Nursery, Baby Shower & Fried Chicken.

As the majority of my social media followers know, Erik and I finally completed a very large portion of Trevor's nursery. I apologize for all the baby spam, but I'm sure you all understand my utter excitement and my will to share it all with you. This is truly such an amazing time in my life and I send buckets and buckets of baby dust to anyone whom wishes to join me in the journey of motherhood as well.

All in one day, Erik managed to put together the crib, the shelf, the changing table and the rocking chair together by himself. I literally just threw his scraps away and took pictures. He did not want my help at all. What a man. He put it all together in record speed too. I'm loving all the white, it looks so fresh and clean. It helps to open up the very tiny room. All we need to add now is the wardrobe for Trevor's clothes and random decoration. I'm painting him something for his room, I'm just not sure exactly what it is yet. It may involve a dinosaur and his name, but inspiration may hit and I come up with something entirely different. Of course, there are little touches as well like his mobile that I have yet to buy, baskets to organize the changing table shelves, a storage caddy for over the door, and everything that I have yet to obtain from my baby shower.

If you didn't already know, my baby shower is November 23 at Julia Reiniche's house. I'm registered at Amazon as well as Carter's. For family overseas, you are able to purchase anything online and send it straight to my address so that you won't have to worry about shipping it yourself, unless you would rather do that.

Courtney Peterson

PSC 112 Box 78

APO, AE 09717

Here are some photos of the nursery.

Daddy building the crib.

I have crib bumpers that have yet to be added that match that pillow.

His adorable little shelf. I have no idea what are going in those boxes yet.

Shoes! I have them in all sizes, and there are more to come!

I'm not wearing makeup and my hair needs brushed lol.

It's a work in progress, but at least I can nest, nest, nest... and I am. I feel so much better now that I can go in there and re-arrange or at least envision what I want to do next. I only wish it were easier to put up a shelf here (concrete walls) because I would have one to put Nightmare Before Christmas collectibles that he will have and will love as much as Mommy.

Anyway, I'm 19 weeks pregnant today - 7 more days until Trevor is half-baked! Gosh, I'm at that point where I just want to hold him! I'll get my fix in once Bentley is born and Sam lets me snuggle him to pieces! I feel pretty good otherwise. I find it harder to get up quickly (I get dizzy every time) or to turn over in bed. It's not that it's difficult, it just feels uncomfortable for my stomach. I pee all the time. All. The. Time. My appetite is 110% back. I have no issue eating and I want to do it all the time. Don't worry, I'm not, but I do daydream about random things, like fried chicken. I'm on a Southern food kick right now. Someone please invite me over and cook me fried chicken, macaroni & cheese and mashed potatoes. Don't forget the biscuits.

Uh oh, I think I may have to make a grocery store run.

I Have a Confession

I am an out of control, impatient OCD freak. I want to get the nursery ready - now. I want the furniture we bought for the nursery put together the day we buy it. I want to nest. It's an uncontrollable urge that I can't beat. My darling husband tells me I'm impatient and am NOT allowed to put together anything because it's his "man job". If you know me, you know that's the worst thing you can do to me. I'm an instant gratification kind of girl and I like to do things myself. Since Erik will grump at me if I defy his requests (which I've considered many times) I put my energy into something else. Shopping. I'm not necessarily buying anything yet (I mean, I do, just little things here and there), I'm just highly organizational about what will be bought. Pictured below is a chart that I created to keep track of what clothing I registered for on my Amazon and Carter's registry. I have clothing items listed vertically, and horizontally are the sizes. I put a tally for everything on my list. 3-6 month onesie added, put a tally in the box. This way I can see what I need to register for more or less of. Also, at the very bottom of my list, I calculated what age the baby will be in every month. Example: January 23-February 23 = 1 month. This way, I can tell what kind of clothes I need for each month. Sweater? Shorts? Boots? I calculated Trevor's age for each holiday so I can include an outfit for said holiday. P.S. - I'm totally on love with the Christmas Eve pajamas I picked out as well as the Christmas dinner outfit. Trevor will be 11 months during this time, so I registered them in size 9-12 months. DO YOU SEE HOW INSANE I AM?! Seriously, someone please tell me I'm not alone. I don't know, I just really enjoy organization. Siiiigh.

18 weeks.

Here we are, folks, week 18, (2 weeks from halfway)! This is a small milestone in this pregnancy because it marks an average time that Mommies start to feel their baby move, if they haven't already. At this point I've felt little whooshes and bubbles that I think was Trevor moving, but I didn't want to count them officially. I'm hoping to truly recognize movement soon. Trevor is growing like crazy and sucking all the life out of me. I'm starting to recognize when he has changed positions (not DURING, but later) because my stomach will be shaped differently.

Erik and I have finally cleared out the man cave and made its temporary home in the guest room so Trevor can have the old room. I'm WAY to excited and impatient to get everything in there.

I've been having visions lately of our little boy during the holidays. I see him at 10 months old on Thanksgiving, enjoying some mashed potatoes from Mommy's plate, or on Christmas at 11 months, running around (if he's an early bloomer like Mommy & Daddy) in his Christmas long johns and reindeer slippers, surrounded by mountains of wrapping paper. In just 4 and a half short months, it'll no longer be Erik and I. We are so excited that I really can't put it into words.

We are beyond ready for you, Pumpkin. :)

My pregnancy survey: 

How far along? 18 weeks

Total weight gain: Nothing. I was informed that many ladies don't gain weight until approx. 20 weeks, aimless worried than I was.

Maternity clothes? Maternity jeans are my favorite, then any top that will fit my belly is good. My favorite is Erik's band tees.

Stretch marks? Belly wise, nothing but a quarter if an inch mark that is TOTALLY random. I have them on my sides, hips, thighs and butt. I'm learning to come to terms with them because I seen EXACT ones to mine on someone else that have faded nicely.

Sleep? Uncomfortably, but better than nothing. I miss sleeping on my belly.

Best moment this week: starting the nursery!

Miss Anything? Cigarettes sometimes, don't judge me. Not breathing like I'm 500 lbs. Being able to clean without 40 breaks.

Movement: Im hoping anytime now!

Food craving: Fruit Mentos are where it's at, but not really.

Anything making you queasy or sick? Not really.

Labor Signs: No

Symptoms: lower back pain - fatigue (which I attribute to not sleeping well) - mood swings have officially made their debut. Sometimes, without reason, I feel so angry that I could start a fight, but I know better and just go cool off or announce that I'm grumpy.

Belly Button in or out? In. 

Looking forward to: building and setting up all the nursery furniture!

Our Baby in Veggie/Fruit/Food Term? Sweet potato

It's a Boy!

So, I'm a little late on posting this, but you ALL already know what I'm having.

It's a boy!

The initial shock has died down, but for a minute I was sure I would have a heart attack. We entered the office of the lady whom would be performing our ultrasound. I eagerly laid down and allowed her to squeeze the cold jelly on my belly in preparation to see our little girl. The baby was sleeping, of course. The spicy food, sugar and belly poking did nothing for keeping him awake. With permissions, the technician jabbed my sides in hopes to shake him awake. It was funny because we could see him swaying back and forth and not budging. Jerk. I threatened to ground him upon his arrival and he finally woke up. "I've got it!" OMG, let's see that vagina. "It's a boy, 100%" Died. I died of shock right then and there, came back to life so I could throw my hands on my face and scream, "boy?!"

All my instincts were wrong and everyone else was wrong as well. I just smiled and laughed in disbelief yet excitement to finally know. She told me that he looks great and has a really strong heartbeat (which we also got to hear). I left that office a new woman. Dreams of dresses, bows and a Daddy's girl were shattered, but visions of a dirt covered Momma's boy begging for his first guitar (hopefully) came to mind. He was also wearing a bow tie and cardigan in this vision. As promised, I called Julia as soon as we left and she didn't have words; she was just as shocked as me. Then Erik and I told Rick that he's getting the nephew he wanted, and of course, he was so happy. I called my family and none of them were surprised. My mom had an initial instinct that I was having a boy when I told her, and my dad insisted I was having a boy and he would call him Bruce... even though our son will be named Trevor. (Bruce Lee Peterson, get it *eye roll*) 

I awoke the next morning with so much excitement about our baby boy. Erik is even more excited than I expected and can't wait to have a little man. Erik and I like to greet each other with a kiss and a "we're having a boy" now because we are just so amazed and excited.

Trevor, you are NOT what I expected, and I am thrilled about that. You surprised Mommy already, and I can't wait to see what else you have in store. I love you so much already & I can't wait to have that love grow when I'm holding you in my arms or watching you in Daddy's. See you in January, kid. Please, let's not come any later, January 23 is perfect.

Unexpected Ultrasound

So, Wednesday was supposed to just be my 4 month check-up. Wendy (midwife) checked my blood pressure, answered questions and felt my belly. She was feeling my uterus and was surprised by how high my uterus has risen into my belly - explains my early showing. I already knew that though since I feel for it every night while I lay in bed. She said the baby and my uterus are growing magnificently. :)

Then, she gets the Doppler ready (a listening device to hear the heartbeat) and searches. She continued hearing my heart but not the baby's, she told me that mine was too strong. I guess that's good for me.  So after a few minutes and some nervous nausea, she decided to do an ultrasound. Immediately she saw the heart beating strongly and showed me our baby. Holy crap, did that little person grow! I think the baby was trying to sleep. She'd push the wand down and he/she would give a kick to say, "hey, leave me alone". The baby turned its head away and locked it's legs tight so we couldn't get much of anything. Definitely a stubborn Peterson! I don't mind, because in 3d ays I'll get my 3D ultrasound and won't leave until I'm certain what sex it is.

Erik and I DID settle on a boys name. He's the pickiest man on the planet, so I didn't have much of a choice. It's simple and cute. We will announce the name when we announce the sex. Can't wait until the next blog to tell you guys! ;)

Knowing that I'm in my second trimester and that my baby is growing like crazy really makes me realize that this isn't just a pregnancy; I'm not just getting fat and awing over tiny human clothes. In 5 short months I will be holding a baby in my arms, I will be a mother and Erik, a father. We will be parents to a beautiful baby boy or girl. It'll help once we have a nursery set up as well. Erik and I went to a store called Baby Dump yesterday and we bought the crib and mattress. The crib is a basic white, rectangular build and the mattress is a special AirGo brand which allows the baby to breathe when it rolls over onto it's stomach - I love that. We also went to Ikea and bought a white changing table. I thought about doing a dresser with a changing pad on top, but since the room is so small I thought it'd be more efficient to use a basic table and buy the changing table hanging organizer to utilize the space. We intend on purchasing an armoire that we picked out once we borrow someone's larger vehicle, a rug and some more storage containers at Ikea as well. Before we get to building what we have, our landlord has to re-wallpaper the man cave from lime green to white and remove all of Erik's gear. I know we have time, but I'm ready to start organizing!

One last piece of news: I discovered that I can in fact put larger items on my Amazon registry, I just have to choose what I want, test it out like I'm buying in, then if it takes me to the end screen, I cancel and add it to my wish list. For family whom were concerned, there is now travel systems and Pack N Plays available to be shipped to me :) I'm so glad I won't have to buy a Dutch travel system because I HATE them and the American ones are so much cheaper. Anyway, I know it's early but to put inquiring minds at ease, you can access my baby registry at this link:

http://www.amazon.com/registry/baby/3ETNLL86456CG

Talk to you in 3 days!

4 Months Complete

As of Wednesday, I'll have completed 4 months of pregnancy. I can't believe it, it really does go by as fast as they say. Yesterday, I returned from my month long vacation visiting family and am now easing back into routine. I certainly look more pregnant than before I left and I definitely feel so as well.

I've gained 4 lbs - I gained back what I lost initially, so I'm at my pre-pregnancy weight now. I'm not sure how considering all the state-side food, but I won't argue it. Other than my dreadful viral infection I'm finally kicking after a week, I feel well. I am tired, but I blame that on the sickness. I do have some stretching and pulling, but the baby needs to grow! I pee what feels like every half hour. I cry for seemingly no reason, unless you count being overwhelmed at an overly-crowded restaurant and a table with too much food covering it, a reason. [To be fair, our flight was delayed a million times, so we stayed an extra day and I was dreadfully tired.] No cravings, just my day to day, "I could go for _______", thoughts. I am fully embracing the maternity clothes. I finally accumulated enough jeans for my entire pregnancy thanks to Ross, thrift stores and random sales.

          15 weeks.

The baby is almost the size of an avocado (length wise) and is weighing in at 3.5 oz. As of now, I am waiting to feel the baby kick. It could be now, it could be in a month, but when it happens I will be over the moon. On Wednesday I have my 4 month ultrasound and checkup with my midwife and August 12 we go in for a 3D ultrasound to find out the sex of baby Peterson! I can't wait to show the DVD to my family! :)

We sort of have names chosen, but I'm not sold on our boy name, so I'm praying for a girl so I can just avoid that situation all together. Ill update after my ultrasound!