Week 17 - With Belly Pics

How far along? 17 Weeks

Size of the baby? Baby weighs about 5 oz and is about 5 inches long. Last week the weekly update said that baby was about to start a growth spurt and man o'man baby did just that. I can't get enough sleep. Every night this week, I've gone home and taken a little nap or just laid down for 20 mins.

Maternity Clothes? No change from last week - I'm still holding out. I've borrowed a few pairs of pants from my mom since we're about the same size but she still has some that will work. I've also borrowed some shirts from her!

Gender? We'll let you know in February!

Movement? I think I felt a little movement the other night while going to bed. I felt something that I've never felt before so that must be baby, right?

Sleep? ..is great. I just want more of it.

Cravings? Sweets and wanting to bake. I haven't done any baking, just have the desire .. maybe some zucchini bread is in my future with all the stuff from the garden.

Symptoms? Ok.. I'll admit it.. I'm getting a little forgetful at times.

Best Moment of the Week? Feeling the baby move!

13 weeks

14 Weeks

(Pretend you see a 15 week photo... it's on a different camera)

16 Weeks

17 Weeks - I haven't taken one yet.. so you'll just have to wait :)

Week 16 Update

It's Thursday, so that means a weekly update:

How far along? 15 Weeks

Size of the baby? About the size of an avocado and about to start a growth spurt

Maternity Clothes? Still holding out. I've borrowed a few pairs of pants from my mom since we're about the same size - so I raided her closet for a few of the slightly bigger pants she has... I forgot how many of the same work pants we have. I guess the same great taste my mom has didn't pass me up.

Gender? We'll let you know in February!

Movement? Nothing yet. Supposedly some women can start to feel their baby at 16 weeks - but not me.

Sleep? ..is great. I just want more of it.

Cravings? Muffins! It drove me nuts yesterday b/c the cafeteria had closed all the breakfast items by the time the craving came around, so I waited patiently and went to Kings after work (and only ate 1 of the 4 muffins I bought). I've also been craving bad Mexican food, not the good stuff, but the bean burrito with cheese type of stuff.

Symptoms? None.. though Richard says I'm starting to get "mush brain." I don't buy that

Best Moment of the Week? Not baby related, but catching up with friends I haven't seen in WAY to long. Loved getting drinks with the ladies (them = beer, me = shirley temple, what? can't I enjoy a pink fruity beverage too). Oh yeah, we got our cameras back from my sis who borrowed them last week. SO... that means I can actually download the pics on there to share.. think weekly baby bump pics that don't really look like I have much of a bump :)

15 Week Update

Pregnancy Highlights

How far along? 15 Weeks

Size of the baby? My weekly baby update says baby is 4 inches long and weighs 2.5 ounces - about the size of an apple!

Maternity Clothes? Not quite yet. My pants are getting a little snug in the tummy, but I'm holding out as long as possible.

Gender? We'll let you know in February!

Movement? Nothing yet. In our last ultasound at 13 weeks, we could see the baby sucking his/her thumb.

Sleep? ..is great. I just want more of it.

Cravings? My sweet tooth has been kicked into high gear. I'm trying to subdue it with grapes and other natural sugars to be more healthy for baby.

Symptoms? I'm one of the lucky ones and haven't had any true symptoms - Richard is getting all of them for me. He's eating like he's 16 again and has nausea anytime I feel a little nausea.

Best Moment of the Week? My mom and Richard painted the nursery! It was a baby boy blue because the people we bought the house from were having a baby boy, but the room never really fit us. Now the neutral color makes the room feel more like us. I can't wait to really get things set up - though we'll wait for a while, we still have 6 months to go!

A Little Catch-up and Announcement

Hey All!

It's been a while... so let's do a little re-cap of the last year, shall we? Bullet format of course because I like that:

- We met G's new boyfriend (we'll call him K) and loved him. He came to our annual CU vs CSU football BBQ and fit right in. Richard realized just how much he missed having another male in the family when we were all hanging out. He loves my Dad, but we rarely see him.

- Our best man's wedding in northern New York. Right on the lake. Beautiful... a little chilly, and a little early to see the fall leaves of the east coast (bucket list item for both of us).

- We flew to Chicago to celebrate my Dad's marriage to J! We love J and I especially love how happy she makes my dad. They fit well together. Only problem is her job is in the Chicago area - so we don't see them as often as I'd like. They do come out a few times a year and I love that :) While out there I think we became the CRAZY Colorado family (think car bombs, my Dad's first, and other shots)

- Thanksgiving in Mexico!

- Christmas at home with family. We've kept our Christmas Day visiting to 3 locations and think we're finally figuring out how to manage all our family and adopted families. I say adopted b/c Richard has many families from his childhood who are like sudo-parents and we continue to be close with.

- January - May = Busy season. I don't remember too much (haha!) but did decide that I could not do another one. I miss my life/friends/family too much.

- Mid February, K tells me that he has a travel request for Richard and I. I also need to help distract G so K and my mom can go shopping together.. thinking bling yet?? They got engaged!!

- Crazy auntie week! My mom's sisters are amazing women with vibrant personalities. When you get them all together it's craziness that we LOVE, so whenever they come to visit, we dub the week - Crazy Auntie Week. Lots of cards are played, laughter laughed, life lived, and a few bottles of Crown Royal are drank.

- Job changes - both of us and both ultimately good, but we're still waiting to see some of the good.

- And last of all...... We're Pregnant! Baby B is due to arrive 2/2/2012.

Freedom and Beauty

This weekend Hub and I were chatting and somehow we got on the subject of weight (for about 3 mins max). Richard as always weighed less than me so I've never really openly shared my weight with him. Since we got married, he's added a few pounds (so have I), but I still out-weigh him.

Anyway... this weekend I told him my weight. I'm not proud of it and want it to be different, but telling him made me feel so FREE! And his reaction made me feel more beautiful then ever:

Him: "You weight what? That's not possible"

Me: "yep, it's true"

Him: "where do you hide it?"

Me: I just smiled, knowing that my husband is absolutely amazing!

Letters to Me

I'm joining the bandwagon that a saw on one of the blogs I enjoy - Letters to Me.

Dear Sara (age 3):

You're a new big sister. Help mom out and as your sister grows pick on her less. She'll be your best friend before you know it.

Dear Sara (age 10):

You're going to get glasses this year. Please look in the mirror before picking them out. You once thought they were cool, but you'll learn that you REALLY miss being able to see without them. Oh yea - they don't make you look like a dork nor do they define you as one. Be your own person. And remember to Laugh often!

Dear Sara (age 11):

Welcome to middle school! Warning - it sucks and you hate it - but you do well in school. You'll get your first visit from Aunt Flo' the first week of middle school and Mom will be out of town. I know it's embarrassing to ask Dad to take you to the store, but he'll do it and you live through it. PLEASE don't start trying to shape your eyebrows on your own. It will be a disaster and you'll spend years trying to get them to look right. Tell your parents you love them more! You'll start to notice boys in the next few years. You don't need them - focus more on cultivating your friendships. Laugh often!

Dear Sara (age 16):

Your driving! Remember to always turn on your headlights at night (you escape that ticket, but it's rather embarrassing). You're more of a homebody and you love to spend time with your family. Your parents will worry that you don't have friends or a good hobby and will suggest you take flying lessons. You love it, but can't seem to shake the motion sickness. Enjoy the flights, but know when it's time to quit. You have a great group of friends - spend more time with the girls developing the friendship - the boys will fade throughout the next few years. Laugh often!

Dear Sara (age 18):

Off to collage. Please try to release your grip over everything and not be so controlling. Make friends with the girls in your hall. You'll regret that you never got close to anyone. That boy (you know who), please don't spend to much time with him. He'll hurt your heart. Even though his actions do not match his words - he will hurt you and you'll feel like you wasted your time and will carry that scar into the future. Laugh often!

Dear Sara (age 20):

Take the job! You'll gain great experience and meet the man who you will fall head over heels for. Enjoy this time. It's the best summer of your life. Laugh often!

Dear Sara (age 21):

You're intuition is correct - in June your parents will announce that they are getting a divorce and have been "separated" for the past 9 months. Yes, they hide it very well. Lean on your boyfriend and be there for your sister. It's okay to grieve this divorce and you need to. Laugh often!

Dear Sara (age 24):

This is a big year for you. You got engaged last summer and couldn't be happier. It was a great move to move in with mom before you get married as you'll be able to buy a house. You get married this year. As your planning the wedding, stick to your wants and take care of telling people what needs to be told early! It will save you many headaches in the future. The wedding is beautiful. For pictures, don't hold the back of your dress because you don't want it to get dirty or wet (it rains that day by the way, but clears up for your ceremony and pictures) - you'll wish you did in the future. Laugh often!

New Learnings of Marriage

During the last 3 months, its been busy season for me. Which means a minimum of 11 hour days but really more like 13-14 hours, so my time with Richard has been limited to the 15 minutes after I get home in the evenings before I crash from exhaustion and any weekend time that isn't filled with other commitments. We are ready for a vacation!! but more on that soon....

This weekend while talking with my family, Richard mentioned how hard it has been on him to not have me around in the evenings. I think I knew this in the back of my mind - but wow, I hadn't really considered it. I've been too busy trying to get through the week to see the light at the end of the busy season tunnel, that I missed this important aspect. Last year, while we were living together busy season didn't really affect us. Since we moved into the house in March, then I traveled for 2 straight weeks, we didn't miss out routine b/c we didn't have one. Since we hadn't lived together before, there was no missing the other in the evenings. This year has been a whole different story: now we've become used to making dinner together, playing with the cats, and watching some re-run, or Big Bang Theory (LOVE that show!!) Richard put it great tonight - it's almost like we have to re-learn eachother every week and re-establish our routines. So now I'm pondering how to be a wife first, then an auditor?

We've done really well with having a weekly date night - just us! Spend some time together discussing our weeks and what's going on in the world that we live.

Richard did mention that this year has been harder b/c there are joint decisions that need to me made and with me not around in the evenings and unavailable during the days to chat on the phone, it has been tough. Add to that, that we're both exhausted on the weekends. If I don't have to work on Saturday, then its the cleaning and chores around the house that need to be done.

I have to say though, my husband is amazing! He takes care of me and the house in ways that I don't necessarily notice and for that, I am greatly appreciative.

How do people have time for jobs and families? Gosh, we've both pondered what life will look like when we're ready to be parents... its a ways off, but pondering.

On a happy note - we've booked our 1st Anniversary trip to Europe! My mom is incredibly generous and donated miles for us to use to get over there. So we're going to Paris , Prague and Rome! We both so desperately need a vacation!