Pregnancy week: 24

   This week has been a rather slow week in the blog world for me, and I apologize for my lack of appearances. Justin and I have been crazy busy since my last post, and I, unfortunately, think this upcoming week will be the same. Sadly, there will be no belly picture corresponding with week 24 on this post, since I accidentally left my camera chord in Mississippi, and I am in SC for the week, spending some much needed time with the family. 

  As soon as Justin pulled in the drive on Friday afternoon, we hopped in the car again to make our way towards Athens, GA. While staying with his parents for the weekend, we were able to fellowship with some great friends and hear some good preaching at Moriah Primitive Baptist Church, as it was the weekend of their Annual Meeting. Then on Sunday, we met my mom and my aunt in Madison, GA for them to taxi me back to SC for the week.

   Monday night, several of my aunts went in together to throw Little and me a very cute and sweet baby shower. With the piles of pink onesies, sleepers, jumpers, and pacifiers, this baby most definitely will look like a girl. I've been just sitting and staring and organizing the baby clothes as I imagine what Little will look like, what she'll look the cutest in, and if all of the pink will clash with the red hair she might have... :)

  In week 24, babies are supposed to be a little over a pound, since they are gaining about 4 ounces a week at this point. We found out on Friday that Little was already weighing in at 1 pound 6 ounces. So, she's definitely getting her nutrients.  Most of her movements are now visible from the outside of my belly, and she generally likes to throw her biggest parties right as I lay down to go to sleep. Her little kicks and squirms are quite entertaining to watch, and for the first time in my life, I'm quite comfortable showing off my belly.

    I'm not lacking inspiration this week, just time. I'll catch up next week and share some of the precious pictures I've taken over the week. Apologies for my absence!

A Little Update.

  
   Doctor's appointments are somewhat nerve wracking, especially when it is time for your sugar test. I've been eating lots of fruits and vegetables, trying to stay away from overly fatty foods, and regulating my salt intake since I found out about Little. But the butterflies still come when I'm sitting in the chair having my finger pricked and the nurse says, "Hopefully you'll be our first today to pass the 1 hour glucose test and not have to come back for the 3 hour one. We'll know in 30 seconds." Yikes.

That 30 seconds felt like an eternity. The machine beeped, signifying the test was complete, and the nurse calmly walked across the room to check it out. "Your number needs to be below 140 and yours is perfect at 116." Sigh of relief.

  Doctor's appointments can also be exciting. Especially when your doctor surprises you with an unscheduled ultrasound. Since my last ultrasound showed there maybe an extra digit on one of our dear Little's feet, my OB wanted to have a closer look. All of the vitals were still measuring as they should, ranging from 23-24 weeks of gestation. Her legs were measuring a week ahead of time, meaning she may not be short like her momma. She's already packing on the pounds, weighing in at 1 lb. 6 oz.! And her toes - it looks like she's normal with 5 toes on each foot.  

  I've gained around 5 lbs now, my blood pressure is in normal range, and our little girl is growing perfectly.  We couldn't ask for a better report!

Pregnancy: Week 23.

As I sit here and think of what to say, I can't help but giggle at the distraction that's wiggling inside of me. Her movements have been getting stronger by the day, making my smiles get bigger by the minute.  The weeks are ticking by, the belly is growing, and the Victoria Secret catalogs are getting more and more discouraging as my articles of clothing continue to get tighter.

Besides the pesky ache up near my rib cage, which apparently is caused by everything expanding and stretching, at 23 weeks I feel great. Which I will take as a blessing.

As we continue on our merry way through the midsection of this pregnancy, it is only natural to assume we have picked out a name for our little one. We have certainly been asked this question lately, and I always feel like I am letting people down when I give them the answer...

No, sorry, we have not picked out a name yet. Honestly, we probably won't be able to decide on one completely until we meet Little for the first time - and even if we think we have fully decided on a name, we still probably won't spill the beans until she's born. We like to keep people guessing.

Don't get us wrong, we are contemplating names, have a list of our favorites on our refrigerator, and even give a few a test run while talking to Little through my belly. We are preparing, we have just come to the realization that we get to name a human. A human! And we will have to call this human by the name we pick for a very long time. Man, that's a big commitment, one that does not need to be taken lightly. :) At least that's how we see it.

For now we shall stick with Little. Little Tyson. :)

A Short and Sweet Vacation.

  From McComb, MS to Townsend, TN it's about a 9 hour drive - with a pregnant woman on board, it tends to take a little longer. But when the family is vacationing in the mountains, gathering around the campfire, and tubing down the river, its really hard to resist the urge to just hop in the car and go join them... So that's what we did. 

  We only had two days. Two glorious days of hiking, biking, and just spending a little time catching up with the family.

One of our precious nieces, Gabs.

Our other niece, Lillian.

Cades Cove, Tennessee.

Clogged Arteries.

Yikes is all I can say!

  A friend called inviting us to a rather large get-together at his place last night. Only instruction: bring something to fry.

  When we walked in, everything looked healthy enough - sliced zucchini, peppers, sweet potatoes, onions, green beans. And then we saw the batter. Everything was to be fried. Everything was to be battered. As more and more people arrived, more and more food showed up - chicken wings, shrimp, hotdogs, sausage, cheese, wontons.


  Thankfully I brought a few fresh apples and sliced them up. I tried to place myself by the fruit bowl instead of the fried platter for most of the night.
 Justin and I were put on dessert duty. We made fried blueberry pies out of canned biscuits and homemade blueberry filling, fried Oreos, and creme filled doughnuts. (For the record, I did not succumb to the temptation to eat any of these tasty treats. I would say I showed very good restraint as I clung tight to my apple.) This party definitely had a fair food vibe going on.

  Unfortunately the same restraint was not shown towards other parts of the meal, so I am afraid that a fruit and vegetable diet was strictly enforced today.  :)

Pregnancy: Week 22.

 The weeks just seem to melt away. The little kicks are getting stronger, the belly is getting bigger, and nighttime heartburn has decided to bless me with its presence.

Now that we're past the halfway point, it is hard to believe how fast the time is flying by. As I look back, it is fun to remember all of the excitement and anticipation Justin and I experienced in the first trimester as we waited to hear Little's heartbeat at my first doctor's appointment, see her jump and wiggle on the ultrasound screen, and tell our friends and family about our new addition once we were drawing near to the 2nd trimester. As hard as it was to keep it to ourselves for several weeks, it was quite special keeping a secret so sweet just between us for a brief moment in time.  

  People have told me all along "enjoy it, because it'll be over before you know it!"  Turns out, they aren't kidding. So far, pregnancy has been pretty amazing. From the first glimpse of the little wiggle worm to feeling her kick, it is incredible that something human, something alive, something so amazing can be residing within my lower abdomen and in just a few months, I will be holding her in my arms.

  I've said it before, but I feel I must say it again, the best thing about pregnancy is feeling the baby move and being able to share that joy and excitement with your husband. It has been incredible how hard the kicks have become in the past couple of days and how excited my other half gets when he lays his head on the expanding bump and can identify the repetitious ninja kicks coning from inside. He giggles, laughs, and encourages Little to kick mommy harder next time! It is quite entertaining.  

  On another note, one thing I am truly grateful for during this pregnancy is Google. As the weeks fly by and I begin to realize at a greater extent than ever before: I'm quite clueless about newborns. Then the nervousness sets in and I become obsessive. I obsess over foods I can and cannot eat. So I can't eat parsley, but can I eat cilantro? Solution: Google it. Can stretch marks really be avoided or are they genetic? How big should I be at week # ___?  What is placenta encapsulation? Oh no! I missed a prenatal vitamin, what should I do? And from one of my biggest, quite humorous in retrospect, freakout moments- Is it going to hurt the fetus if I used Aloe Vera on my sunburn?

  It has definitely been a learning experience so far, this whole pregnancy thing. Our excitement grows daily, as does the oh-goodness-what-have-we-gotten-ourselves-into feeling. We have a lot to learn, but also realize that we have a lot of happiness to look forward to as well. For now, I enjoy the kicks, the belly, and the Tums that relieve the nighttime heartburn.  

Project Nursery: Started!

  So, I'm really not one of those who can't wait to set up the nursery or have been out buying baby items since the day we found out we were pregnant. In fact, I have only bought a few things for Little so far, since I only recently made a decision on a theme for the nursery or how on earth all of the furniture is going to fit neatly in such a small space.

  

   Now that we are officially down to a single income household, I realize there has to be some limit to my spending and an explosion of my creativity when it comes to this little room. So, I've started with a few DIY projects and a Goodwill shopping trip to supply the room with cutesy yet inexpensive decor.

    I'd like to share just a taste of how the nursery is coming along. We still have lots of projects to complete and wall ornaments to hang, but with 4 months left to go, we have plenty of time to make it perfect.

  Crib: Gift from my parents

 Canopy: $3 at Goodwill

Twin Bed with Mattress: $20 at an estate auction
Quilt: Birthday gift from Bed Bath and Beyond.

My DIY projects.
3 Flowered-Wire Circles (which will most likely hang above the changing table)
Wooden Circles used for cross-stitching covered in fabric. (Will be wall art.)

Best. Cookies. Ever.

These could be, quite possibly, the best cookies ever. Due to an unfortunate craving, I ran across the recipe for this little piece of heaven and decided to give it a try. So, if you are in need of a change from the ordinary chocolate chip, try these wonderful treats for yourself!

 

Magic in the Middle Cookies 

Chocolate Dough

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup granulated sugar (plus extra for dredging)

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
1/4 cup smooth peanut butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large egg plus 1 large egg yolk

Peanut butter filling

3/4 cup peanut butter, crunchy or smooth, your choice

3/4 cup confectioners’ sugar

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F. To make the dough: In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt. In another medium-sized mixing bowl, beat together the sugars, butter, and peanut butter until light and fluffy. Add the vanilla and the egg, beating to combine, then stir in the dry ingredients, blending well.

2. To make the filling: In a small bowl, stir together the peanut butter and confectioners sugar until smooth. With floured hands or a teaspoon scoop, roll the filling into 26 one-inch balls.

3. To shape the cookies: Scoop 1 tablespoon of the dough (a lump about the size of a walnut), make an indentation in the center with your finger and place one of the peanut butter balls into the indentation. (I thought it was easiest to just separate the dough into 26 pieces like the filling so I didn’t run out or have lots of leftovers.) Bring the cookie dough up and over the filling, pressing the edges together cover the center; roll the cookie in the palms of your hand to smooth it out. Repeat with the remaining dough and filling.

4. Roll each rounded cookie in granulated sugar, and place on the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 2 inches between cookies. Use the bottom of a drinking glassto flatten each cookie to about 1/2-inch thick.

5. Bake the cookies for 7 to 9 minutes, or until they’re set and you can smell chocolate. Remove them from the oven, and cool on a rack.

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Pregnancy: Week 21.

 I love every part of being pregnant. I love how my belly is beginning to become perfectly round. I love how Little's really starting to show her kung fu skills quite regularly and how my sweet husband is already so in love with her, too. Since the porch swing has been hung, we've been enjoying our evenings sitting and daydreaming and feeling for the thumps that indicate that Little may be hearing all of the big plans we have for her.

  This week, according to all of the baby articles I've read, Little should weigh almost 1 whole pound and measure 10.5 inches long - like a carrot :) I've gained approximately two pounds since my pre-pregnancy weigh-in but that doesn't keep me from needing everything maternity in the clothing department.

   Overall, I'm sleeping well - only waking up a few times at night to switch positions or use the bathroom. And my cravings as of recently include eggs, oranges, Special K, and oddly enough, sour cream. My favorite part of the past week has been seeing the look on my lovie's face when he spots me from the side and realizes the Little bump really is growing and that we are really having a baby. The realization has taken place at least weekly since I started to show. It's a glorious moment, always, as we continue to learn and grow, and make new realizations in preparing our home and family for a new wonderful addition.   

  

Holiday Recap.

   As this 4th of July came and went, Justin and I experienced one of our first holidays where we were unable to be with either of our families. As strange as this was, and as much as I wished I was either eating homemade pimento cheese sandwiches with my family or in Athens, GA visiting with the new niece (and other wonderful family members), it was nice to have a little time for ourselves.

  Sunday was our major 4th of July celebration day. We wore our patriotic colors and ventured down to the Bogue Chitto river to join friends who host a grand celebration every year. There was barbecue, potato salad, baked beans, and everything else a good southern picnic needs.

  The clouds covered the sun most of the day, which dropped the temperature from around 100 to approximately 90 degrees, even cooler in the shade. This was a nice change of pace from the summer heat we've grown accustom to and made for a nice relaxing day.

  ...And what is the 4th without fireworks? After dark, by the river bank, we all gathered with cameras and spouses to watch the beautiful explosions.

  Monday, the actual 4th of July, was spent distributing holiday cupcakes to neighbors and friends who had to work and making homemade peach ice cream. Justin worked in his shop most of the day making a swing to adorn our, until now, empty front porch. It isn't painted yet, but will be a dainty blue to stand in contrast with our house color.  (Tulips are my favorite flower, so Justin surprised me with a thoughtful additive to his latest creation.)

We ended the 4th by eating barbequed ribs, grilled sweet corn, and playing Phase 10 with our great new friends.

  To conclude our long holiday weekend, Justin and I took a day trip to Dauphin Island, AL to spend several hours on the beach and exploring the fort and other nautical attractions. As we were sitting on the beach, whether it be because Little liked the heat or was getting a little aggravated with the few hours of sunsoaking, she was quite the active fetus. Justin was finally able to, without a shadow of a doubt, feel her kung fu kick. It's funny how something so small, something we can't even see, can melt our hearts and bring giant smiles to our faces.

  Later we ventured back towards McComb, stopping for local seafood appetizers before we left the island and for dinner in Hattisburg at the ever missed Chic-Fil-A.

 

     Overall, this weekend was one for the memory books. We're aware that our spontaneous trips and acting on a whim will be brought to an end shortly, but for now we're enjoying the time we have. It's a fun ride towards parenthood. :)

Happy Celebrating!

   As we prepare to celebrate our great nation's birthday, there is much to be done around the house - baking and decorating being my favorite chore! The 4th of July always brings a smile to my face, as ours is usually accompanied by great friends, barbeque, and the smell of a few fireworks.

  Since this is one of the last holidays Justin and I will spend as a family of simply two, we are trying hard to soak in our time together and make as many memories as we can as a couple before our Little arrives. We are anxiously looking forward to the precious time we will spend with her when she arrives and the sweet memories we will make, but now, in our last few months, we are intentionally keeping the focus on us and the relationship we share.

 I hope your holiday will be just as special as ours.

Be happy. Be safe. Have fun.

Extra! Extra!

 Today was the day that I had been anticipating for quite some time: Little's 20 week anomaly scan. She is now big enough to have her organs checked and measured to provide us with a little information on how she is developing. Although she was quite the wiggle worm, the sonographer was able to look at:

• The shape and structure of her head. (At this stage severe brain problems are visible.)
•  Little's face to check for a cleft lip.
• Her spine.
• The abdominal wall, to make sure it covers all the internal organs at the front.
• Little's heart.
• The stomach.
• The kidneys.
• (and finally) her arms, legs, hands and feet. 

The sonographer also checked my amniotic fluid level, position of the placenta (which is posterior), and the umbilical cord.

Everything seemed to check out just fine and Little is developing normally in every area, except for maybe one...

We caught several glimpses of her feet, so I jokingly said, "does she have all 5 toes, or only 5 toes, rather?" The sonographer began trying to count Little's itty-bitty nubs and said, "It looks like, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ...6? on the left foot."  Justin and I looked at each other, giggled, and informed the nurse that Little may take after me after all.  She couldn't tell us anything for sure, since the toes are tiny, tiny at this point, and said if we were worried about it then she was sure there was a post-delivery procedure the doctors could perform to correct it, if Little did end up having more olphalanges than normal.

I'm pretty sure that, although my brothers-in-law like to strike up a picking session every time they notice my funky toe, if Little does have an extra toe, we'll keep it just how God intended for it to be - on her foot. ;)

Besides the uncertainty with the number of toes, the doctor says, from what they can tell at this point, it looks like I'm carrying a perfectly healthy baby girl. And with that, I'm happy!