh out of the oven apple pie and made our way to our hotel in Willamsport. We were so exhasted we passed out soon after getting there it was nice to be away together. The next morning we left to drive back to NJ.  We stopped in Historic Smithville and had a wonderful dinner.  We walked around the shops and and bought our first christmas tree ornament. We each picked one out, I got an Angel and Mark got a Muosse.  From there we went and got our Christmas tree at home depot.  It was a wonderful trip! 

16 weeks Thanksgiving!!

Yeah it is finally Thanksgiving!!  I am so excited to make the annual journey to my cabin for Thanksgiving.  It is always such a great time, my favorite holiday. The fresh brisk air, family, food and football.  I am so happy that I finally have someone to share the holiday with. This will be Marks second trip to the cabin for Thanksgiving. Last year we were only able to go for the day so it was a little rough on Mark. Although he did kick all my cousins asses in football. (which he still talks about)  Last year Mark had a great idea to make a christmas cd and give it to my family members at Thanksgiving. I thought it was a wonderful idea and a great way to give everyone a little gift. Since I dont get to see all the family members at christmas.  Last night I downloaded a bunch of songs for this years album. It is much different then last year, very relaxing and a little more religious.  There is a cd for everyone as well as some homemade granola that I made this morning. I love Bobs Red Mill recipes, I was able to find an organic granola recipe that turned out delicious. I wrapped  it up in little goodie bags and tied them with colored ribbon.  Really turned out nice. The only problem I keep giving them away I wont have any left till Thanksgiving.  This year Mark and I will be staying in Willamsport at the Historic Genetti Hotel. We plan to spend a little time walking around Williamsport before heading home.  We also plan to try to get a tree on our way home. This will be my first tree for christmas in 9 years. We will have to buy all the christmas decoration for the tree but it will be so nice to have a tree and have our christmas surprise under the tree!!

Week 15 Christmas Surprise

We are able to find out the sex of the baby right before christmas. In fact I will be 20 weeks the week of christmas so the chance of getting to see the goods is pretty good. What we have decided we are going to do is have the ultrasound tech write down the sex in an Christmas card and we will  put it under the tree and open it christmas morning. That is if we can wait past midnight.  Mark is very excited he says it will be the best day of his life, up until his baby is born.  We are both secretly wishing for a boy ALTHOUGH A HEALTHY BABY IS #1. Mark is scared of having a girl because of the teenage girl effect. As for me I also think a boy would be easier. I feel as though it is a boy but only because the old wives tales lead me to believe this. I also imagine a boys nursery and I am drawn to boys things. However I did have one dream of a baby girl curled up sleeping on my chest, she was the most precious little bundle of joy. Guess it will be a mystery until christmas.  Really looking forward to then going and purchasing things for our little baby. Picking out furniture and finally starting on a nursery.  I get worried about having things done and ready, while Mark is more laid back and doesn't worry.  I wish I could be more like him but he is wearing off on me.  Mostly because he doesn't worry and it all falls into place and works out better then if I had planed and strategized for weeks.  I know that we will pick everything out and get everything done,  because he is very good with projects and doing things like this. It is going to be fun, just ready to get started!!!

Week 14 Back to being myself

I have talked about getting my energy back, well I am once again eating healthily and enjoying my morning runs. I have been running almost 4-5 times a week, at a very slow pace but it feels good.

I can only imagine what is happening in there to my little baby though, is he getting thrown around. I am sure he says ok here we go again.  Perhaps our little one will be the athlete his mom an dad never were.  We talked about letting our little one play football.  It is scary Mark says we need to keep him to tennis, golf and baseball if it is a boy.

I am finally able to get things done around the house, but dont get me wrong I can still nap like nothing else, and I do still take one almost everyday.

I felt the first little flutters this week, like pop corn popping in my stomach, very neat. I cant even imagine what it is going to be like to feel the kicking when it gets stronger.

Everything is just really going great in my life. Mark is just the most wonderful person and I knew from the moment I met him he was going to be a great dad. I am so excited that I am close to seeing this become a reality.

Week 13 H1N1 vaccine

  I went to get the H1N1 vaccine on friday.  Our county doesnt have them yet so I was able to go to Camden county (some counties dont let you outside residence get them)It was so cold and we waited outside in line, I had gotten there an hour early so I ended up only waiting about 2 hours.   It was at the south county library in Atco, I had been there once before to take Pop there to return some of his library books so I thought that was a good sign that I had been there with Pop that I was doing the right thing. It is so scary, pregnant women are the most at risk especially my age group. I hate getting a vaccine that is so new. I am the type of person, I havent had a tylenol and sip of alcohol and I hope to go pain med free durning delivery, so to have to get a vaccine while pregnant was really tearing at me, but after doing my research it really seems that it was the best decision and I am glad I was actually able to get it. The lines have been so long they have been giving people vouchers to come back, at one of the clinics, they had taken all th pregnant women in front of all the children that were there, that caused a big problem.

The weekend was beautiful,  we spent saturday cleaning the closet, Mark has so much clothes that he finally decided he would go through,  I removed clothes I cant wear and packed things up and replaced it with some maternity, its that time where I am outgrowing my clothes, but I am enjoying watching my belly grow, it seems like all of a sudden I have this belly, but I still to the outside world just look like I ate to many doughnuts : )

We were invited to the Coynes for dinner Saturday night (our old neighbors) they are leaving for Florida this week. It was a great dinner, Mark made gingersnaps (I bought a bag, you just add egg and butter) but he made them twice already I think gingersnaps are his favorite : ) Sunday Shawn and Jacob came down to go snapper fishing it was so nice it was about 65 degrees and the beach was beautiful, we didnt catch anything,  but was still fun.

Zen ended up chaised up a tree by Jakes dog Mark had to climb up to get him.

Thanksgiving is coming right up, Mark and I are planning another trip up to my cabin in Williamsport PA it is one of my favorite holidays, one of the few times my whole family gathers, so it is really nice. It turns out my Cousin Jeremy's wife is due May 15th (they're second) .  My grandparents have  5 great grandchildren born in May (including me) and 9 all together the oldest being 7 and the youngest born last May. So we have a full house for Thanksgiving.

11- 12weeks Family Wedding

We had an ultrasound on friday Oct. 30th , it went really well. The ultrasound was to measure the skin on the back of the babies neck to check for downs syndrome and the measurement was good. They also measured the baby and he/she is growing along perfectly, they also test for a few other genetic diseases we will know by friday but everything seems great.  It was great to see and hear the babies heartbeat it was 157. The US tech is this really nerdy guy who doesnt say much, and just really doesnt have good bedside manner, well Mark kept asking him questions and he finally showed and told us a little more, (unfortunately couldn't tell if it was a boy or girl) but he did show us the baby in 3d, and printed out about 7 pictures.
how far along? 11 weeks
total weight gain: About 5
maternity clothes? Still able to wear my stretchy size 4 jeans!
sleep: Great, except for the 2 nightly bathroom trips, that is after 3 before bed trips.
best moment this week: Running 3 miles
movement: Not yet.
gender: Realized we will know before Xmas
labor signs: none
belly button in or out? In still wearing piercing
what i miss: Would like to have a glass of wine with dinner out. 
what i am looking forward to: Getting to 2nd tri
weekly wisdom: Dont order jeans off ebay
milestones: Getting energy back. 

10 weeks ENERGY!

The cravings are starting to diminish and I have gained a significant amount of energy, Although dont take my naps away. I haven't been to hormonal, only a few occasions when I knew I was upset for nothing. So far this pregnancy has been wonderful. I am SO glad to be eating healthy again, I say now that I wish I could have eaten healthier in the beginning but really there was no way. I did do pretty good to say the least. My biggest indulgence was a bag a jalepeno Kettle chips I ate ALOT on the way home from the grocery store one day, but I never had a major craving that I have sent Mark to the store for.  I have started back up with my cardio and enjoy a brisk Jog/walk in the mornings that leave me wanting to nap.

I have been working out with my trainer at the gym throughout the whole pregnancy so far, she also notices my energy coming back. Looks like the 1st trimester is over. Thank God, just two more weeks and it is actually official.

9 weeks Vinegar.

I cant stop eating Vinegar.  I want everything that I can put vinegar on or that I can dip in vinegar.
My new thing is A1 sauce but I dont eat red meat but now I want it. I love hamburgers cause I love ketchup.  Salad dressing is so yummy. I have also developed a tase for Veal, I have ordered it twice since we have been out to eat. I think it is because it comes with pasta and it is fried(also since I hate chicken)
I also began craving sweets as well as sours. I want strawberry jelly and fruit roll ups. I have been trying to curb my ice cream cravings with yogurt, not the same but works.

8 weeks Morning Sickness

Well I have been hit by the nauseous bug. I haven't thrown up but I am super nauseous all the time. I cant stand some of the foods I used to love, I cant look at tomatoes ( I actually had to throw them away) and any vegetable really makes me sick. I do however love strawberries and my sister sent me this yummy fruit bouquet that I ate in about 2 days. I love food that is fried or wrapped in carbs. Dont think about giving me eggs or salmon for breakfast all I want is cereal, or if I am trying to be good oatmeal. My lunch consists of a turkey sausage sandwich with cheese on toast.   I cant stand the smells of certain things and herbs make me want to throw up. The good thing is that I am trying somewhat to be good and I try to make sure that my carbs have vegetables with them. I have made lots of soups, bean, split pea, ham and green beans, ham and cabbage, so I think that I could certainly be worse.  It is so weird that you just feel hungover all the time.  You must graze and eat at least every few hours to keep the nauseousness away. 

7 weeks Second Ultrasound

This week we had an official Ultra sound Apt. We went to the Drs. office at 8:15 on Sept 22. It was so exciting to get to officially see the baby, and hear the heartbeat.  Thats exactly what we did, it truly was so exciting.  We got a picture of the baby.  We knew everything was going to be ok. This baby was going to be ours!

6 weeks Trip to the ER

Monday at what I thought was 6 weeks 2 days  I ended up in the  ER.

It was a beautiful fall day and I was at work when I started to bleed. I have never been so scared I was shaking and I thought I was having an MC but really only for a second, I guess I knew I shouldnt be bleeding but I still wasnt scared. I went to the ER and Mark met me there. I was examined and everything was ok. I had an ultrasound and you they seen your little sack. Although we didnt hear the heartbeat, it turns out I was only 5 weeks and 4 days. I have another ultrasound on Tuesday to hear the little heartbeat. Your daddy will come with me and we will see you for the first time.

5 weeks Wow things change fast

That is since I discovered I was pregnant with you.

Not that it has been bad. My symptoms are not so overwhelming and I haven't experienced any morning sickness yet. Is it to early? Is diet playing a part? Does a diet high in saturated fat and red meat cause morning sickness? So far I am very tired and that is hard because I used to never stop, now I just cant start. It is really amazing that you are the size of a pen tip and you are causing me to change so quickly, between the bloating and cravings along with no energy but I will make sure to change that. Today I worked out for an hour doing cardio and making your heart strong. The weekend was hard, we hung out with one group of friends and I said I had drank to much over the weekend that I wasn't drinking, think they suspected? I think May is a great month to have you. I am very excited to have you in my belly. I know your daddy is too.

Night little one in my belly.