birdy love

Monday, December 24, 2012

Week 31


This last week of school seemed to drag on forever.  Kelsey and Dabe got to Ozark on Sunday night and I went to Tyler's parents house on Monday night to hang out with them.  On Tuesday we had Tyler's family Christmas and did a gift exchange- Mason got some cute outfits from Auntie Kels!  Kelsey and Dabe stayed the night with us that night, and I didn't intend to stay up until midnight talking to them but that's what happened.  Time flies when there's good conversation!  Tyler has been sick all this week so that's been no fun.  I'm thankful that I haven't gotten sick from him (yet!  And hopefully not!).  The rest of the week was spent wrangling excited 5 & 6 year olds to follow directions while they were so excited for Santa to come.  A few kids brought me gifts, but the sweetest gift of all was from my little girl I've had such a problem with the past few weeks.  

At first she was just horrible and I didn't know what to do to manage her behavior.  Honestly, one night I prayed to God to take it from me because I didn't know what else to do and I was exhausted from this girl.  The next day, she had a great day.  Every day after that, she has progressively gotten better.  That is not a coincidence!  This girl has a terrible home life - I can't even imagine what she has experienced, it's so sad.  Well on Thursday she came into my room, beaming, went straight to my desk and put some little baby shoes on my desk.  She said "These are my baby brother's old shoes but they don't fit him anymore so I asked my mom if I could bring them to school for baby Mason.  I really want you to have them."  Melted my heart!  How sweet!  I know she doesn't have much, and to offer those shoes to me means more than she probably realizes.  She was so proud to give them to me, too.  This is one reason why I love my job.



  • How far along? 31 weeks
  • Total weight gain? 16 pounds, officially
  • Stretch marks? Still none
  • Sleep? Yes, and less often than I want.  There's just a whole lot that I feel needs to get done so I stay up doing it instead of sleeping even though I'm tired.  This relates to my "best moment this week" so keep reading!
  • Best moment this week? A lady that works with Tyler at the hospital has a 3 year old boy and has been trying to conceive for awhile now with  no luck.  She told him that she was "tired of having all this stuff at her house" so she said we could come look at what we wanted.  We assumed of course that we would pay for what we wanted and were prepared for that to happen.  When we got there, half of her garage was full of baby gear & clothes.  As we started filtering through what we wanted to keep, Tyler asked how much she wanted for our pile.  She said "Just take it.  I'm tired of looking at it."  WHAT!  We literally left there with thousands of dollars worth of stuff, for free.  Nice clothes-- tons of baby Polo, Gap, Juicy (didn't even know that existed), Zutano, and tons of name brand clothes that were barely worn by her boy.  She also had a  lot of camo baby clothes which Tyler loved so we got the best of both worlds in the clothing department.  SO many toys, 2 swings (she had 4 at her house- said her kid 'didn't like a certain kind' so she'd buy another), a jumper thing to put over the door, 2 walkers, crib mattress, changing pad, bottles, etc.  Incredible!  We don't even know how to thank this lady and her husband, a thank you card is certainly not sufficient, but necessary.  So now I have a ton to organize and sort through but I'm very thankful even though it kind of stresses me out.
  • Miss anything? All I do is work, eat, and sleep (or that's how I feel at least)... I miss having a social life.
  • Movement: As I was sitting in front of the class about to read a story to my kids on the carpet, one said "Uhh... Mrs. Barnes... your stomach is moving.  It's freaking me out."  haha!  So we all watched Mason do flips and move around.  That is how much he moves!  They loved watching it even though it was alien like.
  • Food cravings: Anything sour/sweet/fruity.  When I go to the mall I have to go to Mr. Bulky's and get sour strawberry ropes and a mixed cherry/Coke Icee. 
  • Anything making you queasy or sick? Not this week. 
  • Showing? Yep!
  • Gender: Boy
  • Labor signs: Yes actually!  I had my first contraction late Saturday night.  It felt like a dull period cramp and I just walked around for awhile until it went away.  I practiced doing some yoga stretches to alleviate the very little pain I was experiencing. It was uncomfortable but not really painful.  I basically did yoga just to practice getting into those positions when it really does get painful.  I felt more like "what is going on because I've never felt this while pregnant".  I confirmed with my recently pregnant friends that I had a Braxton-Hicks contraction, but I'll ask my doctor about it next week at my appt to make it official. 
  • Belly button in or out: Out and proud.
  • Wedding rings on or off? On.
  • Happy or moody most of the time? I feel moody this week.  Particularly because I feel stressed with everything there is to do, plus Christmas gatherings.  I'm not complaining about family and friends getting together but I just need more hours in a day!  I think once the nursery is somewhat finished I'll feel much better.
  • Looking forward to: Getting the nursery 80% complete... right now we're sitting at 15%.  Yikes!
  • Baby's size: Pineapple
  • Saturday, December 15, 2012

    Week 30

    Me, Mom, Mason!
     This week has been great! My shower in Texarkana was so fun. I really enjoyed getting to see my family, and also a lot of ladies who I've grown up with. I feel so blessed that all those people gave us gifts when I don't even go to that church anymore.  I felt very loved!  All of the ladies want to see Mason when he comes so we will definitely have to make a Texarkana church visit.  Here's a few pics- I couldn't figure out how to arrange them so it's kind of a jumbled mess.
    
    My family who came to the shower.

    
    I had a helper to open presents.
    Case loved being around his Gigi!
    I had this face for a few gifts because I didn't know what they were- I was glad that Jessica and Mom were there to explain. :)
    My hostesses!  They are awesome!
    My Mimi and Meemaw.  So good to see them!
    The shower was a Saturday brunch, so after it was done we went back to mom and dad's house for lunch.  While the girls were at the shower, the guys played golf.  Dad and Uncle Allen against Jake and Tyler- Jake and Tyler won bragging rights for a year!  More family was able to come over for lunch and then we took pictures in my parents front yard.  Every time Uncle Allen is around we take pictures because he has fancy cameras and likes to use them.  Here are some pics!
    Our family of 4 that has 9 people now!

    My mom's side of the family





    The pictures turned out really cute!  I'll probably put some in Mason's room or around the house.  We drove back Sunday afternoon (after we had Chicken Express of course) and got back in the evening.  It's Tyler's birthday week!  Also after Friday (his birthday) he has a long stretch of time off so he is excited for Friday to get here.  (written on Saturday-) What an exhausting week!  I went to bed at 11 last night and woke up at 11am.  I haven't slept that long in a long time, might as well enjoy it while I can.  On Thursday night I sang with my friend Onetta at the church Young at Heart Christmas party, it's getting harder for me to take big breaths and sing but we worked with it!  

    
  • How far along? 30 weeks
  • Total weight gain? 16 pounds
  • Stretch marks? Not yet, but I am beginning to see the first signs of "the line".  At first I thought it was a big stretch mark.
  • Sleep? Sleeping just fine, haven't had to get up in the middle of the night to pee very much.  Maybe once or twice this week.  Oliver has had to pee in the middle of the night a lot this week so he wakes me up and that's annoying.  Tyler has been sleeping in the other room because he's been sick all week and doesn't want to spread the sickness.  Hopefully he feels better soon!
  • Best moment this week? Hanging out with Tyler for his birthday.  I was sneaky and got Amycakes Take&Bake cinnamon rolls for him and woke up before he did on Friday to bake them.  This wasn't hard because he was sleeping in the other bedroom.  The hard part was keeping Oliver from running into his room because Oliver misses him being in bed with us.  He's spoiled rotten.  We ate breakfast together before work (which we never do) and then after work we went to see The Hobbit at the B&B Theater Marquee Suites.  Watching a movie in a recliner while being served dinner?  Yes please.  This week was exhausting for both of us so watching a movie and relaxing was perfect.  The movie is great too except I didn't realize it would abruptly stop!  Didn't know this movie was a trilogy.  That info would've helped before watching.
  • Miss anything? Being able to see my lower stomach, especially when that's how tall all my kids at school are.  I never know what I will see until I look in the mirror.  Tape, glitter, glue, boogers, you name it. 
  • Movement: All the time and very swift, once I felt him over on my side almost near my back.  He must have really been stretching out.
  • Food cravings: I've wanted Spaghetti-O's this week.  Weird.
  • Anything making you queasy or sick? On Wednesday at school around 9, I got really light headed and weird feeling.  I was hot but didn't have a fever, but yet my arms had chill bumps and I still felt warm.  I just felt like I needed to sit down and drink ice water.  I asked my doctor (well, his nurse practitioner since he was in a delivery) about this at my Thursday appt, and she said it was probably my blood sugar getting low. Solution is to eat something small, drink water, and rest until I feel better.  She said it usually happens if you eat something sweet right before (I had eaten banana nut chocolate chip bread) or if you haven't eaten in awhile.  This was the first time since 12 weeks that I hadn't felt well, but it's good to know there's a solution to the problem.  
  • Showing? Yep!
  • Gender: Boy
  • Labor signs: No
  • Belly button in or out: Let's just say it has its own shadow.
  • Wedding rings on or off? On.
  • Happy or moody most of the time? Happy
  • Looking forward to: On Sunday night, Kelsey and Dabe (SIL & her BF) are coming to town and staying until Thursday night, and on Thursday night my best friend/college roommate Jayci (who is also 3 weeks behind me in her pregnancy) and her husband Lee are spending the night with us!!!  AND Friday is my last day of school for 17 days, hello Christmas break!
  • Baby's size: Cucumber



  • 

    Tuesday, December 11, 2012

    Week 29

    29 and feelin' fine... this week was exhausting.  I got a new student 2 weeks ago and "the honeymoon is over" - she used to be very quiet and now she is a terror.  Dealing with her has worn me out!  Thankfully I have wonderful counselors, principals, and a team of teachers to help me because I need it.  This past weekend I went shopping for SIX HOURS at thrift stores, looking for things to decorate Mason's room.  I found the sweetest wall art that will go above his dresser, and I also found an awesome piece of driftwood that I'll find a place for somewhere.  I couldn't pass it up. 


    After all my thrifting I got a pedicure.  My feet hurt and I can't reach my toes very well to paint them, so I deserved it :).  I scheduled our childbirth classes and my breastfeeding class this week.  The childbirth classes take up every Thursday night in January, from 6:30-9!  Bummer.  Especially since I will be learning about birth on my birthday.  At least we only have to go to breastfeeding class.  My January is filling up and it's stressing me out to look at!  I'm thankful that we have a long 16 day break for Christmas.  I'll need that much time to get the nursery/house done!

  • How far along? 29 weeks
  • Total weight gain? 14 pounds, officially.
  • Stretch marks? Still none... I'm waiting for them though, I know they will come!
  • Sleep? This week I slept a whole lot.  Tyler worked overnight at the hospital on Monday and Wednesday, so I took advantage of that by sleeping in the middle of the bed with every pillow around me.  Literally I slept with 6 pillows.  It was glorious!
  • Best moment this week? I felt really stressed on Tuesday and it had been a long day at work.  I took a bath and Tyler sat on the edge of the tub and wrote down all the things I told him that I needed to do for Mason's room.  Every time I look at my calendar for December, January, and February I get stressed out because I feel like there is much to be done!  But it was nice to have him be a voice of reason. 
  • Miss anything? Being able to lay on my stomach.
  • Movement: Tons.  I was sitting in my chair talking to a few kids and one said 'Umm... Mrs. Barnes... is Mason moving because your belly is moving." I think he was freaked out.  Then Mason put on a show, throwing my belly from left to right.  I poked Mason and he kicked back, then the kids poked him and he would kick back - they thought this game was hilarious.  Once Mason comes out he should be accustomed to loud noises because they scream and laugh when they see him moving and call him an alien ninja baby.
  • Food cravings: I haven't really craved anything weird, but I have been loving juice lately.  Grape, orange, grapefruit, anything.  I think I'm just so excited not to be diabetic that I'm celebrating by drinking juice (my friend Ashley couldn't have juice when she had GD, it was the first thing she drank after giving birth!) 
  • Anything making you queasy or sick? No.
  • Showing? Yep!
  • Gender: Boy
  • Labor signs: No
  • Belly button in or out: Out.
  • Wedding rings on or off? On.
  • Happy or moody most of the time? Happy
  • Looking forward to: My weekend in Texarkana!!  My baby shower is Saturday, I'm excited to actually get to visit with a lot of people that I've grown up with.  Every time I visit church I always feel rushed to see everyone.  Also my extended family is coming to my parents house for "Thanksmas" since we didn't get together on Thanksgiving and I won't be traveling to Dallas at Christmas.  I'm excited to see everyone, I haven't seen them since last Christmas!
  • Baby's size: Acorn squash (whatever that is...)

  • Wednesday, December 5, 2012

    Week 28

    Whew!  We went back to school on Monday but didn't have kids until Tuesday (the 27th - I am kind of behind in my posts).  Every time we have a short week it ends up seeming like the longest week ever.  I am seriously big now.  And I will only get bigger!  Yikes. 

    I went to my doctor on the 28th, and have gained 14 pounds.  There was good news and bad news -
    Good news- I needed my blood sugar to be less than 140 in order to not have gestational diabetes.  My score was a 107, he said I "knocked that one out of the park".  I am SO THANKFUL that I don't have to prick my finger or watch what I eat!!!  What a blessing!
    Bad news- I am anemic.  I needed to score a 12 and I scored a 10.8... slightly anemic, but I have to take iron pills every day until baby comes.  But hey, I'll take that over diabetes any day.  Hopefully I won't get sick from them.

    I think the highlight of my week was going to yoga - we did exercises to alleviate pain in the upper back and shoulders.  I didn't realize how much tension I held in those areas but after the class was done I felt like I had gotten a back massage!  It was awesome.  I also took advantage of Black Friday shopping, but not the crazy kind where I get up at 4 am.  In the past I did that with my mom but since she wasn't up here I didn't go early.  I did need to go to Target to get a few things (hand soap, mascara, things I don't really need especially on Black Friday, etc.) so I went out in the chaos.  The good thing about Black Friday in the afternoon is that every register is open so it's quick to check out!  I also shopped on Cyber Monday and got new bedding for the guest room - it's kinda crazy but I love it, and I also am looking for a lamp similar to the one in the picture.
    My headboard/footboard is kind of an orange wood so it looks great.  I'm not sure what color to paint the walls yet.  I like the blue walls in the picture, but Mason's room is navy, laundry room is teal, and the rest of the house is gray... I don't want to live in a cave.  So right now the walls are beige and that's what they'll be until I can come up with a color!  My house has cool colors (teal, navy and gray) so far.  I don't want to venture on the other side of the color wheel but I can't seem to think of another cool color that won't look gloomy.  Suggestions??

    Tyler started painting the kitchen/dining area/living room this week and it looks awesome!!  It's Martha Stewart's Flagstone. 
    Color on the left is the old, the gray is new.  It really makes the white trim pop!

  • How far along? 28 weeks
  • Total weight gain? 14 pounds! 
  • Stretch marks? Not yet but my skin around my button is getting VERY thin and I'm moisturizing it like crazy!  I think it's inevitable though... stretch marks are genetic, and my mom has them, so I probably will too.  Sigh.
  • Sleep? Yes and with lots of pillows.  Still trying not to sleep on my back but I find myself there sometimes.
  • Best moment this week? Yoga!
  • Miss anything? Not getting punched in the gut every once in awhile... it's getting to where it hurts! 
  • Movement: A lot.  You can see him from the outside and it's freaky.
  • Food cravings: Thursday night Tyler was at a friend's house and I would not let him come home without grapefruit juice and a grapefruit.  The juice was for instant gratification, the actual fruit was for later... those grapefruits are tedious to eat and I wanted to drink lots of juice NOW.  Haha! 
  • Anything making you queasy or sick? No.
  • Showing?  Yep! 
  • Gender: Boy
  • Labor signs: No
  • Belly button in or out: It's out there.  My kindergarten kids like to poke it and laugh at me.
  • Wedding rings on or off? On.
  • Happy or moody most of the time? Happy
  • Looking forward to: Getting the nursery done
  • Baby's size: Eggplant



  • Saturday, November 24, 2012

    Week 27

    I didn't realize how blurry this picture was until I uploaded it, oops!  Check out my outie :) 


    This was a great week!  2 days of school and Thanksgiving fun, I can't complain at all.  My back has been hurting off and on but I have a sweet husband who will massage it and I also do a few yoga moves to alleviate the pain.  Downward dog, cat/cow, pose of a child even though my belly drags the ground in that one, ha.  My kids were crazy this week but I don't blame them, I was excited for the break too!  Then it's back to school for 4 weeks and we're out for Christmas break.  Those will be a crazy 4 weeks.  On Wednesday I was out of school (hallelujah!  Our first break since Labor Day!) and it was wonderful.  I relaxed all day and went to my in-laws house that night to hang out with my sister-in-law and her boyfriend.  Tyler had to work overnight so Kelsey and Dabe stayed with me, it was fun!  I love hosting people in our new house.  There was an extra bedroom to sleep in, an extra bathroom to use, and since Tyler and I never use those 2 areas of the house they aren't hard to keep clean.  I love our early morning sunrises off the back deck and how the whole house is lit up with pink and orange in the morning.

    On Thursday we all got up at 6:30am to go to the Turkey Trot downtown.  I was going to run this year but I waited too late to register.  Also, it's nice when you run to have someone to give all your stuff to (when you register, they give you a shirt, envelope, coupons, and THEN you have to run a 5k) so I ended up being the Turkey Trot hostess to Debbie, Kelsey, and Dabe.  I know my way around downtown too, which they don't and would have gotten lost for sure.  So I dropped them off at the starting line, parked the car, walked to the Expo center, got them in the right starting area, took their shirts and other things, walked back to the car (I probably walked a 5k going to and from the Expo center!), drove to the Bistro Market and had breakfast and picked up some smoothies for their finish, drove back to find a parking spot, walked to the finish line just in time to see all 3 of them cross the finish line!  Perfect timing.  Then we all drove home, tired!  Kelsey gave Dabe a haircut on the back deck and I cooked some carrots for our Thanksgiving lunch.  Brown Sugar Carrots with Rosemary and Pecans- delish.  We had lunch at Larry and Angie's, there was SO MUCH food and it was ALL good. I was in a food coma all day.  Of course, every time there is a meal at Angie's house there's always some question that everyone has to answer.  This year the question was "Everyone says they're thankful for family and friends at Thanksgiving time- what is something that you're thankful for in the area of entertainment (I'm thankful for Cranium)? food(Rice Krispies, chocolate milk, pickles)? vacations (I loved going to Jamaica)?" Answers varied and some were pretty hilarious.  I love our family conversations.  Thursday evening we went to Tyler's parents house and had Thanksgiving dinner with Debbie's side of the family... I didn't eat much because I felt like I was going to explode.  Thank goodness for stretchy maternity pants.  Overall it was a great Thanksgiving, EXCEPT--- I didn't watch ANY of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade!!!  Low of the day.  I didn't even record it :(.  One day I'll be there and see it live!




  • How far along? 27 weeks
  • Total weight gain? 12 pounds officially but after the Thanksgiving feasts I've probably gained a few more.
  • Stretch marks? Not yet.  My skin around my button is very thin, I can see lots of blood vessels.  I can't tell if it's pre-stretch marks or just thin skin.
  • Sleep? The bed is progressively getting better.  Thank goodness.  Sleeping just fine, and whenever I can.  Yoga has helped my back pain and I'm very thankful for that!
  • Best moment this week? Thanksgiving family time.  I also enjoyed spending lots of time with Tyler's sister and boyfriend.  I'm thankful I have awesome in-laws and that they choose cool people to date.
  • Miss anything? Walking without waddling.  I try not to waddle but it only makes it worse!  Pretty funny.  
  • Movement: Always.  Sometimes he will stick a leg or arm out and it will push my skin out- THAT is alien like and kind of grosses me out.  I can literally feel a baby hand or foot, ew!
  • Food cravings: Not really, I'll just eat whatever.
  • Anything making you queasy or sick? No.
  • Showing?  Absolutely.  
  • Gender: Boy
  • Labor signs: No
  • Belly button in or out: 90% out... still holding on! 
  • Wedding rings on or off? On.
  • Happy or moody most of the time? Happy
  • Looking forward to: My baby shower in Texas on Dec. 8.  There are so many ladies that I would love to talk to when I visit for a weekend, but time at church is so limited.  I'm excited to get to hang out with a lot of people I've grown up with.
  • Baby's size: Rutabaga
  • Saturday, November 17, 2012

    Week 26

    Hello third trimester!  26 weeks are over and I'm entering my 27th week of being pregnant.  So far, the first trimester was horrible and the second was fabulous, so I'm going to guess that the third will be somewhere in the middle?  At least I'm hoping!  This week was a good one.  We got a new bed last Saturday.  It's a Tempur-Pedic mattress... and it's horrible.  That's not sarcasm!  Apparently there's a break in period of a month for new TP beds.  A month!  We laid on it for the first time expecting the heavens to open up and the bed would be glorious... no.  It's kind of like lying on concrete.  This past week it HAS gotten better but I really hope I'm singing this bed's praises soon or we'll have to get a new one.  We were warned that it wouldn't feel the same as the store model, to Ashley furniture's defense. 

    Last night we went to Fort Osage, MO (after I took a half day off of school which was incredible) and watched Levi & the Ozark Tigers play in the state semifinals.  Ozark lost.  Everyone from the stands went on the field after the loss and all the parents were hugging their sons, and here's what I did not expect- the tears!  Oh my goodness.  It was so sad.  All of these 18 year old boys were sobbing into their mom and dad's shoulders, if I would have known it was such a sad scene I might not have gone on the field.  I started crying too!  There will probably be a day 18 years from now that I will cry at Mason's last football game.  

    Speaking of Mason, I went to the doctor on Thursday and he still has a strong heartbeat.  I also took my glucose and anemia tests.  I was very anxious about these tests!  I really didn't want to be diabetic because I saw what Ashley had to go through and it did NOT look fun.  To see if I had gestational diabetes they made me drink this liquid that tasted like a cross between Hawaiian Punch and latex.  I had to drink it in 5 minutes- by drink I mean chug.  I felt like I was a 21 year old at a bar.  The doctor said I needed my glucose to be lower than 140, and my blood count to be between 12-16.  I was able to see my test results online, and my glucose came back at 107!  YAY!  What a relief!!  But my blood count came back as 10.8, so I'm slightly anemic.  I haven't been back to the doctor yet to see if I need to take iron supplements, but at least I don't have to go on a special diet and don't have to prick my finger.




  • How far along? 26 weeks
  • Total weight gain? 12 pounds!  142! 
  • Stretch marks? No, but my stomach is itching like it's being stretched.  Drinking lots of liquids, especially water!
  • Sleep? Gradually starting to sleep better due to the new bed.  In the middle of the night I wake up on my back (which is a no-no) so I've started sleeping on my back with a pillow under me, propping me sideways, so I don't cut off blood to the baby.  Today I slept a whole lot and it was fabulous.  I keep having dreams that he is trying to get out of me and eventually does.  We are hanging out in bed together but right before I wake up I have to put him back in me because he's not done yet.  I don't dream about how I put him back in me I just know it happens.  Very weird!  But he has blonde hair and pale skin.  Big surprise there :). 
  • Best moment this week? Taking a half day off school Friday.  All of us teachers just need a break!  I realize it will cut into my maternity time but I don't really care.  Needed it.  
  • Miss anything? It's hard to shave my legs.  I can still do it but it takes a lot of effort to reach the calves and shins!  
  • Movement: All the time, it's pretty cool.
  • Food cravings: Chocolate milk, orange juice... breakfast food.
  • Anything making you queasy or sick? No.
  • Showing?  All in front.  People are still coming up to me at church telling me they didn't realize I was pregnant.  Then I tell them I'm 6 months and they can't believe it!
  • Gender: Boy
  • Labor signs: No
  • Belly button in or out: 90% out... 
  • Wedding rings on or off? On.
  • Happy or moody most of the time? Happy
  • Looking forward to: Thanksgiving break- spending time with family and eating lots of food.
  • Baby's size: Lettuce



  • Wednesday, November 7, 2012

    Week 25

    We finally got the internet at home!  I'll post pictures when I have some time.  These past 4 weeks have been insane.  I've not been feeling 100% since the beginning of school.  This happened last year too, it seems like I catch everything the kids bring in but I can't stay home and rest or just stop talking so that my throat can heal.  I wonder how well charades would go in Kindergarten...

    I just love my husband.  I feel so supported with all the changes going on with this bod!  This week my back has started to hurt, since all my weight is up front, and he's always offering to rub my back or make dinner or bring me Wendy's frosties.  He's nice.  He painted the baby room Benjamin Moore Hale Navy - it is GORGEOUS!  I love it.  We might even paint our bedroom this color.  Our bed arrives on Saturday and I can't wait to sleep on it.  I think it will make a difference and help me get more comfortable since my belly is getting large and in charge.

    I finished my registries at Target and Babies R Us.  I can't even tell you what I registered for, I just clicked on lots of things.  There are so many things for babies!  Surely I don't need all that stuff!


  • How far along? 25 weeks
  • Total weight gain? I see the doctor on the 15th but I weighed myself at my school nurse's office and I weigh 141!  That's 11 pounds, yay!
  • Stretch marks? Not yet... but my skin has most definitely stretched.
  • Sleep? Can't get enough.  Tired a lot.
  • Best moment this week? Having Mason's room painted.  It makes it seem more real and that he's coming sooner than I think!
  • Miss anything? Being able to bend over comfortably (I used to have to a lot to tie shoes- my class is learning to tie shoes quickly or just deal with their shoes being untied.)
  • Movement: Yes and now I can feel him on both sides of my belly at the same time.  He's stretching out in there!
  • Food cravings: Anything cold feels good on my throat.  Hot things feel good too.
  • Anything making you queasy or sick? No.
  • Showing?  All in front.
  • Gender: Boy
  • Labor signs: No
  • Belly button in or out: Not all the way out yet but close, the kids like to poke it so I'm having to get used to it being touched!
  • Wedding rings on or off? On.
  • Happy or moody most of the time? Happy but tired still
  • Looking forward to: yoga on Thursday - last week was so nice and I learned so many comfortable positions to alleviate my back pain, and also to help with labor/delivery.
  • Baby's fruit size: Cauliflower




  • Friday, November 2, 2012

    Week... 24



    I am so behind!!!  I know where my camera is now, but have been too busy to think about taking pictures with it.  I've taken pictures with my phone, but don't have the internet at home yet to upload them to the computer.  ANYway, week 24 has been exhausting.  Parent-teacher conferences were Monday and Tuesday, Halloween was Wednesday so my kids were nutso, and I've just been waiting to go to sleep since Monday night.  Any amount of sleep I get just doesn't seem like enough!  I also sleep with 4 pillows now... Tyler is not a fan of this :) but we bought a new bed on Friday so hopefully I can relinquish a few pillows.  It's a Tempurpedic mattress so we're basically sleeping on a heavenly cloud of goodness.  We got a new headboard/footboard too, so now when people come visit they actually have their own room to stay in!  And a bed!  And their own bathroom!  So everyone come over because I'm excited to have visitors- but wait until we finish painting first :). 

    Tyler painted our laundry room, the color is Crystal Blue by Valspar.  Got it from Lowe's... I took one of my favorite colored shirts into Lowe's and tried to match the color.  It's pretty close!  Kind of a blue-tealish color, very appropriate for a laundry room though.  We also got a new washer/dryer and they are AWESOME!  The dryer is mega tall, I don't have to bend over to get things out of it.  I mean the combo is massive so we don't have a lot of room to walk to the garage but it works.  Tyler is painting Mason's room BM Hale Navy.  I'm pumped- the look I'm going for in his room is very crisp, and Hale Navy is very dark with a gray tint, which will look great with the white trim and different shades of yellow accented throughout.  Meanwhile, our living room has 5 samples of gray on the walls.  Finding the right shade of gray is tough!  The first shade, BM's Platinum Gray, looks like a baby boy blue when the light hits it.  No thanks.  I really should put pictures up!  I'll do that and then explain all the colors. 

    I started prenatal yoga this week.  Wow.  So... going from bikram to prenatal yoga is QUITE the change.  It is very much a restorative yoga rather than cardio, strengthening or flexibility.  It's awesome for prego's who are slightly uncomfortable throughout the day because of their bellies that throw off their equilibrium and such.  We did several positions that are helpful during labor (ohh the ominous labor) and then several other poses that were just extremely comfortable.  I felt energized after the class!  And of course it was mentally a great thing to practice.  I am really glad I'm going it but it's nothing like hot yoga.  I will have to take up some other sort of exercise that makes me sweat a little! 

    This week was the first week where I had a hard time getting out of bed because my belly is large.  It's also funny trying to balance because my weight is thrown off!  The greatest discovery is that my rolling chair in class sinks down to fit below a kindergarten table, so instead of walking around during journal time I roll around.  It's fun being eye level with them, also fun to be sitting instead of bending over the whole time.  When I'm sitting down slightly reclined, that's Mason's favorite position to kick me.  So during journal time he kicks and the kids all want to feel my ninja baby.  Sometimes I say "he sleeps during the day but when I try to go to sleep he kicks me" and one kid said "I can't believe your baby is nocturnal!" ha, yes!  We talked about bats last week, they are learning something! 


  • How far along? 24 weeks
  • Total weight gain? 7 pounds!!  I'll go to the doctor on the 15th and will have my official weight gain then.
  • Stretch marks? Not yet but MAN I am feeling stretched out! 
  • Sleep? Can't get enough. 
  • Best moment this week? Tyler has been eating lunch with me sometimes when he works the night shift.  It's so nice to have him around because I haven't gotten to see him much this month.  He's either been on vacation in Washington, or he's working when I'm at home and he's home when I'm working.  One of those months!  I think November will be back to normal though.  He makes me laugh and I like him.  So glad he's my husband! 
  • Miss anything? I miss being able to get out of bed without a heave-ho.
  • Movement: Allllll the time, the kids call him ninja baby.
  • Food cravings: Still love Rice Krispies.
  • Anything making you queasy or sick? No.
  • Showing?  Very much so!
  • Gender: Boy
  • Labor signs: No
  • Belly button in or out: Halfway out- it's sticking out of my shirts now.
  • Wedding rings on or off? On.
  • Happy or moody most of the time? umm is exhausted an option?  I feel happy when I'm not tired.
  • Looking forward to: Having Mason's room painted and getting the crib put together.
  • Baby's fruit size: Canteloupe
  • Wednesday, October 17, 2012

    Week 22...

    Disregard the mess behind me, we're moving in!


    I'm behind on my weekly posts because the past 2 weeks have been a WHIRLWIND of busy-ness I have hardly had time to sit.  Plus I haven't been around the internet much.  I have really grown these 2 weeks- someone asked me if I was due in December!  I'll try to take a picture but I'll have to find the camera... I think it's still in a box somewhere (keep reading, I don't just keep my cameras in random boxes around the house).

    The major thing that has been occupying my time has been that we closed on and moved into our house in Ozark.  A few days after we moved in, Tyler went hunting in Washington with his PA buddies so I've had to get the place in order.  My mom came up last weekend and was a huge help!!!  We got everything into the house and even unpacked the kitchen!  I was so very thankful to have my mom there to help, and it was nice to just spend time with her since I rarely get to see her.  The house is awesome.  The back of the house faces the east and we have huge windows along the back, which means our morning sunrises are gorgeous.  When the sun sets it casts a shadow on our back deck that is perfect lighting to sit outside at dusk and have dinner outside.  I've never lived in a house with carpet since we've been in Springfield and it's great to have something warm under my feet in the morning!  The master bath has a jacuzzi tub that I've already been in.  When mom stayed the night, she had her own bathroom to get ready in.  Our new fridge has water and ice in the door so there's always ice and freezing water available.  I love the house already and I've just been there for a week!  I've been trying to unpack everything so that when Tyler comes back he won't have to do much.  Plus it's nice to have the house in order, it's been driving me crazy. 

    ANOTHER big, huge event that took place is that our friends Brian and Ashley had their baby on Sunday!  Her name is Kori Elise, and we will be seeing lots of her through our lives since they live down the road from us.  She'll be Mason's new friend!  It's crazy that she's finally here.  Also crazy that in 4 months, it'll be ME in the hospital with a baby in my arms.  Can't wait to see that sweet Mason face! 

    I should have waited until after my doctor's appointment to post!  I went yesterday.  Here's background info- before I got pregnant, I weighed 138.  At my annual checkup that I had scheduled before I knew I was pregnant (in March) I weighed 138.  I saw the OB, but not for a 'pregnancy' exam.  When I got sick and couldn't eat, I dropped to 130.  I first went to the OBGYN for my pregnancy exam weighing 130 so that's the weight my doctor has gone by- so... I've gained 7 pounds so far!!!  He said I did a really good job gaining 5 pounds this month.  I am so excited!  And relieved!  I started crying in his office because people have made me so paranoid.  "You really should gain weight..."  "Are you sure you're not starving yourself?"... "I've heard you should gain at least 30 pounds, I hope your baby is ok"... the list goes on and on.  I told my doctor I've had a hard time because people weren't saying very nice things and he said "People are dumb.  They don't know what to say to a pregnant person, and you and your baby are healthy and growing just fine.  Don't let them bother you." 

    So now I have the confidence that I AM actually gaining weight and I have no more worries!! :)


  • How far along? 22 weeks
  • Total weight gain? 7 pounds!!
  • Stretch marks? Not yet.... trying to keep hydrated.
  • Sleep? I keep accumulating pillows that make it more comfortable to sleep.  I'm up to 4 :) and I've had a lot of energy lately so I feel like I need to rest but my body wants to move!
  • Best moment this week? Hearing that I'm doing a good job and that baby is perfectly fine and healthy!  I always love hearing his heartbeat.  When the doctor put the sonogram up to my belly, Mason kicked it.  He's moving all the time! 
  • Miss anything? Being able to pick up and move heavy objects.  I feel kind of worthless with all the boxes around the house that are really heavy!
  • Movement: Yes!  Tyler and I were sitting in our first pregnancy class and he felt him kick from the outside.  He was going crazy in my belly during that whole class.  He especially likes to move at night when I'm trying to fall asleep... awesome.  AND I saw him move from the outside this week. Very cool/weird. He was kicking and punching all over the place.
  • Food cravings: Coke and cherry mixed Icee's
  • Anything making you queasy or sick? No.
  • Showing?  Yes!  But you can't tell from behind, it's all out front and looks like a basketball's under my shirt.
  • Gender: Boy
  • Labor signs: No
  • Belly button in or out: 75% in... when I rub my hand over my belly it hits my button.  Weird!
  • Wedding rings on or off? On.
  • Happy or moody most of the time? Happy!  Just enjoying getting things done and having the energy to do them.
  • Looking forward to: Tyler getting home.
  • Baby's fruit size: Papaya

  • On an unrelated note, I watched the presidential debate last night for about an hour.  That's all I could handle.  Pretty much "You're a liar, no, YOU'RE a liar!" I hear that with my 5 and 6 year olds.  Don't need it.