18 weeks, 4 days Belly Picture

Brandon was not home, so I just took the picture in the mirror. Great advise from my friend Rachael.

I am definitely starting to pop. Belly hurts, but it feels like it is getting bigger by the minute. I may start updating the picture more often, because it seems to be changing so fast. It is very exciting.

We ordered our crib today! Ahh, the adventure of the crib. But, we got the one we wanted in the color we wanted. Thanks, Grandma!

8 days until we find out the sex of the baby. People at work are speculating, they think it is a girl based on the way I am carrying. We shall see!

No cravings yet, but I am still enjoying cheese, as well as apple juice.

Oh, and I apologize if I offend anyone, but pre-third trimester & pre-breastfeeding, I am officially (yes, I was measured by a professional) a DDDD, which is equivalent to a G. The letter G, as in Gorilla. I wonder if I am going to get to the middle of the alphabet. My goodness.

Still have a cold, but am better than last week. Just to give major props to myself, I am handling school, Youth Groups, Religious School, being pregnant, researching and preparing for the baby, a cold (which my ears are still so clogged my equalibrium is off), emotions about my Grandpa Mike, and making sure my family is ok, and I am still cool, calm, and collected. I am not really stressing out. I am just making sure I am doing what I can, but not too much that I stress myself out. I guess I have figured out what is really important.
Brandon has also found relaxation this week in the new "Star Wars-Unleashed" Video game for the Wii. I am so glad that he found a way to de-stress, I don't think he has taken an hour off in a month and a half. If the baby can hear already, we are already prepping Kermit to be a nerd, he/she is listing to Star Wars music within weeks after their ears developed.

18.5 Weeks

I had a pretty rough week, I had a really bad cold. I was extremely miserable, but am feeling a lot better. I still have a lot of food aversions, but feel like I am getting more protein into my diet and am doing pretty good with my eating habits, especially with all of my food challenges.


We started getting some of our stuff delivered from Amazon.com this week. We have gotten the $250 worth of diapers, and now actually have a couple of baby things in our house. So exciting!


Also, there is a newish website, www.freshmanfund.com, which we are now really excited about. It is basically a 529 college program registry. This way, instead of people feeling forced to buy baby toys, they have the option of donating towards our child's education. We are still working out the details, but I believe that you can even use your credit card and directly put money into the 529, in any amount. I believe that is Awesome! We are going to be looking into which 529 we would like to open in the next couple of weeks, and then will register for the www.freshmanfund.com to link it directly to the 529. I will keep you all updated.


Last but definitely not least, I am feeling some funky stuff going on in my belly today. I am trying not to get too excited, it could just be gas (he he) but I am hopeful that this is the first evidence of me feeling the baby. As far as I have been told, a couple of weeks after I can feel the baby, Brandon can feel the baby. Cool, huh?

18 weeks tomorrow

I have not written in a while, so let me give you all of the updates. I am lying to myself and saying that I feel well all of the time. My goal is to remember this miracle of an experience fondly. So, I keep pretending to myself and the world that I am feeling great. The truth? I still have food aversions, nausea, being outside is difficult for me, and my stomach is stretching and often extremely painful. I had no idea a baby so small could have already found my sciatic nerve. I sneeze a lot, and my entire stomach contracts and hurts. The “girls” are amazingly inconvenient. It is like they are everywhere, and I am sure that is going to get worse before, because I am planning on breastfeeding. I have an extremely hard time sleeping. But, I am trying my best to just stay positive, and convince myself and everyone else that I am doing just swell. I am finding a balance between not being lazy, but pacing myself to make sure that I am taking care of myself.

A big call out to having cool and awesome Grandmas! My grandma is setting us up furniture-wise, and Brandon’s Grandma, Nana, bought us our stroller, Boppy, and car seat. Rock on! This is really happening.

We had a doctor’s appointment today. We heard a heartbeat (150 beats per minute) and my belly is the correct size. Everything looks good. We have our 4D ultrasound in two weeks, and should find out the sex at that time. Woo Hoo!

Brandon and I signed up for a childbirth class. I have no idea on whether I will be beneficial or not, but I am at least hoping we may meet some new mommies-to-be. I have also started to find girlfriends up here in Orlando. It is very exciting.

Brandon and I are working on our options for next year. Assuming that Brandon continues with the Religious School principal position next year, we are considering me “Job-Sharing” for next year. Job-Sharing is an opportunity by Osceola County Schools in which two teachers share a contract, and each are part time. I would work 2.75 hours a day (2 periods). It is a big decision, but we are working on our options.

17 weeks, 5 days.

The beginnings of a bump....