>I Can See the Inside of My Belly Button

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It's true people: my former cave-like belly button actually has an end to it that I can now see. So actual proof things are moving right along down there, no pun intended. ;0)

I have been a little down this week. I keep worrying that something is wrong, when I know in m heart everything is just fine. My mind is playing tricks on me. It is so hard going 4 weeks without hearing anything and since I am not yet at that stage where I can feel movement and learn when baby is sleeping and playing, I have no idea what's going on in there. I hate not knowing. I almost wish all pregnancies were textbook so that anything out of the ordinary would be easily predictable and my mind can be at peace. I know that my body would tell me if something is wrong, which it obviously is not. It has just been hard going so long without hearing that beautiful heartbeat. I go in next wednesday and know everything will be perfect. So tell me, have you mommy's out there felt like this before? Being a new mommy is so stressful! There is so much going on and I am trying to eat SO much more right now. I did manage to gain a pound and a half last week which is great. I want nothing more than for my baby to be healthy and for me to do whatever I can to ensure that happens. I know anything else is out of my heads and in His and while that is His plan, it is so hard to trust.

Okay, just needed to vent a little.

Here is my 15 week pic you've all been waiting for. We are going out with some friends tonight and I thought I would dress up a bit.

Oh and did you notice I got my hair cut? I mean, I got bangs?? I LOVE them...so far anyway. It has only been 3 hours...

This is what my Monday looked like. The dogs and I camped out in the bedroom with the computer and tv and just relaxed. It took me two days to get all the laundry done and camping stuff put away and now, we have a decently clean house.

Oh and while we were camping, I invented a word. I told Bestie that I did not come "cashly" prepared. If you could see my screen right now, there is red under that word. I decided it was a great adverb and I will use it more often. YAY!

>1 Year Anniversary and 15 weeks!

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Saturday, August 8, was our 1 year wedding anniversary! There was no post announcing this awesome milestone because we were off doing some of this:

Reading by the river...

Enjoying the scenery...

Setting up camp...

Fishing for nonalcoholic drinks for me...

Spending time eating and chatting with awesome friends...

Starting a fire to roast marshmallows...

Torching cigars with, none other, than a blow torch...

And watching our basket of items slide and spill not 10 minutes after I mentioned to B that it was rather precarious and that stops should come slowly...

Overall the trip was fun. We had never been camping with my best friend and her sweet boyfriend before and it was long overdue so we planned something fun for our anniversary. We went to a lake in Southeast Co and BAKED in the blistering heat and wind. That was the only downside to the weekend. Pregnant lady here cannot tolerate high heat. We made the best of it, of course. We played some games, swam in the river, took naps on the beach. Just the kind of weekend B and I both were needing.

We will be going out to a play soon, most likely the Wizard of Oz. My parents gave us tickets and we will celebrate with a romantic dinner as well. The past year has been the best year of our lives. I can speak for both of us because B told me so last night. ;) Sure there have been stressful times, but the great things outweigh the not so great things by ten times.

B's best moment was seeing our baby for the first time on the US and seeing the heartbeat flutter. Mine is when I actually held a positive pregnancy test and went out into the living room to show and tell B. I still remember the look on his face: priceless! It is very fitting that these moments are our favorites so far as we have both wanted to become parents for a long time, in God's timing, of course. We believe everything happens for a reason and this blessing of a babe is one of the best gifts God gives. Thank you Jesus!

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This week's update is going to be without a picture. I am not feeling pictures right now, of me that is. I am not even sure that there is a difference from last week so here is a short update.

How far along? 15 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: 3 still and yes, the docs are asking me to pack on the pounds so hello peanut butter, cheese, milk and meats.
Maternity clothes? I ruined my maternity pants in the dryer so I am off to the mall today with a gift card from my parents.
Stretch marks? no, but i also will be getting some cream to start applying to my belly
Sleep: Like a baby! Aside from our first night camping, I have been sleeping just great.
Best moment this week: B and I had a great date night last week.
Movement: Flutters here and there.
Food cravings:anything sugary. cupcakes, candy, circus cookies. yum!!
Gender: still feeling like its a girl, although sometimes i switch.
Labor Signs: no way.
Belly Button in or out? in
What I miss: alcohol. hanging out with all my best friends and they get to drink and I don't? torture! so I tortured myself more by smelling their drinks.
What I am looking forward to: My prenatal class starts on Wednesday!!
Weekly Wisdom: Pregnant camping, even early on, is not as easy as it sounds. Even with an air mattress, my hips and joints were so sore!
Milestones: More frequent flutters!

>A New Perspective

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So remember about a week go when I talked about how I am trying to be more of a Godly woman and wife?? Well, to be totally honest, not too much has come out of my behaviors and whatnot, but I did discover something just now as I was sitting here listening to Sara Groves.

I am a spiritual person, that I knew. I am also a loving, caring person who seeks the Lord's love and forgiveness. This I also know. What just dawned on me was that I feel the Spirit most when listening to songs, and not necessarily worship songs, but songs about love, Christ, marriage, and life that have deep, meaningful lyrics. Take this beautiful words in Sara Groves' song You Are the Sun:

I am the moon with no light of my own
Still you have made me to shine
And as I glow in this cold dark night
I know I canít be a light unless I turn my face to you

Those words speak straight through my heart, through every nerve in my body and down to my toes to the point of feeling so joyful that I might tear up or start to feel anxious by how overwhelmed the Lord is making me feel, in a good way of course!

There are a few worship songs that do that to me as well, but not the same way. Heard of Foolish Things? They were a local Denver band that did get signed to a major Christian label (which is why there is a chance you've heard of them). I became good friends with the guys in the band and the last album they put out before "retiring" to focus on their growing families had some incredible lyrics! Take these lines from Who Can Compare:

you drew the lines where the sea would meet the shore
the sky would meet the floor
(who can compare?)
you showed the sun just when to pass the time tonight
and when to come back bright
who can compare?
needer of nothing, giver of all
every living thing survives
by the strength your boundless love supplies
and lord of power beyond compare
the universe, it's in your hands
eternity is where you stand

Seriously?? This words are just so true that I get chills every time I hear it. There was a point where I would play the song over and over in my car and literally cry and pray and thank Jesus for everything.

So I am not feeling as faulty as I thought I was. We all have different ways of becoming close to Jesus and this just happens to be my language, if you will.

I hope I have inspired some of you to check out the music I have presented here. If you are anything like me, you will devour what these artist have to offer.

>Bday Recap

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A HUGE HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who sent in birthday wishes. You ALL rock! I had such a nice day. It was great. Once B came home with food, we headed down to the picnic area to eat, drink and chat.

These hot fellas you see here are not swinging the other way, just showing off their hot stuff. These guys, minus B in the middle, are in an AWESOME band called The Northern Way and you should go check them out. They are incredible and such great friends that they made it to my party.

Me and my mommy.

After tons of food, everyone but my family headed out. You know how guys in bands are...busy! So I opened a few presents and the album I am holding here is from my grandparents. It's pictures of when I was a baby and into my teens. So cute! I love it!

This is the Willow Tree called "Cherish" and it is a pregnant woman holding her belly. I am in LOVE with this! I nearly cried. It's from my parents and they also got us some baseball tickets and some tickets to a play. Can't wait!

B opening our anniversary gift, the play tickets. 1 whole year is on Saturday! I can't believe it!

Us. B has defiantly had a few drinks here!

This is a frame for an ultrasound pic that B got me for my birthday. I love it! And he also gave me some beautiful earings for our anniversary.

Overall, the day was just lovely! First time in years I did not cry on my birthday!

>Birthday Dancin...

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Well, since I won't be drinking, I might as we dance, right??

I feel like my baby popped out today so I thank you, Baby Mac, for making a more obvious appearance. I am sure your grandparents are going to go bonkers over your new bulge.

Plans? BBQ in T-minus 1 hour! Just waiting for the hubs to come home with some food to organize. I am going to make some beer-seared sauerkraut. I will let you know how that turns out. Until then, party on! If you can take a drink, have one for me!

xoxo

S

>14 Weeks!!

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I can't believe I am already 14 weeks! And my 25th birthday is tomorrow! This summer has gone by sooooo fast! While I think pictures make my belly look nice and round, I don't think or feel like it is that big right now. This past week was great. No nausea. No issues with food, other than having a few cravings. I have been feeling slight flutters here and there which has been awesome! Only a few more weeks and those flutters will turn into kicks and I will just be beside myself with glee! Lol, that sounds so lame but it's true. Today I weighed myself and am not gaining enough weight. No, I did not come up with this on my own. I was at a doc's office and need to fatten up so lots of milk, cheese, meat and peanuts.

Over the weekend I headed to Denver to see my MIL and best friends. We had nice BBQ Sunday night. I was so happy to see my bestie and BIL and SIL. It was just the night I needed. Earlier that day my MIL took me to a fabric store and I picked out a paisley print for a body pillow I wanted to make. See the awesome results below!

J (my bestie) gave me a yoga matt. I start my prenatal yoga class on the 12th and told her that was what I needed. That is how we are. When holidays and birthdays come up, if you ask for it, you get it. That easy. Unlike my parents who beat around the bush with what to get us, trying to throw us off, and get us either what we asked for or something different. No big deal, but with J and I, there are no surprises and while I love a good surprise now and then, I love that we don't need to have that all the time.

Here is the crazy-huge body pillow I made. Not quite what I had envisioned in my head, but I am very happy with the results. So comfy! And how cute is that print??! We made an insert for the stuffing so that if I needed to wash the outside I could take it off. There is a zipper at the top, which is the only thing my MIL helped me with. First time using a sewing machine since 6th grade!!

My MIL spoiled the hell out of me. She gave me this gently used front Snugli pack for baby. TOO CUTE! She also got me a beautiful rocker that I still have in my car and will post pics of once it is in a good spot. I hope everyone had a great weekend! Tomorrow I will have to work but afterward I am having a BBQ here with some fam and friends for my birthday. Pretty low key. But HELLO 25!!!

>The Great Cloth Diapering Debate

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Since finding out about my pregnancy, I have wanted to be an organic, natural mama. Before we became pregnant, I had given up alcohol and caffeine for Lent. Caffeine has always been a little harsh on my stomach so that was not too difficult for me. Alcohol was also something that was not too hard to do. I rarely ever drank until I was drunk and if I did drink it was casually with family for dinner parties or a nice night in with B. When we made the choice to start trying, Lent was almost over but I still felt that eliminating those drinks would still be beneficial to my overall health and it was! Two months later we discovered how fertile we both are. All this to say that becoming pregnant has really changed my frame of mind in being a healthy, natural mommy.

Today’s topic is cloth diapering. I was cloth diapered as a baby, as I am sure most of you were as well. Cloth diapering has come a verrrrryyyyy long way since 1984 safety pins and plastic covers. Eew. I feel sorry for the messes they had to deal with. On that note, I know that regardless of cloth diapering or using disposal diapers it is a mess. I get that. Over the last few months I have been doing a TON of research on cloth diapers. I know that it is so much more cost effective in the end but the up front cost is a bit steep. I wanted to know about different brands and styles, pricing and accessing each one thoroughly. Here is what I have come up with BUT I REALLY want your help here as well!! If you have ever used cloth diapers, especially most recently, PLEASE give some insight to this list I have compiled. I really have no idea what I am getting myself into as I have never even babysat for someone who used cloth. So, here we go.

Bum Genius 3.0: I have loved what I have head about this brand since day one. The only thing holding me back was the price. I could not fathom spending 17 bucks on a diaper! I am not interested in the all-in-one. That seems more messy and more washing that I am trying to avoid doing that as little as possible. I really like the one size that comes with 2 inserts, 1 newborn and 1 infant. This size goes all the way up to 32 pounds which means we could make it to potty training without buying new diapers and worrying about what size to move up to, which of course moves up in price. I am thinking with 2 inserts that I would purchase 12 diapers and about 2 dozen extra inserts. The total cost for everything is about $300. That does not include the purchase of a wet bag, detergent, and toilet sprayer which is about another $100.

Thirsties Duo Wrap: This diaper is right up there with Bum Genius in price. The down size is you need two sizes, 6-18 pounds and 18-40 pounds. For convience sake I really don’t want to purchase two different sizes. It seems that I would in fact double the cost due to the two sizes but like I said before, I have no idea what the hell I am getting myself into. The other down size is they don’t come with inserts and they are pricy! Almost 4 bucks each! That brings the single cost of one diaper over $18, which is more than the BG. Let’s just say, I am not sold.

IMSEVIMSE Cloth Diapers: I discovered these on MckMama’s site. All organic. Very effective and she loves them so they have to be good, right? Right! The only catch is the cost. Everything is sold separately: the diaper, the cover, and the inserts. The contour diapers alone without the inserts costs just as much as the BGs with inserts. Problem is I have fallen in love with the style and material and success others have had with this brand! However, I am not willing to fork over $500 for Just those three things, without the added cost of the wet bag, sprayer and detergent.

So what have I decided to do?? Not sure yet, but I am pretty sure I will be going with BGs. For our lifestyle and considering the fact that we both hate poo and mess, this seems to be the best diaper for all of us. The best part is that B is so on board with this! He has been from the beginning and his support means so much! It means I am making a good decision for both of us and that is so rewarding.

Now it is your turn to chime in on this debate. Have fun!