Number 7

I'm not getting any sleep! 

I keep waking up in the middle of the night.
Sometimes it's because I have heartburn or acid reflux (I don't really know the difference) and sometimes it's because this crazy little peanut inside my belly is kicking the night away. Other times I have no idea why I'm suddenly awake and staring out the window. 

Thank goodness I have Kia. 

She always knows when I'm awake.
She comes crawling up to have her belly rubbed. 

Then she sits up and stares at me. 

I stare back. 

We can't talk because Casey is snoring next to us. 

That must be nice. 

Awhile back I read this article:  "Happily After Giving Birth: 10 things they don't tell you" 

Here's number 7:

7. You might hate your husband. I have two theories of nature. One, babies look like their fathers when they are born so the father is reassured that the baby is his and won't take off. Two, nature takes care of you not conceiving right after giving birth by making you want to punch in his face every time you see him. Again, it's probably hormone related. Again, this isn't always the case but I'm just warning you that you might stare at his peaceful sleeping face at 2am and wonder what the hell the point of him is and how can that son of a bitch just lie there sleeping like while you try to get your baby to sleep for the umpteenth time. You're not alone and a jury full of mothers with newborns wouldn't convict you if you bludgeoned him to death with a breast pump. That said, he may be worth keeping around so take a deep breath and ignore the urge......for now.

I've prematurely hit # 7. 

That part about staring at his peaceful face... 

I do that. 

Casey is the best.
He's a fantastic wingman. 

But why do I have to do all of the WORK?

I fear this will only get worse when the baby arrives.

I worry about that. 

At night. 

As I'm staring at his peaceful face. 

Also worth mentioning, 

I've had zero baby dreams. 

What does that mean?

I dream about Kia and Tex all of the time. 

But not once, that I can remember, has there been an unidentified baby (my baby) on the scene. 

Casey's had a dream about the baby and I'm jealous. 

Why haven't I had a dream about the baby?

Oh No,
#7 is alive and well at the Winchells. 

Please pray for him...

P.S.
On the same site as the top 10 article,
there's this little gem...
you're welcome!

https://amy-morrison.squarespace.com/pregnant-chicken-blog/2010/12/10/awkward-pregnancy-photos.html

Time

These past few months have really run together,

Most days I don’t know if I’m coming or going!

Between keeping up with my full time job 

and quite literally being a full time volunteer, 

life's been a bit crazy. 

But time is a weird thing.

In some ways the days are flying by,

in other ways, I feel like I’ve been pregnant for years.

25 Weeks

I’ll probably look back and think – that went really fast.

But when you’re in it. It doesn’t feel so fast.

Right now, the 100 degree days are making me so tired.

Like, can’t lift my arms, tired.

Getting into a hot car – exhausting.

To fend of swelling, and (they say) stretch marks,

 I've been drinking 128 oz of water a day, that's a gallon! 

I found a 32 oz water bottle and I make sure I have 4 a day.

I really think it's working. 

So far so good. 

We'll see how I feel about that in a month... 

I’ve also had a lot of problems with my hips.

Sleeping makes it hurt the worst. I haven't been sleeping very well, at all!

My massage therapist AND OB recommended the same chiropractor so I’ve been seeing a one for the past month.

Turns out my hips were completely out of alignment, 

and we had a lot of work to do.

I’ve been seeing her 2-3 times a week.

At first, it got worse.

Sitting was painful.

Stepping up into my car was painful. 

After about 3 1/2 weeks, it started to get better.  

29 weeks

Baby and momma are on the mend - 

feeling good.

and GROWING!

Casey and I were at Lowes and some lady asked me when I was due. 

I told her September,

then she said "twins"?

No.

"Are you sure"?

Um... yeah. 

(f-you lady!)

Best Friends

I'm obsessed with this picture.

I just made it by computer background.

They really are best friends, attached at the hip, always together.

A boy and his puppy.

Pregnancy Hunger

I don’t know how it is for everyone else… but being pregnant takes hungry to a whole new level.

At first I was hungry all the time; this weird combination of hunger/nausea.

It was like... I’m so hungry I’m nauseous.

And when I finally did eat it something, it was the BEST something I’d ever had.

I’m convinced I had the best chipotle burrito, of my life, about 7 weeks ago.

I’m also at the top of my salad making game.

I keep coming up with the most amazing salad ingredient combinations, ever.

AND Casey has gotten so much better at cooking.

He made the tastiest salmon I’ve ever tasted about a month ago.

Is it all just a product of my imagination?

Overactive pregnancy taste buds?

I really hope not.

At first I was strict with my pregnancy foods

After I got through my first trimester, I started to change that.

I’m of the opinion that anything is fine in moderation.

Except drugs, I don’t condone drugs.

Additionally, telling me I can’t have something makes me want it more.

In moderation; I’ll eat a sandwich, feta in my salad, order a diet coke at a restaurant

and I will definitely have a few sips of Casey’s beer.

(I’m only putting this out there so that when my kid comes out weird,

you can all take solace in the fact that I didn’t follow every rule, so that’s probably why it’s weird)

Also, you google the weirdest stuff when you’re pregnant.

Every little symptom - I google.

I don’t even want to share some of my search terms.

20 week ultrasound this Friday!!!

My parents are coming down from Kansas City to be at the appointment.

They’ve NEVER seen an ultrasound.

I’m almost more excited to see their reactions than the baby. Wish us luck!

Random

Random happenings:

I eat in the middle of the night.

Normally it’s applesauce.

But I was getting tired of trying to spoon it out of that little container in the dark so I’ve moved onto ritz whole wheat crackers.

It doesn’t happen every night

but if I wake up and I’m hungry, I get a snack.

I also chat with Casey.

Normally I just telling him how hungry I am and he’ll ask me if I need anything else.

This has been going on for at least 2 months.

So when I mentioned it to him this week and he had no idea what I was talking about – things got weird.

I need a baby on board shirt.

I NEED it.

I’m back into a workout routine.

It helps. It makes me feel better about myself, it gives me energy

and I sleep way better after I've worked out.

BUT I took about 10 weeks off and now that I'm back I think people think I’ve gained weight.

I know I would think that about someone else –

there's a lot of familiar faces at the gym.

 I would notice if one of the other patrons was gone for a while and came back heavier.

So I told Casey I want a baby on board shirt.

I think it would answer their questions.

I ordered a maternity suit.

Major life fail.

I so wanted to be the cute pregnant girl at the neighborhood pool all summer

but after having an honest conversation with myself I decided on the modest tank-ini.

Not my proudest moment.

The worst part?

After making the purchase I realized that Casey and I will have matching swimwear.

I ordered him a pair of Gap swim trunks a few months ago and they're navy and white striped.

Well, guess what, so is my maternity suit.

Yep, we’re going to be that awkward couple.

Anyone want to meet up at the pool?

Hi Baby

I've been keeping a weekly diary of my thoughts/feeleings about pregnancy.

Just a word document titled "Hi Baby" and I was planning to share.

After re-reading those entries I've decided not to share.

I shouldn't complain. So I'm not gonna do it on my blog.

But I want to be honest.... it hasn't been easy.

This might lend to my previous post,

the part where I said we didn't really weigh all the options.

All I was trying to do was plan around busy season.

I never thought about morning sickness. Not once.

My mom wasn't sick, my friends weren't sick, so I wouldn't be sick.

Starting around week 5, I got sick.

Nauseous all day long and throwing up every morning.

Saltines in the nightstand and comfort food for days but nothing worked.

At week 10 I told Casey I quit.

I quit being pregnant.

I would have done anything to make it stop.

...Let's be honest I was throwing up in Phoenix and I was probably 1 week pregnant.
That's when Ali and I both knew.

The boys didn't catch on to that one.

Thank God for good girlfriends...

In addition to morning sickness, It WAS busy season.

You know that thing I was trying to plan around.

I was miserable.

Especially in the begining when I was so sick and felt sorry for myself because I was so sick and I couldn't focus and every.single.person who came into my office annoyed me. Their presence alone made me more nauseous and all I wanted to do was go home and sleep or thow up in my own bathroom.
Yeah. (TRYING NOT TO COMPLAIN HERE)

By week 8 - I had to tell my bosses I was pregnant.

Can you imagine? No friends. No family. Co-workers were the only ones who knew.

But I had to do it because the expectations were too high and I was being a complete brat.

Such a brat.
I told one co-worker who sits by me he wore too much cologne.
The thought of it right now makes my stomach hurt.
I swear I threw up numerous times soley because of that cologne.
I told another co-worker he couldn't eat at his desk becasue the smell was nauseating.
So then he started eating in the copy room, not even kidding. A little chair by the copy machine.
I threw a fit when they ordered sandwich trays for a lunch meeting.
THEN I made them wait to start the meering until after I warmed up some soup.
 and the next week when they ordered BBQ... I told our admin that it smelled up the whole floor and I was going home.
Oh, it's funny now.

After 12 weeks I FINALY got some life-changing anti-nausea medicine.

(My doctor wanted me to wait until I was through the first 12 weeks)

As soon as I started taking it I felt better.

What's scary about that is I still take it every morning.

I've tried to wait it out, but as soon as I get out of bed and start moving around I get intense waves of nausea so I pop a pill and it works instantly.  I'm stocking up on these magic pills for the next pregnancy because I would never wait 12 weeks again.

Here is the culprit. @ 13 weeks old.
He/She totally looks like Casey. Right?
This kid better look like me, but i have a feeling it will be a mini-Casey.
I'm making one for the other team over here.
Casey soooooo owes me... I remind him every day:)

Baby Winchell

And so it begins…

every major life event deserves a blog post, right?

Today I’m officially 17 weeks pregnant.

That’s really CRAZY.

At first I was counting the days.
Then I quickly realized if I kept counting days I would be counting for a really really long time.

So I try not to think about it,
how much time has gone by versus how much time I have left,
I’m just going with it.

First lesson of parenting? No idea.

Back to December:

Yes we were trying.

We didn’t talk about it that much. Maybe we should have.

We just decided to try in December and it worked.

I realize that’s something to be thankful for right there.
But to be completely honest I also think a few attempts would have done us some good.
More time to want it and more time to prepare.
But God has a plan and ours was innate to us.
We’re not contemplators or option weighers.

Maybe we should be, but we’re not.

I had to go on a work trip in mid-January and I knew it then.

Not officially.

So I hunted around the gift shop for a pregnancy test.

I wasn’t really sure what I would do if I found one.
I didn’t really want to find out in a hotel room.

I didn’t find one.

Next stop – O’hare.

Again, I didn’t really want to find out in an airport. 
Although if i found that test I would have taken it in the airplane bathroom if i had too.
 Luckily, I didn't find one and so Friday morning I went to Walgreens and got what I needed.
 The whole way there I thought I was going to throw up on myself –
like, searching around my car for anything that might hold the contents of my stomach.
I didn't have to take the test to know I was pregnant.

When i got home I just took the test.

No contemplation of the life change that was about to come my way.

I just wanted to know. Then there it was. I didn't feel anything. 

I will quote my friend Lauren on this one -

"it's like somebody tells you you're going to the moon"

ok. do you know what to pack?
do you know if you are going to like it, no. 
So how can you react?  

I waited to tell Casey until he got home that night.

He was at a happy hour with the guys so I knew I had some time after work to gather my accomplices, Tex and Kia.

They put on some fancy bows and wiggled at the door so proud of their news.

Casey was so excited.

Then I got so excited.

AND you should have seen Tex and Kia - SO SO excited!
We're having a baby!!!

Big Brother & Big Sister.



Pics

New blog!

I’ve been dying to make a picture collage header for a while, like, for a very long time. Which is why I took the time to make it happen; and somehow in the process I read all of my old blog posts. If you blog – you should do this! It’s weird reading about things that I’ve completely forgotten about. Just seeing all of the change that has taken place over the past 3 years is weird, a good weird, but weird.

Since I used our new pictures in my header I thought maybe I should share a few of my favorites shots from our photo shoot with Ali… she did a great job!

Flowers & Wreaths, Oh My!

I love FALL! It's my favorite season - probably because it's my birthday season and now our wedding anniversary season! PLUS, it's Casey's birthday season too, the leaves are changing colors, K-State football, my fave apple cider candle and the cool weather. Oh, I LOVE fall.

That being said,

I DO NOT like my fall allergies.

Ok, so I have to tell you last week was probably one of the busiest weeks of my life. It wasn't frantic busy like I've experienced so many times before when there is so much to do and I have no plan on how it's all going to get done. Last week was "I have a plan" busy, which obviously leads to productive busy and when it was all said and done I just felt accomplished and not as if I'd been hit by a truck. Maybe it's maturity? Or just keeping calm and carrying on.

During one of those productive nights I turned to my co-worker who was at my house making floral arrangements for a work event that some CRAZY person decided we should host 4 days before a deadline and said:

 "I NEED TO GET OUT MY FALL WREATH"

I proceeded to bring out my fall wreath and hang it on our front door. I made the wreath last fall but after it had been haning on our door the past week I decided it needed more bulk. So after a quick trip to hobby lobby and an evening or crafting on the living room floor I came up with this:

So Pretty!

Back to those floral arrangements.

Last week my company hosted a speaker at the country club and invited all of our women clients. There were about 150 women in attendance and I was responsible for the floral arrangements. Yes, a tax accountant by day and florist by night. :) I ordered the flowers ahead of time from a local floral shop. Then last Wednesday night a coworker and myself spent an evening putting together these little gems. It was a lot of work but I love the way it all turned out.

Here's the big arrangement for the front of the room.

I read about "inverting" roses, where you take a normal rose and turn out each of it's petals. Check out that hot pink inverted rose - they were awesome!

These are the small arrangements. We made one for each table and at the end of the event one person from each table got to take home the centerpice, so fun! 

Weekend In KC

I'm forcing myself to write this now.
Mainly so i don't forget anything,
and more importantly so that I actually do it.

This past weekend Casey and I headed up to KC. It's only a 2.5 hour drive but we NEVER do it. It's actually very sad - Casey and the doggies had not been to Kansas City since Thanksgiving! So pathetic.

Friday night we got to town around 8pm, hung out with my parents, watched the olympics and that was that.

Saturday was a totally different story - Casey and I woke up early and ran 5 miles (we're training for a 1/2 marathon in October. I can finally say that because I finally believe I might be able to do it.)

After our run, we went with my parents downtown to city market.
It was a beautiful morning and so many people were out, it was packed!

We had a lot of fun roaming around and checking everything out. My mom got some fruits and veggies, then it was time to eat! My parents love this italian sausage stand, they grill it up right there and even though it was 10 am, we all ordered some sausages and they were AMAZING. Like, I want one right now as I type. Then we went into one of the bakery's and ordered some desserts to share - again, so good. 

If you live in KC - PLEASE GO! It was such a great time and the food was really fresh and oh so tasty!

Mom & Casey @ the market.

I left my fam at city market and headed south to NORTH for lunch with my high school girlfriends. It's so weird - 3 are pregnant and one just had a baby! It's a whole new look for us:) AND I've been DYING to see baby Elle Swift since she entered this world 11 weeks ago!

Let me say the wait was worth it.. that little girl is the cutest thing I have ever seen.

She was dressed from head to toe in pink and she didn't fuss one bit.
I love her and I don't care who knows it!

After lunch we went for pedi's.
It's so bittersweet when we get together because I love those girls like my sisters and I love getting to see them - but I'm always so sad to leave them.

I quickly got over my sadness with a trip to the legends!
Picked up my mom and Casey as I looped around 435 and we spent a few hours power shopping hitting up all the stores we don't have in Wichita!
We also got to see sporting KC arena for the first time,
very cool. KC is changing so much!

I had no luck shopping! But casey bought some purple converse high tops which he can't wait to wear in Manhattan so i guess it was worth the trip.

That night my mom had the family over for a pre-run dinner. I was exhausted and asleep by 9!

The whole reason for the trip was to participate in the Susan G. Komen race for the cure on Sunday morning. My aunt Joanie lost her battle with breast cancer 10 years ago! That's crazy to me. 10 years!

This year the race fell on what would have been her 52nd birthday. Yes, do the math, that means she was only 42 when she passed. Anyway - my family used to run every year and this year we reunited to do it again.

It was awesome! Weather was good, company was good, it was a great way to end our short weekend getaway. Cheers to you Aunt Joan! Happy bday:)

Summer Time!

Why does summer always go so fast? It's just not fair.

And I can't even use busy as an excuse!

We've had a very uneventful summer and I like it.

Let's back up to June. June was very exciting!

Well it wasn't quite June, but on May 28th we got to meet this little guy...

Mr. Henry Moore

I could probably write a whole post on this event in and of itself.

I'll just say it's been pretty cool watching our friends become parents.

If I'm being completely honest, it's been educational too.

Henry is a cutie pie and he looks just like his daddy!

I wasn't sure what to think of him at first but we became fast friend-

I love holding him and watching him grow! 

I'm a total baby hog when I'm around him and I don't care.

He's just too cute:)

Also in June was the ongoing wall project...

I would not recommend this to anyone.

I knew it was a toss up when I ordered the stencil but I really wanted it to work!

The stencil was thick plastic and even though I used elmers spray glue to ahere it to the wall and get a tight fit, the paint still bled.
AND I'm super annoyed that it looks so great in pictures, but in person... you can definately see the imperfections. So for the next 3 weekends I took tape and attemplet to clean up all of the lines that weren't up to my standards... most boring job EVER!!!!!!

3 weeks after we started, this is the final product...

I really do love it and I love the way it looks,

but I worked way too hard on one silly wall.

Next time, I'll wallpaper:)
That't right I said wallpaper... so taboo.

A few other June moments...

We ran our first 10K!

As in, did.not.stop.

It sucked, and it hurt really bad, but I felt so accomplished when we crossed the finish line!!!!!

Laura and I also hosted Henry's SIP AND SEE!!!

So fun!

Laura came up with the idea of ordering a chick-fil-a nugget tray (serves 25-30) so we didn't have to grill in the 100 degree weather. We put it in a crock pot to keep warm - it was a hit!

Seriously doing this again!

In other news, I got PROMOTED!

First promotion of my career:) So it was big news for me!

I worked very hard for it and I totally deserved it. So it felt amazing to hear it was official.

My official new title is Tax Senior Associate.

Which means I will be reviewing most of my returns and projects instead of preparing them.

Obviously more responsibility which terrifies me.. but one day at a time right?   

And finally... in June (really, this happened in July) I had my first LIME-A-RITA.

 

SO GOOD! 

Tastes more like a summer beer than a margarita.

I actually don't even like Margaritas,

or tequilla

 or skinny girl margaritas for that matter

but this is nothing like any of those.

It's unique AND amazing, you should try it ASAP!

Memorial Day Weekend

There was a whole lot of summer going on around here this weekend!

We took our first trip to the Andover Y water park.

Casey floated around the lazy river,

I started reading the Hunger Games.

We spent lots of time with these two sweet faces...

Tex loves his daddy.

Kia loves Oprah.

I finished hunger games and we went to see the movie.

If you haven't read this yet - do it! 

It's so great!

I finally ordered my wall stencil 

and picked the wall...

more details to come. 

 We grilled out:)

We showed some american pride! 

(flower are coming back to life! 

I've been watering them every morning)

I broke out my new summer skirt!

I'm loving ORANGE right now,

all the way down to my toes!

While I took pictures of my feet,

Casey smoked a celebration cigar!

No complaints here.

Happy memorial day:)

Fridays Random Thoughts

I'm going to stencil a wall in my house,

maybe even a whole room and not just a wall...

I cannot decide and it's driving me crazy.

I've been wearing my crossbody purse on one shoulder lately.

Especially when I'm in work clothes.

Makes me feel more professional I guess...

I absolutely love NARS orgasm blush.

One of my high school gal pals turned me onto this last year,

she said it looks good on everyone - and I totally agree.

It's quality, it's fresh, and if you are in need of a new blush I would highly recommend it.

I purchased some new silver bangles at a jewelry party last month and i've been wearing them at work. Everyone within ear shot has taken the opportunity to tell me how annoying they are. Somebody even yelled "stop moving!"  ha, it was a total joke but they are annoying. I thought everyone wore bangles? Does everyone else's bangles make as much noise as mine? What's going on!

Obsessed with this music video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UVNT4wvIGY

Skinny cow ice cream sandwiches are back in my life!
First box (they no longer come in that plastic casing) purchased Monday. Finished it last night. Do you have that certain something you only allow yourself to buy during the summer? 

To keep it special and summery.

My parents are coming to Wichita this weekend!

They haven't been here since December... and I've only seen them once since then. So sad:( Casey and I are making dinner for them on Saturday night.  His parents are coming over too. We have NO IDEA what we're making!

The pretty flowers I planted last month are almost all dead.

And I've been watering them!
W.T.F.

I guess mom and dad will not be doting on my green thumb this weekend. I don't think I have one.

(this picture was taken on the day I planted them, best they ever looked)

Happy Weekend!!! :)

#Noshame

A few weekends ago Casey and I had visitors!

The Garcias, or as I like to call them Harjung and Gar. 

At lunch I told a story about my boss and her house cleaner. At the end of the story I tried to wrap it all up by saying
"pound sign, rich people problems!"

Lauren quickly interjected

"Pound sign? Do you mean hash tag?"

#OHMYGOSHYESIDID

It was in that moment I realized I might be losing my coolness!

I saw a glimpse of my future.

I heard my future child..."Um mom, do you mean hash tag?"

Over the past few weeks I've noticed other things I do that completely shameless and embarrassing...

  

1. While on walks I always pick up Kia and do curls with her.

I've never thought this was weird until a very rude lady in a passing car gave me a dirty look. Really Lady? She gets tired.

She is bitty and after a few miles she wears out.

I've always viewed this as a fabulous solution - A win win.

 I give her a ride AND tone my arms at the same time.

2. I obsess over people.

For example, there's a lady in Junior League and she's always perfectly put together,

fun personality,

2 kids,

stay at home mom,

and I want to be JUST LIKE HER.

For most people there is no harm in admiring somebody else's life, privately.

Not me - I made it known to all of my friends that i was obsessed and that I found out she lived in the neighborhood next to mine (because I looked up her address in the Junior League Yearbook) and while out on a walk with Casey I made us detour so we would walk by her house.

Ah... I've since moved on, to another lady in JL but she lives across town so there will be no walk-bys and a drive-by crosses the line.
I have limits.

Additionally, i'm never on that side of town.

3. Last summer I bought a black Maxi dress from the target maternity section.

Don't judge. There was nothing maternity about it. I was actually a little annoyed that it was even in the maternity section. I think it should have been in the regular section. Pregnant ladies are smart enough to know that maxi dress = maternity friendly. It may even make them feel good to know they bought a regular dress and "made it work" Instead, us not pregnant people have to feel guilty for going into the maternity section and taking back what is rightfully ours. Anyway, I told everyone who complimented me on that dress "target, maternity!"

Do you see my point? I'm bound to be an embarrassing mom.

Even worse, when we were at the movies Friday night a dad and kids walked in and the dad tripped up the steps, unintentionally, and everyone gasped. Casey laughed out loud and then said to me "I'm going to do that to our kids all the time it will be so embarassing"

#embarassingparentstobe

disclaimer: I am NOT pregnant, nor are we trying.