So I'll be 35 weeks tomorrow and I'm starting to feel the burn-feet have really begun to swell this past week more than normally and they won't go down at all like they used to. I'm wearing yellowbox flip flops and balerina slippers to work right now-ha! I think I've gained about 45-50 pounds now, so I can see why!

I had a pregnancy massage yeterday to loosen up some the muscles in my back and legs but it only helped for a few hours. Lucas has been sitting on my sciatic nerve since Monday and he just released yesterday so I'm pretty excited about that. Bruce is absolutely hilariuos now-he has picked up my bathroom breaks in the middle of the night and gets up when I go (usually 2-3 times a night) and waits by the door so he can go out too! Then he wants to share some love for about 3-4 minutes before I head off to work by sticking his head in my chest and belly while I give him some attention. It's very cute-wonder how he's gonna act when Lucas gets here! when my God-daughter, Kailyn comes to visit , he so curious and just whines becasue he doesn't understand. It'll be funny to see a baby full time at home and how he reacts!

Ben and I took maternity photos on Aug 12th (26th bday). We just got the CD in the mail yesterday. It was so much fun!

I'm in the middle of baby shower fun now and have another one on Sunday-I can't belive all the love, support, and thoughtfulness we have received-It's been truly amazing! I think we are going to be all set-up when Lucas gets here-He's already spoiled!

I will have my last 2 week doc appointment this coming Monday-then it's week to week from there-That'll be interesting!

We had our hardwood floors laid this past Tuesday and we are cleaning up from that wreckage now-but WOW-did it make all the difference in the house! That carpet was ruined,and it'svery refreshing in the house now. Ben is working to complete the trim and then we'll get all the stuff we stuck into the guest room and Lucas's room and set out. Then have to focus back on Lucas's room and the guest room-Gotta hurry, time is moving fast!

P.S. Do I look fat? hahahaha!! I even have piggy fingers now-I love it though!!!! All for my Lucas!

Picture taken today at 32 weeks 2 days :) Please disregard the stretchmarks-they came univited!

how long has it been??!!!

Well, I'm at 32 weeks and it has been far too long since I last updated! And wow with the changes that have occured since then! I'm going to the doctor every 2 weeks now and they say I'm looking pretty good (if 40 extra pounds looks good!) But the baby looks good anyway! He's continuing moving around like a mad man in there and I feel every little squirm now. It seems like he likes to be sideways because there are a lot of moments when I can feel him on either side at the same time. It's quite strange but I absolutely LOVE it! I like to come home and just watch him. :)

Sleeping has become an issue. If I'm not up because it's the third bathroom break of the night, then it's becasue my hip hurts or my arm is asleep or I'm too hot. haha! It's all becoming so surreal now! Only 8 more weeks of that with increasing intensity I suppose.

Daily duties take a lot more out of me, just to stir brownie batter the other day required me sitting down. Grocery shopping is the most fun, I don't go to Wal-Mart anymore unless absolutely necessary, standing in line for 20 minutes to check is a no-go! Publix works the best for me these days. And is it me or is like 1000000 billion degrees hotter this year! I have an internal furnace I know but wow!!

Ben has done a great job on Lucas's room, He's so talented and has said he enjoys doing it for the baby-I think it made it more real to him too. We have everything in there-baby bed, changing table, chair, armoire. Ben painted some of his art above the doors and window and we're ready to fill it all in now. Speaking of which I had my first baby shower yesterday hosted by my wonderful friends Allison (cousin actually) and Maria. It was great and receiving all the fun baby items was just as excting as I thought it would be!! Lucas is going to be set when he arrives with all the love we've been getting!

Mom came to spend the day with me and we had a great time. She's so excited as well! We stopped into Kohl's for $2-$4 baby clothes! YES!!!

Go back to the doc this Friday to see what the little one is up to at the start of the 33rd week!!!

20-26 weeks & some fun along the way....

late post of 23 weeks...gotta catch up before this stomach decides it's through! ha!

On a softer note...

Ok, enough about me, lets talk about this little cantaloupe-yes he is the size of a small cantaloupe this coming week as saturday will be 25 weeks!!

We finally cleaned out some room for the little man so we can get started on his nursery soon. I have to switch the bed out of the guest bedroom and move to the next bedroom, but at least it's walkable in there and ready to move! He already has a few baby clothes ready for him! We got an amazing deal from a family off of Craigslist on his swing, bouncer, travel system and a glider chair. And we have a crib and changing table to set up as well. Meghan even got me a jumperoo, jungle style! We are getting there!! You should have seen Ben trying to work the travel system last night. He wasn't stopping until he figured it out. We didn't have instructions for it, so we had fun with it. Ben was determined to know every button, every latch, every snap. It was cute!

Been getting the emails and phone calls about baby showers! How fun! I cannot even wait! And getting the cute little outfit gifts are so much fun!

We registered at Target, Buy Buy Baby and Babies R Us. Target because it's everywhere obviously, Babies R Us because it's a classic here in bham and Buy Buy Baby because it's new and fun. And they take competitor coupons, Bed Bath and Beyond coupons and they match competitor prices. Which I think Target does too. I think I registered for entirely way too much, but Ben and I are hilariously clueless! We did pick out our favorites though and had a ball!

Doing his room in khaki, blue and green. Picked out a comforter set at Buy Buy Baby that's cutest-it's all khaki and has jungle animal embroidered into it. I talked to a few of my artsy talented friends and fam to help with some artwork for the walls. Thinking about the jungle theme and incorporating those three colors into it instead of the norm. Very suttle and sweet, I like it!

Lucas is moving around like crazy these days, I can even see him through my clothes sometimes-very faintly, but he let's me know he's there! Ben has felt him and seen it too. So wonderful!

My next appointment is on the 24th this month...glucose testing. Yummy!

I will post some more pics soon. I have some on my camera but haven't downloaded them yet. Just call me Stretch Armstrong-that's how I feel these days!

Love!!

feet, heart, skin, emotion...

Ok, no-I wish I were talking my little Lucas, but I'm talking about myself...

My feet are swelling on the daily now, not too bad, but it's little funny looking, talked to my sister Brooke about hers (a week behind me) and hers are bigger than mine, so can't complain too much there. But it does look funny especially when Traci tells me that I have nubby feet that looks like it's only half of a normal foot so when they swell, it looks extremely wierd.

My heart...well, my heartburn. This a daily thing now too, and Tums are my best friend. I love spicy food but my esophagus would have to disagree.

My skin is glowing.....hahahah! NOT!! It's actually broken out with urticaria at the moment, a skin rash almost like small welts. It's not that bad but they itch like crazy!

Emotional is the word of the 10 months I believe. Before I even thought I might be pregnant, Ben told me that I was being a little on the "not so nice side" so that's when it all fell into place. I've always been the type to try to be patient, justify situtations, and give second chances....HA! I've been leaving that up to Jesus lately. I try so hard, but I swear there are times when you can see steam coming out of my ears. Patience hasn't been in my vocabulary for quite some time now. Ask Ben about it. But don't believe everything you hear from him. hahahah!! To make myself feel better I just tell him that people became a lot more rude in January.

18 and 20 weeks...halfway!!

Well, we are halfway there this weeks and super excited!! We found out we are having a little boy when I was 18 weeks and have since given the little guy a name...Lucas Benjamin. We love it! We went on our first registration attempt at Target last week and you should have seen us...we were soooo lost. I would like to try to breastfeed and all the handy dandy stuff that goes with it is a little overwhelming! You really should have seen Ben try to do it!

A little more fascinating fun would be the fact that I felt the little one kicking today! I was leaned over my desk and felt hm on my side. I even put my hand there and felt the little thumps! The doc said the reason it took me a little while to feel anything was based on the position of the placenta, but that it would be soon...and today was the day! It was wonderful...can't wait to have Ben feel it!

Its a Boy!

18 weeks

18 weeks! Popping out...

9-16 weeks (pics every other week)

Ben aka Daddy

That night I told Ben-We went out to eat and I pulled out the bib and laid it beside him, told him in 9 months we'll have a friend to join!

The proof!

There they are-Jan 15th-only 3 1/2 weeks. Barely visible...look close!

What's going on in there, down there??

OH and BTW...for all those who we have told we were not going to find out the sex, well we have changed our minds! We have to know at this point, it's just too much pressure on me and Ben. I mean pink, blue, baseballs, flowers, t ball, ballet, nail painting or booger wiping-these are important to know, to mentally set ourselves up. We have an appoinment on April 27th at 11 to see the little one's "little one", it will interesting as everyone I've talked to says girl, except my friend Maria and Ben. Ben said there hasn't been a girl born on his mother's side of the family in 56 years...we'll see if we break the cycle. Chinese calendar says girl as well. As far as the old wives tales, who knows......as I crave sweets, salty, spicy, pretty much everything edible at this point, who knows! Although my top two favs is cereal and pepperoncinis, sometimes in the same meal. YUM!

I'm celebrating today because today has been the first day in 10 weeks I am negative symptom free. Nausea raided my body for 7 weeks, exhaustion for about the same-well that still hits-but not often, and headaches for 2 weeks. None today....IN LOVE!

Going to try to get a few pics on here we've taken of the protrusion of bellyness. We've done every two weeks, will do that as soon as I can.

Congrats on the wedding (oh, and the baby!! WHAT!)

Ok, first blog for a first timer...hope I don't sound too much like a dork!

Wanted to keep everyone up to date on the up and coming newest member of our family. As you know this little one suprised us all after 6 weeks of marriage and a postive pregnancy test! Especially considering the doc was waaaaaayyyyy off on his diagnosis of my "non-working" ovaries. Apparently they work JUST fine! Ben said I was being mean to him this particualr week of January 15th. I usually am mean, so I didn't think too much of it-ha-JK! But I was feeling a little out of the norm, so I decided to weed it out with a quick test and move forward go with the oncoming flu. It was not the flu needless to say. It was two pink lines on a tiny white stick. Almost so faint, I thought I did something wrong. Squeezed myself into a opening slot at the doctor's office the next mornign for some confirmation and after 4 grueling hours, I was ont he HGC track! We are super excited about this news and this blessing in our lives though-it was a fear of mine not to be able to have my own children. God took that fear away and brought this wonderful miracle into our lives. Now the wait...and it has been quite interesting if I must say so myself.

Have had three doctor appointments thus far-

First-January 29th-We got to see the little peanut at 6 weeks-It was too small to measure the heartbeat at that time although we saw it pumping away! Haha-Ben was asking the nurse if there was any way another little peanut could be hiding behind the one we were looking at. She said unlikely but has happened-I think Ben felt some relief!

Second-February 24th-After what seemed like giving the doctor a gallon of blood, nurse came into the room to hear the heartbeat with her handy dandy Doppler. It picked up immediately without an ultrasound (which I still wanted of course-but insurance wouldn't agree with me) HR was at 176-on the high end....some say that means girl!

Third-March 24th-Another Doppler checkup. HR lower at 168 but still on the high end for my gestational period said doc-still girl??