November

Our November was eventful and relaxing. It has been nice to actually be together for a month without much going on (in October Bryan was in the field and I was in Utah and the month before we were just getting settled). 

We took our kayaks to one of the lakes on post called Alligator Lake. No worries. We don't think alligators live up this north in Louisiana, and if they did, the post would have them removed. The lake was small, but it was a fun little outing. 

For Veterans weekend, we went to one of the Army's MWR sites called Toledo Bend State Park. We payed for these stationary tents called yurts, but they bumped us up to the cabins for the weekend because of the holiday. Our view looked out onto the lake. We made a dutch oven dinner and sat under the bright stars.

 In the morning, we went kayaking. It was beautiful.

I enjoyed chasing the ducks. They walk on the water and it makes this really funny sound. 

For Thanksgiving we went to Aunt Julie's house in Waco, Texas. It is only a 5 hour drive for us from Fort Polk. Grandma Adams, Robert and Debbie (B's parents), Adam (B's brother), and Bryan and I enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner. We have a lot to be thankful for this year with a baby on the way, living together, having jobs and good health.

 Bryan and Adam trying to steal Grandma Adam's chocolate.

On Friday, we went to Homestead Heritage. It is a festival the Ana-baptists put on every year with lessons on how to make candles, chairs, quilts, baskets, pottery, and tools. They live a simple life much like the Amish and Mennonites.

After we returned home, Bryan headed to the field for 10 days so I have been busy getting the baby room ready. My craft for the month was sewing a boppy cover. Way cheaper than buying the ones at the store! Plus, I used old scrapes to make an extra which turned out super cute.

2nd Trimester

During the first half of the second trimester, I was still in denial of being pregnant. I wasn't showing or having the normal pregnancy symptoms like everyone always talks about. I was able to keep up with my workouts for the most part and wanted to be treated like a normal, non pregnant person at work. 

Bryan and I told our parents around week 14. 

 16 weeks. 

I started to have strange thoughts about this time. I think most of them were due to the stress of moving, getting out of the Army (not working anymore), being pregnant, being bored, Bryan being missing (still at BOLC) from this important time in my (and our) life, and just irrational thinking in general. Wierd. 

 23 weeks. 

It was actually about week 19 that I really felt pregnant. Bryan was taking me out to dinner for my birthday and I wanted to put on some of my nice pants. Well, I got those suckers over my hips, but I sure couldn't button them. That made me sad. I guess it was time for stretchy pants and maternity jeans!

27 weeks.

My 21 week ultrasound was normal. Heart rate has been consistently in the lower range of 130-140s. We opted not to find out the sex of the baby. It will make for such a fun surprise when we finally do meet him or her. For now, we call the baby Billy.

The last half of the second trimester has been harder to run, exercise, and sleep. I have realized that I can't do more than 2 or 3 miles without finding a restroom, I have to bike with my knees facing more outward, and when I am at the gym's fitness classes I have to use all the modifications (which makes me feel weak). I usually fall asleep pretty easily, but around 6 in the morning I am ready to get out of bed because I have been laying on my side for 7 hours and my back starts to ache. Towards the end of the day I occasionally get sciatic pain which is unrelieved by anything. I just try to stretch it out, sit down, and put heat on the area that hurts.

Today, I am 30 weeks. I can't believe I am in my third trimester. I can't believe I will have a baby in 10+ weeks. I have been "nesting"- getting the baby room ready, reading parenting books and magazines, hanging out in the baby isle of Walmart, but I still don't feel ready. What did Bryan and I get ourselves into :) ?

1st Trimester

Every month my co-workers would find some reason to test me for pregnancy. They would think because my back hurt or I had a cough was a good enough reason to be tested. In June, I had unusual back pain to the point I was having trouble walking and getting out of chairs. The doctor ordered a script for a pregnancy test and I had a training medic draw my blood. I knew it would be negative. My co-workers just wanted proof. When I read the results, it didn't say negative. I thought for sure something was wrong so I called a fellow co-worker over to see the results I was looking at. She said, "Girl, you pregnant!" I couldn't believe it. I texted Bryan and then realized after I sent the text that this was probably a moment I should call him. His first words were, "I already knew." What?1?! Was I the only one who didn't know?

The first trimester was not bad. I craved Swiss cheese and green olives and felt sleepy before I found out I was pregnant. I didn't have morning sickness. I had  heart burn only when I ate pizza, twice. And I had this awful metallic taste that could never be brushed away (my mother had the same odd symptom). My friends husband cooked me a lot of steak during this time, thinking it was an iron deficiency? Other than that, I was feeling pretty normal.

This was taken at my 12 week ultrasound. Heart rate was not heard, however, the ultrasound said it was 155 bpm. Bryan was unable to be there because he was at BOLC (army training), but the technician sent him a picture. I was exciting to actually see the baby, because I was still in denial of the whole thing 

This was taken the day before I found out I was pregnant. 5 Weeks.