18 weeks!

How far along: 18 weeks 

Size of baby: A sweet potato! Baby weights over half a pound now! 

Total weight gain/loss: I haven't been back to the Dr so I don't know exactly but I'm guessing around 10-12 lbs. 

Maternity clothes: Still wearing both maternity and non maternity, but mostly maternity. I got some maternity leggings this weekend and OMG. What a difference they make! I had been wearing regular ones and just dealing, but oh boy not any longer. I will be wearing them almost every day, in a variety of colors, don't judge.

 

Gender:  Baby Green is a sweet little BOY!

 Movement: Not much yet. Feeling something that feels like bubbles or pops. It happens like 5 times in a row so I know it's something. But nothing like feeling a kick. Maybe soon! 

Sleep: Sleep hasn't changed much. I am sleeping with lots of pillows and I get pretty comfortable. I just wake up in the middle of the night wide awake and can't go back to sleep. After I've worked a 12 hour shift though I sleep soooo good.

Cravings: Nothing new this week. I do love pickles and mustard, but the pickles part isn't anything unusual for me. I wish I had a weird craving...like pickles dipped in chocolate, or something fun to talk about. 

Best moment this past week: Shopping for baby boy! And talking about names! So excited about that!!! 

Symptoms: I really feel great. Not really tired anymore and have lots of energy. Nasal congestion is still here but I think it's better now that I'm using the humidifier. I really can't complain! 

What I'm looking forward to: Starting the nursery! I can't wait to get the furniture and paint and decorate and oh my! And I'm super excited about going to Alabama on Wednesday and seeing all my family! AND super excited to eat lots and lots of turkey and not feel guilty about making a second plate! haha :)

Milestones: Baby is growing rapidly and yawning, sucking, swallowing, hiccuping and kicking! 

Mood: Happy, happy, happy! 

Labor Signs: no no no, 22 weeks to go! Wow, we are almost half way!! 

Wedding rings on or off: on

In front of Duke chapel...where we got married! 

Shopped a little this weekend! (thanks to Ant B for the bib and socks!!)

Hiiii cutie! 

It's a....

 So we went for our "anatomy scan" today and everything checked out great! It was such an amazing feeling seeing that little baby on the screen! All the organs checked out ok and the heart rate was 155, we even saw all 4 chambers of it's heart. She told us baby weighed 7 ounces already and measured right on time for my due date. We counted all 10 fingers and toes, too! But we did turn our heads when she looked down to see the sex of the baby. We wanted to find out alone in our house and I am so glad we did. Such an awesome moment!!! 

And here it is in pictures...I was a little excited, can you tell?

I told you about my emotions these days...haha the waterworks were in full force! 

We could  not be more excited! Austin claims "he knew" the whole time. :)

So, you know how I told you we had a plan to announce this to everyone? Well, the plan was to go get a bunch of balloons and take a picture with them. We didn't really love how they turned out though, so we actually used some pictures from above. Here are a few cute ones with the balloons though. It was a fun afternoon!

Yay Baby boy Green!! Now you need a name! 

17 weeks!

How far along: 17 weeks 

Size of baby: An onion! About 5 inches long!

Total weight gain/loss: I haven't been back to the Dr so I don't know exactly but I'm guessing around 10 lbs.

Maternity clothes: Still wearing both maternity and non maternity. Got some new jeans and a few more tops from Gap. I am loving them. Everything maternity is soooo soft and comfy, whats up with that?

Gender: We find out tomorrow!! I am so freaking excited! We have our appt at 10:20 and then Austin and I are going to take the envelope home and read it. We just want to be alone together in our house when we find out. What fun! Let the shopping begin!!! haha
 

Movement:I think maybe a little. I don't feel anything that feels like a kick but I feel something in there. It feels like bubbles or something...it is so hard to explain! I can't wait for a real kick and for Austin to be able to feel them too!!

Sleep: Sleep is still mehhh. Not so great. I got the humidifier going so I'm hoping that helps with my congestion. I still toss and turn all night and get up to pee once or twice. I need one of those body boppy pillows for sure.

What I miss: Nothing much at all. I have been eating firehouse subs (because they steam their meat) and that has really helped my sub/deli meat craving. Is there something about being told you can't have something that makes you want it more? Because I swear my love for subs has always been large but never thisssss bad. Man I could eat a sub for every meal.

Cravings: Nothing really specific, but some foods just taste real good. Like yesterday we were at Southern Season and they had these ginger snaps to try, I tried one, and then had to buy a whole tin. I don't normally even like ginger snaps but oh man were these good. I also reallllly like mustard.

Best moment this past week: Shopping a little at Buy Buy Baby and figuring some details out. I think we are set on the stroller we're going to get and I'm pertty sure of the furniture we need to buy. I'm going to be watching several stores for Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales before we purchase. I also started a little registry on amazon to try and keep myself organized. 

Symptoms: Nothing much. Just the sleep and nasal congestion. I am really hungry all the time but trying not to eat everything I see.

What I'm looking forward to: Tomorrow! And telling all our family and friends!!

Milestones: Baby is developing sweat glands!  Also baby is starting to yawn! Awww

Mood: Happy, happy, happy!

Labor Signs: no no no

Wedding rings on or off: on

Haven't done a chalk board pic yet but I have these I snapped with my phone.

My dad also finished the new door! He kocked out the wall and put a door between our bedroom and the nursery so we can get in quick. It's amazing how much of a difference it makes, suuuuper convenient!

Girl or Boy? Gender Survey!

I am SO excited as I type this right now! We get to find out if baby Green is a BOY or GIRL on Tuesday!! I will share with y'all as soon as possible! I hope I can sleep these next two nights! 

 1. Chinese gender chart says: BOY

2. Are you eating more(boy) or sick/nauseated (girl)?: GIRL at first, now BOY

3. Lots of morning sickness (girl), or not too sick (boy)?: GIRL

4. Do you crave sweet foods (girl) or salty (boy)?: BOY

5. Is your skin clear (boy) or do you have breakouts (girl)?: BOY

6. Is the heartbeat high (girl) or low (boy)?: Our DR didn't really say a number, just "in the 150's" so I'm not sure?

7. Have you been more clumsy (boy) or graceful (girl)?: BOY

8. Has your husband put on sympathy weight (girl) or not (boy): BOY

9. Consider your age at conception and the year of conception. If both are even or both are odd (girl). If one is even and one is odd (boy): BOY

10. My "mother's intuition" says: BOY! I think? I keep going back and forth! So really, I have no clue!

11. The husband's "father's intuition" says: BOY

12. My mom says: GIRL

13. Mother-in-law says: BOY

14. My Father says: BOY

15. Sister-in-law says: BOY

 16. Best friend says: BOY

Well it looks like by this survey we're having a boy! Watch us all be shocked! :)

16 weeks!

How far along: 16 weeks 3 days

Size of baby: An avocado! About 4.5 inches long!

Total weight gain/loss: 6 lbs so far

Maternity clothes: Still wearing both maternity and non maternity. Mostly non maternity tops. I'm not a huge fan of my maternity jeans...they just don't stay up very well. But maternity scrubs...I LOVE those. Have I mentioned that?

Gender: We find out next week! and Aus and I thought of a cute way to tell/show our family and friends! It might take us a day or two to get it together so it might be Wednesday or Thursday of next week before the world knows. Patience, please. :)

Movement:I don't think so. But I am paying attention to every feeling. I feel things in my stomach sometimes but I think it's mostly gas or cramps. I am so excited to feel this sweet baby!

Sleep: Not great honestly. Until about 3am I sleep like a rock, then its all down hill from there. Tossing and turning and watching the clock. I guess I really will never sleep again...oh man that thought scares me! I like my sleep!

What I miss: Nothing much, still Jersey Mikes subs and a glass (or five) of wine would be fabulous.  

Cravings: Nothing new really. Love my cereal in the morning, with LOTS of OJ!

Best moment this past week: Really looking and feeling pregnant. So excited for this new baby bump and people noticing that I'm pregnant, and asking when I'm due!

Symptoms: All my symptoms are so much better now! I feel really good overall. Only big complaint I have now is the nasal congestion. I just ordered a humitifer for me and baby so I'm excited for that to get here.  

What I'm looking forward to: Next Tuesday, of course!! And having a mini shopping spree for baby Green! Once I know the sex I have to go just a little bit crazy, right? :) Also, we are pretty set with what we are going to name him/her so I can't wait to finalize that and tell everyone! And order baby Greens first monogrammed diaper cover!! haha

Milestones: Baby can hear my voice! And he/she has eyebrows and eyelashes! Aww!

Mood: Happy, happy, happy! And excited! Can't hardly think about anything else besides this little life insdie me.

Labor Signs: no no, still 24 more weeks to bake!

Wedding rings on or off: on 

A pic from Monday of this week...

And my chalkboard pic! :)

15 weeks!

How far along: 15 weeks! Trucking right along! 

Size of baby: An orange! 

Total weight gain/loss: Went to the Doctor today and I've gained 6 lbs so far

Maternity clothes: Wore my first pair of Maternity scrubs and they were AMAZING. My sweet friend at work gave me hers and I LOVE her for it. Such a difference! Plus they are super super soft. Still wearing mostly leggings and tops that are non maternity. 

Gender: We will find out in TWO weeks! November 13th and I can't WAIT. Not sure how we are going to tell our family and friends or if we will find out in the office or have her write it down and read it at home. Lots to discuss with Aus this week!! :) 

Movement: Not yet but the doctor asked me today if I felt anything, and said I would in a few weeks. That is so exciting, too!! 

Sleep: Tossing and turning all night. I usually get up to pee once but still toss all night long. I need to get one of those body pillows. I pretty much spoon Austin super tight all night long. He doesn't mind. :) 

What I miss: Not much this week. I think my energy is coming back so thats a great feeling. I've been staying up past 9:00 lately so thats a good sign! 

Cravings: Green Beans, Orange Juice, Milk, McDonalds Cheeseburgers (I know, I know) and pretzels soaked in yellow mustard.

Best moment this past week: Today! At our doctor appointment! We got to hear the little heartbeat and hear that everything was a-ok! Such a good feeling. We have the big anatomy scan next week which I can't wait for, not only to find out the sex, but to hear that everything looks ok with babies organs, etc. Apparently they really check the baby out from head to toe, as the ultrasound takes about 45 minutes.

Symptoms: Most of my old symptoms have gone away or are much better but I do have a few new ones. The biggest one...my stuffed up nose! UGH. I was sick for about two days last week and that has gone away and now its just congestion and a stuffy nose. Headaches are still there, fatigue a bit but much better. And I feel hungry all the time! 

What I'm looking forward to: Finding out if this sweet baby is a boy or girl! I go back and forth with what I want it to be but I think if I HAD to choose I would want it to be a little boy. The thoughts of a little Aus make me SUPER excited! And I can only be so lucky that he is just like him. :) But who am I kidding, the thoughts of a sweet baby girl make my heart pitter patter! Either way it will be wonderful and I of course still only pray for a healthy baby. 

Milestones: Baby has tastebuds and can see light! 

Mood: Excited! I feel SO excited for next spring and to meet our sweet baby. I think because I'm starting to feel/look pregnant it all seems real now. I also can't wait to decorate and buy stuff for our nursery! ahhhh

Labor Signs: no no!

Wedding rings on or off: on 

What baby looks like at 15 weeks...wow!

14 weeks!

How far along: 14 weeks!! 

Size of baby: see below :)

Total weight gain/loss: I haven't weighed myself in a while. We go to the Doctor next Tuesday so I guess I will find out then. 

Maternity clothes: Wore maternity jeans this weekend and they were not as awesome as I thought. They stretched out like whoa. I actually just returned them for a smaller size hoping that helps. Still wearing regular tops and lots of leggings! And glad I get to wear scrubs at my job. :) 

Gender: We should find out around Thanksgiving...I can't WAIT. 

Movement: I wish! 

Sleep: More tired than ever. I stayed up waaaay too late on Saturday night and paid for it yesterday and today. I went to bed at 7:45 last night and slept for 14 hours. I still feel like a zombie. Thankful I am still sleeping really well. 

What I miss: Miss feeling like my old self. I think I feel more tired than ever. Hoping this changes soon.   

Cravings: Cherry Icee's. So random. I've had 3 this week! Ekk! 

Best moment this past week: Can't really think of much...except for Aus' most recent CT. That was the BEST moment we've had in a while. Thankful for that! 

Symptoms: Nausea is completely gone! Woohoo! Headaches, still feeling tired, and definitely feeling more hungry. I've found that if I don't eat every 3-4 hours my blood sugar drops like whoa and I get all shaky and feel like I'm going to pass out. No fun. 

What I'm looking forward to: Looking forward to next Tuesday and finding out the sex in a few weeks! Oh and Halloween! I love seeing all the kiddos in our neighborhood dressed up (and eating tons of candy, duh.) Oh, and being out of the first trimester and being able to highlight my hair again!! 

Milestones: Baby can wiggle his fingers and toes and sucks his thumb a lot. Also, baby is now peeing and breathing in amniotic fluid. Interesting...

Mood: tired and currently I'm feeling pretty grouchy. I don't have any good reason why but I feel like I might slap the next person that says something rude to me. 

Labor Signs: hope not! 

Wedding rings on or off: on 

Guess I could of put on some makeup for this first chalkboard pic. Oh well, next time! 

Good news about Aus! Thank you God!

Just a quick update...Aus had a CT Scan on Tuesday and the results came back showing no signs of cancer anywhere! Hallelujah! My boy is cancer free! We are SO relieved and just feel on top of the world right now. God is so good. They will rescan him again in 4 months, mid February, which is also awesome news...no scans, no appointments, no labs, no treatment for 4 MONTHS!! Such a nice break! Thank you God for giving us this time to heal and focus on our upcoming baby!

Nervous, waiting to be scanned...

Playing in the office waiting on the results...

Happy happy in the Green house!!!

13 weeks!

How far along: 13 weeks!! Done with the first trimester! 

Size of baby: A peach :)

Total weight gain/loss: still about 3 lbs. Can't tell much difference from last week in how I look. 

Maternity clothes: I bought a few things...and learned something amazing...maternity pants DO NOT have buttons!! umm! holy amazing. My grandmother and aunt took me shopping and I got a few tops and jeans and a dress. Fun stuff! Can't wait to wear them! 

Gender: We should find out around Thanksgiving...I can't WAIT. 

Movement: I wish! 

Sleep: Still really good. Still super tired, hoping that I get some energy back in the next week or so. We had a 13 hour wedding on Saturday and that totally wiped me out. I'm at home on the couch recovering today.

What I miss: Not a whole lot, just ready to gain some energy back. I feel like I'm laying here wasting the day away but I can't get it together enough to move off the sofa. I do have some laundry going and managed to get up and eat lunch with Aus when he came home. I'm just so so so tired all the time. Ugh.  

Cravings: Not much of anything really...still can't stomach the thought of mexican food.  

Best moment this past week: We ordered our crib! Excited about that!! We got the sleigh crib from Pottery Barn Kids and it will be here any day now...haha. Guess we will put that little guy in the garage until we're ready to put it together. :) 

Symptoms: My nausea is definitely better...woohoo! Still headaches and burping all the time, and besides my lack of energy I'm feeling a lot better. 

What I'm looking forward to: our next baby appointment the end of the month, and Austin's CT scan tomorrow. I know that sounds weird that I'm looking forward to it, but I am. I'm ready to get it over with and to hear some good news!! Aus has been pretty stressed over it and I'm ready to put it behind us. It's going to feel really good to hear that he has no tumors in his body. Please say a prayer tonight! 

Milestones: first trimester complete! yayyyyaa 

Mood: excited and tired...not feeling nearly as emotional these days, whew. 

Labor Signs: negative! 

Wedding rings on or off: on 

I will try to post a pic soon...but there hasn't really been any change from weeks 12 to 13. 

 

Let the pregnancy surveys begin! :)

How far along: 12 weeks!! I feel like this is a big milestone! Wahoo!

Size of baby: A plum :)

Total weight gain/loss: 3-4 lbs so far. It feels like a lot more though...I am really starting to tell a difference with this little bump and how my clothes fit. 

Maternity clothes: Not yet, but I bet it won't be long. I've been wearing dresses on warmer days and lots of leggings and boots. I'm hoping I can get away with that for a few more weeks. 

Gender: We should find out around Thanksgiving...I can't WAIT. 

Movement: I wish! 

Sleep: Pretty good. I pretty much pass out like a zombie every night but then wake up super early, which is unlike me. When I say super early I mean like 8am, haha. I haven't really had to pee much so I don't wake up during the night to pee, maybe once if anything. Sleep overall has been amazing and I can't get enough of it. 

What I miss: Deli meat. I know that sounds lame, but I do, like whoa. I miss Jersey Mike's and Jimmy Johns the most. I have found a few places here in Raleigh that have "pregnancy approved deli meat" and heat it up for the approved 20 seconds or whatever and then run the sandwich through the oven. I also miss my energy, and not feeling nauseous all the time. I think it's getting better though. Eating definitely helps so I've been eating more than usual to help kill the pukey feeling. I also have zofran prescribed to me and that helps a lot, although I try not to take it unless I absolutely have to. 

Cravings: Not much of anything really. Not sure if I "crave" bananas but I eat them all the time. Drink a lot of orange juice, too...I just got the calcium fortified kind to make sure I'm getting enough calcium too. My dr is real big on calcium intake. I've had more food aversions than anything...especially to mexican food! 

Best moment this past week: Hearing our sweet babies heart beat! It was an awesome sound and still so hard to believe Austin and I have created a new life! I've listened to it maaaaybe 10 times...a day. :) 

Symptoms: Ohhh I've got a list. My number one symptom is burping, followed by nausea, fatigue, headaches, constipation and just general lack of energy. Overall things have been ok but I am excited to start feeling better soon. I have been pretty emotional too...I can cry at a drop of a hat at just about anything. Molly was chewing one of my fall decorations and when I found it I burst into tears! I had a doctor yell at me at work, made me cry, seeing anybody else cry, makes me cry, hearing sad songs on the radio, makes me cry...you get the picture. Ready to get these emotions in check for sure! 

What I'm looking forward to: finding out the sex!! and getting out of the first trimester! also, ordering our crib! PBK has a $100 sale on the crib we want and it only goes a few more weeks so I think we are going to go ahead and purchase that bad boy. 

Milestones: ??? not really sure we've had any of those yet. still praying for a healthy baby growing inside me! 

Mood: excited, emotional, and tired

Labor Signs: negative! 

Wedding rings on or off: on 

Sweet hubby is making me a chalkboard so I can take weekly pics...but for now...this is what you get. Definitely got a bump going on at 12 weeks! Yikes! 

Baby Green Bean!!

So let's play a little catch up with baby Green bean! We found out we were expecting the day before our anniversary, August 20th...crazy we've known about this little bean for a month and a half now! I called the OB later that afternoon to let them know I had a positive pregnancy test and they told me I was about 5 weeks and that they would set up my first appointment for September 4th. That was a long two weeks!! In the meantime...we waited, and waited. And I analyzed everything my body was doing, of course. 


My dad was here visiting when we found out we were preg so we told him that night. I called my mom later that night and told her I needed her to look at something on the computer with me and then e-mailed her pictures of the positive tests...so I was on the phone with her when she opened the e-mail...and she screamed, and cried, and laughed and asked "is this for real???" one hundred times. It was an awesome moment. :) 

A few days later I told my two very best friends, just because I had to tell someone, and had to ask 283487 questions about what was going on and was this ok to eat and was this ok to feel, etc etc. 

Labor day weekend we went to the lake and told Austin's parents, and then had our first appointment the next day and called his grandmother, brother and sister, and my aunt and grandmother, too. That was a fun day with lots of happy tears! 

Sept 4th...went to the OB, super nervous and anxious, and they confirmed I was pregnant through urine and blood tests. Tried to do a vaginal ultrasound but said it was still pretty early so we weren't able to really see anything. I think the baby was about the size of a poppy seed then!

Sept 18th...went back for another ultrasound and we saw our little bean for the first time. Everything looked great and we (I) felt a lot more confident that I was really pregnant and that this was really happening. Austin never really doubted it...haha. 

Sweet babies first picture:

September 28th...we announced we were pregnant on Facebook and ready for the whole world to know our little secret. :) 

October 4th...the best appointment yet because we got to hear our sweet babies heart beat! We went over tons of info, family history, insurance stuff, talked about delivery and they did a physical on me. Then we got to see our sweet baby again and he/she really looks like a baby now! We saw both arms and legs and saw him kicking me! It's crazy how active he/she is and I can't feel any of it. Our OB used a doppler and we were able to hear the heartbeat too. That was music to my ears. :) And we could HEAR him kicking! Sounded just like a whip! Ouch baby!! We also saw him/her sucking his thumb...omg so cute! 

Big difference for 2 weeks, huh? 

We go back again in 4 weeks, October 30th. We will go every 4 weeks until I'm 28 weeks, and then start going every 2 weeks. So not at this next appt (October 30th) but the next one, we will find out the sex! That should be the last week of November, but I'm going to ask if we can do it the week before (week of Thanksgiving) so we can tell all our family in Alabama when we go for Thanksgiving.

I've been feeling pretty crummy and very excited to be out of the first trimester. Next week is week 12 so I'm almost there! I've been SO tired, absolutely exhausted, and nauseous from mid-day to evening almost every day. I've thrown up a hand full of times and the worst was last week when I had to have Aus pull over on the side of the road so I could puke. Ugh. Besides that my biggest symptom has been burping! UGH! So gross. I've had a few headaches here and there and one day of really bad cramping. I haven't had to pee a lot so I'm still waiting for that to happen. As for cravings and food aversions, I don't really crave much. There was about a week where I craved orange juice (simple orange with pineapple, specifically) and milk. I also craved tomatoes, but not so much anymore. I've had a huge food aversion to mexican food, which is so sad!  The thought of going into a mexican restaurant...omg gag city! No thank you! I'm hoping that passes soon because it typically is one of my favorite meals. 

I plan on doing the weekly pregnancy surveys starting on Monday, when I'm 12 weeks. Yay for starting those! :)

And for those wondering, Austin is doing awesome. Like, the best he has felt in probably a year. It's the best feeling in the world...seeing him happy and healthy and feeling GOOD. We are so, so very blessed. He has been the sweetest husband to me and I love him for it! This baby is truly the rainbow after our summer storm. God bless our sweet family! 

  xoxoxo,

Just in case you didn't see on FB...

YAY! And unforunately, this is an every day scene at the Green house right now. Hoping it gets better in the next week or so!