21 week bumpdate: mid pregnancy survey!

The 21 week bumpdate is a day late and a dollar short. Last week was a bit of a whirlwind and I didn't have time to sit down and do my update. Today, I'm officially 22 weeks preggo! I still manage to take my "weekly picture" every Monday night- this is me officially 21 weeks along. Colin is the size of a carrot!

This week, I thought I'd do a different pregnancy survey to mix things up a bit. After all- we are more than half way done cookin'!

About Me
Age? 27
Height? 5’2”
Hair color? Brown
Eye color? Brown

About the Husband
Age? 30
Height? 6’2”
Hair color? Dirty blonde
Eye color? Blue

About My Pregnancy
Is this your first pregnancy? Yes!
When did you find out you were pregnant? September 21st
Was it planned? Yes. <3 We were so excited we got pregnant so quickly!
What was your first reaction? I couldn't believe it! Hubs was still sleeping before work and I ran over to our bed and said "you are going to be a Daddy!!!!". It was so amazing.
Who was with you when you found out? Just me for .2 seconds then I ran in to tell hubs. As soon as I saw that dark pink line, I had to tell him!
Who was the first person you told? Hubs
How did your parents react? They were very excited. They happened to be at our house the night before on their way to visit my brother in Richmond. After I told Hubs, I went into our guest room and told them 'June must be our lucky month! We are having a baby!'. They are over the moon excited to be grandparents.
How far along are you? 21 weeks
What was your first symptom? Nausea, feeling super tired, and a little crampy
What is your due date? June 3, 2013
Do you know the sex of the baby? Yes! A BOY!
Have you picked out names? Yes! Colin Bennett <3 
How much weight have you gained? About 6-7 pounds.
Do you have stretch marks? Nope
Have you felt the baby move? Oh yes! It’s so fun!
Have you heard the heartbeat? Yes, several times. It's the sweetest little sound.

About the Baby
Home or hospital birth? Hospital
Natural or medicated birth? I’ll most likely get an epidural, but we’ll see how it goes. Happy and healthy outcome is what I am going for!
Who will be in the delivery room with you? Just my husband until our little man arrives!
Will you breastfeed? I will do everything I can to make it happen!
Do you think you’ll need a c-section? I hope not, but if I do, I will embrace it. Again, happy and healthy is the most important thing.
Will you cry when you hold the baby for the first time? Oh yes, I’m sure of it
What’s the first thing you might say to him? How much I LOVE him!
Would you let someone videotape the birth? Ehh probably not
Are you excited or scared about the birth? I’m ecstatic to meet Colin, but I have to admit, I’m pretty scared about the getting the baby out part- I'm sure it will be ok though!

Baby Colin,

Mommy and Daddy are so very excited to meet you. It's so neat to feel you kicking and flipping all around in mommy's tummy. I picture you in there having a great time!! We day dream about your arrival and what it will be like to have you with us often. We can't wait for June to arrive so we can bring you home. For now, keep growing big and strong!
We love you to the moon and back.
Mama and Daddy

Linkup: The facts of Caitlin

I'm linking up with Whitney over at I wore yoga pants to work for a fun facts post!




So here are a few little facts about me...

Fact- I wake up every weekday morning to my alarm and think "I am SO tired. I am sleeping until noon this weekend". Then the weekend rolls around and I wake up on my own by 7:30. I have never been much of a sleeper-iner, even as a lil' tyke.

Fact- I am obsessed with all types of parmesean cheese. Not the expensive shaved parmesean, the cheap stuff. Good old Kraft. I put boatloads on my pasta to the point where my husband questions my sanity. Despite the fact that we've been living together for 4 years, he still makes a comment every time we eat pasta. Get over it hubs, I'm an addict.

Fact- I am always cold. Even at 5 and 1/2 months preggo, I am constantly cold. I have a space heater in my office and have it on when it's 80 out in August. In the winter, I blast the heat in the car, forcing my husband to roll the window down for air. He loves me for that. ;) Our winter thermostat at home is set between 70 and 72, no exceptions.

Fact- I am lucky enough to love my career. I have a job that I enjoy waking up to go to each week. Yes, some days are frustrating and tough, as in any career, but I truly love what I do.

Fact- I hate doing dishes. Hate is a strong word and I don't use it often, but I HATE dishes. I made a deal with my husband when we got married- you do all the dishes and I do all the laundry. Smart move on my part- the clothes don't shrink or turn funky colors and I don't have to touch the dishes.

Fact- although I hate doing dishes, I love cleaning. Truly, I am one of those freaks of nature that enjoys cleaning. When my house is clean and organized, I feel like I have my S*it together. I clean at least one thing every day, sometimes two. I'm good at it, I get it done quickly- lucky for you hubs.

Fact- I am the first person to admit that although I am going to be a parent, I still need to be parented. Who doesn't? There is nothing wrong with calling M & D and saying "hey, what do you think about this?" or "hey, how do you do this?" or "what would you do if you were me in this situation".  I don't think you ever stop parenting, that's part of the job. I still call my parents daily and get a good dose of parenting. They are my best friends and my biggest supporters. I love their advice and hope to be as good a parent as they both are. Love ya!


Fact- I am truly eclectic when it comes to my taste in music. I know a lot of people say that, but I truly am. In the span of a typical day, I usually listen to multiple artists from the following genera's:  classic rock, motown,  hip hop- from the poppy stuff on the radio to the gangsta gangsta ;), top 40, modern rock and 90s alternative and hip hop. (P.S. it makes me feel old when the radio comes on and says "now for a classic throw back jam" and its a song I listened to in 9th grade...depressing).

Fact- I have a visual perceptual deficit  Layman's terms- I can't walk in a poker straight line and sometimes run into things like walls/furniture. I was diagnosed as a kiddo. It doesn't bother me in the least. However, it does lead to minor bumps and bruises. ;)

Fact- I moved to Maryland for my college boyfriend. When we broke up a month later, I was convinced it was the worst decision EVER to move for a guy. Then, shortly after, it lead me to my husband, whom is the best man on the face of the planet. He is my knight in shining armor (gag, I know). Good things happen when you least expect it.

Fact- As if you can't tell by the bumpdate posts, I can't wait to be a mama.

Fact- I believe in long lasting, true friendships. I have known each of my closest friends for several years, 3 of them my whole life. I think it is so important to put time into your closest friendships and nurture them. There is not one of my friends that I wouldn't give my left arm for, I am so blessed to have such wonderful people in my life.

I think that's enough facts for now. Link on up with Whitney and show us what you are all about!

It's a BOY! 20 week bumpdate.

On Monday January 14th, I was 20 weeks pregnant. Hard to believe we are halfway through this pregnancy! We are getting so very excited to meet our little....
BOY!

We found out last Saturday that we are having a little boy, Colin Bennett, with a beautiful baby reveal cake. We had our families over for the big surprise.  It was such an awesome moment that I know we'll remember forever. We even got it on video to share with our little man someday. We cannot wait to meet you baby Colin!

(love this shirt, but it is not flatering for pictures!!)

How far along? 20 weeks

Size? Baby is the size of a large banana

Weight gain/loss? + about 6-7 lbs. depending on the day. Still working out and eating as healthy as possible (with a few indulgences here and there). I am trying to be as healthy as possible for both of us! ;) I'm very visibly pregnant now and I get a kick out of fellow gym-goers reactions to a pregnant lady running on the treadmill. I feel like belting out "don't worry! I got it cleared by my doctor!".

Maternity Clothes? I'm in a mix of both maternity and non-maternity. I think it's nice to be pregnant now...there are so many non-maternity styles that work while pregnant!

Stretch Marks? No sign of them yet!! Fingers crossed!

Sleep? I am finding it most comfortable to sleep on my side/side stomach with my supporting leg bent to keep the weight off the tummy. I tried sleeping with a pillow between my legs but it always ends up on the floor!

 Best Moment of the Week? Finding out that we will be having a little man!! That was by far the best moment this week. At our reveal party last week we also found out about a ring that's been passed down through Hub's family. Uncle Ralph passed the ring onto Hubs so that we can pass it onto our son someday. The ring and special moments are all featured in the pictures above. I will see if I can upload the videos this week.We also enjoyed our hospital tour this week as well. It was nice to get a feel for how things will go once Colin decides it's time to make his debut! (Although I did get faint and had to sit down when the nurse was reviewing the 'pushing' procedures...minor setback. I'm sure my anxiety about the BIG day will start to subside as the day gets closer, right?)

Miss anything? I'm still missing my energy. I've been able to power through four decent workouts this week but I was BEAT by the time I took my shower afterwards. I'm learning how to balance and sit down when I need a break.

Movement?Starting to feel lots of movement!  Hubs got to feel his first flutters this week as well!

Food Cravings? Nothing to crazy. I had a hankering for Raisin Bran of all things this week. Took care of that yesterday!

Anything make you queasy or sick? Not really. Might be ready to try shrimp again!

Gender? BOY!!!

Labor signs? no way...too soon! 

Symptoms? Starting to get some shortness of breath, but not too bad.

Belly button in or out? In!

Wedding rings on or off? On <3

Mood? Excited!! We will be starting the nursery this coming week!

Looking forward to? Starting the nursery! I came up with an inspiration board and started making a list of the decor items I'd like to start purchasing this week. My parents will be here next weekend to start the painting for sweet baby Colin's nursery.

101 Update

Being as it’s  a new year I think it’s time for a 101 list update. I think it’s a great time to look at some things I’ve crossed off my list and think about some things to check off in the coming months!

Kindness

1.       Write ten random letters or emails to family members and friends letting them know how special they are to me (1/10)

*sent my BFF, Juli, a card this week just for being awesome. She has been so supportive throughout my pregnancy and it means so much to me to have her in my life. I can’t wait for her to meet our little one!

Settled

7. Refurbish the dining room hutch

*We completed this project in the fall! I didn’t take before and after pictures of the project, but I will find some old pictures of the hutch and take some pictures of how it looks now. We removed the top, sanded down the ‘gouges’ and marks then painted it a pretty light grey. Hubs also got the metallic spray paint and painted the hinges a pretty silver color (much better than the brass they were). We replaced the knobs with antique looking glass knobs and it looks so pretty in our entry way. Now all I need is some artwork for above!

Creative

23. Write my master’s capstone (thesis) and enjoy the creative process

*Done as of December 17^th!!! I am actually really proud of the finished product and enjoyed writing

Joyful

28. Have five Mommy-daughter days with my mom doing something new (1/5)

*went on a lunch date and shopping with the daughters and mom’s in September. My SIL and MIL, Mom and I had a great time!

Growing:: literally and figuratively

39. Graduate with my master’s degree (!!!!!)

40. Pass the Practitioner of Human Resources exam (PHR)

*not done, but in progress! I am planning on taking the exam in May!

43. Successfully plant a vegetable other than upside-down tomatoes

*we successfully planted green peppers this summer!!! They turned out GREAT and didn’t stop growing until the end of October!

Healthifying

55. Take a multivitamin every day for a month (30/30)

*I’ve successfully taken a multivitamin every day since July! Being preggers makes you very aware of nutrients for your little one!

59. Get a flu shot every year (2/3)

Playing

67. Have at least one friend get together every other month (9/14)

*We’ve had a ton of get togethers with friends lately. We had Chip and Kristin down before Christmas for a night out on the town. We had dinner at a local gastro-pub and went to see a local Christmas light display. The weekend after Christmas we had our friends Ariel, Ben, Gina, John and Brittany over for a game night- so much fun!

69. Plan awesome 30^th birthday for husband
*we had a blast at his 30^th birthday party in November- huge success!

Purchasing
87.  Buy a DSLR camera

*In progress- have the camera in our possession for a trial run. Our friends Chip an Kristin upgraded their DSLR. We were thinking of buying their old one before baby comes. As a very generous gesture, they let us borrow it for a little while to make sure we like it. WE DO! I’ll be purchasing it formally from them next time we see them. J

Baking/Cooking

98. Make Christmas cookies every year (2/3)

*cookie day in December was a huge success! Over 400 cookies were baked!

I’d say I’m on the right track. I have a lot more to cross off this list in the next year and a half! Better get cracking!

19 weeks!

 We were 19 weeks pregnant on Monday January 7th! Today is the 12th which means- gender reveal party!!! I cannot freakin' wait to find out what our little bean will be!

(Please excuse my appearance, we were doing housework on Monday night. Hello, hot mess!)

Total weight gain: As of Monday it was about 6lbs. Right on track and within my "normal" range, which makes me happy.
How big is the baby? : Baby R is the size of a soda can according to our doctor! 10 oz.
Maternity clothes: Here and there. I'm still trying to make as much work as I can but I have some maternity pieces that have become staples in my wardrobe, mainly my maternity leggings and belly bands! So comfy.
Stretch marks?: Not yet... and hopefully not at all! Using Palmer's stretch mark cream daily!
Sleep: sleeping pretty well recently!
Best moment this week: Hearing that our baby is perfect and healthy at our appointment! All the baby's measurements were perfect!
Movement:  I feel little flutters. :)
Food cravings: Nothing crazy- carbs I guess is the thing I "want" the most. Still trying to make a conscious effort to to remain on track!
Food aversions: meat in general- so unappealing right now!
Labor signs: No way Jose
Belly button in or out: In
What I miss:  Having the energy to get everything done that I want!
Pregnancy Symptoms: bigger boobies, bigger butt, bigger baby bump! I still get stiff legs/back when I first stand up- thinking about taking up yoga to help! I'm also still very thirsty! I bought a camelbak this week and have been drinking at least 4 or 5 bottles every day!
What I'm looking forward to: Finding out the sex with our families tonight!

What do you think- is our little bean a boy or girl!?

18 week bumpdate!

I was 18 weeks pregnant on New Years Eve!
Baby R is the size of a mango.

Cravings: Nothing significant. I would say I want fruit more often, which I ate a TON of this week!
Any foods you don’t want: Meat is hard to swallow, litterally! I've never been a meat eater but I've been making an effort while pregnant. It's still not appealing. Hubs has been asking me to take "one more bite" at dinner. Guess he's practicing for having similar dinner conversations with our little one? ;)
Symptoms? Dry skin and thirsty. It is getting a little more interesting getting comfy in bed as well. 
Showing: YES! The bump is undeniable now.
Boy or Girl? We will find out in less than one week! Our baby reveal dinner with family is next Saturday. I can't wait!!! Mostly, we are excited to hear that our baby is healthy on Thursday.
Bought anything? Nothing since the crib and dresser/changing table. We started our registry last weekend! One of my best friends, Gina, got me a beautiful Kate Spade diper bag for Christmas, it's so, so pretty!
Shopping for anything?  Once I know the sex, I'll start getting some things for the nursery.
The Dad to be? He's so excited. He's been rubbing my belly more and more, it's so sweet. He always asks "you ok babes?" when we are out or I've been standing for a while. He reminds me to sit down and take it easy as well. <3
Most recent appointment? 12/21 we had a regular check up/blood work. I got to hear the baby's heartbeat!
Next appointment? This Thursday we have our 20 week ultrasound!!!

Baby Bean-

It's been so neat to feel you moving around in mama's belly. We've been reading you lots of good books and talking to you all the time. We hope you know how much we already love you. Can't wait to see you again this Thursday and see how big you are getting!

Love you to the moon and back!

Mama and Daddy