Dusty & Marlina

19 Weeks

April 7, 2013

This week our little bambino is the size of a mango and weighs about 8.5 ounces! I went back to work this week and realized how much I need to do before the end of the semester. Knowing that things will be changing drastically when the fall semester begins, I’m trying to get everything sorted before I leave for summer break. I called a couple of day cares to schedule tours and start asking questions about who will be taking care of our bambino once I go back to work.

Total Weight Gain: I’ll find out exactly how much weight I’ve gained next week but as of today I’d say I’ve gained about 5 pounds (3 pounds since last week). And if you count the couple of pounds I lost after I got pregnant I’ve really gained 7-8 pounds since my lowest weight which was around 12 weeks.

Maternity Clothes: It’s time to purchase some new clothes. I went shopping this weekend and bought a stretchy dress that can grow with me. I haven’t bought any maternity clothes but the plan is to go shopping for maternity capris or pants of some sort this week. It’s becoming more difficult to find things that fit. I’m wearing a lot of dresses. For this week’s photo session I wanted to find some cute pants to wear with the top you see in the photo and eventually settled on stretchy pants or yoga pants. Really, they shouldn’t be pants but couldn’t find a single pair of pants that fit without me leaving the top button undone!

Stretch Marks: No stretch marks (yet). I’m putting plenty of lotion on my baby bump.

Food: I’m still really enjoying food this week, which will only increase I’m sure! No specific cravings but I’m glad to be back at work and not on spring break or traveling because I’ve gotten back into a normal eating schedule and no longer just graze the entire day.

Sleep: I slept great this week. Probably because I was so tired from working so much. I had a lot of grading, presentations, meetings and all of those things that come with the job this week. So, I was up late (for me) this week.

Missing Anything: Wine as always but really not missing anything this week!

Movement: All of the baby books and blogs say that I should be able to feel the baby in some way. This week I possibly am feeling movement but I’m not quite sure! It’s a little fluttering in my lower abdomen. The question is though, is it just me thinking that I might be feeling something because all of the books/blogs say I could be feeling things at this point or is it really happening?

Belly Button: I wish I would have taken a picture of my belly button pre-baby bump because my belly button is becoming no existent. It’s not an outie yet but I know at some point my belly button is going to make that “pop” sound.

Mood: I haven’t really written about how I’ve been feeling throughout my pregnancy since for the most part, I’ve had such a positive experience physically. Emotionally it hasn’t always been such a positive experience. For the first 16 weeks + I was feeling worried and anxious about wether something bad was going to happen. Was I going to stay pregnant? Was something going to go wrong? Starting a couple of weeks ago my mood started to change and I was feeling much happier. I’m pretty sure it has to do with the fact that my baby pump is starting to grow and it’s becoming more real. Which leads me to this week, I’ve been in a really good mood. We’re visiting the doctor next week and as in the past, as the days get closer to our doctor’s visit I start to get a little nervous and anxious to hear the heart beat but over all I’m feeling really great!

Best Moment(s) This Week: Being at home with Dusty! We were both traveling last week and so busy with work that I barely got to see him. Some other great moments this week were having book club and catching up with friends this weekend. I know our lives will change drastically when the baby is born so it’s so nice to do the small things that I know won’t be so small when we’re a family of three.

Looking Forward To: Finding out the gender of our little bambino next week!

No Comments | Posted in: Pregnancy | Tagged with: Baby, Bambino, Pregnancy, Weekly Belly Pictures
18 Weeks

April 2, 2013

This week our bambino is the size of a sweet potato. It’s amazing to me that I’m four and a half months pregnant and our baby doesn’t even weigh one pound. SPN welcomed it’s inaugural Big Kansas City Conference this week. Dusty left for KC early Tuesday morning and I went to join in the fun and to see the second part of the conference Wednesday evening and all day Thursday. This week was hard because Dusty was really busy with the Big KC event and I was busy with work myself. I left KC on Friday to make the long trip to Oklahoma City to visit my dad and his family for the Easter weekend.

Total Weight Gain: I need to wait until we visit the doctor in a couple of weeks before I can accurately determine the total weight gain amount but I’m estimating around 2 pounds. I can tell a big different in my belly area though and am most definitely looking more pregnant! It’s been a big relief for me to look “pregnant” although at the moment I probably just look like I’ve gained a little extra holiday weight in the middle section. This picture might not show it but I’m even bigger than last week!

Clothing: No change in clothing yet. I’m still wearing my maxi dresses and other dresses with room in the middle for me to grow as well as pants that use to be loose on me but a fitting snuggly now. I’m also cheating and wearing khaki pants with the top button undone (I hope no one can tell). Oh yes, I need to find the time to purchase some maternity pants!

Food: Speaking of weight gain, I’m really enjoying food this week. No specific cravings, just wanting to eat everything in sight! Being out of town Wednesday through Sunday was no help and I really indulged in a lot of guilty pleasures including late night pizza and chocolate from the Easter Bunny.

Sleep: I didn’t get very good sleep this week but I don’t blame that on the little bambino. I blame my lack of sleep on my busy work schedule and leaving for KC on Wednesday, knowing I wouldn’t be home until late Sunday evening. I found myself waking up in the middle of the night thinking of another thing I needed to put on my to do list. I do try to go to bed most nights before midnight and usually get up around 7 or 8am.

Missing Anything: I’m completely missing knowing what this little bambino is, boy or girl! While in Oklahoma I went shopping and really wanted to buy something for our little guy or girl but it was so hard because I just didn’t think anything gender neutral enough. Everything looked too boyish or too girly. A little less than two weeks before we find out what’s growing inside of me.

Best moment(s) this week: I had a couple of great moments this week. First was exercising and running, I’m starting to get back in the rhythm of things. I ran twice outside while in Oklahoma and got to enjoy the beautiful weather down there. It was so nice to get some fresh air. It’s made me want to run outside here in Omaha but still need to wait a little longer for the weather to warm up.

The second best moment was visiting my family in Oklahoma and being able to share the baby news with them. Although we told them via Skype a while ago that we were expecting, it was so nice to see them and to show off my baby bump.

No Comments | Posted in: Pregnancy | Tagged with: Baby, Pregnancy, Sweet Potato, Weekly Belly Pictures
17 Weeks

April 2, 2013

Week 17 was Spring Break and our baby is the size of an onion! I really enjoyed myself this week, getting to go to lunch with a few of my friends and even with Dusty (which I never get to do) and getting caught up on a few things around the house. I feel like this week should be titled “Oh Yes!!! I’m finally starting to look a little pregnant!!!”

Total Weight Gain: I’m not quite sure how much weight I’ve gained but if I were to guess, I’m back to my original weight plus a pound or two (depending on the day or time of day I weighed myself). I promise I’m not a fanatic about my weight. In fact, I don’t weigh myself every day and most weeks just once so I can add something to the blog post. The next time I visit the doctor I’m going to take note of my weight and then weigh myself at home so I can keep better track. I am interested in tracking when all this weight gain will happen.

Gender: Still very excited to find out what we’re having. Just three more weeks! I told Dusty he better free up some time after our doctor’s appointment because I want to find just one cute outfit after we find out if we’re having a boy or girl. I haven’t bought anything for this little bambino and I’m itching to find something super cute I can hang in the closet or put in a drawer.

Sleep: I’m sleeping relatively well. The only times I have a hard time sleeping are those days that I have a lot on my mind, almost always related to work and not getting everything done I needed. I’m sure these sleepless nights will be filled with baby thoughts in the future but right now it’s all about work. I’m getting use to waking up once during the night to go to the bathroom but otherwise, I’m getting a good 7 to 8 hours of sleep.

Clothing: This week I’m really starting to notice that my clothes are no longer fitting and I’m going to be needing maternity clothes soon. I’m lucky enough that I have some work pants that were a little on the large size so I’m able to wear those but they’re feeling really snug. I’m also taking advantage of the many dresses I own. I haven’t bought any maternity clothes but I did purchase three maxi dresses, like the one chosen in this week’s update that will stretch as my baby bump grows.

Best moment this week: The best moment this week was having the week off. I spent most of the week relaxing, catching up with friends and accomplishing a whole lot of nothing.

Sorry this post is coming a little late, I’m trying to catch up but life has been busy.

1 Comment | Posted in: Pregnancy | Tagged with: Baby, Onion, Pregnancy, Weekly Belly Pictures
16 Weeks

March 21, 2013

I know, it doesn’t look like I’m pregnant but I’m starting to feel pregnant. I’m going to start taking pictures every week or two so everyone can see how our little bambino is growing. This week the baby is a size of an avocado.

Total Weight Gain: I’ve gained three pounds and am finally at the weight I was prior to finding out I was pregnant. I’m trying to keep up with some kind of workout schedule but some weeks are better than others. I’m also feeling pregnant and looking just a little bit pregnant too. Most people wouldn’t be able to tell but looking in the mirror I can most definitely see a little bump and am noticing a tightness in my clothes that weren’t there before. I’m still wearing regular clothes.

Gender: I’m getting very excited to know whether we’re having a girl or boy and can’t wait for our next appointment because of this very reason. My friends will ask if we’re finding out the sex and my response is, “Yes! I’ve waited 20 weeks to find out and that’s most definitely enough for me!” I applaud those who are able to wait but I’m excited to start decorating the baby’s room and purchase those cute little blue or pink outfits.

Sleep: I’m sleeping okay, although some nights are better than others. I most definitely wake up at at least once in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom. It’s crazy to think how much I have to go to the bathroom with this baby pushing up against my bladder.

Movement: I haven’t felt any movement yet even though the baby books say that at this point I might start to feel something. The books say that at this point the baby might be moving and I could think it’s just gas or indigestion.

Best moment this week: We had another doctor’s appointment and got to hear the heart beat again. I never thought I’d be so anxious to hear that little heartbeat at every appointment but I am and count down each week to my next doctor’s appointment so that I can hear it again.

Missing Anything: I’m missing and have been since I found out that I was pregnant some of my favorite foods like unpasterized cheese, sushi, deli meats, and oh do I miss wine.

**written prior to posting during week 16 of my pregnancy.

No Comments | Posted in: Pregnancy | Tagged with: Baby, Pregnancy, Weekly Belly Pictures
14 Weeks

March 21, 2013

This week the baby is the size of a lemon. I get an email each week that tells me the size of our baby in relation to a fruit or vegetable and it’s becoming a routine for me to tell Dusty each Sunday what the new fruit or vegetable is. Dusty likes to compare the baby’s size to other foods like burritos and sandwiches.

This week I’m in love with not only cereal with bananas but also peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with chips. This past week we got our pictures taken for a baby announcement and can’t wait to get them back (even if you can’t tell I’m pregnant). We’ve told our immediate families that we’re expecting and they’ve done a great job of keeping it a secret. The baby announcement signals getting ready to tell more people. I’m a little anxious while simultaneously excited to tell our friends, extended family and general Facebook masses we’re expecting.

**written prior to posting during week 14 of my pregnancy.

No Comments | Posted in: Pregnancy | Tagged with: Baby, Pregnancy, Weekly Belly Pictures
8 Weeks

March 20, 2013

I’m feeling great and haven’t had any real pregnancy symptoms. The only thing I’ve noticed is that I want to eat breakfast and if I don’t eat dinner by 6pm I start feeling queazy and a little nauseous. We haven’t been going out much these past few weeks, trying to keep the whole baby thing a secret for just a while longer.

Dusty’s always called me a worrier and I am most definitely worrying a lot. I’m counting down the days until we visit the doctor next week for confirmation that yes, I’m pregnant!

**written prior to posting during week 8 of my pregnancy.

No Comments | Posted in: Pregnancy | Tagged with: Baby, Pregnancy, Weekly Belly Pictures
Big News

March 19, 2013

… and we’re so excited!

We’re very excited to announce we’ll be expecting our little bambino (italian for “baby”) at the end of August. We’ve been keeping it hush hush for quite a long time but we’re really happy to finally tell everyone. I’ve been keeping a little journal of what’s been going on these past few months and I’m hoping to update you all on the past four months with a few posts and then regular updates going forward.

Many of our friends have children already and we’ve heard lots of great stories of what to expect but it’s so fun yet simultaneously so scary experiencing it all the first time for ourselves. The first trimester was a roller coaster of emotions but Dusty has been great and I can’t imagine doing it without him. Let’s see what the next five months brings us!

And a big thanks to Daniel Muller for taking our pictures for this announcement. The pictures were taken when I was 13 weeks along.

23 Comments | Posted in: Fun Times, Pregnancy | Tagged with: Baby, Pregnancy
Comparing London & Paris

March 19, 2013

During our trip to London, what was fascinating to us was comparing two large cities, Paris and London, which are relatively close, yet so very different. We had been in Paris two weeks before visiting Stefanie and had really acclimated to French life and the language. It was fun being a “tourist” for a few days instead of trying to be one of the “locals” that we like to be while we’re in Paris. Penafrancia Bus provided the best travelling experience possible.

People speak English in London! I know that you know that but it was so fun to go from only hearing French to hearing English and not only English but English with such a beautiful accent!

Everyone in Paris always says something when you walk in and out of stores. I am constantly saying “bonjour” (hello) or “au revoir” (goodbye) or “bonsoir” (good evening). I didn’t feel as though people were as friendly in this way in London.

There’s lots of ice in London! When we arrived in London it was lunch time and we went to a restaurant with both ice and diet coke from a fountain machine. There is no diet coke in France, there’s only Coke Light and not the same. There’s not many fountain machines in France either. If you order a soda at a restaurant then you get a glass, plastic, or can of soda. And in Paris most people don’t order soda from my observations.

In Paris I see lots of people drinking wine and in London I saw most everyone drinking beer. It was fun to take a few days off from drinking wine and try some of the great beers and ciders in London. I’ve fallen in love with ciders because of this and wish Omaha had a better selection of ciders. I’m not a huge beer drinking and less of a cider drinker but Stefanie was able to educate me on all the different kinds and how to drink them. First thing is that you drink cider with ice (and as you can see from above, I was deprived of ice and really enjoyed having any opportunity to have ice).

In Paris, everyone is skinny! It must be a French thing or me being obsessed with the beautiful people in Paris but in London it didn’t seem as though there were as many skinny people.

No Comments | Posted in: Travel | Tagged with: London, Paris, Travel
Friends in Paris

March 17, 2013

We happened to know several friends that were going to be in Paris while we were there this summer. A friend of Dusty’s from high school was in Paris for work and they were able to meet up for drinks one night. A couple and their two children were stopping for a few days in Paris before heading to Dublin.

And then a good friend of mine, Kate, wanted to plan a trip to Europe and thought us being in Paris would be a good excuse to make it happen. Kate stayed with us for about a week and it was so great having her there because we could do touristy things while Dusty worked during the day. And we were able to take a small side trip to Brussels and Bruges. It was so much fun to have memories with our friends in Paris. Here are just a few pictures of Kate and I around Paris.

A co-worker from UNO moved to Germany recently and was traveling with her children to Paris so we were even able to meet up with them while they were

1 Comment | Posted in: France, Paris | Tagged with: France, Friends, Paris
Pisa, Italy

December 14, 2012

Even though it’s been almost six months since we took our trip this summer. There are still so many things we haven’t shared. After five weeks in Paris we took a week vacation in Italy, starting in Pisa. We took a relatively easy budget flight from Paris to Pisa (maybe another post on that later), arriving in the early afternoon and left our huge baggage at the train station baggage check. We arrived to absolutely beautiful weather, mid 80’s and low 90’s during the day. It was quite a difference from Paris where the weather was close to the 70’s.

We took a leisurely self-guided walking tours from the train station to the tower. Here are some of our highlights in Pisa!

No Comments | Posted in: Travel | Tagged with: Italy, Pisa, Travel