Boy or Girl?!?

On Monday, we find out if our little babe is a boy or girl. We are very excited, as well as our family and friends, and my little first graders. Almost everyday they ask if it is a boy or girl and on Tuesday they will finally get an answer. This year, we have to teach opinion writing, so I had the kids write whether they thought the baby was a boy or girl and give some reasons why. Now we are still working on using reasons to support our opinions, so some of the reasons didn't make a whole lot of sense. It was so fun to see what they are wanting the baby to be and with six and seven year olds, you always get a good laugh. Here are some of my favorites: I will translate below the picture if you are not an expert at reading 1st grade writing like I am ;)

 

I think the baby is a boy because the baby might be beautiful or handsome. He or she will be nice. He or she will like their mom. 

**So sweet :) ** 

 I think the baby is a girl because Mrs. P is a girl too. And because I like girls. And they are sweet sometimes. 

**I asked her why sometimes and she said that no one is perfect.**

 I think the baby is a boy because I like boys. Because boys are tough. Boys keep bad guys away. Because boys can pick heavy stuff. 

 I think the baby is a boy because he will play with you. He will be muddy. He will play with worms.

 I think the baby is a boy because boys are smart. I like boys. Boys have smart dogs.

It came down to a 50/50 split. All the boys want the baby to be a boy and all the girls want it to be a girl. We had a conversation about how the baby cannot be both and so when I come in on Tuesday, I don't want to hear any boo's in response to it being a boy or girl. 

It is fun to be pregnant and being an elementary school teacher at the same time. The kids or so honest, and genuinely excited. They love to come up and touch by belly or give me (well actually give the baby) a hug. They are so excited for this little babe and it just touches my heart. 

I am still trying to think of a creative way to tell my class if it is a boy or girl, so if you have any great ideas over the weekend, let me know!

18 weeks!

 When I got home from work today the first thing I did was change into my comfy clothes and you better believe me that I am not changing out of them for a cute picture. So I leave you with a picture from yesterday when the babe and I voted!

How far along: 18 weeks!
Baby is the size of a: sweet potato/ bell pepper

Maternity clothes: Yes! I went shopping this past weekend with my mom and sister. I got a pair of maternity dress pants, a dress, a shirt and a scarf :) I have started to wear some of the items while mixing them with my normal clothes.

Food cravings: Thanksgiving dinner. Do you really have to be two weeks away? 

Anything make you queasy or sick: Nope.

Miss anything: Not really.

Have you started to show yet: I finally look like a pregnant woman! This babe must of had a growth spurt because people who said that I did not have a bump before could finally see it. 

Movement: I am pretty sure it is a definite yes! I have been trying to pay more attention to the feelings and I think they are little punches or kicks that I feel. Most of the time I feel them toward the right side or middle of the uterus. I felt them again on Friday night when I was driving home from my parent's house, and I have felt them everyday since. Sometimes I feel the movement while eating lunch, but most of the time I feel them when I am home and lying on the couch. I love it and I can't wait to actually know for sure :)

Birthing Classes: Start this Sunday! There has been a change in plans with our birthing classes. We were signed up to take the Bradley Method which is a 10-12 week class. In this area there is only ONE person who teaches the Bradley Method. This past Sunday we heard from our teacher that she is actually moving to Georgia near Christmas and would be cancelling her classes. So we had to decide if we were still going to take her 'crash course' or sign up for a new class. We decided to do the 'crash course' so we will be attending 2 Bradley Method classes as well as getting all the workbooks. My parents said that they would be able to help us out since they were actually certified (I think) to teach the Bradley Method.

Best moment this week: Spending time with our families. My parents had us over for dinner on Friday night and Justin's parents had us over after church on Sunday. It was nice to hang out with all of them :)  
Worst moment this week: Having to take my antibiotics. I hate swallowing pills and these pills are HUGE! Thankfully, last night was my last one although I had some difficulty getting it down.
Best kid comment about the baby this week: There were not too many kid comments this week. They are all just very excited to find out if it is a boy or girl :) Non-pregnancy related, we were talking about the election results today and we were playing this game on the Smartboard where they clicked on states and had to get to 270 votes before the computer. At one point I heard all the students shout, "Click on Ohawaii! Ohawaii!" Apparently they thought OHIO was a mixture of Ohio and Hawaii. We only wish Ohio was that nice :) It made me laugh out loud and since I am from Ohio, I thought all my family up there would find it amusing.
How have I been feeling: Minus some side effects to the antibiotics I have been feeling really good. I have a lot more energy these days. I have cooked dinner many nights and have done the dishes. I honestly cannot remember the last time I washed dishes after dinner. However, between getting my wifely duties back and having parent teacher conferences before and after school, I feel like I crashed today.
Looking forward to: The ultrasound on Monday morning!! I am so excited to see our baby again and to find out if it is a boy or girl!! :D

17 weeks!

 

How far along: 17 weeks, 1 day.
Baby is the size of an: onion

Maternity clothes: This may be my last week in my normal clothes (pants at least). My last and final pair of dress pants did not button yesterday. I did wear one of my maternity tops on Friday. It was pink day and it was a pink shirt so it was perfect. I think I am going to hit up some shops this weekend and make a few more purchases :)

Food cravings: Not really this week. 

Anything make you queasy or sick: Fish sticks. They should be banned for the next 5 months!

Miss anything: Not having to worry that my every move and sickness will affect another human being. 

Have you started to show yet: About the same as it has been. Noticeable to me but still just looking like chub to other people. 

Movement: I think I may have felt the babe move on Sunday night! I was sitting on the couch at night on my computer and I felt something in my lower stomach/uterus. It was not like the other feelings (gas and hunger pains) that I have felt before. I noticed that it was also where the doctor listens for the heartbeat, so I think it may have been our little babe :) 

Birthing Classes: Starting November 11th.

Best moment this week: Since I was forced to stay home on Monday, I loved getting to sleep in and spend the day with Justin. He has been very busy with grad school, as well as working two jobs, so it was really nice to just be around him during the day. And.... since it was a teacher work day, I didn't have to worry about sub plans or how the kids were behaving with the sub. It is honestly harder and more work to miss a day of work as a teacher than it is to show up, so it was nice knowing that I could truly relax. It also snowed here yesterday morning. 
Worst moment this week: Getting strep throat. Grrrr... I had 4 students last week who had strep throat. I went to urgent care on Sunday morning and found out that I had it as well. I am pretty bummed that I have to be on antibiotics for the next 10 days. I honestly think that this is the first time I have had strep in my life.
Best kid comment about the baby this week: At the end of the day yesterday, the kids who were left in my room somehow got on the topic of how boys can't have babies. One of my students came up to me and said, "I don't get it. Boys and girls are the same. They both have hair, they both have heads. Why can't boys have babies?" I quickly scooted her off to the bus before the conversation could go any further.

How have I been feeling: Having strep hasn't been too much fun. My throat seems to hurt more at night and I get a cough to go along with it, so I haven't been sleeping the best. It has also been a crazy busy week at school with report cards and parent teacher conferences. 
Looking forward to: Feeling the baby move and knowing for sure it is the babe.

16 weeks!

 Here I feel like it just looks like I ate too much...

Here (with belly embrace) it looks like a bump!

How far along: 16 weeks
Baby is the size of an: avocado

Maternity clothes: The answer is still no. I am officially down to one pair of dress pants. I could wear some maternity tops if I want, and they do make me look 'more' pregnant, but I think I'll hold off until it is necessary.

Food cravings: I had this amazing spinach and artichoke dip while out to lunch with the fam on Sunday and I have been wanting it ever since. And, black olives although I have not purchased any. 

Anything make you queasy or sick:Nope- this week I was pretty good!

Miss anything: Not really.

Have you started to show yet: I think the bump is getting slightly bigger. With another pair of dress pants down and one of my students walked in the door on Monday and said, "Mrs. P your tummy is getting bigger."

Movement: Nope. 

Birthing Classes: Starting November 11th.

Best moment this week: I feel really blessed and thankful to have such an amazing husband. He is so supportive and is there whenever I need him. No matter how I am feeling or how busy he is, he treats me with such gentleness and love. I am so thankful to the Lord for blessing me with him and I truly cannot express how much he means to me. He is going to be one awesome daddy :)
I also had a lot of fun at the hot air balloon festival and hanging out with my fam :)
Worst moment this week: I was in my first ever car accident yesterday. It was a fender-bender rear end (not my fault) but I was pretty shaken up. I went to the doctor just to make sure everything was okay and he said that everything is fine. We heard the heartbeat and while we were listening there was this noise. The doctor asked if I heard it, and said that it was the baby moving. So the baby is alive and well. Thank you Jesus!
Best kid comment about the baby this week: Two questions asked by students: 1. How do you know when the baby is ready to come out? 2. Is it true that they cut your stomach open to get the baby out. I think I answered them honestly, yet delicately and appropriately for 1st graders.
How have I been feeling: Physically I've been feeling great. Emotionally- I feel like I am all over the place. I was reading "The Giving Tree" to my students on Monday (I had actually never read that book before, I know- I call myself an elementary school teacher.) I started tearing up while reading it and almost cried in front of the class. When I came home and told Justin, he was pretty entertained and called me a tree hugger.
Looking forward to: Not having any plans this weekend. I NEED a break! And..... we have an ultrasound scheduled for November 12th which means we get to see if the baby is a boy or girl!!! :D

Making the BIG Announcement

Whenever people ask how I met my husband, I personally always start by telling them that our parents have been friends since before either of us were born and we grew up knowing each other. Justin likes to put it in a more, let's call it 'fun' way, by stating that it was an arranged marriage. FYI that is NOT true :)

Before we were ever even pregnant, I had thought about that 'one day' when we would tell our families we were having a baby. Since our parents are such good friends, I had always wanted to tell them together. Since both of our parents now live in somewhat the same town, it was perfect. The only problem was that it would be way too obvious if they knew they were both coming over to our place for dinner. We found out that we were pregnant on a Monday, and we told our families that Saturday! It was kind of strange to tell our families when it was still very surreal for me, but with one of my younger sisters going off to college, I wanted her to be there in person, and with Justin's mom being a nurse and having to work a lot of nights- Saturday night was the one night that met all the criteria and everyone was available. Justin called up his parents and told them that sine they had never really been over to our place for dinner, we wanted them to come over. My parents were actually moving that Saturday so I gave the excuse of inviting them over for dinner, so they didn't need to to worry about cooking with boxes still in the kitchen or eating out somewhere. The move was also a distraction that they didn't think anything of it ;) Justin's family on the other hand had a little bit of suspicion and his sister even called him up and asked if I was pregnant. Justin's response was, "What? We are just having you guys over for dinner!" No- he did not lie, he did not say yes or no to that answer but merely sent the conversation in a different direction.

Now that we had both families set on coming, we had to figure out HOW we wanted to tell them. I know a lot of people call their babies, "Baby and first initial of last name." Well ours would be Baby P and that sounded too much like Baby Pee so I wanted to go in a slightly different direction. I thought it would be cute to tell them, "We have a little P in the pod!" Since I like to bake, I made little pea pods out of green M&Ms and jolly rancher fruit chews. I put them on top of the cupcake and wrote the "title" on each person's cupcake- grandma, grandpa, aunt....

When they all arrived and sat down at the table, we told them that we actually had a fun dessert and we wanted to start the meal with dessert. I put the platter down on the table and watched the reactions. It took a second or two, but then the squeals and yells and picture taking began! It was such a fun moment and I am so happy that we were able to tell both of the grandparents together :)

Grandpa and Grandma A

Or should I say Papaw and Mamaw ;)

  

Grandpa and Grandma P

 Me and Justin's new titles!!

 Aunt Jen and Aunt Debbie

 Cousin Ya'el and Aunt Jessica

 Aunt Stephanie

 Mom and Dad :)

Aunt Jen is excited to share a birthday month with her niece or nephew :)

 Once we told everyone who was present, we were given a deadline of telling the rest of our family members by Sunday night. That night and on Sunday, we began making phone calls and Skyping with all of our sibs to let them know the exciting news :)

15 weeks!

How far along: 15 wees *I took a bump picture after work today but it is not zesty and I don't feel like taking another one after a long day- so no picture this week. 

Baby is the size of an: apple

Maternity clothes: Not yet. I did notice another pair of dress pants that was more snug but still zip-able. I bought another top this weekend that is cute :) While in Raleigh I checked out some more maternity clothes but sorry folks, I'm not willing to spend $50 on a shirt that I will only wear for a few months.

Food cravings: Kit Kat bars. Mmmmmmm :) The hubs said he almost bought be one of those giant bags for Halloween that they sell at the store, but didn't since I'm trying to eat healthy. Boo! It is like Justin read this blog post before I even published it- I walked in the door today from work and low and behold there was a giant bowl filled with kit kats :)

Anything make you queasy or sick:Still the smells. Exhaust really got me on my drive to school last week. Let's just say that I finally used that bucket that I've been keeping in my car and my vomit count is now up to 9 :( And.... my bathroom makes me queasy. I know it is all association and psychological but it still gets me.

Miss anything: Turkey sandwiches.

Have you started to show yet: I have a bump. To people who know me and know I'm pregnant, it is kinda noticeable to them, but to strangers, it probably doesn't look like anything is there. 

Movement: Nope. 

Birthing Classes: We are signed up to take the Bradley Method and start November 11th! The next 10 Sunday afternoons will be filled with lots of fun ;)

Best moment this week: Going to Raleigh and visiting all of our favorite places from our first hometown together with Justin. And.... I told my students! They were so cute :) I gave each student a baby bottle pop that said, "Mrs. Powlison is having a baby!" When I told them at first there was a bunch of gasps and mouths wide open. I wasn't sure if they quite understood it. But then, they started clapping and cheering. When they were all leaving school they all came up to me and gave me (or should I say the baby) a hug. They said, "I want to hug the baby." Some kids came up and were touching my stomach and were putting their ears up to it and saying they could hear it. Sorry kiddos- I doubt that. I took some photos but I am not allowed to post them, which is a bummer because I feel like it captures their genuine excitement and happiness.

Best kid comment about the baby this week: I was talking with my students about how the baby is in my belly and my belly will be getting really big and fat soon. They asked why it wasn't big yet and I said it was because the baby was still small and was only the size of an apple. One of my students responded and said, "It's a chicken?!?" Noooo... it's not a chicken, it's a baby :)
How have I been feeling: I have been feeling great! I had some headaches earlier in the week, but no more back aches and feeling good!
Looking forward to: The hot air balloon festival this weekend and feeling the baby move :)

Since the baby is the size of an apple, here are some pictures from when we went apple picking a couple weekends ago!

apple picking: jessica. mom. ya'el. yiqing. me.

 our little family with our apple :)

 I made him take the apple away since I wasn't sure if I would post these pictures before I made the news public.

 Justin and Jess reaching for the high ones.

 Apple picking... with coffee... only him.

 tasting the apples.

tasting multiple parts of the tree. 

 ACA!

 

 cute fall backdrop- had to get a pic!

 happy fall ya'll!

14 weeks!

 10 weeks

 10 weeks

 

 12 weeks

14 weeks
If that isn't a bump then I don't know what is. That is definitely not what I 'normally' look like ;)
*Additional side note- I was going to have all my bump pictures be in the same outfit but then I realized that it was waayyyyy too much work!

How far along: 14 weeks- hello 2nd trimester :)

Baby is the size of a: Lemon

Maternity clothes: Not yet. I am officially down one pair of dress pants which did not zip up yesterday. I might need to buy something to wear to school soon.

Food cravings: Chips and fresh salsa and Thanksgiving dinner- any takers on coming over and making it for me soon?!?

Anything make you queasy or sick: Just a lot of smells: exhaust from stinky cars, cigarette smoke (even if it is just on clothes), fish. One of my students had an accident in their pants the other day and when I got a whiff of it I almost lost it mid-sentence in front of my whole class.

Miss anything: Turkey sandwiches and my occasional Dr. Pepper or Pepsi. I also miss sleeping on my stomach. This whole 'sleep on your side' thing is not easy. I did buy a body pillow (I started off with one from Target to see if I can manage with that) but I don't like to really be confined when I sleep. I've learned that I like to be sprawled out and move a lot which is not helpful with a big pillow.

Have you started to show yet: I think my tiny bump is a tad bigger, but I might just notice it after I eat. I wrote that last sentence last night. Apparently after I wrote it I must have 'popped' a little because in the picture of 14 weeks there is a bump! Last night I was looking in the mirror trying to figure out if I had a bump and Justin said, "Wow- you do look pregnant!"

Movement: I have felt these random "bubbles" (best way to describe it). I asked my doctor this past week and he said that the baby is still too small to feel. He said it was either just gas or the many changes that my stomach and uterus are going through.

Best moment this week: Celebrating my husband's birthday (was a little over a week ago), going 'official' with telling everyone- although my students still do not know yet and hearing the baby's heartbeat :)
How have I been feeling: I no longer have morning sickness and food actually sounds good again. I never thought that I would want to eat ever again, but I am glad that passed and I enjoy food. I do have more energy- I have managed to make dinner and clean a bit instead of just plopping down on the couch after work and not moving. Being a first grade teacher, it is hard to tell if I really do have more energy because this job is ex-hau-sting no matter what. I have started having some back pain this week :(
Looking forward to: Going to Raleigh this weekend :) Oh- does it have to be pregnancy related? Telling my students and seeing their reactions. I hope that I don't get any "ask your parents" questions.