Bumpdate: Week 19

How Far Along: NINETEEN WEEKS! Crazy how time flies!

Total Weight Gain: Oh boy, the pounds just keep adding up... Up 8 pounds

Maternity Clothes: I tried on maternity jeans this week, but didn't buy any. I'm doing my best to hold out until summer clothes! It's probably about time to break down and embrace a few maternity work clothes...

Gender: All boy - Mr. Cooper (Middle name still being debated) King!

Movement: Guess what?! I got kicked in the stomach this week TWO times!! Aww, it was so stinking awesome... I was sitting at my desk and just felt this (kind of hard to explain) little twitch that I had never felt before. I thought, "Was that Cooper?!" and I held really still and he did it again!! There was no doubt, Mr. Cooper finally let me feel him. I can't wait for the next one - best feeling ever, hands down.

Sleep: All good!

What I Miss: My cute work clothes... Every morning is a serious wardrobe challenge. Whomp whomp. 

What I'm Looking Forward To: Umm, getting the nursery underway but I said that last week... but it's still what I'm looking forward to! I've also been picking up a few things here and there for the little man and every purchase makes him seem just a little more real. I am beyond happy.

Cravings: None this week that I know of. I really like Subway Melt Sandwiches... don't worry, I only eat them steaming hot so they pass the deli meat safety test.

Aversions: Nothing that doesn't normally gross me out.

Other Crazy Symptoms: Let's talk belly buttons for a second. Weird, yes, but it's called "crazy symptoms." Sorry. Anyway, I've always had a pretty nice belly button, if I do say so myself... It's not a weird shape, it's not super deep or got anything odd going on. It's just a normal size, pretty shallow belly button. (Have I over-analyzed this already? Probably.) Anyway, that poor little belly button is flat as a pancake already!! It's kind of (read: VERY) alarming to me. I don't think there's enough belly button to turn into an outie, which would completely freak me out, I'm just afraid it's going to get all stretched out of shape! So weird... I'll awkwardly keep you posted.

Daddy Update: Daddy's good! We had our Level 1 ultrasound this week - in case you don't know what that is, no worries, I didn't either! Basically it's a very in depth ultrasound that looks at Cooper's little tiny organs and makes sure everything is growing like it should and working the way it's supposed to. I've been more nervous than I expected to be as I've had some dear friends who received very scary news at this ultrasound. We were relieved and happy to know that our sweet little Cooper was one healthy little boy! God is good all the time. Daddy and I were soooo thankful.

Best Moment of the Week: Obviously knowing that our little guy was 100% healthy and getting to literally feel his presence for the first time were the best moments of the week, but the next best thing was spending the weekend with my mom!! We just talked and planned and shopped and did all sorts of fun things... soooo much fun! I am always so grateful for my precious parents who will drop everything and come spend what little free time they have being with us in OKC. I am so blessed.

 

I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him.

So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord.

1 Samuel 1:27-28

Recipe Monday: Balsamic Roast Beef

RECIPE MONDAY: 

BALSAMIC ROAST BEEF

So I'm not really sure what happened, but somehow I have no pictures of ingredients or the individual steps - just the finished product pictures! Lucky for you, it's a pretty easy recipe so I feel confident that you can figure it out!! Sorry for the accidental delete!

**ALSO: Make sure to check back in later this week as the hubby and I did some Spring cleaning this weekend and are going to have our first ever SPRING SALE on the blog! (read: must make room for Baby Cooper!) LOTS of men's and women's clothes... like a garage sale but I don't have to sit outside all day! Get excited!**

What you'll need:

3-4 lb boneless chuck roast

1 C beef broth

1/2 C balsamic vinegar

1 Tbsp Worcestershire

1 Tbsp soy sauce

1 Tbsp honey 

1/2 tsp red pepper flakes

4 cloves garlic, chopped

How many you'll feed: 6-8 people!

What you'll do:

1. Place roast in crock pot (See, no picture needed on that one!)

2. Mix together all ingredients to make sauce. (Easy enough!)

3. Pour sauce over roast and set the timer: 4 hours on high or 6-8 hours on low. (Guess what?! I had one picture!!) 

NOTE: I flipped the roast half way through, but it's not at all necessary.

4. When cooked, separate with forks and spoon sauce on top! I pick out all the fat because it grosses me out. (Tada!! All done... you got this!)

Who deserves the credit: addapinch.com

Be Blessed!
Raegan

Bumpdate: Week 18

**First off, a BIG thank you for all the wonderful middle name suggestions! My facebook, twitter, instagram and email were blowing up yesterday and it was wonderful! I wrote them ALL down and we are going to start the great debate! As always, I appreciate your feedback!

How Far Along: Eighteen weeks! Time is flyin'!

Total Weight Gain: Up to 6 lbs this week... Do you see that bump!? We're growing!

Maternity Clothes: I've been very lucky that I'm carrying pretty high so I can still wear my jeans comfortably! Woohoo! I'm really trying to hold out on maternity pants/shorts/whatever until summer since I doubt I'll be wearing jeans often in the Oklahoma heat. I can still wear some of my tops, but then occasionally I'll go in my closet and not think and grab some little shirt, start to put it on, get stuck and completely crack myself up. I've definitely learned to embrace loose fitting shirts! I also had to buy all new work out clothes because most of my normal ones are fitted tanks. I tried to stay in them as long as possible but last week I couldn't breathe during yoga and decided it was time to give it up...

Gender: It's a boy! (Brandon keeps saying, "Hadababyit'saboy!" off of that stupid old cell phone commercial and thinks it's so funny...)

Movement: I'm hoping to feel movement any day now, but so far still nothing.

Sleep: I've felt soooo good lately, that I'm back to my old stay up late, oversleep routine! Occasionally, I'll take a little nap but they aren't required like they were before.

What I Miss: This might sound silly, but I really have been missing my mom lately! I'm so excited that the nursery is finally underway (somewhat) but emailing back and forth pictures or trying to describe what I'm looking at on the phone is not nearly as fun as working on a project with my mom present! We need a girls' weekend!

What I'm Looking Forward To: I have another ultrasound next week which I'm excited about. Our doctor very sweetly gives us an ultrasound each week so we can see our little man, but last month we couldn't watch so that we wouldn't know what we are having and I've missed looking at him!

Cravings: I haven't had any particular cravings this week. I've been really working on eating healthier snacks and I've really felt a difference in my appetite. I feel like it takes a lot less to make me full when I eat something healthy! So I've been enjoying a lot of fruit, nuts and crackers with cheese!

Aversions: Nothing! All is good!

Other Crazy Symptoms: Still having the random side cramp, but that's really about it. The only other small thing is that I'm starting to notice when I sit back in my office chair, it takes a lot more work to get back up to sitting straight than it used to!

Daddy Update: Daddy is a pretty happy camper because Momma's back to cooking and cleaning! Ha! Every day I think Brandon gets a little more excited. This week we went to dinner with Brandon's brother's family and after we finished up our cute little nephew (11 month old) was getting squirmy so we stood out in front of the restaurant and talked before going home. I held Brooks while Brandon acted like he was going to get him and Brooks would just laugh until his little voice turned to a cackle. It was the cutest thing! We got in the car and Brandon sweetly said, "That was fun! We're about to have a lot of fun, huh?!" Really cute.

Best Moment of the Week: I started making some nursery purchases! Eek! I'm soooo excited! I'm trying to decide if I want to give blog updates as it progresses or just show you before and after pictures. I haven't ordered the furniture yet, but I have it all picked! I love having a decorating project and this might be my most fun one yet!

I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him.

So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord.

1 Samuel 1:27-28



Opening Up a Can of Worms

So here's our latest dilemma, Cooper has no middle name. We've tossed around a couple and we even have a few that we like, but nothing just sets off bells and whistles and fireworks...

I mean, it's not like I'm giving up hope, we've got another 4 months to figure it out.

I'm not even frustrated or stressed about it, not one single bit.

I admit, I do tend to over think things. It's not like you're just picking a middle name that nobody's going to know... This is going on a monogram people, it's serious stuff!!

I want it to sound tough, not girly. I'm also good with a little bit southern sounding name. 

It can't be anything that sounds like it starts with a "k" sound or people may think my son's name initials are KKK and THAT is not happening! Or if you think up other initials that are inappropriate, eliminate those letters too.

I'm just curious...

Got any suggestions??

COOPER _________ KING

 

You fill in the blank. Ready, GO!

 

 

Be Blessed!

Raegan

 

P.S. Here are my top four for THIS week... Yes, they rotate in and out each week... Don't judge:

Cooper Avery King

Cooper Bentley King

Cooper Remington King
Cooper Slade King

Bumpdate: Week 17

How Far Along: Far enough to know the GENDER!! 

Total Weight Gain: Still holding strong to the four pound mark.

Maternity Clothes: I've decided to embrace the trendy flowy shirts! Loving them - they don't look like I'm wearing a tent, but they also allow me to breathe freely.

Gender: 

It's official:

COOPER KING - Coming soon!

(Middle Name TBD)

Movement: Still nothing... 

Sleep: Still normal...

What I Miss: Nothing! Life is really, really good!

What I'm Looking Forward To: Finally getting to deck out a nursery... or at least getting to make a game plan! I CAN'T WAIT!

Cravings: This week we had quite a bit of breakfast foods left over from the Gender Reveal Brunch, so I've been killing some banana nut bread with cream cheese filling! YUM!

Aversions: Nothing in particular.

Other Crazy Symptoms: Odd pain shooting in my side. It feels like a bad cramp that hits specifically in one spot, over and over and over... especially if I sit on the love seats in our living room. Random, I know, but literally if I sit on the love seat for more than 5 minutes it starts. It's on my left side right at the tip of my bottom rib, thankfully prenatal yoga has given me one stretch that really helps!

Daddy Update: Daddy is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO excited about our new little mister. He's already planning hunting/fishing trips and t-ball team names - it's the cutest thing ever. He's going to be the very best daddy in the whole world, I am sure of it!

Best Moment of the Week: Finding out the gender with our sweet family! I'll blog all the details of our Gender Reveal Bunch, but I can't miss the chance to brag on our amazing families. We had over 30 people come to our house for brunch and the big gender reveal. We were truly overwhelmed - so many changed their Saturday afternoon plans, drove 2.5 hours and came to celebrate with us! It is so incredibly humbling to know so many people already love and adore our son. Cooper King is one blessed little boy!

I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him.

So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord.

1 Samuel 1:27-28

Bumpdate: Week 16

Surprise visit from my bestie!!

How Far Along: Sixteen weeks!

Total Weight Gain: 4 pounds! Big jump from last week... 

Maternity Clothes: I've bought some maternity tanks because they are longer and I don't have to worry about my normal little tanks riding up. I kind of love them and wish I'd owned them pre-pregnancy!!

Gender: Our doctor is going to check this week, but we still won't know until Week 17 when we have the Gender Reveal Party! Eek! Finally almost time...

Movement: Still nothing. But I've seen it move in the ultrasounds - Baby King is a serious squirmer. I can't wait until I can feel it.

Sleep: Sleep is completely normal these days!

What I Miss: I would really like a Sonic cheese coney, but I'll just keep waiting.

What I'm Looking Forward To: Boy or Girl?! I want to know... NOW!

Cravings: Lately its been totally random. With the exception of the Terry Roll at Sushi Neko (which I cannot get enough of... ate there twice in one DAY this week!), my cravings change daily. I get to work and by 10am I'm already planning lunch because some random food will have popped in my head! 

Aversions: Nothing sounds bad - this could be the reason for the two pound jump!

Other Crazy Symptoms: Still have weird chapped lips, but other than that all is well!!

Daddy Update: Brandon is soooo excited to find out the gender! We both are pretty ambivalent about which gender we desire, we just want to know! 

Best Moment of the Week: Got to see my bestie friend, Sheridan, this week! She was in OKC for her birthday weekend, but I was headed home for the weekend and thought I was going to miss her... but she surprised me and stopped by my office! So good to get to hug her neck!

We also got a new car! My first ever mom car - and it's sweeeeet! It won't be in for a few weeks, but we (read: I) am super duper excited! Neither of us had ever bought a car before, and to be completely honest, it was a little intimidating. Thankfully, Brandon's very good friend, Chad, worked for the dealership and he helped us TREMENDOUSLY. We seriously would have messed up so many things if he hadn't held our hands and showed us exactly what to do. So very appreciative of him for dropping everything and saving the day!

Everyone gets Brandon and his brother, Caleb, and the wives confused...
Maybe because the boys look like twins and we are both pregnant and accidentally wear matching clothes!

I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him.

So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord.

1 Samuel 1:27-28

Bumpdate: Week 15

How Far Along: FIFTEEN weeks! So close to being 4 whole months - time is FLYING by!

Total Weight Gain: This week I checked my scales at home and I'm back to 2 pounds.

Maternity Clothes: Still no maternity clothes. My jeans are still fitting and I haven't busted out the rubberband trick yet, but I prefer to just wear tights because they feel great!

Gender: We will know in a week and a half! I can't believe it! I am feeling more certain it's a boy, but my mother is positive that I am wrong.

Movement: No movement, but I'm ready! I read I should start feeling it in the next month or so... I can't wait! I think it will make it so much more real!

Sleep: Like a baby! I never remember my head hitting the pillow!

What I Miss: I can't think of anything that I really miss... I really want a Coca-Cola occasionally, but I'm controlling myself.

What I'm Looking Forward To: Gender Reveal Brunch!! T-minus ten days and the nursery planning, baby clothes buying, name game begins! Eek!

Cravings: Today it was a Terry roll from Sushi Neko. Go figure. Yesterday it was Frank's chicken wing dip! Everyday is a new day and a new craving! They aren't out of control, but when I get it in my head I really, really want it...

Aversions: Thankfully, the aversions are finally gone! I still stand by my "I'm never eating pork tenderloin again" statement, but other than that I can eat just about anything. I'm still nervous about everything though, so I eat all meat very carefully!

Other Crazy Symptoms: Seriously, the worst case of chapped lips in the world! I can't get enough chapstick! They are so stinkin' dry!

Daddy Update: Brandon is still plugging along - he's so happy I've started cooking again!

Best Moment of the Week: This weekend we spent Sunday evening cuddled on the couch working on Gender Reveal Brunch invitations. I love getting to be creative and working on projects - especially when Brandon plays along! I think they turned out adorable - I'll share lots of pictures soon!

I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him.

So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord.

1 Samuel 1:27-28

Bumpdate: Week 14

How Far Along: Fourteen Weeks!

Total Weight Gain: 2ish lbs (Guess-timate I forgot to weigh this week!)

Maternity Clothes: That's a negative.

Gender: I think boy. I don't know why, I don't have any strong reason, but I keep calling it a "him" so I'm just going with it.

Movement: None yet.

Sleep: Well, I've had a stomach bug AND a cold this week so while I had been sleeping wonderfully, now I'm up every hour again. Boo! Hopefully, it'll be back to normal soon!

What I Miss: Not a whole lot! Life is pretty darn good!

What I'm Looking Forward To: Feeling good again... I felt so great the entire time we were in Peru and I was so excited to come home and have some energy to do things that I've been putting off for months, only to come home and get a stomach virus which landed me right back on the couch. Really looking forward to feeling a little more normal!

Cravings: It changes day to day, nothing too terribly strong. I REALLY wanted some Chili's when we finally arrived in the Miami airport and of course, they only had Chili's To Go which meant no queso! It was a great disappointment.

Aversions: Nothing! I'm all good!!

Other Crazy Symptoms: None that I can think of.

Daddy Update: Daddy has been very sweet this week. I completely lucked out - the day the stomach bug hit Brandon was home for a post call day. Poor guy didn't really get a free day, as he spent the entire 24 hours taking care of me.

Best Moment of the Week: Finally getting home! Vacation is wonderful - I love to go some place new - but when it's time to come home I hate the traveling back part. I felt like the flight home from Peru was never going to end!! I've never been happier to crawl into our bed in our house in OKLAHOMA!

I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him.

So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord.

1 Samuel 1:27-28

Bumpdate: Week 13

How Far Along: Thirteen weeks

Total Weight Gain: Back down to one little pound

Maternity Clothes: Not yet!

Gender: No clue

Movement: Negative

Sleep: This has been a weird week for sleep! We've been in Peru on vacation and we slept on a bus one night, slept in a family's house on a remote island, and crashed in a lot of little hotels. With the exception of the bus, I'm slept surprisingly well! It's really cold at night here so I just climb in under ten pounds worth of blankets and pass smooth out!

What I Miss: Regular water out of the facet! Peru's water is not purified well enough for us to drink and so we are always in search of a bottled water! I've also cheated and had a Coca-Cola... it wasn't a big one and it cured one ugly headache so I'm hoping Baby King will let it slide!

What I'm Looking Forward To: Honestly, we are just enjoying the moment this week! I feel good, I have energy again and we are seeing a beautiful country... We aren't rushing a thing!

Cravings: I'm not sure it was a craving, but I was happy to eat it: Hawaiian Pizza! I've been a little skeptical of the food in Peru. I don't want to risk eating something that might make me sick while we are so far away from home, so every night I've ordered hawaiian pizza! They use the wood burning little stone pits to cook it in, so it's actually quite wonderful!

Aversions: Here are a couple that are different than usual - guinea pig and llama! Those are delicacies here, but I'm having none of it!

Other Crazy Symptoms: I've had a lot of swelling on this trip! Any time I sit still for long I can feel my feet start to inflate. Since I've already had one blood clot, I'm being very careful and doing lots of walking! Luckily, I haven't had any problems other than a little discomfort.

Daddy Update: Daddy is doing awesome! He is so happy to have a wife that is awake and feeling like herself again! He's being quite the protector - Peru doesn't always feel super safe and Brandon has been on alert at all times. We've had so much fun being together with no distractions - it's been a really wonderful trip!

Best Moment of the Week: Arriving at the top of Machu Picchu Mountain! We decided to hike the mountain to get some awesome pictures of Machu Picchu. The guy who sold us the admission tickets told us it wasn't a bad hike, but it would take 1.5-2 hours. That man has never climbed that mountain, I am positive! We did it in an hour and a half but it was officially the stair master on steroids! One flight after another straight up! Baby King took it like a champ! We were sooooooo happy to make it to the top and get some amazing views of the beautiful ruins. Definitely worth the work!

I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him.

So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord.

1 Samuel 1:27-28

Bumpdate: Week 11

How Far Along: ELEVEN whole weeks!

Total Weight Gain: 1 pound

Maternity Clothes: Not yet, but I'm ready for some summer clothes! All my winter work attire is not very forgiving.

Gender: Still no clue. I can't even decide what I would prefer. Some days I think having a girl would be so fun because there are so many adorable girl things out there, but then I'll instantly hope it's a boy because I always thought I would have boys first and finish with a girl... I'll be happy either way!

Movement: Nope.

Sleep: This week I figured out how to sleep normal!! Two pillows under my head... don't ask me why but it has really helped.

What I Miss: Great news everyone, meat is making a comeback!! Woohoo!

What I'm Looking Forward To: Feeling Baby King move... This whole "there is a baby inside me" thing still hasn't really hit me and I've been told it gets much more real when you feel the baby move.

Cravings: Macaroni and Cheese! We went home for the weekend and my mom made all my favorite things - chicken and dumplings, mac and cheese, breakfast casserole - and I actually felt like eating! It was wonderful!

Aversions: They are getting so much better - the smell of meat cooking still freaks me out but it isn't near as bad as it was.

Other Crazy Symptoms: Nothing too crazy this week.

Daddy Update: Every week I feel like I say the same thing over and over - Brandon is taking care of EVERYTHING. He has been so wonderful and I truly can't sing his praises loud enough. This week, he even had a storm shelter put in our garage  - got to keep us safe! He has also been so sweet to help me with random things. I mentioned that someone had suggested Preggo Pops and that they had really helped with morning sickness. Three stores later he came home with boxes of them! I have the sweetest husband in the world.

Best Moment of the Week: We had a really wonderful week. The weekend spent in my hometown was just we needed to recoup and regroup. We spent tons of time sitting infront of the fire place at the lake playing dominoes... it doesn't get much better than that!

I also started, prepare yourselves people, prenatal yoga this week! Yoga is so out of my comfort zone, but I had heard wonderful things about Mamasta Yoga so I decided to give it a shot. I. Loved. It. It was so interesting and informative and relaxing. I can't wait to go again next week!

I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of Him.

So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord.

1 Samuel 1:27-28

Bumpdate: Week 10

How Far Along: 10 Weeks

Total Weight Gain: 3 pounds

Maternity Clothes: Nope

Gender: Eight weeks until we know!

Movement: I can see it on an ultrasound but I can't feel it yet.

Sleep: Getting better! I had one day this week where I felt like my old self and not like a sleep deprived zombie... it was pretty awesome, hoping for more of those days soon!

What I Miss: Same stuff - eating food without worrying it's going to make me sick. Meat. I really miss Taco Bell and McAlisters French Dip and steak... It all sounds so good and then I smell it when I walk in and instantly start turning green.

What I'm Looking Forward To: I'm getting pretty excited to know if it's a girl or a boy. Right now I just feel like I'm in limbo - I can't buy anything because it has to be gender neutral, I can't decorate because I don't have a clue which direction to go and the name game would be much easier if I knew one gender to focus on! But I'll just have to sit tight for a few more months... Oh that sounds like a long time!

Cravings: I had my first official craving this week! Simple Simon's Alpine Sticks!! For those of you who don't have a Simple Simons in your neighborhood, it's a pizza place (lots of times located in a convenient store) and they have very best cheese sticks in the entire world because they use their special "alpine sauce" (kind of like a creamy italian but slightly different). To. Die. For. We have a SS very close to the town where my parents live and I made the mistake of talking about alpine sticks with my mom on the phone. As soon as we hung up, I knew I had to have some so I typed it in my phone and much to my dismay there is not a single SS in all of Oklahoma City! But I found one relatively close by so I turned my car that direction and gave them a call... The cook was out for Martin Luther King Day! Noooooo! So I looked at the next closest one - 28 miles. Yep, I totally drove it. I called the store and the cook had never heard of alpine sticks! Seriously, people?! I explained it to him and he told me he'd do his best... I thanked him profusely, to the point it was awkward but I didn't care and then I drove past two small cities, one super small town, turned down a two lane road and drove another 8 miles to a convenient store perched at the top of the hill. When I walked in the guy behind the counter smiled and said, "You must be the cheese bread girl!" How embarrassing. He had very sweetly done some research and made a few phone calls until someone had told him how to make it. I contemplated hugging him, but decided against it. He rang me up - $4. I left him a very nice tip and told him I'd see him next week! That whole "craving" thing is for real, people.

Aversions: Really big weekend - while in St. Louis with my bestie, Sheridan, I ate half a hamburger! It was monumental and I was super excited! Fingers crossed, meat is slowly making a come back! My big aversion this week, was the mean green milkshake. Details under "Daddy Update."

Other Crazy Symptoms: This was my first time to fly since getting pregnant and I was a little concerned that motion sickness + morning sickness would be one big disaster, but luckily I sat in my assigned seat and passed smooth out for the entire flight!

Daddy Update: My sweet, sweet husband has been so wonderful! He has picked up so much slack around the house and has been so patient with me. This week, he decided that he was going to help me start eating... He's been a little concerned that Baby King isn't getting enough nutrients. So he got up extra early and made me a "mean green milkshake." Now, if you know me at all you know I don't eat hardly anything green so husband did his best to cover it up. The green is chopped up baby spinach leaves, then he added almond soy milk, bananas, a hot chocolate packet and then a bigggg squirt of chocolate syrup. It wasn't entirely green, but it still had a hint of it. I did my very best to drink it, but about four sips in I came to the harsh realization that it just wasn't going to happen. He took it like a champ, but I could tell he was disappointed. It was so sweet of him to go to all the extra effort... I felt really bad.

Best Moment of the Week: I had such a great weekend in St. Louis! Sheridan bought Baby King his/her first little toy and it was so precious! It was so fun to be reunited with my sweet friend (and her husband, Jacob). I was incredibly blessed to not get sick the entire weekend!! Thank you Lord! The weather was perfect - we spent lots of time outside and we had a great time exploring Forrest Park! I am so excited to go back in the Spring when everything is green and blooming! (Plus Sheridan introduced me to this amazing crepe place - crepes are my absolute favorite! I had a strawberry, banana, nutella crepe and it was a-mazing!!) The morning after I got home we had a doctors appointment and got to look at our sweet little baby moving around like crazy. Every time I see it, I am so amazed by God's miracle and so humbled that He chose Brandon and I to be this baby's parents. God is good, all the time.

I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him.

So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord.

1 Samuel 1:27-28

Bumpdate: Week 9

How Far Along: Nine weeks and around five days (I think?)

Total Weight Gain: I will go to the doctor next week and have an "official" measurement, but according to our bathroom scales I've gained a pound back!

Maternity Clothes: No maternity clothes yet, although I do see the need for some change in my work clothes. The clothes I wear to work our typically tailored and this is causing a bit of a problem! I also wear high waisted belts to work a lot and yesterday, the belt I had on over a dress was just the little snap kind. I was sitting in a meeting and took a big breath and POP!! Belt just shot right off!

Gender: Still no idea... but I'm getting pretty ready to know so I can start buying baby things!

Movement: Brandon's birthday was this week and after dinner we snuck into his clinic and had a little ultrasound. (Best perk of hubby being a resident EVER!) I couldn't believe how much the little guy/girl had grown!! We were just sitting there staring at it and all of the sudden its little arms started moving and legs started kicking! Obviously, I still couldn't feel anything but it was incredible to see! We videoed it with our iPhone and I can't stop watching it!

Sleep: I just want to sleep around the clock!!

What I Miss: Still food... How many weeks have I been saying this? I'm so hungry and I so miss all the yummy things I used to eat, but none of them sound good!

What I'm Looking Forward To: Excited about our appointment next Monday! For some reason, going to a doctor (other than Brandon) makes it feel a little more real. Next week I'm also flying to St. Louis to visit my bestest friend Sheridan and I'm kind of ridiculously excited about that! I had planned the trip to tell her in person, but there were a few extenuating circumstances that left me with no choice but to call her and tell her... so now instead of a big surprise, we're going to spend the weekend celebrating!!

Cravings: I still don't know that I have any cravings. I'm eating a LOT of potatoes - baked, mashed, fries, pretty much any form - but it's not because I'm dying for a potato, it's just because they are one of the few things that are safe to eat without getting sick.

Aversions: In addition to the never ending hatred of meat - blueberry bagels, orange juice and strawberries were sadly added to the list this week.

Other Crazy Symptoms: Still nothing crazy that I know of... well, that's a lie, but this isn't crazy to most people, just me... If for some reason you're a dude and your reading this, you might want to stop here. It isn't anything gross, it's just a little awkward... Up until a few weeks ago I could still wear my first bikini from middle school. I never need to buy a new sports bra and I could legitimately wear a training bra from the girls department. I am a huge advocated for the extra padding push up bra at Victoria Secret and it's alright with me, I'm not the least bit embarrassed. My chest is small but so is my waist, it's something I'm willing to live with! But in the last month, I've started to "blossom!" (That's such an awkward word and I find it hilarious!!) I've legitimately filled out my 32A and it's awesome! Ha! Sorry for over sharing, but if you were in my shoes, you'd be excited too.

Daddy Update: Brandon is still plugging along, picking up all the slack his sleepy wife is leaving. He was so cute on his birthday - he just told me all he wanted was to go see his baby. Melt my heart!

Best Moment of the Week: Definitely the ultrasound. Each one gets me more and more excited!

I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him.

So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord.

1 Samuel 1:27-28