15 Weeks -- and we've DEFINITELY got movement!

How far along: 15 weeks

Due date: January 7th, 2015

Maternity clothes: We finally had to break down and go get maternity clothes… my rubber band just isn't doing the trick anymore. But I must admit … every where we looked was either ubber expensive or their version of maternity work pants was stretchy leggings … which are not going to cut it in my office. So if any of you mommies have suggestions of where I can find relatively inexpensive maternity pants for work let me know!

Sleep: I have been experiencing some very, very vivid dreams … some even borderline nightmares … not fun. 

Miss anything: Raspberry Lemonade … the baby has made it VERY clear it does not like tart, ice cold Raspberry Lemonade like it's momma does.

Movement: Sure did and it was magical. (Read on to hear the story.)

Food cravings: I've come to realize two things. First, the foods I think I am craving, are going to give me heartburn and are a BAD idea. And secondly, that even after I eat what I thought I was craving and just couldn't do without, it wasn't nearly as good as I was imagining. It is always a letdown. So I've decided, giving into cravings … just isn't worth it.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Did pretty good this week. I was even able to reintroduce some fruits and vegetables back into my diet without getting sick!

Have you started to show yet: For sure. There are no more days where I might be showing and I worry if people think I am just gaining weight or might be pregnant … No, not anymore, it is apparent, every single day.

Gender: Still 1 vote for boy and 1 for girl … but when we went to the doctor last week the heartbeat was a strong 158 beats per minute so you can take your guesses :)

Pregnancy signs: I am going to the bathroom much more frequently and I have had insane hot flashes this week. I have become pretty creative with what I have found to fan myself with in times of need. 

Belly button in or out: Inny but I'm pretty positive it is getting smaller, if that makes sense. I'm pretty sure I will have any outty before to long.

Wedding ring on or off: On.

Happy or moody most of the time: Happy! But tired … this week I felt like I couldn't get enough sleep. Didn't matter if I got 7 or 9 or 11 hours … it was never enough.

Best moment of this week: 

We definitely felt the baby move yesterday and it was one of the coolest things I have EVER experienced. 

So ever since my last post when I said I thought I might have felt the baby move I cannot tell you how many people told me I was imagining it, that it was too soon to feel the baby move, and I started to believe all of them and dismiss what I thought might be the baby. 

BUT last night we decided to try something out. In week 15 the baby's eyes are developed enough that the baby is now responsive to light, so if you hold a flashlight up to your stomach the baby will move away from it. My youngest sister, Mikayla is in town visiting us form Georgia and was over last night and we thought this was so cool and wanted to give it a try, just see what happened. From all the things I have read online if you lie down sometimes it is easier to feel the baby moving, so we did just that, I laid down and Sam shined a light on my belly. 

At first nothing but then all of a sudden I felt it … what everyone describes as a rolling, bubbles, butterfly, gassy sensation … I couldn't believe it! So we moved the light to where I had felt the baby move and sure enough it happened again as the baby moved in a different direction. I thought for sure it was strong enough that if someone put their hand on my belly and applied a little pressure they would be able to feel it too … so, Sam gave it a try, we put the light to where I last felt the baby move and I waited, watching Sam. And in the same moment that I felt our little one move he looked at me and asked, "WAS THAT IT!?!?" 

It was honestly one of the neatest moments I think we've had our whole pregnancy. We continued to harass our little one until Sam felt it a few times and my sister had a chance to feel it. And then we decided that was enough tormenting for one night. ;) 

I cannot even begin to describe what it was like, it was so amazing feeling the baby move and being able to tell the difference from the baby just moving to another spot or a kick/punch. I think this alone made the whole experience of being pregnant and becoming a mommy more real than it has ever been. More real then when I took that pregnancy test, or we had our first ultrasound, or even when we heard the heartbeat for the first time last week. 

I guess in my mind I've always imagined the baby being this tiny little thing, like the size of a baby carrot and then when I felt the baby move yesterday it clicked. My baby is huge … it's the size of a stinkin' avocado! 

In fact when we were at the grocery store yesterday I just stood there and looked at the avocado display. Seriously I did, and I thought, "Really? There is a living thing inside of me THAT big?" And I couldn't believe it … not until late last night when I felt our baby responding to the flashlight. Until then it just didn't seem real.

And then another realization hit me … what an incredible blessing it is to be carrying a small, precious life. To be blessed with one of our Heavenly Father's precious spirit children. The weight and responsibility of that is overwhelming at times, but I am so, so, so grateful for this opportunity and cannot wait to meet our little one. 

And for those of you who aren't living as close to us as we'd like, here are some baby bump photos to wet your appetite for now!