Week 14: Quick update

This is a quick update that I didn't want to miss because I dressed up for church and took a bump picture!

Size:  3.4 inches -- a lemon. This weekend we baked a pound cake with a lemon glaze to go with our homemade vanilla ice cream.

Momma Bod:

What I did this week: I started my new job this week and my head is very full of new information {mainly how to use several new computer programs to track patients and insurance billing codes}.

Week 13: Second trimester!

{I actually just started Week 14....but I didn't quite get this posted before Thurs.}

Size: Baby went from small pea to blueberry, to big raspberry, to lime {my favorite}, to large plum to peach {my second favorite}! About 3 inches. Baby was small at 10-week ultrasound, so maybe not quite that big.

The size and how many weeks along I am has become some what of a debate. It was {and still is} unclear where the baby length measurements from my Week 10 ultrasound put me for my estimated due date. I have been told various expected dates ranging from Feb. 18 - March 3 {perfectly nestled around LEAP DAY, Feb. 29}. Although it doesn't change anything, it's frustrating not knowing exactly which week to read on my "What to Expect" pregnancy app!

Just to keep it all straight, for now, I'm sticking with what my app says until told otherwise. {Although, I'm probably closer to Week 13 this week, so maybe this post timing is accurate??}

Momma Bod: This is what I wrote at 12 weeks 5 days..... "No real bump yet. I feel like I can't suck in my stomach, but I'm still fitting into all of my pants/shorts {even though I don't wear them - refer to "Fashion" section below}. I need new bras, but am sticking to my comfortable sports bras for now." Over the last 4-7 days, I started getting a little bump. I can feel the bulge of my uterus, different than just added belly fat. I also hit a point of desperation for a new bra {without details, just know that this was a huge struggle}.

Bump PREVIEW... using a soccer ball in Target

Mood: Relatively stable. Anxious about all the changes, mainly the crazy early hours of my new job starting on Monday!

Symptoms: Some nausea, limited appetite. Ready for second trimester "boost" of energy; I can't make it through the day without a nap for at least an hour.

Sleep: I sleep in all positions, rarely on my back. I have always moved a lot in my sleep, which continues. I am loving the king-size bed in my parent's guest bedroom. 

Food: Cereal or toast for breakfast, 1/2 cup of 1/2 caff coffee, yogurts, pretzels, snack bars, sandwich for lunch, grapes, apples, carrots, almonds, chips, ice cream sandwiches. Usually a small serving of a dinner meal: chicken tortilla soup, salad, District tacos, spaghetti.

Maternity fashion: I am a frump. If you don't know what frumpy means, ehhh, it means dressing down and casual... but it's more than that.... it's not matching, wrinkly, weird fitting clothes, weird patterns or textures, messy hair, and probably no make up. I have known what frumpy means from a young age. And now, I have reverted back to my old ways. I dress frumpy everyday. My style has always been about comfort, and the only thing comfortable to me right now is L or XL t-shirts, sports bras, loose shorts or sweatpants, and a messy hair bun. This is a case of {very} frumpy because it has gone on for several weeks. My reason is simply because I can and it's comfortable. One day last weekend I put on jean shorts. On a separate day, I wore my interview suit for a couple of hours. I also got my hair trimmed, but only wore it down for the interview. 

{As a side note - don't mistake frumpy for poor hygiene. I wear clean clothes, shower daily, use deodorant and shave my legs regularly.} 

Baby daddy: Has been working hard at his new job! Sometimes he comes home for lunch, which I love. He has been encouraging {and calm} through all the changes, especially when I've been interviewing for jobs. 

What we did this week: Spent the last two weekends in Luray at the cabin!

On the Shenandoah...

....Catching lil fish

We also went to an awesome concert at Wolf Trap, I really liked all four bands.... Colony House, Drew Holcome and The Neighbors, Switchfoot and Needtobreathe.

Encore with all four bands jammin

Looking forward to: Trying to convince the new OB to do another ultrasound. Also - When should I expect to start feeling some movement?! AND getting into a routine of being out the door at 6:15am. Eeek. 

Weeks 5-12: An update from the first trimester

As promised, I will be trying to keep a pregnancy blog. I'm hoping to be able to refer back to this and see the growth and changes over months to come.

With so many changes coming our way this summer, it definitely took me a couple of weeks to wrap my mind around being pregnant. As the nausea set in, it started to become more real and I was able to build my excitement. We found out at 5.5 weeks with a home pregnancy test, took my first bump picture at week 6 and by week 7, I had moderate nausea. I learned quickly that I had to be eat {very} small meals, preferably only containing gatorade/ginger ale & saltines, all day long. For some reason, that week, I also think I ate fast food french fries everyday. Not sure if that helped.

By week 9, I was doing a better job managing the nausea, which also turned into some puking. Brushing my teeth seems to be a trigger, which is gross and annoying. The biggest struggle has been fighting my non-existent appetite. I have been eating more than saltines and pretzels more recently, but I still stick to plain, "normal" foods.

Week 10, we finally got to go see an OB for our first ultrasound! We heard the heartbeat for a brief moment, but was able to see the fluttering of the heart several times. With a strong heartbeat at 176, Baby W was laying on his/her back, looking like a blob. My favorite part was seeing the baby blob in my uterus. Knowing the heart is beating and seeing the baby for myself was a huge landmark.

The last couple of weeks in the first trimester, I started to feel better, most days. I spread my three meals throughout the entire day. Breakfast starts about 8:00 and I munch until 10:00 or so. I make my lunch in 2-3 stages, which spans from about 11:00-2:00. And then I'm ready for a pre-dinner snack about 3:30/4:00. I also try to eat a snack before I go to bed, even if it's just pretzels or a yogurt, which helps to feel better when I wake up in the morning.

I've been blessed with my first trimester being relatively easy - even through feeling sicky. Since feeling better, I actually started doing some mini workouts again! Wrigley has been getting some solid 30-minute walks and I've been swimming laps at Donaldson Run. For the most part, I have been able to rest and relax, and make time to get things done at my own pace.

A newsy update

As predicted, big changes have been coming our way! Hence the newsy information making it necessary for a blog post.

Ryan and I both interviewed at numerous potential employers this summer between May and July. Each interview comes with visualizing what a new job would entail.... moving to a new location, (even if it was local, we would still be moving out of our on-campus apartment), finding a job for the other half, and everything in between.

Through the time of these interviews (phone and on-campus), we enjoyed some summer travel with the time off work. We decompressed at Holden Beach for a hot week with the Frickie clan, went to St. Louis for the NATA national convention, and spent time in Illinois for a Wildenhain family wedding, fourth of July celebration and Ryan's annual fishing trip with the Behrendt brothers. Summarizing these trips in one sentence makes it sound short.... but we turned off our air conditioning, disconnected our apartment cable and travelled for a solid 4-5 weeks.

My husband built me a fortress on the beach. Take me back for another week of this.  

So after a long summer of travel, lots of interviews and possibilities, Sweet Briar reversing the March decision and staying open... now that it's the middle of August.... where did we end up?

Ryan accepted the position as Head of Sports Medicine at Marymount University in Arlington, VA!
Our summer of transition accelerated when Ryan accepted the position on a Tuesday and started the following Monday, July 27. He is working as the Head of Sports Medicine, with two assistants, responsible for providing athletic training services to Marymount's 17 DIII, NCAA athletic teams. He has been working hard to get organized and ready for preseason to start this week.

http://marymountsaints.com/News/News1516/WildenhainSportsMedicine

Thankfully, my gracious parents, live less than 2 miles away from Marymount, where I grew up in Arlington. {Ryan is loving the <5-minute commute.} After considering our options, we decided to stay at my parent's house for few months while sorting out the details of our move and where I would be working. In order to not pay any August rent, we made a dash back to Sweet Briar to move our belongings into my parent's garage. In a short 48 hours, we successfully cleared out room in the garage, packed our entire apartment, loaded it into a 17' truck, and unloaded it into our "section" of the garage. We could NOT have done it without the help of my parents, my sister and our dear friends Amy, Bryan and Koonce. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Would you say that is an expected newsy update since it was already out there that we were both job hunting...? Well, to further the excitement....

Surprise! We are expecting a baby in late February!
We found out I was pregnant in late June, between our NC and midwest travel adventures. Even with so many changes all at once, we are very excited for our growing family. More to come on the pregnancy.... per Meme's request and Heather's strong encouragement, I will be trying to keep a pregnancy blog.

In Illinois on June 28

Another major change for us, is my own employment.... As it seems, our news pieces are starting to come together.

This week, I accepted a Medical Assistant position at an Orthopedic Physician Office in Reston, VA!
Since moving all of our belongings to Arlington, I pushed forwarded with a new narrowed search, looking in the Northern Virginia area. After being discouraged by not finding an employer that recognized the possibilities a certified athletic trainer could provide, at my new job, I will be doing more than just bringing patients to the exam rooms or doing laundry in a PT clinic. As a Medical Assistant, I will be working directly under a physician or PA, in a physician extender role. I will take vitals, medical histories, follow through with orders, and educate patients. I will also have the opportunity to train to become an Ortho Tech, which will allow me to do casting and bracing as well. This type of position will be a major change of pace for me. I'm looking forward to the adjustment to consistent hours and working 4-5 days/week, set at 40 hours/week, with weekends off!


So many changes, and so much more to come. It is amazing to me how God continues to write our love story, each and every day. God loves us more than I could ever possibility understand. His plan is perfect and beyond anything I could ever conduct myself. He is amazing. 

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and he will make your paths straight."           Proverbs 3:5-6