20 week ultrasound

Yesterday we had our 20 week anatomy ultrasound.

It was supposed to be on Tuesday, but the ultrasound technician was sick.

I was a little bummed they asked us to reschedule, but of course we understood.

And hey- it was only a day's difference right?

I was just so excited to see our little one on the big screen.

The last time we saw her on TV was five weeks ago, when we did our 15 week gender check.

We met w/our doctor two weeks ago, for my 18 week appointment, but no ultrasound then.

At this point, we've had three ultrasounds total and I've loved every one of them.

We had one at 7 weeks.

We had one at 15 weeks.

And now we have one for 20 weeks.

I'm buildin a collection here folks!

I realize others may have more, but we're not talking about anyone but us right now.

Back to our ultrasound appointment…

I was really excited to get in there, to make sure she was still a she.

It might sound weird, I know, but I know of a few people who have found out the gender early, and have been proven wrong later.

15 weeks was pretty early to find out, so I was still hesitant. 

She's definitely still a she. She was a little shy, but we got in there.

My kid? Shy?!?! She can't be mine. There's no way.

If you recall our last ultrasound (at 15 weeks), our little girl had her legs crossed.

Same thing yesterday. She had one leg crossed over the other. 

Just sittin' in there. Chillin.

We had the same, sweet ultrasound technician as last time and she was great. Again.

She looked at the brain at all different angles, and it looked normal.

She looked at the heart chambers at all different angles, and it looked normal.

She looked at any facial features that could be deformed (nose, cleft lip, etc.) and they all looked normal.

I was relived to say the least.

I was happy to see I was doing my part as a mother, and that taking my prenatal every day has helped w/my child's development. 

Every parent wants to hear their child is looking healthy & normal. Every parent.

In the womb or not.

Our little girl was confirmed breach. That is all subject to change though.

Our doctor didn't seem too worried about it & said she'd probably change positions before delivery.

Gosh I hope so. Please don't cut me open and put my insides on my outside. Please!

Our little girl was also confirmed to be completely folded in half!

She was pulling her legs all the way over her head. That crazy!

This top picture shows her doing a toe touch type thing:

(The top picture is her head on the left of the ultrasound & her leg coming up & over almost)

And of course the last picture she has a gang sign she's thrown' us. 

She is very much so an active baby, and the lower part of her body was in the 87th percentile.

Meaning she's very tall and long legged.

Would I expect anything less? My husband is over 6 ft. and I'm 5'8''

I'm just glad I have a long torso to carry her. This will be fun!

We ordered a video of the entire ultrasound we got.

I posted a clip of it on my Instagram and added one of my favorite songs to it as well.
I hope you all are able to see it. It's the cutest thing. 
Her little toe touch in action is the best!

My doctor told me I was measuring ahead.
He's still keeping my due date the same (April 6th), but he said I'm probably close to 22 weeks at this point.
Wahoo! This pregnancy is just flying' by! Two weeks just came & went like nothin' (wink wink)

Banana Bread Recipe

You will need:

3-4 smashed bananas (I used two so you don't taste too much banana) 
1/3 cup melted butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg, beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon baking soda
Pinch of salt
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
With a wooden spoon, mix butter & mashed bananas into a large mixing bowl. 
Add all other ingredients and mix well.
Pour mixture into a buttered 4x8 inch loaf pan. 

If you don't have a 4x8 then a 9x5 works just as well (that's what I used). 

Bake for 1 hour and let cool. Enjoy

Preggo Eggo Update- Week 18

How many weeks?: 18 weeks and 2 days.

Size of Baby: A mango (6 inches 8.5 oz) and is 6 inches long. Baby's developing a protective  coating over her skin (called vernix caseosa). It's greasy and white, and will be seen at birth. 

Countdown: 22 weeks left. 145 days to go!

Total weight gain/loss: 

 Maternity Clothes?: Still heck to the yeah. I can still wear a few of my non-maternity shirts (that were really big before pregnancy), but I'm filling them in a lot more now.

Energy Levels: My body is hurting more and more, because my uterus is growing/stretching and the baby is growing (a ton) right now. I'm not sleeping a ton at night, due to all this, so definitely not much of energy (just due to lack of sleep). I go through spurts. Nothing like my first trimester though. That was bad. I'm doing a lot better compared to my first trimester. 

Exercise Habits: A little more walking. We went on a Costco date night, and I forced myself to walk around, even though it hurt. A lot. 

Sleeping?: I always look at my phone (when I wake up in the middle of the night), to see what time it is/how often I'm waking up. I feel like I'm waking up more and more now. I think it's due to the fact that my uterus is growing & my bladder is getting weaker & weaker. I'm not sleeping very much, due to that, and due to my hips hurting. Ouch!

Worst Moment in the past 2 weeks: Last week, spotting. Scared the wazoo out of me! 

Best Moment in the past 2 weeks:  Feeling flutters getting stronger & higher! I'm recognizing them a lot better now, and don't have to hold as still to feel them. 

Miss anything?: Being able to walk normal?

Movement: Yes way! I stuck a flashlight up to my stomach the other night ('cuz I heard if you do that, the baby can sense the light w/o being blinded, and you'll be able to feel movement). She fluttered like crazy after that and I loved it. I was laughing so hard 'cuz it was so funny. Jake was saying I was a bad mom for blinding our baby! Ha! 

Morning Sickness?: Mornings are still really hard for me. I have to drink just a little bit of coke in the morning, and have a little bit of salt (to get me going), then I'm fine. 

Food Cravings: I never thought this would happen in this pregnancy, but it did- I craved dessert, and now that I've had quite a lot of it (mainly ice cream) I can't stop! 

Food Aversions: Spices. I can't eat anything w/a lot of spices. Baby gets confused, and spicy foods give me really bad heart burn, which in turn lead to acid reflex throw up. Meh.

Showing yet?: Baby is nice and high and straight out there. Oh yes. 

Labor signs: None. Thank goodness.

Moods: I get emotional real easy. Like baby clothes? I get teary eyed. It's lame. 

Not Looking Forward to: Not much. There really isn't much I'm not looking forward to. I was dreading stretch marks, but I have this amazing stretch cream, and it's been doing wonders. I really just dread/fear the actual labor/delivery. There are so many uncertainties & things that can go wrong. There- I picked something I'm not looking forward to. 

Looking Forward To: Seeing our little one today. We have our 18 week ultrasound and I cannot be happier to see our little princess again. It's been three weeks since we last saw her little face, and I am just so anxious to see her growth & development. Jake and I are both pretty tall, so I'm excited to see how long her little legs are, and to make sure everything is healthy & normal.

The month of Ashley

We were about 10 years old when we first met... On the soccer field.

We were in the same ward and our elementary school classrooms were right next door to each other.

We had houses in two different neighborhoods, but climbing over a brick wall didn't change that.

There were endless days of painting each others nails, walking over to boys houses, spending days at the mall, and make believing the game of Life was real. 

We moved apart the summer before our 8th grade year & still kept in touch. 

She was in Missouri and I was in California but the distance didn't change our friendship.

We spent countless hours on AOL Instant Message 

(Remember that- Anyone??...) 

and exchanging pictures in the mail.

We reunited again in the glorious state of Utah where we both currently live, and started our hangouts again.

She was there for my wedding day, and I was there for hers.

Meet my childhood best friend, Ashley.

I know there's three people here in this photo.

Obviously one of them is me, in the purple.

Ashley is in the blue and our other good friend (Amanda) is in white. 

The three of us called ourselves The Triple A Club and we were so cool.

Ashley got married October 26th and boy was it sweet.

Let me rewind

When Ashley was single, she had what she called the summer of Ashley.

She did whatever she wanted to do, and went wherever she wanted to go.

The month of October was the month of Ashley. 

It started out with a bridal shower on Saturday, October 12th

Her cousin and I threw it and had so much fun spying on her Pinterest favorites in order to pull it off.

We made her favorite soups and served soups and bread rolls at the shower.

We also had all her favorite desserts like the following:

Stuffed strawberries

Carmel apples w/nuts

Homemade pumpkin cupcakes w/homemade cream cheese frosting

We also served a homemade pumpkin roll (which everyone loved, but isn't pictured)...

All of the banners were hand made that day

and I let her keep one of them for her reception, that said "Falling in Love" on burlap triangles. 

The next weekend was for Ashley and her sweet fiance, Brian.

They both had a very special day at the bountiful LDS Temple and asked Jake and I to be there

Photo taken on my iPhone

Then we had the weekend of all weekends.

The prom of all proms.

Brian and Ashley's wedding day in the Salt Lake City LDS Temple on Saturday, October 26th 

Ashley's hair might be in her face, but I love the way Brian is looking at her here.

You'll have to excuse my pregnant face. It was a long day

Their wedding day was such a warm, sunny, beautiful day in downtown Salt Lake, and Jake and I were so happy to be there.

We've loved seeing Brian & Ashley's relationship grow, and it was just all around nice to be there w/them.

They were w/us when we first got married, and to see them grow and blossom w/us, was really neat.

We loved it and could not be happier for you guys! Here's to the new Mr. and Mrs!!!

See ya in about a week when Amanda comes into town? The Triple A Club reunites!

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