Kickin' it.

Saturday at 10:36 am, I was laying in bed reading a magazine when I felt it. A noticeable poke in my lower abdomen, a couple of inches below my belly button. After silently freaking out for a moment that the scene from Alien was coming to life, I jumped up and ran to Michael and told him I was pretty sure I felt my first real kick. I don't feel it on a regular basis yet, but today in particular Baby Rowland has been pretty active. It feels like he/she is flipping around in there, swimming back and forth. It's the most bizarre and amazing feeling. I know my body was designed to do this but I still am in awe of what a miracle this is, that this is truly happening, that a person is growing inside me and somehow God is trusting me to raise him/her. So crazy!





How far along: 18 weeks 2 days

Size of baby: mango

Gender: 1 week to go! Pray that baby cooperates and shows us its goods...haha. I will be so excited to stop typing him/her and just use one or the other! Still have no idea anymore about what I'm having. Ready to find out and start planning the second half of this journey.

Movement: kicks are beginning; today he/she has picked up activity and I have felt more than the rest of the week.

Sleep: Still sucking. Averaging maybe 5.5/6 hrs a night? Maybe I should just keep it there so I'm not brain dead when we have a newborn? I function best on 8-9, and I know that ain't happening anytime soon.

What I miss: The ability to regulate my emotions. Y'all...today I teared up at work watching a COFFEE CREAMER commercial. I am ridiculous.

Cravings: Fruit. Eating blueberries like they're in danger of extinction. For my growth group I made a big fruit "salsa" with raspberries, apples, and strawberries, which we ate with cinnamon sugar pita chips. So delicious!

Anxiety level: Climbing due to anticipation of our move. Next. Saturday. Ahhh! Can't wait.

Symptoms: Same as previous weeks, also feeling itchy. All over. So that's annoying.

Best moment this week: The kicks! Also, EastLake's worship night was this past Friday and it was amazing as usual. My buddy Kelli's son, Sebastian, was baptized, and even though I was told beforehand to prepare my emotions, when baptisms started the tears started flowing. I was crying for strangers as they made a public declaration of their trust and faith in Jesus. By the time Sebastian got in the tub, I totally lost it. So thankful for a night of great music, partying because of all the amazing things God has done in this city, EastLake's next step in moving to the Theater Lawrence in July...and friends who have tissues when I lose it. ;)

Dad is: Wanting to feel kicks too. Hopefully just a few more weeks for him to wait.

A new normal at 17 weeks

Whoops, I seem to have skipped a week! Sorry about that readers (dad). :)

I think I've reached a milestone. I can no longer sleep on my stomach. It's not that it's necessarily in the way or impossible, it's just really uncomfortable and wakes me up after a while. And let's face it, I don't need any extra help waking up in the night with all my trips to go pee and adjusting my hip. So this will be a new normal for me, figuring out how to sleep! Wish me luck (or maybe more luck for my husband. I'm a grumpy beast without enough sleep. The newborn stage is going to be interesting...)

How far along: 17 weeks 1 day

Size of baby: Sweet potato

Maternity Clothes: Coming along! I have a few pieces now that I intermix with my normal wardrobe. Wearing lots of leggings w/longer shirts, skirts, dresses, and my one pair of maternity jeans. I hope to get a couple pairs of cropped pants to make it through the Kansas summer heat but that should last me, I hope!

Gender: Getting closer to finding out! I had a very vivid dream last night that we were at the ultrasound and it was a boy. Given that I originally thought this little one was a girl, I am thoroughly confused now.

Movement: Slight increase of fluttering, no real kicks yet.

Sleep: See above.

What I miss: Hmm. Not really missing much at the moment. Overall feeling pretty good, despite a couple of lagging symptoms. Thankful for so far, a pretty normal pregnancy!

Cravings: still airheads, watermelon

Symptoms: Nausea, hip pain. I can tell a difference between 1st and 2nd trimester with the extreme fatigue. It's not as bad anymore, but I'm still taking a nap most days when I get off work because I'm not getting enough quality sleep at night. I think my ass might be getting a little bit pregnant too, it seems to have grown a bit. Boo. To date I've only gained 3 pounds but the distribution is shifting. Michael says my neck and face looks thinner to him...I'll take it! :)

Anxiety level: Only when I think about how much we have going on that last week of June/first week of July.

Best moment this week: Had a really fun night out with Anna and Tiffany last week. We tried on our dresses for Anna's wedding and then went to Johnny's Tavern for dinner. Despite being seated next to a boys' baseball team, we had a great time chatting and laughing. Also highlights of the past couple weeks have been my growth group! We started last Tuesday and it's a really great group of women. Lots of funny, snarky commentary as we watch the Twilight movies. Snark is my favorite. :) My good friend Kim is hosting for us and her basement is the perfect place to cozy up with some popcorn and watch a movie!

Reading: Nothing at the moment. Lots of our books are packed for our move at the end of the month!

Dad is: Counting down to the appointment where he'll find out if he's having a son or daughter! The waiting is such a killer, I don't know how our parents did this without knowing the entire time!

A pic from yesterday at 17 weeks :)