Pregnancy Journal: Week 11 - 14

Week 11: 

So I'm nervous that the first trimester symptoms won't necessarily go away in the next few weeks.  But I'm hangin' in there!  So I do have a funny story and it's a little personal...

Like I've mentioned before, my breasts have been super sore/hurting. I could tell they were growing but I had no idea how big they have gotten.  So last night I went shopping and knew I desperately needed a new bra because I currently was busting out of the top, bottom and sides, I looked like a busted can of Pillsbury biscuits in my current 32B bra.  

So I went into Soma and asked them to size me and she asked me my current size and she goes "Honey, you need a 32DD."  WTH!?!  I didn't believe her so I told her to bring me a C for starters because that is what I thought I really needed.  I was a busted can of biscuits in that so I tried a D and that fit but it was tight so she brought back that damn DD and sure enough, it fit like a glove. I wanted to cry, most people might love their chest growing but me not so much.  But this morning, I wore my DD bra and it was a glorious feeling to be comfortable for a change.  It's ugly as all get out, they don't make 'cute' bras in that size.  I know I got measured probably a year ago and I was a 32B.  So I think I know know where at least 1 lb of my 5 lb gain is sitting.  I was not prepared for this change! 

Can you believe that?!?!  I'm still in shock.  I went down to Victoria Secret after leaving Soma and didn't tell them what size I was just sized at just curious what they would say and sure enough, 32DD I am.  Funny thing is, with my shirt on, they don't even look that big, I've seen girls more chestier than me but Aaron makes a good point, I'm trying to flatten mine I still look chesty and most girls are walking around with major push up bras on.  I know it sounds like I'm obsessed talking about this but common' if yours got that big within a few weeks, you would be pretty flabbergasted by that change going on in your body too! 

So that's my personal story... newly pregnant first-timers beware!  Now the world knows my bra size. TMI, yes, but i's just a size people.  At least my underwear size hasn't changed. 

Week 12:

Hip-Hip-Horray!  Morning sickness, practically gone.  Fatigue almost gone, 90% of my energy has returned!  HALLELUJAH!  I'm starting to feel 'normal' again.  It's been a long several months of not feeling like myself.  Funny how one day, it's just like a switch that flips on, I woke up and just instantly was better. Except now I'm starting to get the 'pregnancy brain' where I'm becoming forgetful.  And that's just not me, I'm normally very on top of busy life and I'm forgetting plans and my train of thought.  I haven't forgotten anything major yet but please forgive me if I forget something that may pertain to you!   I'm a control/orderly freak so knowing I'm letting things slip thru the cracks really bothers me. 

My second appt went well.  Heard the heartbeat, saw our little friend and even got a 3D image.  

Week 13: 

Really nothing new to update.  Feeling great, everything is going well.  Sleeping a lot better at night.  I am looking forward to my second trimester if this is how it's going to start off. 

Week 14:

We found a Daycare and are all signed up! I think we visited just about every daycare in West Des Moines and the one we choose happened to be the last daycare we visited and it wasn't even on the list, we just stumbled upon it and loved it.  Glad to have that checked off the list this week!  I was feeling a lot of pressure to get that figured out since waiting lists can be so long.  

I started a new job this week at Wells Fargo so I've been extra busy lately!  Kinda why last week's update lacked substance.  I'm working as a Financial Consultant.  Basically I present and go over financials with Wells Fargo technology business managers and budget/forecast their technology products and needs.  I'm liking it so far!   

Aaron painted the baby's room this weekend, we went with a light gray color and it turned out great!  Got the room cleared out and moved our office to the basement and surprisingly, we love our office in the basement much more than we thought we would.  Excited to 'break ground' so to speak in the baby's room.  

Also I have been sporadically doing a new pregnancy workout video called the Tracy Anderson Method.  It's a pretty awesome set that has 9 DVDs, a DVD for each month of pregnancy.  The trainer, Tracy, is pregnant in the video and it's focused on toning the arms and lifting the tush.  Both in which I do need.  I read about this in one of my pregnancy magazines and decided to give it a whirl and I can tell it will keep my rear end in shape for sure.  The downside is the video is an hour long and I just can't stand working out for more than 45 minutes but I'm hacking that extra 15 minutes anyways.  

IT'S A GIRL!!

Pregnancy Journal: Weeks 8-10

So here are weeks 8-10!  Already feels so long ago since I wrote this but just sharing pieces at a time until we get up to where I'm at today.  Remember, it may sound choppy, it's a journal, I wrote paragraphs on different days so yep, I know, it's a choppy read.

Week 8:

Starting to get anxious to start on the nursery but told myself I would wait a little longer.  I'm excited to work with a clean slate, design the nursery from top to bottom and I'm going to be very particular on what we buy for the baby.  I have a vision, and my vision is more of a baby girl room.  I asked Aaron if he had to choose, boy or girl, which he prefers and he couldn't tell me one way or another.  Which drives me nuts because I'm a decisive person.  If you ask me, I'll say girl. I want a boy eventually too so if we get a boy first, there will be no disappointment but if you want to know my preference, I'm telling you a girl first.  Aaron needs to make up his mind, I don't like wishy-washy answers. 

I've been reading that my hormones/emotions should be changing like crazy right now.  But I feel real even keel.  From friend's stories and reading online, I'm a little worried when that is going to kick in.  I tend to be pretty even keel emotionally.  I don't consider myself a real emotional person.  But when I do... I go way off the deep end. I know Aaron said he is concerned for when I do have my first meltdown as he has experienced a few of my psychotic moments over the years.  I don't blame him for being scared! I'm still a happy camper and nothing has gotten me bent out of shape.  He agrees I was not a bridezilla during the wedding planning process, so maybe, just maybe I will be able to hold my raging hormones together for the next 8 months. 

I bought my first pregnancy magazine.  Started flipping thru it, saw an ad for nipple cream that cures dry chaffing, cracked nipples.  Totally freaked the bejeebers out of me and had to stop reading it and I haven't opened that magazine since.  Oh dear... the things that haven't even crossed my mind yet....

So I had a rehearsal dinner to attend and decided not to buy a new dress and choose from the 46 dresses hanging in my closet (yes I have 46, I counted recently, a bit overkill I know!)  So I had pulled out a perfect one.  Threw it on and started to zip it up the side.  I got it to the bottom of my chest and could not get it up.  Hollered at Aaron to come help me and we tried and tried to get it zipped with no luck.  I looked at myself in the mirror and the dress has a v-neck and I looked like a busted can of Pillsbury biscuits.  I wanted to cry.  Most people would probably love the fact that their boobs are growing, I hate it.  After trying on multiple dresses with the same issue, I finally found one that came clear up to my collar bone and covered me appropriately in all the right spots.  I knew as you become pregnant, your breasts grow but I had no idea it happens so early.  Lately I've been wearing extra tight sports bras, not only to flatten them but in hopes that it is cutting off my blood supply to stop them from getting any bigger! 

Still no crazy emotional outbursts.  Still feeling my usual self.  I think Aaron is more 'hormonal' than I am at times! 

8 WEEKS!

Week 9: 

TIRED!  It really doesn't matter how much sleep I get, I'm still tired.  It's been a long week because I've been anxiously awaiting for my FIRST appt this coming Friday.  YIPPEE!  Excited/Nervous/Anxious!  Can't wait!  Aaron is taking me out on a date after our appt!  Although nothing, absolutely nothing sounds good so we'll see what I can stomach to eat. 

I still don't feel a strong 'bond/connection' to this baby yet.  That sounds bad too.  I don't think I will until either after I hear the heart beat, my belly starts to grow, or I start to feel movement.  I feel like I should be having some 'motherly bond' right now but I'm just not really feeling much outside of tired & sick.  I pray for the baby and wonder a lot about it and life to come but what's this bond thing really all about?  I read that I should be taking time out of my day each day to rest my hands on my tummers and think about the parent I want to be.  That sounds relaxing and a good idea, I will be trying that soon.  What kind of mom do I want to be?  Heck if I know!  How about a cool mom for starters. 

First appointment went well!  I think my 'little nutmeg' looks pretty darn cute already.  My doctor was able to find it right away and the heartbeat sounded great.  I had 2 areas of concern when I saw my sonogram... first note how large the head is.  I freaked out thinking about how Aaron has a large head and how in the world will I give birth to that head but come to find out, it is completely normal for the head to look bigger than the rest of the body right now.  Secondly, notice the dark spot in the head?  Good to know the doctor said that is normal too, it isn't missing a brain or have a hole in it's head, sometimes these dark spots show up in the ultrasound and it means basically nothing at all. WHEEW! 

9 WEEKS!

Look at Baby Hyde wave to us! 

Week 10: 

1/4 of the way DONE!  I'm learning a ton lately.  And feeling a bit overwhelmed at our 'to-do's' for the next few months considering I'd like to have most of it done before the holidays come.  Daycares, crib, registry, clearing out the nursery, etc.  I'm normally a decisive person but there are lots of decisions that are kinda stressful to make because I know they will directly impact our little babe'ers.  So important we make the right choices for our little bambino.  I was reading up on Consumer Reports on cribs and so much to take into consideration from a safety perspective.

Got a care package in the mail from a dear friend today.  Her note was super sweet and it was filled with some great goodies for the baby and us.  Just made my day!  My favorite part of her note read: "You will get a lot of advice and opinions.  No matter who tells you what - even me :) - your heart and your mommy intuition is ALWAYS right for your baby."  I loved that and it's a good point for me to remember!  I'm so blessed with great family and friends, whether it's just talking to my Mom/Grandma, a husband who fulfills my crazy requests, exchanging emails with a friend on advice, care package from a friend I love to pieces or a friend-coworker whom I bombard with questions.  So great to have that kind of support and help!  I'd be sooo lost without you all!  

I had a bday party to attend and my shorts fitted too tight (sad face!) I went thru 5 outfits before I finally found one that conceals and made me feel good.  Okay, admission...I've been eating every twinkie, chocolate, french fry, sweet, deep fried thing in site.  Damn, I think I'm just getting flat out fat.  I was able to squeeze into my size zero jeans this morning but I can tell that ain't gonna last long as I think the waist of them are so tight it is creating the 'muffin top' look.  Yikes.  Better get to walking and try to manage this weight gain better before it gets out of control. 

10 WEEKS!

Pregnancy Journal: Weeks 1 Thru 7

 Here is weeks 1-7 of my pregnancy journal.  It's just my random honest thoughts.  Keep in mind I'm now in my second trimester now so this seems like awhile ago now since I'm re-reading this, so most of this stuff I talk about here I'm not experiencing anymore.  Let's just say the first trimester was not a 'walk in the park' but it could have been worse.  So it's not too much funnies going on in week 1-7, I felt like crap-ola! 

As you read this, realize I would write a paragraph here and there, so keep that mind as the flow may be choppy from paragraph to paragraph.  I'll follow up with weeks 8-14 in my next post! 

Week 1, 2 & 3: 

I drank lots of wine, did hot yoga, ate garbage food.  You know... my usual lifestyle.  I didn't know I was preggers.  I don't feel worried about this, sounds like this happens a lot.  I didn't know so I don't really feel guilty for it.  The one thing that does have me a little worried is that I cleaned our rugs with some pretty potent cleaner during these weeks and the chemicals smelled pretty strong and the fumes were pretty harsh, hopefully that didn't do any harm to the baby.  Again, I'm not letting myself get too worried about it really.  Pregnant women in the 60/70s were drinking, smoking and doing drugs and we all turned out fine, right???  Not saying my mom did that but you know what I mean...  Now I know I'm pregnant so I can make healthy choices going forward. 

Week 4: 

The evening of July 11th is when I took the test.  I had a good idea I was pregnant by this point but the test confirmed it.  How did I know I was 3 weeks? I was using an ovulation app prior to this so it was easy math.  This was a planned baby (I know, I probably should have stopped my bad habits when we decided to give the baby thing a whirl!).  I feel completely normal, don't feel pregnant. We told our family that weekend, considering I had very little time between us seeing them and when we found out, we didn't do anything creative to tell them.  Just asked what they are doing next March and with blank stares we then announced we are having a baby!  We were still trying to absorb the news ourselves.  That weekend I had my first symptom, tried to go for a jog and as soon as I started jogging my boobs started throbbing!  Guess that tends to be the first symptom that appears, tender breasts.  TMI??!  

Week 5: 

Told a handful of close friends we wanted to tell.  I took the Chinese gender test, said I'm having a girl.  We'll see if that prediction is true.  At this point I'm just trying to understand what to eat/not to eat, which I feel pretty comfortable with.  Only suffered one day of a caffeine headache, which is pretty good for someone who is use to drinking a fair amount of coffee every day for years.  I'm even avoiding decaf.  Did you know they use a chemical process to decaffeinate coffee?  Not good.  I found organic decaf coffee that uses natural Swiss water for it's decaffeination process at Whole Foods.  But right now, I'm just avoiding coffee altogether.  

Made my first 2 appointments.  Looking forward to it!  

Week 6: 

Morning sickness has kicked in.  I feel like it's pretty early to be getting this so I'm worried about it getting worse from here.  I'm not throwing up but I feel sick pretty much 24/7.  It feels just like a hangover so I'm familiar with the feeling :)  I bought some B6 vitamins and drinking ginger ale and snacking all the time, it kinda helps.  I have some major food aversions going on, nothing sounds good at all, I'm eating a lot of soup because it's the only thing that is setting on my tummy.  Biggest turn offs: coffee and chicken, 2 things I use to love!  I'm also noticing I'm a bit more tired but isn't too bad.  I've had zero desire to do any workouts this week.  Just feeling real 'touch and go'.      

Week 7: 

This week is going much better!  Although I still don't feel like doing a darn thing.  And my appetite is still lacking, most all food do not sound good.  And the things that sound good, don't end up setting for me so then that is just one more food aversion to add to the list. I go home after work and basically plant it on the couch all night and usually take a small nap after work.  My boobs seriously kill, I've thought about laying on the couch with ice paks on them.  I'm really hoping that don't get bigger, not a fan of big boobs.  So far, I can't really say I'm enjoying the pregnancy experience but it's not terrible compared to some of what I've heard it can be at this point.  I'm not puking, I just feel less than 100% all the time but definitely more manageable than last week.  Also experiencing constipation, which is considered normal but sucks for someone who is pretty regular.  Sorry... everyone poops (wish I could right now!) so yep, I know... TMI! 

This week we also visited our local BuyBuyBaby store and I loved it.  So much cleaner and organized than the few times I've been in a Babies R Us.  They seem to have an awesome selection.  I ended up buying a snoogle pillow and I'm in love with it, I think the snoogle will be sticking around much longer than 9 months.  Aaron loves my snoogle too, that's a problem. 

In week 7, I started my weekly picture taking, here I am, morning sickness and all! 

The BIG News!

We have some big news.... We are expecting our first baby!  Pretty excited.  Pretty scared.  Pretty anxious.  Pretty ecstatic. Pretty much all I think about.  But one thing is for sure, there is a baby growing in me and there is no turning back now! :)  I'm 14 weeks!  The secret is finally out!  

Reading lots of baby materials!

 I've never been one I guess that has a strong maternal instinct.  I do love kids and knew I wanted to have kids but never really got a strong desire until this year.  It was more so kind of one of those things... ‘well I'm turning 32 this year, better get on it.’  But don't get me wrong, we are excited!  After realizing we could raise a puppy that is totally dependent on us, and keep her alive... well that was a good test run for us that convinced me to say, okay we can surely handle the baby thing, right?!?!  And I did find that I have a strange maternal instinct with our pup Charley.  Nothing too weird, but I do cradle my 70 lb dog like a baby and rock her back and forth in my arms.  Okay, maybe that is weird but she is my BIG baby!  So the good news is, I do have a maternal instinct, it’s definitely there. 

Charley is excited!

I am glad that Aaron and I did get 4 years of marriage of 'just us'.  I think we will make better parents because of it.  Those 4 years have been a blessing and I wouldn't have changed that time of just us at all.  I do think we are ready for this new season in our life. 

There is a "bun in the oven"!!!

 My due date is March 19th, which I think March is a great time to have a baby.  I purposely planned this timing.  I had half the summer prego-free, the last half pregnant and I could still wear my swimsuit "bump-free" so I got to enjoy summer.  My goal is to be "cute pregnant" by Christmas (although we'll see how that goes...) and then when I'm miserable in my 3rd trimester, it will be in the dead of winter, where I can just "hunker down".   I have the baby in March, maternity leave for spring so I won't have to bundle up the baby too much.  Then by summer, hopefully have a schedule down where we can enjoy summer with a baby.  That's kinda my thought process, we'll see how that all goes but I'm a planner and you better believe I'm going to try my darnest to have my ‘ideal plan’ come to fruition.  

Yes Sir-ee!  I'm PREGO! 

 So I have a pregnancy journal I've been keeping, I may be sharing that in my next blog post.  It's pretty real stuff.  Just jotted down what has been on my mind throughout the weeks.  You may find parts funny, and maybe parts a little too much as well. But it's just some honest thoughts.  I may have to 'edit/sensor' it some.  I don't know how much info you really need!  For me, I want to know EVERYTHING!  I don't want to be in the dark on anything so part of me wants to share the nitty gritty and part of me thinks I should keep it to myself.  So anyways, you may see my journal to come.

I can finally park here legitimately

Oh ya, you better believe I'm parking here! 

 You may have noticed my blogging has been lacking, so hard to hold such a secret for 14 weeks, as well as the first trimester has not been the greatest for me, I've had bouts of morning sickness and fatigue that has been consuming my life lately but I think I'm out of that phase now and feeling back to my normal self so hopefully I will have some more posts to come!  So that’s our BIG NEWS!  Baby Hyde… due March 19^th! 

Mama Hersom's Chocolate Cake

Each year, we celebrate our close friend's birthdays that live in town by going out to eat together and then enjoying some bday dessert.  Our friend Mark Hersom's bday was this past week and it was my turn to make the cake.  I asked him what kind he wanted, thinking I would whip up a box cake mix but of course, he requested that I make his mom's from scratch chocolate cake with homemade frosting.  He was lucky that I was feeling up to doing some serious baking or else box cake it would have been!

He sent me his mom's recipe which really is a cinch to whip up.  'From scratch' sounds impressive and hard but this really was easy peasy.  It looked and smelled delish.  Then came the frosting and we had some leftover frosting so I tasted it and it was divine!  I knew Mama Hersom must be quite the baker even though I've never met her.

On the night of his bday party, we served up the cake and let me tell you, best darn chocolate cake I've ever had!  And it's so easy that its now going to be my 'go-to' rather than a boxed cake mix.  You gotta try it!  It's dense but yet really moist, very chocolatey and the frosting is very creamy and slightly sweet.  It's heavenly!

Below is the recipe.  Just a side note, I start a cake decorating class this Saturday and I'm excited!  I can bake but my decorating skills lack big time.  It's 3 classes and hoping to baffle you with some upcoming upcoming skills!  Yippie Skippie! Thanks to my friend Jackee for the inspiration as she just completed a similar cake decorating class.

Mama Hersom’s Chocolate Cake

¾ cup butter or margarine
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 ½ cups boiling water
1 ½ teas. baking soda
2 cups flour
½ cup Hershey’s baking cocoa
½ teas. salt
1 teas. vanilla

Cream butter or margarine, sugar and eggs.  Add boiling water.  Sift together dry
ingredients and add to mixture.  Add vanilla.  Pour into greased and floured 9x13 cake
pan.  Bake 30 min at preheated 350 degree oven.  Check with toothpick in center to see if
done.  Do not overbake (check at 25 min but it varies). Cool completely before frosting.

Creamy Pudding Frosting

1 cup cold milk
1 sm pkg vanilla instant pudding
½ cup powdered sugar
1 8 oz. thawed cool whip

Pour milk into small mixing bowl and add pudding mix and powdered sugar.  Beat
together until well blended.  Fold in cool whip, mix completely.  Spread onto cooled cake
at once and keep in refrigeration.

Pooch Plunge

Last week we took Charley to the Pooch Plunge, where the public pool at the end of the year invites all the doggies to swim before they drain the pool.  Charley has never swam before.  Nor does she like baths too much so we weren't sure how this would go... And at first she was not so fond of the water and just stood there like why are we doing this!?!  After warming up to the water, next thing you know she was pouncing around and enjoying it!  Here are some outtakes of our adventure to the pool.  She sure is a happy-go-lucky pup!

Waiting in line

All kinds of new furry friends are here

Hey MOM! 

Getting our feet wet, feeling things out

Knee Deep

Taking a breather 

Okay, this is FUN! 

Oh Dad, really... I'm not sure about this! 

First time swimming, thanks Dad for a little help

Swimming on her own

A little wet now

Look at me go MOM! 

Time to frolic with some friends 

Shake, Shake, Shake! 

Hi furry friend! 

Ears are a floppin'! 

Running thru the water now! 

Lots of shakes

OH yes, burn that puppy energy!  Run your heart out! 

Let's Play! 

Whew. Thanks Mom and Dad, that was a ball of fun! 

Charley's 2nd Birthday

It was a big weekend for our sweet Charley, she turned 2!!  And we’re excited for her.  Last year we had a big party, this year it’s just Aaron, me and a fun day planned for Miss Charley.  We went to the dog bakery, a visit to the dog park, ice cream at DQ, lots of belly scratches and car rides galore.  She is quite spoiled but it’s well deserved, she is a pretty good pup and we just love her to pieces!  

Wake up Charley, it's your bday!  As usual, she is half way under the bed every morning and usually takes some coaxing to wake up

First thing we do once awake, is make sure there aren't any squirrels in the front yard. Coast was clear!

Then it's to her living room bed as she is like her mom, wakes up slowly

So what has changed in the past year?  Not much.  She is still extremely playful, at times too playful as Aaron and I just want to relax sometimes.  But she is a great snuggler though, when it comes to down time, she knows how snuggle right in with me.  The best is when she rests her head over my legs.  It’s just so sweet. 

Mom's bad joke, fake squirrel present.  Mainly for my own humor. 

That 'squirrel' got Charley attention!

Darted straight to it, then timidly assessed it and realized it was fake and she actually seemed mad at me for messing with her like that

More interested in her old tennis ball rather than the fake squirrel

 We still are good with other dogs, kids and visitors.  We still attend doggie daycare from time to time which has been great to burn energy and socialize with other dogs.   With visitors, she still gets super excited and begs for all their attention so we are still working on getting her to calm down when people are over. 

At Three Dog Bakery, picking out a special bday treat

So many to choose from! 

This one looks real special and tasty

So good patiently waiting for her okay to take her treat

"YUM!" 

"Oh Ya, found some shade" 

"NOM NOM NOM"

Aaron and I have successfully still never given her table scraps.  It’s actually easy not to when Charley doesn’t know any better so she never begs.  I can eat anywhere in the house and she usually is minding her own business.  She knows playtime isn’t allowed while we are eating.  She still goes to ‘time-out’ from time to time but for the most part, she is a good dog. 

Running with our friends at the dog park

We LOVE the dog park

Mom and Dad love to see me run because it means I'll be extra tired

Sitting so pretty

Running with our tongue out

Galloping along on the park trail

Tired? Perfect!  

All smiles!

So tired mom, gotta prop myself up with my hand

Lately she really loves watching squirrels.  She goes nuts, luckily not in barking fits but usually paces the front window attentive to what the squirrels are doing.   It actually cracks me up to just sit and watch her be on squirrel patrol.  And she knows a lot of words, squirrel being one of them.  When you say squirrel, she darts to the window and looks for one.  It’s hilarious.

DQ Ice Cream Pup Cup

We love trips to DQ

2 bday treats in one day! 

All day while we are at work she sleeps, normally she changes her sleeping spot every few months.  Lately I’ve been finding her asleep on the guest room floor when I come home.  She handles being home all day pretty well.  We still let her out over lunch but do think she could manage all day now.  She still is in the “play hard/sleep hard” puppy mode. 

After all that bday action, time to go home, naps for all!

Nothing beats our fluffy family member, she brightens each day.  Charley, you are just the best and it's great to celebrate a day just for her!