Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Baby Tuesday: 22 weeks

I know it's my birthday today, but it's just a birthday.  They aren't too exciting when you pass 21, just sayin'.

SO, it's all about the baby today.  More important and fun anyways.



How far along?:  22 weeks.  Sheesh!  I don't know how this happened so fast.


Baby's gender:  If you didn't know from last week's announcement, it's a girl!  AND, even better, we have given her a name.  It's:  Ellie.  Not short for anything, just Ellie.  


Symptoms:  Nothing too big.  Sleeping is getting more annoying because, well, sleeping on your side all the time can get quite boring.  I think I need to invest in a body pillow or something.  I've also had some nice growing pains AND heartburn.  Very fun.


Food:  Still nothing major.  At least that I can tell.  Although, we did make strawberry pie TWICE last week and we both devoured it, but that was both me and Nick.


Belly/body:  Well, just see for yourself.


It may not be the best view of it, but it's definitely getting bigger and bigger.  The rest of my body is not doing too much.  No swelling or anything else going on.  Hooray!

Baby:  She is pretty dang active.  In church on Sunday she was kicking pretty much the whole time.  It's pretty weird feeling her almost all the time.  Yesterday she was active ALL day.  Seriously.  Anytime I sat down I would feel her kick.  Of course that night she decided to not be active for her daddy.  At least Nick has actually been able to feel her kick before.  It was pretty amazing to watch his face light up when he really felt her kick. 
She's also at least a pound now.  That explains why I'm feeling more pregnant nowadays.


Excitements:  I finally finished our baby registry!  Or as much as I think I could.  There will be more editing later on, but at least all of the major stuff is figured out.  Amazon is a pretty amazing (and overwhelming) place to register.

I also bought Nick a pretty cute birthday gift as a daddy celebration.  Since he likes Star Wars and all.  

It's a pretty ridiculously cute picture book.


Thursday, April 25, 2013

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes

My world is changing so incredibly fast.  Everything is changing.  And I'm not just talking about my body.

Most of it has to do with the fact that we're having a child.  We're going to be parents. There is just so much to consider and think about.  I mean, I knew our whole world would change when we added to our family, but you don't really think about every little detail until the time really does come.

For instance:

1.  My entire wardrobe while pregnant is changing.  Part of this has to do with the fact that I'll be pregnant in spring/summer and I know I'm going to be too warm to wear pants/sweats all the time.  The other part has to do with the awful cost of maternity pants.  I have been lucky enough to find a cute pair of pants and one pair of capris second-hand, but pants are even more hard for me because I have too long of legs.  Normal pant shopping was hard enough because only a few brands would fit well enough to not ride up like high waters when I sat down or washed them a few times.

This means that I will be spending most of my money on skirts and dresses.

I was never a big dress/skirt wearer before, but now that I'm going to be pregnant in spring and summer I want to be able to be comfortable (and not super hot all the time) and still buy cute/somewhat inexpensive clothes.  Dresses (and skirts) seem to be the way to go.  Especially because a lot of skirts and dresses are stretchy and can grow along with my body.


2.  My social media standards may have to change.  How much privacy should I give ourselves/my daughter?  How often should I even post pictures of her?  Just a few questions I've been asking myself.

She won't be old enough to say "yes" or "no" to her week old face being posted on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter all the time.  Not to say that I'm NOT going to post pictures, but I don't want to post naked pictures of my kids for the world to see.  If somebody wants to see more than what I'm posting they can ask or just come raid my computer.  I'm sure we'll have more than enough pictures for the entire world to view.  They'd probably get sick of them anyways.

I also don't want to become one of "those" people who share 50 pictures a day of their cute and adorable child.  I mean, sure I'll take a lot of pictures and I'll probably have some really cute or funny ones, but I also don't want to overload everyone with each new outfit I put on my kid.

I'm also not going to post her full name on the internet.  You'll get to know her first name, but if you want to know her full name you'll just have to ask and hope I know you well enough not to be a creeper. 


3.  Registering is making me think seriously about baby items.  I have to decide whether or not I want to use the "typical" baby shampoo or something more natural.  I chose the more natural route, just so you know.  But there are a lot of things like that that I would have not really thought of before.  You have to think about what comes in contact with your baby.  Glass bottles vs. plastic, cloth diapers vs. disposables, organic sheets vs. non-organic, etc. etc.  It's difficult, too because a lot of these tend to be more expensive.  Unless you can find them gently used.  Then it's all worth it.



4.  Lifestyle changes.  Of course we'll have to change the way we do things, but our kids are going to learn from us by watching us.  So pretty much, I need to watch what I'm doing.  I think this means I'll have to limit my Netflix and blogging marathons when she gets older.  Not that I'm guilty of leading a bad lifestyle, but you start thinking about the things you do often and some of them don't sound like a good idea for my children.  Like Parks and Rec marathons. 

I feel this will be good though, because I can focus on getting us outside more.  Good for me and my kid!


Wednesday, April 24, 2013

My Birthday List

My birthday is next week.  I'm going to be 25.  25!!  How crazy.  I don't feel that old yet.  But you may want to ask me again when I'm holding a baby next year...

I decided to put together a list of gifts you could get me in honor of my birthday.

Just kidding, but I do really want these some day.



SALE, 10% OFF: Leaf and bird lariat in white gold, Bird necklace, leaf necklace, bird pendant



Linen Kitchen Towel with Branches, Natural BrownLinen Kitchen Towel with Spruce Trees, White
 This kitchen towel or even this one.



I wouldn't mind a beautiful rendition of 'Happy Birthday' sung to me by these boys:
 http://www.nuclearsalad.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/les-mis-510.jpg
Preferably ending in a huge and beautiful chord.


On that note, I'd also like the Les Miserables book by Victor Hugo.



This maternity shirt, but in blue.



These shoes.  I don't own a pair yet and I really want some.  Are they worth $50??


Anything I'm missing??

Monday, April 22, 2013

It's a......

The wait is over!  For you AND for us.

If you don't follow me on Instagram or Twitter then you probably haven't heard, but......





 GIRL!


The not-so-appropriate picture above is just proof, if you were wondering.  Below is a MUCH better picture of her :)



 

Thursday, April 18, 2013

Thoughts on a Thursday


Yes.  It's one of "those" posts.  The hodge-podge mess of random thoughts/whatever pops into my head.

Just stick with me on this, okay?  Okay.

1.  I have had a very similar dream now four times.  It involves a T-Rex running around trying to destroy everyone.  Each time I've escaped, but each time I've had to run around in stealth mode with my family or friends.  It's pretty intense. 

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m3tw208eTA1qjt9p1o1_500.gif

2.  Every time I come into the house when Nick isn't home and I go to the bathroom, I HAVE to check the shower.  Every.  Time.  You never know when a creeper is going to be hiding out in there...


3.  Bloglovin' and I have a love-hate relationship.  I like it because I can organize the blogs I read like I did on Google Reader (I'm OCD like that), but I'm just now noticing that some of the blogs I used to follow didn't convert to BL and if a blog changes addresses, it won't update for me.  Annoying.  I just wish Google wouldn't have been so mean.


4.  I told Nick that we need to start collecting Legos for our future children.  And for us.  I can't wait to play with Legos again.
 
http://themetapicture.com/media/funny-Lego-pieces-stick-together.jpg

5.  I would just like to say that buying a new wardrobe because your pregnant is awful.  Well, not completely awful because I get new clothes (yes!), but awful because when you try to wear something that used to look good on you and not longer does.. it sucks.  AND it's also very difficult to try and find maternity clothes that don't cost $234098.  Besides online, which I'm very new at, but TRYING to do.


6.  On that note, I'm going to attempt to shop for clothes online this weekend.  My first time ever.  Wish me luck!


7.  I don't normally get political or over-opinionated on here, but I do want to mention this.  Washington is trying to get a bill passed that will require insurers to cover abortions.  Many people in the senate, including the governor, are in favor of this.  I don't really have a lot to say about this except I really don't approve.


8.  Michelle mentioned this yesterday on her blog, but I want to mention it as well.  I get so tired and disgusted of how much the news talks, picks apart, and disects every little detail about major tragedies.  They milk it for every. single. thing.  Someone else got hurt? Let's talk about it.  A lot.  A new video appears? Let's show it 50 times in a row.  Why not show the people being heroes?  Why not discuss how terrible it was for the first day and then let everyone try and recover from it?


And now, as I step off of my soap box, I would like to leave you all with Ron Swanson's first banana.



PS.  THE ultrasound is TOMORROW!  Expect an announcement very soon...

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Storytime: Tank


When we were still attending school, Nick had a pet turtle: Tank.

I'm here today to share his story with you.

In 2009, Nick decided that he really wanted a pet turtle.  He had one growing up and he thought it'd be a fun pet to have while at school and in his apartment.

I was all for it because, well, turtles are pretty adorable and why not?!

We went to the local pet store together and picked one out (after buying the necessary starter kit from Petsmart).

When you go to the store, these little turtles (Nick got a red-eared slider) are EVERYWHERE inside this huge tank.  I really wish I had a picture to show you all. They're ADORABLE!

Anyways, they are incredibly tiny and cute.  Nick got Tank (great name, right?) and he was so small.

This picture is so cute.
 If I had to guess his size, it'd be only 1-2 inches across.


Over time he got bigger, of course, and he started doing some sunbathing on his big rock.

Well, this sunbathing started becoming quite entrancing because he would go into these crazy poses to, we assume, balance on the rock.


We started calling this his turtle yoga time.




He was such a fun turtle.

When we were moving out of our house in Ellensburg, I was cleaning his tank and it accidentally cracked on that SAME big rock and we just couldn't afford a new tank (do you know how expensive they are?!).  So, we had to get rid of him.  He went to a great family, though, that had other turtles for him to play with.  I'm sure he's well taken care of now.

Moral of this story: even turtles agree that yoga is good for the soul.

Monday, April 15, 2013

Obsessions: Musicals

This is the beginning of a long on-going series about my various obsessions.  Whatever they may be at the time.


One obsession that I have always had, and hope to keep, is that of musicals.

I'd like to think that I inherited that wonderful trait from my grandmother.  She was always a huge fan of them and always sang along.  She also had an amazing voice.

I think one of the reasons why I love them so much is because they tell a story.  And I also grew up watching Disney movies.  Those are ALL basically musicals.

A few of my all-time favorites that I will always sing at the top of my lungs are:


My Fair Lady
Audry Hepburn is amazing.  Although, I also equally adore the Broadway version with Julie Andrews (AND Rex Harrison).  I love the music, the lyrics, the sassy-ness, and the humor.  SUCH a great musical.


Wicked

I LOVE love LOVE Wicked.  I can't believe it took me four years to go see it (okay, I know, because it's money), but my aunt went to see this in Seattle and bought me the soundtrack.  I fell in love.  It may have something to do with liking the Wizard of Oz already, but whatever.  It's an amazing musical to see live.


Les Miserables
Both the original Broadway version (I only have the London Broadway version) and the movie soundtrack are my favorite.  I jumped on this train only right before the movie came out.  Shame on me.  But, Nick was a fan of it way before the movie came out so that counts as something, right?
PS.  I just might be listening to this while typing out this post...


Sound of Music
http://cdn.sheknows.com/articles/2010/11/sound-of-music-blu-ray.jpg
I just have a mad crush on Julie Andrews.  Sidenote: her voice came on during the fireworks show in Disneyland and I swear she has the voice of dreams and happiness.  I want a soundtrack of just her reading to me and giving me motivating and inspiring advice.  It'd be fantastic.


Phantom of the Opera
I still have yet to see this live, but I did watch the live version that's on Netflix (GO SEE IT!).  I thoroughly enjoy trying to sing along with this one and watching Gerard Butler sing as the phantom.  Ahhhhhh...



Of course I could add a million more.  My honorary mentions have to be: The Music Man, Wizard of Oz, Chicago, and Singing in the Rain.

What are your favorites?

Friday, April 12, 2013

A Glimpse into Facebook

This could be a snarky post on why Facebook is ridiculous, silly, annoying, and everything else, but instead I'm going to keep it light and happy.

You will now be entering..
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdRpq4fQhyphenhyphenYJTnDFJTd9Pw7s41K4VnrEmuAEEvyqkzufXKzEFP-bk0KPI00D1-CCZ22NEWsJKUq3uZq7RLB8KoY9COeHkqvaBuoozjkl-Dp2v-RiQX-d-8uJcH712YysHQHUxPOwfE6d9X/s1600/The_Twilight_Zone_by_starskreem.jpg
Just kidding.
...my facebook profile picture world.

It's actually quite fun to go back and see all the crazy pictures that once flooded my profile.  That's one thing that makes Facebook fun.

I promise I won't include all 75 of them, yikes, but I will pick at least one from each year.  The best, in my opinion.


First off, we have the year 2007.  First year (besides '06) of college.



Apparently I went through 21 profile pictures then.  21!!! What was wrong with me?  I don't know. Maybe a Facebook craze.  But it all ended with this...a very emo and over-edited one:





Let's move on to 2008.  A year of.. WHAT?!  21 profile pictures again.  I'm actually embarrassed of myself.  But, let's continue.  I'll pick out the best ones.

Right: GET IT?!  A muscle. Yes. I'm very clever and witty.


Ahhh... the look to the left look.  Very good.  Very original.
PS.  The left one is the first time I ever had wavy hair.  I have tried and failed to recreate that look.  Sad.



Now it's time to move onto 2009.  A more sophisticated year with only 14 changes.  YES!  It should also be noted that this is the year Nick and I started dating.  A lot of couple shots.






And, well... the rest is pretty much history.  2010 to now, 2013, was filled with very few changes.  More couple shots, wedding pictures, engagement pictures, you name it.






That last picture was the profile picture for a WHOLE year.  GO ME!

Now, you have experienced my FB and I can finally delete it.

Just kidding...