15 Weeks

How far along? 15 weeks!

Total weight gain? 6 pounds! Still have 2 pounds to go til I'm back up to my wedding weight.

How big is baby? About 4 to 4.5 inches, the size of an apple.



Maternity clothes? I'm still managing a 50/50 combination of maternity/non- maternity. For example, today I'm in a maternity top but regular stretchy bottoms; yesterday, I wore a maternity dress with a regular cardigan; Sunday, I wore maternity shorts with a regular top; and Saturday, I wore a regular A-line summer dress so it was loose on the belly.

Sleep? Sleep is much more comfortable thanks to my new prego-pillow! It supports me in all the right places! Now if only I could manage to not pee at least 3 times a night or wake up every other night, at random hours, in desperate need of a snack!

Best moment of the week? I have two good moments that come to mind this week. I am so lucky at work to have so much support. No one lets me carry anything heavy, go outside when it's crazy hot and humid, or even get my own ice water half the time. As more people learn I am pregnant, I feel even greater support. Even our maintenance team, building security, and the staff at my favorite bagel shop (where I go for second breakfast at least 3 days a week), are showing their support. This is definitely a prego-perk! I had another prego-perk this week as well. I was walking back to the office from lunch and a pedi-cab (bicycle cabs) driver offered me a free ride! Too bad I was already across the street from my office, otherwise I would have gladly accepted the offer!

Funny moment of the week? On Sunday, while we were out running errands, a song with a good drum beat played on the radio and Ryan started tapping on my belly like he was drumming. He asked if I thought the baby could hear or feel it? As I gingerly removed his hand from my belly, I said "probably... so maybe I should be responsible for teaching the baby rhythm!" Hahaha!!

Symptoms? The symptoms I have come and go throughout the day, which means I spend most of the time feeling pretty good. My sore hips is probably my worst symptom. I hate that it's painful for me to walk by the end of the day. I've got a funny aftertaste thing going on; it seems like no matter what I eat, I need to brush my teeth shortly afterward or it makes my water taste nasty. I wish I my braces would have been taken off my bottom teeth so I could chew gum!! Speaking of ice water, I still crave it! This is a good thing because it's good for me and the baby! This week, I also had a pretty nasty headache that lasted almost two days but, thankfully, it started to go away late this afternoon after I ate a piece of good chocolate. :-)

What I miss? Well, this week, Ryan forgot to bring my little folding chair to the softball game so I had to sit on the ground... I really missed my chair! Haha! I also miss caffeine, especially with the headache I had. I know a Dr. Pepper or Diet Coke would have done the trick!

What I'm looking forward to? Seeing some of Ryan's family this weekend! We have so much to celebrate!

And, here's the 15 week bump!

14 Weeks

How far along? 14 weeks! Second trimester!

Total weight gain? 4 pounds! On the right track!

How big is baby? About 3.5 to 4 inches, about the size of a Dannon Greek yogurt! Greek yogurt is one of my favorite snacks.



Maternity clothes? The dress in this picture is my maid of honor dress from Dani's wedding and it still fits!! When I wore it then, I was a couple of weeks pregnant and didn't know it yet. I will admit though, today will be the last time I can wear it with this belt...

Sleep? Sleep is getting better with the exception of the crazy thunder and rain storms we had this week! I learned that loud rain can make me get up to pee EVERY HOUR!

Best moment of the week? Taking prego pics with Averi! It was great to get to talk baby stuff with her all weekend, too. We were able to teach Ryan quite a bit about labor and delivery.

Funny moment of the week? The day before the Pinos came to DC, Averi sent me a little video of the kids. Their conversation went a little like this...

Averi: "Who are we going to see this weekend?"
Kalee: "Mr. Doctor Captain Chief Sir Ryan and Mrs. Renee"
Averi: "Mrs. Renee is going to look a little different this time. Why is she going to look different?"
Kalee: "She's pregnant!"
Bear: "Yeah, she's gonna fart out a baby!"

Symptoms? I still have a little bit of waning nausea but my energy is coming back. I was actually able to finish every load of laundry I started Sunday, clean up a bit around the apartment, and cook 3 times, and that was after a full day Friday and Saturday. We've realized my most significant craving is ice water. Room temperature water used to be my favorite, but now it's all about ice and when I want it, I want it now! I only have a few aversions: the smell of asparagus makes me gag, so does the smell of Ryan's vitamins. My left hip hurts a little bit more every day, but I saw an orthopedist last week. In two weeks, I'll start going to physical therapy twice a week.

What I miss? Being able to go out without a purse a full of snacks and a jug of ice water! My purse is heavy!

What I'm looking forward to? My bottom braces should be coming off on Wednesday and I can't wait to be able to munch on carrots, eat hard pretzels, and chew gum!

And, here's the 14 week bump!

Weekend with the Pino Family

We had the pleasure of spending half of our weekend with the Pino family! We just love them!! I've been friends with Averi and Max since the summer before I started high school. Averi and I were on the flag team together and Max was our groupie! ;-) Even though they've lived all over the world we all think it's wonderful that we all ended up living in Virginia, less than four hours away from each other which means we get to see each other a few times a year.

They were in DC this weekend for a special occasion: Max's graduation! Congrats Max! I think it's so awesome that his children were able to see him in a cap and gown and receiving his diploma. Saturday, we were able to watch Max's graduation and do some sightseeing afterward. Kalee was so excited to see the founding documents at the National Archives. Friday, we met them for dinner at the National Harbor which is where Ryan and I became engaged a year and a half ago. On the day we were engaged, it was also the coldest day of the winter, so it was much more pleasant to be there on a nice summer evening. We had the fortunate timing of being inside eating dinner for the first brief rain storm, and then under an awning enjoying gelato for the second brief rain storm. Between the rain, we walked around the harbor, the kids played in the sand, and Averi and I took some pictures to celebrate two additional special occasions: we're both pregnant! Averi is eleven days more pregnant than me!

Kalee and Bear had fun climbing all over Poseidon.




Bear had fun throwing sand... such a boy!



Averi and I took a few pictures to show off our baby bumps!

13 weeks

How far along? 13 weeks! We can rest a little easier now knowing we're out of the danger zone. Making it this far significantly reduces our chance of miscarrying which has been my biggest fear. With PCOS, I have a 50% chance of having a miscarriage but, fortunately, we haven't had any scares. Thank goodness!

Total weight gain? 3 pounds! I'm right on track for 13 weeks. I hope I can maintain a healthy pace and get some of my energy back in the next couple of weeks so I can exercise a bit more. Walking is so boring!

How big is baby? About 3 inches long from head to tushie! BabyCenter says it's about the size of a peach. We didn't have any peaches, so we used a baseball in today's picture (below). Baseball's are also about 3 inches. I read today that babies grow at different paces from now on. Different parts grow at different times. It will be interesting to see just how big this baby will be!

Maternity clothes? It seems like something moves from the "can wear" to "can't wear" closet every couple of days. One of my favorite skirts practically suffocated me by the end of the day last week and this morning, Ryan commented that today might be the last day I wear this dress because it's getting a little short in the front! I've only gained 3 pounds! How can this be?! My mini maternity wardrobe is going to have to expand pronto!

Sleep? Sleep is a challenge. I love doing it and wish I could do it all of the time, but the pain in my left hip is getting more and more uncomfortable. I'm looking forward to getting a body pillow next week. Hopefully that will help.

Best moment of the week? Our ultrasound on Friday was amazing! It took awhile, about 45 minutes, because Baby J was being a wiggly butt again. I was soooo uncomfortable by the end! I had to pee so bad, I had tears sneaking down my cheeks. It was all worth it though! Baby appears to be free of the genetic diseases they were looking for and has a very strong heart beat. The best thing was watching it move around and then stop for a moment to take a few gulps of amniotic fluid... we actually saw it open up it's little mouth and gulp it in! It was like a little fishy! So cute!

Funny moment of the week? Now that we've reached the 13 week mark, we've started talking about names. Some of what we've come up with has us in stitches! Here are a few of my "favorites" so far: Royce Joyce, Spartacus Joyce, Mack Joyce (kinda sounds like McJoyce), Jibroni Joyce (if you watch "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia", you'll see the trend in these names), and, after a friend suggested Chase, we came up with a name that would require us to change our last name: Chazee LeJoyce.

Symptoms? Some symptoms seem to be subsiding. I'm less sleepy and can go a little longer without a potty break. I still get queasy if I don't eat often. My gums are a little sensitive and I can see more veins on my feet and belly. I solved one of my symptoms today thanks to all of the reading I've been doing. For the last few weeks, I've been feeling really light-headed in the shower and it's accompanied by dry heaving and the need to lay down and drink ice water as soon as I get out. I learned that being in a hot room or hot shower opens capillaries on your skin and draws blood away from your organs which can make you feel light-headed. Today, I took a cool shower, with the shower curtain cracked open and the bathroom door wide open and I felt amazing! Best shower, best morning, I've had in weeks!

What I miss? Riding my bike. This weekend, we had to replace the car battery and Ryan had to ride his bike to the hardware store for the right size wrench. I was a tad jealous because it was a beautiful day for a bike ride. I can't wait til next spring to ride the trails with a little baby in a wagon behind the bike!

What I'm looking forward to? We have an appointment with the OB tomorrow. Hopefully I can get some suggestions for my snapping hip!


And, for your viewing pleasure... Genuine fatigue after a busy day of work! Baby J is about the size of a baseball.


And, here's my belly! Please keep in mind that the plumpness is aided by the Chipotle chicken bowl I had for lunch and ice cream party we had at work... ;-)

12 Weeks

How far along? 12 weeks (well, now 12 weeks and 2 days).

Total weight gain? 2 pounds. I'm now poised to gain up to a pound a week for the next 20 weeks. I hope my appetite returns because this part sounds like fun!

How big is baby? About 2 to 2.3 inches, the size of a plum.

Maternity clothes? I'm wearing about 40% maternity and 60% regular. I LOVE my maternity clothes. They're so comfy! I have two small closets and I've divided them into "clothes I can still wear" and "clothes I already can't wear or won't be able to wear when the weather is right". I feel like something moves from the "can wear" to the "can't wear" every day!

Sleep? Is my favorite hobby.

Best moment of the week? Seeing Baby J on Thursday! Each ultrasound is a crazy combination of nervousness and excitement. We are always afraid something will be wrong but have been fortunate so far. Baby J was CRAZY during the ultrasound. We went in for a nuchal translucency screening which is a test used to determine whether the baby is showing signs of Downs Syndrome. They use the ultrasound to measure the fluid on the back of the baby's neck and the length of the nasal bone. To accomplish this, we need a clear profile image of Baby J. This week Baby J just didn't want to be still! It was wiggling and rolling around like crazy! Just two weeks ago, the baby looked like it was twitching a bit and that was the full extent of the movement. This time, we saw tiny legs kicking, Ryan clearly saw a foot, we could see the spine, but never a clear profile - even though we definitely saw a nose, which is a good sign! The ultrasound tech suggested I pee because sometimes that calms the baby. No such luck! Baby flipped totally upside down! In the PDF I attached, you can see the wiggly profile in the first image (with a definite nasal bone) then you can clearly see how Baby flipped over! I had no idea it could move so much, but the tech joked that the uterus is like a trampoline! Now we just picture Baby J having a grand time bouncing off the walls.

Funny moment of the week? I think our best moment was also our funny moment. My mom explained that I was a spaz in the womb too. During labor, the doc had to attach a fetal monitor to my head because I kept knocking it off her belly. The good thing is, I was pretty calm for the first 13 months of my life. I didn't even crawl! So, I'm hoping Baby J will get all of its energy out before being born!

Symptoms? Still sleepy, nauseous, sensitive gums, and the occasional knot in my left butt cheek when I walk a lot.

What I miss? The high waisted skirts I often wore to work have been switched to the "can't wear" closet. They're all really cute, too! I hope I'll be back in them next spring.

What I'm looking forward to? Since Baby J was crazy at our last ultrasound, we get to have another on on Friday! Woohoo!!

11 Weeks

How far along? 11 weeks according to the sonogram. Hopefully, we'll have a better gauge with our next sonogram on Thursday!

Total weight gain? 1.5 pounds! I blame the delicious barbecue we had yesterday!

How big is baby? About 1.5 to 1.75 inches long! About the size of the cork I'm holding in the picture. In terms of fruit, it's a little fig!

Maternity clothes? Ryan took me on a maternity clothes shopping spree! I now have at least a week's worth of work clothes and undies, as well as some comfy clothes for the weekend. We found some good weekend stuff at Old Navy and great work stuff at Gap and, surprisingly, Sears! I was totally impressed by Sears. I can't remember the last time I got so much clothing at once!

Sleep? I've learned that even when I take a 2 hour nap at 6pm, I will be ready to sleep at 10pm, and will sleep most of the night with the exception of bathroom breaks.

Best moment of the week? Yesterday, I spent hours talking to Ryan's colleague's wives, Jackie, Teague, and Ayana, all about pregnancy, labor, having preemies, having trouble getting pregnant, etc. They were so excited when we told them we were expecting and the stories just poured out!

Funny moment of the week? I used to play on my office softball team, the Tree Sluggers. This year, since I am unable to play, Ryan is my "subby" (my hubby who is my sub). Ryan was a bit shocked on Tuesday when random people on the team would come up and congratulate him! Even though we've been trying not to go public, as you can see in the pictures, it's getting hard to hide this belly! People who know we're still newlyweds, know how excited I am about having kids, and know how much weight I lost going to the YWCA after work all week have just come right out and asked! I wasn't going to lie and let them think I was putting on weight!

Symptoms? New symptom this week! Sensitive gums! No fun! Flossing is quite painful. It also feels like my hair has grown about an inch in the last two weeks. My split ends are really obvious now. Time for a trim!

What I miss? Well, today I found myself dry-heaving in the shower. Yuck! Yesterday's 45-minute car ride to the BBQ made me feel motion sick. I miss not feeling queasy!

What I'm looking forward to? Our ultrasound on Thursday! We can't wait to see our little fig again!!

10 Weeks

How far along? 10 weeks according to the sonogram, 11 weeks according to math. Hopefully, we'll have a better gauge with our next sonogram on June 3rd.

Total weight gain? Still just +1 pound! I never thought maintaining my senior year of high school weight would be this effortless, especially while pregnant and far too exhausted for my normal exercise! I know it will change soon enough, though.

How big is baby? About 1.25 to 1.5 inches long! About the size of the seashell I'm holding in the picture. (And my uterus is the size of a grapefruit).

Maternity clothes? I got a pair of maternity jeans and maternity denim shorts from H&M last week and they were exactly what I needed for our weekend. We went to a baseball game Friday and Preakness Saturday and I know I would have been extremely uncomfortable if I had tried to wear regular jeans or fiddle with my belly band.

Sleep? I wanted to sleep all day Sunday. Baby J definitely thought I partied too hard Friday and Saturday. I'm still getting up about 4 times a night.

Best moment of the week? Telling Jacque!

Funny moment of the week? How Jacque found out! Friday night, Jacque drove down from Philly to join us in Baltimore for the Orioles/Nationals game (the Nats kicked butt by the way!). We were lucky enough to get free tickets to AT&T's box with Ryan's colleagues and their families. We'll be seeing them again next weekend for a barbecue and will share our news with them then, so Ryan made me promise not to tell Jacque until AFTER the game! I wore a loose shirt to hide my little bump and kept my lips tightly sealed. During the 5th or 6th inning, Ryan learned about a cool way to take pictures on his phone. By doing a panoramic sweep, the camera turns the action shot into a panoramic picture. Ryan took a few sweeping pictures of the stadium and then showed Jacque and me the pictures. While scrolling through the pictures, Ryan flipped to a picture of our sonogram! He quickly flipped it back before she realized what she saw... but then accidentally flipped back to it again!! Then she knew what it was and turned to me with an "ohmygosh" look on her face and I just put my finger on my lips and whispered "shhhhh"! Ryan knew he messed up big time! Jac gave me a big old hug and we sat there for two minutes totally quiet until I suggested we get some ice cream so I could finally tell her all the details. I still can't believe Ryan blew the secret!!

Symptoms? If I'm hungry, I'm nauseous. Even drinking water makes me feel like I could puke. I often wish I could just puke and get it over with, but I haven't been so lucky! I try to just keep from getting hungry. It's a viscous cycle! I'm also starting to have trouble with my hip. I have snapping hip syndrome which means my tendons in my hips are really tight and they snap over my hip joint. With repeated snapping they become inflamed. I think it's causing some problems for me because I get more and more uncomfortable throughout the day until I feel like I have a huge knot in my left butt cheek and a shooting pain all the way from the knot to my foot. No bueno!

What I miss? Being able to walk without my butt hurting. Also, wearing my favorite jeans.

What I'm looking forward to? Sharing the news with Ryan's colleagues next weekend and our pool opening!! I know swimming will be so relaxing and potentially some good exercise.

9 Weeks 1 Day

How far along? 9 weeks and 1 day according to the sonogram! We have a new estimated due date: December 19! That date just happens to be our 9 year anniversary!! This is one special baby! My lucky numbers are 9 and 19. We're 9 weeks, 1 day, Baby J is due on the 19th, on our 9 year anniversary and now I have a feeling it will weigh 9 lbs 1 oz... (and this week I turn 29!).

Total weight gain? Still just +1 pound!

How big is baby? It's just over an inch long; a little grape!

Maternity clothes? My biggest leftover fat pants are starting to feel snug, especially when I'm stuck at my desk in the afternoon. My belly's grown but sadly, the boobies are not!

Sleep? I feel this fatigue will never end and I won't get a good night's sleep for the next 25 years.

Best moment of the week? Our ultrasound today!! We thought we might get to hear the heartbeat today but that was it. We were totally surprised when the doctor wanted a sonogram to get a more accurate date. At first, Ryan was shocked to see how the sonograms work in these early weeks (not from the outside like you see on tv!) but we were quickly amazed as soon as the screen switched on and the tech said, "oh yeah! You're definitely pregnant!" Then, we saw our little baby!! We saw the little head, little body, little arms, little legs, and little heart beating very strong. And then it moved!! It started wiggling and flapping its little arms like it was excited we were getting a sneak peak and we both started to cry. There was no way you could peel the smiles off our faces. It was truly magical.

Funny moment of the week? Nothing really stands out this week... sorry!

Symptoms? Sleepy, gassy, light-headed, and over the last couple of days, I've felt slightly on the verge of puking. I haven't yet. It takes a long time to feel hungry because I always feel full and there's a very fine line between feeling hungry and nauseous.

What I miss? All of you! Today, we wished we could have shared our joy with you and just spent the day driving around from house to house with the little picture of our little bean.

What I'm looking forward to? Getting to spread the word a little farther this weekend! Jacque's coming down for my birthday weekend and she doesn't know yet!

We'll start the weekly updates again on Monday when we are at 10 weeks!

9 Weeks

How far along? 9 weeks

Total weight gain? +1 pound! I'm on the right track!

How big is baby? It's an inch-long grape!

Maternity clothes? Just the belly band still. Today, though, I went through 3 outfits before I made it out the door for work. I ended up in a high waisted skirt that kept trying to move up to the narrower part of my waist all day.

Sleep? All I can say is, "is it nap time yet?!" I feel like I could easily become narcoleptic!

Best moment of the week? Mother's Day! I got a sweet Mommy-to-Be card from Jocelyn, adorable baby moccassins from Sue, some Mommy-to-be texts, and a steamer mop from Ryan (to keep the tile floors squeaky clean for our future scooter).

Funny moment of the week? Today during work, Jocelyn and I were on a walk and while we were crossing the street a bus started rolling forward. She jumped between the bus and me with her arms spread out as if she would actually stop the bus from hitting us if it so desired. When we got on the sidewalk, I turned to her and said, "if you blocked a bus for me, you'd have instant Godmother status!" She blocked cars for me the rest of the day!

Symptoms? My skin hurts; I just feel kind of tender and tingly all over. My head spins whenever I stand from laying or even slouching, I have heartburn, and I'm still a bit gassy!

What I miss? Being able to function after work! I get home, sit down, and that's the end of the day. Poor Ryan's probably beginning to miss my cooking!

What I'm looking forward to? Our first appointment with the obstetrician a week from today! We should be able to hear the heartbeat!!

8 Weeks!

How far along? 8 weeks

Total weight gain? 0! My combination of heart burn and lack of ability to eat has made me return to my pre-pregnancy weight. From what I've read though, for someone who is overweight like me, it's good to only gain up to 2 or 3 pounds in the first trimester anyway, and then between 15 and 25 pounds overall.

How big is baby? It's a little raspberry!

Maternity clothes? I bought a belly band! Saturday, I had a hard enough time buttoning my jeans before we even left the house but it was even harder after Ryan and I went to Buffalo Wild Wings for lunch... that's a huge mistake if you are getting heartburn and everything you eat gives you gas! I puffed right up! Thanks goodness for the belly band so I could wear those jeans to run errands Sunday.

Sleep? I took a very brief nap after work today which was my only nap of the week. I'm only getting up about three times a night now, which is down from about five.

Best moment of the week? My first appointment at the Arlington Women's Center was this morning. I was kind of nervous but equally excited. Ryan wasn't able to be there for the beginning of the appointment, but Karen (who married us!) was able to join me! She's in town right now for a little vacation and was so excited when we told her we were pregnant and then asked her to be my substitute hubby for today's appointment. It was neat to look around the waiting room and see women at different stages of pregnancy and knowing I'll soon be in their shoes. Ryan got to the AWC just in time to pick us up and take us to lunch. It was a pretty awesome morning.

Funny moment of the week? I think there were two good moments this week. First, Jenn had a dream that we named the baby Montana! Second, my pregnancy brain is really making things difficult for me! Sunday, while I was running errands, I went to CVS, used my debit card, entered my pin, and everything was fine. I then went to Micheal's, used my debit card, entered my pin, and everything was fine. Then, I went to Target, swiped my debit card, and could not, for the life of me, remember my pin!! I entered multiple combinations of what I thought were the numbers and they just disappeared! Fortunately, I had our emergency credit card because this was truly an emergency! I still, to this day, can't remember my debit card pin number! What's wrong with my brain?!

Symptoms? I'm peeing less, burping and farting more! Lucky Ryan! My heartburn is getting pretty awful-- even ice cream makes me burn up! And, I'm still exhausted. Is it nap time yet?

What I miss? Buttoning my favorite jeans! It's weird that the scale shows the same number but my clothes definitely do not fit the same!

What I'm looking forward to? My first "Future Mother's Day!"

7 Weeks!

How far along? 7 weeks

Total weight gain? +2 pounds... I lost a pound since last week, so I know for sure it was the cruise food! Now that I'm back to a normal schedule (no more 2nd dinners!), I should be able to gain weight at a normal rate.

How big is baby? About the size of a blueberry ("Anchorman" Quote)

Maternity clothes? Nope, but they're on sale at Target this week, so I think I might get a belly band so I can wear my pants comfortably.

Sleep? Every time I sit in a meeting, I want to fall asleep. Every time I sit down, I want to fall asleep! I can't sleep for long though because I still have to pee!

Best moment of the week? Learning that our little blueberry is starting to grow limbs! It's not just a blob! It's a little person! Also, every day, my friend Jocelyn takes the time to take a walk with me at work. It's great to get my blood flowing, get some fresh air, and keep from falling asleep, but it also gives me some extra time to spend with her before she leaves our company to begin an immersion program in Morocco! I'll miss my buddy so I'm super grateful for our walks!

Funny moment of the week? Ryan's been getting daily updates on pregnancy progress and he loves to share the highlights with me. One day last week, as I was coming out of the shower, he informed me how to pee! Apparently, if I sit for a minute and lean forward I can make the most of my time on the throne. I've also succumbed to hormone overdrive and seem to be having mood swings at least once a day. Late last week, as I was taking out the trash (Ryan's chore), and he made a half attempt to do it himself. I snapped about how he doesn't take out the bathroom trash so it doesn't matter anyway and he came running into the room screaming "Montana! Montana!" Apparently, this is our safe word! When he says "Montana," I have to shut up.

Symptoms? Still sleepy, still peeing, still eating light during the day and more at dinner, but if I try to eat a lot, I feel miserable! Everything makes me burp (more than normal!). This week, I had a few bouts of feeling light-headed. No vomiting! Yes!

What I miss? I just started receiving laser hair treatments about two months ago to get rid of the chin hairs I've had and hated for so long, but I can't continue with the treatments until I'm done breastfeeding! I had an appointment scheduled for Thursday but had to cancel until further notice.

What I'm looking forward to? Seeing the nurse next week to start calming some of my fears. I'm in a total panic about my hormones because it isn't something I can see or feel. I've been reading about common symptoms and have read over and over that, by now, it's common to experience breast tenderness and growth and I haven't really had either. I fear this is because my levels of androgen are always a bit high and progesterone is always low. I'm worried that this could be having a negative effect on our little blueberry's support system. As crazy as it sounds, I'm looking forward to getting my blood work done!

6 Weeks!

How far along? 6 weeks, anticipated due date is December 13

Total weight gain? +3 pounds (I mostly blame the cruise food!)

How big is baby? About the size of an orange seed

Maternity clothes? Nope, but I know I'll need them sooner rather than later. I've been sucking my tummy in for as long as I can remember and it's already uncomfortable to try to hold it all in!

Sleep? I wish I could sleep all day! For the last two weeks, I've felt like I could fall asleep anywhere!

Best moment of the week? Seeing my primary physician yesterday and having the pregnancy confirmed. I've been seeing the same doctor for three years and even she was excited! Because I have PCOS, I never thought I would be able to become pregnant, especially without using any kind of medical assistance (like taking clomid to make me ovulate or even IVF). I'm overjoyed with knowing I can actually be pregnant and it's because I worked so hard to lose 30 pounds!

Funny moment of the week? On Sunday, I said something funny and Ryan commented that he thinks I've been funnier lately. I replied it's because I'm carrying around half his genes! He cracked up!

Symptoms? I'm so sleepy! I had to take naps every day on the cruise and I wish I could nap at work. My kidneys are definitely becoming more efficient; when I need to go, I need to go now! And, that's about every hour or so. My eating habits have changed. I can only eat small meals and snacks during the day and even those make me burp, but at dinner, I can easily put down a whole plate of food without any side effects. Ryan thinks Baby J grows the most at night! I feel like I'm getting a pregnancy brain already. Yesterday, I left my phone charger at work; the day before, I left a burner on on the stove...

What I miss? Being able to sit through a meeting without a potty break. I also miss kickboxing, zumba, and running! I'm taking it easy and just doing yoga, walking, the elliptical, and biking until we're out of the danger zone.

What I'm looking forward to? My first appointment at the Arlington Women's Center in 2 weeks.

Sweet Sunday

Our sweet little one is 3 months along... :-)

Due December 19th, which is, coincidentally, our 9th anniversary!

We've been sending weekly updates to our family since about week 6, so we'll be turning those into blogs soon! Keep coming back for weekly updates!

We're so excited! We can't wait to be parents!!

Birthday Weekend

I celebrated my first 29th birthday a few weeks ago. First, you ask? My grandma was 29 her whole life and I intend to do the same! Ryan says he'll turn me in for a newer model when I turn 30, so I think it's best to avoid it.

The weekend after my birthday was going to be pretty low key, but then we thought it might be fun to go to Preakness (a major horse race). Then, Jacque called and asked what we were up to and I told her she needed to join us at Preakness. Then, Ryan scored box seats at the Orioles game! Jacque drove down to meet us and what was going to be a low key weekend ended up being an awesome weekend in Baltimore!







The Nationals ended up kicking the Orioles' behinds in what was probably one of the best games in Nat's history. We had a blast in the box, especially because the seats and the food were free! We stayed at an awesome hotel that night and had breakfast at Baltimore harbor the next morning. We spent the whole afternoon at Preakness, aka "Freakness." Preakness is a crazy event! Everyone in the stands is totally classy; we saw lots of seersucker suits, pretty dresses, and crazy hats. The infield is a whole different story! That's where we were! There were some good bands playing (like Train and Puddle of Mud), lots of drunken stumbling, accidental boob flashing, and sunburns... and we had a blast! We found a surprisingly quiet spot just inside the final turn where we spread out our blanket to enjoy the craziness and the races. Ryan taught Jacque and me how to choose our bets but I was the only winner with a lucky pick! I won a whole $8 on a $2 bet! The races were really exciting! From where we sat, we could see most of the races start on the big screen and it was so thrilling when they would come around our turn. The start gate moved depending on the length of the race, so the last two races, including Preakness, started right where we sat! We picked the perfect place without even knowing it!