23 weeks 1 day

I've been in Vegas the past several days and it was so nice & relaxing. I really enjoyed being there and hated to leave this morning! I didn't do much, but that was fine with me. I was able to spend a lot of time with my friend Cathy....we hadn't seen eachother in a year so we had a lot of catching up to do! Unfortunately, Frank had to work at least a few hours a day...so we never got a full day to do things together. Either way, it was a great time and we were able to go to dinner just the two of us one night, and we also went to a Cirque Du Soleil show (which was pretty awesome). Baby Prokop loved the music at the show and was moving around a ton when the music got loud. I noticed the baby moving a lot more this week with loud noises. On the plane, every time the flight attendant started talking over the loudspeaker or one of those "ding" sounds went off when we got over 10,000 ft I could feel the baby jump. It was super cute. Baby has been moving more and more...especially in the mornings when my alarm is going off,  but haven't quite managed to roll out of bed yet. I think the alarm wakes the baby up too.

I totally failed at taking photos in Vegas. I didn't take ONE! Frank and I had plans to take photos by the Vegas sign with my pregnant self but that never happened....FAIL.

It was definitely the lowest-key Vegas trip I've ever been on...we never even walked around the strip once. BUT, we did eat some really yummy food at some restaurants off the beaten path, and I'm pretty sure I have gained a few pounds just in the past few days.

23 weeks....long day of travel!

Front view - 23 weeks

This week Baby P is over a pound...probably around 1.1-1.2 pounds, and a little over 11 inches long. I have an app that counts down to your due date and I only have a little over 16 weeks left! I'm now at about +12 pounds (or maybe a few more if you count all the crap I ate in Vegas...whoops). I definitely need to start eating better now that I'm home. He/she seems to be more and more active and I love feeling movement most of the day. Frank has been feeling it pretty regularly too, it is so neat. This week I've also had the first stranger ask how far along I was. I guess it's finally obvious enough...although most people still just stare and don't ask because no one wants to be THAT PERSON that asks someone who isn't actually pregnant. The TSA guy at the airport today was officially the first person to ask how far along I was and if this was my first.

I can't even begin to say how completely blessed I've felt during this pregnancy. Everything has been going so smoothly so far (knock on wood), I would have never expected it to be like this but I am so thankful. Frank has been absolutely amazing and has gone above and beyond what I have ever expected, and I love sharing this with him. We are both sooo looking forward to February...or maybe early March? Seeing him get excited about our growing family just makes me fall even more in love with him and I can't imagine what it will be like seeing him as a dad. I literally cannot wait. It's hard to be away from him now, even for a few days. It almost feels like we are just starting to date again, ha! I miss him already and I just saw him this morning...guess I'll have to keep busy the next 10 or so days until he's home. Corny, I know, but it's how I feel.

Well, I guess I should stop now before this becomes a huge sap-fest! I could go on, but I'll spare everyone. I just wanted to say how truly blessed I feel and I am not taking one second of it for granted. I am so undeserving of all that I have.

Alsoooo....we have a new nephew! Austin Joseph was born on Oct 26th (my sisters birthday). He was born to Frank's sister Laura & her husband Paul...this is their 8th! He is suuuch a cutie and I can't wait to meet him over Thanksgiving. We found out that our baby will be the tie breaker in Frank's family for boys vs. girls...right now there are 18 total nieces/nephews (9 boys, 9 girls).

22 weeks plus a day :)

Time is really starting to fly by! This week was pretty low-key so I won't bore everyone with the details. Baby Prokop is now about a pound or so (yay!) and is supposed to double in the next month (yikes!). That probably means the pounds will really start piling on! I'm still famished about 24 hours out of 24 hours in a day... so it is apparent that this baby needs food & lots of it. I'm still hovering at about +10 pounds, but depending on how much I've eaten that day it could easily be up to +12. I'm pretty happy with the weight gain so far....we'll see what happens towards the end!

My pre-pregnancy jeans are not really working out so much for me anymore. I still wear them every now and then with my belly band thing-a-ma-jig and it works ok...but it's just not that comfortable at all. I have one pair of maternity jeans and I've ordered one more. So, I've been wearing a lot of tights in the meantime! So much more comfortable.

The baby has rowdy days and no so rowdy days. Sometimes it freaks me out because I'll get so used to feeling the baby bouncing around in there all day and then I'll go a day or two were I don't feel much at all (compared to the rowdy days). Usually if I sit there long enough and poke around on my belly he/she gets going and lets me know everything is FINE MOM! :) Right now baby is definitely awake and having quite a time, probably because I just ate a massive bowl of cereal.

Hmm...what else...I am flying to Vegas on Thursday! So excited to get out of Alabama for a few days and enjoy the desert. I'll be there until Tuesday, so it'll be a suuuuuuper long weekend. We are treating it as a sort of mini "babymoon" since it doesn't look like the big trip is going to work out before Feb.  I can't wait to relax a few days and see my friend Cathy!

After I get back from Vegas I'll be meeting with a doula to talk about different birthing options and the way the hospital I'm delivering at handles birth. I'd still like to attempt to go natural, or at least explore/understand all the options. I think a doula will at least get me pointed in the right direction. If I like her I may just have her along for the birth too! I never thought I'd be someone who'd consider a doula, but here I am...

The chiropractor appointments are going GREAT. I feel amazing and literally have no lower back or hip pain anymore. I have noticed I am sleeping better at night and not waking up with any back or hip pain :)

22 weeks

From the front you can't really tell! Ha

Oh yeah, I almost forgot! We received our first gift off of the registry this past week & our first piece of baby gear....a pack and play!

The baby says "Thanks grandma & grandpa Prokop!"

21 weeks

I don't really have a lot to talk about this week...not a lot of news around here! I have been seeing a chiropractor every other day for the past week now, and it's been going good so far. Still not sleeping that good at night, but it's not horrible, so I probably shouldn't complain! Frank had to fly nights last week, which means that he doesn't get home until around 11 PM. Not a fan of night weeks, but it's over now!

This past weekend Frank & two of his friends ran the Coosa River Challenge race. I ended up not going...but their time was about the same as last years. I have no idea where they ranked because they left before the official results were posted. I'm hoping they have them online soon! On Sunday Frank went to Tuskegee and flew some skydivers. He used to do that long before we met, back in Michigan...I'm sure he had a blast. I drove there later in the afternoon and then we drove a few miles further to Auburn and watched Argo with some friends. We both liked it! We hadn't been to a movie in FOREVER. Since we were in Auburn we went to Chipotle...twice. Once to get some food to sneak in to the movie, and again after the movie. For the record, I didn't eat the second time we went in under 3 hours...but Frank did! Haha. Soooo good, why we don't have a Chipotle in Montgomery is beyond me. It was nice hanging out in Auburn for a little while. That was pretty much our weekend.

Today we went to the Dr. and finally had our anatomy ultrasound :) :)

21 weeks. I swear I don't live in lounge pants....only when I'm at home!

It was awesome seeing the baby - much different than our ultrasound at 9 weeks! The baby definitely looks like a baby now, with little arms and legs flailing around. He/she was actually pretty chill most of the time, putting their hands and arms in front of their face making it hard for us to get a good picture!

Oh the humanity! Please quit with the poking and prodding!

 Baby was a little dramatic, and did a few face palms, haha. Pretty much the cutest baby ever, but of course I am biased. We got some close ups of the hands and feet and all ten fingers and toes are there. All the organs and bones look good. The baby weighs a little over 12 ounces and the tech said that they'll be close to a pound by next week.

Hi baby!

 They turned off the big screen when they checked the lower body parts...soo, it's still a surprise! The tech said she could tell the gender, but it's still a mystery to us. I'm glad we stuck with our original decision not to find out! It was soooo tempting, though. I almost changed my mind last minute.

He/she was a little shy, but that's okay :)

20 weeks - halfway!

Finally, the time that is left is shorter than the time that has passed - yay :)

Looking a little rough, 20 weeks

This past week was a little rough because I was battling the worst cold EVER. I usually get one or two a year, they last a few days and completely knock me off my feet. I had to take a sick day on Thursday and thankfully I am feeling much better now. It's no fun being sick when you can't really take anything for it. I basically sat next to my humidifier running on full blast with a large box of tissues for 3 days straight.

Baby seems to be doing good. Kicking around a lot more, I'm feeling movement off and on all day. Frank felt a teeny tiny little kick from the outside this week. He still hasn't felt the bigger ones, it's hard to know when to expect it because they usually come out of the blue. So unless he just sits there with his hand on my stomach 24/7, it's easy to miss. You can actually see my stomach moving from the outside a little too! So far it seems we have a pretty active baby in there, more backing for my case of a little Frank. 

This week the baby is about 10 inches long (head to toe), and weighs about 11 ounces. I can't believe that a 10 inch miniature person is actually residing inside my belly. That's just crazy to me, but apparently it's true! We have an ultrasound next Monday and I am soooo excited. We haven't seen the babe since 9 weeks and I can't wait to see how much bigger he/she is and watch them move around.

I've also been working on a registry, researching various baby related things,  and trying to figure out what we'll need. We still haven't bought anything, but it still seems pretty early. So far we only have a few play-suit type outfits that I've bought. We've also been talking about possibly purchasing a new car. I test drove the new Sonata last weekend and we are also looking at a few others (Altima, Camry, etc). Both of our cars are 10+ years old. I guess it's time we grow up and get a safe, reliable, adult car since we'll be toting around a baby soon.

I'm still feeling great (besides getting over the cold). I have been noticing that my lower back and hips are starting to feel a little sore and stiff lately, and it's getting harder to get comfy when I'm trying to fall asleep. I'm being proactive and made an appointment with a chiropractor and plan on going regularly throughout the rest of the pregnancy and after the birth. I've read that it helps keep everything aligned for an easier birth (maybe, if I'm lucky) and hopefully will help with regular pregnancy pains as well. I have never been to a chiropractor before, so I'm looking forward to it! My first appointment is tomorrow. Other than the beginnings of random aches and pains, no complaints. I have energy and still feel like my old self :).

That's about all on the baby front. Frank is gearing up for the big Coosa River Challenge Race that he did last year, it is this weekend. Last year he and his friend got 3rd place. It's a pretty big race so I was very proud of them! They haven't trained quite as much for this year, but I know they will still do well. The race is a 3-4 mile trail run, with about 3 more miles added in throughout the race, an 85 ft. rappel, 8 mile mountain bike, 7 mile kayak down the river, and various surprise challenges thrown in the mix. I think it took them about 4 hours last year. I will be out there cheering them on!

19 weeks

This was a good week- pretty relaxed and non-eventful. We did go to Panama City beach this past weekend with our friends Jason & Nicole, that was fun! This is the perfect time to go to the beach here, late Sept - mid Oct. There is no one there, the water is still super warm, and it's still sunny and warm outside too. We enjoyed some beach time, seafood, and the guys spearfished on Sunday while us girls had ourselves a girl-only beach day. I came home last night, but Frank stayed today (for kite-surfing) and he should be home within a few hours.

The big things this week as far as the baby goes are more movement (yay!), and the belly is realllllyyy starting to grow now. I'm finally starting to inch myself out of that in-between phase where I sort of look like I may be pregnant, but sort of not.

Where did that come from!?

Panama City Beach

Spearfishing catches

Dinner on the rooftop, live music was a bonus!

 

How far along? 19 weeks!

How big is baby? 6.5 inches crown to rump, 10 oz. Large melon week :)

Total weight gain/loss : Geez. The pounds are a-gaining...that's for sure. Probably getting close to 8 pounds total gained so far. Seems to be about a pound a week or so now.

Maternity clothes? I do have some maternity clothes, but most of the stuff I have is for the winter, so I haven't really worn much of it. I have yet to wear maternity jeans, but I can wear the shirts. Last week I wore some tights and a tunic and it was seriously the most comfortable I've been in probably forever. I think I'm going to stock up on tunics and tights and wear them forever.

Bump? Yes. I am now coming to the realization that most strangers I run into probably think I'm pregnant (if I'm wearing a tight shirt). Most are still too nervous to come out and ask when I'm due, but it's pretty obvious at this point I think. I wore a bikini at the beach this weekend and saw some photos of myself and I was surprised at how pregnant I looked. Sometimes I catch my reflection in the car window and I'm like "Holy crap! I have a big belly!"

Sleep: I've been sleeping okay...still waking up at least once or twice a night. I have good nights and bad nights, but it's not horrible. I am noticing it's becoming more & more difficult to get comfortable.

Best moment this week: Baby dance parties! A week ago today I felt a thump from the outside while I was laying in bed and the baby was moving a lot. The movement is still pretty light, but it's getting more and more noticeable. I feel it at least once a day now and it's so neat. Still feels like little twitches/thumps...no big kicks yet, obviously. Hanging out on the beach all weekend was also a great time!

Most Ridiculous Moment of the week: The moment when I was putting away groceries I had bought and noticed our freezer was getting too full...something had to go. Soooo, I figured it was a good time to polish off that carton of ice cream (it wasn't full of course, but still!). Then there was the 9PM hamburger run from Five Guys...baby is hungry!

Worst moment this week: No worst moments :)

Food cravings : The appetite is really growing. This week I have been hungrier than ever, I swear last week I didn't think it was possible to be more hungry than I was. Apparently it is.  I told one of my co-workers that I feel like I'm constantly thinking about food and the next time that I can eat. It is impossible for me to be full for more than an hour or so. I am always snacking throughout the day and just try and make sure it's at least healthy. Yesterday I had a huge breakfast and cleaned my plate...not 20 minutes later I was thinking about a snack! Haha

2 pancakes, 2 eggs, and 2 bacon & a small cup of coffee later...still sort of hungry...

Food Aversions : None at all. Bring on the food!

Pregnancy Symptoms: Does being hungry count? Restless nights, and this week I have noticed some lower back aches...yayyyyyy. But other than that, feeling great & energetic.

What I miss : The standard stuff-  a big glass of wine, sleeping through the night, not feeling like I could eat an entire horse 24/7.

What I am looking forward to : Vegas trip in late October! I'll get to hang out with Frank since he'll be working there for about 2 weeks, and I will get to see my best friend Cathy & her husband! Soooo excited!

Upcoming appointments/events:   Next appt is Oct 15th (my little brothers birthday!). We will finally get our anatomy ultrasound, and I cannot wait. I'll be 21 weeks.