Sixteen and Seventeen Weeks

I am a bad pregnant blogger. I have been thinking for weeks now that I need to document my week to week progress on the blog but just haven't had a chance. Well, I have some time to myself this week, so I am going to start and continue. I also need to pacify some of my girlfriends (cough, Mandy, cough) with some belly pictures. I am going to cram my sixteen and seventeen week post into one, but from now on, I will do one every week. Oh, and just to be clear, there will be NO bare belly shots on this blog. No judgement if you like those or take them yourself. They just aren't for me. Okay, with all that being said, here is the debut of my first update!

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 16, then 17 Weeks

Size of baby: Baby H* was the size of an avocado and now is the size of a turnip! He/she weighs about 5 ounces and is about 5 inches long.

Total Weight Gain/Loss: About 4 pounds but it looks like a lot more!

Maternity Clothes: No, but I am definitely rubber banding my pants and using those Bella Bands more often than not!
Gender: We will find out on October 13! We both feel rather strongly that it is a particular gender. If you ask me, I'll tell you!
Movement: Not yet, but I'm waiting patiently! Or not so patiently...

Sleep: I'm getting great sleep, but I go to bed really early... around 9:00 pm.

What I miss: Sushi, sushi, sushi! And I want Jimmy John's a lot but no processed meat!

Cravings: Juice-- lots of it and any kind without pulp.

Symptoms: In the last week, my nausea has left me. I'm hoping that it's not just a stage but something that I am really, truly over! I'm still absolutely exhausted though.

Best Moment this week: Going to a banquet for the school I grew up at and seeing so many people who are so, so excited for this baby!

When you are having a baby, it is amazing to see the people who come out of the woodwork-- good and bad, if you can believe that. Luckily, I have experienced the majority of the good kind. With the exception of only a few people who have been a bit ugly to me, the grand majority of people can't even begin to express how happy they are for us and how this will change our life for the better! It's definitely been a choice not to let the haters get me down. I've also been learning a lot about choices in general lately. My behavior and attitude both boil down to the choice that I have to make-- no one else. And with that, I will step off my soap box.

 

This past weekend, T and I went home and had the privilege of attending a banquet for the school I grew up in. It was such a delight because not only did I get to spend the evening with two of my favorite Michigan girls, Carrie and Kate (pictured below), but I got to see so many people who are so excited for us and who have known me since I was a little bitty girl! I even got to see my sixth grade teacher whom I haven't seen for probably at least 10-12 years.

 

 

Overall, it was a fantastic weekend. The banquet topped off a wonderful Saturday that was spent at a Mom2Mom sale, then at the cider mill and the National Coney Island, and followed by a nap before getting ready to go to our evening festivities. My parents know my love language-- food. All I wanted was some Yates apple cider and plain donuts and then a coney. Bless their hearts. They hauled us all the way around town to make PG (pregnant girl) happy and they truly did. It was fantastic! The one thing about living far from home is that you really get to go home from time to time and that makes it all the more special. 

 

I hope you're having a great week!

 

*Not the first initial of the baby's name. We are just calling it that until it is born. :)

Thankful

I cannot tell you how much all of your sweet comments, Tweets, text messages, and phone calls meant to me. I was so excited to go public with this news and you all made it so much more special! I am thrilled and a little nervous about where this new path in life is going to take me and Tyler, but I do know that I wouldn't want to be doing anything else right now other than preparing to be a momma.

I promise to update you on a regular basis now that we've told you all about the baby. It was hard to post this summer because I wanted to share so badly combined with the fact that I was so tired and sick. I'm feeling better but still not great. It's quite worth it, though!

We had an appointment with my new doctor a week or so ago and got to see the baby for the first time. All I can say is this-- there is nothing like it. I can't put it into words, so I won't even try, but it was indeed amazing and the coolest thing I have ever seen.

I have a lot more to say and some questions to answer, but that's going to have to wait for next week. Tonight, we are headed out to watch two special friends get married on Saturday. The neatest thing is that one of them is a sweet girlfriend from college and she is marrying a close friend of mine from grade school, middle school, and high school. And what I find even better is that they met at our wedding. It just fills me with so much joy to see how intricately God brought them together after waiting for that perfect person. Chad and T, we are so, so, so thrilled for you! It is a special wedding for so many reasons, but I am especially excited because it brings together my friends from home and my friends from college! I'll be spending the better part of tomorrow with most of my best friends-- I can't wait. I may be more excited then the bride. ;)

Again, thank you for everything you all have done to remind us how blessed we are to be in this process of becoming parents. God has been so good to us! We love you all!