17 Weeks {Baby Kazak is a He!}

It's official! We found out Thursday, March 26 that we are having a baby BOY! More importantly, we have a perfectly healthy baby boy. My panorama test came back as low-risk for everything. I can't believe how over-the-moon happy, excited & relieved I feel! I love knowing more about this little person growing inside me. Even though I originally thought it was a girl, I started to have a hunch that it might be a boy in the past few weeks. I always kind of figured we would end up with some boys because boys run so strongly in Greg's family. Girls run on my side of the family...so this is an exciting/whole new world for us! I am so excited that I can finally start buying for my little man...bring on the baby blue!

How far along? 17 weeks, 4 days
Total weight gain/loss: up 6-7 pounds

Maternity clothes? I can still fit in most of my regular clothes, but I am starting to mix in more maternity here and there (mostly because it's more comfortable!) I found some really great maternity pieces at Buy Buy Baby this past Saturday. Because my boobs suddenly decided to grow about a cup, I was in desperate need of a new bra. I found this amazingly comfy Motherhood maternity/nursing bra that I am now living in. I will be going back for more (because it was also only $25!) I also bought a pair of black maternity leggings. WTH have I been missing! And why did no one tell me?! (Will also be going back for more of those). I got a nice fitting black maternity V-neck t-shirt that looks amazingly non-maternity (aaandd I will probably be going back for the other colors of that as well.) Finally, I got a really good fitting pair of maternity capris (the band actually stays up). So now if the weather in the Midwest would just cooperate, I can start wearing those all the time too.

Stretch marks? No

Sleep: Still sleeping pretty well, but it's starting to get a little more uncomfortable. I think this is mostly because I am now trying to sleep mostly on my left side (recommended while pregnant to provide the best blood flow to baby and more). But I always sleep on my right side, or back at times.
Best moment this week: First and foremost, finding out on Thursday that we are having a BOY! Next, going shopping all day Friday with my mom for baby boy. I can finally start purchasing! And finally, ordering the furniture for the nursery on Sunday with Greg. We've been busy this week starting to get ready for our little man. It's all finally starting to get real!

Miss Anything? not really.

Movement: Still waiting to feel a more obvious kick!

Food cravings: Tuna, sweets, & mac and cheese. I have also completely forgot to discuss my new found love for lemonade. (It's amazing the yummy drinks you can find on a restaurant menu when you're limited to the non-alcoholic section). I've become obsessed with those fancy restaurant lemonades, but also found the Simply Lemonade with Raspberries from the grocery store to be a perfect, at-home fix!

Anything making you queasy or sick: No, but the heartburn started this week. Booooo. Cue the tums.

Gender: It's A Boy!

Labor Signs: no
Symptoms: bigger bump & boobs, plus some heartburn here & there 

Belly Button in or out? In, although I should probably mention that my belly button is seriously like a cave. It's so weird. I would be shocked if it ever actually popped out.

Wedding rings on or off? On...getting a little tight at times.

Happy or Moody most of the time: Over-the-moon!

Looking forward to: Starting to work on the nursery!

16 Weeks {a week late}

So, I got a week behind on my pregnancy updates. But I'm back today and playing some catch up! Here is what happened in week 16...

How far along? 16 weeks, 4 days
Total weight gain/loss: up 6 pounds

Maternity clothes? I wore maternity jeans in public for the first time this week. But, the over-the-belly band won't really stay up yet. Back to my regular jeans for now!

Stretch marks? The growing bump has definitely made some old stretch marks more noticeable again (luckily, they aren't the red, really obvious kind). No new stretch marks since pregnancy. Still using Burt's Bees Mama Bee Belly Butter.

Sleep: I feel like I've barely slept all week long! I am so extremely anxious/excited about finding out the gender, and stressed about figuring out my registry that I keep waking up throughout the night and then having trouble falling back to sleep. Can't wait until I can sleep in peace again knowing that I am having a sweet baby {insert gender here}.
Best moment this week: Going registry updating with Greg. We spent a lot of time at Babies R Us and picked out a few of the big items! It was fun!

Miss Anything? Not really

Movement: I think I have felt a few little flutters here and there. Waiting for a big old kick! 

Food cravings: still tuna and sweets. I would literally probably have a tuna sandwich for lunch everyday if I could.

Anything making you queasy or sick: No

Gender: Although I've had several dreams this week that I am having a girl, I am officially now convinced that we are having a baby boy! I took that Intelligender test (sold at Walgreens, CVS, and Babies R Us) and the result came back boy. Because of that, and the 145 heartbeat at my last appointment, I am definitely expecting to hear 'It's A Boy!' through the phone when we call for our panorama results.

Labor Signs: No. (I don't even want to think about when I start to answer anything else for this question!)
Symptoms: A growing baby bump! Boobs are sore and growing as well.

Belly Button in or out? In

Wedding rings on or off? On...getting a little tight at times.

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy for the most part...had a few down days this week though. (I think that had something to do with the fact that I was majoring lacking in sleep all week)

Looking forward to: Knowing the gender in just 2 more days! (and to start buying for baby immediately after that!)

27 Things About Me

Since I have pretty much only talked about pregnancy and baby stuff since I started this blog, I figured I would dedicate one post to letting you know a little more about me. I decided on 27 things, since I'm 27...and that sounded like an amount of things I could come up with! So here we go...

1. My mom is my best friend and the person I spend most of my time with (besides my husband of course). We have a serious Lorelei and Rory kind of thing going on, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. 

2. My father’s side is Croatian and my entire family is very into preserving our heritage. I grew up learning to play, sing and dance Croatian songs and kolos, and I fully intend to continue these traditions on with my children. Zivio! 

3. I have a younger sister named Rachel. We are 6 years apart, which puts her in college, and I miss her desperately. It always feels like there is a piece of our puzzle missing while she is away. 

4. Growing up, I lived in two homes that my dad built for us. I had never lived in a house that anyone else lived in until I moved into Greg’s.  

5. I coached/taught gymnastics and tumbling as my job in high school and for the past few years before I opened up my Etsy shop and made that my job…and I can’t even do a cartwheel. 

6. I earned my Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Augustana College. Turns out, I never really wanted to be a teacher. 

7. I also earned a minor in Music in college. I’ve played piano for about 17 years now and took voice lessons for about 6, but I really don't like to play or sing in front of people. I really do love music though.

8. To sum up my strengths/interests and weaknesses/dislikes in the form of Trivia Crack…I am strangely good at entertainment, art and geography. I know nothing about and have no interest in sports, history or science. 

9. Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day 

10. I love coffee and tea and the whole act of it. It’s my happy time. My favorites are Starbucks Iced Chai Tea Latte and any iced coffee. (I finally just recently figured out how to make my own iced coffee at home…and it’s changed my world.)

11. Besides my morning cuppa, one of the best feelings in the world (in my opinion) is sitting outside on a warm night, with a cold drink and enjoying the company of people you love. 

12. My favorite show is (was) Gilmore Girls. It’s rare for me to go a day without flipping on an episode, even if it’s just as background noise. I am also obsessed with the Bachelor/Bachelorette & Parenthood. 

13. I have a weird obsession with British culture. I only brew PG Tips or popular British tea brands. Our Sunday nights often include a traditional Sunday roast or other typically British dinner (toad-in-the-hole anyone?) I love the Royal Family, as well as a lot of the pop culture in the UK, including their bands (One Direction), singers (Ed Sheeran, Sam Smith, Ellie Goulding) and YouTubes (Zoella, the SacconeJolys). And of course…the accent. I secretly wish I could raise my children to speak in a British accent and call me ‘mum’. I’ve never been to the UK btw…

14. Southern California holds a special place in my heart. It’s the only vacation I’m ever truly interested in taking, and I always cry when I have to leave. Laguna Beach, CA is always calling my name.

15. Fall is my most favorite of all the seasons. I love Halloween, and Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. Until Christmas rolls around…and then Christmas is my favorite holiday. 

16. The colors of Fall are my favorite colors. I love camel/cognac, burnt orange, burgundy, eggplant, gray (insert heart-eyed emoji here)

17. I am a list maker. I like lists…ask my husband. 

18. I can’t sleep until I’ve gone through the house and made sure everything is back in its place at the end of the day. Then I lose sleep thinking of all the things I need to accomplish the next day, and counting how many hours I have left to sleep. 

19. I have a serious problem with everything having to be matching. I'm pretty positive this trait stems from my mother and her obsession with dressing my sister and me alike as children (even though we were 6 years apart!) 

20. I have a love/hate relationship with cleaning. I always hate the thought of having to do it, but then I get in some crazy cleaning lady mode and love it. Nothing feels better than a freshly cleaned home, or sleeping in freshly washed bed sheets. 

21. I am a major procrastinator, but also one of the most organized, anal people you will ever meet. 

22. I’ve never broken a bone or been in the hospital (for myself)…probably because I am a seriously overly safe/cautious person. I was never even stung by a bee until this past summer.

23. I suffered pretty badly from anxiety for several years during my 20s, to the point where I did not even drive for about half a year. I am beyond thankful that I finally learned to overcome it, and without any medication. Through this I also learned that my husband is my rock, the most patient man in the universe, and that he truly meant it when he vowed to love me in good times and in bad.

  

24. I am an optimist and can usually always see the positive in every situation. 

25. Because of this, one of my biggest pet peeves is people who are pessimistic or tend to assume the worst in every situation.

26. I switch back and forth all the time between wanting to have a huge family (like a whole slew of kids) and being terrified of having more than 2.

27. From a young age, I always knew I really only wanted to be 2 things in life…a wife and a mother. I feel so blessed that in just a few short months, I will officially be both.

15 Weeks {Hello Bump!}

How far along? 15 weeks, 4 days
Total weight gain/loss: up 6 pounds 

Maternity clothes? Still wearing all my regular clothes because I feel so weird wearing maternity clothes!

Stretch marks? No

Sleep: still sleeping great...10:30pm to 7:30am is just the new normal for me.

Best moment this week: Finally hearing baby's heartbeat!! Also, being told at my appointment that they would be drawing for the panorama test right then and there! I will know the gender on March 25th!

Miss Anything? No

Movement: I thought I might have felt a little movement on Saturday evening at my dad's Croatian concert! Still waiting to feel more to see if that was it.

Food cravings: Tuna and sweets. (I think tuna is just an all the time craving for me, not just during pregnancy.)

Anything making you queasy or sick: No

Gender: Baby's heartbeat was 145 at our appointment on Friday. Just another reason to confuse me even more and change my mind. I'm starting to think it might be a boy! We will know for sure in 9 days! 

Labor Signs: No                                                           

Symptoms: A bump! It finally, and suddenly, appeared!

Belly Button in or out? In

Wedding rings on or off? On 

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy!

Looking forward to: March 25th to find out what we are having! That day seriously can not come soon enough!

14 Weeks

How far along? 14 weeks, 4 days
Total weight gain/loss: up 4-5 pounds (I think). Now that I am in the 2nd trimester, the weight gain is inevitable, but I don't feel like I need to be obsessively weighing myself at home all the time. So far, I've been right on track! (0-5 pounds during the first trimester is normal.) I will have my monthly weigh-ins at the doctor, and might check once or twice in between, just to make sure I'm not going overboard. So I'll know for sure once a month where I'm at with this.

Maternity clothes? Still in all my regular clothes

Stretch marks? No

Sleep: Sleeping great.
Best moment this week: Being considered, without a doubt, in the 2nd trimester

Miss Anything? Not having to worry about every little thing I put in my mouth 

Movement: Not yet...hopefully soon! 

Food cravings: Tuna...darn that mercury/tuna limit rule.

Anything making you queasy or sick: No

Gender: Prediction: Girl

Labor Signs: No                                                           

Symptoms: Just getting tired earlier at night than usual

Belly Button in or out? In

Wedding rings on or off? On 

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy!

Looking forward to: Finally hearing baby's heartbeat at my appointment on Friday. And finding out the gender really soon too!

First Trimester Survival Guide

My First Trimester Survival Guide:

For Morning Sickness/Nauseous Moments...

One of the biggest fears/worries I had about pregnancy was dealing with morning sickness. I admittedly turn into a big baby when I'm not feeling well. So I knew, after discovering I was pregnant, that this was not something I wanted to leave to chance. Therefore, I set out one day on a mission to accumulate as many morning sickness remedies I knew of, or could find. I got ginger chews, crystallized ginger, ginger ale, sea bands, mints, preggie pop drops, throw up bags (just in case) and more. These are the top 4 things I found to be the most effective and what I actually ended up using when those nauseous moments hit.

1. Preggie Pop Drops 

These things are amazing if you are someone who is dealing with that gaggy feeling. Whenever I feel even slightly nauseous, I feel like my gag reflex just automatically activates. If this happened, all I had to do was pop one of these bad boys in my mouth and that feeling was instantly gone. It must have something to do with the sourness. All I know is, these things seriously help. I ordered a 3 pack off of Amazon (63 drops in total). I used them when needed throughout my first trimester and did end up going through most all of them. I always keep 3 on hand, just in case that feeling ever hits...they're like a security blanket to me. (I do have to note that these drops did give me one weird side effect. They would make my teeth, where I would rest the drop in my mouth, extremely sensitive for a couple days. I originally thought this was just a general pregnancy symptom, but finally discovered it would only occur when I used the drops. Still, the benefits far outweighed this drawback in my opinion...and I'm really not sure many people would experience this side effect...it was weird!)

2. Sea Band Mama Wristbands 

While I was very fortunate that I really did not end up having to deal with much morning sickness or nausea at all, there was one morning in particular I remember waking up with that horrible hungover/morning sickness feeling. I laid in bed so uncomfortable for hours, until I suddenly recalled that I had bought these sea bands off of Amazon. I went and grabbed them, put them on and popped a Preggie Pop Drop in my mouth. The pop drop gave me some instant relief, and after a while, the sea bands kicked in and I felt much better. I was able to get out of bed and move on with my day. I ended up using these several times in the weeks when I was most susceptible to having nauseous phases of the day. I would put them on between 5-6pm because I always seemed to get nauseated at that time of the day. Some days, I would just wear them all day long, and they always did help. If you are someone who is struggling to get through the work day while dealing with nausea, I would recommend giving these a try!

3. Zevia Ginger Ale

3 common woes of a pregnant woman: trying to avoid caffeine, trying to avoid artificial sugars, and nausea. Zevia Ginger Ale solves all three. While I am not huge on drinking soda anyways, whenever I do get a craving for it, I try to make it Zevia. It's a zero calorie soda with no sugar and no artificial sweeteners. It's just a much healthier way to consume soda, if you must. Plus a lot of the flavors are also caffeine-free. My doctor recommended ginger ale for nausea, so I went and bought a 6-pack of the Zevia one. It has been helpful for settling an upset stomach, and has helped curb my craving for soda (which seems to be stronger since I've been pregnant.) They also have a Ginger-Root Beer that's delicious and helpful as well!

4. Oranges 

Constipation will happen. Oranges will help. We will just leave that at that. (If you're like me, you might be craving them anyway!)

Don't Leave Home Without...

Just a couple things I recommend carrying with you at all times (or not leaving home without) 

5. Starbucks tumbler (filled with ice water)

Okay, well the tumbler is not actually what you need to have. It's actually what's inside it that matters...which should be water! It is especially important during pregnancy to remain hydrated throughout the day. While I normally have no problem consuming half my body weight in ounces of water a day, it's been a little trickier for me during this first trimester. (Especially if I'm feeling less than great.) I just happened to have this tumbler and tried using it one day. For some reason, it made it a lot easier for me to get the water in throughout the day. Maybe it's the straw? Plus, it makes me feel glam to carry around a Starbucks cup...hah. If you're leaving the house, throwing a water bottle in your purse is completely acceptable!

6. Kind Bars (or other small snacks)

This is one of my biggest survival tips! I went through a phase during my first trimester where I would get nauseous feeling if I hadn't eaten anything in the past few hours. I always stuck a Kind Bar (my fave) in my purse whenever I would go somewhere and became really comfortable pulling it out in the middle of a store and eating it while I shopped around. (Better than spewing on their floor!) Other small snacks like string cheese work too. 

7. Kleenex Slim Packs 

Another common symptom during pregnancy is becoming especially snotty. Not in the stuck-up sense...I'm talking about actual snot. I've never used Kleenex so much in my life, aside from having a severe cold. My nose seems likes it's always running. And if it's not running, it's all stuffed up. I always make sure I have a pack in my purse and they always come in handy. (Except when you're in church, feeling so stuffed up you can't breath, and not wanting to obnoxiously blow your nose in the middle of mass) 

8. Makeup 

This is the one I recommend not leaving home without. With the major fatigue that comes along with the first trimester, you're gonna need it! (Especially if you're still trying to hide your pregnancy.) I know for those first few weeks after finding out, I felt so tired all the time, that I just looked like a hot mess all the time. My husband would always comment on how tired/drained I looked (thanks dear...making me feel great about myself!) haha. I decided I had to step up the makeup game a little. Biggest tip for this: get a highlighting concealer for your under eye area to wake up those eyes! 

For The Comfort of Home

My most essential items for being comfy, cozy and content during the first trimester. 

9. Sleep 

Not much to explain here. Just do it whenever you need to and whenever you can during the first trimester. Might as well enjoy it now before baby comes!

10. Victoria Secret PINK Boyfriend Pants 

I feel like I basically lived in these things throughout my entire first trimester. Pregnancy bloat is a serious thing, and it makes wearing your regular clothes so uncomfortable. And one of my biggest concerns at all times during this trimester has been being as comfortable as possible, whenever possible. The second I get home for the day, my jeans are ripped off and these bad boys get pulled on. They are just so, so comfortable. Even if you're not pregnant, do yourself a favor and get a pair. 

11. WTE Support Group 

This is actually probably my #1 item for survival during the first trimester. The way I found my group was through the What To Expect (When You're Expecting) iPhone app. When you get the app, they automatically place you in a group with other expecting mothers who are due the same month as you. You could just use this app and that discussion board as your support group. But after a few days, one of the ladies on there offered to create a secret/private Facebook group for all of us, so we could see each others' faces and have a little more personal way of connecting. If you gave your email, you received an invitation and we all joined from there. My group was WTE September 2015 Babies. That group was wonderful, but as more and more people began to join, and pregnancy hormones started to rise...there seemed to be a few too many people there and a little bit of friction. So, we broke off into our own smaller groups, based off of what week we were due. I was in Cherry Babies because I was due the first week of September. So now I have found my home with the Cherry Babies group. This group has seriously been the most helpful thing to me throughout this trimester. Anytime I have a question, I can quickly ask on there and get an answer from an experienced momma, who I trust. We share our highs and our lows. We are all truly there to support each other, and are honestly developing friendships that will last long after our pregnancies will. I really think the ladies near my area will all end up getting together with our babies for play dates, etc. This group was especially helpful before we were able to share our news with family and friends. It's so hard to have such a big thing happening in your life, and not be able to talk about it with your loved ones. Having these ladies to talk to during this time was what got me through.

12. Your favorite TV Series 

For those days when you're feeling super fatigued and not so great, utilize the "I'm pregnant" excuse and cozy up on the couch with your favorite show for the day. I've gone through the entire Gilmore Girls series during this first trimester (not a surprising pick for those who know me!)

13 Weeks

How far along? 13 weeks, 4 days 

Total weight gain/loss: 3.5 pounds up. 

Maternity clothes? I've bought several things by now, but still not wearing any. All of my regular clothes are still fitting, and while the maternity clothes are more comfortable, they make me look like I'm really showing...and I'm really not yet. 

Stretch marks? No  

Sleep: Still sleeping great. And I finally have my energy back. Usually going to bed between 10-11pm and waking up between 7-8am.
Best moment this week: regaining normal amounts of energy, hallelujah!!!

Miss Anything? not really

Movement: not yet. Baby is moving around in there, but it's still too soon to feel it 

Food cravings: Fish/tuna. Sweets.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope

Gender: Still feeling girl, but still also still thinking it could be a boy! I'm getting more confused and impatient by the day.

Labor Signs: No                                                           

Symptoms: I haven't really had any this week, other than my belly starting to protrude a little bit and getting harder (there seems to be a bump forming!) I've been feeling great though. No nausea and my energy is back! 

Belly Button in or out? In

Wedding rings on or off? On 

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy....super happy this week

Looking forward to: my next appointment and of course, finding out the gender (and finding out when we're going to find that out!)