What's Going On In The Johnson Household

So normally on Wednesdays I post the pregnancy chalkboard tracker from the week before. Well, this week would have been week 20, but that was posted early. For obvious reasons. {If you missed it click here.} Things have been pretty hectic around here. The hubby was gone for business/bachelor party/business for the last two weeks and let's just say, although he travels a lot, I never get use to him being gone. That always puts emotional stress on me. Not to mention I have been driving around like crazy. Not so great for being preggers. We had a huge thing here called Antique Alley that I sat our for two days doing. This acquired a LOVELY sunburn on the left side of my face. It was so cold and windy, who thinks to put on sunscreen when your wearing a wind-breaker and a blanket? Not this girl. Then I have begun "nesting".

The hubby being gone has made me a crazy woman to say the least - yea, yea, pregnancy hormones don't help. Between working at the office, taking care of the 3 dogs, dealing with lovely Baby Girl's growing movements, cleaning the house, prepping for Antique Alley, and driving all around the state of Texas - I was physically drained too. I had to drive to Sulphur Springs for a Bid Opening, San Antonio where the Hubby was working, College Station to bring the hubby clean clothes for the week, and Arlington for something I am sure wasn't all that important, but I drove there none the less. 

The sunburn from Antique Alley couldn't have been any better placed. It was ALL down the left side of my face, and it was BAD. Why did it have such perfect placing though? Well, I am at that stage where I can really only sleep on my left side - get it? Laying down at night consisted of much discomfort from Baby Girl refusing to ever stop moving and my face feeling like it had the worst rug burn of my life with a heating pad on it. Not to mention the sun drained me of any energy I had left from all the driving. Ugh!

Top it off with Baby Girl deciding she wanted to be transverse while simultaneously trying to kangaroo kick her way through my sides WHILE trying to get through a training session that ended in me blacking out and throwing up. Attractive. Good lord I thought I was going to die the other night. I was a literal wreck! An absolute disaster. After much research I found that babies while in the womb will move their head toward the warmest spot. A nurse friend suggested putting ice packs on either side and then something warm near your pelvic bone to help guide the baby's head downward. Ice packs were not going anywhere near my abdomen, so I decided to fill the bathtub with really warm water a few inches below my belly button. I sat in there for a bit and sure enough I felt the pressure from my sides and the sharp, fiery sensation that came with it disappear! Thank you Jesus! 

With all the pain finally gone I began cleaning like a mad woman. Also known as "nesting". I was able to clear out most of our garage that was piled high with cardboard boxes, fill up 4 giant black trashbags from all the rooms in our house, and get the nursery organized for the crib to be delivered and the walls to be painted.  

Sounds exhausting doesn't it? 

16 Weeks

Henry and myself with our newest "baby" - Buddha!

How far along? 16 Weeks

Total weight gain? I will get weighed at the doctors week 17

Maternity Clothes? Rocking maternity tops! Although, I bought warm weather maternity clothes and then it dropped below freezing. LOVE Texas weather.

Stretch Marks? None.

Sleep: Sleep is good until I am up at around 4 am to go to the bathroom every night.

Best moment this week: Our new puppy!!! Completely non-baby related I know.

Miss Anything? Still. Missing. Alcohol. 

Movement: No movements yet, but apparently this week could be the week!

Food cravings: Fruit cravings are still pretty dominant next to Macaroni and Cheese. Thai food is a big deal too. I love that we have one literally down the street. Pad Thai, Panang Curry, Tom Yum, Tom Kha Kai - YUM! 

Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope! Been pretty good this week.

Gender Prediction: Baby Girl. 

Labor Signs: Too soon

Symptoms: Baby bump is the most obvious. Hair is growing like crazy still. My trainer and Henry's family has really noticed my hair being longer - I see it everyday so haven't really noticed. Crying. ha! The emotional crying has begun too. 

Belly Button in or out? Innie - although my cute tiny belly button is starting to get a little bit bigger. I am not liking it.

Wedding rings on or off? On

Happy or Moody most of the time: I am EXTREMELY happy! Odd? I had like 2 crying fits, but other than that happy.

Looking forward to: Doctors appointment on Monday to hear the heartbeat again, and our Gender Reveal Party on April 13th thanks to a wonderful friend Marina! Then of course, FEELING THE BABY MOVE!!

Baby Names? Still have to be Henry the 3rd for a boy. The baby girl name seems to be settled on Adaleine, however torn between a middle name still.

Thoughts: Anxious on feeling the baby move. I have felt so called flutters, but I want to feel an actual kick before I go around saying I felt the baby. Wondering how the first real movement will feel. :-)

Laughing as Buddha is jumping at our feet to be in the picture too!

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Announcement: 1+1=3
Week 9
Week 10
Week 11
Week 12
Week 13
Week 14 Sono
Week 14
Week 15

14 WEEKS

The Hubby and myself with the growing bump! <3

How far along? 14 Weeks

Total weight gain? Won't go to the doctor for another 3 weeks and still don't have a scale at home.

Maternity Clothes? None yet, however the bump is growing and I have purchased some daily leggings and tunics to come in the mail from Victorias Secret. I don't know why, but I am really not wanting to buy actual maternity clothes. Ugh! I want the bump, but not the maternity clothes lol.

Stretch Marks? None. 

Sleep: Sleep is becoming a bit restless and I am up at 6:45 am almost every morning due to the bladder.

Best moment this week: Getting to see Baby J again!!! You can read all about the experience with sono photos HERE: 14 WEEK SONO. Man I do I love this little baby! 

Miss Anything? Still missing alcohol. With the summer months coming up and all the pictures of Mojitos and Sangria...I feel tortured!

Movement: No movements. Watching the sono and seeing Baby J move SO MUCH I can't believe I didn't even feel a flutter. Patiently waiting though!

Food cravings: Fruit cravings are back. We have been making fruit dishes galore. Such as Belgian waffles with sliced strawberries, blackberries, and banana slices topped with powder sugar. YUM! Then craving lemon water, lemonade, and this amazing Kool-aide that I can't seem to find: Watermelon Cherry!! Luckily, I have 3 packets still left.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope! Yippee!

Gender Prediction: Baby Girl. 

Labor Signs: Too soon

Symptoms: Other than the baby bump slowly growing, and slight memory loss, I have been beyond HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY!

Belly Button in or out? Innie

Wedding rings on or off? on

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy Happy!! 

Looking forward to: Our Gender Reveal Party on April 13th thanks to a wonderful friend Marina! 

Baby Names? Still have to be Henry the 3rd for a boy. Then baby girl options seem to be narrowing down to Adaleine and Adalena. We did a poll the other day asking which people liked most: Adaleine (Add-uh-line) seemed to win. We love both names. Adalena (Add-uh-Leen-uh) was a little German girls name from our Honeymoon, but my nickname in Germany was "Heatherleine", so Henry thought of the idea of taking Adalena to Adaleine. The "Leine" on the ending is suppose to mean something like "little love". I am leaning toward Adalena though since it is purely original.

Thoughts: I still can not get over how developed our baby was at 14 weeks. It really got me to thinking about all this abortion stuff. I am all for abortion if it is rape (police report to prove it) or medically necessary (doctors note to prove it), but if some girl just decided not to keep her legs closed, NO MA'AM! Especially if it is later in the pregnancy. Did you know they allow abortions even if the baby is near 24-28 weeks!!!!??? Partial Birth Abortion is what it is called. They deliver the baby only to the head, a slit is made in the back of the head, and a suction tube is stuck into the head to suck all the "Product of Conception's" brain out, skull is crushed, then the rest of the baby is delivered and disposed. WTF!?!?! Ugh! Now I am not going to post up with a sign and crucifix outside of an abortion clinic, but it has got me thinking. 

WEEK 14 SONO

There is this amazing clinic called "Stork Vision" here in the DFW area. It's a place where you can just go see the baby, hear the heartbeat, have gender determination, etc.

They have a huge screen TV and comfy couches so you can comfortably bring up to 8 people to enjoy your baby with you. We scheduled a visit today at 9 am so we could get a full uninterrupted 10 minutes with our little Baby J.

Along with the visit, we got 8 images, a CD of all images, and a DVD of the sono. Yea Buddy!

The first image that pops up on the sono machine couldn't have been any more perfect! Baby J chilling on their back, giving us a thumbs up, Gig'em!!

GIG'EM!

GIG'EM!

Henry's parents joined us and we all began to laugh. The nurse was able to get two great photos of the Gig'Em. We were able to see all 10 fingers and toes. The butt, it's nose, chin, ear, spine, heartbeat - it was overwhelming joy!

You can see the left leg, and then the toes from the right foot! GAH!

 

Baby J had really long legs already, and looks to have Henry's big big toe. Haha! It seemed to have my family's Teague chin. I had a cup of coffee, toaster strudels, and nerds before the appointment to hopefully have Baby J squirming around, and it must have worked! Our kid was squirming around like crazy and had us all cracking up.

See the big toe!?

 

We got to see their sweet little hiccups, and at one point it threw its hand up and folded its hands back behind its head like it was just chilling.

It was tossing, turning and rolling around. At one point you could even see its little head snuggle into me! Ugh! Melting my heart! It's head was on one end and then you'd see it wiggle around to the other. I was trying hard to concentrate and see if I could feel it's movements but couldn't. I know when I can though, those movement will be non-stop. Haha! I also had to try to keep from laughing so much so she could keep the image up on the screen. It was too much fun!

Baby facing one side

Then baby flips to the other side

 

It's amazing how much you could see and how developed they are at 14 weeks.

The little Gig'Em sign was the icing on the cake. It was beyond exciting and something we will continue to brag and talk about until our dying day. I love this bundle of joy more than anything in this world, and just when I thought I couldn't love Henry any more than I already did, knowing this bundle of joy is part of him only amplifies my love and admiration for him. Ugh! Happy, Happy!

Ok enough cheesy stuff. :-)

10 WEEKS

How far along? 10 Weeks

Total weight gain? Haven't weighed myself yet, we don't own a scale. 

Maternity Clothes? Not yet, but occasionally the pants are a bit tight. Boo.

Stretch Marks? Nada

Sleep: Sleeping well, other than having crazy freaking dreams. I am talking BIZARRE! 

Best moment this week: Won money to buy an awesome diaper bag. HA!

Miss Anything? Not feeling bloated! As usual.

Movement: No movements.

Food cravings: I had this crazy craving for Taco Bell this week, and Dunkaroos!! But fruit is still topping the list of food choices.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Red meat and onions still. Hubby tried to cook onions and I gagged the moment they touched my tongue. So depressing! It's crazy how I can recall wonderful dishes and how they taste, but the moment I actually try to eat onions, they are repulsive. 

Gender Prediction: Still Girl.

Labor Signs: Too soon

Symptoms: Well all day sickness is back! Not cool, I thought I was in the clear. Then of course my new best friend, bloating. Started to look a tiny bit preggo this week, but to a stranger it probably looks like I ate too many cupcakes or drank one too many beers.

Belly Button in or out? Innie

Wedding rings on or off? on

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy Happy Happy

Looking forward to: Getting an actual baby bump and decorating the nursery.

Baby Names? Still have to be Henry the 3rd - although if I could choose, I would pick Elijah. Then baby girl is still leaning toward Claire or Adaleine. <3

First set of baby toys bought last week! 

9 WEEKS

Ok so I have really been lacking on the baby board updates via the blog, but get ready for a few weeks to be cranked out so we can catch up to current week 12. Oops! haha

How far along? 9 Weeks
Total weight gain? Up 5 lbs - I think 99% of it is because of boob growth.
Maternity Clothes? Not yet, although I have been eyeing some gorgeous Maxi dresses that could double as maternity clothes.
Stretch Marks? None yet, and hope non EVER.
Sleep: Starting to wake up at 3 am every night to teedle
Best moment this week: Getting to buy our baby their first toys! :-)
Miss Anything? Not feeling bloated. Holy crap do I feel bloated all the time.
Movement: No movements.
Food cravings: Still want fruit or a smoothie for every meal...other than that, not much of an appetite, which is driving the hubby nuts
Anything making you queasy or sick: Red meat and onions, coming from a girl that LOVED onions.
Gender Prediction: Girl, I really want a boy, but have a crazy feeling it's a girl.
Labor Signs: Too soon
Symptoms: Well other than bloating, that is about it. First week without all day sickness. Yippee!
Belly Button in or out? Innie
Wedding rings on or off? on
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy Happy Happy
Looking forward to: Getting an actual baby bump!
Baby Names? For a boy it has to be Henry the 3rd. A girl, we are really liking Claire and Adaleine. :-)

Color In Motion 5k

This is a post that is a bit over-due, but better late than never right?

My lovely bestie, Taylor over at Pink Heels Pink Truck, was kind enough to invite me to join her on my first 5k EVER, the Color In Motion 5k Dallas. I had bought some new running shoes from Nike a few months before and had been slowly doing Couch to 5k. However, I stayed on Week 1 for about a month. HA! She reassured me we didn't have to run the entire time and that we could wear some awesome tutus. When she said tutus I was sold! I freaking love tutus!

If you have never done a color run, I highly recommend you finding the next one near you, grabbing your best friends, and DO IT! It was exhilarating to do something healthy that was SO. MUCH. FUN!

Each K there was a color station. So you would progressively get more and more color, until the end when you had all five colors. At the end there are all sorts of vendors passing out free things, a DJ, photographers, dance parties, etc. It is truly a party.

Now I look forward to the next Color In Motion 5k/Color Run! I also hope to do the Foam Run with Taylor in April too. YIPPEE!! Who knew running could be such a blast?

Hope you enjoyed the photos and that you were inspired to do your own color run!

Alana XoXo

Ups and Downs of Wedding Planning: Insight Into My Frustrations

WARNING: I am trying to be a more honest blogger. This blog post entails my personal frustrations. If you are easily offended

 PLEASE, 

DO NOT READ. 

I always heard of ladies saying that after a certain point of wedding planning they get to a phase where they just want it be over with. 

They are done planning, fed up, ready for the honeymoon, etc.

I finally reached that phase about a month ago. 

What phase I haven't heard ladies talking about is their overwhelming sensation of wanting to cry all the time.

That is the phase I am in right now. 

I'm so hypersensitive to emotion right now it's unbelievable.

I'm also irritated easily - more like a pregnant woman would be, and NO I am NOT pregnant.

I am annoyed...:

1) By those who said they would help with something and haven't helped one bit.

2) By people who call you out for not being invited to your own wedding when you barely know them.

3) By things that should've been taken care of long ago, by other people, yet they procrastinated and here we are in a pickle about a month before the wedding and it's yet another thing that is put on MY plate - as if I didn't have enough to do. 

4) By vendors that say they will get back to you and don't, AFTER you've paid!

5) By vendors that cancel on you last minute - has happened TWICE now. UGH! 

6) By guests who are offended that you didn't let them invite their friend. Notice I said THEIR friend. I'm sorry! Last time I checked, this wedding is about US, the bride and groom! Not your fling of the week or month, whichever! If you're in a serious relationship, that's fine, but if you want a date for the sake of having one, sorry bud, there are family members we couldn't even invite and your plus one definitely isn't getting a spot over family. 

7) By guests that add their own guests. Again, we didn't invite them, so you don't either. At least call and ask the bride or groom, there may be a circumstance we didn't consider, don't just mail in your RSVP with the added extra. 

8) By my face breaking out from stress.

9) By my terrible habit of ripping, not biting, my nails off. 

10) By my terrible habit of biting my big bottom lip to pieces after I have no more nails.

11) By my paralyzed stomach! If you didn't know, my stomach became paralyzed my freshman year of college. I was so upset, homesick, stressed, etc. that my stomach became paralyzed, aka no more peristalsis. This means if I don't take this lovely medicine 30 minutes before each meal and before bedtime, my food rots in my stomach, Yuck! I know, therefore causing me to throw-up. If I don't stop it quickly, I continually throw-up uncontrollably until I lose about 10-15 lbs and end up hospitalized - which has happened 4 times now? This is also the reason I was in the hospital the night Henry was originally suppose to propose. The doctors also told me despite my medicine, to try and keep extreme emotions to a minimum, especially stress/anxiety/crying/anger which would inflame my condition and cause me to get sick as well. This is why I am venting and this is why this whole situation sucks even more. So to friends and family, if I seem insensitive to your problems right now, it isn't because I am intentionally not caring, it is because I have so much on my plate already that I am trying to keep my current life as happy and stress-free as possible to prevent hospitalization. Post-wedding, I am all ears! 

Welcome to my life. *Sigh*

I need a spa day. haha!

Alana XoXo

Fabulous Fruit Salad

             One thing I have learned during this "Get Fit for the Wedding" process is fruit is a fabulous pre-workout snack! Per my Women's Health magazine subscription a fruit smoothie is the perfect pre-workout, energy packed snack! Especially if you are a morning work-out kind of girl, fruit = best breakfast pre-workout. This made me think of my fruit salad recipe I've been making for a good 3 years now and thought I would share this delightful, easy, fruit filled recipe that can double as a snack & dessert to satisfy any stubborn sweet-tooth trying to steer you off track! :-)

Ingredients:

{fruit can vary on season, and particular taste, be creative!}
{1} Package of fresh strawberries ($3.49) - organic are best since strawberries absorb pesticides and chemicals easier than other berries
{2} Package of Blackberries ($0.99)
{3} Package of blueberries ($4.99)
{4} Naval Orange (already had)
{5} Lemon (already had)
{6} 2 bananas (already had)
{7} 3/4 cup Powdered Sugar (already had)
{8} 2 mixing bowls
{9} Whisk or fork

Recipe:

{1} Start by washing all fruit, cutting tops off strawberries and slicing bananas, then mixing in a large mixing bowl or bowl appropriate for amount of fruit purchased
{2} In a separate bowl, squeeze juice of 1 naval orange, juice of 1/2 lemon, and add 3/4 cups of powdered sugar - whisk ingredients together until powdered sugar is dissolved. {feel free to subtract some powdered sugar - lemon & orange juice keep fruit from browning}
{3} Pour sauce over fruit and toss to coat fruit
{4} OPTIONAL: To make into an even sweeter dessert, try making homemade whipped cream! All you need is heavy whipping cream and regular sugar! Pour heavy whipping cream into a mixing bowl and with an electric mixer on low level, mix in sugar until it becomes thick and fluffy! Too thick? Add more heavy whipping cream. Too runny? Add more sugar! :-)

         Top your fruit salad with a tablespoon of homemade whipped cream and you have yourself a semi-healthy dessert! :-P Especially with summer arriving here in Texas, this is my go-to snack! It's delicious! Holds up well for about 3 days covered in the fridge. Great for parties, showers, days by the pool, at the lake, at the beach...and don't forget, the pre-workout snack. Super easy too!

Fruit additions: Apple, pear, raspberries, red bananas, grapes - most any fruit is a great addition!

Wedding Fitness!

       I have always been in pretty decent shape. However, lately I have been skinny, but fat skinny. There is such a thing! I mean, just because I am "skinny" does not mean in any way that I am healthy. This has caused me to have major self-image issues. I see pictures from a year ago, two years ago and then I see myself now and sigh. lol SO, instead of moping around & complaining about it, I am being pro-active!
       My fiance and I bought fitness books last year - Men's Health Big Book of Workouts & Women's Health Big Book of Workouts - and this was the best thing ever! It gives a little intro about eating, then it breaks down each muscle group into a section with corresponding work-outs. Towards the back it has various work-outs already made for you - "Pre-natal workout" "Wedding Workout" "Crowded Gym Workout", etc. Each one has colored photos with numerous tips to ensure they are done correctly along with variations of each workout to either make it easier or harder. FABULOUS!

Cover of the book

        Best work-out so far - "Beach Body Workout". I mean this one slightly kicked my butt, but pushing myself through these workouts gave me amazing results! I was ready to flaunt it in a bikini 24/7. Within 2 weeks I saw major definition changes.

Spring Break Post Beach Body Workout

        With the wedding right around the corner now, I am needing that work-out again. However, I am lacking MAJOR motivation lately. Henry's cousin, Tacey, is a personal trainer at the local gym where we work out. So one fabulous day, Henry informs Tacey I need a personal trainer. Yesterday was day 1 - Oh my lord did she kick my butt! She isolated each muscle group and did a full body work out. Instead of my typical low weight, 12 reps, 3 set workouts I do, she did HEAVY weights, higher reps, 1 set for EACH muscle group - such as inner thigh, outer thigh, hamstrings, quad & calves, then lower back, upper back, abdominals & obliques, etc.

Local Gym where we work out! Dang refers to Dr. Dang - an Aggie Doctor who also just happens to be from my high-school as well. Crazy - same high-school, same college, same new small home-town.

         I was doing typical sit-ups the way I always have & she informs me I am going down too far. She sticks her hand under my back about half-way and said, "When you feel my hand on your way down, that's as far down as you should go" - HOLY MOLY! My stomach burned like it never burned before! I had to grab onto something to pull myself back up at the end, I literally felt my stomach muscles quivering. After it was all said and done, I could barely turn my steering wheel to back out of my parking spot. It was a GREAT workout. haha Wednesday is day 2 after my hour long Zumba class. Let's see how that goes.