19 Weeks!

Hello round ligament pain and sweet cravings!!

19 weeks
Baby Henk is the size of an Heirloom Tomato!

How far along? 19 Weeks
Baby is the size of a: Heirloom Tomato
Total weight gain: 10 pounds...officially. 
Maternity clothes? I've had to break down and buy some jeans and a couple shirts because they are more comfortable..but I'm trying to stick with just bigger regular clothes as much as possible. 
Stretch marks? Not yet!!! The veins are making their debut though...
Sleep: Sleeping great for he most part!
Best moment this week: Feeling her move!
Movement: I have felt it every day this week! It's seriously the most amazing feeling...I can actually recognize it now.
Miss Anything: Coffee or a diet DP without feeling guilty. Oh, and not having to pee every 5 minutes.
Food cravings: Lately, avocados and coffee.
Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope...I'm sorta wishing my aversions stuck around BUT I will eat anything in sight. 
Gender: GIRL!!!! Hoping that'll still be the case next week at our 20 week appt! haha
Labor Signs: No
Symptoms: Tired mostly...but that could also be from working with 95 5th graders all day long. But it definitely hits me hard on Fridays. 
Belly Button in or out? In but stretching...hoping it'll hold out a little longer haha
Wedding rings on or off? ON...again, when I remember!
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy! Occasionally moody...but again, that could be the 5th graders :)
Looking forward to: Starting to decorate the baby's room soon!!

Baby Henk Gender Reveal Party

So, thanks to Pinterest, etsy and everyone who helped. We pulled this party off! It was so much fun to have all of our family with us to find out the gender of our baby. Needless to say, I am exhausted today! Here are some pictures of what we put together!

Dessert Table

Pink Punch with Lip Cups

Blue Punch with Mustache Cups

Voting Station 

Food Table 

The amazing cake 

My cute Mimi with the mustache cup and lip pin

Festive toes

A fun sign I made

It's a......

GIRL!!!!

We are feeling so blessed and excited!!!  The gender reveal party was such a blast. I will post pictures tomorrow!

Week 15

I go to the Dr. in ONE WEEK and get to hold the envelope with our baby's gender in it. It's getting real! Not that it doesn't seem real already, with officially NONE of my pants fit without the belly band or the ol' hairband around the button trick. Anyway, since the last post; morning sickness is completely gone (hallelu-yer) but as soon as that was done I experienced my first pregnancy cold. A whole new experience in itself...where you CAN (technically) take certain meds to help but you feel incredibly guilty when doing so. So, I suffered through, bought a humidifier and came out the other side. Belly doesn't seem bigger to me this week, but my students sure think so! One of several comments this week, and I quote...Student: "(Raising hand) Mrs. Henk! Mrs. Henk!" Me: "Yes, can I help you?" Student: "Your stomach looks so much bigger this week!!!" Me: "(Wearing a loose shirt) I'm sure it's just the shirt, it's a little big." Student: "Um, no, it's definitely not the shirt." Me: "You're lucky there's a baby in there..." Gotta love it...almost past the age of endearing over-honesty though...I'll let it slide. Having said that here's the amazing beautifully photographed iPhone 3gs bump pic...wisely chosen outfit as well, you can see so well in the dim lighting. :) I'm going to keep taking them in the baby's room to see how it's changing as I am...but hubby wasn't home yet and I was ready to post, so this is what we got. 

Week 15
Baby Henk is the size of a Naval Orange!

How far along? 15 Weeks 4 daysTotal weight gain/loss: Not sure honestly...pretty sure it's the same as last week though. Maternity clothes? Own some, but still sporting the pre-pregnancy clothes (unbuttoned/getting tighter and tighter!)Stretch marks? Nope...Sleep: Started waking up multiple times because I'm trying to train myself to sleep on my sides.Best moment this week: Getting over my first pregnancy cold!Have you told family and friends: Yes!Miss Anything? Still coffee. Movement: Not yet...hopefully soon!Food cravings: Salty...nothing specific though (what a boring pregnant woman!)Anything making you queasy or sick: nothing lately.Have you started to show yet: Yep! Gender prediction: I'm at the point where I just DON'T KNOW! I go back and forth. Labor Signs: NoBelly Button in or out? InWedding rings on or off? OnHappy or Moody most of the time: Happy!Looking forward to: NEXT WEEK'S DR. APPT!!!!!! AHHH!

Weeks 13 & 14

Oh, hi 2nd trimester. You snuck up on me...but I'm happy to see you! So, I didn't post for 13 because, well, nothing changed. So here's my first official belly pic! 

13 Weeks
Baby Henk was the size of a medium shrimp!

14 Weeks + shorter do'
Baby Henk is the size of a Lemon!

How far along? 14 Weeks 4 days
Total weight gain/loss: 5ish lbs gained..
Maternity clothes? Still wearing my pre-pregnancy clothes, but I just bought a couple things on sale. score!
Stretch marks? Nope...let's keep this up, genetics!
Sleep: Besides waking up multiple times to pee...pretty well!
Best moment this week: 2nd trimester milestone! And feeling a lot better...
Have you told family and friends: Yes!
Miss Anything? Coffee? Which is weird because I barely ever drank it. 
Movement: Not yet...but paying very close attention!
Food cravings: Sour...salty
Anything making you queasy or sick: Not really this week...
Have you started to show yet: Yep! 
Gender prediction: It's been boy lately..I'm sure it'll change again before we find out.
Labor Signs: No
Belly Button in or out? In
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy!
Looking forward to: Our gender reveal party on the 6th! We will know what baby Henk is that day! 

I have a secret....

This secret is that I suck at blogging. Yes, I'm the one that promised to keep up with blogging. And yes, I'm the one that hasn't written in over 4 months. AND YES, I'm back and have no other excuse other than I got busy (let's be honest, it was summer and I was lazy) and just couldn't think of interesting/witty things to say (or not enough to fill up a whole post, anyway ;-) ) and when I did I wasn't near my computer and I wasn't about to write a blog on my blogger app! So here I am..with a new life adventure ahead of me and another shot at blogging. But if I'm going to be real honest, the real reason is...


.....


.........


..............WE ARE HAVING A BABY!!!!! AHHH!!!! I've been holding it in/restricting myself from social media outlets in fear of revealing it too early. My entire family didn't even find out until last week...it's been killing me, but at 12 weeks and after an awesome dr. appt today, it's time to let it out! So many people I know have been either having babies (holler, I'm an auntie, thanks Katie! And my sweet friend Skyla just had her beautiful girl) or people have been sharing their wonderful news via facebook/instagram and I literally want to scream because I've been holding in the same news! It's so neat sharing this stage of life with people you know and love. So, here's my challenge, I really want to keep blogging about it to remember this special time in our lives and to share it with friends and family that I don't see often. Let's be real here, I don't foresee a cute chalkboard or awesome bump pics in my future so don't get your hopes up. I don't think this will be a pinterest worth pregnancy blog. But hopefully people that I know and love will be able to see what's going on in our lives during this crazy/amazing/surreal time in life! So, stick with me and read all about baby Henk!! He or she will be there March 17! We'll see when this little Henk decides to join us :)

First picture of baby Henk looking like a baby and not a peanut!!!

Let's watch the progression of Mama Henk's weight gain thus far, shall we?

Bridal portrait 2011 (wedding weight and all)

3 weeks pregnant here, even though I didn't know it!
(...and after 13 months of marriage, mind you)

12 weeks
(I'm going to start taking bump shots next week! Promise!)

How far along? 12 Weeks 4 days
Total weight gain/loss: 3-5ish lbs gained
Maternity clothes? I have a few things (thanks Mimi!), haven't really worn any and the belly band! 
Stretch marks? No
Sleep: Great..crazy dreams though!
Best moment this week: being 12 weeks!!! and seeing baby Henk moving around today at my appt...he/she was having a dance party. Not sure who's rhythm it has yet :)
Have you told family and friends: Yes!
Miss Anything? Lately, sushi. Oh, and feeling normal all the time. 
Movement: Can't feel it yet, saw it today though :)
Food cravings: Carbs..cereal..and zebra cakes? weird...
Anything making you queasy or sick: red meat...I can barely type it.
Have you started to show yet: Yep!
Gender prediction: Girl - next appt we will find out!
Labor Signs: No
Belly Button in or out? In
Wedding rings on or off? On...unless I forget it at home. Oops...
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy!
Looking forward to: Finding out the gender & feeling the baby move!

Summer Night

Summer Night by mhenk featuring an essie nail polish

A L C silk shirt
$385 - mytheresa.com

Nudie Jeans Co. skinny jeans
$235 - my-wardrobe.com

Pour La Victoire sandals
$260 - zappos.com

Valentino leopard clutch
£1,559 - farfetch.com

Kendra Scott 14k gold bangle
$55 - kendrascott.com

Essie nail polish
$8 - zappos.com

Date Night

Date Night by mhenk featuring camisole tops

TIBI camisole top
$200 - stylebop.com

Blazer
$130 - topshop.com

AG Adriano Goldschmied slim jeans
£165 - farfetch.com

Jane Norman platform high heels
£35 - janenorman.co.uk

Diane von Furstenberg box clutch
$444 - matchesfashion.com

Kate Spade leather strap watch
$195 - nordstrom.com

Kate Spade chain necklace
$148 - couture.zappos.com

Essie nailpolish
$8 - nordstrom.com

Gingham Girl

Gingham Girl by mhenk featuring 18k jewelry

Monsoon layering top
£38 - monsoon.co.uk

H M check shirt
£15 - hm.com

Current/Elliott cuffed jeans
$280 - stylebop.com

Chloé flat shoes
$450 - kirnazabete.com

Prada leather handbag
$1,720 - bluefly.com

Michele 18k jewelry
$450 - nordstrom.com

Jennifer Zeuner twist jewelry
$264 - neimanmarcus.com

That awkward moment when...you realize your starting to sound like your Mother.

Okay, so when you were a little girl even though you love your Mom to death you most likely said "I will NEVER say that (or do that) when I'm older!" Well, as a 20-something woman you start growing up a little (just a little) and things start coming out of your mouth that you just don't know WHERE in the world they came from. Lately, I have had some of those moments. For example, in the classroom: "When I was your age....." Yeah, I know. What, am I 80? or (in my weaker moments of classroom management...) "I'm going to count to three...1...2..." I'm now realizing that you NEVER have to get to 3. Who knew? And really, what DOES come after 3? I don't even know. Here's another "What part of no don't you understand?" Yeah, I believe that's actually come out of my mouth. For real? Don't judge, you've thought it too. When guests are coming over I want the house to be spotless and perfectly put together...something I never understood as a kid. "But Mom, they're our friends, they don't care what the house looks like!" When Mom would go through her healthy eating kicks, I would think "THERE IS NOTHING TO EAT IN THIS PANTRY!" and now I try to eat as healthy as I can and keep the fridge/pantry stocked with healthy choices.

When you're young you think your Mom is crazy for saying some of the things she says or doing some of the things she does. As we get older, we start to realize there was a method to her madness and the apple doesn't fall as far as you thought it did.

My Mom is an amazing woman, she is a strong and hard-working woman who loves with her whole heart and cares deeply. She was a single mother who did everything in her power, through prayer, to help me become the woman I am today. Yes, I was stubborn and thought I knew it all but now that I've grown up a bit I can now appreciate my wonderful Mother for who she is and all that she sacrificed for me. She was diagnosed with a blood disease, similar to leukemia, 9 years ago. I remember after different doctor appointments and what they thought she had being so scared that I'd lose my mom. She has taken Chemo orally for the past 9 years and has gone to the cancer center every month for blood transfusions and gets her platelets checked regularly. During this time, I have taken for granted what a blessing the Lord has provided by her feeling great and still staying active and busy. Her reports have been good to very good for the past few years and last week she received a bad report with very high platelet count and high liver enzymes. Not only did they diagnose her 9 years ago, people who have been diagnosed with her same disease have only lived for 10 years. So, knowing this, those old feelings have returned. I know that God is good and that if He can conquer death that any disease can be miraculously healed. I just ask you to please pray for my Mom and her health. She goes back on the 23rd for another check up and I just pray that her platelet count and enzymes are back to normal. Through Christ, anything is possible!!!

Love you Momma!!! :)

Summer

Summer by mhenk featuring graphic t shirts

J Crew graphic t shirt
$40 - jcrew.com

Monki cut off jean shorts
€25 - monki.com

J Crew ballet flat
$250 - jcrew.com

Prada leather tote
bagborroworsteal.com

Mango printed scarve
£18 - mango.com

Ray-Ban aviator sunglasses
$162 - my-wardrobe.com