Lil Hoff Update Week 20

Well Hello there! Yes it is I Sandi, the pregnant woman who said that I would keep weekly updates of how Lil Hoff and I were coming along and yes it is also I who has failed miserably at doing so. Now that I am out of denial I will start with a very exciting week! I am now in my 20th week with Lil Hoff. That means I am officially half way through with my pregnancy and I simply can not believe it.

 Here is my "official" 20 week picture.

What is happening with Lil Hoff

1. Lil Hoff weighs about 10 1/2 oz now. 

2. Lil Hoff is about the size of a banana.

3. Lil Hoff  is swallowing more these days, which is good practice for it's digestive system.

 

What is happening with me 

1. After my last post I went down hill. For about 2 or 3 weeks I was either sick or felt sick. I was so excited cause I had passed that first trimester only to be welcomed into the second with sickness. 

2. I had another doctor's appointment and the heartbeat sounded great!

2a. As I was at the doctor's appointment he told me that I was at week 17 when I was thinking I was at week 16, so I lost a week and didn't even know it! 

3. My next appointment we get to find out what we are having!!

4. We are searching and searching for the perfect baby name. Farmboy and I will text each other daily with a name that we heard or saw and see what the other one thinks of it. I am big into meanings of names so it comes as a surprise when you really like a name and it means "ash tree" or something like that (true story). But I think we have come up with a couple of choices that we both like.

5. I am proud of Lil Hoff, around the farm homestead we have had a busy, busy couple of weeks. I have hosted two BBQ's at our house, been a co-director at VBS at church, and along with just every day busyness. Lil Hoff has kept up with me and not gave out on me when I need energy or good health.

6. My co-director surprised me at VBS with this little onesie. Our theme for VBS was Kickin' it Old School and on the shirt it has the theme and then underneath it is says "in my mommy's tummy". It is so adorable.

Finishing up with VBS was bittersweet for me. I have been a co-director at VBS for 4 years and I love every minute of it. I love the thought of taking nothing but a book of ideas and turning it into a celebration of 180 children all singing praises and learning about Jesus. I couldn't help but think this my be my last year as director. I truly hope not, but with Lil Hoff I just don't know how I can pull it all off.

7. Adam and I celebrated our 6th year anniversary this week as well!! It was quite memorable. As I was sleeping soundly Saturday morning I get a call from  my beloved asking where our insurance card is. As I ask why, he says cause he is on the way to the emergency room where he thinks he needs stitches. He then proceeded to tell me that as he was climbing over a fence to check on some hay, he slipped and isn't sure if his hand got cut on the t-post or actually on the barb wire, but a trip to the ER and 11 stitches later he is almost as good as new.

8. I am going on two weeks of feeling good health wise. I am still extremely tired. 

9. I do not feel the need to consistently snack anymore. If I do miss a meal though, it is not good. 

10. Today is Father's Day and I would like to say that Farmboy is completely smitten with Lil Hoff already. I can not wait to see the bond that they form when Lil' Hoff is able to interact with him.

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Lil' Hoff Update Week 8

I am now in Week 14!!! I have passed the first trimester with flying colors!! Look at me with my big girl I can carry a baby pants on!!! Can you tell I'm excited with all the exclamation points!!!

What's going on with Lil' Hoff

1. Lil' Hoff can now squirt, frown, grimace, pee and possibly be sucking it's thumb.

(what a minute. PEE?? where's that going??)

2. It is from head to rump 3 1/2 inches long and weighs 1 1/2 ounces.

3. It's body is growing faster than it's head.

4. Lil' Hoff is the size of a lemon. How appropriate for the upcoming summer weather! A baby after my own heart.

5. Many people are convinced that Lil' Hoff is a boy.

What's going on with me

1. I am feeling absolute fabulous. I have more energy and I have not felt bad in 3 whole days. Not once, not at all!

2. I went scrapbooking this weekend and laughed so hard, that I got a stomach ache and thought I was going to get sick.

3. I am craving sweets non-stop.  

4.  I am loving my Sunday afternoon naps and it makes me sad if  I don't get one.

5. One morning this week I was starving so I stopped at McDonald's and grabbed a couple of Breakfast Burritos and as I left McDonald's and was stopped at the main stop light in town and shoving as much of that first burrito as I could in my mouth (and oh it tasted sooo good) I felt like someone was watching me so I looked over to the vehicle on my right and there was a older gentleman (one who probably does not shove burritos in his mouth) looking at me and he smiled at me, so I did the polite thing and smiled back as best as I could with my cheeks full of burrito. So naturally I did what every lady does, I took my napkin, dabbed the corners of my mouth, and swallowed the darn thing whole. Then he honked at me! I was for sure he was going to rate me a 10 on inhaling a  whole burrito in one bite, but he very nicely asked where the Wal-Mart was in this town and so I gave him directions to Wally World and he told me "Thanks Sweetheart" and that made my whole day. The End.

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Lil' Hoff Update Week 7

Well I am officially out of the first trimester. So far, not so good. Woke up my first day out of my first trimester and how a serious case of morning sickness. The rest of the day I had nausea really bad. Second day out of my first trimester I was eating saltines by 8:00 and a Sprite by 8:15. Third day out of my first trimester I was still eating saltines by 8:00. Fourth day, so far so good. This has me worried that maybe something is wrong with Lil Hoff, but Farmboy told me not to think like that and he is right. What am I to worry? I have prayed about it and Lil' Hoff is in God's hands and has been since the beginning so who am I to try to interfere?

What's going on with Lil' Hoff

1. Lil' Hoff is almost 3 inches long, about the size of a medium shrimp.

2. Fingerprints have formed on your baby's tiny fingertips.

4. It's veins and organs are clearly visible through it's still-thin skin.

5. Lil' Hoff's  body is starting to catch up with it's head — which makes up just a third of it's body size now.

(I sure do hope it's a rather small head) 

What's going on with Me

1. The news continues to travel. People are generally shocked that we have kept it a secret so long. 

2. I celebrated my first official "unofficial" Mother's Day and did receive two Mother's Day cards.

3. I fall apart when is see big bows on little girls heads. 

4.I also helped my niece get ready for her Senior Prom. I can't believe how time flies. I was only 10 years old when she was born and here she is off embarking on a whole new part of her life.

5. I had my first belly touch and there isn't even anything there! I'm not sure, but I don't think I am going to like that part about being pregnant. 

6. I am still missing caffeine, but I believe that I am starting to get used to drinking so much water. It is actually tasting good and refreshing.

7. I tried to clean my flowerbeds out the other night of weeds and it completely wore me out. I am totally blaming that on the pregnancy. 

8. The good side of being pregnant, we are having really simple dinners around here and Farmboy is helping prepare them!

9. I have had a few food cravings this week. Nothing weird or anything but one day I was craving Captain D's and then another Shoney's and then I saw a mexican pizza from Taco Bell and I wanted that too.

10. It is getting harder and harder to find something to wear in the morning. I still want to look nice, but what I really want to wear is a t-shirt with sweatpants.

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Little Hoff Update Week 6

I am in my 12th Week! Which I thought was a monumental accomplishment, but a friend say that really the 13th week is the big one cause you are officially out of your first trimester. I will give her that. But I think wow! I am three months pregnant. I'm a third of the way done, and it hasn't been that bad. God has blessed me very much with not having morning sickness and I will be FOREVER grateful for that.

What's going on with Little Hoff

Size - About the size of a lime

(just over 2 inches long from crown to rump)

Developing - Reflexes, Little Hoff is opening and closing it's fingers and curling it's toes. Little Hoff is clenching it's eye muscles and making sucking movements with it's mouth.

We got to hear lil' Hoff's heartbeat this week. Totally amazing! It was beating so fast and I looked at Farmboy and he had this fabulous grin on his face that melted my heart.

Lil' Hoff kicked the doctor when he was trying to find the heartbeat. In my mind I have a lime in my stomach, not a kicker. But oh wow! I spend most of my appointments in awe of the newness I am experiencing.

What's going on with Me

1. I'm going away this weekend with some Church Friends to Branson. I am nervous, because none of them know and as I was packing my snack bag for the whole weekend (which was no small feat) I began to worry about what the ladies might think of my snack bag and if I can really pull this off.

2. Getting very excited about my doctor's appointment, it is only 3 days away. Farmboy is going to go with me and I can't wait to hear the heartbeat.

3. Grandparents have GOT to find out this week. I am sure that we can not keep this a secret anymore and I don't want them to hear from someone else.

4. Word is officially out in the community that I am pregnant. I am getting texts/email from friends saying congrats! I honestly never expected this to be such big news. I figured that it would slowly trickle out. I am pretty sure that all of our little town and church has found out. That is what happens when you have very excited grandparents.

5. Women of Joy was wonderful! It always is good to renew and refill your spiritual life you leave as if you are on top of the world and God is right there with you. If only I could get caught on on the sleep I lost over the weekend.

6. Farmboy left me a not on the counter (as I was taking my 4 hour nap on Sunday after getting home from Woman of Joy) and it said he was so happy to have me and Lil' Hoff in his life. Besides being pregnant and just knowing you have a miracle inside of you, having Farmboy beside me thru it all has been amazing. He is plum goofy over this baby already and it's the size of a lime. I can't wait to find out what it is so that we can actually start visualizing what it might look like and to start picking out names.

7. I love the looks on people's faces when they find out that we are pregnant, it's just shock!

8. I had my first cup of coffee since finding out I was pregnant. It was soooooo good. I miss caffeine.

9. I gained a pound since my last appointment.

10.  I have my next appointment in 4 weeks on May 31st. There is a chance I should be feeling the baby move by then, but the doctor said if not, then don't worry. How exciting is that going to be? 

11. More and more people at church are finding out. I have figured out that telling people that someone is pregnant is like a very intense game of tag. Nobody wants to be the last one "tagged" so they go around telling everyone they know so that you know you are still in the game and not standing on the sidelines. 

12. It honestly shocks me every time we tell someone or when someone comes up to me to tell me congratulations. Even people who aren't that close to you want to hug you and tell you how excited they are for you. I forget all to easily how blessed I am with so many people in my life who care about me. 

13. When people find out that I am pregnant the next question is What does Farmboy think? Or How is Farmboy handling it? I just want to say one of these times, "I'm not 100% sure that it's his" with just as straight of a face as I can. How funny would that be? Maybe I just think it's funny. And yes, it is defiantly his.

14. People are starting to come up to me at restaurants to congratulate me. 

15. I can't tell somebody that I'm pregnant without tearing up. 

16. I cried when Steve Carroll said good-bye to everyone at "The Office"

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Little Hoff Update Week 5

Week 11! Almost to the end of my first trimester. My doctor's appointment is right around the corner.

1. Little Hoff is the size of a fig. I must decide what a fig is and figure out if I like that or not.

2. My mother in law referred to me as mommy. Wow!

3. We received our first gift. Very excited about that, it is the most precious and soft blanket. It says "Babies come from Heaven" A very happy aunt got it for Little Hoff.

4. It was Easter weekend and I sat in the church service thinking, this time next year, we will be a family of three sitting at church together.

 This is our Easter Picture

5. My emotions are very high this week. I cried at

                     

  * Easter Service at church Sunday. We had a play and when they were nailing Jesus to the cross, it just touched me to much on what he truly went through for us. And that he thought of me specifically while on the cross. And with the thought of Little Hoff inside of me and that Jesus knew that at that moment we would be a family. How unworthy I am. I am tearing up now thinking of it.

* A Hallmark movie

* A Hallmark commercial during the Hallmark Movie

* The card that my sister-in-law gave with the blanket.

* That my mom and dad came out and visited me. (It doesn't happen that often in the woods)

6.  My In-laws offered the crib that Farmboy and his siblings all slept in. (that brought tears as well)

7. My sister in law is already coming up with names that the grandparents can be called. So far she has that my father-in-law can be called poppy.

8. Brushing my teeth still makes me gag.

9. We have bought and unsuccessfully started reading a baby book name. It has only 100,000 of the most popular baby names. Baby naming rule #1 - If you can't pronounce it, it's not a possibility.

10. Farmboy is reading "What to expect while expecting" with me. It makes him appreciate all that is happening to me. At least that is my goal.

11. Farmboy brought me home iris'. I cried.

12. My boss sent me flowers for administrative assistant's day. I cried.

13. We took family pictures last night. Yea! Our first professional family picture. Of course my family didn't know we were a smiling family of 3 not 2. We did proclaim our good news after pictures were taken and the family was overjoyed! Tears were shed (not only mine this time), hugs were given, pretty much what the center of attention would want when announcing her big news!

14. The family is betting on a boy. The pressure is on with my family, cause we are now tied with 4 boys and 4 girls. So yes, Little Hoff will be the deciding factor.

15. I gagged on my prenatal vitamin and thought I was a goner.

16. I walked on the treadmill the other night for a whole mile! I then did 3 loads of laundry and cooked supper (with Farmboy's help) Quite a productive night for me.

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Little Hoff Update Week 3 & 4

OK...So I am already behind on what I hoped would be something I would stick with. But I shall persevere and just combine a couple of weeks. The problem with that though, is that my mind is wondering a lot lately and I can't remember stuff. So weeks 9 and 10 are kind of running together in my mind but let's see if I can come up with some stuff.

1. Little Hoff is the size of a medium olive. But I don't like olives, so I'm not sure where this leaves my feelings for Little Hoff.

2. My Energy has been up! Yea!! I am no backing to following Farmboy around and telling him to pick up after himself.

3. We have told now 3 more people! All very excited responses!! It's like people never thought we were going to have children.

4. I eat non-stop. A snack every 2-3 hours. If I don't eat, then I get a upset stomach.

5. Although energy is up, I still don't feel like doing anything. Boo!

6. I really don't feel like cooking supper. Farmboy says boo to that.

7. NO sickness in the last two weeks. Yea!

8. I get gagged every time I brush my teeth. I don't like that!

I think that is it. A new week has already begin so stay posted.

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Little Hoff Upadate Week 2

So this is was the big week. I met with my Dr. for the first time. I am going to a Dr. down at the Lake of the Ozarks which is about 30 - 40 minutes away. I was very nervous going, how this was my very first time and all, but I think I handled it ok. With us not telling anyone, of course Farmboy couldn't go. He couldn't think of a way to explain to his father why he needed to be gone by 11:00 in the morning. I really hated that he couldn't go.

My first instinct with my Dr. is that I trust him. Which I think in my position you would have to. He is not overly-friendly, but I think I can break him of that. My whole appointment was very cut and dry. We did this, then this, then this and we were done. I did run into a problem, when wanted to take my blood. Which I am not afraid of needles, they have never bothered me. What IS the problem though is that my veins are very thin and very deep (they are the only things on my that are very thin. HA) So after two nurses at my Dr's office and the Dr. himself trying to get my blood, they sent me to the hospital. Where they proceeded to draw my blood between my knuckles. But that was the bad side, the good side is that I had my very first ultrasound. It was amazing! I couldn't hear Little Hoff's heartbeat but I could see it pumping and it was going just as fast as it could. I personally took it as a sign as Little Hoff was saying "HI mom!" The Dr. said everything looked great and that he wanted to see me again in a month.

 Very dramatic huh? Not that I'm going to be a diva this pregnancy or anything. Ha!

After which I treated myself to McDonald's. I can not seem to get enough McDonald's. It makes me and Little Hoff happy to dine on McNugget's and Cheeseburgers. I then headed home started reading "What to expect when expecting" That book has a lot of words and not very many pictures, so I'm kind of skimming it. I am also along the lines of maybe knowing less is better. So if I have a question, then I have a reference book but I don't want to know all the things that COULD be happening to me.

Other news this week. We officially told our first people. I made some adorable announcement cards for the grandparents and we told my parents Saturday night in parking lot of Crackle Barrel. My mom sobbed and blubbered and sobbed and just keep saying "I can't believe it, I can't believe it". She then had herself so worked up that she couldn't concentrate on the menu to then order for supper. To say the least they were very excited. She is already planning on what Christmas will hold.

Thoughts & Feelings:

I am Eight weeks pregnant.

Little Hoff is the size of a blueberry. How Cute!!

This week I had my first bout of morning sickness.

I have been extremely tired - I'm not sure if I can blame that all on the pregnancy. I have been gone every night for the past two weeks and have been fighting allergies as well.

I've been nervous about getting sick at public places.

I feel worse as the day goes on.

I feel like I'm letting Farmboy down because I'm not cooking supper.

My house is a total mess AND I don't care.

I gave myself permission to do absolutely nothing on Saturday. Farmboy was gone for the day and I thought to myself how many more Saturdays am I going to have that I will not have to answer to anybody and I stayed in my PJ's all day.

I have not had that much of a appetite or I eat half of my plate and get instantly full.

Smells are starting to bother me.

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