Bumpdate

*I took this picture last week and then never got around to posting! Oops!! 

How far along: 27 Weeks! Baby weighs 2 lbs and is about 14 1/2 inches long.
Sleep: So far so good! Still loving my snoogle pillow : )
Missing anything: Today I have my glucose test so I haven't had any sweets and it's all I can think about! I'm sure it wouldn't matter but I didn't want to chance it.
Food Cravings: I think my lime craving has tapered off somewhat. However, I am so THIRSTY all the time...so mostly craving ice water.
Food Aversions: I still don't want any fish...blech and any sort of balsamic salad dressing.
Symptoms: Within the past week or so I have started having swollen ankles at the end of the day. It's actually pretty funny. I came home one day and showed Chris and he just said, "whoa..." haha
Have you started to show yet: Definitely workin' the baby bump.
Happy or Moody: I would say happy!
Highlights: I have been feeling Cormac move a TON! I love laying in bed in the morning for a few minutes after my alarm goes off and just feeling him squirm all around. He moves around a lot when I first get into bed in the evening too. The other night, Chris and I just layed there and literally watched my tummy jump and move. It is such a sweet feeling...and pretty funny too. We keep joking that there is an alien in there!
Looking forward to: Making more progress in the nursery! We made some good headway last weekend and I am hoping for a snow day tomorrow so that we can get a few more things done!

Life Lately

Well, it won't be long now before we are in full baby mode so we have been busy making preparations for Cormac to come! The other day we went to Buy Buy  Baby and registered. That was quite the experience! I have to say that Chris was awesome and didn't complain once. However...

On Valentine's Day, Chris made us a wonderful dinner. I had parent/teacher conferences at school that day so he emailed me our menu for the evening. The menu did contain a disclaimer though. It said, "A drooling dog may be present during this romantic dinner. Unfortunately, this is unavoidable as he is owned by the restaurant owners." I laughed until I cried. So, so, funny. Chris did a little Pinterest research and cooked up a really yummy Italian chicken with veggies, spinach salad, and asparagus. It was so delicious. He even got us some sparkling cider to enjoy. 

And then for dessert we had two amazing cupcakes from Cupcake A La Mode. Chris also found an online deal so we were able to get them for a steal! We had Strawberries and Champagne and then Better Than ? Cupcake. Both made this preggo super happy : ) 

Bumpdate

How far along: 23 Weeks! Baby is the length of an ear of corn...and a Subway Footlong : ) 
Sleep: Still going great due to my Snoogle Pillow!! I'm only waking up a few times to go to the little girls room. 
Missing anything: Not really this week : ) 
Food Cravings: Still loving LIME and Chocolate Milk. Just not together. 
Food Aversions: I still don't want any fish...blech and any sort of balsamic salad dressing. 
Symptoms: Still feeling really good. 
Have you started to show yet: Oh yea. In fact, I think everything sort of shifted up this week because I can feel the baby moving higher up in my tummy.
Happy or Moody: I would say happy!
Looking forward to: Chris actually felt the baby move last weekend! I was sitting on the couch after dinner and he was kicking really hard. Chris came over and put his hand on my belly and was able to feel him! It was a really cool moment that I will never forget. He was able to feel him a few other times since then too. I know it will just get better and better! Now I am looking forward to getting Cormac's room ready : ) 

Bumpdate

How far along: 20 Weeks! Baby is the length of a banana.
Sleep: Over Christmas I got the Snoogle Pregnancy Pillow...I think it has changed my life! It's a pretty massive pillow but it is helping me sleep on my side so much better. Chris told me that every time he sees the pillow under the covers he thinks that it is me still in bed!
Missing anything: I would love to have a gigantic Diet Dr. Pepper with a turkey sandwich.
Food Cravings: LIME! I cannot get enough sour citrus. I stopped in Target on my way home from work the other day and bought two things: a half dozen limes and heartburn medicine. Chris was laughing at me when I got home.
Food Aversions: I still don't want any fish...blech.
Symptoms: None here! Feeling pretty great!
Have you started to show yet: Umm...yea. One of my sweet students told me yesterday that her mom keeps asking her if Mrs. Branigan looks pregnant yet? I asked her what she thought and she said "uhh...yea!"
Happy or Moody: I would say happy!
Looking forward to: Chris being able to feel the baby. I have been feeling him move which is such a surreal feeling. I wasn't sure if that's what it was but then I noticed it in the same place and the same sort of feeling each time. It is mostly when I am sitting very still and when I lay down at night.

Christmas 2012

We had a great Christmas with our families! We kicked it all off with our gender reveal party and then had a nice time visiting with both families and lots of friends. Here are some of the highlights...

We went bike shopping with Jenny and Taylor. Taylor got an awesome road bike this year that he is loving!

 We built Gingerbread Houses with Dianna which was a blast! We went to Cathy Sabin's house and she had a whole assembly line of candy all set out for us to decorate our houses. There was every kind of candy imaginable. It was a really fun/funny night doing something that we "big kids" really enjoyed.

 Chris may have enjoyed it a little TOO much...

 This is my finished house...cute and sweet.

 This is Chris's finished house...his turned out hilarious. I never knew he could be so creative with Teddy Grahams and fondant!

 On Christmas Eve we were with my family and somehow managed not to get any pictures...boo. We had a nice dinner all together and then opened presents. I got some really cute moccasin slippers, corning ware and some other things. Chris got his favorite...cold, hard, cash : ) Even baby Cormac got some really nice gifts!

On Christmas morning we were with the Branigans. We woke up and ate breakfast and then dug into the presents! We both got some goodies and then two unexpected big gifts! Chris got a Kindle and I got a Dutch Oven. I can't wait to cook something in there!

 We also got a nice surprise snow on Christmas day! This picture doesn't really do it justice...

 On the 27th it was Bear's 3rd Birthday! We were sad that he was at the farm and not with us but Mr. Dick said they sang him Happy Birthday three times that day. We are so blessed that we have a place like that where he can go when we are out of town. We sure do love our Brudder!

All in all we ate too much and enjoyed each minute with our families and friends. We are very excited for all the things in store for us in 2013!

Frogs and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails...

On Thursday, Chris and I went for our doctor appointment and sonogram to see if we could determine the gender of our sweet baby. We waited for a little while (what seemed like forever) in the waiting room before they called us back. The sonogram was first up! The nurse put the warm jelly all over my belly and then zapped on her machine and there appeared our sweet baby. Each time we have gotten to see him I am so in awe of the miracle taking place. She measure his head, his tummy, his spine, his arms and lets and a bunch of other things that told us he is growing right on track with what he should be. Then it came time for her to look and see if she could see any "special parts". The baby wasn't quite cooperating so she had me turn on my side...then on my other side...and then FINALLY she saw and pointed out to us those "special parts". Chris and I were both in disbelief! Not that we weren't happy that it's a boy...we just wanted to be 100% sure that she saw what she thought she did : ) She printed out many pictures for us to keep...including what we lovingly call "the money shot".

I think the best part was a little later when we were waiting for the doctor and Chris was just staring at the pictures with the biggest smile on his face. Later when we were home and looking at the pictures again he said "that's Cormac in there..." It's just so nice to know that our baby is no longer an "it"...it is a boy...Cormac Lain Branigan.

On Friday we made the long drive from Kansas City to Arlington and got here just in time for our gender reveal party with both of our families. We ate at El Chico and tortured both grandmas by making them wait until the meal was over to reveal the gender. : )

With This Ring

Last weekend we celebrated our 6th anniversary! I can hardly believe that we've been married for six whole years. It seems like just yesterday we were in the thick of wedding planning and going on our honeymoon. We went downtown on Friday night and stayed at the Sheraton which was really nice.

We had the best meal at Jack Stack BBQ which included a spinach salad, "the Arkansas topper" and two special anniversary desserts. I had a brownie with ice cream and Chris had his favorite, bread pudding.

On Saturday we slept in and then walked down to Panera Bread for some breakfast. Chris splurged and had a really delicious souffle.

Then we came back to the hotel and got ready to go to see the KC Symphony. They were doing their special Family Christmas performance in the brand new Kaufman Center. The music was so beautiful and we both enjoyed just being together in a beautiful place.

 Then, on Sunday morning, we had our monthly Pancake Breakfast for the residents at our apartments. Bear just couldn't make any more pancakes...he needed to take a nap.

It was a truly wonderful weekend spent together doing things that we love. I am so excited for what next year will bring for us and how our family will grow and change.