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!

Momma's got some brand new clothes

I bought the Gap Groupon along with everyone else in America on Thursday. If you weren't aware of this deal, you really missed out! You paid $25 for a $50 Gap credit. This worked out especially well for me because I got a $50 Gap gift card for my birthday. I can't use the gift card for my Groupon purchase, but the way I look at it is that I'll get $100 worth of merchandise for only $25. What a great deal! I thought I'd show you some of the things I'm considering.

scoopneck empire dress

striped coverstich v-neck T

denim utility tunic

heathered vintage cardi

corsage scoop T

No, your eyes do not decieve you. These clothes are all from the Gap but they are indeed maternity clothes. I'm going to need them while our baby grows. Estimated time of arrival? March 4, 2011.

:)

Touchdown Jesus

Last night, we had horrible storms in Cincinnati. Our tornado sirens went off and Tyler and I came downstairs to watch the news in our window surrounded kitchen as opposed to watching it in our window surrounded bedroom. We really thought that being on the first floor would keep us much safer. We also put on our shoes in case we needed to dash to the basement. We were not about to go to our basement because our basement doesn't have cable and it's kind of gross. We also decided that in the face of a real disaster, we should probably own a battery operated radio. We'll probably get on that after the next weather related "disaster". We are nothing if not prompt.

Anyway, back to the real reason for this post. I woke up this morning and checked Twitter and started seeing updates about Touchdown Jesus. 

Touchdown Jesus is a 6 story statue of, you guessed it, JESUS, right off I-75 in Monroe, Ohio. We pass TJ often because he is on our way home to Michigan. In fact, I saw him just a few days ago. 

Touchdown Jesus burned down last night.

During the crazy storms, lightning struck Jesus and he burned to the ground. Thankfully, it doesn't appear as thought anyone was hurt. It was made of foam so I'm guessing it burned rather quickly. I feel badly for the pastor of the church because I'm sure this will be quite the financial burden. However, I have to wonder-- what did Jesus think of a 60+ foot tall statue of Himself? Did it truly bring more people to Himself and bring Him glory? 

Thoughts?

Life in Pictures

I have been seriously neglecting the blog and several people have ever so gently reminded me of that fact. I just had perhaps the best Memorial Day weekend of my life with my family and they left about an hour ago, so I'm sitting here a bit weepy. The Bachelorette is about to come on, but I'm feeling a bit weepy about that as well because-- and I say this with great sadness-- WHERE IS OUR ALI FROM LAST SEASON? This one has rented her extensions from Vienna and her dress the first night must have come from Rainbow. What in the world? I also find myself wanting to drill a stake through my skull each time she laughs. Oh, real Ali, I miss you and wish that you would take back your body from the impostor that has invaded it. However, if you think that will stop me from watching her search for love, you clearly don't know me at all because surely this will be the most DRAMATIC SEASON EVER. 

WOW. HOLY TANGENT. Anyway. 

I thought venturing back into some blogging might be fun, but instead of writing and being a Debbie Downer about how much I miss my family already, I thought I would share some pictures that I discovered on the computer. Pictures are always fun, right? Enjoy!

This is me and one of my besties, Lisa, at a wedding several summers ago. I think it was actually the summer of 2005. My word, how time flies when you're getting old. I love this oldie of us. Lisa, I told you I would blog again someday!

One of my favorite pictures of me and my man on our honeymoon. We had such a wonderful time, just the two of us.

This was after my 21st birthday supper. We always laugh a little bit at this picture because T's hair looks like Lloyd Christmas ala Dumb and Dumber. Ha!

T lived in Columbus for a few years during the summer and then after college. They always have this big fireworks festival on the 4th of July called Red, White, and Boom. We hadn't been dating long when this picture was taken. We have this in a frame on one of our bookshelves. Such good times!

We had an amazing time in Florida this year with some of our best friends, Chad and Meg. This reminds me, I need to do some Florida posts!

My girlfriend Tster (on the right-- not her real name, ha!), Meg, and I had so much fun seeing one another at Tster's shower. T is marrying one of our childhood friends, Chad, and the fun thing is that they met at our wedding! I know Tster from college-- it is so crazy how it all worked out, but God is amazing like that!

My sweet Meggie-- I love her so much! Girlfriends are the best!

Miss Avery and me. This girl has a momma who I adore and I happen to adore Avers, too! She is such a funny and sweet little girl-- she takes after her momma!

Sweet Malia girl. She is getting so old. She is in such a fun stage, but it's making me sad because she's growing up so fast!

Back to some old pictures. This is Jimmy. He and I used to spend a lot of time together in the summer when I lived in Michigan. I seriously love this child and he is so funny. Case in point, the tattoos covering his body and the fact that he would not let go of his hot dog for the picture. I love this baby!

Heard in Room 3

Two of my favorite answers to the vocabulary questions last week...

Question: What activity makes you feel exhausted?
Answer: Walking from store to store in New York City makes me feel exhausted.

Question: What advice would you give to a friend who feels discouraged?
Answer: I would tell them to pray for themselves.

Ahhhh... the life of a private Christian school child is so difficult.

A Post About Nothing

I haven't been a good blogger lately. I blame it on the busyness of spring! However, I thought I would share a few bits of wisdom with those of you dying to know what is on my mind. All two of you-- hi, Mom and Dad. 

1. Last night, I got busy working in the kitchen and straight up burned my dinner. I was really bummed because not only was I looking forward to the dinner I was making but I have never burned dinner in my married life. Chicken 1, Rachel 0. I made up for it by gorging myself on chocolate chip cookie dough until I wasn't hungry anymore. My stomach thanked me when I was trying to go to sleep and all I could think about was how I was going to vomit. Food and I had a love hate relationship last night which ended in mostly hate. Today should be better.

2. Anyone have a webcam that they'd like to give me? My friends Mandy, Sara, Amie, and El have been chatting for a few weeks now and I am still the only one without a webcam. I know, it's as if I'm living in the 1800s. I'm feeling a little sorry for myself and where better to express that then on my own personal blog? I'm over it now. But seriously, I need to see their faces, so I guess I'm not really over it.

3. Last night, my favorite Real Housewives came back! I absolutely love the Real Housewives of New Jersey because they are absolutely hilarious and ridiculous. Teresa (second from left) is my favorite. She's got these four little girls who are drama queens (and oh so cute) and she just deals with it all on her own. She also calls her husband "Juicy Joe" which has led me to want to find a similar nickname for Tyler. I am open to suggestions. Speaking of Tyler, when he came up to bed last night, I was watching RHNJ. Teresa was talking and he insulted me deeply when he said, "That woman makes me want to punch myself in the face." We're working on that martial issue as we speak. Monday nights just got a whole lot better in my house. Well, for me.

4. I made Not Yo' Mama's Banana Pudding for our small group gathering tonight. I am so thrilled to get together with people I love from our church and just spend time talking and eating. I highly recommend this recipe-- it is incredibly easy and just plain good. Anything Paula Deen makes is amazing. I was a little nervous that I wouldn't be able to find the particular cookie that this recipe calls for, but lo and behold they were just sitting there with their Pepperidge Farm friends waiting for me to take them home! Sometimes I get unnecessarily nervous and it's irritating. I'm working on it.

5. Oh, you wanted another picture of Lola Pearl? I'm happy to oblige. This sweet thing is just the essence of perfection. She is so yummy. Does this picture not just melt your heart!? My uterus hurts when I look at this picture. Deeeeeeelish.

 

6. On a much more serious note, please continue to pray for the people of Nashville. I can't imagine how it would feel to have your home destroyed by a flood. T has family in Nashville and as far as we know, they are safe, but some are still dealing with flooding in their homes. Please pray for all of those affected by this devastation.

That's it for now. Happy Tuesday!