18 weeks

I guess the biggest thing this week is I have really started noticing more movement...which is awesome. It's still not that often, but I feel it every day now! Today I ate a few sour gummy worms I felt some of the biggest thumps I've had so far, and it happened several times in a row. It was the neatest thing. I can't wait until it gets strong enough for Frank to feel it too.

I had a Dr's appointment today and was really excited because we were supposed to have our anatomy ultrasound. Well, turns out the ultrasound tech took a vacation day and wasn't there....soooo, I ended up having a regular check up and had to reschedule the ultrasound. I was a little bummed because I was sooo looking forward to seeing the baby (our last ultrasound was at 9 weeks at my first appt). I guess I'll have to wait 3 more weeks. The good thing about that is the baby will be even bigger, so maybe it will be better to wait. I've gained 5 pounds since my last appointment 5 weeks ago! Eek! The Dr. didn't seem too concerned, though. I guess a pound a week is about average now. So far I've gained about 7 lbs total.

This week I've also been doing a lot of research on childbirth, and came really close to signing up for a natural childbirth class. I decided to wait for now...the schedule of the classes didn't really work for us. This may be the only class offered before February in Montgomery, so I may be winging it! The reality that this baby is going to have to come out somehow is starting to hit me! Ha

18 weeks!

Other big news this past week, my sister-in-law Angela and her husband Jason had a beautiful baby girl on the 19th (her name is Samantha Jane). Frank and I are aunt & uncle for the 17th time! We have one more niece or nephew coming in October, and then it will be our turn in Feb :)

17 weeks

Frank got home from his Spain trip on Wednesday, and on Thursday night we went to an outdoor summer symphony concert. It's finally cooling down enough around here that the nights aren't totally unbearable, so it was actually pretty nice spending some time sitting outside & listening to music/spending time with our friends. Unfortunately Frank had to work all weekend, so I haven't seen him too much since he got back. We did go out Sat. night after work and had dinner with friends and went to the Sandbar (an outdoor bar on the river downtown). Good times :) I keep thinking to myself that we won't be able to just do whatever we want, whenever we want in a few months. Must take advantage of every opportunity now! Sunday, after Frank got home, we went to mass and then watched football and ate dinner. Typical weekend at the Prokops.
As far as the whole pregnancy thing is going- it's going just fine :). Nights are still restless with crazy dreams...I'm waking up probably 4-5 times a night (ugh). But, that's how it goes, and after this baby is here I'll probably be getting up that many times a night so might as well get used to it! I woke up this morning with pains in my upper stomach muscles...that was not fun. I think I may have slept on my stomach on accident (or some other weird position) and it hurt so bad that I woke up, luckily it went away after a few hours. Still eating everything in sight. I won't even tell you guys how much junk food I ate today...yeah, today was not a good eating day. Other than the eating and restless nights, I have no complaints whatsoever. It could be much worse, so I am counting my blessings! Oh- and also this past week I finally started walking again. I tried running a few times...it felt so weird that I stopped. I'm just not used to having my stomach feel heavy when I run. I'm sure it won't hurt anything, but it's just uncomfortable. I am kind of mad at myself for not running for 3-4 months straight! I'm pretty sure if I would have kept it up that I would have gradually gotten used to it. I guess for now I'll stick with walking :(.

Next week is the BIG ULTRASOUND! Counting down the days to when we get to have a peek on the baby and check everything out. I'm still not sure if I'm feeling the baby move at all, but today at work I could have swore I felt something for sure. Right after I ate a powdered doughnut (I know, I know)....baby was probably all hyped up on the sugar, for about 2 minutes, I could feel little taps a little stronger than they were last week. So, we'll see. Also at church last night I was getting some weird feelings too (maybe it's the loud music?).

Here's the 17 week belly. I still feel like I am not showing, but when I see the photos of myself I feel like they make me look bigger than I really am. Who knows. Frank notices now, so I guess I'm at least showing little bit!

17 weeks

Sweet 16 weeks

16 weeks and now, currently chipping away at week 17. This week the baby is about as long as a red onion (approx 5 inches long, and weighs about 4-5 ounces). I was grocery shopping today and just happened to notice the red onion section, so I decided to humor myself and buy one and send a photo of it to Frank (he's still in Spain for now). I'm kind of surprised that something as long as the diameter of a red onion is currently residing inside of me right now....that's pretty big! Weren't we on raspberry week not too long ago?

This week I've been noticing a few things...The first thing I've noticed is that my clothes are definitely getting a little more snug. Before now I could at least button my jeans, but they were really uncomfortable. Now I have several pairs of pants that I couldn't button even if I wanted to...not that I really even try at this point. I'm at this awkward stage that makes me too big for my old clothes, but still way too small for maternity clothes. I've bought a few maternity shirts, but haven't worn them yet. They aren't really obvious maternity shirts, just a little stretchier and longer than regular shirts. Right now I'm just wearing all of my pre-pregnant longer shirts.

Also this past week I started feeling strange feelings that maybe, possibly could be the baby. I'm not quite to the point where I can say "Yes, that was for sure the baby!". I know exactly where the baby likes to hang out because of my doppler. He/she likes the lower right area, that's where I always find the heartbeat right away. The past few days I've noticed if I'm laying really still on my side, sometimes I feel this little tap-tap (or pop, or twitch...). It's always around my lower right, and it's only when I'm laying really still. It's such a light feeling that if it happens during the day, I don't notice at all. So, this could, or could not be the baby. I like to think that it is, but it's still super early. I know some people can feel things this early, I guess time will tell. If they get stronger over the next week or two I guess I'll know! 

Another thing that has been going on is restless nights. They've been slowly creeping up, but now it seems like I only get one or two really good nights of sleep a week. Maybe it's because Frank's been gone a lot, not sure. I'm waking up multiple times with the CRAZIEST DREAMS EVER. All the other times in the past that I've said I had crazy dreams, no...they do not compare to the crazy that happens in my pregnant dreams. It kind of freaks me out. They are always super intense, but not quite nightmare-ish. I literally wake up every night and have to pep-talk myself into believing that this is real life and my dreams are not real. 

Red Onion Week (haha!)

I don't really feel like I'm growing that much the past few weeks...but that's fine with me. I quite enjoy being able to sort of sleep on my stomach.

Other than all of that, things are going just grand. Frank left on Wednesday to pick up some jets in Spain that were broken from their Romania trip. He was supposed to be back a few days ago...but we all know how that goes. They have been delayed a few extra days and it's looking like he'll be back Wed/Thurs (hopefully Wednesday!). The hurricanes in the Atlantic, along with some tanker issues caused the delay. I'm sure he's having fun on his Spain vacation, though :)

15 weeks

Happy Labor Day! Hope everyone had a fun weekend! We ended up camping at Lake Wedowee with some friends and had a pretty good time...it was so hot, though! Last night it started raining so we left this morning around 10AM and drove back to Montgomery...home sweet home. Yay for a much needed shower and toilets! Today it's been raining all day, good day for hanging out inside and being extremely lazy :)

Lake Wedowee - Alabama

It almost feels a little weird to say I'm 15 weeks now. It's sinking in that I really am pregnant (finally, it took 15 weeks!), even though I still don't really feel like I am! The belly is slowly growing a tad bit every week and I'm kind-of, sort-of showing....I think. You can definitely tell when I wear tight clothes, still can't really tell in regular clothes. 

It's been great having Frank back. He is going back to Spain this week to fly one of the jets home that didn't make it back on the initial trip back a few a week or so ago. Luckily he'll only be gone about 5 days this time :)

15 weeks

How far along? 15 weeks

How big is baby? 4-5 inches, about 3 ounces

Total weight gain/loss : +2-3

Maternity clothes? Nope, just wearing longer shirts and using my belly band

Bump? There, but still questionable to strangers.

Sleep: Hit and miss. Sometimes I'll wake up several times a night and have crazy dreams, other times I'll sleep like a rock. I actually slept pretty good in the tent this weekend, I'll sum that up to Frank bringing the air mattress.

Best moment this week: Hanging out at the lake with friends and my husband

Worst moment this week: I'm getting these random, quick sharp pains in my abdomen, which I'm assuming is just everything moving around and growing in there. Sometimes it sneaks up on you, though! 

Food cravings : Still craving everything and hungry all the time. I am currently waiting on Frank to get back from the gym so we can order pizza tonight...Mmm. I can eat until I'm stuffed, but still be really hungry an hour later.

Food Aversions : They are pretty much all gone now. Eating plain meat, like a steak or chicken, that isn't mixed with something else still kind of grosses me out. I'll still eat it, though!

Pregnancy Symptoms: Peeing...a lot! Always thirsty & hungry. Random sharp pains that happen once in a while. Other than that, I still feel completely normal and not really that pregnant.  

What I miss :Getting to do the fun stuff...such as riding jet skis over big wakes, jumping off the dock into the lake, etc. I was a little sad that I couldn't partake in all the fun at the lake this weekend, but it was still a great time.

What I am looking forward to : Cooler weather!!...and possibly another camping trip.

Upcoming appointments/events:   Next appt is Sept 24th (anatomy ultrasound)