26 weeks today!

So I noticed I haven't blogged in a while, even though I doubt anyone ever reads this thing. But I thought I do some catching up, so it will definitely be a long post...so be prepared!

I think the last time I blogged I was about 19 weeks, and now I'm 26 weeks along TODAY! So there be LOTS of pictures! This is my last week in the second trimester, next Tuesday I'll be in the last 13 weeks of my pregnancy and let's just say... I'M ECSTATIC! haha! For those who haven't heard me talk about it..I'm not the biggest fan of being pregnant. Don't get me wrong.. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the fact that in 13 short weeks I'll being seeing my first child and son for the very first time. But being pregnant sucks. Other than getting to see him on the ultrasound, hear his heartbeat every appointment, and being able to feel all his little movements; there are no other upsides. I dislike the nausea & vomiting (although I didn't have much), migraines (which I had for about 5 weeks straight), gaining weight, constant back pain, never being able to get comfortable, gas (sorry!), heartburn and the list goes on and on. So I ready to not be pregnant anymore. I really wish he would come now, only because I'm SO excited to meet him and for him to be here. But I don't want him to come now because he's not fully developed. So I can wait another 13 weeks because I know that the end result of these 9-10months of pregnancy is my son. :0)

Since my last post, I've taken belly pictures again and we have completed the basic design of his nursery! YAY! I'm so excited about it and finishing the nursery. I love walking into that room and knowing in 13 weeks we'll have a new addition in the room. Because right now it still feels surreal that we're actually having a baby. Even though we've seen the pictures, heard the heartbeat and can definitely tell by my stomach growing... it's still hard to believe and hasn't completely sunk in yet. But I LOVE IT! Below are belly pictures from 22 1/2 weeks:

 

 For the nursery we decided on doing a train theme. The train theme can about because every year Brian gets a train car from Georgia Power for being a safe worker and having no accidents all year long. He has worked at Georgia Power since 2005, so we have collected some train cars. We have no where else to put or display the train set, so once we found out we were having a boy...that was it! TRAINS! While John is a baby we were just going to put the train set on wall shelves to display and then once he's old enough (more than likely a toddler) Brian plans on building a track that goes around the ceiling of the room and the train will actually be able to go around the tracks and John will be able to play with it. :0) It's exciting! We got his nursery bedding from Pottery Barn Kids (thanks mom!) that has trains ALL OVER IT! It's so cute! Below are pictures of his nursery so far:

I'm so excited to bring John home and for him to see his new room! YAY! Only 13 more weeks! I can't wait!

I'm also excited because I have my first baby shower Saturday, a family shower. Showers are fun! I really excited to see everyone and obviously to see what baby John will get. And then comes CHRISTMAS! THE ABSOLUTE BEST HOLIDAY EVER! So I'm excited for that too. And then shortly after that in the beginning of January is my second baby shower with all my friends!!! :0) I'M SOO EXCITED FOR THAT ONE! I get to see all my friends in one place at one time, YAY! And then in February..... JOHN CAYDEN THOMAS WILL ARRIVE! So the next 3 months are packed with WONDERFUL THINGS!!! 

I also can't wait for our next ultrasound... which is the 3D/4D Ultrasound. I'm really excited to see what our baby looks, although no matter what he looks like, I will love him just the same. I just think it's incredible how you can see what your child will look like or an estimate while he's still in the womb. It's AMAZING! And that ultrasound is only 3 weeks away.. beginning of December! Can't wait!

Even though this has nothing to do with pregnancy and John, I still think that I need to show these pictures of Lily & Fred on Halloween! Lily was a kitty and had kitty ears and Fred was a pumpkin and had a pumpkin hat.. it was so cute!

The best pictures ever! They look so thrilled to have those on their heads! HAHAHA!

IT'S A BOY!!!!!!

Before I tell you what we're having (even though you can tell by the title), let me update you on things that have happened since my last post. Below I've posted 19 week belly pictures.... two are of the side of my belly and one is of the front of my belly.

I have gotten bigger since then, I'm 21 weeks today. So I'll have more belly pictures at 22 weeks. Since my last post A lot has happened. We finished cleaning out the room that we are going to use for the nursery :0) YAY! and it has been painted a nice light sky blue color. We also, bought and put together the cubby holes for the closet, so there will be plenty of storage space for toys, books and so on. This past weekend I bought the nursery letters and painted them, red to match the bedding. We're just waiting on the furniture before we put them on the wall; which my dad ordered the day we found out the sex of the baby, so hopefully it will be here soon. Also, my and I went shopping this weekend for my birthday which was the 27th and she bought us all the nursery bedding at pottery barn kids!!! :0) She's awesome! She also took me shopping for maternity clothes and for some baby clothes! YAY! The baby's not even here yet and he's already being spoiled!!! The nursery bedding has trains on it, it's so cute! I'll post pictures as soon as the furniture comes in, so the nursery looks more complete!

My goal is to have the ENTIRE house cleaned, organized, trash gone, and stuff to goodwill BY OCTOBER 31!!! That way I can spend the 3rd trimester resting and off my feet. Since my belly is getting bigger and all. I'm only 21 weeks and it kind of gets in the way now, haha! But I LOVE feeling my little baby kick all the time now! :0) It's a wonderful feeling, I can't wait til Brian can feel it too! So far I have the Master bedroom and laundry room done, just have the rest of the house, which includes the garage... so hopefully I'll be able to get it done. I wish we didn't have so much crap, haha! Wish me luck! 

Well, I know you all have been waiting..... WE'RE HAVING A BOY!!!!! We're so excited! I'm not going to lie, I was a little disappointed that it wasn't a girl, but I'm still EXTREMELY HAPPY! John Cayden Thomas :0) I can't wait til my little son arrives!!! Only 19 weeks, estimated. That still seems like forever, but I know it will be here soon! Below are our ultrasound pictures....

Profile picture of baby John!!!

First baby kicks and 18 days to go!!!

I felt my baby's first kicks Thursday evening! :0) YAY!!! It was very exciting! I hadn't really thought about what it would feel like or was really paying attention because I was under the impression that most first time pregnancies don't feel the baby kick/move until at least 20 weeks, but that wasn't the case for me! At 17 1/2 weeks along I felt little Jellybean move! It was like popcorn popping in your belly or like little tapping coming from inside! Since Thursday evening I've felt Jeallybean move 3 more times, and each time is very exciting!! I can't wait until I can actually feel constant strong kicks!

Only 18 days to go until we find out the sex of the baby, however, I definitely think it's a girl. But not just because I want a girl first. I honestly don't mind whether we have a girl or boy first, I personally think that having a girl first would be fun, but so would a boy. I just have a strong feeling it's a girl and whenever I walk into a place or am online doing registry stuff, I always look at girl things. I don't even go look at boy things, not because I don't want a boy but because I just don't think it's a boy. However, I could always be wrong. I just have a strong feeling that it's a girl :0) but I'm really excited to find out! We go on September 28th, 20 weeks, to find out. My appointment isn't until 2:00pm and I was told to drink 2 glasses of water an hour before the appointment. But I was wondering if I ate lunch would it effect the ultrasound??? Should I just eat breakfast normally and wait to eat lunch until after the ultrasound, just to make sure that Jellybean cooperates??? Because I really don't want to have to go back if Jellybean doesn't cooperate so we can see if it's a he or she. I would like to find out at 20 weeks, I mean I have been waiting all the that time. So just let me know what you think the best thing to do is....

I've been doing a lot of work around the house lately, in preparation for Jellybean! YAY! I have completely cleaned out, cleaned and painted the junk room. It is now being organized and the office and guest bedroom furniture are being moved into that room today. I have painted the hallway and bathroom this week as well. And have completely cleaned and organized the guest bathroom, which will be Jellybean's bathroom. The only thing left to do, on that side of the house - which is a BIG task, is getting EVERYTHING out of the big room and organized, thrown out, or donated so that big room is empty because.... THAT'S THE NURSERY! YAY! I want to have the big room completely emptied out before we find the sex of the baby, because once we find out we'll probably be getting things. Plus I want to be able to put things away after we get things and after showers instead of just piling them in the room. I plan on designing and building a custom closet for the nursery, to utilize all the space in the closet and to maximize the storage space for clothes, toys, and extras. YAY! I'm so excited to start decorating and organizing the nursery, CAN'T WAIT TO FIND OUT THE SEX!!!!   

16 weeks and only 27 days to go

I had my 16 week appointment yesterday and finally started taking belly pictures, so here are a few. First picture was taken before my appointment early in the morning. The second picture was taken late in the afternoon and is a close up of my belly (probably why it looks bigger than it should). The third picture was also taken late in the afternoon and is a front picture of my belly :0) YAY!!!

 Okay, now that we've all seen the belly pictures it's time for the actual post. So my appointment yesterday was at 9:15am, my doctor is near/very close to Piedmont Hospital. So since I live in Bethlehem, which isn't as close to Piedmont. I have to leave early to make it there. Well since I was probably going to hit traffic (morning rush hour), I decided to leave at 7am and I did. I TOOK AN HOUR AND A HALF to make it to 285... so by 8:30am I was only at 285, but luckily once you hit 285 traffic disappears. So I got to my doctor's office by 8:50am, which was good. 

I told my doctor all about my migraines and symptoms that went with them. She offered to write me a prescription for strong pain killers (that I could take during pregnancy), however since she didn't seem that comfortable prescribing them and they were narcotics, I declined and since that Tylenol helped a little and that I'd rather stuffer through it. She also told me that headaches and migraines were normal during pregnancy, especially in the 2nd trimester, but as my pregnancy continues the headaches/migraines should become less and less. However if I'm still having as many as I'm having by the 3rd trimester, she suggests that I might get an MRI just to make sure. But she's not concerned at all. Plus I had my blood pressure checked and it was 102/64, which they said was really good. So everything's good.

The best part was when the doctor was listening to the heartbeat, it took a couple minutes because every time she found it and started counting Jeallybean would start to kick and move and all you could hear was the movement, haha..not cooperating already! She finally was able to get the count of the heartbeat, which was 160 again and really good. So I'm happy. But now the countdown begins....ONLY 27 days til we find out if we're having a BOY OR GIRL!!! :0) I'm so exciting! I really think it's a girl, not just because I would like a girl first, I just have a feeling. But we'll see. I could always be wrong! But on September 28 at 2:00pm we'll know! YAY!! Plus my birthday is the day before, so it's going to be a GREAT birthday present! Plus we'll also get to see our jellybean again, haven't seen him/her since week 12 of pregnancy, so I'm excited! YAY!!!

I've discovered Nightmares & Vertigo

Nightmares... Now I know with being pregnant comes a lot of symptoms, however, this is definitely my LEAST favorite; if it even is a symptom. I have had nightmares every night for the past 2 weeks and frankly I'm tired of it! When you think of nightmares, most people think of when they were little and monsters would come and get them in there sleep. No, that's not what nightmares are about when you're pregnant. Honestly, I'd rather go back to when I was 5 years old and had nightmares about monsters eating me or something ridiculous, instead of the nightmares I have now. It is to the point now that I don't even want to nap or go to sleep at night because I'm scared of my dreams...really? What adult is scared of their dreams? They're just dreams, they aren't real. However they feel so real when I'm asleep it's not funny. Not only do I wake up in the middle of the night, still, because of peeing and having to move constantly to get comfortable at night; but now I wake up an additional 2-4 times a night because of these nightmares.  I have heavy breathing and toss and turn during these nightmare 'episodes'. Luckily, I don't wake up in pools of cool sweat, hahaha.  I know I need sleep, but it's getting hard to want to sleep when I know I'm just going to have another nightmare.

I'm not going to go in detail about what my nightmares were about, or discuss some of them because, honestly, they are extremely embarrassing. I can't believe that my brain could come up with this crap. I have nightmares that my family will fall apart and my husband will leave after the baby is born; which I know would never happen. Or I'm playing with my child in the park and she gets snatched or some crazy pedophile tries to take her. Or really weird crap that doesn't even make sense; which is the things that I won't go into detail about (I feel stupid for my subconscious brain even coming up with this stuff).

Has anyone else had nightmares, some very disturbing, while they were pregnant?? And how long is this going to last? Is this normal, or a normal symptom? Am I going crazy? Is there anything I can do to make them stop? Could it be food I've eaten, or a movie/TV Show I've watched? HELP, PLEASE!

Vertigo...In high school I was diagnosed with migraine and cluster headaches. Cluster headaches are when you have a bunch of headaches or migraines continuously for a long period of time. My migraines are seriously debilitating. I have to lay down with ice on the back of my head and front, turn off all lights and sounds, as well as take medicine. The migraines tend to make me nauseous and I would have flash white lights in my eyes (sometimes this would be the only symptom), which made it impossible to see. Since I've been pregnant the migraines and clusters have returned, with a vengeance. A couple times I've had migraines so bad where my right side would go numb and then the feeling would return 10 minutes or so later and have flashing white lights in my eyes (without the actual pain). But the most scariest symptoms with the migraines has been the vertigo. I got up in the middle of night a week ago to go to the bathroom (what else is new) and could barely stand, let alone walk to the bathroom because of the world spinning and extreme dizziness (without the pain again, just the vertigo and nausea). The vertigo is a new symptom of my migraines, I've never had this before until I became pregnant. I called my OB and she said that it was part of the migraines and that I should just take it easy. However, 2 days ago it happened again. Since I am pregnant there is nothing I can take, medication wise, to relieve any of the symptoms. I can take Tylenol, however I really try not to because I get worried something would happen to the baby.

Entering the Second Trimester

So I'm entering the second trimester, well I've been in the second trimester for almost 2 weeks now; but it has been even easier than the first trimester. However, getting constant migraines (NOT headaches) that last like 4 days, really sucks. But for the past week I've been migraine free, which is really good and I'm happy about that. I hope it lasts.

I know that you're supposed to have trouble sleeping during the third trimester, but I'm already there. It takes me a while to get comfortable, like an hour. I can't lay on my stomach, obviously, because of Jellybean. I can't lay on my back (even though I'm not that big), laying on my stomach stretches and pulls my stomach muscles. I can lay on my right side, but then I have to pee every hour. So I mostly just lay on my left side, but after a while it goes numb so I have to switch to the right side and then I have to pee... GRRRRRRR! Don't get me wrong, I can still sleep.. a lot! But I'm no where near exhausted as I was during the first trimester; but I can still sleep 10-12 hours a night but I don't need a nap during the day. So any suggestions or advice on this subject would be greatly appreicated.

Not napping during the day and having more energy during the day is really good for me, because I need to clean out the smaller room (also known as the "junk room") and move all the office and guest bedroom furniture into the small room and then clean the big room to make it the nursery! So there's A LOT to do and only 5 months to do it in, but I think I can handle it plus I have my wonderful husband to help :0)

Has anyone, whose been pregnant, had the feeling or still found it hard to believe that there was a life growing inside you?? Like I know there is, but since I can't feel it yet, it still astounds me that a little life that's half of me and half of Brian is growing in my tummy. :0) But the thought just makes me so happy! 

I really wanted to get a heart monitor so that I could hear Jellybean's heartbeat whenever I wanted, however, my mom and Brian think it's a bad idea. And after listening to them, I tend to agree. Because of my personality, they feel that if I get one I will use it everyday and constantly obsess over the heartbeat. They are also concerned that if I can't find the heartbeat one day, obviously because I'm not a doctor and the baby moves around, that it will extremely stress me out (and stress ... isn't good for pregnancy or the baby). So I agree with them and have decided not to get one, although I still think it would be cool if I could hear the heartbeat whenever I wanted, and I had found some that were at a very good price, and good quality. But I heard the heartbeat two weeks ago and I get to hear it again on August 31, so I think I'll be alright.

WE'RE EXPECTING!!!!

November of 2009 we found out I was pregnant, but for whatever God's reasons were it did not last (I will not go into details, those who know what happened understand). That was the most heartbreaking thing I've ever had to go through. I don't how I would have gotten through it without my wonderful husband by my side, he truly is amazing. We had to wait a while before we could start trying again, and 6 months later... I'M PREGNANT!!!

In June we went on a cruise with Brian's family and when we came home I thought I'd take a pregnancy test just for fun... I honestly wasn't excepting it to be positive, since the ones a couple months before were negative. I set it on the counter and was waiting the 5 minutes, like the directions said; but Brian decided he'd look. I yelled at him not to touch it, it hadn't been 5 minutes. He looked at me with a smile, and of course I looked confused. I said, "Well, what does it say? Negative right?" And he just kept smiling and I finally said, "NO WAY! Are you serious, it's positive!?!?!" He shook his head yes, and I started jumping for joy!

First pregnancy test taken 6.11.10... but of course, considering what happened last time and the fact that I could not see the doctor til I was at least 7 weeks along, I took another test four (6.15.10) days later.. just to make sure. You have to make sure. And it was still positive!!! YAY!!! (However, I'm only going to put up with one picture of the test, haha.)

Last time, since we were so excited we told everyone and put it on Facebook, way early than we should have and had to explain, too many times, what happened. So this time we 

decided we'd wait til we went to our first doctor's appointment before we'd tell our families (which would be 7-8 weeks along) and then wait til the end of the first trimester before telling friends and the world of Facebook (which would be 12-13 weeks along). However, I somewhat broke that rule and told my close girl friends once I had gone to the doctor the first, I was just so excited!!! 

We had our first doctor's appointment on July 2, 2010 at 7 weeks and 3 days. I was more than a bit nervous because of our visits last time. The doctor came in, wheeling what I swear is an ultrasound from the 1980's, into the room. After asking routine questions, we get to the ultrasound. And after what seemed like half an hour, but was really like 2 minutes, I saw a blob on the screen. And it's tiny little heart beating, I couldn't breathe...this was our baby, this is what we've wanted for so long. It was very exciting! After the ultrasound and conformation of the pregnancy, I preceded  to the blood taking area - where I was stabbed (that's right stabbed) twice!! In both arms, yes for someone whose job is to take blood ALL DAY, EVERY DAY... she, for some reason, cannot find my vein in my right arm and takes out the needle, grabs another one and stabs my left arm. And for someone who is around people all day, she's not a people person. I am NOT a needle/shots person at all. I even hate my finger being pricked. And I was talking to Brian and our awesome nurse about the fact that I didn't like needles and so on. The blood taking lady preceded to say, "Well then, you shouldn't have gotten pregnant and you'll have to get used to it." WELL THANK YOU BITCH! I am aware of this, but that doesn't mean I have like it or enjoy it (being stabbed with needles).  

This is our first ultrasound, taken on July 2, 2010 at 7 weeks and 3 days pregnant! You can see the yolk sac (the small white circle), the baby (in the middle, kind of looks like a jellybean), and the umbilical cord (which goes from the baby to the edge of the sac). And since our baby looked like a jellybean (as the doctor called it), that is the nickname for our child until we know the sex. So until the end of September, our child will  be known as Jellybean Thomas (Don't make fun!)

So the first trimester of pregnancy, I thought, was pretty easy.  I was nauseous most of the trimester, but only vomited a couple of times (like 5 times tops), so I thought I had it pretty good on that. I was extremely tired though, like extremely! I could sleep for 12 hours at night and take like a 5 hour nap during the day and still be able to sleep the following night for another 12 hours.... not that I'm complaining. And I had to pee every 20 minutes, SERIOUSLY! But overall I think the first trimester was pretty easy for me, so I'm not complaining at all. However, I this feeling that when I become pregnant with our second child, I highly doubt I'll be as lucky with the first trimester symptoms.

Our second appointment was on July 30, 2010, however it was not a normal "check-up" visit. We have decided to have three tests done, not that I'm high risk or anything, but our insurance covers these tests 100% so we thought, why not? We had an NT and lab work done, as well as the cystic fibrosis test done. The NT test is done by ultrasound and measures the fluid in the baby's neck as well as the bridge bone in there nose. NT tests for spina bifida and down syndrome. Both the NT ultrasound and the cystic fibrosis tests came back NEGATIVE, which is great!!! And all my lab work was prefect! So we were very excited about that. We were not expecting to get any pictures during this ultrasound or to be able to see the baby as clearing and for as long as we did. The appointment lasted at least 30 minutes, in which we saw both arms and hands, both legs and feet, and the baby's nose. :0) We also saw the heart fluttering again, but this time we got to HEAR the heartbeat, which was a surprise to us because we thought that we wouldn't be able to hear it until our 12 week appointment. It was so wonderful to look at the screen and see a life forming in your stomach. I will admit I was still shocked when I saw Jellybean on the screen again, it's hard to believe that something that wonderful is growing in your stomach, until you can actually feel it kick. I couldn't take my eyes off the screen and was overwhelmed with joy when I watched Jellybean "jumping" in my belly. I know Brian was overwhelmed as well. And the ultrasound machine used for this test was one of the high-tech GE huge ultrasound machines. It was just wonderful!!

Here is a picture of Jellybean on July 30, 2010 at 11 weeks and 3 days! (However Jellybean was measuring almost 12 1/2 weeks!) After seeing our baby's head, I sure hope it's body catches up!!! Both Brian and I had heads too big for normal delivery. So we'll see! You can see Jellybean's nose, which is so cute!! As well as Jellybean's ears! Although it looks like Jellybean still has a tail.

On August 2, 2010, at 12 weeks along, we had our third appointment, which was our second "standard check-up". During this appointment I was asked routine questions and so able to hear Jellybean's heart again!! :0) The doctor counted the heartbeat, 160 BPM!!! Which she said was perfectly normal! I have another appointment on August 31, 2010 at 16 weeks along, but only for more blood tests, registering for classes, and hearing the heartbeat again :0) I can't wait to find out the sex of the baby! But that won't happen til at til 20 weeks, which is September 28!!! :0)

I have to say that I absolutely LOVE my doctor and nurse! I'm glad I chose to stick with the practice I've been going to since I was 18. And what I think makes this even more special is that the OB/GYN practice I'm going to is the same one my mom went to when she was pregnant with me and the same practice that delivered me, however, I have a different doctor. Dr. Fisch is great!

I'm currently 14 1/2 weeks along and I'm definitely showing, which is exciting! I've also gone maternity shopping at Gap and Old Navy which has the BEST maternity clothes, in my opinion! But luckily a lot of my shirts still fit, I just need pants. I am looking forward to the rest of our journey through pregnancy and can't wait to meet our first child!!! And in case you were wondering we've already picked names - (Boy: John Cayden Thomas; Girl: Peyton Elizabeth Thomas). 

So it's official, we're expecting our first child February 15, 2010 - a Valentine's baby! We're so excited!!!!