40 Weeks

My "official" due date was February 6. I'm glad I didn't go that far, and we have our little 2 week old!

How far along? 2 weeks postpartum

Total weight gain/loss: I was up a total of 35-40 pounds by my last appointment. I am down 20 after birth
Maternity clothes? Yes still using the pants and tanks.
Stretch marks? 2 spots on either side of my belly button
Sleep: Up every 2-3 hours to pump or feed. Josh has been incredibly helpful in this field!
Best moment this week: Taking his "newborn" pictures for announcement cards. (I did them myself) 

Have you told family and friends: Yes
Miss Anything?  Sleep!!
Movement: Well yes, he's a mover and a shaker
Food cravings: I have had more cravings and aversions after pregnancy than I ever had while pregnant. Coffee is not real friendly anymore, but a bowl of cereal is my jam!!
Anything making you queasy or sick: Coffee
Have you started to show yet: I'm really surprised how fast my "belly" is going away, I am also wearing a postpartum belly band to help 
Belly Button in or out? In and slowly getting back to normal, it's still super "stretched" 
Wedding rings on or off? Off, still wearing my "fake" one. I keep trying my real band often, but so far no dice.
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy he is here!
Looking forward to: Finishing his nursery (post coming soon on that) and driving myself!!! 

32 Weeks

No photo for this update. 

Those chalkboards take up more time that you think. 

Major props to the people that do them every week!

How far along? 32 Weeks

Total weight gain/loss: 20+/-
Maternity clothes? Yes.
Stretch marks? ::knock on wood:: still looking good
Sleep: Getting elusive; my night sleeping is restless, constantly tossing and turning and getting up to pee.
Best moment this week: Being told by the OB they won't let me go past 40 weeks at all.

Have you told family and friends: Yes
Miss Anything?  Sitting comfortably 
Movement: Yes! All over the place. Felt the hiccups the other day.
Food cravings: Nothing major. 
Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope
Have you started to show yet: Yes! I feel gi-normous! 
Labor Signs: No
Belly Button in or out? In, but it's basically flat. Josh said it looked like a butt-hole.
Wedding rings on or off? On, but they are much much harder to get off
Happy or Moody most of the time: Still moody most of the time, but happier because there is light at the end of the tunnel
Looking forward to: The next few OB appointments, we may be talking induction dates!

Our baby shower was amazing! We had such a great time and can't thank everyone that came out to celebrate. We are overwhelmingly grateful for everyone's generosity and the great gifts we received. The nursery has really started to come together. Can't wait to have the nursery tour reveal soon.

30 Weeks- Happy Thanksgiving

How far along? 30 Weeks

Total weight gain/loss: 17-ish + Thanksgiving meal
Maternity clothes? Yes.
Stretch marks? I think we are still good
Sleep: Decent at night, waking up at least twice with full bladder
Best moment this week: Seeing a lot of family since the wedding, and actually getting to spend some time with them.

Have you told family and friends: Yes
Miss Anything?  Still beer and/or alcohol 
Movement: Yes! All over the place. 
Food cravings: Nothing major. Wanted sushi the other day, but it passed
Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope
Have you started to show yet: Yes! I feel gi-normous! 
Labor Signs: No
Belly Button in or out? In, but I can feel it getting "flatter"
Wedding rings on or off? On, but they are much much harder to get off
Happy or Moody most of the time: Moody and cranky swings, but getting a little happier, because there is light at then end of the tunnel.
Looking forward to: My (OUR) baby shower! And getting ready for our FIRST Christmas in the new house, and out LAST Christmas as a family of 2 (well 6...with the critters)

28 Weeks

How far along? 28 Weeks

Total weight gain/loss: 17-ish
Maternity clothes? I have finally broke out and wear the maternity jeans on a daily basis (however the shorts in this pic are not maternity) Tanks still under my work polos, and almost any other shirt I wear, maternity or not.
Stretch marks? I don't think so. Still using Palmer's coco butter. I do however feel the skin on my stomach "stretching" more if that makes sense.
Sleep: SOOOO tired in the afternoons.
Best moment this week: Finally got carpet in the bedrooms so my nesting instinct can finally kick in and get the nursery put together. Also: This was a few weeks ago, I had to go for a fetal echocardiogram (all diabetic patients go) and the Dr there said little L's heart is text book perfect! She even said I wouldn't need to go back for the follow up in the end weeks. Another good moment: my delivery Dr and I seem to be on the same page, they basically won't let me go past 40 weeks! If everything is normal and good and I want to be/ask to be I could be induced at 39 weeks! YAY!

Have you told family and friends: Yes
Miss Anything?  Still beer and/or alcohol 
Movement: Yes! All over the place. Especially while I'm sitting at work. Josh has felt s/he move on a few occasions, but the little shit seems to know when he's there waiting and of course stops. 
Food cravings: Nothing major, other than a nice cold beer!!!
Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope
Have you started to show yet: Yes! I feel gi-normous! In the beginning I couldn't wait for a bigger "bump", now, I so don't want one!
Labor Signs: No
Belly Button in or out? In, but I can feel it getting "flatter"
Wedding rings on or off? On, but they are much much harder to get off
Happy or Moody most of the time: Moody, but getting a little happier, because there is light at then end of the tunnel.
Looking forward to: Getting the nursery set up finally! I have it all planned in my head, just need to put it all together. 

Also: A friend tagged me in this post on Facebook. It was the most truthful thing I have read to date! My favorite part was #2 "there may not be a sudden gush of 'love'". I feel this may be the same thing as finding and picking my wedding dress. I did not have the overflow of emotions and tears when I found my dress. I did not cry and jump around happily and giggle when I found out I was pregnant. Like I've  said before, not that I didn't want this, and I will love the end result. It was so nice and reassuring that if  I don't have an overwhelming love and crying session when baby L gets here, I won't feel like a monster. I won't feel like I've failed. It would be a normal response, maybe not the majority, but still normal. 

Pregnant Woman Thought Ramblings

I know I have long missed my 24 week update. Hopefully you will get 2 in a row coming up.

I just wanted to take a minute and jot down some things that have been swirling around in my head.
I have had a relatively easy pregnancy, I am very grateful for that. However that being said: I do NOT enjoy being pregnant! I am so NOT glowing and I am not loving this "growing a human being" time period. At this point, little L may be an only child. I had always thought I'd have 3-5 kids! I wanted kids. I would also like the have opposite gender siblings. We will see how the next 4 months go, and how labor/delivery go, how newborndom goes. Maybe I'll have rose colored glasses on by the end of it, and think about another one down the road. I understand newborndom is hard, but I am so ready for it. I am 25 weeks and already at the point of "get this thing out of me!!" 1 day past my official due date my butt is marching in there and getting induced, little L is NOT going to sit in there and stew and get larger and larger!
I think it's a combination not only of the delicate process that is growing a human child, but also the diabetes factor. The huge major added stress of keeping that under control! My body is going though a lot of changes and the handle on diabetes is getting more stressful and cumbersome. I become insulin resistant as the placenta grows, which that takes more of the insulin than my body, so that causes higher blood sugars. 4 weeks ago if I ate a bowl of oatmeal for breakfast I would give 4.0 units of insulin, now for that same bowl of oatmeal I am up to 7.0 or 8.0 units, depending on what my blood is before eating.
The insulin resistance is a "good" thing in theory, because that means there is a healthy placenta. If we start going the other way, less insulin and lower sugars, that means the placenta is breaking down.
Also not enjoying my high risk OB. I unfortunately did not have the luxury of interviewing and finding a high risk OB I liked. My old OB, was less than useless in helping with a referral. I had to go with basically who I found. And FYI there are not a lot of options for high risk in south FL.
He has unrealistic expectations about where my bloods should be kept (ie: between 120-140). He talked about putting my on shots last time I was there. Um.... NO! H-E-double hockey sticks NO! I have a great relationship with my endo, we will figure out to do on HIS end.
I am not the type of pregnant mom who is over the moon, and gushing and touching, and poking and prodding my belly. Any Dr appointments with the ultrasound I am more just staring at the screen watching what they are doing. I am not all smiles and giggle and "ohhh's" and "ahhhh's". I am grateful little L is moving and jiving in there, I am grateful when I hear the heartbeat, but that's it.
Josh has finally felt it move and he has been ecstatic ever since.

I am uncomfortable, my clothes don't fit (obviously). I have finally broken out the maternity jeans, which are not as bad as I originally thought, still not the biggest fan. I can't do anything/not allowed to do anything. Mom and Josh won't let me ride my bike. Mom won't let me pick up and carry a bag of potatoes. I can't climb on a ladder or chair, I can't pick up Whiskey (I do, too bad!!!). I get starving, eat 2 bits and I'm full and uncomfortable.

I am very glad and thankful I have some friends who have done this before me. I can confide in them and ask those weird silly questions and don't get judged!

I am also in complete and utter denial about Whiskey and our kitten Mackie, they are my babies. I know that when L comes, they will just be a dog and a cat, they will be second class citizens, but I can not wrap my head around that. I am going kicking and screaming that will happen. I will not get rid of them, I will not stick them outside, I will not! They are as much as part of the family as little L will be.

I will over the moon once little L is here and we are both healthy and safe, until then I will continue to worry and be stressed and not enjoy being pregnant. Just counting down the days until February.

22 Weeks

Whiskey photobomb

How far along? 22 Weeks

Total weight gain/loss: 13-ish pounds (I would assume)
Maternity clothes? I wear the shirts and tanks. No pants yet. Old Navy also had a sale on baby and maternity clothes. I got a few more cute tops
Stretch marks? Not yet, I did finally buy Palmer's Coco Butter and try to use it once a night. Side note: I'm not a fan of the smell or the feel of it, but to be fair, I don't really like the feel of lotion anyways. I always "wipe my hands clean" after putting some on.
Sleep: Tired in the afternoons, but kind of feel a little more like myself
Best moment this week: Got some cute baby clothes from the Old Navy sale, and it's all gender neutral. 

Have you told family and friends: Yes
Miss Anything?  A beer, and getting our Halloween costumes ready (I had them picked out for this year, but it doesn't work with a belly. I'll have to bookmark them for later years)
Movement: I still think so, I can notice them more while sitting at work, but still have to focus for the most part.
Food cravings: Been sweet stuff lately, like rice krispie treats, oreos, pumpkin anything, monkey bread
Anything making you queasy or sick: Not anymore
Have you started to show yet: A little "bump". Had the first stranger mention something today, (AFTER Josh said we were expecting) but she was nice and didn't want to say anything before to offend me, but she thought so. Guessed the month right on the head too; 5-6 months.
Labor Signs: No
Belly Button in or out? In, but I can feel it getting "flatter"
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Moody and cranky
Looking forward to: Gathering stuff for the nursery! I have picked up a few small things

**The side not on the bottom of the chalkboard says "Maybe not as big as gramps grows them" He grow newborn size papayas. Also My mom will be called "Grammie", she's been Grammie to Whiskey since we got her. My dad we haven't figured it out yet, mom and Josh like "Grumps". At this point it'll be whatever Little Bit calls him.

Today we had a very nice visit with my cousin Micheal, his wife, Nicole and their 2 boys, Brayden and Drew. Can't wait to see them again and more family in November for Thanksgiving!

I also made monkey bread to take over with us for lunch. It was very tasty and simple to make. YUM!

Chicken Taco Chili

I follow a variety of other blogs, one is a momma to adorable twin girls, but she also shares a lot of awesome recipes.
With fall right around the corner she posted a crock pot recipe. I was ALL over this one! Not to mention it would go nicely with the avocados from our tree.
She calls it a soup. I would call it more like a chili/soup/stew. But whatever you want to classify it as it is DELICIOUS!

bowl Pottery Barn-Emma collection

Crock Pot Chicken Taco Chili - from/adapted 3 Ladies and their Gent

1 LB boneless skinless chicken
1 (15oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 (15oz) can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 (15oz) can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
1 (15oz) can corn, drained and rinsed

2 (15oz) can diced tomatoes (this I had 1 Italian variety on hand, the other was plain)

1 (10oz) can RoTel (again you can get creative with the variety)

1 (15oz) can chicken broth

1 packet dry ranch salad seasoning mix

1 packet taco seasoning

Toppings: shredded cheese, sour cream, avocado (all optional, but HIGHLY recommended) 

1. Throw EVERYTHING in the crock pot and cook on low for 8 hours. When you get home take folks or tongs to shred the chicken.

2. Serve and enjoy with accouterments from above

SO SO SO Good! It will be on the regular menu rotation from now on. 

I threw my chicken breast in there from the freezer and it was perfect.  Like I noted with the diced tomatoes, there are a lot of varieties out there with flavor on these, so get creative. Also the ranch seasoning packet had a "spicy" version I may try next time. Same with the beans, throw any of our 3 favorite together, she has originally done pinto beans, I swapped them out.

Out takes

This is the picture we used to announce on Facebook:

There were a TON of other photos we took, and here are some of the out takes:

Que Whiskey roll, and LEG flailing!

Butt!! and nose marks on my chalkboard

Butt and corgi pants

The best for last! This is my favorite!! And a Mackie photobomb

16 Weeks

How far along? 16 Weeks
Total weight gain/loss: 8-10 pounds (my weight hasn't changed much since the first appointment)
Maternity clothes? No
Stretch marks? Not yet
Sleep: Still tired in the afternoons, and going to bed early.
Best moment this week: telling my close friends
Have you told family and friends: yes
Miss Anything?  Especially for my bday weekend, I really wish I had a cocktail
Movement: Nope, but I know its moving around in there, I went for just a basic checkup and it moved around while listening to the heartbeat
Food cravings: junk food
Anything making you queasy or sick: No
Have you started to show yet: Mom and Josh said I have a "gut" now, but no discernible "bump"
Labor Signs: No
Belly Button in or out? In
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Moody, very moody
Looking forward to: Finding out the baby's gender in 20 weeks (although we are not sharing, just for Josh and I to know) sorry, I'm not sorry

PS: I foresee yoga pants and sleep shirts in pictures from now on!

14 Weeks

How far along? 14 Weeks
Total weight gain/loss: 8-ish pounds (haven't been weight since last appointment)
Maternity clothes? No
Stretch marks? Not yet
Sleep: In the late afternoon I get pretty tired, especially after lunch.
Best moment this week: I bought something on etsy (gender neutral) first real purchase
Have you told family and friends: yes, family only
Miss Anything?  Same as before...BEER
Movement: Nope
Food cravings: Nothing major
Anything making you queasy or sick: still just a nagging queasy feeling
Have you started to show yet: A little stomach pooch, it looks like I ate too many cupcakes
Labor Signs: No
Belly Button in or out? In
Wedding rings on or off? On, but it's hard to get them off for showers
Happy or Moody most of the time: A little of both, more moody I think. I legit got cranky about throwing out (an almost full) box of cheerio's because sugar ants had gotten into it.
Looking forward to: Getting a bigger bump, instead of just looking like I'm gaining weird weight. 

12 Weeks

I've been stockpiling the updates as they happen, until we have finally told everyone.

Whiskey photobomb

How far along? 11 Weeks, 5 Days
Total weight gain/loss: 6-8 pounds
Maternity clothes? No
Stretch marks? Not yet
Sleep: In the late afternoon I get pretty tired. trying to go to bed early, already up peeing once-twice per night
Best moment this week: finally figured out a way to tell me parents, now to just wait to do it! Also seeing that there actually is a baby in there at the ultrasound
Have you told family and friends: no!
Miss Anything? Alcohol, a nice cold beer, or mixed drink!
Movement: Not yet, or not that I know of
Food cravings: very influential to food commercials, or other things people are eating. Example: if a kid at works walks in with McDonald’s, I WANT IT, but I (un) happily eat my packed lunch
Anything making you queasy or sick: nothing in particular, just a nagging queasy feeling
Have you started to show yet: A little stomach pooch.
Labor Signs: No
Belly Button in or out? In
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: A little of both and nervous.
Looking forward to: Getting a bigger bump & finding out the gender! :)

Big News

We are expecting a little trouble-maker February 2015. We brought back the ultimate honeymoon souvenir. Things finally clicked that I may be when "aunt flow" didn't show up. I stopped by Walgreen's on my way home one Friday and took the test. Those 2 little lines couldn't have shown up any quicker. I took a picture of the test and tried to figure out my next move. I saw Josh's phone on the charger, I quickly sent him the picture and changed his phone background to that, put it back on the charger, went back out to the living room and waited. A while later he got up to check something and all I hear from the bedroom is "babe.....??? babe....???" I'm sitting on the sofa laughing my butt off.  We had our moment, but I wanted to be absolutely positive so I sent Josh to the store to get one of the digital read ones (aka: idiot proof). That one too came up positive. It looks like there was a baby on board. I was about 4-6 weeks when I took the test, went in for my first appointment at 9 weeks.  We have had our baby girl and boy names picked out FOREVER, they both begin with "L", so baby is being called "Baby L" for now. (IF you are one of the people that know the names we have picked out, PLEASE keep it to yourself and do NOT share.) We are also playing with the idea, of keeping the gender a secret. (Josh and I will know, but no one else)

We told my parents at 12 weeks, while their family friends were down for a quick visit. I wanted to do something fun and unique. The fact that Mother's Day, Father's Day, were gone, and their birthdays and Christmas were too far away, I felt screwed. I did a little research and came up with a few ideas. Here are some of them to help anyone else in the same boat:

1. Order personalized fortune cookies with the message, order Chinese food and swap the cookies
2. Get 2 white mugs, at the inside bottom of them write "grandma" & "grandpa" fill with coffee and wait...
3. Get a white place and write a cute message on it, fill with cookies, muffins, or cupcakes, or bread and serve.

Ideas 2 & 3 include the DIY project of a white porcelain/ceramic dish being drawn on with Sharpie and oven baked to "cure" it. For instructions see this post from a fellow blogger. We opted for idea 3.

This was my plate design, I loaded it up with red velvet cake slices and waited. We all went to dinner that night (which may have been a mistake, because we all ate too much to eat dessert), and when we got back to the house watched some of dad's old dead tree slides. Mom, Josh and I were the only ones to eat cake. Josh had 3 slices, and still barely 1/2 the plate was seen. Mom saw some sort of writing but didn't connect the dots. Josh got a glad container and put the remainder in that to reveal the plate. Mom still didn't get it. "Was this someone else's plate? Why are you using someone else's plate?"

"Why would I be announcing someone else?" was my response.

Then the dots started to connect... "You're pregnant?" 

Dad and his buddy Mac were in the TV room so Josh took the plate in there to show them. Mac got it first. 

Finally the shock wore off, I got a text message from mom the next morning saying "I'm over the shock, when can we go shopping?"

What's in a Name?

This post is my own opinion. I am no way bashing anyone for whatever works for you and your families.

Why did woman just start taking the man's last name, no questions asked? No looking back?

I understand this was the norm hundreds of years ago for many logical reason. News flash, we are in the 21st century now.

It goes back to an anecdote I heard years ago. The mom is in the kitchen preparing a ham for Christmas, the little son asked her, "why do you cut the ends off on both sides on the ham?"
She said, "I don't know, my mom did that."
Little boy goes and finds grandam, "why did you cut the ends off on both sides on the ham?"
She ponders and responded, "you know I'm not sure. That's the way my mom did it."
Luckily the great-grandmother was still alive, the little boy goes to ask her. Her response: "because the oven was too small of the ham she bought."

Simple solution, turned into a tradition that didn't need to be kept. Yet no one questioned it.
It's like last names, I get it was a tradition and reasons hundred years ago, but why can't they change?
And when people want to change them they get balked at. Because its not the "norm".

If you are one of those girls that will gladly accept your new husbands name, good for you! I wish I was you!
I however have a hard time just abandoning who I am, and who I have been for 27 years. I am an educated, working, independent woman. I have made a name for myself in the work place. Why am I just going to be submissive and take something without questioning it??

Don't get me wrong. I love traditions and family honor! One of my favorite traditions is going to Glenda's for Christmas eve, even if it does include the damn fruitcake!!
But if you're not sure why a tradition started, ask about it. Get an answer. And if its not the great hurrah answer you wanted or was looking for change it!
Same for anything else in life. We don't have to just mindlessly follow what EVERYONE else has done. Make a change, make a stand for yourself!

There has been  A LOT of research and a lot of discussions on this front.
I am my dad's only daughter, the last name Farrell. I also want my husband and I to have the same last name, I don't want to hyphenate mine and he not.
The options:
hyphenate
he changes his
combine the 2
come up with another one (perhaps another family name that had been lost)

The decision. We have both hyphenated. OUR kid's will have hyphenated last names.