Well 18 and 19 weeks have come and gone...right now it feels like this pregnancy is going by so fast. I'm sure I will regret saying that around 30 weeks pregnant. Eric and I have also had A LOT of stuff going on the past few weeks, so my mind has been elsewhere. {More info on this coming in a couple weeks...}

18 Weeks:

There's an actual pregnant belly there!! It's been just a tiny little bump, which it still is, but I feel like it's slowly getting bigger.  My mom and I bought my first maternity clothes a few weeks ago, but I haven't really been able to wear them because they are still a little big. But I finally started wearing a few items this week, like the form fitting shirts and the leggings. The shorts and jeans don't really fit me great yet, but I'm sure I will be wearing them soon!

The baby is the size of a sweet potato, 5 1/2 inches long, and 5 oz in weight (which you know from the previous post, the baby was 6 oz at week 16...yikes). He has started yawning, his nervous system is maturing, and his hearing is getting better! I've gained about 5-6 pounds depending on the day. I am happy to say the V8 craving has finally gone away. I still want it every now and then, but I don't crave it every couple hours like before.

This little guy kicks and tosses and turns ALL THE TIME. I swear he moves 23 hours a day. This week, Eric kissed my stomach and the baby's foot kicked him in the chin. He said that he could feel the whole foot on his face...weird. As much as I don't like that I'm losing sleep some nights because of the kicking, I have to say, it's very reassuring that he is letting me know he is still in there and getting stronger.


19 Weeks:

It's a miracle!! I'm in real clothing...no scrubs or workout gear!

The baby is the size of a mango this week. He is 6 inches long and about half a pound. His arms and legs are finally in proportion, neurons are now connected between the brain and muscle, and cartilage is turning into bone.

The new craving this week is watermelon. Yummy! And my sciatica pain is back with a vengeance. Thank goodness for a good chiropractor! The baby is still kicking like crazy...all day and all night long. We had a massive thunderstorm and rainstorm in Houston this week (which caused all the flooding you have seen in the news...) and apparently, this baby boy is afraid of thunderstorms. Every time thunder would crack, he would kick me the hardest he has ever kicked. Needless to say, I only got about 3 hours of sleep that night. Eric got to feel him kicking too...this kid is strong.

I had a general OB checkup this week...the baby's heart beat was around 158 bpm and I have gained about 7 pounds. My OB said that so far the weight gain to date is ok, but that she wants to see my weight gain increase more rapidly once the third trimester hits. I happily obliged and told her I would just eat more Chikfila. Win win.

I was supposed to have another high-risk OB appt and ultrasound this week, but thanks to all the flooding, Houston was shut down and that appt didn't happen. It is rescheduled for this coming Monday. They are supposed to be doing some dating to see how far along I actually am at this appt, so I will post an update about that and the ultrasound in my 20 week post! Eric and I can't wait to see this baby boy again!

Until next week!

16 weeks:

Again with the workout clothes...

This baby boy is the size of an avocado...3 ounces and 4-5 inches in length. The baby can make facial expressions, he has eyebrows and eyelashes (let's hope they are longer than mine), and he can now hear voices!

I'm still going steady at a weight gain of around 3-4 pounds, my cravings are still the same, and I'm still pretty tired throughout the day. I've just come to terms with the fact that the exhaustion isn't going anywhere. Blah. I have been able to workout more though. I will take what I can get!

This week we visited the high risk OB to check out the baby's heart. Basically, having a heart defect myself, I have a 10% chance of something abnormal happening to me during the pregnancy or during labor and delivery. Because of this, the baby has a 5% chance of developing any type of heart defect, not just a VSD (ventricular septal defect), like what I have. This is compared to the 1% chance of a normal developing baby (with no family history of heart issues) developing a heart defect in utero. So...all that to say, my regular OB wants me to meet with a high risk OB just to be on the safe side. The appt went well! We got to see our baby boy and he is just the cutest thing already! The technician took LOTS of pictures for the doctor to review, she checked out all his developing structures, although concentrating more on the heart, and she determined it was DEFINITELY a baby boy. No question ;) This baby loves to move! The technician couldn't get a ton of clear pictures of him because he just moved all over the place. His heart rate was around 148 bpm and he is currently breech. She said most babies move before their due date, so let's cross our fingers that he moves into the right position! When he isn't moving around, he puts his hands behind his head, kicks up his feet, and yawns. It was the cutest thing watching him yawn on that ultrasound. I think my heart skipped a beat. The baby weighs about 6 ounces based on the ultrasound, which is about 2 weeks ahead of schedule, so the doctor is thinking my due date is really going to be mid-August instead of September 8. Which is fine by me! Right now they are keeping it the same, so I am still technically considered "16 weeks", but she said they may change the date and move me up a couple weeks after my next ultrasound depending on how big he is.

Based on the above picture, I'm pretty sure he has Eric's nose and my long fingers. The doctor came in after the technician left and said that the heart's ventricular septum looked like it was closing properly and overall the heart looked great! She also said the brain and spine looked like it was developing how it should be. She will continue to monitor the baby closely to make sure there are no other heart defects or neurological defects though. I love that we are seeing the high risk OB on a regular basis, just to calm my anxious mind, and we get to see the baby more, which is a plus! Our next ultrasound is scheduled for April 18th.


17 weeks: (maybe more...)

This week I definitely developed a bump! But I still don't look pregnant in street clothes. I just look like I ate too much chikfila. Which I probably have...

The baby is the size of a pear...typically supposed to be around 4 ounces and 5 inches long. But based on the recent ultrasound, we are pretty sure he is much bigger than that at this point. He has started to form body fat, his heart beat is now regulated by his developing brain, and he can now suck and swallow. And apparently, he startles easily! Based on my pregnancy app (because it never lies...), the baby gets startled by dogs barking or door bells ringing, or in my case, both happening at the same time.

I have gained about 5 pounds so far and burgers are a new craving. Can't get enough. I guess the baby wants protein?? I have no problem indulging in this craving though. I felt the baby move for the first time this week (towards the end of week 17)...Eric got to feel it too! No kicking yet, just lots and lots of movement. He is very active when I'm at work and when I run.

I ran my first race with my new running partner in tow. My mom and one of her friends signed up for a 10-mile race called The Texas 10. So of course, I felt left out, and decided to run it too! It took place in Boerne, so Eric and I went to San Antonio for the weekend to visit with his family and spend some time with my fam too. Then Sunday was our race. It went really well! I got to run with my mom and her friend and help pace them to finish with PR's!! Go mom and Melissa! I really enjoyed the race and if Eric would let me do a half marathon while pregnant (uh-hum...) I totally would. I guess I will stick to just running for fun right now...

I promise there's a baby in there!

Well 15 weeks has come and gone!

I had some major allergies going on this week. Obviously.

I had an OB checkup the day before I was 15 weeks. I had gained 3 pounds and baby boy's heartbeat was 155 bpm. They haven't started measuring my bump yet, because I didn't really have much of one at that point. I did start showing this week though! I can still wear my jeans/shorts/leggings, but it's uncomfortable to keep them buttoned. And the waistband of my leggings cuts into my stomach a little bit, which isn't the most comfy thing in the world. I'm sure a maternity clothing shopping trip will be in order soon.
Also at the appointment, they did a blood test to test for spinal defects. And great news, the test came back negative!

Based on my What to Expect pregnancy app, the baby is the size of an orange, weighs about 2 ounces, and is 4 1/2 inches. The baby can also sense light at 15 weeks and is forming taste buds!
I haven't felt any kicking from the baby yet, but based on the ultrasound and the fetal heartbeat sounds, this baby is constantly moving! Future athlete? Eric sure hopes so!!

My cravings are still the same, except for the added Olive Garden salad and breadsticks craving. Poor Eric has had to run out and get me that for dinner several times in the past week or so. Salty foods and V8 cravings are still going strong. I want candy every now and then, but when I do, it's just a couple pieces of sour patch or jellybeans at a time. Nothing like before pregnancy when I could down a whole bag of sour patch kids in one sitting. I've been drinking sparkling grape juice every now and then to "pretend" like I'm drinking wine. Let me tell you...it is definitely NOT the same. The nausea is still present, but only when I get hungry. So I pretty much eat every 3-4 hours. The exhaustion is also still lingering, but I have noticed that I am getting a little bit of energy back, slowly but surely. Which is good news, because I have my 10 mile race the first weekend of April!

Because of my heart defect, I have to be followed throughout the pregnancy by a high-risk OB and my cardiologist. So far, my cardiologist has cleared me for a normal delivery, of course, if nothing crazy happens between now and the due date. The high-risk OB will be monitoring the baby throughout the pregnancy (and me on day of delivery), which I am very thankful for! I have my first appointment with the high-risk OB at around 16 1/2 weeks pregnant. She will be doing the anatomy ultrasound and check my due date. At some point in the pregnancy, she will also be doing a fetal echocardiogram to look at the baby's heart to see if baby boy has the same heart defect I have. If he does, then we will all be prepared for it on the day of delivery and she will be present to make sure it's fixed. I am so thankful this is being taken so seriously!

On March 24, I turned 16 weeks pregnant (4 months!!). So I will be posting an update soon! (and an update about the anatomy ultrasound) Yay!

We are officially in the second trimester and I'm very excited about it! I honestly haven't had the easiest first trimester, so I have been ready for the second trimester for awhile. I was sick for weeks 11-13 with a nasty cold that pretty much knocked me on my butt. {And let me tell you, when all you can take is Tylenol and mucinex when sick while pregnant, it takes a whopping month to finally feel human again.} Then, around week 12 I started having an intense sciatica pain on my left side that leaves me couch ridden every couple of days depending on how aggravated it is. So painful! But regardless of everything that went on in the first trimester, I feel very thankful that this little boy is healthy and growing!

13 weeks:
I look absolutely miserable and exhausted...I was sick this week!! So don't judge.

I wasn't really showing this week, I just felt bloated and like I had a muffin top at this point in the pregnancy.

14 weeks:

You can't really tell because I'm wearing all black (trying to look slim, what can I say?), but I have an actual teeny tiny baby bump. I'm able to cover it up right now, but it's definitely there.

So far, I have gained about 1-2 pounds depending on the day. My skinny jeans are still able to button, but they feel tight and they leave a nice mark around my waist after wearing them for awhile. I wear scrubs to work, so that's been nice because I basically feel like I'm in pajamas all day, but when I'm not in scrubs, I tend to stick to leggings or my loose-fitting nike shorts. Speaking of nike shorts, wouldn't it be so great it they made maternity shorts??? I mean seriously, they would make even more money than they already do. I plan on just buying up a size in the near future.

I'm still running and working out regularly when I'm not sick, and I actually have a 10-mile race planned for the first weekend in April! I'm really excited about it! I wanted to do a half marathon, but Eric gave me a firm "no" on that one. So a 10-miler it is! My mom and one of her friends are going to be running it too, so that should be fun.

As far as cravings go, I am still craving V8 like crazy. I buy it in bulk now. The salty cravings and pickle cravings are still there, but my sugar addiction is slowly but surely starting to return. Jellybeans are my jam right now.

Biggio and Colbie are adjusting pretty well to everything...Biggio is much more lovey-dovey than usual and Colbie is way more possessive than usual. She looks out for me like her life depends on it. And Biggio just sits next to me 24/7 looking for extra pets and lovin'.

Overall, I feel pretty good all things considered. I know a lot of people have pregnancy horror stories, so I consider my self lucky and keep looking at the positives...the main one being, we will have a BABY BOY to love and snuggle and kiss in less than 6 MONTHS!

This coming weeks I will be 15 weeks prego...update coming soon!

And just for kicks, here is a picture of Biggio in all his glory...

SURPRISE...Eric & I are having a baby! Due September 8, 2016!

We found out right before New Year's and it has been the hardest secret to keep. I had a terrible sinus infection right after we found out, so I was pretty much "forced" to tell our parents, but I am glad we told them so early. I am almost done with the first trimester and my exhaustion is out of control!! You will notice a trend in all my weekly pics...EXHAUSTION. So far I have had pretty weird cravings (grits, tomato juice, salty foods, pickles, and NO CANDY whatsoever), nausea (no morning sickness, thank goodness), and extreme tiredness.


Here is the first trimester in pictures...

6 weeks:

7 weeks:

8 weeks:

Biggio enjoys being in the pictures...obviously.

9 weeks:

I think it's pretty obvious that I am struggling to keep my eyes open.

At 9 weeks we had our first ultrasound. It was the craziest thing I have ever experienced. Up until that point, I was still kind of in shock about the whole thing and was still trying to wrap my brain around the fact that there was a tiny human in my belly. So hearing the heart beat and seeing this teeny tiny baby wriggle and dance around in my stomach was so amazing. Here is our little nugget at 9 weeks...

10 weeks:

Baby was the size of a prune here.

11 weeks:

12 weeks:

Maybe starting to show?

One of these days I will take my weekly pictures in actual clothes, rather than scrubs or workout clothes. Maybe when I get my energy back...maybe.


Eric and I did the genetic testing around 10 weeks, which just so happens to also tell you the baby's gender and we couldn't wait to find out if our bear cub was a boy or girl!
We found out on a Friday and had a gender reveal at Top Golf that night with my parents, Eric's parents, and Eric's brother and sister-in-law. {Click the link below to check it out!} It worked out perfectly and everyone was so thrilled to find out it was a...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azAcmfTeCCQ&feature=youtu.be

BOY!!! We couldn't be happier!

Eric and I would appreciate everyone's prayers for our baby boy (and US!) throughout this pregnancy and delivery. We are very nervous about everything, especially with it being our first baby, and it would definitely ease our anxiety if all of our friends and family were joining in prayer!

"For this child I have prayed and the Lord has granted the desires of my heart." -1 Samuel 1:27

Hopefully my next blog post will be an actual weekly post vs a whole trimester worth of posts. Blame it on the exhaustion! ;)

Cannot even believe I am about to write this...

I have a Masters degree in Speech-Language Pathology! What?!

My family and I had such a wonderful time celebrating this past weekend. It couldn't have come at a better time and I am so excited that I no longer have to study for tests, do homework, or go to class (except for continuing education classes of course ;)).

Before graduation there was a reception at the UNT Speech and Hearing Clinic so everyone's families could get a tour of the clinic where I spent the last 2 years and where they could meet the supervisor's who gave us so much knowledge. It was also a great excuse to take pictures with all my classmates and friends!

I feel so honored to have been part of such a wonderful group of girls (and guy!). I went into the whole process very closed off with the mentality of wanting to get in and get out. I just wanted to do my work, do my time, and finish with a degree so I could start working as an SLP. I had no idea that I would get so much more out of it...friends who are going to last a lifetime. I thank God each and everyday for the friendships I made. These girls got me through grad school. They always knew what to say when I was feeling burned out, they were always willing to lend an ear (or a glass of wine) when I just needed to vent, and they gave me some of the best memories that I will never forget. Now, time to plan our girls trip!!

After the reception, my family and I went to eat then before you knew it, it was time for graduation!

It is still surreal to me that this whole grad school journey is over. I am in shock that I actually did it! It was all worth it!

Of course after graduation, we had to go celebrate!

Thanks babe for all your support the past 2 years. I love you!

Now on to the next journey...a new job which starts at the end of June!
Here I come world, watch out!!