Bump It Up - 15 Weeks

How far along: 15 weeks

Gender: Boy. I sometimes freak out thinking that they got it wrong during the blood test, and will tell us that we are actually having a little girl at our March anatomy scan. 

Weight gain: 5 lbs. This is a guess because I figured out that we shouldn't be moving the scale around the bathroom or it will read different weights. 

Maternity clothes: Not yet. But certain pants are starting to get uncomfortable.

Stretch marks: No

Belly button in or out: In

Work Outs: Zilch. I need to get my booty on the bike.

Sleep: I feel like it was bad because I had one bad night, but overall I slept pretty soundly. The most disturbing thing about sleep now is dragging my pillows around the bed when I move. I have given a whole new meaning to pillow fort.

Best moment this week: Getting pretty settled on a name and starting to use it when talking about the boy. Also getting access to Netflix thanks to my awesome in-laws.

Worst moment this week: Waking up after the company BBQ and feeling like I smoked a pack of cigarettes. Bleh. I think I still smell like a camp fire.

Miss anything: Tuna sashimi, beer, and the sun.

Movement: Nada. I'm not sure when to start expecting this because I'm a pretty petite lady and I've heard that I may feel it sooner rather than later. I'm so excited to feel this little toot move!

Cravings: Sandwiches and banana flavored Sno Cones. Especially with a little drizzle of cream on top.

Queasy or sick: Just a few dizzy spells, and now some itchy skin. I think this might be because of the terrible, awful, no good weather though.

Looking forward to: Sunshine! I can't stand this time between Christmas and spring. I hate the cold and miss the warm sunshine weather. 

Bump It Up - 14 Weeks

How far along: 14 weeks

Gender: Boy

Weight gain: 4.5 lbs.

Maternity clothes: Not yet.

Stretch marks: No

Belly button in or out: In

Work Outs: Twice, a bike and weights session. Onward and upward

Sleep: Better this week than last, but I'm still wishing I had a body pillow.

Best moment this week: Spilling the beans about baby boy to everyone!

Worst moment this week: The second trimester seems to have brought on some pretty terrible headaches.

Miss anything: Tuna sashimi. As usual.

Movement: None yet. I hope I get to feel our little guy move soon!

Cravings: Sushi and sandwiches.

Queasy or sick: Just a few dizzy spells and headaches.

Looking forward to: Feeling movements!

Letters To Baby - The Cat Is Out of the Bag!

As you might have guessed based on the title of this post we finally went public to the world with news that you are on the way my boy.  I was having a really difficult time with keeping our little secret.  From the time we got the results of your genetic screening back I was READY to shout it from the rooftops.  Mom even accused me of intentionally talking to loudly while we were in public so that random strangers could hear the news (crazy!). We made it Facebook official with the picture posted below (Note: It is doubtful but this may not be a thing by the time you become tech savvy so if you have questions I can fill you in).     

At any rate, I think it is safe to say that the world will no longer be the same.  I know our lives won’t be haha.  But as far as you are concerned all you need to know is that the list of people who care about you and love you just got a little bit longer.  You are still a long way off but you pretty much all we are working on for the time being.  I have a lot of questions about what I need to do, or not do, when you get here so I am trying to study up.  I can’t believe you are making me read self help (parenting) books…not something I subscribe to usually but in this case I will make an exception. So far so good though. 

Your Mom loves you so much already.  I think you may have already taken me down a rung on the ladder.  Now I am somewhere in Hendrix’s territory. He is your first dog by the way, and I’m pretty sure he is also the greatest dog in history. I am really, really excited for the two of you to meet. I am pretty sure you will be best buddies. This makes us pretty lucky as parents.  Now we’ll have the world’s greatest dog and the world’s greatest baby too. Mom and I are truly blessed.  

Love, 
Dad

Bump It Up - 13 Weeks

How far along: 13 weeks, and we're out of the first trimester!

Gender: Boy
Weight gain: 3 lbs.
Maternity clothes: Not yet.
Stretch marks: No
Belly button in or out: In

Work Outs: Only one lifting session this week. I need to get back on this now that my energy has picked back up!

Sleep: I've started sleeping with one pillow right behind my back, one between my knees, and one between my arms. This arrangement seems to have helped some, but it is just making me want a big body pillow even more.
Best moment this week: Getting a surprise ultrasound at our doctors appointment. He looked so much like a little baby this time. We could actually see his heartbeat fluttering on the screen!
Worst moment this week: Being stuck in the office while we have some sunny and reasonable warm weather.
Miss anything: Tuna sashimi.
Movement: None yet, but I cannot wait to feel our little guy move!
Cravings: Sweets. Mostly chocolate candy bars or gummy worms.
Queasy or sick: I've stopped feeling queasy and moved on to rapid onset dizzy spells. It usually happens when I haven't eaten in a while.
Looking forward to: Starting to tell people outside our families that we're expecting!

Little Dude's First Glamour Shot

Today was our 12 week appointment with the doctor! Only a few more days until we are officially out of the first trimester. We can't wait for that little milestone to pass. When we were waiting to go back to see the doc we talked about whether we'd get to hear the little buddy's heartbeat again. It was just a standard check up so we were suspect about whether we'd even get some face time with the doctor.  

As it turns out (and as you can probably guess based on the picture) we got to see the heartbeat and more! Elizabeth got to do another ultrasound today. I can't tell you how much joy it brought the two of us to actually see our little one for the first time. The initial trip pretty much all you can make out a little blob. Now he is far enough along that you can clearly make out a lot of him. He has a clearly defined head as you can see on the pic above, and we saw an arm, a leg, and even his little Wayne haha.

We have been to the doctor twice now and I have to say I am really pleased with our choice at this point. At first I was a bit suspect but Elizabeth has been going to her for a while and wanted to stick with her. Each time we go she has been there, and she spends a reasonable amount of time with us too. I have never felt rushed, to the contrary she is very calm and encourages questions each time we visit. We are completely new to all of this so that is a huge plus. All the reading in the world and I still feel like I have a million questions each time!

Other than that not a ton going on with us. We have some work around the house to do this weekend and we are hoping to try this new restaurant in town with some friends. We are working through names for you right now but we can't quite make up our minds...so many choices. We want it to be perfect for you so we are going to take our time. We love you so much little one. 

Dad

Bump It Up - 12 Weeks

How far along: 12 weeks
Gender: Boy
Weight gain: 2 lbs.
Maternity clothes: Nope. My bump is so little. It just popped a little this week.
Stretch marks: No
Belly button in or out: In
Sleep: Meh. I'm thinking about getting a maternity pillow because I always wake up sore.
Best moment this week: Finding out that our baby is a BOY!
Worst moment this week: The brain farts that I'm blaming on being pregnant.
Miss anything: I would love some sushi. Tuna specifically.
Movement: None yet, but I can not wait to feel our little guy move!
Cravings: Hot dogs. This last week all I wanted was a hot dog with saurkraut.
Queasy or sick: I still occasionally get queasy.
Looking forward to: Our next doctors appointment where we will hopefully hear the little dudes heartbeat! 

Letters To Baby

Son,

The other day your Mama and I got some of the best news in the world. We heard two unbelievable bits of good news from the doctor. The first, and most important, was that your genetic test results came back and everything was normal! Just like your Daddy, smart as a whip and already passing tests with flying colors. The second bit of news was that my little baby was in fact my little BOY!!!! Your Mom and I got the test results over the phone because we just could not wait to hear the news, but we had them withhold your gender so we could make a little surprise out of it.  

We were so excited to know that we could not sit through the full day of work and had to leave the office early. We raced to the doctor and I ran up to pick up that oh so important envelope with our special news. I was so excited that I almost let my curiosity get the better of me and peaked in to have a look. BUT...I wanted this special news to be something that Mom and I shared with one another so i reeled in my eagerness. We went home to let out Hendrix and Marley before getting all gussied up for our dinner reservations at Flemings (one of our regular haunts).  

When we got there I gave the hostess the envelope (I had called ahead to fill them in on what we were hoping to do) and they prepped our surprise news for a delicious dessert reveal. Dinner, though delicious, was tough to get through to say the least. I don't think I have ever cared less about a perfectly prepared filet in my life hehe. When the time came they brought out your cake (shielded from view) and had Elizabeth and I close our eyes for the big reveal. I opened my eyes to the most exciting news I've gotten since your Mama told me that she would marry me.

I don't think that I have ever been more excited by news in my life. I have spent a lot of time thinking about it and I experienced a rush of emotions in that moment that I can't really explain. I think the best description that I can give would be a child like excitement (think Christmas morning). Your Mama says that the look on my face and in my eyes was something that she has never seen before from me. My heart was filled with so much joy in that moment that I think it almost burst.  You are my son!  It is surreal for me to be able to say that. If I let myself think to much about it I start getting emotional and well up inside. You made me Daddy little toot, and I am going to step up to the plate and take on that role with everything that I have. It is the most important role I will ever have. God has truly blessed our family with you my boy. Mommy and I (and a ton of others too!) have prayed so very hard for you. We prayed (and still do) that God's will be done and that you grow in Mama's belly healthy and strong and that all of the amazing little biological things that are going on with you happen just and intended. Every little step is so critical in these early stages it is hard to keep calm if you let your worry get away from you. We trust in the Lord though, everything happens according to His purpose. I just know that you are going to turn out just fine!!! 

I hope you know we love you baby boy...so so so very much. We are working out a name for you right now but at the moment we are torn between a couple of really good ones. One thing is for sure though, you are going to be a Wayne after your Grandad (just like me too!).  I can't wait for you to get to meet him. He is such a good man and it is an honor for you to be named after him.  

Love, 

Dad