undisciplined thinker

35 weeks

I realized the other day that we haven't taken very many pictures of me since I've been pregnant.  There hasn't really been a point for me to take the standard "every week picture" to document the changes in my body.  My body has only changed a little and only in shape, not size.  In fact, I just had my biggest weight gain for the whole pregnancy and it was only 3 pounds in a two week period.  Pretty good since it's late in the game and in the last two week she should have gained a pound by herself. I'm still 5 pounds below my start weight. 

Anyway, back to the pictures.  Visty got some awesome ones when I went to Portland for my baby shower, but those are pretty much it.  Last weekend we went to a friends wedding and I got all dressed up (it's a rarity for me to comb my hair or have pants on these days) so I thought I'd have Bret grab a picture.

losing speed and breath

I have not detailed much about my pregnancy up until now.  Maybe I was afraid of jinxing it.  Or maybe because, since I've been out of my first trimester, it's gone pretty text book.  But I think now is the time to share a few things.

At the beginning of July I had a discussion with Visty about how I didn't understand the overwhelming feeling to "be done" that I've heard many women describe.  Besides being a bit tired and experiencing the need for the house to be in order, I felt fine and happy to be pregnant.  She told me "you will, any day now."

She was right.  That very week I started getting ever so slightly uncomfortable in my chair at work.  And it's all been down hill from there. 

I can never catch my breath.  The baby doesn't allow both oxygen and food to compete for her space.  I must choose one or the other.  I get winded eating.  The heat isn't unbearable, unless I'm outside and then it sucks the ever loving breath right out of me.  I try to stretch my abdomen to give my lungs more room and she thinks that's a sign to stretch out and use those newly inflated lungs as kicking/punching bags.  I can't sleep through the night because my back feels like I have a giant, jagged rock pressed into it no matter how I lay.  I cry at EVERYTHING and nothing.  Seriously, no exaggeration.

I'm not complaining really, I'm so thankful to get to have this experience.  There was a time where I thought I wasn't going to get to.  But part of the experience is being uncomfortable and ready to carry the baby outside of me.  I don't feel guilty for that or ungrateful, I'm embracing this part just as thoroughly as all the other experiences.

Just a little over five weeks to go, I hope my lungs keep fighting!

from spare room to nursery

This is what our spare room looked like at the beginning of April.

It was sweet and open and came with a cat!  Now it looks like this...

Bret painted the beautiful tree.  It took him around 30+ hours to complete.  But it makes the room and I love it very much.

Here you get a glimpse of the bedding I made for the crib as well as the super sweet Peter Pan and Wendy mobile I commissioned from an artist in Germany.

I love this rocking chair and I hate this rocking chair.  We had it custom made. I love how modern it is and I had grand thoughts of moving it to our living room once it was done in the nursery.   But that was when we thought we ordered an off white chair.  Turns out the color "lamb" refers to a baby sheep that has been sheered and all you can see is it's irritated flesh.  I made the ottoman cover.  I think it would have looked better with a off white chair, but it will do.

Our sweet little nursery is all ready.  Now all we need is the little girl to go in it!

showered

Last weekend we traveled down to Portland because my sister-in-law threw me an awesome baby shower.  It was fantastic, there were just seven of us total and I felt so very loved.

I didn't have my camera with me because Bret took it with him.  He and my brother took Garrett and Ellery hiking at Silver Falls, while we did shower things.  See...

But I did take pictures of the awesome and adorable gifts that all my ladies gave me and I want to share the highlights.

Thank you, Visty, for throwing such a sweet party and for all the loving details.  And thank you my special West Coast ladies.  Our baby is lucky to have you all.

mother's day suprises

As my first unofficial Mother's Day, Bret had a few surprises in store.  He made me breakfast, which is awesome.  He also got me this adorable book filled with fairy tales, recipes, activities and vintage illustrations.  Right up my alley!

He also gave me a fat lip!  On accident, of course. His claim of going to tickle my neck resulted in a partially formed fist to my mouth.  He says he's just helping prepare me for all sides of motherhood.

husband points

So through out my pregnancy so far, I've craved few things.  It seems however, that I am one of the women who make stereotypes true, because I can't get enough PICKLES!  I've been know to eat whole jars in one sitting, we've purchased more pickles in the last month then in our whole marriage.  So when Bret volunteered to do the grocery shopping last week, at the top of the list was pickles. 

I walked in the door that night and the first thing out of my mouth..."Did you get my pickles?"  Not only had he gotten the jar of pickles I requested, but he found something I didn't know even existed and for that won major points that night.

I usually don't approve of individually packaged items such as these.  It's a waste of resources, but I can't help but loving having little pickles just for me in my lunch everyday!

stubborn skittle

Well we're half way there!  These first 20 weeks went crazy fast.

Updates:
We've heard the heart beat.
I can feel the baby move.
I've lost 7 lbs since my first appointment.
I'm still in my same clothes.
We are no closer to picking names.

Last week we had our 20 week ultra sound which took an hour.  It was very cool to see our baby for that long of a time.  This was the ultra sound where we should have been able to see the sex, but our baby wouldn't give up the goods.  Our doctor told us today that we could check again at one of our next appointments when the baby is more developed.  We'll see, we may have created the most stubborn human being alive!

skittle

I know I've been neglectful of the blog.  I promise I have a good reason.  It's been a very busy month.  We bought a new car, we've gone to Portland twice and oh yeah...we're pregnant. 

My To-Date Pregnancy Recap:
Tested on New Year's Eve
Blood Drawn 4 Time
4 Ultra Sounds
Saw the Heartbeat
Due August 30th
Puked on the Top Floor of a Parking Garage

There's been a lot of worry and lot of happy and with the last one, a ton of class, but now we're just excited!