Happy Halloween!!!

 

Yay! Halloween is finally here!!! I had a blast at school today with my Kindergartners BUT all of them were oblivious to the BABY skeleton on my shirt (which I made)! Finally at the end of the day I questioned them all and they said "Is there a baby in your belly?" YES!!! The secret is officially out to everyone :) One of my students asked if I could bring HER to school tomorrow. HAHAHA Of course I told her we didn't know if the baby was a boy or girl & she would have to wait until April! The kids were so cute & all wanted to lightly rub my belly :)

Anyways I hope everyone had a FABULOUS Halloween & didn't eat as much candy as me!!!

14 Weeks (Baby is the size of a Lemon)

Sorry this is LATE...I have had some horrible headaches the past 3 days!!!

How far along? 14 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: 4 lbs.

Maternity clothes? I went to buy some jeans and the smalls and WAY to big in the thighs and length... NOT GOOD

Stretch marks? No
Sleep: Sleeping great & still laying on my belly

 Best moment this week: My moms monthly gift! Its a baby Doppler!!! I can listen to our baby's heartbeat at home!!! Although I have yet to hear the actual heartbeat, I still get to hear the wiggle and squish sounds. Thanks mom (Mi Mi) :) 

Have you told family and friends: Yes BUT I haven't told my kindergarten students...I am waiting until someone asks...although I don't think they are noticing :)

Miss Anything? I'm missing being able to wait until lunch to eat! It is a PAIN to go get applesauce and then eat it in front of a bunch of 5 year old's.

Movement: Not yet...

Food cravings: The sweets are starting to settle in... I have been eating candy A LOT!!

Anything making you queasy or sick: Seriously I'm over the queasy symptom...it was suppose to stop at the 2nd trimester and I'm still suffering :(

 Have you started to show yet: YES I had one of my old student's parent ask the office staff if I was pregnant & then she came to touch my belly and say congrats!!

Labor Signs: No!!!!!!!!
Belly Button in or out? In...but its getting very shallow...this is the one thing I am not happy about...and the possibility of future stretch marks
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: I think I got a little moody this week... I blame it on stress not the baby

Looking forward to: Still Halloween (yummmm CANDY)

13 Weeks (Baby is the Size of a Peach)

How far along? 13 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: 3 lbs.

Maternity clothes? No BUT I think I am ready for some necessities!

Stretch marks? No
Sleep: I am still sleeping great BUT I have started waking up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom! 

 Best moment this week: Ending the 1st Trimester (Goodbye Nausea) :) Hello 2nd Trimester... bring on the headaches & dizziness! Just what I need!!

 Have you told family and friends: YES!!!! I am still randomly hearing congratulations.

Miss Anything? This week I am missing STEAK... I am allowed to eat it but only if its WELL DONE...which is not the way I like steak!!!

Movement: Not yet...

Food cravings: Soup...mostly just the broth :)

Anything making you queasy or sick: Just in the morning at school. My stomach gets to empty from breakfast at 6:30 and our lunch time at 10:30. I need to bring more snacks!

 Have you started to show yet:  Oh yea! Even Michael has noticed & I looked down at my belly in the car and I couldn't see the bottom of my seat belt lol

Labor Signs: No!!!!!!!!
Belly Button in or out? In
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Still happy & a little more productive

Looking forward to: Halloween....I just LOVE Halloween :)

Yikes...I offically retired a dress from my closet for the next 6 months!!!

Yes, it is true! I wore one of my favorite dresses with a black elastic band to work today....and was BEYOND uncomfortable!!! I had to pull the band all the way up. That made my dress really short in the front and long in the back...AWKWARD :/ Here is the retired dress, it will now be located in the back corner of my closet!

When I got home I couldn't wait to change into one of Mike's comfy LARGE shirts. I like the way this dress fits (loose) and might just start a new trend!

12 Weeks (The Baby is the Size of a Plum)

How far along? 12 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: 2 lbs. Yay!!

Maternity clothes? Nope BUT I am interested in buying some leggings that won't be to tight on my belly!!

Stretch marks? No
Sleep: Still sleeping GREAT! However, I haven't been able to sleep in on the weekends! I guess our baby is going to be an early riser...NOT my style :)

Best moment this week: Hearing our baby's heartbeat!!!! AMAZING!!!

Have you told family and friends: YES!!!! We announced the news on Facebook!!

Miss Anything? This week I am missing WINE :(

Movement: Not yet...

Food cravings: Shakes!!!

Anything making you queasy or sick: Tried HOT coffee...still not okay with Little Baby Lankford

 Have you started to show yet: I actually got to wear a tight shirt at work today & yes I have a little bump!

Labor Signs: No!!!!!!!!
Belly Button in or out? In
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Still happy :)

Looking forward to: Sharing my blog with everyone!!

 

 

In other news, we did get to go to our 12 week ultrasound. Everything measured perfect and the due date is still right on target. We got to go in the room with the flat screen T.V. and spend 10 minutes just watching our little baby. Our baby is a mover for sure, would not stay still!! Must be from our baby's daddy because he is always in a hurry!!! We heard the heartbeat and it was CRAZY...Sometimes it is hard for me to believe I have a baby in my belly!!! We are both happy that the appointment went well and we got two pictures to share! Next ultrasound is at 20 weeks...BOY or GIRL??????

11 Weeks (Baby is the Size of a Lime...without the margarita)

How far along? 11 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: Still only 1lb. I guess I need more M&M's

Maternity clothes? Nope still just the unbutton pants!

Stretch marks? No
Sleep: Sleeping great,  always tired & frequent naps!
Best moment this week: Decorating for Halloween...I LOVE Halloween!

Have you told family and friends: Only close family & friends so far. But one more week before we let the world know.

Miss Anything? I really miss NOT having to go to the bathroom 24-7

Movement: Not yet...

Food cravings: Nothing in particular but whenever I decided what I want to eat...I HAVE TO HAVE IT :)

Anything making you queasy or sick: My house air-fresheners... I must put those AWAY!

Have you started to show yet: Still a little bump.

Labor Signs: No!!!!!!!!
Belly Button in or out? In
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Still happy :)

Looking forward to: Going to Ohio for a family wedding!!

10 weeks (The Baby is the Size of a Prune...YUCK)

How far along? 10 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: 1 lbs. FINALLY (could be all the M&M's I'm eating at school)

Maternity clothes? Nothing yet... But I did have to purchase a belly band to cover my UNBUTTONED PANTS!!

Stretch marks? No
Sleep: Sleeping great,  always tired & frequent naps!
Best moment this week: Having Mike take care of me... He has been GREAT doing the dishes and laundry!!!

Have you told family and friends: Only close family & friends so far. I did tell my Kindergarten team!

Miss Anything? Still missing that COLD turkey!!!!

Movement: Not yet...

Food cravings: PICKLES!!! Only the ones you can buy in the cold section (I'm so PICKY)!

Anything making you queasy or sick: STRONG SMELLS

Have you started to show yet: My bloat has offically turned into a real "hard" bump!

Labor Signs: No!!!!!!!!
Belly Button in or out? In
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Still happy :)

Looking forward to: Sleeping in on the weekends!!!!!

9 Weeks (The Baby is the Size of a Green Olive)

Dallas is going to be a GREAT big brother!!!

How far along? 9 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: 0 lbs.

Maternity clothes? Nothing yet :) Just trying to wear loose clothes so no one at school will notice!!

Stretch marks? No
Sleep: Sleeping great,  always tired & frequent naps!
Best moment this week: Recieving a thoughtful gift of "prego pops", gingered candies & FUN pregnancy books from my mom or "MiMi" & discovering cold Starbucks frappachinos DO NOT make me nauseous!!!

Have you told family and friends: Only close family & friends so far.

Miss Anything? Cold Turkey Sandwiches :(

Movement: Not yet...

Food cravings: I am loving chocolate chip cookie dough shakes!!

Anything making you queasy or sick: Brewed Coffee & my strong sense of smell :(

Have you started to show yet: A little bump so far.. still just mostly bloated!
Labor Signs: No!!!!!!!!
Belly Button in or out? In
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Still Happy!

Looking forward to: Being able to tell everyone & having more energy....zzzz....zzzz

8 Weeks (The Baby is the Size of a Raspberry)

How far along? 8 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: 0 lbs.

Maternity clothes? Nothing yet :)

Stretch marks? No
Sleep: Sleeping great,  always tired & frequent naps!
Best moment this week: Taking my first BUMP picture!!

Have you told family and friends: Only close family & friends so far.

Miss Anything? HOT COFFEE!!!

Movement: Not yet...

Food cravings: Anything to keep me from throwing up :)
Anything making you queasy or sick: Coffee :(

Have you started to show yet: A little bump so far.. mostly just bloated!
Labor Signs: No!!!!!!!!
Belly Button in or out? In
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy! Even Mike said I haven't been moody!!
Looking forward to: Being able to tell everyone!!!

Doctors, Needles, & Bloodwork....OH MY!

Now the home pregnancy test says positive...next step is the doctors test to say positive! I called my OBGYN to set up my first appointment and made sure Mike could come. We waited in that room for literally one hour before they even called me back. Once in the back I took the doctor's test and was placed in a room to wait AGAIN!!! Once the doctor finally came in she said "The test actually came back very LOW & she decided to do an ultrasound to double check. At this point I was crushed, a low test??? What does that even mean??? Then I got a little excited because I was going to have an ultrasound to show off to my family!!!! HOWEVER, the doctor couldn't find any signs of a pregnancy! Now we were BOTH crushed. The doctor was very quick to tell us not to worry and that it could just be very early.

She sent me to get blood work (which I HATE needles) and told me I would need to come back in two days for MORE blood work. They would compare my hormone levels and look for them to increase daily. I am pretty sure that was the LONGEST two days EVER!!! She finally called and said "Great news, your hormones are increasing perfectly and we should schedule another appointment for a sonogram". A smile instantly hit my face and I called Mike to share the news.

At the next appointment we sat in the waiting room FOREVER!!!! I was nervous one minute and excited the next. I don't know how I would have got through it without Mike telling me "Everything is going to be fine! Stop stressing!" which is impossible for me. I ALWAYS stress :) At last they called my name and MORE BLOOD WORK....maybe I will get over my fear of needles soon enough. After the poking ended we sat and waited AGAIN for the doctor. I must say that these appointments are very long! The doctor entered the room with a sonogram machine and that is when we first saw our FIRST baby. Well actually he/she just looked like a peanut BUT we were both instantly in LOVE. I couldn't keep the smile off my face!!

Then the doctor said "It looks like you're about 7 weeks and 2 days. The estimated arrival date is April 17th 2012". We both started laughing and the doctor obviously didn't understand. The reason we laughed is because Mike always jokes with his sister "Aunt Amanda" that her birthday should have been on April 17th instead of April 18th. Mike and his brother "Uncle Chris" were both born on the 17th and Aunt Amanda was fashionably LATE. Hopefully Little Baby Lankford will be EARLY or right on time.

Let's Start From The Beginning....

After a LONG year of trying to start a family, WE FINALLY DID IT!!! I do believe a lot of things fell into place for this miracle to happen. We spent the summer enjoying a THREE week road trip, signing on our FIRST house, and a very relaxing week in the Keys. Once we returned from our eventful summer plans we started decorating our new home & enjoying life as "newlyweds".



 Then whada-ya-know....SURPRISE....a dark pink line (saying the test worked) & a very faint pink line a positive pregnancy test!!! FINALLY!!! I was shocked and of course didn't believe it could be true. I yelled for Mike and we both stared at the test wondering if it really was a positive test. We were both thrilled but very cautious. We decided to purchase the "idiot proof" test that says PREGNANT or NOT PREGNANT. Just in case, we bought the two pack :) and....they both said PREGNANT! It was for real!!!!
                                  
YAY!!!!!