Baby, Shopping, and Nuts

I can feel the baby moving.

I first figured out on Saturday that is was most definitely the baby, and not gas bubbles or anything like that. Once I knew what it felt like, I realized that I've been feeling the baby off and on for almost two weeks!

It doesn't feel like butterflies, or bubbles popping. It definitely feels like tiny little kicks and punches. I call them itty bitty thumps.

I had an appointment on Wednesday, and my midwife tried to listen to the heartbeat. She found it, but she couldn't hang onto it. We heard a lot of wooshing, and she said the baby was quite active and moving around a lot. Except I couldn't feel it all! I still don't know if there are certain times of the day that the baby likes to move, but I'm starting to feel him/her more and more every day.

I'm almost 19 weeks along (so close to halfway!), and sometimes it's still hard to believe that there's a little person inside of me! Maybe when I have my first ultrasound? Or maybe when I can see the baby moving in my tummy? Or maybe it will always seem a little surreal.

I feel like I've been doing a lot of shopping lately, but I seriously need everything I've purchased! I got myself a new purse yesterday at Target (because my other one was falling apart). I was bemoaning the fact that there is no such thing as a good purse for under $25. But yesterday I found a nice one on clearance for $17.99. I was so happy! And it's pink.

Lately I've had only black or brown purses, and when I saw this one, I had to get it. I need to live a little. Plus, I don't have enough pink in my life. I'm very happy with my purchase.

I also bought new everyday sneakers (because mine fell apart). This I had more trouble with, because I was looking for something specific. I needed to be careful what the overall material was, because winter is on its way, and it's starting to rain more. I need to make sure my feet will stay dry. I also wanted a minimum heel, and that is hard to find in a walking shoe these days.

But I found a pair online (gotta love Zappos!), spent a little bit more money in hopes that they would be a higher quality and would last longer, and crossed my fingers. It's hard to buy shoes online, because you can't try them on first to see how they'll feel. But these fit pretty nicely, so I'm going to keep them. They are also pink (mostly silver, with a bit of pink).

Also at Target yesterday? I bought a body pillow. I have been wanting one for a while, but when I went to Wal-Mart on the weekend with Art, I couldn't find one. I didn't think a body pillow was that odd an item that I couldn't find at Wal-Mart. So I decided to go looking at Target instead. Without Art, and without a vehicle.

I didn't care that body pillows are huge. I didn't care that I would be walking it home. I didn't even care if it had skulls on it. I haven't been sleeping well, and I needed a body pillow. I decided that if I found one, I would buy it and take it home, and that was that. So I found one, and it was surprisingly lightweight, and I bought it. And it's pink. :)

When I mentioned on Facebook all my recent pink purchases, someone asked me if I thought that meant something. As in, maybe I suddenly love pink because I'm having a girl? I doubt it. I've always liked pink. It's only recently that I decided to actually buy some pink things for myself. I don't think it means that I'm pregnant with a little girl. I think it means that I'M a girl.

Not that I don't think I'm having a girl. I have no idea what I'm having (besides a baby). What I'm trying to say is, I don't think this whole pink thing is in any way connected to my pregnancy.

Wanna see my latest belly pic?

This is me at 18 weeks. So this picture is actually a week old already. Art thinks I've grown a lot in the last week. All I know is that the baby is growing, and therefore, I am growing.

That's pretty much all I've got for now. I am going to try roasting a batch of nuts again. I tried to roast a pan of holiday spiced nuts and seeds a few weeks ago, and I burned them to a crisp. Total failure. But I need more good fats in my diet, and one way to do that is with almonds. Raw almonds kind of gross me out, but roasted almonds are good.

So here I go!

A Video to Share With You

So I said I had a bunch of pictures and videos I wanted to post, and I've noticed that I don't do very well at spacing them out. I tend to flood my blog with posts containing pictures and videos. I just have this.....need.....to do them all at once. Maybe someday I'll get better at that.

Anyway, here is the first video I wanted to show you. I took it back in July, and then I totally forgot about it. It's a video of the duplex we lived in, right before we moved out. You should know that the whole place never looked that clean. Ever. Not that it was a pig sty. But there are certain areas kind of designated to contain clutter, and I even managed to clear those up. I was very proud of myself.

I don't understand why I'm giving this long of an intro. It's just a video tour of our old place. Pretty self explanatory. I'm done typing.

(It was too large to simply upload to blogger, so I uploaded it onto YouTube instead, and then embedded it here.)

"What To Expect When You're Expecting" Didn't Tell Me About This

Here's a pregnancy symptom I totally wasn't expecting: dry eyes. And I'm kind of really bummed about it.

I have pretty bad eyesight. I have been wearing some form of corrective lenses since I was in Kindergarten. I was SO HAPPY when I finally got contacts in.....9th grade? I was one step closer to not looking like a typical nerd: short, skinny, glasses, braces, and acne.

I've been wearing contacts without trouble pretty much all day every day for years and years. And then suddenly, a few weeks ago, my eyes decided that they weren't so happy with the contacts. I thought maybe it was just a temporary thing, so I tried to wear my glasses for a few days, and give my eyes a rest.

It didn't work. After more than a week of strictly wearing my glasses, I put in my contacts this morning, and not even four hours later, my eyes are starting to get red and slightly irritated. I HATE wearing my glasses. I can't see quite as well with glasses as I do with contacts, they slide down my face all the time, which means I can't go to the gym for a workout.

So it looks like today will be another non-gym day for me. I'm going to go straight home and take care of my poor eyes. I figured that with a little planning, I can still go to the gym. I will have to bring my contact stuff with me when I plan on working out. I'll wear my glasses all day, and then put in my contacts right before the workout, and take them out right after.

So it's not like I'm totally doomed. There are easy solutions to my problem. I just really really really really don't like wearing glasses!

Mostly Baby Update, and a Few Pictures

Well, I've edited my pictures, and hopefully this week I'll find some time to put them up. Prepare to be inundated. I realized that I didn't take that many pictures during our trip, but I also have some from a few weeks back that I took for the purpose of sharing them here. You can look forward to a few videos as well.

I realized that even though I gave a pregnancy update not too long ago, I haven't actually done a baby update. At 17 weeks, our baby is about the size of my open hand (around 5 inches). He/She can suck and swallow now, can hear my voice, and can hear other noises on the outside too! But only if they are loud noises. So unless Art wants to shout at my belly (which I would prefer he didn't do), baby can't hear his/her daddy yet. The eyelids are still sealed shut, but the eyes are working, and can perceive light (except I'm always wearing several layers, so baby is still seeing mostly darkness).

Baby is also moving around now, kicking and punching and rolling, but I still can't feel it yet. I keep wondering if those little gurgles in my belly are from my food or from our little one. But I'm trying not to get too worked up, because I just don't know for sure. I can't wait for the moment when I know it's the baby!

What To Expect says that I'll start experiencing back pain, and I see that I'm right on schedule, except it's not my back. It's my hips. My hips are so sore! My body is obviously trying to make more room, and boy, can I feel it! Especially at night, when I'm trying to sleep on one side or the other.

Thank God for Facebook! I updated my status, asking any and all mothers if they had some advice for me, and someone suggested putting a pillow at my back or tummy, so that I'm sleeping at an angle. Not directly on my back or stomach, but also not directly on my hips. The advice was perfect, and I slept so much better.

I'm also thanking God that I haven't experienced any heartburn yet. I was told that I would not get through my pregnancy without having some, but so far, so good. I'm glad, because I don't want to be popping Tums left and right. You gotta be careful with antacids, because the stomach is supposed to be acidic. If you try to make it more basic, the stomach corrects it by producing more acid, which will make you pop another Tums, and thus begins a vicious cycle.

I think I'm going to start researching more natural ways of combating heartburn, so I can be prepared if and when that starts to happen, and I don't have to get stuck in that cycle.

In other news, I found a dress! Specifically, a fancy dress that I can wear at Art's work Christmas banquet. I went the banquet last year, wearing dress pants and a nice top, but I still felt so under-dressed, because so many ladies were wearing beautiful long dresses! I was determined to do the same this year. Now that I'm pregnant, my choices are much more limited, so I started my search early.

While we were in Manitoba, my mom took me to a store that is only found in Canada (which is really too bad, because their clothes are divine!), and I tried on a bunch of dresses, and I found the perfect one. It's halter (so I don't have to worry about having the straps adjusted to fit my tiny shoulders), and has a high waist and flowing material, so it will accommodate my belly quite nicely. And it's red. I am so excited! I get to buy shoes, and get my hair done....as Art likes to say, I am going to be one hot momma!

I tried on and purchased one size up, to make sure that it would fit in a couple of months. I have no idea how big I will be in two months, but I know I'll be bigger than I am now, so I wanted to play it safe. It isn't floor length as I was hoping, but it goes below my knees, and it's still gorgeous. It really is perfect. And quite expensive. So my mom paid for most of it and told me that would be my Christmas present. I chipped in for the rest.

[Side note: Art was with us on that particular shopping trip, and I thought he would be bored, but instead, he tried to find jewellery and a handbag that would match! He's such a sweetheart, and he actually has really good taste. He picked out this coat while we were in Manitoba, which I ended up buying as well, because it was such a good price.

This will be my new winter coat, as soon as I move the buttons and belt loops.]

And speaking of my husband being such a sweetheart: yesterday was such a gorgeous day that he dragged the rocking chair outside onto our deck so I could knit in the warm sunshine!

And just what was I knitting? A little cozy for the handle of our new cast iron pan! I need more iron in my diet, and cooking with cast iron is a great way to cook, so we bought one! From the little experience that we had with cast iron while house sitting, we know that the handle gets really hot.

So I quickly whipped up a solution, while rocking in our rocking chair in the warm sunshine on a Sunday afternoon. It was perfect. I can see myself doing plenty of that in the springtime, when the weather is warm again, but instead of knitting needles, I'll be holding our sweet little baby.

I'm so curious to know what our baby will look like! I've seen a few kids who have one parent who is half Filipino and one parent who is white, and they are cute! It's a great mix. But what will ours look like? I think it will be interesting, especially to see them beside their blond, fair-skinned cousins.

I'm also curious as to the gender of our baby. Not curious enough to find out before I give birth. I'm mostly wondering if I'm experiencing instincts about the gender or not. I've had two people guess the gender so far, and they guessed the same thing (but didn't know it). So now I can't tell if I'm having true instincts, or if I'm being influenced by their guesses. And no, I'm not going to tell you what they guessed. I don't want to influence your guesses either!

My first (and hopefully only) ultrasound is coming up in a few weeks. I didn't realize how normal it is these days to have a very early ultrasound done to determine the due date. But I missed my opportunity for that because I didn't have a midwife until I was past 10 weeks. Fetal development is pretty much the same for every woman for the first 8-9 weeks, but after that, each baby grows at their own pace, so an accurate due date is no longer determinable.

I wanted as few ultrasounds as possible anyway (because they're expensive), so I'll just be getting the standard 20 week ultrasound, to check the size and weight of the fetus, and see if there are any problems thus far (like, do they have all their limbs, how is the heartbeat, that type of thing). If everything looks healthy now, and if I don't develop any complications later on, I won't need another one.

Wow, I didn't realize I was so chatty today! Probably because I haven't done a whole lot of actual talking today. Well, dinner is ready, and hopefully Art will be home soon, because I think it's going to be delicious. I tried two new recipes. *fingers crossed*

**Update on dinner** The sweet potatoes were to die for! Here is the recipe I used. Do it.

The steak was okay. Hint: know your cuts of meat! I should have tenderized this one more than I did. Also, I dipped my steak in Worcestershire sauce because the flavor wasn't strong enough for my liking. Here is the recipe.

Oh Look! Free Time!

I have the afternoon off from work today! It's mandatory. For the whole company.

They're messing with our database, which means it won't be available for use. Normally they wait until the weekend to do these things so it doesn't interfere with our work. But this is a really big thing that requires a lot more time, so they started early.

If we can't use the database, we cannot work. So we were all told a few weeks ago that today would be a half day. And I gotta be honest: I kind of have mixed feelings about it.

The down side: my week was already short because we only got back from Manitoba very late on Tuesday. Normally I wouldn't mind going home early, but this week I definitely didn't need it. Also, my next paycheck is already going to a lot smaller, because of our vacation. I could have used the extra hours this afternoon.

The up side: there still isn't a whole lot of work to do. The amount of work coming in definitely increased while I was away, but for the most part, we still have several hours each day where we just have nothing to do. So it's nice not to have to sit around and try to find ways to pass the time.

So now I get an afternoon at home, I've got the whole place to myself, and if I manage to find some motivation, maybe I'll get some unpacking, cleaning, and organizing done! I also hope to take some pictures, and maybe have a chance to upload them and edit them.

Happy Friday everyone!

Greetings From Manitoba!

We've been having a very busy but wonderful week so far with my family. The weather is GORGEOUS! It's so beautiful out here; I've missed some of the sights and smells of Fall on the prairies, and how it feels to live in a small town. It's so peaceful here.

I don't know if I've ever told you guys this, but one thing I don't like so much about living where we live is how unfamiliar everything is. Whenever Art and I go out, he always runs into someone he knows, but of course I never do because I hardly know anyone! I yearn for that feeling again, but it takes a while. So it's nice to be back in a place where I know the people around me.

We've been spending lots of time with my sister and her husband and her two kids. Kiera is nearly three years old, speaks in full sentences, and seems to have endless amounts of energy (and words! That girl can chatter!!).

Blake is almost one, and he has quite a bit of energy too! He can't walk on his own yet, but he so desperately wants to. We spend a lot of time holding on to him as he teeters around on his wobbly little legs; he's a big boy, so it's quite tiring! But he loves it so much, and he needs to get stronger, so we give in every time. And his two-tooth grins melt my heart over and over. Who could possibly say no to his little charms?

We have our extended family gatherings today and tomorrow, and I'm excited to see everyone! I miss my whole family. Every family is changing and growing (as families tend to do) and it's hard to keep track of it all when I'm so far away. I can't wait to catch up with people, and just fellowship with my relatives.

That is something I am so thankful for: a large family, full of believers, who are all so loving and supportive and have no bad blood between them. There are no family feuds. It's such an incredible blessing, which also makes it so hard to be away from them sometimes. But I guess that's better than being glad I'm away from them.

And I won't lie: I'm kind of excited to stuff myself full of delicious Thanksgiving food, over and over and over. I don't feel like my appetite has actually increased (yet), but I'm not ashamed to use my pregnancy as an excuse to fill up anyway. How many times does a girl get five Thanksgiving meals in one season, while pregnant? (Three separate meals while in Canada, and at least two more for American Thanksgiving.) I have to take advantage of these opportunities! :)

Anyway, Happy Canadian Thanksgiving to all my friends and family, and to any strangers out there who might be reading this but are too shy to comment. :) It has truly been a week full of moments that I can be thankful for. God has been so good to us in so many ways! I pray that you too will be able to see His goodness in your life.

Prairie Girl Leaving the Coast

Callie asked me for a new belly pic, and she's right: it's about time! I took this one on Saturday, in my new orange Old Navy sweater.

That's my 15 week baby bump! Not much has changed in the past week, other than my slowly growing tummy. I can't close my pants now. Other than that, I'm still feeling good. I still get nauseated here and there. I still find it hard to take all my vitamins (they make me gag).

I had a tiny muscle spasm in my lower abdomen the other day, and I started to wonder if maybe I was feeling the baby move. My doctor said the earliest I would feel something would only be next week, and she said she couldn't feel any of her babies move until after week 20. But I'm suddenly impatient for that feeling. I want it now! :)

Well, hubby and baby and I are off to Manitoba for a week to celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving. We'll be pretty busy, but I'll see if I can't squeeze in a quick post while we're there (mostly a "Hey, we're having a great time!" update.)

Falling For Fall

Art and I are going out for dinner soon, so I don't have much time to say anything substantial, but I really felt like blogging.

[Side note: did you know that I'm always blogging in my head? I'm doing a lot more walking these days, which gives me lots of time to think, and during my thinking, I come up with things that I want to post here, but then I almost never actually post them here. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing.]

Anyway, I really just wanted to gush about how much I love Fall. I don't know that I've ever disliked it, but I think this is the first time in my life where I'm really loving it! The air is crisp and cool in the mornings, and...I kind of like it! But the afternoons are still sunny and warm. Well, NOW they are. September was mostly rainy, but this week has been quite beautiful.

The leaves are changing color, and I'm looking forward to my new Fall/Winter maternity wardrobe. (I may or may not have dropped more than $100 at Old Navy this week, buying long-sleeved tops and sweaters in larger sizes in anticipation of my growing belly. In my defense, I never buy clothes for myself. And I'm going to need them. So I guess I don't really need to defend my shopping spree.)

And there's something about this time of year that makes me dream of pumpkin-y treats and sweets. It's just so right! I had a pumpkin spice steamer from Starbucks on Sunday, and I'm going to make Paleo pumpkin muffins tomorrow. Maybe THIS is the most wonderful time of the year! :)