13 weeks

Yay second trimester! It is wonderful to have my energy back!

Here I am at 13 weeks! Getting a little bigger and wearing my first maternity shirt! Thanks mom!




We had lots of big events this week. We picked out our crib, glider and stroller! and I went shopping for maternity clothes with my mom! I was not impressed with some of the maternity stores but found some cute things at Gap.

How far along: 13 weeks
Net weight gain: don't own a scale.... might have to invest in one to keep track of this!
Maternity Clothes: just bought my first ones!
stretch marks: none yet! hope it stays that way
Belly Button: same
Sleep: no longer getting up for bathroom
Baby Movement: the baby is moving but I can't feel it yet
Food Cravings: Pizzaz salad! best dressing ever!
Food Aversions: nothing
What I miss: margaritas with mexican
Looking forward to: finding out the gender! (still 6 weeks...)
Best moment this week: so many! picking out the crib and buying maternity clothes are top
Milestones: the baby is now the size of a lemon!

Catching Up

I am a bit behind on my new years resolution. As my cousin, Jeffrey, pointed out, I have failed at posting some important adventures of 2010. So this post will catch everyone up on an important "adventure" from earlier this year.

drum roll please

I saw a Broadway Show for the first time ever! I've seen Broadway plays off Broadway but never actually been to New York City to see one on Broadway. When Carl and I were in New Jersey visiting my family my cousin, Jeffrey, took us into the city to see a show. We had a great dinner at an Italian restaurant near the theater and saw American Idiot. I loved it!!! My cousin is an expert on all things Broadway so he was a great guide. I can't wait to go see another show with him!

and a few pictures from our evening in New York City:

Thanks Jeff for being our Broadway "tour guide"! Can't wait to do it again!

First Baby Gifts!

Baby Carter has already been blessed with a number of wonderful gifts!

When our friends, Emily and Drew, heard the big news they sent us a few of their favorite baby items to congratulate us!

A baby name book to help us pick out a great name for Baby Carter (we've already used this a ton and we still don't know the sex yet!). A toy bar to keep Baby Carter entertained on trips to DC to visit his/her buddy, Asher.

Not pictured: preggie pop drops that I consumed already because they were yummy and very helpful with the nausea!

Thanks Emily and Drew! We can't wait to strap the toy bar to the baby's carseat and bring Baby Carter to play with Asher!

This week Carl's mom surprised us with a few "winter baby" items that she picked up for us.

A bundleme to keep Baby Carter warm in the carseat or stroller and a cute hat to match! Sure to keep Baby Carter toasty through the Cleveland winter :)

Thanks Mom C!

Last but not least! Baby Carter received his/her first books this weekend! Carl and I went over to our friends, Joe and Laura's, for an impromptu July 4th cookout with some of their friends and family. I have been friends with Joe and Laura since high school and Laura was a bridesmaid in Carl and my wedding. Well, Laura's mom, an elementary school librarian, showed up at the cookout with two baby books for us!

Goodnight Moon and The Very Hungry Caterpillar!

Not the greatest picture but I couldn't bring myself to take them out of the cute ribbon just yet.


I might start reading them to Baby Carter right now :)


Thanks Kathy!

We feel so blessed to have so much love and support as we take on becoming parents!

12 Weeks!

I got the idea for doing a week by week pregnancy update from my friend Emily at Emily and Drew plus Asher. It is so fun to see where she was each week during her pregnancy so I thought I would enjoy having this record. Hopefully you all enjoy hearing about it too!!!!

This week was a big week for us, we got to hear the baby's heartbeat!! To celebrate, Carl and I went out for ice cream and to Babies R Us to open our registry! Registering is fun but overwhelming! Thank goodness for Emily's list of must haves or we would have been at a lost for where to start! We only put a few things on and decided to go home and do a little research. I have a feeling registering is going to be a long (but enjoyable) process! :)

Now for some shots of the baby belly:

Just a small one starting....

How far along: 12 weeks
Net weight gain: -1lb
Maternity clothes: not yet but excited to go shopping for some!

Stretch marks: nope
Belly button: bigger....
Sleep: waking up at least once a night for the bathroom

Baby movement: not yet

Food cravings: ice cream and hot dogs!

Food aversions: random things depending on the day, recently it was carrots

What I miss: sleeping through the night!

Looking forward to: picking out the baby's crib!

Best moment this week: hearing the baby's heartbeat

Milestones: we are at the lowest risk for miscarriage!

Reading Camp Cleveland- In Pictures

Reading Camp Cleveland was a success! Thanks to a fabulous staff and wonderful children we have pulled off the first ever Reading Camp Cleveland. Now for some highlights, in pictures.

It's official!

I am 11 weeks and 3 days pregnant!

Here is the baby's first picture:

If you're not sure, the baby is the little peanut to the right with the bubble around it.

This was taken at our first doctors appointment at just 8 weeks and 5 days pregnant. I can't wait until we get the next ultrasound!

Carl and I are very excited about the new addition to the Carter Family. The baby is already well loved and we feel blessed to have so many friends and family who are excited for us!

check your boobs

When I was 16 my mom gave me one of those breast self exam charts that hang in the shower. I am almost positive I rolled my eyes, or was at least tempted to roll them, and tucked the embarrasing thing far far away.

I now fully appreciate why my mom gave me that chart when I was 16. A few weeks ago while getting ready for the day I noticed a lump in my right breast. Thus began a stressful few weeks of gyn appointments, an ultrasound, a mammogram, and a biopsy.

Thankfully my lump is a benign fibroadanoma. What I learned from this experience is, while rare, women in their 20s do get breast cancer and most diseases of the breast are found from self-exams.

So, ladies, check your boobs. If you find something, don't panic (okay you probably still will, I know I did) but see your doctor. I plan to check mine once a month as recommended. AND plan to thank my mom for caring enough to give me one of those charts.