We shall call her Audrey

Carl and I decided on a name for our little baby girl!  I never thought we would make a final decision.  We've been pretty laid back about it with the attitude that "we'll decide when we need to decide."  In fact, I had several dreams early on about our nameless baby girl.  In one dream in particular, she was at least 2 years old, had blond curly hair and was running around and playing with other young kids in a house.  Someone asked what her name was and I said "We're still deciding."  But now that we know she's a girl, we were able to narrow down our girl choices.  We thought that we might keep all our choices as options, then decide when we got to the hospital and saw her.  But last week, we just made the final decision that one name is our favorite and will be perfect for our little girl.  We are going to name her...

Audrey Elizabeth Larson

Audrey comes from Old English origin and means noble strength.  My hope is that Audrey grows up to be a confident, strong young lady.  And of course she'll be cute too!  :)

Elizabeth is an important woman in the Bible.  She [and her husband Zacharias were] "righteous before God, walking in all commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless" (Luke 1:6).  She was the mother of John the Baptist and the cousin of Mary.  Elizabeth is very well-respected in Christianity, and it is my hope that Audrey Elizabeth will be well-respected and a person that people look up to throughout her life because of her good heart, grace, and compassion.  

And it just so happens that Audrey Elizabeth has a nice ring to it, so it's perfect for our first born girl!

I'm just realizing that her monogram spells out ALE.  That probably means that she'll grow up to be a good drinker.  Hopefully she's at least a responsible drinker.  I'm worrying already... Oh Lord!

Carl says good night to Audrey every night before bed, and we refer to her as Audrey often.  We have told our family and some friends as well, so word is getting out.  It's super exciting and now so much more real!

It's a GIRL!

We had our "Level 2 Ultrasound" on Wednesday at 21 weeks.  Probably the most exciting news of all was that the baby looks healthy.  The ultrasound tech said that the Doctors will of course analyze the measurements and pictures, but from her perspective the baby looks really good.  And then the next most exciting news... we're having a baby girl!  I had a feeling all along this pregnancy that she was a girl, and sure enough my mother's instincts were right...  Carl and I are both really excited!  It makes it more real now knowing that she's a girl and being able to call her "she" and "her".  I was thinking way into the future this week and got excited thinking about our baby girl's wedding one day and her having children.  I know it's a long ways off, but it makes me smile.  I can't wait to see if she'll grow up to be a girly-girl or a tom-boy... if she'll be tall or short... if she'll be interested in sports or music or both... it's going to be really incredible raising our little girl.  I love her and I'm proud of her already.  Ha!  :)

So right after we found out that we are having a girl, I called my immediate family.  I called my Mom first, and she screamed when I told her.  She's really excited to start buying stuff for her granddaughter.  In fact, talking to her today on the phone, she said she has some gifts for the baby that she's bringing up tomorrow when she and Dad come to visit and stay with us.  Then I called my Dad and told him... he had "Grandpa instincts" and knew it was going to be a girl.  Mom said Wednesday morning, the day we found out, he told my Mom that he just knew it was going to be a girl.  When I called my Dad, he was at work and he passed the phone to Linda Hopkins who was very congratulatory and excited for us.  It was good to talk to Linda!  Then I texted Amber and Ashley and called them to talk to them a little later in the evening.  Among the people I texted to share the news was my cousin, Keely, who is going to host a shower for me in Decatur.  I need to make a decision on a shower theme so she can start planning and get out invitations in about a month.  The shower in Decatur will be on August 27th (Saturday), so it's coming up!  As I was looking at themes, I think I've decided that I want to have a lot of pink at the shower.  Who knew??  This whole time so far, I always thought I liked neutrals most and would just want neutrals for most of the decor for everything, but now that we know we're having a girl, I really want to girl it up!  I think the nursery will still be mostly neutral with pops of girl colors/touches... but all pink for the shower.  My Mom and I are going to talk more about the shower this weekend.  Exciting!  I guess we have to register now...

This past week was Week 21, and I have been feeling pretty good.  When I was at the Doctor's office, I asked a nurse about my swollen ankles.  She said it was nothing to be too concerned about.  I just have to lower my sodium intake and up my water intake.  And I need to keep my feet elevated whenever I can.  That's not going to be easy at work, but hopefully I can sit in the recliner at home and take it easy.  Really, they were only swollen last week when it was 95, 96, & 97 degrees outside on 3 consecutive days.  And they're swollen today too, and it was about 82 degrees outside today.  I think I may see a pattern with my ankles swelling when I wear this 1 particular pair of flats.  They're really cute and I love wearing them, but my both times I've worn them lately, my feet have swollen.  Hmmm...  I'm just trying to drink a lot of water at work and here at home.  I'm drinking a glass while I write this blog actually.  I've also been trying to eat a lot of fiber hoping that helps me just not retain water or anything else.  ;)  I'm really feeling pregnant these days with a hard pregnant belly, and that's fun.

I've really been feeling her kick this week.  She's been moving all around, and now I can feel that it's her and not just gas or indigestion.  It's so cool feeling her moving.  Still a little unreal, but very cool!  I can't wait for Carl to be able to feel her kicking from outside my belly.  I know he can't wait either!  Right now, I feel her kicking (a little stronger than fluttering) on my right side, and now up high just under my ribcage, and then lower in my abdomen.  She's all over right now!

Well, we have a fun weekend ahead of us.  As I mentioned, my parents are coming up to visit tomorrow (Saturday) and stay with us.  Mom and I are going shopping and talking/planning some things we are working on (Luau Engagement Party for Katie Korte & Frank Baio; Baby Shower details & guest list; Baby Nursery).  Then we are going to Amber's softball game tomorrow night, so that should be a lot of fun!  The Bandits are playing the USSSA Pride.  They have an almost-all-Olympic lineup and it will be really cool to see all these women playing against each other.  I bet it will be packed, and that's really cool that all these little girls in the area can grow up watching strong women compete against each other at such a high level.  Just think, I can tell our baby girl that she was at these games with me watching her Aunt Amber play professional softball.  Amber told me this week that she won't charge me for lessons for Baby Girl Larson.  :)  And then Sunday is Father's Day.  We will probably hang out with my parents in the morning before they had back home, and then we are going over to Carl's parents house for lunch.  The weekends always go by way too fast.

I think that's about it for Week 21.  It was an exciting week!  

Here are 3 of the 12 (yes, 12!) ultrasound pics we got to keep:

Look at her little feet on the left.  Aren't they so darn cute?  They can tell now if she has 10 fingers and 10 toes.  Pretty incredible!  

She has a cute profile already!

I hesitate to post this one and Baby Girl Larson may kill me one day for sharing this "spread-eagle" ultrasound pic, but I just had to.  As you can tell, we got a pretty clear shot and definitely know she is a girl!

Week 19 & 20

Well I'm officially over half-way through my pregnancy!  This post is my recap of last week, week 19, as well as an update on how I'm feeling in week 20.

How far along:  20 weeks and 2 days
Size of baby:  As of Sunday, the baby was as long as a banana and still growing!  Length is 6 1/2 inches from head to bottom and 10 inches from head to heel.  Can you believe it?!  My belly really is showing that the baby is getting bigger!
Total Weight Gain/Loss:  I just had my 20-week checkup at the doctor last night and I am 12.7 lbs up from my first doctor's appointment at week 6, and 14.2 lbs up from pre-pregnancy.  I feel like I REALLY look pregnant now.  Just very full and round and I have a big belly.  I'm already about 1/2 way to the max weight I should gain, and I feel like I'm really going to start gaining fast now.  Oh man!
Maternity Clothes:  I have of course still been wearing my borrowed maternity clothes, and I went shopping for my own maternity clothes last night!  It was the first time I had been in a dressing room since I've had this changing body.  It was really weird.  I found some stuff I liked, and am probably most excited about the 2 pairs of yoga/exercise pants.  I told Carl that I will probably be living in these pants during my maternity leave.  :)  I ended up getting a few shirts, 2 pairs of yoga/exercise pants, 2 cami's, and some undies.  I was excited to have some new stuff.  I really am in search of a great black wrap dress that I can wear to work.  I've found a couple, but they're much more expensive than I want to spend.  Eesh.  I feel like I should be wearing black everyday to "slim" me down, but I really love the summer wardrobe colors this year!
Gender:  I really have no clue.  We find out a week from tomorrow!  I can't believe it's almost here.  :)
Movement:  I've been feeling more "twitches" this week, all throughout the day and sometimes at night.  It's pretty cool.  It's not the biggest, most noticeable movements, but it's something and that's really amazing.
Sleep:  We've been trying to sleep with the windows open and the fan going as much as we can.  It's so comfortable!  But unfortunately it's been REALLY hot (like 96 degrees today!), so we haven't done it as much as we would like.  I used to not like having the fan on while we slept, but I really would prefer that it be on now. Overall, I've been sleeping really well.  Not as much as I would like... but that's not due to the baby.
What I miss:  I've really wanted Diet Coke/Pepsi this week.  I've been occasionally drinking a regular Coke, but I just want to chug a big glass of Diet Coke.  Yum!
Cravings:  I guess I would say ice cream.  But I really haven't had too many cravings where I've had to have something.  Last week we had Chinese when I really didn't feel like it a couple weeks before.  It keeps changing and changing.
Symptoms:  Today, I had heartburn again.  :(  I get it only occasionally, and usually right before dinner.  I've been thinking, "Well, maybe I just need to eat something."  Hence the weight gain explained above.  :)  And I feel like my ankles are swollen today.  Today, I feel like I'm 38 weeks pregnant.  I have a long way to go yet. Oh brother. I'm trying to walk as much as I can and I'm still doing yoga 2-3 times a week.  Just trying to stay active and eat pretty healthy.  Overall, I feel very good and healthy.
Best Moment This Week:  We finally got the floors installed in the first floor this weekend!  Hooray!  Carl and his friend Nick completing laying the tile in the kitchen, bathroom, and foyer on Saturday.  Then they laid the hardwood on Sunday.  What a long weekend for them!  It looks really really really good!  Now Carl just needs to grout the tile, which he is going to do this weekend.  Hooray!  Hooray!  Can you tell I'm excited to have that done?!  And also my Dad and Ashley came up and stayed this weekend for Amber's opening home game for the Chicago Bandits. They were patient with our house renovations and we had a great time!  I even got to meet one of the women who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League.  Here is a pic of us:

Her name is Terry Uselmann (maiden name McKinley).  She said not to look up her stats, but I had to at least Google her.  Ha!  She was funny and really full of life!  My sisters and I really loved the movie A League of Their Own.  We watched it over and over and over again as kids (along with Mighty Ducks and Top Gun).  We were all softball players... what do you expect?  It was really neat to hear Terry's experience in the league.  She joined when she was 21 years old in 1949 and played for the Muskegon Lassies.  She talked about being "called up", like there was a minor league as well.  And she said that it felt like all they did was travel on the bus and play, travel and play.  It was neat to meet her!  
Best Husband Quote of the Week:  Carl's been really stressed out about our house being a disaster and all torn apart.  He likes things in order, and he's been losing sleep about getting the floors and all the DIY house projects done.  It will be over soon, and it will all be worth it!  Then we can just lay around and relax, right?

20-Week Baby Bump

That's more than a "bump".  I've really got a pregnant baby belly now!  

Week 18

Today I'm 19 weeks along!  This post is my 18-week recap...

How far along:  19 weeks today
Size of baby:  At 18 weeks, baby is the length of a bell pepper and weighs 7 ounches.  This past week, the baby gained 1.5 ounces and today is the size of a large heirloom tomato.
Total Weight Gain/Loss:  It's getting harder for me to tell how much weight I've gained... mainly because I haven't wanted to step on the scale!  :)  I think I gained 1 pound over this past week and am about 11 pounds up from pre-pregnancy.
Maternity Clothes:  I'm only wearing maternity pants these days.  I'm wearing some maternity tops, and some pre-pregnancy tops... just depends on how the tops fit and if they're "flattering" now or not with my growing belly.  And I'm wearing dresses as much as possible at work.  They're cute and they're so comfy, especially since I sit down most of the day.  I've had my eye on some maternity clothes online, but I can't bring myself to buy them.  I am in a totally frugal mood lately and I can't shake it.  Have I mentioned how lucky I am that my cousin has given me all of her clothes?  I really am wearing almost all of her clothes all of the time!
Gender:  I had a dream last night that we found out the sex of the baby and it was a boy.  Who the heck knows?!  We will find out 2 weeks from this Wednesday.
Movement:  I feel the baby periodically.  Just little movements in my lower abdomen.  At least I think it's the baby.  It's exciting!  But still bizarre to grasp the fact that there is a human being making those movements.  It's taken me awhile to grasp this whole concept, hasn't it?  :)
Sleep:  I've been tired again this week and falling asleep early at night.  I've been sleeping really good, though! And I'm definitely getting up less during the middle of the night to go to the bathroom, so that's good.  I'm getting more uninterrupted sleep.  Get it now while I can, right?
What I miss:  I haven't really missed anything this week, or at least haven't focused on missing anything due to pregnancy.
Cravings:  Nothing really stands out this week... I didn't want Cinnamon rolls yesterday morning.  See how quickly the cravings change?  I guess I would say this week it's coffee all "doctored up" with cream and splenda.  I have about a 1/4 of a cup in the mornings at work a few days.
Symptoms:  This week, I started getting heart burn in the late afternoon.  But overall this week, I've felt pretty good!  It's been really rainy here this past week (really, this whole spring).  This weekend is Memorial Day Weekend, and it stormed all day today!  I had a bad headache earlier today and was feeling pretty sick right when I got out of the shower.  So I laid down and finished the 4th book in the Harry Potter series.  It it nice to relax when it's storming out.  I think it may be sinuses or allergies because I've sneezed a couple times.  Hopefully I stay healthy!  I'll just keep taking my vitamins.
Best Moment This Week:   Friday afternoon when I walked out of the office with a 3-day weekend ahead of me!  Don't get me wrong, I like work and I like my job, but it's so nice to have a long weekend!
Best Husband Quote of the Week:  Probably has to be something about the size of my boobs.  They really are big (even friends at work have commented!), and Carl has made some funny comments lately.  My best friend is pregnant, too... she's 8 weeks behind me and she said someone told her that the boobs are just temporary so don't get too used to them.  Thank goodness!  These things can go away!  I have a feeling it's going to get worse before it gets better, though.  I'll stick through it...

Week 17

So as of today, I'm 18 weeks along!   Here is my 17-Week recap...

At the end of this week, I feel really good.  We're getting a lot done around the house so I'm feeling like it will all come together soon!  We have hardwood flooring (for living room and dining area) being delivered this week and we are buying ceramic tile (for the kitchen and 1/2 bath downstairs) today.  Hopefully next weekend we can get it all done!  :)  Carl's friend, Frank, works as a Project Manager at a flooring company and he installs hardwood and tile on the side, so he is going to help Carl install it all.  We also have tile for the upstairs bathrooms... "while we're at it," Carl says.  :)  It will all look really nice once it's done, and I'm just thankful that we finally made a decision on what we wanted/needed and purchased it all!

Also, I'm really starting to focus on what we need for the nursery.  That room, as of Thurs night, is empty!  We sold the beautiful furniture we had in there (dresser, armoire, and bed frame) to a nice family who is going to use the furniture for their daughter's room.  Right after they moved out all the furniture, I walked in the room, turned to Carl, and said, "Holy cow.. we're having a baby!"  At that moment it became real that the next set of furniture to go in there will include a crib and dressers for a nursery.  It will no longer be our "Guest Bedroom" after October.  Here are some ideas that I have for the nursery furniture...

Early on, I thought about doing neutral fabrics, but I think I'll wait until after June 15th to find out what we're having to make a decision on that.  There are the cutest ideas on so many blogs out there.  It's getting exciting!   

We're also trying to get creative with storage solutions.  We're realizing that we relied quite heavily on the space that the guest bedroom closet and drawers provided.  And now that we've emptied those, we have to make some room elsewhere to store all of our stuff!  This is going to be a work in progress.  We're looking at different solutions for under-the-bed storage to store sheets and clothes, and we're trying to find a solution for all our shoes.  We used to have a cabinet that held all our shoes, but that broke and now we keep our shoes in a bin in the foyer coat closet.  It's not the best solution and we need a better one ASAP.  

Is this what they call "nesting"??  If so, Carl and I both have it!  :)

How far along:  Today I'm 18 weeks

Size of baby:  At 17 weeks (so 1 week ago today), the baby is the size of a turnip.  Today he/she is the size of a bell pepper!

Total Weight Gain/Loss:  I'm pretty confident I'm still gaining weight.  :)  I haven't been good about weighing myself this week so I'm not exactly sure how much I've gained since last week.  I think I'm about 10 lbs up from pre-pregnancy.

Maternity Clothes:  I'm pretty much only wearing maternity pants now.  This weekend, I've been wearing a pair of jean capri's that were among all the clothes my cousin is letting me borrow.  They are so cute!  Every day I find more and more cute maternity clothes that my cousin had.  Thank goodness we're the same size!  I am so grateful that I can borrow her clothes and not have to spend gobs of money on all new stuff!

Gender:  I still have a feeling we're having a baby girl.  Who knows, though!  Only 3 1/2 more weeks until we find out!

Movement:  I think I started feeling the baby this week!  The first time I felt it was during yoga on Tuesday night.  We were in supported bridge pose for a couple minutes, and I swear I felt some movement in my lower abdomen.  Puh-retty cool!  I tried to replicate it for Carl when I got home, but I didn't feel it again.  Then I think I felt the baby again the next night.  Some people say it feels like fluttering... I guess it did feel like that, but it wasn't a light fluttering.  It was more noticeable than that... like a couple little one-two punches.  Who knows, maybe it wasn't the baby.  Maybe it was digestion or gas, but I must say this is the first time I have felt movement like this and not had to "pass gas".  (Ha! TMI?)

Sleep:  I've been sleeping really good lately!  I'm in a routine where I go to bed early and wake up early, even on weekends.  But that's given me a chance to read early in the mornings before we get up for breakfast and to start the day.  I'm trying to get through my Harry Potter books so I can read books on my new Kindle(!!!!).  I won the Kindle at a fundraiser for my in-laws' church.  It was the night Carl threw out his back, so we didn't even go.  But I won the raffle for the Kindle.  Couldn't believe it!  I've downloaded some free books so far, but I haven't purchased any books yet - I'm so cheap!  :)  I think I'm going to read Pride & Prejudice after I'm finished with the Harry Potter series.  I enjoy reading, but I'm not to "literary" so we'll see if I can get into the story.  I can see this Kindle being GREAT for exercising on the elliptical or the treadmill.  No more lugging around big books!  

What I miss:  Summer Shandy.  Now that it's nice outside, it's great weather for hanging out outside and having a beer.  Carl went out and bought his summer staple, Summer Shandy, on Friday.  I asked for just a sip to taste thinking I wouldn't like it after all this time of not drinking beer. Well, I did like it.  It was soooo good!  I forgot how good and refreshing it is on a gorgeous summer day/night.  Oh man!  I'm going to have to hold out until next summer.  But I guess it will be worth it in the end.  ;)

Cravings:  Yesterday morning, it was cinnamon rolls and Caramel Macchiato (decaf, of course!).  I really having been wanting sweet food in the mornings for breakfast.  Usually Carl will make his famous Swedish Pancakes and that's fantastic, but for some reason this weekend, I just felt like a store-bought cinnamon roll.  And I must say it was really good!  :)  One more thing of note about food this week:  Usually I'm a big fan of Chinese food.  Carl suggested it for dinner on Friday night and I turned it down.  He couldn't believe it!  It's really strange how my tastes have been changing.  We'll see if that one lasts or if it's just a temporary thing.

Symptoms:  Again, this week, I've been feeling good!  No complaints!  :)

Best Moment This Week:  Having the realization that, "Holy cow!  We really are having a baby."  It's exciting now that I can picture what it might look like in the nursery now that the room is empty.  And it's exciting seeing all the work that we need to do this summer, and seeing that we really can get it all done.  Oh, and this week people at work really started commenting on my pregnant belly.  You can really start to tell now and that's fun!  

Best Husband Quote of the Week:  Carl's kept me laughing as usual.  Today, we laughed at a comment he made when we were on our walk with Chief this morning.  He said, "Do you think we should register for a yogging stroller?"  Yes, yogging like in this Anchorman clip.  "We're trying this new fad called jogging.  I believe it's jogging or yogging.  It might be a soft j, I'm not sure."  Love that movie!

Week 17 Picture

I know I said last week I was averaging 1 pic a month and I wasn't going to take a picture every week, but I just had to this week.  I feel like I've grown a lot in the past couple weeks so I took this pic and texted it to some friends and my Mom and sisters.  It was taken when I was 17 weeks and 5 days. Yup, I'm growing and so is Baby Larson!   

Week 16

I'm nearing the end of my 16th week, so this week's post will reflect on how I've felt and what's happened during Week 16. 

This past week, the weather has showed us it's almost summer in Chicagoland... well, somewhat. We had above 90-degree temperatures a couple of the days. But it was cooler before that and has gotten cooler (60ish) since. Because of the fluctuations, there were some tornado scares and some hail and thunderstorms. Crazy weather, but we have been safe!

Last weekend, Carl threw out his back moving some tiles at Menards. He was laid up until Wednesday. I've never seen him in so much pain. And his only saving grace was muscle relaxers from Immediate Care on Sunday. We couldn't even get him up from the floor, let alone into the car and to Immediate Care on Saturday night! So we didn't get too much accomplished last weekend around the house. This weekend, Carl is feeling much better, so the work has resumed around the house. He's painting the last of the doors. I've been planting grass seed out back where Chief has killed the grass over the winter. And we're heading out to look at hardwood flooring. We've got a lot to do and an impending deadline. :)

This past week, I had my 16-week check up at the Doctor. I got to hear the baby's heartbeat again. This time, it was in the 150s. Still very strong! Everything is looking good! And my Doctor told me that the chance for Down Syndrome is 1 in 3000. Typically, for a woman my age it's 1 in 600, so the chances are really good that we're having a very healthy baby. Carl and I are lucky to have come from good genes.

How Far Along: 16 weeks and 6 days
Size of baby: Baby Larson was the size of an avocado as of last week on Sunday. (Tomorrow, size of a turnip at 17 weeks)
Total Weight Gain/Loss: When I went to the Doctor on Monday, I was 4 pounds up from week 12... so I think that puts me at 7.2lbs up from my first doctor's appointment, and 9 lbs up from pre-pregnancy weight.
Maternity Clothes: Yes please! Haha. I can still wear some of my jeans and a pair of jean shorts, but I've been wearing almost all maternity clothes. My cousin's clothes have been my saving grace! This past week, I've discovered her maternity jeans, a shirt, and one of her dresses. I think I'm going to really love dresses for work this summer and Fall! I did go to Target last week and buy a couple tank tops and a couple shirts. Before pregnancy, I would have to wear shirts that show that I had a waist (since I'm top-heavy), and now a lot of those shirts are way too tight around my waist so I have to wear a jacket over top. I'm really showing now, so I'm pretty much strictly maternity clothes.
Gender: So for quite some time now, I've been thinking we're having a girl. But this past week, I've thought we're having a boy. I just have no clue! We find out the gender in 4 1/2 weeks!
Movement: The Doctor asked if I was feeling movement yet. I told her sometimes I feel things, but I think it's just gas. She said I'll know when I feel the baby. A lot of women start feeling the baby around this time, but she said definitely within the next 2 weeks I will feel the baby. I can't wait!
Sleep: This past week, I didn't sleep too well. But that has nothing to do with the baby. I am getting up less in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom, so that's good. But I've been really busy and stressed out at work, so I've been dreaming about work constantly and waking up in the middle of the night thinking about work. One night this past week, I couldn't fall back asleep so I got up and went to the computer to work for about an hour before trying to go back to sleep again at 5am. No use... I was just really tired that day. I can see my schedule lightening up over the next few weeks, so that's good. But this past month has really kicked my butt!
What I miss: Lying on my stomach and back. I have even modified my Savasana pose (corpse pose) in yoga so I'm not lying flat on my back. And last night, I woke up and rolled over on my back. Carl called me out on it, though, and I assured him it was "just for a minute". Ha! He made sure I switched to my side to fall back asleep.
Cravings: I haven't been craving sweets much after dinner... well, one night this past week, we did get Blizzards, but overall I want ice cream or dessert a lot less than pre-pregnancy. But in the morning for breakfast, I want sweet pastries... cinnamon rolls, coffee cake, pancakes and syrup.
Symptoms: I've been feeling really good! No complaints.
Best moment this week: I always love going to the Doctor and hearing the baby, so that is at the top of my list this week. Also, Katie and Frank and the rest of the Baio's gave me a special treat on Mother's Day as a "mother-to-be" present. Katie and I got to get manicures at Mario Tricoci on Sunday. And they brought over food for brunch. They had egg/hashbrown casseroles and fruit. And of course I made a coffee cake. :)
Best husband quote of the week: This has to be at Menards last Saturday. Carl was loading up the boxes of tile that we were going to purchase. I had walked away to the cleaning products aisle, and all of a sudden Carl comes up to me and says, "We have to come back. I hurt my back." And of course, I'm all about efficiencies (and the tile was only on sale until the next day!), so I insisted on loading the rest of the tile into the cart and then unloading it all into the car. "We're already here, and I'm capable," I said to him. I really paid attention to my form, so I came out okay! So after I load up the car, Carl says, "There is nothing more emasculating than having to watch your pregnant wife load tile while I just stand watching." We laughed about it. I felt really bad for him! I know it wasn't a pleasant experience for Carl, but it is probably one of his funniest quotes of the week.

Week 16 picture

I've really started showing over just the last 2 weeks! 

I just realized that I'm averaging 1 pic per month. Maybe when I get to the 3rd trimester, I'll start taking weekly pictures when you can really see a big difference week-to-week.

Week 15

So a lot has happened around the world this past week...
Friday, April 29th was The Royal Wedding.  Prince William of Wales married a commoner, Kate Middleton.  I was in a hotel in Hartford, CT, and watched while I got ready for work.  Kate Middleton was beautiful!  She was so elegant and so composed and simply stunning.  Yes, fairy tales really do happen.
And then on Sunday, May 1st, America won a big battle in the war against terrorism.  We killed Osama bin Laden who was hiding out for the past 10 years.  Carl was amazed at the rumors/stories we've heard about how it went down.  He kept saying, "It's like a real-life Jack Bauer mission."
Both events had news coverage round the clock.  It was a big week in world history, for sure! 


And meanwhile... little baby Larson is still growing...


How Far Along: 15 weeks and 4 days
Size of baby:  baby is the size of a apple; about 4 inches long and 2.5 ounces in weight

Total Weight Gain/Loss:  I'm about where I was last week...still about 7 pounds up from pre-pregnancy.

Maternity Clothes: So I learned how to wear my maternity work pants.  I wear them with my belly band so they stay up.  They're nice pants and super comfortable!  I feel like this week I really started showing.  A couple people have called me out a work saying they can tell.  It's true, my belly is a firm pooch now.

Gender:  This week I've gone back and forth.  My overall feeling is that it's a girl, but I'm not so sure.  I really would be happy with either a healthy little baby, boy or girl.  Carl says he thinks it's a boy because we have more than 1 boy name picked out so we have options.  Ha!

Movement:  Every once in awhile I feel a little something, but I attribute it to gas or digestion.  Who knows... I probably won't know until the baby kicks me in the ribs.  

Sleep:  I've been sleeping pretty well lately.  All last week I was in a hotel bed, and I feel like that kinda messed with my hips a little.  The outsides of my legs/hips/butt were sore and I can only attribute that to sleeping on my side in a bed I'm not used to.  It was good to come home and sleep in my own bed.  And I feel like I'm getting up to go to the bathroom less during the middle of the night.  Believe me, it's still 2 times a night... but that's down from what it was.  I feel like I've been pretty tired in the evening, but then I wake up well and feeling pretty good in the morning.  I'm still pretty stressed at work, but it hasn't affected my sleep or my dreams in the past week so that's good!

What I miss:   Lying on my stomach.  I miss it :(

Cravings:   I've really been craving fruit this past week.  And I've been eating salads, although I wouldn't say I've been craving vegetables.  I have 2 pieces of fruit each day... I can't get enough!

Symptoms:  For several days straight, I have had a bad eye twitch.  I don't know if that's stress-related or it was lack of sleep.  But it subsided today to where I've barely noticed it.  That was driving me nuts!  Really, I've been feeling really good!   

Best moment this week:  This week, I'm feeling more connected with the little baby and love that my pooch is getting bigger.  It felt like just fat before, but now it really feels real.  I still don't believe what's happening inside me most of the time, but overall I'm feeling more connected and it's feeling more real.  And that's awesome.

Best husband quote of the week:  I watched one of the birthing videos on babycenter.com over the weekend.  I don't know why.  It was pretty terrible to think about how that is going to come out of that.  Carl and I were joking afterward... I was saying "I can't believe I just watched that" and he said "I really can't believe you watched that, Abby".  He was being funny.  He makes me laugh!