14 Weeks...Hello Second Trimester!

It has been a pretty low key week for the Lude Family.  Joe and I have both been working a good bit.  Sandy from work took the first jab at thinking we are having a boy since I "popped" early. I work with mostly guys, and even they seem to be having a little fun with this whole pregnancy thing too! Hence...my new sticker....

The weather has been really hot so we've spent a lot of our free time hiding out in the AC watching some shows.  The marching band has been practicing at the high school across the street so we have been checking them out a little bit when we are out walking the dogs (I secretly wouldn't mind if Baby Lude is a little bit of a band geek like his/her mama!).  On one of our walks a little girl from down the street waved hi as we walked by.  She then apparently ran inside to let her Mom know the new neighbor girl from down the street "looked like she was becoming pregnant!".  We know this because her Mom stopped by (a lil curious) when walking her dog to ask Joe privately if her daughter's observation was true haha.  The little girl had offered up her baby sitting services when Joe was at their Super Bowl party...so hopefully the offer still stands in a couple years :)

We started our baby registry.  Who knew there was so much stuff for babies?!  We are really going to try to keep it simple and are hoping everything being gender neutral helps.  But the sheer amount of the same things (pack and plays for example) is insane!! Then you have to try to figure out which one you want/which best meets your needs.  So we'll see how it goes.  Hopefully I can get some insight from all of my fellow mommies.  Joe and I also got some primer up in the nursery, which used to be the playroom of the previous homeowners' daughters.  It had a pink, purple, yellow, and green wall. Next step is to get some paint on the walls.  Then Joe has a master plan to try out his carpentry skills by installing some molding. Wish him luck!

Our helpers are never very far away

Baby is the Size of a Lemon

14 Weeks

Thanks hubby for catching me at a good angle while I practiced perfect form ;) Yoga fit!! I can still "hide" the bump a little bit...we'll see how much longer that lasts.

New for baby this week? Sucking their thumb, wiggling their toes, kidneys are making urine (yes I officially have a baby peeing inside of me...kinda gross!), growing lanugo (peach fuzz hair to keep them warm)
Sleep? Still enjoying not waking up in the middle of the night to pee!!
Best moment this week? Starting on the nursery.
Miss Anything? Not really.
Food cravings? Pickles. Taco Dip.
Anything making you queasy or sick? Nope....and now that I am officially in the second trimester hopefully I am in the clear.
Have you started to show yet? Same lil baby bump.
Belly Button in or out? In.
Wedding rings on or off? On.  And oddly loose with this weather being so hot?
Happy or Moody most of the time? Happy.
Looking forward to? Hopefully going to the Dublin Irish Festival, Ohio State Fair, or both :)

13 Weeks...Facebook Official

We made it...the last week of the first trimester!  We received a really nice card from Joe's sister Sarah when we got home from vacation.  We were sad she wasn't able to be there for the family announcement.  Sarah is such a thoughtful person and always full of kind words.  She'll get to see us (and my bump!) in person in a few weeks.  Our post vacation week has been spent playing catch up and trying to relax.  We got the fire pit going Monday evening.  A couple of the neighbors and our friend Laura came over to enjoy the beautiful evening and some smores.  It is also Columbus restaurant week so we met our friends Geoff and Nicole at Milestone 229 for dinner Tuesday night.  Baby and I also had the joy of spending a few hours at the BMV today.  I should have just kept my NC license and plates!! ;)

We knew once we were back from vacation we would like to put the baby announcement on Facebook since we had been able to share the news with most of our close friends and family.  We had a couple last minute phone calls and texts to send out to people we unfortunately just hadn't had time to see in person.  My favorite reaction was from the Blankenships (which sadly I am pretty sure we saw more of before we moved back to Ohio, lets fix that!).  Alison is ready to pay off my OB to find out the sex of the baby....haha!!  (Don't worry Alison you probably have a few others who would go in on it with you...but I'm thinking y'all will just have to wait until January with the rest of us.) This was our announcement (which of course had to include our fur babies).

First comes love...then comes marriage...

It is exciting to have the news "public".  We had tons of likes and comments, and it was great to hear from so many of our favorite people (some of which were just as excited "finding out" for the second time).  And apparently just in time because I don't think I am hiding it very well these days.  Joe and I were out walking the dogs and we stopped by to say hello to a neighbor we had not yet shared the news with.  After a few minutes visiting and petting the dogs she blurted out "Are you expecting?!"  I know I haven't really been trying to hide it, and was wearing a form fitting shirt...but wow didn't realize I had popped enough for someone to be that bold.  What if I was just getting fat?! LOL.  So I guess this marks the beginning of many more awkward comments and belly rubs for the rest of my pregnancy.  Fortunately I am pretty easy going so I just found it funny, hopefully that attitude stays.  I mean she even asked if it was twins when I told her I was only 13 weeks!!  Oh my...the joys of having a small frame, nowhere for baby to hide!

Baby is the Size of a Peach

Total weight gain/loss? Breaking even, maybe a pound?  It fluctuates.  Will be curious to see what I weigh in at at my next appointment with the OB.

Maternity clothes? Still rebelling.  Probably coming soon.
Stretch marks? No, and lotioning like crazy in hopes I do not get them!
Sleep? Thankful to be waking up less during the night this week having to pee.  Baby and I have been taking some extra naps because we are fighting off a little cold (the second we have had together...I hope this isn't a trend!).
Best moment this week? Making it Facebook official.
Miss Anything? Sushi.  And passion fruit, because I haven't found any yet in Columbus.
Movement? Wonder if baby is jumping around every time I sneeze?
Food cravings? Pickles!! (One or two a day).  And I think I had almost a whole bag of grapes in one sitting.
Anything making you queasy or sick? Nope :)
Have you started to show yet? Yes...and I think I have lost the ability to "suck it in".
Gender? Joe still thinks boy.  Our friend Laura Crawford was the first to take dibs on girl.  Callie is non-committed as far as I know (she looked up on the Chinese calendar...I told her not to tell me what it said).  I may need to start a running tally on bets.
Happy or Moody most of the time? Happy unless I am dealing with the BMV.
Looking forward to? A weekend at home :)

12 Weeks...Punta Cana

Joe and I spent the last week on vacation in Punta Cana with our friends Nate and Callie.  We stayed at the Riu Palace Macao.  Joe and I hadn't been to an all inclusive resort since our honeymoon, and it is quite a different experience when you are pregnant.  When we booked this vacation Joe and I thought it would be our last hoorah before starting a family, but instead I spent it 12 weeks pregnant.  Obviously things have worked out differently than "planned", but we couldn't imagine it any other way.  We left the rainy Ohio weather bright and early Saturday morning, and were in the DR enjoying some sunshine by noon.

View from our fourth floor room.

Swim up bar. Sorry, Baby Lude, no booze for you!

Beach pic. Joe was napping :)

The first full day in Punta Cana was a rainy one (we must have brought the Ohio weather with us), but the rest of the week was filled with some much needed sunshine.   All in all it was a very fun and relaxing week.  What I couldn't have in drinks, Baby and I made up for in food! We spent lots of time at the pool, walking along the beach (trolling), enjoying the entertainment, and playing euchre (Callie and I dominated, but that is a sore subject for Joe and Nate...).

First night view from our balcony.

The boys getting ready for an archery competition.

Just a couple sailors.

Callie and me :)

Dinner at the Japanese restaurant.

Group selfie.

Joe has a tendency to put his hand on my baby bump a lot these days :)

Mid week we went on an excursion to snorkel, swim with sharks, and get massages from stingrays.  Joe and I love our down time, but it wouldn't be a vacation without at least a little adventure.  Apparently I must look a little more pregnant than I realized, because Joe had to endure a lot of questions about me possibly being "maybe three or two or one months" pregnant.  (Disclaimer...nothing we did was unsafe and was all completely approved by my OB in advance.  The group running the excursion was concerned about me being sick on the boat, and didn't want any kind of liability).  We may have fibbed a little bit to make sure I was allowed to go on the trip...so I guess Baby Lude is officially a rebel.  We had a lot of fun and got some great photos.  And I also did not get sick on the boat ;) Not to mention I apparently was not looking very pregnant on the boat since they poured a shot of rum in my mouth (which immediately got spit in the ocean haha).  The rest of the rum and Cokes poured for me went straight to Joe.  He is "drinking for two", you know!

Callie and Nate on the boat.

Stingray massages!!

Holding our slippery little friend.

Guide catching nurse sharks.  Don't worry, they are vegetarians!

Don't look now, Baby, but a shark just swam right under us!

Joe, Nate, and Callie drinking rum for the 5 of us ;)

Before we knew it our vacation was over it was time to go home (Joe and I were very reluctant to get out of the pool the last morning).

My favorite lounging spot for the week.

Last morning sunrise.  It's always sad leaving paradise.

 

 Our travel day back to Columbus turned into a little bit more of an adventure than anticipated.  Apparently there were bad storms in Charlotte (amongst other cities) so flights/airports were a complete mess.  Our connecting flight got delayed two hours, before being "cancelled" and disappearing into thin air.  We were on standby for the last flight back to Columbus for the evening and thankfully got on and made it home at about 1 a.m.  I am happy Baby Lude was an "in belly" traveler.  A travel day like this will become much trickier in the future with a little one. We woke up early Sunday to pick up our two fur babies, and have a couple days off at home to get back into the swing of things.

Baby is the Size of a Plum

Total weight gain/loss? Only about 1-2 lbs.  Amazing how much that can show. 
Maternity clothes? Not quite yet.  Although I am finding out slowly more and more random clothes are not fitting.
Stretch marks? No.
Sleep? Love to sleep.  Although not as sleepy as I have been.
Best moment this week? Vacation with hubby and friends.
Miss Anything? Being able to enjoy a poolside drink.
Movement? Not that I can feel.  But the books tell me Baby Lude now has reflexes and will move if I poke him/her.
Food cravings?  Passion fruit and jalapenos.  Both of which I enjoyed lots of on vacation :)
Anything making you queasy or sick? Nope.
Have you started to show yet? Yes I don't think I can hide it at this point unless I wear very loose clothing. I have "popped".
Belly Button in or out? In.
Wedding rings on or off? On.
Happy or Moody most of the time? Happy.  
Looking forward to? Some sunshine in Ohio this week (rumor has it there is no rain in the forecast for 4 days later this week).

11 Weeks...Second Ultrasound and Surprise Birthday/Baby Announcement

Joe and I had our second ultrasound on Monday to remeasure baby and decide on a definite due date.  It's official...January 28, 2016!!! (which was the original date).  It was great to get a second peak at the baby, especially since we won't have another ultrasound for awhile.  I guess my motherly instinct has kicked in because of course I am excited, but I also get very nervous before appointments.  I just want to know that everything is progressing as it should and our baby is healthy.  It is so exciting to see the baby on ultrasound.  This time it was very easy to make out the head, body, arms, and legs.  We could see (and hear!) the heart beating and we could even see baby moving around.  It is such a blessing and a miracle.  Everything is looking great, and I won't go back to the OB for another 5 weeks.

"Teddy Bear Pose"

Hi Mommy and Daddy!

Measuring 3.5cm

HR 169 bpm.  This makes a Mommy and Daddy perfusionists hearts flutter :)

Fourth of July once again was a very busy weekend for us.  On Friday we loaded the dogs up (they love road trips...but it will be interesting when we start traveling with two large dogs and a baby!) and headed over to Joe's hometown.  We stopped by Jeremy and Nikki's house to meet our new niece, Greer!  She is so incredibly adorable, and it makes us even more excited to have one of our own.  We are also excited to know the cousins will be so close in age :)

Joe and I had been planning to get together all of the siblings to make our baby announcement on this visit.  But to his surprise his Mom Linda and I had also been planning a surprise 30th birthday party for Joe at a Mexican restaurant (Joe loves Mexican).  We were so happy to have almost all of Joe's siblings, nieces/nephews, aunts/uncles, and cousins in one place.  After we ordered food Joe stood up to congratulate Nikki and Jeremy on the new addition, Megan and Rick on their pregnancy, and let everyone know we would be adding a new baby to the family as well!  We spent the rest of the evening enjoying food, catching up with family, and of course having a few good laughs.

We spent the Fourth of July with the Mayhills and Stimsons for a cookout.  We finally announced the news to Nate and Callie's families, and everyone was very excited.  Chris (Callie's Mom) gets the award for funniest reaction.  I showed her the picture from the NKOTB concert and told her she had counted wrong (3 of 6 of us were pregnant but she only knew about 2...) when she told the 8 of us to have fun.  She was like what?! Let me look at the picture...then it hit her!  LOVED her response, we all got a kick out of it!! :)

The rest of the week has been pretty calm.  We have both been keeping busy at work, and I finally let Joe share the news with all of our coworkers.  News has traveled fast! We haven't been working at OSUMC very long, but it has been such a great feeling to have so many people (perfusionists, scrubs, nurses, surgeons) happy for us.  Even Ty said "Congratulations...I think...." haha.  You have to know Ty, but he is a man of few words, and that is pretty good out of him :)

Baby is the Size of a Lime

 

Best moment this week?  Seeing Baby Lude on ultrasound :) We are so in love.
Movement? Can't feel it but we sure could see it on the ultrasound!
Food cravings? No.  But I did have some delicious Graeter's Buckeye Blitz Ice Cream!
Anything making you queasy or sick? Not at all this week! It has all been very minimal through my pregnancy.  I am thankful.
Have you started to show yet? Same little bump, don't think there has been much change this week?
Gender? Y'all will know when we know...after delivery!
Happy or Moody most of the time? Generally happy.  Although I had a minor break down Friday evening, but I think I was just exhausted.
Looking forward to?  Joe's 30th Birthday tomorrow...which we will be celebrating on our vacation with Nate and Callie to Punta Cana!!!