Bumpdate: Week 31

This has been an incredible weekend. We were so overwhelmed by all the love and joy that our Baby Shower brought us. I will be posting a detailed post with pictures of the shower later this week, but for right now I just want to share a few highlights and to officially announce the name of our little man!!! 

Nic and I have thought long and hard about this name. When we found out that we were pregnant, we instantly agreed on a girls name. Several actually. We knew exactly what we would call a little princess and we loved it. But boy names. Oh man did we go round about the boy names. We just couldnt seem to agree on any of them. All that ones that we liked seemed so generic compared to the totally awesome unique girls name that we liked. We really liked Aiden. But its so popular. We also liked Joel but decided against it for the same reason. I loved Malachi, but Nic really didnt like it and I mean who can tell their husband that they have to name their kid something that they dont love. Thats just mean. So we just decided that we werent gunna talk about it for a while and see what happened. Well, I kept looking anyways haha. And we were on our way to our anatomy scan ultrasound and I was so scared they were going to say it was a boy and we had no name for him! So in the car on our way there I told Nic that we had to agree and decide on something because I wouldnt be able to handle hearing "Its a Boy" and not having a name. So we settled then and there and gave the little guy a name...

We would like to unofficially introduce Rylan Lafayette Morris. 

We can't wait to meet you, little man.

And here is this week's bumpdate... 

How far along? 31.5 weeks. 

Maternity clothes? Everything fits weird at this point. Doesnt matter what it is, its weird. Sweatpants are pretty much the only thing that are comfortable to me right now so that is where I spend the majority of my time. My sister in law got me these really awesome Pea in the Pod sleepy pants for Christmas. I have pretty much been living in them. They are so soft and so very comfy. Rylan on the other hand has far more clothes than I think he will ever be able to wear before he even grows out of them. We got so many adorable things for him at our shower on top of the amazing hand me downs that I posted about several weeks back. In addition to the cute things that we have bought for him because I mean, come on, sometimes you just have to buy that adorable little outfit that is 70% off at Carter's. 

Sleep: Sleep is still hard. Im trying so hard to just pray before I lay down and just rest, but even the laying down has gotten painful this week. Apparently my hips are softening. Preparing for that whole pushing a human being out of me thing. So thats been lots of fun. Aside from that it hasnt been that bad. I am still getting up once a night to go the bathroom. Although, according to Nic, I apparently really like sleeping in the middle of the bed now. It doesnt help that I have an extra person attached to the front of me, but I like being in the middle haha. He just smiles and says that he has gotten very good at sleeping on the edge of the bed :)
New this week: Holy ankle swelling. My ankles are huge!! They have been slightly puffy before now, but this week has been a whole new breed of puffy. I look like an elephant. And nothing really makes them unswell. As soon as I get the puffiness down some, I have to go walk somewhere and there they go again. Man oh man. I sure do love this kid haha. 

Best moment this week: Our shower. That day was truly filled with more love than I can handle. So many people came to love and support us. It honestly meant so much to me that so many people came and just the fact that they cared enough to spend their time celebrating our beautiful little boy just meant everything to me. We received so many beautiful gifts and we were truly blessed with everything that is essential for little man to arrive. And what we did not receive we got gift cards to cover. We were blown away by the love and the generosity of everyone there. It meant so very much to us. So to everyone out there reading who came, know that we love you all and that we are truly so thankful for everything you did to make that day memorable for us and for the love that you showed our little boy. He doesnt know it yet, but he has been blessed with more wonderful people in his little life than he will know what to do with.

And my mom. That sweet, wonderful, kind, giving, caring, incredible woman that I have the honor of calling my mom. I could not be more thankful for the hours of planning, and decorating and work that she put into throwing us this shower. Not that my dad and my brother werent a big part, but I just really want to take a minute to thank my mom. She truly gave us a day that we will never forget and she did it so selflessly and so willingly. I could not ask for a better best friend and a better partner in crime. She is my everything and I am so thankful that God thought enough of me to allow her to be mine. Shes just incredible.

Miss Anything? People not always being in my personal space hahaha. I am not a big physical touch person. Never have been. Definitely not one of my love languages. lol. But having a small human attached to the front of me gives pretty much everyone license to touch me. Whenever they please. Im looking forward to having my space back and having a baby to hand them instead of a large round appendage
Cravings: Still oranges. And today it was Sarris chocolate. We took care of that particular craving haha.  

Anything making you queasy or sick: Not sick in particular but the heartburn is back this week. Yesterday was the worst its been I think. It burns all the way up. Ive been using Zantac though (Doctor approved) and its the only thing that works. So thank God for that because I would be one miserable preggo. 

Wedding rings on or off? Still half and half. 

Looking forward to: Seeing our little man. We have been talking a lot about what he is going to look like lately and we are really curious to see whos guesses are right. My mom said she thinks he will have dark hair and blue eyes. I personally think blonde curls with blue eyes. And Nic hasnt really weighed in much on this one so we shall see haha. I really just cant wait to hold him and love him and to kiss that beautiful little face of his. It truly will be a beautiful moment for us. 

And thats the bumpdate! 

Bumpdate: Week 30

Again... Im late. I figure you all should just get used to it at this point. The post is always written, I just never upload the pictures. So it always ends up being a few days into the new week that the previous week goes up. But hey. I think I have a good excuse for my laziness. Im growing a human. 

How far along? 30 weeks. Holy crap when did that happen.

Maternity clothes? I have been wearing the crap out of my new hoodie. I love it. Its so comfy and so stretchy and no matter how large I get, it keeps on fitting. Love that. Im actually really excited about my outfit for our baby shower this weekend. Its just a little black dress, but everyone knows that little black dresses make everything better. So I am really looking forward to that. And I got cute ballet flats, a size up to allow room for my ginormous feet, and a new necklace. I like this outfit haha.

Sleep: Oh man, sleep. Its really not been bad. I sleep about 4 or 5 hours and then my hips wake me up and of course once my eyes open I have to pee. So yah, but I usually make it a decent amount of time before getting up. The last few nights have been rough because little man has not been nearly as active through the night, which of course results in a semi panicking me. Nic just keeps reassuring me that his habits are changing because of his size and that as long as he is active throughout the day I have nothing to worry about, but I guess its the mama instinct in me that just panics a little bit. 
New this week: Little man moves from the outside now. Nic says it looks like boiling water haha. But you can make out his little movements if I am leaning back on a chair or the couch or where ever I happen to be sitting. It makes him seem so much more real. That is if the huge stomach, swollen feet and aching hips didnt make him real enough haha. But his little movements are just so distinct and cute. His little elbows and his but are what I make out the most. But he is just a cute little man. I can't wait to hug that little face for real. I've hit that ancy point this week. Im just ready for him to be here and for us to be able to snuggle and love him like we so badly want to. But I keep reminding myself that this season with Nic is also so sweet because it is the last time that it will ever just be the two of us. So we are trying our best to just love on one another and to be together as much as possible. 

Best moment this week: I had my regular doctors appointment this week. The practice that we are using has 6 doctors total and the one that I saw this week has a bit of an accent and is super sweet but very blunt and straight forward. She was doing my measurement on my stomach and feeling to see where little guy is positioned and while feeling around she commented, "oh nice size baby." Then she measured my belly and gasped a little and said "ohhh big baby!" my mom and I laughed so hard at that one. 
Also we scored a swing for little man at a really good price on our neighborhood's classifieds page. And the people we bought it from actually rewired it that it can be plugged into the wall so we wont have to spend a fortune on batteries!!! 

 

Miss Anything? Being able to move around and go up the steps without being completely out of breath. I so miss being able to be active and breathe normally. The bigger he gets the more I notice it. So Im looking forward to being able to exercise. 
Cravings: Oranges. Lots and lots of oranges. In any shape size or fashion. I just want oranges. 

Anything making you queasy or sick: Nothing in particular. We are feeling pretty good these few weeks.

Wedding rings on or off? Still half and half. 

Looking forward to: This week!! Our shower, Christmas, and we are announcing little man's name in this next week's bumpdate!!! So be on the lookout for the one huge awesome bumpdate!!! And so many amazing people are coming up the for the shower!! Auntie Bekah will be coming in, Aunt Ashe and Uncle Aric will be here and so will the Morris Grandparents and Aunt Desi! Its gunna be a busy weekend in the Cyprowski/Morris house! 

And thats the bumpdate! 

Merry Christmas!!! It truly is a beautiful time of year with so many expectations of what next year will hold for our family. We pray that you all have a blessed holiday surrounded with so much love and joy as we celebrate the birth of our savior. From our little Morris Family to yours, Happy Holidays!

Bumpdate: Week 28 and 29

Since I missed last week I am just combining the two weeks. Most of the info is exactly the same for both weeks. So its just easier this way. And our family pictures fit the timing of the weeks so that takes care of a bump shot :)

How far along? 28/29 weeks 

Maternity clothes? This week I went and bought quite a few new things to get me through the next few months. Im really excited about a lot of these outfits. I got some new comfy clothes too. Sweat pants and sleepy pants that actually fit. Some new tshirts and some other cute tops. And I got a hoodie which makes my heart super happy. I love it. And its comfy. Other than that, Its really just watching myself expand and wearing what fits haha.

Sleep: The charlie horses have returned. Oh man. Didnt miss those. Those awesome cramps that leave spasms that hurt for days. And they only happen at night. Not a huge fan. Also the intense hip pain while I sleep is back this week. I hate that haha. But I have only been averaging one bathroom break a night. Thats been nice. 
New this week: Cramps. Holy cramps. Not a huge fan of these. They hurt and they freak me out quite a bit when they are happening. I always think something bad is happening thats not. But I think thats just part of pregnancy. Also, swelling. My face, hands and feet are quite poofy. We flew down to South Carolina to spend a week with the Morris' and it has taken until today for my swelling to go down. Just in time to fly home tomorrow haha. I also had my glucose testing over the last few weeks. My numbers in the doctors office came back 2 points high so I had to go for the nasty 3 hour test. Which wasnt as horrible as I anticipated. My mom and I actually had a good time while trapped in the hospital outpatient lab haha. It was so great of her to go with me that early in the morning. But that test came back in the completely normal range which was awesome news. I think the in office test came back high because I ate right before I drank the sugary stuff. So that was a fun experience. 

Best moment this week: The last two weeks little man's features are becoming more and more evident from the inside out. The last week I can distinctly make out his little butt up in the air if I lay on my back. It might be the cutest thing ever. Right now its really easy to tell that he is a peanut. I hope he stays that way for delivery haha. Come on 7 lb baby haha. 

Miss Anything? Sleeping on my belly. Im really looking forward to having that back in my life. And not having little toes in between my ribs haha. I love the little flips and tumbles, I really do treasure every one that I feel, but I'm looking forward to treasuring little man on the outside in all of these adorable outfits that we bought for him. Oh my goodness this kid is going to be well dressed to say the least.  

Anything making you queasy or sick: I got car sick today. Which rarely happens to me. I was drinking a starbucks and riding in the back seat and when you combine these things it results in a yucky feeling for me. Aside from that, just being too hungry is the biggest one for me. I get too hungry I feel sick. 

Wedding rings on or off? Still half and half. 

Looking forward to: Our shower!!! We are officially two weeks away from those festivities and oh my I am so excited. My mom ad I have made a lot of really cute stuff and we have so many cute plans. Its going to be quite the shindig. And it makes leaving the Morris' easier this year because we will see them in just two weeks for the amazing festivities in honor of the amazing little man that we have created!!! He has just the most precious personality and I cannot wait to honor him with everyone that we love and hold dear.

And thats the bumpdate! 

Bumpdate: Week 27

I didnt get a picture of my whole profile this week, I just kept forgetting to have Nic snap one. But this is my bump from against my ribs, straight down during week 27. Its a pretty accurate representation of little man and his torpedo-ness. haha

How far along? 27.5

Total weight gain:  I honestly am going by what my doctor says at this point and just trying to eat healthier foods. So Ive stopped keeping track publicaly. It makes me feel better about myself.  

Maternity clothes? Ive become a really big fan of black this week. Its slimming to my now overly curvy figure and Im just an overall fan of it. Im currently planning my wardrobe to take to my in laws next week for Thanksmas with that side of the family so Im assembly my favorite preggy outfits. Ive discovered that I no longer fit into my camis, thank you torpedo baby, so I need to pick up a few of those before we head out. I also think its time to go up a size in my maternity jeans. They just arent fitting as comfortably with my little torpedo man in there. Im also loving shirts with cardigans over them this week. Its been super comfy.  

Sleep: Sleep is just rough right now. Im trying really hard to not wake Nic up, because he needs his sleep, but this week my hips have been hurting like crazy while Im sleeping. I think its time to start sleeping with a pillow between my knees to help with the pressure on my hips. My flower girl's mom told me the other day that her hips would actually go numb during her last pregnancy so Im glad that is not the case, but man do mine hurt. Im looking forward to having a little one to make the sleepless nights seem more worth it. 
New this week: Hello gastro-intestinal pain. Its nice to meet you. I had the new sensation of my stomach being pressed up inbetween my ribs because of how big little man has gotten. I talked with my OB nurse and she said that because I am now working on week 28 my uterus is beginning to stretch further because of little man's size. His little self is running out of room and he is pressing to make more for himself. Resulting in some very intense pain that only tums can help with, which sucks because tums do nothing but remind me of the lovely morning sickness that lasted the first three months of pregnancy. I am not a huge fan of this new part of pregnancy. 

Best moment this week: I think my brother being here for Thanksgiving and getting to experience me at this stage with Merv. Last time he was here, it didnt really seem all that real with Merv. He wasnt moving a whole lot at that point and he was just kind of a bump. Now he has a personality and he is constantly moving. It was fun to watch him pat my bump, which he should feel special because I hate when people touch my bump haha, but it was really just so fun. 

Miss Anything? Being confident in my appearance. I was looking through old pictures today and I miss being skinny. Although I will say it is motivated my post baby work out and weight loss plans and Im not even there yet. My ultimate goal is to get back down to my wedding weight. I know that my body shape has changed some, but I really loved the way I looked for our wedding so its my goal to end up somewhere close to there :)

Food cravings: Oranges. Ive eaten so many oranges haha. And Im always craving chocolate. This week I have really started wanting Christmas Cookies. But that will come with time. lol 

Anything making you queasy or sick: I took my prenatals with not enough food in my stomach earlier this week and it made me pretty queasy. But as soon as I ate something it felt better. 

Wedding rings on or off? Still half and half. 

Looking forward to: Putting up Christmas this week has made me so excited for next Christmas with little one!! It is so exciting to think about how fun it will be. He will be such a fun age for next Christmas with his little personality and will be so excited to see the lights and the train around the tree and all of the fun that goes with Christmas. I really cannot wait to share our favorite time of year with our little man. It will be so truly special. 

And thats the bumpdate! 

50 reasons to be thankful...

Last year I made a list of the top 50 things that I was thankful for in that season of my life. It was a really great way to put my life into perspective and to really and truly step back and reflect on the things that I have to be thankful for. So I decided to do it again this year. Id love to make it a tradition to do yearly, but no promises with a 9 month old at this time next year...

So here are my top 50 things that I am most thankful for this year...

1. Jesus... no other way to describe or explain it.
2. My husband. I never knew that I deserved a love so pure and so real. And I never knew that I had the ability to love someone so deeply. I am truly thankful for the man that I get to call mine...
3. A healthy beautiful baby boy on the way... although unexpected, the biggest blessing that we could have ever imagined.
4. My family. They are so beautiful in ever way. They are my best friends, my everything.
5. Nic's family, and their love for me.
6. A beautiful place to call home for the time being.
7. Traditions... old and new.
8. The Macy's Parade and the magic it holds.
9. Christmas time. I cant wait to celebrate with little one next year.
10. Early mornings spent with Jesus.
11. The morning light.
12. Baby clothes.
13. Cereal. All kinds of cereal.
14. A husband thats willing to get me the things I crave while pregnant.
15. Snow. And all its beauty and splendor.
16. Homemade meals. Warm and wonderful.
17. Fuzzy socks. Warm and fuzzy.
18. Dance. Being able to express myself fully and unexplainably.
19. Flutters inside from this beautiful baby of mine. No matter how painful those little feet of his may be.
20. Christmas lights. The magic in their glow.
21. Music. And its ability to connect us.
22. Being close to my family. I have missed them so much.
23. Memories. Good and bad. Memories make you who you are.
24. Laughter. The sound it makes.
25. Being raised in a Christian home.
26. Candles. Their smell and their glow.
27. Having enough of everything I need.
28. Pajama pants. Warm and cozy.
29. Milkshakes.
30. Pictures. They hold such promise of things you've had and things to come.
31. Warm showers.
32. The ocean. Being able to see God's power in its majesty.
33. Being blessed with more clothes than we need for our little guy.
34. Technology and its ability to keep us connected to those we love both near and far.
35. Having last Christmas with my pap. We needed that as a family.
36. Blankets.
37. Christmas trees. The hold such wonder.
38. Stories. Hearing peoples stories. Telling people stories. Being part of stories.
39. Dancing in the rain. Its freeing.
40. Seeing old friends... they always feel like coming home.
41. The sound of hearing I love you... It never sounds the same but it always sounds familiar.
42. The promise of joy. That we are called to do life joyfully.
43. Family and friends that care about us and help us to make the best choices for our lives.
44. Ashe and Aric. I dont know where we would be without these amazing people.
45. An amazing church family that has brought us in and gotten us connected.
46. The twinkle in your eyes when you talk about your passions.
47. The sound that a jelly jar makes when you open it for the first time.
48. Listening to Nic sing, especially when he thinks no one is listening.
48 b. Feeling little one dance and kick his little voice to his dad singing. Its incredible how connected      they are and he isnt even here yet.
49. Our wedding pictures. The hold a promise.
50. The beauty of our future. There is so much to be thankful for in this past year, and so much to look forward to in the year to come.

So Happy Thanksgiving to our beautiful families. And to all of you who make this life worth living for us. We love each and every one of you. Thank you for being part of our story. We couldnt be more thankful for who you are to us. Let the holidays begin...

Until next time...

Bumpdate: Week 26

How far along? 26.5

Total weight gain:  23.5ish lbs. 

Maternity clothes? I got some new shirts this week that I love. They are long sleeve so it makes for an awesome fit for the 27 degree days that are expected this weekend, and they are neutral in color so I have been able to wear scarves and stuff over them. Im loving that. My belly apparently makes it very obvious that I am having a boy this week. I have had multiple people tell me that they can tell its a boy just by the shape of the newly developed torpedo look he is sporting. He has also decided that he hates pants over the last few weeks. My jeans make him angry because where the elastic meets the jeans seems to be right where he is sitting. And sweatpants have elastic too, so he just isnt happy with clothes much lately. 

Sleep: Still my least favorite thing in the world. Its hard because Im not sleeping straight through the night so I never wake up feeling quite rested enough. I always feel like I need a few more hours, but a few more hours requires at least two bathroom breaks so its just not even worth it haha. And the dreams are still weird. Poor Nic has been so patient with my lack of sleeping and tossing and turning and getting up every hour or so. He's been getting up with me, and rubbing my charlie horses out of my calves and just taking such good care of me. He really is the best thing that has ever happened to me. 
New this week: You can tell how little man is sitting based on the shape of my belly. It will get oblong and awkward and just odd looking and you can tell where his little head is in comparison to the jabbing toes in my ribs and bladder haha. And you can see him moving from the outside now. Thats been weird to watch as well. It does make him that much more real to us though. 

Best moment this week: Nic in general is my best moment this week. He has been such a trooper through all of this pregnancy craziness and he is so sweet and so caring about everything that is bothering me. I cant even tell you how many nights he has gotten up and taken care of muscle spasms and me crying because I cant sleep and Im so frustrated over it. And he is always reminding me how beautiful I am. Ive had a really hard time with the weight gain part of pregnancy and hating the way that I am stretching and looking because of it. But everytime I make a comment or I look in the mirror with a certain look on my face, he always catches it and reminds me that Im beautiful. He makes my heart so full. I wouldnt want to do this life with anyone else. 

Miss Anything? Genuinely, its the sleeping. And my rings. I hate not wearing them together. I've considered resizing them so that I can wear them from here out but I dont want to resize them too many times and once I lose the baby weight I know they will need to go back down, so I dont know. Im contemplating it all haha. 

Food cravings: Mandarin Oranges. Thats been the main one this week. And chocolate has been consistent. Im trying to avoid the chocolate though. 

Anything making you queasy or sick: Nothing really this week either. I felt a little sick after a few meals, but I think it was because I waited too long to eat. I have felt a little off in the mornings too, but I think thats because of how empty my stomach gets over night. Once I eat Im good to go. 

Wedding rings on or off? Still half and half. See my Miss Anything section for the details of that haha.

Looking forward to: We found out that Nic's dad and sister are going to be able to come up for the baby shower! Originally it was just his mom so, we are so very excited about that. I know how disappointed Nic was that they werent going to be able to come, so his little face when he found that out was the cutest thing ever. So we will have both full sets of Baby Morris' grandparents at the shower!

And thats the bumpdate! 

Bumpdate: Week 25

Theres no picture of the bump this week. I sincerely apologize for that. Its not even because I didnt want to take one, but because I forgot to take one. And yah. Thats the only excuse I have. So here are some pictures of the happenings to make up for it. 
How far along? 25.5 

Total weight gain:  22ish lbs. 

Maternity clothes? My belly officially torpedoed this week, according to my mother haha, so my preggy shirts are not cooperating at all. Its all not covering my belly, so my wonderful neighbor donated some new shirts, and we bought me a few so I think I have enough to cover the next few months. I bought two that are neutral colors so that I can multi layer them with cardigans and scarves. Preparing for the cold, you know. We also broke down and bought me a maternity winter coat. I was trying so hard to avoid spending the money on one, but with none of existing coats buttoning, it has made for some very cold 40 degree days here in PA. And its only gunna get colder between now and February. So we bought me one. Its actually pretty cute. So Ill take it. 

Sleep: I hate sleeping this week. Absolutely hate it! Not because Im uncomfortable, or because Im peeing every five minutes. But because of the random, vivid awkward dreams. They have just gotten bigger and and weirder. And the rolling onto my back has started. Everyone has already suggested the preggy pillows, which we have tried and returned because they make me claustrophobic under the blankets, which are neccessary as part of sleeping in the winter here, so that was a fail. It usually wakes me up though because Im so paranoid about it. So needless to say, I hate sleeping this week. But it will get better.  
New this week: My hips still hurt on and off, and the muscle spasms have kept on coming. New funness this week. Um violent punches and kicks, and the newley discovered elbow. Little man found his elbow this week and he aims for my bladder ever time. While these new violent discvoveries are not the funnest experience of my life, its still pretty awesome to experience him figuring stuff out. Im loving the experience of watching him grow. And it snowed!! One big huge awesome snow to start of the winter season in PA. Oh it made my heart so happy. 

Best moment this week: The blessing of the hand me downs. One of our neighbors/preschool parents gave us all of her little man's baby clothes. It was such a blessing to us. Its more than we could have ever expected. We have everything we need to welcome our little man into the world. And these clothes are darn cute. Let me tell you. So yah. That blessing is the best thing to happen this week.

Miss Anything? Still the lack of crying. And the sleeping. This week I cried because the bottle of ginger ale exploded on me when I opened it. Not even all over me. But on my sleeves of one of my only fitting sweaters. Not a big deal at all. But in my little preggo world, a very big deal indeed. 

Food cravings: Anything chocolate. And water actually. So that last one is a good one. Lots and lots of water. 

Anything making you queasy or sick: Not really. Its been a pretty mellow week. Some smells still get to me but nothing too horrible. 

Wedding rings on or off? The band is on, the engagement ring has moved to its box for safe keeping. They still go on together, but getting them off was next to impossible so we have moved to the band by itself. Sad day in my world. 

Looking forward to: Nothing in particular at the moment. Just the next few months in general. We are preparing for our shower and starting to organize and get things ready for when little man is born and everything is just becoming exciting. Im looking forward to the holidays and everything around that. 

And thats the bumpdate!