My Little Miracle: 22 Weeks

I haven't done one of these updates in a while, so I decided it was time!

How far along? 22 weeks

Baby's size? 8 inches, 1.2 lbs - about the size of a papaya

Weight gain? 14 lbs

Sleep? Sleep is fine! I have to get up about 2-3 times a night to use the restroom, but who's counting?

Foods I am loving? Orange juice, peanut butter crackers, hot chocolate

Foods I am hating? Nothing really, although I still choose not to eat bacon and coffee

Best moment this week? I am feeling baby boy move sooo much, and I LOVE IT!!! It is so amazing to know when he is sleeping and when he is awake. I think he appreciates food as much as his momma because he goes CRAZY after I eat. But my favorite moment this week was definitely when Patrick got to feel him kick. Usually he doesn't kick hard enough to feel from the outside, but one night I had a bad nightmare that must have gotten him really going (I'm guessing it was my heart rate). I woke up to him kicking like a soccer player and grabbed Patrick's hand really quickly. He was SO happy when he felt him! It was definitely one of the most amazing moments that I will always remember!

Symptoms? Just going to the bathroom a lot more. No complaints though! I absolutely LOVE being pregnant at this point, and my misery in the first trimester has almost been forgotten! Maybe I can do this again?!?!?!

Gender? A sweet baby boy. We are still "marinating" on his name and practicing using it, but it is such an important decision that I'm so nervous to make the final call! Once we are 100% I will announce his name!

What I miss? Alcohol. I want wine, beer, egg nog, bloody mary's, champagne. Jeez...I could go on and on!! And I don't even drink that much!

What I'm looking forward to? Seeing sweet baby boy on ultrasound next Friday!

Emotions: Like I already mentioned, I am absolutely LOVING being pregnant. I am on cloud 9!!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

around our house!!!

{Our Christmas tree topper}

{Our Christmas tree}

{The fireplace - with room for one more stocking!}

{The wreath I made last year}

{Patrick surprised me with lights outside!!}

{Guess who made his blog debut!!}

-Alicia

A First Look at the Nursery!

We started working on Baby Boy's nursery over Thanksgiving break. It is going to be a super fun process that I am definitely looking forward to! I can't wait to decorate the perfect room for him - a room that is comfortable for both of us. Here are some pictures to show our progress so far:

{Patrick's mom begins the painting process}

{Old house = closet that needed an overhaul}

{The closet after the renovation!!! <3}

{Crib assembly begins}

{The crib is finished!}

{And of course, we had to make sure it was strong enough :) }

I love the progress so far. The closet is so wonderful, and all of his cute little stuff (what we have so far) looks adorable in there! The color of the room is the most perfect gray with a slight touch of blue. Now I just have to start getting stuff to fill the room. I will definitely be showing the finished product when we are all done!

-Alicia

Christmas cards!!

I LOVE Christmas! And I LOVE Christmas cards! So, I've been super excited that Shutterfly is offering 50 free Christmas cards to bloggers. Shutterfly always has the most adorable cards, and I am so excited to use them this year for our family Christmas card. Some of my favorites this year are:

The thing that I think is great about Shutterfly is that they have something for everyone - they have everything from super traditional to very modern. So whatever your taste, Shutterfly has something you will LOVE!

Another great option Shutterfly offers is their calendars. Ever since I was little, my grandmother has been making a family calendar to give to everyone in their stockings. Every Christmas morning, we all open our calendars together and flip through the pictures together. The calendar always has the best pictures of our family from the year. I hope to carry on this tradition, and I will definitely use Shutterfly to make the perfect calendar!

So visit Shutterfly to find your perfect Christmas card, and maybe even take a peek at their adorable calendars!

What's "It" going to be?

It's a BOY!!!

We are still in awe that our love for each other has brought us a precious son. We are so excited about bringing this little man into the world.

We found out Tuesday afternoon, and on Tuesday night we went to dinner with our immediate family to share the news. We had the "Grandmas" open a gift that had either boy clothes or girl clothes, and they were surprised at what they found!

{My mom is shocked!!}

{Jeanette, Patrick's mom, is thrilled!}

{My Grandma knew the whole time it was a boy!}

"A baby will make love stronger, days shorter, nights longer, home happier, past forgotten, and the future worth living for"

My Miracle Monday (err Tuesday): 16 Weeks

How far along? 16 weeks

Baby's size? Baby is the size of a turnip - 5 inches

This, my friends, is a turnip:

Weight gain? 7 lbs

Sleep? Now that I'm working 6am - 6pm, 6 days a week, I am sleeping like a CHAMP! And I love it!

Foods I am loving? Lemonade, cold cheese, Dr. Pepper, cold fruit

Foods I am hating? Same old bacon, coffee, and fast food

Best moment this week? Hearing the heart beat today!!! It is such a relief to know that the bun is still baking in the oven! AND I think I may have FELT baby - I will update when it happens again!

Symptoms? I'm a broken record - nausea is still hanging on, but better with each day. Nasal congestion, although it's hard to tell if that is the pregnancy (which has been known to happen) or the weather change.

Gender? Getting closer! But EVERYTHING says it's a girl - so I already feel like I know!! I'm gonna add a poll in the next couple of days to see what YOU GUYS think it is!

What I miss? Nothing at the moment :)

What I'm looking forward to? Gender revealment! DEFINITELY feeling baby

Emotions: I'm so busy with work-school lately, it is really strange not to be completely consumed by this pregnancy. I spent 4 weeks sick on the couch thinking about the baby all the time, so I almost felt guilty going back to work and "forgetting" I was pregnant. It has made the time go by SO much faster, though! I can't believe that we are almost half-way there!

P.S. I am thinking about posting "bump pictures" on the blog. I will not be putting them on Facebook, but would love to let my far-away friends see the progression. If you think I should post them on here, let me know!!! Comment below!

My Miracle Monday: 14 Weeks

How far along? 14 weeks - 2nd trimester! Wooohooo!

Baby's size? Baby is the size of a navel orange - 4.5 inches

Weight gain? 4 lbs

Sleep? Insomnia has struck :( I just don't sleep anymore!

Foods I am loving? Lemonade (which I hated pre-pregnancy. Isn't that weird?), rainbow sherbert, Dr. Pepper (don't worry, my Dr. says I need the caffeine and calories), edamame, any kind of sugary candy (not chocolate - sprees, chewy jolly ranchers, sour skittles), fresh fruit

Foods I am hating? Still not eating bacon or coffee. Fast food really grosses me out too!

Best moment this week? Entering the 2nd trimester has been the best thing to happen this week!!!

Symptoms? Feeling even better!! Still take my nausea medicine 2x a day, but I can function like a normal human being. I've started experiencing some insomnia, stretching, headaches

Gender? We find out November 17th!!!

What I miss? When it started cooling off, I really wanted a glass of red wine. I'm starting to sound like an alcky!

What I'm looking forward to? Registering, getting the baby's room ready, finding out the sex, being able to feel baby in the next couple of weeks

Emotions: Starting to "enjoy" being pregnant is so exciting! It has been so difficult up to this point, so I'm so happy! I love this little nugget so much already, so I can't imagine how I'm going to feel when I finally meet him/her!

My Birthday

My birthday - September 1st - came and went. I was so tied up with school and feeling awful, it feels like it didn't even happen! But my sweet hubby and family certainly did not forget! This year I got the best present EVER! I got this bad boy:
The Nikon digital SLR D3100. Now, I don't actually have it in my hands yet, because it hasn't been released by Nikon. But as soon as it comes out, that baby is mine! I am SO excited, and I can't wait to learn this new hobby!!

My Miracle Monday: 10 Weeks

How far along? 10 weeks (25% through pregnancy!)

Baby's size? Baby is the size of a lime - 2 inches

Weight gain? I'm nervous to get on the scale! I'll let you know next week!

Sleep? Sleep is MUCH better. Still getting up to go to the bathroom, but I can deal with that!

Foods I am loving? REALLY salty foods - olives, popcorn

Foods I am hating? The B-word...and my kitchen, which I still can't step foot in

Best moment this week? Starting to notice a baby bump instead of a belly bulge! (I know it still seems early to have a baby bump...but have you seen the size of my uterus on my ultrasound-HUGE?!?!?!)

Movement? Nope

Symptoms? Feeling much better, but still having nausea; plus bathroom trips and weird cramping in my pelvic area (round ligament pains?)

Gender? We still think baby is a girl. I should say here that we would absolutely be happy with a boy or a girl, but our gut still says a little lady is in our future!

What I miss? Sometimes I really want an extra dirty vodka martini - it's gotta be the olive thing! I will say though, that I don't miss anything more than I want to be a momma! It's worth it!

What I'm looking forward to? My month off - in 4 days!!!!!! Starting to get the baby's room ready.

Emotions: I can breathe again - I am seeing a light at the end of the tunnel with this nausea thing! I still can't go on long shopping trips or make exciting plans, but I'm making strides. So this makes me reeeeeallly happy! Developing a little baby bump makes this more real, which I love!

My Miracle Monday (err Tuesday): 9 Weeks

How far along? 9 weeks

Baby's size? Baby is the size of a prune - 1.5 inches

Weight gain? 0 lbs. I'm back down to pre-pregnancy weight. This week has been a rough week of nausea, even worse than last. And I still feel unusually pudgy.

Sleep? The nausea is making sleep more and more difficult.

Foods I am loving? Olives!!! Salty foods, Green apples, Carbs

Foods I am hating? Bacon - literally, it makes me gag to type it

Best moment this week? Having a 3 day weekend to give me and baby a break and do a lot of sleeping

Movement? Nope

Symptoms? I know I'm a broken record with this nausea thing, but seriously y'all, I never imagined it could be this bad. I dry heave when I walk in my kitchen. I have to carry a bag with me everywhere I go - including in the hospital when I'm working - for "just in case." And this is all with prescription medicine 3x a day. I can't imagine what women did before the days of medicine!

Gender? Still thinking a girl

What I miss? Feeling normal, doing normal things like cooking, going for walks, eating out at restaurants, shopping

What I'm looking forward to? Taking next month off - only 8 more days of work to get through! Being able to feel the baby so that I have a constant reminder that this will all be worth it.

Emotions: Still having a really difficult time with not feeling good. I have an amazing husband who does everything right, and I don't know what I would do without him. I am so thankful to be carrying this life, and can't wait until I get to meet the little one, but I just want to feel better! I would really appreciate prayers to get through this!!

My Miracle Monday (errr Tuesday): Week 8

How far along? 8 weeks. Finally - the milestone we've been waiting for to start telling friends!

Baby's size? Well, my ticker says a raspberry. But I've also read a green olive (1 inch). That just makes me want a martini!

Weight gain? 2-3 pounds

Sleep? Not as well as before. The nausea makes it a little more difficult. Plus, I have to get up at least twice a night to use the restroom.

Foods I am loving? Chicken nuggets, french fries, green apples, anything with lots of carbs

Foods I am hating? Coffee, eggs, salads

Best moment this week? Seeing the baby on ultrasound. Seeing/hearing the heart beat was life changing.

Movement? Of course not! Can't wait, though!

Symptoms? Uggh, nausea and vomiting ALL day not relieved by Zofran. Do not be fooled by the term "morning" sickness - those people lied! Plus, it's really difficult to drink any fluids, so I get dehydrated really quickly.

Gender? We're pretty positive it's a girl!

What I miss? Drinking and enjoying coffee, Food Network (it makes me nauseous to watch), waking up feeling good

What I'm looking forward to? The nausea/vomiting going away, getting rid of this "beer belly bulge" and actually looking like I'm pregnant

Emotions: I am an emotional wreck because I am sick as a dog. My sweet friend, Rachael, sent me this wonderful verse that made me feel better:
John 16:21 ²¹A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world.

Oh, baby!

We are so excited we are having a baby!

We are due in April, and we couldn't be more thrilled!

Hey friends

Don't worry. I'm still alive. Lots going on these days. More from me this weekend! Love!

Show Us Your Life - Favorite Grilling Recipes

Stuffed Turkey Burgers

This is the most delicious turkey burger I have ever had. I'm not kidding. It is DEEEE-lish. And semi-healthy??

Ingredients:

1 1/4 pounds lean ground turkey breast

1/2 cup chopped roasted red peppers, divided

1/2 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese, divided

1/4 teaspoons salt

Freshly ground black pepper

Directions:

Divide turkey into 4 equal sized rounds. Make 2 equal sized patties out of each round so you have 8 patties total. Sprinkle 4 of the patties with 2 tablespoons each of roasted red peppers and cheese, and top with remaining patties working the turkey around the edges to seal burgers closed. Season with salt and a few grinds of pepper. Grill or broil until cooked through, about 5 minutes per side.

*Thank you Ellie Krieger of Food Network for this little gem

36 Reasons for Our 3 Year Anniversary

3 years - 36 months - 36 of the reasons I love him (in no particular order)

1. He loves me more than I ever knew was possible
2. He eats with me even when he's not hungry
3. He's going to be an amazing dad
4. He goes without so I can have
5. He laughs at my jokes, and actually thinks I'm funny
7. He's a kid at heart
8. He admires his grandparents and their love for one another
9. He can read my mind and finish my thoughts
10. He's the nicest person most people know
11. He gets up with me in the morning, even when he doesn't have to
12. He talks to his mom every day
13. His patients love him
14. He's willing to move wherever we have to for my residency
15. He'll drink wine with me no matter what time of day
16.He's as weird as me
17. He worries about his brother as if he's his parent
18. He treats me as his equal
19. He thinks I'm the smartest person he knows
20. I can count on him for anything
21. The Notebook is one of his favorite movies
22. He wants to be a dad as much as I want to be a mom
23. He likes the house to be clean
24. Little things make him happy
25. He calls my grandmother when I'm too busy to think about it
26. He makes really good coffee
27. He prays with me
28. He knows how to start the perfect bath
29. He was always going to be my husband, even when I was 13
30. He likes to do yardwork
31. He worries about money so I don't have to worry about it
32. He does wonderful "voice-overs"
33. He is insanely attractive
34. He folds laundry just the way I like
35. He loves to sing
36. He makes me more happy than I ever dreamed possible

Show Us Your Life - Favorite Bible Verse

This is an exciting post for me, because in the last year I have definitely discovered the power of "letting go and letting God."

When I was anxious about my boards, one specific verse put things in perspective. I had it hanging on the wall where I studied, and read it every day.

Jeremiah 29:11
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

The Exploder

Have you met Patrick's car...no?...here, let me introduce.

This is the beast we have so affectionately named "The Exploder":


She's a 1994 Ford Explorer. And she's falling apart. Wait, that's an understatement. See following picture.


Notice his driver side door - yes, the whole panel is missing. And his seat is vomiting foam.

Don't get me wrong...he loves this car. This is the car he's been driving since he was 16. All 180,000 miles. He still thinks he will drive this car to his 10 year reunion.

Me, on the other hand...I hate this car. I get a headache when I ride in it because it vibrates so intensely, and the roaring sound is so loud you can't hear the radio. I ONLY ride when I have to.

So we take my car everywhere we go. And if you've seen my car, it is quite small. The hubby is rather long-torsoed (seriously he's a giraffe), and his head practically touches the ceiling.

When Patrick goes to work, he takes his car. The problem is, the "trusty" old "Exploder" isn't so trusty anymore. We usually have a 50% chance she will start up. And today, we were not so lucky. Of course, I had to drive him to work.

So I think we have FINALLY decided to buy a car. *Insert songs of glee*
We are on the hunt.

We were considering one of these beauts:


OMG, J/K! Did you really believe me?
We're living on student loans and a nurses salary here people!

Therefore, we need something affordable.

But, nonetheless, we are actually going to do it! :)

We are looking for an SUV, and if you have any suggestions leave comments below. Please.

Medical Humor

Show Us Your Life - Activities for Kids

I'm gonna be honest - I'm drawing a blank on this one. Seeing as I have no children and no nieces or nephews, I usually don't spend my day thinking about exciting things to do with kids.

Nevertheless, I was a kid at one time, and I was a crazy kid at that, so I was constantly having to be entertained. So I guess my answer to this question is, what did I love to do?

I LOVED to do arts and crafts. I would cut, glue, paint, sew, color anything I could get my hands on. Including one day when I found a Playboy magazine - I just thought the girls would look much better with clothes on. (PS. my mom will be mortified when she reads this - sorry mom!)


I also LOVED going to the library. The smell of library books gets me every time. And yes, I'm still an avid library goer. I don't believe in spending $20 for every book I read - I read a lot.


So what did you love to do as a kid?

Show Us Your Life - Our Proposal

Since I was so busy with my best friend, Court's, wedding this weekend, I was unable to Show You My Life on Friday. So here I am now, finally getting around to it.

Friday's Show Us Your Life was about proposal stories.

So I'm not really into the cheese, but my cheesy husband had to cheese to the max for our proposal - and I loved it. Of all the cheesy things to do, he proposed on Valentines Day. We were living in different states at the time, so he came in town for the weekend. First thing when he got there, he gave me flowers and a beautiful antique sapphire (my birthstone) necklace. I'd been hoping we would get engaged soon, but since he gave me this necklace (a decoy), I just knew we weren't getting engaged. Enter disappointment. *He knew he had to throw me off somehow* We had reservations to our favorite restaurant, Anthony's, that night. The whole time at dinner he was drinking like a fish and kept getting up to go to the bathroom. Keeping this in mind, I still had no idea what was going to be happening. On the way home from dinner, a thirty minute drive, that boy had the air conditioning on full blast in FEBRUARY. He was a nervous wreck, and I was clueless. When we got the the house, he told me to put our leftovers in the fridge while he went upstairs to my room to let the dog out. When I finally got upstairs, my room was pitch black. At this point you'd think I would have figured it out - but no. I opened the door to my room and there was a path of lit candles to the far end of my room, where he was standing with a table of champagne, chocolate covered strawberries, and a ring box. Rose petals and candles everywhere. Ahaa, I get it now - enter shock, stage left. He led me into the room, since I'm stiff at the door not moving, and I can't remember a single thing after that. I know he said the sweetest things and I said yes - and that was the best decision I ever made!

Show Us Your Life - China Patterns

My childhood friend, Kim, who is also a blogger, does "Show Us Your Life" every Friday. I am excited to read the topic each week, and I decided I would try it out.

This week is about china patterns. I should start by saying I was a horrible bride. At the time, I convinced myself that china was not a necessity and I should return it for something I really needed. I regret this soooo much! I have already told Patrick that for our 10 year anniversary, I am buying myself a full set of china.
So, since I have no china of my own to show you, I have decided to pick something out for myself. If I were to buy china this week, I would pick this little beauty:

Lenox Simply Fine - Chirp

Now, I know what your thinking - birds, really? I should explain. As many of you know, I am not traditional in any way shape or form - I mean lets be honest, I returned all of my fine china in the first place. What I like about this set is that it's modern, but it also looks like my great-grandmother could have owned it in the 1930s. I'm not a scroll or polka dot or silver kind of girl. I like weird things.

What's in My Bag?

My fabulous friend Jamie revealed to us what was in her bag, and she tagged me, so here I am, sharing my bag with the world...

And this is my sad, little (actually not so little) bag. She's old and cheap and she's kind of "fug", but she serves her purpose:


Of course, I have to carry my books, highlighters, thumb drive, and pens everywhere I go:


And I never go anywhere these days without coffee, water, Odwalla bars, and my stethoscope:


And finally, my wallet, planner, cell phone, head phones, sunglasses, and lip glosses:

So, I hope y'all enjoyed taking a peek in my bag. What's in your bag?

I am especially interested to see:
1. Courtney
2. Springer
3. Rachel Buckley
4. Jessica Prier
5. Amy Grace

Daily Affirmations

This little girl is adorable. I wish I could start my day like this everyday!

Happy

I am happy to announce that I did well on my boards. I really did it, and I still can't believe it. Considering the panic that followed the 3 weeks after that beast of a test - I am relieved to say that I succeeded and reached my goal.

On a different note...
For the last 3 weeks I have been working with a practicing family physician, and it has been an emotional and amazing experience. Seeing patients on a day-to-day basis helps me realize why I am working so hard - to help people feel better.
I am surprised by how rewarding it is to celebrate with a diabetic who has worked hard to maintain low blood sugars and see the effect that it is having on her life. I am so excited when an obese young adult takes the first step and asks about diet and exercise programs. I am relieved when a man's Hepatitis test is negative, and eager to discover what is causing his symptoms.
I have discovered that medical school really is so much more than books and board exams - and this makes me happy.

Peace,
AW

We're back...

...and feeling very relaxed!
Our trip to Costa Rica was much needed, and I feel great! Honestly, I haven't felt this rested in 2 years...I can't imagine why.
It was so wonderful to enjoy a new country with my wonderful hubby. We both shared 2 first experiences - zip lining and scuba diving.
We have many, many pictures, so I will share a few:

[enjoying a yummy dinner]


[the view from the pool]


[fresh pineapple on the beach]


[canopy tours in the rain-forest]


[Liberia, Costa Rica]


[45 feet under water - notice how I'm holding my regulator like a paci]


[and my brave hubby takes his regulator out and smiles for the camera]

Overall, it was a great vacation, and I feel ready for the next year!

Peace,
AW

Again?!?!

Two blog posts in one day? What?!?!

I just have to share my excitement about the new installment of Sex and the City - Aidan's back!!! I always wanted Carrie to end up with Aidan. :)

Watch the trailer on E!online.

Peace, AW

10 Things...

...I'm totally loving right now:
10. John Mayer - we went to his concert a few weeks ago (has it really been almost a month?), and he is amazing live. Yes, he may not have the best reputation with women, but who doesn't love a bad boy?
9. This weather - after a freezing cold winter in a house built in the 1920s, my bones have been ready for this heat.
8. My house - I adore. I cannot get enough of it. I love every inch of it. It just feels so homey, and so us!
7. Yard work - I dream about my yard, literally. I love making the front of the house look pretty. And thank the good Lord I have amazing parents-in-law that make it happen for me! (I'm spoiled)
6. Parenthood. On NBC. Watch it. It will make you cry out of sympathy and laughter all in the same hour. If you would like to see the last five episodes, you can watch them here. You won't regret it, I promise.
5. Highlighters - now this is not a new thing for me, but spending all day every day studying would be entirely too boring if I couldn't color code everything on the page.
4. Cooking Light: The Essential Dinner Tonight Cookbook. The best recipes - so yummy, healthy, and easy for the hubby to shop/cook! Find it here.
3. LOST. I am so glad it's almost over, but it is getting really good! So relieved to finally get some answers.
2. I'm done with Step I Boards and M2 year in ONE WEEK! I'm hoping all this studying pays off, and I totally rock Boards! *Wish me luck* Oh, yeah, and did I mention it's 98 degrees in Costa Rica right now? Books (for pleasure), beaches, and banana daiquiris - here we come!
1. My hubby - he has so much patience, and I don't know any other man who could deal with his wife being gone ~7 days a week, 13 hours a day. He does the cleaning, laundry, shopping, cooking, and painting (yes, he surprised me with a painted bedroom one day). I am really, really blessed!

Love you all, and will tell you about our trip when we return!
See you on the flip side!
Peace, AW

Hi!

Well, hello there! Yes, it's been a while. Glad to see me? I hope so.

The last couple of months have been busy, busy!

We moved into a house. It's the cutest little craftsman bungalow with creaky wood floors and big thick door frames. I adore it.

Patrick got a job! (Yay - and thanks to those of you who prayed to the big man for us!) He's working in Cardiovascular Intensive Care - Step Down. He works 3 days a week, and gets the rest of the week off. And yes, this is considered full time. Can you believe that?

Most importantly - I have 3 weeks left of 2nd year!! I take my last assessment next Friday, and a comprehensive exam the final week, and I am finished! This is the month I have waited for since I first decided to go to medical school - finishing my career in a classroom.

At the end of April (following my national boards exam), I begin my second half of medical school - clinical rotations. Goodbye library, hello hospitals! Now don't be fooled, I will be more exhausted than I am now. More nights, more weekends, more hours - but I will have actual human contact.

Oh, and did I mention that the hubs and I are taking a "second honeymoon" to Costa Rica in a couple of months? : )

Now, if I can just get through this last stretch! Wish me luck!

xoxo

Prayers please!

Doesn't everyone say nurses can always find a job? I'm convinced it's not true. Patrick has been a graduate nurse for a month, and is still unable to find a job. : (

My point - we need prayers! Lots and lots and lots of prayers! Student loans just aren't cutting it anymore, and we could use some income. (And a better insurance plan would be nice!)

So take a break from this:














And do a little more of this:












Please and thank you! : )