week 22... THANKSGIVING!

I can't believe that it's Thanksgiving already (okay, so by the time that I actually got around to writing and posting this blog, Thanksgiving is long over with). Please forgive me, I have been so busy with a short work week and preparing for the holiday.

Eddie and I hosted a small turkey day get together at our house. We had my mom, our cousin Joan in from Atlanta, and Ed's parents over for a delicious meal. Eddie made the turkey, stuffing, and mashed potatoes. My mom brought her famous mandrin orange salad and a delicious sweet potato casserole. Beth brought my favorite asparagus casserole (gotta get that recipe) and two of the most delectable pies you've ever had. It was so nice to have them over and give thanks to everything and everyone that we have in our lives. I have really reflected on what I am thankful for. I need to reflect on those people and things that I have more often than just once a year. I think that being pregnant and already feeling the amazing, unconditional love that parents feel for their children has really put things into perspective for me. I think about the different choices that I make in my daily life and how they will now not only reflect on Eddie and myself, but for our baby as well.

So with that being said, I am thankful for my incredible husband. He is my constant reminder in this life that things don't have to be so complicated. To live and love in each moment. He is a phenomenal man, husband, friend, and now soon-to-be father. I don't think he knows just how much he has changed my life and continues to make me strive to be the best person that I can be.

I am thankful for my sweet, sweet Baby R. I cannot wait to experience the incredible feeling of being a mother to this absolute miracle. I promise to be the best mother, friend, mentor, confidant that they could ever wish for. I cannot wait to meet you, precious Baby R. 

I am thankful for my mother, sister and the rest of my (and Eddie's) family. Mom and Rachel, you two are my rock and my everything. I can't thank you enough for teaching me and being there for me every step of the way. You are, without a doubt, phenomenal women.

My friends are my laughter and joy. I thank each and every one of you for being such a special part of my life. My life wouldn't be the same without each and every one of you in it.You are all more than just my friends... you've become my family.  

During week 22 the baby has been in acrobat mode! And I love it. On Thanksgiving day I lifted my shirt while laying on the couch and Eddie and I watched my stomach move as the baby squirmed and kicked. It was incredible. Now, I'm addicted to lifting up my shirt and staring at my baby belly. Haha.

Gestation week: 22
Total weight gain: Up a total of about 12 lbs
Baby size: Over 11 inches and weighs over a pound!
Major baby developments: Baby senses movement when I dance to MJ songs :) blood vessels in lungs are developing to prepare for breathing and baby will be familiar with Grayson's constant (and often times annoying) barking once the baby is born!!
Current issue: Crazy dreams that wake me up constantly.
Current craving: Still no cravings... I stay hungry with no idea as to what I want to eat. Blah.
Exercise this week: I've slacked due to the holiday!
Hormonal moment of the week: Lost my mind last weekend when I couldn't find pants to fit in length. But I am happy to say that I ordered a pair from Old Navy and am quite happy with them.
Stretch marks: Negative, thanks to Rachie for sending me some organic belly butter :)
Maternity clothes: Ahhh, yes.
Most recent baby purchase: Lots of cute outfits for Baby R.
Fluttering/kicking: Movement, movement, and MORE movement.
Most memorable moment of the week: Eddie and I watching my baby belly move as the baby moved. AND finding jeans that FIT! Woo to the hoo!

We finally picked out our stroller/baby carrier this weekend - although we won't be registering until mid December, my mom and I decided to take one on a "test drive".

And as always, here is my baby bump (after eating a million pounds of turkey this weekend!

More to report from the baby belly at week 24...

Peace, love, and baby,

Meredith & Eddie

week 21... hormones are going wild!

My hormones are completely out of whack - not in a bad way, just in a "this isn't typical Meredith behavior". Or maybe it is and I am just in denial?! Who knows...

For example, I LOVE to eat and am usually not too indecisive about what I want to shove into my mouth. But lately (within the last week or so) I can't tell you what I want to eat at all. Not even a little bit. It's getting to the point that I am even becoming frustrated with myself. I think that I want something and change my mind within seconds. Or I make something and after a few bites I realize that it wasn't really what I wanted. Like for instance the other evening Eddie wanted breakfast for dinner, so I made omelets (I make the BEST omelets) and sausage. I was so excited for my delectable omelet with all of the cheese and red peppers seeping out. But literally, after two bites, I was not satisified with my choice of dinner. So what did I do next? I pouted. Not in an obnoxious way, just in a pregnant girl way (YES, there IS a difference!!). Needless to say, I ate more of my rainbow sherbet that I have become obsessed with. I hope that I snap out of this change sooner than later.

As far as other hormonal changes: I cry at the drop of a hat. I cried at an episode of CSI Miami the other night for cryin' out loud. But this whole crying business is nothing new to my pregnancy world. The texture of my hair feels different. I can't tell if it's a good different or a bad different. Either way, it sort of makes me want to cry. Go figure. I just can't style it the way I used to. Not even my top of the line products are working for me. And I suddenly have these distinct natural auburn highlights?! Wtf? My hair is normally pretty darn dark! Hmmm, not sure about what's going on with that. 

Luckily for Eddie (and myself) I'm hormonal in a decent way. Personally, I feel like I've been a fabulous pregnant wife - so far! I hope that he would say the same :)

Week 21 has been good so far... nothing too major to report:

Gestation week: 21
Total weight gain: Probably gained about a pound or so since last Wednesday... so I'm up 10lbs total 
Baby size: About 11 inches. Baby probably weighs about 13oz by now
Major baby developments: Baby's eyebrows and eyelids are now present. And if we're having a girl, her va jay-jay has begun to form!
Current issue: Not being able to finding maternity pants in consignment shops that are LONG enough for me
Current craving: Ha. Read above. I don't know what I want!
Exercise this week: Walking Grayson :)
Hormonal moment of the week: Cried at CSI on Monday. P.a.t.h.e.t.i.c. 
Stretch marks: Negative, ghost rider.
Maternity clothes: Searching feverishly.
Most recent baby purchase: Nada. I've been good.
Fluttering/kicking: I think that Baby R is an acrobat.
Most memorable moment of the week: Eddie FINALLY felt lots belly nudges last Saturday morning!!

As always, here is my baby bump growing by the minute (as Eddie so eloquently tells me!!)...

More to report from the baby belly at week 22 (nearing my 3rd and FINAL trimester)...

Peace, love, and baby,

Meredith & Eddie

week 20... halfway there!

5 months down... 4 1/2 more to go! I am officially halfway through my pregnancy. Luckily we have the holidays coming up, so I'm hoping that makes November and December fly by!

We had our 20 week ultrasound on Tuesday, 11/10, and it was magical. Like I said, we invited our mothers and it was nothing but pure bliss for the both of them. I could only have two people come into the room with me - of course Eddie stayed with me the whole time - so mom and Beth rotated. The expression on both of their faces was priceless as they looked at their FIRST grandchild on the screen. My mom felt the absolute need to take a million pictures of me while having the ultrasound done... she's an avid scrapbooker!!

The baby looked fantastic. This baby has nearly doubled in size since our 16 week ultrasound! I was shocked! The baby is clearly taking after his/her daddy... Baby R just couldn't sit still! Not even for a second. It was quite comical to say the least. Babe was doing somersaults, head between legs, and then... the baby totally started to pout! Literally, the baby put their hand on it's forehead as if to say "C'mon, you guys are really bothering me here!" I LOVE the attitude... hmmm, perhaps a girl?!

The tech did a complete head to toe exam of Baby R and said that the baby looked absolutely amazing! The baby's profile was so darn cute that she even let us see a 4D ultrasound. It was so cool to see how the baby's face is starting to take shape. Granted, I am only 20 weeks and they don't normally do the 4D's until around 28 weeks and after... so the baby sort of looked alien-esque. But still absolutely adorable.

Eddie and I held strong on our word and didn't give into finding out the sex. But I ain't gonna lie... it was hard! Way harder for me than it was for Eddie (he kept me in line). He reminded me of the joy that was coming our way and the fact that he can't wait to be the proud papa and tell everyone the news of his son or daughter! That right there makes the wait totally worth while.

I have been pretty convinced that we're having a girl for a while now... I have had VIVID dreams about a baby girl and I just have that overall feeling. Eddie and I honestly don't care what we have, just as long as Baby R is happy and healthy - although I think that he's a bit more team BLUE :)

I am amazed at the unconditional love that I already feel for Baby R. The further along I get and the more that I see and feel, the harder that I fall. I am madly in love...

Gestation week: 20
Total weight gain: Had my OB appt yesterday and have gained a grand total of 9lbs
Baby size: Approx 10-11 inches. Baby weighed in at 12oz on 11/10... 50th percentile for weight!!
Major baby developments: Baby is swallowing a lot more and is now producing meconium (poo)
Current issue: Growing out of ALL my pants :( bye-bye size 8's
Current craving: Nothing inparticular... thankfully
Exercise this week: Walking Grayson :)
Hormonal moment of the week: Cried at the Ultrasound... Duh!
Stretch marks: Not yet... hopefully never!  
Maternity clothes: It's starting...
Most recent baby purchase: Nothing this week!
Fluttering/kicking: SO much movement! I can't get enough of it.
Most memorable moment of the week: Having our 20wk ultrasound with our mothers!

Here are a few pictures of the regular ultrasound scan and the 4D scan... you can definitely tell a difference!

Baby R resting hand on forehead... SO dramatic 

A diva in the making, perhaps?! We don't know but I sure do love this photo with baby's feet crossed.

4D ultrasound baby looking at us and you can see the umbilical cord by the face

look at that ear, eyes, nose, lips!!

Baby R's 4D profile picture!

And as always, here is my baby bump...

More to report from the baby belly at week 21...

Peace, love, and baby,

Meredith & Eddie

week 19... I can feel the baby!!

The feeling: amazing. My emotions: indescribable. Our baby: incredible.

I have FINALLY felt Baby R move. More than move - small little jabs and pokes! I have been awaiting this feeling for so long. The feelings that I felt at the end of week 17 were definitely that of our growing babe. But I was misinterpreting them for gas, indigestion, my imagination. Jamie and I would compare notes... but we were both so unsure that we just kept on patiently waiting.

This past Saturday night, Halloween, we ended the night at Zenos (it's our favorite, can't you tell?!). Obviously, I don't and can't dance like I used to but I definitely enjoy shaking my toosh every now and then. The music was loud and I think that Baby R was really enjoying the sounds. That night as I lay in bed I felt all sorts of flutters - it felt like popcorn popping in my belly and twiching, like when your eye gets a twitch. Then on Sunday evening, Jamie and I went to see the Michael Jackson documentary, "This Is It", and I kid you not as soon as the music started to play, Baby R started a'groovin!! For those of you that know me, know that I adore Michael Jackson. I have since I was little and I always will. I told Eddie weeks ago that since I don't know any lullaby's, I will just sing MJ songs to our sweet little babe. I get the feeling that Baby R has, too, become a fan of MJ's music. Like mother like child.

On Tuesday night I was laying in bed - tv was off, Eddie was snoozin', and I was resting my hand on my baby belly thinking of all sorts of things. What the baby will look like? Will he/she have my naturally curly hair? Will the baby have Eddie's beautiful eyes and lips? And then I felt it. I felt a faint poke. I laid there, frozen. Was it gas... or was it truly the baby saying "hey mama!". But it kept on happening. The poking and jabbing. It was our baby! Since then I have felt it on and off, but at least every day. I felt it again last night and again this morning when I first got to work. It's faint and not a big baby kick by any means. But, nonetheless, it's our sweet baby. It's the most amazing sensation ever.

Other business: I can't believe that Thanksgiving is in 3 weeks... then it's Christmas. Eddie and I are playing host and hostess - for BOTH holidays this year. We must be crazy! We plan to have my mom, our cousin Joan from Atlanta, and Eddie's parents over for Thanksgiving. It will be small and simple. Christmas will be a bit different. Every year Eddie's moms side of the family (the Smith's) all get together and celebrate Christmas. I volunteered our home for this years celebration. I am super excited to have everyone over and entertain. Eddie loves to cook and is mighty good at it, so I'm sure he'll take over the kitchen. I don't mind that at all.

We plan on registering for the baby sometime at the beginning of December. You're probably thinking "they must be crazy to try and register during the holiday season". And you're right. But I would like to get it done before the new year. I keep telling Eddie that registering will be fun - just like it was for the wedding (hint... he was just there in my shadow while we, err I, registered for our wedding!). I don't think that he's buying it. Honestly, I don't even think that he has a clue what he's in for. I'm going to go crazy with that gun!! Family and friends are already discussing plans for the baby showers so I better get a move on.

Gestation week: 19
Total weight gain: About 1 lb or so since my last entry (a total of 9 lbs since July)
Baby size: 6 in (from head to bottom) so from head to toe, about 9 in/8.5 oz
Major baby developments: hair on scalp is sprouting, sensory development (taste, smell, hearing, vision and touch)
Current issue: Tossing and turning at night.
Current craving: Nada.
Exercise this week: Walking Grayson :)
Hormonal moment of the week: Cried my eyes out when I saw the Michael Jackson documentary
Stretch marks: Nope. Thank you, cocoa butter!!
Maternity clothes: Oh yes, Beth bought 4 great tops for me and I LOVE them!
Most recent baby purchase: I bought Baby R the cutest outfit from Target the other day. I couldn't resist.
Fluttering/kicking: YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Fluttering,  poking, jabbing!
Most memorable moment of the week: Laying in bed last night with my hand on my stomach feeling the baby's movement.

As always, here is my baby bump...

More to report from the baby belly at week 20...

Peace, love, and baby,

Meredith & Eddie