Am i the luckiest Girl in the World? Yes i think so!

Last night i was talking to my brother (who is over the moon happy about becoming an Uncle) and he wanted to know when Lamaze classes started (he's very new to the whole baby world) and i explained that wasn't until much later but we did start our registries for everything that isn't gender related. He asked where and i explained the two places and why... so he starts looking at them and ask when can he buy the stuff. I said it's all up for grabs now (if it's on there) but PLEASE don't buy a lot b/c i know he's still paying off Major Law School Loans. Yeah so this morning i go look b/c i couldn't help myself and do you know what he got?

my play yard AND my car seat!

He's out of control, he really is but i can't help but think back to our childhood. When we were little (like Elementary school) he got a leading part in a local college's musical and got paid for it. Do you know what he did with part of his money? Bought be a bunch of Trolls a house for them and furniture (hey i KNOW You remember how cool they used to be)! He did that for me just because he's the best big brother ever. He also used to switch TV dinners with me if i liked his choice more, etc. He has always taken care of me and he still is!

So now he's not just taking care of me but also Babylove! I just feel God has beyond blessed me!

Babylove is getting BIG!

The first (if you couldn't tell) is a profile shot of our little ones full body. You can see the whole body and the leg (that looks like it's floating unattached, but i assure you it IS attached, he/she's just turned so it looks funny). The second one is the head and shoulder and the baby is bending its' little arm to scratch its face! AWWW! I just loved the little arm and hand shot so they printed that for me too!

Other then growing RIGHT ON SCHEDULE (Those burgers are working!) everything else looks really healthy and perfect too! Chris and i were wildly excited because now our baby looks like a BABY! Chris even told ME that I did a good job! lol! He's so excited! YEA!

Lots of hugs for Babylove!

Books! And Babyloves First delievery!

Well lately Babylove has been getting showered. Chris and i invited Debbie along to get a jump start on our registry this weekend and she ended up buying Babylove his first gifts:

His swing AND the Tub!

I'm so excited about both, but if you've seen previous post you KNOW i'm LOVIN the swing! YEA!

Then yesterday Buddy got a package from Grandpa Mutt. It was a bunch of my favorite books growing up.... remember this guy:

It's the little Critter books by Mercer Mayer. It's full of life lessons while you get to see the little critter being silly! I love them!! Then there was an added surprise... A book entitled My Grandpa is Great... but you know that wasn't good enough for my dad, since Chris has a Dad, hense another Grandpa... so what did he do to make sure Buddy knows he's number one?? Took a Sharpe and wrote My Grandpa -->Mutt is Great on every page (cover and all) that had Grandpa on it! LOL! My Dad is great! lol!

Let the Grandparent competition begin! JUST KIDDING!

I'm BACK!!!!

Sort of... i don't promise to be as active as i was before but i DO promise to blog finally if i make something that is blogable. Now did i make something last night that fits into this category? Not unless you think this fits:
What? No? Doesn't count? Well shoot... what IS what i ate last night... Hey i'm pregnant and Chris was working late so kill me!
But i do have a little treat to welcome you all back to this blog and we should all thank Cooking and Eating in the Windy City for posting this b/c without her i wouldn't have had this idea.
So here's how it went down. We were invited to a Memorial Day party and were asked to bring a side of sorts. Well when i saw these little doosies i KNEW i had to make them. Hey i have standards to uphold with these guys (Chris's friends) plus i figured it was good practice for all the future birthday day parties that we'll be throwing. And without further anticipation... Burger Cupcakes!

These little suckers were pretty easy to make and really knocked the socks off people.... they really thought they were burgers until they picked them up! Here's what you do.

Make mini Yellow cupcakes. Don't fill the cups too much because you want a dome, not a muffin look. When they are cooled cut them in half and use kitchen sissors to trim up the tops if needed.

Make mini chocolate cupcakes. Same with filling the tins. Now cut these in half and trim the sides to give a rounded, burger look.

Make the lettuce: Get a bag of shredded coconut and mix in green good coloring with a fork until it looks like lettuce shreds.

Now you Layer: bottom bun, layer of icing (red or yellow) slice of chocolate cupcake, layer of icing (whichever color you didn't already use) and then sprinkle the coconut on. Top with the Top part of your "bun". Now to help the seseme seeds to stick i brushed a little bit of lemon juice on top.

BAM! Just like that you have tasty Cupcake Burgers!

WAS going to wait but What the heck

i need to vent! Okay so most people are like "How are you feeling", blah blah blah... but they don't REALLY care... i mean do they REALLY want me to be honest with them??? I think not because IF i were honest right now it would go something like this...

Well, honestly, i feel like a crazy woman whose about to snap and kill you all. I can't remember the last time i got a decent night of sleep, my uterus has been stretching ALL weekend while giving me lightening crotch*, in addition to already having lightening boobs*. I'm either constantly hungry or so full i can't function (no there's no inbetween) and i'm in a constant state of worry on how in the freaking world we're going to afford all of this baby stuff!

* Lightening crotch/boob is where you get the shooting stinging pains passing through (you guessed it) your crotch or boob. VERY uncomfortable and makes you want to grab the place that's hurting immediately... not always the BEST idea depending on where you are. Example: Crotch grabbing while on isle 5 at Target... boob grabbing while speaking to your boss...

So yes, i feel great (if you don't count all that other stuff) as long as you get me after a nap!

12 Weeks! YEA!!!

Can you believe it's already 12 weeks?? I can't! So excited! What a milestone! So what are we today???

a Plum!

Yea! We're getting bigger! As you move into the second trimester baby shifts into the growth and maturation stage. After weeks in the critical development stage, almost all of baby's systems are fully formed.In her digestive system, her small intestine are no longer entwined with the umbilical cord, but instead it's tucked neatly within the abdomen. Her nervous system continues to develop, and her brain's structure is fully formed. Many of her organs are starting to work on their own, too. For instance, her thyroid begins to secrete hormones. Next week she'll no longer be considered an embryo, but instead graduates into a fetus. She's already looking more and more like the baby you're probably imagining—she even has tiny fingernails. Yeah how cute!

I also think i might have slightly popped yesterday (that or i just need to poop). I was definatly bigger then i've been so far and it's still hanging in there today! You'll get photos tomorrow, right before we go for another ultrasound! Yea for seeing baby!

Featuring my only male reader!

Yes ladies and gentleman it is true, i have a male reader! And apparently he is quite the avid reader! To ALL the blogs! While at a memorial day party i found out this bit of tasty information and decided that i would feature his amazingness on here! Ladies i present to you Paul!



Now i know what you may be thinking ladies, with that fine Mohawk that turns into a mullet, not to mention the porn stash, but yes it's true he IS single for the taking! So if you're interested you just let me know!

Now i wouldn't leave Paul hanging like that, even though that picture is extremely priceless! Here's the Paul that we're all know and love:

(on the left)... oh wait, gezzz Paul there's even a hint of a porn stash there! What is with that... trying again...

Alright there we go, chillin with the homies!

And there you have it ladies... if you ever thought that men weren't interested in what we have to say... now you know... Paul cares! (and for all those wondering who that fan hunk of manhood is next to me and then Paul... that would be my tasty husband! My Babylove Daddy!

Dear Nonpregnant People

Saw this on one of my sites i visit and thought it was GREAT!

Dear Non-Pregnant Person,

I hope you find these guidelines helpful in your interactions with pregnant women as failing to follow them may result in serious physical harm.If you are thinking, surely she doesn't mean me- then you should probably read this twice.

1) The appropriate response to a couple telling you they are having a baby is 'Congratulations!' with enthusiasm. Any other response makes you a jerk.

2) Through the wonders of science, we now know that babies are made ONLY by the mother and father- not grandparents. Unless the baby is in your uterus or you are the man that helped put it there, you may not ever use the phrase 'my baby'.

3) On the same note, unless you made the baby as defined in 2, the pregnancy, birth and raising of the child are not about you. You do not have input. No one wants to hear your opinion unless they ask for it...

4) The body of a pregnant woman should be treated the same as any other body. You would not randomly touch someone's stomach if they were not pregnant, nor would you inquire into the condition of their uterus, cervix or how they plan to use their breasts. Pregnancy does not remove all traces of privacy from a woman. (guess i did that with this blog though~ lol)

5) Likewise, no woman wants to hear comments on her weight...ever. A pregnant woman does not find it flattering that you think she is about is pop, must be having twins, looks swollen or has gained weight in her face. Telling her she looks too small only makes her worry that she is somehow starving her baby. Making such comments invite her to critique your physical appearance and you may not act offended. The only acceptable comment on appearance is 'You look fabulous!'.

6) By the time we are 20-30 years old, most of us have picked up on the fact that the summer is hot. We are hot every summer when we are not pregnant. We don't need you to point out that we will be miserably hot before the baby comes. Nor do we need to know how badly you will feel for us because we will be pregnant during the summer and how glad you are that YOU will not be pregnant this coming summer.

7) There is a reason that tickets to Labor & Delivery are not yet sold on Ticketmaster. Childbirth is actually not a public event. It may sound crazy, but some women really do not relish the idea of their mother, MIL or a host of other family members seeing their bare butt and genitals. Also, some people simply feel like the birth of their child is a private and emotional moment to be shared only by the parents. You weren't invited to be there when the baby was created, you probably won't be invited to be there when it comes out either.

8) Like everything else in life, unless you receive an invitation, you are NOT invited. This includes doctor appointments, ultrasounds, labor, delivery, the hospital and the parents' home. You do not decide if you will be there for the birth or if you will move in with the new parents to 'help out'. If your assistance is desired, rest assured that you will be asked for it.

9) If you are asked to help after the birth, this means you should clean up the house, help with cooking meals, and generally stay out of the way. Holding the baby more than the parents, interfering with breastfeeding and sleeping schedules and making a woman who is still leaking fluid from multiple locations lift a finger in housework is not helping.

10) The only people entitled to time with the baby are the parents. Whether they choose to have you at the hospital for the birth or ask for you to wait three weeks to visit, appreciate that you are being given the privilege of seeing their child. Complaining or showing disappointment only encourages the parents to include you less.

Sincerely,

All the Pregnant Women in the World

LOL i thought that was pretty funny... while i agree with stuff like advice (honestly i don't care what you did or think i should do... if i do care i'll ask) b/c that just get annoying and i hate it when people talk about my weight (had one chick look at me and say "Oh my you're showing already??" so to her i said YES A LITTLE! Every woman is different, now MOVE ALONG!... seriously i did). Tell me i look cute but don't be shocked or rude! And i agree with the delivery but not the visiting... i mean i know i'll want some sleep so CONSTANT people will be draining but i WANT people to come and visit and ooh and ahh over my little one! And after the birth EVERYONE is invited to come clean my house and cook me dinner! I'll even let you hold the baby if you do!

Really don't like this photo but...

Here i am at 11 weeks... i don't like it b/c it was rush (my camera was dying) and i have a weird look on my face and i didn't get to outline my belly well... grrr.. anyway here you go...

But YEA check out those HOT shoes! UH HUH! Momma's looking GOOD! lol j/k...

How far along? 11 weeks 1 day in the photo (while typing this i'm 11 weeks 3days!)

Total weight gain/loss: don't know haven't weighed myself this week

Maternity Clothes? All my pants, some tops since mine are getting tight (thanks boobs) and make me look like a porn star with a gut.

Stretch Marks? no

Sleep? good when i get to sleep between pees.

Best moment this week: got the baby book cover that's going to be Babylove's baby scrapbook!

Movement? nu uh

Food Cravings: Those strawberry Popsicles that have real fruit in them.... OMG!

Gender: Honestly i'm almost feeling girl this week.

Labor Signs: I hope not!

Belly Button in or out? In

What I miss: being able to walk up two flights of stairs without loosing my breath.

What I am looking forward to: Seeing all of our friends on saturday that we haven't seen in a long time!

Weekly Wisdom: if you do your laundry in lots of little loads each day you won't have a husband yelling that he has not clothes at the end of the week!
Milestones: umm none that i can think of, even though each day feels like one!

A new outlook for baby showers!

So i started freaking out a bit because you know what, babies need A LOT of crap! I'm not kidding, and it's NOT cheap. So i decided i was going to be ahead of the game and create a spreadsheet with everything we're going to need. Then i'll go through and pick out the model of that item that i want (ex. we need a car seat and i want to get the Greco... blah blah blah one)... then my over achiever self took it one stop further and compared the priced between the two places we're registering so that i can register for the cheaper one AND make sure i'm not double registering at the same time. Smart right? WRONG! DON'T DO IT! You know what it's going to do to you????

1. Remind you of all the stuff you need
2. Remind you how expensive it all is
3. Remind you that you are all alone (okay that's an exaggeration) in this place called the north and there's only going to be like 10 people at your baby shower that will most likely only buy you clothes! I'm freaking out!

So here's what i think people should do (and i'm wishing i would have done for previous parents). If you can spend $20 then that's GREAT! It really means a lot that you want to spend ANYTHING and if all the cheap stuff is off the registry then please please please just give us a gift card! Because think about it... if i have to buy a $129 car seat but i get two gift cards then it only cost me $90! That's GREAT!

But don't worry people i'm not a snob, there's a great thrift store that i'm sure i can get a great used car seat for babylove (KIDDING!!! THAT's SOOOO unsafe).

I mean is this kid for real???

So i've joked that this lovely child of mine enjoyed trying out all of the "symptoms" of pregnancy until he/she found it's favorite one (fatigue and boobie aches)... and i have a theory about the ones that he picked, it's mostly the only ones that he/she could have picked that won't effect him (the baby)... i still can feed the baby (good for hungry tummies) i can still walk without swollen ankles (as of now) good for restless and bord children... etc. Well turns out baby wasn't done trying out the symptoms yet. OOOH NO! that wouldn't be any fun would it??

On to the possible kidney stones! YEA!! Yeah so lets see i think it was Monday night i started feel uncomfortable trying to sleep, couldn't find a position that didn't hurt. Yeah i was in pain (does this kid care? No b/c he/she's going to force itself like an alien out of a very small hole that i'm still not convinced it should be coming out of). The pain is in my back kind of right below the ribcage and comes and goes and when it comes i have to stop moving because it hurts so bad. Literally spent ALL DAY Tuesday in bed, didn't even feel like hanging out on the couch. So i started chugging water (heard this helps) and by Wed mid morning it was gone! YES GREAT! NOT! Wait what? NOT?? Yeah not... it's back this morning... but don't worry my child is just making sure the right side doesn't feel left out, yea same thing different side... excuse me while i go and chug water.

Body Image

Yeah so everyone is all prepared for gaining weight while pregnant right? WRONG! It's not THAT easy! I mean it IS easy to stuff your face and gain weight but you're not gaining where you thought you would... no matter how much you eat it won't form a cute baby bump until the baby gets bigger. I know fate is cruel, as soon as that pee stick says PREGNANT you should magically look pregnant but instead you look FAT. Here's my story...

So I'm at that point where if i try to wear my old clothes (the ones that still fit, gave up on pants a LONG time ago), like tops i just look pudgy... even now that the bloat has gone down and i do appear to have a cute tiny bump, to the unknowing eye (anyone who doesn't know i'm pregnant) would think that i just need to lay off the beer. And that's NOT FAIR b/c i CAN'T HAVE BEER!!! So i have a mini beer gut with NO BEER in it! I do have a baby the size of a lime so maybe i had to many margaritas? HAHA Just Kidding!

So it's like this, i wanted something nice to wear to church on Sunday since i was going to be up in front of everyone singing a solo... so i though EASY! I'll buy a dress... ha yea right! We went to Target, Ann Taylor Loft, and Kohls AND GUESS WHAT.... NOTHING! It went down like this, certain things were too fitted in the waist, the maternity stuff looked like a blimp on me, other stuff would have been cute on a girl who didn't have knockers the size of Texas. It was just an utter failure. So i left the last store defeated and complaining to Chris that i was Fat an Ugly, so what did my super sensitive husband tell me??? "what do you expect? you're pregnant!" WOW THANKS HONEY! I feel SOOO much better now! to which he quickly learned the error of his words and back tracked saying that I know he didn't mean it THAT way, just that i knew i was going to gain weight with the pregnancy. WELL DUH YEA! But NO ONE explains to you the stage BEFORE the bump where you just look like you robed a Krispy Creme. I mean hello, i drink my water, i eat my fruit, i LOVE my salads, i walk walk walk and STILL i'm the Michelin man.

So be prepared with LOTS of baby doll tops and dresses and build up that self esteem NOW! And if you still have time pray for me, i'll be seeing a BUNCH of people i haven't seen since Feb. this weekend and i'm hoping that i feel pretty. Is that too much to ask?

First the Fruit update

Babylove is growing right along and is finally giving me some relief on the bloat end. I now have a tiny bump that you can see b/c most of the bloat is gone! Babylove is the size of a....

are you ready for this?? I don't know why but this week excited me!

A LIME!

I mean that's kinda big finally huh!?!? YEA BABYLOVE!

Babylove currently enjoys a 1:1 ratio between body and head (see he/she has a BIG brain!), and has skin so transparent that blood vessels show right through (yea okay that's a little freaky). But, fingers and toes are no longer webbed (yea! She's no longer a water baby), and hair follicles, tooth buds and nail beds are forming -- setting up a significantly more attractive future (THANK GOODNESS). Babylove is now almost fully formed. Her/his hands will soon open and close into fists, tiny tooth buds are beginning to appear under his/her gums, and some of his/her bones are beginning to harden.

She's already busy kicking(we saw that at 9 weeks b/c my baby is a rockstar!) and stretching, and his/her tiny movements are so effortless they look like water ballet. These movements will become more frequent as her body grows and becomes more developed and functional. You won't feel your baby's acrobatics for another month or two — nor will you notice the hiccupping that may be happening now that her diaphragm is forming.

Yea grow baby grow!

Now HOW DOES the baby fit into my semi flat stomach?

It stretches... yeah thats what i thought. ummm hmmm. So for those of you wondering what this feels like, it feels like you've done a thousand crunches and it's the next day. But instead of a tight mid-section you get a rounder belly. Cruel joke, yes i think so. Don't worry it doesn't hurt like that ALL the time, just when you're trying to relax, like laying on the couch trying to catch up on the last episode of LOST, yes that's when it decides to make it so no matter how you lay you feel like your stomach is about to leap off your body and going running down the block never to be seen again... which i think is a pretty good picture for what IS happening... I mean my stomach as i know it will NEVER be the same. Even if i can get it flat again it might have a "love mark" (stretch mark) on it, etc.

Oh and here's another big thanks to my body, ha! So i used to be a pretty skinny girl, then i became curvy. I mean still slim, i had a pretty flat stomach just curvy hips and more boobs then i needed, and yes i know Baby's got back.... ANYWAY... when you get pregnant you will notice CURVES CURVES CURVES. My previous curves have got NOTHING on these babies! I guess that's what all those old Betties call "birthing hips" because people let me tell you, i've got room to "birth". You can still see right below the boobs and right above the "hips" where i'm reasonably small (no not America's next top model small, lets not kid ourselves) but then BA BAM! the hips are here (we won't even talk about the mountains that are currently hovering to the north). So be prepare for that pulled muscle feel, and pain in your pelvis... it's not always constipation... sometimes it's just growing!

OMGosh!!! Baby Stuff is TOOO feaking CUTE!

So many of you have heard of etsy.com where you can go and buy items that people make. Some of the stuff is a little scary BUT some stuff is sooo cute and i REALLY think i might have to order these two things!!!



I mean so you SEE what i'm talking about??? Baby crocks!!! and just look at that little hat! It's too cute! Plus since Babylove will be born in December he/she's going to need some cute hats! OH i just love them!

My man can COOK!

Oh yes, contrary to popular belief he can cook! He USED to cook all the time but when i informed him that my waist and arteries were dying from his form of processed food cooking he instantly began a boycott of the kitchen. "What? What did I say?" So because i've had a lack of cooking lately i think he has become inspired. One of his favorite dish that i make is just sausage/kabassa (sp?), etc cooked with peppers and onions. Well he decided to one up me and turn it into an amazing sandwich. (Is it just me or in your life can guys ALWAYS make the best sandwiches... so true for me) He took a hoggie roll and put down a slice of cheese, then layered the sausage, bell pepper, and onions, and topped with mustard. YUM! It was like a party in mouth! I may just let him keep cooking!

Houston we have... something~

okay so it's something... and i REALLY think it's more then just bloat b/c i can normally suck in the bloat but not that lumpy mass! Chris even went to sleep last night with his hand resting on Babylove (CHEESY GRIN). OKay so here are the stats

How far along? 10 Weeks

Total weight gain/loss: +2

Maternity Clothes? All my pants, (except todays, but they aren't buttoned... hey they matched my cute shoes that you can't see).

Stretch Marks? no

Sleep? good when i get to sleep between pees.

Best moment this week: Chris's mothers day gift to me... We're going to Barbados with my parents in July!!

Movement? nu uh

Food Cravings: Burgers, watermelon, chocolate milk

Gender: Still going with a boy

Labor Signs: I hope not!

Belly Button in or out? In

What I miss: not having to think about everything i put into my mouth.

What I am looking forward to: Our next u/s on the 27th... nothing much going on until then.

Weekly Wisdom: only release gas in the restroom... you never know when it's packing heat
Milestones: Got to celebrate my first sort of mothers day!

10 weeks! Slightly embarressing too!

Well i'm now a full ten weeks and Babylove is the size of a...

Prune!

I know attractive! lol. With bones and cartilage starting to form and vital organs beginning to function, baby is making major progress. Body length will almost double in the next three weeks, and arm joints are now working. (Soon, legs will too.) He's also swallowing fluid (yummy! What's wrong with this kid? Didn't his/her mother say not to swallow the bath water!) and kicking up a storm. Vital organs — including his kidneys (Yea for pee!), intestines, brain, and liver (now making red blood cells in place of the disappearing yolk sac) — are in place and starting to function, though they'll continue to develop throughout my pregnancy.

If you could take a looksey inside my belly, you'd spot minute details, like tiny nails forming on fingers and toes (no more webbing) and peach-fuzz hair beginning to grow on tender skin.

Aww We have a PRUNE! Actually this is a GREAT intro into my tropic for today... by rather embarrassing topic that i was thinking twice about posting, BUT i thought this MIGHT help someone... EVEN THOUGH i had this happen to a friend in her pregnancy and i didn't heed her warning... HEED MINE!

So I've already covered the part where you become QUITE gassy in pregnancy, lovely i know. Well it does get worse... sorry. So Saturday Chris and i went out to dinner with the in-laws for mothers day. We enjoyed a fabulous dinner of all you can eat crab legs! I LOVED IT! But there was one problem... the butter. At least i think it was the butter... i can only guess here. Sure enough towards the end of the meal i start rumbling, i excuse myself to the restroom, take care of business... we're doing okay! Time to go home... a 40 minute ride... in a closed care with my in-laws... OOOPS okay it's okay, they get it we'll just roll the window down and laugh it off... hee hee (cringe!!)

AHH we made it home! PERFECT! Upstairs to change, ooops there goes another one, hee hee who cares i'm up here alone! LET HER RIP!!!! No, not such a smart idea... apparently my flagellates are no longer just air. (Dum dum dum) That's right ladies and gentlemen (if you're still reading this) i had to promptly change my underwear because we had a little "leakage". Could you imagine if this would have happened at the restaurant or in the car!! LUCKILY i was home so i learned my lesson ALONE but now every time i get a little rumble i'm scared to just let it sneak out... so now since i'm running to the restroom every half hour to pee anyway... why not UP the trips so i can keep clean pants.

Eh Maybe i should borrow some of my grandmothers diapers and just call it a day!

Alright my little menions!

Lets talk DAYCARE! I know i know thrilling! It doesn't get much better then seeing where your little one will poop, pee, spit up and sleep while you busy "working" away. No no in all honesty we really did like the place. It's in our little town, so nice and close for both of us. It's been around FOREVER and comes very highly recommended by MANY. Plus the teachers have been there for like 15 years and have masters in education! I mean what kind of places has these kind of credentials. I feel like i'm in a movie where i'm trying to get my kid into one of those preschools where they wear little blazers and speak french. I mean they don't teach French at this school and they don't wear little infant blazers but COME ON the teachers have MASTERS degrees! One of them is a former engineer!

So yes we love love love it, they are going to teach our child to be smart like it's Daddy!

The cons: some of the play toys etc are a little old. Not like cracks and sharp edges are going to attack my child while they're playing with syringes on the playground old... but you know looks like it could use a little pick me up... mostly the outside toys. But it's all VERY clean so not a big deal. I think Chris and i were expecting to walk in and just see BRIGHT lights and Bells and Whistles, etc. Like the angles would come out of the sky and help our little one to toddle across the grass. Eh no such luck on that one but you know it was still really nice.

We're going to keep looking at places but that one is a favorite b/c i feel uber comfortable there!

So lets talk cost. Are you ready for this... this one is on the lower end of daycare centers at a mere $260 a week. Oh yes that means in a 4 week month we will pay over $1000! AND that's LOW for here! I mean i can find some in-homes that are a little closer to $200 a week but i don't know... i still sort of get nervous about in-homes. Not that aren't any good ones out there but I personally don't know these people. Like my friend sent her daughter to an in-home but she KNOWS the woman. Uh so if you want to make some money then move up here and take care of my babylove!

NEW SYMPTOMS!

No it's not as glamorous as the title might lead you to believe and it's not my boobs (even though i feel like two bowling balls have landed on my chest and unless i'm wearing a bra AT ALL TIMES they are trying to rip my skin my from body... but what's new)... it's this thing call insomnia! Oh yes this is PERFECTLY normal for pregnant women apparently. Yes while that baby is cooking away in you and draining every ounce of energy that you could possibly have to the point where your driving home from work literally HOLDING your eye lids up and call people to keep you awake, you get home lay down and NOTHING! OKay that's a lie, i do fall asleep, but then Baby wants to pee (don't worry you'll only have to pee like 4-10 times at night!) so i get up, try to keep my eyes closed, don't turn on ANY lights... pee, go back to bed, and lay there. Try another position, and lay there. Put on my sleeping mask to keep out the light of the cable box, and lay there. Oh yea and you KNOW Babylove is in there just giggling away because he/she can sleep ALL day while i'm propping open my eye lids at work.

From what i've heard is little things like this is your body's way of preparing you for when baby comes and it only gets worse in the third tri. Apparently nature wants to make sure you can function off no sleep before you have to care for a life. To nature i say "WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU THINKING!!!". I should be sleeping and building up reserves! If NATURE had it right we would be like chipmunks with our sleep. They can store all this food in their little cheeks for later, so why can't i store sleep for later? Mother nature has got it ALL wrong, man I could really teach her a thing or two!

Other then that i'm feeling great! I really am, Babylove is being kind to me in many areas.... so here's this weeks stats:

How far along? 9 Weeks  days

Total weight gain/loss: +2

Maternity Clothes? Pants mostly

Stretch Marks? nothing yet

Sleep? Ha, see above

Best moment this week: See Babylove in the first ultrasound! Simply amazing!

Movement? way to early for any of that

Food Cravings: Watermelon, burgers, pasta

Gender: Still going with a boy, even though i'm being more cautious in case it's a girl

Labor Signs: I hope not!

Belly Button in or out? In

What I miss: my memory!

What I am looking forward to: Mothers Day... not REALLY celebrating for me... but just knowing i have a little Love in me is special enough

Weekly Wisdom: Think twice about baby "projects". I'm making Babylove a blanket and a christmas stocking... now i realize i will have to do this for the next kid with A LOT less time... hmmm i'm understanding why the 2nd child gets a little less attention. lol
Milestones: Babylove's nubs were kicking away in the ultrasound.... amazing!

9 weeks 1 day!

Well ya'll all got to see Buddy.... and speaking of Buddy.... after MUCH consideration i'm going to have to rename him/her. Under the slight (50%) chance that out little bean is in fact a girl and not a boy i am worried that she will hear about this blog and be scared for life thinking that mom and dad WANTED a boy and not a girl.... which is NOT the fact at all, i just feel like it's going to be a boy and it would be nice for Chris b/c he terrified he'll screw up a girl or something, so a BOY would be a nice intro into fatherhood, even though i think he'll be great no matter what. A very selfish part of me wouldn't mind a boy first too b/c i know if we have a girl i might as well move out of the house and leave my boobs behind, b/c that's all i'll be, the milk machine. Chris will be so head over heels twisted around her little fingers from the beginning i would be surprised if he remembered my name, eh i guess i could share my spotlight. lol~

SO the new name we will use in referring to the child whose sex has yet to be determined will be Babylove. A mix of the obvious and our last name~ AWWW... yeah yeah moving on!

So BABYLOVE is now.....

The size of an olive! YEA, except i REALLY don't like the taste of olives. Other books say grape, so i'll go with that since i love those! Yum!

Your little embryo has now officially graduated to a fetus! With basic physical structures in place and increasingly distinct facial features, baby is kind of starting to look like... well... a baby! Babylove's heart finishes dividing into four chambers, and the valves start to form — as do her/his tiny teeth. The embryonic "tail" is completely gone (sweet my kid is not longer a tadpole!) . Babylove's organs, muscles, and nerves are kicking into gear. The external sex organs are there but won't be distinguishable as male or female for another few weeks (Dangit!). His/Her eyes are fully formed, but her eyelids are fused shut and won't open until 27 weeks. Shem has tiny earlobes, and her mouth, nose, and nostrils are more distinct. The placenta is developed enough now to take over most of the critical job of producing hormones. Now that your baby's basic physiology is in place, shem's poised for rapid weight gain.

Joy! Lets get fat! I hope this baby grows grows grows! Go for it Babylove, you just tell Momma what you want and DON'T you worry, i'll force myself to eat, even i really don't want that double cheese burger with grilled onions, pickles, lettus, mayo and ketchup from Five Guys. I WILL do it for YOU, no matter how much it hurts to eat those glorious Cajun fries! You just let me know what you need and i'll find the strength from somewhere!

Babylove is 9 weeks and 1 day along!

Nothing Funny about this one

This one is simply magical. At least for Chris and I. Yesterday was our first doctor appointment and we got to have our first sonogram! It was just breath taking to get to see our little one up on the screen. (I WASN'T IMAGINING IT!) He (or she) was quite the active one kicking his little nubs (b/c they Technically don't have feet or hands fully yet). But man he's got some spunk b/c he was just kicking away! He is good and healthy with 170 heart beats a minute (i'm told that's great!) and he's measuring right on time with a December 8th due date! YEA! Chris and i just thought this was the neatest experience and can't wait to see him again!

And now,

Introducing.... Buddy!

Sorry if the picture isn't the best quality, i did my best, BUT you can see his little Head on the left and then his body with little arm and leg buds coming off of him! SO cute! It's really just the most amazing thought and feeling that THAT little guy is in my right now... MOVING! Simply incredible!

Will someone PLEASE teach this kid about Rules!

Okay so we're almost 9 weeks and this child has my fingers swelling ALREADY! This is NOT supposed to happen this soon! What is he thinking?!?! Yeah... so i had to go out and buy a $10 wedding band type ring at Kohls this weekend because, much to this child dismay, i will NOT be that big waddling pregnant woman walking down the isle at Target getting all the old Betty's shaking their heads at "yet another unwed mother"... not that there's anything wrong with it... lets just say i'm paranoid. But you know what Buddy did today??? Let me THINK i could wear my ring this morning... and now it WON'T COME OFF! I mean this kid is just playing games with me now... i picture him in my belly just drumming his fingers together giggle thinking "Now what can i do TODAY that will throw her off". Yep definately MY child.

Speaking of Picture.... we're going to get one this afternoon! It's out first appointment and we're going to have an ultrasound so YEA! more updates tomorrow!

AND the winner is....

B! Santa's Sleigh Ride. I plan on changing a few of the felt colors if it ends up that we're having a girl... but even if it's a girl i expect to her be tough, with her heels on!

It's Voting TIME!

Okay, back story.... when i was little my mom was always (okay not always b/c she was a very busy mom, but still) working off and on on these felt Christmas stockings. I Just Loved Them! And they never got finished. I think she still has them~ lol. ANYWAY... i made one for Chris (only took 3 years!)! Well i want to make one for Buddy, especially since he'll be here right before Christmas! So i want ya'll to Vote on which one you like the most. I mean Chris and i do have the ULTIMATE decision BUT honestly i'm finding it REALLY hard to choose... i'll also put my thoughts under each one.

A. obviously we're dog lovers and it's fun to include that on Buddy's stocking b/c i think he will be too... BUT the dogs do have their own stocking so shouldn't Buddy have one, Dog free? Or am i thinking too much here?

B. Now this is a fun one, it's got color, all of the fun friends, sledding! But maybe it's not sentimental enough?

C. Now who doesn't love Santa hugging Snowmen children? How sweet Buddy could be getting hugged! But it's not very FUN is it... color wise... will Buddy like it when he gets older?

D. Now this is fun! Colorful! Family sentimental! But where is the rest of the family (Dogs) and what will my second child think about the fact that Big Brother/Sister has a stocking that doesn't have them on it like they were never born (i know they aren't YET, but i do plan on more then one child).

Okay so there you have it... A, B, C, or D? I will announce the winner later today!!