26 Weeks

How far along: today: 26 weeks 

Cravings: Sandwiches! I usually hate my bread touching my other food! And I hate ham, turkey, and cheese. It's the most off craving I've had.

Baby bump: It's official and it's huge. With total weight gain at 14 pounds.

Mood: If my sugar gets low, stay away- I get cranky. And then I cry. I have been super sensitive. And sleepy.

Looking forward to: Finishing the baby room!

Missing: The ease of bending over.

Best moment: Celebrating Christmases with all of our families. Getting to the candlelight service at church was amazing (even in the lobby chairs with a latte).

Baby purchases: No purchases this time- some onesie gifts and maternity clothes at Christmas.

Movement: Baby kicks a lot all the time. Husband and others can feel now too.

Rings on/off: On! But getting tighter :(

Belly button in/out: In

20 weeks, 21 weeks.... 22 weeks, and its technically 23...

 

 

OK so I am sooooo behind. Well its been crazy obviously.

How far along: today: 23 weeks and 2 days
Cravings: doughnuts

Baby bump: Officially a bump! I got asked (in my 22nd week) if I was pregnant by a very brave woman. Weight gain is holding steady at 12 pounds
Mood: Good. Just normal I feel like. Maybe a little moody/sensitve. Like when I nearly cried about a parent of patient that was being a jerk to me.
Looking forward to: EVERYTHING. Now that we know the gender, it does feel very much more real.

Missing: Wine again, haha. None at thanksgiving, none when I got iced in, none at lunch with friends.

Best moment: Thanksgiving and Gender reveal! It's so nice to get together with family and enjoy their company, and share our big announcement! It's a boy!

Baby purchases: Maternity clothes that I am going to try to put under the tree as presents to me :). Got my babyseat cover in- it's a little girly. Oh well.
Movement: Definitely feeling baby. We're trying to catch a good moment where my husband can feel from the outside.
Rings on/off: On! I even got it sized smaller! I did have a little 10 hour period where I swelled up everywhere and it was stuck.

Belly button in/out: in Lol still working on this belly.

 

 

 

 I will try to get a 23 week picture because I do  have a belly now. But I just wanted to catch up on the notes!

 

19 weeks

 

How far along: 19 weeks 2 days
Cravings: Wings (aka buffalo sauce still) and fries- my every day craving

Baby bump: Weight gain = 9 pounds and you can see it! I decided that I have been gaining weight in the abdomen but it all went out together so not a traditional "bump"
Mood: It's been a rough week. Overall tired again and I got a little virus that's taking a toll.
Looking forward to: Gender Party and my first thanksgiving as a married, contributing adult

Missing: My little Chihuahua/min-pin Clea. We had to put her down this weekend at 16 years old. Really tough timing.

Best moment: Getting wings with friends and watching football! 3 of my favorite things. Shopping with another friend with hummus- another 3 of my favorite things.

Baby purchases: None this week I don't think.
Movement: Thinking I felt something again, still not sure.
Rings on/off: on. But I sent my Tiffany ring back to get resized and a diamond replaced.  I miss it.
Belly button in/out: in Lol still working on this belly.

18 weeks

How far along: 18 weeks
Cravings: Buffalo sauce! On everything! And I've been having it!
Baby bump: Weight gain = 6 pounds and you can see it!
Mood: Energized!
Looking forward to: helping plan a gender reveal party! We won't know the gender until the party!
Missing: Still wine. Fancy date night at Capital grill was much cheaper/less romantic without wine. We did get a free dessert for celebrating our 17 week anniversary!
Best moment: Having work friends over, fancy date night, Halloween. Our friend's kids bday party was a blast too!
Baby purchases: We got a donated high chair ;) My compression hose came in. I ordered a new cover for our second hand/non-expired carseat. Parenting books!
Movement: Not sure yet! I try to be still and listen/feel. Trying.
Rings on/off: on.
Belly button in/out: in

17 weeks

How far along: 17 weeks 2 days- late post
Cravings: Fruit and Veggies! How awesome is that?!
Baby bump: Weight gain of 6 pounds now. And a definite bump. Poor bump still ebbs and flows with gas/bloating though.
Mood: Pretty good!
Looking forward to: Making a baby registry!
Missing: Wine. My husband had some the other night and I did not partake, but I sure wanted just a sip!
Best moment: Hearing the heartbeat at the OB's office. I think I'm ready for that gender sono. I'm still debating if I want to know or not.
Baby purchases: Lots of shopping, no purchases this week.
Movement: On my way to the OB, my jeans were too tight and I was driving, and I think I felt a little flutter. I am waiting for more to confirm if that was real or not.
Rings on/off: still on- probably forever.
Belly button in/out: in- still working on the baby bump itself!

16 weeks- Oops missed 15!

 



How far along: 16 weeks and 5 days! Almost missed this one too.
Cravings: Fruit and tomatoes! Too bad this heartburn doesn't feel the same. I can definitely tell you a new AVERSION: beef and sausage... I'm quitting those after a very horrible 48 hours.
Baby bump: Weight gain of 3 pounds last week, 4 pounds total this week. As you can see there's some significant fullness but no "bump"
Mood: Very happy. Lots of laughing at work and home. Lots of second trimester energy led me to pick up several extra shifts... aka no time for blog or husband.
Looking forward to: Baby movements! I'd also really appreciate a baby bump so I feel pregnant, not chubby. Oh and Christmas time. I cannot wait to decorate!
Missing: The urge to workout! it's gone. I hope it comes back.
Best moment: My moms moved 2 miles away from us! They were across a busy metroplex! It will be and has been such a joy to see them more than once a month.
Baby purchases: a breastfeeding cover (free except shipping) and maternity compression hose. I had one friend swear by them and I must check them out. No one wants cankles, and walking around the ER all day- I got them before I was even pregnant. 3 maternity tops- not necessary but husband let me roam through target by myself for about an hour...
Movement: none yet.
Rings on/off: still on, still loose- darn cold weather.
Belly button in/out: in.
 

 

Hosting 60 Guests in Your Home

When Dan and I chose to get married across the ocean, we knew we would have to have an extra party for our locals who couldn't make it. 
Well that day came and over 60 people had RSVP'ed not including many plus ones and surprise visitors! 

How could we ever feed all of these people, fit them in our house on a rainy day, and keep the entertained?!?!?
We didn't want to pay for catering. I couldn't let Dan be in the kitchen or he would forgot his guests. But we had two fire friends offering to "cater" our celebration. I say fire friends because firemen know how to cook for masses- so that's important to note. I couldn't stress enough that the numbers were growing and this was a big offer they were filling. So I decided to help. I don't have their recipes but ill tell you what was made from right to left, bottom to top:

Baked ravioli with marinara

http://www.bakedbyrachel.com/2013/01/crispy-baked-ravioli/

Mac and cheese bites

http://spoonful.com/recipes/mac-and-cheese-bites

Queso with ground beef

Spinach and artichoke dip in the crock pot

http://spoonful.com/recipes/easy-slow-cooker-spinach-and-artichoke-dip

Red pepper hummus-not in the cups

http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/red-pepper-hummus-cucumber-cups-10000001892084/

Chips, chips, chips, jalapeños

French onion dip

Pork and chicken for lettuce wraps.

Top row:

Fruit plate- store bought

Veggie tray- store bought

Tuna salad in cucumber cups from hummus recipe above - I made up the tuna recipe or just can't find it.

Cured salmon with crackers and veggies

Not pictured:

Jalapeño sausage rolls- a huge hit, I can ask our friend where this came from

Brisket- my husband went a little renegade with this recipe but it was highly complicated and definitely not repeatable

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Oklahoma-Brisket/Detail.aspx?event8=1&prop24=SR_Thumb&e11=brisket&e8=Quick%20Search&event10=1&e7=Recipe%20Hub