Baby Bump and a Little About Pregnancy

Here's my 15, almost 16 week baby bump! It's definitely getting bigger.
So far, I have loved being pregnant. Other than a lot of fatigue, it's been a fairly easy pregnancy. Here are a few things that I love about pregnancy and a few things that I could do without.

Love It
1. Knowing my belly is sticking out and totally not caring
2. Wearing stretchy pants that don't ever feel too tight
3. Feeling those first little flutters (I can't wait to feel kicks and see movement!)
4. Having an excuse to take a nap everyday and going to bed at 8:00 without feeling guilty
5. Finally having a reason to browse the baby section at Target
6. Seeing Kevin's face light up when he touches or looks at my baby bump (He loves my pregnant belly and that makes me feel so beautiful.)
7. Knowing there is life growing inside of me
8. The pregnancy glow
9. Talking about baby names with Kevin
10. Knowing my baby is with me wherever I go

Could Do Without It
1.Getting car sickness very easily
2. Not being able to sleep at night because of constant congestion (Apparently pregnant women frequently suffer from stuffy noses.)
3. Always having to pee (especially in the middle of the night)
4. Constantly worrying about the baby and having very bizarre dreams that something is wrong
5. Being incredibly sensitive to strong smells

One More Week!!

One week from today I will be waking up in my grandfather's house and will get to spend an entire week with my parents, brother, sister, and other family members! I am sooooo excited. Here are a few things I am most looking forward to this Christmas.

1. Having my mom see and feel my baby bump
2. Making homemade cinnamon rolls on Christmas morning
3. Laying around all week, watching Christmas movies, and doing a whole lot of nothing
4. Seeing family members I haven't seen in 2 years
5. Watching everyone open the Christmas gifts Kevin and I have bought them
6. Spending my first Christmas with Kevin as a married couple
7. Eating lots of yummy food on Christmas day
8. Watching and laughing at old home movies like we do every Christmas

Just one more week! Merry Christmas everybody! :)

Random Thoughts

I woke up this morning not feeling well so I called in sick (yes, pathetic I know since it's only a 3 day work week). Anywho, I really haven't done much today other than watch t.v. and make a couple of trips to the kitchen and it's given me a lot of time to think about a bunch of random stuff. Here goes...

1. I have yet to hear one Christmas song this year. I think this is the first time in my life when I haven't heard Christmas music before Thanksgiving. (I'm not complaining, I'm just saying.)

2. Jessica Simpson's engagment ring is U-G-L-Y!!!!!

3. It's way too hot outside to be Thanksgiving. I hate cold weather but I think God needs to turn on the A.C. outside.

4. Facebook is a fantastic way to waste 2 hours!

5. I'm sorry to say but the new Harry Potter was the biggerst disappointment of the whole series. Not the director's fault b/c it exactly followed the book but still....not a fan. I think part 2 will be better.

6. Why is the media still talking about Lindsey Lohan?????

7. I know airport patdowns have become  little intrusive, but if it keeps me from getting blown up in the air, I gotta say I'm for it.

8. This first trimester has cut my appetite in half, sometimes thirds. This makes me sad because I was so looking forward to pigging out at Thanksgiving.

9. Bed, Bath, and Beyond coupons rock! I don't know how the company can afford to do so many but I'm glad they do.

10. I think the new Target Christmas commercials are hilarious! That lady cracks me up.

Belly Pic

So here is my first belly picture. Right now, it looks more like I have a really thick stomach but from certain angles, there is definitely a little bit of a baby bump. I didn't think I'd be showing quite this early since I'm only 10 weeks but I know every pregnancy is different for every woman. Or maybe it's because of the fast food I have been craving lately. Hmmm...

10 weeks!

A Bun in the Oven

So I am now officially telling people that Kevin and I are expecting a little one. We've known for a month now and it has been killing me not to shout it from every rooftop. I was going to wait until the end of my first trimester to announce it but I finally decided that I just could not wait any longer. I am 9 weeks pregnant today and have felt wonderful so far. I've had very little nausea and no morning sickness so that is definitely a blessing.
Being that Kevin and I have only been married for 12 weeks, we were so shocked to find out but it was seriously one of the best days of my life. Here's how we found out.
Prior to getting married, I started taking birth control (boy was that a waste of $24 a month). For anyone on birth control, you know it completely regulates your periods so that you can predict down to the hour of when you will start. Well, I was supposed to start the first week of September but never did. I bought a pregnancy test and told Kevin. It turned up negative but after 3 more days of not starting, I took another test. It too was negative.
I was supposed to start a new birth control pack that Sunday but Kevin told me not to since if I was pregnant it could hurt the baby. He told me to hold off and wait a week before starting it again. I waited a week and took two more tests. Still nothing. At this point I figured my body was reacting to coming off birth control and didn't think much of it.
Over the next three weeks, I took a few more tests for a grand total of 6 and all turned up negative. I started to freak out a little since I am so regular and called the doctor thinking there was something else going on with my body. On Friday, October 8th I went in to see the doctor. She asked if I could be pregnant and told her I didn't think so and that I was afraid I had cysts or something else that was prevening me from having a period. Of course I was qualified to make this decision based on all the years of medical school that I have had. :)  (One little tip, never try to self-diagnose yourself by reading the internet. It will just freak you out.)
She wanted to do a pregnancy test just to make sure. After about two minutes, the nurse popped her head in the room and said, "Oh, you are so very pregnant." I almost fell off the table!! I asked her to repeat herself and then I said, "Oh my gosh!!! I have to call my husband." I called Kevin and he was soooooo excited.
After leaving the office, I called my mom and told her to save her pennies so she could fly back and forth to see her soon-to-be grandchild. She was ecstatic!
It was such a magical day that I will never forget. After my next doctor's appointment, we actually found out that I got pregnant on the second day that I was off birth control. I'm really glad that Kevin told me not to start taking it again because otherwise we would not be expecting this miracle.
The first few weeks were really nerve wracking because I kept worrying that I would miscarry. I still have those days but have come to trust God more and rely less on myself. I'm really enjoying my pregnancy so far although it still seems a little unreal. Right now I am most looking forward to "popping" so that I actually look preganant and not like I had a few too many doughnuts.
Mmmmm....doughnuts sound good right now! :)

Out with the Old, In with the New

Husbands are so wonderful because they can do things I can't. Such as...

We've been doing some remodeling on the house since before we got married. We live in a 70's style house and many of the fixtures, wallpaper, and other such things have been in the house since it was built. Since Kevin is an electrician/handyman of sorts, there's a lot of the remodeling he can do by himself. Well, ever since we got married I've been complaining of the light fixture in our bedroom. I wish I had a picture, but I don't. Just imagine the absolute ugliest, gold platted, low hanging chandelier you can imagine and then picture it hanging above a bed. Ugly, right??
I kept asking Kevin to put me in a ceiling fan and he kept refusing (mainly because he said I was nagging). So on Monday night, I had an event at the seminary to attend and Kevin said he had a big surprise for me when I got home. I was expecting all the dishes to be done or the laundry to be folded. But when I walked into our bedroom, the most glorious and spectacular ceiling fan was hanging above our bed!
Ok, maybe I'm being a little overdramatic but isn't that what being a woman is all about!!

50 Marriage Promises (Part 3)

21. Compliment twice a day
22. Call during the day
23. Slow down
24. Hold hands
25. Cuddle (Take note Kevin)
26. Ask for each other's opinion
27. Show respect
28. Welcome the other person home
29. Look you best
30. Wink at each other
31. Celebrate birthdays in a big way
32. Apologize
33. Forgive
34. Set up a romantic getaway
35. Ask, "What can I do to make you happier?"

Just a Little Loaf of Bread

Ok, so anyone who knows me well knows that Martha Stewart I am not. I'm a huge advocate of microwave meals and PB&J sandwiches, but somehow being a wife has brought out the cook in me. (Or at least the attempted cook). I think it's the fact that now I have someone to cook and bake for. Before I thought, "Why in the world would I go through all that trouble just for me." But now, there is someone who can appreciate what I am trying to do in the kitchen.
With that said, last week I attempted my first loaf of freshly baked bread. All was going well until I misread the recipe and put in an extra 2/3 cup of sugar. Oops! I got frustrated and almost threw away the whole thing but then I thought, "Well I've made it this far. I should at least keep going and see how it turns out." So I did and suprisingly, it turned out really yummy. It didn't taste weird at all and it was so good that I gave two loafs away to other people.
Sister Schubert can keep her rolls. I'm making my own bread from now on. (Well, maybe not all the time. Sister Schubert does make some pretty amazing rolls!)

Fabulous Homemade Bread (www.allrecipes.com)

By J. Drury

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup warm water
• 3 (.25 ounce) packages active dry yeast
• 1/4 cup bread flour
• 1 tablespoon white sugar
• 2 cups quick cooking oats
• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 4 1/2 cups warm water
• 1 1/2 tablespoons salt
• 2/3 cup brown sugar
• 2/3 cup vegetable oil
• 10 cups bread flour

Directions

1. In the mixing bowl of an electric mixer, stir together 1/2 cup warm water, 1 tablespoon sugar, 1/4 cup bread flour, and yeast. Let grow for about 5 minutes. It will bubble almost immediately.
2. Measure oats, 4 1/2 cups warm water, whole wheat flour, salt, 2/3 cup brown sugar, and 2/3 cup oil into the mixing bowl. Mix on low speed with a dough hook for 1 to 2 minutes. Increase speed slightly, and begin adding bread flour 1/2 to 1 cup at a time until dough pulls away from sides of bowl. Humidity determines how much flour you need before the bread pulls away from the edge of the bowl. It is normal for the dough to be sticky.
3. Place dough in an oiled bowl, and turn to coat the surface. Cover with a damp cloth. Let rise in a warm spot for 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
4. Divide dough into 6 pieces. Shape loaves, and place in greased 8 x 4 inch pans. Let rise until dough is 1 inch above rim of pans, usually 1 hour.
5. Bake at 350 degrees F ( 175 degrees C) for 35 minutes, or until tops are browned. Let cool in pans for 10 minutes, and then turn out onto wire racks to cool completely.  

The Joys of Marriage

Now that Kevin and I have been married for 7 1/2 weeks (how time flies) I was thinking the other day about the things I love about being married. Here are just a few...

1. Seeing Kevin's wedding ring and knowing it's on his finger because of me. (By the way, Kevin's an electrician and can't wear his ring to work. Every day, and I mean EVERY day when I get home, it's already on his finger. That is huge for me!!)

2. Knowing there is someone who will always buy me a Diet Coke even when I forget (or intentionally leave) my wallet at home.

3. Having someone to call in the middle of the day just because. (Ok, I do this with my mom too but it's a little different with Kevin).

4. Scooting closer to him at night when it's freezing cold and the blankets just aren't cutting it.

5. Having parents and an entire family I absolutely love only 10 minutes away when I've been far away from my own family for so long. (So, this isn't directly related to Kevin but it's because of him that I have them.)

There are so many more reasons why I love being married but those are just a few.

50 Marriage Promises (Part 2)

11. Select a song that can be "our song".
12. Give back rubs.
13. Laugh together
14. Send a card for no reason.
15. Do what the other person wants before he or she asks
16. Listen
17. Encourage
18. Do it his or her way.
19. Know his or her needs.
20. Fix the other person's breakfast.

This I Promise You

These marriage promises are courtesy of Hyman's Seafood Restaurant in Charleston, SC.
May I daily strive to exhibit kindness and love to my spouse in these ways.

50 Marriage Promises (Part 1)

1. Start each day with a kiss.
2. Wear your wedding ring at all times.
3. Date once a week.
4. Accept differences.
5. Be polite.
6. Be gentle.
7. Give gifts.
8. Smile often.
9. Touch.
10. Talk about dreams.

There are 50 total so to be continued.....

What a Year Can Do

Yesterday was a very important day in the life of the Stidham's because Kevin and I celebrated the one year anniversary of our first date. To celebrate, we went to dinner at the restaurant where we first met and where he proposed. As I stood outside of the restaurant waiting on him, I remembered all of those feelings that I felt 365 days ago. I remember feeling both nervous and excited as I waited to see him and just prayed that the date would go well.
On that first date, as we sat across the table from each other, I kept thinking, "Does my hair look ok? Am I acting like a complete idiot? Oh no, do I have something stuck in my teeth?" (By the way, the answers to those questions were Hopefully, Probably, and Absolutely!) Our first date went very well but was not without a few embarrassing moments.

Moment 1:
Me: "What are you going to order?"
Kevin: "I don't know. I'm allergic to shellfish so anything but that."
Me: "What's shellfish?"
Kevin (with a puzzled look on his face): "Uh...fish that comes in a shell."
Me: Totally red in the face!

Moment 2: (after shellfish comment)
The night before our date, we were on the phone and Kevin said, "I'm kind of afraid I am going to do something really stupid on our date." I responsed kindly by saying, "Oh, if you do I'll be honest." Well that night as we sat there finishing our dinner, Kevin said something really funny and I started cracking up. He said, "Ok, it's time to be honest." My first thought was that I absolutely had something stuck in my teeth since that just usually happens to be my luck.
I said, "I have something stuck in my teeth, don't I?"  He said, "Yep! Big and black and right there in the middle." I rubbed my finger over my teeth and pulled out something the size of a frisbee. We both cracked up and I realized that although embarrassing, it helped break the ice a little.

Last night, we reminised our favorite moments over the past year. We talked about the funny memories, our favorite memories, and memories that we will never forget. It was a wonderful way to celebrate!

To my wonderful husband, I love you, I'm so glad I found you, and thank you for asking me out on a second date!

Our first picture together!