15 Weeks

Pregnancy Highlights

How Far Along: 15 Weeks and 3 days

Size of Baby: 4 inches long, crown to rump, and weighs in at about 2 1/2 ounces, about the size of an apple.

Total Weight Gain/Loss: I think I've probably gained around 5 lbs or so.

Maternity Clothes: Yes, all maternity pants and some maternity shirts.

Gender: We should be able to find out in 2 weeks, but everyone has been telling me they think its a girl, so I'll be really surprised if its a boy. The Chinese Gender Chart says its a girl too.

Movement: I think I may have felt a little flutter late last week, but haven't felt anything since then so I really don't know. I guess I should start feeling movement soon.

Food Cravings: No real cravings yet.

What I miss: Being able to sleep through the night.

Sleep: Not sleeping great. I'm super tired and fall asleep easily, but I'm having to get up a couple times a night to use the restroom.

Symptoms: Feeling a lot better now, but still feeling tired a lot and having to use the restroom often.

Best Moment this week: Spending time with Family.

What I am looking forward to: Finding out the baby's gender and feeling him/her move.



Grammy

This past Thursday I received the worst news I've ever gotten. My Grammy had passed away. It was so unexpected as she had been doing so well for the last several years. She had a major heart surgery back in 2005 and had suffered 1 or 2 strokes, but had recovered from all of that and had been doing great. So it really came as a shock to all of us. She passed Thursday morning at home, in her chair, where my Papa found her when he came home from work that afternoon. I can't imagine coming home to find your wife, of almost 54 years, has passed away. To make matters worse, their 54 year anniversary was yesterday, the same day as the funeral. It makes me tear up just thinking about it. He stayed so strong over these last few days though. I know it must have been so hard for him. The paramedics said they think the cause of death was most likely due to her heart.

She was such a loving person and was always there whenever we needed her, no matter what. I have so many wonderful memories of her. As a small child my mom, sister and I would spend every Sunday afternoon at my Grammy and Papa's house. Grammy would fix us lunch after church and we'd play at their house for the whole afternoon. We would spend the night at their house on occasion and she'd always give us her undivided attention whether it be taking us somewhere fun or watching movies at her house. She would always fix us whatever we wanted to eat, even if both my sister and I wanted something completely different. :-)

As we got older, my mom would pick her up every Friday for lunch and they would go shopping together. During the summer my sister and I would get to go. Then within the last several years, I've had every other Friday off to go to lunch and shopping with them. Grammy didn't care where we went, she just loved being along for the ride and spending time together. We would sometimes go back to my moms and my mom would fix dinner for all of us and our families and when it was time for us to leave Grammy would always give us girls a hug and say she really enjoyed spending the day with us. I know she looked forward to those Fridays and so did we. Fridays won't be the same without her, but we plan to carry on the tradition. :-)

She was so excited about Ashlee and I being pregnant and would always rub our bellies and tell us to take care of those babies. I remember calling her and Papa to tell them the good news and when he told her I was pregnant, I could hear her in the back ground screaming with excitement. She loved kids and would always play with Landon whenever they were together. The thing I hate most is that this baby will never get to meet his/her Grammy. I know they would have loved her so much and enjoyed spending time with her. But they will know their Grammy with all the wonderful memories and stories we have to tell them.

I miss Grammy so much, but find peace in knowing that I will someday see her again in heaven.

Grammy and I this past Christmas.

Grammy and Papa with all their kids, kids spouses, Grandkids, Grandkids spouses and Great-Grandchild at their 50th wedding anniversary party in 2007.

My Mom, Grammy, Sister Ashlee and Myself on Mother's Day 2010.

Grammy and I at my wedding reception.

Grammy and Papa, Easter 2010

Me, at Grammy and Papa's house, wearing some old frames that my Grammy used to wear.

Myself, Grammy, My Mom and my sister Ashlee on Mother's Day 2009

Maternity Clothes Shopping

I've started doing a little maternity clothes shopping these last couple weeks and have come to the realization that they charge way too much for maternity clothes and there really isn't as much out there as I thought there would be. I just hate to pay so much for something I'll only wear a short amount of time.

Thankfully, I have been able to find some things on sale and I found a couple of good deals at an upscale resale shop in St. Louis called the Scholar Shop. I got a pair of khakis for work that were originally from Motherhood, with the tags still on them. They were originally $25, which really isn't all that bad, but I got them for $15!!! I also got this cute little tank top to wear this summer when its 95 degrees outside and I'm miserable. It looks like it is almost brand new and only cost $5!

Updated Easter Decorations

I recently blogged about my Easter Decorations for this year. You can see my post here. I added some more to my kitchen table and wanted to share it with you. Here is a before and after picture. I'm really happy with the updates. I love the brighter colors.

Before

After. 

When I bought the table runner at Target a couple weeks ago, they had several other things to go with it, but I just didn't really have the money at the time to buy it all. However, I got some Target gift cards for my birthday and was able to go get a few more things to add to my table. I got the little salad plates, the napkins and the napkin rings all to match the runner. I also replaced the white candles that were in my centerpiece with candles that matched the runner to bring out the brighter colors. By putting in the brighter colored candles, it brightened up the votive holders and made them match the runner better. I looked all over Target for some votive holders that matched my runner better, but they didn't have any. Now I'm glad they didn't because I was able to match the ones I already had just by adding different candles! :-)

14 Weeks

Pregnancy Highlights

How Far Along: 14 weeks today.

Size of baby: The baby weighs 1 1/2 ounces, and is about 3 1/2 inches long (crown to rump)... about the size of a lemon.

Total Weight Gain/Loss: I'm not really sure. I think I've probably gained around 5 lbs or so.

Maternity Clothes: I'm wearing mostly all maternity pants and some maternity shirts and some regular shirts.

Gender: We should be able to find out in about 4 weeks. Sometime in mid May. I can't wait. :-)

Movement: Not yet, its still a little too early. They said at the Dr. office last week that I should start to feel the baby move between 16 and 20 weeks. So it should be soon!! I can't wait.

Food Cravings: None yet. Just whatever sounds good at the time.

What I miss: Being able to sleep through the night without having to get up to go to the bathroom.

Sleep: Still not sleeping great. I continue to have to get up in the middle of the night to use the restroom and i don't seem to be sleeping very soundly.

Symptoms: The nauseous feeling has been so much better these last few days so I'm hoping its pretty much over. I'm starting to have a little bit more energy too I think, which is wonderful. I am still having to make frequent trips to the restroom, which I've heard doesn't get any better any time soon. I also have a little bit of indigestion when I eat certain things.

Best Moment this week: My surprise b-day party this past Saturday and doing some more maternity clothes shopping. We also got to hear the baby's heartbeat for the first time last week! It was awesome! The baby's heart rate was in the 170's!!

What I am looking forward to: Getting to find out the gender of the baby next month and starting to feel the baby move.

Surprise!!!!

This past Saturday, Jake and our family gave me a Surprise 30th Birthday Party!!! I was told I was going out with my MIL and SIL's for my birthday, as we do for all our birthdays every year. But they blindfolded me and took me to the party instead. LOL. It was a wonderful party and I enjoyed it so very much. Here are some pictures from the party.

When I got out of the car, this was the first thing I saw!! Jake rented this giant blow up Dolphin for the party!! So sweet of him. (I love dolphins)

Jake was able to rent out The Knobbe House @ Brooks Park, for the party. Its an old historic home in Hazelwood, MO, near our home. It was beautiful and perfect!! I had seen it before but never knew you could have parties there.

This gazebo is to the right of the house.

This was the cake my sister made for the party and some of the "30" themed decorations.

My sister also made cupcakes to go along with the cake. They were so cute and yummy.

A cool picture my cousin took of the cupcakes.

 The gift table. :-) The pink and green basket in the middle was full of cards!

The food being served to the guests. (BBQ)

My MIL serving some of the food.

Me, in the bottom right, enjoying the food with some friends from church. (The centerpieces on each table were real tulips that I can now plant in my yard.)

Friends from my work, enjoying dinner.

Some friends of ours, Chris and his son Haven. Haven was really enjoying some Cheetos! :-)

My BIL Pat and my niece Bella. She was enjoying some Cheetos as well. :-)

My sister feeding her new niece Caroline.

My BIL Larry and SIL Amie, enjoying the party!

My mom and I. They were getting ready to sing happy birthday!

They were singing happy birthday!

Opening a card a co-worker friend made for me.

Opening gifts with my nephew Landon's help! :-)

It was such an amazing party and I can't thank my family and friends enough for making it so special!!

Homemade Dog Collars

I don't know about your dog(s), but mine absolutely love to get new collars. I don't know why they love it so much, but they get so excited when I try to put them on. I guess they're like humans in that we love to get new clothes! :-)

I ran across this website and was looking at the dog collars that she's made, which are absolutely adorable!! I thought to myself, how hard can it be to make a dog collar. It seemed pretty easy from looking at them. So I googled instructions on how to make a dog collar at home and found this great tutorial. Though I have no idea how to sew, my sister has become quite good at it, so I sent her the tutorial and she said she'd try it. So I went and bought all the supplies, (which I found at Hobby Lobby) to make all 3 of my dogs a collar. They turned out so cute and my sister said it wasn't all that hard either, just a little time consuming. I'm thinking my dogs might need some cute 4th of July collars for the summer!! :-)

Hunter wearing his new collar. :-)

Libby wearing her new pretty collar.

Max wearing his new collar.

13 Weeks

Pregnancy Highlights

How Far Along: 13 weeks today.

Size of baby: The baby weighs nearly an ounce, and is about 3 inches long (crown to rump)... about the size of a medium shrimp.

Total Weight Gain/Loss: I'm not really sure, I should get weighed today at my Dr. Appointment.

Maternity Clothes: My mom took me shopping this past weekend for my birthday and I got a couple pairs of maternity dress pants and shirts for work. I was really starting to need the pants. I can still wear regular shirts though.

Gender: We should be able to find out in about 5 weeks. Sometime in mid May. I can't wait. :-)

Movement: Not yet, its still a little too early.

Food Cravings: None yet. Just whatever sounds good at the time.

What I miss: Being able to eat certain things. It seems that some foods give me indigestion, so I kind of have to watch what I eat now.

Sleep: Still not sleeping great. I continue to have to get up in the middle of the night to use the restroom and i don't seem to be sleeping very soundly. But I did sleep great last night and didn't wake up until my alarm went off this morning, which was heavenly!

Symptoms: The nauseous feeling seems to be subsiding and I'm starting to have a little bit more energy I think, which is wonderful. I am still having to make frequent trips to the restroom, which I've heard doesn't get any better any time soon. I also have a little bit of indigestion when I eat certain things and I still seem to have this bad taste in my mouth, which I can't get rid of unless I'm eating or chewing gum. Its really annoying!!

Best Moment this week: Feeling better and getting to shop for maternity clothes!

What I am looking forward to: The second trimester and I'm also looking forward to my 12 week Dr. Appt. today, when we should get to hear the heartbeat.

Happy Birthday to ME!!

Today is my 30th Birthday! I can't believe my 20's are over. :-( But I'm looking forward to my 30's. I hear they are great!!

I've gotten tons of birthday calls, texts, and happy birthdays wishes. My friends, family and co-workers are so sweet! :-)

On the agenda for today:

I'm working, which is kind of a bummer, but I just got flowers sent to me from Jake and everyone has been so sweet wishing me a happy birthday!

I'm leaving work a little early today, at 2:30,  because we have our 12 week Baby Appt. today at 3:30. I'm excited because we should be able to hear the baby's heartbeat at this appt. Should be a fun birthday present! :-)

Then after my appt. we are going to my parents' house for my birthday dinner. My sister, bro.-in-law and nephew are coming over to help celebrate as well. My mom is making chicken and dumplings, my favorite!!

Its been a great birthday so far and I think this is going to be a great year! How could it not be, I'm going to be a mom in just 6 short months. :-)

Easter Decorations 2011

I just love decorating my house for all the different holidays. I started my Easter decorations collection last year and have added a couple things this year and plan to add more as I find it in the stores. I will update this post as I add to my decor. Here are some pictures of what I have so far.

For my kitchen table, I used my white and silver dishes that I use for most holidays because they match everything. The napkins, napkin rings and table runner are from Target this year. The bunny salt and pepper shakers are from Target last year.

The egg shaped jelly bean jar I got from target. It matches the bunny salt and pepper shakers. I got the set last year. The little chick candles were a gift from my MIL a few years back. 

The little carrot house is from Partylite. I bought it several years ago and love it so much.

I got this little egg shaped dish last year at Hallmark and use it as a spoon rest.

I got this super cute welcome sign this year from Michaels using a 50% off coupon!!! I have a 40% off coupon for there to use this week. I'm hoping to find something really cute to add to my Easter decor. 

Happy Easter!!!

Landon's 4th Birthday

My nephew Landon, turned 4 yesterday. This past Saturday was his party and the party was at our house! It turned out to be a beautiful day and the kids were able to play outside on our swingset. We had a great time!! Here are a few pictures from the day.

The party decorations.

Lots of Presents!!

Landon's Optimus Prime cake that his mommy made!! My sister makes some great cakes!

Landon's cousin Ruby, swinging. So cute!!

Another of Landon's cousins, Clair, swinging.

The birthday boy in his "Bumblebee" shirt!!

The dogs enjoyed spending the day outside with everyone!

Uncle Jake pushing Landon on the swing.

Landon with his cake!

Landon opening presents.

Then Sunday, since it was another beautiful day outside, my sister wanted to take Landon's 4 year old pictures. So we took him to an old historic home close to our church and she took his pictures there on the property. He was so funny because every once in a while he would ask his mom, was that one cute?? LOL.

After the pictures we took him to the park and to get ice cream!! :-) Here are a few of the pictures my sister took of him. They turned out so cute!

I think this one is my favorite!

I love this one too!

This picture makes him look so old. :-( But its super cute anyways.

Silly boy!!

So sweet!