23 Weeks

How far along? 23 Weeks

Total weight gain/loss: Not sure. Haven't been to the doctor in a while and I refuse to weigh myself. 

Maternity clothes? I just went shopping and got a ton of maternity clothes from Motherhood, Old Navy, and Target. However, I'm not wearing anything maternity above. It's kind of nice to still be able to wear my old clothes. (Denim Vest Link, White Dress Link)

Sleep: Sleeping has gotten better. I got 2 new pillows and now I find it more comfortable to sleep on my sides. I sleep with two pillows under my head and a king size pillow supporting my stomach.   

Best moment this week: We finally decided on a dresser/changing table (picture below) for Olivia's nursery. It's 6 feet long and has so much storage! It's exactly what we wanted and the color the SAME exact color I've been trying to incorporate into her nursery and couldn't! YAY! We are going to paint the handles and get knobs for the doors. We are trying to decided between white or a cream color.

Miss Anything? I miss being able to get up from a sitting position easily. Whether I am getting out of my car, off the couch or out of the bed, I usually make a straining noise HA. If Robbie is home, he usually helps me off the couch. Otherwise, I'm on my own!

Movement: Lots and lots of movements!!! I keep telling Olivia to simmer down LOL.

Food cravings: I've been eating a ton of pickles but other than that nothing. I usually eat a ton of fried foods but now I get sick when I eat something fried. 

Labor Signs: None.

Symptoms: Still having some swelling in my hands a feet. No other symptons!

Belly Button in or out? Still in.

Wedding rings on or off? Off at night.

Happy or Moody: HAPPY!

Looking forward to: My appointment Wednesday. We haven't seen Olivia in 6 weeks so we are so excited to get a sonogram!! 

 

21 Weeks

How far along? 21 Weeks

Total weight gain/loss: 14lbs 

Maternity clothes? I'm always in my maternity jeans seen above! They were the first maternity clothing item I bought and I'm surprised they still fit! 

Sleep: Still pretty crappy. I wake up every time I flip over and can't really get comfortable on my sides. I started sleeping at more of a sitting up position but my neck and shoulders get sore from that. Still need to order a pregnancy pillow!!! Also, my hands have been falling asleep at night and I'm hoping its from how awkwardly I'm sleeping and not Diabetes related.   

Best moment this week: I went to a Revival with my Dad, Uncle and Aunt this week and it was such a blessing. It was at an old WWII camp ground with old bunk houses and an open area for worshiping. Afterward, we had homemade ice cream and boiled peanuts (they must have known I was coming - perfect pregnancy foods). Such a fun night!

Miss Anything? I miss cold weather every time is step outside. It's usually hot this time of year but Lord help me, it's hotter when your pregnant!!!

Movement: This is part of my best moment of the week also! I am so excited about all the movement I've felt! Olivia usually kicks me when I lay down at night but I've heard that's normal. I can't wait to feel harder kicks and more frequent kicks.

Food cravings: I never really crave anything. I liked eating wings last week and I have started eating a lot of dill pickles (stereotype is true!) I still like eating a lot of fried foods, mainly french fries. Nothing weird yet. 

Have you started to show yet: Yep! Getting rounder everyday. 

Labor Signs: Nope.

Symptoms: SWELLING! My feet have started to swell. I've been on my feet in the heat the past few days so I know it's definitely going to happen. I guess I didn't expect it so soon! First time mommy-to-be knows nothing HA.

Belly Button in or out? Still in.

Wedding rings on or off? Off when I come in from outside. So much swelling in the South Georgia heat.

Happy or Moody: Happy. Always happy!

Looking forward to: Being off next week. Robbie and I took off Wednesday through Sunday. It's going to be awesome to do nothing or do whatever we want to do!!!!

20 Week Appointment

Yesterday, I had my 20 week appointment. I didn't get an ultrasound which bummed us out but it was nice to hear, once again, how good we are doing! My OB was pleased with my Perinatology appointment and read off the list of things they want me to do in the coming weeks. I had to get some blood drawn yesterday and for some reason, I can't remember why they did that :/ *Pregnancy Brain is no joke* I've got to have an EKG just to make sure my heart is working properly. I've got to do a 24-hour urine test. Gross. They are checking the protein in my urine *Diabetes thing* They will be checking my kidneys eventually just to make sure they are still functioning properly also. My next appointment isn't until August 6th, so this will be the longest I've gone without seeing a doctor so far! My dad works at a college in town that has a sonographer program so I miiiiiight see if he can sneak me in for a free ultrasound (just kidding). I'll have gone 6 weeks without seeing Olivia and that just feels weird to me!

Also, starting at 28 weeks I'll start going in every week for an ultrasound and get a rating on a scale of 1-8 of how Olivia is doing/developing. They want us to score 8s every time and they said it isn't hard to get perfect scores so fingers crossed!

WE ARE HALFWAY THERE!!!



19 Weeks

Black Kimono, Pink Pants

How far along: 19 Weeks

Total weight gain/loss: Won't know until my appointment next Monday. I'm going to go out on a limb here and say I've gained 2 or 3 more. Waaaaahhh!

Maternity clothes: I love all my maternity clothes so much! I probably wear maternity pants everyday and I'm getting to where I live in tank tops and kimonos as you can see above :)

Stretch marks: Just the same new ones from 2 weeks ago. I can only imagine, if I'm getting them this early, how many more there will be at the end.

Sleep: I looked at pregnancy pillows today. I've got to do something to get some relief. I can't help but toss all night and in our queen size bed I always seem to bump Robbie.

Best moment of the week: Spending time with my husband. I love our lazy days and yesterday afternoon was really nice. Gotta get as many of these in as I can before Olivia gives us un-lazy days!

Miss anything: I honestly miss not being able to work for longs periods of time. We started painting our extra bedroom to get it ready to be a nursery and I was trying so hard to help and had to keep sitting down and resting. I also can't stay outside with our dogs for very long and play. Makes me sad.

Movement: Nothing yet.

Food cravings: Still just fried food. I thought I wanted a salad today and it made me sick. Bleh.

Anything make you sick: Just random foods and my low blood glucose levels sometimes.

Have you started to show: It's gotta be quadruplets right?!?!?!?

Labor signs: No.

Belly button in or out: In.

Wedding ring: On, except at night.

Happy or moody: I'm really, really happy. It all seems almost too perfect because I've heard horror stories of how moods can change at any given moment!

Looking forward to: My appointment next Monday. I had such a good visit with my Perinatologist last week and I can't wait to see what my OB has to say about it!

Nesting already!

Robbie and I decided to go to Lowes on my lunch break today since we started cleaning our extra bedroom this past weekend. I've had our color scheme for Olivia's room picked out for a while now and it's so exciting to actually go and look at colors. It was so easy! Our eyes found exactly what we wanted! My Pinterest is full of my ideas and I love seeing them come to life and it's also awesome that my husband loves the colors too :)

                   

First Perinatologist visit....and maybe the last!!!

Yesterday I had my first appointment with my Perinatologist. Just a reminder, I'm Type 1 Diabetic and have Hypothyroidism.

I was pretty nervous about what was going to happen at this appointment but as they started my anatomy ultrasound, my unease started to fade. Kidneys look good, bladder looks good, brain looks good, 10 photos of the heart later...heart looks good, 10 fingers, 10 toes, eyes look good, stomach looks good, EVERYTHING looks good! Also, I finally got 100% confirmation that we are definitely having a little girl. The last two times we checked, Olivia decided to cross her legs like a little lady. She's also weighing in at about 8 ounces which is very good for a Type 1 Diabetic Mommy!

I've kept my blood glucose levels pretty tight lately too. When we started planning to get pregnant, my HbA1c was 6.7 and during my pregnancy, I've managed to lower it to 6.3. The doctors like for you to be below 7.0 before you even start trying to conceive.

It's hard work and I'll be the first to admit, I fall off the wagon sometimes. I CRAVE fried food and even when I'm not pregnant, I'm not supposed to be eating anything with breading or anything fried. However, after I eat these things and my blood glucose rises higher than it should be, I'm reminded that I'm not just hurting myself right now. My health is Olivia's health right now.

Another amazing thing about my appointment yesterday was learning that if I keep up the good work and keep my HbA1c low, I may never have to see my Perinatologist again! That also means I will be able to deliver in my hometown too and not over an hour away! It all depends on what my current OB thinks. I'll keep you guys updated.

I've got my firm faith in God that I can do this!

 

 



Shopping Trip!

After trying to plan to go shopping Friday and then on Saturday, I was finally able to make it to Motherhood Maternity today! Becca wasn't able to go with me but my sweet, patient husband was forced agreed to drive me :) Grey Tank, Floral Pants

I also had to go to my favorite store and buy my favorite panties. I'm quite obsessed with VS clothing. 

I really love shopping (you can ask anyone who knows me), however; I was so HOT while trying on clothing today! I may do everything in the future online now. Walking around a mall was not as fun as it has been in the past. Also, Macy's did NOT have a very good maternity section so I would recommend going to an actual Motherhood Maternity store instead. 

I should have taken a picture but the highlight of our day was smoothies and pretzel dogs from Pretzel Maker. I inhaled the food too fast for a photo-op. 

Presents for Olivia!

I seriously have some of the best friends! Less than a week after we found out we were having a girl, my best friend, Rachel, shipped me an adorable onesie in the mail. A few weeks later, I set up a surprise for Rachel and helped her dad, who lives in Michigan, come down and surprise her. I surely didn't expect to be getting another gift from Rachel at this time! Rachel and her friend, Sam, made Robbie and I a sweet little hanging board to track how many weeks until Olivia Rae arrives. (Excuse my terrible handwriting.) Auntie Rachel is the best!!!

17 Weeks

How far along: 17 Weeks

Total weight gain/loss: 11lbs. I seriously can't stop eating but that's honestly nothing new.

Maternity clothes: Adding to my collection pretty regularly. Becca and I are going shopping this week too!!

Stretch marks: OMG I got my first one on my stomach! I've been lotioning up everyday so I'm kind of sad.

Morning sickness: Nope!

Sleep: I'm still tossing a lot at night. My husband has also started snoring so that's fun.

Best moment of the week: I won $50 on a $2 lottery ticket or as I like to call them "Scratchy Card". I never win or buy them for that matter so this is huge HA!

Miss anything: Cuddling with Robbie. I'm so uncomfortable laying down these days :(

Movement: Swore I felt a kick but I think it was just my pulse.

Food cravings: Random things at random times. I'll see something on TV or while I'm out and want that. While getting ice cream yesterday after dinner at Brusters, I saw a hot dog on their Nathans Menu and wanted that with my ice cream. Ew!

Anything make you sick: Still get sick when I'm hungry. 

Have you started to show: See picture above HA!

Labor signs: No.

Belly button in or out: In.

Wedding ring: On.

Happy or moody: I'm pretty happy.

Looking forward to: Hopefully buying some colored pants on our shopping trip. I need something other than jeans!

Gender Announcement

"This is the start of your sweet little story, the part where your page meets ours. No matter where your tale takes you tomorrow, our story will always read love."

 

IT'S A GIRL!!! Yes, I wanted a boy. Yes, I'm still happy. No, I didn't take the name from my favorite TV character Olivia Benson. Yes, I will still probably call her Liv.

 

Robbie, his mom and I went together for my 14 week appointment because we were told we might get to see gender. When Ms. Jane, my fav and the best ultrasound tech, said "Ohhhh this is looking like a little girl", my heart did a few flips but in a good way. I always swore I wanted to have 3 little boys and never wanted girls, but who am I kidding. Every mom wants a girl! We are blessed to have a healthy little baby girl.

 

We posted the picture above on Facebook about a week later but most everyone already knew. I'm not good with secrets. (P.S. Becca took the photos. In 90 degree weather. With my cranky husband. I love her more than she knows!)

 

 

14 Weeks

Floral Tank Top

How far along: 14 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: 9lbs
Maternity clothes: I live in my maternity jeans.
Stretch marks: None that I didn't already have :/
Morning sickness: None at all.
Sleep: I toss and turn a lot. I'm sure I need to buy a pregnancy pillow soon.
Best moment of the week: WE ARE HAVING A GIRL!!!
Have you told family and friends: Most everyone knows.
Miss anything: Getting highlights
Movement: Flutters. My mother-in-law described it as butterfly flutters and that made perfect sense!
Food cravings: French fries
Anything make you sick: Not anymore really
Have you started to show: Oh yes. More than I probably should be
Gender predictions: IT's A GIRL!
Labor signs: None
Belly button in or out: Inny
Wedding ring: On; however, it does feel tight when I wake up in the mornings
Happy or moody: Mostly Happy
Looking forward to: Shopping with Becca at Carters outlet this weekend :)

Announcement!

WE ANNOUNCED!!! Robbie and I were trying to wait until Robbie's moms birthday but that was May 22nd and I couldn't wait any longer!! We told Robbie's parents on April 26th and we told my dad on May 2nd. We kept trying to figure out a good date to get ALL of the family together and it just wasn't working out.

It was no surprise that Robbie's mother was VERY excited. Tears flowed and so did her drink that she knocked over jumping up to hug us. This will be her first grandchild :)

Robbie's father is a quiet man and just to get a smile and several words out of him was the best reaction we could have hoped for!

I told my father by myself because Robbie had to work, like usual. This will be his 4th grandchild but his first from me so he was over the moon excited and happy!

The rest of the family got told at different times and then we made our big Facebook announcement. The out pour of love and congratulations was overwhelming. We knew our baby would be loved by so many!

Photo Board

10 Weeks

Top - Out of Stock (But I love Entourage!)

How far along: 10 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: 6lbs (It's all the fried food)
Maternity clothes: Bought some dresses and my first pair of maternity jeans. I love them!
Stretch marks: None that I didn't already have :/
Morning sickness: I get sick every time I get hungry.
Sleep: Pretty uncomfortable
Best moment of the week: Finding a pair of jeans that fit with the first try! Small victories!
Have you told family and friends: Announcing this weekend hopefully.
Miss anything: Reading, I don't have the desire to even read :/
Movement: Nope.
Food cravings: Chocolate Milk
Anything make you sick: When my blood sugar goes low and I'm hungry.
Have you started to show: Yep!
Gender predictions: It's probably a girl since I want a boy.
Labor signs: None
Belly button in or out: In
Wedding ring: On
Happy or moody: Mostly happy!
Looking forward to: Finding gender!

8 Weeks

New Directions Top

 How far along: 8 Weeks

Total weight gain/loss: 2lbs
Maternity clothes: Nope, jeans are getting tight though.
Stretch marks: None that I didn't already have :/
Morning sickness: I get sick every time I get hungry.
Sleep: I've woken up the past 3 days at 6am to pee.
Best moment of the week: We saw a heartbeat!! Praise God!
Have you told family and friends: Just a few friends.
Miss anything: Diet coke
Movement: None
Food cravings: Anything greasy or fried.
Anything make you sick: Being hungry
Have you started to show: Just some bloat
Gender predictions: boy boy boy
Labor signs: None
Belly button in or out: In
Wedding ring: On
Happy or moody: Both
Looking forward to: Being able to tell everyone!