A Pregnancy Pictorial Story



14 Weeks



15 Weeks outtake



It's a Boy!

1st Day of Maternity Leave!

The next day, I was admitted to the hospital!

21 Weeks!

How Far Along: 21 weeks!  

Size of Baby: A pomegranate, a banana, or bok choy, depending on the app!  Approximately 10.5 inches and 12.7 ounces.

 

Maternity Clothes: Yes.  Just ordered some from Destination Maternity.
 

 

Stretch Marks: None yet.  Already using coconut oil twice a day.  Up about 8-9 pounds so far, and hoping to keep the gain slow and steady.
 

  
Sleep: Very uncomfortable but the Snoogle pillow helps a little bit.  Hopefully the arrival of our brand new bedroom set this weekend will also help!
 

Best Moment of the Week/Past Month:  Finding out baby's gender and having my 20 week ultrasound and getting to see the baby wiggle around for a while.
 

 

Movement:  Lots of kicks and somersaults, and can even see some of them outside my tummy.  Chad seeing the movement has been a huge highlight as well!
 

 

Cravings: None, really, but still love fruit, fruit and more fruit.
 

 

Gender: A precious baby BOY!
 

Anything Making You Queasy or Sick: Not in quite a while, thankfully!

What I Miss: Wine and having the endurance to workout hard.  Also missing sushi and sleeping through the night without incident.

What I am Looking Forward to: My bump continuing to grow and getting closer to meeting our little man.

Nursery: We are working on it.  It is a sailboat theme - walls are a pale yellow, furniture is an antique white and we have an Annie Sloan Provence Chalk Painted crib.  Bedding is navy and white and we just ordered the cutest blanket and mobile from Pottery Barn.  I'm working on some DIY artwork, too.  Love personal touches!

Emotions: Pretty much exuberant, joyous, happy, excited, and a little mix of anxious and nervous - especially as we get closer to baby's birthday! 

Dear Baby...

Although I am only 10.5 weeks along, I could not wait any longer to tell friends and family about you and your upcoming arrival!  I am overjoyed to have you growing inside me, and I cannot wait for the day I get to feel you move and kick.  I cannot wait to hear your heartbeat and see your sweet face and know that you are really there.  The fatigue and nausea are there, which make me feel more confident that you truly are growing inside me, but without seeing you or hearing your heartbeat, I fear the worst always.  Every little cramp or strange feeling sends me into a panic, but then I stop, breathe deeply and try to relax - I do not want to cause you any stress, sweet babe. 

You are due December 29, 2014 - and I apologize now if you have to share your special day with Christmas or New Years, but know that Christmas is my favorite time of year, and you are going to be the best gift I've ever received! 

I love you so much already, my little love bean, and I know your daddy loves you just as much.  It warms my heart when he rests his hand on my very small, only noticeable to me baby bump, and when he asks me how I am feeling.  He has been so helpful with changing the cat box for me, and helping more with cooking and cleaning, and doing lots of yard work to make sure our home is ready for your arrival.  I feel so blessed and lucky - even when I am not feeling well physically and when my moodiness is almost too much to bear - I just thank God for your life and for blessing me with the opportunity to be your mama. 

How Far Along: 10.5 weeks!  

Size of Baby: A sweet kumquat!  About 1.25 inches long.

 

Maternity Clothes: Not yet, but I did just get a belly band for my jeans, which are getting a little uncomfortable when buttoned!
 

 

Stretch Marks: None yet.  Already using coconut oil twice a day.  I'm only up about a pound, so hopefully a gradual gain will prevent them.
 

  
Sleep: Up often to pee and with the doggies who are restless at night, but dreams have been vivid and strange.
 

Best Moment of the Week/Past Month:  Looking forward to Friday's first ultrasound!  And the excitement from all of my co-workers, friends and family when I told them my news!
 

 

Movement:  None for several more weeks.  :(
 

 

Cravings: Fruit, fruit and more fruit.
 

 

Gender: Won't know for a while, but we will be finding out.
 

Anything Making You Queasy or Sick: Going more than 2 hours without food.  The Bath and Body Works candles I just bought a few months ago, and any fragrances in the home.  Lavender Chamomile lotion I just got, too.

What I Miss: Wine and having the endurance to workout hard.  The exhaustion makes working out difficult and I am beat by the middle of Jillian Michaels, and I wimped out on Zumba, since that tired me out before baby!

What I am Looking Forward to: Seeing baby in the ultrasound and hearing baby's heartbeat!

Nursery: Planning in my mind what I want, but it will all depend on baby's gender!

Emotions: Happy, sad, joyous, angry, excited, scared, worried, jubilant...it is a mish mash of hormones over here.  Lots of tears, both happy and sad ones! 

Ending Worry and Living Life - thanks to Mr. Dale Carnegie

So, my brother got me what is sure to be a life altering book for Easter this year.  "How to Stop Worrying and Start Living" by Dale Carnegie, first published back in 1944.  I'm only two chapters in, but so far, I have taken away so much.

The following quotes have stayed with me and I am trying to repeat them, learn and live them:

"Every day is a new life to a wise man." (p. 10)

"My life has been full of terrible misfortunes, most of which never happened." Montaigne (p. 13)

"Today is our most precious possession.  It is our only sure possession." (p. 13)

"This is the day the Lord hath made;
We will rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24

The first step in ridding your life of worry is to "Shut the iron doors on the past and future.  Live in Day Tight Compartments." (p. 14)