15 weeks preggo

How far along? - 15 weeks 

Total weight gain: - up 5 pounds pre-pregnancy (I think it is all in my belly) 
Maternity clothes? - YES! Loving the maternity jeans and loose, flowy tops - really popped this week. As one co-worker said, "You are REALLY pregnant this week." 
Stretch marks? - nope
Sleep: Interesting sleeping situation - have 2 body pillows, three pillows to prop my feet up, and a pregnancy pillow for in-between my legs...and still not sleeping soundly through the night....GRRR - not complaining just want to get this figured out
Best moment this week: thinking I might have felt little flutters that could be movement but I am not entirely sure.
Food cravings:  Apple pie 
Anything making you queasy or sick: Felt good - really good for the first time in awhile! 
Gender: I think boy (based on how I am carrying and my dreams) 
Symptoms: TIRED!! Still going to bed at like 9 pm
Belly button in or out: in 
Wedding rings on or off: on
Looking forward to: 16 week appointment on Monday and making our gender ultrasound appointment

Belly popped at 15 weeks! 

                                                             Yikes! That's a baby in there

         Just to prove that all the weight gain is in my belly, here is a shot from the back...normal looking...

 And, here is one from the front....I almost don't look pregnant here.

14 weeks preggo

How far along? - 14 weeks 

Total weight gain: - Up by 4 pounds pre-pregnancy 
Maternity clothes? - yes; wore a legit maternity dress to Back-to-School Parent night; had to buy maternity bras this week too
Stretch marks? - nope
Sleep: All I wanted to do was sleep but it is getting harder and harder. I am a back sleeper and I have to get used to switching from one side to the other. I also have had leg cramps at night
Best moment this week: This was actually last week but having my in-laws visit was the highlight of the month! - My Father-in-law fixed a bunch of stuff in our house and my mother-in-law went with me to an antique barn sale where we found the cutest child's rocking chair painted robin's egg blue- inspiration for the nursery! 
Food cravings:  APPLES - red delicious, the crunchier the better.  And, nachos! 
Anything making you queasy or sick: Felt good for 6/7 days of the week! 
Gender: everyone else thinks girl (including husband) but I think boy 
Symptoms: some nausea, frequent urination, trouble sleeping; headaches; leg cramps 
Belly button in or out: in 
Wedding rings on or off: on
Looking forward to: finding out if it's a boy or a girl - still 6 weeks to go...

13 weeks preggo

How far along? - 13 weeks - officially 2nd trimester! 

Total weight gain: - Lost a little this week as I was sick again -GRRR 
Maternity clothes? - YES! And, what a relief it was - most comfortable clothing ever. Thankfully a coworker gave me some hand-me-downs. I have never been so excited! (Well maybe I have...) 
Stretch marks? - nope
Sleep: Sleeping was hard because if I laid down, I felt like throwing up (and did a couple times) 
Best moment this week: Telling my students and seeing their reactions. As soon as I told them, the suggestions for names started and the questions about boy vs. girl came my way. I think they were as excited as we are. 
Food cravings:  nope - I had a bad week that involved escaping to the CVS to be sick in private (instead of in my classroom) and I wasn't able to keep very many meals down this week. (YUCK!) 
Anything making you queasy or sick: EVERYTHING - smells of food cooking; eggs; dog smells; being on my feet all day
Gender: according to my students, I am going to have a girl 
Symptoms: nausea, vomiting (for first time), exhaustion, back pain, things starting to stretch out; and I feel like I "popped" this week 
Belly button in or out: in 
Wedding rings on or off: on
Looking forward to: Big Internet Reveal...See pics below 

                                      Belly popped! 

12 weeks preggo

How far along? - 12 weeks 

Total weight gain: - not sure
Maternity clothes? - not at that point but I did get a belly band to wear with my pants 
Stretch marks? - nope
Sleep: was still sleeping okay 
Best moment this week: Started work - teaching this week. Told some of my co-workers but was still able to hide it a little bit   
Food cravings:  smoothies 
Anything making you queasy or sick: was quite sick this week; can't remember what made me feel worst though - I think it was a little bit of everything 
Gender: Old wive's tales said boy 
Symptoms: all day nausea and extreme fatigue (asleep by 7 pm each night), could feel things starting to stretch out in my belly
Belly button in or out: in 
Wedding rings on or off: on
Looking forward to: 2nd trimester - Honeymoon period or so they say...I just wanted to feel normal again. 

                                          Starting to show...

11 weeks preggo

How far along? - 11 weeks 

Total weight gain: - 1-2 pounds perhaps (was 124 at OB appointment) 
Maternity clothes? - not at that point
Stretch marks? - nope
Sleep: Husband bought me a body pillow this week - MIRACULOUS : ) 
Best moment this week: There were two - I told my boss about my pregnancy and he was very excited and very willing to help me out with maternity leave and finding a sub replacement. Second, we had our NT scan this week. Not only was everything okay according to the tech, we also got to see the baby kicking and squirming around. It was INCREDIBLE
Food cravings:  chocolate milkshakes 
Anything making you queasy or sick: smell of meat cooking and anytime I tried to go the Amish market...weird 
Gender: when I saw the NT scan, I don't know why but I felt like it was a boy
Symptoms: nausea (back with a vengeance especially on our in-service day); tired; back pain 
Belly button in or out: in 
Wedding rings on or off: on
Looking forward to: telling the world our news - so close!  (Husband started telling people this week anyway) 

10 weeks preggo

How far along? - 10 weeks 

Total weight gain: - 2 pounds (maybe?) 
Maternity clothes? - not at that point
Stretch marks? - nope
Sleep: Sleeping was easy in Ogunquit with the sound of the ocean and the cool, sea air
Best moment this week: Telling my aunts/uncles and cousins and spending the week on the beach with them; buying the first baby outfit (A Moose romper in Ogunquit); Also seeing our friends Spencer, Lauren, and their 1 year old Everett. 
Food cravings: We had four cheese pesto pizza and I craved it every day after that 
Anything making you queasy or sick: was fine until we went to stay with Spencer in Lauren in Boston; nausea came back with a vengeance.  It was no fun on the 11 hour car ride home either 
Gender: Judging by how obsessed Everett was with my stomach, I thought girl (Old Wive's Tales) 
Symptoms: nausea; exhaustion; sore tata's
Belly button in or out: in 
Wedding rings on or off: on
Looking forward to: getting back to school and sharing the news 

Some pics: 

 Lauren and Everett on the beach in Ogunquit - What a fun day!

Clint and baby E

Before four cheese pesto pizza - YUM! 

Nearly 10 weeks preggo on the Marginal Way

                                      Start of a bump....10 weeks 

9 weeks preggo

How far along? - 9 weeks 

Total weight gain: - I felt better this week - maybe gained a pound.
Maternity clothes? - not at that point
Stretch marks? - nope
Sleep: good sleep in the 9th week 
Best moment this week: Telling my mom, sisters, and grandparents we were pregnant. We arrive in Maine late at night and asked them to stay up and wait for us.  Then, we gave my mom and my grandmother cards that had pictures from our 8 week ultrasound in them. My grandmother cried. My mom said, "I knew it!" My oldest sister said, "You're already getting big!"  
Another great moment was when my grandmother told the entire church congregation that we were expecting. She cried again : )
Food cravings:  lobster - I was in Maine after all
Anything making you queasy or sick: the only thing that made me sick that week was not getting enough sleep and not drinking enough water 
Gender: Mom and Nana did the needle test. It was hard to tell but they are pretty sure it said girl. 
Symptoms: just really tired that week 
Belly button in or out: in 
Wedding rings on or off: on
Looking forward to: 10th week in Ogunquit with other side of my family 

8 weeks preggo

How far along? - 8 weeks 
Total weight gain: - I actually lost a significant amount of weight (like 3-4 pounds) since I wasn't eating anything - I remember being really sick the 8th week.
Maternity clothes? - not at that point
Stretch marks? - nope
Sleep: I was able to sleep soundly at this point though I would wake up to pee at like 5 am
Best moment this week: It was actually a scary moment that turned into a good moment. I had been feeling really crampy so I scheduled an appointment with the OB's office. They fit me in. The midwife tried to do an ultrasound but couldn't find the baby and I panicked. Then, she told me that it was an older machine and she was going to schedule me for the ultrasound tech appointment. I was incredibly nervous but when I got in there, they squirted gel on my belly and moved the little wand around and I got to see a really strong heartbeat again. It was like 170 and the ultrasound tech said I was measuring slightly ahead of my original dating ultrasound - but they didn't change my due date. (Maybe I just have a big baby in there - Likely!)  
Food cravings:  Hamburgers and salty foods 
Anything making you queasy or sick: I was so sick this week. I remember just wanting to sleep all day and wondering if I would ever feel normal again. 
Gender: no idea 
Symptoms: all day nausea, dry heaving, fatigue, frequent peeing, and sore ta-tas 
Belly button in or out: in 
Wedding rings on or off: on
Looking forward to: seeing family in Maine for our annual summer vacation 

A few pics from this week: 

7 weeks preggo

How far along? - 7 weeks 

Total weight gain: - I actually lost a significant amount of weight (like 3-4 pounds) since I wasn't eating anything
Maternity clothes? - not at that point
Stretch marks? - nope
Sleep: I was able to sleep soundly at this point though I would wake up to pee at like 5 am
Best moment this week: Telling my best friend and talking on the phone with my mom. During the conversation she said, "You sound really happy. Are you pregnant?" I said no because I had to at that time. I wanted to tell her in person so badly and knew I would need to wait three more weeks to do that. 
Food cravings:  wasn't eating much; spent lots of time wanting to throw up but only dry heaving (Trust me -not pleasant experience) 
Anything making you queasy or sick: EVERYTHING but gatorade and ginger ale
Gender: no idea 
Symptoms: all day nausea, fatigue, frequent peeing, and sore ta-tas, started to get tired 
Belly button in or out: in 
Wedding rings on or off: on
Looking forward to: telling my family in person on vacation 

I thought I had a bump in this picture...haha! hilarious now : ) 

6 weeks preggo

How far along? - 6 weeks 

Total weight gain: - I actually lost a significant amount of weight (like 3-4 pounds) since I wasn't eating anything 
Maternity clothes? - not at that point
Stretch marks? - nope
Sleep: I was able to sleep soundly at this point though I would wake up to pee at like 5 am
Best moment this week: There were two - First, I had my dating ultrasound and first appointment where we found out I was about 6 weeks along and due in March. I got to see the tiny flicker of a heartbeat for the first time. Second, We traveled home to Pittsburgh to reveal our news to my in-laws. We told them by writing birthday cards for them that said "Happy Birthday Grandpa" and "Happy Birthday Grandma" but they didn't catch on until we gave them each a story book that had the ultrasound picture taped to it with a cute message about "reading that book to the baby in March 2014."  Then, they both exclaimed in excitement.  
Food cravings:  cheese and crackers was the only thing that didn't make me want to puke 
Anything making you queasy or sick: EVERYTHING - smells, food, not drinking water, drinking water, the sight of bananas (had a bad experience early on), and riding in the car. 
Gender: no idea 
Symptoms: all day nausea, fatigue, frequent peeing, and sore ta-tas 
Belly button in or out: in 
Wedding rings on or off: on
Looking forward to: getting out of first trimester (had about 6 weeks to go at that point) 

6 week belly picture:

Telling the Husband

Telling your husband you are pregnant has got to be one of the most exciting and more terrifying moments in your life.  This is especially true when you have just finished having a conversation about putting babies on the back burner for awhile and waiting a year before trying again.

So, I knew I had to be subtle.  Add to that the fact that my brother-in-law was staying with us. He was actually in the house when I took all my pregnancy tests and it was nearly impossible not to burst out right then and there with my news.  But, I waited.  In fact, I waited until six o-clock that night. I had taken the tests around seven am.  That is nearly 12 hours that I kept a secret. If you know me well, you know that that kind of secret is not one I had an easy time keeping.  So, when the husband got home I asked him to come into the office for a second. He probably thought I was going to talk about budgeting or money or something icky of that nature.  But, instead I had a little document opened on the computer that would reveal the big news.

Side-note, ever since visiting Sea World as a kid and watching tons of Discovery Channel programs, I have been obsessed with otters.  Anytime someone sees an otter, they normally send me a picture or tweet me or mention me on Facebook. So, naturally, I used otters in my big announcement.  Here's a little peek at my approach: (Note: I am skipping some of the really mushy stuff!)

Once upon a time two lost souls lived a happy life.

.....About 6 years later, they were married! 

....After one incredible year of marriage, doing all kinds of fun things, they are getting ready for the next phase of their lives.... and even though they made plans and changed them and made other plans, someone else must have had a plan.....

because.....................................................

They might soon be a family of three!

Then, I had him look in an envelope where I had put those tests I mentioned in my earlier post. To say he was shocked is an understatement! He was in disbelief. He kept saying, "Really?" 

Then, I showed him this picture at the very end and he got incredibly excited.  Leave it to the boxer to bring out the emotions: 

This is future Oskar and baby Lang (if he's a boy, which I think he is!) 

Bebé Lang - The big news and how we found out

It has been quite some time since I have tried out this whole blogging thing.  Seriously, last post of mine was in 2009 - That was nearly 5 years ago.  But, I felt like it was appropriate to break out the blog for this new, exciting time in my life...

After a busy past two years (engaged in 2011, married in 2012, bought first house in 2013), we decided to take another proverbial leap and started talking bebé.  Personally, I blame our friends and their adorable offspring and my job being surrounded by adorable little kids for this rapid "I want babies now" syndrome. And, for those of you wondering, it wasn't just me.  Yes, I have wanted to be a mother since I was old enough to tote a baby doll to the grocery store and put her in her own little plastic little tykes shopping cart, but I was somewhat surprised how drawn the husband was to babies too. I think he just has a gift with children. Anytime he is around a child, his/her face lights up and/or he/she instantly stops crying.  Magic!

Therefore, when we began talking about adding a little bambino to our gruesome twosome (Sorry Oskman, I left you out), we were gung ho for about three months.  Of course, right when we began to talk about taking a break, thinking about remodeling our kitchen and redoing our floors, we got a beautiful little surprise!  It's no surprise to any of you anymore but the day I saw that positive sign on the first of FIVE pregnancy tests, it was certainly a surprise.

Without going into too much detail, I'd been feeling like something was up.  I wasn't sick or tired or anything like that and I wasn't even really that late for my cycle. (I didn't really keep the best track of this either though.)  I just had some slight back pain and slightly sensitive breasts.  We were heading out of town to a wedding the following day, and I wanted to know why I was worried about drinking alcohol at this upcoming wedding.  So, I drove in POURING rain to the grocery store and bought two different kinds of tests. Of course, I ran into a parent of one of my students as I was waiting in the checkout with only the pregnancy tests in my basket. Thankfully she did not see them but I was worried. Back into the downpour I went, and a few minutes later, I was staring unbelievably at two tests with two plus signs.  A few minutes after that, I was staring at another two tests with their "PREGNANT" readings. Yep, that was four.  You'd think that would be enough but I do admit to taking one more test the following morning.  Oh, and getting a blood test done at the PCP's office. I might add that he and the nurse laughed at me when I told him how many positive tests I had taken.

So, the long and the short of it is.....BEBÉ Lang....March 17, 2014!  After we got over the initial shock, we realized how truly exciting, miraculous, and wonderful all of this is.  Now, 11 weeks later, as I write this, we are over the moon excited for the new addition and cannot wait for the gruesome twosome to become a terrific trio (plus Oskman).

Here are a few pics from early early on:

 

No baby bump at 4 -5 weeks.....don't worry...it made it's appearance no too long after this.