Gender Reveal

Last week, Jake and I found out the gender of our baby!

Tuesday 10/15/2013 @ 4:15pm

A date which will go down in history. Oh yes. 

Below is a photo of the gender reveal we sent to our families in CA

and some close family friends as well

My sister and I designed them and I made the scratch offs from home.

Super easy. Just soap and water. I got the recipe off google.

Photo taken on my iPhone

I thought for sure the work day would go by so slow. It didn't.

Much to my surprise, the day flew by. Jake and I both thought so.

Weird.

For some reason, that day felt unreal.

Could I really be 15 weeks and 2 days pregnant?

(Yes, I'm still having a hard time comprehending the fact that we're expecting)

The day felt so unreal, I called my doctor's office to confirm the appointment.

What?!! Who does that?!?! (Cough cough- This girl)

I leave work early, and meet Jake at home.

We anxiously get in the car and drive to my doctor's office.

It felt like the world's longest drive.

Not only because I was anxious to get there & know!!!!

...But because I chugged a whole lotta apple juice and had to go!

I thought you had to have a full bladder for an ultrasound.

Did anyone call me and tell me that? No. I just always thought.

Boy was I wrong.

Well, I guess technically I wasn't.

You just don't need to have AS full a bladder, when you're in your 2nd trimester.

I guess it's only when you're in your 1st trimester.

I should've known. I can clearly look down and see my uterus pushing everything up... Whatevs.

Needless to say- I was anxious to get in there for more than the obvious. 

We check in at the front desk and one of my favorite receptionists says

and I quote

"You're just here for the gender check, right?"

I replied, "JUST?!?!"

Who did this lady think she was? Definitely not my favorite anymore.

I guess she just wanted to clarify that I wouldn't be meeting w/the doctor afterwards... Whatevs.

She needs to clarify that. Ha.

I got pulled into the back, to drop off some lab work and have some blood drawn.

I'll have you know, I still have a nice bruise from that. Yeah...

After the lab, the ultrasound technician meets us at the nurses station

and the rest is history!

Not really.

She actually pulled us back right away & got right to business. 

Oh man- This was it. We're goin in!

She sits me back on this nice reclining chair, gives me a little towel, slaps the goo on my speed bump and away she went.

I was nice & relaxed. The lights were off, I had my phone out

and oh yeah- back to what was actually happening...

There was a baby on the screen! This beautiful little face showed itself.

I was in heaven already. I didn't need to know the gender of our baby.

I didn't care. I was just peachy watchin our little one move around!

And boy was that baby movin around!

I apologized to the ultrasound technician for drinking too much apple juice.

In my defense, I heard that helps get the baby movin.

I FEARED the baby would just sit still in one position & not be cooperative.

So, of course I overdo it on the apple juice. I had to right?

Better to be safe than sorry, I always say.

That kid was a bouncin around. Summersaults 'n all.

Weird that I couldn't feel any of it though.

Yet I could clearly see it happening, right in front of me.

Anyway, let's get down to business.

(As if all this nonsense above isn't)

The ultrasound technician was so sweet. You could tell she loved her job.

She really took her time w/us and was just the best.

She made our first experience awesome, to say the least.

She was showing us the baby's arm, the legs...

...Which BTW were crossed...

And I immediately said it must be a girl because they were crossed.

HA. Who was I kidding?!?! I knew it was a boy. From day one.

Before our little one was even conceived.

Mother's instincts right?

Nah. I was wrong. Dead wrong.

The ultrasound technician was trying to get a good shot to show us her parts.

But really, she said she already knew before that

(And yeah- just didn't say anything. I know. rude, huh?!?)

So, she tells us we're having a girl and I was shocked. 

Just shocked! 

I said "It's a girl?!?!"

Bows, pink, and sparkles went running through my head. 

I would've been excited either way.

Neither me nor Jake had a preference.

We just wanted a baby, and that was the honest truth.

Here are the photos we took on the 4th of July before we even got pregnant

Photo taken on my iPhone

Once I knew all our family and close friends had their gender reveals
(or received this picture message shown below)
I decided it was time to wear the gender reveal shirt to work.
This will also be part of my Halloween costume. Whatcha think?
Yeah, I'm pregnant during the Halloween holiday. I'm gonna have fun with it!

Photo taken on my iPhone

I may or may not have already started making her bows/headbands.
Heaven knows I've only just begun.
She needs one for every holiday!... I need lots more made!

Photo taken on my iPhone

Jake and I (of course) had a few boy names picked out, and a few girl names picked out, so we are definitely prepared. 

The two girl names we've decided on, are family names (the middle names at least), and we both feel really good about them.

I will say though, that we are not committing to anything, until we get a good long take at our little princess. 

We want to make sure she looks like the name we chose for her.

We want to make sure she acts like the name we chose for her.

What's in a name?

Preggo Eggo Update- Week 16

How many weeks?: 16 weeks and 3 days.

Size of Baby: An avocado, 4.6 inches and 3.5 oz. 

Countdown: 165 more days.

Total weight gain/loss: As of today, gained 10 lbs. total 

Maternity Clothes?: Still goin strong. I really love my leggings (black & grey are my two most worn colors), and cardigans/sweaters. Seems to be the thing lately. Must be fall!

Energy Levels: It's gettin there. Little by little, day by day. I (every once in awhile) get these HUGE spurts of energy and go all out. Weather that be cleaning around the house, or running errands- I do it. But I over do it, and I'm usually down for awhile shortly thereafter. 

Exercise Habits: Let's not even talk about that...

Sleeping?: I feel like I'm getting up less in the middle of the night, but I'm still not feeling rested...

Worst Moment in the past 2 weeks: Not being able to go to California w/my sisters last week. We had this trip planned, to go to Disneyland/California Adventure for a couple days.... Until I came to the realization that I wouldn't be able to walk around those two parks for two days straight, nor ride any of the rides. Like- really. What was I thinking?!?! Trip canceled for me and Jake, but not my sisters. 

Best Moment in the past 2 weeks:  Finding out the gender of our baby (10/15) !!! And feeling flutters as of last Wednesday (10/16). Words cannot even describe..

Miss anything?: A full night's sleep would be nice!

Movement: Oh yeah! I try to figure out the baby's movement pattern, but really- The only time I really notice a lot of flutters, is if I'm lying down (flat on my back), and holding real still. OR.... if I drink a lot of apple juice. OR... if I drink a lot of water. Like- full on chugging it all at once. 

Morning Sickness?: Not really. Just really bad gag reflexes. Like, if I start caughing, there's no goin back from there. Everything's comin up. It's pretty bad. 

Food Cravings: Protein. I still love steak, mashed potatoes, and vegetables. I'm starting to re-gain my love for sweets again (now that I've had some this week). So, my crave for creme brûlée is comin back! YAHOO!

Food Aversions: I like the taste of cheese, but not the smell. Weird- I know. 

Gender Prediction: We had our gender reveal appointment last Tuesday (10/15) and I was still set w/my prediction. Boy. 

Labor signs: Not this early. No way. 

Moods: The swings are definitely calming down. I just get annoyed real easy. Real, real easy. 

Not Looking Forward to: Stretch marks. AH! I am lathering on that stretch cream though. Every night after my shower, you better believe it. 

Looking Forward To: Kicks. Bring it on baby! These flutters make me the happiest, and I just love them. I totally giggle and am so in love w/feeling our future posterity move. Once it starts, I don't want to move 'cuz I don't want it to go away- Ever. And, a lot of times, I'm afraid it will go away, if I do move. 

Photo taken on my iPhone 

I spy something with my little eye... A baby bump

...On the left side...

Photo taken on my iPhone

Preggo Eggo update- Week 15

How many weeks?: 15 weeks and 2 days.

Size of Baby: Naval Orange/apple. The average fetus at week 15 weighs 2.5 ounces and measures 4 inches, and its proportions are becoming even more normal since its legs now outmeasure its arms.
Maternity Clothes?: Oh yeah! I started wearing maternity jeans and tops at like week 9/10 though I didn't quite fill them out. I'm now wearing maternity underwear (as of a couple weeks ago) and am feeling great! They're so stretchy and flattering and I'm loving that I get to wear comfy sweaters, boots and leggings throughout the majority of my pregnancy. 

Energy Levels: I started gaining that back, towards the end of my first trimester. I'm not as tired anymore, but I sometimes run out of energy fast!

Exercise Habits: None, other than walking around the office building at work. I want to  start taking walks at night after work, especially since the beautiful crisp, fall weather is here. 

Sleeping?: Hardly. I wake up every 1-2 hours to use the restroom, and to sometimes wake up for a mid-night/three o'clock in the morning snack (cereal). 

Worst Moment in the past 2 weeks: Not being able to keep down broccoli and cheese soup. It randomly came up and I've been terrified to try to eat it again.

Best Moment in the past 2 weeks:  Knowing we're that much closer to finding out what our little alien is (boy or girl), hearing our wonderful baby's heart beat (last Monday 10/07 it sounded so much different compared to the other times- we loved it), buying our plane tickets to CA for Thanksgiving, and ordering my Halloween costume (gender reveal for all our local friends)!!!

Miss anything?: Eating all the left over goods (in the bowl) from baking. I was making some yummy treats this last week, and couldn't lick the bowl/beaters from my mixer, because of the raw egg. It was hard, but I know it'll be worth it.

Movement: I try to lay down (flat on my back) and concentrate so so so hard on feeling little flutters, but I don't think I feel anything yet. 

Morning Sickness?: More like all day sickness. I'm able to keep more food and liquid down, but I'm still very food sensitive. I have to eat something every hour or I get extremely nauseous, and I constantly have to be drinking something (coke or water). I'm over ginger ale, but the coke helps settle my stomach and as long as I stay hydrated w/water, I'm pretty much set. 

Food Cravings: Burgers. Always. Since like day one. I also love steak and potatoes and pretty much any soup (other than broccoli and cheese, obviously). I've always had a sweet tooth (or teeth), but my candy craving is unstoppable now! 

Food Aversions: Nothing too sweet. Like chocolate? Bleh. No thank you! I also cannot stand the smell of mozzarella. 

Showing yet?: Yes. I started showing between 10/11 weeks, but it's more pronounced now. It's more of a tight ball, just straight out in front. (See photo below). I definitely feel like I'm carrying high. 

Gender Prediction: Boy. I had a dream (before we even conceived), that I had a baby boy. I've also had several dreams since then, and so have my sisters. 

Labor signs: None.

Moods: I'm definitely not as moody as I was in the first trimester, but I still get testy easily, and the littlest/weirdest things annoy me. 

Not Looking Forward to: My chest getting bigger. I already have a big bust as it is, and I know it'll only grow more, but I'm already experiencing stretch marks and I'm just fearing it. 

Looking Forward To: Finding out the gender today and feeling the baby kick! 

Photo taken on my iPhone

Photo taken on my iPhone

Baby Strain due April 6th, 2014

For those of you who haven't heard...

I am pregnant and due April 6th, 2014!

Hoping our little (or big one) isn't born on April Fools' Day.

Here's the baby announcement we've been sharing w/everyone.

We actually made this little sign on the 4th of July w/sparklers, not knowing we were pregnant yet.

I face timed my parents the night of their wedding anniversary

(which was the day after I took a test and found out)

and they were beyond thrilled.

When I called them, all I did was hold up this sign so they couldn't see my face.

My dad just screamed "WAHOO!" and then my mom chimes in...

Bring on the water works.

Shorty has been wanting to be a grandma for awhile now.

She has a hope chest filled w/things to share w/future grandchildren. 

She couldn't believe it and kept saying, "Really?!?! Is this for real?!?!"

Yes mom, it's for real. I wouldn't joke about something like this.

Especially on your wedding anniversary.

I  kept walking by my pregnancy test and smiling :)

I don't know if I was expecting for it to randomly change or what

But I sleep with it on my night stand. Call me weird.

Photo taken on my iPhone

This is how I told Jake:

Explanation:

Our first St. Patrick's Day we were married, I tried to make it look like a leprechaun used our bathroom.

I got a baby footprints stamp and dipped it in a green ink pad and put it around the toilet...

To make it look like the leprechaun used our bathroom :) 

Well, Jake came home from work about 3am and saw the footprints and thought I had an announcement.

Sadly, I didn't have an announcement. 

But I thought it'd be cute to save that idea for when we actually were pregnant!

So, this time I used red footprints.
I wanted to get a pink and blue ink pad, but wasn't gonna go to the store at 10 o'clock at night (yes- that's when I found out).

Slight disclaimer- I realize it may look like blood

but when Jake came home from work (this time) at 3am he saw the footprints and knew immediately.

He said he didn't even need to look at the pregnancy test!

I took the test the night before (06/24 at about 10pm)

so I waited all night

until the wee hours of the night 

for Jake to get home from work

It was THE longest night ever waiting 'til 3am for him to get home.

I felt like a little kid on Christmas Eve waiting for Santa, all over again.

Photo taken on my iPhone

Photo taken on my iPhone

We are just thrilled and cannot wait to be parents!

Blue or pink- what do you think?

I've had a dream it'll be a boy, before I even know I was pregnant, and so did my sister.

I also had a friend tell me she had a dream it'd be a boy.

Hmmmm......