Pumpkin carving

We did our pumpkins last night. I have a lot of seeds to clean and roast.....

And I forgot to take a picture of the end result...

I'll get it later.

18 week survey

Today marks 18 weeks!
18!
Wow!
Baby is now the size of a sweet potato. From what I have been reading I should be feeling movements by now or soon. Im impatiently waiting.

SO NOT used to this roundness. Its just a hard adjustment for me. Not complaing, or wishing it away of course. I'd take this anyday vs. not being pregnant...but wow I cannot get used to this. I worked so hard for 2 YEARS to have abs and be fit and in shape. This shape is like another planet to me. I have chubby sides now and such a round belly. Yikes. And not even half way though yet.

How far along?  18 weeks
Total weight gain: Last doc appt at 15 weeks I was up 13 pounds. I now dont have the courage to step on the scale. 
Maternity clothes? Mostly all maternity now, except sweat pants and tshirts. 
Stretch marks? I think I have the start of them unfortunately. I thought I would be able to escape this without them, or without horrid ones. I have very itchy skin, the slightest dark marks which  I think is the start of them and my belly button is starting to change a tad. Only noticeable by me though.
Sleep:I have been totally knocked out, weird dreams too!
Best moment this week: Getting 4 huge boxes of baby girl clothes in the mail from a friend.
Miss anything? Running hard and sweating. Being fit and in shape and 115 on the scale.
Movement:None that I am sure of, but I felt a couple things that are possible. I just dont know.
Food cravings: No cravings. Enjoy spicy food.
Anything making you queasy or sick:  No
Gender Predictions: Girl already confirmed. It was my gut instinct from the very beginning of pregnancy and turns out I was right.
Labor Signs: No
Belly Button in or out?  In. But its changing slightly.
Wedding rings on or off?  On. Still fits the same, pretty lose.
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy.
Looking forward to: Feeling movements and being sure that its it.

Before and almost half way

17 week pictures

17 week survey

It is just UNBELIEVABLE that we are now 17 weeks pregnant. It still does not feel real. Im waiting for the moment when it will, if it ever will. 10 weeks ago I was sure I was going to miscarry because there was no way this could be possible for one, and for 2 it was just too good to be true. And here I am, 17 weeks. Now in the waiting game to start feeling baby kicks! It just doesnt feel real that in only 3 more weeks we are half way done. Time is going so fast now.

Baby is now the size of an ONION! About 5 inches crown to rump and almost 6 oz. Shes putting on some fat now, her cartilage is turning to bone and the umbilical cord is thickening this week. 

How far along?  17 weeks
Total weight gain: Still the same, up to 130 from 117. +13 pounds. The average woman gains about 10 pounds by now so, Im not too far off. I assume my skin is stretching now because my belly and boobs have been super itchy.
Maternity clothes? About the same as week 15... I can only fit into maternity pants now and still wearing normal t-shirts but now up up to size Medium in most, although some are quite snug. No more size x-small or small. Im glad I kept some of my loser shirts!
Stretch marks? None. But have started using the coco butter stretch mark massage lotion just in case. If I can prevent any I would like to, I still want to wear a bikini when all this is over!
Sleep: Most days Im out, some nights I am too hungry to sleep and I wake  up any time between 1 am and 3 am to eat. Usually the choice of food is oatmeal.
Best moment this week: Lady at grocery store asked Kayla if she going to have a baby brother or sister. This folks, means I clearly look pregnant!
Miss anything? Running.
Movement:None
Food cravings: No cravings. Enjoy spicy food. Had Taco Bell over the weekend and on 2 tacos I had SIX packs of FIRE sauce! 
Anything making you queasy or sick:  No
Gender Predictions: Girl already confirmed. It was my gut instinct from the very beginning of pregnancy and turns out I was right.
Labor Signs: No
Belly Button in or out?  In.Same.
Wedding rings on or off?  On. Still fits the same, pretty lose.
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy! Moody when hungry.
Looking forward to: Feeling movements and 20 week scan on Nov 14th.

Latest happenings with the bump

Since my last belly shot at 15 weeks 2 days I took these. Hard to believe I look like this.

I don't even feel like I look like this.

I don't feel like this is possible that it's ME.

ME.

How on earth did we get THIS lucky?

Without even trying.

Without it even being a millisecond of a thought.

Without donor sperm.

Without injections.

Without tracking cycles.

Without pills.

Without doctors.

Without surgeries.

JUST NATURAL.

ME! 

( and my husband of course had something to do with it. lol )

Yesterday I walked out to check the mail. Was expecting some packages. I get half way across the street and the lady that sold us our lot who worked in the builder's office was at the neighbor delivering a key. She saw me, took off her sunglasses, and looked at me weird. I just waved and thought weird. We haven't seen her since we closed on the house and got the key from her on June 15th. A month before conceiving.

First thing she said was, " Whats up with you!?"

I guess it was her way of asking but didnt want to insult if I just gained weight. lol.

I just patted the belly. And she was hysterical! She was so excited for us.

What did I get out of it? The fact that I obviously look pregnant, finally!

Not just fat, but pregnant.

ME! 

Egg Farm

The 2nd part of our Saturday we stopped at a Egg Farm. It was very tiny and I was a bit disappointed it. We probably wont ever go back, but the kids had fun for a little bit.

Our first pumpkin patch

On Saturday after hitting some yard sales early, then Mc D's for breakfast we went to Gilcrease Orchard.
http://www.thegilcreaseorchard.org/

It was the first time for all of us to go to an orchard and pick our own pumpkins. It was so much fun!

I dont know why my pictures always upload out of order,
but we started with picking our very own granny smith apples, followed by only 1 small zucchini. They were all picked or just flowers blooming. Then we picked lots of huge cucumbers and went on to the pumpkin patch. The boys picked one each fairly quick, I picked a tiny one for the baby and Kayla was being so picky. We couldn't understand why she wouldn't pick one. She told us she wanted a round orange one and we thought that's funny... aren't they all orange and round? Once she saw the perfect one, she was thrilled. It was so BRIGHT orange and PERFECTLY round. She knew what she wanted that is for sure.

After picking we walked back, and got some fresh apple cider and apple cider donuts. It was the prefect treat at the end. It was starting to get pretty hot outside by then.

15 week survey

I found this on the internet this morning. Thought it would be fun!

How far along?  15w5d
Total weight gain: up to 130 from 117. +13 pounds.
Maternity clothes? I can only fit into maternity pants now and still wearing normal t-shirts but now up up to size Medium in most. Can still fit into some bigger Small. 
Stretch marks? None. But going to start using creams just in case I can avoid any. I still want to have some bikini years left after this baby.
Sleep: Most days Im out, some nights I am too hungry to sleep.
Best moment this week: The doctor telling me Im normal and my belly really popping out now.
Miss anything? I do miss being tiny with a nice flat tummy...but it will come back.
Movement:None
Food cravings: No cravings but my appetite is getting better and I actually want to eat fruit and veggies. Up until a week ago I needed and wanted heavy food.
Anything making you queasy or sick:  No
Gender Predictions: Girl already confirmed. It was my gut instinct from the very beginning of pregnancy and turns out I was right.
Labor Signs: No
Belly Button in or out?  In.
Wedding rings on or off?  On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy! Moody when hungry.
Looking forward to: Our 18-22 week scan!

15 week scan

Yesterday was my 15 week scan. I was 15w3d. It was a very boring appointment. I was disappointed when  I didn't get an ultrasound done. Only the heartbeat was checked with a Doppler which I do at home every other day or so. At least this Doppler has the heart rate on it though, which mine doesn't  Her heart rate is in the 140's currently. They asked if I wanted the testing for cystic fibrosis and down syndrome and I declined. God gave us this child...we love her no matter what. I brought up my weight gain. The doctor's scale said 130. That mean sI have gained 13 pounds and I told her I was concerned about it. She told me its really no big deal because I started this pregnancy out so tiny. As long as I eat healthy (lots of protein, fruit and veggies) when I am hungry then I am fine. So, if she isnt concerned I guess I am not!

She also mentioned my last appointment at radiology everything was perfect, and I noticed that in my chart my due date has been moved ahead by one day from April 1st, to March 30th.

The midwife checked my cervix and I was on my way. That was literally it. It was BORING. But boring is good. It still feels so weird to be 'normal'.

My next appointment will be between 18-22 weeks in the radiology clinic for a full anatomy scan but its already noted in my chart she is a girl. I have to call on Monday to schedule this appointment.

Yesterday I did this little photo thingy. It was a pain to make but its neat to see. Its me, 2 months prior to conception and 1 weeks prior to conception up to currently 15 weeks along.

Also, we have I think, baby's girls name in the running! I would like to wait until after the next anatomy scan on base, even though I am sure (since the very begining!!!) that she's a girl, and I need to make sure Nick is up for it being her name. He agreed really quickly to it so Im not sure. Although, both of our kids names we agreed on fast because we knew it was the right name. Once that happens, we will do a family photo to announce her name. 

Surprise weekend vacation day 3!

Our 3rd day of our weekend vacation arrived too fast. We woke early as always, had a big hotel breakfast. Came back to shower everyone and pack up our room. In between all that I took some shots of the belly. I actually woke up feeling more physically pregnant than ever. It just feels so different. My  belly is getting more firm and the skin feels tighter. Not so much stretching yet, but just tight.

After checking out of the hotel room, we headed to the San Diego Zoo!

Another reason for our trip to be in San Diego is that active duty military members are free, spouse is 10% discount, combined with the Zoo's October special of all children are free. So it was a little over $30 for all 4 of us to get in. Thank you military benefits once again!

The zoo is huge. We didnt even get to see a section of it because we were all wiped out, and had a 5 hour drive home.

The zoo opened with a presentation of a Toucan bird.

Then right at opening the gates, some Macaw birds flew over us. One guy got pooped on.

Kayla and her busted lip from the dinner the night before.

After 5 hours at the zoo we started our drive home. The kids fell asleep quick and didnt wake up until almost the end of the drive, with about 2 hours to go! That was nice!

And of course a much needed in a hurry pee break from Caden who was asleep for 3 hours and then HAD TO GO!