Baby's first 5k!

April 14, 2012. 

Happy Birthday Luke!

Introducing Luke Michael Zawoloka! 

Waiting to go meet their new little brother.  

Theres that smile! 

Cutie pa tutie! 

Love the look on their faces! sibling love! 

Happy St. Patricks day!

Sporting a 21 week belly in green to celebrate St. Patricks day.  Although neither of us are Irish. :)

It's a......

 BABY!!!  

hehe you knew we were team green (for now at least)

Its sealed and hanging out up high on top of the cabinets.  Let's see how long till we ( read Travis) cave. 

19 weeks at the cabin.

Baby's size: Heirloom Tomato.

How far along: 19 weeks.

Total weight gain: wouldn't you like to know.

Sleep: eh. some nights are better than others. Up at 10 to 7 every day, no matter what day it is- that is not fun.

Maternity Clothes: to work I wear mostly non-mat clothes. Although I try to wear maternity clothes when ever I can.... much more comfortable, not as much shifting and rearranging needed.

Food cravings: um not really. I enjoy a nice fresh crunchy salad.... But its not like I neeeeeed a salad.

Food aversions: Raw chicken.... But that was even before I was knocked up.

Symptoms I have: 1. ever expanding belly. 2. a pain in my back/butt has begun but only when I move a certain way on my right side, I'm hoping I just temporarily hurt something when I was attempting a yoga move- that just looked way to simple not to try ( I was wrong, not that simple. Although I did do it, it was not that pretty.) 3. out of breath. my co-workers have made comments about this as well- Damn those stairs. 4. fatigue, although no where near as bad as the first trimester.

Stretchmarks: nope.

Doctor’s Appointment: Tuesday is the Anatomy scan at 7am in Annapolis. Early early morning for us. will we find out??? still undecided.

Movement: flutters continue not every day, but most nights.

Belly Button: INN to the IE

Gender: yo no se

Best moment of the week: We spent the weekend at the cabin to celebrate Papa Al's 60th birthday. Friday night we made pizza's with any topping you can imagine including lardeon ( a fancy word for a type of bacon). Met Stacey- Alex's new girlfriend, very nice and fits in well with us. I only question her because of her choice in men :). Alex gave me a ceramic white on white watch for my birthday. Love it!

Saturday morning we used the new waffle maker and again had any topping you could possibly want to put on a waffle. I ate a banana, peanut butter, vanilla waffle with nutella and honey on it. delish. Then Olivia and I "painted bread" using M&Ms in water as out paint. you are suppose to then toast it and eat it- but we just left them to look at. Next we made some cookies and play with her new Biddy Baby Aunt Denise and Uncle Travis gave her for her birthday, while the boys played outside drinking bears and shooting targets. Tonight we are going to Friends for dinner which means sweet potato fries with ranch. yumm.

What I’m looking forward to: Tuesday's appointment. and 46 days till Florida!!!! woohoo.

What I miss: running. (never thought I would say that). my boobs- they too are ever expanding. I miss my B's.

18 weeks! and 30!!

STATS:

Baby's size: Mango and my uterus is about the size of a cantaloupe. Its like a little fruit salad in there.

How far along: 18 weeks.

Total weight gain: still not answering

Sleep: Sleeping wonderfully. no complaints at all.

Maternity Clothes: We went shopping. I bought some white linen pants, some grey cargo capri type pants and a few tops that I will probably to be able to wear to a few of the showers I have coming up this spring. Travis had a few good laughs in the process. I also tried on some bathing suits- 2 pieces actually. yea none of which were purchased.

Food cravings: Chips- any kind are still my go to. I'm loving apples as well. Oh and Baby requested funfetti cupcakes, they were fabulous. I made them with apple sauce instead of oil so they were "healthy" cupcakes. :)

Food aversions: Nothing right now.

Symptoms I HAVE: 1. growing belly. 2. All of a sudden feeling very very hot. especially my neck area. 3. being out of breath doing the simplest of tasks.

Stretchmarks: nada.

Doctor’s Appointment: Next appointment is with the Center for maternal and Fetal Medicine for the 2nd trimester scan. We will be able to find out if its going to be a baby boy Howell or a baby Girl Howell- although I'm trying really hard not to.

Movement: Still feeling flutters ever so often mostly at night after dinner when I'm laying on the couch relaxing.

Belly Button: Very much an innie.

Gender: ?????

Best moment of the week: Turning 30! I had such a great day and felt very blessed and loved. I woke up and opened presents- I received coach earrings from my little brother, a pandora bracelet, gummy bears and 30 pink startbursts from kristin and erica, beautiful flowers and a balloon were delivered from the Keiblers, and a special package from my SIl and niece and nephew in Iowa. Travis and kylie got me sweats and jammies- heaven! and he came home with an edible arrangements-yummy. Then I went and got adjusted, came home and cuddled with Chesney for awhile watching a few Friends episodes, hit the gym and then went to Target when Travis got home form work. We had a nice dinner out at the CD cafe and then cleaned out my closet. Perfect day.

Last weekend, I spent in NY and had a wonderful time. Friday night I went out with my speechies to celebrate katya and I's 30th birthday. Saturday was Spa day with the Portigiano ladies. a great day being pampered and catching up. I love my family!

What I’m looking forward to: Seeing Baby again next week at our appointment.

What I miss: I miss my body, this is tougher than I thought it would be. Im very grateful to be pregnant, but that does not make gaining weight any easier when its something you have feared your entire life.

17 weeks

sticking it out a bit...

*Baby Bump*

STATS:

Baby's size: Sweet potato

How far along: 17 weeks. :) (I'm really 17 weeks and 3 days)

Total weight gain: yea, I'm probably not going to be answering this question. ever.

Sleep: I'm sleeping sooo much better. I'm up usually only up once a night now (to cough) and can fall back asleep.

Maternity Clothes: Love them. I wear my regular yoga pants to work with a maternity long sleeve t-shirt (for the length) and a zip up. Im starting to wear more dresses and I can't wait till it gets a bit warmer so I can wear dresses all the time.

Food cravings: I love me some chips, anything crunchy and salty. Now its cereal. the sugary the better.

Food aversions: The first trimester it was coffee. Nothing as of right now.

Symptoms I HAVE: hmmm symptoms. I think I am just getting my energy back as of yesterday 2/20/12 actually but i don't want to jinx it. Other than the fatigue nothing really, no frequent peeing, no throwing up (except when I'm brushing my teeth. ew.)

Stretchmarks: none. hopefully ever.

Doctor’s Appointment: My next appointment is March 6th, for the anatomy/ 2nd trimester scan. And then I have an appointment with my Midwife the following Tuesday. I switched from my Obs office with 10 drs. to a Midwife group with about 4 midwives, that has a birthing center and is attached to the hospital with a level 3 NICU. I think I will be much happier with them.

Movement: The flutters started at exactly 17 weeks! such a weird sensation feeling that little chinchilla bubbling around in there.

Belly Button: innie. My crater of a belly button is very deep. I don't see it becoming an outtie ever. But I guess time will tell.

Gender: ?????

Best moment of the week: feeling Baby for the very first time. Cant wait till Travis can feel it.

What I’m looking forward to: Finishing the registry.

What I miss: I did miss coffee. ALOT. I gave it up completely in the first trimester and then I developed an aversion to everything about it. I now drink about a cup a day, probably a little less- I never finish it. I do miss my waistline, and being able to work out hardcore and running. But that will start again come August, so I will take this little break.