Mother's Day 2014

Mother's Day is about my mom, not me, but I really was spoiled! I can't believe that I am carrying a child that I will get to raise with my husband, Jake... I am so blessed and so excited! I love Jake so much and love him even more because of what a sweet dad he is already. He has been SO good to me (our entire marriage) but especially since getting pregnant and being so sick. He is a superstar. I don't know what I did to deserve him or this sweet little baby of ours!

Jake brought me breakfast in bed (I'll be honest, he does that A LOT since I've been sick) and bought me my favorite colors of flowers (I LOVE FLOWERS). In this picture, the yellow flower to the right was from church.

He also gave me two necklaces that are so cute and sweet. I can't wait until my baby is born so I can put a picture of him/her (I also can't wait until I see my family this week and reveal the gender to them so I can say it on here!!! :) ) in the necklace on the left.

He also did all the cooking and dishes the entire day. He's awesome, seriously! I got a back and foot massage from him and was just all around spoiled all day long!

I got spoiled even by MY mom and mom in law. My poor mom is getting her Mother's Day card delivered in person a week late because I ran out of stamps and heaven forbid I get ready and leave the house to go buy more ;) My awesome mom bought me THE BEST gift EVER for a paranoid first time mom!

Can you believe it?! I LOVE it and use it all. the. time. It works better than the one at my doctor's office! I have a recording on my phone, but need help figuring out how to get it on my laptop so I can post it. At the doctor we just always hear the echo of the heartbeat and it sounds like a swish swish swish swish. But this thing picks up the BEAT and it sounds like a thump thump thump. It's really awesome! It also picks up the baby's movements and it totally sounds like karate special effects. Actually no, it sounds JUST like a sword fight! Not the clinking, but the fast sword movements. Anyways, it's really cool and you'll have to just trust me until I can get a recording on here. THANK YOU MOM! I love this so much! What a thoughtful and generous gift.

And from Jake's mom- a gift card to Jamba Juice! Have you had Jamba Juice? It's delicious. And addicting. And reallllly delicious. Especially since I'll be huge pregnant in August, I think I'll be stopping there a lot!

Church was the best Mother's Day meeting that I ever remember going to. I know that it is a touchy subject and people don't want mushy gushy or fake or cliche or insensitive, etc. But our ward really did do a fantastic job. We had two speakers and both seriously just did a really good job and their talks were very careful and thoughtful and had something for everyone. I got to choose what song the primary kids sang and so I got to hear one that I love. I picked My Mother Dear. I don't know if it's my absolute favorite, but it's a pretty song and cute to hear the kids sing, and only one verse so it was easy to teach! The kids did a really amazing job, from my eyes. They actually stood still, the naughty boys didn't push or shove, and every kid was smiling really big. It was adorable! After church we went up to the Cromwell's house. Most of the in-town-ers were there and it was a fun gathering. I also got to skype my mom and family. It was such a good day! I am one really lucky girl! Thanks so much for making it a special day for me!

Bump-Date- 20 Weeks! Halfway Done!

Today's Date? May 12

How far along? TWENTY weeks! Yay for reaching the halfway point!

Baby's Size? 10 inches head to heal, about 6 1/2 inches head to rump! 11 ounces! The size of an banana! getting so big!

Days until next doctors appointment? TODAY we had THE ultrasound! It was AWESOME! I ended up watching the whole thing and Jake recorded it on his phone. So rather than my mom doing a reveal for Jake and I, we will do a reveal for everyone there. I am excited! After we do the reveal in Louisiana I will post the 20 week appointment details in a separate blog post! :) Next appointment is on June 9 and it's the one where I take the blood test that screens for diabetes and abnormal antibodies. I have heard that the glucose tolerance drink for that is disgusting. Cheers!

 Total weight gain/loss? +11 lbs, I am so glad that I am gaining weight because I have no appetite and still have puke days. I don't get it!

Maternity clothes? I need maternity pants BAD... I literally don't fit in any of my pants/shorts/capris. I kind of fit in my gauchos, which I only have two of. I need to find some shorts that fit before I go to Louisiana the end of this week.

Stretch marks? Not yet!

Sleep? I have a really hard time falling asleep and staying asleep, but I am always tired. I'm always too hot or cold and have too many aches and pains. But I love sleep. Sleep is my friend!

Best moment this week? Definitely my appointment today, if that counts!! We waited for over an hour to be seen! It was killer! But so worth it! Coolest ultrasound!

Movement? The baby moves ALL. THE. TIME. I love it. I don't think everyone believes how serious I am when I say that I have a really active child! Every time we go to an appointment at some point the doctor, technician, or PA mentions how feisty or active the baby is. He/she (don't you wish I would accidentally spill the beans... ;) ) is really always moving and is very strong! I'm not complaining so far! Though I have felt him/her pushing on my bladder and that's really not cool.

Food cravings? I have no appetite. Sometimes I do but it's rare. And it's dumb because half the time after I eat I feel sick. But if I ever don't eat I am sick, too. I feel like I'm still in my first trimester when it comes to food! It's awful! I am dying to get my hands on zofran but it's an expensive pain so I haven't gotten any yet. 

Anything making you queasy or sick? It's different every day! Haha. Not eating and eating both makes me queasy and sick. Sometimes watching movies. Cars. Smells. Being tired.

Have you started to show yet? Yep! But I didn't measure this week. I actually feel like I have a smaller waist but the baby has moved up, if that makes sense. It's not as far out but further up. I'm not sure though. 

Missing anything? I miss feeling good when I eat and wanting to eat and sleeping through the night and being comfortable and not peeing every half hour.

Gender of baby? Well I am not going to say yet even thought we know! I will say what our guesses were up to our appointment- still girl! Jake's thought girl from the beginning and I've thought girl for a while now! It's really fun knowing :) and we've already bought clothes, for a screaming deal, from Jake's brother Adam and his wife Jennie. I feel like I robbed them they were so generous! It's been really fun having baby... blank... clothes! ;)

Labor signs? Nope!

Belly button in or out? In, but slowly getting shallower! Cool, huh?!

Wedding rings on or off? On!

Happy or moody most of the time? I'm super happy but when I am sick I feel panicky and not happy.

Pregnancy symptoms this week? Sore back, sore lower abdomen, headaches, nausea, puking, tired, bit more emotional...

Looking forward to? Telling my family the gender of our baby!

Old Wive's Tales- Baby Gender

Our 20 week appointment where we find out the gender of our baby is TODAY in 3 hours! I literally can't wait! I needed something to tide me over and so Jake and I found a bunch of old wives tales that we thought looked fun to try, or that I had an obvious answer to, and we've been slowing doing them until I can find out! Now that we are about to find out the REAL gender, here's what our results were! 

1. If your face is breaking out more than it did pre-pregnancy then it's supposed to be a girl because she's stealing your beauty. If your skin is better or the same since pre-pregnancy then it's supposed to be a boy.... According to this it's a GIRL!

2. If your hands are more dry than they were pre-pregnancy then it's supposed to be a boy, if the same or opposite since pre-pregnancy then it's supposed to be a girl... According to this it's a BOY!

3. If your feet are more cold than pre-pregnancy then it's supposed to be a boy, if the same or the opposite than pre-pregnancy then it's supposed to be a girl... According to this it's a BOY!

4. Hang your wedding ring from a string and dangle it over your belly. If it sways in a circle it's a girl. If it sways back and forth or side to side then it's a boy... We did this at the Cromwell's house last night quite a few times, Dane and Jake both did it, and every single time it said GIRL!

5. If the baby's heart rate is less than 140 beats per minute then it's a boy. If it's more, then it's a girl... We heard the heart rate at 13 weeks but didn't find out how many beats per minute it was... but at 17 weeks it was in the 150's per minute... Then for Mother's Day I got an at home fetal doppler (BEST gift EVER, THANK YOU!) and when Jake and I counted it was 156, so that says GIRL!

6. If you've been craving sweets then you're having a girl. Salty and sour is a boy.... I've been craving sweets like fruit, ice cream, popsicles, and cereal etc. GIRL!

7. According to the Mayan tradition, if the age you were at conception and the year your baby was conceived are both either odd or even then it's a girl. If one is odd and the other is even then it's a boy... I was 22 and it was Dec 2013. BOY!

8. If your husband has gained any weight since you got pregnant it's a girl. If not or the opposite then it's a boy... Sorry honey, GIRL!

9. According to a Chinese calendar thing online, my Chinese age was 23 at conception and conception month was lunar month 11.... I don't know what pattern they look for but it said BOY!

10. If your hair has gotten thinner and dull then it is supposed to be a girl, more of her stealing your beauty I guess! If it has gotten thicker and shiny then you are having a boy... This one is hard, because I permed my hair (IDIOT move) when I was pregnant but didn't know I was pregnant yet... and so it did not go well. I guess it mixed wrong with my hormones or something because my hair is a hot mess. But it is growing really really fast and so I'm going to say GIRL!

11. If you have been sick with morning sickness, it's a girl. Not super sick is a boy... According to this, GIRL! I was sick my first trimester and then second trimester just got even worse.

12. If you have had lots of heartburn then it means that your baby is going to have lots of hair and be a girl. No heartburn or little heartburn, it's a boy with not as much hair on his head... According to this I am having a BOY! I get heartburn a few times a week, tops. Definitely not every time I eat. But I've heard most women who get bad heartburn get it more often in their third trimester... So who knows what I'll be like then, but for now, boy!

13. If you are extra moody then it's supposed to be a girl. If your mood hasn't changed much then it's supposed to be a boy... According to this wives tale, and my honest hubby, it's a GIRL!

So the overall tally is BOY=  5 and GIRL= 8... GIRL! I can't wait to find out the REAL gender next week!! :)

Bump-Date! 19 Weeks!

Today's Date? May 5

How far along? 19 weeks

Baby's Size? At least half a foot and half a pound! Kinda cool! The size of an heirloom tomato! ;)

Days until next doctors appointment? ONE WEEK from today on May 12, we'll be doing THE ultrasound!!!!!!!!!

 Total weight gain/loss? +10 lbs

Maternity clothes? I need to get some, especially pants. Or even better, just summer dresses with room to grow into. But I haven't yet! 

Stretch marks? Not yet!

Sleep? Super hard to fall asleep even when I'm super tired. I pee so. often and my back always hurts so it's hard to get comfortable.

Best moment this week? Last Monday a friend from the ward, Anika, brought us dinner... It was so good! She made chicken noodle soup and rolls and brownies. It was the first meal in over a week that I had eaten that sat well in my tummy. It was so good! I appreciate her so much! I also had a surprise visit from my sweet friend Courtney and her hubby Cameron. It was fun to chat with them!

Movement? The baby seriously took off this week! I feel movement multiple times a day and they have been stronger, I LOVE IT.

Food cravings? Haha... Anika's chicken noodle soup, rolls, and brownies! Also asparagus cooked like THIS. That's what I had for lunch three days in a row, I love it. I had cinnamon toast for breakfast every day this week. OH! And I go through a box of mini wheats with a touch of fruit (raspberry) every few days! I have probably three bowls a day! It's so good! I love popsicles, too.

Anything making you queasy or sick? I usually feel sick when I wake up, because I'm hungry, and so I eat and then continue to feel sick for a little while. Then as long as I keep eating and drinking water, I have been feeling okay the rest of the day this whole week... Until night time and then if I stay up too late I feel sick again and it's really hard to fall asleep. This week was my first week not working anymore and I am amazed at the difference. I don't care what anyone else says, I KNOW all the chemicals at work from colors and perms made me more sick. I also know lots of hairdressers who continue doing hair their entire pregnancy with no problems, and that's super good for them, but as for me, it was making me really really sick. I felt so much better this week and I really hope it keeps up!

Have you started to show yet? Yep! This week I'm a little bit more than 35 inches at my belly button. About the same as last week.

Missing anything? I miss sleeping through the night and being comfortable. Standing hurts my back, sitting hurts my back, and laying down hurts my back... All worth it though!

Gender of baby? We both really think it's a girl! I literally cannot wait to find out.... I want to know! I'm sick of saying "this baby" or "it" or "he or she" haha I want to know! I want to start buying stuff and picturing life with a mini me or mini Jake!

Labor signs? Nope!

Belly button in or out? In!

Wedding rings on or off? On!

Happy or moody most of the time? Happy!

Pregnancy symptoms this week? As long as I get enough sleep, sometimes take a midday nap, and keep up on my nausea pills and tylenol, I feel pretty so-so! It's been nice! I guess mostly just my back pain, round ligament pain, peeing NON STOP, and eating all day non stop.

Looking forward to? My doctor's appointment next Monday!!!!

Update: Now that I've made last week sound so awesome, I spent today puking up my food. Gotta love it! Hope it's just a fluke day!