21 Weeks, 4 Days Pregnant!

21 weeks, and baby is looking perfect! Still can't get a good shot of the wiggle worm, but we were happy to hear all is progressing as planned. Baby is weighing in at 1.1lb already, and measuring five days ahead. Let's hope it either comes early, or stops growing too much. I don't want a 10lb baby!

How far along: 21 weeks, 4 days

Total weight gain: 11.4 lbs

Maternity clothes: Nope! A lot of my style before was loose fitted clothing, so it's still working for me. I even can still squeeze into my pants - though that's fading fast. My students actually commented on how they couldn't even see my bump yet. Woohoo!

Stretch marks: Nope, but getting itchy! 

Sleep: Good, but different. I still sleep long hours, but I wake up very often. Not even just to pee, but to roll over - something I used to do in my sleep. Plus I'm much more of a light sleeper now and our neighbors have been really noisy starting at 5:00am, or even once at 1:30am, so that's been frustrating. We got baby's nightlight/sound maker so that might come in handy if the neighbors are loud!

Best moment of the week: This morning was really great. I woke up early and assumed I wouldn't be able to fall asleep again, but then Jon woke me up at 8am to see what I wanted from Einsteins! What a dreamboat. It's Happy's birthday weekend (Halloween pup!), but Jon's making it feel more like mine. Plus he really babied me when Happy and I hit faces, so that's always gonna help!

Worst moment of the week: I was actually thinking this morning that there hasn't been a worst moment of the week... and then Happy and I collided faces and I split my lip open. Lots of blood, swelling, and tears. Jon was right there, so he was able to direct me to the bathroom sink without too much blood dropping, and get me ice. The swelling has already gone down, but not the best look for a pregnant lady. I felt very self-conscious about it in the grocery story and PetCo today.

Food cravings: Still not really much. Last night around 9pm I was craving Pizza Hut, but I stopped Jon from getting it. We had already had dinner, and baby only needs a mere 300 more calories than I would eat not pregnant. I felt very proud for having the self control. Oh, and then I ate some coffee ice cream and a bowl of cereal. Whoops.

Gender: Mystery! I get such mixed reactions from people. Some are so excited because that's what they did and they really treasured the experience, and others have no problem telling me I'm already making a mistake and the kid hasn't even come out yet! We really don't care, and are still very excited for the surprise.

Movement: Pretty consistently now! It's still rarely a huge kick, but little flutters and jabs that Jon can usually feel. Baby does not like a tight waist band, which I found out yesterday. I squeeze into my regular jeans for the day (with the help of some rubberbands), and by the end of the day the baby was kicking right along the tightest part. Once I took them off, kicking stopped. Also, when you push on my stomach, babe will sometimes push back, trying to get their space back. Only gonna get smaller in there from here on out!

Symptoms: Headache, restless sleeping, and fatigue. I feel like I could sleep at pretty much any point of the day still. But then I don't really sleep soundly. It could be MUCH worse, though!

Belly button in or out: Out. Still sad about it, still trying to hide it.

Wedding rings on or off: Still on. I've been brainstorming how I can transform my ring into a necklace. I'm still obsessed with it and not willing to give it up!

Happy or moody: Minus getting conked in the face and sobbing about it for a few minutes, pretty happy! I've even been in a better mood at school with the kids, which I'm sure they appreciate. I love this season, and my birthday is soon, and then we're heading to Illinois!

Looking forward to: Next weekend! I have my exam on Saturday at 7am in Denver, ugh. But after that, we're going on a tea-tour in Boulder at my favorite tea company, and we'll go to Fuzziwigs - a well renowned candy shop according to my students. For dinner we'll go back to Seasons 52 because their food and service was really great. On my actual birthday, we're going to get Voodoo Donuts in Denver and do a crock pot dinner so we can relax. Jon and I really drag out birthdays and do "birthday weeks," so this whole week will be very special.

We went to el Camino Community Tavern after our appointment, and were not disappointed. We got guac and queso for $2 (happy hour), and eight tacos for $1 a piece! We will definitely return for more Taco Tuesdays since my appointments are always on Tuesdays!

This actually makes it look better than it does in real life. I've never gotten hurt where blood is just dripping, which really freaked me out. I think it was more shock than anything else and I've been eating/drinking like normal. Can't wait to see my kids' reactions when I go to school Monday!

This might have been the first baseball game I've watched since my brothers played, but it was exciting either way. I did read through most of it - boy, does baseball move slow - but it was fun to see all the support. Of course, the minute we move away from Chicago, they go to the World Series. Poor Jon!

20 Weeks, 4 Days Pregnant!

You can see Happy in the background waiting to go to the park

How far along: 20 weeks, 4 days

Total weight gain: 10 lbs

Maternity clothes: I didn't wear any this week! I wore joggers and leggings basically all fall break, so I was pleasantly surprised to find I still fit into my non-maternity pants and wore those to work. Dresses are my new best friend.

Stretch marks: nope

Sleep: Still averaging around 9 hours a night, so I'm happy! I did have trouble falling asleep the other night, but I also had eaten some coffee ice cream right before bed so I'm hoping it was because of that.

Best moment this week: We got out first piece of nursery furniture, and I am OBSESSED! I also had conferences this week, which were actually really great. I had a parent crying about the positive change she's seen in her son and how much he loves having me in his life, so of course I was crying, too. Meeting with parents is daunting, but it's incredible to see their face when I tell them the positives I see in their kids and then hear what I mean to their families. Anyway, conferences meant I had a half day Thursday and no kids Friday. I got home on Friday around noon, which was really nice. I just sat on the balcony with Happy and read. I needed the relaxation! I've also planned one of my classes through Thanksgiving, so that's a really nice feeling! Also, Jon and I are making black bean burgers tonight, so that's always fun and delicious.

Worst moment this week: I think it was just that the nights felt like they flew by. I really value the time I spend with Jon, and it's just not enough! We take big advantage of the weekends and getting in all our time together, so that makes up for it.

Food cravings: Honestly, none. I craved coffee ice cream for a day, and we got some. Even since then, I haven't really wanted it though. The sweetest parent bought me some of her pregnancy cravings (Sprite, Pringles, and gummy bears) and I truly don't want any of them. I was telling Jon today I don't even want snacks or sweets. I pretty much stick to meals and that's all.

Gender: Mystery!

Movement: Small movements here and there. The other day while my students were waiting to go home, baby was going crazy. I feel some kicks randomly, but nothing consistent or no consistent time of day. I'm excited for when it's more regular and Jon can feel it more. He can feel soft thumps, but it will be cool when we can see let too!

Symptoms: Acne and back ache. My lower back will hurt from time to time, but nothing that I can't live through. I've been getting killer headaches, which is really hard when you're working with unruly children. 

Belly button in or out: Out! :( So sad because it shows through my clothes.

Wedding rings on or off: Still on, but my fingers are definitely starting to swell.

Happy or moody: Still happy! Although I haven't loved being pregnant, and the first trimester was the hardest time I've been through, I realize how lucky I've been. I still sleep great, eat well, and am in a good mood most of the time. Let's just hope it stays that way!

Looking forward to: Tuesday! We have our ultrasound. It's been two months since we've last seek the babe. Even though I feel kicks, I sometimes worry that something is wrong so I'm excited to get some reassurance. Also, Katie and Mike are coming to Denver this week, and I really can't believe we'll see them! Katie and I have perfected the long-distance friendship since 2008, so it's always surreal when we're actually together.

Happy is always either putting a paw on my belly, or trying to lay his whole body on my belly. It's pretty adorable. We'll see what he does when it gets bigger!

Isn't this beautiful?! We have a navy rocker heading our way soon. Everything else will be white, so those two will be so pretty as our "pop" of color.

Happy is way too obsessed with us, even at the park. He did meet a mini Golden Doodle lady friend who caught his attention. Luckily she encourage him to get in some much needed running.

The first time I've noticed the bump while sitting. I told Jon today that it rests on my legs when I sit. So weird!

19 Weeks, 4 Days Pregnant!

Forgot to do my morning picture, which is usually when I'm the smallest. This was after a giant omelet, sourdough toast, and a pumpkin macchiato, YUM.

How far along: 19 weeks, 4 days

Total weight gain: +9.4 lbs, same as last week

Maternity clothes: I used a gift card to buy a few tops from Target. Still no bottoms, so my plan for now is to stick to dresses and using the rubber band trick on my pants. 

Stretch marks: None yet! I've begun lotioning my belly because it's getting itchy - evidence of stretching!

Sleep: Lovely as ever! Fall break has allowed me to easily get 9-10 hours a night. I do wake up often to roll around. I still find myself sleeping on my stomach, but it hurts! I wish my sleeping self would get it. 

Best moment this week: Friday for sure! I met Jon downtown for lunch at The Market (delicious sandwiches and lemonade), and then he got to come home early, which was a treat! We made the most delicious dinner - pork apple burgers with rosemary fries. You grate a Granny Smith apple, squeeze out the liquid, and mix with ground pork. YUM! Today was also a blast. We went to Three Little Griddles for breakfast and then picked up Happy and traveled about an hour to Evergreen, CO. They had a beautiful lake with stunning views, so we spent a lot of time walking around there.

Worst moment this week: Tuesday by far because we had to go to the DMV. Should have been obvious, but Jon and I were hopeful it would be a quick trip. 3 hours and nearly $350 later, we walked out around the time I typically pick Jon up from work. I also did not eat a lot that day (due to not anticipating being out so long, silly me) and paid for it the next day with a lot of nausea and throwing up. Since then I've been doing small snack type meals throughout the day to keep from feeling sick. 

Food cravings: Really none. I'm surprised to have no constant cravings as of now. It's nice eating whatever we planned for dinner. I stick to healthy snacks throughout the day - carrots and hummus, cottage cheese and Western dressing, grapes, bananas, ratatouille, really anything with something fresh. 

Gender: Still a mystery! We have our anatomy scan in a few weeks and I fully intend to look away during parts to keep from ruining the surprise. 

Movement: Yes! Finally! On Thursday, I got an iced coffee and was drinking it laying in bed (what a hard life I lead) and there was a thump in my stomach! I pushed on my stomach, and baby kicked back! It was very exciting. I texted Jon right away. Usually I get one good strong kick a day, and little flutters whenever I'm in a reclined position. Jon actually felt it today, which I've heard is incredibly soon, so we must have a strong bebe! It's nearly impossible to time and very infrequent, so we were super excited he felt it. It's definitely making it real!

Symptoms: Still sporting the acne. I'm resigned to the fact that I'll probably have acne the whole pregnancy. I tried to spend break really taking care of my skin, washing consistently and using witch hazel and not wearing a lot of make up, and still new acne popped up. They say girls steal your beauty, right...?

Belly button in or out: If my stomach is bloated, it's out. I can still push it back in, but it looks like I'll have an outie soon. 

Wedding rings on or off: On, thankfully, but getting snug. We were outside a lot today and it was relatively hot (I got a bit sunburned), so I'm hoping it's just the heat.

Happy or moody: Moooostly happy. Since Tuesday was such a nightmare and I didn't eat well, I was just in a sad mood that night. Jon was great, as always, and came to bed early with me. I don't know how some women do this alone. They are superstars. I depend on Jon so much, and he never disappoints. 

Looking forward to: Katie and Mike will be visiting around the 25th! That is also our anatomy scan, so it's going to be an awesome time. We're going to meet them in Denver or Boulder. We haven't seen them since we visited them in the UK in July 2015! Katie is looking at grad schools so cross your fingers she falls in love!! 

My boys <3

Yup, Happy's taking his millionth pee for the walk

A great example of my sometimes-outie belly button

This was our first time EVER carving pumpkins together! It was fun talking about how next year we'll have baby with us to scoop out the guts and make a hot mess :)

18 Weeks, 4 Days Pregnant!

How far along? 18 weeks, 4 days

Total weight gain: +9.4 lbs, yikes! Luckily my doctor said I’m right on track!

Maternity clothes? Not really. I’m going to use a generous Target gift card next week to buy some much needed pants and tunics, so I’m excited for that.

Stretch marks? Not yet!

Sleep: Great! I’ve been warned repeatedly lately about pregnancy insomnia, but so far I have been loving sleeping endlessly. I have the strangest dreams and they are all so vivid, too.

Best moment this week: Celebrating Jon’s birthday/birthday weekend! We went to Seasons 52 for dinner on Jon’s birthday, and it was sooo nice! They gave us complimentary champagne, and free dessert, and even with two nice entrees and a drink, it was far less than we anticipated. Then, Jon opened his presents and loved them all!

Today we celebrated some more with donuts from the Fractured Prune (see below for details) and the ChatfieldPumpkin Festival. It was so fun! There were so many food vendors, so we spent most of the time grabbing good food (shredded pork, cheese, and BBQ sauce loaded French fries, a fresh roasted hot dog, and gelato)! Plus we picked out pumpkins and will be carving for the first time together next weekend. Overall, this felt like my birthday, too.

Miss anything? Nope!

Food cravings: Nothing. I haven’t even felt the increase of appetite that should be coming anytime soon.

Anything making you queasy or sick? Nope!

Gender: Mystery!

Movement: It’s still hard to tell, but I’m ready for it! I think it will make me feel pregnant again since I’ve been feeling so normal (minus the bump appearing).

Symptoms: Acne and back pain. I typically only sleep on my stomach, so it’s been hard transitioning to my side. Last weekend I tweaked my neck/back and literally couldn’t move for a few hours. It was conveniently when we were going to work out, but I wasn’t just milking it!

Belly button in or out? In-ish…? It’s definitely weird. Sometimes it’s flat, and other times it’s out. Jon is pretty grossed out by it, so of course I make him touch it all the time!

Wedding rings on or off: On.

Happy or moody most of the time: Happy! How could I not be? It’s my favorite time of year!

Looking forward to: Fall Break this week! I don’t have work, and am going to take so much advantage of it! I brought literally all my school stuff home and plan to get ahead as much as possible. Jon’s taking a half-day on Tuesday so we can get Colorado licenses and license plates, and register to vote. Plus, I have to get fingerprinted for school still and sign up to take the PLACE exam so I can get my CO teaching license. So not the most exciting adventures ahead, but I can snooze around all day, and not wear pants, and meet Jon downtown for lunch! Plus our HelloFresh box is coming, and I cannot wait!

They had dessert sliders! This was Jon's - s'mores!

 The Fractured Prune is amazing! They fresh make your donuts to order, and then you choose a glaze and toppings, or one of their pre-designed donut combinations. We got Maple Bacon Bomb, Blueberry Hill, French Toast, and Morning Buzz. 

Jon found his pumpkin pretty quick!

The bump's first pumpkin

Someone else wanted in on the fall action!

17 Weeks, 4 Days Pregnant!

This is the first picture where I feel like it looks more like a bump and less like I'm trying to gain weight!

How far along? 17 weeks, 4 days

Total weight gain: +6.8 lbs

Maternity clothes? Not consistently. I told my students I’m pregnant this week, so I don’t have to stick to baggy things anymore. I’ll get a lot more use out of my normal clothes because it doesn’t matter if the bump shows.

Stretch marks? Not yet!

Sleep: Great! 9.5 hours last night :)

Best moment this week: We had a lot of fun times! Tuesday we went to the doctor and heard the baby’s heartbeat. Next month is our extended ultrasound to see how organs and baby is growing. We could find out the gender, but we’re still very excited about waiting. After our appointment, we went to Lowry Beer Garden and got delicious burgers and cheap soft serve.

On Wednesday, we spent the whole night in bed, which was really fun. We caught up on some TV and ate in bed and fell asleep nice and early!
On Thursday I told my kids I'm pregnant. We played hangman to find out, and it was fun seeing some kids get it before others. They were SO excited, and the parents have been nothing but supportive and so complimentary. I told Jon, it makes me really think about whether to go back to work or not. On one hand, I'd be so lucky to stay at home with the baby, but on the other I feel like I'm really good at teaching and making an impact on students and I'm not sure I should give it up. We have time to figure that all out though!

I also found out this week that a good friend from Illinois is pregnant! So thrilled to experience this with her and see her soon at our baby shower.

And then this morning we went to Snooze, which is always a good time with delicious foods. I also finished buying/wrapping Jon’s presents and it’s getting me excited to celebrate his birthday.

Miss anything? Nope!

Food cravings: Honestly nothing this week. Although I had pineapple pancakes this morning, Hawaiian pizza for lunch, and we’re making caramelized pineapple burgers for dinner.

Anything making you queasy or sick? Nope! I have an air freshener right on my school desk to ward off any gross smells!

Gender: Mystery!

Movement: I think I might be feeling some jabs! It’s honestly still hard to tell, but I like to imagine I can feel it.

Symptoms: Acne! I just read an article on pregnancy glow. It failed to mention not EVERYONE will get it, and some will be left with prepubescent teen skin. Love it.

Belly button in or out? In. It does look werid sometimes and Jon likes to poke at it.

Wedding rings on or off: On.

Happy or moody most of the time: Happy! I did start crying randomly one morning this week, but it was a fleeting moment and Jon did great. Jon’s been on trial this past week so we’ve been getting up and leaving really early each morning. I think that put me in crabby moods some days. Imagine that!

Looking forward to: So much! We're going out to dessert at Eddie Merlots with Logan and Linda tomorrow. I totally forgot Logan would be in town, and it's going to be so fun to joke with him and eat delicious desserts; Jon’s birthday this week – we’re going to a surprise dinner out and doing the pumpkin festival next weekend; Fall Break next week – I have tons of errands to run, but Jon might work from home one day so we can get our CO licenses together so that would be fun; HelloFresh hooked me in again – they sent a 50% off coupon, so we signed up for the week I’m off work and then will cancel again (we will be cooking Baked Fusilli Pasta with kale and fresh mozzarella cheese, Sesame Shrimp with ginger scallion rice and crispy green beans, and Pork and Apple Burgers with rosemary fries and mixed greens). Sorry HelloFresh! I’m soooooo looking forward to Thanksgiving! I knew I would miss home, but I am overly excited to go back and see how it’s changed and see everyone else of course. I’m ultra excited for our baby celebration, and I’m weirdly excited for Happy to be around Charlie and Jack and his family again. We think he’s going to be over the moon to be reunited with everyone!

$2 soft serve at Lowry Beer Garden!

Vanilla Latte and Hot Chocolate - I'll let you (correctly) guess who got which.

I didn't even bother to take a picture of Jon's breakfast, but this is the pancake flight - peanut butter cup, sweet potato with candied pecans, and pineapple upside-down pancake!

Took Happ on a nice walk in the field behind our apartment. He had a blast.

I'm obsessed with our fall decorations. I'll admit, I did look at decorations at Home Goods for probably 20 minutes while I was supposed to be shopping for Jon, but I didn't buy a thing! I could totally do with more decorations, but I'm embracing the minimalistic look for the sake of our wallets and space.