The Little Things: Half Way

Warning: Ultra Sound Picture Below

I am now 20 weeks along and half way through the pregnancy! We had our ultra sound and Doctors appointment this morning and everything looks wonderful. All of the baby’s measurements are where they should be, and there are no reasons for concern. They were able to with hold the gender so we still don’t know!

I was told to drink orange juice before so the baby moved, but with the active one inside me, I shouldn’t have. The baby was moving a lot, and fast. The Sonographer had a difficult time getting good pictures, especially of the hands and feet.

Here is the best picture we got!

The Little Things: Spring

Oh Spring! How I have a Love/Hate relationship with you. I know its not quite March yet, but Albuquerque sure feels like spring. The temperature was wonderful this weekend and we are supposed to have a high of 64 today. I have pulled out some spring clothes and even cuffed my jeans today to show a little skin!

If only that darn wind did not accompany the warmer temps. Unfortunately for me, spring wind means allergies. I did get the approval from my doctor to take most allergy medicine, which is so wonderful. I am going to try to be slow to pop pills, and only take them when I really need relief.

Happy almost Spring!

The Little Things: Five Things I Love This Week

The Next Always, Book One in the Boonsboro Inn Trilogy by Nora Roberts – I have always been one for an easy, light read, and I fell in love with Nora Roberts with the Bride Quartet series. When I saw another series with a pretty cover, I knew I had to read it. I was not disappointed. It was very enjoyable and I am already looking forward to the next one.

3 in 1 Body Pillow – I have been having issues sleeping on my side lately, and regular body pillow are just too much in the bed. I recently splurged on a Pregnancy body pillow made by My Breast Friend. It’s only been a week, but already I am sleeping much better and not disturbing Eddie either.

Smash – Have you watched this new show on NBC? I really like it. It is similar to Glee, but a little more mature. I can’t wait for Monday night!

First Gifts for the Baby - Thank you to the Ferguson family for the Baby’s first gifts. You can’t go wrong with white and fluffy.

Making the Baby Move – I can now feel the baby move. It is so much fun realizing what foods makes the baby move more than others. The baby really likes sugar, and especially orange juice. I will definitely have a big glass on Tuesday right before the ultra sound.

The Little Things: The Decision to Wait

With only a few days left until the ultra sound where we would be able to find out the gender of our child, I thought I might have changed my mind. I have not!

The decision to wait was actually pretty easy. Even before Eddie and I were married we were talking about children. Almost immediately Eddie said he did not want to know the gender of our children before they were born. Of course I was unsure about this. Since the norm these days is to find out, I just assumed we would as well. Not to mention I am a planner. I also thought ‘how can you have a cute nursery?’ Time went on with little talk, since it was in the far future, until the day I read something that made me agree with Eddie.

Our friends Amanda and Greg chose to wait. The day after their baby girl was born Greg made this post to their blog:

“For those thinking about waiting to find out the sex of their child until birth, the moment when you step out into the waiting room, look into your parents eyes and tell them, "It's a Boy/Girl!" is one of the most emotionally overwhelming things you'll ever do. I highly recommend it.”

I was sold instantly, not for me though. I knew that this is what Eddie wanted and it made me want it for him too! After all, he is the one that will get to experience this, not me. Thank you Greg.

Ever since we made the decision to wait, I have been very happy about it. I think it is so much harder on everyone else. Ha! Even after two close friends recently found out, my mind has not changed. And thanks to Pinterest, I have proof that you can have an adorable neutral nursery.

To read the whole blog post and more, click here.

The Little Things: Mr. and Mrs.

This weekend we celebrated Amy and Scott’s nuptials! The weekend kicked off on Thursday night with Amy’s Bachelorette Party. Jamie planned a wonderful party and I only missed the wine a little bit.

On Saturday they became Mr. and Mrs. in a beautiful ceremony. I love everything about weddings, but I love them even more after becoming a wife myself. In a small way, every wedding I attend with Eddie feels like a re-commitment ceremony. I know I am still a newly wed, but I hope this feeling never ends.

Amy was such a beautiful bride and I know she is going to be an amazing wife. They both looked so happy, and we wish them the best.  The reception at El Pinto was a wonderful party, and we had a great time.

The Little Things: Five Things I Love This Week

I am currently counting down the minutes until 5’oclock so I can be with my boys (Eddie and Diego.) I have a busy weekend, but here’s hoping for some relaxation too!

The Voice – I love it again this season, and I can’t wait to see what it brings. I just wish everyone did not have to have a sob story. Why can’t people have a charmed life and still deserve happiness and success?

Work Potlucks – This week at work we said ‘goodbye’ to an awesome employee, but I am very happy that she is moving onto bigger things. We wished her goodbye with our usual potluck, and oh how I love them and all of the yummy food.

The Calm and Peace After a Snow – On Wednesday we woke up to about two inches of snow at our house. I just love how calm and peaceful it is to step outside and see fluffy white snow everywhere. Too bad it was so warm and it melted quickly.

Parking in the Garage – I love that I get to park in the garage every night, especially on cold snowy mornings. And I love that I always have an element free car to hop into.

Dinner with an Old Friend – This week I finally got together with my friend Kelsey from high school. It had been about 2 years since I had seen her last. I am really glad we made the effort because we have so much in common. She is going to Europe for a few weeks, so we are planning our next dinner date for April. I will definitely make sure it happens.

The Little Things: Its Getting Real

With each new week, as my tummy grows bigger the idea of becoming a mother gets more real. One thing that made it very real last week was feeling the baby inside me. I thought I had been feeling it for about a week prior, but now I know for sure I am feeling the baby. I think Eddie is pretty jealous that he can not feel the baby yet, but hope fully he will be able to soon enough.

18 Weeks

The Little Things: Happy Valentine's Day

I hope everyone's day is filled with LOVE!

The Little Things: Celebrating Valentines Day

Tomorrow will be the 8^th Valentines Day that Eddie and I will be together. However, this weekend we had a first. For the first time, we actually celebrated Valentines Day.

Saturday afternoon was Eddie’s choice. We drove north to Santa Fe to go to one of Eddie’s favorite breweries. Santa Fe Brewing Company released a small batch of Milk Chocolate Porter. Even though I was just drinking water we had a really fun time (plus a side ride home.)

Saturday evening was my choice. We had dinner reservations at Tanoan. Even though the average age of the other guests was twice ours, we had a wonderful time in each other’s company and the food was really good. The roses and the chocolate covered strawberries were a nice addition too!

I am sure tomorrow will be nice too. I plan on making dinner and enjoying some couch time with Eddie and Diego.

Thank you Jessica and Samantha for a belated birthday brunch celebration for Allie and I on Sunday. 

The Little Things: Five Things I Love This Week

Looking Pregnant – I think/hope that I am finally to the stage where I look pregnant. I am also carrying high which helps.

Horizontal Stripes on a Pregnant Belly – I really love horizontal stripes right now, but I especially love them on pregnant bellies. I will probably be wearing lots of stripes in the next 5 months.

A New Dresser – I have been wearing Eddie out for at least a year to get a new dresser, and he finally gave in. We got a really good deal on it, and it is actually of quality.

Dinner with the Girls – I love that we do this every month. The best part is that the date for the next dinner is always set before we leave so there is no putting it off. We are going on month six of Dinner Club! Rosalie hosted a festive Sweetheart dinner. I am hosting March’s, and our theme is Pinterest (since it is the current obsession.)

Allie's Yummy Cupcakes

Valentine Decorations – I have never really been one for the holiday itself. In fact this will be the 8^th Valentines that Eddie and I have celebrated and the 1^st time we are going out to dinner for it. However, I love all the pink, red and hearts! I have even considered the theme for a girl’s nursery or bedroom. 

The Little Things: An Athlete?

We are now up to 17 weeks! We had a Doctor’s appointment yesterday and everything is sounding good. The baby’s heartbeat is remaining steady at 140bpm. The Doctor said “I think you have an athlete in here; a kicker to be exact!”  This should be interesting when I can start feeling everything.

What would be the BIG ultrasound for most people is scheduled for the 28^th. While it won’t be a gender revealing ultrasound (hopefully) for us, it will be fun to see the baby.

My friend Liz is having a boy in mid- June, and my friend Meagan is having a boy in late-June. Everything happens in 3’s. Is Baby Enriquez also a boy? We will have to wait until July!

Here is a picture from last week.

The Little Things: Pregnancy Brain – It’s Real

Oh, it’s real all right. Scientifically you really do loose brain cells when you are pregnant. Luckily you get them back after delivery. I am mostly dealing with this at work. Almost once a day I go downstairs with something in mind and by the time I get there I can’t remember what I needed or was doing. Then, of course, I remember when I get back to my desk. The only benefit, I am getting extra exercise going up and down the stairs.

Last week, I had quite the pregnancy brain. I had to go to a specialty store to order a personalized gift for a friend of mine. The store is not really near my house or office, so when I was told they would be ready in 30 minutes I was excited. I decided to grab lunch and come back when they were ready. When I got back to the store, they were ready. I paid for my order and left. Unfortunately, I left the order on the counter and did not even realize this until I got back to work. I really could have done with out the extra trip on Saturday morning.

The Little Things: Five Things I Love This Week

I love Friday’s. I am looking forward to a busy weekend, with hopefully some naps!

1. Handmade Bracelet – Can you believe this beautiful bracelet was handmade for me by Patty? Isn’t it beautiful? It must have taken her hours and I love it. It also came with matching earrings that according to Audrey look like staples (they look nothing like staples.) Ha! Thank you Patty!

2. The gym on February 1^st – I went to the gym on Wednesday after work and loved how empty it was. I wish all the people who made resolutions to get healthy in the New Year stuck with them, but I really love when a treadmill is available for me.

3. Running Water – I know you are thinking ‘this is 2012 Ashley,’ but Eddie and I had a plumbing issue at the beginning of the week that left us with out water for a night, and no showers in the morning. It really is a lovely thing that we all take for granted. 

4. Whoopie Cakes – Have you had these? I’ve seen them around for a while but have been good at resisting them, until now that is. They are delicious. They are like cupcakes but lighter. 

5. Dove Soap – Early in mine and Eddie's  relationship I found out he would only use Dove soap. I thought all soap was the same and this bugged me because it’s more expensive than the others. Well let me tell you, all soap is not the same and Dove really is worth the extra dollar. 

The Little Things: Sleeping Positions

16 weeks! The baby is now the size of an avocado. I have yet to gain any weight, but hopefully I will soon. I am definitely showing all of the time now, and people who know can really tell. Hopefully strangers can tell and don’t just think I am fat. I am still not starving all of the time but I am trying to eat well. Still love fruits and veggies. I have been able to eat a little meat at lunch, but dinner in general is difficult. I am now making protein smoothies for breakfast, which are delicious, and wonderful for me.

16 weeks

 At 16 weeks you are suppose to stop sleeping on your back. Apparently as the baby gets bigger while on your back it rests on an artery that takes blood to the baby and your brain. This has been a challenge since I am a back sleeper. Sometimes I will roll on my side, but too long on my side makes my back hurt. I have really been trying to sleep on side, and feel guilty when I wake up on my back. Pillows help, but my back is still sore every morning. I will definitely be talking to my doctor about this next week.