Birth Classes & Exercise

I'm so excited! My hospital offers a bunch of free birth and infant care classes and I just signed up for some. Throughout the month of May I'm going to take Baby Boot Camp, Budgeting for Baby, Breastfeeding Basics, and Childbirth Prep- which teaches the basics of the Bradley Method and we also get a tour of Labor & Delivery. I'm so excited to learn some new things, get a refresher on things I already know, and to see where I'll be giving birth. It also makes everything seem so real and I'm officially going to begin preparing for the birth of my child! Wowzer! We also may have found a pediatrician that we really like and agrees with the health methods that are important to us. I found out today that he's actually covered by our insurance and we have an appointment to interview him soon. YAY! I really hope he's "the one". A good pediatrician is so important.

I had a doctors appointment yesterday and my little sweetness is doing fantastic, but as for me... umm I need some help. My weight keeps climbing and climbing. Throughout this pregnancy I've gained 37 lbs already and I still have potentially 15 more weeks to go. I will admit that I've given into my sweet tooth a few too many times, but I don't think that I've been that bad. I guess I'm just one of those women who gains easily during pregnancy, which is crazy because previously I had to fight to keep any weight on. While I would, without question, gain any amount of weight if I had to in order to be pregnant, it is tough on the self-esteem. Most of my weight is in my belly (which I do love), but my face and thighs have gained weight too, which makes me cry. I know that it's temporary and to the outsider I look fine, but it's just difficult. I don't think it's necessarily a pregnancy issue (I would NEVER complain about that!) but more of a thing of seeing myself rapidly gain weight. Anyone would have a difficult time with that.


My doctor previously told me that I couldn't do ANY exercise at all while pregnant due to my health issues, but at my appointment yesterday I was told that I can now walk on the treadmill, but to not let my heart rate exceed 150 bpm. I went to the gym today and I started out SOOOO slow and it's amazing how even that was tough on my body. My legs and back hurt! I did eventually get the speed up a little and actually never let my bpm go over 130. It's funny that this was so hard because before getting pregnant I was a jogger. Whew, I can't wait to be able to go for a run. Now I'm home and I really want a candy bar, hahahahahahaha!

So excited!!!!

I have a slight obsession with cups and coffee mugs. I don't know why, but I do. At the end of last summer while I was at Starbucks (Cafe Mocha, YUM!) I saw a double insulated tumbler that looks exactly like the cups that their frappuccino's come in. So cute and I'm in love! I almost got it, but was in a hurry out the door and stupidly decided I would just pick it up next time. OF COURSE, I try to find it after that and they are all gone and I was informed wouldn't be back until next season and always sell really fast. I looked on ebay and crazies sell them on there for $75! That's insane! They are finally back and I got one! I realize that I'm overly excited about this and that no one else will care, but I'm so happy! The great part is I've really been sucking down the water since I got it, which is great for el bebe. I love it! I can't wait to get their travel coffee mug that looks just like their disposable cups.

In more understandable excitement... only two more weeks and I start getting growth scans (ultrasounds) done once a month. I haven't had an ultrasound since I was 18 weeks and I'm really looking forward to seeing Cor.ben again. It's going to be amazing! I got so spoiled early in my pregnancy with getting ultrasounds once a week to once every 2 weeks and I've really missed getting to see my little man and getting visual confirmation that he's okay. I wish it would, but I don't think that the worry will every go away. However, now that he's kicking it's not nearly as bad. Yesterday he had a MAJOR kick fest that probably lasted a good 10-15 minutes. It really seemed like he was trying to kick his way out, haha. It was so awesome to see my belly move with his kicks and to feel how strong he is. So far that has been the most amazing thing and I just love him so much already.

24 Weeks

How Far Along? 24 weeks. YAY!

Total Weight Gained/Loss? 2 weeks ago I was up 30 lbs. I get checked again in a week.

Maternity Clothes? All the time. Man they're expensive, but I want to be comfortable.

Sleep? I wake up a lot because my hips really hurt.

Best Moment of the Week? Having the baby kick when he hears his daddy's voice and when he kicked him in the head.

Movement? Yes, thank goodness. He went through a sleepy period where he wasn't moving as much, but now he's back to his regular activity.

Food Cravings? Lemonade, fruit, ice cream, rice with soy sauce.

Food aversions? I still don't like meat too much, but I'll eat it.

Morning sickness? Just a little nausea here and there.

Gender? Boy.

Labor Signs? NO, NO, NO and let's keep it that way.

Belly Button? It's an outie now.

What I miss: Having a skinny face and being able to caffeine it up without a care.

What I'm looking forward to: Hitting the 30 week mark. I don't know why, but it's exciting.

Stretch marks? I've had some small stretch marks appear on my butt/hip area, but so far they're not too bad or too noticeable. Yesterday I exfoliated really well and I swear that made them even lighter.

Why is infertility so prevalent?

I was watching the beginning of "The Tyra Show" today and the subject was infertility. According to their statistics 1 out of every 7 couples struggles with infertility and only 2/3 of these couples will ever conceive. Why is this? Why do so many couples struggle? I have no evidence to back this up (just my own feelings), but it seems to me that this is a problem that is increasing. I would be really surprised if difficulty conceiving was this prevalent even in our grandparents day. This has really stuck with me all afternoon and I would like to know why! Is it something in our environment? Our diet? The technology that we use and the negative effects it has on us? What is it!?!? I don't think that it's just infertility that is increasing, but most major diseases. Look at how many people have cancer these days. It's insane!

I know that there are many different arguments out there and many different opinions. I'm merely saying that there has to be a reason and I would like for it to stop so that there aren't so many hurting hearts. I was lucky enough to conceive after 2 horrible years of trying, but there are so many of you that have struggled for so much longer. Even though I have conceived it doesn't erase my memories of the pain and heartache. I don't forget what it's like to get AF or to stare at that negative pregnancy test. I don't forget the hurt of having to explain my situation to others or to see everyone around me get pregnant so easily. I haven't forgot the pain in the uncertainty if I would ever be a Mom. I certainly haven't forgot all of you that are still struggling and still hurting. My biggest prayer is for infertility to disappear so that we can all have our hearts fulfilled.

What a great day

Yesterday DH and I went to the beach. Sadly to say, in our two years of living in this area, this was our first time going. I guess we were afraid that it would be a big let down from the wonderful beaches we experienced living in San Diego. While it wasn't the same, it was still really nice and it was such a beautiful day! It was also a big milestone in that it was our sweet furbaby's first time being in the ocean. At first he was a little scared of the waves, but in no time he was loving it. I can't wait to go again!

We also got another really great surprise once we got home. The lake behind our home is sporting the first ducklings of spring! There are 13 of them and they are so cute!
I hope that you had a wonderful weekend as well!

22 Weeks

Holy shiny face! I don't think that I've really grown in the past three weeks. My bump just migrates up and down. Seriously! Here's a belly shot from last week (I chopped off my head because I was having a not so good looking day):

Doesn't "the bump" look higher? Anyways, a week or two ago I had the linea negra (dark line down your belly) start to show up and I've started to crave rice with soy sauce, lemonade (in a crazy bad way), and of course I still crave my regulars like sweets and orange juice. At least now I've been able to eat chicken again. No stretch marks yet (knock, knock, knock), but my boobs are growing like crazy. I love them and wish that they were here to stay. It's just pitiful because I just bought a new, bigger bra and I already need another one and you know bras are not cheap!

I've really been anxious and looking forward to seeing what this little man of mine is going to look like. That's going to be such an awesome moment. Is he going to look like me or my dh? Will he have a lot of hair? What will his nose and lips look like? How much is he going to weigh? What will it feel like to look into his eyes? These and a million other questions keep running through my mind. I try to just push them to the side because I still have 4 months to go before I get to meet him and I want the time to pass by quickly and not be filled with impatience. Right now I'm just focusing on picking out what we need to buy for him and of course stressing about if we'll have everything we need in time. I'm a worrier!

In NPN (non-pregnancy news) I am love love LOVING this beautiful weather. Everything is starting to bloom and look so beautiful. It's been so great taking our dog out for walks and just feeling the sunshine. We're blessed to live in an area with a lot of wildlife and I love watching the animals enjoying the great weather as well. DH just bought a new bike and has been taking Ad.miral for bike rides. I'm so jealous! My doctor has forbidden exercise during my pregnancy, so I'll have to wait a little while longer before I can enjoy a bike ride with them. Next weekend I'm hoping to go buy some new, beautiful flowers to mix in with my herb garden. I can't wait!

In celebration of my beautiful furbaby turning 3 on April 1st, I will leave you with his baby photo.