It's not so bad after all!

Yep, I'm talking about this stuff. Yesterday I had a checkup for Addison and it was the day I had kinda been dreading. I had to drink the "horrible" drink that everyone talks about in order to check my glucose levels. I sat down, was given this little bottle to drink within 5 minutes, then I had to wait an hour to get my blood work done. I had heard now horrible this was going to be, but if you are pregnant and dreading this, let me give you some reassurance. This drink was not nearly as bad as everyone makes it out to be. In fact, I kinda liked it. I really tastes like fruit punch just with a little added sugar. Now you know if I'm saying this, it really isn't bad. You all know how Addison does with sweets, so I was really worried about drinking it and then throwing up, but all was well. The only thing was that I couldn't eat or drink anything for the hour that I waited, but your blood sugar levels spike and then drop in order to see how your body will react. I got a little light headed when I was talking to Dr. Grider and she wanted me to make sure I got something to eat with a little protein in it whenever I left the office. Other than that, it was easy-peasy! 

Addison's checkup went great! We are not going to have anymore ultrasounds because my doctor said that everything is going great with Addison. I wouldn't mind seeing my little girl again, but I'm glad that the reason why I won't see her is because she is developing beautifully! That a girl, Addy! Yesterday was a first though...I was measured with a tape measure to see how much my stomach has grown. It was kind of weird and I was a little worried of what my doctor would say after she was finished measuring, but everything is developing exactly like it should. Addison's heart rate was 138-143 while we were listening to it and it was so crazy because we could hear her heartbeat and then we could hear her kick on the doppler. She's getting really strong!

I do have to go back in two weeks to get a shot called Rogam. This shot is given to people who have a special blood type that actually fights against their spouse's blood type. I have to have this shot because it will affect us if we want to have another child and have not had this shot. It is only good for 12 weeks, so I can't have it until I am at least 28 weeks unless I want to go back and have it again before I deliver. Like I said, this will not affect Addison, only our chances of conceiving again if we don't have this shot done. My mom had to have it when I was born and when Brittany was born, so I was pretty sure that I would have to have the same thing when I got farther along.

Other than that, no new news. Addison and I are doing well and growing, growing, growing! 

26 weeks

We have started the 26th week of our pregnancy and I do believe that I am not able to deny it...I'm pregnant!   Addison is now practicing her breathing by taking in some of the amniotic fluids. She is also opening her eyes this week. Although they are open, we still wouldn't be able to tell what color they will be permanently. Just guessing, but I think her eyes will be green. Both Mike and I have green eyes, so I'm hoping she gets them as well. I think that Mike's eyes are beautiful, so I wouldn't mind if she took after her daddy in that area!

Since her eyes are open, if we hold a flashlight up to my stomach many of the books say that she will react. I don't think I will mess with my child that way, but it is pretty neat that she can start to see light outside of her little home right now. She will also most likely respond to loud noises this week. The books say that she will jump and kick if she hears a loud noise. I already feel like the karate kid is living in my belly, so I would assume she would kick pretty hard :) The reason for this? Her little brain is more developed and sophisticated and the nerve endings in her ears have developed completely by now.

Addison is also continuing to accumulate fat on that little body of hers. Although she is adding fat to her body at leaps and bounds, she only weighs two pounds at this point and is still measuring about the same length as last week. Up until now her skin has been very saggy because she's been so thin and bony, but now her job is to pack on the pounds and start to "fill out." She is now the size of a cucumber. 

I am feeling great! We are now back from Spring Break and to quote one of my favorite movies..."It's what we, in the biz, like to call crunch time!" Please tell me you knew I was quoting The Breakup?! We start our new state testing in about 20 school days and I am feeling the pressure and stress of hoping it all comes together. I think everyone is a little nervous because the test itself and the standards are new this year, so we don't really know what to expect. This causes this prego lady, and I would say all my colleagues, to be VERY sleepy at the end of the day. 

Although I'm tired, I do believe the nesting stage has begun. The other night it was crazy! I started picking up the house and the next thing I knew I was organizing my closet. This was a huge task! If you've seen our closet then you know what I'm talking about. Finally around 10:30 Mike was all but begging me to quit and get in the bed so he could get to sleep. HA!

The only new symptom that I have this week is some rather annoying leg cramps. It only happens at night when I go to roll over and it's only on my left leg. My calf muscle to be exact. I can wiggle my leg around just a little bit and it will go away, but it is painful enough to wake me up each time I roll over. My back is feeling pretty good, but I can definitely tell that I took a week off from standing last week during the break. Other than that, which is not bad at all if you ask me, I feel absolutely fantastic!

I do believe that's it for the updates this week... I think everything else is still the same. No new cravings or anything, but stay tuned for another update...I have a doctor's appointment this Friday and I get to drink the glucose drink...YUMMY! Details to come!

You know your're pregnant when...

Just thinking about some of the things that make me laugh about this pregnancy and I thought that I would share them with you...

You know you're pregnant when...

1. You use a rubberband to make your regular pants fit longer. Yes, I have done this and yes, I am still doing this with 2 pair of pants that I have.

2. Your body pillow is your new best friend. I originally thought that they costs way too much money, but now that I have invested in one I would pay triple what I paid because they make you so comfortable at night!

3. You can't get enough baby oil or cocoa butter. So far so good...no stretch marks! I have been lathering up in baby oil in the morning and cocoa butter at night.

4. You get so hungry you could cry. I have been at this point about twice now with nothing to grab as a snack and I was miserable. I felt like the snickers commerical when they say that you aren't yourself when you're hungry. As soon as I get food I'm good to go, but I would seriously hurt someone for food.

5. People look at your belly before they look at you. I am sure I have been guilty of this before, but it's hilarious that people will watch you walking toward them and they will stare at your belly the entire time, then when they realize what they're doing they will look up and speak to you. It's kinda funny!

6. Every baby you see is absolutely adborable. I swear there isn't a kid that I don't ohh and ahh over right now. I just can't wait to see what my little girl looks like.

7. You feel like a Buddah because people will come up and rub your belly constantly. I really get uncomfortable when random people come up and rub my stomach. I obviously don't mind my husband, parents or close friends touching my belly, but I really wanna hit (I know that's a little harsh, but seriously!) people that I don't know who come up and touch my stomach. I don't walk around rubbing on people I don't know so this just seems a little weird to me!







Easter and an update

This Easter was great! Mike and I went home to my mom and dad's house on Saturday night that way we were there to wake up early and go to church together. I was able to attend my childhood church (Southland Christian) which many of you know as six flags over Jesus, but when I think of this church I think of home. It's where I grew up going, where I sang in the church Christmas plays, where I spent every Wednesday night in middle school, where I stood on pews in children's church and sang worship songs, where I spent lots of time in the summer and most importantly where I found Jesus. I have such good memories of that church and it makes me so happy when I get to go! Jon did a great job with the service and he even related it to UK basketball (Good job Jon, good job!) After church we went home, had some lunch, and spent most of the afternoon outside. We played cornhole, croquet (believe it or not, I won the first game!!) and took about a three mile walk. It was a great day! Here are some pictures that were captured on Sunday:

 my momma and daddy...matching :)

 My little family. Pumpkin joined us for the picture. No, she was not mad, I think the sun was just in her eyes. No, your eyes are not mistaken... I have that big of a bump. And yes, my husband is that cute :)

Brit, Madi and I. If you could see Brit's skirt we all actually matched and none of it was planned. Great minds think alike!

So on Easter we started our 25th week of pregnancy. If we were to measure Addison from the top of her head to her feet she would now be about 13-14 inches long. No wonder I feel like I grew overnight because at her 20 week appointment (which I was really 2 days away from 22 weeks) she was 7 inches in length, so in three weeks she has doubled in size and I feel like I have as well. Don't let all those celebrities fool you ladies, they don't feel as glamorous as they look. I see those pictures above and I think, "Good grief my face looks fat!" Definitely am beyond the point of feeling "cute." Good thing I get a prize at the end of this! 

This week Addison will start to accumulate fat on that little body of her's as she begins to prepare for her birthday this July. And...she's getting more hair this week. If we were able to see her then we'd be able to tell the color of her hair as well as the texture. CRAZY!

Here's the update on the two of us:

Cravings: I not only love to eat fruit now, but I have a specific favorite...PINEAPPLE! Luckily they've been on sale at Wal-Mart so I've been eating a ton of it! 

Symptoms: Since I look like I have swallowed a basketball my back has started to hurt. I went outlet mall shopping yesterday and I had to sit down. Let me repeat myself, I had to take a break while shopping! That's NEVER happened before! I shopped til I dropped, but I dropped a lot sooner than normal! I've also had heartburn. Specifically if I drink anything carbonated or tomato based, I feel like I could breath fire! I can't do spaghetti or lasagna right now because it just makes me too uncomfortable. 

That's about all...have a good one friends! Addison and I definitely are having a great day because my momma is here and because it's SPRING BREAK!!!

24 weeks

We are rounding the end of the 24th week of pregnancy and I didn't want the week to go by without showing you a picture of the growing belly. Addison is growing leaps and bounds at this point. In fact, since last week she should have gained 4 ounces. Her lungs are growing branches this week which will complete her respitory system.

She's now as big as an ear of corn...wider obviously, but she is being compared to an ear of corn in reference to her length. I can believe it because I can feel her kicking on both sides of my stomach at once now. She will get her arms and legs going at the same time and I can feel it all over my stomch. I still can't tell where her arms and her legs are, but I am assuming the more she grows I will be able to tell which is an arm and which is a leg when she is kicking away in there.

Brittany wanted me to post this picture because she's really proud of it:

Tonight Mike and I came home to stay with my family to celebrate Easter. Brit and I spent a little time decorating a bunny cake that we enjoyed tonight with dinner (it was yummy!). Pretty cute huh? I hope everyone has a great Easter weekend with lots of love from your family and time set aside to count your blessings from above!

How in the world could I forget?!

Good grief! I've had such a busy week finishing up school before spring break that I forgot to write a post about my CATS! DID YOU KNOW THAT WE ARE THE NCAA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS? I am sure you did! I just couldn't miss the championship game, so I stayed up on a work night until midnight (my alarm goes off at 5:30..boo!) The next day I was struggling bad, but it was worth every yawn that took place! Let me share some of my favorite photos that have been published. No, they will not be of any couches burning or cars being flipped over. I think all of that is absolutely ridiculous! In fact, my poor baby sister was in the mix of the "mobs" after the game and was smacked across the face by some random man she has never seen, so I support the celebrations, in fact I wish I was on campus to do a little celebrating, but I don't think all of the craziness that took place on campus was necessary! My boys celebrating:

I think Addison needs to know that she is going to be born in a great year! I mean who wouldn't wanna be born the same year that the CATS win the NCAA championship?! I love my CATS!

WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE COLOR BABY?

BLUE AND WHITE!

From the mouths of babes

My heart was touched this week by my kids at school. Sometimes I don't give them enough credit and then little things like I am about to share with you happen and it about brings me to tears at how considerate they can be. 

One of the teachers at my school wanted to collect money to buy small whiteboards for the children in Henryville to use for the rest of the school year. It was one thing that teachers said they really could use, so we collected money, went to Lowe's and had enough whiteboards cut for the elementary school that is struggling to recover after the tornadoes that hit last month. My colleague sent another email around and asked if we could have our kids make a card for the students in the school so that when their boards were delivered all of the children had a card to go along with it. My class spent a lot of time talking about the tornadoes, what happened and how close those people live to us. I gave them some construction paper and let them get to work. The pictures below are some of the sweetest and heartfelt cards. Get ready, it will definitely make your heart happy :)

There were about 20 more of the same types of cards. I was just so proud of my kids and how kind they were to the other children who are struggling to recover. I love these little reminders of why I chose the profession I did. They really are great kids!