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Wednesday, January 9, 2013

First Trimester VS. Last 2 Weeks

Dear Last 2 Weeks of Pregnancy,
 
I hate your stinkin' guts. You make me vomit. You're the scum between my toes.
 
Love,
Nikki
 

When you think about pregnancy, you often think of the notoriously horrible first trimester. Don't let the world fool you, you one-day-pregnant-women! The first trimester is a piece of vanilla cake with chocolate icing (mmm that sounds delicious) compared to the last 2 weeks.

Here are the reasons why:

#1: Fatigue: Ok yes, during the first trimester my body was super tired. Luckily it was summer and I napped nearly everyday. But now, I am at the point of feeling like a zombie. And napping? That is a cruel, cruel joke! Don't mind that I have a 6+lb baby laying on my bladder, ribs, and sides, with her head pressing into my pubic bone. Sleep...sleep....that word does seem to ring a distant bell but I just can't remember what that is. Maybe I'll remember once Caroline comes....oh wait....

#2 Peeing: Sure, during the first trimester you have to pee very frequently and you are constantly thirsty, just adding to the increased amount of time spent in the bathroom. But this one simple.
1st trimester = peeing often in a toilet
Last 2 weeks = peeing on yourself
Remember that 6+lb baby laying on my bladder? Coughing and sneezing comes at a high price these days...
Pregnancy is such a beautiful thing! HA!

#3 Heartburn: I had some light heartburn or indigestion during the first trimester and it got a little worse as pregnancy continued. I wasn't able to each chocolate for months. Then this week happened. I take a sip of water and feel the burn. I eat a a piece of my dear colby-jack cheese and feel the burn. I eat a cupcake (and then another and another and another) and feel the burn. Nothing is safe anymore.

#4 Cravings: Maybe my first trimester was too easy. The only thing I really craved was bean burritos and if I didn't get it I didn't feel like I was going to choke someone until I got it. Lets just say the cravings are a bit more intense and Brad is very fortunate that Kroger is close and that he passes a lot of restaurants on his way home from work. The choking has been minimal thus far. He's really lucky to be married to me!

#5 Upset Stomach: During the first trimester there is nausea. A lot of women would probably testify that this is awful but I was fortunate to rarely experience it. But now, because my inside is SO full of baby, every time I eat anything I have an upset/sore stomach because there is no room in the inn. I am starving but can only eat a few bites, allow time to digest, repeat.

#6 Pregnancy Brain: If I remember right (which isn't that the problem?) I did earn a college degree. Not that I was pure genius before this point in pregnancy, but I did have some firing of neurons in the brain. I'm pretty sure that I am currently functioning on the same mental ability level as my dog.


**Disclaimer** I am so very blessed to be carrying this baby girl. Despite the "hurdles" that have come, I can't think of a greater honor. I love her more than words can say and I am beyond excited to meet her...which I hope is sooner than later! This is just my attempt at making fun of the "beauty" that is this point in pregnancy. I don't mean it to offend anyone.

Saturday, January 5, 2013

All that is missing is a baby....

I thought I'd post a few pictures of Caroline's Nursery. It turned out just how I pictured in my head and is now my favorite room in the house!

My Grandma Chickie is a very talented seamstress and sewed all of Caroline's beautiful crib bedding! I had seen similar crib sets on Etsy for a few hundred dollars. I am proud to say that we spent a whopping $90 on this project and I had enough fabric leftover to do some other projects for Caroline's room.

We sewed from morning till night and then some.

Brad building the crib.

 
Goodbye Pepto-Bismol-pink...
Hello light-silvery-(almost thought we bought baby blue-panic attack)-gray.
 
Late night of painting together
 
 
Drum roll please......
 
 
 
TA-DA!
 
 
 
I still need to hem the curtains and write on the chalkboard but otherwise, its ready! This room took a village to complete and we are so thankful to everyone who helped. I love it so much.
 
Now all we need is baby...
 

Thursday, January 3, 2013

2012 Highlights

What a great year 2012 was! God blessed us in ways that words cannot describe this year.


Top 5 Moments/Memories of 2012
1. Duh. We're pregnant!

And its a GIRL!
2. We got the best/craziest/most costly/wouldn't-trade-him-for-the-world dog
(Technically we got him Dec. 30, 2011 but we're counting him as a 2012 blessing)




3. We went on a life-changing mission trip to Guatemala.




4. Finished our first Triathlon! And there is more where that came from.



 
                                




5. Celebrated 1 year of wedded bliss! Many, many more where that came from!



There are so many more memories I could add to this like trips to Arkansas to visit family & friends, weddings of friends, camping, my trip to Colorado, finishing my first year of teaching, Brad's bike races, ect, ect, ect.

2012 was a wonderful year! Something tells me that 2013 just might be wonderful too!

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

It is January. THE month!

I know most people are excited that today is New Year's Day but I couldn't care less about the new year...the new month is the big deal to me! It is finally January. We have been waiting and counting down the days and weeks until January since May. I cannot believe it finally came. The Mayans had me worried.....not really.

Yesterday, we were officially 37 weeks preggo. If Caroline was to be born today, according to the "typical" pregnancy, she would be fully developed. It is a relief to be in the clear and out of the preemie stage.

Time has truly flown by! We had been really busy preparing for Caroline, moving, working, celebrating, and trying to spend time with family & friends before life changes. I wish I could say we are done and ready but every time I cross something off of the "Before Caroline" to-do list, I add something new. Although, I guess it'd be ok if she came before I dusted the fans. The big task left on the list is my maternity leave sub-plans. I am trying really hard to complete those this week and then we'll be ready enough!

23 weeks
In Colorado visiting my BFF, Emily. Em was also pregnant at the time and now has the sweetest baby girl, Hendon. I think Hendon & Caroline will make great friends!

24 weeks

24 weeks- ear of corn
Life got a little crazy after this and the veggie/fruit idea died. Oh well.

25 weeks
In front of our new rent house.
 
27 weeks
Moving had us a little busy and we forgot to get a pic for a couple weeks. Whoops.

28 weeks

29 weeks
Election Day

31 weeks
Eureka Springs, AR to visit Brad's high school BFF's and their wives.
 
32 weeks
Forgot to take a picture this week so I am stuck with this gem from Girl's Weekend. At least the memory is better than the picture!
 
33 weeks
Picking out paint for Caroline's room!
 
 
34 weeks
 
35 weeks
In Caroline's (almost) finished room!

36 weeks
White Christmas
At this point you can start to see a trend of how often I wear yoga pants. If yoga pants every single day is wrong, then I don't want to be right.

37 weeks
I laugh almost every time I look in the mirror. I think I look like a cartoon or something unreal. When I return to my "normal" size (we can all cross our fingers for that one) I will never again allow myself to worry about my body. I'll be grateful that I can reach across myself to buckle my seat belt, reach my feet to tie my shoes, bend down far enough to put on boots or socks with ease, wear pants with a button, and get dressed without getting winded. Oh & shave my legs. That'd be nice.

Here's to a new MONTH! Maybe the best one yet!