Happy 2011 from our Baby New Year

As we ring in the new year with friends this evening, I wish you all a healthy, happy, prosperous 2011!
We had an amazing year in 2010, looking back, but I have a feeling that 2011 will bring more blessings and excitement than we ever imagined as we anticipate and celebrate the arrival of our little baby boy!!


Here's to all the future holds...I can't wait!

2nd Annual Christmas Dinner Party

Before celebrating Christmas with our families, we had the pleasure of hosting our friends for our second holiday dinner party. We'll call it the second annual, even though we skipped last year, because we do want to make it an annual tradition.

Twelve couples in all (ten for dinner) gathered for apps, dinner and dessert - and some fun game playing after it was all over. Despite feeling really prepared this year, I still ended up spending lots of time in the kitchen (which is why we need a new house, with an open floorplan) but it was worth it and we had a great time.

We served Honey Baked Ham with hash brown casserole, green beans with mustard vinaigrette, broccoli casserole, and croissants. Yum! Lindsay was sweet and even brought us sparkling cider to enjoy with our meal since we can't drink.

Lauren and Katie were a big help and brought all of the delicious desserts. The mini-cupcake snowmen were adorable!

After dinner we played a new game - LCR. It is pretty simple, just rolling dice and trading dollar bills, but lots of fun and I won $24 by the end!

Amazingly, the night ended early by our groups' standards. Everyone was gone by 11 o'clock, which in hindsight was probably a blessing for this preggo girl, who needed a good night's sleep after all the prepping. But I loved hosting and can't wait for next year's party, where we'll have to set up a playroom for all the kiddos that will be here by then!

19 weeks

This has been an amazing week and so wonderful to spend Christmas with our families. Despite the long car trips between Orlando, Atlanta, Mobile and back to Orlando, I'm feeling great and really thankful for my good health.
While some symptoms are less desirable than others, they all pale in anticipation of our upcoming doctor visit and I am praying for a strong heartbeat, lots of movement, and a cooperative Baby M that shows us whether we're having a boy or girl. I can't wait to see the little wiggle worm on screen again!

How far along: 19 weeks

Size of baby: a mango, about 6 inches and 8.5 oz.

Total weight gain/loss: +8 lbs (phew! I thought I did a lot more damage with all the Christmas goodies)

Maternity clothes: who knew Lilly made maternity?! I got a couple of adorable polos from my mom for Christmas, and I'm slowly transitioning into full-time maternity clothes as I outgrow things.

Gender: t-minus two days until we find out!!

Movement: I still think I'm feeling Baby M, but still second guessing it each time. I love, love, love the look on Ryan's face when I tell him I think I can feel something, and how sweetly in awe he is about it.

Sleep: it's getting tougher to feel fully rested, with lots of tossing and turning. I am excited to try out my new Snoogle pillow that my sister gave me for Christmas in hopes that it helps!

What I miss: I got my wine fix (a small glass for Christmas dinner) so I'm really doing ok.

Cravings: all I could think of one of the days at my parents' house was chips and salsa! I've also been wanting salads, which probably means I am not getting enough veggies. Sorry Baby M! I'll try harder.

Symptoms: round ligament pains continue (ouch! it is so alarming when they strike and I worry something is wrong) and my "bionic" nose has been working overdrive soaking up the scents of the season (both good and bad).

Best moment this week: what moments this week weren't the best?! I loved spending Christmas with my family in Atlanta, with our traditional meals and experiencing nephew Carter's first Christmas - a white one, at that! I enjoyed the one-on-one time shopping for baby furniture with my mom, all the games we played, and seeing old friends before the holiday. And we got to see one of Ryan's cousins I'd never met (with her 4 little ones under 7!) when we went to Mobile, along with lots of other family members. Overall, it was an amazing week and I am so blessed to have such great family and friends!

Merry Christmas Eve!

While we head to bed and prepare for the joy and hope of Christmas morning, I hope you have a blessed holiday with family and friends and that this Christmas is the best one yet!

18 weeks

It's been a busy week for us, preparing for the holidays and hosting a dinner party with friends. In all the hustle and bustle, it's easy to forget that I'm even pregnant!
It's also such an interesting time to be pregnant and to reflect on the true reason for the season - how Mary was carrying Jesus and what she must have been going through in the days leading up to his birth.
I told Ryan on our car trip up to Atlanta (while he gave me a hard time about needing to stop for the third time) that I am sure Mary had to take tons of breaks on the trek to Bethlehem. I am also convinced the poor woman was probably dehydrated, knowing how much water we are supposed to drink. It's amazing the gift God gave us in His son for Christmas, but to me it's also amazing what Mary went through to bring him to this world.
How far along: 18 weeks

Size of baby: a sweet potato, about 5.6 inches and 6.7 oz.

Total weight gain/loss: +7 lbs.

Maternity clothes: wearing some pre-pregnancy pants with a band and some maternity. For tops, I am getting too big for my normal shirts but still too small for maternity, so I am in the dreaded in-between stage and have a hard time dressing each day.

Gender: we find out next week!! (hopefully, if Baby M cooperates)

Movement: I'm feeling flutters here and there and trying really hard to distinguish baby from other bodily movements.

Sleep: I think my instinct of staying off my back has kicked in and I toss and turn to get comfortable on either side. I've also noticed my hands fall asleep in the middle of the night. What am I doing with them?!

What I miss: with Christmas celebrations abounding, I am back to missing wine. (Although, I did try a couple sips from Ryan's glass at our party...shh! Don't tell!)

Cravings: nothing too strong this week. I still prefer salt over sweet (crazy!) and wouldn't mind some Chepe's Mexican for lunch while we're up in Atlanta.

Symptoms: a bit of back pain but otherwise feeling really good and so thankful that nothing major is bothering me (yet).

Best moment this week: possibly feeling Baby M swimming around a few times and hosting a fun dinner party to celebrate Christmas with good friends. I'm proud to say the two preggo ladies were the last ones there!

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

I absolutely love the holiday season between Thanksgiving and Christmas. For many reasons, it is truly the most wonderful time of the year!

It is also the busiest! I promise to have updates soon, like my weekly preggo post and fun pics from our Christmas dinner party this past weekend. I just need to download all my photos first...

Stay tuned, and in the meantime, soak up these last few days before Christmas is here!

17 weeks

We had a very comforting, if non-eventful, doctor appointment last Tuesday where we heard Baby M's heartbeat and got to ask a lot of questions that had gathered since the last visit. But despite steadily gaining a little extra padding around the mid-section, I still rarely really feel pregnant.
I still feel very lucky that I am in such good health and that I can continue to do the normal activity I am used to. I am sure I will start to feel more run-down and more pregnant soon (as my doctor kept on telling me...it's coming) but for now I am counting my blessings!

How far along: 17 weeks

Size of baby: an onion, about 5.1 inches and 5.9 oz. (a big jump from 3.5 oz. last week!)

Total weight gain/loss: +5 lbs. (I think that most recent pound was all in the chest area. Wowza! Based on what I had gained as of the last appointment, the doc told me 20-25 lbs. overall would be good. I hope I can stick to that!)

Maternity clothes: I wore maternity work pants for the first time today. I def. need to go out and buy a couple more pairs. They are so much more comfortable!

Gender: still anxiously awaiting! We have an appointment set for our next ultrasound and thank goodness Christmas is in between or I would just die over the excitement!

Movement: still not totally sure. I am hoping by next week there will be some definite activity.

Sleep: a little more tossing and turning going on lately, but still overall sleeping well.

What I miss: I've really been wanting a Caesar salad lately. I am sure I could have it, but because of the raw egg factor in the dressing, I am trying to steer clear.

Cravings: See above. Also, I tend to crave milk at night, which goes nicely with the Christmas cookies I got at work today. Yum!

Symptoms: ugh...acne. I've been used to a little more since getting off birth control, but lately it's been making me feel like a teenager back in high school!

Best moment this week: getting to hear Baby M's little heart pound it out on the Doppler at our appointment. What a sweet, sweet sound that is! And to quote the doctor the strength was "not just good - perfect!" Praise the Lord!

16 weeks

I got some smiles toward my belly at work today. Looks like I'm starting to show! We have a doctor appointment tomorrow, which I am very much looking forward to, so I'll have more to report after that but in the meantime, here are my weekly stats.

(and yes, I am wearing the same thing as last week - it's easier to track the difference, no?)

How far along: 16 weeks

Size of baby: an avocado, about 4.5 inches and 3.5 oz.

Total weight gain/loss: +4 lbs. (one since last week - we'll see if I'm on track at the doctor tomorrow)

Maternity clothes: still a mix of regular pants with Bella bands and maternity jeans. not sure how much longer that is going to last, though!

Gender: still anxiously awaiting!

Movement: maybe? could it be? I've definitely felt some "popping" and a bit of fluttering, but usually after a meal so perhaps it's just my insides moving things around. I try to lay very still at night to try and feel something to the point I almost hold my breath, which I am sure isn't good for baby!

Sleep: soaking it up while I can.

What I miss: aside from the wine, I'm really doing okay.

Cravings: Mexican and baked potatoes. I am also enjoying Christmas cookie time, although I am still not really that into sweets right now.

Symptoms: still enduring those stretchy pains from last week, along with some cramping, and heartburn. Maybe Baby M will come out with a full head of hair?!

Best moment this week: hearing the amazing news that my mom made it through her surgery and seems to be recovering remarkably well. While not directly baby-related, Baby M needs his/her Hattie so I am so glad to hear she is doing well. Praise God for taking such good care of her!

Prayers for my Mom

My amazing mom is going in for surgery tomorrow morning for her third battle with cancer. Each time, she has fought and recovered with a tremendously positive attitude and I so admire her courage and spirit. I know this time will be no different and that she will defeat cancer this time, too.
I pray God watches over her and gives her strength and a speedy recovery this time around, that He give her doctors steady hands and guides them while they figure the best way to get it out, and that He gives my Dad and family support as they care for her after surgery. I would covet your prayers, as well.
While I won't be there in person, I will be in spirit and can't wait to see my sweet mama and give her a (gentle) hug once this is all over. I love you Mom!