20 Weeks

Before Kickoff

This week sweet baby boy went to Death Valley for his very first Clemson game! And, the Tigers pulled out a win. Unfortunately, baby boy didn't see the win because I got sick in the 3rd quarter. I don't know if it was panic knowing that I was about to throw up in the middle of 84,000+ people, how bad I felt, how hot it was, or the fact that I was dragging my sweet husband out of one of his favorite places, and probably one of the most exciting games we'll attend this year, but I BURST into tears. I owe a nice young man who was working security an apology the next time I see him. He asked if I was and I just sobbed something about being "Hot, sick, and pregnant." After a few "stops," we made it back to the car where we had some cold drinks, food, A/C, and r&r while we listened to the win on the radio. I am REALLY looking forward to going back once it cools off some.

How far along? 20 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: +15 pounds 

Wearing any maternity clothes? Yes! If it covers the bottom half, it pretty much has to be maternity.

Stretch marks? No (fingers STILL crossed)

Sleep: 2nd graders seem to be making this quite easy for me. I am taking naps occasionally, too.

Best moment this week: Spending time with family and friends in Clemson

Missing anything: Margaritas, my non-maternity (and way too small) clothes, sleeping on my stomach

Baby Movement: More and more everyday! Especially at night when I'm laying still. Yesterday, the little guy was positioned in a way that Christopher was actually able to get a thump or two!

Food cravings: Five Guys Burgers & Fries (still). I wouldn't say I crave "weird" foods, just foods that I don't usually have a lot of interest in. Tonight we are having tuna pasta salad and I NEVER eat tuna. I have even made C eat it outside before because I find the smell so offensive (even when I'm not pregnant).  

Anything making you queasy or sick: cabbage, coleslaw, broccoli (the smell gets to me), steak

Have you started to show yet: Definitely. Just now starting to look more pregnant and not just fat.

Gender: BOY!

Labor Signs: None and I'm ok with that!

Belly Button in or out? Still in and no brown line 

Wedding rings on or off? On-- they got tight a few times but I think humidity was a factor

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy, but I sometimes have weepy moments about silly things.

Looking forward to: feeling baby Arthur even more (that's your name right now, sweet boy. We'll see if it sticks!)

And...

It's a BOY!

Christopher and I found out on Monday that our sweet baby is a little boy! He is an active wiggling, turning, and flipping little guy. He weighed 11.5 ounces at our appointment (a little larger than average). It was also confirmed that he has 10 toes. Although, we would love him no matter the number of toes!

I don't know how I thought it would go, but I will say that from the minute we knew that it was a boy, I knew that was the "right" answer. Seeing the expression of jubilation on Christopher's face made me CERTAIN that a boy will be perfect for our little family. It also confirmed to me that he is going to be the best daddy EVER to this sweet little guy. But, I hope that our little guy rests up, because C has some big plans for him once he's born! We are both so, so, so excited to meet our son!

Look at Christopher's face! 

The reveal was about the hardest thing. I was super excited because I knew that most of our family was pretty sure that it was a girl. Christopher was about ready to explode. He was grinning from ear to ear (or even wider if that is possible). I found a neat cake on Pinterest and we used that idea to make our cake. Special thanks to Nona (my mom) for the M&Ms. She drove to Columbia to get them since we needed pink as a back up and there are no pink to be found in stores right now.

The cake

Baby boy, know that we love you already and are praying for you. We can't wait to meet you. You have a BIG family that is so excited to meet you and a pup that's pretty excited, too. 

Better Late Than Never... 19 weeks

This blog should probably be renamed the post title above!

Christopher and I found out we were pregnant in late May. The first trimester was really tough (even though I was off for the summer!). The baby has been healthy all along, but really felt HORRIBLE for months. I actually looked forward to school starting this year because I felt like if I could make it that far, I would be ok. And, school has started, and I am ok! :) Still throwing up, but ok. 

18 Week Update: 

How far along? 18 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: +11 pounds (at last dr's appt-- I am NOT weighing at home!)

Wearing any maternity clothes? Yes! My pants stopped fitting early on so maternity pants are about the most comfortable at this point. I am wearing some "larger than my normal size" non-maternity tops and loose dresses.

Stretch marks? No (fingers crossed)

Sleep: seems to vary night to night... between waking up sick, needing to go to the bathroom, etc. it can be tough, but usually if I don't sleep well one night, I sleep great the next.

Best moment this week: Starting school- My 2nd graders are SO excited about the baby.(Their name of choice for the baby: Chrysanthemum)

Missing anything: Margaritas. 

Baby Movement: More and more everyday! Especially at night when I'm laying still

Food cravings: Five Guys Burgers & Fries 

Anything making you queasy or sick: cabbage, coleslaw, broccoli (the smell gets to me), steak

Have you started to show yet: Definitely. Just now starting to look more pregnant and not just fat.

Gender: We find out Monday!!!! (Aug. 26)

Labor Signs: None

Belly Button in or out? Still in (amazing if you know what my belly button looked like before pregnancy, I expected it out IMMEDIATELY!)  and no brown line 

Wedding rings on or off? On-- they got tight a few times but I think humidity was a factor

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy, but I sometimes have weepy moments about silly things.

Looking forward to: finding out Baby W's gender!!

Happy 2013 & Holiday Recap

I really AM going to do better with the blog this year. Maybe that's my resolution for 2013. I don't really like resolutions, so this may be as close as I come.

 I think the best way to do this is to keep it simple. I can spend FOREVER writing the "just right" post and knowing that I really don't have the time to devote to that just makes me not do it.

So, here I am... blogging. What to talk about? CHRISTMAS & NEW YEARS! :)

This was our 2nd  "Married" Christmas together, but our 1st Christmas in our new house. A fun thing that our neighborhood does is cut out wooden signs. Actually, lots of neighborhoods in our town do this including the one I grew up in. So for me this has always been normal, but I am learning that this is not done in many other places, so here's how it works: Each neighborhood chooses a "theme." My old neighborhood had geese (we lived on a lake). Everyone has the exact same cut-out and paint it the same way and then have their families' names on their sign.  In our new neighborhood (actually it isn't really new to Christopher since it is the neighborhood he grew up in...) each street has their own Christmas "decoration" (bell, candle, stocking, etc.). A lot of times when people move out of a house, they leave their yard decoration for the next owner who just changes the name. Well, we searched high and low and there was no bell for our yard. So, we got crafty. Christopher ordered a jigsaw (oh, the fun I could have with that... or telling him what to do with it) and traced a neighbor's and I did the painting. Here was our bell.

Our bell in all its splendor 

My sweet mom had our gas logs all fixed up for us. There was a gas leak this summer/fall and the gas company came out to turn off the gas and when they did that, they totally disassembled the log set-up, etc. So in addition to a new valve, our logs had to be reassembled. And once they were, we had to "break them in." We decided s'mores would be the most fun way. :)

Snap was a fantastic little helper.

Christopher and I also attended our 1st tacky Christmas sweater party. He isn't wearing his hat in this picture.

Don't we look cute?

My brother was also at the party so I convinced him to take a picture with me. Please ignore how ridiculous I look. I refuse to not keep it though because I realized how precious these pictures can become.

Not sure why my mom didn't use this for the family Christmas card this year...

                                    

We went to Christmas Eve service at 4:30 at church. It is a HUGE, beautiful service. I love it! Then, we went to Christopher's parents' house for soup. Afterwards, we did the neighborhood parties. Those are so much fun. I love seeing old friends and the excitement of the kids (and occasionally their parents, too) can make anyone feel giddy about the holiday! Afterwards, we went back to the (other) Williams's house and exchanged our presents.

Our family on Christmas Eve in front of C's parents' tree

On Christmas day, we woke up and Christopher and I opened a (specific) few presents, most importantly, my new coffee maker. Afterward opened and given an inaugural run, we went to my mom's house in our pajamas for brunch. We also opened our stockings there with my mom, step-dad (Tom), and step-sister (Tiffany). We went home afterwards and opened a few more presents, then changed and went back to my mom's house. She had picked up my grandmother from her assisted living community, and we had  Christmas dinner with her and then spent some time with her after. We also gave her some gifts. After leaving, we ran by the Williams's house to say "Merry Christmas." We got home about 10 PM and finished opening gifts. The next day, my dad came into town and Drew, Christopher, and I went out to lunch with him.

Snap enjoyed Christmas dinner.

 For New Years, we went to Edisto and saw Christopher's extended family. Clemson played in the Chick-Fil-A bowl so that was what we watched (and why we are sporting our orange). We watched it at some friends of his grandparents' house.

Before the game- New Year's Eve 2012

Watching the game with the extended family

Thankfully, our Clemson Tigers claimed the victory that night! That was the perfect start to 2013!

Hopefully, I will start posting pics of home projects VERY soon. :)