Land, Gender Reveal, Dr. Smith AND 18 wk update :)

The title alone exhausted me! This has been on BUSY month of May! Travis & I are OFFICIALLY owners of a little over 5 acres of land!! We did parade of homes and have narrowed our search to 2 builders we will begin talking to mid-summer and prayerfully we will begin building by this fall!

We found out that our OBGYN didn't have any ultrasound appointments for our end of May appointment, and we REALLY wanted to know gender! So we went to a free standing ultrasound clinic (Friday before Mother's Day!) Instead of taking pictures at our land with us with a "Sold" sign, we decided to get both colors of balloons, go out there with the tripod and take pictures of gender reveal! This is how we announced it to my brothers & sisters, grandparents and facebook! 

Boy Or Girl!?

BLUE for BOY & Travis jumping for JOY!!! :)

Sweet kisses, announcing baby BOY! :)

 Friday evening we had our ultrasound, and let me tell you...baby boy was VERY active! The last time we saw him was at 8 weeks, and he didn't look like much of a "baby", just a "blob", this time, BABY! So amazing. So anyways, we rushed to Hobby Lobby after our appointment and purchased appropriate frames, framed 2 ultrasound pictures for our Mom's for their Mother's Day Gift.
Mother's Day Weekend...Saturday morning I banned my parents from the kitchen while I filled and decorated the cupcakes I had made the night before! Then we all went to Victoria and had dinner with my Mom & Dad, and in laws! They decided to have dessert before dinner...

All biting in!

Love their reactions!!

 & Here is precious baby boy :)

Sunday, Mother's Day, was spent 9 hours in the car with my husband! I decided to go with him, for a week long seminar before his graduation in Lubbock. I took plenty of stuff to keep me busy, and yet managed to do everything BUT those things! I went shopping, drove to Amarillo one day for lunch with my former co-workers, caught up on t.v., you know, the hard life! haha. We had a blast a few of the nights hanging out with his classmates at Main Event Center! We bowled, played pool, shuffleboard, glow in the dark putt-putt, and the 2nd night we went there we even played TWO rounds of laser tag! I didn't do too bad, lol, but man I was exhausted the next day!

While in Lubbock we registered at Babies R Us and Target! Yay! We also did some shopping for baby boy and he now has quite a few outfits! Hehe.

My in laws drove up Sunday the 19th, we checked out of our hotel we'd been in all week and in with them at their hotel. Monday the 20th was Travis' "hooding" ceremony where he was officially hooded "Dr. Travis Smith"! This is a picture after the ceremony.



Then on the 21st was the actual graduation, Dr. Travis Smith received his Doctorates in Physical Therapy, and is officially DONE with school! Here is us after graduation :)

So proud of him! We have been together 8 years this month, and both started out at good ole' Victoria College, had dreams and goals, and if you would have asked me 8 years ago if I saw us, HERE, now, I would have laughed at you! We have been through a lot together, and I'm so blessed to call him my husband. I couldn't be who I am today without him. And he is my best friend! I love you babe!

Now, on to baby :)

18 weeks 3 days...

Starting to have a "Bump"!

Pregnancy Highlights How Far Along: 18 wks 3 days Size of Baby Smith: About 5" long, and 1/2 lb. Size of a "mango"!

Maternity Clothes: Bought a maternity dress (the teal/black one above!) some maternity shirts & shorts! I can still do a lot of my shirts, but pants, no way, not without my band! Gender: IT'S A BOY! Names: We have one picked out, but we're not telling anyone :) Getting Ready: We bought him some clothes & registered...going to start stocking up on diapers soon! Movement: The past couple of days!! Today he has been really active! In church this morning he was dancing I think! lol! Sleep: EH. I still wake up 3am-ish for a potty break, only able to sleep on my left or right side with a pillow between my knees. What I Miss: Hmmm...Not much? Being able to lift stuff, energy, margaritas! haha. I had a "virgin" Margarita the other day, and it satisfied me! I love the taste of them, with OR without alcohol! Best Moment of the Week: Considering it's Sunday and beginning of a new week...I'll give you best moment of last week. Travis graduating from PT school and becoming a DR! Best moment so far this week...baby moving a LOT today!

Food Cravings: Nothing crazy. I've been drinking a full glass of milk everyday, along with a cookie or two :) Sue me!

Symptoms: Still the gagging with teeth brushing. Bleh!

Due Date: Oct 24th

Next Dr. Appointment: Mid June!

Daddy: Is doing great! About to start his new job, getting exciting about baby boy!

Sorry this is so long & full of pictures, been a LOT going on lately! If there's not a 19 week post, I promise to catch up with week 20, because I guarantee a "bump" pic from VEGAS! Yep, next week it's VIVA LAS VEGAS! :D

Till next time---

Tara

16 wks

Pregnancy Highlights How Far Along: 16 wks! Size of Baby Smith: Avacado... 4-5"  and 3-5oz!

Maternity Clothes: Jeans with my belly band, comfy dresses, athletic shorts...my maternity shorts are in the mail! Gender: We hope to find out Saturday! Names: Getting closer to making a final decision I think! Getting Ready: Not too much yet! Movement: Flutters maybe occasionally? Sleep: eh. Some nights are better than others! What I Miss: Not much! Best Moment of the Week: We close on our land tomorrow, where we will build our home that our baby will grow in! AND we will find out gender (hopefully!)

Food Cravings: Not much. We had some delicious wings from BWW the other day, my new fav...spicy garlic! Oooo!

Symptoms: Nothing really

Due Date: Oct. 24th

Next Dr. Appointment: End of May!

Daddy: Is graduating this month! In less than 2 weeks he will have his Doctorates Degree and be a Physical Therapist!! And he's super excited about hopefully finding out gender :)

 

13 weeks!

Hello! It's been a "little while" since an update. I figure since sweet baby will be 14 weeks tomorrow, I might as well update for week 13!

A LOT has happened the last week or so. Travis & I always knew our plan...ever since May 30, 2005 when we first started dating, we've had the same mindset and goals. And have been there for each other through thick and thin no matter what!

We found the perfect land for us to build our home on, and raise our family. So we took the giant leap, scary leap...and we are now proud owners of 5 acres! I always told my Grampy when I was a little girl I wanted to be a "cattler"....well, while I might not become a big time cattler on 5 acres, it'll definitely be an adventure with maybe a few goats & chickens :) One day...all in time! And we are very realistic people and anyone who knows us knows that! We don't want a castle...or even the biggest and bestest. Just ours...just us...and made with love :)

So anyways, here's the baby updates! Less than a month till my wonderful husband graduates with his Doctorate's Degree and begins his career in what he LOVES. And I'm so excited and looking forward to celebrating his huge accomplishment in Vegas :)

Pregnancy Highlights How Far Along: 13 wks 6 days Size of Baby Smith: The size of a Lemon!

Maternity Clothes: My cousin let me borrow 2 pair of jeans...I haven't tried them on, but I might just have to soon! Little baby is starting to make me pooch...and my jeans officially won't button or zip! Thank goodness for the belly band! Also I bought 2 more dresses recently :) Gender: Noooo clue! Everyone keeps telling me girl :) We will know soon enough...and as before, as long as he/she is happy & healthy, that is all we could ever ask for. Names: Secret :) Getting Ready: We bought land....does that count?! Movement: I DO feel "flutters" occasionally! Sleep: Eh. Between my husband crowding me out on my side of the bed, putting his knee/elbow into my side, and having to wake up to go potty at least 2 x a night...sleep is, "Eh" What I Miss: I realize I will miss Schlitterbahn! But that's okay :) All for a good reason! Best Moment of the Week: Finding out our deal on the land went through, and our little baby will grow up in the country like their daddy did! :) Oh and finding out we had enough "points" to redeem for a free Cirque Du Soleil show! So we get to see "O" and "KA" when we go to Vegas in June! :)

Food Cravings: Ummm...nothing in particular that I normally wouldn't want! Had a pickle snow cone yesterday and today :P yum.

Symptoms: Ugh. Gagging during teeth brushing...and at certain sights. Saliva...and I work in healthcare...enough said. lol. I need to strengthen my stomach and close my eyes more!

Due Date: Oct 24-26thish

Next Dr. Appointment: End of May :)

Daddy: Doing good, being supportive as always!! :) He brought me a dozen pink roses the other day, so sweet :)

 

Random happenings (AND ULTRASOUND PICTURE!)

So April has been a pretty busy month so far! In that I mean, I was released to go back to work in March, we had our 8 wk ultrasound of sweet baby and everything looked great! Here he/she is!
Now remember, this was almost FOUR weeks ago, so baby has grown much more than this :) The head is to the most right, with the little holes kind of...it's the brain developing! And all of the sudden all of the Human Growth and Development from Anatomy comes back to you!

 

So Easter weekend my in laws came to Port Lavaca and had lunch with my parents, Travis & I. I turned the big 2-6, and yep, Mom still made me an Easter themed Birthday cake! 4-3 was the actually Birthday, and honestly I didn't do anything too exciting! Travis and I ate at Nikki Roma's in the mall (Their calzone's are delish!) and my in laws gave me a gift card to Dillard's for my make up, parents gave me moolah, and my hubby bought me some new yellow box flip flops :)

 



 

Then there was the wedding weekend! Travis' little brother Curtis got married 4-6-13 to Janessa. We rushed up after work on Friday for rehearsal and had rehearsal dinner at Clear Springs, yum! Here's a pic of us :) I promise...we don't TRY to matchy match! 



 

 

Oh yes...Travis went out in PUBLIC like this!! As soon as he stepped out we heard laughter...someone said they liked his boots...lol...silly hubby!

 



 At the wedding they had some delicious cupcakes from Gruene Flour Cupcakery...yum!

 

Just Us out by the river!

 

 Curtis & Travis

 

Our new Smith family! Me, My FIL Richard, Janessa, Curtis, my MIL Tammy, and my hubby Travis!

 

 

 

Other than wedding and working not much has really been going on. We have a couple of functions to attend this month and I'm REALLY having vacation fever! I don't know why, just do! Instead I'm trying to focus my energy on finding land. Yep, LAND. We want to buy some land (about 5 acres) so my parents can eventually move out there with us, and we want to build our house! :) We shall see I guess! :D

 

 

Until next time my friends...

 

11wks 5 days

Pregnancy Highlights How Far Along: 11 wks 5days Size of Baby Smith: Large Plum 2.5in, .5oz

Maternity Clothes: Nah. Stretchy shorts/pants, belly band for jeans, dresses (my dress for my Brother in law's wedding still fit! Yeah!) Gender: No clue :) Names: Still not telling!   Getting Ready: If you count the fact that we pretty much decided (90% sure) we're going to buy land and build our house as getting ready...then sure :) Movement: Not that I can tell! Sleep: Up 2x a night for potty breaks. Sleeping pretty good, fatigued more often... What I Miss: Sleeping on my tummy, feeling good about my looks lol Best Moment of the Week: Hmm...Nothing very exciting has happened. I got out of work early on Monday and had time to order some good ole' Big Jim's burgers (and onion rings of course) for Travis & I and I picked him up and we had a pic-nic at the park for lunch :)

Food Cravings: Eh, kinda? Travis made some delicious hot sauce! Trying to drink my water, been hooked on 100% apple juice and OJ, but OJ gives me some serious heart burn!

Symptoms: Gagging during teeth brushing still, tired, bloated.

Due Date: Oct 24-26th! I guess we'll find out more next Tues :)

Next Dr. Appointment: Next Tuesday

Daddy: Is a great man :) He has always done this, but I'm so glad he helps with the pets, the laundry, the dishes, the trash, the cooking, and so much more! :)

 

10 weeks

Pregnancy Highlights How Far Along: 10 wks 5 days Size of Baby Smith: Lime! 2 inches and about .3oz!

Maternity Clothes: Not yet! I bought a belly band a few weeks ago because some of my pants are too uncomfortable to button! Gender: No clue :) Everyone says girl...I have a gut feeling it's a boy! Names: We have a few in mind :) Getting Ready: Not really in the least bit. We have been talking with the bank about applying for a home loan, but I think we're going to wait until mid-summer so we can save more and Travis will have his job established. As we have NO idea if we want to build or buy! Movement: Nope, but I can't wait! At our 8 wk ultrasound we saw the baby wiggle slightly! Sleep: Some days are better than others! Besides waking up at LEAST 2 times to go potty (usually at 1-2am and then at 5am-ish), it's been okay! What I Miss: Sleeping on my stomach! Best Moment of the Week: So far, Easter Sunday! Church was great, then my Mom & Dad in law came to Port Lavaca and had lunch with my parents, Travis & I! And my Mom made my birthday cake (a few days early!) It was great! Now...later this week (of course tomorrow is my 26th Birthday!) but Friday we get to leave to go to New Braunfels for the weekend, and Saturday my brother in law (Travis' little brother) is getting married!!! :D So exciting! They are so perfect together!

Food Cravings: It's constantly changing. Lately it's been more of a "I don't want this, this OR this" and it's been me not liking a whole lot of meats. I'm trying hard to eat good but man, it's hard when NOTHING looks or sounds good. I've been loving ICEE's, slushes, snow cones (I think mainly because it's getting so warm already!)

Symptoms: This is a gross one...gagging!!! Bleh!!! I can NOT brush my teeth without gagging and it's SO annoying.

Due Date: Oct 24-26th (keeps changing)




Next Dr. Appointment: Not until April 16th!!! As most of you know there were several complications and I was going every week for an Ultrasound and appointment, well, I was released at my 8 wk appointment to go back to work, but am still taking it very very easy! All has been going good! Well, minus my allergic reaction around day 20 of taking Progesterone shots (in the butt)! I developed a bad rash, so now I'm on the gel until my next appointment. My levels went up from a "7" at the first appointment, to "27" 2 weeks  later, so the shots were VERY effective.





Daddy: Daddy is SUPER supportive. He's such a wonderful and amazing husband to begin with, so patient with me. But he is going to be an awesome daddy! He's always getting me anything I want/need and he says he's having sympathy cravings lol. He is very excited for this little sweet baby!


So, I will try to keep up with this on a weekly basis. I took a picture the other day, but I think at 12 wks or so is when I'll start with the pictures. :)

7W5D Sweet Baby Update

First of all, I can not believe our blog about our announcment has received over THREE HUNDRED views! Never could have imagined that! So since people still visit and keep up with us, I will update on sweet baby.

Today I am 7 wks 5 days, yesterday we had our very important follow up after our progesterone level was low and we found out about the subchorionic hematoma.

Travis started his clinical on Monday, so I am first of all VERY thankful he was able to come to the Ultrasound appointment still.

We have been praying non-stop for our sweet baby, we say outloud prayers before bed everynight and we say our own throughout the day. Not to mention, this sweet baby is getting prayers from so many loving family & friends!

None the less, the nerves were definitely there yesterday morning as we went in for the ultrasound. Travis (lucky duck!) saw the heartbeat first AGAIN ( he did that the other day too!) And his reaction was priceless. The joy, the happiness...it melted my heart. His first words were, "it's beating faster too!!" And that it was!!

179HR for sweet baby! And it has doubled in size in a week! Granted we've both had extensive anatomy and physiology classes, it's still so amazing how a baby develops inside mommy!

The Dr. said the Hematoma is "resolving" but wanted me to take it easy for another week. No work, nothing too strenuous, but I don't have to stay in bed 24/7. Still continuing the shots and I'm sure we'll re-check my levels at my follow up next week!

So please continue to pray for sweet baby & our little family...while things are looking better, we still have to keep our faith, hope and prayers up!

On another note, I am excited that I am going to get into some scrapbooking today and tomorrow. AND I've been cleaning out my drawers/dressers and Trav did a little too, and we got my parents motiviated...so I am selling some stuff on the local classifieds! AND I'm proud to say, I made $25 on 3 pair of American Eagle jeans that honestly, I wouldn't wear again ever!

AND Travis has a new "hobby" of making this neat crosses...

 

This particular one is 20"x11" (large) and is black wire with blue ice marbles, and it sells for $25. He also makes some medium sized ones (not sure on measurements as we've sold out currently and he's not here for me to ask) but they look the same just smaller and those sell for $15. We can get just about any color marbles desired, and if anyone is interested in purchasing this particular cross or want one custom made please email me at:

tara_ann1786@yahoo.com

 

It's just a pass time for him, he's very crafty and artistic and loves to work on something, ANYTHING outside. Since I haven't been working for almost 2 weeks, it definitely helps to have a hobby that's profitable :)

 

 

 

Thanks to EVERYONE for the continued prayers and thoughts, and check back frequently for updates :)
Tara