Sounds like he or she really loves us!
Tag Archives: First Pregnancy
I Love Going to the Doctor
I think pregnancy is the only time anyone ever says that. But for me, right now, it’s totally true! I know I’ve gushed over my doctor and her nurse before, but I just totally love them both. They’re so sweet and just fun to chat with. And of course, my chatty self always seems to stretch our 30 minute appointments to 45+ minutes.
But enough gushing. As of today, the baby’s heartbeat was 160 beats per minute. I have gained 8.8 lbs, which the doctor said was good. Again, not to be a total girl, but my original weight was taken naked in the morning and this was taken with jeans and a sweater… so whatever 🙂 Maybe it’s a few ounces less. Either way, the doc said I looked good, my blood pressure was perfect and things were right on track. Also, they did find traces of protein in my urine, but she said that was normal.
And, in case anyone cares, here are the questions my husband and I asked and the answers we received:
- Where can I get a breastpump that will be covered by my insurance? (NOTE: most insurance providers will either pay for part or all of your breastpump if purchased from an approved provider. Call your insurance to get more details.) Answer: Knueppel Healthcare Services Inc.
- What are your thoughts on seeing a chiropractor during pregnancy? Answer: Many people find that this helps more than just a prenatal massage and/or physical therapy. You can often get the benefits of both from a chiropractor.
- Is it okay for the chiropractor to use an ultrasound to heat/loosen your muscles? Answer: Yes, that is totally fine during pregnancy.
- I’ve been having numbness in my leg and arm, should I be worried? Answer: Not at all. There is a lot more fluid in your body, which can mess with your nerves and circulation. Likely, it is also the positioning of the baby. But don’t worry, it should go away once you deliver.
- My husband and I are thinking of going on a cruise or heading to Mexico for our one year anniversary in March. Is it okay to travel at 6.5-7 months? Answer: Yes! You might feel more comfortable at an all-inclusive, as you are more confined on a cruise and have less access to healthcare. But either is fine. Just make sure you check travel suggestions for vaccinations.
- I am supposed to stand up in my friend’s wedding on July 3rd. If I am out of the hospital by then, do you think I can still go? Answer: Absolutely! Especially if it’s not a C-Section. You might need to take it easy, but most people feel okay after a few days. But, just listen to your body.
- Are Belly Buds legit? Will the sound from the headphones be too loud for the baby? Answer: I don’t know if they do anything positive for development, but they definitely won’t do anything wrong. Go for it!
- When will my appointments switch to twice a month? Answer: At 28 weeks.
- Have you ever heard of perianal massages – using almond oil – being done to prevent tearing during childbirth? Answer: Yes. I think in some cultures they use olive oil as well. Honestly, we’ve found that tearing has a lot to do with genetics and the individual. We don’t tend to do episiotomies, but whether you’ll tear and by how much is pretty dependent on the person. We do sometimes do a perianal massage during labor to help loosen things up, but there is no evidence of whether this will help or not. Again, go for it if you’d like.
- I haven’t changed my workout at all really. I don’t do twists or certain postures in yoga if they feel weird, but I’m pretty much doing the same as I did before. Is that okay? Answer: That’s absolutely okay. You seem in-tuned with your body, so just do what feels right. Especially now, as your body hasn’t changed that significantly. But, ultimately, working out helps significantly with recovery, getting your body back and even labor itself.
I think that was everything! All in all, we had a great (and informative) appointment. AND, NEXT MONTH WE FIND OUT THE SEX!!!
Symptoms
All I’ve got to say is that I’ve been LOVING almond butter and jelly sandwiches. Something I’ve never been fond of. Mmm. Can’t get enough.
15 Weeks, 5 Days (January 8, 2014)

15 Weeks, 5 Days (January 8, 2014). I feel like my little belly is really shaping up to look pretty darn pregnant. I know that’s the point, but I was so surprised when I saw this picture, I made my husband examine it… at which point he reminded me that he knows what it looks like because he took the photo. Duh… PS: taken in the morning.
I Haven’t Left the House in 48 Hours
As I mentioned last week, we were blessed with some extra special Wisconsin weather this week. With highs at -11 deg F and lows at around -50 with the wind chill, I decided to boycott the outdoors for a bit and work from home.
So, what have I accomplished? I’ll tell ya!
- I made delicious grilled cheese with avocado and tomato with tomato soup for dipping…
- Discovered a deep love for Dannon Greek Blueberry Yogurt
- Hung out with my best buddies
- Put sweet Toby in a sweater.
- Worked out and took workout belly pic.
- Took pictures of sweet Toby.
- And took pictures of sweet Ollie.
- Took more pictures of my belly.
- Did a ridiculous amount of laundry, organizing, filing, cleaning, and cooking.
- And took more photos of Baby Toby.
The moral of the story is that it might be time to leave the house. Although, I’m not going to lie, I’ve enjoyed every minute in this cozy house.
Tomorrow is supposed to be pretty damn cold again… I guess I could stay home and take more pictures of my puppy.
Symptoms
My back has been really achy, but honestly, today I’ve been pretty good. I’m feeling very nesty and energetic. All good.
My Dog Threw Up On Me and Our Pipe Froze
Yes, that was my morning. It started at 3 am when poor little Toby woke up coughing like crazy. He eventually jumped off the bed (yes, he sleeps in our bed) and threw up… twice. He settled down a bit and we managed to all get back to sleep around 3:30 or 4. Then, around 6 or so, he was at it again. I decided to get up so I could be ready to go as soon as the vet opened at 7:30. I went into the bathroom to turn on the shower, and to my surprise, the water barely trickled out.
You’ve got to be kidding… the dang pipe was frozen.
So, I showered in the other bathroom and called our good friend who happens to be a plumber. Thankfully, he was SO GRACIOUSLY willing to come out and help us get it taken care of. But, before that, I took Tobers to the vet.
It was a pleasant ride being that it’s -8 degrees F today, and, to make it better… right before we arrived, Toby let this beauty fly all over me. I had a nasty flem vomit loogie that connected my tush to the seat of the car. Nasty…
Toby ended up getting diagnosed with a respiratory infection and is now on puppy penicillin. Hopefully he’ll be back to normal in no time. Anyway, I took Toby home and arrived just in time to meet our friend, the pipe reviver. He worked his magic, blow torched the pipe, and voila! We had water again.
So, what’s the moral of the story? Even after what seemed like a pretty rough morning, things aren’t so bad. Toby is on his way back to a healthy status, the pipes are thawed and I made it into work with only 5 hours left in the day. Could be worse! Plus, I’m 15 weeks today and our baby is the size of an apple. That’s pretty exciting if you ask me.
Symptoms
I had been having some pretty weird dreams earlier in the week and I’m starting to think they might be behind me. For literally 5 nights straight, I dreamt that I either got my period or was bleeding. In my dream, I was super calm about it and didn’t seem concerned, but each night, I woke up in a panic and ran to the bathroom to make sure I wasn’t actually bleeding. It was weird and troubling. But, I’ve been in the clear for the past two nights. Last night is the first night I don’t really remember dreaming in awhile and the night before I dreamt about a colleague bitch-slapping some new, non-existent employee. Weird.
I Think My Nipples Might Be Bleeding…
Okay, so at this point, I don’t actually think they are bleeding, but that’s more than I can say for yesterday. As I’ve mentioned, I live in Wisconsin. One of the lovely little benefits of this state is the opportunity to truly test your breaking… or freezing… point. Yesterday was another blustery, single-digit temperatured day, which led me to my most recent discovery. Freezing temperatures + Sensitive pregnancy boobs =What I can only imagine it feels like to sport nipple clamps.
This might sound like an exaggeration, but I’m not going to lie, as I was driving in my freezing cold car yesterday, I literally peeked inside my bra because I was sure my nipples were bleeding. The pain was throbbing and constant until finally, after 10 minutes, my car (and body) heated up. It was crazy. Now, I’m sure you can only guess how excited I am for our upcoming forecast…
I wonder if nipple pain is “sick day” worthy…
Anyway, enough bitching… HAPPY NEW YEAR! I have full intentions of blogging about new years resolutions, but I have to finish my list… maybe tomorrow. Until then, here are some pictures from our new years celebration! Nice and relaxed… and the best part, we were home by 1 am!
Did I mention that on top of the cold, it won’t stop snowing??
Symptoms
There is nothing too new to report. I’m still having the numbness, which has inspired me to add a bit more yoga into my weeks. I found a quick video online of a nighttime yoga routine that I’d like to try and I’ve been trying to make it as often as I can to the studio. As of a few weeks ago, I hadn’t practiced since I found out I was pregnant, and didn’t realize how much I missed it. I’m thinking that yoga will help to keep my blood flowing, etc.
Other than that, I’ve been trying to focus on my diet and making healthy choices. In the past, I’ve been pretty successful in tracking my food using an app called MyFitnessPal. I’ve started using the app again, which really helps me keep things in check. Being that I’m a small person (short and petite), I have set my caloric intake at 1,700 calories per day. Prior to my pregnancy, I was at 1,200 a day, so I feel like 1,700 is legit. I know you technically only have to add 300, but I added the extra 200 because 1,200 was set to lose slightly.
Other than that, I’m still sleeping like shit. Yesterday I slept with my giant Euro pillow under my legs and my head and neck slightly propped. That seemed to help with the numbness, but was still pretty uncomfortable. Lots of tossing and turning. My goal for this next week is to buy a pregnancy pillow.
I also must mention that I think my baby bump officially came out this past week. Pretty much all of my pre-pregnancy pants now need a button extender and my tummy pouch is definitely more pronounced. Pretty crazy!
It will look way better on your hips…
This morning I woke up feeling bloated and fat. Not pregnancy fat, but December fat. Before I even got out of bed, I was already mentally cleaning out our kitchen. After a lot of this all weekend…

Sitting around the table with “the Hooligans” (aka: my husband’s boys) after an indulgent dinner and dessert.

A not-as-delicious-as-the-real-deal, virgin bloody mary that accompanied buffalo wings and french fries.
So, after all that, I think it’s officially time to start my “New Years’ Resolution” / Get-it-together diet… today! Every year, I let the delicious food get the best of me and my healthy eating habits seem to vanish. But, I’m ready for health. Which is why, I have to apologize to my coworkers for making my vice their problem…
Symptoms
Well, the biggest issues I’ve been having lately are with sleep. I’ve been so darn uncomfortable. Lots of tossing and turning. I miss my out-cold zombie sleep. Other than that, I’ve been getting headaches… although the last couple days haven’t been too bad… and I’ve been getting super hungry. Oy. Not amazing for trying to be healthy. What else?? I’m still having the numbing sensations on my left side. It’s even showed up when I’ve simply been leaning on a chair with my left arm. I’ll have to remember to ask my doctor about that next week. Despite all that, I do feel like I’ve been getting my energy back. Cooking doesn’t feel like such a daunting task and I’ve actually been relatively productive at home, which is always good.
Also, I’m starting to get even more excited for little baby. My friend, Kate, got me the cutest little gender neutral outfit…
It’s just too much cute.
It’s the day after Christmas and I’m at work…
I’m tired and cranky today. I was kind of on a roll at work this morning… until lunch. And now, I’m feeling sluggish and unmotivated. It’s got to be breaking some kind of law to work the day after Christmas. Right?
Just have to tough it out for a few more hours and then I’ll be off until Monday. Technically, I was supposed to work tomorrow, too… but the idea is so painful, I’ve decided to pass.
As I’m sure you can tell, I’m in no mood for writing an actual post today. So I guess these pictures will suffice…
Until next time!
It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year – Weekend Recap
It was a great, busy, and productive weekend! Being the holiday season, no weekend is complete without a holiday celebration. This week’s festivity was with my favorite girlies. We all trekked out in the freezing rain (another joy of Wisconsin) for a lovely dinner and secret santa at our friend, Ashley’s. Somehow, I took no photos, but it was great! We had delicious food, wonderful company, and got some pretty great gifts. It’s funny though, I’ve found that when I’m tasked with bringing a dish these days, my contribution is pretty pathetic. I’m usually one who over does it with some awesome recipe I found online… these days, it’s some frozen something or other that I’ve picked up on my way. So pathetic. Hopefully the Martha Stewart in me returns soon.
Anyway, Saturday was a busy day. The day started my favorite way… with a manicure and the company of my mom, sister and niece. I decided to be festive and pick a sparkly, holiday color…
Then the day picked up… it was time to make returns. From Chanukah gifts to wedding gifts, we had a bunch of stuff to take care of. Our first stop was Pea in the Pod / Destination Maternity, which I’m not going to lie, I kind of fell in love with. This is a store that trains its employees to put us pregnant mommas up on a pedestal… I loved it. Anyway, from up on my pedestal, it seemed like a great idea to spend a fortune on a pair of maternity jeans. Now, back at ground-level, I’m not sure I regret the purchase… but I will say it might be a little excessive. Either way, I stand by the decision… my tush deserves to look nice… even while pregnant! Right? My husband agreed, so I don’t feel bad.
While trying on clothes, I also had the opportunity to try on a “7-month pregnant belly.” It was… interesting. From this experience, I learned a few things…
- I do not know how I will be able to bend over or stand up with this large of a belly.
- I think I could handle having this big of a belly as long as the rest of me stays the same size. I may have actually found the bump (or mountain) a little cute.
- I might have to stop driving at 7 months, because it is unclear whether or not I will be able to fit behind the wheel.
While we were in the car, we also got in a little facetime with Mark’s nieces. The conversation went from this…
To this…
From shopping / returning, we met up with my parents to see the new Tom Hanks movie, Saving Mr. Banks. I had been super excited to see it. Honestly, it was a little slow and I may have dozed off for 15 minutes in the beginning, but I did end up enjoying it. It made me want to read the original Mary Poppins.
Then, on Sunday, we got dumped on! 7 inches of snow! It was crazy. So, while I put up our holiday decorations, Mark cleared the driveway and a ridiculous path for our very high maintenance doggy…
Symptoms
Yesterday and today have been a little rough. I’ve been really achy… mostly in my lower back. It feels way too early for lower back pain, but it is definitely there. Mostly, it just makes me feel restless and uncomfortable, but it definitely has its plain old painful moments. I’ve also been battling a headache the past few days. I’m thinking I need to catch up on some sleep.. that might help. All I know, is that I woke up this morning feeling like I had a wicked hang over. It was not cool.
Enough whining… Besides all that, I’m feeling pretty good. I feel like my motivation to get things done around the house has improved a bit and despite feeling super tired, I feel a little more motivated. Plus, I’ve been feeling pretty excited! We’re having a baby! And, my husband has been really sweet and lovely and wonderful. I’m a lucky gal.
13 Weeks! (December 20, 2013) FIRST DAY OF MY SECOND TRIMESTER!!!

13 Weeks (December 20, 2013). Today the little babe is anywhere between 2.5-3 inches! Crazy how fast he or she has grown and will continue to grow these coming weeks. By next week, the baby will be 3.5-4 inches! Crazy stuff. Anyway, my stomach doesn’t look so different in this picture, but it’s definitely more noticeable in clothes. Also note baby Toby blending into the rug.






























