Week 21 and 22

So Ive realized that I hardly blog, which is bad for my friends that want to know how im doing, and for me, I really should be writing more about baby Mason and Ryan and how life is going....so weare going to start with the obvious, and hopefully bi-weekly updates on the pregnancy.


How far along? 21 weeks 2 days

How big is baby? 13 ounces, at our last ultrasound (2 ounces bigger than the books say he should! mommy's little chubby bug.)

Total weight gain:  +7 pounds - I am AMAZED. I thought I would be a chunk by now.

Maternity Clothes?  I have 2 maternity shirts and 1 pair of maternity pants....I RARELY wear them, because (except for my jeans) all my shirts and tanks and yoga pants are stretchy enough (and cheap enough) to last...for now! Also, as much as maternity stores like to boast their "trendy" options, they are NOT made for a 100lb momma-to-be...im absolutely SWIMMING in all of it! Forever 21 sells shirts and dresses for like $10 that will work perfectly in the upcoming spring months

Stretch marks? THANKSFULLY- none yet!  I think that I saw a tiny purple mark near the incision from my cancer scar on my breast, but I expected a stretch mark or two there, due to the tension of the skin around the scar- battle wounds FTW!

Sleep: I take a nap almost every day around 1pm to enable myself to stay up past 9:30 at night.  I dont remember the last time I slept through the night, although I assume it was oh about.... 21 weeks ago.  Ive read that the levels of progesterone and restless legs are to blame for my sleeplessness, Ryan is such a good man for dealing with the pillow fort i insist on sleeping in every night :)

Movement: pretty frequent, I can feel him move basically all the time (as long as im sitting or laying) - he is most active in the early mornings and around dinnertime - at our last ultrasound while the technician was attempting to measure his legs, he was forcibly heeling me in the side, too cute to watch!!!

Food cravings: everyone asks me this...and it really varies week-to-week...this week its cookie ice cream sandwiches- store bought or otherwise

What I miss: sleeping on my stomach, being able to stay awake to watch late night talk shows, going out dancing with my girls

What I am looking forward to: seeing my sweet boys face in 4 months, being able to have a glass of wine with dinner, finishing Mason's nursery

Worries: I cant just NOT worry about every little thing that could go wrong, I know I shouldnt.  All his prenatal tests have been PERFECT...but I still get scared.  At our last ultrasound 1-25-2011 we learned that I have placenta previa - however, it is just "marginal" so our OB says that it should clear up before birth.  What does this mean? the placenta (gives nutrients to baby) is dangerously close to my cervix, and if it stays that way, I could risk hemorrhaging if I gave birth naturally.  ugh. 

What did you just say to me?!?:

"Oh, I couldnt even tell you were pregnant" - thank you cashier at target- I attribute this to my winter clothing selection...I suppose its only noticeable when Im not wearing a jacket. good i guess.

"i've never felt a pregnant belly" - while lunging for my stomach... okay maybe you people should ask me first?!?! creepstyle!

"You're not fat, you're just pregnant" - is this supposed to be good or bad?!?!

"You and Ryan are going to have the most precious baby, I cant wait to meet him" - awwwp. thanks 

Oh, and THIS: okay so Ive always considered myself somewhat of a "susie home-maker" but I suppose I underestimated the "nesting" thing that pregnancy brings on.  My urge to cook elaborate meals and constantly clean and do laundry has become a little odd...but Ryan likes it :) We are finally getting new carpet, so we should be able to move all of the baby's things from the middle of our sitting room into MAsons bedroom (the room smells like....ew....bachelor pad...we keep the door closed).  cant wait to start moving things into there! yay!

It's 2011!!!

well its finally 2011!  What a TREMENDOUS year this will be for our family! :)
Our Baby Rodgers will be born on June 6th, and maybe a September wedding could be in the works.... (spoiler!)

Ordinarily I get irritated with the people that constantly rave about how awesome and perfect and blah blah blah that their lives are...but I kind of understand now.  When you think things couldnt get any better, and then they DO...sometimes rambling about it cant be stopped! lol

Ryan and I are getting SO excited to meet the baby, we received TONS of adorable baby things for Christmas. my mom got us both our own diaper bags full of baby necessities, and Ryans mom got us baby clothes and the sweetest softest blanket that I can see myself holding the baby in!  Getting all these baby clothes and putting them away is the most crazy feeling... They're so small and delicate and soft, and when I pick them up and hold them I find myself drifting into a daydream imagining how warm the baby's belly will feel and how soft his or her little hands will be, sticking out of the tiny sleeves......... gotta pause the blog to daydream in the nursery for a few...

Aaaaaaand Im back. :) another super-neat thing is that I've felt the baby move finally! I was worrying that it would be FOREVER...but at 18 weeks, i've felt little popcorn like pops, which make my heart race. Seriously, it blows my mind.  Ryan and I have started reading and talking to the baby, and Ryan absolutely cracks me up when he talks to the baby.  He lays down by my belly and usually starts with "Hi baby, its me, daddy."  then he rambles off about whatever it is he wants to talk about...aliens, political debates, sports, his family..and of course how much he loves the baby. adorable!

Something else- while I've been pregnant, things have changed, obvi.  I cant (and honestly dont feel like) go out and party/drink/stay up late, and it's really shown me who my real friends are and arent.  Im RIDICULOUSLY excited to spend some time with a certain amazing bestie of mine to ask her to be our baby's godmother... it is actually because of her that I pursued a relationship with Ryan... we cant wait to ask her :)

Lastly- a list of ridic cravings that Im trying to avoid eating WAY too much of, so maybe typing them out will help relieve them....ha!

cinnabon - pickle juice - pbj on wheat - salami and potato salad sandwiches on crossaints - pierogies - loaded baked potatoes 

these foods could be eaten at any time of day in my opinion, its 10:30am and id be fine with a fatty baked potato with pickle juice on top. mmmm!

-Mrs. Rodgers 

Month 3

so here we are, halfway through the 3rd month of our pregnancy, and Ryan and I couldnt be happier!
So many of the terrible 1st trimester symptoms are gone! so much less nausea, fatigue, irritability, etc. its just lovely :)  Im so glad to be finally showing, for a while there I just felt like a tub-o-goo.

As both of our mothers get more and more excited about being grandmothers, the baby's room is quickly filling up with diapers and soft toys and baby things. Ahhhh! I could honestly spend HOURS in these baby stores just touching and holding all these tiny clothes and imagining what our baby is going to be like...*cue dream-state where im holding the baby in the nursing and singing to it* awwww :)

okay so next thing thats on my mind: honesty
I think lying is wrong, dont we all? I try to be truthful and honest and maintain my veracity with my friends and family, because when youre a good person, good things happen, yeah?
So is NOT telling someone something just as bad as lying? its still deceitful - for an example lets enter into discussion Finn and Rachels relationship on Glee (yes, Emily Marler, I too, depend on Rachel and Finn for my sanity) Finn had relations with Santana before he was with Rachel, and DIDNT TELL her...this left Rachel feeling deceived, so she then made out with Puck to "get back at him".  Was both of their actions wrong? yes.  Does deceit hurt people? yes.  So be truthful, its a lot easier in the end.

Next point- right along the lines of honesty - is it HONESTLY acceptable for a guy (with a girlfriend and baby) to be receiving texts from girls (who dislike pregnant girlfriend and want guy to be "a bachelor again") at 3 IN THE MORNING saying "come get me"?  I think not.  Although Ryan doesnt respond to the early morning texts, he still talks with them later in the day, which doesnt bother me....but when the conversations turn from "hi, hows it going" to "So, since I broke up with my boyfriend, I havent had sex in sooo long......."  INAPPROPRIATE!!!!!   This. Is. Wrong. and yet he says that she and him have been friends forever blah blah blah, i have nothing to worry about..... I dont think he will cheat, I just dont like the topics of conversation.... but who am I to tell him not to talk to his friends.  ugh.  Girls who talk to NON-SINGLE guys like that (flirty but with the intention of making them single, yet not starting a relationship) irritate me.  These same girls are the ones that say "I hope that b**ch knows he was my friend before he was your boyfriend"....come on.

I have one thing to say to the NUMEROUS girls I know who act like that.  Yeah he was your friend first, but he will be mine last. go away.  Bother some other relationship.  Please and thank you.

That being said, I couldnt be happier with the beautiful relationship that Ryan and I have blossomed.  He is such a caring man, I seriously couldnt ask for a better father for our baby.  He is so attentive to everything I do, if he notices that im uncomfortable he does whatever he can to help, he enables all my cravings (donuts at 5am anyone?!), and he is constantly telling me how beautiful I am....seriously.  I am one lucky momma-to-be.

And thats that.

-Mrs. Rodgers :)

Good Morning....maybe?

3 things that I want to talk about - The holiday season, Ryan, and ...well...me.

Its almost thanksgiving and my cravings can barely contain themselves! haha I absolutely cant wait for savory turkey and stuffing, sweet cranberries, big fluffy dinner rolls...mmMmMm!  Speaking of Holidays, I love the way this season makes me feel...or maybe its just Ryan, or maybe its the baby, I dont know.  But im in love with this feeling! Its like happy mixed with joy mixed with love mixed with hungry :)

I understand that Ryan and I have kinda done things backwards...okay REALLY backwards, but in some odd perfect way it works, and its a beautiful thing.  Its like every day I fall more and more in love with him, which makes me more and more excited for our future together :)  Ive been having dreams at least once a week about marrying him...its precious. why isnt there a way to record dreams?!
On the topic of Ryan, hes currently away hunting.  I love that he has these hobbies and that he brings home delicious deer for me and his family but ugh, its like the second he leaves for the weekend, I start feeling sick and whiny and I realize that its happening and its just plain obnoxious. Id really like for the first trimester to end now instead of at the end of November so maybe these mood swings and early symptoms will go away.

Last topic, and its INCREDIBLY vain, so if you dont want to read my whining, I understand.
I dont feel pretty lately, and Im not sure why.  physically, my boobs look phenomenal (thank you, love-nugget) my belly is only showing a tiny amount, but enough that I dont look fat, so why do I feel this way?  Im thinking it has something to do with a certain group of 3 girls that dont like me (for something that happened 5 months ago that no one cares about anymore) and constantly send me drunk texts at night telling me how ugly I am and how ugly my baby will be...I know I shouldnt let it get to me because theyre just drunk but seriously...thats not nice.  I get it, that im not a supermodel, and my forehead is too big, and im pale...well its winter and God made me this way.  I cant change it.  I hate feeling insecure. its disgusting to me. ugh.  Now i'm fussy.  I wish I could go shopping and get a new outfit or two and feel good again, but I lost my job (because of the pregnancy, pretty positive) so now I have no extra money and no law firms are hiring (that I've found).

Well I dont want to end badly, so im just going to keep being excited about Thanksgiving and Christmas and tomorrow Ryan will come home again and life will be good :)

Lets get on the same page here, please

So after our October 19th appointment, we had another appointment on October 25th for our first ultrasound.  Ryan was acting nervous and standoffish since we had the positive test, which I assumed lent to his nerves that this was really happening.  He and I talked about the other options, but felt and agreed that at our age (23) and our economic status that it would be cruel to extinguish or give up a little miracle, just because it was a surprise.
That being said, I keep hearing that he is telling his friends he doesnt want it, which depresses me, makes me cry, makes me nervous, etc. He tells me that he loves me, but to me it means nothing if he hates this little thing growing inside me.
At our first ultrasound appointment I was worried that he wouldnt even want to go in with me, but he did, and we were able to see the baby's heartbeat.  I swear it was the most amazing thing Ive ever seen in my entire life.  It was right there, clear as day, beating away at 141bpm.  It was INCREDIBLE. I cried, ryan had this look of shock.  After that, he started to understand that this wasnt going to be as terrible as he thought.

Basically, it took me about 30 seconds to adapt to this new role as a vessel/all inclusive resort for our love-nugget, and it took Ryan about 30 days - at least we are on the same page now. finally. :)

REALIZATION: We're having a baby!

Now Im going to get real with you people- we had planned to take things slow (intimately) but after a night of Jack Daniels and Budweiser, those plans went a little haywire, but my goodness..WORTH IT! ...Or was it?  That was the week of September 13th.  Little did we know, that night we not only expressed our love to each other, but that love did exactly what mother nature intended.  Oops! 

as the month of september continued, we lent no thought to the tiny embryo a-brewin' (yeah I just said that) in my uterus, we had no idea..

Around October 10th, while talking with my friend Jessaca, we discussed her new nuva ring and how its made her periods so regular, etc...at which point she said hers started right on time about 5 days ago.  This struck me as odd, because I have been 2 weeks before her every month since we started nursing school.  I immediately texted Ryan and he said we should take a test, to which my response was---nahhhh itll be fine lets give it a few days.  

Instead of "giving it a few days", he took it upon himself to buy a test, which I took the following morning.  Not only was it positive, but it was IMMEDIATELY positive, and the bright pink line left no idea that it was a mistake.  I called Ryan into the bathroom (at 5:45 in the morning--- I was anxious!) and showed him the test (in case I was reading it wrong) to which he replied "Oh thats just great, im going back to bed" .....WHAT?!?!?!? thats it!? we are having a baby and he goes back to bed?! 

Okay fine, he was tired and had to be up in an hour, whatever, I had more serious business to attend to anyway.  I went to the kitchen and CHUGGED 4 glasses of water, laughing to myself and saying "oh its going to be so diluted that the next test will def be positive" So I took the second test...BAM. just as bold as the first.  We made a doctors appointment, it was October 19th, and they confirmed by test that we were pregnant.

Our Story

Okay, so the beginning:

Ryan and I met through our mutual friend, Jessie about 2 years ago...we hardly saw each other until July of 2010, when we kept running into one another.  At this point, we started hanging out more, doing things together, and it was shockingly awesome.  I was fairly certain that I hadnt been this happy in over a year :) plus, hes breath-takingly handsome of course :)

So we dated and things were blissful, his parents love me, my parents love him, it was basically a match made in heaven.  I moved into my new loft on campus at SLU (where im in Nursing School) and was a little bummed that I would be so far away from his South County home (yeah, he has his own house, its pretty awesome, jusssayin.)

Ryan had asked me one September morning to be his girlfriend, to which I (hilariously, in my opinion) told him "we do we need to label things?" and the subject was dropped until a later date.  This seems funny to me, as normally I am the person to initiate those decisions...either way, it was cute that he asked!

So thats how "we" started - short story? yeah youre telling ME! it only gets longer (and better!) from here!