15 Weeks

Baby’s Size: Naval Orange

Baby’s Milestones: Tiny bones in baby’s ears are in place this week, making it likely that baby can hear my voice when I talk. Baby has both eyebrows and eyelashes and keeps growing bigger and bigger! Baby is between four and five inches long and weighs about three ounces!

My Weight: 149.2 (-1)

Symptoms: I’m still having round ligament pain, but not as bad as last week. I get dizzy when I stand up to fast and get headaches here and there. I don’t think this counts as a symptom, but I have had a disappearing belly this week. At night, I’m looking slightly pregnant. My belly looks hard and rounded, but every morning, it disappears again.

Cravings: Fruit, but not as much as a few weeks ago. Milk. I craved Top Ramen the few days I was at home either not feeling well, resting, or emotionallay upset. It must be a comfort food for me, but I always feel so guilty eating it because I know it is not nutritious. Cereal. I haven’t really had any strong cravings the entire pregnancy, and especially not this week. I just prefer certain foods over other foods. One thing I have wanted a lot this pregnancy is sushi! I think about it all the time, probably because I know I can’t have it. Every once and a while a hot dog sounds good to me too and tuna sandwiches, which I am supposed to eat infrequently. I think I just want things I know I can’t have.

TP: 9

Measurements: Waist: 29 Below Belly Button: 34 1/2

Emotions: I have still cried or almost cried quite a bit this week, but overall, I did not feel as emotional this week.

Fun with Vivian and Leah

On Tuesday, February 28th, I went to Matt and Vivian's house after work to catch up with them and to meet Leah. She is so tiny even though she is already three months old (we joked that my baby could be Leah's size when its born! eek!). We ordered the most delicious thai food and sat in the kitchen eating and chatting. It was so much fun to spend some time with Vivian hearing all about what it is like being a first time mommy and it was especially great to spend some time with Leah. She is such a beautiful and sweet little girl who looks just like Vivian.

Happy Birthday Oreo Brownies

Have you seen the new 100th Birthday Oreos? They have cake batter flavored frosting in the center and are delicious! I am a huge oreo lover and I must admit that I wasn't as obsessed with these as Rachelle and Nic at first, but then I discovered this recipe on Bake at 350 and I am in love. If you like these new oreos, or even if you just like regular oreos, you HAVE to try this recipe (especially you Rachelle, I think you are going to LOVE it!). It is like having frosting and oreos dab smack in the middle of a chocolaty brownie. I halved the recipe and used 9 oreos, which worked out to be one oreo per brownie slice. Once these are topped with vanilla ice cream and sprinkles they are the perfect treat to celebrate 100 years of my favorite cookie.

Breakfast with Lauren

On Sunday, February 26th, I met Lauren in Northridge for breakfast. We went to this place called Elme that is apparently famous for their french toast. We both decided we needed something substantial, but didn't want to miss out on the famous french toast, so we decided to share a half order. Thank goodness because not only was it HUGE, but it was more like a funnel cake (dessert) than french toast. Don't get me wrong, it was delicious, but I definitely would have felt sick if that had been my entire breakfast. It was so fun spending time with Lauren. I'm getting spoiled getting to see her so often. I'm so happy that we have remained friends and I hope we can continue to plan little get togethers because I always have the best time.

After breakfast, I decided to check out the Northridge Mall. I knew they had a maternity section in their Old Navy so I figured it was as good a time as any to try on some things. To my surprise, I also discovered an H&M with a maternity section and I bought my first pair of maternity pants. :) They are so comfy and really cute. I also bought a few things from Old Navy, so all in all it was a pretty successful Sunday.

Clippers vs. Nuggets Game

On Wednesday, February 22nd, Nic, Rachelle, Brandon and I went to the Clippers vs. Nuggets game. We had a really fun night watching some amazing dunks by Blake Griffin and were excited to see the Clippers win. I know this is so unlike me, but we didn't take any photos...oops.

14 Weeks

Baby’s Size: Lemon

Baby’s Milestones: Baby is practicing breathing, sucking, and swallowing. Baby is also kicking, curling its toes, and moving those little arms and legs. The ears are now properly positioned and the eyes are moving from the side of the head to the front of the face.

My Weight: 149.6 (at night-I'm still below my starting weight, especially when I weigh myself in the morning)

Symptoms: I have had a lot more energy this week. It was the first week I felt motivated to make and attempt to complete a to-do list. I went grocery shopping for the first time in weeks and went to Dream Dinners by myself. I’ve been having a lot of round ligament pain so hopefully that means baby is growing, moving up and I will get a belly soon. I’ve also had a few headaches including a really bad one on Sunday that forced me to spend the afternoon on the couch in pain. I did have a little scare on Monday and spent Monday and Tuesday taking it easy/on bed-rest. We went to the Dr. on Tuesday and she said the baby’s heartbeat sounded great, so just to continue to take it easy.

Cravings: Fruit! Especially chocolate covered strawberries, yum! I’m still enjoying my kiwis, blueberries in my oatmeal, milk, and cereal.

TP: 9

Measurements: Waist: 29 Below Belly Button: 33

Emotions: My emotions were much better this week until Monday and Tuesday. I became very emotional and freaked out when I thought something was wrong with “little baby” as we call him or her. I call Nic baby a lot still so until we know the gender I think I say little baby so Nic knows which baby I am talking about.

Amy's Baby Shower

On Saturday, February 18th, my mom and I went to my friend Amy's baby shower. It was at a really pretty restaurant in Pasadena. We had food, played a few games, I caught up with a few friends from Canyon High School Cheer, and we watched her open her gifts. It was really fun and made me a bit excited for my own shower.

My mom and I at the shower

Amy wanted a picture with all the mommies~to~be. Can you believe the other two girls in the photo with us are only about 3 weeks ahead of me? I'm so jealous of their bellies. I was even trying to stick mine out in the photo, but I just look like I ate a big meal.

Mommies~to~be

13 Weeks

Baby’s Size: Peach

Baby’s Milestones: Baby is on the move constantly and the movements have now become smooth, fluid and more ballet-like. Baby isn’t slouched anymore and it’s neck is getting longer and it’s head is standing more erect. Baby could also be sprouting some hair and the eyebrows are filling in too.

My Weight: 147.8 (-2)

Symptoms: This past week, my face has broken out really bad. I still have had pretty bad naseua. It seems like if I don’t eat every hour, I start to feel sick. I’m hoping this one goes away soon because the past couple of weeks have been really bad. I have also been so tired! I keep seeing how much bigger the fruit gets every week so baby is growing a ton and I’m thinking that must be what is doing it because I am so tired all the time. I’ve started having round ligament pain, one night I sneezed and the pain was so bad I started crying. I’ve also started getting occasional dizziness when I stand up and I’ve started getting headaches. I’m hoping the 1^st trimester symptoms (mainly the naseua) go away because now that the 2^nd trimester symptoms have started (headaches and dizziness) I am not too thrilled with having both at the same time.

Cravings: I have been craving more starchy foods this week. I’ve mainly wanted pasta, but last week I wanted rice and mashed potatoes. I think I see these as comfort foods (since I haven’t been feeling as well, comfort is what I’ve been seeking) and my brain is telling me they will help with morning sickness. I read an entire post on my WTE app about cereals and afterwards had to have some, so I have been pigging out on Cinnamon Toast Crunch and Lucky Charms. On Monday, I went grocery shopping for the first time in weeks, I came home with strawberries, blueberries, pears and kiwis so apparently the fruit craving is still in effect.

TP: 8 1/2

Measurements: Waist: 29 Below Belly Button: 33

Emotions: I’m still tearing-up quite a bit more than normal.

Going Public

This is what I posted on facebook on Valentine's Day to announce that we are expecting:

Nic and I have a new LOVE in our lives this Valentine's Day!!

Nic posted this on his facebook page:

Crystal is baking a bun for Valentine's Day. It should be ready sometime in August...

When I got home from work we sat on the couch side by side and got our posts ready. We were both really nervous, but also excited. I finally had to count to three so we would actually post. It was so fun spending the evening reading all the wonderful messages of love, support and excitement from all of our friends and family.

Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day started off with Nic bringing me breakfast in bed. I have been craving a sausage mcmuffin from McDonalds and it did not disappoint.

This is apparently what I look like when I'm still half asleep first thing in the morning. Scary, huh?

That night, we enjoyed a delicious dinner made by yours truly: We had heart shaped pasta with homemade sauce, peas and mushrooms, garlic bread, heart shaped oreo and mint oreo truffles, and chocolate covered strawberries.

After dinner, I plopped down on my favorite spot on the couch and enjoyed the chocolate covered strawberries that I had been craving for days.