31 Weeks- Happy New Year!

Well, it's 31 weeks today...meaning there are only 9 weeks left to go! With the due date nearing I am starting to get ready more seriously for the arrival of our little boy. Technically he could come anytime after February 8th so I am planning on being ready to go at that point. The baby shower is nearing, just 18 days away, and I am getting very excited for that.

The year 2011 is nearly through and I can't believe it will be January again next week. To ring in the new year I have bought two bottles of sparkling cider- things are going to get CRAZY! I've also completely redesigned the blog. I'm not exactly the best when it comes to some of the higher tech stuff involving blogging but I think it turned out rather decent for not knowing what the heck I'm doing. I hope you like the new look. I will be continuing the blog after Roxas is born too, it has really kind of evolved into a great way for me to get out some of my feelings and share what is on my mind every week and I'm sure with a new baby there will be plenty to share. Plus I still have a ton of sarcasm and wit that I haven't used up yet.

Christmas was over this past weekend and it was a fun one. I was surprised with a wonderful gift of brand new doors for our house. It may not seem like a big deal to many but to me, it meant the world. We never got around to updating the doors in our house and they have bugged me for the past 3 years! We got to see our family and spend a little time with just us too. It was somewhat bittersweet. As we enjoyed our day a little voice reminded me that it will never be just like this every again. I cherished every moment I could of it and I can't wait to have new Christmas memories with our baby boy. Even though it won't ever be the same, it will always be wonderful.

We went to our doctor today and I am pleased to report that Roxas is happy and healthy. His heartbeat was a steady 146 and for once he didn't have enough room to run away from the doppler! The doctor said I am measuring great and my weight is pretty good for it being after the holidays...hey, you don't argue when the pregnant lady wants her box of chocolate covered cherries. I have actually only gained 18lbs so far which is pretty average and makes me happy. The doc also informed me that he is in the appropriate "head down" or "vertex" position and showed me where his butt and limbs were at which was neat. He is "a good sized baby, not scary big...but big" according to the doctor as well. Kenny and I were decent sized babies too so I'm going to bet he weighs around 8 1/2 pounds.

This week he is still gaining weight (around 3lbs) and another inch (around 17in). His brain is still developing at break-neck speeds as more neruons meet up every minute. Those textbooks I've been reading must be helping. For the most part a lot of what he does now is just maturing and growing. This also means my belly is growing at crazy speeds. I've officially left the "honeymoon" phase of pregnancy according to the doctor and it's defintely starting to feel more like it at this point. Even though I whine and complain sometimes, it's still all worth it when I feel a little knee or elbow nudging me and saying "hey mom, just a little longer!"

That's all for today and I hope everybody has a Happy New Year and have a glass of champagne for me!

30 Weeks...Holy Crow

We are finally in the last 10 weeks! I can't wait until we actually get to hold and cuddle on our boy. At 37 weeks we are considered term and technically he could come anytime after then. I'm excited to have him but part of me is still reserved too. It really hasn't set in that we are going to have a tiny human baby to look after in just 10 weeks. I know, I know, you would think that the giant belly might give me a clue but really it's hard to grasp that there is a baby in there and not just some crazy octopus. Although if I did have a crazy octopus in my belly we'd have bigger things to worry about. What I am trying to say here is it's hard to connect what I see on the ultrasound to what I feel in my belly, and I doubt it will feel real until they put him on my chest and I see him for the first time.

Anyways, he is really growing fast weighing in at around 3lbs and around 16in long. He is almost as long as he will be at birth. I was 22in long (and over 9lbs) when I was born...I'm kind of hoping he is a bit smaller than I was but somehow I don't think he will be a small baby. His brain is really developing at this point, and getting all wrinkly. Those characteristic wrinkles and folds in our brains extend the actual surface area of the brain, thus allowing for more and more neurological growth! I guess I should start reading some textbooks aloud for him. Something else kind of cool (or warm) with his brain is it has now taken over his temperature control. His bone marrow has also taken control of erythropoiesis (I like that word, always have, I don't know why) which is the production of red blood cells which his spleen had previously been doing. He's really gearing up for the outside world.

As for me? Well I'm starting to get a bit more cranky about all this. I feel awful for complaining, I even feel like I shouldn't complain at all sometimes. After all some women would kill to be in my shoes and here I am whining about it. I am very grateful that I get to experience all of this, the good-bad-and ugly, but it really does get to you eventually. When you just can't get comfortable whether it's your back killing you or the baby ramming elbows into you it's just not very fun. Try having somebody ram you in the liver repeatedly and then smile through it all. Ok, pity party over.

The baby shower is coming up fast, in just 25 days! I am really excited to see all of my friends-especially some of those I haven't seen in too long. Our anniversary is also coming up fast, and it coincidentally marks 37 weeks for us. I can't believe we have been married for nearly 3 years. Seems like just a few months ago we got back from our honeymoon. Unfortunately I have been forbidden to go to Disneyland like we usually do for our anniversary so we will have a little "stay-cation" instead. I was really hoping to waddle around D-land enough to go into labor there...gosh that would be so COOL! I know I need help. Instead we are going to stay in the hotel room that we did the first night we were married and just enjoy our day together as a couple rather than the family we will shortly become. I'm starting to get really excited for all the things coming up in the very near future. I know it will be here before I know it but patience has never been my strong suit when it comes to waiting!

Until next week...Merry Christmas!!!

Things I knew about...but didn't think would happen

So I try really hard not to whine...but darn it I feel like whining right now and I'm going to! I read a lot of lists like "Things they don't tell you about being pregnant" or "Things they don't tell you about childbirth". I assume I now know everything that the mysterious group of "They" don't want me to know. I always read these types of lists and thought to myself, "Sure, that happens to like 3% of women probably...that will never happen to me." Well I'm making my own stupid list, all about the stuff I never thought would happen but did.

1. Not being able to do things, even though I want to.
I'm rather independent, and stubborn. Not a good mix when pregnant. I typically operated under the "I'll just do it myself" motto. Whether it meant laying down the fake grass in the backyard or rearranging the living room furniture. I would just do it because, well, I wanted to. Before getting pregnant I just assumed all pregnant women were being wimps and I would carry on as if nothing was going on. Now I am learning that I have serious physical limitations. I still try, oh yes I still try. Most of the time I am met with defeat though. I can't walk very fast just because I get out of breath easily, and I can't get up off the ground without help. I have actually gotten stuck in a few places for a moment or two, makes you feel rather silly.

2. Weird things with your body!
I've heard all kinds of oddball things happen to your body when pregnant but surely they wouldn't happen to me...right? Wrong. Turns out my body hates me now and it's attempting to drive me to the nut house. I have little spider veins on my legs, an interesting "V" shaped stretch mark above my bellybutton which itches like crazy, cankles that look like a decomposing body, acne from head to toe, greasy yucky hair no matter how often I shower, and every single joint in my body hurts-even my elbows! I'll stop now to spare you the rest of the details (trust me, you don't want to know anymore). I had been thinking to myself how great my body is handling all this and then I really started thinking about it and realized...I'm a mess. I never thought I would ever be a mess but sure enough...things are changing and usually not for the better. Oh, and stop calling me small...it drives me nuts. Apparently most people think pregnant women want to hear that they are small, well this one doesn't. I don't want to be told I look like an elephant either. Just say "you look great" and leave it at that.

3. The Advice...oh God the Advice
Apparently being pregnant means everybody and their uncle will give you advice...and I am so done. Vaccines, circumcision, sleep training methods (I'm talking to you cry it out vs. attachment parents!), breastfeeding, discipline...you name it I've gotten advice about it. Now I'm always polite, or at least I think I try to be, and I will listen to your advice and say thank you. I may be arguing with you in my head, but smiling and nodding on the outside. I get that people only want to help by sharing what they believe, or what worked for them. However, it really grates on a persons' nerves sometimes. There are a few of those topics that I have strong feelings on and I highly doubt you will change my mind but I get people will always have something to say so I'll listen and then do what I want anyways.

4. The Hormones
I know this kind of goes with the body stuff but it's more of a mental thing sometimes than anything else. Plus, it's crazy enough to deserve a whole category.
Hormones are the devil. I'm convinced of it. They are like the wind: you can't see them, taste them, hear them or touch them but oh do you feel their wrath when they get going. I had a few little hormonal moments in my life pre-pregnancy and yes they were rather insane but I thought no way was I going to be one of those psychotic preggo ladies who throws a fit because they ran out of paper towels. I was wrong. Again. Men think we are crazy, but other women totally get it: hormones make you insane. I've gone through so many crazy emotions in the past 6 1/2 months I should probably be committed. I've cried over the stupidest stuff and sometimes I even cry and laugh at the same time, yeah...told you I'm nuts. I've had a few moments of darkness too, which are actually a little scary...totally normal but scary. Sometimes I'm unbelievably happy just because and sometimes I'm in an awful mood...just because. So If you have ever encountered one of my hormone alter egos, I apologize.

5. The Clothing
I've said it once and I'll say it again...I hate clothing. Granted my husband has no problem with this declaration, but he's really the only one. I never really cared too much about what I wore anyways. I'm not "trendy" of "fashionable" in any sense. I go for comfy over fashion, so my wardrobe consists mostly of jeans and t-shirts. When you get pregnant you need some different clothes. That I knew. That I could deal with. So I thought I would need to get a few new pairs of pants with the stretchy belly thing and a few tops with tie backs on them. I was wrong (anybody else sensing the pattern here?). I did get my pants with the stretchy thing and I got lots of different shirts. I have half a closet dedicated to just maternity wear...but I have nothing to wear. I spend an extra 15 to 20 minutes every morning trying stuff on to see how it fits that day. What fit last week won't work this week, and what fits this week won't fit next week. It's infuriating that I can't just go in to the closet, grab a shirt and throw on some pants. Nope. Doesn't happen. My pants won't stay up, my shirts bunch up, and we won't even go into the problems with my "intimates". The thing I am looking forward to most about not being pregnant: regular clothing.

I think that's enough whining for tonight, I feel a bit better getting some stuff off my chest. I really do try to limit my complaining but sometimes I just need to let it all out and tell the world: This sucks! Being pregnant can suck sometimes, I can't be happy about all of it. Sure it is absolutely all worth it to get my little boy in my arms and I'd do it again in a heartbeat but I won't deny that it's hard sometimes to keep the smile on my face about it all.

29 Weeks- Where can I get some of those elves?

Morning everybody! This post will be one of the shorter ones since the lovely carpal tunnel in my right hand is acting up at the moment, plus I will have stuff to add later ;-) ssshhhhh, it's a surprise!

We are almost out of the 20's! I can't believe it! It seems like once we hit 30 it will just fly right on by, after all there are only 77 days left.
The little munchkin is now 2 1/2 pounds (believe me I think it's more) and is somewhere around 15-16 inches long from head to heel...about the size of a loaf of bread or if your feeling nostalgic the diameter of the original big wheels' front wheel! He is getting big and cramped in there. We feel a lot of baby parts moving and sliding across my belly now, which is a feeling I don't think I could ever describe accurately...it's just weird. I wish I could figure out what in the world he is doing in there because sometimes I'm convinced he has extra limbs.

I'm doing pretty well, just getting bigger and more uncomfortable of course. My belly button is really popping out, but only half way, it's weird. I also have a lot of sensitivity around it most likely thanks to a past hernia when I was little, so please be careful rubbing the belly! We are getting all ready for Christmas, a feat that is quite daunting when you are considerably slower and more clumsy! I can't believe it's in just 11 days, time flies way too fast sometimes. I'd love to get my hands on some of Santa's elves for a few days, those little buggers are fast and so darn cheery. As a matter of fact that is what I would like to get for Christmas- one of Santa's elves. We are also getting ready for the baby shower in just about 30 days! I can't wait to do up the cake for it. I'm not making the whole thing, just doing some of the decorating on it. My wonderful mommy is helping out with it too. I just couldn't stand the thought of a "grocery store" cake or paying somebody an obscene amount of money to make one for us when I could make one just as cute and nice for a whole lot less. I'm such a cake purist hehe.

Well that is all........for now.......there may be a fun surprise coming up later so check back ;-)

and as promised...here is the surprise! We got to get another 3D/4D ultrasound today and see the munchkin with his cute chubby cheeks and looking a lot more like a baby and less like an alien! Here is the slideshow of all the pictures, the video is uploading and will be up tomorrow.

28 Weeks- Growing fast

28 weeks have flown by and there are only 9 more weeks until we are considered to be "term", meaning he could come any time after then and he'd still be fully cooked. Time is going by quickly but sometimes it also feels like it's going slower than a herd of snails stampeding through peanut butter. I'm getting anxious to finally get everything over with and just have him out here in my arms, and away from my spleen. For once in my life everything else (holidays, anniversary etc.) is pretty much at the back of my mind. I'm usually all about Christmas and get really into it but this year it seems like other stuff has just taken over my brain. I'm at least officially done with my schooling until I get accepted into the nursing program (hopefully next fall). I'm proud to say I managed an A in my last class [yay!] and I am looking forward to not being distracted with my schoolwork while Roxas is home for the first few months.

I've had my first experience with braxton hicks contractions, which kind of freaked me out at first. They are actually pretty annoying and I hope they stay very, very, irregular for awhile. Roxas is getting really big now, weighing about 2 1/2lbs. and around 15in. long. He rolls around and runs his hands and feet across my belly which is a really odd sensation. As far as development goes his lungs are almost completely mature, meaning if he were to be born this week he would probably only need minimal medical help. He still has a lot more growing and maturing to do though! He has been practicing his sucking reflex and breathing along with things like grasping, blinking, coughing and hiccuping. I'm happy to report my glucose test was normal, meaning I do not have gestational diabetes! Although the blood-work did show I am anemic but at least that just requires an easy iron supplement.

We went to "baby having class" on Saturday and learned some great stuff. The best part for me was seeing the new labor and delivery ward at the hospital. It was really nice and I'm excited to be able to enjoy the new facilities. I think it's also pretty cool that Roxas will be born in the same hospital that Kenny was born in!

Well I believe that's all I have for you right now, see you next week!

27 Weeks- Hello Third Trimester!

Well, we are in the final three months of pregnancy! I can NOT believe how fast it has actually gone by. Things are only going to move faster now though. The holidays tend to do that. We have our childbirth classes coming up this Saturday and I'm just amazed at how fast that date came up on us. I'm really excited to see the new labor and delivery ward and ask all kinds of questions. I'm also a little anxious [read: scared] since I know the time for Roxas to get his cute butt out here is fast approaching too. The Christmas decorations are all up and I can't stop thinking "it's Christmas time already?!" It seems like somebody hit fast forward and we are just a month away from 2012, then just a month away from the due date...and a month away from being responsible for a tiny human being. Cue the feelings of fear, excitement and anxiety.

In other news things are going pretty good with us. Roxas is somewhere around 2lbs. and 14 1/2 inches long from his head to his heel. His eyes are opening and closing, he is still practicing his breathing and he is still putting on that baby fat that I'm sure I will enjoy kissing, pinching and cuddling. He kicks and moves a lot. The nurse at our appointment yesterday was having a bit of difficulty getting a read on his heartbeat just because he kept moving around so much when she tried to listen- feisty little munchkin! His favorite time to move around is about 10pm every night. We have a lot of fun just feeling all his little moves and kicks. Although he has managed to find my lower ribs and I swear he is sticking his little foot right in between them sometimes! The kicks right to the ribs/bladder are none too pleasant but I still enjoy them since I know these moments are numbered.

Now that we are at 27 weeks things are changing a little. I have to count his kicks and movements for an hour each night. I also got to do the ever fun glucose tolerance test today. They give you this "super kool-aid" stuff, which tastes like flat orange soda that might have gone bad, to drink in about 2 minutes and then after an hour they draw your blood. I have blood sugar issues anyways so I am really hoping the test comes back as normal and I don't have to go back for the three hour test. I have to admit though, that drink wasn't as bad as the barium shakes they make you drink for CT scans-YUCK!

Symptoms are popping up out of nowhere all of a sudden. Thanks to some swelling in my feet and hands my wedding ring is most likely coming off tonight to be replaced with my promise ring because so help me, if they say they have to cut my wedding ring off I might [will] hurt somebody. My "baby brain" has gotten awfully bad lately. I can't remember anything, stumble over my words and do the dumbest things. I also have terrible balance and coordination. I feel a lot like a klutzy hippo sometimes, and I'm not even that big yet! My belly is starting to get in my way a bit though, which can be incredibly frustrating. I realize I took a lot of simple things for granted, like putting my own socks on or tying my own shoes. Just doing the dishes or laundry can be a physical challenge in it's own right.

It can be a pain, sometimes literally, but this pregnancy really has been going so well. I can only hope and pray the delivery goes as well. I complain a lot sometimes but really there isn't much that I have had to put up with and I'm so very thankful for this experience. I can't wait for it to be over though so we can meet our little boy and get to know him. I know that time will come quick enough though, so for now I'm enjoying the ride and loving every second.

26 Weeks- Last week in the 2nd Trimester!

26 weeks today, and wow have a lot of things happened! We are now in double digits! Meaning there are only 98 days left until the due date! Can you believe it? I can't. We only have this last week left in the 2nd trimester and I have to say I get why everybody says the second is the best. I'm starting to become uncomfortable and some symptoms are starting to really bug me. The weirdest one I have is the leg cramps, although I know they are normal I was pretty sure one I had the other night was going to do me in. There's a whole host of interesting things going on with me these days but I will spare you the lovely details.

Roxas is getting bigger, and much stronger. He is kicking with serious force and apparently my liver, spleen and bladder make great punching bags. Sometimes those kicks actually hurt. He weighs about 2lbs. and is roughly 14 inches from head to heel. Trust me, those heels are getting their use already. Something cool that is happening with his development is his eyes are starting to open! The eyelids, which have been fused until now, are starting to un-glue themselves. His senses are even sharper now, so he reacts a bit more to things like lights and music. Which may be why he kicks his daddy in the head every time he talks to him, I find this very amusing.

Other things, besides human growing, have been going on too. I found out that I did not get accepted into our nursing program. Part of me was very relieved since I did not want to lose any time with Roxas after he is born (classes go from January to May) but then there was a tiny part of me that was disappointed in myself for not getting in. What's funny is looking back at the series of events now. I can see the way in which this was all planned out and I just laugh. They won't tell you why you were denied, but I have my suspicions it was because I am still in the middle of one of my classes. Now, I would have already had this class done if it weren't for a goof up at the college, but thanks to this goof up I am doing this class a semester later than I wanted. I think God knew what was coming and rearranged everything so that it will work out better in the end. You know what they say...Wanna hear God laugh? Tell Him your plans! I've never been happier with our lives and I've never been more excited about the future and all the amazing things it holds. I know I will get my RN eventually, even if it takes a year longer than I thought, I will get there. I know I will always be taken care of, even though I'm a pretty big mess of a human, God always takes care of me.

In other news I did a little goofing around with the camera today and had some fun being a "model" for a bit. Enjoy the silly-ness below.

25 Weeks- Grow Baby, Grow!

25 weeks today and I have to say things haven't changed too much. Roxas is still kicking up a storm and is getting bigger and bigger. He is now the length of Kenny's shoe from head to heel (13 inches) or the size of an eggplant. He weighs somewhere around a pound and a half. His lungs are continuing to develop and although they aren't ready to make their debut in the real world they are maturing fast. His nervous system is maturing more too. His baby fat is coming in, quite well according to my bathroom scale. If he has hair we could now see what color it is now, my money is on jet black. His house is now the size of a soccer ball...which is kind of what it looks like I'm smuggling under my shirt. I'm starting to feel some of the less pleasant side effects of the fast approaching third trimester. The fatigue has come back, and my emotions have been all over the place so I apologize in advance if you encounter any of my "pregnancy alter egos". My body is starting to reflect the stress as well, I have a bad back to start with so needless to say the back pain is here for the long haul. There are only 2 weeks left in the second trimester, I can't believe how close things are getting. We have our childbirth class on the 3rd, which was always kind of a milestone in my head because I knew when we did that class we would be close. We do have a date for our baby shower: January 15th at 3:30pm. Invitations will be going out mid to late December. I'm surprised a lot of people have been asking what we would like as well, so I will put the links to our registries on the blog too. We are registered at Babies'R'Us and Walmart. I'd also like to put it out there that we don't mind gently used items either, we aren't picky! He has a lot of "themes" including Winnie the Pooh/Disney, Puppy dogs, and guitars.
Well that is all for now, we will see you next week for the last of the second tri!

24 Weeks! Happy V-Day!

No, I'm not delusional...I know it is not Valentine's day (although that would mean we would only be weeks away from meeting our little man!) What I'm talking about is what some pregnant women refer to as their "viability day" meaning after 24 weeks a fetus is considered viable and there is a possibility for survival outside the womb. Of course survival would require serious medical intervention and there are many, many possible complications but some tiny chance is better than no chance at all. At 24 weeks a fetus has a survival chance of 40-70%, although Roxas will hopefully stay put until February, at least he has a chance. It is amazing how many things I can find to worry about, apparently it's one of those "mom things" that you develop...still waiting for those second pair of eyes and the spit that can out-clean Mr. Clean himself though. It is nice to worry a little, teeny bit less now.

So, what's up with my little nudger? Well he is growing...a lot. He has gained about 4 ounces since last week, well on his way to 2lbs. He is about as long as an ear of corn (or an over inflated football for the guys). His brain is growing again as well as his taste buds and lungs. The bronchi and bronchioles (tree like parts of the lungs) are forming now and cells are gearing up to produce surfactant, which helps lubricate the alveoli (air sacs) for when they inflate after he is born. His skin is still pretty see through but as he gains more and more baby fat that will change. I'm not sure what vendetta he has against my ribs but he tries awfully hard to kick them. He's not quite there yet but it will only be a few more weeks. His kicks are getting hard to ignore too, I jump a lot because of them. Sometimes I get very distracted by him, I've spent a decent amount of time just watching my belly jump and enjoying his kicking and punching. I had a fun game going on where I would put my cell phone on my belly and see how long it took him to kick it off. I have a feeling it will get a lot worse when he is born, I'll probably do nothing but look at him all day.

Since it is our "V-Day" it seems appropriate to talk about something I've been thinking about for the past few days: Love.
It is amazing how much you can love. It seems we, as humans, have an infinite ability to love if we want to. Love is an amazing emotion when you really think about it. Love can make you do crazy things, and love can make you feel better than you have ever felt. I love my husband more than anything on Earth, and I never thought any other love could rival that...until I had his hand on my belly while our son playfully kicked at us. In that special moment I realized my capacity to love just increased by an immeasurable amount. My love for my husband didn't diminish but rather my capacity to love just increased.

Like I said I have been thinking about love a lot lately, maybe it's the hormones...who knows. Anyways I was watching a new music video for a song called "A thousand Years" by Christina Perri and in between all the squealing at the Twilight clips it had (stay with me here) I listened to the music. It describes just the way I feel about my family, it feels as if I've loved them for a thousand years. There is no beginning or end to my love for those people in my life. I've loved them for a thousand years and I will love them for thousands more.

There is nothing I wouldn't do for those I love. The amazing thing about love, and the way it differs from any other emotion, is how love can make sacrifice completely painless. Sure we will do things out of other emotions but the sacrifice still always stings a little. If we do something out of pure love, it's actually rewarding. I think this point is one that God has been trying to hammer into my head for awhile. I think about the love I feel for just my family and then I can't even imagine the love God feels for us. Something about having a child of our own has really put this idea in center focus and I don't think I even really got how much love God has for us until now. We think about the sacrifice Jesus made for us, and it was done out of pure love. That sacrifice is the most pure demonstration of love I can think of, and one that I'm not very worthy of in the first place. When I think about how I say there is nothing I wouldn't do for my son God reminds me that is exactly how he feels about us. There is nothing He wouldn't do for us, and it's all because of love.

So love is an amazing thing and I'm only just beginning to learn about the power it can hold. The most amazing thing though is I am being taught all of this by a tiny human who knows nothing about this world yet. I think the only thing he does know is that he is loved, very much and both of his parents would do anything for him. I really thought I knew what love was but I'm discovering it is so much deeper than I ever thought.

I don't think my belly has changed too much in the past week, still loving my little basketball.

23 Weeks- BOO! Halloween Fun

We are officially entering the 6th month now! When this month is up I will be in my third trimester...which is just insane to think about. There are only 119 days left until my due date and I'm amazed at how short of a time that seems. With the holidays coming up I know the time will just fly by and I'm starting to get small moments where it really hits me that I will have a baby in my arms before my next birthday. We watch a lot of "A Baby Story" and sometimes I finally realize...holy crow that's going to be me in just 17 weeks. Roxas is getting bigger and bigger every day. This coming month he will double in weight! He isn't measured week by week anymore but he is roughly the size of a papaya or for the guys, an over inflated football. His blood vessels are hard at work in the lungs to prepare them to exchange oxygen and of course enable those first cries. He has been getting more and more active lately which of course makes me very happy.

Apparently the power of Halloween somehow manages to make every child unbelievably hyper, including unborn babies! Every kid in my Sunday school class appeared to have eaten a bucket of sugar for breakfast and Roxas was no exception, and I promise I did not eat a bucket of sugar for breakfast! He was bouncing around and punching, kicking...possibly hiccuping all day. Thanks to his hyper-activity I caught a good little kick on video finally and Kenny got to feel lots of good little kicks. There is nothing more special than having your husbands hand on your belly and seeing the look on his face when the baby kicks, it never gets old.

We didn't do anything fancy for Halloween but of course I just HAD to do something awesome with the belly, so I painted my belly to look like Mike Wazowski from the Diney-Pixar film Monsters' Inc. I think it turned out quite well considering I was painting it in a mirror so everything was backwards.

So here are the latest pictures and the video of my belly jumping as Roxas kicks, look for the big kick around 30 seconds in.

Ultrasound Day!

So typically they do an ultrasound called an "anatomy scan" at 20 weeks, well since the doc was out of town we got our anatomy scan at 22 weeks instead. I kind of wish it was a little later since we just saw him on Monday but it was still awesome seeing him again. This will be the last time we get to see him before he is born unless somebody wants to gift us another 3D/4D session (cough cough). He is healthy and happy, he hated being poked and prodded though hehe. So here are the pictures from today.

22 Weeks- Disneyland, Hospital Trips and Fun

What a crazy few days we've had...

We went on a family Disneyland trip this weekend and of course we had a blast but it wasn't all mickey mouse ears and churros. We drove up to Disneyland early (read 3:30am) on Sunday and had a ton of fun playing around at the Happiest Place on Earth. I was pretty sad when I couldn't go on a few of the rides, I didn't really expect to be bummed out so much but it was alright after I got used to my limits. Seeing our entire family was pretty awesome. We had a total of 17 people in our little group at D-Land. You couldn't miss the Stutler crew! Overall we had a wonderful time celebrating my father in law's birthday and enjoyed all the fun Disney has to offer.

It wasn't all fun and games though...a few things tarnished the joy a little for Kenny and myself. While walking through Downtown Disney on our way back to the hotel to get ready for dinner my foot caught the front wheel of somebodies stroller and I tripped and fell flat on my belly. I was holding shopping bags in my hands so I was unable to efficiently break my fall. I immediately began freaking out and crying. I think the only words I could get out were Roxas and be okay. I have some medical knowledge, not a ton, but enough to freak me out. All I could imagine is the placenta detaching...which is not good. An off duty nurse was near by and came to see if I was ok. Honestly I wouldn't have cared if my arm was broken in half as long as Roxas was ok I would be fine. I have never been more afraid than in that moment. Security came over and called for the Disneyland medics to come over and a very nice nurse came to take my vitals/clean up my scrapes and check me out. They recommended I go to the hospital to check on Roxas so we got into a cab and went to a nearby hospital. It was a tiny little place but the Labor and Delivery/OB nurses were very nice. They hooked me up to the monitor and I cannot tell you how relieved I felt to hear his heart beating away. Of course when they put the monitor on me Roxas started moving all over the place. They were only able to record about 7 total minutes of his heartbeat since he was moving so much. I've never been so happy to have my bladder kicked repeatedly. The doctor came and felt my belly and said I was probably ok but he ordered an ultrasound just to check everything. The ultrasound tech had to be called in from home but she was the nicest lady I've dealt with so far. She showed us his cute little face and confirmed everything was looking wonderful. She also confirmed he is indeed a boy! Surprisingly he is measuring about a week ahead, and looks to be about 1.2lbs already! We have the ultrasound with the doctor here tomorrow so it will be interesting what she says.
Anyways all is well with both of us and now I'm extra careful about trying to stay on my own two feet.

So, now that the trip is over we are returning to "real life" and getting back to our usual routines. Roxas is kicking more than ever now and I love feeling his every movement even more now. He kicked good enough for my mom to get a quick feel and his daddy got a really nice kick last night. He is growing fast and so is my belly! I've lost the battle with my belly button ring and have taken it out since it's become to painful to deal with it, oh well...the sacrifices will just keep coming. According to my many books Roxas should be around 13 inches long and gaining weight steadily. He's starting to have patterns of sleep and activity, and most of his sleep is REM sleep where the brain is very active. I'm excited to see what the doctor says tomorrow especially after she hears about my little trip and measures the baby. I'll put up another post after the appointment of course, so I'll see you tomorrow!

Here are some other pictures from the trip :-)

21 Weeks

Are you wondering why I'm holding a beer bottle, let alone weird beer? Well I ran across this blog featuring a "man-guide to baby size" and I figured this week would be perfect to borrow a "man" size comparison rather than a fruit sized one. So this week Roxas is about as long as a beer bottle! If you would rather compare fruit then he is about the size of a banana (I really hate spelling that...I get it wrong every time!) Anyways he is weighing in at 3/4 of a pound!! His eyebrows and lids are present, but he can't open his eyes just yet. He is becoming more and more coordinated and believe me I can tell. His movements are getting a little easier to predict. He sleeps a good majority of the day while I am up and about but when I come home from work and relax in my comfy chair or when I lay down in bed he wakes up and starts doing who knows what in there. If you ever see a really weird look on my face chances are he just did something that felt very, very odd. His kicks are getting stronger and once in awhile he kicks hard enough to see it from the outside. Naturally I'm "crazy" for saying this because he never does it for his daddy and he won't do it if I try to catch it on video either. Brat.

I'm feeling great in the second trimester, which only has 5 more weeks left! Some of the less favorable symptoms are starting to appear but they aren't unbearable. My back hurts of course, it always did though, and the heartburn is a bit irritating but for now it is mild. I'm sure I will be complaining more later though. I had another person ask me when I was due yesterday. I always feel like a moron trying to answer though since it's always..."uuuuuuuhhhh....February 29th." I'm slowly learning my limits, which is not a fun thing for independent me. I can't lift much anymore without causing myself some discomfort and when I drop things I really question how much I want to get it back. Things aren't impossible yet but they sure aren't comfortable. One thing I miss is sleeping on my stomach, Roxas does not appreciate getting squished and lets me know just how much he doesn't like it if I try. We are gearing up for the big trip to Disneyland this weekend. My main hobbies are going to be eating, pin trading and shopping so this should be a very fun trip all in all. It's funny how unorganized and scatter-brained I can be lately since I am usually halfway packed and all prepared by this point for our trips and right now I've got nothing even planned, no lists of things to take made, and no idea what I'm going to pack. Next weeks update might be a bit delayed since I am working next Wednesday but I will try to keep it on schedule. I'm sure I will have lots of pictures to upload and half of the post will be Disney related of course. We also have our 20 week ultrasound next week too so I will do a special post with the results of that as well. Next week is going to be exiting :-D

Firsts...and lasts...

I know it's not time for a weekly update but I was reading another pregnancy blog, which I tend to do a lot of, and they mentioned something that I just had to write about. This blog is a great way for my extended family to see what is going on and it helps keep my facebook friends from seeing too much of my pregnancy obsessive postings. However, this blog is also my diary of sorts. When I feel something that is emotionally complex it helps immensely to write about it and I'd like to share not only the physical changes I experience in this pregnancy but the mental ones too. You may notice a few more posts of this nature, meaning more than the "___weeks!" kind as I really want to let you into my head. So here is your VIP access into my head... "Please keep your hands, arms and legs in the vehicle. Surf's up riders! Get ready screamers, head back, face forward and hang on " (points to you if you make sense of the last part)

It's probably the hormones- but my moods can be a little up and down, at one point I was laughing a crying at the same time so you may now feel bad for poor Kenny who gets to deal with hormonal me. Anyways, I was reading this blog post from somebody and they were talking about the firsts and lasts of life and it really got me thinking about stuff, and of course got me all emotional.

It seems life is just a whole bunch of first times and last times. When we were engaged it was always our "last night as single" or "last time sleeping under our parents roof" then we got married and it was firsts again. Our first trip to Disneyland together, our first night in our first home, the first time I caught the oven on fire, our first....everything was firsts.

Now when I started this blog I said our lives were about to be turned upside down and inside out...that is becoming even more apparent with every kick I feel and every day that gets checked off the calendar. 135 days left in case your were wondering. Before getting pregnant we talked a lot about what kind of impact a baby would have on us in every area of our lives. From finances to our marriage...a baby was going to change it. We talked about it for a very long time, we spoke with trusted unbiased friends and asked them for guidance but ultimately the choice was up to us [kind of] and God blessed us with our son who is now nestled safely inside my womb. It's hard to know just how a choice you make now will affect your future, after all if we could easily predict such things a lot more people would be successful after deciding to just go to law school instead of trying to sell their pants folding machine. Don't know where the idea for a pants folding machine came from...maybe it's because I just did laundry... who knows. Anyways, we are more than halfway there now and things just get more and more real as time goes on. That blog post got me thinking about a lot of things

Kenny and Kayla as a couple will no longer exist...it will be Kenny, Kayla and Roxas. It will not be just the two of us anymore and honestly the idea kind of makes me sad. This year will hold a lot of "lasts" for us. Our last Christmas, our last New Years, our last anniversary, our last trips to Disneyland. Our duo is becoming a trio and it's a whole new world to us. Sometimes I get a little down thinking about this, I'm not afraid to admit that. I will miss the times we have now. The times when we go out on dates or just a quiet night of TV at home. Those experiences are numbered now. I am not saying they will go away forever but they will be different, they will never ever be exactly the same. I feel in some ways as if I am saying goodbye to one life and embracing a new one but really I am just adding another ingredient to my cupcake of a life. I used to be a young woman and a wife. Now I will be a young woman, a wife and a mother.

With the lasts also come the firsts though. The first time I look into the eyes of our son. When I see my husbands face as he looks at our son for the first time. The first time tiny hands reach out for me instead of a friend. The first time I see a toothless smile. The first time Roxas gets to see Mickey Mouse. The first time I hear "mommy" or "daddy". I could go on but I'm getting a little teary eyed and tears aren't so great for laptops. The point being there are a million new firsts out there for us.It used to be firsts as a couple and now it's firsts as parents.

Sure I will miss the way things are right now and I cherish them every moment I get. I also look forward and know that even better things lie ahead for us. Sure we will eventually get around to more "lasts" just like my parents had to go through. His last time under our roof as he prepares to get married, his last day of school as we watch him proudly walk across a stage for his diploma, or maybe just his last baby tooth. There will always be lasts and firsts. We should cherish both and hold every moment we can close to our heart, because we can never go back...we can just go forward.

So there you have it: what has been going through my head for the past hour or two. Pregnancy is more than just watching the belly grow, for me it's seeing my mind and though process grow as well. I'm starting to shift to a more motherly mindset and I'm seeing the world a little differently now. I'm sad to see the last of our "lasts" but excited to see our firsts too.

I will see you all in a few days for the 21 week update!

20 Weeks- Wooaahh-oohh We're Halfway There...woaah-oooh...Livin' on a Prayer...

Yes I did sing that title as I typed it...I mean...c'mon who doesn't sing that song on at least a monthly basis? We are 20 weeks today which is halfway through the pregnancy already! Time has gone by very quickly but February just seems so far away. Well you may notice this post is lacking in ultrasound pictures...that is because we could not get our big 20 week scan until the 27th since the doctor is out of the office for the next few weeks. We were both pretty disappointed when we found out we wouldn't get to see our little man on the screen again. I also kind of want to prove the doctor wrong since she doesn't believe early gender scans, and therefore doesn't believe we know the sex for sure hehe.
We have a trip to Disneyland coming up in just 11 short days! I am so excited to go even if I can't go on all the awesome rides. I can't wait to take Roxas there when he is old enough to go after he's born and show him all the cool stuff there is to see and do. I spend a good majority of my day fantasizing about all the things I'm going to show him. Stuff like science, animals and music...although I think I'll leave the last one to just his dad and uncle or else he may never think music is cool. Someday he will get his first pet [that I will take care of] and maybe someday we will go to the goat farm and pick out our very own goat together. Nope, still haven't let go of that dream. Anyways enough about my daydreaming...

Roxas is weighing in at 10 1/2 ounces this week and is about 6 1/2 inches from the top of his head to his cute patootie, so roughly the size of a cantaloupe. I was going to buy a cantaloupe but considering I am allergic to them, I hate them and they might kill me with listeria...I decided it would be better to just borrow one from Google. From head to toe he is about 10 1/2 inches! His digestive system is beginning to get a work out as he swallows amniotic fluid more and more, and he begins producing meconium.
We did see the doc on Monday just minus the ultrasound stuff.We got our serum testing results back, where they test for risk factors of things like aencephalopathy which is fatal and the one I was worried about the most, spina bifida, down sydrome, edwards syndrome and neural tube defects. I am relieved to know the tests all came back negative. Of course the negative results don't guarantee he won't have any of those problems but the risk is very, very low. I can only keep praying God gives us a healthy little boy. The doctor said I am measuring perfectly and for the first time this morning I could actually feel my uterus and it feels very different from my usual squishy belly. Of course all my poking and prodding of my belly got the little guy up and I got a few quick kicks in response. He has moved WAY up in the past few days, he now kicks up around my belly button instead of down around my bikini line. So now if you want to try and feel him kick you won't have to sexually assault me! You still have to ask if you want to touch me though. The little bugger still won't kick hard enough to feel for his daddy, but I'm not giving up any time soon. I swear he does it just to bug me, proof that he has his dad's genes. That's it for now, we will see you next week!

19 Weeks- Yay!

We are one week away from being halfway there, and I can't believe how fast time is going now! It seems as if the belly gets bigger and bigger each day, and baby Roxas is getting even stronger. This week he is the size of a mango...

AHHH! Wait...that's not a mango! Well it is, but it isn't the right mango... (if you are lost Google Mango from Saturday Night Live)

Ok, THAT's a mango! Anyways, he is about 6 inches from his heat to his cute lil' butt and weighs around half a pound. His brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. Smart little munchkin! His arms and legs are in proportion to his body now, which is good because those legs looked awfully long on the ultrasound hehe, then again look at his mommy and daddy! That brain and those limbs are finally getting coordinated thanks to neurons now being connected between the muscles and brain. He is using all that coordination to choreograph what I can only assume is a complicated dance routine. I LOVE feeling him moving around and kicking me. Some days I get treated to him bouncing around a lot and others are more quite but when he does move it is so special. That feeling is like nothing on Earth and makes me love him more and more, it's something I will treasure forever. His kicks are getting stronger and I've been able to feel them from the outside three times now...but as soon as Kenny puts his hand on the spot he stops. Kenny thinks I'm crazy but I swear to you I am not imagining things!!! You do have to have near psychic abilities to know when and where to place your hand, but I swear the really good kicks can be felt from the outside. One of the more fun things for me is using the doppler to get him to move. He still hates the thing and you can hear him trying his very best to get away and he gives really good kicks then. I'm such a mean mommy sometimes lol! The belly is here and I am loving it, although it's weird feeling when I bump into the counters as I bake or do dishes. Two people finally plucked up the courage to ask if I was expecting yesterday, which just made my day since I guess that means I look pregnant now and not just fat.

The weather here is finally changing to some cooler temperatures and today in particular is fantastic. I've got my puppy dog slippers on with my Eeyore mug full of hot chocolate and all the windows and doors open letting the cool fall air in! So Roxas and I are going to cuddle up on the couch and watch some movies now!

Here is the bump picture this week! I'm surprised at how many people STILL touch me without asking first. I thought pretty much everyone knew pregnant ladies don't really like being touched. I honestly don't mind if you ask, but please ask first.

My belly button rings' days are numbered :-D but I'm loving my belly! The uterus is pretty close to my belly button by now.

We have our big "20 week" scan on Monday so we will hopefully have some fun news for the next update and maybe a few more pictures! See you next week

18 Weeks- My Sweet Sweet Potato

18 weeks today and Roxas is the size of a sweet potato, or about 5 1/2 inches and weighing in at 5 ounces. Not a whole lot is new, most of his time is spent growing and maturing now! His body fat is continuing to fill in and his fingerprints are fully formed and unique. He is moving more and more now, although we still can't feel the kicks from the outside. Every now and then I get the sensation I just stepped on to a roller coaster when he rolls around. Last week we went to a concert with one of our good friends and he loved the music, especially Casting Crowns. He was kicking and rolling around like crazy when they started playing. I am finally in the 5th month, only 4 more months to go! The belly gets bigger and bigger overnight it seems sometimes. I'm having fun watching my bellybutton start to disappear, which also seems to happen overnight. Here is the bump picture to prove it:

Since there isn't a whole lot going on besides a ton of growing I've decided to put up some pictures of Roxas's room. I'm a little eager when it comes to getting things ready for him so most of it is complete, but I love sitting in his room and reading him books or playing his special piano cd from his talented uncle.

Until next week...!