Baby Love.

Here's our sweet baby and our Facebook announcement. Happiness.

 

This is Baby at 12 weeks 1 day. We got to hear the heartbeat and see all there was to see. No plumbing was mentioned. We won't find that out for another couple of moths. We're okay with that.

Here's the announcement we put on Facebook. It's hard to hang stockings without a place to hang stockings. Thank goodness for morning sickness getting in the way of me hanging ornaments. This came out perfectly!

 

That's all I have for now. Perhaps I'll take a 12 week picture today. I think a bump is forming. Who knows. You gotta start somewhere!

11 Weeks

Monday, December 23, 2013

Welcome to the last week of the first trimester. Apparently the sun will come out soon. I'm ready to start getting that pregnancy glow and ready to start feeling like a human again!

During week 11 Sweet Baby M has formed tooth buds, hair follicles, and nail beds. Fingers and toes aren't webbed anymore and although the skin is still see-through we're starting to look more and more like a baby! (The cutest one ever, by the way!) Apparently he or she is hopping around in there - news to me!

Here's the juice:

• How far along: 11
• Baby is the size of: a Lime. Baby is about 1.6 inches in length and .25 ounces.
• How I'm feeling: HUMAN! I have felt so good this week. Maybe that's because there was a table full of food in the teacher's work room this week as we celebrated 16 whole days off from work.
• Total weight gain/loss: +2. Holding strong at that +2. Which is surprising. I may have eaten 5 gigantic slices of pizza within a 15 minute time frame. Not one ounce of guilt. It was wonderful.  
• Maternity Clothes: Nope.  
• Morning Sickness: This week was a good week.
• Best moments this past week: 
• This week I was able to fully brush and floss my teeth with ease. This has been my least favorite task thus far and usually made me late every morning. Not a fun thing.
• Friday came. Friday brought Christmas Break.
• Did I mention that pizza I ate? That was the best 15 minutes of moments I had.
• Jason. <3
• Food cravings: Pizza. (Well for at least 15 minutes!) Salad. Specifically the salad with ginger dressing that they give you at the Japanese Steakhouses. If I could find one that is as good as the one they have at our fave restaurant I'd be set. I've tried. It's just not the same! :(
• Wedding Rings: On.
• Labor Signs: No Way!
• Movement: Nothing yet. Although I hear it's happening!
• Belly Button: In.
• What I miss: 
• Not a single thing. I am so happy right now.
• What we're looking forward to: 
• Tomorrow is our 12 week sonogram. We will get to see the baby and hopefully hear the heartbeat. We've invited our moms so they'll get to see too!
• Christmas Eve will also bring our Facebook announcement! I took the picture today and I can't wait to post it. I have had an idea of what I wanted to do - but couldn't figure out how to hang stockings without a place to hang stockings. Let me tell you - hanging stockings is a lot easier when you haven't put any ornaments on your tree!
• Weekly wisdom: 
• You won't always feel like yuck.

Next week will be full of fun! I hear 12 weeks is where it's at!

So long, 10 weeks!

Monday, December 16, 2013

10 weeks. Double High-5, friends!

During week 10, Sweet Baby M has working arm joints, and his or her cartilage and bones are forming. The vital organs are fully developed, and they're starting to function! We are starting to get fingernails and hair, too! Crazy, right!!??

Here's the juice:

• How far along: 10 weeks
• Baby is the size of: a prune. We're about 1.2 inches long and about .14 ounces in weight. I hear that the body length will almost double in the next 3 weeks! Watch out 2.4 inches - we're coming to get'cha!
• How I'm feeling: I'm starting to feel human again. I am going to stop taking the B-6 and see if I can manage without it. I can actually come home and do something besides crawl into bed and sleep the night away. I'm getting some energy back and I know everyone around me is thankful for that - here's lookin' at you, J!
• Total weight gain/loss: +2. I haven't gained anything since last week. That's surprising. I'm not kidding. 
• Maternity Clothes: Nope.  
• Morning Sickness: I'm hopeful. I've been feeling better, so we'll see!
• Best moments this past week: 
• The Beach Soccer tournament this weekend. Jason has a really great team and I love spending time with them. He's so happy in that element. I love to see him coach. 
• I bought the stockings for our Facebook/Text pregnancy announcement. I just can't figure out where to hang the stockings. We haven't ever had any up...
• Food cravings: Taco Bell 7-Layer burrito without beans and guacamole. (I may have been through the TB drive-thru three times this week!) Also, Double Cheese Pizza Lunchables. I am also eating a pre-dinner dinner. Yes that's 2 dinners in 1 night. As tired as I was before I'm now just hungry. I could eat all day. I did discover that pickles make me feel sick. Who knew that becoming pregnant would help me kick the pickles?!
• Wedding Rings: On.
• Labor Signs: No Way!
• Movement: Nothing yet. It's probably just gas. 
• Belly Button: In.
• What I miss: 
• Fresh clean breath. 
• Pickles. 
• What we're looking forward to: 
• This Saturday is the Boat Parade Party. This is one of my favorite events of the year. I love the people who host the party. I love that we get to go with Lukas and Kelly and eat some of my favorite foods. I love that the bar tender makes me Shirley Temples. I love everything about it!
• Friday at 3:00 starts my 16-day vacation. I. Can't. Wait.
• Weekly wisdom: 
• Sun Dresses at the beach are a great way to disguise "blump"!
• If you're grocery shopping and get thirsty, feel free to pop open the orange juice carton while sitting in your car in the parking lot and take a few gulps. The man getting into the car next to you won't stare for too long.
• Sometimes Christmas trees don't need ornaments. 

I have a good feeling about 11 weeks, friends. Can't wait!

Good news - not embarrassing crying stories from this week! I told you. Things are lookin' up around here!

9 Weeks: Done!

Monday, December 9, 2013

9 weeks, folks! Holy Toledo... we're getting so close to the 2nd trimester and I can't wait! I dream of having energy and making it throughout the day without any nausea... Hopefully that happens.

Baby M has officially started month 3! We've grown from an embryo to a FETUS! He or she is starting to look more like a baby and his or her heartbeat is getting nice and strong. Sweet Baby M.

How fun!

Here's the juice:

• How far along: 9 weeks
• Baby is the size of: a green olive. We're about .9 inches long and .07 ounces. 
• How I'm feeling: I'm getting better at being pregnant. I am loving my new gummy prenatals and they're easier to get down. B-6 is still my friend. I've figured out if I eat breakfast as soon as I wake up I won't be as sick in the morning. That's a big help. I try to snack throughout the day and have a lunch worth talking about. I'll grab a snack (or 2) after school and eat as much dinner as I can handle. I'm starting to get some energy back. The house is actually getting cleaned, you guys!
• Total weight gain/loss: +2. So it begins! 
• Maternity Clothes: Nope - although I can't button my work pants. This bloat is out of control. :(
• Sleep: Please and Thank you.  
• Morning Sickness: Stop it, please!
• Best moments this past week: 
• Telling Kelly and Karina. Telling people is fun!
• We spent Saturday morning at the beach. Yes. The beach - in December. Man I love Florida! 
• Food cravings: Cheap-o Popsicles. Love.
• Wedding Rings: On.
• Labor Signs: No Way!
• Movement: Nothing yet.
• Belly Button: In.
• What I miss: 
• Still brushing my teeth.
• After moving my classroom this week - I'm missing wine. Lots of wine. 
• What we're looking forward to: 
• Christmas Eve. That's when we'll have our 12 week appointment and make our announcement to the world.
• Christmas Break. 
• This weekend Jason's team is playing in a beach soccer tournament. I'm pretty excited about that. I could use a tan. 
• Decorating the Christmas Tree. We put it up - just haven't decorated it!
• Christmas Shopping. I LOVE buying things for people and thinking about how they'll react when they open them! 
• Weekly wisdom: 
• Go to sleep.
• Chocolate milk makes the world go 'round.
• When you're moving classrooms and need to carry big heavy things, it's smart to tell your boss that you're pregnant. You get lots more help.
• Pizza Hut delivers to schools. Pizza Hut makes long nights at work better.

Here comes 10 weeks, guys! That's 2 whole hands!

Oh yeah - I've been forgetting to tell you what I've been crying about. I've been trying to remember but it's hard. Maybe I'll keep a list?

• Jenny ran across the pond in Washington DC to see Forest.
• The blankets needed to be washed.
• Christmas trees are pretty.
• Pretzels are so good.
• So are popsicles.

Finished with 8 weeks!

Monday, December 2, 2013

Well happy December, friends!

We're done with 8 whole weeks! The baby is actually starting to look more like a baby than a shrimp and it's so fun to read online about all of the milestones we're hitting!

Baby M has taste buds! Probably why he or she is craving Chinese food. Introducing the good stuff early. My kinda kid. During week 8 Baby has tiny webbed fingers and toes. The little tadpole tail is starting to disappear. Good thing. We've got enough tails around this place.

How fun!

Here's the juice:

• How far along: 8 whole weeks, you guys!
• Baby is the size of: a raspberry. One of my favorites. He or she is weighing in not about about 0.04 oz! Slow down, kid. You're growing up too fast!
• How I'm feeling: (Prepare for some complaining!) First, let me start off by saying that I am SO thankful to be lucky enough to have these problems. But if I'm being honest - I'm so tired of feeling like poo. If I'm not eating I'm nauseated. After my first day back to work after the break, I'm pretty tired too. BUT - don't let that read "I hate being pregnant!" I have never been so happy to feel so badly. Totally worth it.
• Total weight gain/loss: Back to 0 thanks to Thanksgiving! Yum. 
• Maternity Clothes: Nope. I could go for 24/7 pajamas though. 
• Sleep: Not a problem.   
• Morning Sickness: I can't even talk about it. Ugh.
• Best moments this past week: 
• Lots of relaxing in pj's on the couch.
• Thanksgiving!
• We told our families. I need to get the videos up! They're way excited for us - tears were a'flowin'!
• Thanksgiving.
• Did I mention Thanksgiving?
• Last Tuesday we got to go to the doctor and talk about family history and all that fun stuff. They were nice enough to fit in an ultrasound and let Jason see the baby. He couldn't make out anything but the heartbeat but we were both pretty excited about that. Such a fun moment. 
• Food cravings: Chinese food. I could eat me some Vegetable Lo Mein for every meal every day of the week. Heaven.
• Wedding Rings: On.
• Labor Signs: No Way!
• Movement: Nothing yet.
• Belly Button: In.
• What I miss: 
• Thanksgiving Break.
• Brushing my teeth without incident. Don't get me wrong - I push through - but man it's torturous. We're talkin' need-to-give-myself-a-pep-talk-beforehand kinda thing.
• What we're looking forward to: 
• Christmas Eve. That's when we'll have our 12 week appointment and make our announcement to the world.
• Christmas Break. 
• Weekly wisdom: 
• Sometimes your prenatals make you sick. Take a few days to shop around. They make gummie prenatals. Hopefully those do the trick.
• Leftover Thanksgiving biscuits help with 3:30 am nausea. 
• Sometimes a Coca-Cola saves the day.
• Chinese food is King.

Well, we're headed into 9 weeks. Eventually I'll get motivated to take a picture with the chalkboard Jason made me. One day. 

At the end of 7 weeks...

Monday, November 25, 2013

Let's just take a minute to think about how this is Thanksgiving Week...


mmmmmm.......

• How far along: 7 whole weeks, you guys!
• Baby is the size of: a blueberry. One of my favorites. He or she is measuring at about 0.51 inches. He or she definitely has plenty of room in there!
• How I'm feeling: Thankful. Thankful for a week off to rest. Thankful for a week of to spend with Jason. Thankful for a week off where I don't have to pretend like I feel like a normal person. Thankful that we're announcing our pregnancy to family at their Thanksgiving Celebrations this week. Just plain thankful. There are so many yucky feelings I have going on right now and it would be SO easy to focus on that. These yucky feelings remind me of how lucky we are to have a healthy baby and how lucky we are to have been able to get pregnant on our first try. I really hope that baby stays healthy and we continue to receive good news from our doctor. 
• Total weight gain/loss: -2.5 pounds. You guys - the nausea  is going away (Thanks to the magic B-6 vitamin my Dr. told me to take!), however I still don't have much of an appetite. Don't worry. The holidays are upon us and I have no doubt that I'll be going back up in the next few days! 
• Maternity Clothes: Not yet. But I am starting to think about them. I am window shopping and looking online. I'm a planner.
• Sleep: My current favorite thing. It helps me push through nausea. Me and Sleep? We're kinda BFF right now.  
• Morning Sickness: I broke down and called my Dr about this one. I am trying REALLY hard not to be the stereotypical "First Time Mom" and freak out about everything I eat or drink. Obviously I'm staying away from the alcohol and (for now) the lunch meat - but if I want something, I eat it. If I'm craving a Coke, I have it. I couldn't take the nausea anymore so when the Dr suggested a B-6 vitamin I went for it. Thank the Lord for sweet relief! I have read about so many other moms who are against any drug at all - but, hey, if the Dr says it's okay and it helps me get back to my regularly scheduled programming - I'm all for it. So there.  
• Best moments this past week: 
• Can you say Thanksgiving Break?? 
• Also, Saturday we told Jason's mom's side of the family. I have been planning these pregnancy reveals for YEARS. I knew exactly how I wanted it to happen. It was perfect. I loved it. I had a hard time coming to terms with telling his side before my side - but I had to remind myself that this is about our sweet baby and it has nothing to do with who's told first. I'll be making a post with videos on Friday after my family has been told. :)
• Food cravings: Sour Patch Kids. They are currently sitting on the counter calling my name. (Hang on friends, I'll be there soon!) Chocolate - specifically the Quick that Jason makes for me when I have a grumbly tumbly. He's so sweet with me. <3
• Wedding Rings: On.
• Labor Signs: No Way!
• Movement: Nothing yet.
• Belly Button: In.
• What I miss: Not much. Maybe food still. It's just not the same. I have a severe aversion to anything greasy. We had McDonald's last night because the coupon made it seem like a good idea. I was regretting it as soon as they passed the bag through the window.  
• What we're looking forward to: 
• We have a doctor's appointment tomorrow. Jason will get to see the baby for the first time. I'm hoping to hear the heartbeat for the first time, although I know it might be too early for that.  
• I am over-the-moon excited about telling my family. Like I said, I have been planning this for quite a while. 
• Thanksgiving at my parent's house. I could cry... more on that in a minute. 
• Weekly wisdom: 
• B-6 is your friend. 
• If you think you love your husband before you get pregnant, you're in for a huge surprise once there's a baby growing inside you. He will rise to the occasion and do any and everything to make you happy. Jason has been SO amazing to me over the last couple of weeks. He is so understanding and so patient. I'm warning you.

Here's a new addition to the weekly updates and our current favorite game to play (ALL.DAY.LONG)

Why is Alicia crying now?

Lately I have cried for everything. It's like a joke now. Here's what's gotten me going over the last 24 hours (because that's as far back as I can remember right now!)

• Thanksgiving food is going to be so good.
• Jason's mom called last night and asked him how I was feeling. He said, "She's good. Relaxing on the couch."
• Jason looked so comfortable during his nap this afternoon.
• This one is probably the only acceptable one: A husband surprised his family yesterday at the Bucs/Lions game during halftime. I cried at the recap. Okay, I may have ugly-faced cried. Like, can't breathe, boo-hoo cry. Totally understandable - yet maybe a little over the top.
• Jason made me some Quick last night after I asked him.

That's all I have for now. I promise next week will be more ridiculous. 

At the end of 6 weeks...

Monday, November 18, 2013

Yep you read that right. 6 weeks. No I didn't miss a week - we had our due date changed! More on that later!

Here's the juicy stuff:

• How far along: 6 weeks. Holy cow. That went fast! 
• Baby is the size of: a sweet pea. You guys, this might be my favorite week of all. For my whole life my dad has called me Sweet Pea. I love it. He used to sing the song to me and it's one of my favorite things in the world. I considered making it my Father/Daughter dance song at our wedding but I decided it was more of a boyfriend/girlfriend song than a father/daughter song. Don't worry. The song we chose was perfect anyway. 
• How I'm feeling: Exhausted. Nauseated. Oh, the nausea. Oh, the exhaustion. I also kinda feel like a beagle. My sniffer is on high alert these days. 
• Total weight gain/loss: -1. I told you, folks. Nausea. 
• Maternity Clothes: Not yet. But I am considering just wearing pajama pants everywhere I go. Totally just kidding!
• Sleep: Yes, please. We went to Jacksonville for a coaching course training. While Jason was out goal-keepering (that's a thing) I slept ALL. DAY. I'm talking 7:45 in the morning until 6:30 in the evening when he got back. It was delightful. 
• Morning Sickness: I'm pretty sure the person who coined the term "Morning Sickness" was a man. There ain't nothing morning about it. Holy cow, you guys. My poor kids at school. One of them said, "Wow, Mrs. Montoya. You're eating a lot of those Pringles!" I sure am, kid. I sure am. 
• Best moments this past week: Where do I even begin?!
• Thursday I had my confirmation ultrasound. I saw the baby's heartbeat. I have never been so excited about a flickering light. I was so thankful that the Ultrasound Tech just let it show up on the screen until I had my fill. She was so patient with me and didn't rush me. She let me watch it for as long as I wanted. She measured the heartbeat and it was 112 bpm. She said that's perfect for how far along we are. You guys. It was amazing. 
• While I was hanging out with the ultrasound tech she measured Sweet Baby M. Initially we thought that I was 5 weeks and 6 days along (last Thursday) - but the baby measured in at 6 weeks and 3 days. That moved my due date from 7-11 to 7-7-14. Way cool dates, huh? So Sweet Baby M is due 7-7. We can't wait. (J/K - we totally have a whole bunch of stuff to do before he/she arrives. Grow, baby, grow!).
• When I told Jason that the baby was the size of a sweet-pea this week he said, "A sweet pea for Sweet pea!" I love him. 
• Food cravings: Anything with salt. I also HADTOHAVE a Coke Slurpee for dinner Saturday night. Not the healthiest choice - but at this point, I'll take what I can get. I think I over did it on the mac and cheese. I may have planned an entire meal around macaroni and cheese. Oh well. 
• Wedding Rings: On.
• Labor Signs: No Way!
• Movement: Nothing yet.
• Belly Button: In.
• What I miss: Food. 
• What we're looking forward to: Saturday we're going to tell Jason's mom's family. We decided when we got pregnant that we wanted to share the news with our families on Thanksgiving. We wanted everyone to be there and share in the excitement all at the same time. She's doing her Thanksgiving early this year so that's just the way it worked out. I can't believe someone else besides our Dr. is going to know. It has been so fun having this secret between just Jason and I. 
• Weekly wisdom: Eat whatever will go down. Pizza Hut will deliver straight to your hotel room door. That way you don't even have to change out of your pajamas when the pizza comes at 3 in the afternoon. The Sour Patch Kids in the hotel marketplace are probably stale. Yuck - yet still delicious. 

So there we are. 6 whole weeks. It's going by so fast. I'd like to make it my goal to put up a picture of the 6 week 3 day ultrasound... We'll see how that works out. :)

Here's some Sweet Pea just in case you were feeling the need for some happiness:

At the end of 4 weeks...

(Friday 11/8/13)

We're a whole hand pregnant, guys! High 5 to that! ;)

• How far along: 4 weeks.
• Baby is the size of: a poppyseed
• How I'm feeling: Exhausted. Who knew that such a tiny being could make all of this fuss. I have been super busy growing a human, guys. I need a nap.
• Total weight gain/loss: Since this is my first post: +1 pound. I'm pretty sure that's all bloat though.
• Maternity Clothes: Not yet. Phew!
• Sleep: I could sleep for a living, y'all. I was afraid to wear my sunglasses on the drive home from work this week because I was sure I'd fall asleep at the wheel.
• Morning Sickness: Not as bad this week as last week. I'm getting better at being pregnant. I make sure to bring my Cheerio's and snack on them throughout the morning. They're solving the problem for now.
• Best moments this past week: We had quite a few:
• We called it "The Baby's Room" for the first time. It was weird. For more than a year it's just been "The Green Room".
• Jason was such a great guy and he spray painted my picture frame chalk board for my upcoming weekly bump pictures. I don't have any pictures of this process because I was not allowed anywhere paint fumes and had to be approved to enter the garage between coats. So sweet. Since I don't have a bump yet and I'm not too into the idea of showcasing bloat, those posts will start in a few weeks!
• Best News of All: I got to see our sweet baby this week. Earlier in the week I had some sharp pains in my abdomen. I called the Dr. and they wanted to see me the next day to make sure implantation had occurred in the right spot. Good News: We're in the right spot. GPS/Navigation is in full effect. We're growing right along and I saw the sweet spec on the screen. Jason couldn't be there so I was so thankful that the Dr. printed me out a picture of our little nugget and he got to see the baby too! He actually could see what I was pointing to... although at first he thought it was a close-up of the baby's eye. Poor, J. He'll get there.
• Food cravings: Nothing. At. All. However, I could do without sweets. I passed up a bag of M&Ms this week and didn't even have to convince myself to do it. I could eat bread 24/7.
• Wedding Rings: On.
• Labor Signs: No Way!
• Movement: Nothing yet.
• Belly Button: In.
• What I miss: Energy. I wish I had the energy to explain. But I don't.
• What we're looking forward to: Next week the Dr. wants me to come back in. She's hoping to see the heartbeat. I'm pretty excited about that. We're both still looking forward to the 22nd. Then we'll both be able to see the baby. I'm pretty pumped for the weekend, too. I can't want to sleep all day.
• Weekly wisdom: When you have an emergency/surprise Drs. appointment to check on your baby, just tell your teammates you're going to the dentist. Totally works. Do yourself a favor and have no cavities when they ask you about it, too. Just because you can.

There's 5 weeks. Today Jason said, "5 weeks, huh? So what's that - like 35 weeks left?" He's great at math. Hope our baby gets his skills in that department!

At the end of 3 weeks...

I can't wait to share and keep track of all of the fun things that are happening to us. Each week during my pregnancy I'll post one of these surveys to keep you (and me) up-to-date on what's going on.

• How far along: 3 weeks.
• Baby is the size of: a poppy seed
• How I'm feeling: Over the Moon. Excited. Tired. Overwhelmed. Emotional. (Today I cried because Jason took both garbage cans down to the street and our deal was that we'd each take one. What a guy!) **Get it together, girl!
• Total weight gain/loss: Since this is my first post: 0 pounds. However, I have had a talk with myself. I want to keep reminding myself that as the scale creeps higher and higher it's okay. That means our sweet baby is growing bigger and stronger. Totally worth the extra inches.
• Maternity Clothes: Not yet. Phew!
• Sleep: Like a baby. :)
• Morning Sickness: Heck to the yes. I haven't actually gotten sick yet but I feel like it's possible 90% of the day. Basically - If I'm not eating I feel sick. Cool.
• Best moments this past week: Seeing those wonderful double pink lines. The look on Jason's face when I got to tell him he is a daddy!
• Food cravings: Nothing yet. However, I was in the grocery store this week and everything I saw made me want to be sick. I'm ready for that crap to stop happening.
• Wedding Rings: On. Love them
• Labor Signs: No Way!
• Movement: Nothing yet.
• Belly Button: In.
• What I miss: I miss coffee. I was ADDICTED, people. Seriously. I worried about how I would handle the situation once it came time to wean myself off. Surprisingly, I haven't craved it at all. In fact, both times I've made it since learning I am pregnant I had a very hard time finishing my cup. So good news there.
• What we're looking forward to: Everything. Telling our families. Our first Dr. appointment in Nov. 22. Seeing out baby. Hearing his/her little heartbeat. Growing a bump. What's not to look forward to??
• Weekly wisdom: Give yourself some time to let this whole pregnancy thing sink it. It's a big  freakin' deal. I love that I had a whole day of me being the only person in the world who knew. I took a few minutes during that day to just think about everything. Now that Jason knows I love that we're the only two people in the world who know. It's so fun to be with other people and have this special secret just for us. What a special time. I'm so thankful for such sweet moments.

Welp, there's my 4 week bump-date. Any weekly wisdom for us? We're new at this. :)

Two Little Lines

I never thought 2 little lines could make me so happy.
But, nevertheless, there they were.
As pink as pink could be.
Just like that. Our lives changed.

We know where babies come from - don't get us wrong. But at the beginning of this month, when we decided to start trying, we were prepared for months of disappointment. I don't think either of us - even for one second- thought, "This is gonna happen. This is gonna happen now."

Well here we are.

Pregnant.

And so in love with our little poppy seed already.

Oh, what a wonderful feeling.