Zach and Nathana

How Far along: 16 weeks Baby's size: Avacado Weight loss/gain: Still down 5 lbs. Sleep: Nightly bathroom visits between 2-4 am.  It's so frustrating because I have not done well getting back to sleep after that, and it is making me really tired! Gender: TBA in May. Zach really wants to find out, so we have discussed what we're going to do! Movement: I'm sure Shim is moving and grooving in there, but I don't feel anything of course! Best Moment of this week: Getting to shop in Alabama!  Then of course coming home to Zach and Nellie.  I missed them too much! Looking Forward: To hopefully feeling Shim move in the next few weeks.  We are ready to feel that! Food cravings: Still Chick-fil-a!  Weirdest Food I ate last week: Nothing, pretty sure I'm not going to eat any new foods that I already don't eat. Anything making you feel sick or queasy: Not this week. Symptoms: Waking up and not being able to go back to sleep well.  ...

How Far along: 15weeks Baby's size: Navel orange Weight loss/gain: Still down 5 lbs. Sleep: Nightly bathroom visits between 2-4 am.  It's so frustrating because I have not done well getting back to sleep after that, and it is making me really tired! Gender: TBA in May. Zach really wants to find out, so we have discussed what we're going to do! Movement: I'm sure Shim is moving and grooving in there, but I don't feel anything of course! Best Moment of this week: Shim's first Thankgiving the day we turned 15 weeks! Looking Forward: Shopping in Alabama! Food cravings: Still Chick-fil-a!  Weirdest Food I ate last week: Nothing, pretty sure I'm not going to eat any new foods that I already don't eat. Anything making you feel sick or queasy: I ate corn casserole one day at school for lunch and then promptly barfed it up into my trash can.  Thank goodness I was still on lunch and didn't have students! Symptoms:  In ...

How Far along: 14 weeks Baby's size: peach (one of this Mama's favorites!) Weight loss/gain: Still down 4 lbs. Sleep: Still (almost) nightly pee trips, but sleep is good! Gender: TBA in May. Zach really wants to find out, so we have discussed what we're going to do!  Could be interesting! Movement: I'm sure Shim is moving and grooving in there, but I don't feel anything of course! Best Moment of this week: Trying on maternity clothes with my Mama, Zach shooting his biggest buck ever, and being a little less sick! Looking Forward: Thanksgiving break! Still a couple weeks to go, though! Food cravings: Chick-fil-a and the other day I wanted oreos, but didn't get any.  Weirdest Food I ate last week: Nada, especially since I wasn't eating a whole lot! Anything making you feel sick or queasy: We ate at the Pita Pit Friday night after getting my bloodwork done, and I threw it all up about 2 minutes from home!  Oops! Sympto...

How Far along: 13 weeks Baby's size: peach (one of this Mama's favorites!) Weight loss/gain: Still down 4 lbs. Sleep: Still (almost) nightly pee trips, but sleep is good! Gender: TBA in May. Zach really wants to find out, so we have discussed what we're going to do!  Could be interesting! Movement: I'm sure Shim is moving and grooving in there, but I don't feel anything of course! Best Moment of this week: Trying on maternity clothes with my Mama, Zach shooting his biggest buck ever, and being a little less sick! Looking Forward: Thanksgiving break! Still a couple weeks to go, though! Food cravings: Chick-fil-a and the other day I wanted oreos, but didn't get any.  Weirdest Food I ate last week: Nada, especially since I wasn't eating a whole lot! Anything making you feel sick or queasy: Things are slowly getting better.  Dare I say? Symptoms:  My lower back has hurt a little and a really stuffy nose.  Workouts: Non-...

One more week without a picture. Boo!  Again, I blame all the puking! How Far along: 12 weeks Baby's size: plum Weight loss/gain: Lost 4 lbs since being sick so much. Sleep: Still (almost) nightly pee trips, but sleep is good! Gender: TBA in May. Zach really wants to find out, so we have discussed what we're going to do!  Could be interesting! Movement: I'm sure Shim is moving and grooving in there, but I don't feel anything of course! Best Moment of this week: The times I wasn't throwing up and not feeling sick.  Kinda few and far between! Zach was taking good care of me, though! Looking Forward: To feeling better! Food cravings:  Chick-fil-a has still been my #1 desire when we are out and about, and I did have it a couple times this week.  Can I say that I am surprised I haven't wanted sweets that much?  They honestly make me feel kind of sick, which if a FIRST in my entire life! Ha! Weirdest Food I ate last week: Nada, espec...

No picture this week.  I blame all the sickness!!! How Far along: 11 weeks Baby's size: Lime Weight loss/gain: Lost 1 lb since last Dr.'s appt! Sleep: Still (almost) nightly pee trips, but sleep is good! Gender: TBA in May. We're not finding out! Movement: We got to see some of BS's moves on Monday! More on that below! : ) Best Moment of this week: Our ultrasound and Dr. Appt! Everything was perfect according to our u/s tech. She saw upper limbs, lower limbs, determined position of BS's placenta, and charted the heartbeat. Shim (She/him, get it?) was wiggly and jumpy right away, which answered our very specific prayers. The Lord provided everything my heart needed! We were in awe of the miracle he is knitting together inside of me! Looking Forward: My dear friend, Christine's baby shower this weekend! I can't wait to see her and baby Ella (who is still cooking away!) Food cravings:  I wanted Taco Bell one night, but then felt sick aft...

How Far along: 10 weeks Baby's size: Prune or a tart kumquat (whatever that is!) Weight loss/gain: Staying the same. Can't complain! Sleep: Still (almost) nightly pee trips.  Gender: Don't know!  Movement: Ask me again in 8-10 weeks! Best Moment of this week: Getting to rest Looking Forward to: Our ultrasound only being 4 days away! Food cravings:  If anything, Chick-fil-a!  I think we have a little chicken fan and that makes my heart happy! Weirdest Food I ate last week: Nothing really.  Still feel like I eat all. day. long. Anything making you feel sick or queasy: Morning/Noon/Night sickness is still hanging around which is comforting to me (go ahead and call me crazy) because I figure that has to mean things are happening in me! Symptoms: Almost more tired than sicky these days.  I can fall asleep at 8:00 p.m. on the couch, Zach will wake me up to move to bed, and then fall right back asleep! Workouts: None. ...

How Far along: 9 weeks Baby's size: Green Olive (Daddy likes the black olives, I think!) Weight loss/gain: I haven't weighed a whole lot, but I think I've gained about a pound.  Gonna chalk that up to eating to find something to make me feel better and not exercising this past week.  Well, except for one day! Sleep: Still (almost) nightly pee trips, and sometimes need a little snack to settle my belly.  Who would ever have thought I'd find it annoying to eat?  Only in the middle of the night, though! Haha! Gender:  Chinese gender chart predicts a bouncing baby boy, but again, who knows?  I still say I don't want us to find out, and Zach is not swaying that he definitely does!  I had a dream this week that I had a little girl and that I let Nellie nurse before she got to.  I shared that dream with Zach and he was thoroughly grossed out!  Haha!  I reminded him Nellie would not be nursing! Still so funny! Movement: ...

How Far along: 8 weeks Baby's size: Raspberry (Which I HATE, but I'm sure our baby is the cutest raspberry you ever did see!)   ; )  Weight loss/gain: Lost about 3 lbs, I've been working out normally, and plan to continue unless the OB says otherwise! Sleep: Still (almost) nightly pee trips, and sometimes need a little snack to settle my belly.  Who would ever have thought I'd find it annoying to eat?  Only in the middle of the night, though! Haha! Gender:  Chinese gender chart predicts a bouncing baby boy, but again, who knows?  I still say I don't want us to find out, and Zach is not swaying that he definitely does! Movement: Baby is definitely moving and a grooving in there, but probably at LEAST another 10 weeks till I feel anything. Best Moment of this week: Confirming at the Dr. that we are pregnant (Duh!) and getting to ask most of my questions.  Also made my appt. for my first ultrasound in 3 weeks!!  I will b...

How Far along: 7 weeks Baby's size: blueberry!  Weight loss/gain: Lost about 3 lbs, I've been working out normally, and plan to continue unless the OB says otherwise! Sleep:  I should not have bragged about my "rock sleeping!" Starting this week I get up nightly to go pee and if I try to resist it and go back to sleep, I hurt!  I think there was only one night that I didn't get up.  Thankfully, I am able to fall right back to sleep! : ) Yay! Gender:  Chinese gender chart predicts a bouncing baby boy, but again, who knows?  I still say I don't want us to find out, and Zach is not swaying that he definitely does! Movement: Baby is moving in there reportedly, but I am oblivious to it (of course) and will be for quite a while! Best Moment of this week: My first Dr. Appt being 2 days away! Looking Forward to: The dr. appt for confirmation and scheduling my first ultrasound after that! Food cravings:  Nothing so far. Weirdest Food I ...

How Far along: 6 weeks Baby's size: A sweet pea!  Weight loss/gain: Lost about 3 lbs, I've been working out normally, and plan to continue unless the OB says otherwise! Sleep:  I sleep like a rock, like always! Gender:  Only the Lord knows! Movement: Baby is starting to move their little buds this week!  Am I the only one who is in awe of this? Best Moment of this week: Knowing my appointment is just a week away! Looking Forward to: Scheduling the first Dr's appointment and making all the plans to tell our families and then of course, friends! Food cravings:  Nothing so far. Weirdest Food I ate last week: Nothing I can think of. Anything making you feel sick or queasy: Symptoms:  Sore chest and crampy! Workouts: Worked out Monday, Wednesday, and swam today!  Woot woot!  What I miss:  Not a thing.  Things are still so new! Things that stink: Having to keep this secret! Things that don't stink: Knowin...

How Far along: 5 weeks Baby's size: An apple seed! So incredible to think that BS quadrupled in size in a week! Weight loss/gain: Lost about 3 lbs, I've been working out normally, and plan to continue unless the OB says otherwise! Sleep:  I have so tried to get to bed early, and it never happens!  I wake up every other morning or so early to pee. Gender:  Only the Lord knows!  Movement:  Not yet, but can't wait until I feel that! Best Moment of this week:  Still just reveling in the fact we made a baby!  So hard to believe after waiting for so long! (And yes, I realize so many people have to wait much longer.) Looking Forward to: My first Dr.'s appt, (more on that in a second) and telling some of our friends! Food cravings:  Nothing so far. Weirdest Food I ate last week: Nothing I can think of. Anything making you feel sick or queasy:  Just if I haven't had food in a little bit.  Even then, I don't feel too ba...

How Far along: 4 weeks Baby's size: A poppyseed! So crazy! Weight loss/gain: Lost about 3 lbs, I've been working out normally, and plan to continue unless the OB says otherwise! Stretch marks: Sadly, I already have these, so we're not even going to discuss this every again! K? ; ) Sleep:  I sleep like a rock, like always! Gender:  Only the Lord knows!  I always said that I don't want to find out, and as of today, still say that!  But, hello, this whole idea is still VERY new!  So, who knows what I'll end up wanting!  Zach has stated most insistently he will find out no matter what it takes! Movement: Again, waaaaay too early!  So, we'll revisit this in a few months. Best Moment of this week:  Finding out that God has blessed us with this little miracle after 18 hards months of trying for a baby!  We truly aren't worthy, but he restores us and has answered our prayers! We couldn't be more grateful. Looking Forward t...

Today, on September 11, 2014, we got the news that we have been aching for for the last 18 months.  After some difficulty, we got a positive (make it 2, I just had to) pregnancy tests!  I knew that I could take a test Monday, and did, but the stupid thing was invalid.  The control line didn't show up.  It said to wait 3 days and take another.  I honestly thought my cycle was about to start, but today I felt just a little sicky throughout the day.  I also noted to Zach last week that I could barely muster the will to do my workouts several days.  I didn't take a test in the morning because it just didn't cross my mind that I would be pregnant.  So I held my pee for about two hours, and figured I was enough days post- ovulation that it wouldn't matter what time of day it was.  Zach knocked on the bathroom door and asked if I was taking a test and I told him I was.  I laid it on the tub and immediately yanked the shower curtain closed so I ...

This week has been looooong.  My days have been fast at work and even faster at home, but the week dragged.  We've been getting ready all week for our friends, Jacob and Jenna, to visit.  They are 2 minutes away as I type!  I'll be back next week to recap and get the hiz-happenings caught up! Can't let those go undocumented!

Once Zach got home, we let Nellie dig into her cake!  It was adorable and she loved it! Now our birthday girl is out for the count.  I think she had a pretty good day! ; )

I just discovered picmonkey and am going crazy making collages! Nellie at 4: Weighs: 24ish lbs.  I say that because she is too hard to weigh, but has lost weight since on her new diet! Her likes are listed above, but Nellie dislikes: Baths, being told no, dogs that are bigger than her, dogs that are smaller than her, dogs other than her cousins!  ; )  Not being able to get the rabbits that sit outside the fence, being scolded, running out of breakfast or sup-sup.  Just being real, our girl loves to eat! Nicknames: Nook, Nooker-roonies, Schnucks, Sweetness, Boog-a-noog, Boog, Nellie Wellie.  The crazy thing is that she actually comes to all of these.  Never did I think I'd call her so many things! Favorite toy: Her Kong when it's filled with fruit or peanut butter. She just isn't really into her stuffed animals much.  She doesn't know how to play with them as well as she knows how to tear them up. Haha! Thing Nellie did this year: Stayed...

My sweet, dearest, Nellie Girl, Today is your fourth birthday, and I couldn't be happier to say that we're celebrating it together.  I hate to think back, but in May I couldn't have told anyone if you'd be here to celebrate it or not.  That thought terrified me at the time, because after all, how could my world keep spinning if you weren't in it?  I am not ashamed to admit I begged and pleaded God to heal you, no matter what we had to do.  The fear of  knowing we may not be able to afford "fixing" you nearly drove me insane.  The night before taking you to Louisville I barely slept an hour due to imagining every possible scenario that might unfold the next day and again begging God to let whatever treatment you needed to be within our reach.  I thanked him and continue to thank him for making it possible to heal your little body.  I know you are a dog, but God even cares for you, and somehow in this life, I have done something right to have your...

For our 4th anniversary we went to Little Italy to celebrate. We didn't exchange gifts because we both agreed that our Nellie girl alive and well was the best gift we could have!  This past year has been one that I have mixed feelings about. There are honestly many times that I would give anything to forget, but thankfully the good outweighed the bad.  Still, I am so glad to see this year over and start a new one.   I've run into people I went to school with who find out I'm married and seem so surprised it's been 4 years, and sometimes it even surprised me it's been that long. Sometimes it feels like much longer. ; )  It's even a little hard to remember what life was like before we were married. I know that I love us, though.  God has been faithful to us these 4 years and I know will contribute to bless us.  I say it every year, but I love Zach more now than I ever have!  Thank you sweetheart for loving me when I am unlovable, cranky, and stubborn. Yo...

After a quick stop by the hotel to drop off some of our things and meet Zach's parents, we headed off to the game.  We found a parking garage about 5 blocks away, but it was pretty cheap, so we gladly walked down to Busch stadium.  Once inside we located our seats (which were mercifully in the shade! Can I get an Amen?)  I was so excited we wouldn't have to sit in the sun.  There was virtually no wind, which made things pretty hot!  We got some delicious Philly Cheesesteaks and sat back to wait for the game to start.  It was a slow game until the 7th inning, but the Cards won against the Phillies!  4-1!  I told Zach we were their good luck charms! ; )  I'm not going to lie, though, I was very happy to get back into his parents' air conditioned car!! It took what seemed like forever and a day to get out of downtown because they had construction going on, but we finally arrived back to the hotel around 7:00.  We took a desperately needed s...

Last weekend, (June 21-22) we went for a quick weekend trip to good ol' St. Louis.  Zach's family had gotten tickets to a Cardinals' game for his Grandpa for father's day, and his parents graciously bought us tickets, too.  We headed out early Saturday morning so we could go to Grant's Farm before the game.  It's perfect that we did, because it ended up only being 3 miles from our hotel. It was so fun, and it was special because it was both of our first time there! The house President Grant built! An elk just chilling in the pond... not a bad idea considering the heat! One of the two eagles they had.  Both had permanent injuries that make it impossible to fly, so they are in an open area with a fence.  So sad to see such majestic birds hurt, but neat to see them up close and not in a cage! Best attempt at a very quick selfie.  We were walking thorough the stables and looking at all the old Budweiser stagecoaches and horses.  I w...