23 Weeks...The Crib Arrived!

 23 weeks and I am feeling great :) Knox is kicking all the time, which I love. And I had someone at work, for the first time, ask me how far along I was! People can FINALLY really notice my bump and feel comfortable asking me :) One thing that was weird this week, was my tail bone. It started hurting a little bit this week at work. I haven't been walking or working out that much, like I planned, so I think it's a sign that my body wants me to stretch & be more active. 

My goal next week: walk 3-4x's a week and do light weights

 GUESS WHAT CAME THIS WEEK???????...........our baby crib & mattress!

...and yup, the FedEx guy left it on our porch while we were gone :/ At least he called me to tell me he left it there, but I had to leave work a little early to go home before it got stolen.

 ....second surprise this week!!!

Bryan put it all together while I was gone and surprised me when I got home from work :) What a sweet Daddy he is. Even Hampton was so proud :)

This is the high chair my Mom and I found at a boutique one weekend. I am in LOVE with it. It might be my favorite treasure I have found so far. I just love antiques and have been looking everywhere for a usable antique high chair :) We plan to cover the cushion with new fabric that can be easily cleaned. I'll post pics when we finish this project.

22 Weeks...Meltdown & Nursery

 SO...this week, I forgot to take a picture :/ This week I was REALLY emotional. The beginning of the week started off rough after church (I guess I was still technically 21 weeks). Bryan and I decided to run into a store so I could find some things to wear to work. My pants were getting uncomfortable and the "hair tie" trick, was no longer working. I was determined to find some cute trendy stuff, but instead we walked out of there with me crying hysterically. Here I have been sooo excited to have a baby bump, and now that I do, I cry!?!?! What is wrong with me?? The next day I went to an actual maternity store, A Pea in The Pod, and found the cutest pair of jeans and a new bra. Yes, even my boobs have grown!! My trip there was a success. I found some cute new trendy things and I felt good. I was still a little emotional all week, but I guess that's expected when you are pregnant :)

My Mom found this precious cradle for us. I just love it! We are going to keep it on the 2nd floor of our townhouse, where we usually hang out in the living room & watch TV. It makes me kind of nervous going up and down the stairs with a newborn and our goldendoodle following me around all the time. This way, he can relax & sleep on the 2nd level while I'm in the kitchen or den doing stuff. Hopefully he likes to sleep in it...

I found this picture on Pinterest. I just love the colors & the look of this nursery. It's elegant and cozy. I love the curtains draping down around the crib and the cream colored bedding. This is going to be my inspiration for his room. We decided that we wanted to first start with finding the crib. So, we have been looking online a lot, and we finally found a crib we liked. That Friday night, I went over to my parents house and my Mom surprised us. She & my Dad bought us the crib & mattress! I can't wait to get it!!! It's going to be delivered sometime next week :) Thanks Mom & Dad!

21 Weeks...and his name is?????

 We have decided on a name for our little baby boy. He is going to be named... 

Knox Thomas Bulte

How did we come up with his name??? No, it's not because we live off of Knox/Henderson street :) We wanted something different & unique. We also wanted to find a name that was either one or three syllables since our last name is two. We had a couple names we liked, but Knox just sounded cool to us. We liked that it was different & unique. Bryan saw the name in a baby book online for masculine names, and I heard the name from a celebrity baby blog website. For the middle name, we knew we wanted a family name. We decided on Thomas, and it is Bryan's Dad's name. We thought Knox Thomas had a nice little ring to it :)

 One of my best friends, Ellissa & her husband Ryan, are also expecting their first baby too! She is 4 weeks behind us. On Friday night, they revealed the baby's gender at a group dinner they planned with all our friends. Everyone wrote down what they thought the sex was. I was right, it's a GIRL!!!!!!! Knox can't wait to meet his little friend :)

Soaking up all the chances of going out & hanging with friends before little Knox comes :) It's a little hard when your pregnant to stay out late....we ended up going home after dinner. But hey, I tried to stay out late :) Bryan's excited to have a D.D. now too :)

20 Weeks....Half Way!!!!!!

Week July 30th- August 3rd

So...this week I was so busy, I forgot to take a picture of the sign :( Pregnancy brain I guess... The good news is I'm half way there to our due date!!!! It's crazy to think my pregnancy is half way over. I thought I would be really antsy and wanting it to go by quickly because I am so excited to have a baby, but I like being pregnant. I love all the stages and seeing my belly grow. I am starting to feel very protective of him, each week as he is growing and I feel him kick more and more. I love that I finally have a bump. It's hard when you are in the 'in-between' stages and you feel yourself getting bigger, but your really not really showing.

The fun stuff...like shopping, has definitely started :) I was going to wait on buying clothes because everyone says you will get plenty at your baby shower, but I could not resist. How cute are all these things?

19 Weeks.....Getaway Weekend in Austin

 

This week I started feeling him kick. It felt like a little pop or a light thump. I felt it for the first time when I was driving home from work. I was so excited to feel him move. It makes it even MORE real when you feel him :)

 

Baby bump & me on our way to Bryan's parents house in Austin! I had just finished my first week of work at Fossil. I love being back and I have a great manager. I was nervous to tell him about being pregnant, but he was so cool & it went really well :) I was soooo relieved to finally tell my work, and be able to announce the news on Facebook :)

Yeah! We made it :) So happy to be in town for the weekend.

 

Sweet presents for the Baby Boy. Bryan's grandfather made this wood rocking chair for them when he & Chelsea were little :) 

Proud Daddy to be :) Cheers!

 Beautiful....and HOT day by Lake Austin. Love the view.

 Future Grandparents, Tom & Terri Smile!

 

Love his faces :)

Hampton and his new little friend, Layla. They loved each other!

18 Weeks....It's a BOY!!!!

Week July 16th- July 22nd

Words can't express how happy & excited we were! A healthy baby boy :) 

 He we are before the Doctor's appointment, driving to the hospital to find out the baby's sex- we can not wait!!! I felt like Bryan was driving soooo slow. I was so antsy to say the least. Bryan was calm and laid back like always :)

That night, I had my best girlfriends over to share the exciting news. I couldn't wait to tell them :) Please disregard the kitchen. We were remodeling that week and having the cabinets painted. We're trying to get the house done before the baby comes.

I had them unwrapped chocolate HERSHEY candy bars, and the "HE" part of HERSHEY candy bar was in the color blue for Boy! I don't know if that was the best idea, because Leslie could not figure it out. Love you Les :) I got the idea on Pinterest....

I am so blessed to have the best girlfriends! His Aunt Leslie and Ashley already were spoiling him :)

The Proud parents to be :)

He has the cutest little head and nose! Bryan and I can't figure out whose nose he has, because it can't be either one of ours :)

I think he's going to have long skinny fingers like his Dad's.

17 Weeks (July 9th- July 15th)

I woke up to this one morning....Bryan & his friends decided to leave me baby name suggestions after having a guy's night :) Thanks Uncle Ben & Norm.

I was so excited that I was starting to show!! I went over to my parent's house one Saturday to meet my Mom for a shopping day :)

Finally! I started looking for these signs when I found out I was pregnant, but I never see them in Dallas.  What a great idea! Parking spots for "Reserved for Expectant Mothers"

16 Weeks.....Starting to show...a little bit

Week of July 2nd- July8th

15 Weeks

How far along: 15 Weeks

Size of Baby B: Orange

Total weight gain: I think like 2lbs..????
Sleep: I was going to sleep SOOOO early a couple weeks ago, but lately I have been able to stay up til about 9- 9:30pm... I know, I know, that's still not "late" but for me it is :) I have been sleeping well except for getting up 3x's EVERY night to go to the bathroom.

Maternity clothes: Not yet....At work we wear polo shirts, and mine are pretty loose already, so I have plenty of room to grow :) I have noticed that my work-out tops are tighter especially around my mid-section. I think it might be time to get some maternity tank tops that I can walk in. BUT... Good news, my pants still fit good :)

Favorite moment this week: I feel like my belly is finally starting to pop out a little bit~ especially after dinner :) I came home from work today and changed into comfy clothes, and I stopped in the mirror when I walked by and was surprised to see my belly sticking out BEFORE dinner :)

What I miss: Having a "couple" glasses of wine

Food cravings: Not really any cravings...but I finally feel like I am getting my appetite back. Lately I LOVE cutting up lemons and putting them in my water. I do that every day when I get home from work. I love fruit, yogurt, and cheese :) 

.....okay, and i have to admit that I LOVE my sweets. I do have a little treat every night :/ 

The good, the bad, and the ugly: The good is that I have more energy. I actually cooked dinner and vacuumed the other night :) Bryan was so excited to have his "wife back" he said. (I used to vacuum ALL the time because I am O.C.D about Hampton's hair being all over the wood floors) So I'm glad I'm more like me again :) The bad....nothing really....I feel full quicker after I eat and I've had a couple stomach pains, I think from eating so fast and not chewing my food well :/
What I'm looking forward to this week: I'm REALLY excited about feeling the baby move :) Maybe next week??? Also, we decided against doing the genetic testing on week 13, so we didn't get to see the baby. And then my last appointment was last Wednesday and they  measured my stomach and checked the heartbeat. So...no sonogram again :( Since we've had to wait, I can't wait to see what the baby looks like now! We find out the sex July 18th so we're counting down the days!!!!

AND...some more good news.... I got a job back with Fossil :) I am the new Product Manager for Skagen watches. Yea!!!

SURPRISE!!!!!!

Bryan and I are excited to announce that our 1st baby will be due this December! I am 12 weeks and 3 days today :) I had my first doctor's appointment on our 3 year wedding anniversary, May 2, 2012. We saw our teeny tiny baby and the fluttering little heartbeat. We could not believe our eyes! It was an exciting day to say the least. We celebrated the news over dinner that night at Del Frisco's with one minor change for me.....a pretty, non-alcoholic "mock-tail" :) I was about 7 1/2 weeks at that appointment. 

My last appointment was even more exciting~ we heard the heartbeat, and WOW was it beating fast! It was crazy to see how much the baby had grown in just a couple weeks. Our doctor was really funny and was determined to wake the baby up so we could see it move. I didn't think it was going to work, but he lightly shook my stomach and finally we saw the baby move! It was crazy watching it move it's little hands & head move side to side. (I think it was its hands? maybe legs??) We go back to the doctor in a about 2 weeks and I'm most excited about seeing how big the baby is and hoping to see it move around again :)  I'll be in my 14th week at this appointment. AND then the next appointment we might be finding out the sex!!?!?! Gosh, I hope so :) 

If you're wondering, I'm not really showing yet..but I, of course, feel like I have a little bump. (side note...I actually can't wait to have a baby bump). I have to say that I have been very blessed to have been feeling great for the most part of the 1st trimester. I have been extremely tired though (and probably really boring to Bryan since I go to bed around 7:30pm)  But I hope I gain my energy back in the next couple weeks. One thing that surprised me was my appetite. It has totally changed- I am the pickiest eater and trying to eat healthy has been a challenge. I am normally a very healthy eater, but it has been hard to stay away from sweets :) My best friend, Leslie, thinks I am having a boy since I haven't been sick... I wonder if she'll be right??


XOXO,
Ash & Baby B