23 Weeks

23 weeks along.  The weeks keep passing by.  Some weeks seem to take forever, and some seem to fly by.  This one has seemed to take forever.  I still have two more weeks until my next doctor's appointment, 51 days until my baby shower, and still 119 days (17 weeks!) until Baby Farrah arrives. 


I'm a little stressed about Farrah's nursery, but I'm trying to trust that everything will work out in plenty of time before she arrives.  I'm a planner, and at this point, I don't even have a room I can start on.  I have it all planned in my head, and I am aching to start creating her special place.


Cravings: Food.  Sweets.  Sweet foods.


Aversions: None.


Symptoms: Back aches, all the time.  Restless leg syndrome when relaxing on the couch in the evenings (annoying). 


Mood: You know those websites with photos of crying babies and the ridiculous reasons why they're crying?  Those just crack me up.  Well, I sort of feel like I could start one of those for me this week.  Crying because I interrupted Keane reading a magazine article and felt bad...I couldn't get the bottom crisper drawer to go back in the refrigerator...I got my feelings hurt when Keane didn't feel as bad for Lenox as I did...I took too much of Keane's lunch period when running an errand and felt terrible.  Seriously??


Missing: Being limber - you know, being able to reach for something in the back seat of the vehicle, or bending over to pick something up easily.


Break-down: See "Mood" above.


Excited for: The nursery.  And a free 16x20 print I just ordered at Shutterfly for Farrah's nursery that I got from Huggies!


Body changes: I took out my belly button ring because it was time, the skin was starting to stretch around it, and it was just starting to look weird to still have it in with such a pregnant belly.  It took me a few days to adjust to not having it, having worn it for the last 10 years, but I'm glad to have it out now.  I do hope the piercing doesn't close up, though I would probably be fine if it did. 


I ended up buying a few medium long-sleeved shirts because mine are all too tight in the belly area and it's really nice having clothes that I can breathe in.  I am noticing how much food/drinks/etc. I tend to drop, and what used to go on the floor unbeknownst to me, but now lands on my belly.  Also, when I'm cleaning or cooking, my belly gathers all kinds of stuff on it, making it hard to keep clean, ha.


Sleep: I had two terrible nights of sleep in a row due to my body being uncomfortable, so I starting putting blankets under my belly to give it support and it really made the world of a difference.  I'm beginning to see how a body pillow or those Snoogles would be worth it now.


Movement: I love feeling Farrah's thumps and kicks/punches.  It is always such a relief to feel her and I always try to just sit in silence and take them all in.  I decided to do that last Sunday morning, so I turned on our Willie Nelson record and laid in bed and sure enough, she started dancing.  I called Keane in there and right away he was able to feel (and then see) her kick for the very first time!

Kylie & Kaden's Birthdays

For Kylie's 9th Birthday (12/01/14), squeezed between Thanksgiving, Christmas, and basketball games, we took her and her friends bowling.  They were done after about 2 games, but they ended up playing three, and as luck has it, each one of them won a game!  Kaden also invited a friend over so the girls wouldn't pick on him...too badly.

Kylie got a make-up bag and a lot of new makeup she had requested, a Knot-A-Quilt set, and some Karaoke CD's.  We had also gotten her a password protected diary, but her friend Caitlyn got her one of those too (with some colorful pens).  She also got a water bottle with Jolly Ranchers from Riley.


For Kaden's 11th Birthday (02/20/15), he decided to have three friends over (Zeke, Drew, and Colin), and of course, Kylie needs a friend, too, right?  So she invited Riley.  Kaden also is having a swimming party at a hotel from his mom the following weekend.  We picked the kids up from school and went to Keane's nephew's very last home high school basketball game.  We then came home to his orange & camo birthday decorations and cake. 


He made out pretty well on gifts this year.  He had gotten some camo boots back in December.  He also got some clothes (4 shirts and a pair of jeans), a safety harness, a basketball, a Cardinal's hat, and two Xbox 360 games (football and basketball).  His friend, Colin, got him a Ford t-shirt, and Zeke got him a Chevy cap (needless to say, one of these was a joke), and Drew got him a bag full of goodies (i.e. candy and some silly sunglasses).


The kids wanted to go sledding (or "sleighing" as Kaden says), but we weren't able to do that until after his friends went home.  We also made Kaden's birthday dinner, which consisted of chicken wings, ribs, cauliflower salad, salad, baked beans, and peach pie for dessert.

22 Weeks

I love that the weeks are coming and going, because I'm having a hard time doing anything other than nothing but counting down the days (only 126 left!) until our sweet baby joins us in this world, when we can have her in our arms, kiss her, and stare at her face, memorizing every single thing about her.

I love calling her by name, and I especially love hearing Keane call her by name.  McCoy's latest name for Baby Brooks: Tiger Goggle.  I think we'll stick with Farrah.

Farrah.  Farrah Oakley Brooks. 

I have been working very hard on our Baby Registry.  I have created one at Target, and I decided yesterday I may do one at Wal-Mart as well.  It has extremely overwhelming for me. 

So. many. baby. items. 

I don't want to overdo it on things we ask for or get.  I'm too practical for registries.  My sister has quite a few items we are going to borrow: swing, stroller, bumbo seat, boppy pillow (made by my mom), a pack and play with a bassinet, a carrier she hated, and a few toys.  We are registering for: a rock and play, high chair set, two different car seats (1 infant, 1 convertible), bottles, towels and bathing necessities, a diaper bag, an activity gym, breast feeding items (I get an Ameda Purely Yours Breast Pump at Target through my insurance), diapers, wipes, clothes, and nursery items including a crib, mattress, sheets, dresser, camera monitor, rocking chair, bookshelf, side table, curtains, rug, lamp, baskets, changing pad and cover, and a wipe warmer.  I thought about making a crib mobile.

Do we need a bottle warmer?  I don't want a crib skirt, bumpers, or bedding.  I think I'm going to pass on the diaper pail and just throw the diapers away.  I wanted a doorway jumper but we don't really have a good doorway for a jumping baby, so we don't need that.  I'm going to get an exersaucer from a friend after her baby grows out of it.  Do we need a walker?  Although it has been a bit overwhelming trying to decide what we need, what we don't, and which of the endless options would best fit out needs, I am so anxious to begin our collection of baby items for Farrah!

Cravings: Late night ice cream.  Taco Bell's double decker taco-add sour cream.  Chocolatey chocolate milk.

Aversions: None.

Symptoms: Oh...RLS, back aches, trouble sleeping...

Mood: Maybe more irritable, and a little more emotional.  Nothing substantial.

Missing: Clothes that fit.

Excited for: It's really bothering me that I can't start on the baby room, yet, because we have a lot of work to do on the basement before we can even make room for her.  Part of me is considering starting on it A) with Kylie still living in the room (ha, that's a joke...kind of), or B) moving Kylie into her brother's room (that must be so fun, right!?) until we can move him downstairs.  I'm going to try to wait until April or May (at the very latest), so wish me patience.  I am such a planner, and I am close to purchasing some of her first bedroom items (crib, dresser, and curtains).  I have a little stash on a shelf in our hallway with her belongings so far.  I think I even have the paint color picked out.  It makes me so excited!

Body changes: My belly keeps growing rounder, slowly but surely.  It's getting harder to find something to wear.  I have a small tote of maternity clothes my friend, Kelsey, let me borrow, which has been a huge help, since I'm stubborn and determined not to purchase any maternity clothes.  However, I see now that a few items may be necessary to get through.  My undergarments are feeling tight, and by the end of the day I cannot wait to get into comfortable clothes so that I can breathe.

Sleep: Usually pretty good; however, last night was my first "uncomfortable" night of sleep.  I get so uncomfortable on my sides (my sides actually get tingly) and I so badly want to lay on my back but I'm not supposed to, so I just lay on my back for short periods of time.  I may have to blame some of my uncomfort on our feline baby who also calls our bed his at night, and for some reason wants to share my leg space.  I'm also finding it difficult to roll from one side to the other.  It's like I have to sit up to haul my baby from one side of the bed to the other, and then it takes a few minutes of adjusting our bodies just right so that everyone has a little room and comfort.

Movement: Same as before, I feel thumps quite low.  I sure wish my placenta wasn't in the front so that I (we) could feel her, but I can tell she's doing okay in there, and that's what really matters.

21 Weeks

I felt like at 20-weeks-along there should have been a big celebration for us!  When there wasn't, of course, I knew the following Monday would be our celebration - seeing our sweet babe and all!


It was so sweet - but it went by entirely too quickly, especially for a day I have long awaited.  The ultrasound tech told us the ultrasound would take approximately 45 minutes, and she was going to take about 50 photos for our doctor.  We literally were in and out in about 20 minutes!  I wanted to spend more time just watching our baby girl, but I'm blessed that there wasn't anything found to be wrong, and no concerns meant less time, so I know that I need not complain. 


We saw the four chambers of her heart (her heart rate was 152 bpm), her bladder, stomach, kidneys, fingers, feet, brain, legs, arms, and face.  Oh, and it was confirmed that she is definitely a girl!  Toward the end, we were watching her face and she leaned her head all the way up, turned it from side to side, turned and faced the camera directly, and then turned face-down, haha.  She was done being watched! 


I have gained a total of 11.4 pounds from the beginning.  My blood pressure at 20 weeks, 3 days was 114/71 (I have no idea if this is high, low, good, bad...).  Our baby is still measuring "a couple days" ahead, but they are keeping her due date at June 26.  She was head down, and the ultrasound tech said she can be in any position she wants right now.


I love her photos already and I can't stop staring at them.  She kept bringing her hands and arms toward her face and was crossing them in front of her.  The ultrasound tech said she was dancing, but everything was going so quickly on the screen this time that I couldn't really keep up with what she was seeing at times.

Cravings: Nothing specific, just food in general.  I have been finding myself sneaking in the kitchen and hurriedly making toast with sugar & cinnamon before the kids find me and ask for some, quickly scarfing down homemade chocolate chip cookies and a glass of milk at night when I should be brushing my teeth, and thinking that a bowl of Fruity Pebbles would be the perfect end to my day.

Aversions: Nothing.

Symptoms: A little tired lately, and still having back pains.

Mood: Slightly irritable (maybe from being tired) and less able to concentrate toward evenings, which doesn't help for late basketball games which we've had a lot of as of late, or for our evening shows that take a lot of concentration, ha.

Missing: Taking hot, hot baths that steam up the entire bathroom.  Licking the bowl after making brownies, cookies, or cakes (no raw eggs, ya'll).

Break-down: None.

Excited for: Our baby, Farrah, to arrive in June (approximately 133 days).  And for her (second) cousins to arrive in May (Lee & Jacky's baby girl, Kinlee Brooke) and in August (Jordon & Amanda's newly announced expectancy).  My baby shower in 65 days.  And Valentine's Day tomorrow with my husband!!!

Body changes: I don't even try to button my dress pants, although they will button but I would soon unbutton them, so I just wear them with a belly band.  I haven't even tried on any jeans for about a month or so - I just wear leggings or yoga pants regularly.  Maternity clothes (pants especially, belly bands, too) are extremely weird to me.  It's a strange feeling to have my pants completely cover up my belly.  I'm sure the support is helpful, but I feel like I'm wearing a full body suit, and I'm having a little difficulty adjusting to it.  By the end of the day, I feel so restrained and uncomfortable that I swear off all maternity clothes...until the next day or two.  The long shirts are nice, however, as my regular shirts are beginning to ride up in the front, and nothing fits like it used to.

Sleep: Sleeping has been great.  I haven't even been waking up throughout the night (probably due to being so sleepy).

Movement: I feel her quite often, but it's still faint and very, very low.  We confirmed that I have an anterior placenta (it's located in the front of my uterus - between me and baby - as opposed to posterior placentas near the spine) which serves as a buffer for baby's movements for now.  I think I feel her underneath the placenta.  My doctor reassured us that we will be able to feel her when she gets a little bigger, and said it should be in the next week or two.

20 Weeks: Half-way!

HALF WAY!!!! (And only three days from our anatomy scan!)  A huge milestone in pregnancy for me.  Our little baby girl is 10" from head to feet (about the size of a banana) and weighs about 10 oz.  Everything is going really well in pregnancy for me, and I am enjoying it so much!  I'm to the point now where it's definitely noticeable when people see me that I'm harboring a human inside me, and I notice people looking at my belly when they see me, which is fun.  Although it's been winter and I usually wear a coat or sweater when I'm out and about, the days are near when I will be showing even more in short sleeves and less layers!


Cravings: Chocolate milk, chocolate cake, brownies, cookies...sweets and chocolate I guess


Aversions: None.


Symptoms: Back pain particularly in one spot (left, middle back).  A lot of very interesting dreams.  The other night I dreamt that Keane took me to Six Flags and we were standing in line for a ride, and I thanked him for taking me but reminded him that I couldn't ride any rides while I'm pregnant...so we ended up just walking around the park, ha.


Mood: Excited all the time.


Missing: Flat stomach.  Shorter shirts fitting.


Break-down: None.


Excited for: Everything baby.  June 26 (due date).  The little bitty tiny package that arrived in our mailbox the other day and how my mind thought, "No way are the two shirts I bought in there," but indeed they were (that's how tiny babies' clothing is)!  [Enjoy Essential]  Baby leggings from [Baby Leggings] - got 5 pair for free, only paid shipping (which was $14.99).

Body changes: Growing a lot this week!  My belly is getting bigger and bigger and bigger.  And everyone keeps reminding me I have a long way to go!

Sleep: Not too bad lately.

Movement: I feel her thumping around in there, and I am beginning to feel the larger "kicks" from the outside too, but they aren't quite strong enough for Daddy to feel yet.  She is now beginning to kick in the same spot a few times, so I'm always staying prepared to feel her next movement!  She is quite active in the mornings once I get to work, and usually again in the late afternoon and early evening.  By bedtime, when I hope to feel her the most, I think she's already calmed down for the day.  I have been noticing her moving more at the kids' basketball games where there is a lot more noise!