23 and 24 weeks

Woohoo! 5 1/2ish months down, 3 1/2ish to go

23 weeks

24 weeks

Weight...- 147. Woohoo? I will continue to shamelessly post my weight, for I will be that much prouder when I loose it all after baby is born. My plan? Breastfeeding, dog walking, yoga and pilates. And no more tasty sugar sweets.. :*(

Movement- Similarly active as usual. She is still very responsive, and it is particularly sweet when she kicks just because daddy is touching my belly. I think she is very excited to meet him! :) I predict she is going to be a bit outgoing, we will see. Oh, she also starting giving kicks straight to the Va-jay-jay. Those.. are less amusing. XD

Food aversions- Hmm nothing really at the moment. Chicken, you're OK. 

Food cravings- Always sugar. And some ravioli. Like the bad, Chef Boyardee I loved as a kid. 

Looking forward to- Baby shower next month! Our moms are going all out and I am truly excited! Thanks moms! Oh and starting Bradley Method classes in 3 weeks-ish. Will post about how that goes!

About to go to my first prenatal yoga class. My flexibility is now shameful. Hopefully this will remedy that. I will let you know how that goes as well! 

Things are getting exciting! :)

Thanks for reading,
Shayla

21 weeks & 20 week ultrasound

Firstly, we had our 20 week ultrasound on Monday.

Lily was very sleepy and shy during the ultrasound, and wanted to face her back to us for most of it. But we managed to get some pictures of her in different poses! But it was once again confirmed that she is, indeed, a girl! ;) 

Back and back of head

Profile, leg, and hand

Foot :)

She measuring 3 days big overall, and a week ahead for weight. Signs leading to a big baby like her mom (9 pounds, 3 ounces.. >.>)

21 weeks

21 weeks

Weight...- 1..4..2 XD From 129.4. I don't want to talk about it..

Movement- TONS. She is a very strong, active baby. I began to feel her move at 16 weeks, but quickly turned into little punches and kicks. It is getting stronger and stronger, and sometimes so often I take it for granted (but I usually stop everything I'm doing and giggle in delight to feel her move around!) Kyle has also started being able to feel her a couple of weeks ago. The best method I found for others to feel is laying flat on my back on the couch. But recently he can feel it from a sitting position too. 

Food aversions- Chicken still. It has been chicken the whole time..

Food cravings- Nothing this week that I remember.. trying to be healthy this week!

Looking forward to- Getting more things for the nursery. We ordered a crib this week, so I can have a project to do soon. Need more baby projects, haha. 

Despite the wonderful ultrasound, this week has been tough. I have had a cold since Monday, and my ever growing body is more difficult to handle mentally than I thought. I love the bump, but the other stuff growing? Not so much. *sigh*. Yes, it is worth it. Of course it is. But still, tough for a slightly vain mamma to handle. Not being able to exercise this week at all from being sick doesn't make me feel a lot better about it, either. 

Sorry I don't post more often, but I don't think enough changed week to week to be interesting! 

Thanks for reading,
Shayla

What pregnancy means to me

I know women have different views on pregnancy, from joy, to terror, to somewhere in between.

For me, pregnancy is empowering, completely amazing, and quite possibly the coolest, most meaningful thing I will ever do in my life. I say this with a feeling of complete joy. 

My body is growing, nurturing, and protecting a brand new life, a life that was created from the love my husband and I share. Not only do I get the honor of taking on such a role, but I also get to teach, love, and impact this life in a very important way as she grows up. This is also very intimidating. I know at times I will mess up, but I also know for you, my sweet baby, I will strive to be the best person I can be; a better person than I have ever been. 

So thank you for giving me such an important role. I can't wait to meet you, I literally count the days!

Your mommy,

Shayla

Week 15 and 16

Hello!

Well, I am well into my 2nd trimester, and have had some subtle changes.

15 weeks

16 weeks, new found respect for people who take pictures in this fashion. Harder than I thought..XD

Weight- starting-129.4/ now-136! AH! 
Baby girl- Size of an avocado, 4.6 inches long and 3.5 ounces. This week baby can hear my voice! I am singing in the car to her every chance I can. 
Baby name- Lily Annette :)
Symptoms- 
-Nausea is mostly gone now! I still get it in the mornings and right before dinner, but a huge improvement. 
-mild cramping
- Maybe it is wishful thinking, but I think I felt some flutter movements when I was lying down. It might have been Lily moving around! Either way, these flutters should become stronger in the weeks to come, and feel like distinct kicks. Can't wait!

My body is just now starting to look somewhat pregnant. I am still in the "is it a beer gut?" stage, big enough to not look normal but not big enough to be clearly pregnant. I am looking forward to the clearly pregnant size. I already bought some cute maternity things and am looking forward to wearing them!

I am starting to get my energy back this week, though I definitely do not have the super energy I have been promised from countless websites. Boo.

Thank you all for your interest and support! 24 weeks to go!

~Shayla

Baby girl clothes..

Of course I shouldn't have.. but I couldn't help it. To celebrate our baby girl, I bought just a couple of things! Really, just like, 4 or 5, or 6 things. ;)

Today I received the first item. 


Bathing suit from Janie and Jack

Normally, I will not buy from this store because it really is too much for tiny clothes, but this was on sale and I only bought the one thing.

Anyway, VERY cute and so tiny! SO TINY! :D I ordered it in a 6th month old size, so hopefully she will be this big at some point during the summer. We have a pool in our backyard so it will definitely get some use!

Yes, I do have issues with planning too far in advance. Whatever. :P

Thanks for reading,
Shayla

Baby's Gender.....

IT'S A GIRL!!!! :D

All results came back normal as well, so it is a healthy baby girl. Hooray! 

We found out early by doing a Harmony test that finds the baby's blood in the mothers blood, just had to have blood drawn. It does various genetic testing for down syndrome, etc. but can also pinpoint gender. 

13 weeks on Thursday!

Symptoms: 
-STILL queasy. Hoping this will pass within the week as all of the websites I have read promised and as I enter the 2nd trimester. 
-having some round ligament pain, which is periodic sharp pains in the lower abdomen. 

No photos this week, sorry! Will include some in the next post! I need to go immediately shop for girl clothes now ;)

Week 11- Surprise ultrasound!

So we weren't supposed to have another ultrasound until 20 weeks, but the Doc. couldn't hear the heartbeat through the abdomen check yet. So I got to have another ultrasound to hear the heartbeat and see the baby! Wow! What a change in 3 weeks!

Little nose and eyes and feet... SO CUTE! *gushes*
Baby is almost 2 inches big! Healthy heartbeat and size for the age. Baby was also wiggling around this time. 

Also today I had blood work done.. 7 vials of blood! Wow, it seemed like an awful lot. But apparently it is a lot less than giving blood. 

Pregnancy symptoms are somewhat the same. My weight is the same as well. Only 2 weeks left of the first trimester!