February in Photos

Bumpdate ~ Week 20

Week 20 - Second Trimester

• Baby is the size of a : mango
• Weight : 10.58 oz.  |  10.08 in. (crown to heel)
• This is the week that we start measuring head to heel instead of head to rump. So, baby did grow, but not that much. Baby is developing more regular sleep patterns. Baby is busy gaining weight and the placenta has reached it's max thickness.
• heartbeat: 138 bmp

20 week appointment: For our 20 week appointment, we were required to meet with a doctor at the hospital rather than a midwife. Since I will hopefully be doing a VBAC, we have to have a consultation with a doctor at 20 and 36 weeks to get the "go ahead." We saw the doctors that I had been with when I was pregnant with Dayton, so I felt comfortable there.

We started out our 20 week appointment with the "big" ultrasound. Little man cooperated so well and gave us lots of great photos and we even took some video! I asked the tech if we could video the screen to send to grandparents. She was more than happy to let us and even gave us some great shots of baby waving and moving around. I will never, ever get tired of seeing little man. I can't believe how much I love him already. Who would have thought you could love two human beings this much.

After our ultrasound, I met with the doctor (Dr. Lapinski). She was very kind, but started in on what was "concerning" right away. I really prefer it that way. She told me that everything looked great on baby and that he was developing perfectly. There was one red flag, however.

Little man has too much or a concerning amount of fluid on his kidneys. The average amount is 2-4 ml. Our little guy had 4 ml, which is in the average range, but the high end of it. Since he has more fluid on his kidneys than they would like to see, we will have to have another ultrasound at 28 weeks to check his kidney fluid level. Dr. L. would like his fluid levels to be between 2-3 ml at 28 weeks.

A few scenarios: 1) If his fluid level is between 2-3 ml, great! No more worries. 2) If his levels are still at 4 ml or raises to 5-8 ml, we will continue to monitor fluid levels at 32 and 36 weeks. I will still be able to deliver vbac naturally, but babe will have to have tests and an ultrasound done as soon as he is delivered to check damage to his kidneys, tubes, and bladder. 3) If his fluid level goes above 8 ml, then we will have to see a specialist in Iowa City and I will be under their care for the rest of my pregnancy. I likely will not be able to deliver vbac if this is the case.

I am hoping that little man's kidney fluid drops down to the 2-3 ml range or at least stays at 4 ml. I would hate for this poor babe to have any "peeing" complications after birth. Say a few prayers for him, will ya? Unfortunately, there is nothing that I can do that will affect this, so it's a little frustrating for me. At the same time, there's nothing I can do so I have to "let go and let God." I know God gave me this baby. I know God is watching over this baby. I know that God has a plan and his will will be done. I'm okay with that and I'm putting our baby in his hands.

Gender: definitely a boy! our 20 week ultrasound proves it, yet again

Weight Gain: 12 pounds

How I Feel: 

• Stretch marks: none
• Belly button: popped out but just one section of it. You can definitely see it now.
• Other: I'm feeling okay. It was hard to hear that my baby was "perfect," but I know there's nothing I can do about it but pray and trust God. At least it's not something huge. There may be minor complications, but we can work through it. Whatever baby God gives us, we'll be more than happy about. This baby is already such a miracle!

How Daddy's Feeling: Daddy's feeling about the same as I am about the whole thing.

Cravings: cucumbers, chips and salsa and shrimp

Food Aversions: salmon

Movement: when I lay down on my back, I can't really feel the baby moving - the ultrasound tech asked me if I could feel how active he was and I couldn't. If I am sitting, standing, or even lounging on the couch I can feel babe move. And he moves a lot. It's especially fun to feel him move if I've eaten any kind of spicy food or even a little bit of sugar. Just one dove chocolate makes this kid kick!

Sleep: sleeping great

Best Moment This Week: being able to see our lil' bit on the ultrasound and getting video. I won't even tell you how many times I've watched it!

Worst Moment This Week: finding out baby may have kidney complications

Looking Forward to: honestly, our 28 week appointment. I just want to know our baby is going to be okay.

What I Miss: having a flat stomach? Being able to use my abs? Haha. I'm really starting to pop!

Diet: eating clean 80/20. I recently started cooking some recipes out of a cookbook I got for Christmas, Best of Clean Eating. We've had some awesome dinners. The meals I chose were from the 5 ingredient section or the read in 30 minutes section. Mom of a toddler fan!

Exercise: I work out at 4:45 am four mornings during the weekday and then Saturday and Sunday. I take one rest day per week. It's usually easier for me to take it during the week, that way I can still have my longer, "slower" workouts on the weekend.

What's Happening This Week: Our appointment was on Monday, so that was nice to start the week out with. The appointment was at 1 pm, so I had to take a half day at work. I was able to run some errands after the appointment and pick Dayton up early, so that's always a plus! Monday is always Bachelor/girls night too. We hosted our church small group on Tuesday. Brad had class on Wednesday. Wednesday also happens to be Skype day with Nanny and Papa. Thursday, Dayton and I went to our neighbor's sons birthday party. Blake turned three! I remember when he was born. So crazy that we have known the Randalls and been friends for three years now. Blake is Dayton's buddy. Hopefully, the weekend will be pretty relaxing!

Bumpdate ~ Week 19

Week 19

• Baby is the size of a : grapefruit
• Weight : 8347 oz.  |  6.02 in.  (crown to rump)
• Baby is now covered with a white protective coating that protects baby's skin in the womb. Baby has proportionate arms and legs, fat layers, and defined facial features. Little man is only awake for a total of about six hours per day.

Gender: it's a BOY!

Weight Gain: still going strong at 10 pounds

How I Feel: 

• Stretch marks: none, whew
• Belly button: poking out just a bit
• Other: other than some braxton hicks contractions, I'm feeling good

Cravings: shrimp, chips and salsa, fresh salads, and pineapple

Food Aversions: salmon

Movement: I'm feeling little man quite a bit these days. He's most active after I get home from the gym in the mornings, after lunch, and around 9-10 pm at night. Although, I am feeling him randomly throughout the day too.

Sleep: sleeping great

Best Moment This Week: feeling babe move and just being pregnant. It still amazes me some days that I actually get to do this again!

Looking Forward to: our 20 week appointment!

What I Miss: nothing

Diet: clean eating 80/20. I eat very healthy Sunday through Saturday, but Saturday night is my cheat meal and I get whatever I want! The weekend also has a few extra "snacks" than the weekdays do.

Exercise: I'm still working out 6 days a week using the short cut to shred program.

What's Happening This Week: As always, Monday night is girls night/Bachelor night. I usually have a consistent 4-5 girls come over. I love our girl time! Tuesday night we're hosting small group at our house. Wednesday night Brad has class and I have to stay at work late to work on report cards with me team. Friday the kiddos don't have school, but teacher's have a work day. It's always nice to be able to get some stuff done without any kids in the room! Saturday is the hubs birthday, so we're going out together to dinner and the gun show on Friday night. Saturday, he wanted an at home date/movie night to celebrate his birthday. Does this mean we're old?!

Country Concerts 2016 - Luke Bryan

When it was announced that Luke Bryan was coming to the dome for the second time since we've been here, it was pretty obvious that we would be going. My friend Kate and I text each other quickly and then let the boys know that they were in charge of tickets.

I had Wacky Winterfest duty at school that night, so dinner was a quick pizza take out from our favorite place, Tony's when I got home. Brad's parents had come up to spend some time with Dayton, so we already had babysitters in place! We headed to the concert around 7:30 pm to miss the crowd but get there in time to see Little Big Town. I love, love, love Little Big Town!

The hubs and I sat with our good friends Kate and Ryan. Although, I still can't figure out why we didn't all get a picture together! At least I got one with the hubs!

Did I mention that that last time Luke was in town, I was pregnant then too? Hmmm, weird coincidence, right? Last time I was about 34 weeks pregnant. It was a little easier to be pregnant this time around at the concert. I had a few less visits to the bathroom!

As always, it was a great concert! Little Big Town was perfect, Luke was amazing as always, and we always love getting out to some great country concert!

School Dress Up Days

It's Wacky Winterfest time at our school! Which means the kiddos are excited, the PTA is crazy busy, and the teachers are trying to keep a handle on it all. It's always a fun, yet stressful time of year. This year to help boost the kids ticket sales, our principal created some new incentives for the kiddos. One of those involved the teachers dressing up. Here is 3/4ths of the second grade team - two pregnant football players and a ref!

Bumpdate ~ Week 18

Week 18

• Baby is the size of a : dragon fruit
• Weight : 6.70 oz  |  5.59 in
• Baby is now practicing breathing with amniotic fluid and baby's chest is moving as if he is actually breathing. Baby can also hear sounds outside of the womb clearer now because of more developed hearing. Little man's immune system is also developing.

Gender: boy!

Weight Gain: 10 pounds

How I Feel: Still feeling great! I've got my energy back, I don't feel nauseous at all, and I am back to my normal, busy self. I am sleeping well and haven't experienced any major pregnancy aches and pains.

• Stretch marks: none
• Belly button: poking out just a bit
• Other: nothing

Cravings: fresh fruit, salads, buffalo chicken wings, cheese and crackers

Food Aversions: salmon is still the only thing

Movement: little man is always active while I'm eating breakfast (after I work out in the mornings), after lunch, and at night time

Sleep: even though little man moves around at night, he's not waking me up

Best Moment This Week: I think I forgot how much I love being pregnant and feeling that little babe move around. I think it'll always be my favorite thing!

Worst Moment This Week: the only thing I can think of is being so hungry...all. of. the. time.

Looking Forward to: our 20 week appointment!

What I Miss: every now and then I crave a good cold beer, but it doesn't bother me too much

Diet: eating clean 80/20, organic fruit, veggies, and meats, and as little non-processed foods as possible

Exercise: still working out 6 days a week using Jim Stopanni's short cut to shred program

What's Happening This Week: This week holds our normal busy schedule: Monday is Bachelor/girls night, Tuesday is small group night, Wednesday Brad is gone to class, Thursday is our family night, and the weekend is jam packed with Mama Bishop's birthday, Wacky Winterfest at school, and the Luke Bryan concert!

Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is one holiday that I've always enjoyed. Mostly because I'm a teacher, but also because 'm a wife and now a mom. The hubs and I have always celebrated Valentine's Day, but because of Brad's large (or should I say more expensive) birthday present we didn't buy each other gifts. We did go out to dinner and splurged a little there though.

Dayton got to celebrate Valentine's Day at daycare with all of his friends. I know I shouldn't, but I am one of "those" moms who goes a little overboard on the Valentines. I can't help it. They're just so darn cute! Dayton brought his bouncy ball Valentines and fruit cups for his party.

Cute, right? Thanks Pinterest for the perfect boy Valentine and the free printable!

Happy Valentine's Day y'all!

Oh and this... Thank you for the book grandma and grandpa Bishop!!

Happy Birthday Nana!

Happy Birthday Mom! Wish we could be there to celebrate with you!!

Bumpdate ~ Week 17

Week 17

• Baby is the size of a : naval orange
• Weight : 4.94 oz  | 4.57 in
• Baby's skeleton is changing from soft cartilage to bone. His umbilical cord is getting stronger and thicker. Baby's veins are are getting less obvious because he's getting some fat on his little body. Baby can also taste what mama is eating! 

Gender: sweet sweet baby boy

Weight Gain: still at about 10 pounds

How I Feel: 

• Stretch marks: none
• Belly button: a small bit is starting to push out
• Other: nothing

Cravings: most of the same stuff, however, I have gotten in the habit of having our organic chicken wings with buffalo wing sauce

Food Aversions: still salmon, gross

Movement: little man is always pretty active after lunch and sometimes around 10 pm when I'm getting into bed

Sleep: still sleeping amazing

Best Moment This Week: getting to feel little babe more and more

Worst Moment This Week: not really anything that I can think of

What I Miss: nothing really

Diet: I'm still eating clean 80/20. I've been working really hard to eat clean as much as I can. I eat mostly organic fruits, veggies, and meat, non-processed foods, and well rounded meals. I'm trying to make sure I get a variety of flavors for babe too. I've read so many studies on how mama's nutrition affects baby. I just want what's best for my littles!

Exercise: I'm still working out 6 days a week, going strong, and feeling great! I feel much better about my work outs this time around. I feel like I haven't had to make too many modifications and I even feel like I've made some improvements.

What's Happening This Week: This week is my mama's birthday. Other than that, there's not too much going on other than our normal busy week!

IF Women's Bible Conference

This weekend I was able to attend the IF Women's Bible Conference. It started at noon on Friday, but I wasn't able to get there until after work around 4:30 that afternoon. Once I did arrive, I was able to listen to two speakers and then it was time for dinner. The church that hosted, Nazareth Lutheran Church or "Naz", did an amazing job of hosting the event and all of the meals. A local restaurant, the Brown Bottle, donated and catered our dinner. Naz provided drinks, sides, and desserts. After dinner, we all went back to the sanctuary and listened to some amazing women speak God's truth. The conference lasted until 10 pm. I went home to sleep and then was back to the conference by 8:30 am.

I needed this conference. I needed time to be away with my friends and listen to to courageous women speak about God and his love for us. The kind of love that God wants us to show others. It was incredibly moving and the spiritual boost that I needed.

These are my people. These are the beautiful ladies that I spent the weekend learning more about Jesus with. I love these girls and am so thankful that God put these girls in my life.

And this is a photo of all of the women who attended the conference at this IF location. Thank you Naz for hosting this event! It was just what this lady needed.

Can you see me?  |  look on the right side, all the up near the top, second row, grey shirt

Bumpdate ~ Week 16

Week 16

• Baby is the size of an : avocado 
• Weight : 3.53 oz.  |  length:  4.57 in.
• Even though baby is still small, his little heart is pumping up to 25 quarts of blood each day. He;s becoming more active. Baby's bones are hardening and his arms and legs are completely formed. Even though his eyes are closed, his eyes are still making small movements and can sense light change. 

Gender: It's a...BOY!!! So stinkin' excited!!

Weight Gain: Back up to 7 pounds

How I Feel: Feeling great! No more nausea and a lot less tiredness than before. Whew! I am feeling much more myself. I feel like I actually want to do stuff, ha! Even the hubs noticed that my energy has returned and I'm back to the old energetic me.

• Stretch marks: none
• Belly button: there's a little part poking out just a bit. Certain shirts show it, but most don't.
• Other: nothing

How Daddy's Feeling: Really good. I think he would have been happy with a girl, but he did say, "at least I already know what to do with a boy!" Bless.

Cravings: buffalo wing sauce, cucumbers, salad, chips and salsa, shrimp

Food Aversions: the same, salmon

Movement: I feel little man pretty consistently each day after lunch. He's low and moves around after I eat. I think I notice because I am sitting down at the table and teaching my guided reading groups.

Sleep: awesome

Best Moment This Week: hearing baby's heart beat and finding out that he is a "he!"

Worst Moment This Week: nothing, I'm still on cloud nine

Looking Forward to: telling everyone about baby boy #2

What I Miss: nothing

Diet: Eating clean 80/20. I eat a small meal about every 2-3 hours. My day looks about like this -

• 6 am - breakfast - 2 egg whites, 1 whole egg (scrambled), 1/2 cup of organic quick oats
• 9 am - beef jerky stick and 1/2 bottle of bare naked green juice
• 11 am - a few nut thins (almond) to get me to lunch
• 12 pm - lunch - 4-5 oz lean protein, 1 serving whole grain carb, 1 cup fresh veggies (carrots, cucumber, celery, peppers), green salad
• 2:30 pm - organic yogurt (6 grams sugar) and an apple
• 4:30 pm - granola bar
• 6 pm - dinner - 5-6 oz lean protein, 1 cup green veggies, 1/2 cup whole grain
• 9 pm - snack (varies)

Exercise: I am still working through the short cut to shred program by Jim Stoppani. I love it. Here's the link if you're interested! Short Cut to Shred

What's Happening This Week: Our 16 week appointment was on Monday, so we got to find out about our baby boy early in the week! We shared the news with family. Tuesday we had our small church group and shared our news with our close friends. Wednesday Brad had class and I had more TSS hours, but we shared the news with "the world" (i.e. social media)! Friday and Saturday, I attended the IF Women's Bible Conference. It. was. amazing. More to come on that!