18 Weeks + It's a BOY

On Valentine's Day Robert and I headed to our doctor's office to find out our little one's gender. We were both pretty anxious, and had been counting down the days for about 3 weeks. I had been back and forth since we found out we were expecting, never quite deciding if I thought it was a little girl or boy....until a week before our appointment. Both Robert and I were absolutely convinced it was a girl. I had always heard if you don't really start showing early on (around 12-13 weeks) it's more than likely a girl. False!

When the ultrasound tech finally took us back and showed us (very clearly) that we were going to be having a little boy I could hardly believe it! We didn't have a preference wether it was a boy or girl, so we were of course very,very excited. It was a really good experience for the both of us. Finding out the gender definitely made us both feel much more connected to the little bell pepper (it's "fruit size") and I am pretty sure Robert and this little man child already have a special bond.

I guess my theory of all of us Wixom girls only having boys is proving true thus far (I only have sisters, 5 actually. Right now there are 4, almost 5 grandkids and they are 5 for 5, boys!). 

Cravings/Aversions:

Since I have gotten out of the "sickness" stage I wouldn't say I have strong cravings, but more aversions. There are just certain things that don't sound appealing, at all! Breakfast has become a big deal to me, and when I usually have the biggest cravings. At the beginning I was on a toast/bagel with cream cheese phase, but starting about week ago I have been on a smoothie kick. There is just something about liquid sweetness that sounds so appealing all the time. Now that I think about it, it may be a sign that I need to drink more liquids. Whoops. 

Books:

One thing about this whole birth and pregnancy business that I am admit about is being prepared. I know there are a lot of things that are out of my control when it comes to this whole birthing and raising a child thing, but being unprepared is not going to be one of them. Over the past 3 months I've read What to Expect When You're Expecting, Babywise, Your Girlfriends Guide to Pregnancy and am currently reading Bringing up Bebe. I have a list of about 8 more books I plan to read. So far my favorite pregnancy book has been Girlfriends Guide and baby book has been Babywise. I am not done with Bringing up Bebe yet, but I am LOVING it. (Highly recommended) 

Exercise:

For those of you who know me pretty well, exercise (running & cross fit) have always been pretty important to me. I have cut down running to about 20-25 miles/wk, added lower impact exercises, and lift 3 days/wk. I figure once my belly gets a little bit bigger I will have to make modifications, but so far it's been great! 

Concerns/Worries:

Right now my biggest concern is not knowing where we are going to be having this baby! Robert and I are still deciding what school he should accept, and thus our moving and birthing plans are on hold. It stresses me out a little, but making the wrong decision stresses me out more, so I am all for us taking time. Also, I know baby boy is healthy, but it concerns me a little bit that I'm still not really showing (this dress shows more than my normal clothes do). 

Baby:

Little boy is now the size of a bell pepper, has fully functioning ears and weighs 7 oz. During ultrasounds he is practically using my body as a little gym, but I have yet to feel him wiggling around (and anxiously awaiting to feel him!). 

A Little Refashion + 16 Weeks

Hey, guess what? We are having a baby! 

Back in early July (of 2013) Robert and I were pleasantly surprised when we saw the second little faint line on the pregnancy test! I definitely had a few days of panic-okay, maybe it was a few weeks of panic. By the time I got to about week 9 (3 weeks later) I was feeling over the panic and embraced the fact that we were having a baby and the panic grew to excitement. March was sure to be a great month! We told our families when I hit 13 weeks; a week later I had some pretty bad cramping, started to bleed and devastatingly the pregnancy ended in miscarriage. A hospital stay and a big fat hospital bill later, things were getting much better around these parts. 

During the first few weeks of that pregnancy I was perusing around Pinterest and fell in LOVE with the idea of doing a weekly maternity series. Everyone I had talked to that had done one loved doing it, and highly recommended it. I had seen the classic chalkboard series, but it just wasn't me and I wasn't completely in love with it. Plus, I wasn't about to spend an hour writing on a chalkboard for a picture. However; I did find this series and loved the idea of wearing the same dress through the whole thing!

I bought two of the same striped maternity shirts (one in size up than I normally wear). I took out the rouching in the larger one, chopped it off below the arm pits, sewed the two together, and waaallah a new maternity dress. 

Long story short, come November Robert and I had another little surprise! This time we waited a little longer to tell people (for obvious reasons), and are thrilled to add another little addition to our family. I also got to pull this lovely dress out of the back of my closet. 

I take the pictures myself, and right about week 15 I finally figured out how I wanted the self-portait to look.(How zoomed I should be, my stance, in the middle or off to the side, etc) So, sorry for the inconsistency in the first 3 pictures. 

I am technically currently 17 weeks, but since we find out the gender on Friday (TWO DAYS!!), I wanted to wait to take my picture then. Also, I am secretly hoping I will actually have a bump by then. Right now I am going through the "Is she pregnant or getting fat?" stage; and looking at these pictures I sure do feel like I am documenting myself getting fat! ha, hopefully in a few weeks it wont feel like that.

July 22nd couldn't come sooner!

And Then There Were Three...

**** July 2014 (I clearly had pregnancy brain when I made this :)

And a late Merry Christmas to you all. 

This is the card that we gave our parents for Christmas this past year. Since we were only 10 weeks along over Christmas, we wanted to keep it under wraps for a while. Hence, our Christmas card that is 7 weeks late.

We are over the moon!