31 Weeks

How time has flown! We finally found a place to live--this cute duplex in Tacoma. It's next to a middle school that has a track where I take my walks. It also has a fireplace! Way cool, huh? John and I have enjoyed building it into a home. The baby room is almost set up...I bought a crib and bookcase but I didn't realize the crib is a drop side. It is, though, made from a high quality wood with metal sliders and no plastic parts (which are the ones that created the recall and banning issues), so I really just have to decide if I want it. I can also not use the drop side and put the other side against the wall. The baby room is inspired by giraffes and lots of fun color (pink, light blue, teal, orange, green).

Symptoms: TIRED! Fatigue has set in and right now she likes to jam her bum and legs into my ribs...no big deal. And super weird dreams with frequent trips to the bathroom at night...all normal stuff. I went to the ENT and found out that it is not a nasal polyp but some other big scientificy word. But basically it will not go away at least until after I'm pregnant and if not then I have to get surgery to get it removed. JOOOOYYY!! But I found out that if I wear a nose expander thingy and a Breathe Right strip on my nose then I can at least breath through my nose for most of the night.

Cravings/Aversions: I LOVE SUGAR!!! But I try to limit myself..haha..as I'm eating snickerdoodles hot out of the oven right now. But John and I have found some good meals to get much needed protein in my diet. I normally gag down eggs but have found egg mcmuffins to be delicious. Also, a rice, bean, and kale dish that was super good. Last night, we made cauliflower pizza crust pizza. It was not that bad. The key to the crust is to make sure you ring out all the water in a cloth napkin or towel. I like being able to make my own food and use the kitchen again!

Best Moment(s) of the Week: Getting settled!!

Our Little Caterpie is the size of a pineapple (which I will be able to eat fresh pineapple IN Hawaii in just 18 days!)

• She's going through major brain and nerve development.
• Eye development, too. Her irises now react to light!
• All five of her senses are in working order.

Baby bump pic to come!!

28 Week Bump

28 Weeks

It's been just too crazy to write but that's not that great of an excuse since I spend most days sleeping. Can't believe, though, that I'm 28 weeks! When did I get so far along? Moving to Washington has not gone as expected; it's been a trial of patience and courage. I thought for sure by now we'd have a place to live but maybe I'm picky...maybe not. We did a ton of apartment searching in Kent and Auburn near John's work and places were either too expensive, way too small (1 bedroom where we probably wouldn't even fit our bed in the bedroom), or just icky at our price range. We did have one place lined up but it fell through due to way too crazy of a day. That was several weeks ago and they wanted an answer right away. That was the day that our tire blew out as John was headed to work and my phone broke. My in-laws and I were running around all day trying to get not only our car fixed but both of theirs as well. But, I'm kind of maybe a little glad we didn't get that place. I would not have been able to teach cello at all and it was seriously right next to the interstate. VERY LOUD! We've expanded our search to not only Kent and Auburn but other towns as well...it's been semi-successful. We found a duplex in Puyallup that was seriously trashed (the guy had a total breakdown and took an ax to the wall....)but had good bones. It would be ready in two weeks if they accept our application over another persons.. I personally think we would make better tenants and plus we can bring the Spirit into the home (not that that matters to a property management company but this place needed it). Thank goodness for the blessings of the Priesthood. Maybe I'm just looking for a diamond in the rough.

Symptoms: Sleepiness, I'm getting to that stage where sleeping is just uncomfortable. I toss and turn trying to find a position that's comfortable enough to drift off. I have found the source of my nosebleeds, too. I've had some pretty bad ones and I finally decided to follow my father-in-law's advice and put some petroleum jelly in my nose to keep it moist and not so dry. My nosebleeds were less frequent and some scabs dissipated. Turns out...I have a huge blockage in my nose...what looks to be a nasal polyp. Uh..nasty. Thankfully, I was able to go to Urgent Care and get an appointment with an ENT this week. They gave me some flonase and we'll see what the ENT says. It's so hard to breath sometimes and breathing through my mouth gets tiresome and annoying. I wake up in the middle of the night super thirsty on top of having to go to the bathroom...it's not pleasant. 

Cravings/Aversions: It's difficult to say because I've started to regulate my diet to guidelines my midwife and my birthing class has given me. It's so frickin hard to get 80 grams of protein in the day when you're not a big fan of eggs. It's getting better, though. I'm able to eat eggs as long as I have something with it.We found this Hawaiian restaurant that serves some dang good saimen--Hawaiian ramen. With egg it is delicious! Also, my mother in law makes good deviled eggs. YUM! I also like oatmeal with peanut butter, apples, and cinnamon, Cottage cheese is a favorite of mine, too. But nuts are so hard to eat, so are beans. I don't know if it was an aversion as much as it was just eating too much but chocolate has become harder to eat. It gives me a strange feeling in my stomach so I'm careful with how much I consume. But that doesn't stop me from eating too many sweets. =( 

Best Moment(s) of the Week: I've got to say this weekend was pretty fantastic, minus Fourth of July celebrations. I loved that John had 4 days off! It was so good to spend time with him, even though he spent a lot of that time finishing homework. His work schedule has been so crazy and he's worked some long hours. Good for income but he has been worn out. These past 4 days have given him a chance to recharge. The company is also thinking of putting him second in command! I knew he was good and stood a chance to get promoted but I didn't think it would be this soon. Let's hope everything works out. My husband works so hard. I am a proud wifey!

Our little girl is getting so big--so is my bump! I wish I had taken some pictures on the Fourth of July because I looked super cute in my red, white, and blue get up. I even curled my hair and did my nails and everything. But I spent the majority of the day feeling pretty crappy. She is now as big as an eggplant.

• She's starting to develop more fat, so her wrinkly skin will start to get smoother.
• Her lungs are mature enough that she'd probably survive if she was born now. Wow! But I'd like her to stay inside.

She kicks a lot and is very active! It's so neat. I have really got to take some pictures of my bump! I'll be sure to dress cute today and get a picture. 

Week 22

Symptoms: This week I've been trying to get out more and enjoy this beautiful weather! It was raining for the past couple weeks which I guess that's preparing me for Washington weather but it's been kinda depressing. Even so I tried to go out on walks. And then finally the sub came out. Whenever I feel a little cruddy I go on a walk and that feeling goes away. I know I write about yoga each week but I seriously have fallen in love with it. I feel it helps me feel more spiritually connected. I'm not humming and praising Buddha..haha no. It puts my mind at ease and gets me in the right mindset to pray to my Heavenly Father. I found a great yoga video which brings my heart rate up and does some poses that other videos haven't. My favorite is downward dog. It really stretches my calves and helps with my plantar fasciitis which has gone down since school has gotten out. The main symptom I feel is that when I wake up I feel like my blood is just not flowing well through my body. It's especially bad when I wake up startled in the middle of the night.

Cravings/aversions:

Don't remember....

Best moment(s) of the week: Our street has a lot of cats and there's this black cat that I swear has the most constipated meow. We've tried to chase it away so it won't wake us up at 4:30am. I think it's getting the picture. We also have this Siamese mix cat that likes to hang around. She is so sweet. I think it's funny that just before we moved out of our trailer there was a kitten who got attached to us and now that we're moving out of our apartment there's another cat who has become attached to us. I like to think of it as our good luck charm.            

Our little girl is growing! At 22 weeks she is about the size of a papaya. 

•has more developed eyelids and lips. So cute!! 

•is on a sleep cycle about 12-14 hours a day

                                       

Week 19-21

It's been super crazy with getting ready to move to Washington in about 1 week and a half and with finishing up school.

Symptoms: I am so hungry all the time! I also am starting to feel lathargic and I'm sleeping a lot. Yesterday I was in bed sleeping or lying on the couch most of the day. It might be due to the fact that I had my last day of school with the kids on Friday and every stress and anxiety from the year melted away. What a huge relief to be done!! Most challenging two years of my life (even tops the 18 months I spent serving a mission).  I'm also feeling the need for tons of pillows to support me and help me feel comfortable. I'm thinking of getting a body pillow. I woke up this morning at 5:30am to some drunk guy outside yelling real loud. Some people...anyways..My legs felt so weak. I couldn't get up for an hour or so and it wasn't until John massaged my legs, feet, and arms that I could get up. I'm thinking I should prop my legs up when I sleep.

Wednesday was my worst day yet being pregnant. I had to turn the lights off in my office during class and sit there in silence as I did some meditation and relaxation techniques. I felt short of breath and super weak. I just felt so icky and it might have been because I ate so much the night before and I had a lot of stress the night before (it was graduation and boy howdy my kids were freaking out about what to do or about the fact they couldn't hear the piano and I couldn't handle the many many questions I was being bombarded with...just please try and go with the flow and don't talk to me while we're performing!! Some things don't go as rehearsed or as planned, or maybe if you had just listened the first time I wouldn't have to repeat it a billion times). Anyways..rant over. Despite that I did have a pretty good week. I was able to just chill out with my students and we said our goodbyes. I will miss some of them dearly it makes my heart ache.

I'm still trying to get some exercise in. Some of the yoga routines from Yoga with Adrienne are a bit intense and not meant for pregnant women, so I found some ones that are more for prenatal exercise. I found some great 10 minute videos that I've been able to before going to school or just before going to bed. They get my blood flowing and make me feel great! I've also looked into some labor meditation videos and mp3s. So relaxing and great to fall asleep to. I love the affirmations and how they make me feel connected with our little girl. Sometimes I get so caught up in life that's happening around me that I almost forget I'm pregnant. 

Cravings/Aversions: Maybe it's the fact that the only thing to get to celebrate with in Shelley is donuts from Broulims but bleck!! I about passed out from the sugar in the air. John and I did find a bakery in town that sells some of the best donuts I've ever had and Broulim's are super disgusting compared! But seriously....so much sugar! I can't seem to stay away from it, though. I'm trying to eat healthier..minus the several trips to Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt...(seriously their brownie batter and white chocolate mint froyo with a buttload of oreos is the BOMB!!!) Veggies are hard to eat! This baby is sadly going to be addicted to chocolate...like I am. EEP! On Friday morning I totally forgot to make a broccoli salad for a potluck thing we had at the middle school..so at 6am in the morning I stroll over to Albertson's to pick up groceries and I include some of their chocolate chip muffins in that...the broccoli salad, which I was so excited to eat, was really really gross. I was super self conscious of it during the lunch. People said it was good but I'm thinking they were just being nice...or maybe it was just because I was pregnant that it tasted off..I'm hoping the latter.

Best Moment(s) of the Week:
Well...since I haven't written since week 18 I'm going to include some things from weeks 19-21. We found out IT'S A GIRL!!!

Oh we are so thrilled!!! I was super nervous going into that ultrasound. It took forever to get in. I was actually shaking. I had had a dream the night before that it was a boy...and even though I would have been grateful I was just thinking how much I wanted a girl. It took about 20 minutes into the ultrasound for us to finally have it confirmed. She was being bashful and crossing her legs and would not uncross them. We've thought of several names before we even got pregnant and we're hoping one of them will just stand out once we see her. We've already kind of started calling her by one of the names we like the most but it's only in our thoughts that we say it. I'm not really for naming your child before you see it but to each their own.

We've definitely been able to feel her kick, too!! It's such an exciting experience. The night before we got the ultrasound was the first time John felt her. Sometimes it startles me how much she moves. She was doing some crazy acrobatics yesterday. Maybe she'll be into martial arts like John. It makes me want to see her and meet her! Cannot even wait!

Baby BUMP! It's like a real bump..enhanced by the double chocolate chip frappe (again with the chocolate...) that John made for us after church. Yum!

Our Little Girl is as big as a papaya

• She's looking more and more like a newborn. Her facial features are more developed. It looks like she's got John's nice full lips =) She better not be kissing lots of boys when she's older.
• She's sleeping in cycles--12-14 hours per day. I'm really hoping she doesn't have sleeping problems like I do. 

Week 18

Symptoms: All I can say is that holy cow, second trimester is so much better than the first! I have had more energy this week and have actually had a desire to work out! Woot woot! I currently love yoga. It makes me feel so good. I've always been a stretcher since I was little but now I know how to do that while gaining strength. It has also helped me with some minor back pains I've been experiencing, and with the power of position thinking. While I'm doing yoga I meditate and focus my mind on this little baby growing inside of me. I focus on the love I have for our little caterpie. I also want to start getting my mindset ready for labor...even though I have NO CLUE what it's going to be like. I can do all the reading I like but I have never experienced labor. It's a bit frightening to say the least. But hopefully, I can take some of my yoga practices and utilize them during that whole process. HOPEFULLY!

Cravings/Aversions: Absolutely love chicken noodle soup!! I even made a double recipe of homemade soup this last week and John and I, mostly I, ate it up in 2 days. I don't even remember how I made it because I combined several recipes to accommodate for what we had in our cupboards. But I will definitely be making it again. If I didn't have homemade soup I went to the store to get some of that Progresso stuff that I mentioned last time. I also have been enjoying peanut butter M&Ms. I mean I always go through phases with my candy but it's been years since I've been through a peanut butter M&M phase. Thankfully, I'm over the soda phase. As good as it tasted, I just am not a huge fan of how root beer makes me feel...super burpy. Maybe it was the fact that it was just disgusting anyways..but this last Sunday during the passing of the sacrament they had good bread (you know? the squishy white stuff), and then they had not so good bread....sunflower cardboard crap. I got the sunflower stuff...Maybe because I'm pregnant and just don't care I immediately spit it out. I got a few crumbs in there so I technically partook of the bread but seriously guys....don't EVER bring that stuff to a sacrament meeting. I understand food allergies and gluten free bread, but this was just plain awful.

Best Moment(s) of the Week: Having people finally realize that I'm pregnant when I say I am! There's a bump there for sure. It's like in the last 2 weeks or so it's just popped out. I mean...I've always been a bit chubby and that's hid that bump quite well, but now ..=)

Also! I think I have felt this little baby move a little bit. There were definitely times I felt that was not just my intestines or something moving. It was super exciting for me and reassuring.

This wasn't this week but during week 17, I played my last concert with the Idaho Falls Symphony. It's been so fun this year working with such wonderful musicians. We performed Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition, which is one of my all time favorites. We also had 2 soloists come in and play concertos--one a beautiful harp concerto by Handel that made me actually want to like harp music, and then Tchaikovsky's Rococo Variations. It was fun to hear the Rococo Variations and reminisce about the time I played it during college.

Yesterday, we went to go see The Avengers. It was super good but I  somehow missed the punchlines of most of the jokes...I don't know even really know why (well once because I ate some particularly crunchy popcorn) so one moment I'm enjoying the movie and the next people are laughing...I didn't hear the line!! Darn it!!


SOOO Our Little Caterpie is technically a full 19 weeks and 2 days old but here are the facts about week 18.

Our Little Caterpie is the size of a sweet potato

• Can you believe she's (or he) yawning, hiccuping, sucking and swallowing?
• And she's (or he) twisting, rolling, punching and kicking, too — and is big enough that you might be able to feel her (or him) doing it!
• WE FIND OUT WHAT THE SEX OF THE BABY IS MAY 12th!! Put your votes in! Is it going to be a girl or a boy???

16 Weeks

Symptoms: I would write about week 15 but while I was writing about it last week my memory failed me...I guess I'm getting to that point in my pregnancy where everything seems to slip from my mind. This week I forgot that I was supposed to judge the middle school choir. They were having a mini festival during their hour and I totally forgot. I felt terrible. I do have more energy compared to weeks past (I even have done my makeup, my skin is starting to look way better! I don't even have to put blush on) and I've only gotten morning sickness once! Yippee!! On Monday, though, my body just did not want any food. The only thing I could eat was chicken noodle soup (Progresso 99% Fat Free Chicken Noodle Soup is the way to go as far as canned chicken noodle soups go. I did some research on it) I think it was because on Sunday I ate sooo much delicious balsamic pork at my sister's house. We had a birthday party for my niece and then dinner afterwards. Oh my goodness it was the most delicious pork I have ever had! I probably had like 5 servings of it along with 5 homemade crescent rolls. Another symptom of the week is that I'm starting to get some signs of depression. I have always struggled with depression but it has really been under control and well this school year up until now. With the depression comes extreme moodiness. I know it's the hormones doing a lot of the work so I talked to my midwife about it and she said to wait a couple weeks then see how I was doing. Yesterday was the first time I really felt sooo big, I mean I'm only 16 weeks and everyone says that I don't even look pregnant but man, yesterday, maybe I was just super bloated but I felt like a blimp.

Cravings/Aversions: Yesterday, I had a hankering for red vines and some York peppermint patties.Still loving fruit. I got a delicious cantaloupe this week and I have been loving it! Also, in my piano class some of my students are working on a song called "Rootbeer, Rootbeer, I Love You" and I just couldn't get it out of my brain how good rootbeer sounded. I maybe had it twice this week and I rarely drink soda. Bagels and cream cheese seem to be the go to meal I eat in the morning. Not news but pancakes are disgusting. I ate a grilled cheese sandwich and I could not finish the whole thing. My 6th graders sometimes get candy from the bus driver who buses them over and that candy smell is just way too overwhelming. I feel bad when I tell them to throw it away or put it away. 

Best Moment(s) of the Week: Sunday was definitely the best moment of this week. We went down to Utah to celebrate my niece's birthday. The whole family was there. It's been awhile since my family was all together and especially with Melissa and Matt moving to Texas and John and me moving Washington it will be awhile til we all get together again. I wish we could have stayed longer because it was just a short day trip. I enjoyed Emily and Julie playing duets and Dad playing his banjo. For fun, Emily performed the gender-revealing pencil test on me and it said we're having a girl. Who knows??? We'll find out on May 12th for sure. John has always thought he would have a girl first so we'll see if that rings true. We also received a gift from my mom--a beautiful ragtime quilt. My mom is so talented and we absolutely love the quilt. 

I guess it was last week but seeing this when I was teaching one of my private cello students....do you think he'll become a luthier??? He made it for his other cellist friend for his birthday!! What 7th grader does that??? So cool! These two boys are also the ones who come up with new seating charts for orchestra (I don't use them, though) and come up with presentations for their other classes on marching orchestras. I am going to miss them so much!!

Our Little Caterpie is about the size of an avocado

• He or she can hear my voice and is listening to it already =) because of the tiny bones that are forming in it's ears
• Hair, lashes, and eyebrows are growing
• As well as taste buds
  

My next appointment we get the 20 week ultrasound!! I am so excited! I can't wait!