20 Weeks Pregnant

How far along? 20 Weeks

Total weight gain: I'd really prefer not to say. I hit 137 this week. My doc said I'm doing great in this department and may find myself putting on more weight then others as I was so tiny to begin with. We'll go with that...

Maternity clothes? Still just using what I have!

Stretch marks? None yet

Sleep: Sleeping okay. The belly is definitely getting in the way now and I’m a stomach sleeper so it’s getting more difficult to get comfortable!

Best moment this week: Hearing the heartbeat again at our doctor’s appointment.

Miss anything? Having a Bailey’s at the Christmas parade.

Movement: Still nothing major and I’m getting antsy for that to happen!! I want my husband to be able to feel babe move.

Food Cravings: Nothing this week.

Anything making you queasy or sick? No

Have you started to show yet? Um ya, I think that goes without saying

Gender prediction: Boy still. I even had a dream about it!!

Labor signs: Nope!

Belly button in or out? It’s definitely getting shallow these days.

Wedding rings on or off? On!

Happy or moody most of the time: Happy!

Looking forward to: Everything holidays and Christmas. Which also gets me excited for Christmas next year when I will have a little babe to wear all those adorable Christmas sleepers and dressy outfits!

What a fun week we have had.  My parents were here over the weekend as well as my brother, his wife (who is also pregnant) and our niece. We all had a fun visit at a banquet and my mom and I had a great time putting up the remainder of my Christmas decorations.  As well, my parents came with us to an antiques and collectables show and I got some fabulous vintage ornaments! I’ve been picking them up at flea markets and stuff like that and I just love them so much. So much nicer and have so much more character then the newer, more modern ones! This weekend we will be trekking out into the bush to pick out a Christmas tree and I just can’t wait for that. Also we will be hitting up the Santa parade and doing some fun gingerbread house decorating with some good friends. I just LOVE this time of year. There are so many fun, festive things to do with friends and family and I can’t wait to share that all with our babe next year!

19 Weeks Pregnant

How far along? 19 Weeks

Total weight gain: I will find out at my doctors appointment on Wednesday.

Maternity clothes? I went shopping this weekend. I just bought a size or two up in jeans and I am still the same size in tops I just made sure to buy things that were super stretchy! It was nice to buy things that fit properly (the jeans) and that made me feel good about my new body.

Stretch marks? Nope, not yet anyway.

Sleep: Still sleeping well.

Miss anything? I'm not really missing anything this week! (except maybe NHL hockey but that has nothing to do with my pregnancy!)

Movement: I’m still just feeling a few little wiggly movements in there.

Food Cravings: Sweets, big time this week.

Anything making you queasy or sick? Nothing really.

Have you started to show yet? Oh yes.

Gender prediction: Boy for sure!

Labor signs:  No

Belly button in or out? In

Wedding rings on or off? On

Happy or moody most of the time: Happy!

Best moment this week? We got to have or next ultrasound and it was so amazing to see how much baby had changed in the short time since our last one. It was so great and heartwarming to see the little one on the screen and see (and hear!) that little heart beating away! Definitely an amazing moment for both my husband and I.

Looking forward to? My next doctors appointment next week to see how much bigger I've gotten! Oh and getting the rest of my Christmas decorating done!

This week was a great week. First of all, it was my birthday and we got to have an ultrasound that day! I got spoiled and had an amazing birthday. Also, my husband put up our Christmas lights and I got a bunch of our Christmas decorations up which just gets me so pumped for the season! I LOVE this time of year!! I was busy drinking tea, listening to Christmas music, and wrapping gifts today and just generally getting myself excited out of my mind that Christmas is coming. I've got lots of Christmassy things planned with friends and family over the next few weekends and I'm just so looking forward to it all!!

Teaching Your Children About Marriage

As my husband and I embark on the wonderful journey of parenthood, I feel like our marriage is stronger than ever. I am so lucky to have such a sweet, amazing man to share my life with.  Growing up, I watched my parents marriage and felt that one day that is exactly what I wanted.  Despite being totally grossed out when they kissed and held hands in public I must say that in my own marriage these are things I cherish and I am glad that my parents had such a great example for me to look up to. If the fact that my husband kisses me or hugs me in public makes anyone uncomfortable (including my children!) then I say tough and that maybe you should try it!  As a child I was told to expect nothing but the best from a partner and I should set this example as well. No one is perfect but you must be the perfect person for your partner. Despite my raging, crazy pregnancy hormones my husband manages to be the best man he can be for me and I am so blessed that he is so understanding and caring. I have come up with a few things to show your children what a marriage should be like.

1. Respect your husband. Always.

2. Never argue in front of your children.  Even if you disagree with something he has said or done, save that conversation for later when you are alone. Always back him up in front of your children.

3. Never ever (this is a no brainer!) talk badly about your husband in front of your children or anyone for that matter. This will give your children the idea that it is okay to speak badly about their spouse in the future. Always have positive words about your husband.

4. Show physical displays of affection to your husband in front of your children. Hold hands, hug, kiss, show your children that you love each other and they will replicate this with their spouse in the future. They'll be grossed out but it provides an excellent example for the future.

5. Be the example of compromise. Always come to a mutual agreement and this will show your children that you are a united front working together.

6.  Have fun with your husband. Laugh and have a good time.  This will show your children that this is what marriage is truly all about: happiness.

Marriage is work. It's not always going to be easy but it should always be filled with love and understanding. I am a lucky woman to have had such amazing parents with an equally amazing marriage that I can use as an example in my own.  I am equally lucky to have my husband who (despite the cliche) makes me a better version of myself! I cherish my husband and my marriage and I never forget to tell him just how lucky I am to have him. I'll leave you with a photo of my husband and I last summer. Lets hope I get that body back after the baby is born!! I love you babe.

18 Week Pregnant

How far along? 18 Weeks

Total weight gain: Hopefully 10 lbs only still.  I don’t have a scale in my house so I won’t know until my next doctor’s appointment.

Maternity clothes? I have one pair of jeans that still button but the rest of my jeans and dress pants I wear undone with the belly band overtop. Still okay with my own tops though but I definitely look like I’m smuggling a small basketball under my shirt.

Stretch marks? Nope!

Sleep: Still sleeping well.

Miss anything? Well my mother in law is making me a dress to wear to Christmas parties and I miss being able to wear anything! I wanted a form fitting dress with a cute little peplum (I have a blue one that is adorable and I wanted a black one) but that just wouldn’t look attractive right now.

Movement: I’m still just feeling a few little wiggly movements in there.

Food Cravings: I am back into loving the chocolate ice cream.

Anything making you queasy or sick? Still don’t want to eat ground beef for some reason!

Have you started to show yet? Definitely

Gender prediction: Still think boy

Labor signs:  No

Belly button in or out? In

Wedding rings on or off? On

Happy or moody most of the time: Happy!

Looking forward to: My next ultrasound on my birthday!!

17 Weeks

How far along? 17 weeks

Total weight gain:  10 lbs. up 4lbs in the past 4 weeks. Now weighing in at 130lbs (eek!) up from 120lbs to begin with.

Maternity clothes? No, just surviving on leggings, the belly band and cute belts.

Stretch marks? No

Sleep: I was sick this week but despite that, and the constant peeing, I am sleeping okay. Although still getting used to not sleeping on my back.

Best moment this week: Hearing the heartbeat again when we went for my check-up. It was SO loud and easy for the doctor to find this week which was really cool.

Miss anything? My bikini body? Just kidding!

Movement: Feeling some “fishy” movements here and there.

Food Cravings: Mandarin Oranges

Anything making you queasy or sick? Still not eating ground beef

Have you started to show yet? Yes I think I am officially showing now. I had a student ask me if I was pregnant this week. He was nervous I was going to say no! I should have said no just to be funny hahaha. Either way, I am embracing my belly now as I feel I now look pregnant and not just chunky!

Gender prediction: Still boy

Labor signs: No.

Belly button in or out? In. Going to have to take my belly button ring out at some point though!

Wedding rings on or off? On

Happy or moody most of the time: I had my first weepy pregnancy moment this week when I realized how big my belly was! Hello hormones!! To my husband’s credit he was very understanding and is ALWAYS telling me how beautiful I look which is reassuring as I get bigger. I think I scared even myself though as I have never been the girl who thinks she looks fat in anything!

Looking forward to: Our next ultrasound and starting to pick out nursery things! I got a giant giraffe to match my giraffe lamp that I had as a baby. Both are just adorable!

I had the stomach flu this week. Let me just say…YUCK. It was horrible. No more horrible than having it when I was not pregnant but horrible nonetheless. After disinfecting everything I am hoping that hubby dearest does not catch it (see my blog post a while back on the man cold…could you imagine a full blown man-flu!?). Regardless, despite being tired and still no appetite I am on the mend thank goodness. This week we got to go to our monthly check up and everything seems to be going smoothly! Hearing baby’s heartbeat is always so reassuring not to mention pretty amazing as, despite the belly, I sometimes forget I am even pregnant! We are definitely looking forward to our next ultrasound which should be in the next month or so. Oh, and we got a new due date based on our dating ultrasound. Our new due date is April 9^th which is about a week behind what the doc originally thought (but what I already knew) hence why there has been a two week wait for this blog post as my body was catching up!

Yummy!!

So I realized that I haven't posted a recipe in what seems like ages. Which is funny really because I have been STARVING since about the 7th week of my pregnancy. Like seriously, will eat anything in sight.  And since I am the regular dinner maker in my house I get to make whatever I want.  I just made a YUM recipe that I found on Pinterest. Probably not that good for you, but yummy none the less. So here it is (and it's super easy too, I promise!).

Chedder Bacon Ranch Chicken Penne (long name!)

1 pound Penne pasta

6 strips of bacon, diced

1 tablespoon butter

2 boneless skinless chicken breast halves, cut into bite-size pieces

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 packet ranch dressing mix

2 cups milk

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Salt and pepper to taste

1. Cook pasta according to package directions in boiling salted water; drain, return to pot, and keep warm.

2. Meanwhile, cook bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until crisp. Drain on paper towels. Drain all but one tablespoon of bacon drippings from the pan.

3. Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Add the butter to the reserved bacon drippings, then add the chicken to the same skillet. Cook until tender, no longer pink, and slightly browned.

4. Sprinkle the flour and ranch dressing mix over the chicken, stirring to coat evenly. Stir in the milk, and cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened and bubbly. Stir in the cheddar cheese and half of the reserved bacon; cook and stir until the cheese is melted. Taste for seasoning and adjust as needed.

5.Toss the chicken and sauce with your pasta and serve with the reserved bacon on top. To be honest, I just put all the bacon in with the chicken and didn't bother with any on top.

16 Weeks Pregnant

How far along? 16 Weeks

Total weight gain:  I will find out at the doctors next week as I don’t have a scale in my house. I hope not too much!

Maternity clothes? Still making due with my own clothes. I did go and try on maternity tops on the weekend (the pants are WAY to short so they just aren’t going to happen). What a disappointing experience. EVERYTHING was giant, even if I had a big belly! Even the size xxs. So I guess I’ll have to survive on my own clothes.

Stretch marks? None yet

Sleep: Still getting up to pee and have a glass of water 2-3 times a night.

Miss anything? As my hubby sat down with a frosty glass of Stella to watch the Packers/Texans game with me I was supremely jealous.

Movement: Just some flutters here and there but nothing major.

Food Cravings: Chocolate ice cream with waffle cones.

Anything making you queasy or sick? Just red meat still

Have you started to show yet? Just a little belly (which gets so bloated and huge by the end of the day) but nothing that screams pregnant lady. Which is unfortunate, because I just feel like I look fat.

Gender prediction: Boy still

Labor signs: None

Belly button in or out? In. And I’m curious as to when this really happens for everyone?!

Wedding rings on or off?  On

Happy or moody most of the time: Soooo happy.

Looking forward to: My 18 week doctors appointment, feeling some more movement, and getting a bigger belly.

Oh and PS my amazing husband decided to get in on the chalkboard action this week! Didn't he do an awesome job?!