Mom and Dad Visit and 20 Week Appointment

This was probably my favorite week of my pregnancy so far!! Minus the hip pain, this is the healthiest and best I have ever felt in my life! I had my anatomy scan and doctor visit this past week at 21 weeks. My mom and dad came in to town since Adam was unable to go with me for this special appointment.

We had the ultrasound first and my mom was convinced the baby was going to turn out to be a boy. Thankfully, she is still a girl. Here are some of her pictures!

Love this cute little profile shot!

Every ultrasound we have had, she has had her hands up by her face. I cannot wait to see if she sleeps like that. I love this picture because it looks like she is already wanting to play Peek-a-boo!

This next picture has a great back story! Carol was looking around at the baby and all of a sudden she starts cracking up and asks me this question "Who has big feet?" I said my husband and his grandfather. So baby girl has inherited the Schmies feet! I guess according to Carol they are huge!!

Big foot! I hope she grows into those feet! :)

I am also proud to report that Carol said we had the most cooperative baby in the past two weeks! Baby V is such a good girl!

After the ultrasound, my mom went back with me to see the doctor. The doctor said everything is developing perfectly. I am so glad she is healthy. Everything else with my pregnancy is chugging right a long. Following our appointment we went to lunch at Smashburger. Then we went to Babies R Us and ordered sweet girl her crib and changing table. I am so happy with what we ended up getting! I'll post pics when it comes in. Here are so more pictures from mom and dad's visit!

The happiest mama waiting to see the doctor!! 

Kate and Grandma-to-be! 

Dad and I comparing our baby bumps! I say, Dad WINS!! hahaha (just kidding)

Kate and Dad! Happy, Happy!

21 Weeks

So you know your pregnant when this happens...

Yes, that is a ridiculous amount of Life cereal. There are just some things that are soooo good! I was literally going through 1 1/2 boxes in a week because I would have cereal for breakfast and another bowl before I went to bed. Hahaha

Well, I hit 21 weeks this week. Here are all the fun stats!

I know, I look ridiculously tired. I have been feeling a little sleepy lately.

How far along? 21 weeks 6 days

Total weight gain: up 11 lbs.

Maternity clothes? In my picture today, I am wearing all pre-pregnancy clothes. T-shirts and yoga pants have been great! I really only dress nice if I know I have somewhere to be :)

Stretch marks? none on my belly yet!

Sleep: It's been a little difficult getting used to sleeping on my side still. My hips have been hurting like crazy. My doctor said that that was totally normal and that I can get expect them to feel sore and numb.

Best Moment This Week: Too many to count. My mom and dad being in town was the best!

Miss Anything? Getting a good night's rest.

Movement: Yes! She is a mover and a shaker!

Food cravings: Life cereal and milk

Anything making you queasy or sick: Eating a large meal. I do much better eating little meals all day.

Gender: GIRL!!!

Have you started to show yet: Yes! The first thing the doctor said when she saw me is "You're getting bigger!"

Labor Signs: Nope. 

Symptoms: Just back/hip/butt pain. I also had my first experience with a charlie horse. Ow! haha

Belly Button in or out? My belly button is still in. I told my mom several times while she was here that I felt like it was going to just rip open. My belly button is being stretched and stretched.

 Wedding rings on or off? on

Happy or Moody most of the time:  Happy and silly! I can't help but find the joy in everything. 

Looking forward to: Baby girl's crib and changing table being delivered!

4th of July Fun!

Adam and I were planning to spend this Forth of July visiting our friends who are helping down at Aldersgate Camp this week, but it was just too gol' dang hot for me to be outside all day. So we decided to take advantage of the fact that Adam had an ENTIRE day off and start to clean out some rooms in our house. Adam was very opposed to this idea for a long time, but I wanted to get the baby's room cleared out while I still had the energy to do it. This week we had a wise friend ask if we were going to start to get her room ready before I got too tired to do it. So needless to say, we had quite the fun Fourth of July getting baby's room cleaned and ready to go. Here are some pictures from our day:

The Baby room before

Another angle. It has been a great office/guest room

Lots of books to move!

Our spare room. This is where my sewing took place and was the remnants of Adam's man cave. (BEFORE)

At one point our house looked like we belonged on Hoarders!

Penelope was totally confused by all the moving today. Poor pup!

Baby room AFTER! Vacuumed, mopped, and ready for a nursery! :)

She has a lamp!

Our new study! It looks great! AFTER

It was a great day! We found all sorts of treasures in our attic, which was 1000 degrees. Adam was up there organizing for about an hour and I was so worried because it was hot up there. We had a good laugh when Adam found a place on the attic floor where a previous owner wrote "You will die up here".

We spent the rest of the day doing the most patriotic things we can think of 1) shopping at Walmart and 2) going to Burger King for dinner. We packed lunches for our youth group boat trip tomorrow and now were home sitting on the couch watching fireworks on T.V. while the DOG sleeps on the couch. Wooo! God Bless America! :)

Happy 4th of July!

Praises and Nursery Inspiration

Last night when I was wide awake eating a Nutrigrain bar at 3:30 a.m., I couldn't help but wander into what will be our little girl's room. Right now it is an office with a desk, three book cases and a bed for visitors. In four months a little person will be living in there. I sat in the dark room looking around trying to imagine what it will be like to be up with her in the night. I couldn't help but be so overwhelmed with thanksgiving because this baby is so wanted. I sat and prayed in her space. I read my favorite part of  Psalm 139, verses 13-16. These verses talk about how beautiful and intricately God has made baby girl and he knows her and all her ways. I can only sit there and imagine that I have made it halfway through a pregnancy that I thought was never going to happen. It reminded me that pregnancy is nothing more than an act of God. It sure makes me realize my lack of control. I just hope that no matter what time I have in this life with this baby, that I commit her to Him.

As I started to get up to go back to bed, I couldn't help but freak out that I have no clue what her room will be like. The last few days as I have been confined to the house, I have started to pack up some of the bookcases. Mainly my notes from seminary, crafting books, and other odds and ends that haven't been given much thought once they been stuck on a bookcase. Adam and I have been incredibly blessed by a family in our church who wants to give us all of their gently used baby items. Pretty soon a  pack and play, high chair, bouncer, exercsaucer, and all sorts of odds in ends will be in that room and we are not ready for any of it. Adam keeps saying we have time, but I am so excited to start to feel like her coming to our home is becoming more real. I thought I would share some of the inspiration behind what I want her nursery to be like.

Photo from Pottery Barn Kids

Since before we ever found out we were pregnant I stumbled across this bedding set on Pinterest. Once I saw it, I was in love. I told myself if we ever had a little girl, this would be here bedding. Then I found out it came from Pottery Barn. Well after checking out loads of other bedding, this bedding isn't as ridiculous as I thought it would be in terms of cost. Adam and I went and checked it out in person in Cincinnati and he fell in love too. Who doesn't love whimsical birds? Haha! We were going to buy it, but they talked us into registering for it. I guess you never know! I love it because it's not over the top pink and it is not too hokey. We aren't going to do a whole lot in terms of painting, so her room will have white walls and this will be a subtle (but cute) set. We bought the matching stroller blanket while we were there and I love how sweet the blanket is.

My parents have been so gracious to give Adam and I some furniture for the nursery. We are getting sissy's old dresser (which was my dad's old dresser)! They are also giving me the glider-rocker that was my grandma's. Mom and Dad are also getting baby girl her crib. We have lucked out and been blessed BIG TIME! I have started to look at cribs and I really want to get one in white. Now the other furniture is basic wood color, but I am not obsessed with everything matching, so I have decided that it's okay to pick out a white crib. After looking, researching, and reading reviews I think I am going to choose one from Target. It's reasonably priced and I think the bedding we chose would look great in this crib. 

Crib and Changing Table from Target

For some wall art fun, I saw wooden monograms in a boutique here in Lexington. Then I started to think how fun it would be to hang her monogram on the wall. A little girly touch! Well I looked into the monograms that I saw at the boutique and wouldn't you know they were charging $400 for them. HAHA, yeah right! So I thought surely there'd be other places that make wooden monograms that hang on the well. Sure enough, I found some for $25 on Etsy! Hooray!

Monogram letters from Etsy. Once we are solid on a name, I might order these! Cute, feminine, and girly!

I kept telling myself I wouldn't go overboard with pink and too much girly stuff. But, I am total caught up in the fact that were having a little princess. I will continue to try and restrain myself but it is too hard!

Sitting on the couch shopping has been a little dangerous for me. Thankfully, I haven't decided to buy anything yet. As soon as Adam gives me the green light my splurge will be the diaper bag I want:

Vera Bradley- Vera Vera Baby Bag Microfiber Black

Unfortunately, this beauty has been discontinued so I have only been able to find it on ebay. Bummer :( I love it though. It has a wipeable inside and a matching changing pad. Plus it is not to Mommyish. Just a nice simple black tote. 

So some of things that I am thinking about for baby girl. Who knows, maybe we'll end up with completely different stuff by the time she arrives! I can't wait to see how everything will come together.

20 Weeks!! Wahoo!

This week has been great! One thing is for sure, we have had record setting heat like most of the country. Baby girl and I have been staying cool by trying to go into the pool at least twice a day. I have also been a permanent fixture on our couch. It's almost too hot to want to get in the car and go anywhere. Fortunately, relief is on the way and it is supposed to rain tonight. We need rain so bad!

Please pardon my crazy hair. We took this picture this a.m. and it was still REALLY warm. Heat index made it to 98 by 12 p.m.  Anyway, on with the fun stuff!

How far along? 20 weeks today!

Total weight gain: 9 lbs.

Maternity clothes? Been rocking my maternity clothes full fledge now. I have been starting to look for things to wear when I go back to work in August. 

Stretch marks? none on my belly yet!

Sleep: Pretty good! I still get REALLY hungry in the middle of the night. But, I mainly chalk up my lack of sleep to Adam playing video games till 2:30 a.m. and baby girl having dance parties at 4 a.m. The baby has an excuse, Adam is about to get banished to the couch if he keeps staying up that late ( I kid, I kid) 

Best Moment This Week: Going to Mad Potter with my friend Hilary to paint items for our nurseries. She painted a wonderful vase type thing that could hold all kinds of baby items. I painted a piggy bank! I can't wait to see how it turns out! I think this is the first thing I have purchased for the baby. 

Miss Anything? Kona Moka's from Coffee Times. Since it has been so hot, I have wanted one SO BAD. Blue Icee's have been a so-so substitute :)

Movement: She is getting stronger and stronger. I am interested to see at my ultrasound what position she is in. Right now I feel like she is breech and is doing an Irish jig trying to get out. STRANGE feeling!

Food cravings: Chocolate chip ice cream and Fritos and dip. Apparently Adam had the same craving for Fritos  and dip too. He ate an entire bag of Fritos is three days. Guess how much I got...NONE! Guess who went back to the store for more Fritos! Hahaha 

Anything making you queasy or sick: Nada!

Gender: GIRL!!!

Have you started to show yet: Cute story. There was a gentleman at Sam's Club that kept looking at me and would look away when I would notice him looking at me. I went to get a straw and napkins for Adam and I and I heard Adam saying "Yep, she is. We're having a girl!" He wanted to tell me that his wife had had a baby four months ago but he was afraid to ask me if I was pregnant. Too funny. The same thing happened at Adam's doctor's office. I am noticeably pregnant but some people are afraid to talk to me about it. I appreciate people's sensitivity. 

Labor Signs: Nope. 

Symptoms: Still just hip pain at night. I think I am going to ask about it when I go in next time. At least it only happens at night.  

Belly Button in or out? My belly button is still in, but it is creeping further and further out.

 Wedding rings on or off? on

Happy or Moody most of the time:  Happy and silly! I can't help but find the joy in everything. 

Looking forward to: My mom coming to my ultrasound on July 9th!!! I am so excited to share some of my pregnancy journey with her!!!  9 more days! I feel like a kid waiting for Christmas!

HALFWAY!! YAY!

19 Weeks

So a few funny thoughts about this week's post. 1) Adam wanted to have a say on what went on the chalkboard. According to the pregnancy book, Baby girl is around the size of a mango at 19 weeks. Adam asked how big that was and I said about 6 inches long. He thought that all of this produce size comparison stuff was getting lame so he wanted to come up with something else. I told him if he could come up with something different that was six inches long I would put it on the chalkboard. After thinking it over, he was adamant that we compare her to a toilet paper roll. I guess that is a great visual!! 2) We have got to find a new place on the fence to hang the chalkboard or take the picture in the A.M. before it gets to bright! Squinty Kate is NOT cute!

How far along? 19 weeks 3 days

Total weight gain: 7 lbs
Maternity clothes? I have been trying to stay as cool as possible so I have been wearing dresses as often as I can. I run so much laundry washing the same few dresses. In other news, I am still trying to wear my pre-pregnancy pajama pants that are getting snug and Adam almost DIED laughing at my plumbers butt last night. Sigh.TMI, but true. 
Stretch marks? none yet!
Sleep: Better than last week! My pillow has been so helpful!
Best Moment This Week: I was putting my hair in a ponytail in the bathroom and Adam came in and kissed my belly. It was really sweet because the belly has made everything way more real.

Miss Anything? Having a normal appetite. I still have aversions to things that I used to love.
Movement: Yep! We went to the Ichthus music festival on Saturday and she seemed to really love the music. She was moving and grooving through all the concerts. 
Food cravings: Chocolate chip ice cream

Anything making you queasy or sick: Still just meat and some smells. It is still quite random.
 Gender: GIRL!!!
Labor Signs: Nope. 
Symptoms: I have been having some hip pain at night when I am sleeping. I chalk it up to either my hips getting ready for delivery or getting used to sleeping on my side. Either way, it goes away once I start moving in the morning. I also have been congested which then leads to nosebleeds. Thankfully, that usually only happens in the morning too. 

Belly Button in or out? My belly button is SHALLOW!! I wouldn't be surprised if didn't flatten out here in the next week or two. (BTW really regretting that impulse decision to get a belly ring as an 18 year old. The hole is looking like it may tear. Praying it doesn't)

 Wedding rings on or off? on

Happy or Moody most of the time:  So happy!! Adam and I are so blessed and baby girl is by far the greatest blessing!

Looking forward to: My mom coming to my ultrasound on July 9th!!! I am so excited to share some of my pregnancy journey with her!!! Hoping Adam will agree to help me clean out what will be our nursery so we can start arranging her furniture.

18 Weeks

How far along? 18 weeks 5 days

Total weight gain/loss: Up seven pounds from my original weight.

Maternity clothes? Had the sad reality that my pre-pregnancy pants wouldn't go over my rear end so it's maternity pants/clothes for me!! 

Stretch marks? Still not on my belly

Sleep: Sleep hit rock bottom this week. Like I have said before, I have always been a stomach sleeper and getting used to sleeping on my side has been tough. Adam surprised me yesterday and said we could go get look into getting a pregnancy pillow. We went yesterday and purchased this fabulous creation:

It is a Snoogle Total Body Pillow. Woo! Last night I had the best sleep that I have had in 4 months. Not that the sleepless nights haven't been worth it, it is just nice to have the pillow to be comfortable. Of course, Penelope has tried to commandeer this pillow for her self. Not happening!

Best moment this week: After getting ice-cream last night with the high school girls, Adam felt baby girl move for the first time. He has been waiting so patiently for this to happen. It has definitely been one of the best moments of our pregnancy so far!

Have you told family and friends: Yes!

Miss Anything? Feeling like a capable human. People treat you differently when you are pregnant. I am certainly not going to do anything crazy to hurt baby girl. I keep telling concerned friends that I am not disabled, just pregnant :)

Movement: She has been moving quite a bit and her movements have been stronger.

Food cravings: Anything with fruit!

Anything making you queasy or sick: Still meat. I can eat it when it is cold. So needless to say, chicken salad has been by b.f.f. Before pregnancy, I was a meat and potatoes girl. Still trying to supplement like crazy so that she gets protein.

Have you started to show yet: Yes! I had my first stranger ask me when my baby was due! So exciting!

Gender: GIRL!

Labor Signs: Nope

Belly Button in or out? In, but it is very shallow! Adam was completely freaked out by my belly button the other night. 

Wedding rings on or off? On

Happy or Moody most of the time: This week I have been a little more sensitive than I normally am. I was getting weepy over lots of different things. Fortunately I can chalk that up to pregnancy. 

Looking forward to: Finishing our baby registry and watching my belly grow.