Week 21
Baby H is the size of a bag of coffee*.

Max and my belly are growing every day. I'm so in love! 

Max is 10.5 inches long and weighs around 14 oz (he was 13 oz at our ultrasound last week)

Future BFFs Calvin and Max!

Dear Sweet Theory, Can you please open a Savannah store?

Out on the town for our anniversary <3

Carter's had a crazy clearance sale, so Max's closet is well stocked! some of these outfits were only $2-$3!

 *
*Every baby chart says that Max is the size of a pomegranate, which they depict as being 10.5" wide and 13 oz. Now, I don't know about you, but I've never laid eyes on a pomegranate that is 10.5" wide- that's roughly the size of a small cantaloupe! That being said, I did a little digging in my pantry and came up with a perfect substitute...a bag of coffee, which conveniently weighs exactly 12 oz. Let's face it, I may have had to switch to decaf, but I'm still a coffee fiend so it's only fitting that coffee is worked into this blog somehow.

How far along? 21 Weeks

Maternity clothes: are the only clothes that fit now that Max is taking over... I gave in and ordered some work pants so I will have something to teach in. Can't I just wear pjs all day?

Stretch marks? No- but my body still has a lot of stretching to do.

Sleep: Depends on the night. Sometimes I just pass out and other nights I wake up five or six times with leg cramps or because I have to pee. Whoever said I would have to pee less during the second trimester lied big time!

Best moment this week: 

  1)   Our 1st anniversary! Gabe and I went to Alligator Soul for dinner Sunday night and had an amazing evening on the town. The restaurant greeted us with a special anniversary treat, two mini pecan pies that somehow managed to last until we hit dessert. As usual, the food was fantastic and the ambiance was swanky and romantic. Our amuse-bouche was succulent beef tips with a caramelized glaze. They were so good I wanted a plate of them for my entree! Next up, we had the seasonal salad complete with their signature fried grit croutons. If you haven't had these, you need to. Basically, they're a soft pillow of grits, fried crispy on the outside and oozing with Parmesan on the inside. In other words, they are the best crouton you will ever eat! Following our salads, Gabe and I went for the grilled entrees: I got succulent apricot glazed lamb lollipops with rice pilaf and Gabe ordered Elk tenderloin with summer vegetables and crispy pancetta that he described as "God's bacon" because it was so good. Though everything sounds rich, Alligator Soul serves moderate portion sizes so we actually had room for dessert. I figured we would split something, but Gabe wanted his own lol! He decided on a bourbon poached apricot shortcake and I had the chocolate hazelnut torte. All around, it was a fantastic meal! 

       Monday night, our actual anniversary, I had class until 8:30, so Gabe prepared dinner for us. After a nice day out and about, we were feeling a little lazy and brought a delicious Chicken and Thyme Pie home from Pie Society. Gabe had everything ready when I got in from class and we spent a rainy night in, just enjoying each other's company. On a ultra romantic note, Gabe gave me my new ring by re-proposing to me, which was incredible. Of course I said "yes!" I'd marry him a million times :-) I'm so lucky to have him! Who knew that in just a year we'd already be a family of three?! 

   2)   Seeing my bestie, Lauren on Saturday! It was so good to catch up with her for breakfast at Sweet Theory. After deciding on donuts, we sat and talked for hours, just like we did when we lived in the same city. Following breakfast we went to her baby shower, which was just beautiful. It also made me excited for mine this Fall! Check out our matching bellies! Our outings may have switched up from morning runs and breakfast at Cool Moose, but our friendship is just as strong as ever. I'm one blessed lady to call this amazing woman my best friend! 

Miss Anything? Sleeping on my back.

Movement: I love feeling Max move around. He is definitely going to be a foodie because he loves to start kicking as I eat!

Food cravings: Root Beer Floats, Sweet Theory Donuts-again! 

Anything making you queasy or sick: Not this week!

Gender: Our little man, Gabe calls him "buddy," which is just adorable!

Labor Signs: No

Symptoms: restless legs, prominent appearance to veins, disrupted sleep, increased appetite.

Belly Button in or out? In

Wedding rings on or off? Off. It made me sad to take them off, but I really don't want to have them cut off if my fingers swell in the heat. I do have my new ring on, and I am happier to be Mrs. Hayden than I've ever been! 

Happy or Moody most of the time: There aren't even words <3

Looking forward to: Max (and my belly) growing even larger! 

Week 20
Baby H is the size of a banana.

Look at that belly!

Max weighs 13 oz and is about 10" long

profile view

Max is already adorable! We're so in love!

His little feet!

How far along? 20 Weeks

Maternity clothes: are thankfully on clearance this week.

Stretch marks? Not yet!

Sleep: My dreams are getting increasingly vivid. I still have to switch sides throughout the night to stay comfortable, but otherwise I'm finally getting some much needed rest.

Best moment this week: 

     Finding out our baby's gender!!! It was so reassuring to see our little bean during the anatomy scan. And...It's a boy!!! Gabe and I are thrilled to be bringing Maximilian Sutherland Hayden into the world in October. We're so in love with our little man already! During the scan he was very active, but the technician was able to get all the data she needed pretty easily. Everything looks good and Max is growing strong. Little Max is quite cooperative- at least for now! The 4D technology also allowed us a sneak peek at his handsome little face. I also loved seeing his little feet, his strong little legs, and his cute little hands. One things for sure: he's going to be a charmer! I'm hooked!   

Miss Anything? Not that I can think of...

Movement: Max moves all around now, and his little kicks keep getting stronger :-)

Food cravings: Crabcakes

Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope, I feel great!

Gender: It's a boy!

Labor Signs: No

Symptoms: restless legs, prominent appearance to veins, occasional headaches, increased appetite.

Belly Button in or out? In

Wedding rings on or off? On. Gabe is giving me my new ring on our anniversary <3

Happy or Moody most of the time: In love and extremely happy

Looking forward to: Gabe being able to feel Max's kicks

Week 19
Baby H is the size of a mango.

19 weeks exactly! Baby H is 6 inches long and weighs 1/2 a pound!

This week Baby H's fingerprints have fully developed. He or she also has fully flexible joints and is beginning to explore his/her surroundings!

Eating healthily should always taste this good!

Bonjour!

The dessert I waited all week for!

Swimming is my favorite exercise. I've logged just under three miles so far this summer.

How far along? 19 Weeks

Maternity clothes: are all that fits!

Stretch marks? Still none to speak of...Is there any chance I picked a magic cream that will keep me from getting any?

Sleep: I've actually slept pretty easily this week. I'm still switching sides frequently and getting up once or twice in the night, but I've been able to fall asleep and fall back asleep easily which I'm thankful for. The last two days I even tricked my body into sleeping until 8 am!

Best moments this week: 

     Catching up with our family and friends this weekend was a nice break from Savannah. Saturday we went to my favorite antique shop, then my mom and I went baby shopping while Gabe watched soccer with my dad. Usually I love watching games with him, but after the car ride my legs were quite restless, so I went for a walk around Town Center with my mom instead. That night we met up with Jenny at Derby on Park and feasted on their delicious house specialties. I've been trying to eat healthier, so I saved some extra calories all week to splurge on dessert, a fantastic tropical lemon cake. It was worth it my friends. So worth it.

     Sunday morning we hung out with my parents, then we headed over to OP to catch up with Gabe's family. Gina made a wonderful pasta primavera that had summer written all over it. It was great to see everyone and share stories, recent interests, and recipes. Eventually we headed back to Savannah and got home just in time for a light dinner and Game of Thrones-of which I will not speak in case you guys aren't caught up ;-) Overall, our weekend out of town was just what we needed to relax and refresh after a couple long weeks at work.

Miss Anything? Worrying less. Pregnancy is bringing out those worry genes that my mom and grandfather lovingly passed down...

Movement: I love feeling our little bean kick! He/she's been much more active this week, or perhaps because the baby is growing I can feel those little kicks more often. I've tried to poke back and see if the baby reacts, but so far that hasn't really been a success. In any case, it's really incredible to feel the baby moving around inside me and know it's his/her way of saying hello. I'm so in love with our little one already! 

Food cravings: Grilled chicken, burritos, popcorn, and fruit. I've been trying to eat healthier lately, so I've been snacking on Greek yogurt, nuts, popcorn, and Snappea Crisps. For meals, I've pretty much been having oatmeal with nuts or Greek yogurt and fruit every morning, soup and whole wheat grilled cheese sandwiches (gotta get that calcium) or salads for lunch, and fish or chicken with rice or sweet potatoes and veggies for dinner. I think I need to be eating more because I haven't gained much weight for the past few weeks. My doctor said it's normal and that most weight gain occurs in the third trimester, but I'm going to try to have more frequent smaller meals and see if that helps. 

Anything making you queasy or sick: No...but apparently Sangria flavored Mountain Dew exists and that should make anyone who cares about food nauseated lol

Gender: We find out tomorrow!!!!!

Labor Signs: Nope

Symptoms: Round ligament pain, restless legs, little surface veins popping up everywhere, occasional headaches, increased appetite, and slight back pain.

Belly Button in or out? In

Wedding rings on or off? On. My wedding band is pretty tight, but my engagement ring is still loose, so I plan to keep wearing it on my right hand since we already ordered my new ring. I'll certainly be sparkly this summer!

Happy or Moody most of the time: So excited and happy all the time! I can hardly wait to know the baby's gender! It feels like Christmas :-)

Looking forward to: Seeing our little bean at our ultrasound tomorrow. It's been seven weeks since my last sonogram and our little one has tripled in length and weighs 10x more than it did then. How amazing!

Week 18
Baby H is the size of a sweet potato.

18 weeks exactly- Baby H is finally big enough for me to feel his/her movements!

Baby H is 6" inches long and weighs around 7 ounces.

Gabe is clearly empathetic- our first birthing class

Things I crafted for the baby this week and my one Etsy splurge (the Hogwarts onesie). Thanks ModernOliveStudio!

Delicious donuts from Baker's Pride

Date night in: the best chili I've ever made, Moscow Mule mocktails, and a perfect night with my man.

How far along? 18 Weeks

Maternity clothes: I bought some new pjs this week. Yes, I've reached the stage where even my pajamas don't fit...and I'm less than halfway along!

Stretch marks? None yet!

Sleep: My dreams are getting crazier and I'm still spending the night tossing and turning. Thankfully when I get a good 1/2 mile swim in, I seem to be able to sleep through the night better and my legs bother me less. 

Best moments this week: 

1) Feeling the baby's movements! I wasn't sure if what I have been feeling is the baby or not, but there is a pattern to Baby H's movements now. Our little bean is usually active when I'm resting on the couch or before bedtime. His/her little movements feel like little flicks from the inside. It's amazing to feel the baby moving and know he/she is doing well in there!

  

2) Getting the nursery set up! While we still need some basics, most of the furniture is in place and we've started putting up decorations. I also crafted some things for the nursery and the baby this week, which is making the arrival of our little bean feel closer. 

3) Gabe and I started our birthing classes this week. Our friends Laura and David are in the class with us, so we're hoping that will liven it up a little. Last night we watched some pretty painful looking births. I was thinking they were natural births, then the video ended and the instructor said, "Okay, now we're going to watch a natural birth." I definitely had a moment of horror thinking "those were the medicated births?!". I'm really freaked out by epidurals, so I'm hoping I can avoid getting one. Usually I'm pretty strong about pain, but those videos were intense and I'm sure actual birth will be too. These classes will help us understand all our delivery options, but I'm hoping for as natural of a birth as possible. Only time will tell! Thankfully the class ended on a lighter note- all the husbands/partners, including Gabe, took a turn with the "empathy belly" which was hilarious. 

 

Miss Anything? Cocktails (see cravings)

Movement: Finally! I usually feel our little one's movements in groups of two or three little pops. I can also feel when the baby turns which is like the swooping feeling you get on a roller coaster. Hopefully Gabe will be able to feel the baby's kicks soon!

Food cravings: Pumpkin everything (I'm rereading the Harry Potter books), cocktails - we made delicious Moscow Mule Mocktails the other night-, maple donuts, and chili. I guess I'm ready for fall lol!

Anything making you queasy or sick: Spicy food still gives me heartburn, but I'm not planning on parting with it anytime soon. I already gave up caffeine and I have to draw the line somewhere!

Gender: The countdown for our gender and anatomy scan feels like the wait for Christmas! June 11th is just around the corner!

Labor Signs: No

Symptoms: Sleeplessness, restless leg syndrome, hunger(!), and a slightly rounder bump :-)

Belly Button in or out? In

Wedding rings on or off? Still on, but they keep getting tighter. Hopefully my new ring will be in soon!

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy. I fall more in love with Gabe and our baby everyday!

Looking forward to: Our trip to Jax this weekend during which we'll be visiting friends, getting tasty food at the finest Riverside establishments, and antiquing. I love when Gabe has weekends off!