Week 23

23 weeks and he is making himself known

June 23, 2012

No doubt about it, Lucas Lee Ryder is a growing boy.  I definitely look pregnant most of the time now.  Some clothes can still hide it but I'm proud of my little bump and prefer to display it. (Not quite to the point where I'm going to run around in a string bikini but I find slightly more fitted shirts flattering. However, my feelings about the bikini may change in a month when I'm even bigger and it's even hotter). Even though I thought it was a universal rule to NEVER ask someone if they are pregnant unless you absolutely know they are, I've had a few people ask me. I know it would have been more fun to say no and watch their faces but I get too excited and start bragging about him already.
Not only is he growing but he is wiggling around.  For the past few weeks I've been feeling little kicks here and there but as of last Saturday he made it visible to Steve and me that he likes to be active. After going to Jackson to Hayden's birthday party (which was really great because I got to visit with Jamie and Janice and get some quality mom advice), I laid down for a nap but ended up watching my belly for about 20 minutes instead. We can now see my belly start jumping when he gets a little to wiggly; it's such a weird but awesome feeling. Sometimes I think he is in there doing jumping jacks and burpies!

While Luke has been busy growing and exercising, there have been other happenings in the Ryder household.  Steve was offered a job with Premier Orthopedics at Wesley.  This has been a huge relief for us.  We both feel good about this opportunity and have seen more benefits of staying Hattiesburg for a few more years. Although it's been lovely having a stay at home hubby for a few weeks, I think we're both very ready for him to start working.  Dash may not be ready but I think he'll appreciate the extra money to buy him a few extra treats.

The next step for us is finding a place to live.  I'm sure we could survive in our apartment for a while with a little one, I just don't know how comfortable it will be.  We actually started looking at houses today and found some really great deals for houses we really liked. This is going to be a huge decision and a stressful process but we're excited.

We had our latest check-up Friday (yesterday) and everything is still healthy. Lucas is a whopping 6lbs already! Ok, he's around 1lb, the rest of it is me providing him a comfy living space. This is a Ryder boy though he could be at least 2-3 of those pounds. Next appointment I get to take my glucose test.  I don't think I should have any problems since I don't have a family history of gestational diabetes and I've been eating well (minus a few Bop's trips) and exercising regularly. My energy level has definitely been up since the first trimester but I do enjoy the occasional nap still.  Some nights I even stay up to 10pm - I'm such a night owl. The only other pregnancy related symptom I've had is hip/pelvis pain.  Certain movements are painful and transitioning from a sitting to standing position isn't real comfortable but nothing excoriating.

These past few months have been stressful but so exciting at the same time with the changes we have coming our way. God has definitely blessed us lately.  I'm looking forward to see what else is in store for the Ryders.

Weeks 18-20

20weeks and making an appearance

June 1, 2012

 

Once again, it's been an exciting, busy few weeks around here. After getting back from a much needed vacation, we spent the next few days relaxing around the house.  Steve got the results back from his PANCE exam which was very exciting.  Not only did he pass but he scored in the 97th percentile.  My baby's daddy is so smart. Of course that night we celebrated Steve's accomplishment with some friends.  Well, I drank water and drove others celebrating home. The next week we were suppose to go to VA for an interview for Steve and KY to look at another place he already interviewed.  I ended up not going to VA with Steve since we didn't want to pay $600 for a ticket and right before we got on the interstate headed to KY, we got a phone call about the job saying it had already been filled. As much as I wanted to go to VA, I'm was a little ok with not traveling because it wears me out these days!

Now the good stuff - Lucas is growing right along. That's right, he's a boy! 

The last Dr. appt at 18wks showed everything is healthy; I've gained a whopping 1.5lbs. I'm sure at this next visit that will change to about 10; he's been hungry lately. (As you can see in the picture he's starting to make himself known a little more.) I'm starting to feel him move more and more these days which is such an amazing feeling.  I feel him most at night and when I go swimming.  He's been practicing his stokes in there. We had our ultrasound this past Wed (20wks) which was the most amazing thing ever.  He had no problem showing us his man parts. When the tech stopped on his bottom I just looked over at Steve who had a big grin on his face. I'm pretty sure I've watched the ultrasound video a hundred times already. I think we've decided on a name too. Although his papa picks is calling him Leroy, we think we're going with Lucas Lee Ryder.  

Lucas Lee Ryder 20 weeks

I've been feeling more energetic lately but do still enjoy my sleep. I pee about a million times a day which isn't fun.  The latest symptom has been hip pain which makes me think I may have to stop running sooner than I wanted. It's all worth it to know soon I'm going to meet this little boy.  Now it's time for the fun stuff, buying clothes and nursery stuff. This is going to be one good looking boy.

Weeks 16-17

Our little pumpkin is growing!

May 10,2012

 

Once again it has been a busy few weeks in the Ryder house hold. I did my 2nd and probably final race with little Ryder in Utero, Dash proved he could swim and kayak, Steve got a job offer in KY and he officially graduated from PA school.  While all this was going on our little pumpkin has been having a growth spurt! I'm finally starting to show a little baby bump. I'm at the awkward stage where my pants are a little too small but maternity clothes are still a little too big.  I'm sure it's only a matter of weeks before I look fully pregnant.  
Here's a look of some of the events of the past few weeks:

Coming in for the finish on the bike

My favorite cheerleader!

Lindsey and me glad to be done

Dash proving he can swim with Luder

It was my turn to cheer on Steve.

More Ryders came to celebrate

The major change going on lately is the baby's growth spurt.  I finally have a little belly but I also can feel my ligament stretching - not a comfortable feeling. My appetite has started increasing too. I'm waiting to feel little kicks any day now. Less than 3 weeks until we find out the gender! Can't wait! Until then, we will be staying busy traveling - first to Mobile for Steve to take his boards then on to Gulf Shores for a beech.  The next week we'll be going to VA and KY in search for Steve a job.

Weeks 14-15

                                                                                                                                                                                         

Week 15 I think the only change I'm seeing is my farmer's tan.
Time to break out the sleeveless shirts on my runs (and stop taking pictures
right after a run).

April 22, 2012

Woo Hoo! Second trimester is here! Now when I'm I going to get this magical energy? I still feel like I could go to sleep any time, any where.
I had an appointment on Wednesday and everything (meaning my urine and the heart beat) is still healthy. No weight gain yet but Dr. Kot says not to be concerned that many people don't start gaining until a few weeks into the second trimester.  Little pumpkin's heart rate was 153 - about 3 times my heart rate.  It's so comforting to hear the heartbeat and know everything is still going well, especially when I can't really see or feel much change. I know it's not visible in the picture but every now and then I'll see a little bump.  It's more noticeable in some clothes than others.  I guess I should enjoy fitting in my clothes while I still can.

We set the date for the ultrasound to find out the gender - May 30th.  I'm really excited about it.  I'm not sure if it's because everyone keeps saying you need to have a boy or if I really feel some male hormones in there but we're leaning towards guessing it's a boy. I'm looking forward to finding out so we can refer to pumpkin as a he or she and so we can pin down a name.  It's hard looking at boy and girl names.  We thought for a while we would name a boy Graham and a girl Tatum (and call her Tate) but we've been exploring other options lately although these 2 are still on the list.  For a boy we like - Emmett, Dylan, Luke and I know it's a little out there but River. Steve also threw John Luke into the mix which I was surprised about because I thought he hated double names. Although, I like double names it was vetoed when I found out it's the name of the Star Trek ship captain.  I married a dork!  For a girl I think we're pretty set on Tatum but I also like Annabelle and Gabrielle.  Who knows we may not go with any of these and then there are middle names to add in there. Like I said, once we know whether we need a boy or girl name it will eliminate half of the worry.

In other news - Steve is done with school and only 2 weeks until he walks across the stage for his diploma!  I'm so proud of him and how hard he has worked.  The worry now is the job hunt.  We went to Memphis last week for him to do an interview with UT Memphis for a cardiology position.  After thinking it through and speaking to others who work or have worked there he decided not to take it.  I can't say that I'm upset over that.  He has an interview with a cardiology group in Paducah, KY and a meeting with an ortho group here at Wesley set up?  Guess which one I'm pulling for? However, I just have to trust that wherever we end up it is where we are meant to be.

Here's what's going on these days:

Physical:

The pressure on my bladder has definitely increased; I'm peeing about every 20 minutes these days.  My face started breaking out (I'm hoping that was short lived) and I'm still sleeping like a champ.  Like I said earlier, every now and then I can catch a glimpse of a baby bump but it may also just be bloat.  Fortunately, the extreme bloating I felt a few weeks ago has gone down a lot.

Emotional:

I still feel very sensitive most of the time and can easily cry.  Unfortunately, Steve learned this the hard way last week.  Hopefully he's learned from his mistake but as smart as he is, he can be a little stupid sometimes.