22 Weeks! My Favorite Number!

22 weeks hit Friday.  I feel about the same as I have been except I am SOOOO tired!  I know everyone says you are so tired in the first trimester - but I would say, for me, the second trimester has been WAY worse.  I sleep a good amount and I still feel like I don't sleep at all.  I know, "blah blah, just wait until the baby comes," but I am friggen tired NOW.  Other than that, I feel pretty good.  My belly is growing and the Nuggle is moving, which is so reassuring to me.  My belly button is getting shallower and my stomach gets harder ever day.  That little nugget is growing.

I think my favorite part of being pregnant is the movement in my stomach.  My favorite time of the day is either when I am sitting on the couch, laying in bed just before I fall asleep, or driving.  It seems like those times I can feel the movement of the Nuggle the most.  I think the Nuggle likes the car rides because he/she (no, we didn't find out the gender, I just hate saying 'it' - so I tend to say he) loves music - like his/her mom and dad.  Rick and I love music, it is always on.  Being able to see the movement or feel it, is so refreshing and fun... I am kind of obsessed with it.

Another week closer! :)

Body Image, Buying Baby Stuff - 21 Weeks

Most of you are going to want to spit when I talk about body image.  Yes, I know... "you're pregnant, you're supposed to gain weight."  I know this, I know I am supposed to gain weight and I know it is all for a great reason and the baby needs it, I get it but it doesn't make it easier.  I love my belly because I know the nuggle is in there... but looking in the mirror isn't always easy.  I have been pretty active since about week 14 or so... when I started to feel better.  I certainly don't workout like I used to, but I still do.  I am not able to run, I try every now and again but it just isn't comfortable for me.  This is hard for me because running has never, ever been easy for me and I FINALLY got really good at it after about 2 years of training myself.  Before pregnancy, I was able to run a consistent 2-3 miles a few days a week.  My knees were finally tolerating it, I learned how to pace myself and breath, and my body was loving it.  So, it is a little sad that I am unable to run at this point.  I plan to pick that up again as soon as I am able after baby.  I am still able to lift weights, do a variety of cardio, and I even swam the other night (another thing that has always been a struggle for me).

The good thing is, I do actually look pregnant in my workout clothes - not just like a fit girl with a really weird stomach - which is how I originally felt.

So, I guess, coming from a person that spent most of my life in a leotard and works very hard to be fit.. gaining weight isn't an easy thing.  I am trying to stay fit but gain what the baby needs.  Rick is wonderful, constantly reassuring me that I am beautiful and my bump is beautiful... he is a good man.

On another note, I am doing a really good job of not buying too much baby stuff - even Rick commended me on this today.  I buy a little something here and there because I JUST HAVE TOO, it is too darn cute and I cannot help myself.  Today, since Costco now sells The Honest Company 2-in-1 body wash/shampoo for little kiddos, I had to get some because usually you have to subscribe to their company to get their products.  And, I went to a store called Cutie Poops and Bottoms in Orland Park to become more educated on cloth diapering... and I just couldn't help myself.  I learned a lot and came home with a little... win, win!

Two dog noses in that picture - smelling the new stuff!  They are going to be such good brothers and sisters to our little baby.

Half-way... 20 Weeks

I know I should have started this a long time ago, but I finally decided to blog about Rick and I's baby journey.  I thought it would be nice for family and friends that are interested to stay up-to-date and a nice way for us to capture this amazing time.  I hope you enjoy.

So, I am going to start with a "quick" 20-week recap.  Rick and I found out we were expecting in mid-November 2013.  I just had a feeling.  We both knew we wanted kids and were both pretty excited... well, I mean, it doesn't really hit you right away.  It started to hit me with the queasiness that started soon after finding out we were expecting.  I don't think it hit Rick until he heard the heart beat at our 8 week appointment.  Now, it is definitely real.  I am showing, the baby is moving, and we had our 20-week ultrasound and got to see our beautiful, healthy, baby sucking his/her thumb.  I think it made us both a little teary-eyed.  I can't speak for Rick, but I cry at the "Thank you Mom" commercials that are on the for the Olympics right now - it doesn't take much.

Here is a little picture recap of the last 20-weeks.  Rick takes my picture before each Doctor's appointment - so these are each 4 weeks apart starting at 8 weeks. Apparently, I redecorate our family room decor every 4 weeks as my belly grows! lol.

I got over the terrible nausea/vomiting and general crappy feeling about 16 weeks.  Now, I feel pretty good minus some back pain and muscle soreness.  I am finally back to working out pretty regularly and eating more organically and gluten free again.  So, in general, I am feeling a lot better - just growing.  I can feel the baby move and have been able to since about 16 weeks.  It started as small kicks, now I can feel movement pretty regularly throughout the day - some rolling, stretching, and potentially punching, haha.  I love it!  I think it is my favorite part of being pregnant so far.  I really love my growing belly and feeling the baby in my belly.

For the past 10 weeks, Rick and I have been preparing our home and our lives for baby.  We are finishing up some old projects around the house.  Like putting up a back splash in the kitchen. Thanks for the help Mom and Dad.

And, remodeling the basement entirely.  We are adding walls, a room/office, finishing it with carpet, refinishing the basement bathroom, and changing the layout to make it all livable.  It also allows us to transition the current - upstairs office into the babies room.

We have also been discussing and deciding on what kind of parenting style we will take on.  I have been researching the crap out of everything imaginable, from the best onesies to how to properly get boogers out of a newborns nose to nursing, co-sleeping, clothing, diapering, etc.  We recently decided that we plan to try to cloth diaper - for a few reasons.  In the long run, it is very cost effective, environmentally friendly, and more organic for baby.  Disposable diapers sit in landfills and do not biodegrade.  While cloth diapering requires a bit more laundry - water is a re-usable resource.  Also, even though you spend more money on diapers in the beginning (cloth diapers can be very pricey), you re-use them and they last years (hopefully).  After much research, I found that you can save thousands of dollars over the first year of babies life.  And last, there are less chemicals touching babies very sensitive skin.  PLUS, they have super cute patterns and colors!  We don't plan to cloth diaper exclusively as sometimes it just isn't convenient, but we do want to give it a try as our main diapering system.  

If you know me, you know I am a planner (I have never watched so many youtube reviews in my life and I am sure it is overkill)... and I know that doesn't always work out, especially with a new baby, but I really want to try to be as natural and organic as possible with convenience.  I would love to cloth diaper, nurse, and make my own baby food... call me a hippie - but the thought of being a mom is the most fascinating, exciting, and rewarding thing I can think of (I am slightly obsessed right now).  I think people are very quick to judge different parents, parenting styles/choices - every family is different, every child is different, and different things work for different people.  So, my opinion is - to each their own.  The last thing a new, excited parent-to-be wants to hear is: "Just wait for baby #2, you won't care about or need any of these things anymore."  While that may be true - every parent should get to figure that out on their own. Okay - off my rant.

So, I plan to update the blog here and there, so everyone can feel included in the journey.  I hope you enjoy reading me rants about being pregnant and baby things.  It consumes me right now.