Baby Bump Update: 27 & 28 Weeks

27 Weeks:

Due Date: January 30, 2014 
Gender: boy!
Movement: lots of movement this week!  
Feeling:  No complaints!
Food Cravings: Hot dogs...still :(
Food Aversions: Nothing I can think of
Clothes: Very few non-maternity shirts fit now
Stretch Marks:  No
Sleep:  Good but quite a few crazy dreams and I get up at least once to go to the bathroom 
Symptoms:  Thought I was getting a sinus infection but that went away. Otherwise, okay!
Wedding Rings on or off?  Off :(  
Best Moments: Justin started painting the nursery and is feeling Little Man moving a lot more

28 Weeks:

Due Date: January 30, 2014 
Gender: boy!
Movement: lots of movement this week and I can tell he's gotten a lot bigger based on the strength of the movements
Feeling:  Good
Food Cravings: Sweettarts, Coke (caffeine free)
Food Aversions: Nothing I can think of
Clothes: Almost all maternity 
Stretch Marks:  No
Sleep:  Good
Symptoms: Sitting for long periods of time becomes pretty uncomfortable
Wedding Rings on or off?  Off but wearing a fake set now  
Best Moments: 
Finding out a friend is due 3 months after us - we are already planning football watching play dates since the dads love the 49ers!  
Also seeing the nursery starting to look like we want it - painting is almost complete, curtains are up, furniture is in place

Baby Bump Update: 26 Weeks

Due Date: January 30, 2014 (officially under 100 days until due date!)
Gender: boy!
Movement: lots of movement this week!  
Feeling:  Good - a little more energy but not enough to get as much accomplished as I need to!
Food Cravings: Olive Garden soup & salad...and they had pumpkin cheesecake!  This craving was a big deal because Olive Garden has always been my favorite but I haven't wanted it the entire pregnancy
Food Aversions: Nothing I can think of
Clothes: This belly isn't going to fit into any pre-pregnancy unless its an open sweater or a sweater with only top buttons :)
Stretch Marks:  No
Sleep:  Good but quite a few crazy dreams and I get up at least once to go to the bathroom 
Symptoms:  Nothing terrible but symptoms anyway...Sides/Ribs stretching - not painful but definitely not comfortable.  Trips to the bathroom way too often!
Wedding Rings on or off?  Off as of 10/27 :(  Very upset about this but didn't want to have them cut off.  They fit perfectly before pregnancy so I've known for weeks this would come.  There have been a couple of days recently where I couldn't get them off at all so I guess it's better to be safe than sorry!!
Looking forward to: Getting everything ready and in place! I know these next weeks are going to FLY by!
Best Moments: We spent the day Friday working on his nursery. We took out all of the furniture that we won't need now (it was the spare bedroom).  Once it was empty we assembled the crib.  The room is FAR from done but it's starting to happen.

And just because this turned out so cute...Conrad, Mommy and Little Man.  Love this cat...I tell him to give the baby kisses and he bumps his head against my belly

Baby Bump Update: Weeks 22 to 25

I'm just a little behind on this and my sweet mother keeps reminding me of that...sorry Mom!  Thought I'd do mostly pictures to catch up and then post the correct update for the week in its own post.

22 Weeks, 3 days - taken Sept 29th

We had started the building the week prior and decided to take this picture in front of the house because of the "construction" in the back!  Justin felt Little Man move for the first time on the night prior to this (9/28).  After we laid down I grabbed Justin's hand and he got to feel two good kicks.  I was so excited for him to feel movement.  It wasn't a lot but every other time we tried Little Man would quit moving.  This weekend Justin's dad and step-mom came into town to help with the storage building.  It was fun having them here for the weekend and it was the first time we had seen them since we found out we were pregnant.


23 weeks - taken October 4th

Not a lot was going on this week.  Dad and Justin worked all week getting the building complete.


24 weeks - taken October 13th

Another fairly uneventful week.  We took this before the San Francisco 49ers football game - I stole one of Justin's shirts so I'd have something 49ers to wear.  Little Man moves more every day.  We think he's a 49ers fan already - when we start watching the game he starts moving and kicking.  Justin hasn't felt him move anymore although I feel it every day.  When Little Man is moving I try to get Justin in time to feel it but he always stops moving.  
Our church made apple butter on Saturday and some friends had their little girl there...she's 4 and a half months old.  Justin changed his first diaper ever...he also fed her and put her to sleep twice.  Seeing him with her makes me so excited to see our little guy in his daddy's arms.  I have no doubt Justin is going to be an amazing dad.

25 weeks - taken October 20th

I think this might be my favorite picture so far!  There's definitely no hiding this bump!  I've had this sweater for several years and love it but I think the bump sticking out makes it even better!
This was a good week.  We had our doctor's appointment on Monday (10/14).  They just did measurements and listened to his heart beat.  It was 157 bpm...he's an active little one.  The appointment was at the end of the day and I think he knew we were going to hear his heart beat.  He was move active than normal all day!  The appointment was good - everything was right on track.  Need to slow down on following my cravings but otherwise it's good!  Our doctor & Justin spent more time talking about sports than talking to me - hope they remember to pay attention to me and Little Man if he's the one in the delivery room!!
I've been going to the chiropractor every other week and I'm so thankful for that.  By the end of the two weeks I am ready for the adjustment to have some relief. I can tell my ribs are expanding but Little Man stays low so no kicks that high yet!
I started having a little more energy and have felt pretty good.  I have decided the second trimester burst of energy I kept hearing about is a myth since I'm at the end and never experienced it!
The day we took this picture Justin got to feel Little Man move twice - the first time since the end of September.


Now...let's hope I can stay caught up instead of trying to remember things a month later.  Pregnancy brain makes that almost impossible :-)

Baby Bump Update: 21 weeks

Due Date: January 30, 2014 
Gender: It's a....BOY!!!!!!
Movement: Definitely feeling him more
Feeling:  Good
Food Cravings: Pumpkin anything
Food Aversions: nothing
Clothes: Mostly maternity other than a few shirts that are long enough
Stretch Marks:  No
Sleep:  Good 
Symptoms: Nothing I can think of
Wedding Rings on or off?  On
Looking forward to: Justin getting to feel him move.
Best Moments: Watching our little man moving around during the ultrasound.

Doctor Appointment Update: We were very excited to have our ultrasound and hopefully found out what we are having.  The ultrasound tech started looking around and asked if we wanted to know what we were having.  Since the very beginning I had been thinking boy and as the time got closer the feeling got stronger.  When we said yes and in a matter of seconds she said "It's a BOY!!"  She said there was no doubt that we were having a boy. The whole time she was getting the measurements he was moving his little legs and arms around and she commented that he was very active.  Of course, when she needed him to move his head to get one measurement he refused.  She even had me turn on my side to see if he would move and that didn't work.  Everything looked great and based on the ultrasound measurements he weight about 10 oz.  The due date based on those measurements now says February 3, so I'm not really sure what it is.  Luckily it doesn't matter...he'll come when he's ready!
We also saw the doctor while we were there and he said everything looked good.  We were very happy to have lots of good news!

Baby Bump Update: 20 Weeks

A little late posting this but I guess better late than never!  This was written last Thursday - September 12th.  Gender news will come with the week 21 post :)

Due Date: January 30, 2014
Gender: We might know tomorrow!
Movement: More this week than in previous weeks
Feeling:  Good
Food Cravings: Pumpkin and caramel...stupid Pinterest!
Food Aversions: Yogurt 
Clothes: Mostly maternity other than a few shirts that are long enough
Stretch Marks:  No
Sleep:  Good 
Symptoms: Emotional :(
Wedding Rings on or off?  On
Looking forward to:  Our doctor's appointment and ultrasound tomorrow!  Plus a visit with family!

Baby Bump Update: 19 Weeks

Due Date: January 30, 2014
Gender:  We might know this Friday!
Movement: Some days more than others. 
Feeling:  Good
Food Cravings: this week...seeing all of the fall recipes is starting the pumpkin cravings and specifically pumpkin cheesecake!
Food Aversions: Yogurt again
Clothes: Mostly maternity other than a few shirts that are long enough
Stretch Marks:  No
Sleep:  Good 
Symptoms: Emotional :(
Wedding Rings on or off?  On
Looking forward to:  Our doctor's appointment and ultrasound Friday!

Baby Bump Update: 18 Weeks

Due Date: January 30, 2014
Gender:  2 more weeks until we find out...hopefully!
Movement: It depends on the day - Friday I felt more movement at work than in previous days which made me happy!
Feeling:  Good
Food Cravings: this week...nothing specific
Food Aversions: Yogurt which I normally don't mind at all and have ate the entire pregnancy
Clothes: Mostly maternity other than a few shirts that are long enough
Stretch Marks:  No…fingers crossed it stays that way
Sleep:  Good 
Symptoms: Very tired this week but its been ridiculously busy at work
Wedding Rings on or off?  On
Looking forward to:  Our ultrasound in 2 weeks
Best Moment: Feeling the little one moving around

Bump Update - 17 Weeks

I'm not a fan of this picture, so I'm sharing one from a few days before that I loved...

My goal is to raise this baby just like I was raised...a loyal Atlanta Braves fan from birth!

Due Date: January 30, 2014
Gender:  3 more weeks until we find out...hopefully!
Movement:  Some when I lay down at night.  I think it was doing cartwheels one night!
Feeling:  Good
Food Cravings: this week...Taco Bell :(
Food Aversions: Nothing specific
Clothes: Mostly maternity other than a few shirts that are long enough
Stretch Marks:  No…fingers crossed it stays that way
Sleep:  Good – usually get up once during the night to go to the bathroom.
Symptoms: Lack of energy and the obvious growing belly but otherwise things are good now. 
Wedding Rings on or off?  On
Looking forward to:  More movement so Justin can feel it!
Best Moment: Movement on a more consistent basis
Worst Moment: Being asked if I was sure it wasn't twins.  Note to everyone...NEVER ask that question...NEVER.

Baby Bump Update: 16 weeks

    

Yes, it's mid-August and cool enough that I was comfortable wearing this!  I feel an early winter coming on this year!

Due Date: January 30, 2014
Gender:  Not sure…we have our ultrasound on Sept 13th
Movement:  Very little that I can feel but when the doctor was trying to find the heartbeat, he kept asking if I could feel the movement.  Apparently BB (our nickname for Baby Butler) is quite active!
Feeling:  I've had a good week...still can't get enough sleep though!
Food Cravings: this week...a veggie sub from Subway
Food Aversions: Nothing specific
Clothes: Maternity all the way - they aren't quite as tight on the bump
Stretch Marks:  No…fingers crossed it stays that way
Sleep:  Good – usually get up once during the night to go to the bathroom.
Symptoms: Lack of energy and the obvious growing belly but otherwise things are good now. 
What I Miss: Hot dogs!  Not sure that will change!
Wedding Rings on or off?  On
Looking forward to:  The next ultrasound so I can see how much BB has grown and possibly find out the gender.
Best Moment:  Hearing the heart beat at the doctor's appointment!  
Doctor's Appointment Update:  When they knocked to come in, it wasn't our doctor.  It was a student.  He asked a few questions then our doctor came in.  The student tried to get the heart beat...it was several minutes of him trying.  I kept telling myself to stay calm because he probably hadn't done that a ton.  And BB is so little, I'm sure its hard to hit the right spot.  While he was searching our doctor was also talking to us...we really liked him.  Anyway, the doctor finally took the machine and immediately found the heart beat on his own.  I don't think the student was pressing down hard enough.  The heart beat ranged from 145 to 155.  It never was at a still pace.  I think BB was trying to get away from something pushing in his little home.  I think the heart beat is the greatest sound ever!  

Baby Bump Update: 15 weeks

The excitement of the summer here at the Butler Castle:

Now that everyone knows I thought it was safe to start weekly updates on the blog.  I've not been too great about journaling so I hope this helps me record all of the special moments.  I'm going to start with this week and then do another post or two with pictures and details from the previous weeks!


Due Date: January 30, 2014
Gender:  Not sure…5 more weeks until we can find out. Almost everyone seems to think it’s a girl.
Movement:  Yesterday (15 weeks, 2 days) I was laying on the bed on my side and definitely felt a little movement for a minute or two.  I have no doubt it was the baby!
Feeling:  Better overall but still tired
Food Cravings: French fries
Food Aversions: Nothing specific
Clothes:  I finally got some maternity clothes for work this week so I can wear more than the 3 or 4 dresses and skirts I already had that were loose enough to still be comfortable
Stretch Marks:  No…fingers crossed it stays that way
Sleep:  Good – usually get up once during the night to go to the bathroom.  Mainly sleeping on my left side
Symptoms: Lack of energy…I’m still waiting for that 2^nd semester energy boost I’ve been told about.  Starting to think it’s a myth! 
What I Miss: Hot dogs!
Wedding Rings on or off?  On
Looking forward to:  Our doctor’s appointment this week
Best Moment:  Feeling the little one move!

Christmas 2012

I am going to attempt to get into a routine of blogging and stay up to date! I've had a couple of people ask about pictures of our Christmas decorations so I thought I'd start with that.  Christmas is by far my favorite time of the year.  Justin gets into the decorating also and we were planning this coming year's decorations before we took down the 2012 decorations!

Here is a few shots of our tree in the living room:

One of my favorite new ornaments this year:

My tree of miniature ornaments was in the kitchen by the Keurig so it was safe from all of the paws!

The kitchen tree was a work in progress as I slowly found more ornaments for it - it will be better next year!

The dining room:

Our stockings and the holder Dad made for us last year from an idea I found on Pinterest!:

Dad made the sleigh for the reindeer we found in Pigeon Forge in August. The sleigh held our Christmas movies:

We started a Christmas village this year and got several new pieces through the holidays that we will add next year.  I called it "Town Butler"

This picture was taken when we originally set it out:

A couple of weeks later, a friend got a school for us and we added it: