A Pregnancy Update: 16 weeks

So I didn't do this much with Dean and wish I had. I read TONS of them (every week!) and I told myself "I won't be that girl!" But I love them! And I love to look back at my pregnancy and reflect so here I go! Doesn't mean I'll do this every week, but occasionally!

My Symptoms: Aside from getting tired by 9pm, and sometimes getting out of breath easier than normal, I really feel pretty normal! Nausea has been gone a while, I haven't gotten tons of headaches. Honestly this pregnancy has been a lot easier than Deans! (And maybe I"m more distracted.)

People have started trying to touch my belly, so I guess that means I'm really showing now. It's funny to see the comparison of me with Dean at 14 weeks and this baby at 14 weeks.

Weight:I have gained about 8-9 pounds. More than I'd like, but I'm right on track with where I was with Dean. I'll be happy if I stay under 40 pounds again (even though it took a good year to get it all off!)

Gender: We will find out Early April! I'm excited! And yes WE WILL tell you :) Just not baby names! (Which we haven't even started to think about!)

Maternity Clothes: Yes.... for a while now. Pants were the first thing to go. Luckily I have some maternity pants that are smaller, and some that are bigger. I don't fit into the big ones (luckily!) Shirts I can wear some of my own, and some maternity. Really I'm in the weird in between stage where nothing fits and I look kind of funny no matter what I wear!

Movement: I think I may have felt some flutters, but it's so hard to tell at this point. With Dean I didn't feel movement for a LONG time because my placenta was in front. I'm hoping this baby is different!

Sleep:A few weeks ago was having a lot of hip pain, played around with pillows and I think I have it figure out! They tell you not to fall asleep on your back because it cuts off blood supply, so occasionally I wake up on my back in a fright! But really enjoying sleep :) Usually sleep from 9-7pm, and I feel rested! I know I will not get to enjoy that soon.

Cravings: Salty stuff, and icecream. Surprisingly I don't want a lot of sweet stuff! I'm also hungry ALL the time... making it difficult to not eat everything in sight! Happily all my aversions (chocolate, spinach, cheese) are pretty much gone!

What I Miss: I don't know... I really like being pregnant. I know that sounds annoying, but I do! Especially 2nd trimester!

Best Moment(s) of the Week: Dean showing what a good brother he'd be by practicing with his new baby doll! He loves her, always wants to tell her bye, and hello and hug her, and feed her her bottle.  Also walking with Julie, Judah and Dean on a beautiful 60 degree day in MN March, I'll take it!

 

Questions/Concerns: I have my next doctors appointment Monday! Just want to hear that heartbeat and make sure everything is normal :)

Goals for the Week: I dropped my fitness classes down from 5 a week to 4 a week. And it is GLORIOUS! I will go down to 3 mid-April, and then hopefully keep teaching as long as I can!

Looking back:I can't believe my baby is becoming a little boy! Just in time thankfully :) Still loves flannel. He's such a little man!

Baby's First Christmas

Well Deaner is growing, 7 months already!

 And boy has his (and our) lives been busy!

Lucky for us little guy finally started eating food (and taking a bottle!) Accordingly I've been making all sorts of baby food: squash, green beans, prunes, pears, peaches, applesauce, bananas, beets and more. He prefers sweets, I guess I had too many during pregnancy. To make the food my immersion blender has been my best friend. That was until it sent me to the Emergency room.... 4 stitches later, a few weeks later and I am not completely petrified when I use the blender, but I am very sure to UNPLUG IT before I stick my hands anywhere near the blades!

First Food Thanksgiving

Food Expert-Yummy beets!

Unfortunately a week later Mark and I found ourselves in the ER again.... this time because I had the flu. There was really nothing they could do, but we wanted to make sure that was all it was after a few days of high fevers, achy bones and inability to move. We wanted to be sure we would be able to travel the next day to NC, for Christmas break.

Rice Park

Exploring St. Paul at Christmas Time

So the next day we left for NC, Christmas Day. We arrived late and spent the evening alone at my brother's empty apartment. It was kind of special, our first Christmas a a family of 3, just us, TGI Fridays and Anchorman 2.

We had a great trip the rest of the time in NC. It was so fun for us to watch Henry and Dean starting to interact together *i.e. Henry stealing Dean's toys. But it must have been motivating because by the end of the trip Dean was crawling! It's an army crawl and it was slow at first, but he started crawling.

Jealous Cousins

Crawling

We also enjoyed time with Jimpa and Grame, going for walks and letting mommy and daddy sleep in! (It was during this time that Dean still didn't sleep.... yes past tense!) I also got to meet my sweet friend Andrea's newborn baby Davis. I can't believe we are now to this stage of our life.

After enjoying quite a few days of warm weather in NC, we headed back to MN and the cold finally came! Lucky for us though, it hasn't been that long of a spell and we're already back to the 30's again. Warm enough for us to go for walks with Deanie!

This week is a pretty special week because it will be Henry's 1st birthday, and Mark's birthday as well! I only work 4 days and I'm getting ready to go to a new fitness training for dance called Oula in a few weeks. With that and work and hanging out with friends doing Paint nights and planning Baby showers we are staying pretty busy. Mark and I are even hoping for a date night soon! We went to a Vikings game (thanks to our sweet friend Julie) and hopefully will start being able to get out more BECAUSE:
DEAN NOW SLEEPS MOST OF THE NIGHT!
Now don't congratulate us yet...
1. Yes I still feed him 1 time even though I've been told he doesn't need it, I don't believe it :)
2. Yes, he's still in the swing BUT it's off... he just likes the security of being locked in, and doesn't like the expansiveness of the crib.
3. He still stinks at naps.
4. Still wakes up at 6am.

But  I have to say I'm really starting to feel back to "my self" since he's been born. Mark and I are finding more time for ourselves, Dean is becoming more independent and I am more rested. It's definitely bittersweet in a way, seeing him grow, but lucky for me I have LOADS of friends having babies this year and I will get my newborn fix from them.

Cousin time

Now for tons of pictures :)