Pregnancy - WEEK 11 (Jan 27-Feb 2)

Good news!!!! The bump has showed up!!!!! It still looks like a beer belly to me, but you can definitely see a difference from last week. It’s just amazing how much one can change in a week!!

I did have another episode with the lovely morning sickness this week. On Monday the 28^th I woke up in the early morning hours and just wanted to die. I have no idea what triggered it this time, but baby just wasn’t happy. I couldn’t even get down water until the middle of the afternoon, but by evening I ate a sandwich. And thank the good God it stayed down.

I didn’t get much exercise in this week. I blame Ryan. He was out of town all week due to work, so I didn’t have my work out buddy. However, I did get A LOT of rest. Like shitloads people. And it was glorious.

That being said, I’m still so exhausted.  With all that rest and relaxation, you’d think I’d be all Energizer Bunny. But I’m not. I’m more like Loafing Sloth. I’m still not sleeping at night. I wake up at random times and can’t get back to sleep. And oh my gawd!!! The dreams I’ve had! Some have been crazy real. Others are freaking scary ass nightmares. Then there’s some that just make no sense at all.

I’ve dreamed about work. And not getting stuff complete. That makes sense. But the one that doesn’t…..I dreamed I was working at my old college restaurant again, and it was a horribly busy night, and we were chugging Hurricane’s in the back (those are really strong ass drinks). None of that is weird. Except for the fact that I was 31 and still working as a waitress in a college town. Not that that’s bad, it’s just odd.  But the super weirdo part is the manager was a giant rabbit. Like with huge furry ears and everything. And he kept yelling at us to get food out when there was no food to get out.

Just slightly bizarre.

Moving on to more gloriousness and less weirdness, I am gaining a lot of weight. I’m now up to 156-7 depending on the morning. In the back of my mind I’m all, ‘YOU NEED TO PUT DOWN THE CHOCOLATE FATTY!!!’ Then it’s like I have no control over my actions. I just continue to grab for the candy jar, or somehow make my way down to the vending machine, or an employee freaking brings me a huge rice krispy treat that I suck down like a hoover. But I’m beginning to see that all this processed sugar is NOT a good idea. Despite what the baby wants.

So I’m going to start keeping in mind what I shove in my mouth, add more veggies & protein, and try to not end up one big round chocolate bar by the end of this pregnancy. We’ll see how it goes.

Another glorious fact about being pregnant……acne. EVERYWHERE! I have more pimples than a 13 year old boy! It could be because of all the crap I eat, but I’ve also read it’s part of being pregnant. Awesome. I mean, I’ve been pretty blessed with fairly clear skin my whole life. And it’s not like I have huge whiteheads on 90% of my face, it’s just that I have more acne than I’ve ever had ever before! I have back-ne, and chest-ne, and I even found a pimple in my ear! MY EAR PEOPLE!!! WTH. That being said, it truly isn’t that bad. I mean, I know it could be way worse. It’s just one of those things that I’m not used to and now have to get used to it.

On to the baby!

Little Wik is more than 2 inches long already! And weighing about a 1/3 of an ounce. It’s head is about the same length as it’s body. And hair follicles are starting to form on that little noggin! Fingernail and toenail beds are developing and by next week the nails themselves will start growing! The torso is straightening out and lengthening. Baby can stretch and do somersaults, and forward rolls! Little acrobat in there! While it’s still too early to tell the sex, testes are developing if it’s a boy and ovaries if it’s a girl!!! Craziness!!

Tune in tomorrow for WEEK 12!!!! Which is what I’m currently at! So we’ll finally be caught up! Also, there has been some questions about names, and yes we’re already thinking about some. I’ll get into more of that tomorrow too!!! 

Oh, and thanks for all the compliments on the chalkboard! I actually made it! I took pics, so I'll put up a tutorial next week! It was so easy!!

Pregnancy WEEK 10 (Jan 20-26)

OK, first, I know that I've been overloading y'all with baby bullshit. You're just going to have to suffer the rest of the week, then I'll go back to only doing 1-2 posts about baby per week. But I wanted to give a big THANK YOU!!! to all of you that have commented or emailed or texted!! I love that some of you love my updates!! It truly means a lot. And if i'm not emailing you back after your comments, then I probably don't have your email address, so send it to me!!!

OK, on to the recap:

Ohhhhhhh my…….my, my, my……..my sweety-sweet, yummy chocolate. GET IN MY BELLY!!!!

It’s getting bad my friends. Baby is alllllll about the chocolate, ice cream, and get this……spicy pickles!!! Could I be any more of a pregnant cliché?!?! Probably not.

I’ve put on a few more pounds. Obviously. If my diet consists of only empty junk food calories and high sodium foods. Way to be nutritious Laura. Good job. I’m about 154, so I’ve gained about 4 lbs so far. Not too bad. I have no idea how that ranks with what I’m supposed to be gaining. Probably should check that out at some point.  I have noticed that it’s a slight struggle to get into my pants. Oh the joy. And I also look like I’ve got a slight beer gut going on. Sign me up for freaking Miss America. And when I win, I want my crown made out of dark chocolate.

I tell ya, it’s so odd to NOT be worrying about my weight, or the scale being a flat chested bitch, or only eating air for 7 days because it’s the latest diet fad. So odd. It’s surreal really. I mean, I’ve spent the better part of 3 years on this quest to lose weight, and now I’m gaining it, and I have to remind myself that it’s for a good reason.  The best reason.

I am trying to watch the chocolate intake, and I bought frozen yogurt, instead of the high calorie ice cream, and I’m trying to add more fruits and veggies to my diet. So I’m doing OK on the health stuff, I think anyway. I could be eating French fries and big macs all day, but I’m not. Give me a cookie. No seriously. I really want a cookie.

Ryan and I started going back to the gym this week. I tell ya, it’s been really good for me. Ya’ll know my loath love/hate relationship with the gym. I just don’t wanna. But when Ryan goes with me, or we make plans to go together, I’m excited! And I can’t wait to get home and go! I don’t think about excuses, or not wanting to go, I just WANT to go. It’s so foreign. It’s like I’m not even myself. I blame the baby. Is that wrong? Am I a terrible person for blaming the baby for making me like working out???? Where’s that padded cell? Because I think this paragraph solidifies my need to be in one.

Moving on. I’ve been feeling really good. The sleeping thing is still sketchy, but the exercise seems to help a little. I’m also watching my water intake two hours before bed, which has helped with the whole ‘getting up every 3 hours to pee’ thing. What’s weird is that I feel pretty energized all day. Like I have tons of energy and can go, go, go. Which is odd, I guess, during the first trimester. But you better believe when it hits 8pm, I’m done. Like, in bed, head on the pillow, about to pass out. It’s like all the energy just dies a quick agonizing death at that hour.

But I’m not complaining!! I’ll take this any day over not being pregnant. Hell, bring on more morning sickness! More exhaustion! More sleepless nights!!! I don’t care! I’m just happy I’m growing a little humanoid in my belly!!!

Let’s talk about the little person! Baby Wiksten is about 1.5 inches long! Growing fast and furious every single day. Bones and cartilage are forming and small indentations on the legs are developing into knees and ankles. Which, if Daddy has anything to say, will be used to play every sport on the planet. The arms are flexing! Get your tickets now for the Gun Show!!! (You can pay me in cupcakes.) But they are truly only about the size of this 1. Crazy huh?! Little teeth are forming under the gums. And Baby’s stomach is producing digestive juices, the kidneys are producing larger quantities of urine, and if the little one is a boy, it’s already producing testosterone!!! Startin’ those boys early!! Lol.

I can’t believe it’s already 10 weeks!!! Time is just flying! And we need to get a move on planning for this little present come August!!!

WEEK 9 (Jan 13-19)

First off, it looks like I'm mixed up in my weeks and chalkboard things. Oh well. Second, do you see that ghetto-booty?!?! Holy shit Batman. Talk about Badonkadonk.

Moving on.

Another big week for us this week!!!

First, there’s not much changed with me.  I’ve gained a few more pounds and crave chocolate and ice cream like a fat kid at a health camp craves Little Debbie's. It’s a serious deal folks. All I want is sweets. All.Day.Long. And to make matters worse, the stores have put out the freaking V-Day candy already, so it’s aisles and aisles of pink and red, foiled wrapped, chocolaty deliciousness! What normal human being would be able to turn down a bag of goodies, let alone a pregnant chick that has serious urges for chocolate?!

Pretty much if I don’t get chocolate when I start to crave it, things get scary peeps. Real scary. Like you better back the f*ck up if you don’t have a Twix in your hand when you talk to me. You might get bitch slapped.

At first, I was all about butterfinger blasts from Sonic. Ice cream, butterfingers, whipped cream, yeahhhhhh. I think I had one every day for 3 days straight. Needless to say the scale reflected that stellar judgment.

I decided that I needed to try and control the urges, just a little. Otherwise I’d be all Violet Beauregard from Willy Wonka in a few months. That does NOT need to happen. So I went out and bought a few bags of small Dove dark chocolate hearts. I probably pop about 4-6 a day, but that’s still only 200 or so calories. Better than the 8,000 in the ice cream, huh? So far, happy mama. And happy baby.

But if someone slips me a Little Debbie cupcake or double fudge ice cream, I might rip their arm off trying to mow it down. Just saying.

This week we went for our first ultrasound, remember the ‘chance’ for TWINS!!?? Well, everyone can breathe easy because there’s just one little one baking in there!! Thank the mother lovin’ Baby Jesus.

Ryan went with me and the lady led us down to a dark room with a recliner type thing and a huge TV screen on the wall. We explained that it was still super early, but there was a chance for twins, so we were there to rule that out.

I cannot freaking express to y’all how amazing it was to see our baby just hangin’ out, beating it's little heart, on the TV. AMAZING!!! We could see the head, and the butt, and little stubs for feet and hands. The heart was beating so fast, and you could see it!!!! Pitter-patter-pitter-patter!!

The baby measured at about 1 inch long! About the size of a large gummy bear, and that’s what it looked like too! The heart rate was 165 beats per minute. Still a little fast, but that’s normal. You could say that it’s a little extra fast and that means we’re having a girl……..but I think it’s still too early to tell.

Ryan was in awe. So was I really. I got a little teary-eyed. I was just so worried up until this point that there was nothing in there, ya know? I mean, it happens. It’s terrible, but it does. But once I saw that little person, I was so relieved!

It suddenly became really real. Like super real. Like, holy shitballs, we’re going to be parents!!!! All that waiting, and trying, and drugs, and tests, and worries, and more drugs……it finally worked!!! WE’RE HAVING A BABY!!!

We got pictures!!! Which I think I’ve already put up here, but here they are again:

As far as what the book says, Baby Wiksten’s on track with being an inch long. So that’s good!! I know it’s still early, but I’m glad it’s not already showing signs of gigantorness. With Ryan’s height, and I’m not a shorty myself, I have visions of birthing some 2 foot long toddler. Lol! 

The baby is actually a fetus now, and not just an embryo. The head is straightening out and is more fully developed. The liver, spleen, and gallbladder are forming. The baby is also making spontaneous movements of its arms and legs. I can’t feel it, but it’s doing a little happy dance in there!! Go baby go!

This week we also told my Mom and her boyfriend Hardy. OK, let me tell you how freaking hard it is to NOT tell your mother and best friend, whom you talk to about everything at least once a week, that you are pregnant. And keep that colossal secret for 7 weeks!!! Someone should have just shot me and put me out of my misery. (FYI, the reason we didn’t tell them sooner, was we were waiting to do it at our Christmas, and since we have about 24 different schedules to coordinate, we had to wait until Jan.)

First off, every time Mom called, I had to make a conscience effort to not talk about the pregnancy, or morning sickness, or cravings, or whatever. It was terrible! So most of our conversations for weeks were very one sided……her side.

And remember how I didn’t answer the phone that one time, and she flipped out, called my cousin on me, and thought I was dead and buried in some country ditch??? Well, imagine what weeks of one word answers will do to a worry-wart mother?? Not good folks, not good at all.

By the time we rolled around to this week, I could tell she was starting to get really worried. Her and Hardy both would call me and make sure I was ‘ok’. Ughhhhhh. I guess once a mother, always a mother huh? I sooo can’t wait for that part of the deal to start.

Anyways, we finally got to her house on the 18^th, said our hellos, put our bags away, cuddled with all the pups, and I promptly whipped out their ‘present’. I did remember the video this time!

Sorry, the video is really dark. As you can see, it took a little bit to 'get' the picture. But they were excited! This will be the 3^rd grandbaby for her and the 10^th!!! grandbaby for Hardy.

After we told them, we moved right along into all the important parts of when I’m due, etc, blah, blah, blahbitybabyblah. But they were the ones that got to see the sonogram pictures first. Which was fun.

Weird part, we’re all sitting around her table and talking about the baby, and Mom blurts out, ‘OH MY GAWD, I craved chocolate so bad when I was pregnant with you!!! It was terrible!! I would kill for a Snickers! There was this one time when I was teaching, and this kid had a Snickers sitting on his desk, and I SERIOUSLY considered confiscating it for my pure enjoyment!!’

Hummmmm, coincidence much? Mom craved chocolate, I crave chocolate. Maybe there is a little girl in there!!! I guess we have to wait till April to find out for sure!!

Pregnancy WEEK 8 (Jan 6-12)

Ok. Truckin’ right along in the weeks.

This week was a lot of ups and downs. First down was that I had a huge craving for Taco Bell. Bad, bad, badbadbad idea. I ordered the same thing I always do and promptly mowed it down like the champ I am. I knew right away, it wasn’t going to be good. About an hour after my taco-fat-fest I knew I had to try and relinquish my hold on my lunch. At work. That was awesome. What made it even more awesome is the only thing I had to combat my lovely breath was mini altoids. The awesomeness continues.  You better believe I made a stop at the store to get a ‘work set’ of toothpaste, brush and mouthwash.

I’ve learned a few things with the morning sickness episodes though. First off, to help with the nausea I need to eat right away when I feel hungry, or better yet, snack all day long. If I wait too long before getting something in my tummy, I just end up feeling miserable. I also can’t stuff my face. Oh, there’s a 7 layer chocolate cake sitting there?!?! Ummmmm, just a small sliver and not my normal truckload please.  And while 7-up helps with the nausea, I’m not a fan of all the chemicals in soda, especially now. So I’ve traded it up for some sparkling water that’s all-natural and zero calories. They have a lemon-lime flavor that helps a lot.

I’ve been extremely lucky to only get physically ill twice this whole time. And boy, when it gets physical, you better count me out for the rest of the day. It’s horrendous. Like the worst feeling ever. I haven’t had a stomach virus since like kindergarten, or more accurately, I haven’t had a horrible hangover that involved ‘stomach issues’ since about college. So it’s been awhile since I’ve prayed to the porcelain God. Lordy it’s awful. I just get so drained I can’t do much more than lay on the bathroom floor till I get everything out. Then I crawl to bed and burrow under the covers for 10 hours.

Of course the next day I felt better. Not 100%. But I could actually drink some water w/o wanting to hurl. Two days past, and I could actually eat. Oh the joy.

So, that was a downer. You probably don’t want to hear about all that yucky stuff, huh? Well, tough shit. You already read it. Hehehe.

Onto the good news! We finally went to the doctor!!!! I’ve known my OBGYN for awhile and he knows all my struggles with trying to get pregnant. But Ryan hadn’t met him yet, so I brought him along to the first appointment.

Nothing really special happened. The doctor kind of went over what his ‘views’ were on inducing, genetic tests, which hospitals to have the baby at and what options are at each one. He went over any questions that we had. And he also determined that ‘something’s growing in there’. Well, that’s a good sign Doc. Otherwise we need to start figuring out why my tatas are the size of grapefruits and I’ve been randomly puking.

The Doc did decide to do a early ultrasound the following week to rule out the possibility of twins. Ummmm, WHAT?!?! TWINS?!?! Yes, lets RULE OUT that possibility STAT please. I guess Clomid can cause twins to happen. And Ryan’s grandmother was a twin. Which, I think it only matters if it’s on the woman’s side, but whatever. Two strikes against me, for the love of God, lets make sure there’s only one little person growing in there! 

It’ll also be nice to ‘see’ the little one too!!! It’s so hard to get excited about something when you can’t see it, ya know?! So this will be fun!

As far as the baby’s going, it’s about ½ an inch right now. It’s looking more like a baby, and not a tadpole. Bonus! The upper lip is forming, and the cutest little button nose, and tiny little eyelids. The baby’s webbed fingers and toes are differentiating now!!!  The heart rate should be around 150 beats per min. Which is high, but that’s good for right now!

I can’t believe we’re already at 8 weeks!! This trimester is flying by!!!