16 weeks!

Time has been flying by! Not much has changed between my last post and this one except my waistline...Adam thinks I look more pregnant. I just think I look like I have gained a few pounds in the mid section.

I have gained two pounds since my last doctor's appointment. My doc told me to expect to gain five pounds between then and my next one so I am feeling pretty good about my weight gain so far. My next appointment is next week during week 17 and I am hoping then she can tell me I can schedule my next ultrasound so we can get a really good look at the baby!

• How far along? 16 weeks
• Total weight gain/loss: Gained 2 pounds
• Maternity clothes? I actually wore a maternity pencil skirt to work this week because my other skirts were getting tight and I am tired to wearing the same pants. I have been using the rubber band trick with my jeans which has been really helpful! That's it though! 
• Stretch marks? Nope!
• Sleep: I am finding it more uncomfortable sleeping on my stomach (which I am a stomach sleeper) so I am trying to sleep more on my side. 
• Best moment this week: Getting ready for my very good friend, Whitney's, baby shower in about a month! Our two babies are expected about two months apart so we are hoping they will be bffs!
• Miss Anything? Jimmy Johns
• Movement: Not sure...
• Food cravings: Fruits and veggies. I have had a major craving for milk also! Meat doesn't make me as nauseous anymore so I am trying to eat more chicken with veggies. 
• Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope!
• Gender: I am starting to think Girl but who knows! I catch myself calling the baby "she" without even thinking about it
• Labor Signs: NO WAY!!!
• Symptoms: None
• Belly Button in or out? In!
• Wedding rings on or off? On!
• Happy or Moody most of the time: In a pretty good mood. We are moving in about a month and a half so between packing and the semester winding down, I am feeling a little stressed!
• Looking forward to: Easter is this weekend which is one of my favorite holidays! Adam and I are heading to Omaha to spend it with his family. We are also going to start looking at registry items!

Week 13

Baby C is already feeling the love from its grandparents and great grandparents! Being the first grand baby for my mom and dad, they have already started buying smaller things and making care packages for the baby who isn't even here yet! Baby C already has a few sleepers, toys, pacifiers, rattles, etc.

This past weekend I had a fraternity install and charter at UNK. For those unfamiliar with fraternities and sororities, this is a really big deal! Saturday night was the latest I have stayed up for a LONG time and didn't go to bed until close to 1:30. My body was definitely feeling it the next day as I had ZERO energy and too cat naps throughout the day. Lesson learned...

Adam and I got to see the baby for the first time! When it first popped up on the screen, the baby jumped a little so it was nice seeing it move. I wish the pictures were a little closer so I could see more details of the baby because right now it looks like a little blob or peanut!

• How far along? 13 weeks
• Total weight gain/loss: No gain or loss!
• Maternity clothes? I actually wore a maternity pencil skirt to work this week because my other skirts were getting tight and I am tired to wearing the same pants. That's it though! 
• Stretch marks? Nope!
• Sleep: Still waking up like clock work: Midnight, 3:00 am, 7:00 am. I think this is God's way of preparing me for late night feedings :)
• Best moment this week: My step-sister had her baby just over a week ago so it is exciting that our kids will be so close in age! 
• Miss Anything? I have been really good about not drinking caffeine. I only drank Diet Coke before I was pregnant but completely cut that out. There are days where I could really use a caffeine boost but I resist!
• Movement: Not yet
• Food cravings: Tomato-y things: Spaghetti, Tomato Soup, bruschetta, etc. I am also really craving milk!
• Anything making you queasy or sick: Meat, especially chicken, and strong smells. I have noticed my sense of smell is stronger which has made the queasiness worse at times. 
• Gender: Still have no idea.
• Labor Signs: NO WAY!!!
• Symptoms: Fatigue 
• Belly Button in or out? In!
• Wedding rings on or off? On!
• Happy or Moody most of the time: In a pretty good mood most of the time. Lately I have been feeling homesick. I think part of this is due to my step-sister having her baby and me wanting to be there but also wanting my parents to be close to experience the pregnancy as well. I have been calling them a lot more and am hoping to see them in a couple weeks. 
• Looking forward to: We just saw Baby C today which was amazing! I am looking forward to seeing my family next week for a few days!

The Christensen Clan is growing...

...By two feet. That's right, Adam and I are expecting a baby in September. 

We found out I was pregnant when I was about four weeks along. I had the urge to take a pregnancy test and low and behold, it was positive. I was in such disbelief, I had the doctor confirm it. I am now 12 weeks along and am heading into my second trimester. 

So far, I have been very fortunate. I have had no morning sickness and haven only been nauseous when I let myself get too hungry. I have been feeling so great that it is hard to believe I am even pregnant. Besides being abnormally tired (like falling asleep at 8:30 or 9:00), I have felt pretty normal. 

We had our first doctor's appointment last week and it was incredibly surreal. We were able to hear the heartbeat and it was at a strong 175 and the most beautiful sound. Hearing it made it a little more real for us. 

Here is a 12 week picture taken during snowpocalypse 2013! The baggy sweater isn't very figure forming but trust me- no bump!

• How far along? 12 Weeks
• Total weight gain/loss: At week 8, I was down six pounds and haven't gained or lost any.
• Maternity clothes? Nope! I have bought some on sale as I know I will need them at some point!
• Stretch marks? Nope!
• Sleep: I usually wake up 2-3 times a night needing to go the bathroom and eat something. This has become less regular and I heard sleeping gets better in the second trimester! Here's hoping!
• Best moment this week: Hearing the beautiful heartbeat of 175! 
• Miss Anything? I do miss a glass of wine every once in a while but that's about it. 
• Movement: Not yet
• Food cravings: Salty food-specifically potato chips and french onion dip which is so weird since I usually can't stand potato chips. Don't worry, I limit myself. I also crave cereal, spaghetti, and fruit smoothies (I usually have one per day and sometimes add spinach)
• Anything making you queasy or sick: Large pieces of meat like chicken breasts or steak. Strong smells make me nauseous as well. 
• Gender: I have NO IDEA. Some think boy, some think girl. 
• Labor Signs: NO WAY!!!
• Symptoms: Fatigue and sore breasts
• Belly Button in or out? In!
• Wedding rings on or off? On!
• Happy or Moody most of the time: For the most part happy but I have had some cranky spurts. Adam is a saint for putting up with me!
• Looking forward to: Week 14! We get to see baby C for the first time!

Summer Summer Summer Time

I have been looking forward to kicking off this summer for quite a while. This past weekend is when the craziness started and it won't be done until about the middle of July (unless something else gets planned!).

Adam and I went to Kansas City with my brother to visit friends and family. While it was a short trip, it was probably the most fun I have had in a while. We went to a Royals game and the celebrations started at 10:00 am and didn't stop until about 11:30 pm when we went to bed! 

This coming weekend we are going to Omaha to visit Adam's dad and stepmom and brother and his family. Monday, morning, I fly out bright and early for a conference in Indianapolis. I have been wanting to go to IFI for quite a while and am really excited that I finally have the chance! 

I come back from that on the 14th (My birthday BTW) where Adam and I are taking a cooking class on stir-fry! I will have just enough time to get caught up on laundry and work before we leave for Key West on the 20th! We will spend six glorious days in Key West! I am so looking forward to getting some Florida sun, jet skiing, snorkeling, shopping, etc! 

We come back from that trip on the 26th and and my mom will be up 4 days later to visit for a few days. Once she is gone, I pack up and head to Door County for the 4th! 

Bah! Busy Busy Busy!!! I am sooo excited though! 

Happy Anniversary-Round 2

Last year, I was writing about my first year of marriage and how there will always be “firsts” through the rest of our marriage (children, homes, vacations, etc.) and year number two was no different.

Right after I wrote that post, I was offered a new job and Adam and I ended up taking the plunge and make the move to Kearney, NE. I am so grateful that I had Adam by my side during the process. Moving as far as we did from our families made us really rely on each other and further depend on each other. We have definitely had our fair share of highs and lows this past year but if I really look back at this year and compare it to our first year, I believe we have matured much more in our relationship.

Not only did we move to Nebraska and I started a new job, Adam started going to back to school full time. I have never been more proud of him than I am right now. I remember writing this same thing last Spring when he started taking a few classes and became catholic, but my pride for him has grown even more which makes me so excited for the coming years.

Adam, thank-you for being my support-sytem, my best friend, my sounding board, making me laugh when I need it, and knowing when to give me space. I love you with all my heart and am looking forward to what life will bring us!

I am not sure what year three will bring, but I am confident that it we will grow closer and become stronger. Happy 2^nd Anniversary Sweets!!!

Well...It has been a while!

As the title shows, it has been far too long since I have been on this and the last few posts really chronicle update of my new life and job in Nebraska. Today I want to focus on something that has been on my mind the past week

Adam and I typically go to one of two Catholic churches in Kearney but this past Sunday we decided to go to the Newman Center instead. I haven't been to the Newman Center since right when the school year started. Since I was so new to campus, I really didn't recognize any of the students and I doubt they knew who I really was. When we went on Sunday, I was surprised to see how many of the students I work with at Mass. These aren't students that I see occassionally, but ones that I work with multiple times a week and, for whatever reason, it never dawned on me that, "Hey, they could be religious" and it is from students who I wouldn't have quite expected. It was refreshing to see fraternity brothers and sorority sisters attending mass together. It makes me happy to see that the chapter they joined, with the members in, are supportive and share the same beliefs.

Too often, we allow ourselves to define ourselves by our job. My title as "Assistant Director for Greek Affairs" pigeon holes me in the category of just working with fraternties and sororities, putting out fires, tackling risk management, and the list goes on and on. The first thing that definitely doesn't come to mind is "listener." I have a student who is completely open and comfortable with her faith and loves to sit down and chat with me. Regardless of what I choose to believe it doesn't matter to her but what matters is that there is someone there who is willing to listen to her without judgement. I am not sure how I became that person with her, but I am thrilled to be that for her!

I think, especially since I work for a state institution, we aren't supposed to talk about religion or beliefs. The more I think about it, the more I find this to be contradictory to what I do. I am in the profession of "developing" students to reach their fullest potential. Finding one's spiritual self is part of the process that I think many college students go through in finding their identity. Why do we have to draw the line? We so much encourage students and colleagues to be that "safe place" for students who trying to find their identity when it comes to sexuality and personal identity, but why isn't religion inluded?

Its the small things...

Working with fraternities and sororities definitely has its challenges, but, for the most part, the challenges are usually accompannied by something that makes you feel really good about the job you have and the people you work with. After a late president's meeting this week, I was welcomed to an awesome email the following morning that read:

Hey just wanted to tell you thanks for the meeting. That was way more productive and controlled than any full presidents meeting we have had before. Only 45 minutes and we covered that much material? Sweet.

Its the small things that can make your day!

One a side note, there is a philanthropy event on campus called Big Pink Volleyball! Yes, you play volleyball with a big pink volleyball! I was impressed to see four Greek teams, three of which were teams comprised of all three councils! Yay for Greek Unity! I ended up playing on a team that comprised of the Assistant Director of Multicultral Affairs, Asst. Dir. of Student Activities, a Career Counselor, Coordinator of Peer Health, a Chapter Advisor, a Peer Health educator, and a chapter Expansion Consultant! Pretty random, huh? Respectively, our team was called The Oldies! Umm, I am pretty sure our average age was, maybe, 30!?!? Even though we did miserably, it was a lot of fun! Here is a picture for your viewing enjoyment!

That's, right, I am wearing the only pink t-shirt I own-My Delta Zeta Intramural shirt circa 2004!

I think the hardest part about moving to a place where you don't know anyone is making new friends! Well, I think I am well on my way to having a great support system in Kearney!