Friday, October 28, 2011

May I Introduce Myself?

This blog was started on an anonymous basis, as a place for me to document our journey to pregnancy, parenthood, and beyond. Through this blog I've connected with other bloggers, virtual friends, and have felt an outpouring of support, which I appreciate more than I can say. There are no guarantees that everything with this pregnancy will go smoothly, but we're excited to let the world in our little secret, and that includes introducing myself to all of you:)

My name is Lori, and Husband is Blake. We were married in September of 2007, and we moved to Tulsa, OK the following year for Blake to start pharmacy school. I work for county government and also have a photography business on the side.

We have two dogs- a chocolate lab named Gus, and a maltese named Ellie. We're a little nervous about how Ellie will react to the baby, she's old, cantankerous, and pretty set in her ways. Gus is a big pile of love, so we think he'll be thrilled with another human to adore.
I'm racking my brain to try to think of anything else to share, but other than our names and photos, I think I've been pretty open. If you have any questions, just leave it in the comments and I'll address it! Oh, and one last thing to share- my weekly progression in photos (other than week 8, which I totally slacked on).

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Baby is growing!

We had another good ultrasound today!  Take a look at the progression:

Grow baby grow!!!

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

12 Weeks!

How big is baby this week? Baby is the size of a plum.


 
Due Date: May 8, 2012

Weight Gain: Down another lb- I'm now 1 lb up from my starting weight.

Symptoms: Nausea is easing up a bit, still SLEEPY, heartburn, and strangely, the hair on my belly seems darker- never heard of this one as a pregnancy symptom, but it's definitely different

Cravings: Hamburgers

Aversions: Pretty much everything, at some point

Sleep: Go to bed early (around 8 or 8:30), waking up once or twice a night

I am loving: my Husband- he's been awesome

I miss: raw sushi and red wine

I am looking forward to: Our next ultrasound this Thursday, and going public- soon!

I'm spazzing about: worrying that my symptoms letting up means there's something wrong

Best thing about this week: the nausea letting up a bit!!!

Milestones: Making it to 12 weeks!  Baby is developing reflexes.

Movement: Nada

It's a...: No idea yet

Monday, October 24, 2011

Is that a light at the end of a tunnel I see?

I think/ hope that the worst of the morning sickness is letting up.  For the last few days I've actually felt human, and not suffered from the constant nausea and throwing up I was dealing with before.  I'm SO thankful to be feeling better, and I'm hoping I've turned a corner and the sickness is gone for good. 

Of course, being paranoid, I'm a little worried that this means something is wrong, but some of my buds over on BabyCenter have assured me they are also feeling better and it's just a natural time for the morning sickness to be letting up.  My next ultrasound is Thursday, so I'll know for sure then, but right now I'm just trusting God that everything is fine with the baby and I'm thankful (SO thankful) to be feeling better. 

This past weekend I took advantage of feeling better and got a lot of photo editing done, had an awesome bridal shoot, and got some things put away at our house.  It was wonderful to just have a weekend to catch up!  We're going to be out of town for the next three weekends, so it was definitely needed.  Hope you all had wonderful weekends as well!

Thursday, October 20, 2011

I want to remember...

No one is perfect, but sometimes, we are blessed to find the one that is perfect for us.  This pregnancy so far has been rough, and Husband has been awesome.

1. Bringing me a cold washcloth and ice water when I'm bowing to the porcelein throne
2. Stopping for cravings, even when it involves needing to cross three lanes of traffic in 5 seconds
3. Doing the laundry and cleaning the kitchen when I'm too sick or too tired to move off the couch
4. Cleaning the bathrooms so I don't have to breathe in the chemicles
5. Bringing me gingerale and saltines, and pancakes with peanut butter
6. Eating in bed with me because that's where I've parked myself for the night
7. Making sure to tell a friend that's offered to bring over dinner to not use any pepper because it makes me sick
8. Getting my medicine, cutting it in half, and placing it right by the bed
9. Telling me it's ok to get more medicine even though our insurance won't cover a refill and we'll have to pay for it out of pocket
10. Loving me, praying for me, and telling me I'm beautiful, when I know for a fact that at that moment, I need to shower, brush my teeth, and I have mascara is running down my face
Source: None via SushiMama on Pinterest

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Song for Baby

Things We've Handed Down
~ Mark Cohn

Don't know much about you
Don't know who you are
We've been doing fine without you
But, we could only go so far
Don't know why you chose us
Were you watching from above
Is there someone there that knows us
Said we'd give you all our love

Will you laugh just like your mother
Will you sigh like your old man
Will some things skip a generation
Like I've heard they often can
Are you a poet or a dancer
A devil or a clown
Or a strange new combination of
The things we've handed down

I wonder who you'll look like
Will your hair fall down and curl
Will you be a mama's boy
Or daddy's little girl
Will you be a sad reminder
Of what's been lost along the way
Maybe you can help me find her
In the things you do and say

And these things that we have given you
They are not so easily found
But you can thank us later
For the things we've handed down

You may not always be so grateful
For the way that you were made
Some feature of your father's
That you'd gladly sell or trade
And one day you may look at us
And say that you were cursed
But over time that line has been
Extremely well rehearsed
By our fathers, and their fathers
In some old and distant town
From places no one here remembers
Come the things we've handed down

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

11 Weeks!

How big is baby this week? Baby is the size of a lime.



 
Due Date: May 8, 2012

Weight Gain: Down a lb from last week, so up two from starting weight.

Symptoms: Nausea STILL, fatigue, heartburn

Cravings: Steak

Aversions: Pretty much everything, at some point

Sleep: Go to bed early, waking up a few times a night

I am loving: Stretchy pants, Zofran and fiber gummies

I miss: Not being nauseous, and raw sushi

I am looking forward to: Our next ultrasound on the 27th

I'm spazzing about: Trying to find black dress pants that fit and aren't super expensive

Best thing about this week: Helping to host a baby shower for one of my small group ladies, and getting in my maternity skinny jeans I bought off eBay

Milestones: Making it to 11 weeks!  Baby's toes and fingers aren't webbed anymore.

Movement: Nada

It's a...: No idea yet

Monday, October 17, 2011

October 15

October 15th was Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day.  I never knew that before this year.  Losing a baby leaves you searching for answers and comfort, and while there aren't answers, there is comfort to be found in friends and family, and especially in others that have experienced the same loss you have.  They are able to tell you what life will look like down the road, when the pain isn't as fresh- they give you hope.

We were extremely busy this past Saturday, and while I had every intention of lighting a candle from 7-8pm in remembrance, somehow it was already 7:40 before I looked at a clock.  Instead of lighting a candle, Husband and I just held each other and talked about what might have been, and also about what is to come.

The truth is, I remember every day.  Not with the same intensity I did at first, sometimes it's just a passing thought about where I would have been in pregnancy compared to where I am now.  I think about what we'll tell this new little one about their older brother or sister that we never got to meet.  I wonder if they would have been a boy or girl, and if we would have made the same choices we're making for this baby. 

I'll always remember.

Friday, October 14, 2011

Nursery for a boy

I'm 99% sure I want to do a travel theme if we have a boy, but I'm torn as to if I want it to be more cartoon (babyish), or vintage.  I like elements of both, but I probably won't make that decision until I have to.  That being said, I have two boards for a boy. 
 I really love the artwork in this one- it can even be personalized with kiddo's name.  I feel like it's whimsical, and definitely lends itself to more playful bedding.  The storage cubes would obviously not be pink in a boy's room, but that's the picture I had so imagine blue and green.  I actually think this room might be easier to do and have it look like a little boy lives there, but I'm not sure how well it would age with our little one.  Also, I am not a big fan of bright, primary colors.  Enter option 2:
I love the more grown up feel to this room, but at the same time, I wonder if it's too grown up for a baby.  Also, this room tends to have more cream than white, and we have some existing white shelves that Husband built that I don't want to feel out of place.  The other thing I'm not crazy about with this room is that I tend to like very full rooms, and I think the more vintage feeling room would not lend itself to lots of accessories.

Of course, I don't have to decide between the two unless we're having a boy, and Husband will get a vote as well, but I'd love to get all of your opinions too!

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Nursery for a girl

We wont' find out what we're having until at least Thanksgiving, but that hasn't stopped me from planning a nursery for both a boy and a girl.  If we have a girl, I think we'll do a bird theme, based off of the artwork that I found awhile back and fell in love with.  I've also used the first nursery of a blog friend of mine, Erin, as a source of inspiration, and a few other bird- themed nurseries as well.  Obviously nothing is set in stone, but here's what I have so far if we're blessed with a girl...

The only thing we have so far is our dresser, which would also double as a changing table.  I really love the glider chairs, but they're quite a bit more expensive than the glider rockers, so that may get switched.  The artwork is what I LOVE about this room.  I saw it and just KNEW that's what I wanted to base the whole room around.  The yellow is what I think we'd do for paint, and the group of three swatches is what I found for bedding.  The birdhouses are straight from my friend's blog, love them as well!

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

10 Weeks!

How big is baby this week? Baby is the size of a prune.


Due Date: May 8, 2012

Weight Gain: Holding steady.

Symptoms: Nausea still, sensitive sniffer, sore boobs, fatigue, weird dreams, "stopped up"

Cravings: Chips and queso

Aversions: Pretty much everything, at some point

Sleep: Go to bed early, waking up a few times a night

I am loving: Stretchy pants and Zofran

I miss: Not being nauseous, and raw sushi

I am looking forward to: Second trimester, I've heard the nausea gets better

I'm spazzing about: Nothing big this week

Best thing about this week: Having Husband take care of me when I'm too nauseous to get out of bed

Milestones: Making it to 10 weeks!  Baby's vital organs are fully developed.

Movement: Nada

It's a...: No idea yet

Thursday, October 6, 2011

What should I be reading?

I'm sure I'll do lots of posts asking for recommendations on things, but for now, I want to start with books.  I've already got What to Expect When You're Expecting, but what other books do I need to get/ read before baby gets here?  I'm looking for books on baby schedules, sleeping, soothing, breastfeeding, baby food, and anything else that you felt was a must-read.

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Ahhh stretchy pants

Yup, I'm 9 weeks and 1 day along and wearing my first pair of maternity pants.  Don't judge. 

I've only gained about 2-3 lbs, but it's all in my belly, and the morning sickness medicine I'm on makes it so that not only do you not throw up, you also don't poop.  Sorry, there's really no polite way to say that.  This means my tummy is bigger than normal and doesn't really like to be constricted.  I've been wearing my pants unbuttoned at work, and am down to only one pair of jeans that fit, but I was hesitant to buy anything yet because hello, I'm only 9 weeks.

I have a wonderful friend in my small group at church that has two kiddos and graciously let me borrow a giant tub of her maternity clothes.  I was like a kid at Christmas last night, trying on all my new stuff!  Pretty sure her maternity wardrobe is nicer than my regular wardrobe.  I think I'll still need to buy a few things (she's quite a bit smaller than me, and she had already gotten rid of a lot of her wintery clothes), but it's a huge blessing to not have to start from scratch!!!  Just one other reason I'm so thankful for my small group (they were a huge support when we lost our first baby) and friends in general!

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

9 Weeks

How big is baby this week? Baby is the size of a green olive.

Due Date: May 8, 2012

Weight Gain: Nadda this week.

Symptoms: All day nausea ( Zofran is my buddy), bloating, heartburn, tender boobs, food cravings, tiredness, strange dreams, forgetfulness

Cravings: Philadelphia Roll, Celery

Aversions: Fried things, really saucy things.

Sleep: Go to bed early, sleep well at night, but have to get up to use the bathroom

I am loving: Zofran

I miss: Not being nauseous

I am looking forward to: Picking up maternity clothes from a friend tonight

I'm spazzing about: Nothing big this week

Best thing about this week: Telling a few other friends, and seeing how much baby grew at our second ultrasound- need to share that pic!

Milestones: Making it to 9 weeks!  Baby has graduated from an embryo to a fetus.

Movement: Nada

It's a...: No idea yet