20 Weeks: What's New...(Halfway Mark!)

Due date: November 26th (tentatively)

Baby developments: Little Mango is now the size of a cantaloupe and I can definitely tell he's growing in there as my belly continues to grow larger every day. He's 10 1/2 ounces already! LM gulps down several ounces of amniotic fluid every day both for nutrition and to practice swallowing and digesting. These days his taste buds work and studies show that babies respond best to tastes they've already had via amniotic fluid, therefore, I need to think about what I'm putting into my mouth!

Weight gain: 1lb (5lbs total pregnancy)

Cravings: red delicious apples, breads (bagels, sourdough, you name it), diet Mt Dew, Starbucks decaf Skinny Vanilla Lattes w/ two pumps of vanilla, in case you wanted to know :)

Aversions: nothing too crazy this week

Symptoms: itching....major itching on my ever-growing belly. To compound the itchy belly, I had gotten a little red on our Boji trip and everywhere I was burnt was itching like crazy as well. Nick & I were quite the sight every night before bed when we were itching each other all over!

I am loving: all of the prego women EVERYwhere. Seriously I feel like everyone is preggers these days and I love seeing all the different size bellies and hearing all the fun stories. This weekend at a wedding there were three girls from my hometown who were pregnant, a couple girls from college and some other random bellies in the reception hall. It was fun!

Sleep: sleep has been great, but then I wake up in the morning having to race to the bathroom. My bladder is full to the brim every morning!

I miss: being able to run distances without getting absolutely winded. The weather has been great lately and I would love to be running Zorinsky but it's just not in the cards. I guess the ellipticals at Lifetime will have to suffice.

I am looking forward to: our tech at the last sonogram told us she would give us a deal on a 3D ultrasound and I really want to set up an appointment, I'm thinking I will in the next couple of weeks.

I'm spazzing about: well I had some interesting convos with some of the prego ladies at the wedding this weekend and I got some horror stories about childbirth that they've been learning about in their classes. Now I need to determine if I'm going to schedule one of these classes because I definitely think it's going to scare Nick out of the delivery room!

Best moment this week: I've been feeling Little Mango move like crazy this week! From fluttering to little pokes, he has been very active this week and I LOVE being able to feel him moving around in there.

Milestones: hitting the 1/2 way mark is so exciting...there is so much left to do and plenty of time, but we're finally getting closer!

Movement: YES! Finally!

It's a....: baby boy

Exercise: more walking than anything - I'm getting back to Lifetime this week while Nick is out of town because I'm feeling the toll the lack of exercise has taken on my body.

Diet: I've been eating pretty good - good amount of fruits and decent serving sizes, but I need more veggies. I will work on that this week.

Goals for the upcoming week: I need to be more considerate about what I'm eating so that Cruz doesn't grow up with a need for decaf Skinny Vanilla Lattes, pretzels & cheese, chocolate and diet Mt Dew.  We'll see how this little challenge....err, I mean goal....works out.

Belly shot:

20 weeks

Nursery...Step by Step

Well we've finally settled on a crib & dresser for the nursery and I absolutely LOVE them! I have been looking for a black set and a lot of companies have discontinued sets in black, but Tessa and I were shopping a couple weeks ago and found this set and its going to be perfect. It's the Bonavita Metro Collection set crib and dresser. Crazy enough, the crib can actually turn into a child's bed and then it turns into the headboard & footboard for a queen bed. How convenient!

We are very fortunate because our family want to help out and give Cruz the best nursery. Nick's dad is paying for the crib, his mom is taking care of the dresser and my parents are getting us the chair (once we figure out which one we are getting). We are so lucky! Now I just need to find the perfect, most comfortable chair...because I know he and I will be spending A LOT of time in it.  I've seen some that rock, some that swivel, some that recline and some that do all three - there are just too many choices out there!

 

Best.Husband.Ever.

While I was laying on the couch tonight catching up on my DVR'd shows and doing some laundry, I realized that I needed something sweet to offset the Subway sandwich I had for dinner. Luckily, Nick was playing poker at the Horseshoe and I caught him just before he was getting home and he stopped to pick me up some Milk Duds for a late night snack. He officially wins the title of "Best Husband Ever" for the night.mmmm...

Delicious "Chocolate AND Caramel"

Fortunately, I had picked up this onesie on my way home from work tonight. It was my way to suck up to him after he came home from a long day AND had to stop to pick up candy for his prego wifey.

"Handsome Like Daddy" onesie

Date Night

After a long weekend away with family & friends, Nick & I decided it was time for a date last night. I came home after work to a pretty clean house with all of his laundry done and most of the unpacking finished (yes, we still had not completely unpacked!). Each morning as I walked out of the house this week, I told myself that the dishes needed to be done that night, but each night I did not do them....when I got home last night - they were done, the lawn was mowed and the trash was taken out. Major "great husband" points.

We went to Charlie's on the Lake for dinner. A place that is very close to our house but one that isn't on the top of my list of favorite restaurants, because the menu is so heavily seafood dominated. However, since Nick has been trying to eat better (we both need to after this past holiday weekend) and had already found a menu item he was drooling over (blackened salmon, grilled shrimp and baked cod) we went. Plus, like a great husband he had already picked out a menu item I was sure to love (i.e. he could eat the leftovers). The bread and salad were good, but the Jackson's pasta I ordered left a little to be desired. Nick didn't even want to finish it, BUT that was ok by me since it meant I got to eat movie theater popcorn at AMC!

Nick & I love going to movies....seriously we could go a couple times a week and not bat an eye, but the movies that have come out recently haven't been all that great so we hadn't been in a while. Last night we decided to hit up "Bad Teacher" - a comedy sounded great and even though it has gotten ok reviews (poor reviews from Tessa & Chris), we decided to go anyway. The movie was ok (not great, but not terrible) and there were definitely some laugh out loud moments. Plus the popcorn and Diet Mt Dew was amazing! Definitely made going to a so/so movie that much better. And to be honest Cameron Diaz was gorgeous in it and her wardrobe made me like the movie even more. She had on beautiful dresses, great skinny pants and every pair of shoes she wore was Christian Louboutin (ahhhh....).

All in, it was a great night hanging out together and I know these are going to be very few and far between once Cruz gets here, so we need to relish every moment. With Nick leaving again this weekend for Vegas, it was nice having some time to spend with him.

Celebrating America's Birthday - Boji Style!

Our 4th of July weekend has come and quickly gone, but not without a lot of laughs and plenty of memories! We loaded our stylish ride on Friday and picked up a bunch of people to start our trek to northwestern Iowa & the beautiful lakes of Okoboji. Friday night was low key with everyone traveling all day so we grilled out and had a great family dinner in our suites. We stayed at Bridges Bay Resort, which was in a perfect location just off the lake.  (Bridges Bay Resort - Suite Pic). The guys retreated outside to the patio and the ladies started a mean game of Left, Right, Center. Then we put together some jello shots for the next couple of days and got to bed at a decent time because of the long days ahead of us.

Hard core gamblers - Left, Right, Center

 On Saturday morning we loaded our group of 20 up in the pontoon and headed out on the lakes. It was a gorgeous day and we were ready to party! We hit Miller's Cove in West Lake and tied up to some other boats and then went to Barefoot bar, which was a great beach bar on East Lake. That night we grilled out and headed into town to the bars.

The Men

The Ladies

Strategically covering my belly bump!

The moustache gang - seriously, we had to look at those all weekend!

The next morning we had the pontoon rented again, so we loaded early for Round Two. The lake was packed and so was Miller's Cove. A barge floated in with a live band and at one point we probably had six party boats tied up to ours. Hung out with some friends from high school who happened to be in Boji as well. After a long day on the water we headed back to the hotel and hung out in our rooms. Later that night we went down to Bracco, our hotel bar, for a couple hours.

Day two - Nick & I

Nick taking a paint stick in the water

Jess & I

At Bracco, our hotel bar

 Early Monday morning we packed up and headed home. All in, it was an amazing weekend that just went too quickly, but we had such a great time and definitely plan on making this an annual event. We will just have to see where Cruz fits in next year!

19 Weeks: What's New....

Due date: hmmm...either November 21st or November 26th. The ultrasound tech thinks I'm a week farther along than we originally thought which puts me at 20 weeks, not 19 weeks, but my doctor has stuck to the fact that I'm due November 26th and the tech didn't think she would change my due date for just one week difference. That's fine and all, but personally I want to know if I'm 19 OR 20 weeks....

Baby developments: Little Mango is the size of a large MANGO this week - how fitting! - and his sensory development is going crazy - his brain is designating areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision and touch. It's definitely time to start talking more to the baby than around the baby since he can hear our voices. For those of you reading this, don't be shocked if you see me talking to myself in the upcoming weeks - I will more than likely being talking to our little man.

Weight gain: 2lbs (total of 4lbs from pre-pregnancy)

Cravings: red delicious apples, nachos (or simply chips w/ cheese), sandwiches

Aversions: meat has still been one food group I've stayed away from - again, unless it's in the form of a sandwich or after this weekend a hot dog. Yum!

Symptoms: I was so excited because I thought the puking had subsided completely. I got sick last Monday night and then didn't puke again until Saturday! But then I proceeded to puke Sunday as well. Hopefully that means this is going away.  I've also been feeling some pulling in my belly which in reading it sounds as though it might be Round Ligament Pain and completely normal during the second trimester as I'm beginning to grow bigger.

I am loving: just being pregnant.

Sleep: good overall. I got great sleep on our little vacay and woke up refreshed each morning...primarily because I wasn't hungover!

I miss: I did miss being able to drink and get crazy with everyone in Boji this weekend. I really wanted to try one of those paint sticks filled with an ice cold beer!



This is a Paint Stick! Much better than a beer bong - or so I'm told

I am looking forward to: feeling Cruz move around inside of me. I feel things, but I never know if it's him or just regular body changes/movement. And once I get to feel him, I really can't wait for Nick to be able to as well.

I'm spazzing about: ok, is it normal for complete strangers to rub your belly when you tell them you're pregnant? I'm good w/ my family and close friends, but people I barely know? It just doesn't seem right. I don't think I've ever touched a pregnant woman's belly without an invitation. Let me tell you it's ok to touch the belly before you stick your grimy hand out and touch it for yourself! This happened SO much at work last night...However, I am getting better with people I  know touching my belly. I was even a little leary of this early on but I think that had to do with the fact that my belly was more jiggly than firm and now it's gotten much harder so I'm good.

Best moment this week: spending much needed time away with Nick and our friends in Okoboji and talking about Cruz. Everyone seems truly excited for us and were so sweet and considerate of the big pregnant lady on the trip. Heck, we even scored the king size bedroom in one of the suites since I'm sleeping for two these days!

Movement: none yet, but I officially cannot wait to feel this little guy kick up a storm!

It's a...: beautiful boy...I mean just look at that face! (Ok this is actually a very scary shot of our little man, but I still love it to pieces!)



For those of you who were He-Man fans like I used to be - he reminds me a bit of Skeletor.
I know it's bad to compare my baby to a skeleton faced cartoon character, but if the shoe fits....

Exercise: since I decided to take the week before our bikini vacation off from exercising, I have decided I need to get back on the horse and get to the gym....starting tomorrow, that is.
Diet: a pleasing mix of junk and healthy foods, leaning slightly more towards junk, but I'm good with that. I enjoyed every minute of the foods I ate this week.

Goals for the upcoming week: I'm going to set a lofty one and that is to attempt to find a peditrician. I would love to have this nailed down before my next check up and since I'm not using Tessa's, I need to get on this and find one myself!

Belly shot: it's growing!!!



19 week belly bump

The Start to a Great Weekend

We are three hours shy of starting our Okoboji weekend with friends and I couldn't be more excited....ok, actually I just point blank lied. I would be more excited if we were embarking on this Boji weekend and I could indulge in fun summery cocktails or just plain old cold beer! Of course, since I went and got myself knocked up, that will not be in my future this weekend, so I will just need to make the most of it by soaking up the warm summer sun and enjoying this time with some of my favorite people.

Our fantabulous ride this weekend is going to be this beautiful 15pax conversion van (don't be jealous) and yours truly will be the person assigned to driving duties for the majority of the weekend due to the aforementioned no drinking. Enough of this feeling sorry for myself - I have almost three full days off and I'm ready for some relaxation and fun! I will make sure to take plenty of pictures and report back on the festivities in a couple days. Happy 4th of July!