Sorry for being behind - Vday weekend pics

So I know I am incredible behind on posting on here. Which is a shame, because between week 20 and now, week 22, I have majorly grown. Lucky for me, it has all been growth in my upper stomach, so all my pants still fit just fine. The main difference is the rise in my shirt. I still feel like it just looks like I ate way to much. So if people wanna touch, prepare for me to take offense, and punch you. So once again, I will be splitting up my late updates into several posts.

So now for the first one, I will take you back to Valentine's Day weekend.

Ahhhh Valentine's Day. For the happily coupled person, this is such a great day of joy to look forward to. Not so much when you are the pregnant half of the coupled duo, and your other part is deployed. The most you can look forward to is the hopes that he somehow will manage to get an email through, and that your overly driven hormones won't cause you to go on a drive by rampage on all love birds skipping down the street in bless.

So needless to say, I was a little concerned on how my emotions would take a turn on Love fest weekend. Thankfully though, the wives on this boat are an amazing support group. They planned a group get together of about 14 of us wives at Koto's for February 13th, and Lexi and I made our own plans for Feb 14th. So a weekend of dread turned into a weekend of fun.

The outfit I wore to Koto's is the same thing I wore on Christmas, and that I took the Xmas pictures in. You can really see how it fits differently now. Koto's was amazing food as always. This time I splurged the extra dollar and got steak. I got squirted in the face with a little doll that makes it look like he is peeing on you. It was just water though. I was supposed to catch it in my mouth, but I had soup in there, so it ended up on my face. At then end of our dinner, the manager was completely rude to us though, and asked us to hurry and leave. I could understand her doing this if we were lolly gagging, but some of us were still eating dessert, and others still waiting on getting their cards back. I get that VDAY weekend is a big weekend, but we paid a lot to eat there, and don't deserve to be rushed out. Lexi was the only brave one in the group to say something, and the woman just stamered out apologies. Her embarrassment was totally worth it. All in all, it was definitely a good night.

You can really see the pop here 20 weeks & 5 days

Front View

A close up of Koto's outfit

Then the next night was Valentine's Day. I went to the gym with Lexi in the morning, then came home, showered, scrunched my hair, and Lexi & I went to Providence, RI. Providence is an hour away. We had pre-bought movie tickets in our town for 950 for the movie Valentine's Day, so we figured if we left at 5pm, we would have plenty of time to drive there, eat, and get back to the movie. The goal meal place was Cheesecake Factory. I have never been there, so was stoked to try out what all these Northerns talk about. We did not take into affect though, that every party of two would also be out on Valentine's Day. By the time we got to Providence, and found an overly priced parking garage, we came to discover Cheesecake Factory had a 2.5 hour wait time. So we started to walk the street looking for another place. After being denied any access to one other place, bypassing a urberly disgustingly fancy looking place, we ended up at a place called Joe's. Their wait was 1 hour to 90 minutes. We decided to chance it. However I dragged Lexi over to the bar area. A lot of restaurants have first come, first serve at the bar. To our luck, this bar seating also had table. We weren't even there ten minutes, when I spotted a couple get up, and claimed their table.

The waiter was awesome and very funny. He was also shocked to discover I was pregnant [Oh yea he got tipped extra for that] Towards the end of our meal though, we realized we were quickly running out of time, so we asked for their special [chocolate covered strawberries and a special whip cream] Unfortunately, it being that darn Vday holiday, there were already out of it. So we pouted bc chocolate covered fruit was what we were really excited for. So we asked if they had bananas, or grapes, or any fruit they could dip. The guy laughed at us, knowing we were pregnant, and went to see what he could do. He eventually brought his manager over to talk to us. At this time, I went to the bathroom, and came back to find Lexi in a story of us ending up at Joe's. The manager misunderstood her though, and thought we came an hour JUST to eat at Joe's. So Lexi went with it. Haha. She said oh yeaaaa my husband and I came here, and I wanted her to try it. Problem was Lexi had never been there, but she didn't want to offend the guy by saying "Well this was actually our last choice". The guy was so flattered with us though, that he had someone go get strawberries, and made us the dessert on the house. By the time this was all done though, we were incredibly late to our movie. So we just got our tickets refunded, and went and watched the movie, I Hate Valentine's Day at her house.

My Vday Outfit with Lexi

Had to scrunch my hair to save on time

Same outfit I wore on New Year's Eve. Little different looking on me now

Why hello there suddenly larger belly!

20 weeks and 6 days pregnant

See how high my belly is now?

A close up

This one I sent to David in a care package.

Those duck lips are an attempt at kissy face

Happy Vday from Teddy & Me!

Doesn't Teddy look so amused?

The next day for lunch, we did go to Providence, RI again for a Valentine's Day redo. We went to Cheesecake factory, and I gotta say, it was worth it. 21 pages for the menu, and two pages alone for different types of cheesecakes! I got an upside pineapple cheesecake. Then we went to the Imax theater to watch the movie Valentine's Day. Excellent movie as well. Some spots had Lexi and I tearing up, which when you watch the movie, you would totally guess where. I also love the comfort of the Imax theater. The theaters here are absolutely ridiculous. The price of a ticket is $9.50. The seats are all one level, and hard as rock. The kind of seats you find at the dollar theater in TX. I think I will boycott them from now on. The Imax theater was huge, with surround sound, seats that go high up, with padding, and can recline, and have cup holders. Plus military discount baby. My ticket was only $7!

So Valentine's Day Weekend wasn't the bust I was expecting it to be. I still would rather have had David home, but sometimes you have to make sacrifices to insure a better future. We will have lots more valentine days together, and this time they will include our little girl!

I am still waiting on my own Daddy to send me some Vday chocolates. Ahem. Get on that. That's your job as Daddy, to forever provide me with chocolate. Haha

But now I will end this Vday post... bc I have a doctor's apt coming up. Expect more updates soon

AHHHHH!!! 20 weeks! That's half way through!!!!

Today marks week 20 of pregnancy. That is the halfway mark! I absolutly cannot believe I am now 5 months pregnant. I still don't even feel pregnant, so how can I be 5 months pregnant already? If the second half goes as fast as this first one did, our little girl will be here before we can even be prepared! I feel so bad for David because he has to miss such a huge chunk of all this. Then again, I bet many husbands wish they were not around to be yelled at, complained to, and sent out at midnight for ice cream cravings.

Speaking of cravings, I haven't had those weird "Let's mix maple syrup with salmon" cravings [coughcoughLEXIcough]. I actually feel like I really haven't experienced pregnancy cravings at all so far. I don't count wanting things to be extra salty as a craving. Any "cravings" I have had are all things I used to crave pre pregnancy. I used to get cravings for potatoes, or spaghetti pre-preg, and I would want them so badly. So I don't see anything different with how I react to wanting those same foods now. David used to say whenever I was pregnant I probably wouldn't notice any changes because of this. lol. I liked sour things, but preferred sweet. That has actually switched. I would rather have sour over sweet now a days. But even that really isn't a craving. I just decide to choose sour over chocolatey whenever I snack on something sweet.

HOWEVER ... as of yesterday, I have been yearning BADLY for this pizza that I ate at Tina's. Tina is a friend I made in South Carolina, who moved to CT as well for the navy at the same time that we did. She is originally from Long Island, and the whole time I have known her, she has talked about NY pizza. I have never had NY pizza, so I have been fine with Pizza Hut or Dominoes. Turns out I have been missing out. Tina found a pizza place run by a guy who is from her hometown, and she feels this is the closest you can get to NY pizza. The pizza is mighty expensive, but they treated themselves to two pies yesterday and invited Lexi & I over for lunch. IT WAS AMAZING! Ever since eating that pizza yesterday, I just want more!! I guess I can count this as my first pregnancy craving, since I never had cravings for this pizza before. lol

It's probably a good thing I have no idea where this pizza place is though, because I do not need to be adding to my weight gain! This morning I weighed in at 170.2 pounds. I did notice some growth in my belly. Well rather I have been told by Tina and Lexi about how my bump now sticks out. Thanks guys. Haha. My belly button now measures out at 37 inches, and my roundest part of my tummy is at 38 inches. It seems like massive growth to me! I can still wear my cloths, and button my pants though. The day I can't do that will be the day I spend crying for hours I am sure! I would like to try to stay under 180 until David returns home. This goal is going to be TOUGH with how long he has left. I have been including swimming laps at the indoor pool here after the gym. If I can keep my gym days to 3 times a week, and at least swim once a week, and not eat out but once a week, I think I could do it. I just have to keep busy and keep my metabolism pumping! And eat more veggies. Stupid veggies. Ok pictures time!

I hardly ever include both sides. I think I look bigger on this side somehow?

Your baby is now about 10.5 inches long from head to foot and their little limbs and head have finally reached their relative birth proportions, although they've still got loads of growing to do. On average, you should've gained about 10 lbs by now, although that's just an average so, don't be too devastated if you're over or under slightly.

Week 20:Congratulations, you now have a mini-baby!

Fetal development in pregnancy week 20:fetus in fifth month This week you're carrying about 10.5 inches and 10.5 ounces of solid baby-miracle-goodness! Their little delicates bones continue to ossify and toughen while their itsy bitsy finger and toe pads are finishing up. Your little monkey now has teeth buds, although they’re hidden beneath the gum line. And finally! Their limbs have reached their relative proportions—no more alien baby! Their cute pink lips are more defined, and might be helping out in a bit of prenatal thumb-sucking. If you have a little boy, then their tiny testes are descending, though they have not yet passed the abdominal wall. What’s more, eyelashes and eyebrows are also visible. At this point, your little one really looks like a miniature baby—and we do mean miniature as your little swimmer currently weighs a mere eighth of their final birth weight. With half the pregnancy behind you, the most significant gains are yet to come!

And how's mom doing? Not that we need to tell you, but your baby may sometimes seem like a kick-boxer in training with no appreciation for your exhausted-pregnant-momma sleep needs. Still, before you start yelling at them to calm it down in there, remind yourself that your busy baby really have no idea if you’re rolling If you have already enrolled in a Lamaze course, consider coupling it with either a swimming or yoga course (or both!)out of bed or cozying up to your partner for a good nights rest. Unfortunately for your sleep schedule, your little independent thinker will continue to operate on their own time table throughout the rest of the pregnancy. And you thought rebellious behavior only started around puberty!

Have you enrolled in a Lamaze course yet? The now-renowned courses teach various alternative birthing and breathing techniques, not to mention the oh-so-valuable lessons involved with natural pain management. (Visit http://www.lamaze.org/Default.asp for more information.) If you have already enrolled in a Lamaze course, consider coupling it with either a swimming or yoga course (or both!). Both forms of exercise focus on controlling your breathing (a large part of the Lamaze philosophy), while at the same time increasing blood flow, strength and flexibility. What’s more, many yoga studios and swimming pools cater to pregnant women (and couples) offering low impact sessions perfect for you and your partner.

Your Pregnant Body This Week

Week 20 of Pregnancy: Hair and Nail Growth

You can credit (or blame) those pregnancy hormones again for changes in your hair and nails during your pregnancy. The increased blood circulation that's bringing more nutrients to them also deserves some thanks.

Congratulations, at 20 weeks pregnant, you're at the midpoint of your pregnancy. Keeping pace, your fast-ballooning uterus has also reached the midway point, just about even with your belly button now. So go ahead — take a feel. That's one of the perks of being pregnant — you get to rub your belly anytime you want (in fact, it's expected when you're expecting). Happily, there are other good side effects of pregnancy too. Can't think of any? Well, here's one: Have you checked out your nails lately? They're likely growing faster than usual, and faster than you can manicure them. What about your hair? Does it feel thicker and look more healthy than usual? It's probably growing faster, too (not to mention growing in unexpected places, which may not be such a good thing). You can credit (or blame) those pregnancy hormones again for these changes. The increased blood circulation that's bringing more nutrients to your hair and nails also deserves some thanks.

The hair and nail changes during pregnancy are temporary…once again, good and bad news. Because even though your nails might be long, they can also turn dry and brittle (of course, it's those pregnancy hormones). And though you may love your lavish locks now, don't get too attached to them. Your good-hair-day run ends with delivery — when the normal daily hair loss that's suppressed during pregnancy (thus the thicker hair) resumes with a vengeance. Once the baby is born, all that hair that didn't fall out during pregnancy will — making you wonder whether you'll need to reach for the Rogaine (don't worry, you won't).

Baby's Moore's first "I'm a girl" presents

To celebrate discovering Baby Moore's girlhood, I bought her first real girl outfit, and another little skirt too. Since I thought Baby Moore was a boy, I steered away from all girlie things possible. So this is the first of the girl cloths!

I also got a nursery rhyme book. It is huge, and was on clearance for $8!! I remember when my mom was in Desert Storm, my grandma used to do stories with me, and I loved them. My favorite story was the Princess and the Pea. So I thought the nursery rhyme book would be perfect for a little girl.

Over 300 pages, and the size of my arm!

Little skirt with pink trimming

First Girl Outfit Bought

The skirt has bloomers that match the shirt!! Haha

A bunch of ultrasound pictures!! From 18-19 weeks

Ok so here is the rest of the ultrasound pictures. I am definitely happy to have so many to share! The first bunch are from 01/30/10 when she was 18 weeks & 5 days. The very last two are from today, when she is 19 weeks & 5 days.

18 weeks & 5 days...

Frontal View. Hi baby!! [See her hand?]

The baby moved and blurred the picture

A close up of her face. Yikes... alien looking

Little baby feet!

My favorite picture! [I accidentally scratched it] Her legs are REALLY long

And now the pictures from today where she is a whole week older at 19 weeks & 5 days!

Baby's head grew, and she is much more aware I feel like. LOL. It's like she is staring right at you

The picture going in Daddy's care package :)

Baby Moore-The ITS A GIRL post!!!!

So today I went back to the ultrasound place for another go around at discovering what baby Moore was. I prayed and prayed God would let this child cooperate, and then I even talked to my belly. I felt like a fool doing it, but it must have worked, because the baby lifted the legs right up and over the head and showed us all that "Look, there is no penis there"

This was when they were guessing girl at 18 weeks & 5 days [01/30/10], but the cord was in the way so no one could be sure

Baby is 1 week older, and already listening better. Those two round blobs are her lifting her legs over her head to say "SEE!!!!!" 19 weeks & 5 days [02/06/10]

Now just to decide on a name. David & I like Natalee. It's the only girl name we can agree on, and it is Italian, and means born on Christmas [Like momma!] However, we cannot agree on the spelling for it. I want Lee, like our middle names, and our parents. He thinks that is improper spelling. I also want to include each of our grandparents middle name. So Natalee Alice-Mae Moore. It would be like a middle name fest! I practiced yelling it for when she would be in trouble [which I am already predicting a mini me would be in trouble a lot] and it is very easy to yell. I emailed the idea to David yesterday. But it takes a while for him to receive emails, [a normal delay of 1-3 days] and I don't know how he feels on the multi middle names factor. He is a very old fashioned guy.

It is very hard to decide on a name when you cannot instantly communicate with each other. We have to rely on delayed emails by 1-3 days. In fact, he doesn't even know yet it is officially a girl. The interwebs now know before he does. Stupid deployment. So feel free to leave names, and what the names mean, in the comments.

The 3d Pictures from my ultrasound on 01/30/10

So I know these are late, but here are just the 3d pictures from my ultrasound appointment on 01/30/10. The baby was 18 weeks and 5 days. The baby is still really tiny, so the 3d pictures look funny. But when we get them done 11 or 12 weeks from now, you will see some real features!!!

19 weeks with our maybe baby girl!!!

It's WELCOMING WEEK MONDAY! Today means Baby Moore is 19 weeks.

The more and more I look at my ultrasound pictures, the more I feel like Baby Moore really is a girl. I was so certain I was growing a boy in there because I had no morning sickness, no urges to look at girl items, and most importantly, we have no girl names we can agree on, but the perfect boy name. Now I am kind of in shock that this baby is a girl. Well most likely a girl. We find out for sure next Saturday. Hopefully baby won't be a brat next week. That bratty behavior alone makes my husband think the baby is a girl, and just as stubborn as her momma. Thanks David. But like I said before, my mom thought I was a boy and BAM, out I came missing the penis. Guess it runs in the family.

So this week we are desperately trying to rack our brains on what in the world we would name a girl. We both like the first name Natalie. It is Italian and means born on the day of Christ [hmmmm who's birthday is that?] Well I wanted to spell it Natalee, so that we can incorporate Lee into the name, and make it unique. David however, has a major complex with misspelling the baby's name. Plus I read that you shouldn't misspell your child's name because when it grows up and goes on interviews, companies actually tend to look at the misspelling as if you came from an uneducated background. So he might win on that front. But since we both have Lee as our middle names, and have Lee in our parents names, I really want Lee to be in each child's name. Natalie Lee sounds like a tongue twister though.

I like Natalie Leena Moore. He hates it. David likes Natalie Leeanna Moore. I'm ok with it, but I'm not in love with the name, and find it a little too country. We are at a stand still. Anyone have any suggestions with Lee in there?

I have been fairly good on the salt from for the past week. I'm not perfect, but I am also not licking the salt out of the palm of my hand, nor pouring it over fruit to eat straight. Still weak on not eating chips though. I am also still struggling with getting enough veggies in my diet. I lowered my intake of milk, to try to make room for other stuff. It's so much food to eat in a day, that I feel like my stomach is stretching out all day long. I am one of those people that does not enjoy the "full feeling" I find it makes me feel tired, and irritable because I can't nap, and I don't really want to do much.

On the plus side, because of my salt decrease, I think I debloated a bit. In this week's pictures, I actually feel like I look smaller. So I decided to measure, and I came in at 36 inches at my belly button, and 37.25 inches at my biggest sticking out lower part. I think that is a tad lower than last week. I also weighed in at 167.8. Tuesday I am going to a swimming dance class that is on Tuesday and Thursday nights. I may start adding this to my 2 day workouts, because I feel that I am still putting on to much each week. All about control. Unfortunately control and pregnancy are not very good friends. I am so thankful I don't have those outstandingly strong cravings for food. Give me a bowl of spaghetti, or a baked potato, and I am a happy camper!

Least I can still wear my jeans

You can see my "sleep marks" from not waking up to long ago

Are you a little girl in there? Come on, let us know!!!

Still carrying deep in the low parts

Now time for the weekly update from Baby Gaga on pregnancy, week 19....

Congratulations! Your baby is now approximately 10 inches long! How did so much growth occur in so little time? It's actually just a question of measuring the legs, which at the 19th week most doctors start to do (instead of the crown-to-rump measurements we've used previously). Watch your energy levels! If they start to dip, you might just want to drag yourself outside for a walk anyway.

Week 19:The poop factory is now open

Fetal development in pregnancy week 19:fetus in fifth month Your amazing little baby is now around 10 inches in length! If this seems a bit shocking, you’ll be relieved to know they’ve not actually grown over 3 inches, but that their little legs are now straight enough to be measured. This is when doctors begin measuring fetal growth from head to toe, (no longer “crown to rump” or CR). Lanugo (little hairs) covers their whole body now, trapping that charming cheese-like vernix caseosa (see week 18) to the surface to the skin. This week your lil’ fetus will start on an appetizing diet of amniotic fluid which they are now capable of swallowing, digesting, and passing the fluid as far as their tiny “large” intestines. Fortunately for you, this nice little lump of baby-poop won’t be coming out while they’re still in your womb. Some time shortly after they’re born, this fun lump will become the first in a long line of baby poops. (What finally comes out— commonly known as “meconium” to the science world, will be black and sticky, and you’ll be very glad it happens only once!)

And how's mom doing? Unlike generations of women before you who were taught pregnancy was practically an ailment (10% of women DID die in childbirth back then), we now have scientific evidence that exercise is a good thing when you’re pregnant. In fact, most physicians recommend continuing or starting a pregnancy-friendly proper exercise can do a lot towards increasing your overall flexibility (at a time where your body wants to stiffen up) thereby somewhat reducing the pain and tension during laborexercise regimen. Walking, running, swimming, weight training and yoga (see week 20) are all good for your heart and overall physical stamina during this physically challenging time. Not to mention proper exercise can do a lot towards increasing your overall flexibility (at a time where your body wants to stiffen up) thereby somewhat reducing the pain and tension during labor. Last but not least, exercise can keep you from gaining unnecessary amounts of weight (which you’ll have to fight off later after birth if you don’t do it now). Obviously, you’re going to want to avoid sports where you are at risk of falling or being hit in the stomach. Basically, stay away from sports like basketball, volleyball, soccer, and skiing. Instead, opt for the pool, weight room, and/or yoga class. We’re not saying you should stress yourself out trying to be a world-class athlete, but if you’re eating right and getting enough sleep, exercise during this health-critical phase of your life, will keep your collective energy levels higher and increase your feeling of well-being, as well as ensuring that you and your baby are in top physical and mental condition.