20 Weeks Difference

4 Weeks                                         24 Weeks

I didn't really ever plan on posting any pregnancy pictures, but I am surprised at the difference! I may not have a cute little typical bump, but I think I look pregnant finally.

24 Weeks

Size of baby: Ear Of Corn ( 1.3 lbs and 12 inches)
Total Weight Gain: 12 lbs
Continuing symptoms: Braxton Hicks, round ligament pain, sore feet
New symptoms this week: Feet and ankles are swollen after long days on my feet.
Maternity Clothes: With this awesome weather I have been wearing my tank tops lots! Love them so much!
What I'm Eating: Normal diet. Lots of cheese
Cravings: Cheese, 
Movement: I am starting to feel the baby a lot more when I am standing now, not just sitting. I am also starting to feel the movement higher up this week, closer to my belly button. In fact, I saw the baby kicking on Friday night for the first time. I have seen it once or twice since then. So awesome, I am looking forward to more!
Special pregnancy moments: Seeing the baby move my belly was a great milestone. Also 24 weeks is viability, which means that if this baby happened to be born now, it would have and 85% chance of survival. I can't even fathom that. That some people have their baby at this point! That is just crazy. I have mentioned this fact to a few people are they ALL started off on me about how I shouldn't want my baby to be born now and it it much better for it to be born later on... well no kidding. Why in the world would I wish for my baby to be born prematurely? Obviously I would like to be pregnant for 40 weeks, give or take a few. I am simply marvelling at the fact that a baby born this early has a fighting chance. Like any mother, I want whats best for my baby. And whats best for this baby is to grow inside my belly until he or she is ready to come out. I don't wish baby to be born any sooner!


Another special moment this week was the baby shower for my friend. I am so very thankful to be sharing this stage of life with close friends. I feel so overwhelmed with blessings in the season of life!

Alyssa In Wonderland - Bridal Shower

As I mentioned the other day, I had the pleasure of planning a bridal shower for my sister in law to be, Alyssa with my other sister in law Kelly Ann. It was a lot of fun, A LOT of work, but it turned out great! 

A Bee-utiful Shower!

I love planning things. So I was thrilled when I got to plan a baby shower for my dear friend Melissa and her sweet baby Chloe! 

I planned it with her sister and a friend. We decided on a Bee Themed shower because Melissa's name means Honey Bee!

I made tissue paper balls in black and yellow. 

 The banner says "Sweet As Honey" but it was hard to read. I was super disappointed with it. :(

 I wish I could have found three bee themed clothing items, but the yellow shirt would have to do. I LOVE the bee sleeper! It is from superstore. I love their clothes!

Chocolate dipped pretzels

 Cookies and cupcakes

 Bee chocolate cake

 Lemon Bars

I did note even get ONE picture of baby Chloe! I spend most of my time doing the games and setting up and holding her, and I didn't haul my camera out more !

For the games we played Baby Telephone (a piece of parenting advice is passed through all the ladies telephone style ending with Melissa), Baby Picasso (draw a picture of a baby with your eyes closed and Melissa chose the funniest, more realistic and most bizarre), and Bobbing For Nipples (like bobbing for apples, but with baby bottle nipples. Not surprisingly, it was hard to get participants!) I love games at showers!

Today I am doing lots of work for a wedding shower for my beautiful sister-in law to be and best friend Alyssa. The theme is "Alyssa In Wonderland"! Should be fun!!

23 Weeks

Size of baby: Large Mango ( Over 1lb and 11.5 inches)
Total Weight Gain: 10 lbs
Continuing symptoms: Braxton Hicks, round ligament pain
New symptoms this week: Nothing new this week
Maternity Clothes: I got some more of my favourite maternity tank tops! I love them.
What I'm Eating: Normal diet. Lots of cheese
Cravings: Cheese, peanut butter
Movement: Stronger and more frequent, especially today! Eric has been able to feel them a lot more, although baby likes to stop kicking when he touches the belly. BUT today he SAW the baby move. Pretty much the coolest thing ever.
Special pregnancy moments: I got maternity scrub tops at work, they feel so huge right now, but it is kinda sobering to realize they will be snug in a few short months!

My Baby Furniture! - Another Project

Before

After - Painted white with new knobs and handles. It is perfect. I plan on using this as a change table. 

Before

After - Painted white with new knobs and handles. I still need two more knobs cause I miscounted! 

 I could not be happier with the way it turned out! I am excited that the nursery is finally starting to come together. I hung a few pictures today, and put some stuff in the drawers. I still need to get a crib, a  lamp and new light fixture!

Another Project

I have been getting a lot of projects done lately. 

On Sunday I started with all these pieces separate, 

 and on Monday night I had this! I love it. It has minky on the back, which is the softest, most cuddly fabric ever. I plan on making a blue one as well.

Today Eric and his Dad drilled holes for our dog fence poles, and I cut the 12 foot 4x4's in half for them. We worked in the rain for most of the time, but they got all the holes dug and I got all the fence posts cut. I can't wait to have a fence for those dogs. I am so tired of them taking off, and it makes me nervous that they go on the road.

I have a few other projects on the go right now as well. I am almost done my baby furniture, I just have to get the right sized screws to put the hardware on. I bought the wrong size today, even though I took a sample for comparison. I have to build the base for my table and stain and wax the whole thing. Also I am knitting a baby blanket, and I have one to crochet as well that I haven't started yet. I love having projects to do! 

22 Weeks

Size of baby: Spaghetti Squash ( Almost 1lb and 11 inches)
Total Weight Gain: 9 lbs
Continuing symptoms: Braxton Hicks, round ligament pain
New symptoms this week: Nothing new this week
Maternity Clothes: I never want to stop wearing them. I wish I had a few more everyday shirts though.
What I'm Eating: Normal diet.
Cravings: Cheese, peanut butter
Movement: The kicks are feeling stronger, more like full body movements rather than kicks. And I am feeling more kicks at a time when they start.
Special pregnancy moments: Eric felt the baby kick for the first time today! He was so pumped, the baby was just kicking so hard I figured he had to try and it worked! I can't wait for him to feel them even stronger!


I feel like the movements are still so low. I hear lots of people talk about the baby getting caught under the ribs later on, but I have a hard time imagining that right now!


I love being pregnant. I am already looking forward to the next time, God willing. I have just enjoyed every single part of this experience so far, and I am looking forward getting even bigger and more uncomfortable! 

21 Weeks

Size of baby: Length of a Carrot (12 oz and 10.5 inches)
Total Weight Gain: 9 lbs
Continuing symptoms: Round ligament pain or cramping, tired feet
New symptoms this week: Braxton Hicks contractions. I didn't think I could get them this early but I guess I was wrong. It feel so odd to have my uterus get all tight like that. It does not hurt at all, it just feels weird!
Maternity Clothes: Glad the weather is getting warm so I can start cracking out my maternity tank tops. LOVE THEM. Can't wait to get more!
What I'm Eating: Normal diet. I am also eating healthier I think, I don't even remember the last time I had a chocolate bar!
Cravings: Cheese, bread
Movement: I feel little kicks many times a day. It is such a wonderful feeling. I mostly feel the baby when I am sitting still, but sometimes I feel it when I am standing up at work or something. I am so glad I finally "feel" pregnant!
Special pregnancy moments: Feeling baby move lots!


We finally got an ultrasound date! June 13th at 5:00pm. I can't wait!


Yesterday my friend M had a baby girl and today I got to visit them at the hospital. She was wide awake the whole time, and so very cute! I love fresh new babies! I can't wait to have my own!

A Project - Chalkboard

This is one of the many projects that I have been talking about for a while. I have been looking for a long time for a frame like this, mostly checking thrift stores. I FINALLY found what I was looking for at Ikea! I was originally looking for a mirror, but a picture frame works too. 

 I separated the frame and the glass, then spray painted the frame sliver, and tried to let some black show through for more of an antique look.

I painted the glass with two coats of DIY chalkboard paint (1/2 cup paint to 1TBSP unsanded tile grout powder. A good tip for this is to make it in a jar with a lid so you can save the extra.). After the paint dried I covered the entire surface with chalk to "prime" it and wiped it off with dry paper towel. And now it is a functioning chalkboard. And it turned out EXACTLY how I envisioned it. Actually, I think it turned out better!

20 WEEKS!!!!

Size of baby: Banana (10.5 oz and 10 inches)
Total Weight Gain: 9 lbs
Continuing symptoms: Round ligament pain or cramping, tired feet
New symptoms this week: Morning sickness?!?! Nausea in the morning that is very bad if I don't eat!
Maternity Clothes: I love them, I seriously do. I think I am more comfortable in maternity clothes than regular clothes because of the length of the shirts. How am I ever going to go back?
What I'm Eating: Pretty much a normal diet, I think I am starting to get hungrier than normal.
Cravings: Cheese, bread
Movement: I am quite sure I have been feeling little kicks this week. I feel them mostly when I am sitting and hunching over. I felt it for the first time on Thursday waiting for my prenatal appointment. I was sitting in the chair, leaning over and reading a magazine. I don't seem to feel it as much when I am standing or sitting straight up. Last night I felt it so many times in a row I started to wonder if it was even the baby at all! Even as I am hunched over typing this I have felt 3 little kicks. It doesn't feel like butterflies like so many people told me it would, it feels just like tiny bumps coming from within. I LOVE it!
Special pregnancy moments: Half way through this pregnancy! HALF WAY!! That seems nuts. I was just telling Eric that at lunch, and after I repeated it several times it hit him too. In some ways it seems like January 23d was so long ago, but at the same time it feels like it was just yesterday that I was walking out of that clinic, just hoping and praying that everything we had done would be successful. I thank God every single day that it was. 


I know the next 20 weeks will just fly by. I have so many activities planned! Lots of yard work and gardening, camping, Star Lake, 5 weddings, the 2nd Annual Bowie Awards, getting the nursery ready, and canning in September, plus all the other fun summer things that come up along the way. And I still want to sew two quilts, knit a blanket and crochet a blanket! I am glad I have so many things to keep me busy at the end of this pregnancy, rather than just sitting around and waiting. 


This last week my nesting instincts have really hit overdrive. I started working on and completing projects that I have been planning since we moved and for the baby. I finished my chalkboard, sprayed my door mat for wall art painted the baby furniture, and starting painting the nursery ceiling. Hopefully that will de done tonight so I can move the furniture in and start setting up the baby room. I really want to redo the flooring in the baby room too, but my dream flooring is out of my budget for now, so it will have to wait.

2nd Prenatal Appointment

Yesterday was my second prenatal appointment. I kinda forced Eric to come with me. I wish someone would have told me how uneventful these appointment can be! It took about 5 minutes for her to feel my belly, take my blood pressure and listen to the heartbeat. Baby was moving around a lot so it took was hard for her to find the heart beat!

I also found out a few days ago that my ultrasound was scheduled for July 12th. I would be almost 27 weeks then. They tried to get me in earlier at St. B but they said they couldn't, even though them booking me at 27 weeks was their fault. So Dr. H said they were going to try to get me in for a fetal assessment in the next couple weeks. She said that the fetal assessment is much nicer than getting a regular ultrasound because they will talk to you and tell you things about the baby.

If they can't get me in there in a few weeks, she is going to try other hospitals. If they can't get me in there,  then she said she would call St. B and stomp her feet until they got me in sooner. Lol. But she was quite confident that I would be able to get in for a fetal assessment fairly soon.

After the appointment we went to pick up Eric's outfit for his brothers wedding, and then went to the What To Expect When Your Expecting movie.

I really liked it. I cried like 100 times because there was some couples dealing with infertility and it just reminded me of what I went through to get here. Plus I cried every time a baby was born. And at a few other spots. I think these hormones are starting to get the best of me...

19 Weeks

Size of baby: Large heirloom tomato (8.5 oz and 6 inches)
Total Weight Gain: 10 lbs - it's creeping up higher than I would like...
Continuing symptoms: Round ligament pain or cramping
New symptoms this week: Not exactly a brand new symptom, but my feet are a wreck! I really can't handle being on them all day, even though my job requirers that for the most part! By the end of the day they are in a lot of pain. I need to learn to sit down more.
Maternity Clothes: I love them!
What I'm Eating: Pretty much a normal diet.
Cravings: Cheese
Movement: I thought I felt a tiny little kick the other day, but nothing since. Even though I regularly lay quietly waiting for it!
Special pregnancy moments: Eric started reading to our baby. He is reading the Chronicles of Narnia to baby. I absolutely adore when Eric talks to baby, he has been doing it ever since I told him that baby could hear. I pretty much tear up every time! :)


A few nights ago a had a dream about the baby for the first time, and it was a girl. The dream was about us moving into a new house and the old owner had left TONNES of beautiful baby and toddler clothes, and most of them were for a girl. There were a couple boy outfits in the pile and my mom insisted I give them away because I was having a girl, but I told her I wanted to keep them in case the next one was a boy. When I woke up I was SO disappointed because those clothes were so cute and I really wanted them. Lol. 


So there is it. I said it. I think I am having a girl. Every time I think of the baby, I think of it as a girl too. But I am convinced 


In other news, I had a VERY productive day today. I started off with breakfast with one of my best friend Coralee (she stayed overnight) which was nice, but other than that it was kind of a rough/emotional morning for me, for mostly piddly reasons. Oh the joys of hormones! 


Anyways, I made chalkboard paint and painted a coat on my chalkboard. I cleaned the baby furniture, hauled it outside and painted a coat on that. I did several loads of laundry at the barn. I cleaned the kitchen, entrance, and our room. I did dishes. Eric and I planted the garden. I measured for our dog fence  and ordered the wood. And finally I prepped snacks for my Pampered Chef party that I hosted tonight. It was a great turn out and I had a lot of fun. We also made a VERY yummy dessert. And now, my feet are in actual pain and I am tired. It was a great day.  Not sleeping in is a wonderful thing! 

18 Weeks

Size of baby: Bell Pepper
Total Weight Gain: ? lbs, I didn't get to weigh myself this morning cause I wasn't home!
Continuing symptoms: Round ligament pain, indigestion
New symptoms this week: Nothing really new yet
Maternity Clothes: I bought a lot of summer stuff this weekend as I said before.. Maternity clothes are so much cheaper in the US, I am kinda wishing I would have bought more tank tops though!
What I'm Eating: Pretty much a normal diet.
Cravings: Cheese, cream cheese, bread
Movement: Still waiting!
Special pregnancy moments:  This weekend at a baseball game was the first time a stranger asked me when I was due. I still am not sure what to think of it. I don't think I look obviously pregnant yet, and I have been asked that before when I was not pregnant. But I chose to be happy about it. After all I was busting out of my jersey and standing like a pregnant lady.


Also this Mother's day was not a day of sadness for me, as it has been for many years. It was a day of joy and hope! :D

The Rest Of Minneapolis!

All ready to go for brunch!

 We had brunch at Panera Bread in their gorgeous courtyard. It was delicious! I was very happy to have found a chocolate croissant!

 Mary Tyler Moore and me!

 The street we walked every day!

 Eric enjoying the HOT sun waiting for the game to start. We didn't get there early enough for batting practice :(

 My free mothers day scarf!

They Jay's lost the game, but it was a very nice day to spend outside. After the game we went back to the hotel for a swim to cool off, then for supper at Zelo. I had an amazing pizza that tasted genuinely italian and Eric had delicious lasagna and we shared grilled asparagus. We wanted something to do for the evening other than sit in the hotel room so we found a movie theatre!

Tomorrow we will wake up fairly early and head home. It has been a great trip and I look forward to next years already! 

Baseball In Minneapolis

We have been in Minneapolis for the last few days! The Blue Jays had a four game series with the Twins so we drove down to catch them all. It has been a great time so far! 

We left Wednesday after work and staying in Fargo for night. Then drove the rest of the way Thursday morning with a quick stop at Albertville for the outlet mall. I am sure glad we did! 

We went to Motherhood Maternity to get some capris. I found great pair for 40 that I loved, and then I found that same pair on the sale rack for 25 with a teeny tiny hold in the band. I also found a wonderful pair of linen shorts. Shirts were buy 3 get one free and I found my favourite tank tops that were 29.99 in Canada for 14.99 regular price here, included in the sale! They also made bras in my size, for 22 bucks, can be used for nursing and they were buy 3 get 1 free. I got four bras for 66 bucks, when I usually have to pay well over 100 for ONE good bra in my size! I was very happy leaving that store. 

We checked into the our hotel, the Hilton, which is probably the fanciest hotel I have ever stayed at. Awesome deal too! Thanks Hotwire! 

After we checked in we went straight to Target Field and caught some the the Jays batting practice. 

Here is Jose Bautista! We have seen him get 3 him runs so far!:

The Jays won Thursdays game.

Friday we went to The Mall of America for a little bit, where Eric convinced me to buy a gorgeous maternity bathing suit for a mothers day gift! We also went to Ikea and picked up some bedroom furniture and some other great pieces for our house, some stuff I have been looking for for a long time! We drove WAY to far out of town to get some food and snack and drink for the hotel from a Super Target.  Friday was a good game, but the Jays lost.

This morning we went to La Bella Crepe on Nicolett Mall for lunch! Eric had an Italian Breakfast Crepe:

 I had a peanut butter banana crepe! That is one of my new shirts from Motherhood Maternity! It is my favourite.

 La Bella Crepe. In a VERY tiny nook!

 The only picture from our 2 hour downtown walk today!

 I got this jersey as a Christmas gift. I love it, and it fit perfect when I got it. Now the bottom button or two likes to pop open randomly thanks to the baby belly. And I am not holding it tight or trying to stick out the belly. I find it amusing! It is fun to experience body changes thanks to a baby. I could not be more thankful!

The Jays won a very close game tonight.

We have one game left tomorrow, its an afternoon game. We plan to go early to batting practice and hopefully take some more pictures. We never take enough pictures on trips!

17 Weeks

Size of baby: Turnip (Aren't they huge? Perhaps a smallish turnip)
Total Weight Gain: 8 lbs
Continuing symptoms: Round ligament pain, tiredness, some indigestion
New symptoms this week: Tiredness returned this week!
Maternity Clothes: Full into maternity clothes now!
What I'm Eating: Pretty much a normal diet.
Cravings: Cheese! And plain Vanilla ice cream.
Movement: Nothing yet. I try to lie still and concentrate of feeling something. And then I poke at the baby hoping to get the baby moving. Still nothing. I should just be more patient.
Special pregnancy moments: Lots of people are commenting on how I look pregnant, which makes me feel quite uncomfortable because I don't think I look obviously pregnant yet. And a few random people have touched my belly which IMO is way to soon! lol. 


I get a lot of the same questions. And people's reactions to my answers are interesting. Here are a few:


Are you finding out the sex of the baby? Yes, we will find out what the baby is when he or she is born, and hopefully not sooner. I like surprises, and I don't like to ruin them. 


Will you have an epidural? No, I don't want an epidural. I hate needles and I don't want one poked into my spine. I also don't want my body half frozen so I can't move it. I realize birth will be painful, but I also know there is an amazing gift at the end of it. A lot of people (actually most people who have asked) have ridiculed me for this decision. They keep saying "Oh just wait until you are in labour you will change your mind, you have no idea" Their right, I have no idea but that doesn't mean I am going to change my mind. The only way I would want an epidural is if it would give me a better chance of a vaginal birth and prevent me from having a C-section (which I also won't fight if I really need it). I have heard of some people getting so worn out by the contractions that they need the epidural to have the energy to push. But I really want to try my best to have a natural, hospital birth.


Are you going to be breastfeeding? I will do pretty much anything to make sure my baby gets breast milk for the first year. My doctor said it is very rare that anyone that gives breastfeeding a good chance is unable to. She said most people that have trouble give up in the first two weeks, but if I stick with it I should be able to, unless the baby has an intolerance issue or I have low production of course. 


I also get interesting comments about cloth diapering. A lot of people tell me not to, that it is gross and that I will never be able to stick to it. But those people obviously don't know me very well. When you tell me I won't be able to do something, the harder I will try to make it work. It is very important to me to cloth diaper, for environmental and health reasons. And I know lots of people who have done it successfully and love it! 


And NO!!! I will not be getting rid of any of my dogs. That is an outrageous suggestion and I wish people would stop saying that. I love my dogs and I look forward to my children growing up with them like I did. 

The Baby Room

I thought I would post some pictures of the bare bones of what I have to work with for the baby room. So far all I have planned is to change the flooring and the light fixture. Other than that I don't really know what to do with all that pine board. I like the white washed look on the walls but I don't like the ceiling. Maybe paint it white?