20 weeks!

This baby and I are half way!  I can't believe it!  In some ways the time seems to go by slow, but other times in seems super fast.  Now that I feel good, it's going by a lot quicker.  Check out my 20 week belly:

The ladies at my work keep telling me they can't believe how small I am.  I don't feel that small.  I am still wearing all of my normal clothes though, which has been nice.  Occasionally I put on some maternity clothes, but most of the things I have bought don't even fit yet.

The most exciting thing this week is Dan got to feel the baby move!  We finally timed it perfectly (it has taken a few tries).

Today we started our first project for the nursery.  I will post before and after pics once it is all finished.  I love a good crafty project!

And what am I loving lately?  Kneaders soup!  We went there last night and I really want to go get more today.  Mmmm... love fall and love Kneaders.  

Baby Girl

My friend, Adri, told me I need to post more pregnancy updates so I can remember everything.  I actually have a journal where I have tried to write down pretty much everything.  I figure not everyone wants to read about all my pregnancy details (like the crazy dreams I have nightly).  But here is a little update at 19 weeks (almost half way)!

This morning we went to the doctor and had our big ultrasound.  The ultrasound tech immediately knew our baby was a girl this time.  100% sure!  It was a relief knowing I didn't have to return all the girl stuff I had already bought.  Then they did a really thorough examination of the baby to make sure everything was developing properly.  Luckily baby is healthy and right on track.  We are so happy about that!  My doctor told me I am a pro at being pregnant because everything looks great.  They recorded the ultrasound on a DVD for us and also gave us some pics.  They did the 4-D ultrasound, which some people think looks weird, but when you are the parent you think it is the cutest thing ever!  haha... I loved it.  I am seriously amazed at the technology they have these days.  So far I've had 4 ultrasounds and it is really remarkable to me how much this baby grows and develops in such a short time.  It will most likely be the last ultrasound I have during my pregnancy, I'm going to miss seeing our little girl each month!

Here are a few pictures from the ultrasound:

Baby girl @ 19 weeks.

4-D image.  I think she's so cute!  Right now she weighs about 10 oz. and is about the size of a mango.

Putting her hands by her face.

A few other fun things from this week.  We got our stroller and carseat in the mail!  I went with a Britax.  It had great reviews and I liked how it was a travel system but the stroller only had 3 wheels and seemed lighter.  I've also really started feeling baby move this week.  She seems to be most active in the afternoons and early evenings.  Sometimes I wonder if she is jumping on my bladder.  I can't wait until Dan will be able to feel her moving too.

I keep wanting to start the nursery but we are waiting until our basement is finished (it's about half way).  Once it's done we can move all of our study/craft room stuff downstairs and then we can start on the nursery.  I've got lots of ideas and we bought lots of furniture at Ikea last week for the nursery, but most likely the basement won't be done for another month or two.

I'm feeling really good lately and just can't wait to meet our baby girl!  

Labor Day Weekend

For the long weekend we went up north to my parent's house.  The weather felt so good!  While up there we went nursery furniture shopping at Ikea and spent lots of time with family and friends.  It was fun to see a lot of people.  On Monday we had a BBQ with my family and I made sure to snap a picture with my sister, Noelle.  She is pregnant too.  She is having a boy.  Here we are:

Belly shot!  Noelle: 20 weeks, Me: 18 weeks

I feel like the last couple of weeks my belly has really popped out.  On Friday I am having another ultrasound and will know for sure if we are having a girl.  I hope so, otherwise I will have a lot of returning to do!

Such a great weekend!  Now back to normal life.  

Back to School

Everyone has been asking me how my job is going, so I thought I'd do a little blog update.  I started working a week and a half ago and I have to say, I was absolutely exhausted after the first day!  My body went from laying on the couch most of the day to spending the day walking all over a school (somehow the classroom I'm in just happens to be on opposite ends of the school from the special ed. room).  I came home thinking... "what am I doing???!"  But since then it has gotten a lot better.  I'm still tired every day, but I like that it gets me out of the house and I'm starting to tell myself the walking all over the school is good exercise!  I am working with the same kids I had last year, so instead of being in kindergarten we have all moved up to first grade.  The adjustment from kindergarten to first grade is difficult because these kids aren't used to staying all day long.  By the end of the day they are so tired.  But we're working through it!

I'm also happy to report I am over the morning sickness phase.  Yay!!!  I haven't thrown up in a few weeks and the nausea is gone (for the most part).  I started feeling better about 2 days before school started.  Seriously an answer to my prayers.  I knew If I was sick there'd be no way I could work.  But now I feel good, just tired.  Some foods are starting to sound better and I had my first real pregnancy craving this week.  I woke up from a nap and all I could think about was a Digiorno stuffed crust pizza!  Something I have not had in years.  I just kept imagining the stuffed crust and it's the only thing that sounded good.  So Dan and I ran to the store to get some.  It did satisfy my craving, but tasted way better in my head.

And lastly, a little story from work...  so I was walking a boy back to class and he said to me "Miss Michele, I think you got taller over the summer!"  and I said "oh yeah?  What about fatter?"  he replied "nope, you still look skinny to me!"  Then I proceeded to tell him I was pregnant and that in a few months I might not look so skinny.  However, I don't feel skinny anymore, but everyone keeps telling me I don't even look pregnant yet.  I definitely have more of a belly than I've ever had in my life though!  But I'm fine with being small, otherwise I can't imagine how I'd be by 9 months.

4 Years!

4 years ago today I married my best friend.  I love him even more now than I did back then.  He is such a great husband and I know he will be a great father too.  I was thinking and we have done a lot in the past 4 years...

• I finished college.
• We have each had 2 different jobs (post college).
• We have moved 5 times (and hopefully won't again for a very long time).
• Dan started his own company.
• We have found a place to live where we are both happy (we weren't sure that would happen... i like Utah, he hates snow... haha... very few choices there!).  
• We bought a condo and built a house.
• We've gone to Disneyland twice.
• And my favorite... we're expecting our first baby girl!

It has been a great 4 years and I'm looking forward to many, many more!  My sister in law tells her kids on their anniversary that it's their family's birthday.  I'm definitely stealing that from her (thanks, Katie!)... so... Happy 4th Birthday to our family!!!  I love you, Dan!!!