Monday, October 18, 2010

14 weeks and counting...

So far, the second trimester has been much more enjoyable than the first! This past Saturday, I was unstoppable. I did more from 8AM-11AM than I have in the past two months! I had to take a few breaks to rest in between, but I was able to do several loads of laundry, run some errands, clean the house, play with the ladies in the back yard and much more. I even went "garage sale hunting" and found some great deals on baby items. I was able to decorate our front porch for "fall" and enjoy dinner out in Gettysburg with my mom and dad. I even started organizing the baby's room and transferring clothes and other items to new locations. I would say I'm about 80% back to normal- with occasional night time nauseousness and major headaches throughout the week. On Sunday, I was browsing Craigslist and came across an amazing baby jogger. I scored a great deal and only paid $60 for it. In another blog, I will have to post all of my amazing finds and how much money I have saved us along the way! In good news, I am still able to fit into my work pants and jeans, but after meals, things feel a bit tight. My goal is to wear normal pants through the end of October (cross your fingers!)

A few food cravings to report...

a. I miss deli meat so badly. I would do ANYTHING and I mean anything for a turkey 6" sub on honey oat bread with cheese, lettuce and tomatoes from Subway. (obsessive much?)
b. Loving fruit- watermelon, honeydew and green apples.
c. Loving pizza hut personal pan pizzas and breaksticks!
d. Enjoying yogurt.
e. Loving tomato soup and salads (from only specific places).


Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Hello 2nd Trimester!

Well I did it, I'm in the 2nd Trimester (officially tomorrow 10/13)- but definitely have a lot to blog about it. Rob and I had an ultra sound appointment yesterday and boy was it AMAZING! I never thought I would be one of those sappy women who would cry when I would see an ultra sound clip-I WAS WRONG! As soon as the image popped up on the screen, I was like holy sh*t, our baby looks real! Even at almost 13 weeks, you could clearly see a baby definition. Body, face, nose, arms, legs, butt cheeks, etc. As soon as I saw the heartbeat, I was done. Rob on the other hand...where did he think he was at, the movies?!? On TV/in the movies- you see the husband gently holding the wife's hand while they watch the baby together. Nope, not my husband. LOL He was sitting in the chair in the corner going, "Wow, cool. Now what zoom are you using?" You could definitely tell he was asking graphic designer type questions. (Honey this isn't Avatar, this is our baby).

Needless to say, the experience was breathtaking. We were also in there a lot longer than expected. She spent a good 45 minutes with us and we definitely got to see a lot of images. Also, the appointment was set up so they could do a first trimester screening which would check for down syndrome. In order to do the test properly, she needed to measure the back of the baby's head and check the fluid. Baby Schab was unfortunately not cooperating. The baby had his/her hands resting behind their head- almost like-"Hey Mom and Dad, just relaxing over here." At a few points we would see a hand pop up, almost as if they were waving at us. I looked over at Rob and was like, this is definitely your child because you could tell he/she was in laid back mode.
It is amazing how something like an ultra sound can totally change your outlook on life. A few hours prior to our appointment I was in major stress mode. I was working hard on talking points for a big presentation this week and my mind was totally wrapped up in getting it finished and approved before I left for my appointment. A short time later, work was not even a concern as I became so mesmerized by this little human who would be our first child!

My 'mommy mode' officially kicked in at that moment. Up until the appointment, I was very cautious about sharing the news and getting too excited about having a baby- I really wanted to wait until I knew things were ok and the baby appeared to be healthy. Once I saw things were good, I was a different person. I even told the tech, "I know you get this a lot, but don't you think our child is adorable?" Later in the appointment, another tech came in to do a finger prick to test my blood. I really don't remember the reasoning behind it, once they said finger prick, I started to freak out and almost cry. Rob held my hand and I had to turn away. She cleaned my finger and felt a small tap on my finger, I was like "Oh, that wasn't bad at all." I didn't even finish my sentence when she goes, "Sorry, I'll be right back, that one was a dud." Ugh, so I had to wait longer and I definitely felt it the second time! After she was done, she by accidentally moved the mouse on the monitor and Baby Schab popped up again. Once again, being the proud Mommy already I go, "Look at our baby, isn't it so cute!" I think she was just being nice and said, "Um yes."

Baby Schab looking stylish at Week #13


Fun Kristin Pregnancy Moments at Week #13

a. Future appointments.... we will find out the sex on 11-22-10 at 1PM and YES we definitely want to know!
b. I HATE CRACKERS- no more please! I love eating green apples now when I feel nauseous at night.
c. We spent a good part of the week calling family and friends to share the news.
d. Last night marked the first time (at least that I remember) asking Rob to get me food at 3AM in the morning. I felt sick earlier in the night and didn't eat a lot of dinner, so on top of feeling a bit ill, I woke up starving! Not to mention, it was thundering and lightning outside and I was scared to go downstairs by myself. He didn't complain at all, when I tapped him saying I was hungry, he rolls out of bed and goes, "Green apples and cold water?" Gosh- he is truly the best and I am the luckiest pregnant wife ever!

So even though Rob and I were on Cloud 9 all night after out appointment, we certainly didn't forget about our other two children, Porscha and Lexi. After our ultrasound, we dashed home and loaded them up in the car for their yearly vet appointment. We had switched vets earlier this year to be closer to our house (so this was a new office for them). Even though it was the same direction as the doggie park, Porscha wasn't buying it. She was fine walking up to the door and hanging in the lobby, but the moment they called us back, she refused to go into the tiny check-up room. It was too funny, Rob had to actually carry her in (all 35lbs) and then she ended up hiding behind his legs like a scared small child. An hour and $550 later, the girls got the clean bill of health with the exception of Porscha's right ear. She has an infection and needed two different kinds of drops and oral medicine. Porscha is definitely the biggest drama queen you will ever meet when it comes to shots (she takes after her mother). They took her in the back to have more people hold her down and Rob and I could hear her yelping from inside the room and heard the Dr. say, "I haven't even given you the shot yet?" Later that evening, Lexi ate an entire portion of noodles off of Rob's dinner plate when he left the room and so nicely threw it up every where in the family room. We just paid hundreds of dollars to make sure they were healthy and then she makes herself sick off of noodles! Despite the high bill and making a scene in the vets office with Porscha's dramatic ways, I just love them so much and I hope they are just as excited to meet Baby Schab as we are! Baby Bootcamp in preperation of Baby Schab has started already!


Our two ladies
Ms. Noodle not feeling too hot

Telling the Grandparents the news.... (future great grandparents)

Telling the grandparents the news proved to be quite fun for Rob and I!

I was able to tell my Grandma in person since she lives so close. After telling her the good news, we enjoyed a lovely girls day out and she bought me a maternity dress from Old Navy.
Scene: My Mom was "pretending to learn to take video clips" and wanted to test out my camera. I told Grandma Summers I got photos back from Aruba and wanted to share them with her.





We were unable to tell Rob's Grandma and Grandpa in person since we won't see them until Thanksgiving. However, we wanted to capture the special moment on video so we put them on speaker phone and I taped their "audio reactions." The video is quite long and a tad hard to hear at some parts, but definitely very funny. Unfortunately, the video cut off at one of the funniest parts. Rob's Grandmother asked when I started to feel sick and Rob told her when we got home from Aruba. She said laughing and going "Ooooooo, that is powerful water down in Aruba." LOL


Monday, October 4, 2010

Save the date, April 2011...We're going to Mexico!

So of course in natural Rob and Kristin fashion, we wanted to really surprise our family with the baby news and we went back and forth trying to come up with the best way to do it. Since my birthday fell real close to when we would be seeing our families, we decided to put a unique spin on "Rob's birthday gift" to me. With the exception of sharing the news with my sister, Rob printed up a postcard that said, "Pack your bags for an unforgettable journey, Mexico 2011" on the front and "Save the date for April 2011 for the arrival of Baby Schab on the back." We packed it in a bag along with my passport and travel items. Everyone asssumed Rob was surprising me with a trip to Mexico (yeah right) and no one saw it coming - their reactions were PRICELESS!!! Enjoy the video clips below...

Telling my sister...
Telling Kelly was a bit more impromptu then we planned. Kelly was leaving for DC a week after we found out, so we decided to tell her sooner than expected. Since I told her spur of the moment, I didn't do anything creative, but her expression/reaction was too cute! She was definitely surprised!



Telling my Mom the news...
The original plan was to tell my parents together. However, a few things went unexpected that day and I told her earlier that afternoon before my Dad got home.



Telling my Dad the news...
We told the news to my Dad the same day as my Mom, but just later in the day. It was funny because he just got home from a trip with Rob and he was very ready to start driving back home. I was nervous all day and the minute he walked into our house, he was like, "Ok Peg, lets go." Luckily we convinced him to stay an extra few minutes so Rob could give me my "birthday gift."



Telling the Schab Family...
We told Rob's family during Labor Day weekend when they came down to visit. Unfortunately, his brothers were unable to make it, so we could only surprise his Mom, Dad and sister with the news. If you listen real carefully, his Mom goes, "Hopefully, you're not going in April." Right before Rob gave me the gift, she said she was trying to organize a family vacation around Easter 2011 (Opps...) Luckily, once she heard the baby news, she was totally fine about re-scheduling!

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

I can see the light...

Pregnancy Post #4
I have finally made it to 10 weeks! Yay! Two more weeks until I am out of the first trimester and hopefully on the road to feeling better. I am starting to feel normal at certain times of the day which is an amazing feeling. Nights are actually much worse than mornings and usually the time when I feel the worst. That works out to my advantage so I am able to get through work and crash at night. The couch and TV have become my new best friends!

Last week I had my first pre-natal check-up and today was my first official Dr. appt. Both went well and I am getting another ultra sound done on 10/11. Very excited to see how Baby Schab is progressing and for Rob to be able to come with me this time.

So the good news is I am still able to wear all of my work pants- but the bad news is, I definitely gained a few pounds already. During my first appointment, I stepped on the scale and when I saw the number, I was like 'oh no.' The nurse looks at me and goes, 'Oh Honey, you have a long way to go.' Today's appointment, I am happy to report that I haven't gained anything. This is a Christmas miracle for sure, because I feel heavier than normal. Keep in mind, I haven't worked out since the beginning of August (which is very out of character for me) and I am no longer worrying about calories/food intake. If Rob offers me macaroni and cheese at 10PM at night because he had extra leftovers, why would I be a rude wife and turn his offer down? (You should have seen his face when he saw how quick I finished the bowl).

Other than the occasional night time meals, I can't really say I'm eating a whole lot more than usual- but some of my food choices make me cringe. Again, some days I'm in 100% survival mode and if I'm hungry and crave something like a slice of pizza- gosh darn, I'm going to eat some pizza to make myself feel better. Last night, Baby Schab really wanted a chicken cheese steak, so I put their needs before mine and enjoyed a steak and onion rings. The new food choices at 10 weeks I'm loving include.... green apples, lance peanut butter crackers, corn flakes, skinny cow mint chocolate ice cream cones, BBQ chips and vanilla yogurt with granola.

In fun news, my Mom and I hit up an adorable children's consignment shop and I purchased a swing that I have had my eyes on for a while! It was in perfect mint condition and I paid nearly half of what is normally would retail for at Babies R Us. I also picked up some cute maternity tops and even made my first baby clothes purchase. I am pretty positive I am having a boy, so I saw this ADORABLE blue collared shirt from GAP kids that I just couldn't resist! Rob actually has a similar shirt as well. My boys are going to be so cute!
Fun Kristin Pregnancy Stories....

1. Cry, cry, cry...I feel that is all I do some nights. Word of advice, don't ever watch Extreme Home Makeover when you are pregnant. I was hysterically crying on the couch for a whole hour and I think Rob got a tad freaked out. He came home from work during the middle of the show and had no clue what was going on.

2. Relax (yeah right...) I can be a very stressed out person at times. I would be the type in elementary school through college who would stress about every little homework/test/project etc. So naturally the thought of carrying a baby and learning new things started to stress me out. During my pre-natal appointment (on 9/16), she told me that my ultra sound would be scheduled around the 12 week mark on 10/11. Something about this date seemed so far away. I asked her, how do you even know if everything is ok when I won't see the baby for another 3 weeks and I started crying in her office. Who cries at a simple pre natal appointment?Apparently hormonal Kristin....

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Ewwww.... You want to make what for dinner?!?

Pregnancy Post #3
8 weeks

So let me just start off by saying how much I hate eggs again. I was re-reading my previous posts and almost gagged when I saw how much I was loving eggs around 4-5 weeks into my pregnancy. By week 6-7, my eating habits changed once again and I was no longer loving my egg sandwiches. Prior to getting pregnant, I loved food. I would also be the party guest hanging by the food table, munching away at anything; I would be the girl at work emailing my co-worker at 9AM to see where/what she wanted to do for lunch; I was always the host of our BBQ parties that would spend $150 in food, because I was fearful our guests would leave hungry- I was always up for any food at anytime. Don't get me wrong, I paid for it later when I hit the gym everyday and tried hard to burn off the horrible amount of calories I consumed, but in reality, I just loved to eat.

Well, food has taken on a much different meaning for me now. Everything and anything has no appeal. I have become soooo picky about food it makes meal times quite the ordeal. Last night for dinner, I was in tears because I was so incredibly hungry and nothing seemed like it would make me happy or less sick. Poor Rob had to take his dinner of ravioli and fiesta salad and eat outside on our patio. The thought of his pasta with spaghetti sauce made me so ill that he had no other choice, but to eat by himself.

I have also been so incredibly nauseous these past few weeks that every minute of every day I feel so sick and just want to cry. Working has been my #1 hardest thing I have to do. I have been in my current position for over 3 years and I can honestly say I love my job. I am the weird girl who actually enjoys going to work every day and I look forward what each day has to bring. Unfortunately, now work has become very, very hard for me. Every day is a countdown until 2nd trimester so I can start to feel a tad better. I have also resulted to a new time low and now use my lunch breaks to nap under my desk. Yes, on the filthy floor, I crawl up in a pathetic ball and try to sleep during my hour break. Through all of this, Rob has been nothing short of amazing. The marriage vows we recited to each other two years ago have really taken on new meaning, "Through sickness and in health." From learning code, "Rob, crackers STAT" (early mornings if I thought I would be sick), to being a shoulder that I can cry on (which happens almost every day), to keeping our house in order (my new motto is, I'm so sick and I really don't care anymore), to dealing with my crazy food ordeals (Rob if I don't eat in two minutes I will be sick) he has been AMAZING! I am sooooo lucky to have him as a husband and I honestly can say, I couldn't do this w/o him!!! Love you babe! xoox

I know this is such an amazing time in our lives and Rob and I do feel so blessed and would never wish the time away, but I will be happy when October hits just so I feel normal again. I truly feel as if an alien has taken over my body. I joke with Rob saying I miss "fun Kristin" and I'm hoping she will be back soon!

Just for fun...my new food cravings/ weird food related items...

a. I HATE EGGS
b. I'm all of a sudden loving bagels w/ cream cheese (which use to be a very rare food item for me)
c. LOVE saltine crackers
d. LOVE toast with peanut butter
e. I am enjoying chocolate chip cookies here or there.
f. I will eat salad- but only certain types- the bagged mixes that I would buy at Giant by the dozen in my first couple of weeks of pregnancy have since been thrown out because looking at them make me sick.
g. Do not even think about bringing spaghetti with red sauce near me (although I have enjoyed pizza lately).
h. I crave hot dogs (but can't have them- that is a pregnancy no no)
i. Tomato soup/chicken salad sandwiches (only the kind from Issac's)

Sunday, August 15, 2010

4 weeks...

Pregnancy Post #2
*all pregnancy posts were kept hidden until mid-October, but I still continued to blog

So the countdown to Baby Schab is on and at this time I am 4 1/2 weeks. Even though it is very, very early, I definitely do feel a little different. Simple tasks like laundry and cleaning take a lot out of me and I feel EXHAUSTED most of the time. My appetite has also changed as well. Believe it or not, I can't eat as much as I previously could. Also, certain food items that I use to LOVE have no appeal to me at all. The thought or sight of bread, (whhhattt I use to love Subway, rolls, sandwiches, Olive Garden bread sticks, etc), sweets such as cookies, cake, & candy and cereal & milk make me cringe. This makes me laugh because just a few weeks ago I would eat cereal every night for dinner?! It is truly amazing how things change so quickly. The biggest head shaker is eggs. I truly hated eggs throughout my life and would get sick just thinking of them. In this past week alone, I ate an egg sandwich every day for breakfast. In addition to eggs, I am happy to report that I am craving things like salads, vegetables and chicken which it totally fine for me!

The only other symptom is a shift in hormones....poor Rob. I am a little snippier than usual and I cry a bit more now than I have before. Classic story...Rob and I went to Giant and I went to the salad bar to load up on salad toppings. As I'm scooping up celery, tomatoes, etc- I start thinking how proud of myself I am for eating so well, which got me thinking of how we are having a baby and I started to cry. Rob just looks at me and goes, "Please stop crying, we're in Giant." LOL

Rob is so amazing and very understanding and I couldn't do this without him!