17 Weeks

It has been so nice having summer vacation. I am getting a lot done around the house. I am still teaching one class online until the middle of July, but that will be my last online class until after Baby comes.

Last week was my first full week off work, and I definitely took advantage of the free time. I cleaned and organized the baby’s room. I had been using the room as my own personal closet, but now it’s empty and ready for all our baby purchases. We bought a new mattress and boxspring for us and put the old one in the baby’s room for guests. We also bought a changing table/dresser for the baby! That was really exciting! We (well I can’t) just need to get the room painted so we can get the crib and guest bed set up.
I have also been trying to get the house organized now before the baby comes. I went through all our pictures and organized them. I also have lots to take to Goodwill.

I also went to work last week to organize some closets. I don’t think I will go back until August. We had a pretty nice day last Thursday so I got to go to the pool. It was my first time wearing the maternity swimsuit! I included a new belly picture above. I am not sure it has grown too much since the last picture.

Friday was Ed’s birthday so we went out to eat and went to a movie. I am trying to get to the movies a few times this summer because pretty soon it will be hard to make it through a whole movie and we won’t be able to go too much after baby comes.

Saturday was a very fun day. We went to my grandpa’s 80th birthday party and my cousin Rachael’s graduation party. I have included a few pictures from the party above. Most of my mom’s family was home so it was great to visit. After we got back from the party I headed off to my friend Amy’s bachelorette party. We had dinner and did some bar hopping. It was lots of fun, and amazingly, I made it up until 2:00 am. I can’t believe it!

I went back up to Waterloo to visit mom yesterday. It is really nice to visit with her and all the family. We officially started our baby registry at Target today, and Ed and I are planning to go to Babies R Us so we have a variety. There was a lot to think about, but it was also very exciting. I broke down and bought the cutest Pink Floyd t-shirt for baby because Ed likes Pink Floyd.

I hope everyone is enjoying their summer! I am looking forward to visiting with friends and doing some shopping next week. We hope to take a quick trip to Omaha for a weekend and maybe a longer trip somewhere before summer ends. Ed has been such a big help to me, and I really appreciate and love him dearly! It was fun to give him his first Father’s Day card. Take care!

15 weeks

We had our second doctor’s appointment this week. It was a pretty quick appointment. We listened to the heartbeat. The baby’s heartbeat is perfect and everything is good with me. We asked a few questions and the appointment was over. We will get an ultrasound at our next appointment in four weeks.
Summer has officially started for me. I think I will be busy getting the baby’s room ready. I also want to get registered sometime over the summer. I am really looking forward to relaxing, enjoying pregnancy, and reading lots of books while I have the chance!

Mom came to visit me last weekend. We went out for Chinese and then shopped a little. We ended up coming home with a Pack and Play! I know it’s early, but I am a planner. I can’t help but be prepared! We also were gifted with a toy box from a friend at work.

My tummy continues to grow. It has really popped out over the last couple of weeks. I think I may officially look pregnant instead of chubby. I have yet to find a swimsuit to wear this summer so that’s frustrating. Otherwise, things are going well. I am still pretty tired, but now I can rest when I want to. I am hoping to start feeling some movement, but so far, I haven’t. I know that will be so exciting! Ed has been really good and helpful. I know I haven’t been helping much around home. I told him that he will need to start talking to my belly because next week the baby’s ears form. Maybe that will get the baby moving!

I guess that’s about all that is new with us. I hope I will see you all this summer. XOXOXO

13 Weeks

The first trimester is over! It goes so fast! I am really starting to feel pregnant now, especially since I am wearing maternity pants now. My stomach still looks more like a gut than a pregnant belly, but people are starting to notice! I told my students that I am pregnant because some first graders figured it out. They were pretty excited. I am still exhausted a lot of the time, but now that the first trimester is over, I am hoping to get some energy back.

The pregnancy hormones are really starting to affect me now. I started crying watching the finale of Lost and couldn’t stop crying no matter how hard I tried. Now, I have always been emotional, but this was crazy. I was laughing at myself and crying at the same time! I seem to have cravings that change daily. One day I really want something and the next it repulses me. I also have started tasting funny things. I got a strawberry shake that I was craving, but when I tasted it, I thought it was sour or like dirt. Ed said it tasted fine. Weird!

We spent last weekend visiting Dad and Diana in Kansas City. We had a good time playing Bananagrams, but Ed says he won’t play with me anymoreJ We also got to take a tour of Boulevard Brewery. It was interesting, but of course, no samples for me! We all went out to eat at Strouds. It has really good fried chicken and pork chops. Dad and Diana also made some great food for us! I came back stuffed! I was really happy to see my brothers, Dusty and Dylan and my nephew, Robert, too!

I got some gift certificates for my birthday so I have started buying maternity clothes. My tummy has definitely outgrown my regular shorts and pants. My elastic waist skirts and shorts fit, though. I am really looking forward to this summer. I want to get the nursery ready and start buying baby items before I go back to work in August. It would be great to find some of the baby items at garage sales! I hope everyone is doing well, and I hope to see you all soon!

11 Weeks

I can’t believe how fast time is going. It seems like we just found out I was pregnant. I am now 11 weeks along, and my next appointment won’t be until 15 weeks. Things have been going very well. I still haven’t had morning sickness…knock on wood. I’m still pretty tired, but the good news is that the school year is nearly over. I have 19 more days with students! Then, Charlie and I can sleep in. Of course, every day is pretty easy for Charlie. All he needs is a lap to curl up in!

We have decided (well mostly me) that we are not going to find out the sex of Baby Bittner. I just really want to be surprised! We have started thinking about names, but don’t expect us to be telling you what the choices are until Baby Bittner is born. I am getting more and more excited all the time. It seems so unreal, but hearing the heartbeat definitely reassured me.

Last weekend, I went up to Waterloo to visit my mom for Mother’s Day. It was so nice to get to spend quality time with mom. She has come so far since September, and it warms my heart. We were both celebrating Mother’s Day, even though my baby is really easy to take care of right now! I even got my first Mother’s Day card! We went out for Chinese food. That worked out great because my biggest cravings right now are crab rangoons and egg rolls! It was good. Then, it was off to buy my first maternity bottoms. Yep, the tummy has started to grow! The maternity clothes are a little big right now, but I will be able to wear the capris and shorts in the fall when I go back to work, too.

This coming weekend we will be having friends over to celebrate my birthday. Yes, I will be 30 in one week! How can that be? We are going to grill out and have my favorite birthday dessert…Dairy Queen Cake! I just hope I can stay up later than 11:00 at night! I am looking forward to visiting with friends. I hope everyone has a wonderful week!

We're Expecting-10 weeks!

We officially had our first doctor’s appointment today. It wasn’t long, but everything looked good. We heard the baby’s heartbeat today. I almost cried because I was so excited! Ed came along to the first appointment so he also got to hear the heartbeat and see what poor women go through each time we visit the doctor! We took the rest of the day to enjoy each other’s company.

I went out and bought the first baby item…a photo album so I can put the ultrasound pictures in it, along with my growing tummy pictures. The cravings and aversions are really hitting me hard right now. I can’t stand most meat, and I haven’t found much that I want to eat in the morning, but I still haven’t had morning sickness.

I have noticed that I am really lacking energy right now. I am not a napper, but I have had a nap nearly every day. I am trying to get into a routine of walking daily so I hope this energy will be back soon. I am also starting to notice that my pants are getting snug already. I feel like it’s a little early, but I am short so maybe that’s why.

We're Expecting!

March 25, 2010
I found out that I’m pregnant today. I took a test this morning and one at lunch to be sure! I went out and bought a bib that said, “I love daddy” for Ed. I got home and gave him the bib and told him the good news. I am already reading about pregnancy. My due date will be around November 28! We couldn’t be happier.