Housing Updates

For those that know me well, it comes as no surprise that I like a to-do list. A neat, organized list of what needs to be done, and the satisfaction of crossing items off as they are completed - this feeds my OCD soul like a Southern comfort meal. Soon after learning about Peanut, we drafted the first of many to-do lists and we have slowly but surely been crossing items off, though I have been known to add items faster than we cross them off. Most weekends recently have been at least partially dedicated to cleaning, purging, and organizing. Right around the time we learned I was pregnant, our landlord decided to repaint the exterior of our home and make some repairs as well. This helped to inspire us to get started on the inside of the house and I am pleased with the progress we have made so far. Our house was originally gray with light blue shutters. I'll be honest when I say that we would not have chosen the colors that are now on the house....but I will admit that it looks much better with a fresh coat of paint!

This past weekend,we focused on the basement and the nursery. We measured windows and began testing paint samples. We don't love any of the colors, but we have several others to try so hopefully we will make a decision soon.

Recently, I have experienced first hand the results of "nesting" and I find myself becoming hyper-focused on random items or areas in the house. This weekend it was the bathroom cabinets. For whatever reason, it was absolutely necessary for those cabinets to be cleaned out and now those suckers are clean enough to eat out of! Jason's form of nesting has taken a more productive turn and he has focused on larger items, most recently the living room. He replaced our coffee table with a new leather ottoman, and spruced up the area with new pillows and decorations. He even did the wreath on the front door! (clearly between Jas doing the cooking and the decorating, our relationship does not follow traditional gender roles)

Now that we can see progress throughout the house, we are getting excited to really dive into the nursery. In less than two weeks we will know the gender and I'm hoping that will help to inspire us! Jas comes home today after a week in Glens Falls, NY and I'm sure he'll be thrilled to see the weekend to-do list I have created (bless his heart!) More pics to come as we make progress on Peanut's room...

17 Weeks

17 weeks today! Hard to believe, but we are narrowing in on the halfway mark which is equally thrilling and terrifying. Peanut is now the size of a chipmunk and his/her heart is beating up to 150 times a minute. I still have not been able to feel Peanut move (sometimes I think I feel something, but I'm pretty sure that may be wishful thinking getting the best of me!) but I am hoping that will happen soon.

I continue to feel really good, though I'm not sleeping as well. I shouldn't complain though because the restless sleep of today still beats the heck out of the pre-pregnancy insomnia! I have been able to maintain my exercise routine thus far and, thanks to Jason, I'm still eating really well even when he is out of town! 

The most exciting part about 17 weeks is that in just two weeks - 14 DAYS - we will know the gender! We can't wait! 

Weekend Update

We had a busy, but fun, weekend at the Whittaker abode. Friday night, I met with a few of my old coworkers for a girls night. It was so fun to see everyone and catch up for a little bit! I forget how much I miss my social work friends until we hang out and then I almost wish I still worked at COC (almost...but not really!)

Saturday, Jas and I ran errands in the morning and picked out a few paint samples for the nursery (more to come on home improvements later in the week). Our friends, Chase and Sam, were in town for the day and we were able to see them for lunch which was a nice surprise. Chase and Sam both work for Cerner as well and they are currently in Salt Lake City working on a big project. We have missed them being in KC, so it was nice to see them, even if it was just for a few hours. Saturday afternoon, we watched Mickie for a few hours while Tina and Justin spent some time together and then the four of us went to dinner. My manager, Julie, had given Tina and I free passes to the Rhea Lana consignment sale that was held at the Overland Park Convention Center. It is a huge children's consignment sale that is held twice a year. It was a bit overwhelming to say the least! Jason and I did end up finding a few things for Peanut - a bouncy seat, a Bumbo, a swing, several books, a few onesies and two pair of shoes (one in pink and one in blue so we are ready either way!). Everything was reasonably priced and there were a ton of clothes, so Jas was very happy that we don't yet know the gender!

 On Sunday, Jas ran errands while I cleaned. He ended up buying several items to help spruce up the living room (pictures to come) and he did a really nice job. A few new pieces helped to brighten up the room and I teased him that he was "nesting" more than me! He was sweet to cook a big dinner for me with plenty of leftovers - he is traveling to NY this week so he wanted to be sure Peanut wasn't only eating Happy Meals and pickles!

We also got a nice surprise in the mail - Peanut's first UGA onesie. Our friends, Nolan and Lana, were sweet to send it to us and now Peanut is all ready for football season next year!

We are slowly but surely making progress on our to do list and I am looking forward to Jas being home this weekend to continue with some of our projects (poor guy, he'd probably rather stay at Lake George!)

16 Weeks

We are 16 weeks today! I cannot believe it has already been four months and I continue to be grateful that I feel so good. I have loved being pregnant so far and I hope to continue enjoying the ride for the next five months.

At 16 weeks, Peanut:

•  is the size of a dill pickle (which is fitting as that is favorite snack!)
•  his/her heart is pumping more than 25 quarts of blood a day 
•  he/she can detect light through my belly and may be able to hear my voice 
•  he/she is kicking and moving around and I am anxious to be able to feel it! 

At 16 weeks, Mama:

•  has gained three pounds according to the scale (ha!)
•  loves fries and pickles 
•  works out 3-5 times a week
•  has become a little more OCD than normal (poor Jason) 
•  has a former insomniac, sleeps more than she has since high school (which is amazing)  

We are counting down the days until we learn the gender (three weeks!) We have made a lot of progress cleaning and organizing the house and I am looking forward to getting started on the nursery soon. I'm so grateful to have had such an easy time so far and I pray I continue to enjoy the next five months as much as I have the first four! 

Slumber Party and a Bump Update

Over the weekend we took Mickie for her first slumber party at our house. Tina and Justin wanted some time to celebrate their upcoming anniversary and we were happy to get in some parenting practice with one of our favorite nieces! It was a busy day and I was exhausted by the end of it! We started the day at the zoo. Luckily it had been storming overnight, so it was overcast and not too hot while we were there. Mickie wasn't too sure about some of the animals, but she enjoyed walking around and seeing animals from a distance.

After a few hours at the zoo, we grabbed a Happy Meal for lunch and headed home. Jason took the dog to the park and Mickie and I took a much needed nap. When she woke up, we headed to the park up the street from our house. She played on the playground, but was more interested in the spray park that was also open so we headed over there. I didn't have my phone, but she had a blast running through the water fully clothed. We were both soaked by the time we got home. Mickie took a bubble bath and then she "helped Uncle Das" cook. He joked that when she finished Mickie had cooked more than I ever have (which sadly isn't far from the truth!). I could hear them laughing in the kitchen and had to take a few pics of their conversation...

The finished product seemed pretty tasty and Mickie ate the entire thing while watching my favorite Disney move - "The Little Mermaid." I think I made her a fan! 

It was a great weekend and I think Tina and Justin enjoyed having a break while we had fun with Mickie. It is crazy to think this will be our life in just a few short months! 

Today, I am 15 weeks and Mama and Peanut continue to do well. I still feel great and I've been able to maintain my regular exercise routine at work (which is good because I will admit my food intake is at a different level these days!) We had an appointment yesterday and the doctor said everything looks perfect, which is always a relief. I have only gained three pounds - though I think my bump is deceiving, because I look bigger than that! My blood pressure remains low and the baby's heart rate was a strong 145. The baby was moving all around and the doctor kept having to move the wand so we could hear it. I can't wait until I can feel Peanut move (hopefully here soon!). Aside from hearing the heartbeat, the best part of the appointment was scheduling our sonogram. We have our next appointment on September 9th so 4 weeks from today we will know if we are planning for touchdowns or tutus and I can't wait! 

Childhood Memories

Over the weekend, I decided to try and tackle a few more things on our to-do list, and I spent the majority of Saturday cleaning out closets and clearing out the office (that will become the nursery). It is amazing what you can find when going through old boxes! I began to feel a bit like a hoarder after finding things from high school, but it was cool to look back on so many fond memories. I came across a few childhood photos that cracked me up...

Me and Munca (I look like I'm wearing a clown costume under my overalls!)

Me around age 4

Also on Saturday, my Uncle Tony sent me these two pictures. Perfect timing! 

Me and Aunt Loretta 

                                 

Denmark and Richards Cousins 

From left: Renee, Leah, Paul, Tina, Becca, Chris and Me

We were so cute! 

It was cool to see all of the things I came across, but in the name of nesting, I also threw away most of what I went through. We filled Jason's trunk with items to donate to our local thrift store, and I feel like it was a pretty productive day overall (though I also think I kept adding to our list as I would cross items off!) 

Sunday, we went to church and snapped a pic of the "Sister Bumps." It has been fun being pregnant at the same time as Tina. It is nice to go through it all with someone you love and she is always good to offer support or guidance when needed. It will be great to have our kids so close in age and I hope they grow up close with each other like we did with our cousins. 

Tina, me and Mickie