19 Week Update.... a day early

How far along are you:  19 Weeks... depending on how the rest of this pregnancy goes, this very well could mark my half way point. My doctor isn't against inducing early should my blood pressure start to act up.... again.
 

Fruit: Mango! (fun fact: my husband is allergic to mangoes)

Baby bump: I currently look like I'm shop lifting a bowling ball.

Maternity Clothes: Yup, which the exception of a couple of sweatshirts.
Thankfully, I got a couple of new things for Christmas that will hopefully see me through to May.

Gender: I'm still thinking boy most of the time. 

Stretch Marks: Nothing new.... lotioning liberally in an effort to prevent them.

Sleep: Waking up around 4:30 most mornings and cat napping until my alarm goes off. While this hadn't been happening for awhile, it's not unusual for me for general.

Cravings: Ice Water

What Makes Me Wanna Gag: Empty stomach, the smell of breakfast foods- like a bacon, hashbrowns, etc. (Although, that isn't beyond the scope of normal for a non pregnant me)

Exercise: Toddler Chasing

Mood: Relaxed

Movement: I felt one outside punch but other wise lots of flutters and taps. This baby is quieter then Ryan was at this age.

Favorite thing this week: Working 2 1/2 days in the office 

Excited For: Spending another long weekend with my family.

In other news...
I am just so excited to see who's in there

For Christine

It was about this time three years ago I joined a Facebook group of moms who were all due with babies in July 2012. I don't remember who got me involved, or how exactly I became active in the group. i think over time it just happened  

At first I was afraid to post anything. What if they didn't like me? What if I spelled too many words wrong and said the wrong thing? They all seemed so much cooler then me and much more with it. Before long, I learned that my fears were unfounded and they like me, were just trying to make their way in their own worlds. To be good wives, good mothers, good people. I have found more support in that tiny group of women then I have any where else in the world. Although I don't know a single one of them personally, nor have I ever met a single one face to face, they are my tribe.

We have lifted each other up through the death of parents, friends and spouses. We have rallied when one of us is down or has  a sick child or a broken family. We do, not because we feel obligated to, or because it's forced, we do because we believe in each other. We believe in the gift of friendship and motherhood and that fact that it takes a village not only to raise a child to but to keep ourselves together as well. They are amazing and I am just lucky to be a part of it.

Yesterday we learned that tragic news that we lost one of our own this past weekend. Christine's life was taken by the hands of her husband, who then took his own life. She leaves behind two children and an extended family who all loved her more then words can ever say. I cannot imagine what that night must have been like for her or what the following days have been like for her family. I am just dumbfounded by all of it.

Christine was funny, witty and smart. She was a mother, a sister, a daughter, a wife, a friend and a follow member of my mom tribe. The beauty of having a friend on a facebook group is that you can research and find past posts in moments. You don't have to wait for a memory to find its way back to the front of your brain. It's all right there.

I spent my evening reading back over posts Christine had started or commented on. She was hysterical. I saw a lot of myself in her and I'd like to think if we met in person we probably would have been instant friends. She was quick with her opinions, steadfast in her support of all of us and quick to say what others were thinking. She was my kind of girl.

But she, like so many of us, held a secret. Things weren't always good at home and the one who vowed to love, honor and cherish her didn't always honor those vows. While a few of us knew there was some dysfunction, none of us knew the extent of the issues or how bad it really was. She painted a pretty picture, just like we all do, and we believed it for what it was, just like we all hope with our own.

I wish we could have done something. I wish we could have helped in some way. I wish she would have said something, anything....

I wish I had the magic to create the words that needed to be written that could heal our broken hearts and return Christine to her children. Unfortunately, that type of magic just doesn't exist and its just plain not fair.

Wrapping My Head Around 2014

Wasn't it just New Year's Eve 2013?

Certainly, that just happened last week, right?

Obviously not.

There is a huge part of me that's having a hard time dealing with the fact that 2014 in nearly over already. Didn't I just celebrate my 32nd birthday..... in September?

This whole time getting away from me deal should come with zero surprises. I'm still hyperventilating over the fact the baby I gave birth to in 2012 will be 2 1/2 in a couple of weeks.


HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?


Clearly, time and I have a strange relationship.


 But, if I really, truly think about it. 2014 was a bit of a whirl wind.

There were trips to Virginia, Massachusetts, Delaware,  The Bahamas and South Carolina.

Friends got married, had babies and announced pregnancies.

My brother got engaged.

Mr. Berg knocked me up once again in no time flat.

My Pop-Pop passed away as did my Step Grandmother.

Sophie joined Bob in heaven.

We decided we're ready to move but then decided we're too poor to actually do anything about it.

We finally got around to painting the half bath we're been talking about painting for the past three years....

The basement is still a red paint nightmare, but maybe 2015 will hold a solution for that.

I lost a lot of weight, gained some of it back, got pregnant gained even more of it back.
I remain a hippopotamus going into the New Year....  

I never did learn to cook half the things I said I would.

I never did clean out those dresser drawers I keep putting on my to-do list.

The cardboard box of books sitting in my son's bedroom? Still there.


But our house filled with more love and more laughter then in was when the year started. We've grown in ways you can't measure with a yard stick or measuring tape.

We've experienced some incredible highs and some seemingly endless lows. All the while, we have survived them... all of them.

While there are days I still find myself standing in my kitchen wondering exactly how I  got here, I know it wasn't by accident.

It's been through hard work, happenstance and a little bit of luck. 

My life is a good one.
This year has been a good one.

Bring it 2015..... Bring it!

17 Week Update

How far along are you:  17 Weeks... unbelievable!
 

Fruit: Alright neither of these are fruits- The Bump says the size of an onion, Baby Center says a turnip.... So, a fruit somewhere around that size... Orange Maybe?

Baby bump: It's definitely there, there is no questioning it.

Maternity Clothes: Yes, and I'm already bored with them.... fantastic!

Gender: Every time I look down at my belly I think, that's a boy. Only time will tell... The big ultra sound has been scheduled.

Stretch Marks: Nothing new and no changes to the ones that already exist.

Sleep: Sleeping through the night, unless I have to get up to pee, which happens from time to time.

Cravings: Ice Water and Ice Tea mostly. I got into Christmas Tree Cakes there for a minute, similar craving from last time.

What Makes Me Wanna Gag: An empty stomach and lately my fish oil pills which I desperately need so I'm pushing through it

Exercise: Oh exercise..... more on this below

Mood: Somewhat stressed about Christmas and all the things that need done. But mostly excited for all the exciting things to come.

Movement: More and More

Favorite thing this week: The big ultrasound is scheduled for Friday January 30th at 9:20am. Nothing that I'm counting down the days or anything.

Excited For:  Taking a few hours off this afternoon to finish Christmas shopping and getting a jump on wrapping.

In other news...

I'm going to kill my brother! He's and his finance scheduled their wedding for exactly 3 months after I give birth to Baby Berg Jr.

3 months.

Yeah, he's dead.

I'm going to look like a hippopotamus.

Guess who's going to make a point to get back into exercising come January.

Again, he's dead! 

Pop-Pop

On Saturday evening my paternal Grandpa, Pop-Pop passed away. He was 96 years old. His only wish was to die at home, in his Florida condo over looking the golf course. Thanks for the love and care my Mimi gave to him for so many, many years, his wish was a reality.

While I am of course sad that he is gone, I am mostly thankful. Thankful for all the healthy years he had, thankful for his love, thankful for so many little things I mostly can't think of or eloquently put into words right now.

Relationships, families, life, it's always complicated. There are always misunderstandings, road blocks and decisions we will never understand. But when you put all that aside and can still find the love, then I think you're pretty darn lucky.

As was I to have had him.


I'll miss you Pop-Pop. 

16 Week Letter

Good Morning Baby Berg-

We had our 16 week appointment this morning, complete with blood work and a quick listen to your heart beat. Unlike last time you didn't give the nurse any trouble finding you. You have a nice strong heartbeat, holding steady in the 140's.

I've been starting to feel you move more and more lately. You seem to be a mid morning and evening person so far. While your bumps and taps have been pretty mild, I know it won't be long and you'll be jumping all over the place.

Your "big ultrasound" has finally been scheduled. I cannot wait to see you and find out exactly who you are. Only 6 more weeks..... it seems like a long time but I know time will fly by, as it has so far.

Right now I feel like we're in a holding pattern, as our doctor said today, we're at the boring part of pregnancy. Your job is to grow, my job is to provide you with that you need to grow. There isn't too much to do or plan for until we know who you are. So for now, we sit back, relax and enjoy.

Love you, love you tons and tons. 
Mama 

16 Week Update.....

How far along are you:  16 Weeks... Holy crap that went fast!

 

Fruit: Baby is the size of an avocado (although I'm not sure that's a fruit)

Baby bump: In the past couple of weeks the first trimester bloat finally took off and now I just have a bump and my normal body. Whew.... I was starting to really doubt that would happen.
Now that things have settled down, I don't feel so huge all the time. Definitely more so in the afternoons and anytime I really have to pee.

Maternity Clothes: Yup, I'm trying to think of creative outfits to wear so I don't get bored. My mom was generous with buying me lots of new stuff for Christmas. Hopefully, I have enough to get my through until May.

Gender: Really thinking boy now.... Grammy is holding out for a girl

Stretch Marks: Nothing new

Sleep: It was a little touch and go there for a minute. Then I reintroduced myself to the snoogle. A match made in heaven once more.

Cravings: Ice water is a high priority, especially in the evenings. Cold water, drank straight from the bathroom faucet is awesome. Yes, I realize how crazy this makes me sound. I did it when I was pregnant with Ryan too, just so you know.

What Makes Me Wanna Gag: An empty stomach

Exercise: Ryan is my exercise

Mood: So excited for Christmas

Movement: Little taps and flutters. I think I felt a reasonable sized kick or punch the other day too.

Favorite thing this week: Buying so new clothes for Christmas, Christmas shopping with my Mama.

Excited For:  Finishing up our Christmas decorating.

In other news...Nothing too exciting, just trying to keep up with the holiday crazy.

Potential Baby Name

At this point, I'm pretty sure Baby Berg v2.0 shall be named......


Sorry Kid Berg


Yup, this poor child has taken a back seat to just about everything under the sun. While Sorry Kid's older brother has a weekly pregnancy photo, a weekly blog post update and an entire pinterest board made in his honor. Sorry Kid has one weekly pregnancy photo, a handful of blog posts and a mom who is having a hard time wrapping her head around the idea that perhaps she might need to think about another nursery before long..... 


With work and home being so busy, there is rarely a moment of rest these days. Last Thursday I was dealing with a sick baby boy, a working late husband and a house that needed some serious attention less it fall down around us. It was 8:30pm when I suddenly realized I had a headache and felt faint....

Oh year, dinner.....


This is the story of my life and Sorry Kid's life thus far.....



Wish Sorry Kid luck, he's* going to need it.



*He being a general term. We don't know exactly what Sorry Kid is yet. However, I still have strong boy feeling 80% of the time *