25 weeks

How I Look - A stranger at buybuy BABY told me that she couldn't even tell I was pregnant.  Of course my parents think my bump has gotten bigger since they've been here.  Go fig. 

How I Feel -  GREAT, except for the one day that my breathing was constricted by my too small undergarments.  This has been remedied.

Weight -   +8.5 lbs overall.  I had a Dr appointment on Thursday and the Dr said "Finally, your weight has jumped up."  The 'jump' word freaked me out a bit.  I was up 11 lbs but it seems I've lost a couple pounds since yesterday...

Symptoms -  Same as last week.  Just the normal crankiness when I start to get hungry or tired.

Cravings -  Still sweets.  Malek picked up Round Rock donuts this week and I ate 3 in one sitting!  :-/

Exercise -  Last time I worked out was Sat 12/25.  However I have been walking the dogs.

What I'm Looking Forward To -  Adding more items to the baby registries!   

What I'm Not Looking Forward To - At my Dr's visit yesterday they gave me the dreaded orange drink, for the glucose-screening test, to take home.  I have to drink it for my next appointment in 3 weeks!  ~gag~

Odds and Ends - This week my mom and I went to buybuy BABY and set up the registry!  I had entirely way too much fun going through all the items and adding them to the list.  I thought this would be tiresome, daunting and annoying, but actually I really enjoyed it.  I also set up registries at Sears and Babies R Us.  I've already received the diaper bag from my Great Aunt Deanie.  I'm also definitely noticing that I tire out fairly quickly and it's getting harder and harder to bend over or get up off low chairs/couches.

I can breathe!

It's been a long time coming, but I finally had to break down and buy some new bras.  Monday I was doing OK, but on Tuesday when I got dressed I was miserable.  I just couldn't take a breath!  So mom and I headed off to Walmart to purchase those 3-pack camisole/sports bras (no way was I gonna spend a lot of money on bras that I'd only wear for a short amount of time). 

Ahhhhh relief!  I felt so much better after putting one of them on.  I went up 2 sizes!!!  :-/  I hope they last for a while.  Now I'm a bit worried my normal bras will be all stretched out...luckily I have some VS gift cards from my bachelorette party to use towards some new lingerie (a few months after baby is born of course). 

Baby has a name!

We have decided on a name!  We've been trying it out for a few weeks at home just to make sure we liked it.  This week we decided to share the name with family and friends.  Good timing and all since it is the Holidays and my entire immediate family is here this Christmas.  The name of Baby Malek is (drum roll...):

Ryland Carter Malek!!!

The moment I heard/saw this name I fell in love.  Surprisingly enough Malek liked it too!  We finally had a name that we both agreed on.  I had a lot of criteria for the perfect name.  We wanted a name that was masculine, strong, could have a nickname (Ry, Rylie), professional, sounds attractive and wasn't popular (I couldn't even find a Christmas ornament with his name).  Ryland was the one!  The middle name, Carter, is a family name on my mom's side and (for me) met the criteria as well.  :D  Win-win situation!

24 weeks - Merry Christmas Eve!

How I Look - The baby bump is definitely noticeable.  However, my sister-in-law says I'm barely showing.  My parents think I look cute.  ;)  Malek said "Whoa...baby is poking out!"

How I Feel -  It's been a great week leading up to Christmas!  I did have a cold last week for about 3 days or so...I managed to get over that fairly quickly.  I'm loving having family around and being on vacation.
Weight -   +8.5 lbs overall

Symptoms -  None...just the normal crankiness when I start to get hungry.

Cravings -  Still sweets.  Since this is the week of Christmas we've been making all kinds of xmas cookies -  Murbchen, snickerdoodles and candy cane cookies!  I'm in heaven.

Exercise -  Went to the gym once (on Monday), walked the dog several times.  It's the holidays!  I plan on relaxing.  Probably won't work out again until Jan.  :D

What I'm Looking Forward To -  The crib and curtains arrived in the mail yesterday.  I'm looking forward to supervising watching Malek put it together and hang the curtains of course.  :D 

What I'm Not Looking Forward To - Soon I'll have to take that glucose test (the orange drink!)...I have a Dr appointment next week...wonder if that will be the day... 

Odds and Ends - Baby Malek is very active in the evenings.  So far he hasn't kept me awake at night, I'm sure that will change soon.  I did have a night of insomnia, I was awake from 3am-6am for no reason, that was no fun. 



Merry Christmas Eve!  24 weeks - 12/24/2010



23 weeks

How I Look - Pregnant!  We had a holiday work lunch this past Tuesday and my co-workers were like: One min she didn't look pregnant and the next she's really showing!  Ha!  I guess the last time they really saw me was a couple weeks before Thanksgiving..so it would be a noticeable change to them. 

How I Feel -  This week I got my first cold while pregnant.  SO. NOT. FUN.  It started Wed with a sore throat, then by Thurs I was coughing, runny nose, feeling run down, and last night trying to sleep was HORRIBLE!  I'm hoping today it will be over with. 

Weight -   +7 lbs overall

Symptoms - Wild mood swings...?  Occasionally I'm just in a bad mood and have no idea why.  I at least try to warn Malek when I'm irritated for no good reason so he can stay clear of me.  :P

Cravings -  Sweets are still in!  I made chocolate chip cookies this week so I had something sweet to snack on.  ;)

Exercise -  Only went to the gym once this week and I didn't walk the dogs.  But since I started getting sick on Wed, it's probably better I stayed low key anyways.

What I'm Looking Forward To -  Painting Evan and Emma's rooms today!  We'll paint the nursery a couple days later.

What I'm Not Looking Forward To - If this cold I have lasts past today.  :(  Wondering if I should go to the Dr for other meds?  All I can take OTC is Tylenol and Robitussin. 

Odds and Ends - Baby Malek was kicking up a storm this week!  It's very exciting.  A few weeks ago I was lucky if I thought I felt a little movement here or there, but this week for sure there was no denying it.  Baby was definitely moving around and Malek was even able to feel it!  And yesterday I organized the toy bookcase in the game room.  That was so much fun and turned out super cute!

Toy bookcase

I'm thrilled with the toy bookcase we bought for the game room.  Super cute!  Loving the elephant fabric drawer!  :D  The bookcase we bought off craigslist (it's IKEA), fabric drawers from Target, toys donated from friends, and in the upper left hand cubby is a blanket - the 1st item/gift I bought for our baby boy!



Toy bookcase - 12/16/2010



More exciting news!

Just found out today that my sister-in-law will be having a girl!  Congrats Mommy & Daddy Barney!  The cool thing is that our baby boy will have a girl cousin who is super close in age, only 3 weeks younger (she's due in May).  Baby Malek has 2 other cousins as well, Charlotte (1) and Margaret (2).  It's awesome that we all live in the same area so that our kids can play and grow up together.  :)

22 weeks



22 weeks - 12/10/2010

Christmas picture!  22 weeks - 12/10/2010

 

How I Look - People are finally saying that they can tell I am pregnant and showing!

How I Feel -  Still feeling great.  I am noticing that it's starting to feel a little uncomfortable when I bend over to pick things up.   

Weight -   +5 lbs overall

Symptoms - None really.  Unless you count being really cranky lately in the mornings.  I'm sure Malek does! 

Cravings -  Sweets are still in!  I've been eating Christmas cookies all week.  4 of my friends (+ myself) decided to do a cookie exchange, we each received a dozen different cookies from each person.  5 dozen cookies in the house!!!  Not sure if I'm craving them or just eating them because they are in front of me.  And on Tuesday I had an awesome cupcake from Red Robin.  Yummmm!

Exercise -  Elliptical and light arm weights 2x's this week...and several dog walks.  I even once walked both dogs by myself!  Not sure I'll do that alone again...

What I'm Looking Forward To -  Family coming into town for the holidays.  They finally get to see my baby bump in person!

What I'm Not Looking Forward To - I am not liking that I now wake up twice a night to go to the restroom.  Ugh!  And I miss sleeping on my stomach.

Odds and Ends - Time to be on the lookout for stretch marks and growing feet!  Yikes!  So far so good, haven't noticed anything yet.  Just in case I have been applying Burt's Bees lotion to my belly and I haven't noticed any swelling or changes with my feet.  Fingers crossed!  I've also had a couple people ask me when I was going to set up the baby registry...I was planning on tackling that in Jan.

Maternity Clothes

Ah maternity clothes, it's a love/hate relationship.  I start off the day thinking I look pretty darn cute and then by the end of the day, when I'm feeling exhausted and beaten down, I think I look just plain frumpy. 

I do love the stretchiness of the clothing, the elastic waistbands and some of the apparel is kinda cute.  There are some pregnant women out there when you see them you think, they are soooo adorable, that's a cute outfit!  However maternity clothing can also look like a sack (shirts with ruching are the way to go), are somewhat expensive for the short amount of time you wear them, and they are baggy.  I for one can not seem to keep my pants up!  The ones with the full panels just keep fall down, taking my underwear with them.  I have to hold them up as I walk around....not to mention they do NOTHING for my backside (hence the bagginess)!  How I miss my Seven jeans!!!  I'm sure by my 3rd trimester the pants will fit much better and stay in place, but then I'll have a whole new issue.  All the stuff I can wear now probably wont fit later!!  Vicious vicious cycle. 

21 weeks

How I Look - The same as last week, loving my cute little baby bump.  It does throw me off when I see my profile reflected in a window.  Is that really me??

How I Feel -  Still feeling great.  My back only becomes sore when I sit in very uncomfortable chairs (i.e. the hard plastic chairs you find in large team rooms at work). 

Weight -   +4.5 lbs overall

Symptoms - None really.  I do still need the humidifier at night for my nose.  And now that the holidays are upon us I really miss being able to drink!  No wine during all the festivities with family & friends is gonna be tough, especially since that's the time everyone indulges (specifically NYE!).

Cravings -  Don't think I had any this week.  Though I did eat a whole bag of pistachios!

Exercise -  Went to the gym for elliptical and lights weights 2x's this week...but only managed to walk the dogs once.  Bad Tina.

What I'm Looking Forward To -  Picking out bedding for the nursery.  I've only viewed them online, eventually I need to go to a baby store and see them in person! 

What I'm Not Looking Forward To - I read that I have to start watching out for varicose veins!  Ack!  To help prevent or minimize varicose veins I need to: exercise daily, prop up your feet and legs whenever possible, sleep on your left side, and wear maternity support hose.  I am so NOT wearing hose.  Guess I need to be better about my exercise.

Odds and Ends - I keep reading I should be sleeping on my left side, but mostly I sleep on my back or my right side.  And actually not many people have noticed my bump...besides my friends that know what's going on, no one has said anything.  Every time I go to Pluckers they look at me like I'm crazy when I don't order my usual Pluckers lemonade (alcohol).  Go figure.  And today while at the gym I asked the manager if there were any upcoming moms-in-motions classes and she was shocked that I'm 21 weeks.  She was like "where's your bump??"