Bumpdate {20 weeks}

• How far along? 20 weeks 4 days
• Weight Gain/Loss: I finally gained some weight! I'm up four pounds
• Sleep: I'm coming to terms with the idea that sleep will never be the same
• Best moment this week: our anatomy scan ultrasound on Wednesday! It couldn't have gone better, and yes, we know the sex of baby Bolinger! Ill spill the secret soon :)
• Movement: more and more each day. Our ultrasound tech said because of my placenta location, it's absorbing a lot of the movement. 
• Food Cravings: the usual. I'm excited to eat all my favorites this weekend at our mini gender reveal on Sunday with our family :)
• Food Aversions: ground meat
• Belly Button: Actually noticed it's looking more shallow this week, probably because baby's head is right underneath
• Stretch Marks: Nope
• Symptoms: aside from some morning dry heaving, or anytime I'm hungry, it's been a pretty good week
• What I miss: feeling hungry without feeling sick
• What I’m looking forward to: my family's reaction at the gender reveal! They are so excited and it's so nice. I don't feel like many other people (aside from my "mom friends" of course!) are that excited so we decided to just keep the party to family. Luke's family had their own opinions when we told them we were finding out, so it kind of makes me feel like they are only coming to be nice. Whatever! Luke and I need all the positive warm-fuzzies we can get during this pregnancy - surprises aren't so great when all you know are the bad kind during previous pregnancies. We love that we know, and it's helping us feel like it's really going to happen!

This last week has been aaaamazing! I already shared a few pictures from the Avalanche game and our Steamboat trip. I was really excited going into our doctor appointment, but as it got closer the nerves started up as well. I don't think I'll ever get away from that. We started with the ultrasound, and I told Andi, the tech, that I wanted all the good news she could give me as we went along. She was great about telling us what she was looking at, and that everything was good. One of the first things she told us, after letting us hear the heartbeat, was the gender! We were both pretty silent (aside from some teary-eyed "wow"s and "oh my gosh"s) when she told us, just because it was so crazy to hear! She thought we were disappointed and jokingly told us to start getting used to it, but I told her it's just that we've never made it to this point in a pregnancy so it doesn't seem real. We are both beyond thrilled and either way would have reacted the same way! Baby was measuring exactly on track, and is estimated to be in the 50th percentile for weight at 11 oz. Is that not crazy?! I keep thinking that a block of cream cheese (you can tell I'm a healthnut ha) is 8oz, and baby is almost one and a half of those. That's heavy! No wonder I'm getting uncomfortable :) 

Here's a picture from Thursday. I purchased this dress from Marshall's and I'm totally buying into the whole maxi dress for preggos thing! Normally these dresses are anything but flattering on my but I'm loving them now! Dont mind the puppy tail, he's my shadow most days :)

A vent to pregnant mamas out there

For the love of gummy bears, can we try to be more positive about our pregnancies? Instead of telling anyone with ears how horrible pregnancy nausea is for you, why not share how amazing it is to feel those first kicks? Or maybe we can share the adorable thing your husband did or said instead of saying how terrible pregnancies are for you. Women spend so much time talking about the bad parts of pregnancy that we forget to put it in perspective. Is it glamorous? Nope - but we get to grow a HUMAN and that is an amazing feat. Instead of telling men how lucky they are that they don't have to "go through this", maybe we should feel sorry that they can't experience this. We are all guilty of spending too much time talking about how often we threw up this week, or the aches and pains we feel, mostly because we've been led to believe that's what defines pregnancy. It's become a competition between women, akin to telling war stories and showing battle scars. Don't even get me started on hearing these complaints from a pregnant gal when you are struggling to get or stay pregnant - I can't even begin to share that pain and frustration without sounding like a bitter old hag. 

From here forward, if anyone hears me complain, will you just ask me what the best pregnancy moment that week was? Lets start reveling in the unbelievable thing our body is working to accomplish. 

Bumpdate {19 weeks}

• October 1, 2013
• 
  
• How far along? 19 weeks 2 days
• Weight Gain/Loss: I won't know any changes until my 20 week appt
• Maternity Clothes: holding onto whatever normal clothes I can 
• Sleep: meh
• Best moment this week: last night when Luke got to feel the baby move! His face would light up like I've never seen, and of course I cried :)
• Movement: getting stronger!
• Food Cravings: Sweets still. I'm thinking that's not going away. 
• Food Aversions: meat
• Belly Button: Staying the same 
• Stretch Marks: Nope
• Symptoms: round ligament pain, heartburn, and my puking is down to once a week. Yay. 
• What I miss: sleeping on my stomach, and having an appetite
• What I’m looking forward to: the BIG ultrasound in 8 days! Luke and I are also going to try to get away this weekend for an early anniversary celebration, in Steamboat Springs, which we actually haven't been to before. 

We had an an amazing moment this week, that confirmed our feelings for our doctor. Luke's boss Jackie was the one that referred us to Dr. M. She is also currently pregnant, with her second, and has really loved Dr. M for both pregnancies. While visiting for her weekly checkup, somehow Luke and I came up, and while Dr M can't discuss us, they all agreed that we are going to be amazing parents. What's more, they all got really emotional talking about it, even Dr M. This gave Luke and I such warm-fuzzies, and made me cry like a baby. I explained to Luke that I just feel as though Dr M really cares about us and our story, and whether or not she's like that with every patient, it doesn't matter. It's such a difference from the anonymity we experience at our first women's clinic, where no one knew/remembered us, or anything that happened to us. This whole pregnancy has been such a different experience and I really have to thank Dr M for so much of that. 

Here's a new picture, taken today! (Kindly ignore the lack of makeup and overall exhausted look ha)

Bumpdate {18 weeks}

Thursday September 26

• How far along? 18 weeks 3 days
• Weight Gain/Loss: I won't know any changes until my 20 week appt
• Maternity Clothes: Rocking the maternity jeans in public, and yoga pants at home daily
• Sleep: I wonder if I'll ever sleep well again...
• Best moment this week: finding out that I get my military ID back along with other cards that guy stole!
• Movement: I'm pretty sure I feel the baby numerous times a day, but it's still not really noticeable. Those little feelings are easy to miss if I'm not paying attention. 
• Food Cravings: Sweets still. I'm thinking that's not going away. 
• Food Aversions: ground meat sounds awful. 
• Belly Button: Staying the same 
• Stretch Marks: Nope
• Symptoms: Still with the shooting pains but not as often. My ab muscles are really sore this week, and if I get up too fast it feels like a pulled muscle. I'm thinking it could be round ligament pain too. Oh and the heartburn continues. 
• What I miss: sleep
• What I’m looking forward to: that ultrasound that happens in two more weeks, and doing hospital tours hopefully in the next week or so too. I'm pretty sure I know which one I'm leaning towards but I figure it's good to check them out anyway. 

Things are starting to feel real! I've been researching strollers and car seats for a couple weeks now, and we are looking at dates for birth classes now. I'm planning on taking a class through either the midwife center or something similar, because I want unbiased information. Due to the anticoagulants I'm on, an epidural may not be an option, so I want to go into this mentally prepared for a natural birth. The hospital classes focus more on the interventions and using medicine to control pain - to get more info about "natural" birth, you have to take another class that they consider a "specialty" class. Weird, right? We shall see what we end up taking in the end!

Here's the 18 week picture!

Grateful

September 24, 2013

I'm feeling so lucky today! I think that life chooses moments in time to reveal just who or what it is you need, and it's almost always a surprise.  Today was one of those days. I met with a friend to reconnect a little, and ended up walking away with a sense of empowerment, much to my surprise. This friend is a new mom, and I shared my pregnancy with her today. She was thrilled for me, and her reaction was so sweet. We talked a lot about pregnancy and childbirth, babies and how many choices there are to make for these tiny humans. We have a lot of similar views and opinions but at the end of the day, we both feel that all of that goes out the window in order to do what feels best for your child and your family. Ideas and plans change, and nothing offers more surprises than parenthood. I left our wonderful visit feeling strong - strong in my choices and strong in my belief that it's okay to have a plan, but being open to changing your mind. 

Pregnancy is such an overwhelming time, especially if you are someone that likes to research and learn about all the options out there. I'm one of those people. Having access to so much information and so many opinions can be a wonderful thing, but it can also be paralyzing.  This wonderful gal helped me feel secure in my opinions, probably without knowing it. In Colorado, people tend to be very vocal about their choices, and the sides vary SO much. It was so nice to talk to someone who "rides the fence" on these hot topic issues as much as I do. There is no right side - it's all about what works best for you. What's more, it's okay to not know! Just because I haven't decided cloth vs. disposable, or Moby carrier vs. Ergo, etc. doesn't mean I don't know what's best. You don't have to have an opinion on everything! 

I'm glad to have had this day with her, just bouncing between different topics. I ended up feeling that no matter what we decide, my kiddo is going to be fine. Mom (and Dad) knows best! 

Bumpdate {17 weeks}

• Wednesday September 18, 2013
• 
  
• How far along? 17 weeks 2 days
• Weight Gain/Loss: I didn't lose anymore at last weeks appointment, so that's good. Still down a couple pounds from pre-pregnancy weight
• Maternity Clothes: I went to the only Gap in the area that carries maternity clothes last week and it was an epic fail. Apparently no one could make it to work because of the flooding so the store was closed. I was ticked! In the end, I tried on a pair of maternity jeans at H&M that seem to work for now. I bought two pairs, and they weren't too expensive so even if they don't last forever that's ok. 
• Sleep: not great again lately. Ugh. 
• Best moment this week: I think I felt a baby kick last night! 
• Movement: I have been questioning some odd feelings this week, but last night was the first time I felt fairly confident it was the baby. 
• Food Cravings: Sweets! It's killing me. I also wanted wings for dinner one night this weekend which is really weird for me, and I'm dying for some fresh gummy bears. 
• Food Aversions: meat in general still. 
• Belly Button: Staying the same 
• Stretch Marks: Nope
• Symptoms: lots of shooting pains, which my doctor says is the baby pinching a nerve. It's awful. Still heartburn and occasional vomiting but its less and less. 
• What I miss: my purse still. They caught the guy but I don't know if they found my whole purse or just my cards. 
• What I’m looking forward to: Finding out if this is a girl or a boy! We are really holding off on name discussions and nursery talk until we know for sure, which is making me feel a little stressed. I'm feeling time fly by! October will be here so soon, and the rest of the year is going to fly by with a wedding, birthdays and the holidays. 

Slightly scary photo this week, so just try to focus on anything but the face :)

Bumpdate {16 weeks}

• Wednesday September 11
• 
  
• How far along? 16 weeks 2 days
• Weight Gain/Loss: I'll find out at today's appt. hopefully I haven't lost more, it makes Luke worry. 
• Maternity Clothes: bought a belly band, and I am searching for a pair of jeans this week too
• Sleep: overall okay.  I'm loving the rainy weather this week and it definitely helps!
• Best moment this week: the Broncos winning the season opener against the Ravens! It was a great game, but I was terribly uncomfortable throughout the second half. It's worth it though!
• Movement: I dreamt last night I felt the baby :) hopefully that's a sign!
• Food Cravings: nothing specific
• Food Aversions: ground meat
• Belly Button: In
• Stretch Marks: Nope
• Symptoms: Heartburn, throwing up a couple times each week still, and more pains. Some shooting pains, some achy pains. Yay. Lots of lovenox bruising this last week too, I think it's just random though. 
• What I miss: my purse :( see below for that story. 
• What I’m looking forward to: A good doctor appt today, which is the last before our 20 week ultrasound. If everything goes well it'll definitely help my anxiety, and if this baby decides to make itself known soon that would be great too!  

This was a rough week for us. Pregnancy-wise, things have been fine but life has been really stressful. Our garage was accidentally left open again last Wednesday and once again, we had a burglary. Luke's bike was stolen again, and this time my purse was stolen as well. I kept EVERYTHING in my wallet, so I've been in serious crisis mode this week. Luckily I still have my SS card, passport with my maiden name, marriage certificate and birth certificate in our lock box. All credit cards and IDs are gone as well as a check book for our joint account. We had to open a new joint account and transfer all direct deposits and bill pay accounts to the new one, which has been a job in itself. Unfortunately my key ring was also in my purse with Luke's truck keys, our house key and mail key. That means rekeying everything, which is turning out to be REALLY expensive. I'm really sad about my favorite purse ever being gone now too, as well as my brand new "big girl" Kate Spade sunglasses that were a birthday gift. :(   

As if all that wasn't bad enough, we are pretty sure that this person came back to the house and tried to get into the garage again using the keypad. Luckily I wasn't staying at home alone (Luke was gone at drill again for the weekend) but I noticed as soon as I pulled up to the house with my mom. I called the cops again but there's obviously not much that can be done. We are going to look at our options for moving but since Luke and I have decided I'm not returning to work, we aren't sure what options we have. 

We will just have to be careful for now, and I won't be staying alone at night anymore. We will see what happens!