bumpdate: 22 weeks

 

I feel like time is flying by and going in slow motion at the same time. I am so excited for this little lady to arrive, but there is so much to be done before she makes her debut!

 

I think have started nesting. I have started sewing things for her, creating our registry and I have been organizing and getting rid of stuff we don't need or have any use for. I am by no means a pack rat, so I may or may not be searching for things to get rid of...don't leave anything you want to keep at our house. Otherwise you may be buying it back from Goodwill.

 

This weekend we plan to start getting her room ready. It has been in my mind for so long, I can't wait to see it come to life. We plan to touch up the paint, clean all the woodwork and go to everyone's favorite box store: Ikea, followed by Crate & Barrel, West Elm and Anthropologie (one of us may be more excited by this than the other). We already have her changing table, rug and most of the décor, so now it's time to find the finishing pieces. I'm sure pictures will come soon.

 

We had our final ultrasound and she is indeed a girl. The only way to confirm any further is for her to arrive and I think it would be quite the shock if she's not a she! Health wise, she is developing perfectly and has four heart chambers, two little thumbs, arms, legs, eyes and ears. The hygienist in me made sure her lips and palate were forming correctly and as far the ultrasound shows, there is no cause for concern.

 

 

I am still feeling well and full of energy. Cuties (little bitty oranges) are my favorite snack and bacon is still a no go...I've tried. My running (if you can call it that...I'm so slow) is good, but I've moved to the treadmill for fear of falling. I have also started feeling her move around and her kicks are getting strong enough that Alex can feel them too, which is quite exciting!

 

We are really looking forward to Thanksgiving next week and spending some time with family and friends. Thankfully this year I have my Thanksgiving pants ready to go.

 

 

 

bumpdate: 20 weeks

I'm halfway through this pregnancy! It has flown by so far but we have just as far to go before we get to meet this sweet little babe!

At our 20 week appointment I asked approximately two million questions and our midwife answered them all very patiently and thoroughly. We feel really comfortable and at ease with our choice in healthcare provider. She said the babe is growing perfectly and is right on track. The baby's heartbeat is strong and healthy and at this point there are no concerns with the pregnancy...phew!

I am still feeling really good and full of energy. I've been able to continue running but will probably switch to swimming for the winter months...running on the ice seems to increase my odds of eating pavement. Speaking of eating, I'm still not a fan of bacon but I'm not having any real cravings either, unless you count pizza but that was a preexisting condition.

We haven't started getting the baby's room ready yet, but it has been on my mind and I think we'll start working on it after Thanksgiving. We may have some holiday guests and it's always nice to have a bed for people to sleep in.

Oh, have I not mentioned we found out the gender?!? Here I am toying with your emotions referring to him/her as "the baby" this whole time... Alex was dying to find out so we went to the Ultrasound Zone in Glen Carbon. On the drive there Alex kept going back and forth whether or not he wanted a boy or a girl and was giving pros and cons to each. He was finally put out of his misery when the ultrasound tech said...

october in pictures

October has always been the start of our busy season. Almost every weekend is busy and our week nights are full too. It doesn't seem to slow down until after the new year in January, but we wouldn't have it any other way. This month I took a lot of pictures, so enjoy these snippets of October!

We celebrated Atley's 1st birthday in Salem

 

We made it to16 weeks

(Don't tell anyone but we found out the gender!!) 

We went to the first game of the NLDS and watched the Cardinals bring home their last win of the season.

 

I had been looking for my Grandma's fudge recipe for quite awhile and finally found it...read the last line on the recipe. It makes me laugh and miss my Grandpa even more.

Our high school students went to Homecoming and we got to stop by and see them before they danced the night away.

We finally made it to Ikea for a day date and Alex was a happy shopper.

Jansen stopped by to see us on her birthday! Happy 2nd birthday sweet girl!

 

Becky, Dad and I went to the Greater St. Louis Dental Society fall CE's together.

 

We ended the month by taking our High School students to Black, MO for a fall retreat- more details to come soon.

 

We had a great October and can't wait to see what November has in store for us! Alex is quite excited for Thanksgiving and I'm ready to the holiday season to begin.

 

 

happy friday

This was the week that wouldn't end. It started out rough on Monday and just kept coming...but it's finally Friday and Alex is home! He spent most of the week in Cleveland with Progressive learning and being schmoozed (at least that's how I look at it). While he was gone it reiterated that I was not designed to be alone and need companionship. Moose was good, but his communication skills need a little work.

This weekend we plan to rest and recover. On Sunday we plan to go to our niece and nephew's birthday party. Other than that we don't have a lot of exciting plans. Next week looks to be just as busy if not busier, plus we'll get to celebrate Alex's golden birthday!!

I hope you have a great weekend and for your reading pleasure I found a few interesting links to share. Enjoy!

Tips to make small talk a little more bearable.

50 Weird facts about the human body

Let's move to Mexico

5 Benefits of taking a cold shower...other than the fact that you're cold

Eat this, not that: Breakfast edition

 

Have a happy weekend!!

 

 

unplugged

Before Alex and I left for our trip to California, he called Charter to remove cable from our plan. You see, we only had internet for a long time and paid $39/month. We decided to add cable and our bill went up to $95/month. After a few months of having cable we realized we didn't use it like we thought we would and so Alex called to have it removed. They would happily remove cable from our plan but our internet would now be $65/month....Alex wasn't ok with that plan.

They told him there was no way to get it back to $39 so after negotiating and trying to get them to back down, Alex got fed up and canceled all of our services ALL OF THEM...Then he called me and told me what he'd done. Since we were leaving the next day it didn't really bother me since we wouldn't be home to use the internet anyway.

Fast forward to today and we still haven't chosen to get a new internet provider. We have a tiny TV and bunny ears set up in the basement to watch the news if we want to, but it's a temporary solution.

Since I'm not distracted by browsing Facebook or Instagram and watching Netflix I've noticed a few things.

1. I watched way more mindless TV than I thought I did.
2. I really enjoy reading and going to bed early.
3. We don't need as many distractions.
4. Alex and I talk more
5. I like to go for evening walks with Moose
6. We both fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer since we aren't watching TV before bed.
7. Moose likes all the extra attention.

We will get the internet back eventually, but I hope that we don't use it as much as we did.

happy friday

This week was a pretty normal week for us- not a lot of excitement, not a lot of busyness, just a normal week. Tonight we are planning to go the the EHS Homecoming game with some friends. We are also planning to have another low key weekend. I think I've started nesting, so we may try to accomplish some of the tasks on my list. I'm sure it will be wildly exciting if you want to come be entertained...

This week I stumbled across a few links I found interesting and wanted to share. Enjoy!

How to make grocery store flowers look like they're from a florist

Bill Gates has always been ahead of the curve

What design style are you?

I'm an over plucker in reform

It's a long article but very interesting about millennial parents

Have a fabulous weekend!!

bumpdate: 16 weeks

This post is a little late since I'll be seventeen weeks on Sunday, but better late than never!

Now that the cat is out of the bag this whole process feels more real. We can openly talk about it and not worry who is around or overhearing.
 

So far everything is going great. I feel good and am starting to have a noticeable bump and the babe is growing like he/she is supposed to. He/she is the size of an avocado and I didn't realize how big avocados were until I picked one up in the store yesterday! It's exciting and still sometimes surreal that this little person will be here before we know it. 

Alex and I are dying to find out the gender and to see him/her again. We had a bit of an insurance debacle so we don't have an ultrasound scheduled yet and that's driving Alex crazy (don't worry, we straightened out the insurance mess).

So far the only food aversion I have is bacon. I don't think I have had any real cravings but Arby's has never tasted so good, also apples and Nilla Wafers are delicious. But I think most of that is because I'm starving all the time. Weight gain has been right on track and I've been able to continue running and exercising as normal. The baby's heartbeat at the last appointment was 160 bpm (doesn't that mean girl??).

We are so excited for this new season of our lives and I'm trying not to wish the pregnancy away, but I'm so excited to meet this little person!

happy friday

Friday is finally here!! This week has been so busy but yet it seems to have crawled by. We are finally catching up from our weeks of being gone and it feels good to be back into some sort of routine.

Tonight Alex and I are going to the Cardinals game! We were given tickets and can't wait to see the Redbirds beat the Cubbies. Tomorrow we have plans to catch up on yard and house work, as well as to relax and enjoy being home on a weekend for the first time in 3 weeks! We also plan to go see The Intern or The Martian, we're still debating which one to see. Other than that we're hoping to keep it low key.

This week I found a few links to share, enjoy!

Which fitness tracker would be best for you?

12 States to visit

As a Shondaland viewer, I have felt like I've had deja vu at times

Where did you get your ears pierced? 

Hurry up at watch these movies...they're leaving Netflix soon

How to step up your legging's game

 

Have a great weekend!

Go Cardinals!!

california road trip

This summer my brother and his family were relocated from Fort Campbell, KY to Fort Irwin, CA. Before they left they made the decision to sell one of their vehicles and become a one car family. During this time my Grandpa Bob passed away. He left us with a lot of love, wonderful memories and some heart ache, but he also left his car...you don't need those in heaven...so, Alex and I volunteered to drive his car to Jim in California so they could again be a two car family.

We set out bright and early with Amarillo as our destination for the day. After 12 hours and the first of the Lord of the Rings Trilogy on audio book, we made it. It was a good drive and thankfully uneventful (the words of my Grandpa when he traveled). Amarillo was not the most notable town, but we did eat at The Texas Roadhouse (because when in Texas, do as the Texans do).

The next morning we got up and back on the road with Flagstaff, AZ as our destination. We stayed at an Airbnb and had a great time. We stayed for three nights and got to explore the area. The first night we ate at a local pizza place and then drove around to see downtown Flagstaff. The next morning we woke up bright and early (thanks time change) and drove north to see the Grand Canyon.

life lately

After returning from our road trip we had a crazy week trying to get caught up at work and home. Crazy includes: having to unexpectedly change our health insurance company, dealing with an over flowing toilet and dish washer, catching up on laundry and responding to all of the unanswered emails from a nine day vacation. Also on Friday night we took our high school students to a haunted corn maze in Godfrey and that same night drove home to my parents! Phew! BUT THAT'S NOT ALL!!! After arriving in Salem late Friday night, we woke up Saturday morning ready to celebrate Atley's first birthday and then went to the Little Egypt Parade (a Salem tradition) to collect some candy.

Atley's party was great. She was a happy camper and can definitely eat cake....a girl after my own heart. The parade was cooler than it usually is, so we didn't stay the whole time. After the parade we finally kicked our feet up and relaxed with hot chocolate. Sunday was low key- Alex watched football with my dad and I napped. We had a great weekend and are looking forward to this week being less eventful...Moose is happy to be home from his two week vacation and we're all starting to settle back into a routine.

september in pictures

This September was busy! We had something going on every day, either work related or personal and nine of those days (not included in these pictures because it's a post of it's own) we went on a road trip to California! But, we had a great month. So, with no further ado, September in pictures...

Each dot represents an obligation/meeting/appointment...yikes! 

over Labor Day weekend we drove up to visit my sister and her family. 

Nora happily chose to ride with us!

Nora made a crown in Sunday school and Alex got to wear it. 

Moose was worn out when we got home from Mt. Z

My first PSL of the season!

Fall showed up and demanded I make peanut butter cookies

First pomegranates of the season...a lot of first's for fall

We went with our high school students to an EHS football game 

and one of my favorite future Tigers was there!

We finally got to tell the world about Baby W!

September was a great month and we're looking forward to fall getting into full swing!

recap: twenty five by twenty six

Last September I set out to accomplish twenty five goals before I turned twenty six. I am proud to say that I accomplished most of my goals! Below is my list and while some of them were blog worthy, others went under the radar.

1. Start a daily journal 

2. Cook more often 

3. Run another half marathon     

4. Learn to knit or crochet

5. Go to Arkansas        

6. Volunteer somewhere 

7. Practice & become a better faux-tographer 

8. Go to Kentucky 

9. Host a dinner party           

10. Celebrate Friendsgiving 

11. Go to Oregon 

12. Try sushi 

13. Plant a lemon tree

14. Learn to hula hoop 

15. Play sand volleyball 

16. Learn to golf or at least play putt putt golf

17. Plant a real garden

18. Read 1 book per month (at least!) 

19. Eat at a new restaurant  

20. Go to Indiana   

21. Finish our basement! 

22. Ride on a tandem bicycle 

23. Write and mail more letters  

24. Redecorate a room in our house  

25. Go to Tennessee 

I still want to learn to knit/crochet, have a lemon tree and plant a real garden. But, I think I was having a weak moment when I said I'd like to learn to play golf...I'll stick with sports I know and am good at. I learned a lot this year and am proud that I accomplished (most of) my goals. 

I always have a list of things I'd like to accomplish and challenging myself publicly kept me more accountable. I haven't written a list for twenty six by twenty seven, but something tells me that this year will bring a lot of new changes, challenges and adventures without a list. 

Bumpdate: 14 weeks

The cat is finally out of the bag and we can shout it from the mountain tops...or canyon rim in our case. We are having a baby!!! 

I am 14 weeks and feeling great. The first trimester wasn't fantastic but it could have been a lot worse. I was tired and queasy most of the time, but not to the point of being sick everyday. Around 12.5 weeks it was like a switch was flipped and I was normal Abby again. 

We are so happy and thankful for this little babe! Alex is counting the days until we will find out his/her gender. We are so excited for this new adventure!