Wisdom Gained (28 weeks)

Weather important or not....here are a few bits of wisdom gained by me through the past few weeks of this pregnancy

1. The value of toilet paper roll size.....

I never understood why some people make a big fuss over the size of a roll of toilet paper. I would just get annoyed when someone would buy the HUGE rolls that dont fit on the holder in the bathroom, but other than that I never thought twice.

Now with as much as Annaka decides to kick my bladder or just the fact that there is not room for my bladder to get very big without hurting, has driven me to the bathroom more often. This has led me to the realization that we were changing the roll of toilet paper a lot! Now I see the value of getting a larger roll!

2. Belly Button Rings.

Why in the world did I find it so important/cool to get my belly button pierced in college? I guess I enjoyed having it at the time, but now it is a stretchy mess. Many have told me that it will be back to normal afterwards but I am in doubt right now.

3. Opinionated little Annaka....

She loves to listen to music...especially Bethany Dillon. I turn on a mix of music from I-tunes and put one earphone in my ear and the other against by belly. I have noticed that she loves it and even begins dancing around in there whenever Bethany Dillon comes on. I thought it was just that she liked music at first, but then noticed a pattern of her dancing whenever that specific song comes on. :)

She so graciously lets me know when she is hungry by kicking and squirming. I hope this is not a pre-stage of a temper tantrum.

She likes to sit on the right side of my belly at night. I dont know if it is to be closer to her daddy's voice as he reads to her each night or if she just likes the right side of the womb better.

3. How much I love food.

I love food. Everything tastes so much better now. Guacamole and Hummus on carrot sticks are my new favorite snack! Its not a jumbled mess of tastes in my mouth...I promise! I can taste each of the three and they taste wonderful!


4. On a serious note, Gestational Diabetes

I have learned last Friday that I have gestational diabetes. What does this mean? That was the million dollar question over the weekend as I sat in tears, hungry, not knowing what I could eat. I am only at 28 weeks and the Midwives said I am measuring at 31 weeks.

Going to a Perinatalogist on Monday helped answer questions, calm me down, and give us a chance to see our little Annaka on a 4D sonogram! I go back to get the finger pricker machine and to learn how to test blood sugar.

Its amazing how the Lord can really turn fear into confidence that He is in control. Just another step in this process of Him forming little Annaka and preparing her for her arrival. I just have to be careful now. Eating a brownie or a bowl of cereal is not worth the risks that are involved for her. (I have to keep reminding myself of that as well)

Im sure there is more, but I will stop for now. I feel I am constantly learning new things every day....so this list could go on and on and on.

(Yes both of these pictures were taken the same day as the one at the begining....)

Spring Treasures (27 weeks)

Annaka Zayn is at 27 weeks now! She is moving, flipping, and kicking like a gold metal gymnast. Yesterday was another first. I was laying on my back and looking at my belly, we saw her move. We could see her move from side to side and then as we stared a bit longer, we saw a definite kick. (Or jab...we could not differentiate if it was a foot kicking or a fist jabbing) Amazing to know, and now literally see more evidence of this little life growing inside. This really is the cool part of pregnancy!

In honor of the first day of Spring we are wearing a shirt that looks like a tablecloth:)

You have heard the phrase "One man's trash is another man's treasure"... well, here it is! I was at the office and happened to sit in this ragged blue chair while waiting for the bathroom to open up. I sat with my arms on the arm rests and began rocking back and forth. Man this chair is comfortable I thought. My head rests perfectly on the back, and then it hit me....this chair rocks AND swivels! We had been dreaming about a glider and ottoman but this chair was wonderful. When I asked about the chair I was told to please take it off their hands. They were looking to get rid of it because they already had another chair to replace it! Now all the little beauty needs is a slipcover and we are set! I have even been taking the basket of kids books (you will see in the photo beside the chair) putting a spare pillow on it and using it as a footrest/ottoman.

The best part is that it was free!

It really was a beauty in her hay day....check out the buttons on the bottom and the green accents. I will be sure to put a picture up when we get a slipcover:)

One last note...Go KU...we won the first round...only a few more until we have another championship title:)

Plethora of Pictures, Food and 26 weeks

This is my new favorite food. Or maybe I should say Annaka's new favorite food! I have enjoyed it so much, it makes the top of the blog today:) Chicken salad made with plane yogurt, honey, grapes and apples. mmmm. I honestly thought I would NEVER eat chicken again seeing as it was the first thing that made me sick and I could not eat it, smell it or even think of it until the past three weeks.

(Today...at 26 weeks)

These past four or five weeks or so have been the best weeks of the pregnancy! I have not felt sick at all, have been able to eat what I want...which now includes chicken as well...and people are recognizing that I am pregnant and not simply gaining weight or liking to rub my belly.


Our appointment Tuesday with the midwives was an interesting one as well. We found out that I have gained about as much weight in the past four weeks as I have the entire first half of the pregnancy! Whoa....not expecting news like that. It definitely stopped me in my tracks! Midwife Kathy told us that the baby is measuring bigger than expected as well. So, either we are having a HUGE kid...or we will be getting to meet little Annaka early. (I'll let you guess which one I am hoping for)


So I guess the moral of this weeks story is.......

When you almost double your weight gain in four weeks....

You must change eating habits to this--->


Which is not quite as much fun as ice cream and mini powdered sugar donuts. (Yes, im a carb queen)

We also met with our friend and Doula, Heather afterward. She is great and talking with her has made Clint and I even more excited! Heather had her little Avy at the Birth Center last year and has assisted several births there and at
local hospitals. Hopefully we will have a normal birth at the Birth Center, but if anything were to go wrong and we would have to go to a hospital, I am glad Heather has the experience dealing with both locations.

(Check out DONA.org if you dont know what a doula is....I didnt at first either)

(I am embarrased to put this picture up seeing as the second it was snapped, the shower curtain fell, but its the only one I have for 25 weeks)

















Sorry, I have not posted pictures in a while....This last one is a picture of 24 weeks. It was my last week in the office as well. (Praise the Lord!) I am now working at home for two months, and will quit working in May. That will give me a month or so to get ready for being a mom.

We think we have it!!!!

Welp, we think we've got it! After months of collaboration and thought....and not agreeing on any names, its settled. We came across this name a while back, but for some reason did not realized we were actually agreeing! When we came across it again last week we both looked at each other and it clicked!

Annaka is a Hebrew name meaning "Grace of God"
Zayn is Arabic for "beautiful"

so Annaka Zayn Bauman it is:)

Thank you for your suggestions!