Intelligender Results

A couple of weeks ago we thought it'd be fun to try the intelligender test.  I didn't have high hopes going in and if anything I think it made me more anxious to find out next month. 
The result was boy.  Patrick and I went back and forth on which was right.  We compared to samples on the website.  I finally just emailed the result to them and they replied that the result was boy.

I know this isn't very accurate.  But it was still fun!

Other old wives tales:

Carrying high or low:  I would say more high, which says girl.

Heart Beat:  160, which says girl.

Sweet vs Salty cravings:  I've definitely been wanting more salty, which says boy.

Chinese Gender Chart: Girl.

Even/ Odd: My age was 26, the year 2012 so both even, which says girl.

Morning sickness: I haven't had any, leads to boy.

So what we have here is a tie so I guess we'll have to wait!
We'd be thrilled either way!
August 23rd we'll know for sure and I can't wait!

27 on the 27th

Today I turn 27, I think that officially makes me in my late 20's. 

Yikes!

I can't really be this old.  It seems like yesterday I was graduating high school packing up my little bedroom to head to college.  That was nine years ago folks.  I came across a lot of pictures lately from that time in my life.  I really can't believe it was 9 years ago.  But it was and time is still ticking by. 

It's not fair how when you're a kid all you want to do it grow up and time seems to stand still but the older you get the faster life passes you by.  I feel like I spend so much time trying to enjoy and remember and cherish every moment, make every moment a "memory".  I don't want to forget anything.  Even stupid stuff.  My sister and I have been talking a lot about the Olympics this week (we're both super pumped) and we had a silly, hilarious conversation on twitter about it.  It was so funny to me and something I hope we laugh about in 40 years where gearing up for the Olympics again. My siblings and I have some of the best times when we're all just sitting around laughing about things we did growing up.  I'm not sure all our spouses think it's as entertaining.  Moving on, I've had a great day.  I feel like I've wished the summer away (because I have).  It doesn't make it any better that we'll find out what the baby is right at the end of summer and I positively can not wait. 
We had book club tonight and the girls got me a cookie cake, it was yummy!  It was also the first time I'd seen them since the baby announcement, so that was fun.  Our book this month was Kris Jenner's Memoir.  It wasn't terrible but it was no literary masterpiece.  I didn't hate it.  It was easy to read, I think it was written on a 3rd grade level. 
I haven't watched any Olympics yet. I'm really excited about them though.  The pictures I've seen from the opening ceremonies were amazing.  This week there's a lot of gymnastics and I can't wait!

I guess I've rambled enough. My goals for my 27th year.

• Have a baby.
• Get more organized at home.
• Just live life and love it.

Here's to my late twenties, may they be the best years yet!

Proud Wife

2012 has already proved to be a big year for the Horton family.  Patrick has accomplished a few things that have been nagging at him for a few years now.  He finally passed the test to get his journeyman electrician card.  He's taken that test so many times and he finally passed.  He got a new (hopefully) forever job. He finally got a new truck. And this past weekend we celebrated the fact that it had been 365 days since he'd last smoked a cigarette. I really thought it was something he'd never give up. After years of nagging from his mother and myself, I had all but given up hope.  We had a discussion on the way home from the beach last summer that went something like...if you ever want to have kids you have to quit smoking.  I'm not having a baby till you stop smoking.  He set his mind to it.  I didn't nag him or ask him everyday how it was going.  I offered support when I could. He set his mind to it and quit cold turkey.  Within a week he noticed he was actually tasting food. I would say within a  month his snoring was no longer a problem. He seems to be a calmer person too.  I am just so proud of him.  I'm happy that he won't have to leave the hospital room to go smoke when our baby is born.  I'm happy that I won't have to worry about my baby being exposed to 3rd hand smoke everyday, (yes it's a real thing).  Plus, I'm happy because he's healthier and hopefully he'll be around a lot longer!

15 weeks

How Far Along: 15 weeks

Size of baby: Apple

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Not sure. I was up 6 lbs total last appointment. We'll see Thursday I'm kinda scared to see.

Maternity Clothes: Pants, yes. Tops, no. The pants are just way more comfortable.

Gender: We'll find out in August. I'm really feeling boy though.

Movement: Not yet, I can't wait though.

Sleep: Not that great but I'm trying to stay positive.

What I miss: Nothing really this week.

Cravings: Pickles but I always love pickles.

Symptoms: Lots of stretching and what I'm guessing is round ligament pain.

Best Moment this week: Getting the furniture moved around so we now have no office and I'm trying to decide where to the printer and the other office stuff.  But we have a room for the baby!  Also picked out a crib and paint samples. So much fun!

14 weeks

 How Far Along: 14 weeks, Hello 2nd trimester! :)

Size of baby: Navel orange
Total Weight Gain/Loss: Not sure. I was up 6 lbs total last appointment.  We'll see next week.

Maternity Clothes: Pants, yes.  Tops, no.  The pants are just way more comfortable.

Gender: We'll find out in August. I'm really feeling boy though.  We did the Intelligender test this week.  I've got a whole post on it though.

Movement: Not yet, I can't wait though.

Sleep: Not as good as it used to be, but not to bad. I started sleeping in the guest room because I sleep so much better by myself.  I feel bad, but I don't think Patrick minds.

What I miss: Nothing really this week. 

Cravings: I've been eating a lot of dill pickles and salad peppers this week.
Symptoms: Lots of stretching and what I'm guessing is round ligament pain.
Best Moment this week: Finally having more energy.  Making it to the 2nd trimester. Big Brother 14 starting :)  it always makes the summer zoom by. 

42nd Street

Last night I was able to go to the final dress rehearsal for the production of 42nd street.  My dad got involved with our local community theater a decade or so ago because my sister wanted to audition.  They needed a man to play the huntsman in Snow White so Dad was cast in the role.  He's been involved ever since.  I think he's been on stage in every performance which is kind of hilarious to me.  I mean he was The fiddler on the roof. I think they do 3 performances each year. Usually a dinner theater in the spring, a summer production with a bigger cast with more young people and a dinner theater or seasonal production in the fall/winter. 

Each year I am amazed at the talent.  This year's show was no different.  I knew nothing about 42nd Street going into this show,  so I had no expectations what so ever.  There were a lot of fresh faces that I hadn't seen in previous performances and a few familiar faces too.  It's nice to see the kids that have been in a few shows and how they've grown and matured as performers. 

So if you're in the area and are looking for something to do this weekend.  Shows are tonight 7:30, tomorrow night 7:30 and Sunday matinee.  Tickets are available at the door. This year the show is at the Gardendale High School Auditorium.

With my dad after the show.

4th of July

(I thought I posted this last week, better late than never.) To celebrate our nation's independence, I headed to the lake for the day.  Sometimes I'm amazed at the amount of people and crap we can accumulate.  Yes, I know and/or am related to every single one of these people.  What can I say, we like a crowd.I should have taken pictures of the food.  Man was there food.  It was all so delicious.
As with any major holiday at the lake, there were injuries.  Mostly insect related.  Dad got stung by a yellow jacket.  Me in all me hilarity kept referring to them as "tracker jackers" especially when they were chasing my sister. She was the only one who got the joke but man did we laugh.  The white stuff is toothpaste.  My cousin Mark, the eagle scout, put it on him.  I'm not sure if it is actually a remedy or if he just thought it'd be funny.All in all it was a fun day, but I enjoyed coming home to my comfy, quiet house. 

13 weeks

(I'm pretty sure that is all fat, either way my stomach isn't flat. (nor has it ever been though)) How Far Along: 13 weeks Size of baby: A Peach Total Weight Gain/Loss: 6lbs (according to the Dr. but I'm thinking it's closer to 10lbs) Maternity Clothes: Most pants are maternity, I'm still rocking my flowy tops! Gender: We'll find out in August. I'm really feeling boy though. Movement: Not yet, I can't wait though. Sleep: Not as good as it used to be, but not to bad.  What I miss: This week it was riding the tube at the lake. Cravings: Nothing specific. Just feel like I'm eating all the time or I feel nauseous. Symptoms: A little nausea but I haven't been sick at all this week.  Still have a terrible taste in my mouth. No nosebleeds this week. A few aches and pains but nothing terrible.Best Moment this week: Starting to clean out and make room.  I think we've decided on names but want to wait to actually commit to them :)

The Reactions

We had some mixed reactions when we announced our pregnancy to our families.  Which was not expected at all.  We told a few people at a time starting with our parents...

It was my Dad's birthday so we wrapped up the onesie that said "Baby Horton".  It was just Patrick and I and my mom and dad.  They were surprised and so excited!  We also told Patrick's parents that same night.  They were equally excited.  This was at about 5 weeks and I wanted to wait till about 10 weeks to tell our siblings so we told them on Father's Day.  My family didn't go exactly as planned.  I thought I had a fool proof plan, I was wrong.  I had printed a picture of the onesie along with some pictures from the beach and handed them to my sister thinking she be the best one to "get it".  She flipped right by the picture so we had to make her go back and explain it.  She, my sister in law and my little brother's girlfriend were pretty excited the boys couldn't have cared less.  In fact their lack of reaction made my sister believe she was the only one who didn't know.The boys weren't the only ones we were less than thrilled.

This was Harper's reaction.  She cried. Like real tears, I'm not the baby grandchild anymore tears.  Porter was also so upset.  He just kept asking why we were having a baby, we didn't need a baby.  All they do is cry and throw up.  I asked if he was going to come to the hospital when I have the baby and he said he might but warned me that it was going to take like 3 days for them to get it out.  He continued to voice his concerns to anyone that would listen.

He did tell me this weekend he was still just a tiny bit mad at me. So maybe by January he'll be excited!

For Patrick's family we had Melissa have a Father's day cake made with all the dad's names on it plus Patrick.  After having to explain the picture to my sister I was afraid we were going to have to explain this one too, but we didn't.  His sister picked up on it immediately.  They were all so excited.  None of the kids cried so it was a success.

I will say this... this has been one of the most awkward things to just come out and say to people.  I'm glad we had little ways to tell everyone that made it so much easier.  I was going to tell my book club on Friday but it just wasn't something that came up in conversation so most of them ended up finding out on facebook which isn't the way I really wanted but it was the easiest.

I plan on doing weekly updates but my "photographer" needs some practice so it might be a couple of weeks.  Honestly there isn't much to see yet.  I just look fat ;) I've felt good for the most part.  I've been sick a few times but not really enough to complain about.  This week I've started having nosebleeds which were kinda scary at first but I read they are completely normal.

12 weeks

How Far Along: 12 weeks

Size of baby: A peach

Total Weight Gain/Loss: 6lbs (according to the dr. but I'm thinking it's closer to 10lbs)

Maternity Clothes: Most pants are maternity, I'm still rocking my flowy tops!

Gender: We'll find out in August.  I'm really feeling boy though.

Movement: Not yet, I can't wait though.

Sleep: Nothing to complain about.

What I miss: If I'm being honest, a cold beer or margarita on a hot day.

Cravings: Just food! 

Symptoms: A little nausea & night sickness, but the worst thing had been the terrible taste in my mouth.  The only thing I can drink that doesn't leave the taste is fresh lemonade. I've also been having nosebleeds which were kinda scary at first but I read they were completely normal.

Best Moment this week: Sharing the news with the world.  Taking names with Patrick.  (I think we've narrowed it down, now we just need to know what this baby is!) We also started cleaning out and organizing to make room for baby!

We have a surprise...

Ally's been dying to share that she's going to be a big sister.  Baby Horton will be here in January and we couldn't be more thrilled!

(This picture is terrible. I took it with my phone and I was trying to bribe the poodle!) I can't wait to share all the details!