Friday, April 30, 2010

Goodbye fun car, hello Mommy Mobile

We had been debating getting rid of my car for quite a while and get a more family oriented SUV. Well, today was the day. I grew up, got rid of my fun, not very child friendly car, and will be purchasing my mommy mobile soon!

Around 11:00 today Michael called and I needed to come home and trade cars with him, he would be meeting someone about my car this afternoon!!!! AHHHHH! Nothing like short notice! Ha! I can't believe it, but I don't think I have a single picture of it over the last three years that we have had it, but here is what it looked like.
As much as I loved my BMW and it was how I rewarded myself for years of hard work, it is time time for a more sensible mommy mobile. As I've said before we are leaning towards a Nissan Pathfinder or a Toyota 4Runner. Anyone have a suggestion? I would like a more crossover type SUV, but Michael wants something a little more rugged. :-)

Thursday, April 29, 2010

29 Weeks


Here is a glimpse at what I've been wearing to work since I have outgrown all of my scrub tops. It is as comfy as you can get without yoga pants. :-)

How big is Baby? 16.5 inches, 3 pounds and the size of a butternut squash!
Total weight gain/loss: 20 pounds.
Maternity clothes? All I wear.
Stretch marks? Not yet
Sleep: I've had a very hard time getting comfortable this week. Starting Monday night around 2 am I think I might have had some Braxton Hicks contractions (or maybe the real thing, who knows) and since then I just have not been feeling as well making it hard to get some sleep. I've also discovered the joy of acid reflux this week (I just thought I had it earlier, this is the real deal!).
Best moment this week: seeing all of my blog friends in person at SLI!
Movement: LOVING it! He is VERY active! He has taken up residence in my ribs and now he is ALWAYS up there! He also loves try to stretch out which is fine except it is right in my kidneys.
Food cravings: Italian food (not good for the old reflux!).
Gender: It's A BOY!!!!!! Nicholas Allen Ledford.
Labor Signs: not really, thank goodness!
Belly Button in or out? That's another thing. I can tell it is starting to move towards the outside. My laparoscopic scar at the base of my belly button that has always been on the inside is now on the outside (you can see it on my abdomen, not just inside my belly button anymore)! AH! It's getting smaller and flatter.
What I am looking forward to: My 30 week appointment on Monday!!! I can't believe we are 11 weeks AT MOST from meeting our little miracle!!!!!!
Milestones: Third Trimester!!!!!! I can't believe we are more than 2/3 of the way there. Amazing!

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

There Is Hope

This week is National Infertility Awareness Week. For two years I spent countless days and nights crying, praying, and wishing to be a mother. I wondered why God had chosen me to be infertile rather than so many others I saw effortlessly have children. I spent many hours reading through the Bible looking for scriptures that would apply to me and give me comfort. I listened to a lot of songs that gave me hope. I felt in my heart there would be a day that God would bless us with a child, but I had a hard time waiting.

We started our TTC journey in November 2007 and didn't think it would take very long. We were 26 and healthy, why wouldn't we have a baby within a years time? God had other plans for us. We suffered two miscarriages, a house fire, a clotting disorder diagnosis, and ovulatory dysfunction. It took two OBs and a lot of testing. I finally convinced the 2nd OB to try medication in August 2009 and within three months our prayers were answered on October 31, 2009, the last cycle before we moved on to expensive injectables and IUI that we were not sure how we would pay for.

I've said this a lot on here, and I mean it, God has a funny way with HIS timing. I am a HUGE planner (as most of you know) and his plan was vastly different from mine. In my plan I would already be thinking about adding a second child to our family, not still waiting on our first. I know He wanted our marriage stronger and for me to learn that I needed patience. I am actually thankful for the lessons we learned during those two years. Through it all, infertility, house fire, rebuilding, multiple miscarriages, and now a high risk pregnancy, God has had a plan.

I have spent a lot of my time during my pregnancy thinking about all of my friends IRL and in blog land that I have shared my journey of infertility with. Every day, several times a day, you are in my thoughts, prayers, and heart. Please continue to trust in God's plan for you and don't give up hope. Here is a glimpse at our little miracle to remind you that God hears your prayers and he DOES have a plan for you.

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I put my HOPE. Psalms 130:5

Monday, April 26, 2010

It's All In The Bag

This may seem a little early for this post, but I am going to have to buy some of the things I think I need, so I'm going to go ahead and ask anyway. What do I need to pack in my hospital bag? What kind of clothes do I want to bring? I know I want to wear my own pjs after delivery because I will have a lot of visitors that I know on a professional basis since I'll be delivering in the hospital I've worked at for almost 10 years and I want to look decent at least (although I know I will probably mess them up). Ha!

So, give me all of your advice and tips! Also, anything you can tell Michael about what to pack in his bag would be good too. :-)


Sunday, April 25, 2010

Party In The Overflow

Sorry if you've already read this post. It got completely deleted a few minutes ago, as in, cannot find it! I'm trying to install disqus and it doesn't seem to want to work. Any suggestions? Ugh! Oh well, here we go again!

As you all know, a lot of bloggers met yesterday in Atlanta to see Beth Moore in the overflow room. It was so much fun! Courtney and I had planned to stay overnight and spend more time with our friends, but due to my uncle's passing and Courtney's husband making plans for her birthday, it just didn't work out. The only real regret I have is that I didn't bring my new, good camera. I was just afraid it would be too much to carry around. Next time I'm bringing it no matter what!

We left my house around 6:45 and when we got to the church we couldn't believe the traffic! It was crazy!
Once we got off the shuttle that took us from the car to the chapel, we met up with Amy and Lianna. It was so good to finally meet them. Lianna and I have emailed a lot and we've been through a lot of hard times together.

It was so funny that on that same shuttle was a group of my friends from Ringgold! (Brittney, Amy, or Misty if anyone has that picture of all of us, please send it to me, I didn't get it on my camera).

Once we actually made it in to the chapel we saw our blog friends. It was amazing to meet these women that you feel like you already know, even though you've never met in person. We spent most of the day laughing and it was great to spend time with these ladies! Here I am with Kelly, an example of how much we all laughed! Kelly has been a good friend that got me through some really bad days through email or twitter. Thank you so much Kelly!
I also met Caroline, who is so sweet.

I am so thankful to have met Courtney. We clicked immediately and have become such good friends. I am currently trying to think of a way to keep her from moving to Dallas. :-(
Sweet Lauren Kelly saved us seats, so we got to meet and sit by her. It was great to finally meet her. She always leaves such sweet comments, it was great to finally meet.

At lunch we sat and ate with Jenna and Lianna. They are both very good blog friends and I am so happy to have finally met them. Jenna is so sweet and I am so thankful we finally got to meet. She has been so encouraging over the past two years and like Kelly, there were days I don't think I would have made it without her encouragement. Lianna and I have shared a lot of sad days together. We have wanted to meet for a long time because we seem to have a lot of the same interests. Next time though, we need to introduce the husbands! :-)
After lunch Beth came into the overflow room and it was awesome to see her in person. I so wished I could have got closer, but we couldn't. Now you know why I wished I had my other camera!
After lunch Courtney and I had to hurry home. I hope everyone had a great time, I know we did. Beth was amazing and she really does have a great way of speaking to everyone's heart. I am so happy we got to see her.

I met so many of you and I wish that I had pictures of you all. Thank you all for being good friends on blogger, twitter, and even IRL. So many of you have become "real friends" and I am very thankful for that! Hope you all make it home safely today!

Friday, April 23, 2010

Show us Your Life, How We Met

It was a cowboy theme party, don't judge, please! :-)


On September 21, 2001, I had just broken up with my boyfriend of a year and we were having a ADPi date party. Obviously, you have to have a date for that one! One of my best friends insisted I take a friend of her's. It was only 10 days after 9/11 and as we watched the 9/11 telethon on tv, a super cute guy walked in and asked “which one of you is Amanda?” It was at that moment I met my best friend and man of my dreams! On Sept 21, 2001 we met at the apartment of my friend, Sarah. We were going to a cowboy cruise date party (no, we didn’t dress like this just for the heck of it!) and Michael was my blind date!!!! The picture above was our first picture together (sorry for the flash spot, I had to take a pic of a pic) (wow! Look at how skinny I was and how HUGE my hair was!)!!!! We hit it off that night, then went out the next night, and the rest is history! We got engaged two years later on December 18, 2003 and married on January 8, 2005.


And here we are now. Who are those people in the first picture???! Wow, we've changed a LOT! Ha!

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Baby Pictures and Nightmares

So, I was looking back over my blog and I realized that I am a bad pregnant girl and NEVER posted our big US pics from oh, say 10 weeks ago! Oops!

I LOVE this one! He just looks so cute and sweet.

Now, for the nightmares part (yes they are related, so hold on for the correlation). For the past two weeks or so I have begun to super stress that maybe he really isn't a boy. You always hear about the one or two babies that are supposed to be a girl that really are a boy or the other way around. Now that we are three weeks away from showers and all of his bedding and decor is ordered, I am panicking about it. Stupid, I know, but I think it is just part of my OCD, planner personality. Ha! So, here is the big shot, any chance he could be a girl? I doubt it.
That is why I went back looking for these pics and when I couldn't find them I realized I never put them on here. Bad mom, shame on me! Anyway, when I did look at it, I felt better and a little more relaxed, but still a little nervous. So, what do you think?

We have also finished up his nursery except for bedding and wall decor. Here are the latest pics. I am anxious to get the bedding on his bed! It will come together so well then!
From the hallway looking in:
This is from the crib looking at the opposite wall. Notice the brown bag in the floor, that is his curtains I need to get a rod for.
We had a little scare today, but doing fine now. Just resting and taking it easy tonight. My doctor wasn't worried, so I am just going to enjoy my night of leisure. Ha!

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

28 Weeks


OH.MY.WORD! I am officially huge!


How far along? 28 weeks and 7 months!
How big is Baby? 16 inches, 3 pounds (according to my OB), and the size of cabbage!
Total weight gain/loss: 20 pounds.
Maternity clothes? 95% of what I wear. I am loving jeans. I am still wearing my regular scrubs though, but I may have to move up to a bigger size soon. :-(
Stretch marks? Not yet
Sleep: I'm sleeping ok, but having a hard time getting comfy, so I wake up a lot on my back. With my hips hurting so much it is hard to lie on my side.
Best moment this week: My 28 week appt and passing the glucose test.
Movement: LOVING it! He is VERY active! In the past two weeks he has taken up residence in my ribs and now he is ALWAYS up there!
Food cravings: I could eat ANYTHING right now. Although I've really wanted some fruit and veggies this week.
Gender: It's A BOY!!!!!! Nicholas Allen Ledford.
Labor Signs: none, thank goodness!
Belly Button in or out? That's another thing. I can tell it is starting to move towards the outside. My laparoscopic scar at the base of my belly button that has always been on the inside is now on the outside (you can see it on my abdomen, not just inside my belly button anymore)! AH! It's getting smaller and flatter.
What I am looking forward to: Meeting a lot of blog friends that have supported me and been there for me along the way this weekend!
Milestones: Third Trimester!!!!!! I can't believe we are 2/3 of the way there. Amazing!
Thanks for all the twitter, facebook, and blog comments, thoughts, and prayers for our family today. We appreciate them so much!
Also, I had a comment about flip flops. I am not wearing them if I am on my feet for any amount of time. I just put that dress on after work to see how it looked (it is a regular dress, not maternity) and slid those on for looks. :-) I am wearing good supportive shoes for work and on my feet.

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Urgent Prayer Request

AM UPDATE: Please continue to pray for our family, especially his wife, children, grandchildren, and my Nana. My uncle passed away about an hour ago and they need your prayers this morning.

My mom just called to let me know that she and my aunt are on their way to the hospital to sit with my cousins after my great uncle had a sudden cardiac arrest and coded twice. He is currently in the ICU in critical care. Not sure what the night will bring. Please pray for him and his family. He is my Nana's much younger brother and has already overcome a lot. He is a kidney transplant patient and has diabetes and heart disease. His wife is also in poor health and not doing well. They have two adult children that live about two hours away, so they definitely need our prayers as well. I will update as I know something.

Results

I got my results back today and I passed my glucose test! Whew! Now to figure out why I feel so tired and faint after I eat. Looks like probably hypoglycemic. If so, I'll just have to eat a lot of small meals instead of three large ones. I was happy to hear that at least it wasn't too high. I really didn't want to go through the hoopla of the three hour test.

Look what came in the mail today...
I cannot believe my first shower is in three weeks! EEEEEK! I am so excited! My friends Lauren and Nicole did a fabulous job on the invitations (which obviously this picture was cropped for privacy reasons and I took the picture with the card laying down, so it is a little blurry). They were designed by Anita at apieceofpope.blogspot.com. I LOVE THEM and cannot wait to see the rest of the decorations! I know they will be fabulous too!

Monday, April 19, 2010

28 Week Appointment


Today was my 28 week appointment and I got to drink the fabulous orange glucose drink. I have dreaded this drink since I was pregnant the first time, but much to my surprise, it was not bad at all. They only made me drink half of the big bottle they pulled out (thank goodness!), but I think I could have drank the entire thing. They gave me the option of fruit punch or orange and based on what everyone here and on twitter told me, I went with orange. I will get my results tomorrow.

After I drank my drink I saw my Dr and he thought everything was perfect! I am measuring a little big, but we know Nicholas is long, so not surprised. He also felt and is pretty sure he is head down, but not 100% sure. I will have an ultrasound to make sure he isn't too big or breech in 6 weeks at 34 weeks. We are not even going to talk about my weight gain! Ha! It is right at 20 pounds now. I also found out today that I will continue to take an aspirin a day until delivery, then based on what type of delivery we have, will determine what I do then. If I have a c-section I will more than likely take a lovenox shot twice a day for six weeks (which is actually my preference either way just to be safe). However with a normal vaginal delivery, it is a lot less likely to get a clot, so we would probably just continue the aspirin.

I go back every two weeks now until my 34 week US then based on how everything looks and how I feel, I may start weekly appts then! AHHHHH! It is getting close!

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Happy Birthday Mom!


Yes, I have two posts today!!! Today was my mom's birthday (I would tell you how old she is, but she probably wouldn't like it! Ha!) We had them over for dinner and after dinner they helped up unpack and move the bookshelf that was in Nicholas' room to the guest room. Now it looks all ready (with the exception of bedding and wall hangings). I got my mom the Grandmother Willow Tree figurine and a super cute little brag book to carry in her purse.
I am so thankful for my parents and very grateful for how close my mom and I became once I got older. We spend a lot of Saturdays together and she is planning on taking two weeks off from work once Nicholas gets home from the hospital to help me. I thank God every day for giving me two wonderful parents and a close relationship with my mom. I can't wait for Nicholas to meet them!!! My mom is so excited about him coming (to such an extent that I have almost banned her for BRU! Haha!) and I know she has waited a long time for him, as we all have, and has a lot of love to give him. We are all lucky to have her!

We love you Mom!

Sunday At The Park

We had a great day with Michael's family in the sun at the park today. It was a little chilly when the wind blew, but overall, was a FABULOUS day out at the park! We went to the Chattanooga Riverpark, which is one of my favorites. It is right on the Tennessee River and so pretty. It is right on the riverwalk which is a walkway that goes about six miles along the water. We got a table and Michael and his dad cooked yummy hotdogs and we all brought sides to enjoy.
They also got us a birthday cake! I don't even want to know how much weight I've gained when I go to doctor tomorrow morning after all these birthday cakes!!! Ha!
For our birthday we got our first gift off our registry! I had really been wanting this play gym and they all went in and got this for us! I can't wait for Nicholas to play with it! His first toy!
After we ate we went to a pier and took pictures. Just wanted to show how much bigger I am this week than last! WOW!
(This is also my outfit for Beth Moore next Saturday. Comfy and cute!)

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Busy Day and Birthday Party

This week was so hard on me, I think it was the two car trips and not sleeping well a couple of nights. I had planned to get some rest this weekend, but so far, not so much. Last night I came home and crashed and Michael brought home Outback to go. We walked outside and the neighbors were out, so next thing we know we are outside for two hours talking and it is 10:00!

Today I got up, went for my pedicure, ran some errands, and went by the pregnant girl store to get some t-shirts for work. I have outgrown all of my scrubs. It is a pitiful situation! My scrub pants aren't comfortable anymore and my tops are too short. I also stopped by a scrub store and picked up some ugly unisex pants to get me through until he comes. The one good thing about that is that you get to buy a size down! Ha!

Look who got their Summer do today. He feels much better!
Tonight was our cute neighbor, Jackson's 8th birthday party. No way could we miss that! We love Jackson and his parents and had a great time. It was a Lego Rockband party and it was so cute. I LOVED his Lego cake!
The kids played Lego Rockband for about three hours. I thought this was a cute picture of our other neighbor, James. Notice his mohawk to look like a rocker!

Jackson had a great time opening gifts! He got some cool stuff. It is amazing to me how far toys have come in the past thirty years. Ha!
Tomorrow we are having lunch with Michael's family then celebrating my mom's birthday, so it will be another full day. MAYBE I can crash in between, we'll see.

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Baby Books

UPDATE: After looking at some more sites and doing some more researching, I decided to go ahead and make my own. I love to scrapbook and there is just so much more I want to put in his book than the ones you can buy. This way it will be exactly what I want! Thanks for all of your help!

Ok, I need your help again girls! I am on the lookout for the perfect baby book. I really wanted to make my own, but I am challenged in that area. I wouldn't even know where to start and when I go back to work I'm afraid it would suffer and never get finished. Where have you found your baby's memory book? I'm having such a hard time finding just the right thing that I am almost ready to make my own.

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

27 Weeks and 3rd Trimester!

Here I am at 27 weeks, with exactly 3 months to go, on the first day of the Third Trimester!

How big is Baby? 15 inches, 2.4 pounds, and the size of an eggplant!
Total weight gain/loss: According to my scale at home, 15 pounds.
Maternity clothes? 95% of what I wear. I am loving jeans. I am still wearing my regular scrubs though, but I may have to move up to a bigger size soon. :-(
Stretch marks? Not yet (although I might have one starting) :(
Sleep: I'm sleeping ok, but having a hard time getting comfy, so I wake up a lot on my back. With my hips hurting so much it is hard to lie on my side.
Best moment this week: Being pregnant on my birthday! I've prayed so hard that day would come! Don't lose faith girls.
Movement: LOVING it! He is VERY active! In the past two weeks he has taken up residence in my ribs and now he is ALWAYS up there!
Food cravings: I could eat ANYTHING right now. Although I've really wanted some fruit and veggies this week.
Gender: It's A BOY!!!!!! Nicholas Allen Ledford.
Labor Signs: none, thank goodness!
Belly Button in or out? That's another thing. I can tell it is starting to move towards the outside. My laparoscopic scar at the base of my belly button that has always been on the inside is now on the outside (you can see it on my abdomen, not just inside my belly button anymore)! AH! It's getting smaller and flatter.
What I am looking forward to: My 28 week dr appt on Monday morning. I have my glucose test, but other than that I am excited to hear his little heartbeat.
Milestones: Third Trimester!!!!!! I can't believe we are 2/3 of the way there. Amazing!

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Happy Birthday Michael!

This week has been a big week at our house (as it is every year). We both turn 29 this week. Michael and I are only 60 hours apart in age (I was born at 8:00 Friday night and he was born at 8:00 Monday morning!). It was funny that on our first day I asked when he would turn 21 (you know, it is a big milestone and all! Ha!) and he said April. I of course was like, me too! Then I asked what day and he said 13th and I couldn't believe it! Haha!

Anyway, I want to tell him how much I love him and I really, truly believe that he was always the person I was intended on spending the past five years with. We've been through so much and I really could not have made it without him. He has amazing strength and he has been there for me every step of the way, especially the past two hard years. I am so grateful that God put him in my life and I am so thankful for him.
The next year should be the best year of our lives and I absolutely cannot wait to see him with Nicholas. I am more excited about that than anything else. I know I will fall in love with him all over again just watching them together. Just seeing his love for him already makes me happy and I know it will be so much stronger once Nicholas is here. He will be a great dad and Nicholas is so lucky to have him.

So, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the cute, sweet, awesome guy I married five years ago. I seriously love you more and more every day!

Monday, April 12, 2010

Cake and Other Randomness

What happens when a pregnant girl has a cake essentially to herself...bad things, like eating all but two pieces by herself! I just can't help myself! Ha! I am planning to take it to work Wednesday if there is any left after Michael's actual birthday tomorrow.
Also, I had a few of you ask on twitter and here where we went yesterday. It is called Helen, GA. It is in NE GA and it is basically just about a mile of shops and restaurants that look like they belong in Germany. Pretty cute.

Well, today it happened, I finally caved and bought bigger bras and by bigger I mean BIGGER. I am amazed at the size I had to buy! Ha! I had been putting it off because I love my Victoria Secret ones so much, but I just went to Target and bought a couple cheapies to get me through. I know I'll need more again, so that is why I went cheap.

Tomorrow should be a fun day. I am working a half day to be able to take off for Michael's birthday (it is his scheduled day off). As soon as I get home we will be traveling about two hours to his dad's house to see them on his birthday.

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Spring Sunday

Every year for his birthday (or the Sunday closest to it) Michael wants to take a "birthday adventure". Meaning he wants to go somewhere we've never been and it usually involves being outdoors. Well this morning we got up and decided to drive about two and half hours to a Bavarian village in the blueridge mountains of Georgia. It was a BEAUTIFUL drive and I wish there had been places to pull over and take pictures, but there really wasn't. However, we did get some when we got there.
Michael took this one of me on the little bridge over the river.
Michael thought this little store was hilarious (he has a sick sense of humor) and just HAD to have his picture in front of it. It also gives you a good idea of how cute this town is.
We only stayed for about an hour then came home and played in the yard with Spencer for a few minutes. He LOVES to "play ball". In fact, if you are willing, he will play for hours and never take a rest. I thought this was a super cute picture of him. I love how his ears are floppy!
Michael took this one of us and I like it because it shows how sweet little Spencer is (although he needs a SERIOUS haircut, bless his heart!).Tonight we went to Big River (our favorite local restaurant) and ate on the patio. It has just been such a good day. So glad we are having some good, memorable days together before Nicholas gets here.

Saturday, April 10, 2010

A Very Happy Birthday!

I have had a fabulous birthday! This morning my mom and I went to the mall and I bought myself some new shoes for work and the weekend that will allow my feet to swell and be comfy on my feet all day. I got these at DSW $20 cheaper than Dillard's! I was so excited!
I came home and just chilled out until Michael came home and then we met my parents at Chop House to celebrate both of our birthdays (his birthday will be on Tuesday, more on that Tuesday!). We had a very yummy dinner. I had filet with mushrooms on top, potato and salad. I am soooooooo full! After dinner we went back to their house and had cake from my favorite bakery, Cake Boutique. They were supposed to make it lime green and brown, but it is still so cute with it's little paisleys! Not to mention they make the BEST tasting cake in town (from what I have tasted lately).
(I look so funny because it felt like the cake was slipping! Ha!)

My parents got me one of the best gifts I think I have ever received, a Canon XSi camera to take LOTS of good quality pics of Nicholas! I took all of these with it and I.AM.IN.LOVE!!!!!!! I need to learn all about it and play around with it, but so far it is great.
My mom and I

When I got home I took this one of Spencer and I love how clear it is. Now, I've just got to learn more about it and hopefully by July I'll be able to take some awesome pictures.
Thanks to everyone for the many Birthday wishes on here, twitter, and FB. You all are the best!

Just Another Birthday

Most birthdays are just another birthday, but today is my last birthday in my 20s, although I am not upset or sad about turning 30, it just seems so STRANGE to be at the end of my 20s! It seems like just the other day I turned 20 (I even remember 10 pretty well!). I remember when I was little that 30 seemed so old and that I thought I would have two kids (and not young, like one of them be in school!) and things would be so different. I have spent the past two years sad on my birthday, especially last year. I was so worried I would never have a birthday with a baby or pregnant. Last year I had such a hard time leading up to my birthday that even the surgeons that I work for made sure I had a good party at work (that is pitiful!).

Birthdays are hard when you are dealing with infertility and pregnancy loss. It is just another day, you don't even want to celebrate the fact it is a birthday. Everyone asks you what you want for your birthday and it makes you want to cry (or in my case, I did, that is how my boss found out I was sad, I'm sure he was sorry he asked!). Your emotions control your life anyway, that is a bad, bad side effect of infertility. It is a reminder that you may never (or at least think you may never) throw a birthday party for your child. (remember that next year when I am OBSESSED with Nicholas' birthday! Ha!) It is also a reminder that you are usually left out of the children's party circuit that your friends talk about all the time.

This year things are different. I just had a happy tears crying moment in Nicholas' room where I looked at his furniture and all of his clothes, and my giraffe in it's new home, and I felt overwhelmed with happiness and blessings. I am so blessed, excited, and happy for our future, but at the same time I am so sad thinking about where I was last year. Every day there is something that brings that pain back and I have a feeling that it is something that I will never 100% recover from. I will always have a moment that makes me sad or a moment where I appreciate some small, meaningless things just because I never thought I would have them.

I am going to get a shower now and try to put my emotions away. It is a beautiful, sunny, warm day and I plan to enjoy it! :-)

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

26 Weeks

I decided to move my weekly pictures into Nicholas' room. I love the dark walls and it is fun to do them in there as I like to take any chance I can to go in there. Ha! (Haha, obviously when I was playing around with the editing I made the colors WAY bright!)

How big is Baby? 15 inches, 1.12 pounds, and the size of an English cucumber.
Total weight gain/loss: According to my scale at home, 15 pounds.
Maternity clothes? 90% of what I wear. I am loving jeans. I am still wearing my regular scrubs though, but I may have to move up to a bigger size soon. :-(
Stretch marks? Not yet.
Sleep: I've started having sleep problems again this week. I'm just having a hard time getting comfy.
Best moment this week: seeing his bedding and bringing home my special giraffe for his room.
Movement: LOVING it! He is VERY active! In the past two weeks he has taken up residence in my ribs and the past two days he is UP there!
Food cravings: I could eat ANYTHING right now. Although I've really wanted some fruit and veggies this week.
Gender: It's A BOY!!!!!! Nicholas Allen Ledford.
Labor Signs: none, thank goodness!
Belly Button in or out? That's another thing. I can tell it is starting to move towards the outside. Mylaparoscopic scar at the base of my belly button that has always been on the inside is now on the outside! AH! Getting smaller.
What I am looking forward to: celebrating my birthday pregnant. I've been so sad the last two years that I wasn't pregnant or had a baby, but this year I got my wish!!!!!
Milestones: Seeing the 99 days on the ticker yesterday and thinking about how CLOSE that is!!!!!!