Baby Franco's First Halloween!

Of course no one could see Baby Franco's costume, but it was her/his birthday suit! Hehe...Today is Halloween...and we spent the day studying, excitedly waiting to pass out candy and see all the costumes. Sadly, we didn't have many kids come by this year (or last) but I did see my favorite costume...putting a wig on a 4 year old transforms a cute costume into a great costume...she had so much hair on her little head, it was adorable. I'll have to remember that if we are have a girl...of course 4 years is a long time to go and I'll probably forget, but it was cute.

We did go to 2 costume parties last night and we wore homemade costumes...I was inspired by a shirt but it was too expensive for our baby budget, and of course I thought "I can make that"...so I let my creative side come out...and it actually turned out perfect. I can't wait to do more shirts or onesies. So here it is...


but I couldn't just stop there, so we made one for Ty too..



We used all creative resourses in these shirts, Tyson drew the shake, burger, and fries and I did the ribs...we found the baby online and traced it. Who knew the Franco's could be so creative ;0)

I'm a little behind on the blog posting, so I need to add my week 14 picture. My bump is getting bigger...baby Franco will grow 1.5 inches this week, that is the largest growth so far...he/she will be the size of a Naval Orange. I definetly think I'm showing now, but I still get the "you can't tell from others"...I guess I'm just more sensitive of my body growth, and boy is it growing. I should be "popping" soon. Yay! so excited!

13 weeks

Tonight is the last night of week 13, and I can't believe how fast time is flying.ItBaby Franco has grown to the size of a lemon (or the size of my fist)...I can't wait for our next ultrasound. I miss seeing our baby live in action...I still can't feel the baby's movements, but that should happen in a few weeks. So in between our ultrasound appointments we thought it would be fun to listen to the heartbeat. We ordered an ebay stethoscope and think we heard it but it could have been gas bubbles...lol. My belly is starting to feel bigger and I swear my belly button is already changing. I hope I "pop" soon, I can't wait to really truly look pregnant...the other day I was offered wine, I need a sign "I'm not fat, I'm pregnant", hehe.

The second trimester has been treating me well, I've been less tired but for some strange reason I've been having some serious migraines...I think they might have something to do with my eyesight changing, apparently that happens during pregnancy. The constant pounding on my office wall does not help the situation at all either (thanks to the construction work that has been being performed for the last 2 months). I have really eaten anything crazy, I think the oddest combination I had was pork dipped in balsamic vinegar with cucumbers...it was amazing. I'm not really sure where they come up with "pickles & ice cream". I'm eating my fair share of both, but never together. I don't know what really inspires pregnant women to combine very opposite ingredients...maybe that's why I'm always hungry, I can't figure out what I'm craving. I'll keep working on that. 

Tonight Ty was going organizing old pictures on the computer...and I realized that 

  We got engaged in 2008

  Married in 2009

  Pregnant in 2010 and we will 

  Have a baby in 2011! 

This has been the best 3 years of my life and I'm so excited for the coming year. I'm constantly dreaming of what our life will be like, and sometimes the dreams feel so real. I'm plannring the baby nursery in my dreams, now if I can only remember all the details. I've actually been sneaking nursery ideas browsing the internet on my study breaks...there are so many ideas and options. I can't wait until I can actually focus on that, I know I want something peaceful and serene...like a spa. We thought about the future and figured we might be stuck in this house for a while (boo) so we are going to try to keep the nursery "gender neutral" just in case Baby #1 needs to share the room with a little brother or sister down the line. This house isn't our dream home and we constantly talk about moving, but reality is that it's cheap and the market isn't coming up anytime soon. I would rather live simply and be a mom than live in a big house, ect. So I want to make it as cozy and homey as possible...a safe sanctuary for our family. I have a lot of work to do before April 28th. AHHH so excited. I think I'll go dream about our future now <3

 

First Anniversary!

I can't believe that it has been a year since we were married. I feel like it was just yesterday that we were sitting in our private bungalow on our honeymoon in Thailand reminicing about the wedding...now we are sitting in our house reminicing about the wedding and dreaming about the future. It's funny how I want time to go by fast so I can get to the next thing but then I miss the moments that are passing. For example, I ultimately can't wait untill Baby Franco is here, I constantly dream about holding our baby in my arms...but there is so much that will happen before April 28th...Baby Franco's first kick, nesting, Thanksgiving, Christmas Vacation in Cali, my growing belly, my 27th birthday, New Years in Texas, finally having CPA at the end of my name, going through labor and delivery (AHHH), the list can go on and on...  Everyone always says not to rush things and they have a good point. Our lives are so busy, full of unfun things...work, school, study...important things, but so time consuming. So for our anniversary we didn't rush anything, and enjoyed a relaxing little getaway. We had a couples massage and pedicure, ate delicous food (stone crab craving satisfied), went to the movies and stayed for another, walked by a club and thought about going in, but instead went home to snuggle. I was surprised with a gorgeous bouquet of tropical flowers waiting in our hotel room and we even went window shopping for our new someday kitchen. It was perfect.

I've often heard that the first year of marriage is the hardest...if that's the case then I feel blessed. We went through a lot the past year with all the fertility issues, but it brought us so close and made our relationship stronger...it has made me value my pregnancy and every day I have to wake up and pinch myself. It wasn't always easy, but "it's us against the world". I'm so excited for our next year of marriage...by then we will have a 6th month old...our team is growing :0) God has been so good to us!

12 Weeks (our little peach)

Almost out of the first trimester...hopefully this will be the last week of exhaustion for a little while. I'm looking forward to gaining a little more energy back in my second trimester. I swear I could sleep standing sometimes...and if I don't want to be sleeping then I want to be eating. It's a cycle...I'm running out of food ideas and nothing really seems appetizing anymore. Well, I'll never stop loving pickles but I can't live off those salty treats, so I need some new ideas. Every now and then I'll get the itching to cook a big meal, but for the most part, I want to eat when I want to eat...chicken burgers, steak, ice cream, apples and peanut butter, egg sandwiches, crab, tomatoes & avocados, these are all things I think I crave, because after I eat them I feel satisfied until 2 hours later. I'm starting to think my need for food every 2 hours correlates with the baby's need for food every 2 hours. It's hard to find healthy fast snacks but I'm determined to stay healthy and not gain a gazillion pounds. So far so good...my first trimester weight gain has been around 4-5 pounds depending on when I weigh myself...that's right in line with all the books so yay!

Yesterday we had an appointment with a specialtiy OB so they could run extra tests on Baby Franco. They did an ultrasound and blood work. Poor baby was sleeping during the ultrasound and the tech needed a different view so she was jabbing me in the belly to wake up baby who was sleeping with one arm over the head...a few minutes later baby started doing summersaults and twisting and turning in my belly. It was so amazing and special. We've been very spoiled with our ultrasounds, some women don't get one until 12 weeks, I think we've had at least 8...we've watched baby grow from a smudge to a peach, it was amazing to see the development...after seeing this its so hard for me to understand why abortion is legal...our baby is growing and developing everyday. The miracle of life is truly amazing. We are so thankful that we've been blessed with baby Franco...it's still surreal to me. My body is changing and my tummy is starting to show a little more. People who don't know would just think I'm chubby, but I'm hoping my belly will pop out soon. I'm so excited for that!

In other news, it is our 1 year anniversary on Sunday...so hard to believe that one year has gone by...it has been incredibly special and I'm still so in love! We have a special weekend planned in Ft. Lauderdale including a spa day...I'll leave the rest of the details out ;0) It can't compare to our honeymoon in Thailand, but it is a special way to escape...babies make different priorities...but we are both willing to sacrifice expensive vacations for our growing family. I'm so excited for our escape!

Here's our 12 week ultrasound picture and my belly. I'm so bloated, really I am...pregnancy doesn't bring all good side effects...if ya know what I mean...





Daddy & Mommy Franco 1 year ago

11 Weeks

Another week flew by and I feel officially accomplished...and exhausted. I took my 3rd CPA exam a few days ago and it was a doozy. My test anxiety was full force during the first section (there was 5 sections) and some of the questions were so difficult which left me clueless...so I guessed, but I'm not very confident in my guessing abilities...I don't consider myself "lucky"...my hubby and I don't gamble, I always pick the worst line at the grocery store, and almost every time we think we are doing something right, we are wrong (a.k.a. buying a house at a young age)...except of course IVF. That choice couldn't have been any better. Anyway, I have no clue how I really did on the exam and won't find out for 5-6 weeks...by that time we will know if we are having a boy or girl...which is far more important than finding out my exam grade :0) I just have one more test to go. The study marathon begins this weekend, I plan on taking the test at the end of November so I can put all this studying behind me and focus on our growing baby. I'll have a little more then a month off and then tax season will begin. Ugh, I'm so not looking forward to that...I hate it when I'm so excited for something and cannot wait for it to occur (April 28) but before that can happen you have to go through torture, tax season will be my torture. The days are long enough when it was just me, but now my last trimester will be filled with 55 hour work weeks...I'm dreading it already *sigh*

Other than studying life has been very quite around here...I had my 11 week checkup at my new OB and all is well. Next week we get another ultrasound. I'm so excited for that, Baby Franco will be 3 inches by then...I'm so amazed at the miracle of our growing baby. 

So here it is, my growing belly...it looks huge compared to last week, although I did eat a big dinner the last 2 nights so I'm definitely bloated.

Our Love Bug at 11 Weeks