24 weeks

These weeks are going by way too fast! I'm falling behind on my posts, I was going to post on my 23 weeks and now I'm already almost 2 weeks past that!

How far along? 24 weeks

How big is baby? As big as a ear of corn(8 1/2 in from head to bottom and 10 in from head to heel, 1.5 lbs)

Total weight gain/loss: About 15 lbs.

Maternity clothes? YES, I use the belly band almost everyday, which is a necessity because I have yet to find any cute maternity shorts/bottoms. If I'm not wearing the belly band I am wearing a dress or skirt. I am anticipating wearing my maternity swimsuits this summer!

Sleep: Good, I switch sides throughout the night but I have to say that sleep has yet to be a problem, crossing my fingers that doesn't change.

Best moment this week: Finding the cutest little book at Target for our little guy, I cannot wait to have him in my arms and read it to him. It's called 'We without You.' Oh and also finding the cutest baby shower invites!

Movement: Oh yes! He is a very active baby, I feel him all the time and Scott has been noticing his kicks are a lot harder now too. He even said he felt the baby kicking him in the middle of the night once, haha.

Food cravings: Ever since the second trimester I really haven't been craving anything, but if I had to name something I would say Quiznos! Turkey ranch and swiss YUM 

Food Aversions: Nothing 

Gender: BOY

Labor Signs: No.

Pregnancy Symptoms: This is pathetic but I have noticed that it has gotten harder for me to get up and down from the couch or bed just because I am trying to be careful with my belly so I try to get up sideways. Also, I have been getting the worst back pains on my upper back.

Belly Button in or out? In, slowly tightening and making it's way out though.

What I miss: Having a small figure, but I do love my baby bump and love knowing I am growing our baby boy inside of me.

What I am looking forward to: Setting up nursery, Scott and I are needing to find an apartment in Forest Grove already!

Upcoming appointments/events:  June 9, for my glucose test and let me tell you...I am NOT looking forward to it, luckily, Scott agreed to come with me :)

Milestones: People notice I am pregnant, which is great...it's a baby, I don't have a giant gut haha

1 year!

I can't believe a year has already gone by since Scott and I kneeled across the alter from each other.

It has been the best year ever. 

I love Scott more than I ever have before and am so glad to call him my husband.

For our anniversary weekend he planned a trip to Long Beach, Washington. It was so nice going on a vacation with just the two of us...and of course our little baby in my belly ;)

I don't think either of us thought I would be pregnant by our one year, but we are both so thrilled that I am.

We drove to Long Beach Saturday morning until Sunday. We ate at the best places, had the most delicious desserts, and enjoyed many walks on the beach. It was the perfect weekend for this trip, the weather was fabulous, not a rain cloud in sight the whole time. At Long Beach, you are able to drive right onto the beach next to the shore line, so in the evening we watched the sun go down from the trunk of our car while sipping sparkling cider. We stayed at a cute little beach house just a few blocks from the beach and watched a movie by a fire at night.
It was a great way to celebrate our one year.
Reminiscing on our year of marriage, I can't help but smile. I think we have both grown so much in our marriage, it has been a great time!
Here are a few things I have learned since marriage:

+a sense of humor is a necessity
+boys have different, but great ideas
+sharing your life with someone makes everything so much more fun
+horror movies aren't as scary with a hubby to go to bed with
+it's okay to be wrong
+the little things are the big things

I love you Scotty! Thank you for being the best husband and making me smile daily.

(enjoying the sunset and sharing a sparkling cider bottle)

(Happy one year)

(Stopped in Astoria for lunch and had the best pizza)

(4 mile bridge, it was like driving up into the sky)

(4 mile bridge)

(our walk to the beach, picture perfect)

(wedding cake topper tradition, it still tasted great)

Motherhood

This was my first-ish Mother's Day as a mother, my heart was so full all day long, I will forever be so very grateful for this little baby who has made me a mama. I already love him with all that I am.
Motherhood has always been a role that I have desired the most and I feel so blessed to be fulfilling that role in a few short months.
I am so grateful for my mother and all the mother figures in my life who have been great examples of the kind of mom I want to be.
Motherhood has always held a special place in my heart, ever since I can remember, a mother is all I have ever wanted to be.
Here are some of my favorite quotes about mothers:

"The love of a true mother comes nearer to being like the love of God than any other kind of love."
 -Joseph F Smith

"Motherhood is near to divinity: It is the highest, holiest service to be assumed by mankind. It places her who honors its holy calling and service next to the angels."
-The First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

"Of all the rights of women, the greatest is to be a mother."
-Lin Yutang

"We frequently speak of the strength of the priesthood, and properly so. But we must never lose sight of the strength of the women. It is mothers who set the tone of the home. It is mothers who most directly affect the lives of their children. It is mothers who teach infants to pray, who read to them choice and beautiful literature from the scriptures and other sources. It is mothers who nurture them and bring them up in ways of the Lord. Their influence is paramount."
-Gordon B Hinckley

"A mother is a person seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie."
-Tenneva Jordan

"You have nothing in this world more precious than your children. When you grow old, when your hair turns white and your body grows weary, when you are prone to sit in a rocker and meditate on the things of your life, nothing will be so important as the question of how your children have turned out... Do not trade your birthright as a mother for some bauble of passing value... The baby you hold in your arms will grow quickly as the sunrise and the sunset of the rushing days."
-Gordon B Hinckley

"Remarkable qualities find their truest and most satisfying expression through motherhood."
-Gordon B Hinckley

"There is no role in life more essential and more eternal than that of motherhood."
- Elder M Russell Ballard

"God trusts women so much that he lets them bear and care for his spirit children."
-Elder Neal A Maxwell

"Mothers are endowed with a love that is unlike any other love on the face of the earth."
-Marjorie Hinckley

Halfway

This post is way overdue and I am now 22 weeks, but I just had to post about my halfway point!

How far along? 20 weeks. Halfway there!!!

How big is baby? As big as a banana (6 1/2 in from head to bottom and 10 in from head to heel, 10 1/2 oz)

Total weight gain/loss: About 8 lbs.

Maternity clothes? I need to buy some cute maternity dresses desperately, I've found that I am most comfortable in dresses and skirts and have been living in maxi skirts mostly. As I'm getting a bigger baby bump I'm feeling more and more like I don't have anything to wear. I'm due for a shopping spree.
Sleep: Pretty well, my lower back hurts in the mornings, I would love to invest in a body pillow but I don't think Scott would be too thrilled sharing the bed with me AND a big pillow ha.

Best moment this week: Shopping for our little guy, there is nothing cuter than baby clothes!

Movement: Yes, I love feeling his kicks and can tell they are getting stronger.

Food cravings: Nothing too much, I have been loving ice cream lately which probably isn't a pregnancy craving but more that summer is getting close :) I'm still craving salad and sandwiches! 

Food Aversions: None really, ground beef and tacos sound a little gross to me though. 

Gender: Boy! I have to admit I was surprised when we first found out our baby is a boy but I am so glad we are having a boy, I wouldn't have it any other way!

Labor Signs: No.

Pregnancy Symptoms: My belly has been sore from my bump growing and my lower back hurts from time to time but that is about it!

Belly Button in or out? In.

What I miss: Sleeping on my back! And being able to lay on my stomach, but having a baby growing inside of me is the best!

What I am looking forward to: Registering for baby.

Upcoming appointments/events:  May 14 :)

Milestones: Someone asked when I was due, which is a big deal to me! I'm so happy that people are noticing that I'm pregnant now.