23 weeks

Pregnancy/Baby Stats:

How far along: 23 weeks

How big is baby:  The size of a PAPAYA!

Total weight gain: According to my most recent doctor's appointment (three weeks ago), I've gained a total of 11 pounds.  I'll get weighed again at my 24 week appointment.  Sooo, 11+ lbs so far.

Stretch marks:  Nope. Thank goodness.

Best moment of the week:  Sooo, I know I'm a slacker and I've only been doing updates every TWO weeks instead of every week (hopefully I'll get better), but things have been crazy for us lately as we wrap up our stay here in Hawaii.  At 22 weeks, hubby was able to feel the baby move for the first time.  And just yesterday hubby got to feel baby having a dance party in my belly.  

Gender:  Boy!

Movement: We are seriously having an active little boy.  He LOVES moving all around.  It's gotten much easier for hubby to feel him.  Instead of feeling just like a "muscle spasm" (as hubby first described the feeling), baby has gotten significantly stronger and it's fairly easy to feel him through my clothes now.  It's so crazy how big he's getting already.  

Have you started to show yet:  Yep, getting more of a bump-like belly by the day.  People still seem skeptical when I tell them I'm 5 months, but oh well.  Hubby thinks I must look a lot bigger to myself than to other people, because I keep thinking I've gotten huge all of a sudden.  

Belly button:  Still not poking out, buuut looking kinda funny these days.  

Mood:  Happy about all things baby!  Stressed about most everything else going on these days. 

What I miss: Laying on my stomach.  I'm still able to lay on my back without any problems really, but laying on my stomach is super uncomfortable for me (and probably baby) and gets me super winded feeling.  

Symptoms: 

Headaches-Still some headaches, but they're getting less frequent thankfully.   

Tired-I've been getting tired more easily again.  It's weird, it's like my body is feeling good and energized and all my mind wants to do is take a nap.  Kinda weird.

And honestly, other than that, I've been feeling absolutely great lately.  I've been working out a lot using videos from this site.  I've also been eating super healthy. And I have to tell you, I've been feeling amazing! I've really been pushing myself with working out.  I love feeling strong and capable.  Of course I listen to my body and make modifications when necessary, but working out hard has helped boost my esteem a lot lately. 

Looking forward to:  My 24-week appoint this Friday!  And sadly this is gonna be my  last appointment on the island.  I've already booked an appointment in VA for the month of June with my obgyn from back in the day.  But I'm not going to be able to meet with anyone in Nashville until the month of July.  I'm hoping to go the Vanderbilt Midwifery though.  I've looked into them, and they seem to be exactly what I want.  

Oh, and since I only have a week and a half left in Hawaii, let me give you a little scenic teaser.  This is where I'm currently sitting and writing up this post.  Not a bad view of the ocean, huh?  Definitely not eager to leave this island.  

21 weeks

Pregnancy/Baby Stats:

How far along: 21 weeks

How big is baby:  The size of a BANANA!

Total weight gain: According to my most recent doctor's appointment (last week), I've gained a total of 11 pounds.  

Stretch marks:  Nope. Still rubbing the belly down with moisturizers every night and morning though.

Best moment of the week:  The other night baby did some crazy movement inside me.  It's hard to even describe.  It's almost like some intense shiver thing.  Anyhow, it cracked me up.  Baby had quite the dance party that night.  

Gender:  Boy (still).  

Movement: Like I said, baby has been quite active lately.  Hubby still hasn't felt him, but I think he'll be able to any day now.  It's just hard to predict when baby is gonna start moving his little self around.   And by the time I get hubby's hand on my stomach, baby decides to give his dancing a rest.  

Have you started to show yet:  Yes, yes, yes.  I can now say without a doubt that I'm showing.  Even hubby has commented on how my belly has grown (in a nice way of course).  But where is the cute bump?  It's kind of there, but I'm looking more thick than anything else.  Bah.

Belly button:  Still not poking out, but definitely much more shallow than I'm used to.  

Mood:  HAPPY! And somewhat overwhelmed. 

What I miss: My normal-sized stomach.  

Symptoms: 

Headaches-The last two weeks I've been getting these really bad headaches almost daily. Anyone have any suggestions to help with these?  And no, it's not dehydration.  I drink plenty of water.     

Back and rib pain-For about a week I've been having super bad back and rib pain.  It initially started with a pain in my upper rib under my left boob, but it's progressed to the backside of my ribs, making it super uncomfortable to sleep on my left side.  And now my whole back has been sore lately.  Hubby has been great and has been giving me back rubs though, which has helped some.  I'm hoping the rib pain is going to subside soon though.  

Looking forward to:  An ultrasound appointment this Friday!

t-minus three weeks

I'm overwhelmed.  

We've moved 3 times in a matter of 3 and half weeks, and we're moving again in a week and a half.  

We're officially leaving our island home of paradise on June 1st.

We only have 3 weeks left here and I'm really really going to miss it.  

Hawaii has been more than just a beautiful paradise.  

It's been my home for the past three years.

It's where I met my husband, fell in love, and got engaged.  

It's where we started our life together after our wedding.

It's the place where we both went to college and graduated.

The place where we learned what it meant to be "grown up."

The place where we found out we were pregnant and 

The place where we got to listen to our little boy's heartbeat for the first time.

Hawaii has helped give me a perspective that I hope never to lose.  

It's taught me about cultural appreciation.

Friendship.

Love.

It's introduced this city-girl to the joys of a slow-tempered lifestyle.

A lifestyle I never thought I'd be able to embrace when I first moved out here.

And now as our Hawaiian journey is coming to a close, 

I find myself hoping (wishing even) that our life's journey will somehow lead us back here.

Back to this place where our lives really started.

And can I admit something?

I'm terrified about moving and leaving this place behind.

We're stepping into a completely new way of life and I have zero idea of what to expect.

We're moving to Nashville, a place neither of us have ever been.

Hubby will be started graduate school in a great program.

Baby is due less than a month from the first day of hubby's start date.

And for the first time in my life I'm not going to be working or in school.

Everything is changing for us.  

And it's all changing all at once.  

But aside from being somewhat terrified, I'm also intrigued and excited.  

When I first came to Hawaii, I was almost in the same position. 

I had no idea what to expect.

I was young, single, going to college, and was thousands of miles away from my family.

And yet look where I am now.

I could never have imagined my life could become so wonderful in such a short period of time.

I could never have imagined that the decision to go to Hawaii would lead to such wonderful things.

And now I'm excited to see what wonderful things Nashville is going to bring to us.

I'm excited for the opportunities that await us there.  

So yes, that's what I'm feeling lately.  

Overwhelmed, grateful, terrified, and excited.

All the regular emotions in the day of a pregnant woman. 

19 weeks...almost halfway!

It's unreal to me that I'm almost halfway through this pregnancy.  I have so much to say about it and up until now I haven't had the time to document my thoughts on it all.  But these days, I have nothing but time on my hands.  I'm officially graduated from school, my family came to visit and I had a wonderful vacation with them, and now I'm just hanging out in Hawaii while Beau finishes teaching for the school year.  And then, it's back to the mainland for us.  But for now, we're enjoying every precious minute we have on this beautiful island.  I'll work on some more detailed posts in the next couple days about how this pregnancy has been so far.  

Pregnancy/Baby Stats:

How far along: 19 weeks

How big is baby:  The size of a MANGO!

Total weight gain: I've gained a total of 8 pounds this pregnancy.  My goal was to not hit +10 pounds before 20 weeks, so I'm doing alright.  It's so hard for me to see weight gain as a positive thing, but hubby does a good job of reassuring and reminding me that I'm "pregnant, not fat."  As I all-too-often forget.  The doctor tells me I should be gaining anywhere from 25-35 pounds in the 40 weeks of my pregnancy, and so far she's happy with  the rate at which I'm gaining.  So I guess I have nothing to complain about.  Baby and I are both healthy, which is what's really important.

Stretch marks:  Nope. And I'm hoping not to get any.  I'm religiously rubbing my belly and everything else with creams and lotions, desperately trying to keep my skin hydrated.  

Best moment of the week:  Realizing I'm almost halfway done!

Gender:  It's a.....BOY!!!!  To be honest I wasn't surprised at the gender ultrasound.  I've been saying from the beginning that he was a boy.  Hubby was of course saying girl just to go against me.  Silly husband, doesn't he know I'm always right?  Just kidding...  :)

Movement: Baby has become and active little thing!  I felt my first kick a little over a week ago, and then didn't feel much.  But the last couple days I've felt his little kicks every night before going to bed. I never imagined I would love the feeling of those little kicks so much.  Sometimes they take me by surprise and I literally laugh out loud.  I can't wait til hubby can feel them too.  

Have you started to show yet:  Well, you tell me.I..am I showing?  I think I have a disappearing and reappearing bump.  I guess I honestly don't have much of a distinguishable bump yet, but my mid-section has definitely gotten thicker!  It's so weird to me.  Not that I've always been teeny tiny or anything, but I'm definitely a lot thicker than I'm used to.  

Belly button:  Still quite deep.  Hopefully it'll be awhile before that thing decides to poke out, if ever.

Mood:  HAPPY!

What I miss: I miss sushi.  Groupon has been taunting me lately, advertising deals for my favorite sushi place.  Oh how I miss me some good rolls.  All worth it though.  

Symptoms: 

Hunger-I'm seriously hungry all the time these days.  If I don't eat every couple of hours I start to feel nauseous and sick.  Bleh.  

Skin-For awhile my face was breaking out like crazy. That's finally cleared up, but the past week or two my face has suddenly become SO dry!  And nothing is helping it.  

Looking forward to:  Our 20-week appointment next Tuesday!

kahuku farms

I had the BEST lunch today.  It was delicious!  

Beau and I have been meaning to go to this local food place forever and finally got around to it today. 

Well, I am a a HUGE fan now.  

This little place, called "Kahuku Farms" is nestled on the North Shore of Oahu, just about 5 minutes from my house.

They grow all their own food on their farm land and sell it in farmer's markets and use it to make their lunch food.  

So everything you eat there is local and super fresh.  

We ordered some delicious veggie lunches and a haupia pineapple smoothie, made with local bananas, coconut, and pineapple.  

If you're ever on the island of Oahu, it will be totally worth your time to stop by this little treasure of a lunch place.  

Eggplant-tomato bruschetta pizza with macadamia-nut pesto and a side salad

Veggie panini

We will definitely be visiting here again. 

Perhaps the next time we go we'll try some of their delicious-looking grilled banana bread...

Oh, and more details to come about our little baby-to-be.  

So fear not, that post is coming soon.

More big changes

how my views of love have changed over the years

I've always believed in love.

But over the years it's meant different things to me.

When I was a child it meant that all boys were princes and all girls were princesses.

It meant that nothing bad ever happened once you were in love.

After all, isn't that what "happily ever after" is supposed to mean?

As I got older, I started realizing that love was a little more complex.

There was a little more depth to it than I originally thought.

Maybe there were other feelings attached to love.

So I changed my view.

When I was a teenager I interpreted love through love songs.

When I had my first truly painful heartbreak I cried and cried 

while listening to "What Hurts the Most" by the Rascal Flatts.

Because in my mind, that song was saying everything that I was feeling.

The lyrics were the perfect representation of everything I felt but couldn't express myself.

Looking back I was never as delicate with other people's hearts as I should have been.

Love is funny that way.  When you don't fully understand it, it can make you a tad selfish.

In high school I was much too concerned with my own feelings and never gave quite enough thought to how I was making others feel.  

The heart is a delicate, delicate thing and as I've learned over the years, 

just because you may not feel particularly strongly about someone, 

that doesn't mean they don't feel everything for you.

Be kind, the heart is a delicate thing.

Starting college I was cautious about love.  

In my younger years I had experienced simplistic love, shallow love, non-committal love, and love that I thought was "real," but eventually ended in disappointment.

I was not looking for love when I came to college.  

In fact I think I was looking for simplistic, shallow, and non-committal. 

I had felt just enough of "real love" that I was terrified to make myself vulnerable to getting hurt.

I had several flings and I gotta tell you I was happy with it.

But then I met Beau.

I went into the relationship expecting little more than flirting and kisses.

{makes me sound shallow doesn't is?}

He was different though.  Unlike the other guys I had dated in college, he wasn't in it for a fling.

And that terrified me.

He expected so much more from me.

I don't know if he realized it, but he pushed me to re-evaluate my view on love and relationships.

He was seriously in this thing for the long haul and though I still believed in love, 

I don't think I believed in it as strongly as he did.  

I wanted so badly to believe that love could be forever, but since all my "loves" had had endings, I just couldn't grasp that concept yet.  

I thought that love had to be something perfect in order to last forever.  

I thought it had to be something overwhelming.

Something that you never questioned.  

The day I married Beau, was the day I realized that a forever love is perfect.  It is overwhelmingly powerful.  And I have since never  questioned our relationship.  

If you let it, this is how I believe love should evolve.  

The second you make the commitment to be with someone forever, 

your view of the relationship has to change.  

Thomas S. Monson once said, "Choose your love, then love your choice."  

Every single day I feel overwhelmingly grateful for my husband and for what he has taught me about true love.

It's not something that can be summed up in a Disney princess movie.

It's more complex than the lyrics to a song, no matter how moving the song may be.

It's not necessarily something easy to describe.  

It's a feeling that you'll recognize though.

It's a feeling that is undeniably wonderful and beautiful.

And when you feel it, you'll understand why you had to feel the all the heartbreak you ever felt.  

Hardly anyone is lucky enough to feel true love without first learning and experiencing what love is.

And often that includes heartbreak and growth.

Love is something to cherish and nurture.

It's something worth putting all your heart and trust into it.

If you'd asked me my views on love just three years ago, I bet they would have been a whole lot different.

That's the beauty of life though.  

It teaches you as you go. 

And love is probably one of the most beautiful lessons I've ever learned.

exciting things are happening around these parts

I'm a wife.  

Which automatically means I'm allowed to brag about my husband.

And boy do I have some things to brag about.

Namely, that he was accepted to graduate school!

And not just any graduate school...but Vanderbilt!

He's going into the International Education program,

and Vanderbilt just so happens to have the number ONE education program in the nation.

I warned you I'd be doing some bragging today.

But how can I not?

I'm SO proud of him!

I'm graduating from my undergrad in April (only 2 and a half short months!)

and Beau finishes teaching the end of May and then....

off to Nashville, Tennessee we go! 

Big changes are happening in our household people.  Big changes. 

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