Welcome to Atlanta

Last Friday afternoon, I took a partial day at work so Mom and I could go to Atlanta for our annual Mom-Daughter time.

We went here...

...to see this...

...which was unbelievably amazing.

Afterwards, we had dessert here, where Mom left her souvenir program book underneath the seat and we're positive somebody kept it.

Then, on Saturday, we went here. I bought a frying pan and cinnamon rolls, and found the bookcase for Baby P's nursery, that Ben and I will go back and get some other Saturday. Big box.

Then we went here, to Atlantic Station. We did some fun shopping and saw the new Sarah Jessica Parker movie...

...and ate at Rosa Mexicano, which has the best guacamole in the world. Made tableside. And I don't even like guacamole.
On Sunday, we headed back to Birmingham. We stopped at The Shops of Grand River in Leeds (shameless plug: my company owns this) to look for Baby P some things...
to which she/he got some simple white onesies, some gender neutral sleepers, and a sweet little t-shirt that says "I love my daddy." Don't worry, it can work for a boy or a girl!

Mom and I had a wonderful time in Atlanta! We can't wait til next year when we will have a new little traveler with us!

Week 14

BABY P UPDATE!

I try to do these on Fridays, because that's when thebump.com tells me Baby P is a new size and what all it's doing in there (not much, just floating around pooping and wiggling and growing organs), but alas, last Friday was a little busy. I'll post on that in another post.

How far along? 14 weeks.

Baby Bump? It's there.

Maternity Clothes? LOVE them. But I need something yellow for a special event this weekend, and there are no yellow maternity dresses. I guess women don't want to look like a big ball of sunshine. I've got something I can wear instead that still fits.

Total weight gain: 5 pounds, as far as I know. I am NOT keeping a scale at home.

Cravings: This week it was cheddar and sour cream Ruffles chips. And I bought them and I ate them.

Symptoms: The headaches are so bad, I think I'm going to die.

Sleep: Off and on.

Movement: Not really any flutters this week. Mostly just stretchy cramps. Just reminds me that Baby P is growing. :)

Gender: Still feeling like it's a girl.

Belly Button in or out? In.

What I miss: Having a margarita at Rosa Mexicano this past weekend.

Best moment this week: Baby P got some clothes! More to come on that one...

Week 13

Yet another week has passed.

I really don't have a lot to blog about, besides a Baby P update.

Oh, and that I've discovered Pinterest and have become addicted.

It has made me a mad woman wanting to re-do and re-organize my entire house. I will keep you posted on how that works out.

How far along? 13 weeks.

Baby Bump? A little one! But definitely noticeable.

Maternity Clothes? LOVE them. I've been wearing my new pants Mom bought me last week all week. I sit down pretty much all day, and anything with buttons and zippers has gotten really uncomfortable. I may never wear regular pants again.

Total weight gain: 5 pounds, as far as I know. I am NOT keeping a scale at home.

Cravings: I don't really get cravings. More like somebody talks about some kind of yumminess, and I decide I want it. Right. Then.

Symptoms: The headaches are awful. I've literally had one since last Sunday. And I think I've got sciatica, so I've spent a few evenings on the heating pad.

Sleep: Off and on. Not getting up to pee or anything, but just waking up randomly.

Movement: I *think* I could be feeling some flutters, but it also could just be gas. Eh.

Gender: Still feeling like it's a girl.

Belly Button in or out? In.

What I miss: Having a day go by without some kind of something ailing me. And my favorite pair of shorts.

Best moment this week: Discovering maternity pants. Definitely.

Baby Love

I am in love with today.

It's my last Friday of summer hours at work, so I got off at 3.

We had Surin for lunch, where I indulged in some YUMMY sushi (cooked, not raw).

Ben passed his super hard Alabama law test.

When he gets done working today, we're headed to Dothan to hang out with Mom!

And yesterday...I got to hear our sweet baby's heartbeat once again.

It's so hard to explain that feeling I get when I hear it. You hear that whooshing sound going 90 to nothing, and the first feeling is relief. That baby I'm farming in there is ok.

The second feeling is excitement. Every time I hear it, I know that it's growing and getting stronger and healthier. God is knitting a miracle, and I am so lucky to be a part of it. Whoever this child is, I was chosen to be his/her mother.

Third, I get really, really nervous. I don't know what to do with a baby. What does a baby do all day long? I don't know. I don't remember that part of my life. And how am I going to teach it to be a responsible, contributing member of society? I'm not even sure I am a responsible, contributing member of society...All I've had is a dog. She gets bathed when she's stinky and food when she barks. Babies need a lot more attention than that...

How far along? 12 weeks officially.

Baby Bump? Yeh, that's starting to show up.

Maternity Clothes? Mom and I are going this weekend. My pants and skirts are getting tight and I am hating wearing them to work.

Total weight gain: Yesterday at the doctor, I have gained 5 pounds total.

Cravings: Still sandwiches. Anything bready.

Symptoms: I've only been really nauseous two days this week. I've got headaches and my lower back has been aching, but that could just be that I slept wrong.

Sleep: Still sleeping funny. I think I need a body pillow.

Movement: Still too little to feel!
Gender: According to old wives' tales, it's a girl because of it's really high heartbeat. But you never know. It could just be a feisty one. My mother, however, refuses to acknowledge that it could be anything else and is calling it a "her."

Belly Button in or out? In.
What I miss: Well, since it's football season, I've really missed a nice cold beer on gamedays. But I can handle not having that!

Best moment this week: Hearing that sweet heartbeat yesterday and being reassured that everything is ok and both baby and I are doing great!

RANDOM FACT ABOUT CHARLOTTE: She has now decided that she likes to dig. In the mornings, she runs around outside to get all of her bodily functions taken care of before being stuck in the house all day long. Yesterday and today, I have gotten completely ready for work, only to find her digging in a spot outside and covering her paws in mud. So both mornings, she has had to have a mini bath to rinse her paws. It made me 20 minutes late for my doctor's appointment yesterday because the couch also had to have a bath. She has NEVER done this before. She's going to the doggie hotel this weekend, so hopefully the yard will heal a bit before she gets back.

Rumor Has It

So, yes, we're pregnant.

I AM SO EXCITED.

I have had baby fever for about a year now, and at the beginning of the summer, Ben and I decided to "not try," but "if it happens, it happens." Famous last words.

Apparently, I got pregnant around the first "not try."

First clue: We were in DC over the 4th of July. Ben left a day early, and we were in a mall near the train station to have lunch. Ben and I obviously headed towards the Taco Bell line. While we were waiting in line, this overwhelming sense of, "OMG, I can't eat this" came over me. I thought I was just a little motion sick from the train.

Second clue: That Sunday was Ben's birthday, and I had a crazy emotional meltdown in the bed about Charlotte wallering all over me.

Third clue: Monday night, I was SICK. I could hardly lift my head up, was super nauseous, and ached all over. It was awful. Ben said, "I think you're pregnant. You're acting crazy."

Tuesday morning, I took a test before work. Digital. I didn't want to deal with the line junk. In about 3 minutes, I got my answer. PREGNANT. Big bold letters.

I immediately started to cry because I was so happy. Ben was still asleep, and I busted out of the bathroom door with the test. Charlotte fell off the bed, because I screamed, "WE'RE PREGNANT!!!!!!!" and scared her. Ben said, "REALLY???????"

It was a super sweet moment that I will never forget. And it was totally not the way I planned to tell him.

Stupid me didn't take any pictures. And I thought the reading on the digital test would last forever.

It doesn't.

I went to the doctor that Thursday and it was confirmed that I was about 4 weeks along and set a due date of March 23rd.

4 weeks later we had our first ultrasound. Baby P is a feisty one and had a heartbeat of 178 and is measuring four days ahead. We didn't change my due date because it was so close.

I don't have a scanner, or I would show you our ultrasound picture. It looks like a peanut laying on the left.

Now here we are.

How far along? 11 weeks and a few days. YAY FOR ALMOST BEING OUT OF FIRST TRIMESTER!!!!!!

Baby Bump? Only Ben and I can really tell. A few things I've worn have made people at work notice.

Maternity clothes? Already bought a few things in anticipation of fall/winter, but I don't need them right now. I did purchase a belly band that I have to wear with one pair of my jeans.

Total weight gain: At my 8 week checkup, I had gained 3 pounds. I go back on Thursday. I know I've gained more.

Cravings: Sandwiches.

Symptoms: Constant nausea, bloating, lovely stomach stuff. But all that is waning.

Sleep: I sleep fine, but I've found if I wake up, it's really, really hard for me to go back to sleep.

Movement: Still too little to feel!

Gender: I don't know, but I can't WAIT to find out so I can stop calling it an it. I know it's a something, we just can't see it yet!

Belly Button in or out? In.

What I miss: Eating like a normal person.

Best moment this week: Getting over my Mexican food aversion. Ben is so excited. I have deprived him for so long!!!!! He wants Moe's every day.

So, there it is. We are so very excited. I can't wait to meet Baby P!