Baby.Thompson 19 weeks

How far along? 19 weeks! Can't believe it's almost half way :-/
Total weight gain/loss? Still not back to my per-pregnancy weight, but have started to gain a little each week, instead of losing.
Maternity clothes? Right now I'm wearing my GAP Maternity dress pants to work most days. I have been able to keep my scrub pants for the days I need it, but last week they were starting to hurt, so I"ll have to get a bigger size, or stop wearing scrubs!

Stretch marks? Not yet!
Sleep? I'm still taking Unisom and B6 at night for nausea, so the Unisom helps me sleep.  I wake up to pee several times a night, and I have to switch positions often to stay comfy. My nights are very broken up, but when I am sleeping, i sleeping well.

Best moment this week? I *think* I felt the baby move. I'm waiting to see if I feel the same thing again to confirm if that's what it was. 
Miss Anything?  Wine. 

Movement? Maybe!
Food cravings? Last night I was just sitting at home and all the sudden started craving Chinese food and Blueberry pancakes. I did not give into to either one of those, and the desire seems to be gone this morning ;) very weird.

Anything making you queasy or sick? I have been feeling pretty good!
Have you started to show yet? Yes, growing more each week!Gender? Unknown. US scheduled for August 14th :) :)
Labor Signs? Thankfully, NO! :)
Belly Button in or out? In
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time? Happy! Tired all the time, but very happy!
Looking forward to? The reveal party!  Started seriously planning this week! 

Spent the afternoon chilling with Brett in the pool!!  ahh!!

I feel like this pregnancy is already flying by so fast, and I want to make sure I'm documenting it! 
My BFF gave me a Pregnancy Book which I'm filing out, but I though tit would be fun to do this weekly questionnaire to be able to look back on!

How far along? 17 weeks
Total weight gain/loss? During the first trimester I lost 7 pounds, but now that I'm feeling better and able to keep food down, I'm back to my per-pregnancy weight!
Maternity clothes? Yes. Most of my pants have just gotten too tight around the middle to feel comfortable, so I do have some maternity dress pants for work, and a pair of jeans. I still have several pairs of shorts that fit. I can wear most of my shirts still, but I've gotten a few maternity shirts, and they are so comfy, I'm already wearing them some! 

Stretch marks? Not yet!
Sleep? I'm still taking Unisom and B6 at night for nausea, so the Unisom helps me sleep. I'm not able to lay on my stomach (i'm a stomach sleeper!), and trying to get in a comfy position has been tough. 

I'm worried once I stop the Unisom, sleep is going to tough!
Best moment this week? Hearing the heart beat today at our appointment! In the 160's this time! It was much stronger and easier to hear than it was at 12 weeks. Brett and I loved it! :) Best sound ever!
Miss Anything?  Wine. Caffeine. And the desire to eat :p
Movement? No, I haven't felt anything yet that I knew was the baby.
Food cravings? Hmm...I'm still in the "hardly anything sounds good" phase, but for some reason Taco Bell's Mexican pizza's have been a winner lately. It's funny because I hadn't had Taco Bell in years. I've gotten sick off of it too many times :-/
Anything making you queasy or sick? Nothing I can pinpoint. I get sick randomly, but not consistently, which is great!
Have you started to show yet? Yes. The bump has really popped out the last few weeks!
Gender? Unknown. US scheduled for August 14th :) :)
Labor Signs? Thankfully, NO! :)
Belly Button in or out? In
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time? Happy! Tired all the time, but very happy!
Looking forward to?Gender US and Reveal Party! :) 

I think I look bigger in this picture than I actually am.  It's hard to take your own baby bump picture, I keep forgetting when Brett is around!

Well...I'm reviving the blog!  I can't believe the last time I posted was in August!  Brett is back on evening shift, so I have LOTS more free time on my hands.

My main reason for starting the blog back up is that Brett & I are starting the Whole30 challenge a week from today, and I really want to document the journey, and I also feel that this will help with accountability.

You can read a lot more HERE , but the basic break down is this:
Eat real food – meat, seafood, eggs, tons of vegetables, some fruit, and plenty of good fats from fruits, oils, nuts and seeds. Eat foods with very few ingredients, all pronounceable ingredients, or better yet, no ingredients listed at all because they’re totally natural and unprocessed.

More importantly, here’s what NOT to eat during the duration of your Whole30 program. Omitting all of these foods and beverages will help you regain your healthy metabolism, reduce systemic inflammation, and help you discover how these foods are truly impacting your health, fitness and quality of life.

Do not consume added sugar of any kind - real or artificial, Do not consume alcohol, grains, legumes, dairy, carrageenan, MSG or sulfites or white potatoes.

I think the hardest thing for me will be grains and sugar.  For Brett I think it will be processed foods and grains.  He will have it much harder than I will, due to his job, but hopefully we can find something healthy to send with him for dinner each night. 

I was a little worried at first, but once I started browsing Paleo recipe sites, I got REALLY excited.  I think I've found lots of good recipes that we will both love, and that will be filling enough for Brett.  The hardest thing for us will be veggies.  We both dislike veggies a lot. Salad is our veggie, but of course we usually have ranch with it - which is a no no for this.  So...We will be doing some exploring.  I know the first 2 weeks will be the hardest as far as resisting the cravings our bodies have for unhealthy food - but I'm hoping that having such yummy Whole30 approved food made up will help with that! 

I'm planning out a menu this week, and we are eating up our last few unapproved things (i just can't throw some of it out), and we will start our Challenge next Saturday.  Saturday or Sunday depending on when I can get the shopping done.  
  

Life on the Water

This summer has been one of new things for me.   Growing up were never went to the pool much at all, and I think I only went to the lake 1 time when I was in high school.  I never learned how to swim, and have always been pretty afraid of the water.  One of the few times I did go swimming as a young kid, I almost drowned, and it's pretty much given me a fear of water.
 If you know my husband, then you know he LOVES all things water.  SO, this summer we've spent LOTS of time on the water, and i have to say..i LOVE it.  I still can't swim, but the pools we go to aren't over 5 feet deep, and yesterday we had the most relaxing afternoon on the Lake!!  I'm  a lake girl for sure!!  Some of our good friends asked if we wanted to go out on their boat for a few hours after Brett woke up and before he had to go to work, so we said sure!  It was only my 3rd time to go on a boat.  I LOVED it.  I had a life jacket to use in the water, and once I got in and saw that it did keep me floating, I was in heaven.  There is nothing better on a HOT summer day, then to be emerged in some good ol' H2O!

Here's a few pictures from our trip yesterday!  We are going again this afternoon!  :)

                                                            The sunset was BEAUTIFUL!

                                               Floating in the water...isn't he handsome ?? :)

                                                                     relaxed and happy!! :)

It's been a while...

I'm really disappointed with myself for not blogging more.  I think about it often, but just never get around to it.  There always seems to be something else to do.  I miss writing on here though, and keep track of what's going on.  I know it will be fun to look back on.

Life is pretty simple for us right now.  We're both working a lot, and that takes up most of our time.  Brett is on nights still, but we have a few hours together in the evenings and I am LOVING that.  We really have gotten  to spend lots of time together and it's been SO great.  Much more time then when we first got married.   My heart just feels so content.  I love spending time with my sweet husband.  There is much less strain on our marriage when we get to see each other!!  I'm pretty sure every minute I spend with him I just love him more.  I feel so incredibly blessing to be married to him!  Being married to your best friend is the best!!  Even better - he SHOULD be going to days in September, which will be INCREDIBLE!! I can't imagine actually going to work and getting home from work at the same time!!  It should be pretty great :)

We are going on a 2 week vacation in only 39 days!!  We are SO excited!!  We will be in Florida the whole time, but will be in Fort Walton with friends the 1st week, and the 2nd week in Panama City with the Thompson family!  SO EXCITED!!

I also have a business trip to Las Vegas coming up this month which should be a BLAST!! Can't wait!

As for today, i got off work early, which is awesome - now just keeping myself occupied till my sweet man wakes up and we can squeeze in a Friday night date before he heads to work!

Our life is blessed!

The one with a Birthday!

This past week has been lots of fun!  I always love Birthday's, and I have had a lot of fun since I met Brett, feeling like I'm "in charge" of making his birthday special!  Anyways..This week however, was MY birthday!  I had so much fun!  The actual day was Tuesday, which is my LONG work day, so I was at work till about 8PM, and didn't get to see Brett, but they got a cake for me at work, and sang Happy Birthday, so that was sweet, and kinda made it actually feel like my birthday!


On Wednesday Brett took my out for a date!   First we went to dinner at Louie's Bar and Grill .  We had some yummy food out on the patio (the weather was perfect).  They had the Macho Chicken Nachos on the special that night for Ladies Night, so we had an order of those.  SO YUMMY!!  It could have just been my meal! (sorry about how blurry this pictures are, I only had my phone with me!)

After dinner we went to Putt-Putt.  We love going to together.  Mostly, because we like to talk crap to each other, about who will win.  We had lots of fun...

After Putt-Putt, which Brett beat with a 43, and I had a 47, although I got hole-in-one's. ( I guess that says something about how I did on the other holes! ha!), we went for Ice Cream at Shake's. It was a fun night, and  good to be together! 


Friday night I got to hang out with my BFF and her husband, my sis in law, and brother Joseph, my brother John, another couple we hang out with a lot - May and Evan, and then my sweet hubby!! :)  We had a lot of fun! 

W/ my Sister in law, and brother's!

w/ my BFF Faith, and her hubby!

Trying to be Sassy!

It really was a fun night, and a great birthday!  I was happy to see everyone, and let the celebrations continue! :) Which speaking of...Today we had birthday's w/ Brett's side of the family.  It was his Nanny's 88 birthday, Uncle Terry's 72, my 23rd!  We laughed that all together that 184 years!  Man we're getting old! :)  

Brett's Nanny is SO special to us.  Brett has loved her dearly, and talked wonders about her before I ever met her.  Once I did, I new why he loved her so much!  It makes me wish my grandparents lived closer, but I'm so thankful to have her!  We love her dearly!  Since she adores Brett so much, so thought she'd like to have the picture of the two of them from Brett's graduation day from the Police Academy.  So, I decided to get crafty, and make a frame!  It's not perfect, but I had fun doing!  I think I'll end up making more! 

This is what I started with!

So, that's a little update on our life!  Back to work tomorrow, and looking forward to Easter Sunday with my family!! :) 

also..my little flower pot is showing some white! I'm guessing that's the flower!  Hopefully it's going to bloom!  

Let's try this again....

So, last week I was a little over half-way through a long blog posts with updates on our life.  Sadly, my computer shut off for no apparent reason, and I lost my post.  

In an attempt to start writing on my blog weekly, I've decided to just start with this weekend, instead of trying to go back and write a gigantic post on the past few months.  So, the update will start with Friday night :)

My little brother Jason, turns 11 on April 14th (2 days after my birthday), and since Brett had to work Friday night, I decided this would be a good time to spend some time with Jason for his birthday!

First, I took him to get some ice cream, because for some reason I was starving, but it was to early eat dinner.  So we went to Cold Stone Creamery.  I had never been to the one here in Fayetteville, so it was a fun, new place to check out! 

After ice cream, we went to do some shopping.  Joel, Brett and I decided to go in together and let him pick out some shoes or something he wanted for his birthday.  We ended up with these from JcPenny.  They had a good sale on the shoes, blue we got an extra 10% off due to a "one day only sale"  (and is it just me, or does JCPenny have a "one day only sale" everyday?!?)

Then he wanted to go to Cracker Barrel for dinner, so we headed to Springdale, and had some yummy country food.  Side Note:  It made me think about the first time I went to dinner with my best friend and her now husband, Casey.  It was right after a friends wedding, and we finally got to sit and talk and hang out just the 3 of us!  anyway.../memory lane. 

Cracker Barrel was fun!  I love the Country Store, and Jason and I had a ton of fun looking around!

Of course this is a highlight of CB.  I'm not even sure what it's called, but he got it on the 3rd try, but then we couldn't do it a 2nd. 

Saturday morning, I had to work for a few hours, but then came home and Brett, Jason and I went to the opening day of the Farmers Market here in Fayetteville.  It was packed full of people, but I just think it's so fun and refreshing to go!  Plus, they have some great stuff!  

Then we went to the batting cages so Jason could practice with Brett.  Brett has played baseball his whole life, and even played in college until he hurt his shoulder.  He is very talented at it, and had some great pointers for Jason!  Jason was hitting all the balls that got pitched to him by the end!  We can't wait to watch some of his games!

After Brett left for work, Jason and I went to Putt-Putt where I won by 4 points, and got a hole-in-one on the the 18th.  I was so excited, I had to call Brett right away :) He was so proud! haha

Today has been a pretty lazy day for us. I'm trying out my green thumb.  Or what I hope is a green thumb. 

I'm trying this "Flowe in a pot", before I try anything out in Flower Bed, where the whole world can see  it ;)