Sarah Says. . .

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T17:41:00.000-08:00

I've totally become "that" blogger. I blog, blog, blog...before pregnancy and during pregnancy...then, baby makes her arrival & I disappear into the blogosphere ;)

The truth is, these first few months don't lend themselves to much free time in the slightest. During the day, Ella eats every 2-3 hours, naps every 90 minutes or so, and craves attention and play time with Mama. When the little miss is napping, that is my chance to do chores, take a shower, and work. I'm (finally) back to working full time again from home, which is both a blessing and a curse. It's HARD to stick to any type of schedule with a 3 month old, but we're making it work as best we can. Some days, she's attached to me & refuses to go down in her cosleeper, so I put her in the Moby and we get through the day like that. Other days, she's a perfect angel and I can get a lot of stuff done while she's napping.

I hope you all had a very, very Merry Christmas! I'll leave you with a few photos...

It's Been A Whirlwind

2011-11-20T14:52:00.000-08:00

I didn't intend to disappear for as long as I have, but, life had other plans. Without going into a ton of detail (for fear of a very, very long post...), bullet points will have to suffice:

I had not been feeling well for quite some time after Ella's birth, but chalked it up to being a new mama & being sleep deprived. Turns out, I had plugged ducts, which turned into mastitis, which turned into an abscess. We had a lot of breastfeeding issues for the first 2 or 3 weeks, which resulted in a lot of pain & trauma to my breast tissue. Apparently, an infection had set in and I was none the wiser. I was admitted to the hospital on October 24th and spent 3 days and 2 nights there on IV antibiotics. I also had 2 procedures done to try and rid my breast of the abscess. The first night I was there, Ella nor Mr. Lukie were allowed to stay with me--I'm sure you can imagine my emotional state at that time. I was a complete wreck. Not only was my 4 week old going to be away from me for the night, but so was my husband, AND I didn't have a stash of breastmilk at that point, so she had to be fed formula from a bottle. I was discharged from the hospital with a PICC line and on IV antibiotics for 8 days, hoping that would stave off the infection and allow my body to heal itself so that I could avoid surgery. Thankfully, I avoided surgery and I can now say that my body is completely healed and we are STILL exclusively breastfeeding!

Mr. Lukie had rotator cuff surgery November 9th, so I have been taking care of Ella and Mr. Lukie. I now think I was completely off my rocker when I swore up & down that I wanted twins. I fully retract that statement!

Ella was diagnosed with GERD 2 weeks ago. She has been on Zantac to help manage the pain associated with acid reflux for just over 1 week, and we feel like it is definitely working, and we see signs of our sweet little angel baby coming back. Before the meds, she would scream & cry, arch her back in pain, projectile vomit, and stay awake for hours on end...we had no idea what was going on, and would just rock her & cry right along with her. My poor little baby.

After 8 weeks, I can finally now say that I am truly enjoying being a mama! With everything listed above that we have dealt with, I was really struggling. I had bittersweet feelings surrounding motherhood--I was loving this sweet little girl who was all mine, but I was having an incredibly difficult time breastfeeding, which just seemed to spiral the rest of my emotions out of control. Ella has begun smiling at us & cooing at us--and the things we say & do to get her to smile is absolutely ridiculous and embarrassing, to say the least ;)

Our Girl

2011-11-01T16:00:00.001-07:00

Ella's Birth Announcement :)

Modern Introduction Girl Birth Announcement

Birth announcements, Valentine's cards, & invitations by Shutterfly.

View the entire collection of cards.

10.12.11

2011-10-12T12:20:00.000-07:00

Thank you for all of your sweet comments on Ella's birth story! I hated to break it up into 4 posts, but it was far too long to have posted in just one entry. {That and...I needed a few days to finish it up, so spreading it out over 4 days worked quite well for me!}

Today is my due date--I would have been 40 weeks pregnant today, had Miss Ella not graced us with her beauty and sweetness early.

This also means that Ella is 3 weeks old today. How does that happen? How do days and nights blend together, feeling like one hugely long, drawn out single day when you have a fussy baby, but feeling like just yesterday when you are looking at a calendar? I'll never understand the conception of time as an adult. Is it not so, SO different than your conception of time as a child?

::sigh::

Regardless, I have a 3 week old. And I think you've all seen enough text in this post. You've probably stopped reading it altogether and have already scrolled to the bottom for photos of Ella. Trust me, I got the oh-so-subtle hints left in the comments ;)

Sleeping Beauty--17 days old.

5 days old...one of our favorite 'Ella Faces'

6 days old...Daddy is NOT a fan of her big flowery headbands!

Diva in the making...she "posed" like this completely on her own!

The Birth Story of Ella Grace - Part IV

2011-10-11T12:30:00.000-07:00

{Part III can be read here}

I spent the next hour angry. I was angry with my body for not doing what I thought it should have been doing. I was angry with my baby for not presenting the way I thought she should be. I was angry with my midwife for not being able to “fix” the issue. I was angry with God for allowing me to go through this pain. I was angry for having gotten this far in my birth plan, only to end up at the one place I absolutely did not want to give birth.

Mr. Lukie and Karen helped me to get dressed, in between contractions that were lasting 60-90 seconds, coming just 1 to 2 minutes apart. Contractions I was still not allowed to push through. While I breathed through the millionth contraction, Mr. Lukie loaded the Prius up with our hospital bags, the car seat, a pillow, and a blanket. He hopped in the drivers seat, Karen hopped in the passenger seat, and I laid down in the back seat. Carol got in her car and followed us to the hospital.

The hospital was 25 minutes away. I still had my eyes closed and hadn’t opened them since I had dilated to 7 centimeters at 6pm. But I knew the route to the hospital, so with each stop and turn, I was mentally mapping where we were. Karen was holding my hand and counting the contractions down for me as I breathed through them.

We pulled into the hospital parking lot & Mr. Lukie ran to get a wheelchair for me. I always thought it was silly, on TV shows and movies, when they showed a woman in labor being wheeled up to L&D. I now know why a wheelchair is necessary during active labor!

We arrived on the L&D floor at 5:30am. Where we were told there were NO rooms and NO beds available, that I would be stuck in the wheelchair, in the hallway, until a room or a bed was freed up. I begged for pain medication right there, curled in the fetal position in the wheelchair.

At 5:45am, we were told a room had just become available and they would get me in there and check me immediately. As I was being wheeled into the room, Karen was giving the hospital nurses and hospital midwife my history and why we had chosen to transport to the hospital. My head was still wrapped around that pain medicine—I knew I was too far into it to receive an epidural, but I just needed some relief, something to help me relax a little and get this baby out.

A nurse checked me around 6:30am and informed me that I was fully dilated at 10 centimeters, the cervical lip had disappeared, and the swelling was no longer there—it was time to have a baby!

(I don’t remember saying this, but Mr. Lukie informed me later that at this point, I said, rather loudly, “Then why the $%&* are we here?!” How embarrassing, considering I do NOT use curse words!)

Hearing those words from the nurse, I completely forgot about wanting pain medication and as soon as my next contraction came, I pushed. And it felt SO good to finally push again.

After 2 more hours of pushing, Karen informed me that with my next few pushes, I would be pushing the baby’s head out. It was just the 4 of us in the room at this point—Karen, Carol, Mr. Lukie and me. It was shift change, so we had been left alone for quite some time. With the next push, I gave it my all, and Karen told me to reach down and feel my baby’s head. So I did. It was the most amazing thing; to feel her tiny, slimy head so close to entering the world. At this point, Karen told Mr. Lukie that if he wanted to deliver his baby, he should switch places with her.

At 8:42am, on September 21, 2011, Mr. Lukie ‘caught’ our baby, and placed her on my chest. Eyes closed still, I started asking over and over what it was—boy or girl? With a mixture of laughter and tears, Mr. Lukie told me to open my eyes and look for myself—and as soon as I did, he announced, “It’s a GIRL!”

The 4 of us laughed and cried, staring at this new little miracle in awe and amazement. She was here…she was finally here! We finally knew she was a she! She didn’t cry right away, instead, she just sort of lay there in my arms, blinking her eyes and looking around. She recognized my voice and her Daddy’s voice immediately, turning towards us when one of us spoke. After a few minutes, she let out the tiniest cry—it sounded like a kitten mewing.

I lost it, then. I had been waiting just over 9 months—37 weeks, to be exact—to see my baby, hold my baby, hear my baby cry…and I had done exactly that.

We left the hospital at 11am that same day and drove home, our baby in the back seat, a new family of three. We haven’t looked back since, and I know that we never, ever will.

The Birth Story of Ella Grace - Part III

2011-10-10T12:30:00.000-07:00

{Part I can be read here & Part II can be read here}

I found myself in the birth tub just before Carol arrived, which greatly helped to relax me and relieve some of the pressure the contractions produced. The water was warm and I felt weightless (imagine—feeling weightless at 37 weeks pregnant, HA!) and buoyant in the tub. Matt poured water over my chest and down my back at my request.

I would start to get tired of being in the tub, so I would get out, dry off and do one of a few things: get in bed in a side lying or all fours position, kneel on the ground and lean on the bed, walk the hallway with Mr. Lukie, swaying my hips dramatically from side to side, sitting backwards on the toilet while resting my head on the tank (topped with pillows), or in a deep squatting position with Mr. Lukie holding me up by my underarms.

By 10pm, I told Karen that I felt like I needed to push. I was in the tub, and she told me to listen to my body and do as it told me to. With the next contraction, I pushed for the first time. It felt amazing to push, and so it was for the next several hours. 20 minutes in the tub, pushing while floating, pushing while draped over the side of the tub, pushing while on my hands and knees. 20 minutes on the bed, pushing while lying on my side, pushing while on my hands and knees, pushing while in the fetal position. 20 minutes on the ground, pushing while on my knees, leaning over the bed. 20 minutes on the birth ball, pushing while draped over it, rocking & rolling, back and forth, side to side.

Unbeknownst to me, I had been pushing for 4 hours. Every 20 minutes or so, Karen or Carol would take my blood pressure & pulse, as well as use the Doppler to monitor Baby Lukie’s heartbeat. Even during the strongest of contractions & pushing, Baby Lukie kept an amazing heart rate. Karen had anticipated the arrival of a baby around 1am, based on how things had been progressing in the beginning. It was now 2am and there was no baby in sight. I was dilated to 9 ½ centimeters, but was pushing against the smallest cervical lip. Even when Karen tried to hold the lip down during a push, baby just wasn’t descending as expected. With each push I gave, my cervix was beginning to swell, causing a regression in labor. {Of course, I never knew any of this until much later, because my midwife rocked & only shared positive, encouraging news with me to keep my morale up}.

Through an internal exam palpating the baby’s fontanels, Karen determined that the baby was presenting acynclitic (her ear was tucked to her shoulder, instead of her chin being tucked to her chest). In an attempt to get the baby to move her head into the birthing position, I spent from 2am-3am breathing through the contractions, instead of pushing through them, while Karen had me in several different positions. After an hour of no progress in getting the baby to change positions, I threw in the towel.

It was decided at 5am on September 21^st, due to extreme exhaustion and the baby presenting acynclitic, that we would be having our baby at the hospital.

[Part IV to follow...]

The Birth Story of Ella Grace - Part II

2011-10-09T12:30:00.000-07:00

[Part I can be read here]

Mr. Lukie called our midwife, Karen, to let her know that my water had broken. It was about 3pm at this point and I really had no idea what to expect next. Karen asked us to time my contractions and to call her when they were at least 5 minutes apart and lasting between 45 and 60 seconds. She also advised me to rest, hydrate and eat, because we were going to have a baby soon and I needed to save my energy for laboring. Of course, in my fantasies, I am Super Woman, so do you think I heeded her advice? Nope. Instead, I ran around, cleaning & preparing the house for the complete unknown.

Two hours later, we called Karen to let her know that my contractions were 5 minutes apart and lasting 45 to 60 seconds. She let us know she’d be at our house by 6pm.

It was at this time that I decided I wanted to go for a walk to the mailbox and back. Why, I’ll never know, because we had to stop every few minutes so that I could lace my hands behind Mr. Lukie’s neck, lean my head into his chest and sway sway sway my hips through a contraction. It was the longest walk to the mailbox I’ve ever taken.

Karen arrived right around 6pm and checked me; I was 7 centimeters dilated. She instructed Mr. Lukie to get the birthing tub set up in our bedroom & begin filling it with water, while she called her assistant, Carol, and told her it was time to come to our house. From this point forward, I lost track of time, as labor progressed and I had to dig deep within myself to find the ability to move through each contraction.

Mr. Lukie and I had chosen to use HypnoBabies to help manage the pain during labor. We were (and are) both firm believers in this method of pain management for a natural childbirth; however, I didn’t use HypnoBabies in the way that we had practiced and were taught to. When I reached 7 centimeters, I closed my eyes and didn’t open them again until my baby was placed on my chest. I went to a place I’ve never been before—deep, deep inside of myself—and I drew strength, energy, willpower, to battle through. I imagined my baby making the descent into the birth canal and with each contraction, I “Ahhhhed” her down further. The mind is a very, very powerful tool, and I used it to my advantage, only thinking and feeling positive things.

Yes, contractions were becoming more and more intense. The pressure was quite noticeable. There was no denying that labor was an all-consuming task. There was also no denying that at the rate I was progressing, we would be holding a baby in our arms in just a few more hours.

[Part III to follow...]

The Birth Story of Ella Grace - Part I

2011-10-08T14:37:00.000-07:00

Monday, September 19th was the day that I wrote this post. I was an emotional wreck that day and anxiety had overcome me. I felt 'off,' but couldn't place the possible reasons why.

{Well, aside from the fact that I was mere weeks away from giving birth to our firstborn}

I went to bed that night, having gotten off the phone with my husband, feeling slightly better about our impending parenthood (who, exactly, decided we were ready to be parents, anyway?!) and was exhausted. It was 10pm and I was ready to get a good nights rest.

The last time I looked at the clock, wide awake, it was 3:45am. I had to be up at 6:45am to make it to the first MOPS meeting of the semester--it was my groups turn to bring brunch, and I needed to stop at the market to pick up some fruit & orange juice. In my heart of hearts, I just knew that this was the beginning of the end of my pregnancy--we would be meeting our little one very soon.

The first thing I did that morning, as I'm sure all 3rd trimester pregnant women can attest to, was use the restroom. It was then that the first, early sign of labor was upon me. I sent a text message to my midwife to let her know of my bodily happenings and she confirmed that yes, my body was preparing itself for labor; however, it could still be days, or even weeks, away. She advised me to go about my day as normal, so off to the market I went.

I was having irregular contractions throughout the MOPS meeting and continued to feel 'off.' The contractions were getting stronger and slightly more consistent, but still nothing to consider true labor just yet.

I got home from MOPS and we decided to head to the market and pick up some food, in case this was the "real thing." Walking through the market, I had to stop and breathe & slightly sway my hips through contractions. It was then that I knew we would be meeting our baby very soon.

When we got home from the market, around 2:45pm I decided to rest a little bit, since I was starting to feel the effects of 3 hours sleep the night before. I laid down on the couch while Mr. Lukie took care of some last minute details around the house. Because I was only 36 weeks 6 days pregnant at this point, we really felt that we would have plenty of time to finish everything before little Ella's arrival. (Hence the reason our master bathroom is still half painted, 19 days after starting it...)

I stood up to use the restroom and felt some pressure and then a gush of water. I looked up at Mr. Lukie, who was in the kitchen putting groceries away, and told him I needed a towel. He gave me a weird look and asked what I needed a towel for. I smiled and told him that my water had just broken, and that we would be meeting our baby soon.

[Part II to follow...]

Introducing. . .Baby Lukie!

2011-09-23T15:17:00.000-07:00

Ella Grace

Born 9.21.11 at 8:42am

5lbs 10oz

19 3/4" 

SURPRISE!!

Ella decided to make an early appearance at 37 weeks! Mama was in labor for 16 hours, but Ella was worth every single second of it. 

Ella & Mama are doing wonderfully! We are spending lots of time getting to know one another. Daddy is insanely in love with Ella & she already has him wrapped around her teeny, tiny little finger.

Ella's birth story is being worked on & will be posted soon, but in the meantime, it's back to snuggling and loving this precious little girl for us :)

Stream of Consciousness

2011-09-19T12:42:00.000-07:00

I cannot wait to see your face, little one...

...what features did you inherit from me? From your father?

...are you really a darling baby girl, as I've been feeling all along? Or are you a sweet baby boy?

I cannot wait to watch your Daddy, whose hands will be the first to ever touch you, pull you from my body and present you to me, using your name.

I cannot wait to watch you take your first breath of air and let out that tiny, mewing cry.

Or to crawl up my body and find the nourishment that only Mama can provide. Such a beautiful moment in time, I am sure.

But in all of this, I am desperately trying to push away a darkness that is lingering on the periphery.

Your daddy has been at work for 3 days. He comes home tomorrow.

Thankfully.

I never realized before how much he calms my nerves. Lessens my insecurities. Rids my mind of negative thoughts. Alleviates anxiety.

I'm realizing it all today, though. And you will realize it one day, too.

I'm not normally an anxious person. Excitable, yes. But never anxious. I'm new to this buzzing sensation flowing through my veins, my head pounding, breath shortening.

Panic. Fear. Anxiety.

37 weeks. 2 days away. Full term. I want to meet you, precious one who has been growing in my womb, knit together there by our Creator for the past 9 months.

Soon enough, I am sure.

36w2d - Home Stretch!

2011-09-15T14:01:00.000-07:00

How far along? 36 weeks, 2 days (pics taken at 36w1d)

Total weight gain/loss? According to my records: +26lbs. According to my OB's records: +21lbs. (I had a loss of 2lbs over the past 2 weeks. My OB & midwife aren't concerned about it & said it is common in the last few weeks of pregnancy to lose/maintain, rather than gain)

Maternity clothes? I will no longer be changing the answer to this question, because it's obvious: YES.

Stretch marks? Still nothing!

Sleep? When I take a warm bath just before bed with epsom salts & lavender essential oils, I sleep like no other--it's amazing! When I don't, I sleep just so-so. But sometimes, finding the time to get that bath in is ridiculously hard.

Best moment last week? The Fire Wives threw me a baby shower after the 9/11 Ceremony at the fire station. We got a lot of really nice things and the shower was really nice, too :)

Movement? Non-stop. Still.

Symptoms? Typical 3rd trimester stuff. It's just so not even worth listing out anymore.

Food cravings? Stillllllll waiting for one...

Gender? We will find out on Birth Day :)

Labor signs? Braxton Hicks that are painful now. My abs/stomach is SO sore from them :(

Belly button in/out? Outie! I have a very shallow belly button (who knew?) and it looks like it's been turned inside out. Kinda funny :)

What I miss: Not having my body commented on, on a daily basis, without having asked for an opinion in the first place :) And as smug as this might sound, I'm really, really missing not be asked 3 times a day when my baby is due, if it is a boy or a girl, and if we have any names picked out. I know people mean well and are just making conversation, but dang!

The comments about how "tiny" I am are.not.flattering. They're annoying. They may mean well, but 1- I don't FEEL tiny, 2- I'm measuring exactly as I should be, even a bit ahead, 3- my weight gain is quite healthy, 3- thanks for making me paranoid & wonder if everything is okay with my baby.

What I am looking forward to: Belated birthday lunch with girlfriends. The first MOPS meeting of the year. Being full term.

Milestones: 9 months pregnant and in the home stretch!

35w2d - 35 Weeks Down/35 Days To Go!

2011-09-08T21:39:00.000-07:00

34w2d


34w2d - In Minnesota

35w1d

How far along? 35 weeks, 2 days (pics taken at 35w1d)

Total weight gain/loss? According to my records: +28lbs. According to my OB's records: +23lbs.

Maternity clothes? I will no longer be changing the answer to this question, because it's obvious: YES.

Stretch marks? Still nothing!

Sleep? Toss & turn, toss & turn. My ribs on the right side, both front & back, are KILLING me. Baby L is still hanging out on my right side, so I'm attributing it to that.

Best moment last week? My super sweet hubby threw me a Labor Day/Birthday BBQ at our house for my 29th birthday!

Movement? Non-stop. I'm freaking out at the prospect of having a baby that doesn't sleep.

Symptoms? Typical 3rd trimester stuff.

Food cravings? Nope, none. Man, I was really looking forward to TRUE cravings while being pregnant, but haven't had a single one. Everyone kept saying, "Just wait! They'll come later in your pregnancy!" Still waiting.

Gender? We will find out on Birth Day :)

Labor signs? Braxton Hicks that are painful now. My abs/stomach is SO sore from them :(

Belly button in/out? Outie! I have a very shallow belly button (who knew?) and it looks like it's been turned inside out. Kinda funny :)

What I miss: Today? My husband. Just one of those days that I would have loved to have just laid around & snuggled.

What I am looking forward to: Midwife appointment tomorrow. I pray to God she tells me that all signs point to Baby L making an appearance early.

Milestones: I hit 35/35 (35 weeks/35 days left). Amen!

34w5d - 38 Days!

2011-09-04T19:29:00.000-07:00

{Sorry for the lack of photos today--I was gifted a new laptop from work for my birthday & haven't yet installed the operating system, so I can't save photos. I'll post them with my 35 week post}

How far along? 34 weeks, 5 days

Total weight gain/loss? According to my records: +26lbs. According to my OB's records: +21lbs.

Maternity clothes? I will no longer be changing the answer to this question, because it's obvious: YES.

Stretch marks? Still nothing!

Sleep? I'm up every 2 hours to use the restroom. Sometimes I fall right back to sleep, other times, I just lie there. But I'm starting to get used to the lack of sleep & am not feeling as zombie like in the morning when I don't sleep well. Mother Nature's way of prepping me for the life of a new mama :)

Best moment last week? I spent 4 days in Minnesota with my family, which was really nice. It was fun to share Baby L with them. My 6-year old sister just kept saying, "Sissy, you looked a lot skinnier last time I saw you..."

We had our last HypnoBabies class last week, too. Woohoo! We graduated and now just have our practice work to do every day until time to use it.

Movement? This changes weekly! Still lots of movement, but the movements themselves are slower--no longer jabbing, but rolling. And just today, I saw a little fit stick out wayyyy on my ride side, in my oblique.

Symptoms? Typical 3rd trimester stuff. I'm just generally uncomfortable at almost all times. (I have a very short torso, thus, I've run out of room faster than most of you long torso-ed mamas do). Honestly? I don't know how I can possibly make it another 6-8 weeks of being pregnant.

Food cravings? Food is just...annoying these days. I can eat a few bites of things here & there, but that's the extent of it. So mostly, I eat all day long.

Gender? We will find out on Birth Day :)

Labor signs? Braxton Hicks. Lots of pelvic pressure.

Belly button in/out? Outie! I have a very shallow belly button (who knew?) and it looks like it's been turned inside out. Kinda funny :)

What I miss: Being able to sit comfortably. Or lie down comfortably. Or stand comfortably. I think you get the idea...

What I am looking forward to: My birthday. My "Fire Wife" baby shower.

Milestones: Baby L is between 4.5 and 5 lbs and anywhere from 18 to 20 inches long now! Only 3 weeks until I'm considered "full term" and only 6 weeks until my "guess date." WOW!

32w2d & 33w3d - Playing Catch Up

2011-08-26T16:34:00.000-07:00

32w2d

33w2d

How far along? 33 weeks, 3 days (pics taken 32w2d & 33w2d)

Total weight gain/loss? According to my records: +26lbs. According to my OB's records: +21lbs.

Maternity clothes? There is nothing more depressing than packing for a trip to a locale where the weather is the complete opposite of the season of maternity clothing you have. It's summertime here, folks (like, 111* summertime today), and it was going to be in the high 30's in Montana last week. Jeans that won't budge past your quads call for a breakdown in the middle of the closet, and an amazing husband who insists on an immediate trip to Motherhood Maternity for 2 new pair of jeans and a cute top. Husband of the Year <3

Short answer: YES, everything I freaking wear is maternity.

Stretch marks? Still nothing!

Sleep? It's hit or miss. I mean, getting up every 2-3 hours to use the restroom is standard (and has been since about 28 weeks). Some nights, I fall right back to sleep with no problem & no tossing & turning. Other nights, I feel like an insomniac.

Best moment last week? We spent 1 blissful week in Big Sky, Montana. It was a work trip for me (woohoo! Didn't pay for much of anything out of pocket!) and the mister got to tag along. We went fly fishing and had an amazing time. I'll do a separate post on this later in the week, but...neither of us were ready to come home. At all.

Movement? Still lots of movement, but starting to slow a bit. Baby L is running out of room in there & it's starting to show in his/her movements.

Symptoms? Your typical 3rd trimester stuff going on, really. Lately, it's been a lot of Baby L poking my cervix, which, for those of you who don't know what that feels like, feels JUST LIKE what goes on at your annual womanly appointment. Yeah, except it happens repeatedly, over the course of, oh...every day.

Food cravings? Cantaloupe!

Gender? We will find out on Birth Day :)

Labor signs? Aside from the fact that baby is resting ON my pubic bone & couldn't possibly get any lower without putting me into labor? No.

Belly button in/out? Outie! I have a very shallow belly button (who knew?) and it looks like it's been turned inside out. Kinda funny :)

What I miss: Seeing my feet. I wasn't aware it was time for a pedicure until it was pointed out to me ;)

What I am looking forward to: Spending some time with my mama & 6-year old sister in Minnesota for a few days. My birthday. And then? Then, hopefully, pure relaxation until Baby L graces us with his/her appearance.

Milestones: Baby L is now about 19.5 inches long & weighs 4.5 pounds, and will be adding half a pound to his/her weight each week until d-day from here on out!

Not Here Today...

2011-08-16T07:44:00.000-07:00

Nope, I'm not...but you can find me over at Maegan's blog, "Chesterrific." I'm being featured for today's Summertime Essentials post!

31w2d - Feelin' Large

2011-08-11T13:56:00.000-07:00

How far along? 31 weeks, 2 days (pics taken 31w1d)

Total weight gain/loss? According to my records: +23lbs. According to my OB's records: +18lbs. (So last week, apparently my calculations were way off...whoops! It wasn't a 5 pound gain in 2 weeks...just a 2 pound gain in 2 weeks, which is right on track)

Maternity clothes? Seriously? I couldn't stick my pinky toe into non-mat clothes if I wanted to.

Stretch marks? Still nothin'.

Sleep? It's horrendous. So much so that we came home 1 day early from our Babymoon because after 1 night there, I just couldn't sleep and ended up in tears at 1am because of it :( Logging an interrupted 3 hours of sleep over the course of 24 hours is no bueno.

Best moment last week? Throwing my BFF's Baby Sprinkle!

Movement? Pure insanity, I tell you! We're both still in awe of watching my belly just roll around and contort in all sorts of positions.

Symptoms? Same ol' same ol'...add achey hips to the ever expanding list. Oh, and how come no one ever told me that it would become difficult to, um, use toilet paper after using the restroom at some point?

Food cravings? None.

Gender? We will find out on Birth Day :)

Labor signs? Just Braxton Hicks a few times a week.

Belly button in/out? Outie all the way...and you know what? I love it!

What I miss: Being able to tie my own shoes :)

What I am looking forward to: Our week long vacation/work trip for me to Big Sky, Montana with hundreds of CrossFitters!

Milestones: Baby L is now about 18 inches long and weighs over 3 pounds!

**At my midwife appointment today, I mentioned the pelvic pressure I've been feeling (since everyone I talk to tells me it's "too early" for me to be feeling that "as a first timer"). After palpating my uterus, my midwife confirmed that Baby L's head is sitting directly on my symphysis pubis. We chatted briefly about pre-term labor and the signs/symptoms that accompany it. She's not worried at this point, but was definitely shocked to see how low Baby L is with 9 more weeks to go.

I measured exactly at 31 weeks today & all of my vitals are perfect. Baby L stretches from my pubic bone, up to directly under my diaphragm and is in the "ready" position for delivery. I just pray that Baby L stays in this position for the next 9 weeks and isn't just being a tease ;) Heart rate was in the 140's, for those of you who like to use the heart rate as an indicator of gender.

Pregnancy Brain

2011-08-07T19:01:00.000-07:00

Baby Lukie has taken over my brain. It's a scientific fact that a woman's brain shrinks (or something like that) when she is pregnant. And the effects of Pregnancy Brain have found a place to call home, and don't seem to be leaving any time soon. Just a few examples:

-I went to Target and bought, oh, half a shopping cart full of necessities {I assure you each and every item purchased was needed, because I never go to Target & purchase anything that isn't needed. HA!} I paid the sweet cashier, she handed me my change & receipt, and I nearly walked out of the store with an empty shopping cart. Oh, yes. I left all 7 of my bags at the register.

-I went to get a much needed manicure & pedicure before our {terrible, no good, awful} cruise way back in February. {I know, I never blogged about our cruise. Perhaps because it wasn't any fun, and I didn't want to bring anyone down with a sob story about how I despise cruises and hope to never go on one again...even though I'll have to again next February for work} Anyway, I get done with my nail appointment and walk out to the car. I search, search, search for my keys, to no avail. I retrace my steps. I go back into the salon & ask if they have seen my keys. Nope. I start to panic, slightly. Walk back to my car, yank on the door handle and, wouldn't you know it? My keys were in the ignition!

-We went to Lake Havasu for the 4th of July holiday. We were out on the boat and Mr. Lukie was digging through the ice chest looking for a bottle of water for me. He grabbed a huge chunk of ice that had melted together and tossed it out into the lake. Without even thinking about what I was about to say, I blurted out, "Oh my gosh! Ice floats?"

-Mr. Lukie needs to take August 13th off of work for our second to last birthing class. I have asked him, no less than 6 times, if he has requested or received August 13th off from work. He has answered me, no less than 6 times. Why can't I remember if he did or did not get it off?

-I feed the dogs almost every single morning. The brown dog has to take a special medicine every other day with breakfast. Her bowl is smaller than the black dogs bowl. I have the same routine every morning--remove the dog bowls from the top of the dog food container & put on countertop, unscrew container lid, set it on countertop, scoop out 1.5 cups of food for the black dog and 1 cup of food for the brown dog. If it is pill day, put the pill in the brown dogs bowl (the small one), set brown dogs bowl next to the water dish and set black dogs bowl next to the dining room table. After the dogs were done eating, I noticed that their bowls had been switched--and Mr. Lukie was at work, so I know he didn't touch them. I was nearly positive that the dogs were playing a trick on me, until I realized how silly that sounded...

-I take my wedding ring off when I work out. I put it in one of the same two spots every time I take it off. I can't tell you how many times I look down at my left hand while driving home from the gym and panic that my wedding ring is missing! Like, literally, freak out and SWEAR I *just* had it on and have no idea what I did with it.

I know I'm not the only one out there who has experienced the joys of Pregnancy Brain. Please tell me one of your own Pregnancy Brain stories so that I can redeem myself, even if only slightly.

30w2d - Only 68 Days To Go!

2011-08-04T16:02:00.000-07:00

How far along? 30 weeks, 2 days

Total weight gain/loss? According to my records: +27lbs. According to my OB's records: +22lbs. (For those of you keeping track, yes, that is a 5lb gain in 2 weeks. Ouch)

Maternity clothes? Seriously? I couldn't stick my pinky toe into non-mat clothes if I wanted to.

Stretch marks? Nada. I freaked out yesterday, sending a text to my mom & my BFF that the time had come and I had seen the beginnings of stretch marks. Turns out, it was just veins I saw. Dramatic, much?

Sleep? It's hit or miss these days. If I'm overly exhausted, I'll sleep incredibly well (but still wake up exhausted). If I'm feeling fine, my sleep is choppy & I'm up throughout the night--either pee related or insomnia related.

Best moment last week? Celebrating Mr. Lukie's birthday!

We saw the OB on Monday (remember when I was "sent to the principal's office" by my rude NP for declining the Glucose Tolerance Test? It was that follow up appointment). Anyway, he told me that it is my body and my pregnancy, and if I wish to decline the test because I had a postprandial test done with my midwife, that he fully supported my wishes. He FULLY supports our home birth decision, as well. I think we both walked out of that appointment feeling great :)

Movement? Nothing is slowing this little bugger down. S/he still loves to hang out on my right side, in my rib cage, and I find myself pushing Baby L down and away from my ribs multiple times a day--stubborn baby!

Also, Baby L is fond of hiccuping about once a day or so. I've been feeling this for the past 2 weeks, but at first, I couldn't figure out what that odd, rhythmic moving around was--I thought it was well timed kicking, and then realized it was the cutest little hiccups!

Symptoms? Achey feet. Peeing every 20 minutes. Pelvic pressure like no other (standing for any longer than 10 minutes warrants holding my belly up with my hands). Round ligament pain. Waddling. Fatigue has also made a reappearance. I just FEEL heavy and it takes a lot of work to lug my body around these days.

I've turned into Moody Mary lately (poor hubby). The worst part is that I KNOW I'm being irrational/crabby in the moment, but I just can't seem to help myself and I continue down the war path until I find myself in tears. It's ridiculous, really. I've never felt so out of control of my emotions in my life!

Food cravings? Nope. I'm actually having a lot of trouble eating these days--I'm just NOT hungry. I have to force myself to eat periodically throughout the day because I know Baby L needs the sustenance and nutrients. Protein has been especially hard to eat. If I could just eat grapes, cantaloupe and strawberries all day long, I would be a happy camper.

Gender? We will find out on Birth Day :)

Labor signs? Just Braxton Hicks a few times a week.

Belly button in/out? Apparently, the turkey is done! (I have a full blown outie going on--but only when I'm standing. When I sit, it is just flush with my stomach).

What I miss: The 2nd trimester. Man, those 3 months were bliss! I'm now beginning to understand women who don't enjoy pregnancy. I'm still enjoying being pregnant, but it's not as wonderful & fun as it was in the 2nd tri. Not even close.

What I am looking forward to: September. I'll be done with all of my traveling by then and can finally just relax. I'm so tired of being on the go & busy constantly.

Milestones: Baby L is weighing about 3 pounds and is measuring about 16 inches long. S/he opens her/his eyes when s/he's awake & closes them when s/he's sleeping.

29w2d - Whoa, Belly!

2011-07-28T23:06:00.000-07:00

If you want to see some CRAZY growth, check out last weeks profile of my bare belly versus this week. It's even freaking ME out how noticeable the difference is!

How far along? 29 weeks, 2 days

Total weight gain/loss? According to my records: +22lbs. We'll see what my OB says at my appointment next week...

I actually lost 1.5 pounds in the past 2 weeks. Nothing has really changed lifestyle-wise, so I'm not sure how/why I lost, but we'll see if anyone has anything to say about it. Baby is still moving like crazy & I'm still feeling great, so...

Maternity clothes? Most things are maternity these days.

Stretch marks? Nada.

Sleep? After going to the chiropractor last week, my sleep has taken a turn for the better! No more achey back/hips!

Although, the past few nights, I've woken myself up pretty regularly because I'm dreaming about our baby. Holding him, loving on him, nursing him. Yes, him. In my dreams, it's a he. And is it weird that I'm dreaming about nursing him?!

Best moment last week? Being adjusted by the chiropractor, definitely. And washing ALL of the baby laundry :)

Movement? Still all the time. I've begun doing my kick counts every day. You are supposed to feel your baby move 10 times over the course of 2 hours. My baby? Moves 10 times in 20 minutes, on average. Yeah...

Symptoms? Achey feet. Peeing every 20 minutes. Pelvic pressure like no other. Oh, and apparently, I've begun to waddle. (Thanks to everyone who has pointed that out!)

Food cravings? Nope.

Gender? We will find out on Birth Day :)

Labor signs? The Braxton Hicks have made a reappearance as of the past few days. My body is definitely prepping itself for Baby L's arrival!

Belly button in/out? Still half a half outie going on.

What I miss: This week? Lifting heavy weights.

What I am looking forward to: CrossFit Games this weekend! Mr. Lukie's birthday on Sunday <3

Milestones: Baby L is weighing about 2 3/4 pounds and is measuring about 16 inches long! Just fattening up over the next 11 weeks!

28w2d - Linea Negra & An Outie

2011-07-21T17:03:00.000-07:00

I decided to include a shot from the front this week, because you can see that stomach is at epic basketball proportions this way--you can't see that, though, from the profile shots ;)

How far along? 28 weeks, 2 days (pics taken at 28w1d)

Total weight gain/loss? According to my records: +20lbs. According to my OB's records: +15lbs.

Maternity clothes? Aside from my yoga pants, pretty much everything I wear is maternity these days. Very few non-mat things fit me. I walked out of the house yesterday wearing a non-mat tank top and didn't realize that about 2 inches of my belly was poking out! Note to self: ALWAYS do a once over in the mirror, even if said shirt fit you just last week...

Stretch marks? Nada.

Sleep? Apparently, my body is prepping me for those sleepless newborn nights :(

Best moment last week? Passing my glucose test with my midwife! My first Baby Shower!

Movement? Like crazy! I'm gonna miss feeling this sweet babe moving around inside of me once s/he's here.

Symptoms? Linea negra is back! Just slightly darker, but more noticeable to a strangers eye.

Had my first chiropractic appointment yesterday to see if he can help me with...oh, you know...WALKING like a normal person & without pain. As far as I'm concerned, the man is a godsend! Baby isn't on my sciatic nerve, but my sacrum is insanely overextended & is creating a ton of pressure on my L5 vertebrae, causing a lot of pain & discomfort. He gave me a minor adjustment yesterday & I will go back again on Friday for another minor adjustment. He thinks that's all I'll need in order to get my sacrum in the right spot & keep it there for the time being. Fingers crossed...

Food cravings? Nope.

Gender? We will find out on Birth Day :)

Labor signs? Nada.

Belly button in/out? It is SO weird. It's flat everywhere, except the right half, which has popped and become an outie. So...I have a half outie?

What I miss: My non-mat clothes. Sleep. Feeling comfortable, in general. Thighs that don't touch. Feeling thin.

What I am looking forward to: My next visit to the chiro.

Milestones: Baby L is about 2 1/4 pounds and 15 inches long! If s/he's going to have hair, it's there by now :)

On Hypnobabies - Part I

2011-07-17T15:59:00.000-07:00

I know. It sounds weird & totally 'out there.'

No, it doesn't involve clucking like a chicken or barking like a dog. Trust me, I was apprehensive about it at first, too. I'm quite strong willed & have always thought that there is no way I could be hypnotized. And then I learned that it's the strong willed who are the most easily hypnotized.

So, what is it, then? It's really not that easy to explain, but I'll do my best without getting too lengthy:

Hypnobabies is a method of childbirth preparation. It uses self-hypnosis {did you know that ALL hypnosis is self-hypnosis? No one can "put" you into hypnosis but you!}, imagery and deep relaxation techniques to reprogram the inner mind {in a positive way} to eliminate the Fear-Tension-Pain cycle that surrounds so many Western birthing experiences.

The Hypno-mom learns to put herself into a deeply relaxed state, using techniques learned over the 6 week course, and practiced daily until her birthing time {birthing time=labor & delivery, in Hypnobabies language...there are a lot of 'typical' words that are not used in Hypnobabies due to their negative connotations}. Hypno-mom creates a 'hypno-anesthesia' within her own body, but she is still able to walk, talk, eat, speak & interact with others, all while in a state of hypnosis. This enables her to an easier, more comfortable birthing time, one where pain medications are completely unnecessary.

Hypno-moms typically average 6 hour birthing times {from the very onset of pressure waves to the time baby is born--this includes first time moms, second time moms, VBAC moms, multiples moms, etc}, and Hypno-babies typically are born calm and quiet, latch on to Mama right away and without issue, and have the appearance of a c-section baby {you know--pretty, round head, unsquished face, no bruising, etc}.

I know. You still think I've taken the Granola Mama label too far.

I don't blame you.

When our midwife asked us what birthing classes we had looked into, it was quite obvious, at least to us, that we were going to take a Bradley class. It was really the only style that fit ours, so it was a no-brainer.

And then our midwife brought up Hypnobabies.

We told her we'd never heard of it and asked her to explain it a bit. The word 'hypnosis' came up a few times and I have to be honest and say that it made me feel weird and uncomfortable. There is no way in heck I am going to birth my baby under hypnosis! One of the main reasons I am opting for a drug free birth is so that I can be fully present and fully active in the birth of my baby. How would hypnosis allow for that?

We did some research and read nothing but amazing things about Hypnobabies. Mr. Lukie talked to one of the guys he works with whose wife just had a baby a few months ago. Turns out, they used Hypnobabies {but clearly, hadn't broadcast this information...and understandably so} and were so impressed and blown away by the difference between this birth and the birth of their first child. He said she had a very easy, very comfortable labor with no discomfort {just pressure}, and that she would, without a doubt, do it all over again the same way {her words...not his}.

All of this to say, we signed up for Hypnobabies and have now attended 2 of the 6 classes. After the first class, I was a little more on board than when I walked in. But after the second class? I am 100% convinced that this method will work for me and I am {dare I say...} looking forward to my birthing time so that I can use what I'm being taught in order to have an easier, more comfortable birth!

During one of the hypnosis sessions in class #2, I was encouraged to create hypno-anesthesia from the top of my breasts to the middle of my thighs, including my arms.

I did so.

I was then told that my birth partner (the hubs) would be doing some 'arm work' on me. I felt him messing with the top of my right forearm--I felt pressure and then light rubbing at three different times. I was asked after each session of 'arm work' whether I felt discomfort or pressure, and each time I responded with "pressure."

I then brought myself out of my hypnotic state. Our instructor then asked me if I felt ANY discomfort at any time during any of the arm work sessions and I explained to her that I was aware that he was doing something to my arm, but that no, there was no discomfort at any time, I merely felt pressure a few times, and then light rubbing.

She asked Mr. Lukie to please demonstrate exactly what he had done the three times before while I was in hypnosis to my arm. He pinched the top of my forearm so incredibly hard that not only did I jump and pull my arm away from him, but I screamed out, "Owwww!" and a large red welt was left behind for several minutes afterward.

True story.

No, he didn't "go easy" on me during the hypnosis session, or "go hard" on me during the demonstration when I was out of hypnosis. It was the same exact pinch...but I was not in a hypnotic state with my hypno-anesthesia going.

Pressure waves will definitely be stronger than a pinch to the forearm, of that I am fully aware. But the extent to which what I felt was diminished so significantly? I'm a believer.

I'm excited to follow this post up with one after Baby L arrives, giving a no-holds barred account of how the Hypnobabies method of child birthing works for us.

I'm pretty sure, though, that it will be a glowing review!

27w1d - Hellllllo 3rd Trimester!

2011-07-16T21:04:00.000-07:00

How far along? 27 weeks, 4 days (pic taken at 27w1d)

Total weight gain/loss? According to my records: +20lbs. According to my OB's records: +15lbs.

Maternity clothes? Aside from my yoga pants, pretty much everything I wear is maternity these days. Very few non-mat things fit me.

Stretch marks? Nada.

Sleep? I believe I entered the 3rd tri sleep blues last week.

Best moment last week? Starting our Hypnobabies birthing class {post alllll about it to come}.

Movement? Still ALL the time! Most especially in my right rib cage.

Symptoms? Poor sleep. Achey feet. Difficulty bending over. Difficulty putting shoes on {well, anything other than flip flops!}

Food cravings? Nope.

Gender? We will find out on Birth Day :)

Labor signs? Nada.

Belly button in/out? Flat...and it has the faintest beginnings of an outie. Stay tuned!

What I miss: Not being excluded from specific activities. I have been blessed with an amazing job. I was asked to be on a 'special' conference call last week with my boss & the other 4 girls from my team. We were told that we were being sent on an 8-day, all expenses paid trip to Alaska to go fishing & exploring by day, and to be pampered at luxurious accommodations by night--all because of our hard work & dedication over the past 6 months. Well, the trip has been planned for the middle to end of September...when I'll be 36 and 37 weeks pregnant...which means I have to bow out of this trip :(

What I am looking forward to: My first Baby Shower this weekend!

Milestones: I've entered the 3rd trimester! {Depending, of course, upon which source you look to. Some say I entered it at 25 weeks. Some say 27. Some say 28. And yet others say 30. Confusing much?}

26w2d - 96 Days To Go!

2011-07-07T11:12:00.000-07:00

How far along? 26 weeks, 2 days (pics taken 26w1d)

Total weight gain/loss? According to my records: +20lbs. According to my OB's records: 15lbs.

Maternity clothes? Aside from my yoga pants, pretty much everything I wear is maternity these days. Very few non-mat things fit me.

Stretch marks? Nada.

Sleep? Back to tossing & turning, arms falling asleep, and getting up to pee 3 to 4 times every night. I thought I still had a few weeks left before the uncomfortable sleep stage happened?

Best moment last week? Spending 4 days in Lake Havasu over the 4th of July weekend. It was the perfect, relaxing getaway!

Movement? Still ALL the time! I love it and know I'm going to miss feeling the jabs & kicks once Baby L is here.

Symptoms? Poor sleep. Achey feet.

Food cravings? Nope.

Gender? We will find out on Birth Day :) I'm still feeling girl, but baby was kicking me in the ribs really hard the other day, and without thinking, I said, "What are you doing in there, baby boy?" Hmmm...

Labor signs? Nada.

Belly button in/out? Flat. Just plain ol' flat & weird.

What I miss: Not being hot all the time!

What I am looking forward to: Date night to the local farm team baseball game on Friday night. Our first Hypnobabies birthing class on Saturday! Midwife appointment on Tuesday.

Milestones: 6.5 months pregnant! And under 100 days until Birth Day! {Today marks 96 days}. When I saw that on my weekly email from The Bump, I didn't know whether I should laugh or cry. These next 3 months are going to FLY by.

**A tale from the OB's office: I had an appointment with my NP yesterday. She measured me, listened to Baby's heartbeat, looked at my vitals in my chart & exclaimed, "You're the perfect pregnant woman! Girl, you were MADE to do this!" Sweet, right?

And then, she started asking if we were signed up for our birthing classes yet. {yes} And then, she started asking if I had started my kick counts yet. {nope. but apparently I have to start next week}. And then, she asked if I had scheduled my glucose tolerance test yet. {nope. and not gonna.}

The music came to a screech and you would have thought I told her that I have been using illicit drugs for the past 6.5 months. All hell broke loose & she kinda freaked out on me. I explained to her that I would be opting out of the glucose tolerance test, and explained my (many) reasons why. She then told me that I could opt out, but she will have to treat me as a diabetic patient & I will have to prick my finger twice a day & take medicine & follow a "very strict" diet, and is that what I wanted?

After Mr. Lukie spoke up, confirming once again that no, I would not be taking the test, but would instead be taking it with REAL FOOD (and not some syrupy, sugary drink) with our midwife next week, she cooled off a tiny bit. But not before she snidely said, "Ohhh...that's riiiiight. YOU'RE doing a home birth, aren't you?" And then she followed that up with, "Because of 'this,' you will now have to see the OB at your next appointment instead of me." {Darn. You mean I don't have to deal with your condescending words & lack of support?}

I can't wait to see my OB. I haven't seen him since my very first appointment, when I was 7w6d. And I can't wait to tell him all about how wonderfully his NP treats me, due to the choices I am making for MY baby. {Has she forgotten that I am the Mama here? This isn't HER pregnancy, HER baby, HER choice. It's mine.} Can't. Freaking. Wait.


Me & Baby L, soaking up a little Vitamin D while at Lake Havasu for the 4th of July.

If this isn't a proud Papa, I dunno what is ;)

25w2d - All Up In My Ribs

2011-06-30T15:47:00.000-07:00

How far along? 25 weeks, 2 days (pics taken 25w1d)

Total weight gain/loss? According to my records: +14lbs. According to my OB's records: 9lbs.{::ahem:: I know this will be changing very, very soon, as my next OB appointment is on Tuesday and I haven't weighed in since my last one, over 4 weeks ago. My guess? That I'm up to about +17 or so}

Maternity clothes? All bottoms. Most tops, though I do mix & match every so often.

Stretch marks? Nada.

Sleep? It's been fabulous lately! Except the past 2 mornings, I've woken up, stretched and...yep, gotten a gnarly calf cramp. I thought I was going to skip out on this "joy" of pregnancy, seeing how most of the other prenatal yoga mamas have been talking about it for weeks & weeks, yet I hadn't experienced it.

Best moment last week? Getting a MUCH needed massage, mani & pedi.

Movement? It's constant. I'm not sure when this child sleeps, seriously. If Baby l isn't keeping me up at night or waking me up in the morning with kicks, then s/he's all up in my ribs during the day!

Symptoms? Finding crumbs of food in between my boobs and the top of my bump. Calf cramps. Fatigue, rearing its ugly head again. (I think this is a combination of the heat...high 90's to low 100's...and nearing the 3rd trimester).

Food cravings? Still no "cravings" per se, but I can't get enough fresh fruit.

Gender? We will find out on Birth Day :)

Labor signs? Nada.

Belly button in/out? Flat. Just plain ol' flat & weird.

What I miss: Bending over like a normal person. Not constantly having stuff (food, paint, strings, you name it) on my belly & being unaware until I get home & look in the mirror. If I have a booger in my nose, or something in my teeth, I expect you, as my friend, to tell me. Same goes for something being on my belly, okay? Okay.

What I am looking forward to: 4th of July festivities with the hubby and good friends.

Milestones: I knew it would happen at some point, I just wasn't sure when. I hit the milestone of someone telling me, when ordering a tall, black iced tea, no sweetener, at Starbucks, that I should NOT be drinking caffeine while pregnant.

Unfortunately, I was caught completely off guard, but the 30-something male barista? He wasn't. Without skipping a beat, he turned to the older woman who made the comment to me, and said, "Actually, she can have between 200-300mg of caffeine per day without any harm to the baby." I wanted to reach across the counter and kiss him. Instead, I smiled at her, turned back to him, and mouthed a very big "THANK YOU!" and left a tip in his tip jar.

And for the record? I don't drink coffee. I don't eat chocolate. I love tea. But I only drink it 1-2 times per week, as a small treat. Some weeks, I don't drink it at all, and other weeks, I drink it more often than that. I've done my research and I feel perfectly fine with my decision. Would I REALLY put *MY* baby in harms way? Exactly.

What's In My Fridge? I'll Show You!

2011-06-27T13:31:00.000-07:00

Caroline, over at The Feminist Housewife, posed a question today--"What's In Your Fridge?" Then she sorta dared her readers to post photos of...you guessed it...what is in their fridge.

Had this occurred 3 days ago, my fridge would have been stocked full of super delish things; however, 3 days covers A LOT of food in this house (especially when your hubby has to pack 3 days worth of food in his cooler to take to work for a 72 hour shift...), so I'm afraid my fridge is a bit bare. That's okay, you can get a general idea of what is typically in my fridge.

Without further ado... My Fridge:


Top shelf are my "fats": freshly ground almond butter, almonds, avocados & a few Brown Cow (full fat with cream top...Mmmm!) yogurts. Middle shelf are my "ready to eat" foods: cantaloupe, pineapple, sliced/baked chicken breast, strawberries (hiding) and cauliflower.

String cheese, shredded cheese, steak strips, sliced turkey deli meat (hiding is bacon).


Top shelf: eggs, left over spaghetti squash in marinara, defrosted tri-tip. Middle shelf: chopped up broccoli and brussels sprouts in the clear bins. There is the very top of a lone Coors Light poking out in the back (that has been in there for, oh, I don't know, 6 months?) and a small thing of Sicilian olives on top of the brussels sprouts.

Pull out drawer: red & yellow peppers, mushrooms, squash, baby carrots, butter lettuce and baby lettuce (hiding).


Bottom pull out drawer: oranges & apples.

Door: calcium/magnesium supplement in liquid form, capers, bleu cheese stuffed olives, heavy whipping cream, 2 bottles of liquid fish oil (tangerine flavor...Mmmm!), bottled water, whole milk, various sauces (worcestershire, ketchup, sweet chili), bottles of G2, doggy fish oil & a random bottle of blueberry pancake syrup.

Top lift up thingy: unsalted butter, ghee & hummus.

And there you have it. We don't have much in our pantry, because we eat fresh, organic, whole foods, but our freezer is filled with lean meats and a bag of frozen berries for protein shakes. Pretty boring.

Sooo...What's In Your Fridge? If you decide to participate, let me know!

24w2d - 6 Months!!

2011-06-23T14:25:00.000-07:00

How far along? 24 weeks, 2 days (pics taken 24w1d)

Total weight gain/loss? According to my records: +14lbs. According to my OB's records: 9lbs.

Maternity clothes? All bottoms. Most tops, though I do mix & match every so often.

Stretch marks? Nada.

Sleep? It's getting better, but still not ideal.

Best moment last week? Getting our new couch. Teaching my first CrossFit class as head coach. Mr. Lukie feeling a really hard kick & then watching my stomach move & roll & contort into all sorts of odd positions while Baby L wriggled around in there.

Movement? Alllllll the time!

Symptoms? Itchy belly. And I swear that I can literally feel my rectus abdominis separating, which is quite uncomfortable. Watching it happen over the course of this pregnancy has been...interesting, to say the least.

Food cravings? Back to having a sweet tooth again, but nothing I'd count as a craving.

Gender? We will find out on Birth Day :)

Labor signs? Just some BH here & there. Nothing major though.

Belly button in/out? Flat on the bottom, have a tiny bit to go on the top before it is 100% flat.

What I miss: It's officially bikini season here in the desert of Southern California...and I miss feeling thin/cute in one.

What I am looking forward to: A girls day this weekend. Heading to the river for 4 days in the coming weeks to relax & lounge!

Milestones: I've hit the 6 month mark! Last month of my second trimester--how did that happen? Baby L is now measuring in at about 13.5 inches long and weighs close to 2 pounds!

**I sent this pic via text to my Mama yesterday. She shared it with my 6-year old sister. Her response? "Mama, that doesn't look like Sissy's face at all." Ahem. Tell me how a 6-year old notices that her sisters face is fuller? Dang those observant kidfolk!

On the same account, I can't help but think this is the cutest darn picture ever--she wanted to show me that she can look like Sissy, too!

You don't think she's a sassy little thing, do you? And believe you me, I have NO idea *who* she gets it from ;)

23w3d - Oh, Baby!

2011-06-17T23:02:00.000-07:00

How far along? 23 weeks, 3 days

Total weight gain/loss? According to my records: +14lbs. According to my OB's records: 9lbs.

Maternity clothes? All bottoms. Most tops, though I do mix & match every so often.

Stretch marks? Nada.

Sleep? It's really hit or miss these days. I miss the days when I went to bed & woke up in the same position I fell asleep in...

Best moment last week? Throwing a "sprinkle" for my girlfriend who is expecting her 2nd little girl on July 11th. Receiving the invite in the mail for my Baby Shower next month--can't wait!

Movement? Still all the time :) We played "tag" yesterday--I pushed on my belly where s/he is and then s/he would kick me back in that exact spot. Sooo cute!

Symptoms? Nothing major, these days. Except that I'm totally feeling, like, truly pregnant now. Bending over & getting out of bed are getting to be quite interesting tasks. Oh, and that pesky round ligament pain has made a reappearance, with a vengeance.

Food cravings? Fresh fruit! Grapes, cantaloupe, kiwi, strawberries... Finally, my sweet tooth has gone away (for now).

Gender? We will find out on Birth Day.

Labor signs? Just some BH here & there. Nothing major though.

Belly button in/out? Flat on the bottom, have a tiny bit to go on the top before it is 100% flat. Which, then, will move on to a total outie, of this I am positive.

What I miss: My thighs not touching. And that's all I care to say about that.

What I am looking forward to: CrossFit SoCal Regionals this weekend! Getting our new couch!

Milestones: Baby L's face is fully formed now, minus the additional fat that s/he will gain over the next 17 weeks!

**At our midwife appointment on Tuesday, Baby L's heartbeat was 136...the lowest it has been yet! I'm curious to see what it is at my next OB appointment in a few weeks. Also, I measured at 24-25 weeks yesterday. Back to measuring 1-2 weeks ahead, again. Baby L's arrival shall be a huge surprise for us all, it seems! {This also makes me laugh, because so many people like to tell me how "tiny" I am for how far along in my pregnancy I am}.

22w1d - Once Upon A Time, I Had A Flat Stomach...

2011-06-09T16:06:00.000-07:00

**Disclaimer to the title of this post: I am not, in any way, saying that I don't LOVE my bump. It's just amazing to me how the body works--17 weeks ago, I had a six pack, and here I am with a burgeoning belly that will continue to get bigger for another 18 weeks. The human body blows my mind! (I felt the need to explain this, seeing how several comments on my 22w picture on Facebook had me feeling like people thought I was resentful of my belly or something...?)

How far along? 22 weeks, 2 days (pic was taken at 22w1d)

Total weight gain/loss? According to my records, +13lbs. According to my OB's records, +8lbs. I think I'm liking my OB's records much better ;)

Maternity clothes? All bottoms. Most tops, though I do mix & match every so often.

Stretch marks? Nada.

Sleep? Getting better. Loving my pregnancy pillow. And I realized that over the past 2 weeks, I've only worked out 2 or 3 times each week...and my sleep has been suffering greatly for the past 2 weeks. I think this majorly has something to do with it--when I'm working out 4 times each week, plus 1 prenatal yoga class thrown in, I sleep SO much better.

Best moment last week? Mr. Lukie felt the baby for the first time from the outside! The crib & dresser/changer came in...pictures as soon as we put them together :)

Movement? All the time! Baby L is definitely developing a sleep pattern and can always be felt moving around between 8am and 11am and then again from about 8pm to 11pm. Of course, there are times where I feel him/her moving around in between those times as well, but that is when s/he's totally rockin' out in there. I am startled from time to time with a kick or a punch down low, but it always makes me smile. (Feeling baby as I type this, and it's 4pm...see?)

Oh, and we're definitely SEEING baby move these days. It's fun to sit on the couch at night and just watch my stomach bop around all over the place :) I've tried to video it a few times, but, in true Baby L fashion, can never catch it on camera.

Symptoms? Nothing major, these days.

Food cravings? Flour tortillas with butter on them, warmed up in the microwave. (Pre-pregnancy, I hadn't eaten a tortilla in months and months!)

Gender? We will find out on Birth Day. Lots of predictions going around lately and I think it's split pretty evenly!

Labor signs? I haven't had many BH in the past few weeks. Wondering if that correlates to my lack of working out in the past few weeks? Interesting...

Belly button in/out? Oh, it's getting flat. Flat flat flat!

What I miss: Having something "cute" to wear when getting together with girlfriends. Being complimented on looking cute and FEELING cute are 2 completely and totally different things. I'm tired of wearing the same 3 things over & over. And sure, "summer dresses! flowy skirts!" are great suggestions, until it is 50 degrees outside and you can't wear those things. Sooo...yeah.

What I am looking forward to: Throwing my girlfriends baby sprinkle on Saturday! Next midwife appointment. Getting the built in closet in the nursery installed. CrossFit SoCal Regionals!

Milestones: Mr. Lukie feeling baby move. Super, super excited about that!

**Oh, and one more thing I have to share. A friend commented to me the other day that my belly pics on Facebook are getting "R-Rated." I asked her what she meant by that & she just said they were starting to look a little 'risque,' what with the "lines" that go down my sides and point to my 'you-know-what.' Am I missing something here? Those are my ab/oblique muscles and I can't really do much about it. They appear to be much less noticeable this week than previous weeks, but, I can't help but feel like she was telling me that I basically should stop posting bare belly pics...

21w1d

2011-06-02T11:35:00.000-07:00

How far along? 21 weeks, 1 day

Total weight gain/loss? According to my records, +13lbs. According to my OB's records, +8lbs. I think I'm liking my OB's records much better ;)

Maternity clothes? All bottoms. Most tops, though I do mix & match every so often.

Stretch marks? I had a minor freak out yesterday. I looked down at my sides and saw these squiggly little white lines up & down BOTH sides. They appeared out of nowhere! And then...well, then I realized that it was my air brush tan sloughing off. ::ahem:: Stretch mark status is still none.

Sleep? Pretty crappy and it's making me pretty crabby. I don't know if Baby is waking me up every morning at 4:50am or if it's Mr. Lukie's new snoring thing (what the heck? I thought it was pregnant women who take up snoring for a bit, not their husbands), but whatever it is, it needs to stop, because it makes for a grumpy Mama.

Best moment last week? Seeing the sweetest, most adorable baby EVER at our 20 week ultrasound. Getting new carpet! Ordering the crib & changer. A little weekend getaway to Tubac, Arizona for a wedding.

Movement? All the time :) My NP commented yesterday at my appointment how much this little one is moving around. I'm a little nervous that this is a sign of what is in store for us. And...the dancing on my cervix? Talk about uncomfortable. Baby L, please keep dancing away in there, but...could you find a stage that isn't my cervix to do so on?

Symptoms? Sleep is terrible. Starting to get a little lower back pain if I sit or stand in any one position for too long. Other than that, still feeling great.

Food cravings? Gobstoppers.

Gender? We will find out on Birth Day.

Labor signs? Just the super fun Braxton Hicks that like to visit every so often. Still.

Belly button in/out? Still just chillin', as shallow as can be.

What I miss: Nada!

What I am looking forward to: Getting the crib & changer! Once those items are in, we can get the nursery set up. Then, we'll pick out the glider & the rest will wait until Baby L makes his/her appearance.

Milestones: Baby weighs three quarters of a pound and is 10.5" long! Grow, baby, grow!

Gender Prediction

2011-05-30T06:15:00.000-07:00

So after our big ultrasound on Wednesday, there has been a lot of speculation amongst the two of us, as well as amongst friends on Facebook. The ratio of "It's A Girl!" to "It's A Boy!" seems fairly even right now, but it will be very interesting to see how that all works out as the next 20 weeks go by.

For the record, I am still thinking GIRL...and Mr. Lukie is totally thinking BOY.

I thought it'd be 'fun' to do one of the gender prediction things I've seen float around on other blogs...

Sleep Position
Pay attention to which way you lay down in bed tonight. If you prefer sleeping on your left side, you’ll have a boy. Right side? You're pregnant with a girl. Right - GIRL.

Upset Stomach
Little girls aren’t always sweet. Extreme nausea means you are having a daughter. I had it easy - BOY.

Soft or Dry Hands
If your hands are dry during pregnancy, you are having a boy; soft—expect a girl. Drier than dry - BOY.

Food Cravings
Your favorite pregnancy foods may tell you what sex the baby is. If you’re craving citrus while pregnant, you’re having a girl. No citrus cravings - BOY.

Adult Acne
If altering hormones makes your skin break out, expect a girl. Looking like a teen these days - GIRL.

Graceful or Clumsy Pregnancy
If you feel as though you’re gliding through the day, you’ll have a girl. Stumbling? It’s a boy. Gliding, for once - GIRL.

Face Weight Gain
If your face gets fuller, it means you’re having a girl. Fuller, unfortunately - GIRL.

Sugar and Spice Food Cravings
Craving salt during pregnancy? Potato chips, pretzels, and popcorn means a boy is on the way. Need a little something sweet? Ice cream, chocolate, and candy means you’re having a girl. Sweets, sweets, sweets - GIRL.

Mood Changes
If you’re experiencing pregnant mood swings, expect a baby girl to arrive soon. Mood swings in full effect - GIRL.

High or Low Pregnant Belly
If you’re carrying the baby low on your stomach, expect a boy. If it’s high, you’re having a girl. Low - BOY.

Baby Weight
If you’re carrying the baby in front, it’s a boy. Is the baby weight spaced all around your middle? It’s a girl. In front, thank goodness - BOY.

Pendulum Test
Dangle a chain with a charm over your palm. It swings back and forth: boy. In a circle: girl. Circle - GIRL.

Model Your Hands
“Show me your hands.” If you would hold your hands palms up, it’s a girl. Down? You’re having a boy. Palms up - GIRL.

Toddler Advice
Get baby advice from a nephew or from a friend’s little boy. If a toddler boy shows interest in your belly, you’ll have a girl. If he ignores you, it’s a boy. Ignores, completely - BOY.

Eat Garlic
Guess the baby’s sex by eating garlic. If the smell seeps out of your pores, it’s a boy. If there’s no scent, it’s a little girl. No scent - GIRL.

Key to Pregnancy
If you pick up a key by the round end, you’re having a boy. If you pick it up by the long end? A girl. Round end - BOY.

Even and Odd Numbers
If your age and year of conception are both even or odd, it’s girl. One even and one odd means a boy. I was 28 and it was 2011 - BOY.

Baby’s Heartbeat
If the baby’s heart beats more than 150 times per minute, you’re pregnant with a girl. Less than 150, it’s a boy. 149 at the last appointment - BOY.

Stress Test
A child tends to be of the same sex as the parent who is less stressed at the time of conception. It's a toss up, neither of us were stressed at all - NEUTRAL.

Dream Meanings
If you dream about having a girl while pregnant, you will wind up having a boy and vice versa. Girl dreams abound - BOY.

Breast Size
If your right breast is larger than the left while pregnant, you are having a girl. If the left is larger, it’s a baby boy. No details needed - GIRL.

TOTAL GIRL: 10

TOTAL BOY: 10

TOTAL NEUTRAL: 1

Looks like we'll have to wait until Birth Day to find out ;)

The BIG Ultrasound

2011-05-28T08:22:00.000-07:00

We had our "big" ultrasound on Wednesday. It was one of the coolest things, ever! Mr. Lukie hasn't seen the baby since it was 8 weeks, when it looked like a little blob, so seeing an actual BABY on the screen got him all sorts of excited. It was adorable.

Mr. Lukie's favorite part of the 45 minute ultrasound? Watching the baby open & close its mouth, over and over. Adorable.

My favorite part of the 45 minute ultrasound? Seeing that beautiful heart flut-flut-fluttering. It still amazes me that a heartbeat can be seen at 6 weeks on ultrasound, and it just continues to beat & beat, for the rest of its sweet little life.

And now, I'd like to introduce you to sweet Baby L:

Baby L's head, body, booty, legs & spine.

Baby L's face--the big black hole on the left is the forehead, then there are 2 eyes underneath, a nose, and a tiny black hole which is the mouth (which kept opening & closing over & over throughout the u/s--so cute!)

Footprint! (Some friends on FB thought this was a shot of 2 legs with something in between...I hate to disappoint, but there will be no revealing of the gender to ANYONE until birth day. Mama & Daddy included!)

Profile shot of Baby L. Do you see the head & torso? Good. Now, do you see where it looks like the baby is folded in half at the hips, with its legs parallel to its body, and its little feet up and OVER it's head? Yeah. So we pretty much watched baby get into this position and I realized that this is what I feel baby doing, most of the time. Crazy!

20w1d - Halfway There!

2011-05-26T14:55:00.000-07:00

How far along? 20 weeks, 1 day

Total weight gain/loss? +12lbs

Maternity clothes? All the time with bottoms (unless I'm in yoga pants, a maxi dress, or a skirt with a full elastic waist). I went shopping & bought several maternity shirts because all of my shirts are too short or just too tight. Feeling MUCH better in clothing--just wishing I had made the switch to maternity clothes much sooner. I know for next time ;)

Stretch marks? Nope. And that linea negra I was freaking out about? It hasn't gotten any darker at all. In fact, it's hardly noticeable now. Or maybe I'm used to it. Either way...

Sleep? Terrible. I bought a pregnancy pillow at BRU yesterday & slept with it for the first time last night. Oh my heavens, is it a Godsend!

Best moment last week? Midwife appointment--she is very pleased with where my weight is, which makes me feel great, because I just wasn't sure where I should be at 20 weeks. Watched a high school production of "Hello, Dolly!" Met up with the besties for dinner.

Movement? All the time now :) It seems to be much more significant over the past week--sometimes startling me!

Symptoms? If I hold my bladder for too long, I get the most horrific pain in my abdomen. That's interesting, and was a good lesson to learn. Braxton Hicks a few times a week.

Food cravings? Nope.

Gender? We will find out on Birth Day.

Labor signs? Just the super fun Braxton Hicks that like to visit every so often. Still.

Belly button in/out? Still just chillin', as shallow as can be.

What I miss: Mmm...nothing. Though, it's funny. I saw a picture of me from a few months before I got pregnant. I honestly forgot what my stomach looked like flat. And now, I realize how thin/fit I was. Odd that I didn't realize it until I had a big ol' belly.

What I am looking forward to: A weekend getaway with my love.

Milestones: We're halfway, baby!! (I don't know why I'm pretending to be happy about this. The honest to goodness truth is that I'm sad about this. I love being pregnant and the time is going by far too quickly. As much as I would love to meet this sweet babe, I'm not ready to be at the halfway point. I realize I won't be saying this around 36 weeks or so, but...it's how I'm feeling now).

20 week ultrasound pictures coming soon!

On Submission

2011-05-20T17:18:00.000-07:00

I am a lover of Gary Chapman. I just love his style and I love the way he relates Biblical teachings to those of us who feel a bit overwhelmed by interpreting scripture from time to time. He relates these things in words and ways that I understand and can apply to my daily life, and I love that. I am on his "Love Language Minute" mailing list, so I receive emails monthly that are always so full of great information and knowledge. The email I received this morning is too awesome to not share.

You see, I find that so many of my (believing and non-believing) friends have misconstrued what is truly meant, Biblically, to be 'submissive' to ones husband, and for the husband to be the 'head of the household.' Too often, I hear stories of husbands who have taken these words and twisted them on their wives and families for selfish reasons. Too often, I hear stories of wives who refuse to give their husbands control in decision making and leading the household, out of fear of being trapped and powerless. I hope that by sharing this email with you, you will understand what is truly meant by submitting ourselves to our husbands. I'm not oppressed. I'm not treated like a door mat and walked all over. I'm also not powerless, or unable (or not allowed!) to make decisions. I'm also not inferior to my husband, but am instead, his equal. We are in this marriage together, as one equal unit. Read on for more:

Most counselors agree that one of the greatest problems in marriage is decision-making. Visions of democracy dance in the minds of many young couples, but when there are only two voting members, democracy often results in deadlock. How does a couple move beyond deadlock? The answer is found in one word - love.

Love always asks the question, "What is best for you?" Love does not demand it's own way. Love seeks to bring pleasure to the one loved. That is why Christians should have less trouble making decisions than non-Christians. We are called to be lovers. When I love my wife, I will not seek to force my will upon her for selfish purposes.

Help in Love

The biblical idea of the husband being the head of the wife has been one of the most exploited concepts of the Bible. Christian husbands, full of self-will, have made all kinds of foolish demands of their wives under the authority of "The Bible says...." Headship does not mean that the husband has the right to make all the decisions and inform the wife of what is going to be done.

She is called to be a "helpmate". The word means "helper". How can she be a helper if she has no opportunity to share her ideas? "Two are better than one," the Scriptures say. That is certainly true in decision-making. Why would a husband want to make a decision limited to his own wisdom when God has given him a helper?

Together in Love

When Christians discuss husband/wife roles they often quote 1 Cor. 11:3 which says, "The head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man." They often stop quoting at that point, but the very next phrase says, "The head of Christ is God." Obviously referring to God the Father. Are God the Father, and God the Son equally God? Yes. Yet, within the trinity there is order.

As the head, does the Father ever force the Son to do anything? No. Does the Son ever act independently of the Father? No. There is perfect unity. That is the design for Christian marriage: husbands and wives working together as a team, with the husband as the recognized leader.

Submission in Love

I am fully aware that many contemporary Christians reject the idea of male leadership in the marriage. I think it is because they miss-understand the biblical concept of 'headship'. Male leadership in the home has nothing to do with superiority. It has to do with order among equals. God's design is that the husband will love his wife as Christ loves the church and make every sacrifice for her well-being.

Headship does not mean that the husband is more intelligent than the wife. It does not mean that the man is more valuable than the woman. And, it does not mean that the husband is to be a dictator. The great need of our day is for Christian leaders who will love, not dictators who demand.

Unity in Love

Many wives shudder when they hear the pastor say, "Turn in your Bible to Ephesians 5:22." Because they know that's the verse that says, "Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord." "But you don't know my husband," they think. "But you don't understand submission," God must say. Submission is not a female word. Verse 21 says, "Submitting yourselves one to another."

The word to husbands about loving, and to wives about submitting, both call for an attitude of service. Submission does not mean that the wife must do all the giving. The husband is to give his life for her. Nor does it mean that she cannot express her ideas. The goal is unity which requires both to have an attitude of service.

19w1d - Already? :(

2011-05-18T20:15:00.000-07:00

How far along? 19 weeks, 1 day

Total weight gain/loss? +12lbs

Maternity clothes? Time to go shopping...again. NONE of my regular tops fit me. And I'm totally being made fun of at the gym because my tank tops show about 1 inch of my belly. Apparently, we've had a growth spurt.

Stretch marks? Still none. But from what I understand, now is when they might make their first appearance. Joy.

Sleep? Great! Most of the time, I don't even remember getting in bed.

Best moment last week? Seeing Baby Lukie again. My first prenatal yoga class--LOVE! Ordering new carpet for the house--yay!

Movement? I feel Baby moving every day now! Usually in the midmorning, after I've come home from the gym & am relaxing on the couch, or late in the evening, just before I go to bed.

Symptoms? Aside from the swollen belly and ever growing tatas? Not much, really. Though, I'm starting to feel fatigued again these days when I push myself too hard.

Food cravings? Nope. I will admit, ice cream sounds good at all times. But it's not in the 'craving' category. Yet.

Gender? We will find out on Birth Day.

Labor signs? Just the super fun Braxton Hicks that like to visit every so often. Gotta get the body prepped for D-Day, I suppose.

Belly button in/out? Still just chillin', as flat as can be.

What I miss: With a week as emotionally draining as mine has shaped up to be (already), I have to admit that I wish I could have a glass or two of wine tonight.

What I am looking forward to: Midwife appointment tomorrow (the first Mr. Lukie will miss...sad!) Dinner with the besties on Sunday night. The "BIG" ultrasound next Wednesday.

Milestones: None, really. Unless you count the fact that I am asked every.single.day. now, "When are you due?" And I have to say, I love that people aren't scared to ask, because it means that I don't just feel pregnant, but look it at all times now, too :) Oh, and when asked today how far along I am, I said, "19 weeks...creeping up on that 5 month mark!" and her response? This glorious, wonderful, amazing stranger? "Well, you look absolutely perfect!" I could have kissed her right then and there!

18w1d - We've Got A Shaker & A Mover!

2011-05-11T19:07:00.000-07:00

How far along? 18 weeks, 1 day

Total weight gain/loss? +12lbs (I'm back to being freaked out by the number on the scale again. ::sigh::)

Maternity clothes? Yes, please.

Stretch marks? Nope. When I asked Mr. Lukie to give me a once over for stretch marks the other day, he said, "Babe, I check every day while you're not paying attention, and no, you don't have any." Glad to know someone is concerned about this...ahem.

Sleep? I am still sleeping so well that I didn't wake this morning to send the hubby off to work. Poor guy, had to get his breakfast made on his own :(

Best moment last week? Feeling Baby Lukie move for the first time!! Felt it at 17 weeks, exactly. So amazing :)

Movement? Yessss...finally! Down on my lower left side. I've felt it several more times since then and it makes me giddy every time!

Symptoms? Here we go. From Sunday to Tuesday, I *thought* I was feeling the baby move. I *thought* I was SEEING the baby move. Turns out, I was having major Braxton Hicks contractions for about 36 hours. It freaked me out, so my midwife met with me on Monday night (totally last minute, 30 minutes notice--she is AMAZING!) and we listened to Baby's heartbeat. She watched my stomach doing it's thing--jumping around and tightening up from below my belly button, all the way to the right. She confirmed that all was well with Baby & that some women start experiencing BH much earlier than others--and some don't experience it at all!

I had also called my OB to see if I could get in to have an ultrasound, just for additional reassurance. Of course, my OB couldn't see me until late Tuesday morning and by then, my midwife had made me feel comfortable with things...but I still wanted to see my baby, so off to the OB I went. It was confirmed that they were, in fact, BH, and that Baby is, in fact, super duper healthy. What can I say--I'm a first timer who can be a bit paranoid every so often. My mom lost a baby at 28 weeks and had the same symptoms, so it immediately became a thought in my mind.

Regardless, Baby Lukie is healthy & happy as a clam in my belly. And oh-my-goodness, so CUTE! S/he had an arm up by the head & looked like it was waving to me. "Hi, Mama! All is well in here. You quit your worrying about me!"

Food cravings? Nope.

Gender? Still thinking girl. Especially after the way Baby had its legs crossed at the ankles in the most ladylike way at the ultrasound ;)

Labor signs? Well...if you want to count the Braxton Hicks. But no, not REAL labor signs.

Belly button in/out? Neither. We've officially hit the "flat" zone, folks. Um. I'm only 4.5 months! I have a feeling the button will pop quicker than I had anticipated.

What I miss: Nada!

What I am looking forward to: Our next midwife appointment next week, and our 20 week ultrasound the week after.

Milestones: Feeling baby move! Braxton Hicks. Being unmistakably pregnant.

Promise Me

2011-05-06T21:52:00.000-07:00

That when a woman in your life tells you she is pregnant...

...you won't make sarcastic comments about the weight gain, the aches & pains, the discomfort, and the inevitable body changes.

...you won't exclaim, "Life is over as you know it! Ha! Enjoy your freedom while it lasts, because you won't be getting it back anytime soon!"

...you won't chastise the choices she & her partner have made for labor & delivery, no matter how different those choices are from your own.

...you won't tell her she is either "so big!" or "so tiny!" for however far along she is.

...you won't tell her that she should kiss her old body goodbye, never to be seen again.

...you won't tell her that if she thinks sleep is cruddy right now, "just wait 'til that baby gets here!"

...you won't tell her that she doesn't win an award for not having an epidural, and to knock off the bravery and just do like millions of other women do, and go for the epidural.

...you won't tell her that you have NO idea WHY she isn't finding out the sex of her baby when that technology is available.

...Or that she is driving you crazy with not finding out the sex of the baby.

...you won't tell her that she will have no time to shower, let alone go to the gym anymore, so she may as well give it up now.

...you will tell her that you are excited for her and cannot wait for her to experience all of the joys that pregnancy and motherhood will bring her.

17w1d - Well, Hello There, Baby!

2011-05-04T18:06:00.000-07:00

How far along? 17 weeks, 1 day

Total weight gain/loss? +8lbs

Maternity clothes? Now that it's in the 90's here (what the heck? Summer CANNOT start early this year! I have to be hugely pregnant all summer long, and our average temps in the summer are in the 100's!!) I'm wearing lots & lots of maxi dresses. Still wearing a few non-maternity shirts, but most are too short/tight to fit anymore. And I haven't tried a pair of non-maternity jeans in weeks. Don't think I'll torture myself in that way...

Stretch marks? No...but I discovered a faint linea negra making its appearance this week :( I know, it's silly to be saddened by this discovery, but I am. I have very fair skin, so I definitely didn't expect this to happen. I know it sounds vain & immature, but all I can think about is how that will be so noticeable (and not cute to me) in my maternity photos.

Sleep? OMG, sleep has been amazing the past week! I'm sleeping SO soundly, it's awesome.

Best moment last week? There were a lot: being asked several times at a wedding we attended when I am due, a little 1 night getaway to San Diego, our midwife appointment {it's so nerdy how much we love going to these!}, starting a new series in our "Married Couples" Bible study, and attending my first MOPS meeting.

Movement? Still the same ol' flutters & 'quickening.' I know it's Baby Lukie, but I can't wait until it's more substantial.

Symptoms? I'm experiencing some tingling in my hands upon waking in the morning. It goes away as soon as I get the blood flowing, whether that be through doing chores or working out. My NP advised me today that as long as it's not accompanied by back or neck pain, it's most likely due to me sleeping so soundly at night. She's not concerned about it being carpal tunnel, since it's only first thing in the morning & goes away for the rest of the day.

Food cravings? None.

Gender? We won't find out until birth day...but I'm feeling girl.

Labor signs? Ha. Not even close.

Belly button in/out? In, but shallow.

What I miss: Nada!

What I am looking forward to: Our 20 week ultrasound & my best friends wedding. It'll be nice to get away for a long weekend!

Milestones: Linea negra, I suppose...

16w1d - No More Beer Belly!

2011-04-27T20:57:00.000-07:00

How far along? 16 weeks, 1 day (though I measured 18weeks at my midwife appointment today, and last month I measured 1 week ahead...eek!)

Total weight gain/loss? +5lbs

Maternity clothes? Mix of maternity & regular. But, mostly yoga pants & t shirts.

Stretch marks? Nope.

Sleep? Still sleeping well! I keep finding myself on my back when I wake up at night, but my midwife assures me I will 'self correct' when it becomes necessary to do so.

Best moment last week? Being asked by 2 strangers when I am due!! Hallelujah...no more beer belly!

Movement? Still the same ol' flutters & 'quickening.' I know it's Baby Lukie, but I can't wait until it's more substantial.

Symptoms? Thank goodness the lower back/tailbone pain has disappeared! No other symptoms...I'm so loving being pregnant :)

Food cravings? None.

Gender? We won't find out until birth day...but I'm feeling girl.

Labor signs? Ha. Not even close.

Belly button in/out? In, but shallow.

What I miss: Nada!

What I am looking forward to: Our 20 week ultrasound. Though we aren't finding out the gender, I can't wait to see this sweet little one again!

Milestones: Hitting the "4 month" mark. Being truly recognized as pregnant by strangers.

Happy Easter!

2011-04-24T21:22:00.000-07:00

From our little family to yours!

{Because it just wouldn't be a holiday without the hubby being on duty...right?}

15w4d - Feeling Great!

2011-04-23T09:41:00.000-07:00

How far along? 15 weeks, 4 days (pic was taken at 15w3d, though)

Total weight gain/loss? +6lbs (I think...I weighed myself at the gym on Tuesday & haven't weighed in for almost 3 weeks)

Maternity clothes? Mix of maternity & regular. But, mostly yoga pants & t shirts.

Stretch marks? Nope.

Sleep? Still sleeping well, but it's getting a little awkward to move around/get comfortable after I wake up to use the restroom.

Best moment last week? Dinner with girlfriends on two separate nights, and *finally* making it to the Praying Wives group at church again. I have missed the past several months due to not being able to get out of bed early enough to make it.

Movement? Not yet, that I can be sure of. I've been feeling these weird little movements in my belly for a few days, only a few times a day. I can't chalk them up to the baby, but they certainly aren't gas/indigestion, so I'm not sure yet...

Symptoms? Same lower back/tail bone pain.

Food cravings? None.

Gender? We won't find out until birth day...but I'm feeling girl.

Labor signs? Ha. Not even close.

Belly button in/out? In, but shallow.

What I miss: Although I'm not missing much, as I LOVE being pregnant...I do miss the fact that I really can't get much relief from my allergies/sinus infection thing I have going on right now.

What I am looking forward to: Our midwife appointment next week. Feeling the baby move in the next few weeks (fingers crossed!)

Milestones: Having someone recognize that I am pregnant while doing some shopping at CVS! So...it was an 11 year old girl that used to help me in my MOPS classroom last year. But, the fact that she said, "Ohmygosh! Are you pregnant?!" when she saw me, leads me to believe that, obviously, it's somewhat noticeable (if you know me).

From BabyCenter:

Your growing baby now measures about 4 inches long, crown to rump, and weighs in at about 2 1/2 ounces (about the size of an apple). She's busy moving amniotic fluid through her nose and upper respiratory tract, which helps the primitive air sacs in her lungs begin to develop. Her legs are growing longer than her arms now, and she can move all of her joints and limbs. Although her eyelids are still fused shut, she can sense light. If you shine a flashlight at your tummy, for instance, she's likely to move away from the beam. There's not much for your baby to taste at this point, but she is forming taste buds. Finally, if you have an ultrasound this week, you may be able to find out whether your baby's a boy or a girl! (Don't be too disappointed if it remains a mystery, though. Nailing down your baby's sex depends on the clarity of the picture and on your baby's position. He or she may be modestly curled up or turned in such a way as to "hide the goods.")

Good Friday - My Testimony (Revisited)

2011-04-22T14:00:00.000-07:00

Today is Good Friday, for those of you who were unaware of the significance of today {no, it's not just Earth Day, today...}

My friend, Meredith, over at La Buena Vida, did a really great post today called "Power of the Cross." If you're not a regular reader of hers, or if you've never read her blog at all, hop on over and take a look around. She's a stay at home mama to the cutest little Lizzy girl, she's a Christian, and she's always got something fun to talk about. My favorite are her "BQOTD" posts--"Burning Question of the Day."

If you're here today because of Mere's post on Power of the Cross, then, welcome! I thought it only appropriate to re-post My Testimony:

I grew up in church. I'm told that as soon as we arrived home from the hospital, one of our first outings was to church. I remember asking Jesus to come & live in my heart when I was 4 years old. It didn't make sense to me how He could fit in my heart, but I figured He'd find a way. I mean, He was Jesus, afterall.

I lived a fairly normal childhood. My mom & biological father separated when I was 15 months old. My brother was a newborn--a preemie, having been born 4 weeks early. My biological father, who we call The (Sperm) Donor had chosen another path in life & decided to leave God off of that path. He began using drugs, having affairs and became physically abusive toward my mom. When he found out that my mom was pregnant with my brother, he punched her in the stomach, hoping to cause her to miscarry. He told her to have an abortion.

My mom married my dad when I was 3 and my brother was 2. They had been friends for a long time and he was sort of her Knight in Shining Armor, who came along & picked up the pieces when our world fell apart. When I was 8, my dad adopted us legally. His name shows on our Birth Certificates now. We took his last name and abandoned The Donor's last name.

I had everything a kid could ever need and just about everything I wanted. Growing up, we had a boat. A camper. Horses. Animals. We took trips to Disneyland and Knotts Berry Farm. Universal Studios and Great America. We had motorcycles and raced BMX bikes. I took gymnastics and piano lessons. If I wanted it, I got it--but I had to work for it. Things didn't come free around our house. We were taught what hard work was and that if we wanted something, we had to earn it.

We (meaning my mom, brother and I...Dad always stayed home) attended church every Sunday and Awanas every Wednesday. I was very active in the church choir, Children's Ministry, and volunteered my time in the Nursery one or two Sunday's per month during the first morning service. The majority of my friends were kids I went to church with. The majority of my social life was wrapped in and around church activities and events.

When I got to be about 12 years old, something changed in my relationship with my dad. My mom had a miscarriage right around this time and was devastated. I don't think my dad was really there for her emotionally like she needed him to be. They grew apart, slowly drifted away from one another. I was becoming more and more like my mom as I got older--same mannerisms, same voice, same laugh. And it drove my dad crazy. I wasn't his Little Girl anymore, I was turning into a woman. Into a woman like my mom, who he just didn't know how to deal with anymore.

Enter the high school years. I fell away from my walk with the Lord. I became involved in 4-H and FFA, Volleyball, Track and was a social butterfly. I was too busy to be involved at church anymore. Afterall, my new life was more important. God would understand, right?

I was a good girl in high school. A good girl in the sense that, while I hung out with the "popular crowd," I didn't partake in the usual high school rites of passage--no drinking, no drugs, and, for a long time, no sex. Then, when I was 16 and had been dating my high school sweetheart (the captain of the Varsity basketball team, 2 years older than me) for just over 1 year, I snuck off to visit him at college 2 hours away. And it was then, in a dingy dorm room, 2 Rolling Rock beer bottles later that the promise I took during a True Love Waits retreat was broken. That was about the extent of my sexual experimentation in high school, though.

And while I may have been a "good girl" in high school, I certainly wasn't a "nice girl." Gossip, bullying and a good dose of immaturity kept the friends I'd made in junior high at bay. I had made new friends and I didn't have room in my new high school life for my old friends. Besides, the junior high shennanigans had been such a nightmare for me that I was glad to leave those memories as far behind me as possible. Worst part is, in high school, I turned into that Mean Girl who ruined junior high for me, and I didn't even see it happening.

Fast forward to Senior year. I'm 17, graduating high school & moving just 2 weeks after graduation to a small college town about 2.5 hours southwest of my hometown. Me & my two best high school friends (B & C) moved into B's parents beach house while attending the community college (who am I kidding? We attended class when we weren't too hungover or too tired from the prior nights activities). Needless to say, I didn't do so hot my first semester of college. This was partly due to partying, partly due to trying to juggle a job & attempting college coursework, but it was also partly due to the demons I was battling with.

Not too long after moving into the beach house, we had a housewarming party. What was supposed to be a small gathering of 10-15 close friends turned into an all out raging party, people we'd never seen before swarmed our house, filling every inch of space. Needless to say, I drank too much & wasn't feeling well, so I went to bed, falling asleep in my party clothes. I can't give a definite timeline of the night, but I'm guessing I headed to my room around 11 or 11:30. The next thing I remember is awaking to a heavy weight on top of me and a large, cold hand covering my mouth in its entirety. A heavy weight on my naked body, I should add.

The next few years are a blur. My chastity, which I once held with such pride and high regard had been abandoned without a second thought. I allowed my body to use and be used. I was a robot, running through this life emotionless, unable to feel beyond the numbness that had become the norm.

Fast forward to me, at the age of 19. You all know the story from 19 years old up until this point in my life. Well, you know all that you really need to know to complete my testimony, really. Since that horrible night in the beach house, a void had made itself apparent in my life. Because of the numbness and my inability to feel much of anything, I hadn't really noticed that void until the summer of my 25th birthday. It was then that I broke down & cried out to God. I repented for my wicked ways, my sins, for turning my back to Him at the most pivotal time in my life, when I should have turned everything over to Him. I asked for forgiveness--for God to forgive me of the horrible things I had done, of the horrible person I had turned into. But I also asked forgiveness in order to forgive myself. To give myself the peace of mind and ability to turn over a new leaf and seek out something more for myself, more for my life. My only desire was to walk in His light, on His path.

And that is when I met my husband. I don't deserve to have such an amazingly wonderful husband like Mr. Lukie. I don't deserve to be blessed with such an amazing family, wonderful friends and a truly awesome life. I don't. But God thinks I do. I don't question it. And I don't regret my past. I know that my past made me who I am today. And it's my story to share with others, to show them that no matter where you are (or where you've been) or who you are (or who you've been), there is always the opportunity to start afresh.

Thank God there is the opportunity to start afresh.

14w1d - Feeling (but not looking) Bigger

2011-04-14T10:03:00.000-07:00

(Sorry for the head crop--you're thankful for this & didn't even realize it. Trust me!)

How far along? 14 weeks, 1 day

Total weight gain/loss? +3lbs

Maternity clothes? Mix of maternity & regular. But, mostly yoga pants & t shirts.

Stretch marks? Nope.

Sleep? Great! Still having crazy dreams, though.

Best moment last week? Being told that we were getting a very nice tax refund from both Federal & State for 2010. Normally, we don't celebrate tax refunds (to us, this means we 'loaned' interest-free money to the government...a Dave Ramsey no-no!), but it was due to Mr. Lukie making significantly less money in 2010 than he did in 2009 (thank you, abundance of overtime in 2009!)

Movement? Not yet.

Symptoms? Some lower back pain if I stand for too long, and definitely started feeling some round ligament pain down...there.

Food cravings? None.

Gender? We won't find out until birth day...but I'm feeling girl.

Labor signs? Ha. Not even close.

Belly button in/out? In. I took my belly ring out this week--it was barely hanging on, as there's not much "belly button" left to cling to these days!

What I miss: Had a "girls night" on Sunday. It was the first time that I felt slightly resentful that they were all sharing a bottle of wine in front of me & I wasn't able to partake.

What I am looking forward to: Celebrating my BFF's 29th birthday on Saturday night. Her due date is 10 days after mine, which is a lot of fun! As you can imagine, we won't be getting crazy for her birthday ;)

Milestones: Reaching the second trimester (again-ish? LOL...depending on the source, I suppose).

From BabyCenter:

This week's big developments: Your baby can now squint, frown, grimace, pee, and possibly suck his thumb! Thanks to brain impulses, his facial muscles are getting a workout as his tiny features form one expression after another. His kidneys are producing urine, which he releases into the amniotic fluid around him — a process he'll keep up until birth. He can grasp, too, and if you're having an ultrasound now, you may even catch him sucking his thumb.

In other news: Your baby's stretching out. From head to bottom, he measures 3 1/2 inches — about the size of a lemon — and he weighs 1 1/2 ounces. His body's growing faster than his head, which now sits upon a more distinct neck. By the end of this week, his arms will have grown to a length that's in proportion to the rest of his body. (His legs still have some lengthening to do.) He's starting to develop an ultra-fine, downy covering of hair, called lanugo, all over his body. Your baby's liver starts making bile this week — a sign that it's doing its job right — and his spleen starts helping in the production of red blood cells. Though you can't feel his tiny punches and kicks yet, your little pugilist's hands and feet (which now measure about 1/2 inch long) are more flexible and active.

Funny, or Offensive?

2011-04-09T15:19:00.000-07:00

I designed this shirt on a website yesterday. I haven't ordered it yet, and am on the fence about doing so. Thus, I've come to you to help me make the decision.

In case you can't read it, it says, "Yes, I'm pregnant. No, I don't want your unsolicited advice."

Funny, or offensive? {Side note: I would most likely only wear this to the gym, or just for lounging around, and not out for running errands or anything like that. Oh, and maybe to my next NP visit. Just sayin'...}

13w1d - Smaller This Week?

2011-04-06T22:32:00.000-07:00

I'm feeling like my bare belly picture this week looks smaller than my bare belly picture from last week...but my clothed picture looks bigger. Must be the angle? Because I am CERTAINLY not any smaller...especially due to that 1/2 inch waist increase ;)

How far along? 13 weeks, 1 day

Total weight gain/loss? 3lbs (I've maintained this for the past 3 weeks. Not sure how, but I'll take it!)

Maternity clothes? Mix of maternity & regular.

Stretch marks? Nope.

Sleep? Great! {Aside from the insanely crazy dreams I have every night}

Best moment last week? Reaching the end of my first trimester. {Except that some of my books & online resources say 12 weeks is the end of the first trimester, others say 13 weeks, yet others say 14 weeks. I'm going with 12 weeks, since 12/4=3 months. Sheesh).

Movement? Not yet. Looking forward to this, though!

Food cravings? I may have been obsessing over Cheetos today, so I caved tonight & grabbed a tiny bag. SO yummy!

Gender? We won't find out until birth day...but I'm back to feeling girl, totally!

Labor signs? Ha. Not even close.

Belly button in/out? In, but it's a shallow little button these days.

What I miss: Nothing, this week.

What I am looking forward to: Celebrating our 2nd Wedding Anniversary this weekend! Mr. Lukie had to work on our anniversary, so we put off celebrating until this weekend.

Milestones: Staying within the 'weight guidelines' for the first trimester. When I started out the first 8 weeks at 7 or 8 pound weight gain, I was flipping out.

**Tidbit of info: I had an appointment yesterday with a nurse practitioner. She was asking me questions, and our conversation went like this:

NP: "You do this every month, right?" {as she's doing a breast exam}

Me: "I try to. Usually in the shower."

NP: "You do plan on breastfeeding, right?"
Me: "Absolutely. As long as all works out for us that way."

NP: "You do want an epidural, right?"

Me: ::crickets::

Me: "Well, we're planning a home birth, so, no, no epidural. No medical interventions, including pain medication, at all, if possible."

NP: "You're WHAT?!" {hand stops moving on my breast & just sits there in one very awkward spot for a moment}

NP: "I'm sorry, can we back up a minute? I did NOT see that coming. WHY a home birth?" {resumes breast exam}

Hence the reason we don't share that we're planning a home birth. When you aren't supported in your decisions as a woman, it makes it pretty difficult to want to share at all.

Also, from BabyCenter.com:

Fingerprints have formed on your baby's tiny fingertips, her veins and organs are clearly visible through her still-thin skin, and her body is starting to catch up with her head — which makes up just a third of her body size now. If you're having a girl, she now has more than 2 million eggs in her ovaries. Your baby is almost 3 inches long (the size of a medium shrimp) and weighs nearly an ounce.

A Smattering of Snippets

2011-04-04T23:19:00.000-07:00

This is from our "faux wedding," and not from our actual wedding...which was an elopement at the Courthouse.

Today was our 2nd wedding anniversary. Is our anniversary. {though, it is 9:30pm the evening of our anniversary, thus the change in tense} Of course, being the Fire Wife that I am, 1/3 of all holidays/birthdays/anniversaries/veryimportantdates are spent with Mr. Lukie at the fire station, and me at home, alone. I don't say this to get sympathy--it's what is normal to us. We just learn to celebrate these special days on other days, and make them especially special :) I am hoping we do just that tomorrow.

So, while today was our 2nd wedding anniversary, today also marked 3 years since our second first date. Yes, you read that correctly. Our 2nd first date. Meaning, we had a 1st first date, but the husband wasn't quite ready to settle down just yet (even though I called my mom after he dropped me off & told her I had just gone out with the man I was going to marry). It's okay. I don't hold any grudges or hard feelings against him for it...it just goes to show that I love him wayyy more than he loves me. That's all...

You've seen this pic already...but I love looking at our little blob, and aren't blogs with photos more fun? Okay then. Blob it is.

Tomorrow is the first doctors appointment Mr. Lukie won't be able to go to with me, due to other commitments that he just can't get out of. I don't think it's any big deal appointment, anyway--just a quickie with a Nurse Practitioner, so my guess is she's going over my lab results from my last appointment, and possibly doing my yearly check up. Probably best the Mister misses this appointment ;)

I love, love, LOVE our midwife. I know I've said it before, but I just can't get over how awesome she is! I think one of my favorite parts about having a midwife is that I can call or text her at any time with a question or issue, and I know I will hear back from her within 20 minutes. I sent her a text today asking about this 2 day long headache I've had. I got a response 10 minutes later with some homeopathic remedies to try out. I would have had to wait 2 days for my doctor to get back to me via email or phone.

I'm still doing CrossFit. {yes, even while pregnant} I plan on continuing to go 3-4 times per week (down from my pre-pregnancy 5-6 times per week) until I deliver...or until I just physically cannot anymore. Fingers crossed it's more along the 'until I deliver' lines, though. I've scaled my intensity way down (even if I hadn't wanted to, my body does.not. allow me to push it these days). During the first trimester, I dropped my weights to 30% of my max weights, and now that I've moved on to the second trimester, I'm staying at 30% of my max for as long as I can, but will then decrease to 50% of my max weights. I'm being safe and smart about it, and listening to my body. Trust me...no one wants a healthy Mama and Baby more than Mr. Lukie and I do. I know my body, and I listen to it. I stop when I'm feeling dizzy/lightheaded & I take it easy when I'm not feeling well.

We have some most amazing friends! We were given a brand new convertible crib, a Graco highchair, a Yakima jogger stroller, a Maclaren techno stroller, a Peg Perego pliko switch compact stroller, an Arm's Reach co-sleeper, a Pack N Play, a 'My Breast Friend' pillow, a bathtub, and a backpack style carrier for hiking. At this point, our registry is looking smaller and smaller by the minute, as we're going to have so many of the basic necessities before we even get around to registering. God is good!

And because I promised a quick "sneak peek" at the color we painted the nursery, there it is. I know...just a sliver of a peek, but that's all I've got for you now. I'll do little snippets here & there as things get done in the nursery, but plan on doing one big reveal after Baby Lukie has made his/her arrival and we've got everything dialed in.

Oh, and this is what I look like, laying on the couch & blogging. Just in case you were dying to know.

12w1d - Helllllo Second Trimester!

2011-03-30T21:42:00.000-07:00

How far along? 12 weeks, 1 day

Total weight gain/loss? 3lbs

Maternity clothes? Mix of maternity & regular.

Stretch marks? Nope.

Sleep? Great! I purchased a body pillow. Best. Purchase. Ever.

Best moment last week? Lunch with girlfriends I haven't seen for a few months & having them swoon over my little bump.

Movement? Not yet. Looking forward to this, though!

Food cravings? Nope.

Gender? We won't find out until birth day...but this week, I'm back to feeling girl!

Labor signs? Ha. Not even close.

Belly button in/out? In, but it's a shallow little button these days.

What I miss: Being able to eat as much as I used to in one sitting, without feeling stuffed. I've moved on to much smaller portion sizes, more frequently throughout the day.

What I am looking forward to: Our 2nd wedding anniversary on Monday!

Milestones: I made it out of the first trimester in one piece...and I'm feeling 100% back to "me" again. Mr. Lukie even commented yesterday that he was so happy to see his wife back, after a 3 month hiatus. Poor guy, he's such a great sport about it all, though.

**Quick fun fact: We had our 2nd midwife appointment today. The heartbeat at 7w6d was 170, and the heartbeat today, at 12w1d, was 140. And I'm also measuring ahead 1 week, for now, which is where I thought I was all along, anyway. It'll be interesting to see how this plays out over the next several weeks.

Also, from BabyCenter.com:

The most dramatic development this week: reflexes. Your baby's fingers will soon begin to open and close, his toes will curl, his eye muscles will clench, and his mouth will make sucking movements. In fact, if you prod your abdomen, your baby will squirm in response, although you won't be able to feel it. His intestines, which have grown so fast that they protrude into the umbilical cord, will start to move into his abdominal cavity about now, and his kidneys will begin excreting urine into his bladder.

Meanwhile, nerve cells are multiplying rapidly, and in your baby's brain, synapses are forming furiously. His face looks unquestionably human: His eyes have moved from the sides to the front of his head, and his ears are right where they should be. From crown to rump, your baby-to-be is just over 2 inches long (about the size of a lime) and weighs half an ounce.

11w2d - Belly's A-Changin'!

2011-03-24T14:39:00.000-07:00

How far along? 11 weeks, 2 days

Total weight gain/loss? 3lbs {I lost 2lbs in the last 4 weeks}

Maternity clothes? Still waiting on those maternity jeans to come in. Wearing all of my regular clothes, but altering most of them to fit comfortably :)

Stretch marks? Nope.

Sleep? It's been great this past week!

Best moment last week? Mr. Lukie was off work for 6 days, so we were able to spend a lot of quality time together. We also got Baby Lukie's room painted...I'll post photos soon.

Movement? Not yet. Looking forward to this, though!

Food cravings? I posted last week about sherbet ice cream. I finally gave in to the sherbet ice cream craving and had a scoop for dinner the other night.

Gender? We won't find out until birth day...but this week, I'm feeling boy!

Labor signs? Ha. Not even close.

Belly button in/out? In, but it's a shallow little button these days. At only 11 weeks, I am fairly certain that I will have an outie by the end of this pregnancy.

What I miss: Aside from having clothes that fit me, nothing really. I'm truly loving being pregnant so far.

What I am looking forward to: Our next midwife appointment. Reading through the STACK of "homework" my OB gave us to sort through.

Milestones: I think my belly is now starting to look more "pregnant-like" instead of just a bump below my belly button. My entire torso has that 'rounded' look that imitates a 'real' pregnant belly. Pretty exciting stuff!

Also, from BabyCenter.com:

Your baby, just over 1 1/2 inches long and about the size of a fig, is now almost fully formed. Her hands will soon open and close into fists, tiny tooth buds are beginning to appear under her gums, and some of her bones are beginning to harden.

She's already busy kicking and stretching, and her tiny movements are so effortless they look like water ballet. These movements will become more frequent as her body grows and becomes more developed and functional. You won't feel your baby's acrobatics for another month or two — nor will you notice the hiccupping that may be happening now that her diaphragm is forming.

10w1d - Definitely Pregnant!

2011-03-16T23:01:00.000-07:00

I missed the 9 week update due to absolute insanity last week. And, um. Did anyone else realize that today is March 16th and we are HALF WAY through the month of March already? Time needs to slow down!

The pics for this week will be changing a bit--I'll be doing both from a profile shot, but 1 bare & 1 clothed (instead of a pic from the front).

How far along? 10 weeks, 1 day

Total weight gain/loss? Math isn't my best subject...at my first OB appointment, I thought I had gained 7lbs. Turns out, it was only 5lbs. And I weighed myself at the gym today, and I'm still at that same 5lbs. Woohoo!

Maternity clothes? I ordered my first pair of maternity jeans and am waiting for them to come in. I'm stuck in yoga pants these days, and I'm tired of feeling frumpy.

Stretch marks? Nope.

Sleep? Hit or miss right now. I'm sleeping 9 or 10 hours each night (still waking 2 or 3 times to pee), but some nights I just lay there and toss and turn.

Best moment last week? Getting the nursery cleared of our extra furniture & Christmas decorations so we can start getting the room ready for Baby Lukie.

Movement? Not yet. Looking forward to this, though!

Food cravings? Root beer. Sherbet ice cream. I gave in to the root beer craving over the weekend and had a can of Mug Root Beer (caffeine free, of course). I've yet to give in to the sherbet ice cream craving. It sounds good, but I don't *have* to have it. Maybe it's not a craving, after all?

Gender? We won't find out until birth day...but I am still totally feeling girl.

Labor signs? Ha. Not even close.

Belly button in/out? 100% in.

What I miss: Having clothes that fit me.

What I am looking forward to: Our next appointments--OB and midwife. My maternity jeans arriving (hope they fit & are comfy & cute!) Date night with my baby daddy this week.

Milestones: Baby Lukie is no longer an embryo, but has moved on up to a fetus! And is the size of a kumquat. And his/her vital organs are fully operating. Way cool!

101 in 1001 - #14, #38, #96

2011-03-11T09:53:00.000-08:00

#14: Prepare to start a family - completed 9/3/10

This is something I kept under wraps from the majority of people in my life. In August 2010, we decided that I would finish out my last pack of birth control pills & let God handle the rest. The day I took my last pill (9/3/10), I started taking a prenatal vitamin in place of it. I also began doing a ton of research about pregnancy, both by reading online articles and studies, as well as books on the topic. I read "Taking Charge of Your Fertility," and learned how to read my body. I am so glad that I did! I know my body much more intimately now, and can tell when something isn't right.

#38: Get a passport - completed 1/14/11

Would you believe that this is the first passport I've ever been issued? Prior to our work vacay, I had never traveled outside of the country {Tijuana, Mexico doesn't count!} and needed one. Mr. Lukie, of course, has had a few in his lifetime. He still has his passport from when he was 2 or 3 years old, and oh! if he wasn't the most squeezable, adorable little tow-headed boy in the world! I'll have to scan his old passport in and share it with you all, someday soon.

#96: Make a wedding photo album - completed 1/31/11

No photo for this, but I got it done! Well...our photographer from our faux-wedding got it done, anyway. It's gorgeous and I LOVE LOVE LOVE it. So happy we decided to splurge on this, so we have a little keepsake for ourselves, as well as for our children to look through one day.

On Midwifery

2011-03-07T21:50:00.000-08:00

Midwifery is a fun word to say.

Just ask my husband {who says it every chance he gets}.

He likes how it feels rolling off of his tongue, "Mid-whiff-er-ee."

Back when starting a family was closer to a dream than it was reality, I always put myself in a hospital setting. Deciding preemptively who I would choose to have in the delivery room and who would have to wait outside. Who would be contacted first to let them know that we were on our way to the hospital, and how word should be spread from there? How many "coming home" outfits should be packed in the hospital bag for bringing Baby home--just one, so the decision was already made, or a few, depending on Baby's look and size?

Something funny happened between the dream stage, and the reality stage. When we started talking, in earnest, about starting a family {and soon}, my ideas surrounding labor and delivery began to change. Suddenly, the thought of something so normal and natural taking place in a clinical setting didn't sit right with me.

Being immobilized on my back, strapped down to a hospital bed, IV's stuck in my skin, white lights blaring in my face, fetal monitor attached to Baby via my the insides of my body, unable to move & walk around for self soothing, being offered an epidural time and time again...it all began to sound like a nightmare to me.

Now, I should start off by saying that no one in my family, nor any of my close friends, have used a midwife, nor delivered a baby at home. I should also let you know that you're not the only one shaking your head in disbelief right now that we would choose to go the route of home birth with a midwife "in this day and age"--my closest friends and family are doing the same. And we completely understand why--the stories, ohhhh, the horror stories you hear about home births! {And, sure, it's not for everyone. The thought of a home birth may cause you the same anxiety & panicky feelings that the thought of a hospital birth causes me!}

We met {and, subsequently, hired on.the.spot.} our midwife last week. To say that we are in love with all the she represents is an understatement. We both adore her, greatly, already. She fits in with our little family perfectly, and "gets" our desires, wishes, dreams and hopes for labor & delivery, as well as the first few hours with Baby Lukie.

I will continue seeing my OB, as that is covered by our health insurance {thus, my blood labs, tests & ultrasounds will be covered by them; whereas blood labs, tests & ultrasounds are "extra" with our midwife.} Our health insurance does not cover midwife services, or home birthing, so we are paying out of pocket for this most amazing opportunity. Should my pregnancy stay low risk, and should Baby Lukie and I stay healthy, we will see the OB and the midwife once a month (and then, more frequently as I progress through the pregnancy), and we will deliver Baby Lukie in the comfort of our home, just the three of us--me, Mr. Lukie, and our Midwife--sometime in October, 2011.

My heart can't hold one more ounce of happiness surrounding this decision. I feel so blessed, so truly, truly blessed, to have a husband who supports my wishes for labor and delivery so wholly, even as unconventional as it is.

8w1d - And Some Updates!

2011-03-02T19:40:00.000-08:00

So I thought I had missed the 8 week update while we were on the cruise. Turns out...due to my long cycles, all of the online due date calculators were off by 8 days, soooo...I've been 1w1d ahead of myself the entire time!

My original (self-given) EDD was October 4, 2011. We had our first visit with the OB yesterday, where we got a new EDD of October 12, 2011. Sooo, I'll be working backwards a bit on these updates ;)

Anyway, here I am at 6w6d (please forgive me, this is the best I could do on the cruise ship with the limited mirror space I had!):

And since I apparently don't ever take photos of my bump fully clothed, I was feeling extra large on my way to a baby shower on Sunday, so I snapped this quick pic before I headed out the door (7w4d):

And now for the Week 8 pics:

Our first OB appointment went great. He said that Baby Lukie & Mama are looking supremely healthy & all seems to be well. We had a really fast heartrate of 171 beats per minute (threw that out there for all of you "high heartrate=girl / low heartrate=boy" lovers!) Baby Lukie danced & danced for us, spinning all around and being insanely cute already. Hearing the heartbeat was one of the most intense, joyous, surreal things in all of the world! Mr. Lukie and I both definitely got emotional during that time, and it was insanely sweet.

For your viewing pleasure, I'd like to introduce to you Baby Lukie! (Yes, I realize that s/he may not be nearly as cute to you as s/he is to us...and that's okay. I'll help you out--the head is the blob on the lower right hand side, and the rump is the blob on the upper left hand side. See? Way cute, huh?!):

How far along? 8 weeks, 1 day

Total weight gain/loss? Ugh. 7 pounds...already. I don't see it anywhere else on my body but my belly, and the OB assured me that my weight gain was fine, due to how lean I was prior to getting pregnant. But still. 7 pounds in 8 weeks is difficult to swallow.

Maternity clothes? Nope. I've moved beyond the "hair-tie" trick to the Bella Band. Some of my shirts are getting a little short in the front, so the Bella Band helps with that. I may be purchasing some maternity shirts to grow into at some point this month.

Stretch marks? Nope.

Sleep? It's getting better. I'm ready for bed at 7:30pm, but have too many things left to get done for the day, so I usually end up in bed by 9:30 or 10:00. I'm still getting up to pee once or twice throughout the night, and I can no longer sleep on my belly because it is really uncomfortable (on both my belly *and* my boobs).

Best moment last week? FINALLY not experiencing an ounce of nausea! I was so worried that the combination of being on a cruise (my first, thus, no idea if I am prone to being sea sick) and the nausea would make for a terrible vacation. Miraculously, at 7 weeks, I felt tons better and haven't had any bouts with nausea since. Amen!

Movement? No, still have awhile for that.

Food cravings? Still no. Food is beginning to sound a bit more appetizing these days, and I'm finding it easier to eat this week than I have the past 2 weeks. Nice to feel semi normal regarding food again.

Gender? We won't find out until birth day...but I am still totally feeling girl.

Labor signs? Ha. Not even close.

Belly button in/out? 100% in.

What I miss: The only thing I can possibly think of is sleeping on my belly.

What I am looking forward to: My first prenatal massage. It's amazing to me that this sweet little thing is already wreaking havoc on my body, but I am S-O-R-E! It's a different kind of sore than I've ever felt before and I can't really explain it. I just hope the massage provides a bit of relief.

Milestones: Baby Lukie's feet & hand buds have appeared! We even saw them on the sonogram!

Bon Voyage!

2011-02-19T08:36:00.000-08:00

The Mister and I are off on a 1 week vacay on this:

Porting in:

{Cozumel, where we'll rent ATV's and explore the ancient Mayan ruins}

As well as porting in:

{The Grand Cayman Islands, where we'll swim with dolphins}

This is a mandatory work trip for me, where Mr. Lukie is highly encouraged to come along...as my guest! It also couldn't come at a better time. Life has been hectic around here lately, between Baby Stuff, Work (for both of us), and the low energy level of a certain chick living in this house.

Today, in preparation for our voyage, I did a little shopping (ahem, flowy sundresses are SO my friend!), and got a much needed mani/pedi at Happy Nails. Have you tried the Shellac nail polish? If you haven't--you MUST! I got my first mani (and pedi!) using Shellac polish today. I never get mani's at the salon anymore because by the time I get out to my car, I've already messed up at least one nail, and by the time I get home, I've messed up another. Within 2 days time, the color on the tips are completely worn off from typing, and the polish has begun to chip from lifting weights & washing dishes. Shellac claims to stay chip free for up to 14 days. I'm already through Day 1 without *any* signs of damage, which is a first for me. I'll let you know how they hold up on the cruise...

Have a fabulous week & I'll be sure to post an update when we return!

7w1d - Are My Dates Right??

2011-02-16T18:36:00.000-08:00

Mmmkay...for those of you who said I wasn't showing at all at week 5, can you see the difference between then and now? {And if you can't, I suggest a visit to the optometrist, stat}.

How far along? 7 weeks, 1 day

Total weight gain/loss? I honestly don't know, as I don't own a scale {yes, you read that correctly. And no, I do not plan on changing that any time soon...and certainly not whilst pregnant}. I know that prior to falling pregnant {I love that term, and I'm not sure why}, I was weighing in between 128-130 pounds. I'll give you all the update after my first appointment on March 1st, but I know for a fact I have not lost a single pound.

Maternity clothes? Nope. But I'm definitely do the "hair-tie" trick in order to still wear my jeans.

Stretch marks? Nope, but I will assure you my hips & booty will be covered in them, at the very least. It's what happened during puberty, so I am quite certain it will also happen during pregnancy. Darn genetics.

Sleep? It's hit or miss. Some nights I sleep really well. Other nights, I wake up every 3 hours because I'm uncomfortable physically and then realize I have to pee. Then, I have to find a comfortable position once I get back to bed. I'm thinking this is a 1st trimester thing and that I'll get back to sleeping somewhat regularly in the 2nd tri. Pretty please?

Best moment last week? Knowing that Baby Lukie's heart began beating! So insanely cool that it happens so early on!

Movement? No, still have awhile for that. The only movement I feel is my uterus growing--those little twinges & tugs and slight cramps. Once I found out what they were, I started smiling every time I felt them, knowing my body is doing what it is supposed to be doing to prepare for Baby Lukie's growth.

Food cravings? No, although food in general just doesn't sound appetizing to me at all. {Not that any non-food sounds appetizing. Just thought I'd mention that.} No food aversions, though, which is nice. The only thing I find that I must have every single morning is orange juice, which is completely out of the norm for me.

Gender? We won't find out until birth day...but I am totally feeling girl. Which is funny, because we are both in want of a boy.

Labor signs? Ha. Not even close.

Belly button in/out? 100% in.

What I miss: Fitting into my jeans. Feeling thin, as opposed to chunky. As vain as it sounds, I want to wear a shirt in public that says, "It's not a beer belly. It's a baby belly." {I know, I know... but still...}

What I am looking forward to: My first OB appointment on March 1st. Meeting with a certified nurse midwife to discuss home birth.

Milestones: None, that I'm aware of. Unless you count the fact that I no longer look like a pre-pubescent girl in the chest department. I am a bona fide woman, now!

About The Bun

2011-02-11T09:57:00.000-08:00

Thank you all for the sweet words of congratulations on my super exciting announcement! We are beyond thrilled at this new prospect and cannot believe that we will actually be holding a baby...our baby... in approximately 236 days!

I thought I would relay the details & story to you all by making up my own little question & answer doodad, as opposed to paragraph after paragraph. If you have any questions or want more specific details on anything, leave a comment & I will definitely get back to you :)

1. How long were you trying to conceive, before you actually...conceived?

**I stopped taking the pill in September 2010. It took 3 cycles (but 4.5 months, due to the length of my cycles) to conceive.

2. Was this time longer or shorter than you anticipated?

**From a "cycles" standpoint, it was MUCH shorter than I had anticipated. But from a "months" standpoint, I was frustrated & ready to throw in the towel. Clearly, I have a lot more work to do in matters of patience.

3. Were you using any special "methods" to assist with conception?

**Month 1 I didn't. But after the first month, I began using ovulation predictor kits. I had tried to use the Basal Body Temperature method during the first month, but grew tired of it quickly & stopped 2 weeks in. Funny enough, I was "fed up" with not having conceived as of yet, so I began temping on the first day of my last period (last period unbeknownst to me at the time!)

4. What made you decide to take a pregnancy test? (symptoms, missed period, impatient, etc)

**I knew that many pregnancy tests, depending on sensitivity levels, could tell you if you were pregnant up to 10 days past ovulation (which would be about 4 days before your period was to start). Being the impatient person that I am, I took a test at 10DPO, 11DPO and 12DPO. When they all turned up negative, I convinced myself I wasn't pregnant. The morning of the day I would most likely have started my period, I tested & saw a faint line!

5. How many pregnancy tests did you take this go-round? How many were negative, how many were positive?

**I took 5 total--3 were negative, 1 was positive (I just wasn't sure about that faint line yet) and 1 was a digital that was most certainly positive. The negatives were because I was testing too early & not allowing my body to produce the hCG necessary to be detected on the tests.

6. What was your initial reaction when you saw your BFP?

**I took one test the day before I truly found out I was pregnant. It was a Sunday morning. I saw a super duper faint line, but thought I was perhaps imagining it. I called Mr. Lukie in for further investigation. He immediately told me that he saw a line, and my heart started pounding harder & faster. Turns out, he saw the control line, and didn't even notice the faint test line until I pointed it out. Since he didn't notice it immediately, we both discounted the possibility of it being a BFP and decided to pick up a digital on the way home later that day. I ended up picking up a digital that afternoon & taking it, and it came back with a big ol' "Not Pregnant." But...I just knew I was pregnant and wouldn't take no for an answer ;)

The next morning, my alarm went off at 5:15am (as it always does, so I can temp & then get up & get the hubby off to work). Mr. Lukie didn't budge, so I temped and noticed that my temp was higher than it had been for the duration of my chart. I hopped out of bed, snuck into the bathroom & took the digital. It said it takes 3 minutes for results to appear, but it flashed "Pregnant" in about 30 seconds. I started shaking & my heart started pounding, and a lump appeared in my throat. It didn't feel real...

7. Who is the first person you told about your BFP?

**Mr. Lukie, of course!

8. When & how did you tell your spouse? How did he react?

**I grabbed the test and crawled back in bed next to him, where he was still sleeping. When his alarm went off, I asked him if he could look at something for me. He was groggy & still half asleep and he mumbled that he would in a minute. I flipped the light on and handed him the test. (See? I wasn't lying when I said patience is not my virtue!) He squinted at it and then realized it said "Pregnant" on it, and we just laid in bed hugging & smiling (and I was crying).

This is SO not how I pictured telling him I was pregnant when the time came! I planned on it being all cutesy & creative, but...there are some things in life you just can't control.

9. How far along were you when you received your BFP?

**About 4 weeks 6 days.

10. How far along were you when you made your "official" pregnancy announcement? Why did you choose this time period?

**Haha...5 weeks 3 days. Prior to getting pregnant, we had discussed when we thought we would make a pregnancy announcement, and we had both agreed to tell our families & closest friends pretty quickly upon finding out, and then waiting until about 12 weeks to make an "official" (ie Facebook) announcement. I laugh because Mr. Lukie was ready to tell everyone & anyone would would listen within hours of us finding out. Instead, we each told our best friends that day, then shared the news a few days later with our families, and then made the "official" announcement 4 days later.

We know it is unconventional to make the announcement so early on, due to the risk of miscarriage, etc. And while we both realize that miscarriage is certainly a possibility for me still, we are of the mindset that, God forbid I miscarry, we will want and need all the support we can get from our families and friends--it is news we would have shared one way or another. We are also of the mindset that the more people we have keeping us & Baby Lukie in prayer, the better. Plus--we're not sure how anyone is able to keep this kind of news a secret for 12 whole weeks!! ;)

11. Have you told your parents yet? If so, how did you spread the good news to them?

**YES! We sent each of the Grandma's (our moms) flowers with a card that read, "Hi Grandma! Just wanted to let you know that I am looking forward to meeting you in October 2011!! I hope you have a wonderful day! Love, Baby Lukie"

We shared the news with my dad & brother by phone calls--I called my dad & told him I had a question for him. He asked what it was and I said, " Dad, how old are you?" He paused for a minute (confused, I'm assuming), and said, "...57...why?" I said, "Oh, is that too young to be a grandpa?" He burst into happiness & couldn't believe it. He was ecstatic and told me that I had just made his day, so that was a fun phone call to have :)

12. What are your symptoms (if any) now, and how far along are you?

**Extreme fatigue/exhaustion. I could fall asleep anywhere, at any time if given the chance to do so! Waves of nausea are also on the list, but I have yet to get sick, I just get to that uncomfortable "mouth-watering-chills-am-I-or-aren't-I?" stage, and then it passes. I have lots of bloating going on...or I'm carrying twins. I have to unbutton all of my jeans in order to be comfortable in them. Heartburn/indigestion with any fun foods (so I'm sticking with bland stuff, for the most part these days), and last but certainly not least, insanely sore breasts. Hugging is painful, folks :-/

13. Have you been to the doctor yet? If so, how was your first prenatal appointment?

**No, unfortunately. My first appointment is March 1st, and I will be exactly 9 weeks. My doctor doesn't see patients until they are at least 8 weeks, unless they are unsure of their last menstrual period, at which point he will see you sooner in order to get an accurate idea of how far along you are.

14. Inklings as to boy or girl? Single baby or multiple babies?

**No inklings whatsoever, yet. Is it weird to say that at this point, I don't care if we're having a boy or a girl, that we just want a healthy baby? Pretty much 100% we have a singleton, but oh! how we would both LOVE it if I were pregnant with twins!

15. Will you be finding out the sex of the baby?

**Nooooo! Again, in our talks pre-conception, we had decided that we would most definitely be finding out, as I am a planner and need to know these things. Within minutes of finding out I was pregnant, we both decided we'd like to wait & be surprised--it's one of the last fun surprises life has in store! Plus, I would like to have a natural childbirth, at home (see? Toldja I'm granola!) and I think that not knowing will help me to see the light at the end of the tunnel when I'm ready to give up in the midst of labor pains.

16. Do you have any nicknames you've created already for the baby?

**Yes, of course. "Baby Lukie" s/he was almost immediately dubbed, and shall remain throughout the pregnancy, I am sure.

17. How have you changed your lifestyle (ie: eating habits, exercise routine, etc)?

**I haven't done much changing of the lifestyle, aside from cutting caffeine completely out of my diet (along with all of the other no-no foods & beverages). I'm still eating clean, organic, grain-free, and processed-free foods (as I have been for the past year). I won't introduce any grains back into my diet, even though every single baby book I've read has talked about how "great" these things are for a pregnant woman. I don't buy it and I won't do it.

I'm still doing CrossFit, but have dropped from 5-6 days per week, to about 4 days per week. I'm also no longer following the programming that my box puts up on a daily basis, but am now following the programming on the CrossFit Mom website, doing the 'Advanced' workouts. They still kick my booty, but don't leave me feeling nauseous, dizzy & lightheaded as the regular workouts were when I tried maintaining them.

18. What books (if any) are you already reading & loving?

**I purchased "Your Pregnancy Week by Week" for my Kindle, and Mr. Lukie and I read it together at the beginning of each new week (which in itself melts my heart into one big puddle of girl). I also purchased "What to Expect When You're Expecting" and "Your Pregnancy Week by Week for the Dad-to-Be," at Barnes & Noble yesterday. Mr. Lukie is insanely excited about his new book (::swoon::) and I prefer "Your Pregnancy Week by Week" to "What to Expect...", but they both have a lot of great information in them.

19. Are you showing yet? What about clothing--maternity, or regular?

**For me & my body as it normally is, I'm showing. People think I'm making this up, until they see me in yoga pants and a slim fitting tank top. There is a bump there, folks, and it's noticeable. How is this possible, as I am only 6w4d? It's especially noticeable after a meal. Fingers crossed this truly is just "bloating" and will diminish in the next few weeks. I don't want to be big as a house!

I'm still wearing my regular clothes, though I've had to banish some jeans to the back of the closet as they won't come close to buttoning anymore. My best friends right now are yoga pants & sports bras, as everything else is just plain uncomfortable. I'm thinking a bella band will be purchased very, very soon.

20. Have you purchased anything for Baby yet?

**Surprisingly...no! Though I am slowly beginning to look at gender neutral nursery ideas, and I hope to pick up a cute gender neutral outfit or two sometime soon, just because :)

And now, a photos of me at 5 weeks, 2 days (note that this is 1 week ago, and I don't feel that I am "showing" in these pics like I do in the 6 week pics). Oh, and please ignore whatever goofy look is on my face--clearly, I'm a newbie and cannot contain my excitement at documenting my entire body changing leaps & bounds in just 40 short weeks...(why in the world do we do this to ourselves & cause such torture?)

What's Cookin', Good Lookin'?

2011-02-07T18:35:00.000-08:00

Just a little of this...

Oh, and a little of this, too...

Baby Lukie, due October 4, 2011. Story & details to follow...soon!

{Who knew it would be so exhausting to be 6 weeks pregnant? Add being selected for jury duty on top of that, and it's a recipe for 8pm bedtimes every night!}

Anyone?

2011-01-05T12:24:00.000-08:00

We really look forward to those 30 minutes after dinner, where all we do is lay on the couch and become even more obsessed with these characters:

And Mr. Lukie is trying to get me hooked on this one, but I refuse. I only need one obsession in my life at a time, thankyouverymuch:

Can anyone else relate to the Angry Birds & Cut The Rope madness that has taken over our household?