Week Fifteen

Pregnancy Week 15: April 20-27, 2011

Symptoms: Peeing more, belly growing, kinda tired and moody, feeling baby move more

Not much to report this week regarding the pregnancy. Seems like my belly is really starting to pop lately - I know that I should start taking pictures, but I never feel like I look nice enough to want to document it.

Declan is officially one and a half, which is cool.

We had a fun Easter, despite me having to work all weekend. On Friday, we had Declan's spring pictures taken at O'Connor's (Aaron is picking them up as I type), then we went to the outlet mall and got him some clothes, including a cute easter outfit - new jeans and a light blue button-down from Old Navy.

Saturday, Aaron brought Declan up to St. Francis for their easter egg hunt. Unfortunately, it started at 10:00 and Aaron got there at 10:03... and all the eggs were gone. A kind coworker had her 2-year-old daughter give Declan a couple of her eggs, although he didn't seem to care too terribly much. He was more excited to just run around entertaining the residents and dancing.

On Sunday I worked until 2, then got home and had an awesome, long, relaxing bath while Declan napped. We drove to Knoxville and had Easter dinner at Ronnette's house with her parents, kids, and grandkids. Mmm, hamballs. Ha. We also hunted easter eggs there, and Declan didn't do too shabby, thanks to everyone pointing out eggs and leading him to them. If left to his own devices, he would have just picked up one egg, opened it, and been distracted by the candy.

So that was Easter.

We also talked a little bit about baby names in the car one day. We only talked boy names, because apparently that's where our strongest disagreements lie. Aaron nixed my entire list, including the name that he had said yes to just a couple months ago, Archer. Boo. Now he's stuck on Urijah, Keegan, Hunter, Magnus... Oh, I don't even remember them all. I know that Meadow (for a boy), Willow (for a boy), Brick, Stone, and Wolf were thrown in there. After a while I just gave up and dropped the subject. We'll wait until we know the sex, THEN we'll argue.

Speaking of knowing the sex, only three more weeks (hopefully!)

I Wonder.

Have you ever gotten the feeling that people might be annoyed with you, but you can't figure out what you've done?

I've been getting that feeling at work the past few days.

Part of me thinks that everyone is just tired and kind of in bad moods in general, but the self-conscious side of me is like, "What did I do?!"

It's very disconcerting to smile at someone in the hallway and not have them smile back. Or to try and add something to a conversation only to be ignored.

Maybe I should take a talking hiatus. It seems like everyone likes the quiet people who are good listeners. Which is usually me, but I really thought I was making friends with a lot of these girls, so I felt more comfortable showing my talkative side. I'm still a good listener, though.

It makes the day go so much longer to just work in silence. But I'll try it out on Thursday and see if people are nicer.

Weeks Thirteen & Fourteen

Pregnancy week 13: April 6-13, 2011

Pregnancy week 14: April 13-20, 2011

Symptoms: Peeing a ton, belly growing a lot, still kinda tired but with bursts of energy

I'm combining these weeks not because I forgot to post, but because not much is happening at this point. The nausea is gone, I'm less tired... I guess it's all a part of beginning the (glorious) second trimester!

With Declan, the "magical" mark was closer to 10 weeks, but I think that's also because I had so much less to do. A couple hours of class per day (at which I sat down and listened), then eating, lounging, and spending time with Aaron. Life is polar opposite these days. 8.5 hours of hard, physical work, then all day taking care of a high-energy, needy toddler.

I think back fondly on the days when I only had to worry about myself, and what *I* wanted to eat, etc. And don't get me wrong, by "think back fondly," I don't mean I'd like for it to be that way again. I just mean that I regret taking those days for granted while they lasted!

At my appointment on Friday the 8th, I heard the baby's heartbeat - what a relief! I love that woosh-woosh-woosh sound. It never ceases to be amazing and beautiful. The doctor said I was measuring right on track, everything seems to be going fine. Whew.

People have started commenting on my belly - and I love it. I can't wait to have a nice rounded belly and to feel all those kicks and rolls. Of course I'd love that anyway, but I think the fact that I thought (multiple times) that I was losing this baby makes me savor the belly and the pregnancy in general even more.

Speaking of kicks and rolls, I've been feeling flutters! I actually think I felt the first one a few days before my appointment, so, right around the 12 weeks mark. But they were teeny, tiny flutters, and I wasn't even *positive* that it was the baby. But now, I'm positive! Little bitty kicks and flutters. I love it.

2.5 more weeks until my next appointment, at which we'll schedule the BIG ultrasound! They won't do it until 18 weeks. So I am aiming for having it done THE morning that I turn 18 weeks, Wednesday, May 18. But it will have to be at just the right time, since Aaron will have to work the night before and that day. So if not then, we'll aim for anytime on Friday the 20th. I can't wait!

Week Twelve

Pregnancy Week Twelve: March 30 - April 6, 2011

Symptoms: Peeing more, runaway emotions, hunger, some nausea in evenings, FATIGUE

I have a stuffy nose this week. And a headache. And my mother-in-law and stepfather-in-law are in town.

Here's what I need: A long nap. Here's what I have to look forward to each day: A rambunctious toddler who is so distracted by having guests in the house that he WILL. NOT. NAP! But he *will* get so tired that he throws blocks at my head and cries for an hour straight before passing out in my lap.

On the bright side (literally), it has been gorgeous outside this week. Temps from 65-80, mostly sunny - perfect playground weather. And despite my fatigue and terrible mood, we've made the most of it. Declan can now run across the bouncy bridge and go down the slide by himself! He's getting so big. I can't wait for him to teach his little brother or sister all about the playground. :)