Week 16 Update!

I find myself counting down the days until my next baby check-up every month. I have never looked forward to going to the doctor so much in my life! And needless to say, I haven't ever been to the doctor this much in my life. Each month's visit holds the possibility of learning new information about my pregnancy and my little one - and also hearing that incredibly fast heartbeat coming from my uterus (crazy!). There's nothing like it. 

I was really hoping my week 16 appointment was going to include an ultrasound because my sister found out the gender of one of her boys at week 16. No such luck. The doctor I saw (who was different from my usual doc; mine had to be out at the last minute, unfortunately) said I would have my next ultrasound at week 20: also the BIG DAY. Week 20 is "the week" to find out if it's a boy or a girl! Trey and I can't stand the thought of waiting till the birth to find out, so we will be eager to hear the news at the end of February. Seems so long from now! Since I don't have a picture of baby for week 16, here is a picture of me with baby :)

A little bump!

Pregnancy Highlights

How Far Along: 16 Weeks

Total Weight Gain: 6 lbs.

Size of  Baby: 4.5 inches long, 3.5 oz (about the size of an avocado)

Sleep: sleeping well until I have to go to the bathroom (which is inevitable) and then I tend to have trouble falling back asleep. I'm also not supposed to sleep on my back anymore, which is a favorite for me, so I'm having more trouble getting comfortable :P

Best Moment This Week: hearing baby's heartbeat - I was a little nervous after Dean (our 50 lb. puppy) jumped on my uterus 2 weeks ago and hearing that heartbeat and the doctor's reassuring words was such a relief

Gender: unknown - we'll know in 4 weeks!

Movement: nothing yet - I am getting anxious though! Eager to feel something!

Food Craving: still loving my Minute Maid Grape Punch, cottage cheese, and apple sauce

What I Miss: my daily Coke at lunch (trying not to drink caffeine unless I'm really needing it!) 

What I'm looking Forward to: Valentine's Day with my husband and finding out if this baby is a boy or a girl on Feb. 23rd!

Weekly Wisdom: When you're pregnant and feeling tired - take a rest. Or a whole day of rest. It does wonders!

Symptoms: Nausea is definitely getting better (only visits once or twice a week) and as long as I get my 7-8 hours, not as tired as during the first trimester...nothing too new!

Pregnancy Highlights - Week 12

Trey and I went to the doctor for our 12 week appointment last week and it proved to be a wonderful visit. Our baby has grown so much since our 8 week appointment! In our first ultrasound (8 weeks) it was a challenge to tell the head and body shape...now it actually looks like a baby! My heart jumped when I saw it on the screen and fluttered when the baby started jumping and bobbing around. If what we saw is any reflection on our child's personality, looks like this one might have some energy! The baby is healthy and its heart beats strong. We were thrilled at this news and I'm excited to be moving into the 2nd trimester soon!

8 Weeks

12 Weeks (See its little hand in the air? So sweet!)

Pregnancy Highlights

How Far Along: 12 Weeks

Total Weight Gain: 3-4 lbs.
Size of  Baby: about 2 inches, .05 oz (about the size of a lime)

Sleep: like a baby, and with my mouth open!
Best Moment This Week: seeing the growth of my baby & sharing the news with  my students who are so excited!

Gender: unknown (eek!)

Movement: Can't feel anything yet because it's so tiny- but it's definitely moving! 

Food Craving: EVERYTHING but specifically grape juice, Rocky Road, and Cheeze-It's

What I Miss: having the energy to work-out regularly 

What I'm looking Forward to: my next appointment (Jan. 25)

Weekly Wisdom: It's ok to leave some things undone (which is hard for my Type A personality to handle!)
Symptoms: Morning sickness  is definitely getting better (love my Zofran!!) and also getting my energy back (although, not quite what it used to be)...and can we say FORGETFUL? Geez?! For a person who's used to being on top of things, I'm feeling very nutty these days!

Your ever grateful madre in waiting, 

A Love Story

Have you ever seen the 2011 make of Jane Eyre ? What an amazing film...a dark, yet romantic and beautiful story...and as all love stories do, reminds me of my very own. I love those moments of flirtation between Jane and Mr. Rochester, which finally lead to him professing his love for her, and then the kiss. I live for moments like that which make me want to run into the arms of the one I love, just as Jane loves him. It reminds me of the feelings I first felt for Trey, and that I still feel every morning when I wake to see him lying next to me. Every time Jane and Mr. Rochester touched lips, I imagined myself, standing in front of Trey, and the bursts of passion we've shared in the same manner. 

Mr. Rochester and Jane

Rochester: I offer you my hand, my heart. Jane, I ask you to pass through life at my side. You are my equal and my likeness. Will you marry me? 

(yes! yes! yes!)

Trey and Lizzie

In 6 and a half months the love I know will grow far beyond what I am able to know at this moment. I cannot imagine a love greater than what I feel for my Trey, and yet I know my love for him will grow immensely as I look into the eyes of the being we will have created together. As I rest my hand on my tiny bump, I feel the love growing already and my heart growing stronger with each passing day. It all comes back to that first kiss I shared with Trey and that I relived tonight as I lost myself in the love story by Charlotte Bronte. Jane Eyre, thank you for reminding me of that true love. 

Romantically from your madre in waiting, 

Boston Bound

Right now I am blogging for my first time on a train. It makes me feel very "official", like I'm traveling on business and have important work to complete before my next stop. Hah! I can pretend for a little while. 

Well, it's 7:52 PM and I am currently between Richmond and Fredericksburg riding Amtrak with my husband, father, and step-mom. My dad has started a new tradition for our family trip to happen the week before Christmas which, as it works out, students and teachers have off. Last year we went to New York City - and had an absolute blast. 

This year we are traveling to Boston, a favorite of mine - although, I've never been in the winter. I'll let you know if I regret this decision! It's weird to think I'm not "physically" alone on this trip, but have a little one joining me (in utero!). What a cool feeling. I cannot wait until our next appointment (a little less than 2 weeks from now) when I will be 12 weeks along. I feel like this will be a comforting appointment, as the fetus is larger and things are a little "safer" than they were at week 8. Today I am officially 10 weeks. Wow! Feels like yesterday we were just finding out...and what an exciting moment that was. It's still pretty exciting as more friends are learning of our news. Most of my co-workers are aware, which makes it fun at work. It was so hard keeping it a secret the first month! When you find out, all you want to do is shout it to the world - it seems like such a miracle (and well, actually, it is!). 

Did I mention that I'm a fifth grade teacher and today was the last day before break? My kids were a little nutty...but I have to hand it to them, they were pretty good for me. My patience is not quite as good these days, now that I'm pregnant (and have my list of needs which must be met every 30 minutes). But I am so grateful that they were well-behaved and that our Christmas party stayed under control...and that I am now free of all 20 of them for 2 weeks! WOOOHOOOOOOOO! 


I feel a nap coming on....this momma is heading out. 

Until next time, 

A Merry Christmas, indeed

Well friends, this mother-in-waiting has some huge news. Trey and I are no longer trying to conceive. In addition, I can no longer enjoy my favorite beverage, margaritas - at least not for the next nine months....

You guessed it! We're expecting! Now I can truly say that I am a madre-in-waiting as I wait for the arrival of my little one in July 2012. After two seasons of TTC, this little miracle has occurred and I feel so blessed to know a healthy fetus is slowly growing into our future child. I am currently nine weeks along and I discovered our good news on November 4, 2011 (ironically I was home sick from school). At that point I was four weeks pregnant and one week out from running the Richmond half-marathon. Fortunately I was still feeling well at that point and was able to run the entire half-marathon in 2:09:35....25 seconds shy of my goal. And I did not run this race without considering the possible risks it might have on the well-being of my little one. Months before when Trey and I were planning this, I spoke with my OB who assured me it would be all right as long as my body was used to that kind of exercise.

Now, at nine months, I am experiencing the not-so-wonderful side effects of the first trimester including exhaustion, raging hormones, and morning sickness. I come home everyday, fall onto the couch and into my early evening nap. I continue to nap off and on into the evening after 8 hours of teaching, the thought of exercising impossible. I feel a bit like a sloth but know I must put the health of our baby first. If my body needs rest, then rest I shall. Not to mention, half the time I can hardly stand!! I hear that my energy should come back in the second trimester, which I am really looking forward to. I hate feeling lazy! But I love my couch more than ever. Plus, we just got a new mattress - perfect timing!

One week till Christmas break and then Trey and I are heading to Boston with my dad and stepmom. We'll spend Christmas in Roanoke with family and we have our next baby appt. the week after Christmas. More updates to come then! Merry Christmas!

Xo,
Lizzie

Back to School

Well friends, it has been a month and a half since my last post. And yes, we're still TTC. No luck yet but we're hanging in there. I'm not going to lie - we weren't as "on task" during the past month because as a teacher, the month of September is absolutely draining! We also had a hurricane at the end of August (yes - a hurricane in Richmond, Virginia!) which really upset the start of the school year. And on top of that, we got our puppy during this time, which made things even crazier! But as the fall is starting to settle in, I can see the calm in sight. 

Now as I wait to be a real mommy, let me tell you about being a doggy mommy. As you know from my my earlier posts, I had been greatly anticipating this role. I had no idea how much energy, patience, and time it would really take. When I was warned by my stepmother that having a dog is a little bit like having a child, I didn't realize how true that was! Dean, our pups, cannot be left alone for one second or we will be very sorry!    The pillows may be in shreds or we may be cleaning up his "accidents" on the carpet...and of course, this still happens even when we do have our eyes on him. Trey and I take turns on whose night it is to take care of Dean. Until he is about 16 weeks, he has to go to the bathroom twice during the night - but fortunately he quickly goes "potty" and then we can put him back in his crate and go back to sleep. But it is definitely a new responsibility that takes getting used to (and one that will break us in for when we have a crying baby during the night who needs to be fed and changed). 

Dean's favorite "snooze" spot - over the AC vent

Our sweet boy

Dean is the most beautiful puppy I have ever seen. He is a sweetheart too, as he loves to curl up on our laps and take his naps. We have much to teach him and already have him signed up for "Puppy Education" courses starting October 9th. It is cute to see how worried Trey gets over the little things with Dean, and confirms what an amazing and caring father he will be to his children. Trey took Dean to the vet today and we found out he now weighs 23 lbs (he was 9 lbs when we got him 4 weeks ago) and he is healthy. Parents always want to hear that. 

Our amazing family: Dean, Trey, Lizzie, Imogen

In addition to being Dean's mom, I have also taken on the responsibility of 20 other children during the last four weeks. My fifth grade class keeps me uber-busy as I spend every extra moment that I'm not teaching planning fun, engaging lessons, grading papers, calling parents with positive comments, attending meetings, and planning more lessons. I am so exhausted, but pleased as well. I have an amazing class this year with extremely polite, motivated, and responsible students. Last year was a tough year with my first class, but I have high hopes for this group of kids. For the first time since I finished my student teaching, I really love teaching again. 


Until next time, I'm still your madre in waiting. 


xo,

The Sweet Life of Floridians

Our vacation in Florida was amazing. We slept in, played all day, and spent most of our time with family in the sun. How much better can it get? 

Trey keeps trying to get me to agree to moving there once he's out of school. Part of me says: "Let's do it! Sun and beach all year long? Heck yes!" The other part yearns to go back home where my momma, sisters, daddio, and other family are only 5 minutes away. Especially while I'm having babies - I can't imagine not having my mom nearby! I tell him that maybe once our kids are a little older. I am convinced that I have seasonal depression (specifically during the months of January, February, and March). It's cold, the world is ugly, and I'm always feeling "blah". So living in Florida would guarantee a sunnier-side to life (literally!). But I'm living in the now, so who knows where we'll be in a couple years when he finishes up. 

Back to our trip: 
We spent a couple days by the pool, a couple days at the beach, and a day walking around Miami. I also got the opportunity to see several of the players from the US Women's World Cup play - and I got pictures with them! It was amazing. I became an avid watcher of this tournament weeks prior to our trip, and had my own favorite player: Megan Rapinoe. She had some crucial moments in the World Cup, even though the U.S. lost, and she became my own personal hero athlete. And she likes to have fun :)

Megan Rapinoe on the US National Team

ME! with Megan! 7/26/11 (one week after the World Cup)

This game, along with meeting famous players like Rapinoe, Abby Wambach, and Christie Rampone, was hands-down the best night of this trip. Try the best night of the year! It got me thinking - forget ballet lessons. My little girl (assuming I have one, one day) is going to be a soccer player!

Trey and I also got to have our own personal photo shoot with his cousin, Blake, who is a professional photographer. Here is one of many photos that I love from our shoot!

hopeful daddy & mommy in waiting

So last entry I touched on the fact that I thought the Woolwine family in Florida was perfect. I learned that no family is perfect. Everyone has their moments. But they are still high up on the list of families who have a really strong base: their parents. Mom and Dad are caring, yet strict, and have high expectations for their children being responsible. I did see a few arguments, but that is to be expected with seven children. 

Trey and I are still TTC. No word yet. But hopefully sooner rather than later. Waiting is so hard! Until next time, still a madre in waiting.
  
xo,