We're on the home stretch

I have now hit the 30 week mark which mean we have less than 10 weeks to go! I cannot believe how quickly time has gone.  The nursery is really coming together!  Seeing everything get put together has really made all of this sink in that we will soon have a baby boy!  Josh and I got mostly everything put away from the Baby Bash, but we will probably have to do some moving around for some things.  We ordered the decals for the walls last weekend (nature-themed).  We ordered a tree that comes with a bird house, 6 birds, and squirrels.  I love that theme, because we won't have do much to it for baby #2 if it is a boy or a girl.  (I know hard to believe that I am thinking about baby #2 already!!). 

It is a work in progress, but it is coming together!

We have a few names in mind for our little man, but we will be keeping it a secret until we see which one fits best!  I think it would be pretty hard to name someone before actually getting to see them.  We will keep the names pretty traditional and more than likely in the family.

One thing that I have noticed is that I have what is known as "pregnant brain".  I am usually an excellent speller, but have found it more difficult to put my thoughts together and also spell even the simplest words!  The brain isn't working as quickly and efficiently as it used to:). 

I finally got us signed up for our Birthing Class!  We are doing the FastTrack version which is on a Saturday from 9 - 230.  We thought that would work best due to Josh's work schedule.  We are taking that November 12th, so hopefully everything will be fresh in our minds!  We also signed up for Baby Basics (which is focused on diaper changing, bathing, feeding, etc) and a Breastfeeding Essentials class.  These are both two hour classes on a Tuesday night.  I am a firm believer in Breastfeeding and that if you want it to work it will! Many people have said that it was very helpful, so I'll let you know a couple weeks after he is here:). 

This weekend is one of our only free weekends for October, so we are going to take advantage and do a whole lot of NOTHING!  I may go get sheets for the crib but I haven't put a lot on the agenda:). 

Rhamy Baby Bash

Less than 11 weeks to go before the little man arrives!  I cannot believe how quickly time has gone.  I think with us being as busy as we have been it has made time fly by much quicker!  I think this has been the only time in history that I have wanted fall and winter to get here as soon as possible.  I cannot wait for his arrival!!  He is growing by the day and so is Mommy!! 

Last weekend we had the "Rhamy Baby Bash" which is our version of a Baby Shower.  I've never really been the type of person we likes to get "showered" so we thought something more laid back where people can eat, drink, and socialize was more our style.  We had such a good turn out, and we were very thankful for those who came to support us and our little one.  We have such great, caring people surrounding us; we are blessed!  We also want to thank those that helped out with everything (Mom, Shea, Norma & Adrian, Nick & Bethann, and Justin & Sydney!!). 

Friday I took the day off of work and my mom came up early to do some baking and to get everything oraganized before we started cooking on Saturday.  I was on my feet most of the day on Friday, so I was exhausted once I was finally able to relax (9pm!!!).  Justin and Sydney had come up a day early so we sat and chatted with them before going to bed.  Sydney and I compared what things were going on with our pregnancies just to make sure that everything is "normal" and it's always fun to share a time like this with someone close.

Saturday my Mom and I started cooking all the food and got everything decorated and ready for that afternoon and evening.  Festivities started around 430 and I think we had everything cleanup by 10pm (my kind of party nowadays:)).  There were so many people that came out and at events like that you never feel like you got the chance to talk to everyone as much as what you would like, but it was such a success!

Court and Shea

Rhamy/Smith family - there will be 3 cousins all within 4 months of each other!

Due 1 day apart (both boys:)).  Surely they won't get into trouble!!

Crum family

Josh and some college friends - Sheriff, Ludwig, Schnell

Anne and Stacy

Josh, Stacy, KJ





Always need a family photo!! :)

 I have been quite the slacker on taking weekly pictures, so I am 2 weeks behind!!  I will try to remember to do it this Saturday.  As far as any updates for this week - after a long weekend of the Baby Bash and a friend of ours daughter had her First Birthday Party on Sunday my feet were pretty much toast!  I think they finally started to swell a bit!  Yesterday after work I decided to take Boston for a walk, since I took last week off from running, and I got my shoes on and tied but noticed they were much tighter than normal and pretty uncomfortable to wear.  That is when I really noticed my feet swelling.  If you look at them they look normal, however, they are slightly bigger than normal:).  I think today they have gone down, so hopefully I will get to start some sort of exercise routine again this week.

Like I had mentioned before, my back has always bothered me a bit, but it has really started to ache this weekend and yesterday.  It is in one spot that is just below my bra line on the left side of my spine.  A friend of mine at work gave me an icy/hot patch to see if that would help, but it didn't really do the trick.  So after Josh got home and I was almost in tears, because no way that I sat helped my back, Josh called the chiropractor right away and scheduled an appointment for me this morning.  After talking with the doctor he informed me that the spot on my back is pretty common amongst pregnant women due to their growing bellies. He also said that during pregnancy a hormone is released (amongst many other hormones!) that causes your joints to loosen up a bit.  So after an examination he informed me that I had a vertebre out of place.  After some cracking it had felt better, but my muscles around that area are still a little sore.  I am supposed to be icing it every 2 hours, but I have not yet done that today.  He also told me that it is likely to come out again and will probably last throughout the rest of my pregnancy, but I am going to go back Thursday for another check up and probably get it put back in place again.

So all in all my pregnancy has been pretty easy.  Baby Rhamy has also been moving around like crazy!  You can feel his bottom and feet now.  He is especially more active at night.  I fell asleep the other night with Josh's hand on my belly with baby doing punching exercises, it was definitely something I could get used to:). 

Tailgate + 5K

Josh finally had an entire weekend off this past weekend so we packed as much as we could into these past 2 days!  On Friday night my brother, Bethann, and Clint arrived at our place a little before 9pm and I had made lasagna for everyone, so we all ate, chatted, and went to bed.  Hart eventually got to our place around 1 am, in just enough time for him to get a few hours of sleep to wake up and tailgate!

We finally got left for Ames about 6:15 sporting our Hawkeye gear (well, except Hart) to start tailgating.  It was my first tailgate without actually tailgating, but I definitely enjoyed the eating part:).  We were able to catch up with a few friends that we haven't seen in awhile, so it was a great morning!  We headed back to our place to watch the game and grill some good food (and do a little napping!).  The outcome wasn't exactly what we had hoped with an ISU victory, but there's always next year!

We spent the rest of the afternoon watching more college football and playing a little Mario Kart. The Huskers (Josh's team) game started a little later, so we started watching it and then off to dinner at Jethro's where we were able to watch the Huskers victory!  We finished up our Saturday night playing a little Guitar Hero and off to bed!

Megan and I (Megan is due Jan 25th and I'm due Dec 3rd!!)

Eric, Megan, me, Josh

The guys - Ryan, Eric, Josh, Nick, Clint

Our Crew!

Nick and Bethann at dinner



Jethro's

Sunday morning we got up pretty early because I had signed up to do a 5K at WaterWorks Park in Des Moines.  The race benefitted the Children's Cancer Connection and there was also a pancake breakfast after (which was great motivation!).  Josh, Boston, and I got there around 830 and the race started at 9.  My cousin, Jenna; her son, Jaxon; and my Uncle Ted all came to watch me run as well!  The race went much better than expected!  I had a pretty good time for being 7 months pregnant and also got in a good workout for the day!  Josh and I also met a family there who's little girl was going through cancer.  Her father was a Des Moines fire fighter so Josh and him connected instantly.  After talking with them about what their little girl is going through really put into perspective how lucky we are to be having a healthy baby, but you should never take for granted the things you do have.  Thankfully their daughter is almost done with treatment and will hopefully soon be cancer free!!  After the race and breakfast we stopped by the Capitol to look at the 9/11 memorial.  There was a flag for each person that had lost a life that day.  It was very cool to see, but yet heartbreaking at the same time.

It's on!

The start of the race...

The end of the race...

Josh and I after the race

9/11 Memorial...

Never felt better

During the final week of my 2nd trimester I can happily say that I have felt great this week!  I am a lot more energized (which could be because of my exercise routine), and ready to take on anything!  I have had better jogging times and a little more 'pep in my step'. 

Last weekend Josh and I were actually able to spend a little time together so we spent the weekend getting some much needed things done at home!  I did some deep cleaning around the house while he and a friend put in a new storm door and exterior door in our sun room - told you he was handy:).  I have also become quite the baker with all the extra time I have had on my hands.  I am becoming an expert on Red Velvet Cupcakes and I have to admit that they are pretty tasty!!

Today I had my gestational diabetes test and I don't think I have ever been so nervous for something in my life!  But this has by far been the most uplifting appointment.  The gestational diabetes test came back NEGATIVE and my hemoglobin is excellent.  The nurse told me that it is the same as my very first appt which is extremely rare and used the word "impressive":).  My belly is measuring 28 cm, which they said was perfect!  You typically want to measure the same # of weeks you are in your pregnancy and since I will be 28 weeks tomorrow I was super excited!  We were also able to hear his heartbeat (127 bpm).  So all in all it was a very good appointment!  We were also told that we wouldn't be getting any more ultrasoundss as long as there are no complications which was kind of a bummer, but we are thinking that we will get another one scheduled later on in the pregnancy with Prenatal Visions!

Josh and I are looking forward to yet another busy weekend.  I will be going to Iowa/ISU game on Saturday with my brother and some friends and Josh does have to work on Saturday for a bit but hopefully he will get some free time to watch the game.  Sunday I run my 5K at Water Works Park here in Des Moines and then I think we will go order our nursery furniture.  So lots of things coming up to look forward to!

27 weeks!

26 weeks

This week I think I have doubled in size!  Luckily my weight has not, but just my belly.  I have really grown pretty round, which makes doing my day to day activities a little more difficult.  For instance, bending over to pick something off the floor is not as easy as it used to be, tying my shoes, and running.  I was telling Josh last night that I wish I could lift him off of me for about 5 minutes just so I can breathe a little easier! :)  I have noticed that when I am sitting on the couch it has been just a little more difficult to just sit there and relax because the extra weight that is on my lungs.  Lately I have been getting on all fours and just letting the belly "hang" for a bit just to take some of the pressure off.  It seems to be working and also relieves my back for a bit!

I know that this is only the beginning of what is to come for the next 3 months, but like I have said before, it is well worth it!!  I have been noticing a lot more looks from strangers, the ones that say "she is pregnant!" instead of questioning if I was or not.  I have had a few strangers asked if I was expecting and it usually followed by if it is my first.  I get really excited to answer that question!!

We had a doctor appt last Friday and were told that we will need to start going every 2 weeks now, which means we are getting closer!!  Josh has not missed one appointment.  He always drops whatever he is doing at work, picks me up at my office, and then we go to our appt and out to lunch usually after that.  We found out that I have the gestational diabetes test next Friday and they gave me glucola to drink one hour before arriving to my appt.  For some reason I am a little nervous about this test!  I know I am not overweight by any means, but the one craving I have had during the entire pregnancy that I did not have before is sweets!  I am usually more drawn to salts (nuts, cheeses, etc) and Josh is always the dessert eater, but since Baby Rhamy has been in the picture so have cookies, cupcakes, and ice cream!  I have tried to eat these in moderation (and by that I mean I have really tried since I found out about the test:)).  I am hypoglycemic, low blood sugar, so I am hoping my body hasn't gone into shock with the abnormal amounts of sugar it's been getting!

I have gone back to my normal jogging routine this past week, which I think has helped my self esteem along with my weight gain.  I have ran everyday except Sunday and Wednesday so I just need to keep this up!  It is much harder to jog than what I would've expected.  I think because my center of gravity is a little off it makes it a little more awkward than normal! The extra weight definitely doesn't help my already bad knees and oddly enough it has been my calves and achilles tendon that has been bothering me the most.  I signed up to do a 5K next Sunday and am really looking forward to it!  I am not going to have any record breaking time by any means, but I am looking forward to finishing it.  It will give me something to work towards for awhile.

Here is an updated belly pic!

26 weeks

    Also, one of my girlfriends got married this passed weekend and the wedding was beautiful (as was she)!  Josh was unable to go because of work so I headed back to Villisca Friday night and my mom and I went to the wedding on Saturday night.  Here are couple pics from the wedding!