"Babymoon"

Next week Ben and I are taking our little 'babymoon'.  For awhile we thought we would go to Chicago, stay in a nice hotel, go out to dinner at nice restaurants, shop, etc. etc.  Well, as the time got closer, and the more money I spent on little Miss Brooklyn, we decided we probably shouldn't go all out for our 'babymoon'.  So, we are going to travel to Beaver Lake/Eureka Springs, Arkansas.  A family that I work for has been there several times and they say it is beautiful, romantic, and a great place to get away that isn't too far or too expensive. So, Ben and I will be staying in our own cabin for a few nights, enjoying each others company before the baby comes.  It is about a 4 hour drive, we will stop when we get close to our destination at a grocery store to get some food-there are fully equipped kitchens in each of the cabins, so we were thinking about just cooking breakfast, lunch and dinner at the cabin the first day and then going into Eureka Springs for a nice dinner on our last night there.  I am very excited to get away and spend some time with the hubs.  I am really hoping that since we will be out in the woods a little, that the hubs cell phone does not work so we will have no distractions.  I am going to tell him that I will not get on facebook, blogger, etc. if he does not get on his phone while we are gone.  Sounds fair to me!! This trip is all about us for the last time in forever so we both need to soak it all in and have a great time together!! Below are some pictures of where we will be staying, they are from the cabins website, we will see if my pictures match up when we get there! ha!

Chiefs Home Opener

Sunday (9/11) was the Chiefs home opener and season opener.  If you know me at all, you know that I am a huge Chiefs fan.  I grew up going to Chiefs games and just because I am pregnant nothing is changing!! I knew it would be weird going to a Chiefs game and not being the usual fan that I am.  Let me explain: the usual fan that I am, when not pregnant, is a loud, obnoxious fan, but of course the loudness and obnoxiousness (is that a word?) are usually alcohol induced.  The tailgate was fun-the girls talked, the guys played bags, we ate and had a great time.  When walking into the stadium I just felt different about being there, I knew that I wouldn't be yelling loud and embarrassing my husband, so maybe that is why I felt weird.  The pregame festivities were very cool-all centered around 9-11.  Then came the kickoff-disaster, Chiefs fumbled and the Bills scored right away.  Not a great way to start a game.  It was extremely hot-our seats are in the sun and it was horrible, but not as bad as the Kenny Chesney concert at Arrowhead on 7/30.  The Chiefs did not show up to play the game.  To make a long story short and to re-cap my day at Arrowhead: Sober, hot and sweaty pregnant wife + intoxicated husband + Chiefs not showing up to play = we leave early and go to Hoopers to eat and watch the rest of the game.  Needless to say, before the season started I was a little bummed that I wouldn't be able to go to all of the Chiefs homes games, but after the game on Sunday, I could care less about missing games this season.  I can't wait for Brooklyn to get here and we can sit on the couch in the controlled climate house and watch the Chiefs lose for free! Sounds good to me!

Brooklyn's 'first' Chiefs game!!

Weeks 28 and 29

Surprise, surprise...I am behind again and will be doing 2 pregnancy updates in one post.  You would think that since I am only working 3 days a week I would have more times on my hand to blog, but for some reason I am finding other things to do to take up my time, such as NESTING! Nesting is something the husband doesn't quite understand, but after a short argument he is slowly starting to understand and has agreed to help with some things around the house that I probably shouldn't do or can't do.  We will see how long it takes him to get them done...
On another note, I am feeling pretty good, can't believe how quickly time is flying by.  Miss Brooklyn is going to be here very soon and I am so excited to meet her.  I have signed up for Preparation for Childbirth class and a Newborn Care class.  All which will take place in October, which is hard to believe is next month!

Pregnancy Updates-Week 28 and Week 29

How Far Along: 29 weeks 5 days

Total Weight Gain: I actually got on the scale for the first time in a long time at home on Saturday at it said 149, which is what I was at the doctors almost 2 weeks ago.  I have been walking a lot since the weather has been so nice maybe that has helped me not to gain 2 pounds a week! I would say total weight gain through 29 weeks is about 24-25 pounds.  Doctor said a 35 pound weight gain is fine for me based on my pre-pregnancy weight.

Maternity Clothes: Yes! I can't wait to start wearing some of my fall maternity clothes.  I am tired of gym shorts, yoga pants and tank tops! 

Favorite Moment This Week: feeling Brooklyn move A LOT! She is very active.  And, getting some wall decorations for her room.  I am hoping I can have her room done by the 1st week in October.  That is my goal-we will see what happens....

Gender: Girl-Brooklyn Paige

Movement: I think she wants to run like her mommy wants to run.  She is always on the move, which I love! Food Cravings: Milk, orange juice, fruit

What I miss: running, sleeping on stomach, being able to do things quickly, such as putting on socks and tennis shoes.

Sleep: some nights are good, others are horrible.  Last night was great, 2 nights ago, horrible.  It has helped that I have been able to get out and walk because that makes my legs sore and tired and I always feel like I get a better nights sleep after I have had a good walk.

What I am looking forward to: Getting Brooklyn's room done and getting things done around the house!

Symptoms: Nothing out of the ordinary, just everything that comes with being 29 weeks pregnant.  My lower back is starting to hurt.  I think I will be making another appointment for a prenatal massage!

Belly Button: the thing is still half in and half out.  I am waiting for it to completely pop so that husband will stop making fun of it.  

Next Dr. Appointment: Tomorrow, Tuesday Sept 13 at 2pm.  Can't wait to hear little misses heartbeat!

Week 27

I am going to be adding a couple new highlights in the weekly pregnancy updates, the new ones are Belly Button and Next Doctor Appointment.  

Pregnancy Update-Week 27

How Far Along: 27 weeks 5 days

Total Weight Gain: Don't know-will find out this week...

Maternity Clothes: YES!

Favorite Moment This Week: "Bonding" time with Brooklyn

Gender: Girl-Brooklyn Paige

Movement: Yes! A lot-still so amazing to me! 

Food Cravings: mexican!

What I miss: being able to do simple things without feeling pain somewhere or fear that I am hurting the baby.  For some reason it hurts just to bend over and pick something up off the floor, it is a dull ache in the lower belly.

Sleep: Still waking up around 4am and can't fall back asleep until around 6am.

What I am looking forward to: My doctors appointment this week-this is the first time this pregnancy that I have gone a month without going to the doctor.  Since I am done getting ultrasounds every 2 weeks I haven't been since week 24.  But, after this appointment I will be back on the every 2 week schedule.  Even though I won't get to see Brooklyn on the ultrasound I will still get to hear her heartbeat and talk to the doctor, which will put my mind at ease.  I say I don't worry but there is always something in the back of my head that is worrying about my baby girl.  

Symptoms: Nothing much-being pregnant in general, is that a symptom?! Ha!

Belly Button: Looks very very weird, it is trying to pop out but it hasn't made it there yet, it is very odd looking and Ben makes fun of it daily.  I can't wait for it to just pop completely out!

Next Dr. Appointment: Wed Aug 31 at 3:30pm.  I will do the glucose test and also get a RHO-GAM shot.  My blood type is A- so since I am a negative I have to get this shot at 28 weeks and then again right after I deliver the baby. 

Week 27 pictures:

The weird belly button-I think part of the reason it looks weird is because I used to have it pierced back in the day and I still have a small hole at the top that is slowly filling in.  Belly buttons are so weird even when not pregnant! Ha!

I'm back...Weeks 25 and 26

I am back-can't believe it has been almost a month since I last blogged-oops! Sorry about that.  Time is flying by, I can't believe this pregnancy is going so quickly! I am playing catch-up with the pregnancy updates so I am grouping weeks 25 and 26 together, and since I have been so busy I forgot to take a week 25 pictures, which I am a little upset about, but there is nothing I can do about it now.  A lot didn't change from 25 weeks to 26 weeks, so here it goes...

Pregnancy Updates-Week 25 and Week 26

How Far Along: (as I am typing this I am 27 weeks 5 days) but the highlights are for 25 and 26 weeks

Total Weight Gain: I don't know-I don't weigh myself at home anymore and I haven't been to the doctor is a few weeks, but I will find out sooner than later...

Maternity Clothes: Yes.  I just bought some fall clothes that I am excited to start wearing, hopefully the weather cools down soon.

Favorite Moment This Week: Brooklyn has been very ACTIVE lately and she is most active around 10:30 when Ben and I are laying in bed, so we spend about 30 minutes each night 'bonding' with her.  Ben loves feeling her move and every time he feels her and looks at me with a big smile on his face, it brings a tear to my eye.  So sweet! I know he is going to be a great daddy!!

Gender: Girl-Brooklyn Paige

Movement: A LOT and I LOVE it!! Again, she is very active around 10:30-11pm each night but also in the early morning hours around 4-5am.  

Food Cravings: Nothing new, juice and waffles, and fruit! I feel like I have been eating a lot more lately, hope that's not a bad thing.

 What I miss: Sleeping through the night.  When I wake up to go to the bathroom around 4 I have been having a hard time going back to sleep.  Once 6am rolls around I am tired and fall back asleep, which isn't bad on days I don't have to work but it is brutal only getting about 5 hours of sleep some nights. 

Sleep: Read above-ha!

What I am looking forward to: continuing to decorate Brooklyn's nursery and getting everything prepared for her arrival.

Symptoms: Nothing-feeling great, but definitely feeling prego-I move a lot slower I feel like and I can't bend down to put socks on or tie my shoes, I have to sit on the bed or side of bathtub.

Again-I did not take a week 25 picture, but enjoy the 26 weeks pictures below:

Hottest Days EVER!

We all know that the weather here in good ol' Missouri has been absolutely miserable.  HOT, no rain, HOT, humid, did I mention HOT.  When I say HOT I don't mean 85 degrees, I mean 107 degrees.  The news last week said that it has not been 107 degrees in Kansas City since August 29th 1984, well folks, that was before I was born.  So, with the hottest week in Kansas City since 1984 behind us, I am going to recap what I did and what happened during that lovely week.

Saturday July 30 was my mom's birthday and it was also the day Kenny Chesney (my favorite country singer) was in town, playing at Arrowhead Stadium, the first concert there since George Strait and N'Sync performed (no-not together) in 2001.  Tickets for this concert went on sale way back when, I think back in September 2010-almost an entire year before the concert date-crazy! Obviously I wasn't pregnant then so I wanted to best seats we could get-which were on the field.  So, we got seats on the field.  That afternoon we went to 54th Street to eat a late lunch, early dinner.  The concert started at 4:30 with Uncle Cracker, blah-I did not care to see him, so we weren't in a hurry to get to the stadium.  We arrive at the stadium around 5:30 and go down to our seats on the field.  Oh my wast it hot! The sun was still up high enough it was shining on our seats, to say the least I was MISERABLE.  I have NEVER been so uncomfortable in my life.  I took in a few bottles of water and drank 3 bottles of water in 1 hour.  Yes, you guessed it-a pregnant lately drinking water that quickly means she needs a restroom quick. Well, guess what...those amazing, fantastic floor seats that I wanted so badly did not have restrooms on the field.  Yes, that means every time I needed to go potty I had to walk to the back of the field and climb the entire lower bowl of the stadium stairs just to reach a long line at the restroom.  AWFUL! At Chiefs games you don't have to wait in line at the restroom anymore since the nice renovation with larger restrooms, but when you are at a country concert there where 98% of the people are women, you have to wait.  Don't get me wrong-the concert was amazing, and Kenny was amazing.  We also saw Billy Currington and Zach Brown Band, who Ben and I have started to love. Once the sun went down and Kenny came on things started to get better, but it was still HOT! I had so many ladies come up to me and ask me if I was alright and tell me how brave I was for being out there and pregnant and how cute I was.  I didn't know a pregnant lady would get so much attention at a concert!!  One good thing about being pregnant was obviously I was not going to be consuming any alcoholic beverages.  A beer was a cheap $10.  Yes, $10 for a beer.  Of course, my husband took full advantage of having a pregnant wife who is his DD on weekends (payback are hell-right?!) and drank 12 beers at the concert.  Yes, your math is correct, that is $120 in beer for one person.  EXPENSIVE! I could have found 75329859329 other things to spend $120 on, such as our water bill this month which is $124.97, damn sprinkler system!! Anyway-moral of this post, is I love Kenny and his concerts, he put on a great show, and it was the hottest I ever been in my entire life!

me and my mommy (Brooklyn too!!)

my cute mommy at 54th Street with her free birthday cake!

AMAZING! We were right by where Kenny came out!

Can't get any better than that-Kenny in a Chiefs shirt-2 of my favorite things!

Me, Brooklyn, my sober husband and one of his $10 beers!

Second hottest day of my life: Wednesday I had my 24 week appointment at 1pm.  Ben took the afternoon off so we were sitting at home watching tv around 3:30 when I heard a funny rattling noise.  I asked Ben what that was, he didn't know, so on a search through the house we went.  Turns out it was something with the A/C unit-yes, air conditioning on the day after the hottest day of the year.  Great! So, we call a company and they tell us they will be here within 2 hours.  Not bad, right?!? Well, the guy gets here and looks downstairs at the unit and tells us the fan motor is shot-what?! We have lived here 2 years and something is already wrong with the unit?!?? He has to order the part and it will get overnight-ed by UPS and be here sometime between 10am-2pm on Thursday.  Ok-great! How much is this going to cost us? When he came upstairs and told us it was the fan motor I immediately got on the i-Pad and googled how much that was going to cost-what I found was $700+labor.  Great! I don't have that money just laying around, so Ben is downstairs talking with the repair man and I am doing everything I can not to break down and cry.  Ben comes back upstairs, the repair man leaves, Ben closes the door and all I said was "$700+"  He looked at me and said, "hunny, it's ok, the part is under warranty so all we have to pay for is labor" Ah, thank you Jesus!! Even though labor was $220.  O well, a lot better than $920.  So, I tell Ben there is no way we are going to be able to spend the night here because the temperature was already rising in the house and I was already starting to get uncomfortable.  So, we go and eat Chinese at our favorite neighborhood Chinese restaurant.  We usually get take out but I wasn't going to sit in my hot house eating.  Well, go figure, we walk in the restaurant and it is HOT in there-their a/c is either not working or they are trying to save money and not use it. Ben and I hurry and eat and get out of there, go back home, pack our bags and go to my dad's house to stay the night.  Thank goodness for family!!

So, yes, that is how I spent the hottest week in Kansas City since 1984, pregnant and all! Oh memories!!

Weeks 23 and 24

Again, I am playing catch-up.  I am going to combine weeks 23 and 24 into one update, there really isn't much change with me these days.  Even though I haven't been good at blogging, I have been doing a good job keeping up with my weekly pictures, so I am not a total slacker!

Pregnancy Updates-Weeks 23 and 24

How Far Along: Right now as I am typing this I am 24 weeks and 3 days

Total Weight Gain: Brace yourself----19 pounds! Disgusting and Embarrassing! To make the 19 pound shocker a little easier to swallow, I have been telling myself that I got on the scale at the doctors office about 20 minutes after Ben and I had lunch at Winsteads-so I had a fresh burger, fries and limeade chillin' in my stomach! 

Maternity Clothes: YES! After gaining 19 pounds maternity clothes are a must!

Favorite Moment This Week: getting to see Brooklyn via ultrasound one last time.  It was a very bittersweet kind of day.  I am glad that my cervix and placenta are doing great and there is no need for ultrasounds every 2 weeks anymore, but I am sad that I won't get to see our baby girl every 2 weeks.  We truly have been spoiled with getting these scans every 2 weeks.  Since my cervix has been 'proven' to hold a baby this long then with subsequent pregnancies I most likely will not have to get ultrasounds every 2 weeks, which is another sad thing.  But again, I have been spoiled!! Ben and I keep saying it will make delivery day so much more exciting since we haven't seen Brooklyn since week 24, which is so true.  Based on the ultrasound we are pretty certain that she has Ben's nose and my feet/toes! So, the rest of her is going to be a surprise for us! Can't wait!

Gender: Girl! Brooklyn Paige

Movement: A LOT, A LOT, A LOT! I love feeling my baby girl moving all around me-so sweet and still such an incredible miracle to me!

Food Cravings: Peanut Butter, Ego Waffles, Orange Juice, fruit

What I miss: Having a clear face (yes, again).  These past 2 weeks have been horrible with breakouts.  I thought things were starting to get better, but boy was I wrong.  And, of all places, it is my dang chin that has breakouts galore. It is awful.  I have not had time to go get a facial, and I don't think I am going to have time this week, so it is going to have to wait another week before I can get a facial.

Sleep: Well, last night was great-I got 12 hours of sleep! Ben couldn't believe I slept that long-but I feel like a new person today-what a great feeling! I have been sleeping pretty good for the most part (some nights are hit and miss), but overall sleep is good!

What I am looking forward to: Time to keep quickly passing! Every day Ben and I say "we want our little girl here NOW!"  We are becoming very impatient and I have a feeling it is only going to get worse.

Symptoms: NOTHING! I am getting used to being pregnant and I am loving the second trimester! 

Enjoy the pictures of my +19 pounds below...

Sneak Peak...

Before pictures with the room all cleared out:

closet doors

view from back corner of room looking into bathroom and out to the hallway

 

 Ben putting the crib together! He could not wait for my dad to come over and help so he did it himself, which wasn't hard, definitely not a 2 person job! Thanks for offering to help though, dad!

ALL DONE!!!!

 

The stroller and carseat make the room look more cramped than it already is but obviously those won't stay in there

Name sign to go above the crib!

Dresser/Hutch/Changing Table, and of course a Vera Bradley Diaper Bag!! 

Stay tuned for more updates on the nursery! The bedding comes tomorrow! Can't wait to make the crib!

22 weeks

As I am writing this I am 23 weeks pregnant today, so again, I am behind on weekly pregnancy updates.  I think it is so easy to get behind because there is not much change to talk about.  I have been doing good on keeping up with pictures, which shows pretty much the only change-I feel like I am getting huge-fast!

Pregnancy Updates-Week 22

How Far Along: 22 weeks, but as I am writing I am 23 weeks-oops!

Total Weight Gain: sore subject-at doctor appointment the scales said I gained 4 pounds in 2 weeks for a total of 15 pounds-oops!!

Maternity Clothes: Yes! I am wearing some of my 'regular' summer shorts that sit low on the waist

Favorite Moment This Week: Seeing Miss Brooklyn during the ultrasound.  She is still shy and modest-we tried to get a peak between the legs just to make sure she is still a girl and she was not showing!

Gender: GIRL

Movement: TONS and TONS and TONS! I love it! So amazing! My stomach is actually starting to move a little when I lift my shirt up you can see her moving around!

Food Cravings: still OJ, but a new one now-Rainbow Sherbert! I am eating a bowl of 4 scoops right now as I am blogging (maybe this is why I gained 4 pounds in 2 weeks...)

What I Miss: Being able to get out of bed quickly-I told Ben I think I am going to need to get a step stool for the side of my bed-our bed is pretty high and with me getting up 4 times a night to use the restroom it is hard work, I just don't move like I used to!

Sleep: Pretty good! I have been walking on the treadmill (I can't wait for the weather to cool down so I can walk outside) and I think walking daily helps me to sleep better at night.

What I am looking forward to: Decorating the nursery.  The crib is up and the bedding should be delivered tomorrow!! Yipee! I am so excited!

Symptoms: Nothing really-I feel pretty good!

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions....

When I was newly pregnant I started looking for nursery bedding and found exactly what I wanted if we were having a girl, boy bedding on the other hand was very difficult to find anything I liked.  Luckily, I don't have to worry about boy bedding, yet! So, when we found out we were having a girl I thought I would go ahead and buy the bedding from Land of Nod (Crate and Barrels baby store).  I always said that if we have a girl her room will be light pink and chocolate brown.  Well, I thought wrong and made the mistake of 'browsing' more online at girl crib bedding, so now I am confused on which one I should go with.  Back before I knew we were having a girl I found a bedding set I liked from Restoration Hardware Baby and Child, but never thought I would spend that much money on baby bedding, but I am coming to realize a couple of things:1-this is our first baby, I should be entitled to splurge just a bit and 2-our master bedroom bedding is from Restoration Hardware so why can't Brooklyn's be too?!?

I am going to post some links to the 3 bedding ensembles that I am debating between.  I would love all of the comments and opinions I can get! Things to keep in mind about the nursery: color scheme is light pink and chocolate brown AND the crib is espresso brown.  HELP!

http://www.landofnod.com/baby-crib-bedding/kids-bedding/with-a-flourish-crib-bedding/f5588

http://www.rhbabyandchild.com/catalog/category/products.jsp?link=CuddlePlushAndContrastDotGirlsAnd%252339%253BNurseryBedding&categoryId=rhbc_cat199045

http://www.potterybarnkids.com/products/scallop-nursery-bedding/?pkey=bgirls-nursery-bedding

All 3 are very different! The only thing about the Pottery Barn one is the majority of it is white-our house has beige walls and cream trim so I don't know how well that much white will go with the cream trim.

Any and all comments are appreciated! 

Week 21

This is going to be another short and sweet post-as I am writing this I am actually 22 weeks, so I am still playing catch up.  I am also too lazy to upload my 21 week picture, so that is going to have to wait too...

Pregnancy Updates-Week 21

How Far Along: 21 weeks

Total Weight Gain: 10-12 pounds

Maternity Clothes: yes

Favorite Moment This Week: Getting away for a long weekend to the Ozarks-much needed and very relaxing.  Also, everyday for the past week or so when I lay down on the couch Brooklyn is very very active and I just love holding my tummy and feeling her move from the inside and outside-such an incredible experience-it just reminds me that babies truly are miracles!

Gender: GIRL!! Ms. Brooklyn

Movement: TONS! Especially when I lay down on the couch and when I lay in my bed and get ready to sleep she always starts kicking me.  She likes to kick A LOT around 11pm and then again between 4-5am.  It is amazing how I am already picking up on her sleep/awake cycles.

Food Cravings: fruit, OJ, mexican

What I Miss: Being active-this heat is killing me-I just want to get outside and walk, the treadmill isn't doing it for me

Sleep: Hit or miss-some nights are great and others I just lay wide awake and can't sleep

What I am Looking Forward To: the nursery furniture being delivered

Symptoms: Nothing unusual.  I feel like I am starting to get tired again in the afternoons like I did early on in the pregnancy, but I think the heat might have something to do with my sleepiness. 

Sorry, no picture with this update.  I will post one later when I am not lazy!

*7/27/11-Finally uploading pictures-here is 21 week belly picture*

Why my blog has been neglected...

I have been a very busy person these past couple of weeks which is why my blog has been neglected...Where I have been/what I have been doing...

• ...shopping, shopping, shopping for little miss Brooklyn.  Lets just say the bank account has seen better days.  This little girl is already spoiled.  I have been a good shopper though, and only buying things that are on sale.  I have been buying summer clothes that are on sale for next summer, and our trip to Florida in April.  I think Brooklyn has her entire summer 2012 wardrobe!! It is a little sad looking at all of the clothes and thinking about all of the money I have spent and then realizing she won't be wearing any of it until next spring/summer.  O well! 
• ...working.  I have had a crazy work schedule it seems like these past couple of weeks, but I am loving spending time with my kiddos-just thinking about my last day with them brings tears to my eyes, that is going to be a hard day.  At least my 'last days' will be staggered depending on the family.  My Monday family kids are starting kindergarten on Aug 24th, so my last Monday will be Aug 22nd.  I can't believe I have been watching them since they were 2 and they will be 6 on Aug 1.  Crazy how the time flies! My Tues/Wed family last day will be sometime in September, this is going to be the hardest last day ever.  Max and Addi were my ring bearer and flower girl, so they already hold a special place in my heart.  Ok-enough talking about my 'last days'...
• ...Lake of the Ozarks.  We went to the lake for a long weekend: Thursday-Sunday.  It was so nice to get away and not worry about anything at home or anything baby related for a few days.  We had a great time.  Dr. Dunville (a Goetze client and my dad's good friend) invited my dad and step-mom and Ben and I down for the weekend.  Ben and I went down to the Ozarks Thursday night and the Dunvilles took us out to a nice dinner on the lake at The Duck.  Friday we were out on the water all day, then dad and Cheryl arrived and we went to dinner.  Saturday we were out on the water again and enjoyed a cookout at Dunvilles. Sunday we went to breakfast on the water then went on a long relaxing boat ride.  On our way home we stopped at the outlets and I got more clothes for Brooklyn.  I told Ben it is pretty bad when I spend all this money and don't get anything for myself.  Ben did get a couple of new shirts and a new hat.  I got nothing!

When it is all written out it doesn't look like I have been doing a lot or going a lot of places, but for some reason I just have not had much time at the end of the day(s).  I am 22 weeks pregnant tomorrow and still need to do a 21 week post.  Hopefully I can get caught up on that tomorrow.  Tonight is ladies night with the girls-so excited to see my girlfriends!! 

Playing Catch Up-Week 20

This may seem outdated, but I want to post it just for future references when I look back on my blog in several years.

Pregnancy Updates-Week 20

How Far Along: 20 weeks...half way there!! CRAZY!!

Total Weight Gain: um...?

Maternity Clothes: mostly, yes!

Favorite Moment This Week: Finding out we are having a GIRL!!

Gender: GIRL! Brooklyn Paige

Movement: Yes, A LOT! 

Food Cravings: Still the same-waffles, orange juice

What I miss: Sleeping comfortably.  I can not sleep without my pregnancy pillow!

Sleep: read above!

What I am looking forward to: decorating the nursery in pink and brown!

Symptoms: NONE! I am feeling great!

Sorry this post is short and sweet!! We could not be more excited to have a little girl joining our family.  I never imagined I would have a girl first, I always thought I would have a boy first and he would be the protective older brother, but now we are going to have a protective older sister for our other children.  I have heard that having the first born be a girl is amazing, because she generally is more mother-y and loving to her younger siblings! We can't wait to meet Brooklyn in November!!

Gender Reveal to our families

Thursday July 7th was an exciting, stressful, crazy, wonderful day.  I woke up to a nice thunder storm, which made it hard to get out of bed, but finally I got up, picked up the house a little bit, started some laundry.  My ultrasound appointment was at 1pm.  Ben and I were very certain that 'nugget' would cooperate and we would find out if 'nugget' is a he or a she.  We knew how we were going to reveal to our parents what 'nugget' was, so that morning I went to the store and bought some things to get the reveal process started.  I came home and I starting baking cupcakes (it was Ben's idea that I make the cupcakes before the appointment, which I am so glad he suggested I do that).  My last batch of cupcakes came out of the oven at 12:25pm and we left the house at 12:40pm to go to my appointment.  'Nugget' was not cooperating at first and I was beginning to get frustrated and mad that we might not find out what baby was.  We had already told Ben's mom that we would be in St. Joe around 6 to take her out for her birthday dinner and maybe have a little surprise for her.  While I was in the bathroom emptying my bladder I could hear Ben telling the ultrasound lady (don't know the proper title-sorry) that I was prepared to tell our parents that night what 'nugget' was and that I already had cupcakes baked waiting to be filled with either pink or blue.  I am so glad Ben was telling her this, because when I came back in the room she worked extra hard to get baby to move and look between the legs and we finally found out we were having a girl!! So excited!! Then, we had to go sit in the waiting room for about 30 minutes to wait and see my doctor, once we got back into the room we waited another 30 minutes before the doctor came in and saw us.  So, needless to say, I am SO glad I baked the cupcakes before hand because we got home and had less than an hour before we left our house to get the gender reveal show on the road.  Long story short ( I hope) we went to my dad's house and dropped off 3 cupcakes and a poem, headed to St. Joe to take Ben's mom out to dinner and give her a cupcake and poem, after dinner we drove to Parkville to see Ben's dad and step mom and give them cupcakes and a poem, then back to our house to wait for my mom to come over.  My mom and step mom were at the Royals game with their work (yes, my mom and step mom work together-crazy and weird-but, that's how my family rolls-ha!).  So, finally around 10:20pm my mom comes by and we give her a cupcake and poem.  I called my dad around 10 to ask if he had been tempted all night by the cupcakes (he was waiting until my step mom got home so they could eat them together).  I was sad Ben and I weren't able to be with my dad and step mom as they ate their cupcakes but there just wasn't enough time in the day to get to everyone and I wanted all of our parents to find out around the same time-so, thanks dad for understanding!
What the poem said that we gave each parent along with a cupcake:

In this cupcake holds the key,
To let you know what I will be.

Ten little fingers and ten little toes,
Boy or Girl...nobody knows.

If the middle is pink, a princess I will be,
If it is blue, a boy, cute as can be.

So come on Grandma and Grandpa take a bite,
And come November it will be love at first sight!

We had them read the poem first then bite into the cupcake! It was pretty cute!! Pictures below! ENJOY!!

Grandma Lisa opening the box with cupcake in it-she didn't know it was a cupcake until she opened the box, after she saw it was a cupcake we handed her the poem to read

Grandma Lisa reading the poem

Getting ready to take a bite...

Cupcake and poem waiting for my mom (Nana) at our house-this is what she saw when she walked in the door

Nana opening the cupcake...

We told her she had to take a big bite to get to the middle...

Grandma Lisa sent me this picture-she only ate half of her cupcake after dinner so she could show people the pink inside!

 

 

 

 I don't have any pictures of our dad's and step mom's reading their poems and eating their cupcakes, which I feel bad about, but again, it is hard to be 4 places in one night-I am just glad all 4 sets of grandparents found out in the same night!!