It’s a Bloggity World

Here are the blogs I promised in a previous post. I have them divided into categories to make the browsing and reading a little easier... It's unlikely you care about the topics I use, but I'll list them anyway... **ps… if I’m not reading your blog it’s probably because I don’t know about it! Leave the link in the comments below!

Christianity - where I store the blogs for Priscilla Shirer, Beth Moore, Joel Rosenberg, and John Piper along with other Christians I enjoy reading from and about

Desiring God Blog

Baby Bangs

Joel Rosenberg's Weblog

Going Beyond Ministries blogs

Living Proof Ministries Blog

Randy Alcorn's blog

Mark Driscoll's blog

the Journey

Living Proof - Beth Moore

Kay Arthur

Friends - I have about 20 personal friends who update their blogs anywhere from daily, weekly, to... well I even have a friend who created a blog and has yet to write a single entry. You know who you are... and you're a talented writer, so get to it girl!

AshleyMalone :: current projects

AshleyMalone :: design inspiration

AshleyMalone :: photo o/t moment

AshleyMalone :: pieces

BabyNeely

Charity, Family, Friends & Life

Greg Pinkner

Jen Pinkner

Kerry White

Lindsay Marie as Mommy

Love that passes knowledge

Naked Personalities

New Mercies for You!

News From The Kovach Family!

Puncochars

supa blogga supreme mama

The Happy Envelope

the pirate monk

This High Calling

Veritas et Libertas (de oppresso liber)

walking by faith

You Know Me

Hobbies - this is a list of two blogs: knoxify is an interesting blog about Knoxville... digital photography school is the primary place i go to learn about my craft - it's a phenomenal site with great articles and outstanding forum contributors

Home/DIY – this is the longest list, by far. I subscribe to tons of before and after blogs, diy stuff, and personal blogs written by women who do lots of projects around their homes. It’s a source of tons of inspiration.

a penny saved...

A Silly Little Sparrow

Better After

Centsational Girl

Crafty Sisters

Every Crafty Endeavor

Foreclosure 2 Fabulous

Frugal Home Ideas

Get Your Martha On

How About Orange

infarrantly creative

It's Good to be Queen

Just a Girl

Just Something I Made

Kalyn's Kitchen

Knock Off Wood

Life in the Fun Lane

Life in the Pitts

Little Big Nest

Little Green Notebook

Make It and Love It

Notes from the Heartland

Older And Wisor

One Thrifty Chick

Remodelaholic

Rocky Bella

Russet Street Reno

Shanty2Chic

Starter home to Dream home

The Common Cents Home- Simple and Inexpensive Tips for the home

The DIY Show Off

The Lettered Cottage

The Stories of A to Z

The Vintage Moth..

Thrifty Decor Chick

Home/Fancy – this section of my blogs is reserved for actual professionals. From color stylists to those who focus specifically on clothing or nurseries, this is the place I go to see what the pros are doing.

Blueprint Bliss

Colour me Happy

k.f.d. designs, atlanta georgia

Project Nursery

Pure Style Home

Sanctuary Arts at Home

Young House Love

Interesting People – I have found lots of people online who are prolific writers and document their families, international adoptions, food (hello, Pioneer Woman!), and some who are just sarcastic about life and make me laugh

...ethiopia or bust...

Chris, Erin and Jayce

Clover Lane

CrazyAuntPurl

debra parker | one girl

Enjoying the Small Things

Finding Your Voice

Good Food, Good Friends, Good Life

smitten kitchen

The Moore You Know

The Pioneer Woman - Full RSS Feed

Thy Hand Hath Provided

tylerstanton.com

YouLookFab

Math & Teaching – this is a totally different section where I observe the writings of approximately 20 teachers, mostly fellow math teachers, to learn about their classrooms, teaching theories, struggles, successes, and general classroom hilarity. I’ve learned so much through these other teachers and their willingness to share the good, bad, and ugly of our profession.

A Math Teacher's Notebook

Algebra Funsheets: Creative, fun algebra worksheets

Always Formative

BLogarithm

Concrete Classroom

Continuous Everywhere but Differentiable Nowhere

Divide By Zero

dy/dan

f(t)

GL(s,R)

Math Be Brave

Math Stories

Math Tales from the Spring

Math Teacher Mambo

mathrecreation

Megan Golding

MeTA musings

misscalcul8

Mr. L's Math

Point of Inflection

Questions?

Research in Practice

So You Want To Teach?

Sup Teach?

Sweeney Math

Tales from the Chalkline

Teaching College Math

The Exponential Curve

The Fischbowl

Think Thank Thunk

Transformed Educator

understanding

Virtual Friends

I read a lot of blogs... like, seriously a lot. I'm currently subscribed (via Google Reader... the best thing ever, btw) to 123 blogs and at this moment I have 70 unread entries. Eek. (I’ll share the blogs with you at the bottom of this post because I think I’ll get that request at least a few times. And it will be nice to look back and see what I was reading regularly at this stage in my life!)

Okay… so why am I writing this? There are a lot of talented writers out there and there’s no reason that we shouldn’t be sharing each others’ writings around. Two people in the blogging world stand out to me in an incredible, punch-you-in-the-face kind of way.

I stumbled across an amazing blog post today and felt that I needed to share it. In reading one of my math sites, Ms. Cookie of Math Teacher Mambo, was talking about other blogs she reads outside educational resources. She was specifically talking about the perception of perfection and how shallow and untrue it is when we try to present ourselves that way. She said that she loves “other non-math blogs and check[s] them either daily, or frequently. On one such blog, I came across a link that AGAIN added to my pile of thoughts on this topic. From browsing her other posts, she's an author and teacher and I picture her as seeming to have a ton going for her. Then you scrape a little deeper and see that she's going through this gut-wrenching continuous heartache.”

The specific blog that she linked to and mentioned is called Finding Your Voice by Jennifer Lawler. The post is linked here. Warning – you will cry. Seriously. I know I’m pregnant and dealing with crazy hormones, but it will make you cry. And you’ll need to hug your healthy child immediately.

The second post you must absolutely read asap (with the warning that it, too, will make you cry!) is from one of my favorite blogs – Enjoying the Small Things by Kelle Hampton. Kelle is an amazing photographer whose favorite subjects are her two beautiful daughters. She and her husband were expecting their second child earlier this year and received a surprise when Nella was born. Read her story here and be sure to have some tissues ready.

Why do I love these two posts? Well, both these moms started writing these specific entries to deal with their own personal trauma and to process their thoughts on the surprises life has thrown them. They sent the blogs out with the expectation that some friends would read it, understand their struggles more, and gain some insight into their challenging stories. And what they found is astonishing.

Both wrote follow-up posts with their shock at how the blogging community (yes, we’re a community!) responded wholeheartedly. Jennifer was shocked when her blog received twenty-two thousand hits in one day. ONE DAY. Seriously, think about that. Imagine the outpouring of love she recieved – she blogs about her surprise in a follow-up post but make sure you’ve read the first one to get the full story.

Kelle shared her thanks in a sweet post where she discussed the “focus on life” perspective she’s using (she also talks about her camera, if you’re interested). Weeks later she would be featured in a story on CNN where she took reader questions.

I’m just floored that this weird internet thing could serve as a beacon of hope to so many people who think they’re alone in their struggles. I’m fascinated by the way people reach out to love each other (like the response Jennifer got about carnations for her daughter). Bronce doesn’t really understand the silly blogs I read – and many of them are just silly – but this world is moving along at a fast, virtual pace, and I like keeping up with it and reading about other women… amazing women… people who encourage me to keep writing and documenting and sharing the things that seem silly and personal but can be life-changing to others.

So… to those of you who have a blog. Keep writing! If you don’t… start! It’s so cathartic to put pen to paper fingers to keypad and pour it all out. Embrace the world wide web.

(I’ll put my listing of blogs in another post.)

15-weeks

How is it possible I’m 15 weeks along? I returned back to school today (we go  back 2 weeks earlier than the rest of the county to start our inservice) and it was fun to share the news with folks there. I had a few teachers comment that they can’t wait till I get fat… that seems to be one of the stranger (yet common) statements I get about being pregnant. Maybe I should take it as a compliment?

I’m not fat (yet) but I’m definitely showing… enough that I took my lunch break today to go shopping for maternity clothes (thanks, Rodgers family, for the Target giftcards for my birthday!). I scored a few dresses and am excited about them. Maternity clothes are certainly made for some girls more… ahem… blessed in some areas – so it was hard to find some that fit me as well as I hoped. I found some that will work for sure though.

I did some grocery shopping today after work. What can you cook with olives, parmesan cheese, sour cream, and popsicles? Yeah, not much. Let’s blame that on the random cravings of a hormonal and hungry pregnant lady.

So, how big is the little bug now?

Baby's now the size of a naval orange!
Your growing baby now measures about 4 inches long, crown to rump, and weighs in at about 2 1/2 ounces (about the size of an apple). She's busy moving amniotic fluid through her nose and upper respiratory tract, which helps the primitive air sacs in her lungs begin to develop. Her legs are growing longer than her arms now, and she can move all of her joints and limbs. Although her eyelids are still fused shut, she can sense light. If you shine a flashlight at your tummy, for instance, she's likely to move away from the beam. There's not much for your baby to taste at this point, but she is forming taste buds. Finally, if you have an ultrasound this week, you may be able to find out whether your baby's a boy or a girl!

I’m comforted that the baby is approaching “normal proportions” – hah! I can’t say enough about how weirded out I get about the strange baby stuff – big heads, eyes on the side of the head, intestines in the umbilical cord (what is up with that??!!), breathing amniotic fluid… it’s strange stuff, for sure.

14-weeks

Somehow, I managed to forget my 14-week update last week. At this point I’m definitely showing and starting to research maternity clothes. I’m thinking I’ll stick mostly with dresses since it’s going to be tough to find tall maternity pants at a reasonable price. Any suggestions?

Anyway, this will be a short post since it’s 6 days overdue. Here’s the quick size update.

Baby's now the size of a lemon!
Your adorable little fetus is busy with thumb sucking, toe wiggling, (not so cute but equally amazing) making urine, and breathing amniotic fluid as the liver, kidneys, and spleen continue to develop. Lanugo (thin, downy hair) is growing all over her body for warmth.

13 Weeks

It’s hard to believe I’ve known that I was pregnant for two months now. I think I’m officially in my 2nd trimester now, though I don’t really feel any different. I have some low-level nausea issues but no constant problems like before. Here’s a snapshot of how big the baby is now:

Baby's now the size of a peach!
Your fetus is forming teeth and vocal cords...savor this, their nonfunctional phase. Baby is approaching normal proportions, with his head now only one third the size of his body. And intestines are in the process of moving from the umbilical cord to baby's tummy -- much more convenient.

 

I’m sorta fascinated by the idea that prior to this week the umbilical cord housed the intestines. How on earth does that work?! Anyway, sounds like the kid is looking more like a normal baby which is always good!

Body Changes…

I’m starting to show… just this bloated belly that looks like I over-ate at my last meal. I’ve felt that way for a while, but I’m finally at the point where I can’t suck my tummy back in so I guess that’s the baby peeking his way out.

My weight is still low – depending on the day I fluctuate between 4 and 6 pounds under my pre-pregnancy weight. I’m eating like crazy though – my favorite restaurant/meal is currently Sam & Andys. For those of you non-natives, it’s a burger place that’s been in Knoxville since 1946. They make incredible juicy, drippy, yummy burgers and to-die-for onion rings. I made Bronce take me there last night and I think that was my third visit in the last 2 weeks. Good stuff!

Ultrasound Pictures… finally!

We had a doctor’s appointment last week and got another ultrasound picture. I got my scanner working, so I’ll post the original ultrasound and the latest.

First Ultrasound: 8 weeks, 6 days

I love that the ultrasound tech labeled the baby as “BABY” – just in case we were confused. :) We refer to this as the “teddy bear” picture, because that’s what the kid looks like to us. We were able to clearly see the heartbeat which was a cool moment.

Ultrasound: 12 weeks, 2 days

This picture was much clearer on the screen than it came out. The baby was wiggling all over the place and we saw him pull his legs in to a tight fetal position and then kick them out again. We also saw the heartbeat clearly (though didn’t hear it or get the actual rate). The baby definitely looks more normal now – you can see the mouth clearly and the white just on the edge of the lips is the fingers of the left hand. She wiggled the fingers at us for a little bit and we got to see the whole hand at one point. We got another picture that showed the spine, too, and everything looks awesome and healthy!

Health Update

Things were good at my last appointment but I did get a bummer diagnosis. Doc said I have Hypothyroidism and that’s it’s crucially important to take some meds. No big deal, we’ll do more tests after I give birth to see if this was a pregnancy-induced problem or something I need to keep medicating post-baby.

Otherwise… all is good! I’m mentally working on the nursery at this point and trying to pull together some final details before I start painting and purchasing.

Week 12

It’s hard to believe I’m already 12 weeks along! Bronce and I were freaking out this weekend when we realized that gave us only six more months to plan for this little baby to enter our world. Here’s an image from thebump.com showing how big the Lima Bean is now… she’s (he’s?) getting bigger! 

Baby's now the size of a plum!
As you move into the second trimester, baby shifts into the growth and maturation stage. After weeks in the critical development stage, almost all of her systems are fully formed.

 

 

Last week she was a lime. Truly, I think those fruits are about the same size so I guess not much of a difference.

Nieces

Well, I mentioned in my first pregnancy post that we had some shirts made for our nieces. I didn’t have photos at the time of that post, but we got to spend some time with them this weekend and snapped a few pictures. The wording is “This little monkey is going to be a big cousin!”

Jim and Jewel, my brother and his wife, had a busy summer so Mom and Dad watched Kathryn this week. Bronce and I got to spend a lot of time with her Saturday and before we got in the lake Bronce snapped this picture of us:

Kathryn is 20 months old and full of spunk. Love that kid!

And here’s a picture of us with Spencer and Melissa’s daughter, Nonavea. She is the sweetest little girl ever! She’s 4 months old and is incredibly good-natured.

 

Ideal Weight

Annoyingly (for you, maybe, not for me!), I’m at my ideal “I’m on a diet and reached my goal!” weight. In fact, since the day I found out I was pregnant… I’m currently down 6 pounds. Yep, I’ve lost 6 pounds in the last 7 weeks. Go figure. Lest you worry, rest assured this is fairly typical for the first trimester. I’m sure I’ll gain it all back (and then some… and some more…) fairly soon.

I have had two family members comment in the last four days that they can see the baby growing. This did not come as happy news. My stomach is still as flat as it has been, unless I’m forgetting to suck in. It’s not “hard” yet, like I’ve heard it could be around this point. I’ve heard that tends to change really suddenly, so it could be any time. I do find myself super bloated by the end of the day and rather uncomfortable.

Symptoms

Weird cravings… strange nausea… it’s all coming and going. The good thing about my cravings is that I’ll desire something really awful (like my recent Cup O’Noodles incident) but then I want to give that same item a 20-mile berth from that point on.

When I first got pregnant one of the strangest symptoms was a rapid heart beat and strong palpitations. I searched online, I talked to my doctor, and no one could assure me that this was normal. I wore a heart monitor for 24 hours, had an Echo done, and my primary care doc told me to start taking Tums regularly in case the palpitations and chest pain were caused by reflux. The Tums have helped… a lot… and the reflux is more pronounced in the mornings now (tho I know how to handle it), but I still have some of the strange heart symptoms. With a history of mitral valve prolapse, this isn’t a complete surprise, but it is frustrating. Finally while talking to my sister-in-law, Melissa, (who is a doctor) she mentioned having that problem during her pregnancy. She also told me it gets worse – ugh! :) At least I know it’s normal now.

Fun video

Enjoy! Makes me hope they set this up in NYC when we’re there in a few weeks! I’d probably do this about eight times. And make Bronce take pictures of it, no doubt.