Gettin' our learn on

Now that we've entered the third trimester (whoa!) it's time to get serious about enrolling in some of the voluntary classes our hospital has to offer.

I'm a bit overwhelmed by the amount of appointments/classes I now have...January and February are going to be busy!!

We are scheduled for a breastfeeding class (the thought still makes me giggle), an infant and child safety class, "what to expect in labor and pain management" and a tour of the labor suites. We'll keep ya posted as we complete the classes...

When it comes to labor I tread lightly in the research department. I know myself, and I know that sometimes ignorance is bliss :)

I did however buy a book about "active birth" which for the most part discusses getting your mind in the right place on that day....totally did NOT anticipate there being photos....of women....delivering babies....on all fours. Wowzers. I could have done without the visuals!!!

I prefer to read funny books about parenting, and there are a lot out there. One of them had a a few pages talking about how "babies basically try and commit suicide everyday....they roll off changing tables, stick their finger in outlets....what's wrong with them?!"  Crap. hahahah.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas Everyone!!

 

We are so blessed and thankful for our wonderful friends and family. Around here, we are celebrating 26.5 weeks of healthy pregnancy.

 

 

Hope everyone enjoys the holidays! XoXo

 

Craft Time!

I MADE SOMETHING!!

A few weeks ago, me and a friend got together and decided we were going to teach ourselves to knit and would make a hat that day. No big deal right? "We've got this." One of the website's said "allow yourself about 30 minutes to complete the project." LIARS.

Ummm....6 hours later the only thing we had mastered was casting on, and it turns out you can't make anything when that's all you know how to do.

We spent a lot of time watching YouTube videos and looking for easy patterns but we just weren't getting it. We both admitted that had we been trying this venture alone, we would have given up within the first hour haha.

We decided to call it a day and vowed to try again in a few days. Well, those few days helped. I finally had my "aha!" moment, and things started to make sense. Speed is certainly not my thing, and my accuracy is a little lacking too (I often forgot if I was supposed to be using the knit stitch or the purl stitch, but I just rolled with it). However, I have to say I'm pretty proud of my creation.

And because we bought 5 skeins of yarn (we're amateurs okay? I swear one of the patterns said we needed 300 something yards, lol) I have enough left to perhaps make myself a matching scarf, that might be done in time for next winter ;-)

Here's hoping the hat fits, and doesn't fall apart when we put it on her head. She better LOVE it and pass it down to her grandchildren one day. That's not TOO much to ask right?

99!!

Ninety-nine.....no, that's not the amount of pounds I've gained so far, but some days it sure feels like it!

Ninety-nine is the number of days left until the little girl's due date. We've officially hit the double digits - this is big news folks!!! It also means I've started to hit the worry-and-wonder-about-everything stage. 

The weirdo in me could not stop thinking about the number 99 today. I've got 99 problems, but a bitch ain't one  and OCD may be one. Here's some insight into a few things that crossed my mind today....

When our daughter is 99 years old, the year will be 2112. Wowzers.

She'll probably go through 99 diapers in the first 2 weeks of her life. Holy crap.

Wouldn't it be LOVELY if my labor only lasted 99 minutes? Ha!

Wait...what if she weighs 9.9 pounds when she is born? Yikes....

She'll be here in approximately 99 days, and I have approximately NINE HUNDRED and 99 things to do before then, but for tonight I think I'll just kick back, relax and think about how far we've come :)

Nope, not sick. Just pregnant....

Who doesn't love a stuffy nose?!  Everyone has a sexy voice when they are congested, right? Not so much.

The good news, I'm not sick - I'm just pregnant. And thankfully, last I checked pregnancy isn't contagious. The super scientific name for this condition is "rhinitis of pregnancy." Haha. I've read that in many women it starts as early as 8 weeks in and lasts the whollllllllle pregnancy, so I guess I won't whine if I only have to deal with it for the next three months. Okay, I won't whine TOO much. Three months sounds like a long time.

Apparently, higher amounts of estrogen during pregnancy can contribute to swelling in the mucous membranes lining the nose and even cause you to make more mucus. Plus, the amount of blood in your body increases during pregnancy, which can cause swelling in the tiny blood vessels in the lining of your nose and congestion in the surrounding tissue. Man, GROWING A CHILD really does play games with your whole body.

Truthfully, it's not bothersome...just noticeable (more so in the morning). Oh, and there are the occasional (very) mild nose bleeds. It could be worse!

Guard Dogs

Rocky and Taylor have definitely figured out that there is a baby in my belly. They are attached to my hip 24/7. When I'm laying down they especially love to snuggle next to the bump. Maybe it's them being jealous but I prefer to think of it as them being protective :)

Oh, and Rocky is making sure the baby girl gets to know his bark, that's for sure. He's been rather vocal lately.

A friend of ours shared a great article about preparing the dogs for bringing baby home, so we're going to start practicing in the hopes of an easy transition (AKA Rocky and Taylor better learn to not mess with nap time).

Love these punks.

Cindy Lou Who

Today was the ultrasound to see if baby would cooperate and give us the last spinal photo the doctors needed. Luckily they got it with no issues, and checked on everything else while we were there. They said she looks great!! Woo hoo!

We got a few more profile photos like this one:

Doesn't her little profile remind you of none other than the sweet Cindy Lou Who?

Or maybe these cuties from the old Puffs Plus commercials?

 

How can you not fall in love with that little nose?!

Soccer Mom

According to my pregnancy tracker my uterus is the size of a soccer ball. Ummm....has anyone come into contact with a soccer ball lately? They aren't small!!!

When I wake up in the morning my tum-tum tends to look and feel smaller, but as the day progresses the bump grows. By the end of the day I have such a sense of fullness, and I certainly can't pinch an inch on this belly.

I thought this was scary, but then I realized it's going to get bigger.  Terrifying territory up next.

Oh and, what about the other organs in my abdominal cavity?!? Thanks to the baby cavity, they have to be squished right?? In the words of OMC, how bizarre, how bizarre.

Speaking of soccer, someone's kicks sure are getting more powerful...

The bean is now more like the size of a beanSTALK. She's about a pound and half and 12 inches long. Footlong anyone?

I wonder what she's up to in there all day. Tim thinks she's trying to break outta there and that's what all the movement is. Maybe. Or maybe she's doing yoga. Or breakdancing. Or preparing her gymnastics routine for the 2032 Olympics.

24 week appointment

Today was our 24 week appointment. The little girl is absolutely perfect - growing just right, strong heartbeat.

Although...I think she was a BIT pouty that her daddy couldn't make it to the appointment, because she had her back turned to us during the sonogram, which she has never done before! Little punk.

My weight gain is on track (doesn't make the amount any less scary though!) and good news is that my blood pressure was the lowest it has been the whole pregnancy! Whoop whoop.

We talked about epidurals and labor pain management. Ahh! This is happening. I was traumatized by my first period, the word cervix makes me physically ill and I break out in hives when I see "medical tools." The doctor told me about labor tubs and I asked if I could wear a bathing suit. I'm sure this is going to go realllllllllllllllly well.

Thank goodness I love the heck out of our little girl, because I wouldn't go through this for just anyone ;-)

The Nursery

While I was in Florida last month visiting family, the hubs made some major progress on the nursery.

Before I left we bought a few paint samples (a light gray, a very pale pink, a more bold and sassy pink, and a very pale green-yellow color) and stared at them on wall in different lighting for awhile. I was pretty set on gray before we got the samples, because almost all the "inspiration nurseries" I looked at had gray paint. Tim was the one that encouraged getting pink samples, and after mulling over it for a day or two we both fell in love with the champagne pink color (pale pink)!

Not only did Tim paint while I was away (woo-hoo!) and purchase and hang the chandelier we'd been eye-ing,  he also researched baby furniture (safety, durability etc.) and bought a gorgeous white wood convertible crib and a white wood dresser. (He's the best). The furniture is so charming and looks adorable against the champagne pink walls.

Once I got back we also bought the matching changing table. Originally we had no intention of getting one, but after researching promotions it actually ended up being virtually free!

Here are some pictures of the pieces. The paint doesn't photograph true to color so ya'll are just going to have to come see it in person for yourselves :)

 

Oh, and the gray material on top of the changing table...those are the curtains we will soon hang.

In the coming weeks (or months probably) I'm going to add all the fun details to the room, including some gray paint stripes on an accent wall, artwork, bookshelves etc.

We've got our eye on this glider which we found at Target (online only) and Babies R Us. But haven't taken the plunge to purchase it yet. Won't it look adorable with the other gray and white accents?

One last thing, how cute is this owl that I had to snag for the baby girl from Pier One this weekend?

Super excited.

Forgetfulness

Wait what was I going to write this post about? I have become that forgetful pregnant lady. I was always hesitant to believe people when they said they got "pregnancy brain" but I'm here to confirm it's real and it sucks. Big time.

I feel so scatterbrained. I forget everything - where I saved work files, what I went to the store for, what I just read, paying bills, whether or not I replied to an email or text....you name it. I mean, I even forget to do things I LIKE DOING. What the heck. Talk about frustrating! I've also noticed that I get distracted more easily which really doesn't help the situation.

Writing down to-do lists helps (if I remember where I put that paper....). Good news is that things should return to normal shortly after having the baby. Thanks hormones...so generous.

Meanwhile, I apologize for my wishy-washy-ness. I've gotta get back to that list....I know there is something I was going to do....

Diapers, diapers, diapers

We've been stocking up on diapers for the last few months anytime we see a sale or have a coupon. We've bought several brands and figure we'll learn along the way what works best for the little girl.

At one point I was certain I wanted to cloth diaper. They are adorable, cheaper in the long run and more environmentally friendly. Then reality set in and I realized it just wasn't something I wanted to take on in the midst of everything else baby that will be going on. I know tons of families do it and I give them huge kudos.....who knows, we might give it a shot if there's a baby numero dos.

We'll continue to pick up some diaps along the way anytime we can catch a good deal.  But, we're feeling pretty good about the stockpile we have started (over 800 diapers of various sizes so far).

Diapers are one thing you WON'T see on this family's baby registry!

22 Weeks!

Happy Thanksgiving a couple days late! My original plan was to wear the same outfit in each of these photos...but that's going just about as well as my plan to take a photo each week. So I went all willy nilly and changed directions and made the photo black and white. Gettin' wild over here, watch out.

Oh and see those sexy specs? Yep, I had to give in and get a new prescription. Tim and my parents were seriously scared to drive with me and made me do it. Cheers to watching TV without squinting!

Feeling baby move...

Judging by our ultrasounds we have a future break dancer on the way. Tim said it looked like she was trying to break out of the womb, LOL.

It was strange to see her boppin' around, twisting and turning because I couldn't feel her at all. But over the past couple weeks I have been starting to feel movement. It is still fairly random, and not clearly defined (I certainly can't tell if she's kicking me, punching me, or doing somersaults) but it's something!

I was told because I have an anterior placed placenta it more or less creates an extra little cushion/buffer between, so many women don't feel strong movement until later in the pregnancy because of this.

What I can feel is pretty crazy though. It makes me jump every time. For real. Not because it's intense, but because it startles me. It's like a little flutter-pow-random-spasm feeling. You know exactly what I'm talking about right? Haha.

Frankly I'm proud of myself for not being totally freaked out by the whole thing. I've come a long way considering up until recently I would talk about pregnancy like it was a parasite-host relationship....a little "thing" feeding off the mother's flesh and blood. Yes, I'm that dramatic.  Talk about motherly instincts ;-)

XoXo,
The girl that vomited in her sex education seminar each year of school

Daddy-to-be

See that guy there on the right? He's going to be a great dad. 

I can't wait to see him with his little girl.

I couldn't ask for a better husband and friend to take this journey with.

Love you.

21 Week Anatomy Ultrasound

We had an ultrasound on Tuesday. It was 90 minutes and very in depth. They spent lots of time doing important measurements, checking on the baby's heart, the placenta placement and the cord etc. It was really interesting and we learned a lot (thanks to Tim's 45000 questions that he asked the Tech - it was adorable really).

The Tech was sweet as pie....the lady at the front desk, hmm. Not so much.

The doctor came in and spoke with us at the end to and confirmed excellent news that the baby's growth is right on track, all organs appeared normal, the placenta was in a good spot (anterior), 3-vessel cord....no abnormalities at all! We couldn't be happier and more thankful to be having such a healthy pregnancy and a healthy little one.

There was one spinal photo they were not able to get. It was hilarious because the little girl was like so over the whole thing by the end. (The first hour she was super active- just like in our last ultrasound) But, she was exhausted after 90 minutes of being rattled and poked. The Tech had me get up to move around and wiggle (Tim was cracking up at my sweet dance moves) to try and get the baby to roll over but baby girl just put her little arm over her head and called it a day. She was over it. Haha, we love her.

We'll go back December 11th to get that spinal shot and are excited to see how much more our little lady will have grown in those 4 weeks.

Sorry these photos aren't that stellar. I had to take a photo of the photo, so ya know.

Regardless, we can still tell she's basically the cutest thing ever.

Take it back now ya'll

One hop this time. Okay, enough of the Cha Cha slide. But seriously, let's take it back and rewind about 4 weeks to when we were in Michigan. At that point we were 16 weeks into the pregnancy. The trip was unexpected and last minute.  But while there we got the idea of having an ultrasound done so we could share that experience with both of our moms.

We called a bunch of places and of course they were booked. We were calling on Thursday needing an appointment Friday or Saturday....we knew it was a long shot. Then luck struck us Friday morning; we checked again and one place in Troy had a cancellation for Saturday!!

It.
was.
on.

Because it was still early in the pregnancy we knew there was a possibility they may not be able to tell the gender, but we were just excited to see our peanut on the big monitor with both of our moms alongside. (Love you both)

It was a wonderful experience.....and guess what.....the gender was revealed!! Can you believe it? We've actually known our little one is a girl since October 13th. The plan was to hold off on announcing until our official anatomy ultrasound (just to be sure) but we couldn't resist the urge to work in a Halloween gender reveal.

Fortunately, the anatomy ultrasound yesterday was in agreement....definitely a little lady :)

Here's some photos from the elective ultrasound last month. It's cool - we know at that point our little girl looked a little alien like...she was still itty bitty. Tim may have uttered the words "creepy" a few times during the process (while smiling ear to ear). I was so excited and anxious that I dug a hole into the paper I was laying on with the heel of my shoe.

We plan to post pics from the recent 21 week anatomy ultrasound later this week for comparison. It's amazing how much she has developed in the past 4 weeks...spoiler alert: she looks totally human.

Traveling during pregnancy...

I'm by no means an expert but I've traveled a few times during the first and second trimester. The bean has been to Chicago, Michigan and Florida...and even made some stops in North Carolina, Georgia and Minnesota thanks to lovely layovers :) I'm just beginning to feel movement and this little one was a bit of a wiggle worm during take off!

Everyone is different, but my doctor had no issues with me flying during these first 20 weeks of the pregnancy.

With each flight I've learned a little more about what works best for my pregnant self.

1. I still prefer window seats for nighttime flying. It's easier for me to curl up and sleep, and I don't have to be interrupted by my neighbors needing to get up to use the restroom or whatever.

2. I prefer aisle seats for daytime flying. This allows me to stretch out my legs and adjust more. Those seats get even more uncomfortable when you're pregnant, thanks to extra weight and loosened joints. Oh and the aisle is definitely the way to go if you're one of the lucky ladies that has to pee all the time. Thankfully that hasn't been an issue for me - thank you 20 gallon bladder.

3. I mostly travel alone and large carry-ons have become a hassle. Everything gets a little bit harder when you're pregnant, and you get out of breath just a little bit more.....so the idea of toting around a carry-on throughout the airport isn't for this girl. Also, tossing that carry-on into a cramped overhead bin isn't as easy. 20 pounds feels like 50 pounds. At least.

4. Pregnant Erin doesn't mind layovers. Normally I just want to get from Point A to Point B as quick as possible but the pregnant me likes to break up long flights with a layover. It gives you a chance to stretch, get a snack and use a real bathroom.

4. I still need to take motion sickness medication. I've dealt with motion sickness my whole life. Seriously, I used to get sick from just a 15 minute car ride. Planes, trains, rollercoasters...you name it, they all make me vom. My doctor prescribed me a different type of medication that is safe during pregnancy. It doesn't work AS well as my pre-pregnancy pills, but it gets the job done well enough.

5. I've become even more disgusted/irritated by people's nasty habits. C'mon folks, in what world is it okay to cough and sneeze without covering your mouth on a tiny enclosed plane with stale air?? Gross. I'm getting sick just thinking about it.

I have no set plans to fly again before the bean arrives, but I imagine some of those long hauls could become pretty uncomfortable with a big ol' belly.

Greetings from Florida

Greetings from sunny Florida! Me and baby-in-the belly are here for a very quick weekend trip visiting family.

We're having a fun time just visiting, watching my brother skate at the beach and seeing scary movies.

Tim is home and working away on some Nursery projects - can't wait to see everything!

I'll be back to normal posts when I get home early next week :)



Oh. My. God. Becky, look at her butt...

It is so big.

"Yes!! Lovehandles!!" - said no one ever. 

Seriously. Between the badonkadonk in the back and the growing-bigger-every-day baby bump in the front I don't even want to begin to think of what a side silhouette would look like about  now.

Mid-way through my 19th week and I'm at that awkward stage where I can still fit in my regular clothes, but I'm not loving the way they look. And let's be real, a muffin top isn't comfy OR attractive by any means.

My work pants are more comfortable than my jeans, but nothing compares to the beloved yoga pant or sweatpant. Ahhh <3. Some days my mind even plays tricks on me and I almost convince myself that it'd be perfectly acceptable to go out to dinner in sweatpants. Who am I?!

A friend and coworker who recently had a baby this past year gave me all of her maternity clothes. How freakin' awesome is that?? It's like I hit the new wardrobe jackpot. The outfits are adorable and beyond comfortable. Thank you Liana!

The secret to a good night's sleep

I was surprised over that past couple weeks when I started to have trouble sleeping at night. I can't stay comfortable, and seem to get pains in my legs (mostly in the hip area and ankle area). In my head, these issues weren't supposed to kick in for at least another 10 weeks...full speed ahead, apparently!

I knew that sleeping on your stomach was obviously a no-no during pregnancy, but I didn't know until more recently that you shouldn't sleep on your back either beginning in the second trimester. Sheesh. Talk about limited options.

Tim had heard about "pregnancy pillows" so he suggested we go look. Enter the Boppy Total Body Pillow. I may or may not have thrown a hissy fit about spending $50 on a PILLOW, but after one night I realized this magical $50 pillow was the secret to life a good night's sleep.
 
                                          


It's so comfortable and really seems to take the pressure off of my achin' joints. Soon I'll fill out the area that is designated for the baby bump, but for now Rocky thinks that's his new snuggle spot.

The pillow has a removable slip cover that can easily be washed so that's a big perk as well. 

The only downside I see to this pillow is that it's like having another person in the bed. Oh and the first night I didn't quite have the swing of things when it came to flipping over onto my other side. Definitely found myself tangled in blankets on more than one occasion....but I'm happy to report I have that under control now, haha. Small victories.

The word is officially out!

The word is officially out! Halloween was such a perfect time to reveal. I wore this shirt to work for Halloween and posted pictures on Facebook. I got a full range of reactions from tears to squeals to jumping up and down and even a "Is your costume fake?"

It was one of the first times I wore a tight shirt that really showed off the bump...the bump that seemed to get larger as the day passed thanks to a delicious potluck and all that candy...oh.yes.

Some co-workers have begun to take on the role of body guard lol. They are very protective of this "mummy to-be" and it's adorable and hilarious. 

It feels good to share the excitement with everyone. One thing is for sure this little one is going to have so much love in her life. We are so blessed to have such wonderful people in our lives!

Happy Halloween!

18 week appointment

We had our 18 week appointment on Wednesday. We were anticipating just going in and listening to the bean's heartbeat but we actually got to see our little kiddo on the monitor. The little one is really starting to look like a miniature human!

Everything with baby seemed good and the doctor says the heartbeat is strong <3

My blood pressure was a little high, as it has been at all of my appointments, so as the pregnancy progresses it will be something that the doctor monitors closely.

At this point my doctor says my weight gain should be between 5-10 pounds. So far I've gained 6 pounds, and although it doesn't seem like a ton, I can feel it. Beginning at 20 weeks he says weight gain of 1 pound week is normal...yikes!

First Trimester Sickness

I spent the entire first trimester sick as could be. I was either puking or sleeping. Okay just kidding. Thank. goodness.

Not to be that annoying girl, but I really didn't have it bad. No vomiting! Haha.

Erin 1 Morning Sickness 0.

I did have some nausea in the evening for a couple weeks, but it basically felt like motion sickness; not pleasant...but manageable nonetheless. My solution was to just sleep through it. Yes, fatigue was definitely present. There were some days I would get home at 600pm and be down for the night be 630pm. No joke.

Trying to keep it PG for the blog but there were definitely breast issues. Holy boobs Batman...I bow down to all you big chested ladies (says the girl who can't handle her B cup)  These suckers get in the way AND they are painful!!

Ahh and my pregnancy "glow" during the first trimester came in the form of oily skin and acne....so if that's what they mean about the glow, then yep, check off that box.

Bloating was a blast, for sure. Now here's a sexy image for you...I'd wake up looking 6 weeks pregnant and go to bed looking 6 months pregnant. The elastic band on my beloved sweatpants got a workout.

What else...my vision worsened. You've been warned...be a passenger in my vehicle at your own risk. But in all seriousness, I've heard this is fairly common and your vision should return to "normal" after the baby arrives. Thanks hormones.

Truth be told, all of those issues I just listed were few and far between for the most part. Or the fact that I'm writing this 5 weeks after the fact has blurred my memory :-p

But really, some days the lack of symptoms actually worried me. There are so many sad stories out there it's hard not to worry. Me and Tim are just so very thankful for this healthy pregnancy <3

Michigan Trip

It's always nice to go back to Michigan and enjoy family and friends. And the beautiful fall colors. And cheap breakfast. And low sales tax. And our favorite Midwest restaurants. And potholes. Okay not so much with the potholes.

Just like my mom I always forget we're back at first, and am shocked at the number of Michigan license plates I see. Yep, that's not just blonde hair dye. It's the real deal folks. 

Another favorite is walking into a store and being overwhelmed with Michigan State, UofM and other Detroit sports attire and accessories. We always come back with a new wardrobe. This time I even bought a GI shirt; I don't know what came over me. Size large...because apparently I plan on rockin' that shirt with a full on bump. Look out.

Speaking of new wardrobes, the bean has already got quite the collection thanks to our generous family and friends who already can't resist the urge to spoil the little one. Love you all and thank you thank you thank you <3

xoxo

Erin

Telling My D-Riv Ladies

Although the circumstances of our trip to Michigan were unfortunate, it truly was wonderful to have the opportunity to spend time with family and friends...we got to share the big pregnancy announcement with many of our friends IN PERSON, something we didn't think would be possible!

We decided we would tell these lovely ladies while we were sitting for our annual photo op.

So as we were getting ready to say "cheese" Tim yelled "Erin's pregnant!!!"......and no one said a thing. Seriously.

Guess that's what happens when you have a husband who constantly jokes around, LOL.

Then about 5 minutes later Ashley goes "Wait...are you REALLY pregnant?"

Needless to say, the rest of the evening was spent talking about all things baby. And Corrine apologized for sharing traumatizing c-section stories earlier in the evening, LOL.

Love you girls!

Grandpa's Memorial

Fall 2010 <3

My grandfather passed away on October 1st, so this past week we took a trip to Michigan to celebrate his life. He was the kindest, most generous man and I will forever find comfort and joy in all of the memories I have of him. He took great pride in his family (he practically wore out his "Michigan State Grandpa" t-shirt) and I just remember his face lighting up when he would introduce us all to his amazing friends at his favorite restaurant.

There was a wonderful turnout at his memorial luncheon, and it was so touching to see and hear everyone sharing memories and fun stories about him. It truly was a celebration of his life, and he wouldn't have wanted it any other way. I got to spend time with family the entire week and really enjoyed our time together.

Thomas Earl Stage Jr. 1936-2012

 He was very excited about the pregnancy especially because the little bean's due date is the day before his birthday. We'd be so blessed if the bambino ends up sharing Grandpa's birthday.

Regardless, I know we have one more angel watching over us. Love you Grandpa - give Grandma a hug and kiss from me!

Cravings, Aversions and the Foods I'm taking a break from

So far I haven't had many gotta-have-it-NOW cravings. Tim will say my love for Baskin Robbins grew, but come on, who needs an excuse to love some ice cream?!


Around weeks 11-13 I did grow rather fond of oranges, and I think that was my closest run in with a "craving" yet. A perfect snack to me was a big, juicy orange and a glass of cold milk. Mmm.

More than cravings, I felt like I've had food aversions. There was a good 4 week period (I think 6-10 weeks) where even the mention of PASTA would make me want to gag. Crazy because I was definitely a pasta girl prior to the pregnancy. But lets be real, I could probably use a carb-reduction in my life. In general I just don't enjoy talking about food as much as I used to.

Another food related thing I've noticed is that this little bean seems to think snacks are a must-have about every 2 hours.....and I was not a snacker at all pre-pregnancy. In fact I really only do it now because the tum-tum says so. I literally have to pack at least 4 snacks for work everyday. My go to items are usually fruit, granola bars, and nut mixes.

As far as foods that I've cut out of my diet for the pregnancy...the first one is coffee. Although the doctor says up to 200mg of caffeine a day is fine, I've decided I want to limit it as much as possible. Although I miss my peppermint white mochas, I have saved some $$. I've also avoided lunch/deli meats. I can have them if they are heated to an internal temp of 165 or higher but that doesn't sound appetizing to me.

We'll see what the next 24 weeks have in store!

Chicago!

Our trip to Chicago, where we visited Shana and Alan was this past weekend. It was wonderful. The trip was loaded with delicious food, winter accessory shopping, incredible views from the 96th floor, honey boo boo, naps and fantastic friends. Basically we would move there tomorrow if we could.

Sunday we even got to spend time with Melanie and Dom, because Mel was so sweet to pick us up in Chicago and drive us back to Detroit. We had such a blast and can't wait to go back.

The bean loves to travel, we can just tell.

 

Telling the management team at work...

Today I announced to the rest of the management team at work that I'm pregnant. Because I'm awkward and was nervous for some reason, I had to enlist the help of others (thank you Su!).

Su had the fun idea to cut up strips of pink and blue paper and have each person pick one as part of a "team building exercise."Then she said "okay now you have to tell us if you think Erin is having a boy or girl." There was a pause and then the outburst of "You're pregnant?!!?" It was really fun and my Operations Manager brought in cupcakes from Hello Cupcake to celebrate (I had shared the news with her last week).

                                                      

It was really nice to feel so supported and to have fun with it. I'm lucky to have such wonderful coworkers.

And I have the sneaking suspicion that another one of my coworkers may be up to some shenanigans when it comes to spreading the word to the rest of the staff ;-)

xoxo

Erin

The beginning

We figured since we're on the opposite side of the country from most of our family and friends a blog would be a good way to keep everyone in the loop!

We found out I was pregnant on July 28th. It was important to find out that day because we were planning to celebrate our birthdays the following day, and well, I needed to know what kind of drink I could order. That margarita will just have to wait until next year.

We wanted to wait to announce the pregnancy until we felt we were in the "safe zone." Currently I'm a little over 14 weeks along and things are going well. We got to hear the bean's heartbeat August 28th and September 25th and it was perfect <3

I'll make sure to do a separate post about symptoms and cravings but overall I think I've had it pretty easy so far!

Love you all,

Erin and Tim