27 Weeks with Mood Swings Galore and a Brand New Floor!

Week 27 went by pretty quickly in our house. The week started off with an exciting project headed by Chris and his good friend Keith (who is quite handy, thank goodness!). ;) Together, they spent much of the day putting in the nursery flooring and I must say, it looks amazing! I had to work that day, so I admit I was a little nervous leaving the two of them on their own (not that I would know how to help them or anything), but what a wonderful surprise to come home to! I can tell Chris is proud of his work, as he always seems to just be standing in the middle of the nursery and then breaks into a little jig when he notices I'm watching him. I'm so happy that the nursery is coming together! Thanks gents! Keith, feel free to help us with the rest of the house! ;)

One thing I have really started noticing is the heaviness of my body. I have hit the uncomfortable stage. I get sweaty and overheated, can't roll over, need to pull myself upright in bed, and I just can't seem to get comfortable! The baby seems to be sitting up in my ribs half the time! Being uncomfortable has made me into an irritable and restless woman! I have been getting no sleep! Half the time, it takes me forever to fall asleep, and as soon as I do, Chris moves or breathes...and BAM! I'm awake. Many nights I've glared at him in the dark, wishing we had bought twin beds. Some nights I ponder the thought of sleeping in a chair rather then on a lumpy, hard mattress. I spent a few days going between tears and angry rants to whoever would listen (mostly the cats). Well, to amazement, Chris seemed to pick up on my moodiness and understood at once that we needed to invest in a better sleep (we had cheapened out when we moved into our house, buying the 'back to school' discount mattress).

We ended up going to Costco with my mom to check out the mattress toppers, and there on the shelf sat the most beautiful queen size memory foam mattress topper. I saw the price tag and immediately thought, "Uhoh...Chris is going to want to know where the $40 ones are hiding...", but again to my amazement, he picked it up and happily carried it around the store! He said that it was important for me to get my rest and to be comfy as I was only going to get more uncomfortable as time went on. That man is a lifesaver...though he may have just been trying to save his own life... ;) I have to tell you, if you have a crappy mattress and cannot sleep, get a mattress topper! It changes lives people! I am able to sink into the most deep sleep now, being hugged by my mattress. Even our dog loves it! I'm pretty sure I know what he's getting for Christmas! :) I am really glad we invested in this purchase, as I know it really can affect the quality of your life. I go about my day a little bit happier and a little more rested, which makes for a much better wife!

Another big accomplishment for us is that we booked our prenatal classes as well as a breastfeeding class! I'm so excited to go to these, as I feel like it's a good way to get Chris involved in the whole process. I also just finished an amazing book called "The Big Book of Birth" by Erica Lyon. It is the most unbiased and informative book I've read on the whole birthing process. Some of the books out there come across as a little preachy and condescending...and honestly, I feel a little judged when my opinion differs from the author, but with Lyon's book, you just feel like you have all the information and that it's up to you and your partner to make the best decision for you. The book educates you on all the birthing positions (I had no idea that giving birth on your back is actually the WORST position you can give birth in), medications, visualization techniques, interventions and real life stories from women in all different situations. She provides the pros and cons of each decision you will have to make, but remains positive and encouraging instead of scaring you off with warnings and negative thoughts. I also really like how she encourages you to have your partner read certain chapters, as it has tons of information on how they can help you through the birthing process, without laying too many expectations on them as this whole event is new to them too. She really opened up my eyes to not judge anyone's birth experience, because each one is personal and right for someone out there. If you end up with a healthy baby in the end, you know that whatever you chose to do, well, it was the right decision for you. If I could recommend one book to anyone during their pregnancy, this would be it. Heck, I'll loan it to you after my hubby is done reading it! ;)

At 27 weeks, Muppet weighed as much as a head of cauliflower. Muppet is sleeping and waking at regular intervals and is probably sucking away at it's fingers. It's lungs are still immature, but with medical help, Muppet's lungs would be able to function if it was born, though we want Muppet to marinate a little longer... :). Muppet has also become fond of playing with my bladder. I had an eight hour shift the other day and I spent at least 4 of those hours making surprised faces, running to the bathroom, or squatting down on the floor, pretending to tie my shoes. What a little bugger! :)

I'll be back soon with Week 28! I bet you can't wait! ;)

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Half Way There at 20 and 21 Weeks!

I cannot believe we have already passed the 20 week mark! We are half way to the finish line! Time is passing so quickly, it's unbelievable! I almost want to stop time just so I can keep enjoying being pregnant right now, as it's something I've come to enjoy immensely. Technically we are on our 21 week, but I'm back tracking as I'm late once again.

Things are really going well right now. I have been feeling great, eating like a champion and feeling super positive about things in general. I don't think I've ever felt better about myself than I do right now to be honest. I'm pretty sure this is what my body was designed for. :) 

One thing we've been struggling with is getting the nursery organized, as we don't have much room in our house and we've been trying to figure out how to merge our furniture together. Sadly, poor Chris is going to have to share his office with me, as there is no where else to put my things! And what do we do with our futon?! I love that thing! *sigh*. We also have to find space for our treadmill, as I will need that later this winter... *bigger sigh*. In other nursery news, we finally picked a paint colour! It's called 'Pooh Bear Yellow'. It's nice and soft and neutral, so I think it will look great! We are thinking of painting this week sometime, if we ever move the furniture out of the room. ;) The theme we are going with is Classic Pooh (or as I call it, shirtless Pooh). We are going with light wood, soft pale yellow, white and cream mostly and accenting the room with bumble bees. I have already been getting little treasures from family that they have collected along our pregnancy, so I'm super excited to have the nursery done so we can display them!

My friend Bonnie has recently started her own business, "Only One", on Etsy selling the most adorable hand-knitted stuffies! She has made so many cute toys, from monkeys, owls, birdies and bears to giraffes and even nursery mobiles! I am lucky enough to have received Mervin the Giraffe (who is super awesome), but now am even luckier as I am getting my own bumble bee mobile! :D I can't wait to put it up in the nursery! You can buy her unique critters for yourself or someone you love at  http://www.etsy.com/shop/bgordon2.

As of week 20 (half way point!), Muppet was the length of a large banana, about 10 inches from head to heel. At this stage, Muppet is swallowing more and more each day, keeping it's digestive system on it's toes. :) I have also been feeling Little Muppet moving around so much lately, especially in the evening, around 9:30pm. You can actually see it flutter against my stomach if you look really closely. I think it likes the sound of the television, because it seems to stop moving when I mute the t.v. and then dance around when I turn it back up. I also seem to notice it move around when I sit at my computer. I know I'm going to miss those little moments we share.

As of this week (21 weeks), Muppet weighs 3/4 of a pound and is the length of a large carrot! Which reminds me of how when I was small, I remember going to our family's garden and digging up fresh carrots from the ground and eating them without even washing them off first. The taste of dirt really added to the whole experience I think! ;) I also would walk around, annoying everyone, by constantly saying, "Ehhhh, what's up doc?" :) At week 21, Muppet's eyebrows and eyelids are present and I should soon start feeling it's kicks and punches a little more... intensely.

Belly Bump! I am so pregnant! Look at that tummy! ;) Our dog Sawyer seems to think it's funny. I wonder how he'll be with a new little brother or sister. He'll probably try sitting on it at first, as he loves sitting on people (he thinks he's a lap dog), but I think Muppet and him will become best buds. :) 

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16 (weeks) and Pregnant!

Since I just posted my 15 weeks the other day, not much has changed, though I have discovered the annoyance of heartburn. Oh man! I have never been one to get heartburn, so when I heard people complain about it, I just thought they were overreacting. Well, I retract that stance and can now sympathize as I am experiencing bad heartburn everyday. No matter what I eat, no matter how bland, it prevails! I have read that this is very common for some women, and that eventually, it too shall pass, so I'll just chug back carton after carton of milk and wait.

Another change is that I am slowly getting into maternity clothing! I have broken down and actually started wearing some maternity jeans, as many pairs of mine are now starting to dig into my ever-growing gut, which is a little uncomfortable. I'm not going to lie...they are actually quite lovely. They may not look amazing, but my tummy is really loving it. I can eat food and let my belly expand without worrying that I am cutting off circulation to Little Muppet... which means I'll probably start growing as big as a house soon. ;)

At week 16, Little Muppet is about the size of a turnip! It is starting to accumulate some baby fat, which will continue through the pregnancy. I can't wait to see those chubby little legs! Another exciting thing is that the baby is now starting to listen to the world around it! It is able to hear us talking, the dog barking, and my husband... "singing". ;) I hope it will become accustomed to the sound of our dog barking, as this is a habit he's gotten into lately and we just can't seem to break it. I have read that if they hear barking often enough, they will be able to sleep right through any doggy outbursts. So fingers crossed everyone!

Now that we are at week 16, I read that I may soon be able to feel my little one fluttering around. Well, yesterday I think I just may have! I was lying down in bed after a shower, massaging my belly when suddenly I felt this light popping feeling. I looked down at my tummy and saw a small ripple go across the left side of my belly, right by my belly button! It was really freaky! (And no, it wasn't gas!) I'm thinking that maybe the baby was doing a little u-turn in my belly! :D

Now I'd like to do a little shout out to my husband. I have always known that I am the luckiest girl alive to have my best friend as my husband, but now that I am pregnant, I am realizing just how lucky I truly am. Over the past few months, he has grown into an even more loving and supportive partner then I could have ever dreamed of. He works so hard to support our little family, and yet thinks of me in the middle of it all. The other day, he took our dog Sawyer out for his walk while I had my shower. I heard him call my name, so I pulled back the shower curtain to see what he wanted, and there he stood with a little bouquet of wildflowers he had picked on his walk for me. Just that simple little action of love and thoughtfulness shows me how much he loves and appreciates me, and really reveals how wonderful he'll be as a father. He's always willing to listen, to settle my overactive mind, to calm my nerves, to make me laugh (like no one else can), to be silly with me, to share and most importantly, to love me and our little family unconditionally. Thank you so much hon... I love you lots! XO

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15 Weeks Pregnant with an Apple Sized Baby!

Sorry I'm a little late posting this, as I am actually starting into my 16th week, but I just thought I'd still record what has gone on in the last week, so my little one will know all about his/her beginnings. :)

I have really gotten most of my appetite back, though I am still losing weight! I think this must be due to the fact that most of the foods I'm eating are healthy, which is unusual for me, as I tend to be the pizza and chicken wing girl around my house. All I want is fruit all day! I've started a habit of making yummy fruit smoothies every morning, and man are they delicious. My favourite recipe is mixing a cup of ice, a cup of plain yogurt (you can use flavoured if you prefer), a splash of milk, a whole banana and a bunch of fruit together in the blender. I've been mixing my fresh strawberries in with frozen raspberries, which makes it even colder. It is so good, and well, it's also good for the body, so why not?


My nasal congestion is currently under control as well...*knock on wood*. It's not completely gone, but it's definitely manageable and if it stays at this level instead of going back to what it was, well, I'll never complain again...ha! ;) The only thing I can complain about is my darn back pain, which my doctor suspects is actually sacroiliac joint dysfunction. It occurs mostly in women, especially pregnant women when our bodies start creating the hormone 'relaxin' which loosens the joints to prepare the body for delivery. It feels just like sciatic pain, as it sends waves of pain from the lower back down the legs, and can occur on both sides of the body. Apparently the SI joint is responsible for absorbing shock while walking and helping your body balance. So it makes sense that it hurts mostly when I am standing or siting for long periods of time. I'm thinking of looking for a prenatal swim class to help strengthen my back, and the doctor recommended I look into physiotherapy as the pain generally worsens as the pregnancy progresses. Other then that, I feel pretty darn good!

As of week 15, Little Muppet is about the size of a large apple! It is currently developing it's air sacs in it's lungs by breathing in and out the amniotic fluid. The baby is now able to move all it's limbs and joints and is most likely doing the "Tyrannosaurus" dance move like it's father. I've read that if you were to shine a flashlight at my tummy, it would be able to sense the light even though it's eyes are still fused shut. Maybe it's a little shy. ;)

I still haven't felt any flutters yet, but will let you all know as soon as I do!


It's kind of funny. We went for a prenatal the other day and the doctor brought out the doppler so we could finally hear our little one's heartbeat. So she moved it around a little on my stomach, and said, "That's normal". We then left the doctor's office and I turned to Chris and said, "I just wish we had heard it's heartbeat". Chris looked at me and said, "We did....". I said, "All I heard was the machine!", to which he replied, "That was the sound of the baby's heart!". Apparently the doctor was commenting that the heartbeat was normal, not that not hearing it was normal. I then started to pout and cried, "I'm such a bad mother! I can't even recognize my baby's heartbeat!". I don't know what I thought it would sound like, but I'll be listening for it better next time! :)

Bump Alert!

My belly is really starting to show! I went to my sister's graduation wearing a cute little tube top and skirt and couldn't believe how much my tummy had grown! I'm starting to get little belly rubs from family which is still so odd to me as I'm still getting used to the idea that there is someone in there, but I am so glad our Little Muppet will be surrounded by so many loving and caring people throughout it's life.

I'll be back soon with Week 16!!

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Second Trimester!

Yahoo! We are now in our second trimester! Bring on the energy and overall good feeling-ness! :) So far at 14 weeks pregnant I have noticed that I am really starting to show. I discovered this when I went to put on my work pants and found they were threatening to pop the button right off. It sounds like I need to either invest in some maternity pants, or get a belly band that holds up unbuttoned pants while providing support for the ever growing tummy. I'm not going to lie, I love feeling my belly now. It's getting firmer and rounder all the time and I love knowing that there is a little one in there just waiting to meet us!

(Warning! TMI ahead!) Another things that is threatening to burst is my bra! Geeze louise! I thought my ladies were out of control before, now I feel like I'm drowning in a boob ocean! I'm going to have to go and get my measurements done so I can get some good boobage support. I guess the one good thing is that they will finally be useful for something instead of just being a pain in the neck. I truly hope that I will be able to breastfeed, otherwise I will have to conclude that God has an odd sense of humour.

One thing I'm glad to announce is that my appetite has returned and  I am even starting to have cravings. The other day we were driving past Taco Bell (I know, I know...) and all of a sudden "CHEESE SAUCE!" popped into my head. For the next few days, all I wanted was what Chris' sister refers to as 'pump cheese'. Mmmm... When we went grocery shopping the other day, I saw that Cheez Whiz was on sale. I jumped up and down, asking Chris if I could get it. I was so sure he'd say no, but to my surprise he said, "Look in the cart", and there sat a lovely jar of processed cheese sauce. I totally started crying in the middle of aisle 4.

Another craving I'm having is for sushi...which *sigh* I can't really have. I have had so many dreams of sushi and maki rolls dipped in soya sauce. I think I'm going to go and just get a big plate full of california rolls, as they don't contain raw fish, but have yummy rice, cucumber, carrot, avocado and imitation crab meat. Yum!! To ensure this baby loves sushi, I want to buy it the Melissa and Doug Wooden Sushi Set. It is super cute! It even comes with chopsticks! :D

Little Muppet is now the size of a navel orange or the size of a fist! The baby can now frown, grimace, squint and pee! It can even hold it's head up from it's little chest. Apparently it's face is also starting to look more human then alien, as it's eyes are now closer together on the front of it's face and it's ears are on the side of it's head instead of on it's neck. I wonder who it will resemble more, Chris or me? I hope it has it's Daddy's eyes. :)

Bump watch! As I said before, my belly is really starting to show. Now that the uterus has moved into the abdomen, you can actually feel it above the pelvic bone! I'm supposed to start gaining weight on my hips, sides and legs (I hope not, as they are big enough now, thank-you-very-much!).

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http://www.melissaanddoug.com/

9 Weeks Pregnant!

My 9th week of pregnancy has had it's ups and downs. Some of the days I feel like I'm going to be okay, that I'm going to get by without any morning sickness at all, and then, BAM! It hits you. My shopping trip with Chris is a prime example of this kind of sudden sickness.

I had a day off work so we decided to go shopping. I went to Value Village in hopes of finding shirts that would flatter my tummy that is starting to soften up while Chris went and got his hair cut. When he was finished, we stopped by Old Navy so he could get some new business casual jeans. I had a few moments of gagginess, but nothing out of the ordinary. It wasn't until we got in the car and started driving that I realized I was really going to be sick. I quickly dumped his new clothes onto the floor of the van, tossed the receipt and promptly threw up in his Old Navy bag. All the way home I clutched that bag, casually mentioning that it was a good thing he bought those jeans, otherwise I would have had no where to get sick! Chris being the good hubby that he is, merely turned his music up a little louder and pat me on the back each time I gagged.

Other than the nausea, I feel bloated and tired...and a little crampy. I had no idea that pregnancy could be so much fun!

*note- The bag pictured above is NOT the bag used in the um...situation.

May 16, 2010
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Sharing The Good News!

When we first found out we were pregnant, it took every ounce of strength not to go out and tell every person we met the good news. Initially I had wanted to wait until we were 12 weeks pregnant before sharing the news with everyone, because I tend to be a worrywart (and this is why I must refrain from googling every twinge and cramp I feel). Of course, we could not hold onto our special news this long. I am pretty sure we were going to burst with excitement.

When my doctor's office called to confirm that we were indeed having a baby, Chris and I looked at each other and bolted out the front door into the van. We both were thinking the same thing, "We have to tell the family!". We had no idea if either family was home, so on the way, I called, making up some lame excuse as to why we were stopping by. I believe I may have said Chris had a business meeting in town.

It's funny to think about all the planning I was doing on how we were going to share the news with our parents. We thought, "Let's decorate the baby room, invite them over to see our new "furniture" and then, "Surprise!! It's a baby's room!" or "We'll go over in shirts that say, "Hi Grandma and Grandpa!". We even toyed with the idea of reenacting the A&W commercial, where the son orders his dad the Grandpa burger. I imagine this is how life will be from now on. We'll plan big things, dream big dreams, but when it comes down to it, the big, showy ideas will not always be the most practical or realistic. Of course we want to do things in exciting ways, and will want the best for our little Muppet...but no matter what we do, our best intentions are all that matter, and that we act out of pure love. Not everything wonderful in the world turns out the way you plan...and sometimes that's what makes it even more magical.

Telling my parents was one of the most nerve wracking experiences ever. My mother, who is already a grandmother, has been dreaming of us having babies of our own, probably since...forever ago. One of the stories she's fond of sharing is of me at Christmas when I was little. Apparently when she asked me what I wanted for Christmas, all I would say is, "I want a baby and a cake!". So while my mother was peeling potatoes in the kitchen, and my father was sitting at the table, and my siblings were all mulling around I said, "Hey mom! I know what I'm getting for Christmas!" She continued peeling her potatoes absentmindedly and said, "Hm?" I looked at her and replied, "I'm having a baby! Now all I need is a cake!".....silence. She continued peeling her potatoes. I had to go over to her and tell her that indeed we were pregnant and that it was due sometime in Decemeber. Finally she believed me and started to cry, then everyone else was crying (or thought we were joking). It was quite the scene. I don't know if she ever thought her dream would come true.

Telling Chris' parents was a totally different scene. We left my parent's house to go and have dinner with Chris' family at a local restaurant. Because our parents both live in such a small town, I was wary of us sharing the news in a public place. I think Chris was also concerned about that, as well as really nervous, so when we got out of the car and met everyone in the parking lot, he just blurted out, "We're having a baby!" The look on everyone's face was priceless! There was a lot of screaming and hugging, and I kept loudly proclaiming, "Yes, we're excited about getting a new PUPPY as well...!" I don't think I fooled anyone with that story. We are quite excited because Chris' sister is also expecting, so our little ones will be able to grow up together and share all their "firsts" with each other.

Later that evening, the Grandparents all got together and we talked the night away, reflecting on past experiences, helpful advice and the good things to look forward to. It was one of the happiest days ever.

We ended up sharing the news with Chris' brother and fiance who are now living in San Francisco, CA over Skype, which is still so new to me. It's very cool that you can share such important news with people you love no matter where they are! We really can't wait until we're all together again at Christmas though.

April 15, 2010
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