I just cannot believe I am almost half-way done with this pregnancy!

Belly update: 19+1 weeks (Thursday 3/31/11)

A lot bigger than last time!
I measured 1.5 inches bigger than 10 wks ago, yikes

Sunday is my birthday and I got the best present, a weekend off work without having to move to another! I plan to relax and visit with both sides of the family (and watch Butler of course).
Last week my mom took me on a girl's getaway for a few days where we shopped and ate and shopped some more for some bday treats.

Nursery Bedding

OHH the joys of baby planning! My dear friend (and super-woman) Gretchen is going to be making our nursery bedding for us. What an amazing gift! Kellen and I found our fabrics pretty easily, believe it or not. We knew we were going gender neutral but wanted to shy away from the traditional yellow, green, or pastels. So below are the colors/fabrics we are going with!

The wall color will be a tiffany blue and the bedding will be a sweet potato orange, steel gray, and white. I am leaving for Destin with my parents this week, and Kellen is supposed to be painting the room and moving the bed out while I'm gone! How exciting!

The plan is to have the curtains and crib skirt in the polka dot, accent pillows in the zebra (sparingly), and for the bumper have solid white on the inside, steel gray on the outside, with the polka dot as cording trim and ties. Still working on the embellishments ;) Kellen's sister, Mallory, studied abroad in Africa last summer and has some amazing photos of the Serengeti and such and we hope to enlarge a few in B&W and put in fun frames or tac looms.

We are also planning on re-doing and using the furniture that is currently in the nursery room. It was my baby and childhood furniture and loved the idea of fixing it up. I'm sure that will be a whole separate blog post. My biggest stress with this is finding nursery-safe paint. There are some organics out there but not much research has been done, that I can find anyway. Any suggestions? I also found these fun knobs to add to the dresser drawers.




I've really surprised myself with how I am approaching the nursery. I thought I would want all brand new, matching stuff....but it has become a fun game to mis-match everything with a low price tag! Plus, having the emotional attachment of my baby furniture, bedding made by a close friend, and photos taken by Kel's sister- it makes the room that much more special and a perfect place to welcome the newest member of our family.

OH and our crib and mattress were delivered! Looks like Captain has already staked his claim under the baby's bed ;)

Doggie First

Well, I knew it was bound to happen. A water-loving dog with a pond in the backyard is a recipe for disaster...and after 2 1/2 years, it finally happened- Captain jumped into our pond! I just didn't think I would be 4-ish months pregnant and it be snowing outside when it did. I watched it all unfold from inside (as I was on the phone scheduling our carpets to be cleaned, ironically) and couldn't stop it. I don't know what possessed him, he just saw a pair of ducks he liked and simply dove right in!

I immediately called Kellen because I had NOO idea where to even begin. He asked if I could pick him up and carry him into our tub for a bath. UM NO NOT HAPPENING! So, my fearless husband came home to my rescue...never a dull moment ;)

gross

the sweet sweet face of guilt

Hi Strangers! Wow, looking back I cannot believe it has been since Christmas that I did my last post! A quarter of the year has already almost gone by and I am just now getting back to blogging. I suppose there has been a reason.....and for the few of you out there who don't know yet, I am PREGNANT!! There, I said it on the internet!! I can't believe I am finally the one saying that. Kellen, are you proud of me?! ;) He has been bug/begging me to finally blog about our wonderful news. I guess I've just been way superstitious, over cautious, and not to mention sick as a dog from about 5 1/2 to 16wks.

The best way to put it is that we have a little Christmas miracle on our hands! We found out just before Christmas, and it was the most magical time of year to find out. We went through the holidays with our families, keeping our special secret just to us, and it was such a neat experience for Kellen and myself to go through together.

We have been so overjoyed with the love and support we have received from our family and friends. I just cannot believe the happiness I have witnessed in peoples' reactions. We thought that, with any good news, people would be happy but never expected the shear joy we have seen. We are so so so lucky to have the wonderful support system that we do. Between all of the cards, tears, and flowers we have received in celebration, I have learned one thing: that this child is going to know nothing but LOVE. It brings tears to my eyes every time I think of this.

My official due date is August 24th, which will put me at 19wks this Wednesday! This also means that I will be super preggo when it is super hot outside. It might not be pretty, but bring it ON. It is so so so crazy to think that in a little over a week I will be half way done and we will finally get to meet our sweet sweet miracle!

In fear of boring anyone, this pretty much sums it up:
Likes of pregnancy: knowing that I am never alone, feeling little flutters occasionally (hopefully more soon!), the 300 extra calories I get to eat a day, the way Kellen has become even more protective of me, spicy spicy spicy foods, imagining what this little bundle will look (and smell...hmmm) like, and my inner feeling of true contentment and peace.
Dislikes: my growing belly. now hear me out on this: I know it is natural and is supposed to happen and all that, but for some reason it has been really hard for me. I never have been a super skinny person by any stretch, but I was always in control over my figure and despite the fact that even though I am still working out and running, that my body is 'changing,' kinda freaks me out. I'm working on it. Other dislikes: getting out of breath so easily, not being able to get comfortable to sleep, and moving slower.

One thing that has really struck me through all of this is how much Kellen has embraced his new role. He has been the one bouncing off the walls, wanting to tell everyone, and really bonding with baby Heavin (to whom he has nick-named Poppyseed). I have been the one more reserved! Funny how that works.

We have our next big ultrasound in 2 1/2 weeks, and I am anxious to have that finally out of the way. I think I know way too much from working in the NICU and will be able to breathe easier knowing that we are structurally sound. :) So far everything has looked perfect and they say we shouldn't have anything to worry about, but for me seeing is believing.

Oh, and much to our families' chagrin (this is the 1st grandchild on both sides! how fun!), we are NOT finding out the sex. We are open to bets and estimations, however ;)

Here are a few pictures of what we have been consumed with during the last 4 months!

I found out the week before Christmas, and waited until Christmas Eve to tell Kellen. I wrapped up some Purdue pacifiers (that little package in the front under the green one) and had them their all week under our tree with the other gifts. It was fun to see them there and he had no clue!

9 + 1 weeks
Feeling pretty miserable, can't you tell?!

11+5 weeks and waaaay bloated

Kellen got 'us' these beautiful flowers after our 12 week ultrasound!

and here is our baby's first debut!
This was at 12 weeks and it was amazing how much we could see, and HEAR, already!
We got to hear the heartbeat first around 9 weeks and it was the most amazing thing we've experienced in a long time.

16+1 weeks, something small there!

First maternity outfit!
This was still at 16+1weeks
I probably could have still squeaked another week out in normal clothes, but after realizing how comfy maternity stuff was, I'm afraid I won't even go back ever again.

...and this was one Kel snatched in my reaction when he asked if he could get a photo 'from the back' so we can compare how I grow. One word to husbands out there: NOT A GOOD IDEA BUDDY.

I plan on taking another photo either this week or next because I feel HUGE compared to the last photo, and I promise to be better with updates now (hopefully anyway)!