18 Weeks

How Far Along:
18 Weeks Along (11/29/2013)

Cravings:
Homemade stuffing! I had some at our first family Thanksgiving and cannot wait for our second round! Oh yes, and green bean casserole. Yup, feeling hungry again already! 

How Am I Feeling:
Great! I feel like myself and remembering how much I love this part of the pregnancy!

Sleep:
Very typical right now! Since it's the holidays I am definitely staying up later than I typically would, but it's okay! It's all part of the holiday mayhem! 

Miss Anything: 
Mulled wine! Nick brought some home and all these places are having it for a fall/holiday drink. Hot apple cider is my BFF right now and it's working for me! 

Movement:
 Very minimal still. There have been a few times when I am playing down and feel a slight movement here or there! I am excited to start really feeling it again! I miss those feelings! 

Most Exciting Moment This Week:
We been VERY busy to say the least! This week we drove to Nebraska for my side of the family Thanksgiving! We got to carpool with Angela and Jake from Sioux Falls so it was fun talking about baby buys, sharing stories and just catching up!  And now, Nick's family is all coming to our house tomorrow night for a Thanksgiving supper! I am so excited/nervous because it's our first time hosting a holiday! That's a big deal! But we got everything in order and a time sheet for when to begin everything! We are going to rock! 
Worse Moment This Week: 
Just a lot of driving during odd times, which can be rough on Anniston! I hate getting her schedule so messed up, but it is kind of like we're on a mini vacation, so hopefully this weekend we can get back on schedule!  

Baby Buys: 
We did it! We went out into the Black Friday chaos today and bought the baby furniture! I am so so excited for it, but man was it a pain to get.  I am not very fond of the Babies R' Us in Sioux Falls, especially after today. But in the end, it all worked out and I can't wait to begin decorating! I am thinking about doing a fox theme. And no....not because of that song either! 

Looking Forward To:  
All the Holiday Fun! This time of year always goes WAY too fast for me! But all around us there is excitement happening in our family! Nick's sister, Jennifer is due very soon with her little boy(12/23), and Nick's dad is coming for a few weeks to stay with us(12/25) and my sister's baby shower is coming up (1/4)!!! I cannot wait! So much to plan, buy and prepare! But I love it!  
Bring it on December. Bring it on.

This is me at 18 Weeks with Anniston Jean

52:18 Your First Halloween

I Want to Remember

Your First Halloween

I want to remember dressing you up for your first Halloween. I debated for a long time about what to dress you as for Halloween. Your daddy and I LOVE Halloween,  so I knew we needed something unique and special!  I bought you material for a turtle costume (that fell through), a peacock costume (I thought you'd be uncomfortable), so THE day of Halloween, I pulled together these materials and made you an octopus costume! I.LOVED.IT! We took you trick-or-treating at a friends house, then we took you to the mall to show you off. You were so smiley this night and everyone just loved looking at you and all your legs! 
I also want to remember this day because last year on Halloween I told your Papa that you were in my tummy! Remember that story?! He was so surprised that he thought I was "tricking" him for Halloween - but you ended up being the best "treat" we could have ever asked for.

Fun in the Fall!

I seriously love fall! There are always so many fun things to do - pumpkin patch, scarecrow festival, drinking apple cider, carving pumpkins, and raking the leaves! But having a kid to do these things with makes it all SO much better! Unfortunately, along with the changing of the season, comes a lot of stuffy noses, congestion, and coughs! Half my students were sick this week and even our daycare was even closed half of the week because her kiddos got sick! Boo, to sickness, but snaps to having fun in the fall! 

 

Annie visiting me on Halloween day! Grandma was babysitting so she snuck her in! Lucky momma!

Trick or Treat, Painted Feet!
 Footprint candy corn project that Anniston created at daycare! First craft project is in the books!

18 Weeks

How far along? 18 Weeks (1/30/12)
Maternity clothes? I got spoiled this weekend and got quite a lot of cute maternity shirts and pants from my mother! I am still wearing my regular shirts, but using a tie to expand the waist of my pants. Very classy, I know!
Sleep: Lots of bathroom breaks throughout the night and I can’t seem to ever find a comfortable position for more than an hour. But I am discovering that naps are glorious!
Best moment this week: We had another appointment last week and got to hear baby’s heartbeat! A strong 150 bpm! I told him that it must be a girl then right?! Dr. Taylor just rolled his eyes at me and said, “Yes Ashley, it is definitely a girl. And it looks like you’re carrying low, so it must be a boy as well!” Well…it doesn’t hurt to believe in some wives’ tales!

Complaint of the Week: I am ALWAYS itchy/dry! I have never been such a lotion latherer in my life (mom and Angie you should be so proud of me)! But seriously, from belly butter, to Bath and Body Works Body Cream, I can never seem to have enough on to make the itching go away. I did get a humidifier this weekend and last night I did sleep fairly well! So hopefully this is just a slight phase in the pregnancy!
Miss Anything? My mother-in-law, Valerie. It was her birthday on Sunday and I know she is just so excited for us up there, but I would have loved to hear her excitement for our baby. To say she loved her grandbabies was an understatement. And I would have loved to go baby shopping with her, planning with her, and calling her to tell stories. But she is still helping out in heaven because she blessed Nickolas and I and my sister-in-law, Rachel and Ganna (due July 22^nd) by letting us both get pregnant at the same time! I know this was her way of making sure we are caring for each other!
Movement: Not yet…waiting anxiously for that moment!
Food cravings: Not really anything particular.
Have you started to show yet:  About a week ago was the first time others started commenting! It is so fun to actually be past that awful awkward stage of “is she pregnant or is she eating too many holiday sweets still?”

Gender: We could find out on February 6^th. Nick still insists he is going to find out. I insist that I won’t. So we will see how that pans out...
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Incredibly happy! Work rules, planning for the nursery is beyond fun, Nickolas is too sweet to me, my family is so excited and loving and so many of my close friends are expecting! Seriously, life it awesome!
Looking forward to: February 6^th appointment!  Can’t wait to see Baby R on a screen again!