Story Time :)

Our baby can officially hear our voices, or mainly vibrations, but is able to begin recognition of mommy and daddy's voice.  I read that he will actually respond to us after he is born WAY more than other individuals because he should feel safe from recognizing our voices.  How cute is that?

I am a teacher and talk ALL DAY LONG, so i don't think he will have a problem getting to know me.  Eric however, is not talking right next to me as often so... we have started a tradition:

Daddy Story Time!
Eric picks out a kids book, lays on my chest, and reads to our little one.

It makes my heart smile each time.  

Gifted to us and super cute

Strange book

19 Weeks!

And doing Fantastic!  I still think I've only gained about 10 pounds and my belly is looking pregnant and cute... I have been sleeping wonderfully (with my Snoogle Pillow), having little pains!, good skin, and more energy to work out.  I'm not saying being pregnant is the bomb or anything but this month it is not so bad.  I was extremely stressed a few days ago and wanted to DRINK more than I have yet (I know drinking to cover up stress = a problem) but that passed.  It always seems to pass when I want to do something I "CANT" do because of baby... this little guy is worth all the sacrifices in the world.

Ultrasound: Watching him move around and confirming he was "normal" really relived me!  I just needed to see that he had four limbs, 10 fingers, 10 toes, 4 chambers in his heart, looked human, and moved around.  It was a completely priceless experience :o)

I still haven't felt much movement at all but am way more relaxed and looking forward to this experience in the next month.  I can't wait for Eric to be able to feel the him too!

So much is going to change!

Holiday Nails

My little bump :)

Kissing his baby boy...

It's a BOY!!!!

His Head :)

Little Right Foot with Five toes!

Boy Parts!!!!!!

I love him so much already its crazy!  I didn't want to find out what we were having for the longest time BUT when it came down to it today, I just couldn't handle not knowing.  All said and done, I feel more attached to him and am sure I'll buy twice as much ;)

 

Top Names:

Harrison Robert Meyer- Both of us love name and the H comes from my grandpa Harold who passed away this year.  Robert comes from Eric's brother who passed away at a young age.

Holden Robert Meyer- Same as above but a more unique.

Liam Robert Meyer- LOVE this name but now its #1 on the baby name list and that will just drive me crazy every time someone reminds me of it or has the same name as us.  

Others still talked about:  Luke, Andrew, Aidan, Hayden (Eric thinks this is a girl name). 

Email Exchange

Monday, December 03, 2012 3:00 PM

Subject: heLLo

I love you! When will  you be home today?

Laura Meyer 

Monday, December 03, 2012 3:05 PM

Subject: heLLo

Not going to the gym today but have some stuff to take care of….you making dinner? Love you!!

Eric Meyer

Monday, December 03, 2012 3:16 PM

Subject: heLLo

I’ll PLAN to make dinner but I’m not keeping any promises…

 

Laura Meyer

Monday, December 03, 2012 3:20 PM

Subject: heLLo

See how happy she looks?

 

Eric Meyer

OMG... i  laughed out loud for a minute.  LOL

17 Weeks!

Popped!

This week has been good!  I slept though the night (without peeing) twice and I'm loving my SNOOGLE body pillow (http://leachco.stores.yahoo.net/snoogle.html).  I have also officially popped and have gained a total of 10 pounds.  I hope that is on pace to only gaining 25... I'm slightly nervous that I'm ahead of myself.  Eating is just so much fun!!!  And I always want too.  I have been eating good (healthy) but I haven't had the energy or ability to workout how I used to so it all catches up.  I WILL start doing more cardio this month!!!  I don't think I look like I'm gaining anywhere but baby (I hope).

Eric couldn't be at this appointment so I had to record the baby's heartbeat for him (and our moms)!  

Photo Fun!

Thanks to my friend, and mother of two, I have this chalkboard to log my weeks!  Its fun thinking of what to say or draw.  I plan to keep up on it but who knows if it will happen each week.  It makes a cute journal :)

We still haven't decided if we are going to find out and the Ultrasound is in 10 days!

I had to get Eric in a picture :o)... Holding Week by Week.

GUM without Aspartame!! And it tastes good.  

Last Single Birthday..

By single I mean without child :)

It was a good day.  All my students wished me lots of happy birthdays and kept a smile on my face.  Then when I came home my husband was already back to surprise me...

two dozen roses, body pillow, and card

I've been waiting for these since we found out we were prego! 

.

He did wonderful!  And I've been really blessed to have him as my body changes so much.  I need to be told I'm beautiful more often so i don't just feel like a whale... lol

We also went out for a wonderful dinner at Alma (http://www.restaurantalma.com/about_us.aspx)!  Eric googled "organic restaurants" and then we picked our top choice.  We have eaten here before and wanted to go back.  Its yummy!  Three courses and desert!  I also had a NA Beer that tasted wonderful.

Seared Sea Scallops

cauliflower two ways, cumin mojo & cippolini onions 

 Pork Loin & Smoked Belly

roasted grapes, escarole & saba 

Overall, turning 29 was great!  

My BUTT hurts...

I've been having the most discomfort in my buttocks!  I thought it was so strange and couldn't understand the connection to my pregnancy BUT after a little research I found it is actually very common during this time of my pregnancy and may worsen.

It is related to my ligaments stretching and uterus expanding causing the muscle deep in my butt check to move out of place.  Crazy!  It gets sore real fast and then seems to stay sore more the time.

I guess I can continue to ask my husband to massage it.. hehehe but it just seems to remain sore.  It is causing me to move around A LOT while sitting and sleeping.


I also just learned about the RELAXIN hormone that helps my whole body physically become a bit looser.  I mean I need to prepare to carry a baby deliver an extremely large human out of my tiny body parts :)

15 Weeks

I'm officially used to being pregnant... I think!  And I am starting to enjoy more than just the outcome.  You see, being pregnant is a miracle and knowing that a baby is the outcome is so amazing and wonderful, BUT all the changes to your body and emotions are much more than you can prepare for.

I have had so much going on physically: constipation, headaches, dry skin, runny nose, stuffy nose, blurred vision, ligament pains, sore butt, constant peeing, growing belly, lose of breath, exhaustion, gas, lots of burping, random pains all over, waking up to readjust while sleeping and I'm sure WAY more but I'm not thinking of it all at the moment.

I have had just as much going on emotionally: extreme excitement, obsessive thoughts about what I am eating and doing to keep our baby safe, dramatic dreams and nightmares, loneliness, desire to drink, overwhelmed easily, out of control and then completely in control and joy.

BUT NOW I am getting used to all this and acquiring more of an understanding as to why all this is happening.  I have found some good books, resources, midwives, friends, and more that I can rely on and find comfort in.  I'm starting to feel in control of what is happening and not so unsure of my every move.  I have always had a fear of getting pregnant and then having a healthy baby.  By this I mean, I am scared to death of having a child with special needs (mentally or physically).  I think part of this is because I am a teacher and have worked with all types of kids but I really don't understand these fears or why I'm so scared.  When i went to a holistic doctor, before I was pregnant, I expressed this huge fear of mine and she simply said, "So what would happen if you had a kid with special needs?" and my reply was, "the kid would be really lucky to have us as his parents."  This did bring some comfort to me and in all reality I believe we would be amazing parents to any kid.  So again, NOW I am feeling more in control and have realized that I have done everything I can to make and keep a healthy baby growing inside me so if anything is unique about him/her it is out of my control.  I actually only believe that last statement about 90% but that is a LOT more than before.

The other thing that I cannot wait for is when i am finally able to FEEL my baby!  I hear it should happen this month!!!!  I can't wait.  I'm also really excited for Eric to be able to feel the baby.  I know he has tons of his own emotions going on right now about fatherhood (although WAY LESS than me because he magically doesn't let things bother him) and I can't wait for our baby to become more real for him.  

We have settled in to our new lifestyle and have lots of things to look forward too.

15 Weeks 

Aspartame = Bad News Bears!

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/11/06/aspartame-most-dangerous-substance-added-to-food.aspx

This article is a MUST READ and then adjust your life to get aspartame OUT!  I started reading about it in a book "Skinny Bitch: Bun in the Oven" and then googled and then researched and then made a conscious decision to avoid aspartame at all costs.

Next read this list of items containing aspartame:

http://supersweetblog.wordpress.com/list-of-products-containing-aspartame/

Last do your own research and let me know if you find anything good.

14 Weeks

Baby: Navel Orange (4.5 inches, 2 to 3 oz)
Me: 25 Weeks to go and growing!

Pregnancy Headaches SUCK

I didn't get headaches very often before this little one was inside me and now I have one almost every day :(  The last two days it has woken me up (also a weekend so I really wanted to sleep in).  I know its normal and just one of the many prices my body has to pay right now, but it really stinks.

One of our midwives said that a Tylenol and Coke are a great headache remedy.  I haven't tried this yet, but I will be willing to very soon.  However, I'm not a Coke (or soda) drinking so it seems strange to pick up the habit.  I do want to see if it works, so I'll test it out.

That's all folks.

+

Shared Wisdom: Session 1

We attending our first "Shared Wisdom" class for mom's and dad's due in April (I'm due in may but early so they added me to this group).  It is lead by two midwifes and a lactation consultant (she is some other things too but i can't remember).  We will attend this class/monthly check in instead of making individual appointments throughout our pregnancy.

Eric and I learned how to take our own blood pressure and record all my other information.  We then met with one midwife privately and heard the heartbeat!  This time the baby was front and center and moving all around.  As she was looking for the heartbeat, I got so anxious but the second the 160 beat per minute sound came about I was SO happy and amazed.  I can't wait to see him/her at the ultrasound soon.

Speaking of the ultrasound... I can't decide if I want to find out the sex of our baby yet.  Eric has always wanted to and I haven't but I'm being persuaded.  Its a hard decision.  The main reason I DONT want to find out is for the delivery.  I believe it will be so much more exciting and filled with positive anticipation if we don't know what is coming out!  I also think this is a type of surprise better than other other surprise i can imagine!!  I DO want to find out for the planning of the baby's belongings and picking a name.  AHHHHH what to do (in a good way).  Also, everyone has their own opinion of what to do so thats a little annoying but whatever.

Weight:  I have gained TWO pounds.  Not bad.  I'm feeling ok about this.  I have been doing weight training two days a week and walking about two miles 5 days a week.  I even made it to the gym today for more cardo!

Back to the Shared Wisdom class:  After all this we all sat around in a circle and shared things and asked questions.  That weeks share was, "What are you most surprised about that has happened during your pregnancy so far."  The men and women were asked to answer this.  I said constipation and exhaustion.  Eric agreed that he could believe how tired I had been through my first trimester.  Two of the other women shared that they have not been able to sleep and having nightmares.  I have noticed that my dreams are way more vivid and sometimes slightly more like a nightmare but nothing too bad.  I have also been sleeping really GOOD and enjoying that aspect of pregnancy.  However, that night i had THREE nightmares and was up most the night!  Gezzzzzzz.  Today, we bought a new KING size bed and I'm so excited for its arrival.  I'm obsessed with sheets and looking forward to buying them :)

Overall, we enjoyed the class and are looking forward to more meaningful monthly check ins than just the 15 minute heartbeat and vitals.  Eric did say that he hates when women talk all calm and slow and soothing... lol which is what two of the three women that lead the class were like.  I love seeing how different each of our bodies are.  I am most excited to meet and develop relationships with other expecting parents in our area.  We will have a class after all our babies are born too.

Now, I have to get on taking weekly pictures because my bump is popped and continuing to grow :)

$hopping while Eric is out

So I have been kind of down on myself the last few weeks and feeling chunky, what better thing to do then SHOP to cure these emotions.  Maybe not cure, but for sure lighten the mood.  Eric is in Vegas this weekend for a bachelor party so I had my friend up to play.

I was with Megan (mother of two) and her oldest daughter Charlee (almost 3 years old) at the  Mall of America buying up whatever we could find.  The craziest news of all was when I asked to be measured at Victoria Secrets... I found out I was a DD!  That is cray cray!!! I have been wearing C's for 10 years.  I continue to read that my boobs will be growing and may be crazy sensitive but I haven't noticed too much.  This was a wake up call.  I guess when you live with them everyday all day you don't notice the changes as much.  So I treated myself to 4 new bras for the first time in years.  And they were on sale too!  Then we hit up a maternity store and the prices were out of control so we got the hell out of there and wondered into our favorite stores.  I bought large and XL in everything, made sure all the shirts were LONG, and am very happy with my purchases.  I've also heard from a handful of moms that they wore yoga pants all the time while pregnant.  I'm cool with this... my jeans are not that comfy anymore.  

Charlee was a wonderful shopper!

It's a peach!

12 weeks 3 days bump!

Feeling FAT!

Everyone keeps saying you aren't fat you are having a baby, but it doesn't make me feel any better.  I can't wait to start showing!  Right now, I am bloated and feel like i have a "muffin top."  I also can't wait for the glory trimester to start taking affect.  I hear that in the next couple of weeks (hopefully days) I will start to have more energy.  I am currently 12 weeks and 3 days along.  I don't want to sound all negative because I believe I am actually very blessed with how easily my pregnancy has been going, BUT I can't take much more of this exhaustion and bloating.  Plus, the weather is changing and its cold, dark, and not summer anymore.  I have been brought to tears so easy the last few weeks its crazy.  The first month, it was cool because I was hoping to be pregnant and noticing new things like my sense of smell and wonderful ability to sleep like a rock.  The second month, i was happy to be pregnant and really trying hard to keep it a secret but failing.  I was also peeing ALL the time.  The third month, I was sick of having no energy, noticing how tight all my pants are, and really happy to hear a strong heartbeat growing in my tummy!

I am most looking forward to month 5.  I hope that at that point i have a cute belly and lots of energy!  It  will also be my best friends wedding, Christmas, visit from my mom, and probably some cool gifts.  I'm just being honest.  

All in All: Life is still good.

Weekend Dinner!

We made some really good FOOD this weekend!  Eric did most the cooking but I sure enjoyed eating it all...

Halibut Soup (the Bomb!)

http://bobbiskozykitchen.blogspot.com/2012/04/halibut-soup-or-just-call-it-epic.html

most of the recipe was taken from this site but we altered ingredients (as shown below).

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 large yellow onion, chopped

1 large carrot, peeled then sliced in half and cut into half moons

1 poblano pepper, seeded and chopped

4 large cloves of garlic, chopped

Kosher salt

Cracked black pepper

6 cups chicken stock

1 15-ounce can of hominy (white or yellow)

2 pounds halibut cut into 1-inch chunks- Ours is fresh from ALASKA!!

1 medium zucchini, cut in half and then cut into half moons

1/4 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped

Served it with a fresh salad and baguette!  So deliciously good.

Halibut Catching

this if from that site too, ours didn't have sausage and I forgot to take a picture

mOOd SwinGS!!

Yikes... I've been all over the place and then some.  ITs been a whirlwind in our house.

• I've been crying when my tummy shows but smiling while taking pictures of it
• dreading having a whole day of events I am supposed to attend but then enjoying myself once I'm at them
• Getting extremely upset at Eric when he can't figure out what I want or what I am thinking
• having lots of trust issues and asking for every little detail
• Being REALLY excited about a little human growing inside me
• feeling alone... and this really hurts my husband but he isn't pregnant nor will he ever be
• Cooking and Enjoying some good food that makes me smile
• wanting to hang out with my friends with babies and wishing a close friend was prego too
• anxiety is off the charts when I don't know what is going on 
• Jealousy (or anger) when Eric talks about how much he has changed his life because I compare it to how much my life has changed.  All this is stemmed form me badgering him to begin with
• And worst of all, all this emotion has made my sleep less peaceful

Man the hormones are making me Cray Cray!

I guess (I know) it is all worth it and amazingly Eric has been able to deal with it all.  He isn't perfect but I'd want to shake me if I was him.  

Read Up on BabyCenter to confirm this is all NORMAL: http://www.babycenter.com/0_mood-swings-during-pregnancy_253.bc

Trimester One!

Today 11 weeks and 3 days...Baby Denali is the size of a large plum this week.  About 2.5 inches and 0.5 ounces.  My uterus is now the size of a large grapefruit and has begun to migrate from the bottom of my pelvis to the front-and-center position in my abdomen.  

Maybe this is why I can't keep my jeans buttoned anymore!  I'm feeling fat this week, but in a good way because it makes me smile.  I ordered (from Amazon) two Baby BE Mine Belly Bands for $35 (black and white) and a Abdominal Binder Waist Trimmer for after I have the baby.  I know its crazy to think about after the baby already but I'd like to get my tummy back quickly.  My goal is to only gain 25 pounds.  Our midwife said that is completely reasonable and healthy for me.  The main reason (a material reason) I do not plan to gain more than 25 pounds is because I already weigh 175 pounds and the thought of hitting 200 pounds makes me FREAK OUT!  I think I carry my weight good and I'm comfortable in my body but the number psychologically drives me nuts.  I know lots of other women who weigh 175 pounds and they do not look like me.  No offense but I work hard (most the time... minus McDonald's) to stay fit and healthy.  However, I still have very low energy and haven't wanted to go the the gym or workout much harder than long walks.   I'm counting on some energy returning during my second trimester and looking forward to it.

 I actually slept through a night without waking up to pee!  I have not been able to do this in two months.

This first trimester has not been too hard on me.  I have been lucky enough (knock on wood) to be without morning sickness and food aversions.  My husband has also been cooking dinner most nights and taking care of lots of the cleaning!  What a good man :)

Here are some of my First Trimester Photos:

week 4- the day we found out!

10 weeks

12 weeks

Sometimes I eat McDonald's...

Egg and Cheese Biscuits!!!

i KNOW... it goes against all my FOOD beliefs but they are just so good.  Don't worry, I DO NOT eat the meat, EVER!

Today when my jeans wouldn't button, I went to McDonald's!  I'm just being honest.  And to tell the whole truth... I ate two!



NOW, I am going to go on an hour walk with my dogs!  For Real.

Biscuit: about 390 Calories x 2 = 780 gained!  -   Walk: About 277 calories burned

 EQUALS:  I'm a FAT ASS today!

                            

Baby MADE!!

August 2012 Continued- 
Our drive home from Chicago to Minneapolis (we flew out of Chicago to Alaska) on Aug 19th took about 8 hours and consisted of baby names, downloading baby apps, planning out the due date, reading about the development of our fetus, talking about how much our lives were going to change, realization that I was hopefully done drinking but also thinking about how much i was going to miss it, and talk about being careful not to get my hopes up too much because I may (actually most likely) not be pregnant yet.  It takes the average woman ONE YEAR to get pregnant.

I started to notice some things!  I was EXHAUSTED.  I could SMELL everything.   I had read all the signs of pregnancy and these were the main two.  I started to assume I was pregnant.

I took FIVE pregnancy tests!  Yes, I'm crazy.  I started taking tests 6 days before my missed period (like the box says you can do) but didn't know exactly when my next period was supposed to come because of the 24 day cycle that had just happened.  After the FOURTH NOT PREGNANT test, my husband made me promise to wait until two days after my missed period!  I was crying because I was coming to terms that I probably was not pregnant.  August 26th would have been 26 days since my last period so we decided to wait until August 28th to take another test.  I continued to "act" pregnant by not putting anything into my body that I wouldn't do if prego.  By August 28th I would "know" due to the missed period or  I'd be drinking because I had gotten my period.  As you can tell, the test on August 28th was positive and brought me happy tears!

All my crazy planning had worked.  I couldn't believe it.  A miracle was growing inside of me!!!

The journey officially begins!!!!!!

Baby Makin... from the beginning!

We had the pleasure of making out baby in ALASKA.

It was even slightly documented!  Don't worry only the pictures of where we worked on making a baby will be shown, no kinky or rated R photos :)

So lets start back at the beginning:

Sometime between November 2011 and January 2012: My husband and I decided that we would start our baby making around our one year anniversary!!!  August 2012!  I was SO excited and agreed to stop harassing him about how bad I wanted a baby.

March 2012- I went to NYC to visit my friend and discovered (through conversation) the many perks of NOT being on birth control.  I had been on BC since i was 16 years old and had always been scared about the severity of  camps and bleeding if I were to go off.  Not to mention: the chance of getting pregnant before planning to.  My family has a history of extremely inconvenient periods and great fertility.  This friend let me know that condoms would work just great and I would actually learn my cycle, understand my body, have WAY less mood swings, maybe get some pimples, grow a stronger and healthier sex drive!, and best of all I would not be putting all those crazy hormones into my body any more.  I was sold, happily married, and planning to go off birth control in about 6 months anyway.

April- I got my last period via the Nuvaring and went off BC without looking back.  We bought two huge boxes of condoms (after asking my other friend who enjoys the many benefits of not being on BC what types she prefers).  I researched what should happen: the average woman has between a 26 and 28 day cycle; I should track the first day of each period; ovulation occurs exactly half way between periods; you really can only get pregnant when/around ovulation.  I got my period naturally 26 days later at 9am.  I had cramps 24 hours before my period... they were manageable but more painful then the month before.

May- My sex drive was out of control (sorry if this is TMI)!!  I got my period exactly 26 days later around 9am. This was so exciting for me too!  The camps were less than the month before I was starting to feel confident that my cycle was baby producing capable.  I had this fear of not being able to get pregnant for the last 5 years.  I had no reason for this fear and it drove my husband nuts when I'd get emotional about it because he is rational and this feeling was not.

June- Period arrived again like clockwork around 9am 26 days later.  I met another couple that was planning to start trying for a baby in August and learned some good baby making strategies:  have sex four days before you are supposed to ovulate and then every other day after that; also, morning sex is the most fertile.

July- Period arrived again!  I made sure to have LOTS of fun this month.  It was the best summer of my life!!  We enjoyed every weekend with different family and friends doing everything we wanted to do.  We took FULL advantage of our single life style and made sure to drink often.  I was getting so excited to try for a baby that I had clocked out the exact day I thought my ovulation would occur- August 15th.  I took some ovulation tests to double confirm my cycle was normal and was pleased when the smiley face appeared.  I went to a holistic doctor with my aunt of a prenatal visit too.  I researched prenatal vitamins... hardcore and stated taking them.  I learned about DHA and why folic acid is so important for a fetus. I bought my bridesmaid dress two sizes bigger than what I needed in hope that I would be 5 months pregnant at the wedding.

Yes, Researched!!! and recorded exactly what I wanted my Prenatal to have.  

Purchased and started taking- two fish oil, two calcium, and on prenatal!

Fit into Size 10

... Ordered Size 14

August: Baby makin Month has finally arrived!-  my period arrived 24 days later!  It was actually July 31st.  What?!?!?!? Why?? I had everything planned... this took me by surprise.  I started peeing on sticks about 8 days after my period began and then we departed for Alaska on August 9th.  We arrived and traveled out to my moms land outside of Talkeetna.  We had NO running water or electricity and it was perfect.  I decided to stop taking the ovulation tests, completely relax and start having sex every other day and in the morning when possible.  All this equals the BEST vacation ever!  

Our Baby Making Suite!

Landed on a Glacier!!! Part of my relaxation :) - Watch Video

Our Hotel in Homer: it may have happened here too!

Look closely at the bottom of the Dollar!
We left this at the Salty Dawg in Homer, AK for good luck.