nineteen weeks

 

I have had every intention to start doing weekly photos and updates of the baby bump...but things have been a bit busy around here with getting things done for our new house!

I'll try to do at least every other week now. And I want to keep good record of these events too, it's such exciting stuff! 

From what my apps say, baby is around 6 inches, around the size of a mango/zucchini. Don't you just love the fruit comparisons? I find them interesting and entertaining to see what they come up with next.

My appetite hasn't increased (from it's already increased state) nor decreased so I'm trying to feed this baby good (eating 6 times a day) and as you can tell the bump has gotten bigger (and some other things up top and little below the belly keep getting bigger if you know what I mean and I am like, 'ookkkaayy, I have about 4/5 months left and can only imagine how much more they might grow-YIKES'!!!! Sorry if that's TMI, but for real?!)!!!! Twice this week strangers have said I have a cute bump and get all excited for us. At first it took me off guard because I know I have a baby growing in there, but on some days I still feel like I could just look really bloated/chubby-depending on what I'm wearing (and some people, after I tell them I am pregnant, say, 'Ok, I wasn't sure so I didn't want to say/ask). But of course I love the excitement and compliments from whoever! I've been able to make most of my clothes work and haven't bought any bigger clothes or maternity clothes. My sister in laws did give some of theirs, so I think I'll be able to hold back buying some of my own for awhile anyways. When I do feel the desire/need to get some I'm going to try to find pieces that I'll be able to wear post pregnancy-spending money on maternity stuff just gets me because even if we do have another baby they won't be worn a ton. Although I hear getting maternity pants is one thing I will probably want and I'm sure I'll grow out of mine with my growing mid section. We shall see how I feel down the road, but that's my thinking at the moment.

Last week one of Steven's coworkers gave us some gender neutral baby gear which was so sweet! We personally haven't bought any baby stuff and I feel the urge every time we pass anything baby. BUT on the 30th we have our BIG ultrasound and hopefully baby cooperates and we will find out the GENDER!!!!!!!! Can you tell I'm ready for it?!?! Steven is really looking forward to it, too and I love it when he shares his excitement and gives the bump some love. Thinking about the day(s) I will see him giving our newborn love overflows my heart even more and makes me get choked up (like as I write this).  So after we find out the gender there will definitely be some purchases made...though I'll try to not go too crazy ; ).

We are loving this time and look forward to sharing more with you along the way!

 

We are HOME OWNERS!

This week we became home owners! YAAAY!

Knowing this will be the home we make into our own and bring our children to brings us such joy! I love picturing our babies in their future rooms, crawling on our living room floor, learning to walk all around, probably making their own artwork on the walls : / playing in the backyard and so much more. (and I know I'm slacking on the baby bump photos...I'm working on it and stay tuned for one sooner than later.)

We have touches and upgrades to make and we have already begun the steps for some. It has some great potential to be even better than it is and we will be doing some improvements along the way!

Wednesday events

Yesterday was a beautiful day that Steven and I spent together, just the two of us. It started with a leisurely morning and then mid morning hike. We have been hiking somewhere new each time and I am enjoying the new surroundings. However, after we were on this certain path for a little Steven was leading a couple feet ahead of me and...I keep a very good eye on the path...not just because I'm graceful, but there are some bugs, insects, etc I want to be aware of and it's a good thing I do because...right by Steven's foot there was about a foot and half long SNAKE!!!! I of course scream/jump and Steven looks down and sees the snake slither through his feet and across the path to the other side, into the bushes. He laughed at me and thought I had been attacked by something, but no, just that I SAW a snake close by. If you couldn't tell I'm terrified of snakes. They are one thing I was dreading coming across after we moved here (Alaska supposedly doesn't have any...and I never saw one the whole 6 years I was there...thank goodness). And just my luck I have seen 2 snakes already within the month we've been here. On one of the first hikes I went on when I got here, it was just my girlfriend and I and we brought up snakes. She was glad to hear I was just as afraid of snakes as she is because she said she would feel bad running away from a snake while leaving me, the pregnant lady, behind. But I reassured her I'd be right there with her screaming AND running. Ugh, I need to get over my fear one these days.

Well, other than the snake occurrence on the hike it was beautiful and peaceful. Then close to where we hiked is an area called Hyde Park, with some cute shops, cafes and restaurants. So we ate lunch at one place, walked to a toy store called G. Willikers (cleaver name I must say) and then a candy/ice cream place called Goody's. Oh so yummy it was! We will definitely be making that a regular stop.

Then home we went. We cleaned up and laid down with a book and ended up falling asleep for like 2 hours. The evening came and we stopped by our church's youth event called Chocolate Syrup Slip n' Slim. It's crazy fun for all of them. They recreate the Nickelodeon green slim on one tarp slide. Then on the bottom of another they do chocolate syrup. They spray the slides with water and the kids just keep going down them into either the slim or the chocolate pools at the bottom. It's a great way for youth to see church can be fun and makes kids want to come back for more.

It was a great day, like many. Steven only works 3 days a week and the other 4 is quite enjoyed by us doing things just the two of us or with friends!

16 weeks

This week marks 16 and I am still doing good. Baby is the size of an avocado (4-5 inches long and 3-5 oz). I have a little pooch that you most likely noticed in my 15 week post and I am still sporting it now. If you didn't know me and were just looking at me you might think I ate a bit too much and/or was just bloated, but it is definitely a hard little belly. My energy level has increased and we try to go on walks and hikes often, though the gym has only seen me once since we've moved. I do get a nap in about once a day and boy are those nice! Plus, with not working I have tons of time to do whatever I want or need to do. Eating often and much is still high on my priority list, ha, and will probably continue to be as such. I need to eat every 2-3 hours, which was how I was before I got pregnant, but now the hunger comes on stronger and faster. Thankfully I'm gaining weight as I should and it's not getting out of control with all my eating!

Today I had an OB appointment and I am happy with the office I chose. Everything went great, talked through a bunch of stuff again. Had another doppler and ultrasound! Baby's heartbeat is still going strong at 155 bpm and is a mover (from what the NP and technician said)! I'm not feeling it yet, but hopefully in a few weeks I will! At one point it was sucking its thumb and then was waving its whole arm a few times-that was cool! The ultrasound technician tried to see if she could take a guess on the gender and at the moment they are guessing GIRL, but at my next appointment they will scan again and will have a better prediction (if the baby cooperates of course)!

Here's a profile shot!

15 weeks

This week makes 15 and baby is the size of a navel orange (4.5in, 2-3oz)! I'm feeling good, finally kicked that nasty cold which was around for awhile! I am craving lots and pretty much all junk unfortunately (soda, cherry limeades from Sonic, Chinese food, fries, candy, ice cream, etc). So I am trying to keep myself in check and not get carried away. Steven does a good job at giving me the look when I say I'm craving something I shouldn't, ha. But he has also been nice and lets me indulge here and there. Plus my motivation to work out has gone down the drain and that's not a great combination when all I want is junk-so I'm working on that.

I think I finally found a Dr. here and have my appointment next week! It includes an ultrasound and I am quite excited to see our little babe again! Then at the appointment after that we will have the big scan where we find out the sex! We have no inclination yet as to whether it's a boy or a girl, however several people think it's a girl, we shall see!

Anniversary #6

Saturday was Steven and I's 6 year wedding anniversary! It was a wonderful day shared with some friends, too. The day started with us going to the Capital City Public Market, Downtown Boise. There were blocks and blocks of vendors with fresh produce, pottery, artwork, drinks, etc. I wanted to eat and drink pretty much all the food and beverages...no one would guess I was pregnant, ha.

Then we met up with some friends to float the river. The temperature was perfect and we had an eight person raft that was round with a hole in the middle like a donut with a backrest on it. It was awesome! I wanted to take a picture of it, but of course forgot the camera (one of these days I will get better at capturing more moments and taking good quality ones, too). Floating was quite the adventure, because guiding such a huge circle raft isn't that easy, but it made for some great laughter and good memories!

For the evening Steven and I went out to dinner to Old Chicago, then dessert at The Melting Pot (one of our favorite places). We ate waaayy too much and I joked with Steven that I had two babies now, one real baby with the addition of a food baby. After all that, we headed to Wahooz Family Fun Center for miniature golf. The Melting Pot and miniature golf here is special to us because it is where we had our first date seven and a half years ago! I thought it would be fun to kind of recreate that day and it definitely made our anniversary extra special.

I love the moments Steven and I have experienced together, the memories we have made and all the ones we will make. There are many times when I think, how did I get so lucky with a guy like my husband. God has blessed me tremendously and I pray that I will always be a blessing back to Steven, being molded into the wife He wants me to be. Here's to 6 years of marriage and hopefully 60 more!

Every year we take a picture with the number representing the year we are on for our anniversary. This year it was hole number 6 on the miniature golf course we went to! 

Whirlwind

My goodness these last few weeks have been quite the experience for Steven and I!

As most of you know Steven got offered a job in Idaho and we accepted. The thing about accepting was we had 3 weeks to move. We did sign up for that, but living it was interesting. We both worked those 3 weeks and needed to sell things, pack things and spend time with people we wouldn't see for awhile...it was busy. Plus during the last week we were there I got a nasty cold that is still holding on.

 

Everything we needed to do went surprisingly well and we have been super grateful. We have such a great support system in Alaska that was hard to leave. Our co-workers gave us some touching goodbye parties/gifts. And our family put on a party that was Hawaiian themed because Hawaii is where I actually first met the majority of them. That evening definitely touched me and made me cry several times throughout that night, because it would be one of the last times we see them for a bit. I will say I wore waterproof mascara everyday those last 3 weeks. 

We have been in Idaho for almost a week and it has been eventful as well. This first week we get to house sit for some friends and then we get to stay with some other friends for a little. We have some generous and wonderful friends here. 

Before we moved here we started the house hunt process with a realtor and on the second day here we actually got together with her and looked at the houses we were interested in. It was fun to do that for the first time, trying to find the house we would grow our family in. We are in the process of pursuing one in particular and we are looking forward to how it will play out! 

The weather has been wonderful here! Alaska was having the rainiest summer they have had in years and we were really looking forward to being somewhere there was a guaranteed summer! We've gone on walks, a hike, runs, bike rides and will be floating the river soon!

Our family goodbye party

 Steven with one of our adorable nieces Finley

This is our WHOLE family in Alaska, some amazing people!

 A welcome back card and gifts we received from our Boise friends

 Disc golf...a fav of Steven's

awesome downtown fountain 

Hi 

 our new car!