Gender Surprise

The Today Show did a segment on this today and I felt it was finally time to throw my 2 cents in on the topic. They took a poll and 59% of people want to know the gender of their baby. \

I can't believe it has taken me this long (or I have been able to keep my mouth shut this long) about this. As I have said before, we are not finding out the gender of our baby. I have always wanted to do this and it only took a little convincing on my part to get Kyle on board. My brother and Erin didn't find out with Lauren and Justin and Stacy didn't find out with Henry. It seemed like the fun thing to do! Until people start asking what you are having...

I am going to rant here for a minute. Whether or not YOU think we should find out, it is OUR decision. I am probably being too harsh and annoyed easily about this, so I will blame it on the pregnancy hormones.

I cannot begin to tell you how many people have asked what we are having. And I would say about 80% of the responses are not exactly positive to our decision to be surprised. Here are some of my favorite responses when I say "we are waiting to find out":

"Oh, I could never do that! I have to know!"
"Why did you decide to do that? Most people want to find out"
"I am such a planner that I couldn't do that" - my personal favorite
"You know that isn't that much fun for everyone else. We want to know!"
"Oh, I wish I could find out and then not tell anyone" - yeah, cause if I don't know, I would want you to
"Well, are you at least telling the names you have picked out"

I love to plan things. I love to decorate my house and buy things and feel prepared. And you know what, I do feel prepared. We will have diapers, a place for the baby to sleep, food and clothing. We have decided to do the nursery after the baby arrives and I don't need your opinion on how much I won't feel like doing that after the baby, or how I will wish I had the nursery finished in case I want to put the baby in the crib instead of using our co-sleeper in our bedroom.

I have gotten plenty of positive responses, as well. And I greatly appreciate those people and I love to talk with them about how exciting the surprise will be. I know that people don't intend to annoy me or come across as rude, but it gets really old.

I cannot begin to imagine how exciting that moment will be in the delivery room when the doctor announces the gender. Kyle and I get to have that special moment with each other and I hope that moment lasts with me forever.

(end rant)

Third Trimester

If you follow me on Instagram, you know that I post most of the pregnancy pics there. Last Friday, at 28 weeks, I hit the beginning of the third trimester! While I can't believe it is going this fast, I also can believe it because I told myself that it would and I told myself to enjoy every moment of my first pregnancy.

I know this is silly, but I am already a little sad at the thought of not being pregnant anymore. I really enjoy being pregnant and it is such a wonderful thing to feel my baby kick. And people are just very into you while you are pregnant. Not that I am saying I need all the attention, but it is so sweet to see people genuinely love to see you and your belly and ask how you are doing.

But I also know that once I have that baby in my arms, I probably won't even miss being pregnant! I will be so consumed with my baby that I won't even think about these times. But for the next 11 weeks, I am trying to enjoy each moment with just me and the baby.

28 weeks

29 weeks

Leggings are saving my sanity right now. It's about all I wear. I have purchased a few maternity items (the striped top is maternity from Target) but I am trying not to spend too much on clothes. Especially since I have 11 weeks to go. I purchased 2 maxi dresses from Old Navy that I plan to completely wear out in the upcoming weeks!

At 28 weeks, I took my blood glucose test. The drink tastes like really sweet orange Fanta, and I love me some orange Fanta. It does have a ton of glucose in it, so it made me feel blah the rest of the day. On Monday, they called to tell me that something happened with my blood work and I would need to retake the test. Blah. I hate having my blood drawn. Hate it! So I went back on Wednesday morning and did the whole thing again. Blood glucose levels came back just fine at 71.

Apparently I have hit the emotional time during my pregnancy and I have decided that I can cry over almost anything. It is ridiculous and can also be hilarious at times. Kyle is pretty sure I'm crazy but he does a great job of not telling me that until I am over my "moment".

I have started some registry work online at Target and Buy Buy Baby and I still need to go push around some strollers to see what feels the best. I will take any advice on strollers, there are so many options!

Enough about me, let's talk about a new baby. My cousin, Katie, welcomed her daughter, Olivia, on Tuesday! She was a little early, but she is doing great! Katie always thought that the doctors office was a week late in determining her due date so she may not have been as early as they thought. Katie's blood pressure had gotten pretty high and she had some swelling and wasn't feeling great. She didn't have preeclampsia but her doctor said she was most likely going to develop it. She was 80% effaced and dilated to a 3. They decided it was best to have her go in on the morning of March 11th and get the party started. Everything went very well, she progressed as she was supposed to and that afternoon she quickly dilated from a 5 to a 10 and pushed 3 times and she was here!

Olivia Lee Lauck
6 lbs 2 oz & 21 inches long 

She came home weighing in around 5lbs, 7 oz. I am trying to figure out a time to go see this tiny little thing before I can't travel anymore.

Today is 3/14 or 3.14 (Pi Day). If you live in Tulsa, Antoinette Baking Co on Brookside is one of my favorite places and they are making all kind of pies today to celebrate. I am most definitely indulging in one of their treats today!