16 weeks of Baby Brown!

I am shamefully behind on this post seeing as how I'm now 17 weeks but I figured I would update you all anyway! This past week has been pretty good! I'm definitely starting to embrace the second trimester and all of it's pleasantries. Most of the symptoms I was battling in the first trimester have ended and I'm now on to some new ones! I still have occasional moments of nausea (mostly when I get really hungry) and mornings are still a little difficult for me because I have to eat A LOT before I feel well enough to get the day started. But otherwise, I'm feeling so much better than even last week!

The husband and I celebrated Valentine's Day together with a steak dinner (the first dinner I've cooked since week 7!) and a date to the Magic/Bobcats basketball game. We celebrated my sister's 10th birthday and are starting to plan a vacation before the baby comes.

What baby is up to:
A lot is happening with Squinky! He or She is now able to hear our voices and my heartbeat, growing hair, eyelashes, and eyebrows, forming tastebuds and weighs about 3.5 ounces! Squinky is also really active and I should be able to feel movement in the next couple of weeks (can't wait for that!)

Here's some pictures from this week and the stats below:

I feel SO fat! This was at the end of the day so I was full and bloated but there's definitely a belly!

Hey look! It's sticking out!

How far along: 16 weeks and 5 days (when the pictures were taken)
Total weight gain/loss: I have definitely gained weight but just not sure how much. According to the scale about 2-3 pounds 
Maternity clothes: None yet! I'm still wearing my regular stuff but my pants are uncomfortable!
Stretch marks: None
Sleep: Sleep this week has been a little hard. I get tired easily and early and usually wake up once or twice in the middle of the night.
Best moments this week: Cooking 2 dinners (husband was HAPPY!), celebrating Valentine's Day, and going on a date with my husband!
Have you told family and friends? Yes!
Miss anything: I miss my pre-pregnant energy and not getting worn out!
Movement: I'm not sure. Sometimes if I lay really still I feel little flutters but not sure if that's baby or not. Hoping the movement will increase in the coming weeks!
Food cravings: Grape juice, Iced green tea from Starbucks, Chick-Fil-A and Fried Pickles from 4 Rivers!
Anything making you queasy or sick: Certain smells are still icky but I only get nauseous when I go too long without eating something
Have you started to show yet: Yep! Got a little bump (teeny in the morning and grows throughout the day lol!)
Gender: I keep going back and forth and honestly have no idea. Only a week and a half until we (hopefully) find out!
Labor Signs: None
Symptoms: Nausea if I don't eat enough, sharp abdominal pains when I move/shift posititions or sneeze, occasionally dizzy but not too bad
Belly button in or out: In
Wedding rings on or off: On 
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy! Except when I get hungry :)
Looking forward to: Feeling more distinct movement and finding out the gender!

15 weeks!

Well we made it to 15 weeks! I can't believe it! I thought the first trimester (and sickness) would never end! Last week I had some random bouts of nausea and sickness and actually had to miss work for a couple days. I'm not really sure why the sickness returned but the past few days have been pretty good in the nausea department so I'm hoping it stays that way! As long as I keep eating every 2 hours and drink plenty of fluids I'm usually pretty good. I have started to get headaches and round ligament pain since everything is stretching out and moving but nothing too painful yet. I get really sharp pains when I cough, sneeze or laugh too hard and I feel like my muscles are always sore!

I had a checkup last week and got to hear little Squinky's heartbeat for the 3rd time! It's the most comforting and precious sound! (especially after being so sick) It was loud and strong at 156 bpm and sounded like lots of horses galloping. Last time we heard the heartbeat the little babe was on my left side, and now he or she is in the middle. The doctor had some trouble finding it because she said the baby was moving around in there! Crazy!

I haven't gained any weight yet (actually lost a pound from my last visit) but the doctor assured me it's coming soon. Since I was so sick it's actually pretty remarkable that 1 pound is all I lost! We scheduled a sonogram to find out the gender for next month! Eeeek! I'm SO excited to find out what little Squink is! Jon and I keep going back and forth on our guesses on what we think. We both thought girl initially but I wouldn't be surprised if Squink is a boy :) Only 3 more weeks until the big reveal! Hoping Squinky isn't too modest to show off for us!

I actually went grocery shopping this week! Another HUGE deal! I definitely had to avoid certain areas of the store (like the seafood and meat department...blech). I'm still not really cooking much because I can't stand the smell of the oven or stove being on. I miss being able to cook! Jon has been amazingly helpful this whole time and is constantly making me food, doing the dishes and laundry and making sure I'm feeling good. He's going to be the best daddy!

So here are some pictures from this week! I'm definitely popping out now! A lot of it is still bloat but I'm starting to look pregnant now (so fun!) and my clothes are now starting to be tighter. I'm still able to wear all of my jeans (standing in them is WAY easier than sitting!) so I'm trying to wear them out before I have to get some maternity pants. Hoping to make it a few more weeks in them!

This is the mid-morning bump

And the afternoon after lunch bump

Our little orange!

One of my cravings this week! Cheddar and sour cream Ruffles!

How far along: 15 weeks and 3 days
Total weight gain/loss: - 1 lb but trying to gain some back!
Maternity clothes: None yet! I can't deny the pooch that's happening though!
Stretch marks: None
Sleep: I'm sleeping pretty well. I still need a lot more sleep than usual and sometimes I have to take a melatonin to get to sleep. I usually wake up once around 3-4 am and am able to go back to sleep for a couple more hours until I wake up STARVING!
Best moments this week: Going to the grocery store, re-joining the worship team at church, and hearing Squinky's heartbeat last week!
Have you told family and friends? Yes!
Miss anything: With my muscles being sore I desperately want a really hot bubble bath!
Movement: I'm not sure. Sometimes if I lay really still I feel little flutters but not sure if that's baby or not. Hoping the movement will increase in the coming weeks!
Food cravings: Cereal, fruit, grape juice and sour/tangy candy!
Anything making you queasy or sick: The oven/stove smell, and my sense of smell is still really heightened so sometimes "bad" smells will seem WAY worse
Have you started to show yet: Yep! Got a little bump (teeny in the morning and grows throughout the day lol!)
Gender: Jon and I both have predicted a girl, but we still go back and forth. Only 3 weeks until we know for sure!
Labor Signs: None
Symptoms: Nausea if I don't eat quickly enough, aches and pains throughout the day and occasional headaches.
Belly button in or out: In
Wedding rings on or off: On 
Happy or Moody most of the time: I definitely feel a change in my mood the past 2 weeks. I'm not as emotional (although I still cry fairly often). The husband says he thinks my mood is much improved :)
Looking forward to: Finding out the gender and seeing baby again, celebrating our last Valentine's day as a family of 2, and hopefully cooking again eventually!

Crockpot Italian Chicken

This is a recipe courtesy of my wonderful sister-in-law, Stephanie. She happens to also have a blog AND also happens to be pregnant! So fun to be in this season with her! Anyway, this is one of her crockpot recipes and it is SO easy! I made this on my freezer day (required NO cooking) and made it a few weeks later. By that time I was feeling queasy and didn't eat it but the husband really enjoyed it and the leftovers the next day! Definitely a keeper for a weeknight meal or for a weekend when you just want to throw something in the crockpot and forget about it! Thanks Steph!

What you need (original recipe from Stephanie Brown)

- 2 chicken breasts
- 1 packet of italian seasoning
- Chicken broth (about 30 oz)

*Yep! That's IT!











Directions

- Add chicken, italian seasoning, and chicken broth to crockpot

- Cook on low 4-5 hours

- Remove chicken (it should fall right apart), serve and enjoy!


I don't have a finished product of this (because the husband was hungry and I couldn't stand the smell of chicken at the time). BUT the husband really enjoyed it and I trust his opinion.


Freezer Cooking Directions

- Add chicken, seasoning and chicken broth to a gallon sized freezer safe bag. Store in freezer until ready to serve.

- Let the chicken thaw completely, add the crockpot and follow above directions.


Baby Brown update coming soon! Had to skip week 14 because my morning sickness unfortunately returned for a few days and did NOT want any pictures taken!