Second belly bump photo

I didn't think I was that much bigger until I compared 13 weeks and 16 weeks! I think I might start doing weekly pictures just in case the bigness gets out of hand!

It's a boy!!

No silly, not me!! Our cousin Lauren and her husband Adam are expecting a precious baby boy in September. We are only 5 weeks a part!! So exciting!

The best part of the story is that Lauren and Adam found out what they were having but kept it a secret until family and friends were able to get together to celebrate!

This exciting celebration took place last weekend. Josh wasn't in town but my mom and I were able to go together! Lauren made a cake with the secret hidden inside in the form of a blue colored cake. They waited for all of their guests to arrive and cut the cakes for all of the onlookers. It was awesome. My mom and I guessed a girl but we should have paid closer attention to what the mom and dad-to-be were wearing...shades of blue.

We were asked to put our guesses on the cake with appropriate color choice. 

Morning Sickness?

On Tuesday my day started like any other. A bowl of oatmeal and a little apple to tide me over until a mid-morning snack. We went bowling with the kids for one of our spring break activities and by mid-morning I was hungry, and saw a delicious pretzel that I just had to have. This pregnancy equals, if I think of something/see something I want to eat I need to have it or I feel dissatisfied and a little sad...so $5 later, yes five dollars, I had my delicious right out of the oven Cinnamon and Sugar Pretzel. Now, this wasn't the best pretzel I have ever had, but it still hit the spot. I shared with a friend who also agreed it wasn't the best pretzel but was glad that I shared with her, I think. I was happy I had gotten the pretzel until I was nearing the end, and I just wasn't feeling it anymore, so I forced myself to finish the pretzel because, well, it was $5. I was, for the most part, satisfied.
Later that day, after bowling, we headed to the main office for some lunch that had been catered for us by a local restaurant. Most of the food was deli meat sandwiches and I really wasn't in the mood to take the nicely constructed sandwich apart just to heat the meat, so i opted for the chicken salad. My boss also got the chicken salad and we both agreed it was delicious. By this point in the day was was pretty well full and ready for a nap but my day still had a ways to go.
After one meeting and the half of another I wasn't feeling so hot so i tried to have some water and a little apple sauce. Neither really seemed to help and more than half of the apple sauce went to waste. So i thought that a trip to the bathroom might be wise, and it was. Unfortunately, the one thing that I had managed to avoid for the past 13 weeks and 3 days had finally taken over, and in a big way. I immediately felt better and was hopeful that that was the end. It was not. We started our third meeting and after my portion was completed I excused myself and went home to rest. Rest I did no receive until almost six agonizing hours later.
Super Bad Morning Sickness?! Nyope! Food poisoning or a 24 hour Bug!
12 bouts plus 4 more equaled a long and painful night with a super tired and worried mommy-to-be. I called the doctor on call who stated that the baby was fine and that I just needed to hydrate as much as possible with the tiniest of sips of gatorade and water. Even water had been impossible to hold down so I wasn't too sure about the Gatorade. Some how it was just fine and I managed to fall asleep and was only bothered one more time before the "bug" ended.
Wednesday was a day of rest, little food, and lots of water and gatorade.
Today I was able to go on another spring break activities with the kids to downtown Norfolk for a tour of City Hall, pizza and a ride on the Tide. The pizza has stayed with me but I needed a nap...a three hour nap to make sure I didn't over due myself.
I look at this bout with food poisoning or a 24 bug as a blessing. I got out what wasn't doing me any good and hopefully I am in the clear for the next 26 weeks. Oh man, that seems like so many but it will be here before we know it!

Update!

How far along? 13 weeks and 3 days
Total weight gain/loss: 7 lbs
Maternity clothes? got that Belly Band and it is pure magic, and my sweet mother and grandmother-to-be bought me so work maternity pants and a nice floral top!
Stretch marks? using that coco butter every morning in hopes that these will not occur....so far i think its working.
Sleep: getting better!only getting up between once and twice to pee.body is still achy but my boobs are not as sore in the morning as they have been! 
Best moment this week: so far its spending time with my family and finally taking a baby bump picture!
Have you told family and friends: All of the important friends and all of our family members! The FB/tri dub world is about to get the news...like, today!
Miss Anything? alcohol...keep dreaming about it. 
Movement: just some gas pains and cramps that make me wonder if the baby is kicking those vital organs.
Food cravings: still nothing in particular but when i think of something i might want to eat i need to eat it or i am sad, but no tears. Panera Mac-n-cheese i have had three times in the past week, and Rice Krispy's with bananas! mmmm!
Anything making you queasy or sick: i have a heightened sense of smell but my stuffy nose is helping to ward off any extra queasy or sickness. I have coughing fits that make me want to puke or even sound like i will but i don't. headaches are the newest symptom.
Have you started to show yet: still bloated all the time but i can and now other's can tell there is "bump" there
Gender prediction: my mind wanders to a possible baby girl...
Labor Signs: just cramps from time to time but its more uncomfortable than scary or overly painful
Belly Button in or out? IN
Wedding rings on or off? ON
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happier and happier. 
Weekly Wisdom: taking it easy has been nice but i need to work out and i am hopeful to start next week. "statistics show that babies whose mother's worked out regularly throughout the pregnancy are smarter"!
Looking forward to: still,bigger belly and feeling the kicks!

First baby bump picture

13 weeks and 1 day!

Baby's Second Picture

This was taken on April 2nd...I was 12 weeks and 3 days along. look at that long long leg and little hand waving hello. This ultrasound was almost more amazing than the first, but not by much. It was so crazy to see how much the baby had changed in just a few weeks and how "baby like" this little plum really was. We were able to hear the heart beat at this ultrasound as well as the first one, but this one was way stronger sounding and we were told that it was just right at 153 beats per minute. The craziest thing was that not only were we able to hear the heart beat we were able to see it beating...that was a life changer for sure. We are so excited about all of this and even though there are still days of doubt and being scared in our hearts and in our minds we know that God has perfect timing and that this precious gift is ours and ours alone and we will take care of this baby to the best of our ability all the days of his or her life. We are truly blessed!