Thanksgiving in Chicago

For the first time in three years I had Thanksgiving off, so we were naturally thrilled when we learned that we could take a few days and fly back home to Chicago to see the family.  It was important to us for them to see us pregnant, but any more time and I would be too far along to fly so…quick trip.  We flew home on Thanksgiving Day, and Munchkin did great except the landing was a little rough so you could tell the baby wasn’t too stoked.  Other than that I couldn’t help but watch all the traveling families and trying to assess whether we will need a car seat, stroller and pack and play when we fly next time, ha ha!

We had a little bit of time before Steve’s sister Jen, Mike and the three girls would come over for the big dinner.  Mom outdid herself as dinner was amazing and reminded Steve and I what we had been missing all these years.  The girls were so excited to see us and it was just so refreshing to be home with family. 

Friday would be filled with more time with family but specifically Grandma McMahon.  It was a joyous afternoon spent at her home, having lunch, the whole family but then we were surprised with a baby shower.  It was so fun!  The girls helped us open the gifts, and they each picked out their favorite book for the baby.  We got so many thoughtful gifts for Munchkin and it finally felt real that this is soon to be future (diapers, wipes, books) etc.  We are though really looking forward to going to one of our favorite stores, Build A Bear Workshop to design one of our gifts once we know if Munchkin is a boy or a girl! 

Throughout the trip we got to see a number of great friends, although never long enough it was still just so nice to catch up as we all have busy lives and they grow in different ways, it never fails that the minute we are together it was as if the year never happened! 

Our three nieces were such dolls, they are at the perfect ages that know us, love us and want to play with us every second they can, which of course the feeling is mutual.  The twins think we are having a girl and when we asked what we should name her then, they said “Barbie.”  How cute is that?  If not Barbie, they said “Kiekie.” 

One of Munchkin's new gifts (photo) The family was of course was very supportive of my obsessions, hard to call them cravings, more like obessions, if it is not pumpkin it is bananas, so when my brother in law Mike told me about the Banana Bread French Toast at a restaurant near their house.  The challenge was that now it is all I would think about, and it was late at night so the only way to taste this magical recipe would be if Steve’s parents would drive 30 minutes out of the way back to his sister’s for breakfast to then go the opposite way to take us to the airport.  I can’t speak for anyone but I know for me it was 100% worth the drive, the Banana Bread French Toast was literally the best breakfast I have ever had! 

I never realized that not drinking, I would get SO excited about food!

24 Weeks

We have a Munchkin appointment once a month and so far so GOOD!  This last appointment I had was the first one Steve had to miss.  Fortunately it was super quick, easy and straight forward because everything is going so well!  Hearing the heartbeat has to be the most magical sound in the world!

SIX MONTHS - Can you believe it?  I am having a hard time believing how fast this pregnancy is going, now I understand how people say they blink and their children were in high school.  My goodness! 

I feel the baby more and more every day!  I can’t tell if Munchkin loves or hates orange juice but I have my glass in the morning the baby is super active! Steve can only hear the baby moving around by his stethoscope but still not detection of the baby’s heartbeat (any week now). 

It was a huge shock when I felt a unique feeling and at first couldn’t tell what it was because it didn’t feel like an actual kick or the flutters I felt before.  But then I realized it was the baby having the hiccups!  Oh my goodness I just laid in bed glowing.  I woke up Steve to tell him the news but he was so asleep that he rolled over, put his hand on my belly, said “ohhh that is so cool” and then started snoring again.  It was classic!   I felt so guilty though feeling so excited, in love with the small little hiccups when I know personally I hate having the hiccups more than anything.  It is all these little moments that just makes me fall in love more and more and it is impossible for me not to enjoy every part of this pregnancy!!! 

Munchkin's First NASCAR Race

Over Veteran's Day weekend we went to Phoenix with our closest friends to meet up with my parents and grandma for the NASCAR Phoenix Race...  We always rent an RV and stay all weekend in the campground surrounding the race track.  Days filled with BBQ, bean bags, country music, camp fires, poker and lots of laughs!  This trip was filled with GOOD TIMES but all I could think about is how the little munchkin will sleep in the RV next year for his/her first camping experience.  Each of us have a different driver and even though my driver took the cake for doing the worse (last place, at least he finished the race) it was the BEST race we have ever seen in Phoenix.  The one thing everyone could agree on was that they wanted Steve’s driver, Tony Stewart to win the Championship, we shall know in one more week! 

Here is the new NASCAR maternity shirt I got, GO JEFF GORDON! 

Steve and I bought our first gift for the baby, a onesie that says "Burning Rubber" with amatching bib, it seemed only fitting! 

Then my father’s first gift for the baby – Jimmie Johnson “48” socks.  As he gives them to us he says” I just want to make sure that the baby knows it has options, you know not feel that they have to be a Jeff Gordon fan.”  Too funny Dad! 

22 Weeks

My Favorite Holiday

Although I decided not to dress up this year, which was a very hard decision for me since Halloween is my favorite holiday, it just snuck up on us and I do not know how you can half ass it...  Must go big or don't dress up at all in my book so we made sure though to carve pumpkins...  The boys had to pick the hardest ones they could find and us girls went for the cute factor. 

Many of you voted on the best one and the Cheshire Cat won :)


Beetle Juice was Steve's, then Sweeney Todd but mine was the joke of the night, called "cute" and "elementary" the skull chick punk rocker! 

Munchkin's First Gift

Back when Munchkin was still a secret to many, I was given this as the baby’s first gift… So cute, right! 

Steve is officially half way through his didactics portion of Paramedic School.  This is great news as this has been so much work for him and when the baby is born he will end the academic part of his training; leaving only the clinicals and internship left to complete.  Due date is March 4, 2011

The baby can officially hear us, so Steve makes sure to talk to the baby every night and is recently obsessed with Jazz.  So he is very insistent that our Munchkin will love Jazz too, so we now play Jazz for the baby and plan to have it in the nursery. Classic! 

First Kick

It was midnight on the night we had our 5 month ultrasound (10.14.11) that I felt our baby for the first time!  It was the craziest feeling.  Terri and I were sitting on the couch talking diaper bags and strollers when all of sudden I felt three flutters, almost the pounding of a heart beat in the middle of my stomach.  Again so in shock and just in love, sat there in silence to try and feel it again.  Amazing!  Then I felt the baby again while I was away at a conference for work right in the middle of a workshop.  I have now felt the baby more and more but still usually once every few days.  Although Steve tries to feel the baby every single night! He even tires to listen to the baby’s heartbeat every night with his fancy stethoscope but we were told the baby isn’t big enough yet. 

Obsessed

So prior to being pregnant I loved decorating and loved this time of year especially because of everything pumpkin related but it got kicked up quite a few notches this year with this Munchkin! 

Steve shook his head as I begged him the first day of October to take a break from studying and go to the mall to visit Bath & Body Works.  Every year they release their pumpkin collection and for the last two years it was just the candles so he laughed at me as I filled every inch of my hands with every single bottle labeled pumpkin.  Checking out he giggled in the background as I bought lotions, sprays, and even lip-gloss to last me until next year!  Then I was shopping at Bed Bath & Beyond and they have the new world market addition – DANGER…  I left there with pumpkin soup, pumpkin bread mix, pumpkin salsa, pumpkin and sweet potato chips, pumpkin waffle mix and pumpkin cider.  Steve again just laughed at me!  It is an obsession! 

I also couldn't wait to decorate the house, I was glowing as I decorated the entire house for Halloween (my favorite holiday).  First picture is the coffee table centerpiece I created :)  Then I had to create a centerpiece for our dining room that would be creative, dreamt this one...It is a vase filled with real candy corns with black branches to tie it all together!!! 

Crazy Cravings

Besides the true obsession with anything pumpkin…I love pickles. Although I have loved these things all of my life they are just multiplied now. I eat at least two to three pickles a day and have been caught a number of times drinking out of the pickle jar! But the two moments that I thought to myself “wow I really am preganant” were when I ate Salt & Vinegar Chips at the exact time that I was drinking a Banana Slurpee. Oh yeah and it was amazing! Then I had a homemade pumpkin shake one day and when I finished it I went straight to the fridge and chased it with pickle juice. Gross yet SO GOOD!

21 Weeks

I was 19 years old when my mother first learned of my turtle tattoo, she wasn't thrilled but all my memories are of her saying she couldn't wait until I got pregnant because the turtle would get so stretched out that I would regret getting it someday. I assured her that I would have plenty of years to enjoy my little turtle before I would bring a baby into this world and sure enough, nearly 14 years later it is time to see this turtle grow! Along with my monthly belly bump pictures I will also take turtle bump pictures so that my mother does not miss out on any aspect of this pregnancy! :)


We had another doctor's appointment today! Every appointment is important but this one felt especially important since when we had the ultrasound the week before and the technician couldn't say a word. So in this appointment we would find out about my most recent blood work, results of all of our disability tests and is all the measurements on the ultrasound normal. GREAT news we are still going strong and healthy, all tests came back 100% perfect. What a great peace of mind! We are now more than half way through, which is unbelievable because this pregnancy is going SO fast! The heart beat was around 140 for the second time; strong and still the most beautiful sound in the world!

20 Weeks

FIVE MONTHS...The big ultrasound! This was another big moment for us as we have not seen the Munchkin since he or she was a little "bean" at 8 weeks. So many nerves, excitement, anticipation and joy filled our souls as we waited in the lobby. I was spoiled with a great weekend (my best friend Terri came to visit me to help me with the "practical" baby things I needed to plan for. She spoiled me with homemade pumpkin waffles, banana crème cake, tons of laughs and the loving support I truly needed)! The appointment was an hour long, we got to stare in admiration of our little one. Watching how he or she moved, the blood flow, the perfect mouth, it was all so AMAZING!


Everyone has asked us if we cried, we didn't, we couldn't, we were just in awwwww!  This picture is one of many but my favorite, if you look closely it is Munchkin's profile, the head on the left side, with an eye, little button nose and a mouth slightly open with his or her hand in the mouth! Unbelievable! I stare at these pictures for hours and still can't believe this miracle is inside me growing everyday! We had to turn away quite a bit because we both want to be surprised by Munchkin's gender...there is a very nice blonde ultrasound technician out there in the world that knows the sex of our baby and that is it...too funny that she is the only one who know since it is now put away in a secret file..  It was such a beautiful day; we could have watched our baby all day long!

18 Weeks

My first belly bump photo :) It seemed only fitting to take this on our four year anniversary! We were glowing knowing that this anniversary was super special, our lives about to change, and we can't wait! Well we can wait, in the sense that we really need this whole pregnancy for us to be ready for this little Munchkin!


Is it a girl or a boy? Who knows? Everyone has a guess but Steve and I just know that either a boy or a girl they will wear converse as one of their first pair of shoes :)

16 Weeks

FOUR MONTHS...This was another milestone for us! Since everything was perfect at our first appointment (8 weeks) we were told that our next appointment wasn't until 16 weeks. This felt like forever because we would hear the sweet sound of the baby but then not again for two more months. I wanted to have that confirmation that the baby was okay, still there, it for some reason still seemed so unreal. Our appointment though was amazing. We got to meet our Mid-Wife, she came highly recommended and we really liked her. All the blood work came back 100% perfect and then again...we got to hear the heart beat! The room silent, Steve clinching my hand with excitement and just shock spread across both of our faces. Already in LOVE!


One could say it is because Steve is working full time and going to Paramedic School full time, but we say he is having a "phantom pregnancy!" He has the mood swings, gaining weight, has his cravings, and he started making plans for the nursery (not me)!!!  I am having a dream pregnancy, now into my second trimester, they say I am through the woods...which is amazing since everything thus far has been so EASY! So easy that is impossible to not be in LOVE with being pregnant!

12 Weeks

THREE MONTHS...Waiting for the three month mark felt like FOREVER! Everyone says you are safe to share the BIG news at three months so we couldn't wait. Everyday felt like I was living a lie, all the decisions being made at work, future plans etc all based around a little miracle (now called Munchkin) that not everyone knew about...  It felt so real to finally announce it at the office, and be able to share it with everyone that asked "how are things." It was such big news that it was all I thought about so Steve and I both couldn't help but have the feeling of yelling it from the roof tops!


I was so fortunate though to have an easy first trimester so far. Besides falling asleep at work while talking, lol, I really had no symptoms. I didn't have any illness, not even the slightest nausea. I had a little fatigue but I really just pushed through it and stayed really active and that made a huge difference. I didn't have any crazy cravings, nor had I put on any weight at this point. We had the memory of the heart beat we heard a month earlier to hold onto...

8 Weeks

TWO MONTHS...We had to wait nearly two weeks before we could see a doctor. Although we took three pregnancy tests it was still the final confirmation we desperatly wanted. Since we learned of the pregnancy at roughly 6 weeks, our first doctor's appointment was at 8 weeks. Look at this little bean...so small yet already had changed our lives so much. Hearing the heart beat for the first time was most magical thing I have ever heard. I think I was in total shock up until this photo was taken, although Steve was glowing from the moment the test said positive, it just took me more time to realize this miracle was REAL!

"When did you know?"

It took us time to fall back into reality after spending seven days eating fine dining quality food three times and sometimes even late night room service, drank every fancy foo foo drink you can imagine, excursions including rappelling, mini scooter tour of Cozumel, swam with dolphins, zip lines, cave snorkeling, met two amazing friends for life (Pete & Stephanie), partied with our favorite bartenders from last time (Oscar & Cesar), visited the Tulum ruins and took naps under palapas falling asleep to the sounds of the waves... We came back to San Diego though glowing, thankful and thrilled to be back to our beautiful new home and we knew we still had a few weeks before the craziness of Steve's school would start. Shortly after we returned to our normal schedule though, I started having crazy sleep walking episodes and unique sleep positions that left Steve laughing and wondering each day what I would do next. One night for example I scared Steve when he found me in the dark in our living room in the middle of the night talking to our turtle. I joked one night about being pregnant with all these crazy dreams but we both thought it wasn't possible to be pregnant so quickly. I was actually so busy with work that I didn't even think about it, it wasn't until I was working one day, conducting a counseling session with one of my students when I started to fall asleep. No matter what I did I could barely keep my eyes open, then it happened...I fell asleep but better yet, I fell asleep while talking. It was the strangest thing, I lost a few seconds and then came back talking about nonsense and confused. After careful recovery with the student, I went straight into my colleagues office to tell her the bizarre encounter I just had. Still in denial until Kate said with certainty "you are pregnant." So "how did you find out you were pregnant?" Yeah, I can say it was when I fell asleep while talking...

Made in Mexico

As many of you know everything Steve and I have done for the last three years was to prepare for our future... Steve working full time and going to school to be a EMT/Paramedic/Firefighter and me working two jobs, us living in small places and even with family in order to get ahead someday! So it was only fitting that once we reached our goals that we reward ourselves with a trip back to our favorite place on earth: Riviera Maya Mexico (where we took our delayed Honeymoon in December 2010). It was a way for us to truly relax and to kick off a time in our lives that finally we were ready for another chapter, that if and when a child would come our way we could embrace it.

Well let's just say our trip was meant to be, since by the doctor's math our little Munchkin was conceived in Mexico (June 2011)!