16 weeks...

So, this has turned out to be the hardest week thus far for me & my pregnancy.  I started feeling awful & went to the doctor...tested positive for the FLU! SERIOUSLY?!?!?! I'm starting to feel better now but not 100%.  I did schedule the ultrasound for April 4, Thursday, to find out what we are having!  I am so friggin excited!! Regardless if it's a "lil miss Juliet" or "redneck Romeo" I will be completely thrilled!! & I just ordered a fetal Doppler! Now, I can listen to my lil jellybean's heartbeat any time I want!! <3

Jellybean gettin so big!! <3

Getting SOOOO big!  I love watching the movements while doing an ultrasound!

 

Wouldn't put the hands down when trying to take a pic!

Can see the face forming!  I cannot wait to see my precious child!

14 weeks :)

 

How far along? 14 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: Maternity clothes? Have lost a total of 6 lbs!  But yet I look like I'm blowin up like a balloon!
Stretch marks? No new ones!
Sleep: Starting to feel a little more energized...still need naps & if I don't then I'm in bed first thing!
Best moment this week: Realized in only 6 more weeks I will be halfway through my pregnancy!
Miss Anything? Honestly...I'd love an ice cold beer!!...STILL!
Movement: Not yet...but hopefully soon!
Food cravings: Still on the cinnamon sugar kick but controlling it & I'm lovin me some fruit!
Anything making you queasy or sick: Still the meat aversions (sight, smell, & taste) & I can smell everything!  For someone who loves sea food, the smell of fish will send me runnin!

Gender prediction: I'm still thinkin I got a lil miss juliet <3
Belly Button in or out? In
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Tired & a little less irritable...though my tolerance for stupidity has not changed so irritability comes easy at times LOL
Looking forward to: Going to register next weekend!

Buh Bye First Trimester!

How far along? 12 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: Maternity clothes?  Quit losing, but ain't gained none either...love my comfy pants!
Stretch marks? Nothin new...same 2 - right on my stomach where I'm growin
Sleep: I am constantly tired! If I don't get a nap or go to bed early I ain't gonna make it!
Best moment this week: I wish I had a best moment this week but it's been a hard week :(
Miss Anything? Bein a kid :-P
Movement: Not yet...but hopefully soon!
Food cravings: CINNAMON & SUGAR!!!!
Anything making you queasy or sick: Same...Lookin at certain foods is enough to make me sick & I still have major aversions to meat too!
Have you started to show yet: Ummm...oh ya!
Gender prediction: Still thinkin I got my lil miss juliet instead of my redneck romeo <3
Labor Signs: No
Belly Button in or out? In
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: This week...moody.
Looking forward to: Stress free house & my appointment on Tuesday! Doin the testing for the end of first trimester & ultrasound! My nana's goin with me too!

Pre-baby Bucket List

 

**Take a vacation...honeymoon I never had**
**Spend a weekend with just my sister & brother**
**Spend a weekend with my family (family vacation)**

**Get a good camera**

**Graduate with my bachelors (will be completed in May!)**

**Build up savings**

**Refinance my car & trade it in for a more family friendly one**

**Pay off all debt (not including student loans cuz lets face it, that'll take forever)**

**Clean out the spare room & make it a guest room (if you've seen it you'd understand!)**
**Get pregnancy photos taken**

**Set up the nursery**

1 Down :)

Welp, yesterday marked the official end of my first trimester! :)

I'm so thankful & blessed to have a healthy baby still growing inside of me! :)

It has now become harder to get comfortable to sleep, especially considering the fact I am a stomach sleeper!
I'm looking forward to finding out the gender!  I'm happy with a boy or girl, but my impatience gets the better of me & I want to know! 

I'm excited to begin my second trimester & all that lies ahead!

Old Wives Tales

So...I'm a very impatient person!  I am anxious to know the gender!  That being said, I know old wives tales realistically only have a 50/50 chance of being right, but...just for shits & giggles lets see what they say...

Mayan Table:

 

Month conceived: Age-Month Conceived

24-12 (December) = 12

Even # = BOY

 

Gypsy Formula:

 

Mom's age + Month Conceived

24 + 12 = 36

Even # = BOY

 

Chinese Chart:

 

Lunar month 11 & age 25 = BOY

 

Heartrate:

 

>140 = BOY

<140 = GIRL

 

Jellybean's heartrate = 182 = GIRL

 

Mathmatical Equation:

 

Mom's age + Mom's birth month + Month of conception (add each number seperately)

 

24 + 5 + 12 = 2 + 4 + 5 + 1 + 2 = 14 = Even # = GIRL

Always....

Be positive

Be kind

Be happy

Be courteous

See the beauty

Have faith

Believe

Smile

Be yourself

Stand your ground

Take a look around

Love

Be versatile

Choose friends wisely

Stand up for what you believe in

Change your mind...& change it again

Live for the moment

Help others

Close your mouth & open your ears

Find your passion & live it

Face your fears

Have an open mind

Put family first

Listen to the music
Disappoint anyone, disappoint everyone...but NEVER disappoint yourself!

What I think Jellybean will be like...

Honest to a fault

Blunt & outspoken

Funny

Musical

Artistic

Athletic

Tough skin

Brave

Traveler

Beautiful/handsome without knowledge

Outgoing

Southern values

Clean up good but not afraid to get dirty

Independent

Believer in God

Strong willed

Alabama fan :)

Baby Names

Girl

 

Sawyer

Brooklynn

Addison "Addie"

Rayna

Jocelynn

Adrianna

Hayden

Jayden

Emerson

Jolene

Journey

Avery

Savannah

 

Boy

 

 

Corbyn

Cayden

Hunter

Gavin

Wyatt

Lane

Jaxon

Colton

Cole

Aidyn

Lucas

Parker

Brantley

 

(Michael says "NO" to every name except Brooklynn, Addison, Rayna, Lucas, & Wyatt)...we'll see....

The Specifics :)

Mama

 

Fav colors: teal/turquois & crimson

Fav food: jumbalaya! (uncle larrys!!)

Fav music: almost anything

Fav team: DIE HARD ALABAMA FAN! ROLL TIDE!

Things I've always wanted to do: travel the world, hot air balloon ride, see the 7 wonders

Fav prayer: Serenity prayer

I love animals

I love the water & outdoors

I believe in God & miracles

I believe music is putting into words what one cannot

 

 

Daddy

Fav color: blue

Fav food: gravy biscuit

Fav music: 80s

Fav team: Kentucky Wildcats (basketball)

Thing he's always wanted to do: be a basketball player

This is who I am :)

Mama

 

Amber Aleze Ells Robbins

 DOB: 05/27/88

 Born: Panama City Beach, FL

 Raised: Sylacauga, AL

 Mother: Misty Lynn Foster Bragg

 Father (sperm donor): Jonothan Chester Ells

 Nana: Pamela Aleze Pierson

 Grandpa: Larry Eugene Foster

 Aunt: Penny Conway

 Uncles: Larry Foster & Gary Conway

 1/2 Sister: Kaitlyn Jane Ewing

 1/2 Brother: Shawn Douglas Ewing

 1/2 Sister (Jon's daughter): Paige Ells

 1/2 Brother (Jon's son): Hunter Ells

 Cousins: Kayla & Chris VanDuyne

 

Daddy

 

Michael Wayne Robbins

 DOB: 03/21/72

 Born: Fort Wayne, IN

 Raised: Middlesboro, KY

 Mother: Reeda Delores Robbins

 Father: Eddie Wayne Robbins

 (Maternal)
Son: Dalton Michael Robbins
Daughter: Summer Rachelle Robbins

 Grandmother: Helen Meredith

 Grandfather: Reed Meredith

 (Paternal)

 Grandmother: Ruby Robbins

 Grandfather: Lee Robbins

 Sister: Ruby "Michelle" Robbins

 Aunts: Anne, Louise, Christine, Mary Anne, Faye, Linda, Judy, Clora, Joyce, Marty
 

 



 



Cravings :)

So...I have had absolutely no cravings up til this point.  I've actually had major food aversions, especially to meat.  I also was getting sick nearly every day, especially after trying to eat an actual meal.  & brushing my teeth is a daily challenge cuz it makes me throw up every time!  But...I have discovered my first craving & I enjoy every bite!....cinnamon & sugar! Doughnuts, cereal, bagels, muffin mixes, coffee cake! I'm trying to stay on the healthy side though so I'm sticking to appropriate servings.  My favorite meal for supper has most definitely got to be a bowl of Cinnamon Roll Crunch or Cinnamon Toast Crunch!  At this point, it don't get much better than that!! :)

Due Date: September 14, 2013

 

My little jellybean has my heart!! <3

First ultrasound & could only see the sac where my lil bean will grow!

Second ultrasound....a little bit bigger...Michael says "looks like a bunny"

 

 

Third ultrasound...jellybean has gotten much bigger!  You can see where the face is forming! 

 



Jellybean @ 11 wks

 

 

 

How far along? 11 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: Maternity clothes?  Lost 4 lbs...none of my pants fits though...had to buy 2 pairs of maternity pants!
Stretch marks? 2 - right on my stomach where I'm growin
Sleep: I am constantly tired! If I don't get a nap or go to bed early I ain't gonna make it!
Best moment this week: Heard the baby's heart beat...Heart rate was a strong 182!
Miss Anything? Honestly...I'd love an ice cold beer!!
Movement: Not yet...but hopefully soon!
Food cravings: No cravings quite yet...more food aversions than anything!
Anything making you queasy or sick: Looking at certain foods is enough to make me sick!  I have major aversions to meat too!
Have you started to show yet: Ummm...oh ya!
Gender prediction: With the heart rate as high as it is, face breaking out, and meat aversions...I'm goin with a girl.
Labor Signs: No
Belly Button in or out? In.
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Tired!...and it depends on my surrounding and then I'm moody
Looking forward to: My weekend off to sleep.

Positive!!

January 7, 2013

Aunt Penny's birthday
BCS Championship- Alabama vs Notre Dame - Alabama won...again!

It's a great day!

I had been feeling sick for a couple of weeks and had got to the point I couldn't eat for 3 days straight.  Michael had to work that night, so I stopped on my lunch break and purchased a pregnancy test.  I did not tell him or anyone else.  As soon as I got home I went and took the test.  However...I KNEW it was going to say "negative" because just 2 weeks prior I had been told that I would need to go through fertility treatments to get pregnant.  My progresterone level was as low as a person after menopause!!  And after having an ultrasound done, they said my ovaries were not releasing the eggs, so I do not ovulate.  Well...proved them wrong...the test came back POSITIVE!!  I was so excited and in disbelief I had to tell!  I told my aunt when I called to tell her happy birthday, I sent my mama a test with the pic of the test while she was at work, I called and told my brother and sister together on the phone.  Michael got off work the next morning so I laid out the test and an Alabama baby outfit to tell him.  I video taped him, though his reaction about got a boot thrown at him LOL.  He was happy...just didn't believe me at first...which ain't that surprising because I did not believe it either at first!

 

 

Next, we needed to tell my Nana and uncle Larry.  I invited them over for supper and gave them cards to announce it!  I also got that on video!

 



Move to the South

Beginning the next chapter of our life, we packed up and moved to Tennessee.  After staying with family briefly, we found our new home in LaVergne, TN.  Though this is not our final settling point, it is a start.  I painted the house and had it unpacked within 2 days of moving in.  Even got Michael to help with painting one of the bathrooms :-P

 

 

And my favorite project of all.....the family tree.....



The Story of Us

My life has always been in Alabama, but there was a short period where I moved to Indiana to be close to family.  I went to work at Pilkington, the family trade lol.  Taking so much after my mother I had to switch to night shift so I could make it to work on time.  Little did I know that when I did...my new coordinator, Michael Robbins, would be my future husband.  As a "hot date" he took me to Golden Corral and wouldn't go away after that!  This was the last week of November.  For New Years he took me to Gatlinburg for the first time.  We didn't do much but the scenery and escape from reality was great.

Come February 21st...Michael proposed & I said yes!

 

 

 

 

We got married July 1, 2012 at Indiana Downs Horsetrack.  It wasn't my dream wedding but it turned out fantastic!  The reception was priceless!  It was wonderful to have time with family and some of my closest friends!  Especially for those who came from out of town for my big day!

 

 

 

 

Michael even did a "strip tease" dance to be like "Magic Mike"...to "Put the X in Sex" by KISS!  Took the garter off with his teeth too!  Made my uncle Gary yell "You're making me horny!" BAHAHAHA