week 25

 

How far along? 25 weeks, 3 days 
Total weight gain: 21 pounds 
Maternity clothes? Every day. :) 
Sleep: Still good, except I've had some odd dreams lately! 
Best moment this week: Booking our 'babymoon'! Keith and I are taking a much-needed week long trip to Kauai and the Big Island in a few weeks....CAN'T WAIT! 
Miss Anything? Being comfortable... 
Movement: I love when I feel him move.  
Food cravings: I don't like milk really...but last night I was dying for some chocolate milk!! 
Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope 
Gender: It's a boy! 
Labor Signs: Nope   
Symptoms: Very bad leg cramps this week. Normally they just happen in the morning when I'm laying in bed, but I had one day where it actually hurt to walk around. 
Belly Button in or out? Both...?? 
Wedding rings on or off? On 
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy! Moody! Happy! Moody! 
Looking forward to: Our little vacation & then my shower in August. :) OH! And the nursery. L man's crib should be here this week, and the process of taking my ideas to fruition begins! 
Showing? Not at all! Why no...I didn't steal a basketball from the store, why do you ask??

Half A Year Pregnant!

This week I turned 6 months pregnant! That means I've been pregnant for ...

half a year.

Half a year! DID YOU HEAR ME??

I've been pregnant for half of a year! 

That's a long time!

A lot can be accomplished in half a year....

You could....

*Train a puppy

*Start and finish a few college classes

*Grow your hair several inches

*Learn a language?

(I put the question mark because I'm not really sure if you could do that in 6 months or not...)

*Learn to use Photoshop

*Get in shape!

*Save up enough money for a Hawaiian vacation. (why NO, I'm not dropping any hints, why do you ask??)

*Plan a wedding

*Travel. ANYWHERE! Stay on the beach, stay in a hostels, backpack Europe, Salsa in Rio. 

*Become a professional poker player

*Fall in love

*Form a lasting friendship

*GROW A BABY!
That's right, in 6 months, you can grow a baby from the size of a poppyseed to the age of viability.

Most doctors define the 'age of viability' (the earliest age a baby would be likely to survive if it were born) as being at 24 weeks.

(Even though there have been babies to survive as early as 21 weeks... what a miracle!)

Now obviously we want babies in there for as long as possible...

But all this to say, what a difference half a year can make!!

What are you going to do with your next 6 months?

How far along? 24 weeeks!

Total weight gain: Depending on what time I weigh myself...and on which scale... about 20 pounds. 
Maternity clothes? Couldn't live without em'! Though lately, I'm also enjoying just shopping for regular clothes and going up several sizes from what I'd normally have worn. It's cheaper...and cuter! 
Stretch marks? Still none... shew! 
Sleep: No change here, still sleeping well and sweating bullets in my sleep. 
Best moment this week: Learning to work my sewing machine and making some cuuute little goodies for Liam! 
Miss Anything? Being able to lean over comfortably..
Movement: Every day :) The other night, he actually pushed up on my stomach on one side and it stayed deformed-looking for a few seconds...so cool! 

Food cravings: SPICY pickles. I have had to restrain myself from eating the whole jar in one day. 
Anything making you queasy or sick: Nada 
Gender: It's a boy! 
Labor Signs: Nope  
Symptoms: My belly is feeling soooo tight! 
Belly Button in or out? (Barely) In. 
Wedding rings on or off? On 
Happy or Moody most of the time: BOTH! changes every day, I swear... 
Looking forward to: Planning my shower! My parents just bought tickets out here for August (mom wanted to come for my shower. :) and I'm really excited to get everything together.  
Showing? duh!

Rachel visits Hawaii & 23 weeks

This past weekend, my friend Rachel came to visit from Colorado. I've been looking forward to our little mini 4 day vacay for a while! At first, I was thinking that we wouldn't get to do much in just 4 days (there is seriously so much to see and do on this island) but she had a great visit and we did tons of fun stuff!! We spent lots of time at several different beaches, did a luau, visited the Dole Plantation, hiked a breathtaking hike, saw the USS Arizona Memorial, and even took naps! (Rach is pregnant, too, and us preggo's need lots of rest!) It was seriously so nice to just take several days off work, get outside and enjoy the beautiful sights of O'ahu.

Me & Rach & our babies enjoying some sun on day one!

We took her on my favorite hike on the island, Makapu'u lighthouse. The view from the top takes my breath every time. It may have taken our pregnant butts a little longer to get up there, but we still made it!

Like heaven, right?

Totally worth getting all sweaty and out of breath.

That night, we did our luau at Paradise Cove with some other friends. It was Keith and I's first luau, too. So much fun and such good food!

This night was seriously one of the best nights ever. :) So fun.

 

 The next day, we got to visit the USS Arizona memorial. So cool.

 

That night we spent in Waikiki having dinner and walking around the crowded streets. 

On her last day here, we spent the morning at the beach, and then the afternoon napping. Keith thought maybe we wasted the rest of the day, but I think a nap on the couch was the perfect ending to a Hawaiian vacation! 

And then I had to take her to the airport. :( 

I hate when vacations have to come to an end, I miss you so much already Rach!

While she was here, I turned 23 weeks pregnant, and she turned 16. The next time I see her, we will have babies!!

Crazy how life changes, right?

How far along? 23 weeks

Total weight gain:17 pounds

Maternity clothes? Oh yes. Disappointingly, not much else fits. I got this cute luau dress that wasn't maternity, but definitely went up several sizes!

Stretch marks? Nope.

Sleep: Good, other than getting RIDICULOUSLY hot at night.

Best moment this week: Rachel's visit!!

Miss Anything? Not being crazy hot. This one I just know I'm going to have to get used to. It's summer in Hawaii, so I am going to embrace living in dresses!
Movement: Every day :)

Food cravings: Sweet potato fries (thanks Rach!) We had some at a restaurant one night (I used to think I did not like them) and now I can't stop thinking about them, I neeeeddd more!

Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope.
Gender: It's a boy!

Labor Signs: Nope

Symptoms: You mean, other than my enormous, protruding belly?

Belly Button in or out? (Barely) In.

Wedding rings on or off? On

Happy or Moody most of the time: Meh. Happy about baby, moody about my clothes not fitting!

Looking forward to: I ordered a sewing machine, and I'm soo excited to get started sewing cute baby stuff.

Showing? There aint NO hiding this belly now!

 xoxoxox

week 22

 

How far along? 22 weeks, 2 days

Total weight gain: It was 16 pounds, but I think I've actually dropped a pound this week. So...More cheeseburgers for me!

Maternity clothes? Finally bought my first actual pair of maternity shorts. I thought they were so ugly so I was putting it off, but they're not too bad if you just pair them with the right shirt!

(I actually scored the shorts from Wal-Mart, of all places. The thing I hate about buying maternity clothes, especially bottoms, is that they run about $25-30 for something you'll only wear for awhile. I found them for 13 bucks at wally world, for anyone else in the market for maternity clothes.)

Stretch marks? No!

Sleep: Still sleeping well, though I've noticed I've started to sweat bullets at night.

Best moment this week: I would have to say that tonight would qualify. Keith got to feel the baby move for the first time, (I loved watching his face for this) and then we sat there for quite a while staring at my belly and watching it 'hop'.

Miss Anything? I own so...many...cute...summer...shorts. :( Won't be getting to use them this summer. Thank goodness I live somewhere that I can sport those puppies year round, I LOVE summer clothes!
Movement: FAVORITE thing ever. :) I won't ever get sick of it. I seriously did not realize you could SEE the movement this early...I told keith, 'it's too early, he's too little', when he said that he saw my tummy move, but I was wrong!! You can, it's the coolest thing!!

Food cravings: Still wanting juicy fruit--watermelon, cantaloupe, pineapple...yummmmy. In fact, it's now midnight and I may just march my butt downstairs and get some....

Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope.
Gender: It's a boy!

Labor Signs: Nope

Symptoms: The thump, thump, thump, of baby hands and feet. That's a symptom I can deal with!

Belly Button in or out? In, but one little edge of my belly button is starting to turn out.... won't be long! (I think outies are soooo cute!!)

Wedding rings on or off? On

Happy or Moody most of the time: I say happy, Keith says moody. Typical. :)

Looking forward to: Keith and I are taking a 'babymoon' to a different Hawaiian island next month and I can't wait!! We need a vaca.

Showing? There aint NO hiding this belly now!

...that's what little boys are made of...

'..snips and snails and puppy dog tails,

that's what little boys are made of.'

Just a little look into what I've been busy doing this past week:

(Until last Saturday, I did not own a single piece of baby clothing. I was waiting to buy anything until I found out what we were having...partially because I knew once I started, I would not want to stop!)

That little crab outfit is my favorite favorite thing I own for Liam so far. I am in looovvee with it so much that I might by one in several other sizes, too!!

I am already imagining snuggling up to his warm little good smelling body in that.

Ok, a big part of the reason that I originally wanted a girl was because of all the cute clothes, headbands, shoes, ruffles, bows, pinks, tutus, tulles, etc. etc. etc. 

but...

LOOK AT THIS STUFF!! Is it not to die for?! Who knew that they had such cute clothes for boys? I sure didn't! I mean, come on, OVERALLS for babies?! Ok. I'm dying of cuteness. Right now.

Most of this stuff is from Carter's and Baby Gap if you're wondering. :) 

I also scored a few things from Babies R Us on sale (their normal prices are RIDICULOUS!) and a few things from Goodwill. 

I have everything arranged by size, and even with all these clothes hanging in his closet, there are only 6 or less outfits per size...

SO. Gotta go, back to shopping!
(Today, Old Navy & Gap are having a 30% everything sale online...in case anyone else needs to shop too...hahaha)

My baby boy just might be the cutest, best-dressed boy on the block.

Just saying.

21 weeks & baby L's Gender Reveal.

How far along? 21 weeks

Total weight gain: 16 pounds

Maternity clothes? Yes-siree. It's amazing how wonderful just a simple maternity T-Shirt feels. I thought for sure at least regular t-shirts would fit for longer....WRONG!

Stretch marks? Nope!

Sleep: Great! It's hard to get up sometimes though, I mean literally I have a difficult time finding a comfortable way to get up out of bed. I can't sit straight up because that hurts, so I have to do like, a combat roll off the side of the bed.

Best moment this week: Baby clothes shopping, and finally being able to add gender-specific items to my registries.

Miss Anything? Sleeping on my belly!
Movement: Yes! I have felt him several times this week, always when I'm laying around doing nothing. When I wake up in the mornings, I stay stick still for awhile to see if I can catch him groovin'.

Food cravings: Watermelon!! I've realized there are few things that taste better than ice cold, juicy watermelon when you're in the hot sun! I've probably consumed an entire mini watermelon on my own since Saturday.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope.
Gender: It's a boy!

Labor Signs: Nope

Symptoms: Let's see.... got some heartburn this week, but nothing too awful, and then of course, feeling baby move. Also, it seems like my belly is always tight/uncomfortable, and often cramping.

Belly Button in or out? still in...for now.
Wedding rings on or off? On

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy-ish, this week has been a wide array of emotions!!

Looking forward to: Putting my nursery together!! I've had my crib picked out for a while, (of course, it's out of stock on like, EVERY site until mid-June) and I also have a sweet rug picked out from Urban Outfitters that I'm ordering this week! EEEEK!

Showing?: For sure!

 

Well, this week I finally had the moment I'd been waiting for--finding out my baby's gender! The gender reveal party came together wonderfully! We had so many people come over to find out & celebrate with us. I spent weeks making decorations and they turned out so great.

We put my friend Jen and her hubby in charge of the big 'reveal'. On Thursday, we had my ultrasound, and I had the tech put the gender into a sealed envelope. Friday night, we took it to our friends. Jeremy made the cuuutest cake (see below!), but for the reveal we actually did a pinata. I wanted something a little different than the normal gender reveal party. So we bought a pinata, along with tons of blue and pink confetti/candy, etc. and they were left to stuff it with the right color!

 

When the moment finally came to break the pinata, we had about 20 people here, and also about 6 on skype. (THAT turned out to be a mess when we lost them ALL at the last minute. :( But they were at least 'here' for part of the party). We Keith broke the pinata in about two swings, and BAM blue stuff everywhere. :) Yep, indeed, it's a boy. See for yourself. (The ultrasound tech put this picture into the envelope).

 

 

I was so overwhelmed that day, what with everything going on, trying to get EVERYONE on skype for the party, trying to be a party host, that I didn't have time to sit down and think about the fact that I was having a boy until later. If you know me, you know I was hoping for a little girl, so I was a little disappointed at first, but it's like I've said before, we are blessed no matter what God decides to give us. I know I will love my boy more than anything, and one day laugh at the fact that I was hoping for him to be a girl! And look at all the cute little boys that were at the party, how could I NOT be excited to have one of these?!

 The cake Jeremy made, isn't it ADORABLE?!

(I actually met a photographer at my work a few weeks ago, and she had been wanting to photograph a gender party for awhile, so she offered to come do mine for free! She took some beautiful photos, so as soon as I get them I'll share them with you all! These ones here were taken by Jen and her awesome camera)

 

A while ago we decided on Liam for a boy. We both loved the name, and then I read that Liam is short for William (duh!) and we knew it couldn't be more perfect! I'm sure he'll be just like his daddy in every way...

(We'll just hope he inherits some good traits from me, too.)

For now, we'll let him grow big and strong so he can conquer the world!!

xoxox

mommy, daddy, & liam pope

boy or girl? what will it be?

I used to have an entire fun post here with some fun 'gender' old wives' tales, but I accidentally deleted THE WHOLE THING and I can't get it back. :( :( SAD DAY!

But here is the fun invite that I designed for our gender reveal, available for sale in My Etsy Shop Here!

I kind of got sick of the font/layout of it, and since it's been so popular, I designed another one:

Available Here. 

(It was a boy!)