18 Weeks (or Flex Those Muscles!)

Not much to report here - I have felt the baby move a few more times and I can tell my belly has gotten bigger. Everything that I have read (including below) is true: dizzy when I stand up, my balance is off a little bit and I'm doing my best to sleep on my side. Beau is so sweet to nudge me at night when he sees me sleeping on my back, which is every time he wakes up! (He's a really light sleeper) I made some rice krispie treats today and ate almost the whole pan :-( I'm totally paying for that now. Oops. We find out the sex this Friday! I'm very nervous we will have bad news. I need to get over that, I know. And I know I said I felt it move but then my brain starts questioning whether it is gas. Ugh, I know. Happy thoughts from now on.....

 How your baby's growing:

Head to rump, your baby is about 5 1/2 inches long (about the length of a bell pepper) and he weighs almost 7 ounces. He's busy flexing his arms and legs — movements that you'll start noticing more and more in the weeks ahead. His blood vessels are visible through his thin skin, and his ears are now in their final position, although they're still standing out from his head a bit. A protective covering of myelin is beginning to form around his nerves, a process that will continue for a year after he's born. If you're having a girl, her uterus and fallopian tubes are formed and in place. If you're having a boy, his genitals are noticeable now, but he may hide them from you during an ultrasound.

How your life's changing:

Hungry? An increase in appetite is pretty common about now. Bigger, more comfortable clothes are a must now as your appetite and waistline grow.

Your cardiovascular system is undergoing dramatic changes, and during this trimester your blood pressure will probably be lower than usual. Don't spring up too fast from a lying or sitting position or you might feel a little dizzy.

From now on, when you do lie down, it's best to lie on your side — or at least partly tilted to one side. (When you lie flat on your back, your uterus can compress a major vein, leading to decreased blood return to your heart.) Try placing a pillow behind you or under your hip or upper leg for comfort.

If you haven't already had a second-trimester ultrasound, you'll probably have one soon. This painless procedure helps your practitioner check how your baby's growing, screen for certain birth defects, check the placenta and umbilical cord, determine whether the due date you're working with is accurate, and see how many babies you're carrying. During the exam, you might see your baby moving around or sucking his thumb. Bring your partner along, and be sure to ask for a printout for your baby's first photo album!

Random Thoughts

Chik-fil-a

Why do I still eat there? Every time, I feel like I'm going to have food poisoning. I'm not the only one either. Just about every co-worker I have (that I go to eat Chik-fil-a with) feels the same way afterward. And yet we STILL eat there?! Crack, I tell you.

"Gas guzzler"

This may fall under a broader subject - maybe something like "Unsolicited opinions about my life" - but when people hear about my new (new to me) car, their first comment is "Ooooh, a gas guzzler, huh?" ...What?! That's like calling my kid ugly or my cooking bad. I love my new car (it's a Yukon - total Mommobile and I couldn't be happier!) and why is that the first reaction or opinion expressed?! How about, congrats! Or, how exciting! Or, what happened to the Camry? Or, nothing. I'm just at a loss as to how to respond to this comment. Maybe something like:

"It's paid off. Is yours?"
"My gas bill is nothing to that car payment that wasn't in your budget in the first place."

Why am I so defensive? There are a bazillion tahoes/yukons out there - why are they hatin' on my car?! And it's Texas - Land of the SUVs! And like theirs are perfect! I'll stop, promise...but if you have a witty response, send it my way ;-)

Stroller Decisions
I mean this with every amount of seriousness in my being -> there are few things more complicated and stressful (in my opinion) than stroller/car seat shopping. It almost makes me angry that there are so many options, none of which are comparing apples to apples. I just don't get why there need to be 20 brands, each with 5+ options each. It's daunting. That said, we have loosely researched the top, most well-known brands, subscribed to Consumer Reports just for this and think we have made a decision. Who knows if we will stick to it but as of now we are abandoning our original decision to go with the Chicco travel system and go with one that can add a second seat from the get go. Now THAT is planning! :) We do plan to have a second and probably pretty close to the first so maybe we just get in front of this whole thing and avoid having to buy additional strollers. However, if this plan doesn't pan out, the stroller still looks/works just fine as a single seat. A win/win IMO. So, here we go - this one has 16 different possible positions (not that we will learn/use all of them) and is made of titanium, I think (which Beau likes better than the plastic) and it's lightweight. That's all I know. It's between this one and the Uppababy. The only problem is that I was loving the cost of the travel system but Beau assures me that it will all be a wash if we don't have to buy a 2-seater later on down the road. Thoughts? Any opinions are welcome - I promise I'm not sensitive with this like I am with my vehicle! :-) 

Free Pizza for a Year
Here's a cute story for you :-) Beau and I decided to get out of the house one beautiful Saturday to get Starbucks (with the dogs, of course) and take a drive around our new suburb since we really don't know it very well. We stumbled across some farmland with an unpaved, VERY muddy (I can't express how deep this mud was) road that takes you to the north side of Frisco. Beau's eyes lit up like a kid on Christmas - so excited at the possibility of using his 4 wheel drive! Now you may be asking why so excited?Or, Is his truck new? No. Well, is this the first time he has had 4wd? No, he's had it most of his life. It's just an innate thing that I think (most) men have with playing in mud and getting dirty. So, I said go for it. I'm along for the ride (and then quickly gave him the, "I'm pregnant so don't get us stuck/I'm not walking." speech. We came across a VERY stuck Hyundai and when Beau asked the couple if we could help (again, eyes lit up with the possibility of using his tow chain), they said no thanks. That a tow truck was on it's way. As we left and made our way to the paved road again, the tow truck was pulling up. The driver said, "I'm not going out there! I'll get stuck!" Beau figured that so we went back to help the couple. And after we garnered an audience on foot (some high school boys), Beau pulled the SUV out and to the paved road. Growing up in South Texas & by the beach and with friends that loved trucks and mud, I've seen my share of pulling people out of sticky situations. I must admit, with the depth that they were stuck and the fact that they were slanted off the road, I questioned whether it was possible. And I was REALLY scared the truck would be damaged in the process. Long story short - the woman was a Manager at Papa John's and so appreciative that she gave us tons of free coupons for large pizzas (no other purchase necessary AND they will deliver it!). The best part is that the past 3 times we have ordered, they haven't asked for the coupon. We could have free pizza for life! ;-)

Finger Pointing
I continue to point at things (i.e. a ball or bone) when Shelby and Brinkley look at me. Sort of a, "Go get your ball!" or "It's right over there!". All they do is stare at my finger. You think I would learn that they are not capable of following the path of the finger point. Hope kids grasp the concept easier than they do....

Jersey Shore-theme Party
I can't get enough of this trashy show! I want to have a theme party! My friends joke that they are throwing me a Jersey Shore Baby Shower. I might draw the line there! Do you watch this non-sense?! My friends and I are all hooked!

17 Weeks (or a slow week)

I guess I have become spoiled with the rapid growth of the baby up until this point...this week is pretty brief. :-)

How your baby's growing:

Your baby's skeleton is changing from soft cartilage to bone, and the umbilical cord — her lifeline to the placenta — is growing stronger and thicker. Your baby weighs 5 ounces now (about as much as a turnip), and she's around 5 inches long from head to bottom. She can move her joints, and her sweat glands are starting to develop.

Beau is adjusting to all the new pillows that have made their way into the bed since I no longer should sleep on my back. He has been left with about 1/3 of the bed but is so sweet not to complain about it. No doubt he looks forward to getting back on the road just so he can have a king bed all to himself! Ha! I probably spend way too much time on this subject but a king bed is such a luxury right now and I would LOVE to have one. It just doesn't make sense right now with all the baby stuff needed. But someday!! :-)

2 Reasons February can't come fast enough

1)

2)

What, you thought this post would be baby -related? Well, I'm full of suprises! But the title should say FOUR reasons b/c I bought two boxes of each ;-) (and donated some to the troops). The girls were at the office earlier this week (not dressed in uniform - pssh) and I couldn't pass up the opportunity!

Business opportunity: Since GS cookie season is only once a year (I believe) and is in high demand, why don't I just buy a bazillion and then sell them throughout the year and a higher rate. You know you would buy them. Illegal or just plain genius?

Beau makes a point

Well, he attempted to make a point. Equipped with these ear thingeys that are meant for the gun range. omg, no you didn't!


Really?! I have the TV volume too loud while you are trying to read?! Mr. Deaf-as-they-come-surround-sound-must-be-full-blast-during-any-shoot-'em-up-movie needs the TV volume down?! Ha! (For reference, the receiver never really needs to be over 36, I had it at 29, he never has it below 45).


I can't tell you how loud he has the volume at all times (even when he's not watching) and how frequently I have to ask him to turn the volume down! So this picture is just too much and Mr. Reynolds, I will turn down the volume as soon as you turn the volume down!!

He was too cute trying to make his point ;-)

16 Weeks (or 4 months in normal time!)

I love the weeks where people can easily compute my progress! I have kind of gotten a kick out of the few seconds after I tell people "I'm 14 weeks." or 15 weeks or anything that makes people take a second to do the math in their head ;-) So, here we are at an easy 4 months and I'm just thrilled! Soon I will be able to feel the baby move, which I think I did feel yesterday. But it could have been gas bubbles so I don't know. But I look forward to the days that it becomes more distinct!

How your baby's growing:

Get ready for a growth spurt. In the next few weeks, your baby will double his weight and add inches to his length. Right now, he's about the size of an avocado: 4 1/2 inches long (head to rump) and 3 1/2 ounces. His legs are much more developed, his head is more erect than it has been, and his eyes have moved closer to the front of his head. His ears are close to their final position, too. The patterning of his scalp has begun, though his locks aren't recognizable yet. He's even started growing toenails. And there's a lot happening inside as well. For example, his heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, and this amount will continue to increase as your baby continues to develop.

Once again, caught a little off guard b/c I consider an apple larger than or the same size as an avocado but I'm not one to argue with the professionals and their fruit comparisons.

Switching gears: If Hanky Panky undies (& the very similar, uber-comfy Gap lace undies) are "One size fits most", does that mean I can wear them through pregnancy? Or is the exception to "most" prego ladies? They are super stretchy and comfy and thanks to my sweet, sweet friends and one awesome lingerie shower, I can maybe avoid buying maternity undies. I'm not sure how my body changes will affect the under garments in my life but I guess I will find out in due time...

A Letter

Dear Miss Paige,

I want to first thank you for the many years we have spent together (even though you don't know me). An extra bounce in my step, heightened self image, and possibly landing the very handsome Beau Daniel Reynolds may all be attributed to your designs. You should know that, thanks to your jeans, I now get personal calls and hand-written cards from "Denim Specialists" at Nordstrom (actually, this is annoying). I can say that over the years I may have had short love affairs with other designer jeans but you, oh you, won me over with your slimming cuts, lack of baggy butt after multiple wears, and great shades of denim. Because of all this, I have always let you name your price and assault my checking account without a moment's thought. So, you can imagine my delight when I discovered your Maternity line!! Holy denim, you are looking out for me!! No doubt you can change the shape of pregnant bums all over the world and probably have been for quite some time! However, I must tell you that I was plain SHOCKED when I saw that the price tag of this life saver is more than that of your regular jeans! What?! How you can abandon me in my time of need!! No doubt you are probably some beautiful, uber-slim, lettuce-eating, vodka/tonic drinking celebu-designer that you have no idea what it is like to have your stomach begin at your pelvic bone or what it's like to need a new wardrobe with very few pleasant options. Gauging by your pricing of this "Specialty Denim", you probably also don't know what it's like to have to put your "fun money" towards prenatal vitamins and baby furniture and savings and creams for your stomach so that it doesn't look like a cat clawed it up and down. I mean I can't blame you. It has only been 3 short months and I can't even remember what I used to spend my money on. Spontaneous sushi dinner on Tuesday night? Sure! Cute, cute shoes I don't need? I'll take them in each color! Weekend trip to Chicago? Booked! I get it. Sadly, you don't. And because of this disconnect (well, mostly b/c of the insane price of your jeans), our relationship is over...until I'm finished having babies. Then we'll revisit this.

Goodbye (for now),

Your #1 Fan

15 Weeks (or this little light of mine)

I guess I haven't updated you on what's going on with me lately. My headaches have gone away (thank goodness!), my acne is worsening and I can tell that, probably by the end of this month, I will 100% be in maternity clothes. I'm ok with this since I got some great stuff for Christmas and took advantage of AWESOME sales recently. It was fun! I love a good bargain. Also, the sight in my right eye is way worse than it used to be. I have read that it's normal but will ask my doc on the 11th just to be sure.

I have come to realize that I too can write a pregnancy book. Just think of the strangest, ugliest, most uncomfortable symptoms and then blame them all on hormones. Done!

My book tells me that I really need to begin sleeping on my side - no more stomach and back business - SO sad about this! I LOVE sleeping on my stomach! So, insert tons of pillows and Beau jokes that he will soon be banished to the guest bedroom ;-) I am now beginning the ever-so-difficult journey of training Shelby to no longer walk on my stomach. She is so co-dependent and I have always let her walk anywhere she wants so this is tough. I know that it's fine, there are tons of pregos with a 2 or 3 or 4 year old climbing on their belly every day so I know she's not harming me but it's just uncomfortable for me. This will be a long process - wish me luck!

How your baby's growing:

Your growing baby now measures about 4 inches long, crown to rump, and weighs in at about 2 1/2 ounces (about the size of an apple). She's busy moving amniotic fluid through her nose and upper respiratory tract, which helps the primitive air sacs in her lungs begin to develop. Her legs are growing longer than her arms now, and she can move all of her joints and limbs. Although her eyelids are still fused shut, she can sense light. If you shine a flashlight at your tummy, for instance, she's likely to move away from the beam. There's not much for your baby to taste at this point, but she is forming taste buds. Finally, if you have an ultrasound this week, you may be able to find out whether your baby's a boy or a girl! (Don't be too disappointed if it remains a mystery, though. Nailing down your baby's sex depends on the clarity of the picture and on your baby's position. He or she may be modestly curled up or turned in such a way as to "hide the goods.")

A Look Back at 2009

A lot happened around the world this year and for the most part, anyone you ask is happy to say good-bye to 2009. With the economy falling and with the highest foreclosure and unemployment rates in years, it's understandable. Beau and I have been very blessed this year and have been largely unaffected by these crazy changes. In fact, it makes me kind of sad that so many people are ready to bid farewell to this year when it has been the best year of my life. Here is a look back at why I will never forget 2009 and all of it's blessings:

January 17, 2009 - Couples' Shower!

I have already blogged about this but again, we were SO touched that so many of our friends hosted and so many others came to the shower thrown in our honor! We loved every minute of it and it was great to see everyone! It was also the last time Beau and I would be in the Holidays' Corpus Christi home before they sold it :-(Sad face for me but they were thrilled to sell! ;-)

March 21 - 22, 2009 - Bride's Weekend!

Some people may call this a bachelorette party, I call it a Bride's Weekend ;-) Full of manis/pedis, dinner and bottle service, my sisters really know how to throw a party! Definitely one of the highlights of my year!

April 1, 2009 - I was promoted!

At the office, I was promoted to Account Supervisor of The Cheesecake Factory business. April was a great month ;-)

April 8, 2009 - New Homeowners!

Yes, we took a risk in the unstable marketplace and (luckily) came out on top. We found the perfect home for us and we like to think that it was much more affordable than this time last year. As I have blogged before, there are SO many things we love about this house - it's really pretty perfect for our growing family :-)

(picture to come)

April 18, 2009 - We were married!

The best 4 days of my life were in Corpus Christ surrounded by family and friends with a great weekend of events celebrating us! A BIG thank you to my parents for making it all happen - we will never forget it! When can we do it again?

April 20 - 26, 2009 - Honeymoon in Tahiti!

Enough said but you can look back to this post for the details  oh and this one too of why this was the time of our lives and why we WILL be returning!

May 2009 - Andrea passed the Texas Bar!

So proud of Andrea for passing the Texas Bar earlier this year! Not only did she pass the Louisiana Bar the year before but this symbolized Step 1 to get her back to Texas. And now, she is happily living in Austin!!

May 9, 2009 - Dr. Amanda Caldwell

Woo hoo! My sister's years of hard work paid off and she received her Ph.D. is Psychology! We were SO proud! So proud we didn't take any pictures? I need to find those....hmm....

May 17, 2009 - Brinkley joined the family!

Our adorable Brinkley who has brought SO much fun to our lives came home! I can't imagine not having him around to torment Shelby and to be such a cuddly lover for us!

June - October 2009 - Beau was at home!

As you all know, Beau travels for a living for his job. So, when he was at home for most of the summer and into fall, I was thrilled! He became the best House Husband: cooking, cleaning, laundry and sleeping. And let me tell you, he is one hell of a napper. ;-) I loved having him home and it's really hard to have him back on the road now. Boo.

Two things about this picture: 1) We haven't even thought about how we want to decorate our master bedroom, hence the plainness - no judgment, and 2) I hope this captures the beauty of when Beau is home. A face-planted nap with his shoes still on while Shelby sits on his butt like a little guard dog. SO CUTE!! (click to enlarge photo)

October 2009 - We are having a baby!

Baby Reynolds is due June 26, 2010 and we couldn't be happier! Happier? No. More patient? Yes. :) This sono has already been posted but once again, this is at the 12 week appt. Next sonogram will be the second week of February to determine the sex. Can't wait!

December 2009 - A White Christmas!

We have had snow 3 times in December, one of which was on Christmas Eve! It was all really pretty - even when we had to drive in it. It's crazy to think that I had a White Christmas in Corpus Christi (2004) before most people my age ever had one in Dallas!

Happy New Year to you and your family and we can't WAIT for 2010! Hoping it's better than 2009 for all!

Nursery Furniture

Very excited to say that we ordered our baby furniture yesterday! We have done plenty of research, and very similar to the bedding process, this actually went pretty smoothly since I knew what I wanted and was able to quickly narrow down the collections. I am just thrilled! It's all coming together just as I envisioned it :-)

This picture doesn't entirely capture what we ordered. There are actually 2 cribs in this collections and OF COURSE the photo features the other crib. Ours is similar with the straight lines, minus that solid square in front and the back of it is more like the top of the mirror and solid on the sides. That's the best way I can describe it all. As I mentioned, we want something not so baby so that this furniture can grow with our growing child if we want it to. I can see this dresser in a teenager's room, can't you?

The best part about this furniture is the height of the dresser/changing table! Sadly, dresser height was our #1 priority so that wouldn't have to hunch over to change diapers so we totally lucked out with this one being the tallest of all! Tall people success! ;)

 (as always, click to enlarge the photo)

The sale price and after-Christmas special of throwing in the conversion kit for free (really?! that's like a $150 value! score) wasn't enough for Mr. Wheeler Dealer over here. He actually asked them to throw in the mattress for free. And while I had my head buried in my hand with embarrassment, the lady actually agreed to knock off almost 50% of the price of the mattress! Ask and you shall receive, I guess. This is exciting b/c it's some super duper #1 rated by consumer reports mattress and nicer than our own. Ha! This had us leaving feeling like we really got ourselves a deal but really what is shows is the amount of mark up they put on things in the first place!

In the coming months, I'm excited for my glider chair to be back in stock so that I can order it and testing out our navy blue paint colors! We are doing navy walls whether it's a boy or girl. (I LOVE navy and pink together and of course navy and baby blue is pretty cool too).Plus, there is a double chair rail in that room so the navy will only be on the bottom so it won't be too much. I can just see it all come together! :-)

Oh, and the jury is still out on the scary gorilla cute monkey.

14 Weeks (or the many faces of baby)

 How your baby's growing:

This week's big developments: Your baby can now squint, frown, grimace, pee, and possibly suck his thumb! Thanks to brain impulses, his facial muscles are getting a workout as his tiny features form one expression after another. His kidneys are producing urine, which he releases into the amniotic fluid around him — a process he'll keep up until birth. He can grasp, too, and if you're having an ultrasound now, you may even catch him sucking his thumb.

In other news: Your baby's stretching out. From head to bottom, he measures 3 1/2 inches — about the size of a lemon — and he weighs 1 1/2 ounces. His body's growing faster than his head, which now sits upon a more distinct neck. By the end of this week, his arms will have grown to a length that's in proportion to the rest of his body. (His legs still have some lengthening to do.) He's starting to develop an ultra-fine, downy covering of hair, called lanugo, all over his body. Your baby's liver starts making bile this week — a sign that it's doing its job right — and his spleen starts helping in the production of red blood cells. Though you can't feel his tiny punches and kicks yet, your little pugilist's hands and feet (which now measure about 1/2 inch long) are more flexible and active.

I don't buy peaches or lemons but I really thought a peach was the larger of the two. My mom pointed out that we may just be used to Texas peaches down here though ;-)  

Sweet or Scary?

I think I know your answer but let me explain! Ok first, I am 99% sure of how we will decorate the nursery and I assure you it is nothing less than tasteful! We are going with a simple, non-nursery feel so I thought perhaps the one punch of "nursery" that we could throw in is an oversized stuffed animal. And then I saw this! It's too much, isn't it?! When I first spotted it, it was on a top shelf in a dark storage closet at Beau's office today. They are moving offices and trying to get rid of things so we were there to pick up a laser printer and cartridges (something else we don't need). And how random it that they had this?! Anyway, when I first saw it, it looked like a sweet monkey!! We get it home and it looks like a HUGE gorilla!! He's sitting on a queen sized bed mind you (and has breasts larger than the average woman). Yikes. He was free so we can get rid of him but you know giant stuffed animals are expensive!

I wish I had video of Shelby's reaction to this guy. haha!! Scared out of her mind, which may be symbolic of our child's reaction to it :-(