Just another day in the L household

Just thought we'd share a picture of our amazing dinner last night that left me with heart burn that was worth it! We made stuffed bell peppers- The CB Litzner way ;) (very different)

Our stuffed peppers had mashed potatoes at the base

Browned beef that I mixed with onion, bell peppers, and serrano peppers, and a little rice

Topped with cheese and hot sauce:) YUM.

Anyways, well we've heard a few mutter disappointments about not knowing the sex of the baby- Especially when it comes to baby clothes and accessories. So I've looked at a few affordable websites that can bring hope people! ;) Here they are:

Khols neutral baby

Carter's neutral baby

Mothercare unisex baby

Things that aren't green or yellow: 

Onesies, printed tees, jeans, overalls, jammies, caps/hats, shoes.

Obviously we'll need basics- sleepers, cotton pants, socks, bibs etc... here's just an idea for what to look for in"outfits"such as- neutral stripes, jeans, bold colors, avoiding ruffles and bows, etc.

20 week appointment

Well today was our Anatomy Scan! Baby was very good for the appointment except for kicking the camera and blocking where the camera was pointed- but hey, I hate pictures too :) But he/she was kicking, sucking its thumb, and smiling! It went incredibly well and we have a few really great photos! See below:

The pictures are obviously hard to get great quality because Im taking pictures of a picture but in person they're really great! Ok for the details:

Baby weighed 11 oz.

The heartbeat was 160 bpm

Baby is in the 64th percentile in overall size on a 1-100 scale

The black circle in the center of the profile photos is the heart!

Baby had its legs crossed the whole time but the doctor does know the sex of the baby.

And the surprise was almost spoiled three times. Yikes! 

Oh-and the very bottom photo the baby is smiling :D Cheese!

A/S tomorrow

Well, tomorrow is the big day! We have our big appointment and sonogram tomorrow morning at 1030 and I personally cant wait! :D We're going in strong and will reiterate to the doctors that we do NOT want to know the sex of the baby, and hopefully we don't get flashed ;)

At this appointment, the doctors will measure each limb individually, look at the arteries, check the bones, and compare all of the measurements to check that the baby is growing on track and isn't at risk for any sort of down syndrome or various diseases.  So wish us luck! 

But the other day we enjoyed a beautiful hike with the girls! Check it out 

 Cory and the girls climbing down the rocky trails

The girls and I looking for squirrels! 

The girls and I taking a breather

Much needed face lift

    Happy Sunday y'all! Well, I don't know about my other worker bees but Im exhausted today. We've been spending Saturdays at our new home to work on needed repairs and give it a little face lift! Yesterday consisted of removing the remaining floors, painting, spackling, taping the rest of the house, and securing the storage shed. Whew. Here's a look into the day!

Cory removing remaining carpet in the nursery

Me and the dogs removing staples from the floor

 Ali and mom setting up to paint!

And me- checking on the girls

None of these colors are the colors we painted the walls, but we got a ton accomplished! Thanks to Meme- Our project manager!, Pepa- get out of his way or he'll take you out with whatever he's doing!, Momma- who always has a solution, Ali- willing to do anything no one else has patience for!, and Cory-tackling anything and everything!! These are the best workers there are ;) This week will be our biggest work week of all as all the kids are out for spring break and are wanting to help us tackle this! 

This weeks agenda:

Finish painting

Make a dent in installing the Laminate

Take out the walls to combine rooms 3&4 into one room

If were very lucky- carpet installation!

I know we will need all the help we can get when we're moving within the next couple of weeks because I sadly cannot lift and we have some massive furniture. Anyone that can take some time to help just send me an email or text me because we definitely need it! 

19 weeks

Anyone like mangos? I don't :) But baby is now the size of a slimy mango!

 Baby should weigh around 9 ounces and should be around 6 inches long. 

And is working on his/her five senses. Nerve cells for her sense of taste, hearing, sight and smell are developing in his/her brain.

Other than the "textbook development"- Baby L kicks all the time now... and squirms!

This week I've been a little hungrier than usual so we must be going through a growth spurt.

My insurance had us take a course on breast feeding and we learned a lot!

Hopefully her "Babies that breast feed only don't have smelly poop or gas" comment is right.

But I smugly- doubt it. 

In other news: 

We are having our second Saturday work day on our new home and will continue to

rip out the remaining carpet
prep to paint
and possibly start painting :) Woo hoo!

We are asking that you continue to pray for Gran as doctors are still evaluating the growth on her Kidney and believe in total healing through prayer!

And this boy

has spring break!

Happy Friday yall

Big girl talk

Well I know I've always been thin, butt-less, and not as "full figured" as most other girls my age... but I have always been aware of where I fell on the scale- not because I felt big but because there was an imaginary comfort weight that I wanted to stay within. So being pregnant has kept me even more "aware" and scared. I don't say these things to hear the "your skinny" comments, believe me. They're uncomfortable.

I guess I want to feel normal. But hey, I have a baby that constantly is growing so it's inevitable.
Although it's wonderful to hear other's stories about how little they were through their pregnancy, they gained less than 10 lbs, or whatever their miraculous glory pregnancy weight was.... That will not be the case for me.

I have gained three of the fifteen pounds my doctor wants me to gain by the end of the nine months and we're half way there. So I feel great about it. :p I'm not "bigger" than I'm supposed to be at this point and I am right on track. Although it is uncomfortable to put on extra weight Im going to embrace it.

So embrace it with me will you :)

Old Wives Tales

Ok so since we're NOT finding out the sex of the baby I thought we'd play with some Old Wives Tales for the sex of the baby ;)

High or Low: As the Old Wives Tale goes: if you're carrying low, you're having a boy. If you are carrying high, then you must be having a girl. Well as of right now I am carrying Loooow. So for this OWT I would be having a BOY

Heart Beat: If you're having a girl, then the fetal heart rate will be above 140. A boy will have a heart rate below 140. This OWT would indicate we're having a GIRL


Weight gain: The belief is that, if your husband puts on weight during your pregnancy, then you will be having a girl. If he doesn't put on a pound, then you're carrying a boy. OWT predicts: BOY


Necklace: Hold a necklace over your hand. If the necklace swings back and forth, you're having a boy. If it is more of a circular motion, then it's a girl. OWT predicts: BOY


Guess: Ask yourself what you think you're having. In a study that asked women with no previous knowledge about their baby's sex, the moms-to-be correctly guessed the sex of their baby 71% of the time. My guess and dreams lead to BOY


Chinese Gender Predictor: Not sure if you've seen these but they're fun :) Click on this linky This "gender predictor based on my lunar age- which is 24 and the baby's due date, states that we're having a BOY


Sweet or Sour: If you're craving sweet your expecting a girl, if you're craving salty its a boy. OWT predicts- GIRL


So there you have it, absolutely no science behind it. Just for fun :) 

18 weeks

This week:

EDD/How far along? 18 weeks 2 days

Symptoms check-in: Back pain and a lot of it!

Aversions/Cravings: Cant have anything with garlic in it, and no cravings today

Any Appointments?  3/13

Weight check-in: 114

Any baby-related purchases/nursery progress? No purchases! We worked on the house and the nursery this weekend prepping for paint and new flooring!

Team green/boy/girl? Team Green!

Best thing to happen the past week/worst? We worked on our new home this weekend and got so much accomplished!!! I cant wait till we can move in!!

Updated belly photo:

From the front

From the side

At 18 weeks:

Baby is the size of a sweet potato

Can hear my heart beat, stomach growl, and my voice

Weighs between 5 & 7 oz

Is about 5 1/2" long

Can now swallow, kick, suck, roll, and flex it's muscles

Just Wait

I read a really wonderful article by another blogger named Katie on a topic that struck me twice this week.   Her "Just Wait" article reminded me of our entire engagement where family and friends gave the "Just wait- till.." unwanted advice.

• "Just wait till you've been married twenty years"- on how much love we felt for each other
• "Just wait till you're settled in"- on how excited we were coming home from our honey moon
• Or the horrible "Just wait a few years"- on our values of marriage and our detest to divorce 

So I should have anticipated- headstrong, full forced, and ready with witty come backs to the 99% of our society that leaves the newly-engaged, newly-wed, newly-expecting, and newly-parents the "Just Wait" sentiments.

Call me crazy/looney/or too much of an optimist- but I don't want to hear the

• Just wait till their older 
• Just wait till it all comes back to you when they're a teenager
• Just wait till - whatever dreadful memory their of children or own childhood that still haunts them.

I want to be infused with Joy. Love. Appreciation. and Excitement. YES! I know without a doubt that parenthood is-

Messy!

Frustrating!

And can down right make you want to cry.

But I want to choose to love every moment of every exhausting and frustrating God given day. We already are preparing baby for a loving welcoming to our world- we pray over baby every day, Cory talks to baby, touches, kisses, and admires with joy. And it's perfect. 

My beautiful husband

So planning a nursery and not knowing the sex of the baby can get pretty ugly...literally. Walking through stores and looking into catalogs are mildly depressing since there's close to nothing to choose from BUT we can do this right?! :) Cory really wants to wait to find out the sex of the baby so we're going to- I want him to feel a part of the baby bonding too! So it's a waiting game from here- and its tough for my strong dislike of surprises!

As we looked through the nursery catalogs together the other evening over dinner, Cory came up with the clever idea of buying NOTHING for the baby or the nursery until D-Day and we knew the sex of the baby.... not happening. :)

He really makes me laugh sometimes at his "insights" for how I should handle various obstacles through pregnancy or baby planning! Here is my favorite :)

One night as Im sitting on the couch eating two delicious chocolate pudding cups like a savage(without a utensil-gross I know) Cory ever so sweetly reminds me " You know, you won't always be able to eat whatever you want" :) Yes dear, I know.

So he decides since I dread going to the gym at rush hour with everyone else getting off of work that we will do a home workout we found online targeted for moms that are expecting! See workouts here.

I couldn't help but keep a smile on the entire time as I watched his legs and arms trembling and him breakout in the biggest sweat for the mild 30 minute workout! It's been about a week later and he's still very sore :) Somehow the workout comments have deflated- so I say I won ;)

Book Help

Last night, as I found the last book in our home that I hadn't read 3 or 4 times "A child called It" I got so excited and engrossed in the read that I finished it in about an hour and was left a little sad knowing I didn't have anything to read. So my question is for anyone who loves to read, is there an inexpensive place for great non-fiction books (preferably free)? I can find any great free books online. Help! :)

Questions

Everyone is full of great questions! Here are some for the curious- and to pass the time till honey gets home from class!!

What were your 1st symptoms?  nausea, exhaustion, very small bladder :)

Who did you tell first?  Cory and then my mom!

My 1st reaction:  freaking out.  And not in a “I’m excited to be pregnant” kind of way either.  Really scared.

Due Date:  Aug 3rd 2012

Do you know the sex?  No we're waiting! 

Any names?  These are written in the baby book's "consideration list"

Brooklyn Skye, Kyleigh Rose, Caden and Noah.

Im pretty sure we're dead set on Noah 

Will the baby have siblings?  Two big sister's!!

Hey Guys!

Have you felt the baby move?  Yes! Baby moves every day pretty much and tap dances on my bladder in the mornings

Do you have any cravings?  I cant really say I've had crazy cravings, just fruit, juices, and Sushi!!! :D Im drooling now thanks. OH and my meme's macaroni and cheese

Do you have any mood swings?  No- I  have cried once though... where I felt really stupid after :)

Formula or Breastfeeding?  I’m going to try to be all about the boob, even though it sort of frightens me.  I know it’s best, so I will definitely try it and hope that it works.

Have you bought anything for the baby yet? No! We're still early

When did you start to show?  Hmm, I definitely look a lot bigger than the picture I posted, but i'd say between week 15 and 18

How long could you wear your regular clothes?  I still can, as long as I wear the belly band over my regular pants

Home or Hospital?  North Central Baptist Hospital :) 

Natural or Medicated birth?  I want the epidural.  For sure.

Who will be in the delivery room with you?  I have not completely decided. I definitely don't want a crowd

Do you think you will need a C-section?  I sure hope not.  But my doctor always mentions it in relation to how small my hips are, and how huge I was at birth

Will you let anyone video tape the birth?  Ummm Heck no. 

Who will help you with the baby after the birth?  I'm sure we will have lots of help from family!

What is your favorite thing about being pregnant?  Getting away with murder- haha and by that I mean Cory spoils me and is extra protective. He's so giving naturally but with baby cooking he goes above and beyond every day.

What is the worst thing about being pregnant?  Feeling large, belly hair, I have a stretch-mark, not looking cute in certain clothes I loved, and just feeling really unattractive can make me sad, And not getting to do things fun and spontaneous.

What’s one thing you miss doing since being pregnant?  I cant lie- I've wanted a drink the entire time  

Do you still feel attractive?  Not really. Very rarely I'll have an "Oh my belly looks cute in this shirt moment" and then it goes away.

Have you had your baby shower yet?  No way. Not sure Im having one but we'll see.

Have other questions? Leave them in a comment and I'll try to answer :)

Everything else NBR

And here's to everything else Non-baby-Related!
Cory and I are moving this coming month and can't wait! We are moving all the way out to Bulverde TX in the home I lived in longest as a child (around 7 years). God has really blessed us with this opportunity! We were so nervous when we knew our lease was coming to an end in our very small over priced apartment, and that not only did we need more room, but also a yard, and for it to be much less than we were paying here. God answered our prayers and my family is currently working on renovations for us to make it a wonderful place for us and the baby! It is a 4 bedroom/3 bathroom home (2,000 sq ft) on over an acre of land and we're so excited!

This past weekend we picked out paint colors, and the color of wood were using for the floors, and have began the sweep through for cleaning and preparing us for demolition day! ;) (we're just painting and adding new floors for now)

We're planning a family work day out in the home for this Saturday to try and complete as much as we can, and Cory and I will most likely be spending his Spring Break to complete all of the work! So hopefully we can move in by the end of March!

Other than that,

• Ali's team finished 4th for her NCAA conference finals this past weekend in Alabama! Go Ali!!!

• Gran is currently undergoing various CT Scan's for an update on the tumor found in her Kidney. I just know God is going to completely heal her and she will be made new!

Awesome Friends and Family!

Sooo I was surprised this weekend with a few AMAZING gifts from a great family friend Joyce and her sweet Daughter for the baby! We were given a wonderful Breast Pump (all accessories and a great carrying bag), an adorable reversible nursing cover, and a boppie!!! The boppie was definitely on the top of my list for things I reallllly wanted :D Here they are!

Cant tell but it's green!

Both sides of the reversible nursery cover

Aren't they great?!I'm so thankful! :D

This week:

EDD/How far along? 17 weeks 3 days

Symptoms check-in: Feeling great!

Aversions/Cravings: No aversions; but I've wanted chocolate covered strawberries!

Any Appointments? Not until 3/13

Weight check-in: 114

Any baby-related purchases/nursery progress? No purchases!

Team green/boy/girl? Team Green!

Names if you feel like sharing: We love Noah for a boy, and Brooklyn (Brooke) for a girl; but nothing is decided on

Best thing to happen the past week/worst? We spent the weekend with my brother Josh and had such a great time! 

And here's an updated photo of the growing belly!

Nursery Ideas

Well since we're Team Green (not finding out the sex of the baby) it has lead to many questions from our friends and family about our ideas for a nursery theme or what to buy?! DON'T PANIC PEOPLE! :D I have found some photos for my personal inspiration! As follows....

(all photos are property of Etsy artists and are not mine)

We are looking to use: natural and neutral colors- browns,whites, greens, yellows

some type of wall decal for art (Im personally loving the big tree :)) 

and possibly a reoccurring animal through the room.

So far, I have not looked into purchasing anything because its very early but I've gotten a lot of questions so I thought I'd share! :D I'm already chomping at the bit to start a nursery so I cannot wait until we're in our new home and able to start decorating! We're very fortunate that my parents have a home for us to rent in Bulverde! We'll be moving in between March and April to a 4 Br 3 bath home and have the ability to buy if that's Gods plan for us. But until then we have the green light to make whatever improvements needed and make ourselves at home! I cant wait! 

16 weeks

I know I am 16 weeks late but HELLO! So far Im 16 wks 5 days and this whole journey has been a learning process with many excitements and milestones!
To catch everyone up:
We found out the day after Thanksgiving that we we're expecting and we're completely surprised! We were not planning to have children for 5-6 years so when the news came we were nervous, scared, excited, and curious of all that was ahead. We had a basic blood test to confirm the home test and it came back positive but the attending nurse gave us a "calculation" that we were already 13 weeks! Ummm- Yikes?! 
We scheduled an appointment with an OB-GYN who did a sonogram on our very first visit and reassured us that we were barely expecting- only 4-5 weeks- and we were able to see the tiny flicker of a heart beat! We felt much better knowing we had more time to plan and prepare! Our calculated date of "conception" was Cory's 25th birthday, and the doctor gave us an estimated due date of August 3rd.


So by week 16 we have had four visits with three sonograms and our baby is growing very quickly and is always measuring a few weeks ahead of schedule! :) We're so proud! In my last appointment we had a urine test taken that indicated I had "higher than normal" levels of protein and white blood cells in my urine which is usually an indicator of infection so we're waiting for other testing but it isn't anything that we have to worry about. Our next appointment is March 16th where we will get our best sonogram! It's our scheduled Anatomy Scan where we could find out the sex of the baby if we want to but we have made the decision to wait until D-Day! The Anatomy Scan is roughly a 30 minute sonogram and is a very detailed report and measurement of all of the baby's vital organs and a predictor for any possible abnormalities. So needless to say were very excited! :D I plan to try to post several times a week and to post pictures throughout the week for a track of my "growth" :( LOL. I'll keep you posted ;)