Here's to you, Maggie...

So, we feel like our first-born child has already arrived, in a small 5 pound package, about three years ago...our Yorkie!

Everyone says she's going to be really jealous of her little brother, and I'm sure that will happen...but Maggie we promise to still love you, ooodle you, and play with you all the time! You're the best little doggie I could have ever asked for...

It's a BOY!

Well, the word is out...we're having a little baby BOY! I thought from the first day I found out I was pregnant that I was having a boy...everyone else was pretty much in agreement that it was a girl. Eric and I couldn't be more excited!

The week leading up to finding out was absolute torture. I hate surprises, and I really hate not knowing things. I attempted to stay busy with friends and family, which helped the time fly by! Soon enough it was Wednesday evening. Eric and I both paced around the house trying to find things to do to occupy our time before we really got to find out.

Thursday was the morning of our very first ultrasound...our very first look at the baby rolling around and kicking in my belly. It was scheduled for 7:30 a.m., well before the doctors office even opened up for regular appointments :) We woke up, rushed around trying to get out the door, and were there 20 minutes early...whoops! We sat, and sat, and sat. It was even more torture, but a little surreal. We finally were escorted to the Ultrasound room...a place I've never been before. The technician turned the lights low, and the 45-minute session began. I was well-prepared for the announcement as Eric squeezed my hand. At first, the little baby had his legs crossed. So, she showed us his head, spine, fingers, toes, etc. for a little while. But, I couldn't take it any longer! She checked again, and this was what we saw:

Take a look at the view little baby Krieger gave us:


Pretty sure it's a BOY! :)

The 45 minute session was one the best things I've ever experienced in my life. We watched the little guy suck his thumb, kick his gigantic feet against my bladder, among many other things. It was a little glimpse into the near future for us...and it made it all so real.

We only told our friends and family that lived far out of town, we made our family and friends back home wait until we could tell them in person. So, we went straight to Baby Gap and bought a few outfits, including a onesie that states "BYOB" with a little bottle on it and a little sweatshirt. When we arrived back in Waterloo that night, we had the family open the bag full of BOY CLOTHES! It was a good time :)






Needless to say I've been obsessing over what to decorate his room in. I have driven to every store that carries baby room bedding, and have searched, and searched, and searched online! I think I have it narrowed down...

Oh, and we have a few names picked out, but we have to have something to surprise all of you with :) And, I'm a teacher...so a naughty student might ruin my plans! We'll have to see when he comes!

20 Weeks!

How far along: 20 Weeks...that means I am halfway through this pregnancy! Wow...I can't believe I'm five months pregnant already.

Food cravings/aversions this week: I should really have a craving update every day :) It always changes. And, I'll have a craving for two days...then a new one arises. OH, this week's craving has been 'Whatchamacallits' candy bars. I bought a pack of six full-sized candy bars, and I ate one for breakfast, one for lunch, and one for dinner. I stopped myself from eating one before bed...thankfully that craving is over :)

I've gone five months without really eating chicken, and I truly love chicken. Eric and I went to dinner with his Mom and Sis who were in town visiting us, and I decided I was going to rebel against my non-chicken liking self and order a bbq chicken wrap. It sounded SO good, and it even included pickles :) Well...I learned my lesson. Baby Krieger DOES NOT like chicken! Four more months and I'll have chicken for every meal!

Changes/feelings: I finally can't hide that I'm pregnant anymore...that's a big change! From the beginning until about last week I could decide whether I wanted to look really prego (by accenting the baby bump with true maternity shirts), or whether I wanted to look like my old self, by wearing non-skin-tight tank tops. I can't do that anymore :) No matter what shirt I put on, I look pregnant. Which, I truly enjoy! I'm feeling great and am very proud of my baby bump!

Memorable moment this week: Shhh....promise not to tell....Eric helped paint my toenails! It really hurts to lean forward, and I didn't want a pedicure until closer to the wedding I'm in this weekend. So, I begged and pleaded...and of course he helped. It was one of the sweetest things he's ever done. Was he completely happy, no! But, it was adorable to watch him try so hard to help.

Also, BABY KRIEGER MOVES! I'm betting I've got a little soccer player in my belly...boy or girl. I felt little movements weeks ago, but now I can feel the little munchkin everyday. The sad part...baby K is a night owl. Around 7 pm, after dinner and dessert, baby K starts rumbling. And, this little munchkin doesn't stop moving all night long! It's really fun to think about...hmmm...is that the head hitting my belly, or it's little foot? Such a cool feeling!

Least favorite moment this week: Aches and pains are starting! I'm trying to ignore them, but I'm having more trouble getting comfortable sleeping, sitting for long periods of time, among others. This entire pregnancy I've pretty much been my normal self, and now I'm going to have to slow down! Darn!!

What I am looking forward to: TOMORROW IS THE DAY! BOY or GIRL!? What do you think?!

I'm still thinking it's a boy. I had a dream last night it was!

Nursery Before...

So here's the nursery in-progress. It's nothing exciting yet...just a room filled with stale white walls and new baby furniture. I can't wait to begin decorating and painting once we know what little baby Krieger is. I'll keep you posted on how it's going!

I'm thinking of using mostly greens and browns if it's a boy, and pinks and browns if it's a girl...but my mind changes with each store I walk into. So far, if it's a boy...babies 'r us is where I'll probably be buying most of the decorations. If it's a girl...Pottery Barn Kids here I come!

To Do Lists..

So...if you know me at all you know that I live by making to-do lists. I make a list for chores around the house, tasks I need to complete for school, and now a seemingly never-ending baby to-do list. I'm thinking having a baby was the best idea for this girl who loves to have lists and lists of things to accomplish in a day.

Currently on my to-do lists this summer are the following:

FIND OUT WHAT LITTLE BABY KRIEGER IS! :)...three days...
Paint nursery
Decorate nursery
Organize and de-clutter closets and drawers
Plan my curriculum for the coming school year...and work on sub plans
Decorate and organize my BRAND SPANKING NEW classroom for the fall (it's a new building, so it's not even finished being built! AH!)
Update registry items
Babymoon and date nights with Eric...St. Louis here we come!
Make time for friends and family

I'm sure I have many more items on my to-do list, but that's all my pregnancy brain can remember for now. It's the best feeling to fill up an entire lined post-it with to-do items, and to cross them ALL off...ah it's like accomplishment at it's finest! How dorky am I? I know...

Baby Krieger's First Outfit...

Baby Krieger's daddy is a total Iowa Hawkeye fanatic. So, of course, the first little purchase we made when we found out we were having a baby was this black and gold hawkeyes onesie, matching pacifiers, and a Iowa baby board book. My sis sent me the sippy cup. I figured that whether baby K was a boy or a girl, this little black and gold onesie was a must! Eric claims this is the outfit the baby will come home from the hospital with...we'll see if that really happens :)

I'm actually quite proud of myself. I figured I would have done much more shopping by now than I have. We have purchased most of the important stuff: crib, changing table/dresser, Coach diaper bag :) and a nice, big, comfy lazy boy recliner. Eric's parents bought us our Chicco travel system, which we love! But, for the most part I haven't really bought too much of anything yet. In 9 days...not that I'm counting down or anything...I'm sure my baby shopping will amplify a ton! Nursery decor and bedding, first little outfits, hooded towels, toys, etc. will become the focus!

I'm still torn on what baby Krieger is...boy or girl? From the very beginning I've been sure that it's a boy...but now I'm not so sure! Who knows...

July 15th at 7:30 in the morning is when we'll find out!!!!

18 Weeks!

How far along: 18 Weeks!

Food cravings/aversions this week: Pickles, ham, ham and pickles, ham sandwiches, pickle wraps, did I say ham and pickles? I have eaten a ham sandwich for lunch almost everyday for the last two weeks! And, I've made two jars and three packages of ham worth of pickle wraps :) I'm always willing to share! I don't know what this ham and pickle craving is all about, but I'm enjoying it! I'm still unable to eat chicken, most Mexican food, fried food makes me feel yucky, and so does really sugary pop.



My appetite is finally back up to the point where I'm actually hungry at lunch and dinner, but I still eat much less than before! You know that really, really, really full feeling you get when you stuff yourself? That feeling gets TEN TIMES worse when you're pregnant, since your body processes it much slower. So, I'm really careful about eating too much!

Changes/feelings: I FEEL GREAT! This whole 2nd trimester of pregnancy is so easy! I have no complaints, I've added working out 30 minutes a day to my schedule, and I'm on top of the world. I've also been taking our little Maggie on walks most days, so I'm really getting about an hour of exercise each day, without any struggle! I'm hoping this helps pop the baby right out when it's ready!!

Memorable moment this week: Baby Krieger MOVES! I have been feeling the baby grumble in my tummy for a couple of weeks now, but more recently it's very often! I stop myself and hold my tummy and wonder what little munchkin is doing in there! It's the strangest and coolest feeling in the whole world.

I've had a ton of visitors lately, and I'm loving getting to spend time with some great friends before our lives get too crazy! This week I laid by the pool and tanned all week with some of my favorite people!

Least favorite moment this week: Waiting until July 15th :) I am SO ready to find out. And, I know that if they did the ultrasound NOW they would be able to tell me...so I'm not enjoying the torturous wait. I'm half tempted to drive up to the Dr's office and proclaim for them to do the ultrasound TODAY! No, I'll wait.

What I am looking forward to: Countdown to July 15 has started...12 days and counting until we find out what this little munchkin is! Now, the question is, should we tell all of you, or keep it to ourselves? I guess you'll have to wait and see!

12 Weeks!

How far along: 12 Weeks

Food cravings/aversions this week: Cravings include: Mountain Dew, Icees, Lemon Lime slushies, and fresh foods (like salads and salsa). I'm eating much more healthy than before I was pregnant! This baby makes me crave fresh fruit and veggies, which I NEVER EAT! I'm still constantly drinking water. I have visions of a water bottle dripping with sweat because there is ice cold water within it :)

I've only added marinara sauce to my list of unwanted food. But, that eliminates a lot of food - spaghetti, pizza, lasagna...

Changes/feelings: My slight queasiness is starting to disappear. A welcomed sign of moving along in this pregnancy!

Can you say pee? I go to the bathroom about 10 times a day (2-3 times in the middle of the night even) which is a big change from before. I have figured out where the restrooms are in many places! Now while I'm teaching I have to leave my room and go during the day a few times. I have my little watchdogs for each class, and when I come back everything is normal and quiet. One of my students even said "Mrs. Krieger, shouldn't you be taking your bathroom break? You usually do right now, and this class is almost over...GO!" It was really sweet.

Memorable moment this week: Hearing little baby Krieger's heartbeat and my students. The little "bump, bump, bump" we heard coming from my tummy made us realize we were soon-to-be parents. The little munchkin was beating away at 170 beats-per-minute, which is a good, strong heartbeat! Keep moving along little baby.

Also, I decided to tell my students I was expecting, as we finally heard the little heartbeat. I had two really intuitive students figure out that I was expecting...they noticed my constant water addiction, my strange cravings and little snacking in the middle of teaching them, along with my little hints about doctor's appointments. I told my first class, and I heard a roar of craziness. They were so excited and shocked! Then as the day progressed, instead of announcing it, my students RAN in and said "Mrs. Krieger is it true? What are you going to name it? How far along are you!? I can't believe you didn't tell us first!" It's funny how fast news travels through 100+ middle school students. It was really sweet to see most of their reactions. Of course, I had the very memorable blurt of "So that's why you're getting so fat!" from my socially awkward student...but for the most part it was all good things. On the next day we had a pizza party, and a student brought in a caffeine-free root beer just for me...he claimed "My mom and I searched all over for the caffeine-free kind so you can drink it and it's okay for the baby!" It was really touching.

Least favorite moment this week: Never go to bed without washing my face...lesson learned. My face is much more sensitive and acne-prone than before, so I'm having to be very careful! I'm hoping it doesn't last this whole pregnancy! But, I guess if that's my one complaint, I'll take it.

What I am looking forward to: It's almost summertime. I'm looking forward to laying by the pool to amp up my tan, having time to think about and decorate the baby's room, and for July 15th - the day we find out if baby K is a boy or a girl!!

8 Weeks!

How far along: 8 weeks and counting.

Food cravings/aversions this week: 2 pickle jars down in one day...can you say cliche? I'm still hating chicken, which I normally love. I'm going to miss chicken!

Changes/feelings: I really, really, really miss tanning...and I know how sad that is. I can't wait until the summer to lay by the pool! Tanning beds are like microwaves for the little one...so it will be awhile before I go back!

I am thankful for my pregnancy reading material. I've been reading What to Expect While You're Expecting, among many other books, and they're helping me make sense of all of the crazy things that are going on in my body.

Memorable moment this week: Maternity clothes shopping...it's a whole new world! I'm quickly realizing that there aren't many options for me. But, I'm determined to look cute while making this baby! Oh, and getting a pedicure and not feeling guilty. It's going to hurt my back and tummy to squeeze and try and do my own toes, so now there's no guilt!

Least favorite moment this week: Queasiness. I'm thankful, however that I haven't gotten sick! I really don't actually get sick, but there are many times in the day when I get that sick-to-my-stomach feeling. Some of those instances are: dirty kitchen with old dishes, smelly 12-year-olds after recess, and dirty laundry for some reason? I've got lots of candles and wallflowers going!

What I am looking forward to: Hearing little Baby Krieger's heartbeat! And, making it through this first trimester without any problems or complications!

5 Weeks!

How far along: 5 Weeks....just found out we're pregnant!

Food cravings/aversions this week: Water is my friend. Everything with taste or flavor either is too strong or makes me queasy...so I've been indulging in water all day long! Things I can't stand that I normally love: Mexican food, fried and fast food, chicken, garlic, and pop...I have a feeling this list is growing quickly!

Changes/feelings: My appetite has somehow disappeared! I don't know where it went. Maybe is has something to do with this amazing new nose I have...

Memorable moment this week: Seeing that plus sign on not one, but TWO pregnancy tests!

Least favorite moment this week: Feeling so bloated! I tell everyone the reason I knew I was pregnant was because I feel like the Michelin Man! All filled up!!

What I am looking forward to: Having a baby!