Tuesday, May 29, 2012

20 Weeks

Size: Banana / 6.5 inches / 10.2 ounces 

Interesting fact: Baby has working tastebuds and is gulping amniotic fluid.  Yum.

Symptoms: Very few lately!  A little more energy, no headaches this week, and I'm popping less Tums.

Maternity clothes:  Yes and they make me look better.  Surprisingly, the more fitted the outfit, the less fat, and more pregnant I look.  As seen in picture above.

Cravings: Nothing that I can think of.  Those Coronas in the fridge looked pretty good though.

Aversions: Slowly inching my way back to meat, but maybe not poultry.  I had some shrimp and sausage this week with no problems.

Fun things: Seeing the movie, "What To Expect When You're Expecting".  There were a lot of preggers in the theater, and I think it's probably funnier to me right now because I'm going through it.  But we both really enjoyed it.  And yes, we're at the halfway mark!!!  

Looking forward to: Vacation! Just 1.5 months to go.  This northern transplant needs a tan!

What I miss: Staying up past 10pm.

 Misc:  Billy was officially introduced to the Midwife group and was still not convinced at first, but after a week of mulling it over and realizing Magee Hospital is top-notch, he is in agreement.  It is a little crunchy, which is not something I would normally choose, but it seems like the best option for me, as long as I stay healthy for these next 20 weeks.

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

19 Weeks

Size: Heirloom Tomato or Mango / 6 inches / 8.5 ounces  - we are both growing at a rapid pace!

Interesting fact: Baby is now fully assembled and now needs to fatten up and lengthen out.  Hoping for a fat baby, because even though I think all babies look like aliens, skinny babies especially do.

Symptoms: Still basically the same.  I'm more hungry lately.  Now that it is hot out, I get thirsty quickly too, so I need to take water on my walks with me.

Maternity clothes:  Yes, finally.  I can wear some of my regular shirts, but I am pretty much exclusively in maternity pants now.  This morning I walked around the house with them on backwards.  Don't judge - there is no zipper or button to help differentiate back from front!

Cravings: None really this week.  I had some salted caramel gelato on Friday that I could go for again though.

Aversions: Still mostly meat, but I did have Billy's homemade corn chowder with crab in it this weekend.  Maybe I can try some other seafood?

Fun things: Yay - it is a boy and we got a video that we could send around to friends and family.  The technology that is available is pretty awesome.  We registered this weekend.  More on that below.

Looking forward to: Vacation! Pirates game tomorrow for staff appreciation day.  Memorial Day relaxing.  Being half way through this pregnancy next week!  Baby shower in July in DC!

What I miss: Just being my normal self, but it's not that big of a deal.

 Misc:  We are going to a Meet the Midwives event at the hospital tonight.  Even though I already had my appointment with one of them, we will meet all of them and tour the birthing center.  Billy is not 100% on board with the midwife idea, but I think this will be an educational event for both of us.  


Registering: Yes, it was fun, but also overwhelming for both of us (LM & I).  It is a good thing we left our husbands at home, because they would have wanted to just sit in the recliners.  Even in the first aisle, we realized that we should have brought a mom with us.  Because what are receiving blankets for?  Which high chair is better?  What - you can't use an ear thermometer on an infant?  So many things we didn't know.  By the end, I just stopped scanning and edited a lot when I got home online.  And also - holy expensive!  The other major purchase I can't fully commit to is the stroller.  Single or convertible double?  The only good convertible double that I remotely like is the Phil & Ted, but I feel like the 2nd seat is like putting your kid in the trunk!  He can't even see anything!

I like the side by side double much better, but that would be dumb to get one of these now, unless Patton wants to start going for rides. 
There is still a lot to do, and get, but we will have our baby shower in July, and a lot of things don't need to be bought right away.  Heck, the baby doesn't even go in the crib for a few weeks!  I did not come to this conclusion on my own though - luckily I ran across this blog with links of letters to new moms.

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

18 Weeks - 4 Months

Size: Sweet Potato or Bell Pepper / 5.6 inches / 6.7 ounces  

Interesting fact: Baby can yawn, hiccup and swallow now!

Symptoms: Of course I'm still tired.  I think I took 2 naps on Saturday.  I got sick on Sunday again - I thought it was over!  I get lightheaded if I don't eat every few hours.

Maternity clothes:  Still not really.  I wore a belly band today(thanks, MG) and that was helpful with normal pants, and better than the safety pin!

Cravings: Refried beans!

Aversions: MEAT, duh.  I also prefer cold food to hot food.

Fun things: We found out early that we are having a BOY!  I had a surprise ultrasound on Friday and had the tech put it in an envelope so Billy and I could find out together when he got home.  I waited until Sunday(Mother's Day) to tell our moms.

Looking forward to: Vacation!  And also, registering with LM this weekend, and seeing the What to Expect movie.

What I miss: Billy had a Blue Moon Spring Ale this weekend and I had just a sip.  Tastes so good when it hits the lips!!!

 Misc: Billy is beyond excited that "the kid" as we referred to him before, is a boy!  He even told our dentist and all the hygentists.  I'll admit though, it is nice to actually have a visual of a little boy instead of a vague baby image in my head.  



Here is the monthly documentation!  My belly does look a little pointy, but I assure you that it is not.  It is just my pants unbuttoned. :)



Saturday, May 12, 2012


This is what I wake up to every morning.  Sometimes, if I'm lucky, I get a paw to the face.

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

17 Weeks

 
Size: Onion / 5 inches / 5 ounces  (That is a gain of a half an inch and 1.5 oz in one week!)

Interesting fact: Sweat glands are starting to develop and the baby can move it's joints.

Symptoms: Still pretty tired, headaches, and occasional heartburn.  This weekend, I stayed in bed until 11am, which never happens!

Maternity clothes:  I finally wore maternity pants to work last week.  They were a little big, but felt much better than safety pinned pants digging into my stomach!

Cravings: Doritos

Aversions: Still meat, but I'm pretty specific about what I want and don't want from day to day.

Fun things: Belly is getting a little bigger, and is starting to look a little less like a beer belly.  Picture to come next week at the 4 month mark.


Looking forward to: NINE days.  I'm thinking girl, but Billy is demanding that it be a boy.

What I miss: Now that is is warmer, I miss some of my summer/spring wardrobe.  I'm slowly growing my maternity wardrobe though. 

 Misc:We may be getting closer to choosing names.  So for now, we have decided on Will for a boy, or Tess for a girl.  Of course, that could change any minute with a phone call from Billy.  Lucky for me, while he drives around all day, he calls me at work with every minor or major thought he has.  :)

Thursday, May 3, 2012

I can't decide if four years seems like it was a long time ago, or it was just yesterday.  We've come a long way...literally from Virginia to Florida and now to Pennsylvania.  Our lives have changed in many ways, but I know it has all been a part of God's plan.  Sometimes, it's just hard to see that in the moment.  :)

We call ourselves Team Hudgins, because that is what it has been like.  Even this week, we have had to divide and conquer while Billy is in Florida, fixing up our house and getting it ready for rental/sale.  I'm just the benchwarmer this time, but I have been able to help a lot remotely.  But we're a good team because his strengths are my weaknesses, and vice versa.

Right after our first anniversary in 2009, and we hit some bumps in the road, we learned to appreciate what we have and to not take anything for granted.  Now in 2012, we have a very different perspective, and look forward to what comes next!

Cheers - to many more years!


Tuesday, May 1, 2012

16 Weeks

I want to wear a sign for the general public that says, "I'm not just getting fat - there is a baby in there!"  Still in the awkward lumpy beer gut phase, but we're getting closer. 

Size: Avocado / 4.5 inches / 3.5 ounces


Interesting fact: The baby's eyes have moved closer to the front of the head and the ears are close to their final position.

Symptoms: Still pretty tired, headaches, and heartburn.  All of this is better than it was in the beginning, so I'll deal.

Maternity clothes:  I wore one maternity shirt last week.  Luckily now that it is warmer in Pittsburgh(re: not snowing), I can wear more flowy summer tops and dresses, which make it much easier.

Cravings: Last night it was buttery popcorn.  Last week it was Ben & Jerry's new frozen greek yogurt.

Aversions: Meat! When my parents came this weekend, everyone had steaks, but I was more than fine feasting on my bread, salad and mashed potatoes. 

Fun things: Parents being here for the first time since I found out I was pregnant, name discussions, enjoying the last 5 months of loud music in the car and leisurely dining out.

Looking forward to: The obvious: 16 days until the big reveal!!

What I miss: The same - wine and coffee. 

Misc: I went out to an impromptu dinner on Sunday with Lisamarie and Aaron, and as we sat outside and just enjoyed he sunshine, I thought about how drastically different our lives will be in 4-5 months.  We will both have babies, and things to focus on other than enjoying our own delicious meals.  Being a mom is something I almost always thought about in the abstract future, and now it is actually HERE.  At the Pirates game a few weekends ago, we were tailgaiting with my Jeep and Billy noted that he should upgrade my sound system.  I reminded him that it was not necessary, because soon, we will be listening to Disney tunes at a reasonable volume.