Caleb Gets Older and Gibs Gets Larger

This week was a little anti-climatic. We went to a Jazz festival at a local brewery for a while on Saturday. It was fun to see the community get together but it didn’t keep our attention for very long. We also rode our bikes to a disc golf course and played a round which was quite fun. Caleb turned my ram’s horn bike handle upside down so this mama-to-be doesn’t have to lean over so far to ride her bike. What a gem. Caleb celebrated his half birthday this past Friday which was jaded by a migraine I got once I was home from work. This did not ruin our plan of going to Applebee’s for late night apps even though my symptoms were still present. It is a mind over matter thing these days for my migraines, either make it your only focus or just pretend your head isn’t spinning and your belly isn’t churning. It is so fun to celebrate Caleb twice a year instead of once, there is just something special about a day that celebrates the “greats” in your life. He got a disc for disc golfing which he used this weekend. He was pleased with his purchase. On Sunday we did go to a new church, well churches, to check out. The first one was out in the boonies and when we arrived we were greeted by a traditional service. We did bug out right after we knew it wasn’t a church we would feel best in and didn’t look back. We came back into town and went to a more hipster church that we actually really enjoyed. I am thinking this one is going to stick but we still have a few to check out. Other than that, we were lazy and kept to ourselves.

Week 24

A sweet cantalope is the formation of baby this week. That makes Gibby a little bigger than last week but about the same weight.
Gib’s skin is turning pink (normal) this week so even more traits of a baby are being created.
This kid is a mover. I feel a kick, recognizable, anytime I am sitting down for more than 20 minutes. It is so fun to sit in my desk chair and just be holding my baby as it moves around in there. Caleb believes that it is calling out for him and misses him each time it moves, presh.
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Holy Mylanta. I have a sore back when I get up from sleeping. This is common but it is just a rougher start to the day than I am used to.
Speaking of sleeping, those leg cramps only get me when I sleep. I may put a pillow under my legs as I sleep but I am not sure how long it would stay put being that I do not stop moving in the night.
My belly button is at the surface of my belly (not an inny anymore) and I am not loving the sight of it. For some reason, prego bellys normally have a cute button but my button is made for the shade. Woof.

That is all I can write for now, see ya!

Baby Visits, Baby Shower, and Baby Update

I left the husband home this past weekend to enjoy some TLC time with friends in Mpls and to celebrate my friend Bek’s baby-to-be. I loved my time there and the certain theme was babies. They are just so cute to me and my friends have turned into some pretty great mommies. I noticed I did not take one picture of my friends but I took some lasting pictures of their babes. Please enjoy the cuteness of them.

Heidi's son, Oscar, is now 1! This is
mind blowing to me.

Baby Samuel is Kate's second. Yup, she
is in the lead with two babies. Here
he is at just under 2 weeks old.

This is Tessa, Kirsten's girl. Isn't she just
the cutest 2 year old?

Oh, hey... Gwendolyn. This is Jenna's
6 mo. gem. This girl is so happy and does
not stop moving her lil legs.

This is Sar Bear's baby, Suzie. She is
a precious 15 week old retriever that just
loves her momma and dad. 

I also started a new job this past Monday at an Ameriprise firm in the Northwood doing the same thing I did in Chicago. It has been such a blessing to be apart of a company one, that I believe in but two, that is all over the country for me to find work at. I will not forget the opportunity for work this company has given me over the years. It is a good position where I am but I am feeling the drive already. My mom and husband warned me that a 45 minute commute will not be enjoyable and I am choosing the listen after the decision has been made. I am able to drop Caleb off at work in the morning that still, for some reason, is a highlight of my day.

Week 23

• A big ol’ grapefruit is the size of my Giblet this week measuring a little under a foot long and over a pound now. Just getting so big, my golly. 
• There is a fully formed face to be recognized now, just looks a little skeletal without the chubbiness to be present yet.
• Loud noises are recognizable now to Gibs and my heartbeat and voice are something that he/she is listening for consistently.

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• No migraines this week, ‘nough said. Thanks for yours thoughts!
• I am a slower walker these days and it is an adjustment for Caleb as I was always the one to keep up with on our routine walks. 
• My consistent back pain I had for a long while through high school and into graduating college is back in the same spot and I am having a hard time being comfortable at every moments of the day. Sleeping is uncomfortable but I am a zonked out sleeper so I definitely manage; it is the waking hours that I am feeling frustrated with. Wah wah wah, Laura. I know. Just listen, that is all I ask.
• I am enjoying some new clothes that got passed to me from some friends over the weekend and some sale items I found at Gap/Old Navy. My normal work clothes are dwindling so we shall see how I can convince the husband I still need more clothes. Work in progress people on this budget-driven lifestyle we live.

See ya next week!

Balloons, Chalk, Fish Fry, and a Papaya, Oh My!

Well this past weekend we went to our first supper club as WI residents together, went to our first farmer’s market here in Wausau, and attended the big festival here called “Balloon and Chalk Fest”. The supper club was very anti-climatic due to being there for a total of 1.5 hours and the food was nothing special (at all). The perk to it was that it was the cliché tacky decorations and it was in the middle of nowhere. These are musts for me as a seasoned supper clubber. The farmer’s was not comparable to downtown St. Paul but it was fun to buy locally again. We grabbed some fresh peas, cucumbers, and cheese curds. The big festival was actually quite nice for what it was. The chalk aspect of it was a drawing contest in the center of town where we saw some really great artists being showcased. You will see below. As for the balloon part, well this was an air balloon observation and some very nice fireworks. Please see those photos as well. I think we may be quite bored this weekend due to “all” we did this past weekend.

Caleb's fave. Bob Ross anyone??

Ribs to go'round'n'round

We are also doing a home reveal this week on this here blog. We finally finished putting it all together and we are quite happy with the results, don’t you?

View when you walk in...

Kitchen

Living Room

Baby Giblet's Abode (our place of things for now)

Office (under the stairs)

Entry Area

Just the newest addition to our homemade collection:
'Merican Flag

Primary bathroom

Our bedroom loft

Our master bathroom

View from the loft

Week 22

• Gibby is a papaya size this week. A “standard” papaya measures about 10.5 to 11.8 inches and weighs about 12.7 to 20.8 ounces. We can count those stats as true this week I suppose.
• This kid has lips, eyelids, eyes, eyebrows, and it's even developing tiny teeth buds beneath the gums. 
• Inside Gib's body, the pancreas — essential for the production of some important hormones — is developing steadily.

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• Well I overcame a migraine on Tuesday night with solely a pounding headache and nausea, all those other symptoms were not existent. Thank you, Jesus.
• I have been home all week for the past two weeks so I have been enjoying time thinking about baby items and the house.
• I have reached my 10# mark and I am having a very hard time with it. I know it is just apart of pregnancy but this whole cellulite thighs and big booty is not going nicely with this baby bump I got goin’ on.

I am off to Mpls this weekend so expect some bestie shots from me next week!

Klinge Kamping

This past week has been pretty great. We left for camping shortly after I posted last and had a great time in fantastic weather with Caleb’s family. We went down to Wyalushing State Park and tent-camped for about 4 days. I just got a bike and so my highlight was trying that out. I think Caleb’s highlight was probably the water balloon fight that we had. That was such fun to have. We celebrated our nieces, Pais and Dell’s, birthday along with their mom’s as well. It was so great seeing them get shy after opening each present just because they were so excited. I was able to see the rest of the littles as well. My niece Kendall has been very hesitant of us since she was born but this weekend was such a great time for her to come out of her shell and just be with us. She was my snuggle bug for the first part and Caleb’s sporty spice during the second half. Our baby sister, Anna, is leaving for Belguim next month so it was so bittersweet to say “good luck” as we will not see her for a whole year. She will do great. Here is a recap for you all via photos:

Kickball was a blast...

... until I fell due to this center of gravity of a babe.

Playing with birthday presents

The sister bunch

Soccer

Water Balloons

The water fight! So. Much. Fun.

Take this to Belguim, Anna. So cute!

A wife's duty to her husband.

The year of the braids... thank you Carrie!

Men and their drinks of choice

Besties for real

O-Dawg got a lil tired... poor guy could only find an
empty table to zonk out on.

The fishing crew (They didn't catch a lick)

Singing sensation

We both look forward to this weekend a lot and this year was one for the books… until next year.

Week 21

• We are looking at a 12 ounce babes that is about the size of a pomegranate. I think that is a little off being that it’s feet that are pushing out at me seem not as small as predicted. You read correct, I am feeling the little person in there. Today was the first time that there was a push on my hand when I held it there. What a milestone for this Ma.
• It’s digestive system is developing and starting to create it’s first diaper fill, oh joy!

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• This Ma is a little tired these days. I don’t know if it is just because I am unemployed for two weeks (I got a job! More details next week or the week after) or because I am just so tired from all this change.

• Success Story: I did not get a migraine in the last 7 days so maybe I am behaving myself better or I will get one tonight. Eek, I will pray for me just being better.

• I looked in the mirror today and I noticed that I am rocking a prego belly for the first time. I still think I look like a carb loader with shirts covering my belly but I think he/she is going to peek out of this feeling-phase very soon.

I am here in Wausau being a stay-at-home wife so if you need me, give me a jingle. :)

Big Move and Half Way There

Hey folks! We are safely moved to Wausau, WI. We are WI residents and Chicago is a thing of the past. Wowza... this is just crazy sauce to think about so I won't for too long.

We said good-bye to those folks of Chicago and focused on our move this past week. Some really great people live in Chicago, in case you were wondering. Hard, but totally worth it for our family.

I would like to give a shout out to my husband who packed almost all the home the U-Haul (thanks for helping Caleb with the heavy stuff, brother Nathan!) and unpacked (with help of my family) the U-Haul within a 48 hour period. Let me just tell you that this man worked hard so his baby would be safe and sound as I cleaned Chicago and unpacked Wausau.

Here is the house we left:

Home Sweet Home! Well old home.

Farewell Greenview Ave, you were the best!

Here is the house we have now:

 More pictures to come... We need to unpack. Next week we will do a big reveal.

Week 20

• This week, it is the size of a banana and about 11 ounces
• It is working taste buds for the several ounces of amniotic fluid it is swallowing each day
• We know if we are having a boy or a girl! Yup, we know... nope we are not sharing with folks. You are welcome. My mom is bummed to not be in "the know" but sometimes mommas just gotta be patient. I too am learning patience. 

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• It is safe to say that I get a migraine once a week for the last month and change. It is certainly not fun but I caved in and now take one tylenol, a sip of water, and a very early night sleep to pretend life isn't attacking me. Sometimes pregnancy is not fun but most times it is very fun, am I right?
• Nothing more has changed than last week at all in terms of me. I am showing baby under my shirts but no one, in public, is brave enough to ask if I am pregnant for the fact that I could just be  belly-fat. I am okay with being unseen for a while longer.

We are off to Klinge Camping for this holiday weekend so please expect cute photos of my nieces and nephews as well as mediocre photos of the rest of us. Hooray for family time!