33 Weeks

Wow.. it's been awhile since I posted.
Nothing new to post honestly. I did have my second baby shower this past weekend, which I will add a few photos on here. :-) Any questions, just ask.

My Aunt made a diaper tricycle. And said she was NEVER making one again! HAHA

And my cousin made a diaper cake.

The cake my Aunt got. The booties are a keepsake to write the birth info on the bottoms.

And Chris and I. With a belly shot at 32 weeks and 4 days. :-)

30 Weeks 1 Day

Yesterday I had a doctors appointment. After chasing the baby across my stomach, the doctor finally got his heartbeat long enough for the doppler to register the BPM, which was 145. :-)

Doctor said I have 10 weeks until my due date, and 7 weeks until I'm full term. It's getting closer and closer! I can't wait until I can hold my son in my arms and see his gorgeous little face, and those adorable baby fingers and toes!

Yesterday, Chris and I also got out Rocking chair and crib out of lay away. :-) It's a gorgeous Cherry wood finish, which is ironic, because when we got them, we had forgotten the finish on the dresser we already had, and when we got home yesterday, we found the dresser, while it is old and faded a little, to be a gorgeous cherry wood finish!

But we got those put together, and now are just waiting to paint the room this month sometime, not 100% sure how yet, but will update that later on. 

Other than this, I do not have any additional updates.

29 weeks & Baby Shower # 1

So Tuesday was my 29 weeks. 11 weeks, less than 3 months until my due date. We also had my first baby shower. My second one is 3.5 weeks after the first. Here is a belly picture. Taken by my love, Chris.

Here are a couple of photos from the baby shower. I'm not sharing all, which is close to 100 photos!

Chris, A friend, Ally, and my Mom

Thought this one was a cute one of Chris and I.

Lil Blurry, but it's a cute picture, with the cake Candyce got us.

After the shower, we decided to take a selfie. :-)

BOOKS!!

So I thought I would do another post about books. I've set a goal with the GoodReads app on my phone and Kindle Fire to read about 30 books this summer break. So far I think I've read 3, which definitely isn't a bad start. :-) So I'm going to do another mini review on a book I finished not too long ago.

Divergent By Veronica Roth

Kindle   Nook   Hard Copy

This book has been turned into a movie, but I highly suggest reading the book. I have yet to see the movie, but the book was amazing. I read it in a couple of days.

It's about a society where everyone has a specific place they belong, and if a test shows they don't truly have a single place of belonging, then they are practically hunted down and killed. But it isn't that easy, they must first learn to work together, and overcome what one division of this society has decided to do do another, and they must all work together on territory that is considered unfamiliar to them.

If you have read The Giver by Lois Lowry, then you will most likely LOVE this book. I found many minor details to be very similar to those found in Lowry's book, which is probably a portion of the reason(s) I liked Divergent so much.

It is available for the Kindle, Nook, as well as hard copy. Below the image are the links. If you read this book, please put your own thoughts and comments on it in the comments below!

Disclaimer: I am in no way getting paid for this post. This is my own opinion based on a book I recently read, and am simply posting this from my own opinion and free will.

28 Weeks 4 days

This last week has been one of those weeks where i feel like doing NOTHING and am exhausted for no reason, aside from growing a human being!

I had my Glucose test Tuesday, which I found out yesterday I passed, with a perfect sugar of 105!

That drink though was nasty. I didn't get a choice of Fruit Punch of Orange, and I do NOT like Fruit Punch to begin with, but I chugged that thing in about 2 minutes so I could get it over and done with, and it was worth it, cuz it came back PERFECT!

My main craving this week has been slushies, and strawberry banana smoothies. :-)

Jace has been moving almost non stop throughout the day, then calms down a few minutes after I lay down to relax for sleep, which would help if I could get to sleep when Chris does!! But I'm usually in bed for a few hours reading or playing games before I can finally fall asleep. 

My head hits the pillow and I'm suddenly wide awake, no matter how tired I was to begin with!

Since It's already the weekend, I will post some pictures with my next update. Tuesday is my first (of 2) baby shower, so I'm sure there will be photos and whatnot from there to share!

27 Weeks 1 day

This is the final week of the second Trimester! I'm ⅔ of the way done! That means only 13 weeks left until D-Day.

This week I have been craving Chicken Bacon Ranch sandwich from subway. Haha.

I also have been feeling many kicks, punches, and bounces. It's a great feeling until Baby Jace goes so low that I can barely walk one day!

Yesterday, Chris and I got through all of the stuff in Baby's room. Now the only stuff in there is stuff that will STAY in there once Jace is born. We have our baby shower in 2 weeks, and get the crib and rocking chair in 3 weeks.

Super exciting!!! Here's a photo from yesterday. :-)

Sorry it's a little dark. I had to use the closet mirror, as I couldn't get into the bathroom at the time LOL.

Television

I wanted to make a post that wasn't pregnancy/planning for baby related. To broaden my horizons so to speak. So I thought I would write about the newest Netflix show that Chris and I have discovered.
We've already finished the first season, which is all Netflix has at the moment, but it was amazing.

Syfy's Bitten

Photo from http://www.denofgeek.com/tv/bitten/27638/first-trailer-and-poster-for-syfys-bitten 

We found that this show was about werewolves, defending their lifestyle while hiding from the humans, who were all over their properties in order to solve a local murder, which was in turn caused by other werewolves who were not a part of the pack. I'm not saying any more about it, but this is definitely a GREAT show.

If you like True Blood, the show, you would love this series. I'm sure of it!

Also, it is based off of a series of books. When I found this out, me being the reader that I am, decided to get the ebook from my local library, and have since read the majority of the first book, and while the book is COMPLETELY different than the series, I love it. It's just as good as watching the show, despite the only similarity being location and characters.

Kindle    Paperback    Nook

Again this is a great series, and an even better book!! :-D

26 Weeks +1 Day

Chris was off work yesterday, so I skipped my post and hung out with him. :-D 

We ended up going swimming at the community pool, and because my stomach was WHITE as a ghost, I got a little pink, not really BURNT, but pink enough that warm water made it a little bit sore. Oh Well! Least it's not worse!

Anyhow, As of yesterday, I'm 26 weeks. I'm almost done with my 6th month of being pregnant. :-) Which ALSO means I'm almost in the final stretch, the last trimester! 

Super excited about this. It means I'm that much closer to meeting my son face to face. :-)

The last 2 weeks, I'm been craving kool aid. The last week, it's been smiley potatoes, and the strawberry kiwi arctic rushes from dairy queen!

I have 2 weeks until my glucose screening, then my appointments are every other week!! 

Then we have 3 weeks until my first baby shower, the one Chris's sister is throwing us, more of a barbecue than anything.

We get the crib, mattress, and rocking chair in 4 weeks.

And just over 6 weeks until my second shower, thrown by my cousin.

All this means is that next Tuesday, Chris and I are going to be going through the stuff we have piled in the second bedroom, so we can turn it into the nursery. I will definitely plan to post before and after photos next week, as we do this.

25 Weeks.

25 weeks today. :-) Had my doctor's appointment. Baby was kicking through most of the appointment, but his heartbeat was 149.

I did gain 8 pounds since last time, but I'm still down at least 7 pounds from pre pregnancy.

I've been fighting heartburn bad lately. it doesn't seem to matter what I eat, I still have horrible heart burn.

My main craving here lately has been bread. (Don't worry, I've only given into it once when I made homemade bread).

I go back to the doctor in 3 weeks. This is when they are going to do my glucose test.

After that, I go every 2 weeks until I'm 36 weeks. :-)

Belly Picture!

2 weeks ago at 22 weeks, compared to today, 24 weeks 2 days.

24 Weeks - 6 Months

I can't believe I'm officially 6 months pregnant! It's Crazy!!!

This last week, I've been craving milk, smiley potatoes, and ice cream. But not alllll together. LOL

Jace has been moving around a LOT. The other night he even didn't want me feeling him kick and squirm, and I felt the stinker move away from my hand. Other than that, he kicks all the time, most times it's hard enough we can see it.

Chris's mom ordered us a heavy duty (it can hold up to 4,000 pounds) shelving unit to put in our storage closet that has no shelves. That means that once we get it, we can start going through the baby's room and emptying things out! I will post a 'before' and after blog post about all of that when we get there. 

I said 'before' because the room was a LOT worse 2 days ago than it is now. Yesterday I got Chris to help me move some stuff around. We had a library table in the bedroom that we moved into the front room. It now has a small 3 shelf bookcase on it, my plastic 3 drawer organizer next to it, and my file cabinet next to it as well. This makes me a little office corner. I can't sit in a hard chair for long now, but once Baby is born it will be great because of homework and such with school. :)

We also moved one of the 2 bookcases into our room, and cut a hole in the back of it so the TV could sit on the shelf and the cords now go out the back of it.

All in All yesterday was very productive. :)

We are slowly going to be able to get things out of the baby's room, and put up, so we can put baby furniture in it!

23 Weeks 1 Day

Sorry I didn't update yesterday!
It was my 23rd Birthday, So I spent half the day relaxing with Chris, and the dog, and the rest of the day was spent at my mother's house. My mom fixed us steaks for dinner and bought me a Birthday Cake. 

While Chris and I were relaxing Monday night and Tuesday morning, little Jace started kicking. He's getting VERY strong, and I can feel him more and more, and it always makes me smile. :) He's been kicking hard enough now that he's making my stomach move almost every time he kicks. It's such an amazing feeling.

Here is a picture of my belly this week. :)

Last Week compared to this week. :)

22 Weeks 1 Day

It's been a crazy week. Chris switching shifts, which means our weekend is no longer Saturday and Sunday, as well as getting outside with Chris since it's been so nice here.

But yesterday I turned 22 Weeks pregnant. :) My craving this week has been MILK! I can't get enough of the stuff.

Here is a comparison shot. 7 weeks Pregnant compared to today, 22 weeks 1 day.

21 weeks 5 day

After all the excitement and then finals stuff with school, I didn't post this week!

Well as you know, our doctor's appointment and Ultrasound was Tuesday! We were going to have it be a surprise and find out during photos, however that did NOT happen. We knew what it was as soon as the tech moved the thing a few inches!

It's a......

BOY!

Jace William. <3

We did do a photoshoot, in the rain, after the appointment Tuesday. here are some of those pictures. :)

HALFWAY!!! - 20 weeks Down!

20 weeks to go!!!

I've been feeling the baby move big time. Even seen my belly move a couple times too. I absolutely love it!

We had a great Easter weekend. Saturday we spent time with Chris's sisters, taking some pictures. She got a couple of Chris and I, but will be getting more soon enough, as we are planning a gender reveal photo shoot after we find out.

Which previously I have said that we find out the sex on may 2, however, Chris has changed his work schedule. So now he will be working Thursday through Sunday on First shift times, instead of Monday through Friday on second shift. So I changed my doctor's appointment. :) We now find out one week from today! 

7 days!!

Super excited! 

Anyway, here are the few photos of Chris and I that his sister took of us. :) Enjoy!

Kicks!

I had o share! Last night, as I was laying in bed, the baby started kicking. It was strong enough that I put my hand on my belly, and The Baby continued to kick my hand!

I love it!!!

19 Weeks

So I'm officially 19 weeks!

This week I've been craving Homemade freshly squeezed lemonade!! Oh, and the hostess chocolate cupcakes too. LOL

I've been feeling a lot more movement here lately. It's getting stronger and more frequent. It's truly an amazing feeling!

I'll take a picture later on today, and post it when I can!

Recipe Time!: Chicken Stir Fry

So here recently, Chris decided he wants to eat healthier, so he's been giving me a list of things he wants, and I've been going from there when making me weekly menu plans.

This week it was Chicken Stir Fry.
I looked all over the internet for an easy recipe, but I couldn't find one. So I improvised, and created my own as I went. :)

Ingredients:

Ramen Noodles (1 package per person) (you do NOT want the seasoning from the packages)

Veggies of your choice (I used a frozen mix bag)

Chicken or some sort of Meat

General Tso's sauce (or something similar)

Olive Oil

Directions:

1. Cut the chicken into bite sizes.

2. Heat up a pan to fry the chicken. Add just enough Olive Oil into pan to coat the bottom.

3. Add chicken, fry until browned.

4. While the chicken is frying, prepare your veggies. If you're using frozen veggies, as I did, place in a covered microwave safe bowl (I used a glass bowl with a glass plate upside down on top of it, you're basically simmering the veggies in the microwave) Cook veggies for approximately 10 minutes in microwave.

5. Once veggies are done, add approximately a tablespoon of olive oil to the pan with the chicken. Fry this, stirring occasionally.

6. While the veggies and chicken are in the pan, bring a pot of water to boil. Place noodles ONLY (you do NOT want the seasoning that comes with them.) in the water. Cook for approximately 2-3 minutes. immediately drain.

7. Run cold water over the noodles until they are cold. (We will reheat them in a minute)

8. Next, you want to take the General Tso's (or other sauce) and put only a couple spoonfuls to the chicken and veggies. It does NOT take a lot. the heat will spread it out very quickly.

9. Now, you're going to need a nonstick skillet. Put enough olive oil in it to cover the bottom of the pan. Once this is heated up, add part of your pasta to the pan. Let fry for a few minutes, then begin stirring it (it will most likely stick to the pan some)

10. You can also add another spoonful of the sauce to the pasta as you're frying it. 

11. Repeat steps 9-10 with the rest of your pasta.

12. Place pasta serving on a plate, top with veggies and meat.

13. ENJOY!!!

This was a very easy, and a very cheap dinner. I loved it, and I was afraid to try to make this, as I feared I'd screw it up, but it was very easy, and tasted GREAT!

18 Weeks 1 day

I was bad... I skipped school yesterday, so I didn't do my update when I normally do. Lol!

There really isn't anything new to report this week. At least so far anyhow. If there is something new that comes up, I'll post about it!

Have a good week!

17 w 3 d Appt

So I had a doctors appointment on Friday. Baby was great. Doctor said everything looked normal, and baby's heart beat was mid 150s.

Four weeks until Ultrasound!

17 Weeks

I can't believe I'm already 17 weeks. It seems to be flying by. We have an appointment on Friday, but we can't find out the sex for another 4+ weeks. They are going to do another ultrasound on May 2, and we are planning a gender reveal photo shoot that weekend.

I;ve been feeling a LOT of movement here lately. It's an amazing thing, knowing it's a baby moving and not gas. I absolutely love it! I still haven't been feeling much of the distinct kicks and such that I'll be feeling soon, but it's definitely getting stronger!

This week I've been craving the cosmic brownies. Lol. And Koolaid, Black Cherry of course, and Rippled chips with french onion dip.

I took this photo I believe 2 nights ago. I still don't feel I truly look pregnant when standing up, but I was over weight to begin with, so it's not much difference from the beginning because of this, and losing weight for the most part.

(I had to blur our my boobs. LOL!)
This is my baby bump though. Really only visible when laying down, but as i mentioned above I was over weight prior to pregnancy, so I don't feel any larger than I was before.

Moving

So I've been feeling little swishy movements and a few definite 'that's baby' feelings since week 11. However the last few days alone, I've been feeling lots of distinct baby movements.

Right now, I'm in school, and this child is moving like crazy!

I LOVE IT!

16 Weeks

I'm officially 4 months pregnant! :)

This morning I woke up on my back. And I noticed that there's a little bit of a visible bump when I'm laying down! :)

Also, I noticed that baby was laying on my right side. My little bump was lopsided. HAHA. Plus I was feeling my bump, and it was soft on the left side and hard on the other.

I'm been fighting a migraine for about 2 days now. I think it has to do with the weather constantly changing. I'll post a belly pic later this week. 

This weekend, we have a wedding to go to. Chris's cousin is getting married, so we're going to that Saturday night. SO I'll be getting all dolled up so to speak. LOL!

Hopefully I can get either my mother or my friend to cut my hair this week, before the wedding. It'll look MUCH better, since it's at the annoying length where it looks stringy. :(

Have a good week. I'll post a pic later, and probably a few from the wedding as well. 

15 Weeks 3 Days

Sorry this update is late. I've been on spring Break and this is the first time I've touched my computer all week. It's been refreshing that i've been able to sit and do nothing!

So the last week, I've had lots of energy. We finished, aside from gender specifics, our registry for our baby shower. I've had days where I've almost gotten sick, mainly because smells that wouldn't normally get to me ARE getting to me. BIG TIME.

Other than that, I've been craving chocolate, which I normally don't eat...it tends to upset my stomach when I do, lol.

That and my hormones have gone wonky. BIG TIME. I almost started crying the other day because the kitchen was trashed...thankfully Chris cleaned most of it up the following afternoon, but still.

Oh..and my dog has been on my nerves. Normally he's an angel. I never have had to watch what I eave within his reach, as he never goes near a plate or otherwise. But for some reason the other day, I was ready to kill him! He took something off a plate I left while I ran to the bathroom. I punished him by making sure he knew why he was going to his room, and locking him in there. Well when i let the stinker out, he did the same thing AGAIN!

And driving is interesting, because people get on my nerves so easily, I think Chris is scared to let me drive at times. LOL!

As for the baby, according to my app on my phone, it's the size on an Avocado this week!! It's getting bigger by the minute. 

I have been feeling some sort of random movements already as well. I can usually tell the difference between gas and baby. It feels different to me. But I've had a few DISTINCT kicks or punches, but so far it just feels like butterflies.

More update next week. :-)

Gender prediction

So I've always heard the wives tale about the baby's heart rate and the gender. 

WELL...Our child has decided to not allow that to be a good method. The HR was in the 170s the first doctors appointment. And the 150s the second. So that's OUT!

Well today, Chris and I went to see his dad and step mom. She decided she was pulling out her pendulum and doing that gender test on me. That one said it was a little girl.

The doctor can't do an ultrasound because of insurance until May 2 to find out the gender. So we have 7 more weeks until we'll know if his step mom was right!

DIY Update

I know I posted one pregnancy related DIY earlier on here, so I thought I would update on that. I really love how that turned out! To the point, that as soon as I can, I'm going to take another pair of jeans and turn them into maternity jeans as well...besides...I've lost enough weight so far that my one pair of jeans that fit pre pregnancy don't fit anymore...They fall right off! My doctor said I was fine though, since I DO love me some food!

But as soon as I can, I also plan to make myself a couple summer dresses, since I can't seem to find any maternity dresses that aren't ridiculously priced.

That being said, as I go about going through things in what will be the nursery, I will post before, during, and after posts, perhaps I'll even get Fiancee involved, and let him have access to my blog for a few days!

I will also post during photos of my next maternity jeans DIY experience. :)

14 Weeks!!! (And a Question)

I have mad it a third of the way!!! I can't believe how fast this pregnancy is going right now! I feel as if I just put my pee on that stick and seen those 2 lines! WOW!

So..for some odd reason, I have no idea why, but I didn't take a photo last week! (GASP!) 
I will try to take one this week, hopefully I actually do this time, haha.

So I've been getting some of my energy back, not sleeping half the day away...

So my main craving right now is Ruffles Cheddar and Sour Cream potato chips.

I've wanted them for over 3 days now, and couldn't go get them, but I have school at 9am, so I got here early and found some at the little convenience store the school has! SCORE!!!

But..If I don't post again this week, I will post another little update in a week!

What suggestions do you have? As far as the second trimester goes? Like things I need to do, or even just a heads up for later on in the pregnancy?

13 Weeks Checkup

So I had a doctor's appointment friday. The doctor said everything looked great, and that I was officially in the second trimester, at 13 weeks 3 days. :-)

The baby's heartbeat was 154 this time.

We didn't get to have an ultrasound because the insurance only covers certain things. But we did get to hear the heart!

We will find out what it is on May 4, at our 21 week checkup. :-)

13 Weeks

One more week, and I'm officially in the second trimester!

This week has been a lil rough. It started out fine, but the other night my stomach was so upset that no sooner did I take my vitamins, did they come right back up! And today, I woke up with a sore throat. So prayers that it's just a side effect of my horrible allergies, and that I'm not getting sick!

This week, I have HATED staying at home. It finally warmed up some, then it got so cold, yet again, and we got more snow, yet again. This is getting ridiculous!!

My main craving this week has been Chocolate Milk, which I've been craving since the beginning, and Strawberry-Banana yogurt. it's YUMMY!

I haven't been able to take a belly pic yet this week, but I definitely will when I get home, as I'm currently at school.

Friday is my second Doctor's appointment. I'm hoping we can get to see our little bean again! Also, I'm hoping that at my next one, in four weeks when I'll be 17 weeks, the doctor will have an ultrasound done to see if the baby is playing nice. I wanna know what I'm having!! Plus, I think my sister would like being able to see them do the ultrasound, and she'll be on her spring break that week. So fingers crossed!

Well I will post a pic later on!

:-)

My First Pregnancy-Related DIY!!

So, I may be only 12 weeks pregnant at the moment, however I've been just bloated enough that my overweight butt isn't comfortable in much else, aside from Leggings. I feel as if I've lost weight, so I can't wear my jeans, because they fall off...And leggings are all I'm comfortable in!

Well I was surfing Pinterest the other day, and found a blog post at Blogher (click the link for the blog post) I decided that the directions looked easy enough, that I was going to try turning an old pair of skinny jeans, that I couldn't wear for a lil while now, into Maternity Jeans!

AND IT WORKED!!! I definitely plan on making more as I get further along in my pregnancy. It only cost me $2, as I had to buy elastic to do this, and had the rest of the stuff on hand.

Also...Here is my belly at 12 weeks. :) 

I think they turned out super cute, AND comfy!!! I did leave the elastic a little loose at the top, This way the further I get, it doesn't hurt me when the elastic gets tighter. :)

I just followed the directions on that blog link above.

It definitely pays to have a sewing machine, and be crafty/creative. $20 or more, depending on where you go for maternity jeans, and I only paid $2 for mine. I think there will be trips to goodwill in the further to get more jeans to do this with as well. 

12 Weeks

As of today, I am 12 weeks! Almost done with the first trimester! :) This last week was a LOT better than recently.

I've noticed that some of my energy is coming back! I've been able to stay up all day without having to take a nap sometime during the day.  I love it!

There's not much to say, honestly, except that I've been craving some yogurt this last week. I decided to get some because I figured it's healthier for me than most snacks are, and now I feel as if i'm craving it. Lol.

Here are some week to week photos I've taken so far. :)

11 weeks

7 weeks vs 10 weeks

Alvin the Hamster

So..My 16 year old sister also has a Hamster. His name is Alvin. He's the funniest, and most unique hamster I have EVER seen! He will climb to the rails of his cage, and make noise on them until someone goes in there to get him OUT of his cage, wanting attention of course! He eats from your hands. He also gives you KISSES!!! 



The thing she had on top of him had holes on it, so he can breathe here.. Also, he can see that the half a ball on top of him doesn't completely touch the bottom of the container he is in. So he's digging at it, trying to figure a way out of it. He's a VERY smart little hamster!!

Dyno definitely loves the snow!

11 Weeks 1 day Today.

So, my official due date is September 9, 2014. Making me 11 weeks and 1 day pregnant today! My how this time has flown by! I feel like I JUST got that positive test!

So far, I've had it easy in this pregnancy. I've heard a bunch of horror stories about how bad people are during the first trimester, but I've only been sick 3 times! The entire time! 

The main symptom that I've had is nausea and being tired. My stomach was so upset at one point that I couldn't eat anything, the ER doctor had to give me medicine to stop me from being nauseous so I could eat.

Other than that, I feel like I've literally had NO time whatsoever between being tired and sleeping, and doing homework. I've been slacking big time with the house work, which makes me feel bad because Chris works all the time, and he's been trying his best to help me out, but he's exhausted too from work.

This week, my big craving is sweets. The one thing that I want, is a Strawberry Baby Bottle Pop! Weird, I know, but that sounds so good. LOL.

Since Chris couldn't get me anything for Christmas during Christmas time, once he got his tax check, he decided that he wanted to find something for me, but he had no idea. I made the suggestion of getting me a camera, as I only have my phone, and with a baby on the way, we are going to want to have one. He told me to take him to work and go pick one out!

SO I got me a 21 megapixel Sony digital camera. :-D I LOVE it! Here are a few of the photos I've take so far.

Chris showed up after work with Three different things of Carnations one night. 

Chris...being photobombed by the Dog!

 My sister's Cat, Meowth. Watching/playing with her hamster who was in the hamster ball.

 A better one of Meowth.

 My mom and sister at Mom's Birthday dinner, being goofy.

My mom and her Fiancee.

I've also taken a couple videos with my camera as well. But This post has gotten long enough. I'll post those another day this week!!