No Sleep? Why not!

Well we've hit 21 weeks and there haven't been too many big changes this week. I'm madly in love with feeling this little boy kick. It is the best feeling in the whole entire world. This week I went one day without feeling him and had a small panic attack. I was reassured by my wonderful mother that "he's sleeping a lot at this stage because it's hard work growing up! And he's still pretty small." I'm awfully lucky to have her to talk to about all of these things. The next day I felt him and all was right in the world. Last night we had dinner over at Lindsey's and he was up moving around enough for both her and Lance to feel. Also, we had waffles this morning for our Saturday breakfast and apparently, he's a big fan! He has been kicking and twirling in there all morning. Lance and I are in heaven.

Excuse the lack of hair/make up prep- it was early..

So the past couple nights I have woken up several times in the middle of the night for potty breaks and then by 3:30am I am WIDE awake. What's fun about that? Well I manage to doze off for about 15 minutes just before our alarm goes off at 5:00. I guess I'm practicing for when he actually gets here. Neat. 

This morning, on our day off, I woke up 5:30. I had a crazy pain in my belly button and then I felt him kick and I was up for the day :)

Pregnancy hormones have been fun. I can efficiently go from zero to sixty in record time. For example, an alarm of sorts went off for about 20 minutes this morning and it was the most god awful screeching one has heard in some time. Instead of ignoring it and proceeding to get up and get ready for work 45 minutes before my alarm, I sat and cried. I cried from lack of sleep, I cried for feeling overwhelmed, I cried because last night I was so hot that I felt short of breath/was sweating from every ounce of my being, I just cried. It's not typical of me to react in such a way- yes, I am a sap and I do cry....but not over car alarms. That's not the first overreaction perfectly rational incident that I have encountered over the past couple of weeks either. I'll spare any details since they all kind of end the same way- overstimulated/ frustrated/ exhausted = crying. And i'm not a pretty crier.

And finally, shortness of breath. I think that the heat has a lot to do with it. I had a walk at Portland International Raceway to end Alzheimer's yesterday. We took some of our residents and I drove the bus to pick up some other Activity Directors and their residents. It peaked at about 90 that afternoon and over the black top it was scorching. We probably only walked an eighth of the track because that was about all our residents could handle. So when I got home after a 7 hour, action packed, hot day, I was wiped out. Like fall asleep at 7:45 kind of wiped out. Also, the past few nights after I eat dinner (it has been well into the 90s lately) I feel like my lungs have shrunk 4 sizes and I'm struggling for every breath. My first reaction: take off all clothing because the heat is going to make me cry ;)...reaction number two: take large breaths, attempt yoga to get things to move around in there, sit straight up on the couch, lay down on the couch, stand up and walk around, lay on the floor and rub ice on my face, sit criss cross in front of a fan, lay on my side, lay on my other side, and finally....cry :) Do you see the trend here?

Lance and I have graciously been handed down many baby supplies/furniture/etc. and we are beyond thankful for everyone helping us out and being so unbelievably generous. We were given a changing table from his sister, Lindsey that we painted blue (it looks more blue in the picture than it actually really is) and we went to Home Depot and got a peg board for diaper storage/decoration. It feels pretty awesome to have a few things coming together in his room.

All in all things have been going very well, I just know that I'm going to want to remember these stories later on because eventually they will make me laugh. Eventually.

Kickin' up a Storm!

Well we are half way there!! 20 weeks down and 20 more to go before we get to meet our little sweetheart. Knowing that he is a boy is kind of crazy- from time to time I still catch myself calling him "they" before I remember- We actually know what we're having!! So exciting. This week has been pretty good, no crazy symptoms, just itchy skin, chocolate cravings, and pregnancy brain. Fun fact: If I wear a belt with my clothes you can some what tell that I have a belly! It's great! 

We have been talking about names and I think we are settled on Aemes (Ay-mms) Wilde. We aren't setting it in stone until we see him. Some of the other names we thought of were Wesley Lyon, Dash Steven, and if Lance had his way, he would be named Enzo (yes, like Enzo Ferrari). If little bug was a girl we had Sawyer, Leighton, and Harper picked out for names. We'll save those for if we have a girl on the next round :)

I celebrated my birthday last Saturday and it was wonderful. I spent the whole day relaxing with my husband and my dog, had food with family and friends, and ended the evening with swing dancing in the living room with my sweet hubby. The next day my mom, Nana, and I went shopping and I got new maternity clothes from Old Navy. Naturally, since Carters is right next door from Old Navy, we stopped there next. Needless to say, this boy is going to be STYLISH! 

Baby Armstrong was an active one this week, in fact, he gave me the best birthday present a mommy could ask for- he kicked hard enough for daddy to feel him! I can definitely tell that he is getting stronger because I feel him much more frequently now. 

So those cravings though....Random...

Spicy, hot sauce with my savory foods (lunches and dinners) and sweets whenever possible. And by whenever, I mean that if I could have them for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, I would consume my weight in chocolate cookies, brownies, candy, you name it. Thankfully, we have not stocked our house with any of those so I have to refrain. I can't say that I would go as far as to make the Kit Kat Lasagna below- but I'm also not above trying something similar.

Maybe it's all of the sugar cravings making me dopey, but for some reason when I'm formulating sentences sometimes, I sound like a 2 year old trying to express my needs and I just can't. I stare blankly just searching for the right words and then BOOM it comes back to me and I carry on until another simple word slips my mind. It's like I'm drunk on pregnancy. Shiza.

We're having a.....

BOY!!!!!

 This week has been amazing. We had our ultrasound appointment and it was quite a phenomenal experience. Since we found out we were pregnant I've been longing for the day for it to feel "more real" via belly bump, seeing the little one on the ultrasound, feeling him kick- anything. So to actually see our sweet little boys profile, his little feet and hands, it made it all feel so much more real. His profile is the cutest thing I've ever seen. If you look at him head on- he still looks a little alien like, BUT STILL ADORABLE! Before the ultrasound tech told us we were having a boy she asked if we had any bets going. Lance and I both kind of giggled and I told her that our whole family thinks it's going to be a girl because we both have all sisters. Her response- perfect "Well, they are all wrong!" And then BOOM! TEARS! Squeals, Lance's reaction, sheer amazement. So by golly, we are having a little baby boy and we could not be more excited.

 This weekend we had a family reunion with Lance's family in Sunriver and it was so fun! We floated the river, played family reunion olympics, laughed, ate a lot, and caught up with each others lives. We found out that we were having a boy the morning before we all met up in Sunriver- needless to say everyone was chomping at the bit to know what we were having. On the drive over, we bought pink balloons and blue balloons, I poked holes in all of the pink balloons and once we got there we had each person close their eyes and I gave them the balloon that corresponded with their gender guess. On the count of three they opened their eyes and started blowing up their balloons. The pink balloons popped and the blue balloons blew up. It was so much fun telling them, we all laughed and hugged and I think everyone was in shock. Here are some pictures from the weekend:

18 Weeks

In the morning- I feel like I have a tiny bump. In the afternoon- after I've eaten what seems like meals for 8 large men...I look pretty bloated. However, I care very little anymore- I am fully embracing my chubby bump, wanna know why? Because this is the only time in my life where I can feel comfortable lettin' it alllll hangout. I know it's not hangin' out there because I'm not exercising or eating right, it's out there because I have a small human growing inside of me- so why the heck not?? Also, it's bloody hot in our apartment so clothing is not my best friend right now. In fact, getting dressed in the morning is an absolute battle. Some mornings I legitimately feel like reacting similarly to a 2 year old. Thrashing my head back so my whole body flops on the bed, kicking off the 8th pair of pants I've tried on that "for some odd reason, just don't fit", and crying it out until I fall asleep and nap for the remainder of the day. How about that for pregnancy hormones?

But instead, I take the 8th pair of pants that will no longer button willingly, I throw a belly belt on them, layer up some tank tops to hide the awkward button poking out, toss my hair in a bun (because there is no way I'm drying it when it's so hot) and I walk my tush out the door to work. 

I must say- once the sickness went away, pregnancy has been pretty great. Sometimes I even pretend/wish/hope that the random rumbles in my tummy are the baby moving. I cannot wait until I know that it's actually the baby and not just gas :) Sorry, TMI?

We find out what we're having this week! I'm so excited, I reallllly hope the baby isn't shy, otherwise we'll have to wait another month until we find out and as I've made very clear...I'm inpatient :)

At 18 weeks, sweet baby Armstrong is the length of a sweet potato. We love you so so much already our little jelly bean. 

I'll have one of everything on the menu, please.

This is the truth, I have the appetite of a line backer and I feel as though I can see where I'm keeping the food now... I haven't quite hit the pregnant belly pop- there is definitely a noticeable bump there....it's just more of a "you drank a lot of beer and ate a couple loaves of bread, huh?" bump. That's okay though, I know that it's our little sweetheart :) This week has been pretty good I'm 17 weeks and a couple days. Let's see...what's new:

Well I'm experiencing the round ligament pain more and more lately. I sneezed yesterday and though I ripped my abdominals out. I'm still able to do yoga without pain though which is a bonus!

Sage and I have been walking/ doing (walking) stair laps every morning so far. That's been helping with my sleeping at night I think. I'm actually able to get a work out in in the morning which is pretty great.

The acne can't make up it's mind. Sometimes it behaves, sometimes it's just plain rude..

It's been hotter than Hades the past couple days so night times were rough, UNTIL my wonderful Claire generously surprised me with the U pillow. If you don't know what that is, google it ASAP. It is pure magic. I slept all through the night last night, I didn't even get up for my usual potty break! So Claire, you are the best in the whole world :)

And the most exciting part of it all...I THINK I MAY have felt the baby move...MAYBE...I was able to rule out gas...so I'm pretty sure I felt a little roll in there :)

On a note unrelated to little jelly bean- I'd like to take a second to pay tribute to Robin Williams.

This is one celebrity death that has me shaken to the core. This man brought my sisters and I closer together when we would quote Aladdin, Mrs. Doubtfire, Jumanji, Flubber, the list goes on. He brought my husband and I even closer with his brilliance, when Lance would get excited to introduce me to a movie of his I had never seen before; Good Will Hunting. Through every movie that I ever watched of his, every stand up I ever painfully belly laughed through, it was though I was the only person he was performing for. The man was a true genius, brilliant in his art, and I will miss his tiny awkward imitating voice. Thank you for sharing so many years of your brilliance with the world, Rest in Peace.

16 Weeks and some change

I need to get better about blogging on Sundays again. We have literally had something going every single weekend for the past 3 weeks and this weekend we're moving! We are very excited about having a place to call home and I am very excited to start nesting. August 21st we find out what we're having, so the nesting will be full blown at that point! Until then, I'll be patient...ish :)

Well, I'm 16 weeks and 4 days....I can finally feel a very prominent and hard bump above my pelvis. At my last appointment the baby's heartbeat was 137 and I've gained 2 of the 7 pounds I lost during the first trimester.

I haven't had any bizzare cravings per say, but very bland foods have sounded best to me. Top Ramen, toast, cereal, crackers and cheese, mostly snacky foods. Last night was the first time I wanted an actual dinner in about a week and a half. The acne is better this week, thankfully. It's still there, but they aren't huge, under the skin, mountains anymore. I feel more alert, awake, and energetic this week than in previous weeks, no more bed times at 7pm :) I think what has helped this the most is that Lance and I have been getting home from work a little later and we take Sage for a walk around the property after dinner and then we relax. Less time spent just vegging out and more time using my brain and moving! Also, I'm doing multiple stair laps, exercise classes, and running to and from places in the facility while I'm at work- definitely staying active.

Last weekend was my good friend, Claire's bachelorette party and I have to brag....I stayed up until 1:34 AM!!!!! Whaaaaaat??? I haven't done that in quite some time...pat on the back to ol' preggers over here :) It was so fun, we went to Hood River and explored their downtown area, went out to dinner at a delicious restaurant, and ended the weekend with a hike at Horse tail falls. I'm so excited to see my dear friend all dressed up for her wedding, she will make one beautiful bride!

15 weeks and a whole lot of acne

I've been lazy this week for blogging. In my defense, we've been really busy with life, as usual. But I managed to get a belly picture in and develop a crap ton of zits. My chin looks like I have a skin disease and my nose looks like a dart board. Pregnancy is very humbling and I'm only 15 weeks (almost 16 now) weeks in. You aren't able to exercise as strenuously as you did (or kind of did, in my case), you're constantly being told "don't pick up heavy things" or "keep your heart rate below 140!" all while you continue to see your lovely lady lumps become more....vo-LUMP-tuous. But, you're harboring a small growing child in your womb. IN YOUR WOMB! I am never alone- that is one crazy, amazing, fantastic feeling.

My clothes are quite a bit tighter now. There are two pairs of pants that do not go on without belly bands and I feel like no matter what I wear now, I have a healthy muffin top. I can tell that I have a belly now, it's pretty exciting :) My cravings haven't been very extreme this week- I did stop by Sheri's the other day for a milk shake....by myself. No shame here- it was probably one of the better decisions I made that week. I sat peacefully with my delicious, fattening, chocolate milkshake in the booth at Sheri's while reading a book. Totally content. 

On another note- we move into our new apartment in exactly one week. OHHHHHHHHHH YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHH.