Arizona.

On August 29th we made our trek across country.. Mine and the dogs 4th time, Alex's 2nd.. Back to Arizona. It took us 36 hours which is pretty great considering how much we stopped.

I wanna put up all the pictures of the dogs from the trip but there are sooo many haha so I won't bore you. But seriously. I love my dogs

On the way over we stopped in ABQ to visit our BFF. Mr. Walter White

I had no idea we were going here. Alex surprised me and when we pulled up I seriously flipped a discus. Biggest regret of my life is not getting out to get a picture. I was so nervous I wanted to be so discreet but Alex got out and had me take a picture of him with the house

After getting home i just had to snuggle my perfect little niece Stella Jane. Gosh I love this girl! I miss her so much!

We stayed in AZ for a day and a half then on September 1st early in the morning we left for California. To got to Alexa's moms wedding, the reason we went to AZ in the first place

This is the view from our bed the next morning. We stayed in Oceanside, CA.

A picture alex's cousin in law took of us at the rehearsal dinner that night. I love California. Very candid haha I was really surprised after seeing this cause we honestly had no idea she was even taking pictures.

On Sunday the 2nd Alex's mom, Mary and Phillip got married in laguna beach ca

Beautiful location and ceremony. Only about 10 of us were there. Then we went to dinner in laguna after the ceremony.

We went home the next morning. We spent the next 2 weeks eating out at wayyy to much at all of our favorite places we don't get in NC and swimming everyday and spending much needed time with family. It was quite the vacation.

On Friday the 14th my uncle took us flying in him little plane. I almost backed out of going cause my mom started to freak me out about flying in a little plane while pregnant. But I ended up going and was so glad i did!

The next day, the 15th, we had a baby shower for me and later that night a diaper party for Alex. We got seriously so much stuff. But, that's for another post.

We ended up leaving back home on the 19th and of course just one more picture of the dogs on the ride home.

The ride took us slightly longer than last, cause being slightly more pregnant I had to pee and stop a lot more haha. Still only took us about 37-38 hours. It was such an amazing much needed vacation but it was also so great to get home and get back to our life.

Life between 20-30 weeks

Yes, another baby post. Ha thats my life now so there we go. I can't believe I'm 30 weeks now, well just about, 29w6d, close enough.
I haven't updated since I was 20 weeks. So I'll do a little summary of the last 10 weeks of life.
On August 29th we left NC for our home, Mesa AZ! It was a 2200 mile drive we made in 36 hours. Not bad for being 23 weeks pregnant. We didn't stop except for gas and food, and of course bathroom and walking the dogs break. Yep, we took our cute little poochies with us. Actually they're the reason we drove so we could take them.

I'm gonna do another post of just our trip to Arizona cause it was long and lots of fun stuff happened.

We got back on September 19th or 20th, can't remember. But we got back at like 4 in the morning, drove straight through again. Then about 6 hours after we got back my body had a major freak out. All of a sudden my back had the worst most intense pain I had ever experienced. It started in my back then wrapped around my body. Like seriously, it was indescribable and the worst! But after about 45min- an hour of feeling like i was dying we went to the hospital. They did all sorts of tests and monitoring and nothing was visibly wrong and it wasnt contractions cause those come and go but this was constant. while I was there the pain got so bad I was throwing up like crazy. You might be like ya whatever you threw up. You're pregnant. But I don't throw up haha. Serious. It was my first time really throwing up the whole time being pregnant and for maybe 4 years.
After finding nothing wrong I got sent home. Still in an incredible amount of pain, and more sick then when I got there. They gave me an IV and zofran in the IV and Tylenol but nothing even touched me.
So I got home and was just as sick for about 3 days. After 3 days I stopped throwing up but the pain lasted a good 8-10 more days. My back still isn't 100% but it's so much better!
We really think it was just the long trip and sitting in the car so long that just made my body freak out.

Oh geez this is turning long haha didn't realize how much I actually had to update.

Anyway on the 3rd I had a Dr appt. Which went generally fine except for the fact that because I gained 24lbs in 12 weeks my doctor was convinced I had GD. I tried to explain to her that I went on a month long vacation but nope. She kept telling me yes, I had diabetes. Sorry but I dont think 2lbs a week in pregnancy+going on a month vacation is the craziest thing. But whatever. I took my glucose test last week and what do you know? Level are totally normal. Can't wait to go back to my doctor and say "suck it!"

Have I ever mentioned my mom is the best? Cause she really is. I was missing her and so despite having a very busy week dropped whatever,including work, and came to see me. She got her last Sunday and I took her back to the airport this morning.
Another reason I wanted her to come was cause i had an ultrasound and wanted her to be there.
My ultrasound was Sunday night so after driving from Charlotte(that's the only flight she could make) all 3 of us went to my appointment.

I had so much fun with my mom this weekend. She came and brought 3 suitcases. 1 full of decorations for Johan's room, one full of her stuff and 1 full of Halloween decorations. So she decorated his room and our house while here. We also did lots of thrifting shopping and just hanging out. It was so fun!
Also surprisingly I got another ultrasound yesterday. I'm glad she for to be here for 2, that was fun!
Here are the pictures from my appointment on Wed.

I love the 4D one. I can't stop looking at it. It's crazy how much he already looks like Alex! I can't wait to go back for another 4D one in 4-5 weeks.
Also, talked with the doctor at this last appt yesterday and turns out because of my cyst(reason I'm getting so many ultrasounds, large cyst on my uterus) I can have the option of getting a c-section so they can remove it all at once instead of me going back 4-6 weeks after I have baby. I really don't know what to do part of me really really wants it but my mom is really worried about me getting one. So I would love opinions on it from anyone who has had one about what to do.

Also while my mom was here i almost forgot, we went out and bought a new chair! Actually, my mom and Alexs mom went in on it which was so amazing because the both already spent over 200$ for baby gifts, then they bought us this recliner for baby too. They are was over spoiling us! We are so grateful! This chair is so amazingly comfortable!

I still have so much more to update but I realize I need to stop this somewhere haha. I need to blog more But I'm constantly instagraming and that's as good as blogging to me! So follow me on instagram @sashasverd.
But I will be back to update more

New house on post

A little over 2 weeks ago now we moved on post here at Fort Bragg. It's a 3 bedroom 2 bath and has 1300sq ft. It's so amazing to have this much room. I thought we were ok in our 950sq ft townhouse but now being here I couldn't imagine going any smaller. It has an amazing kitchen with wayyyy more drawer and cupboard space then we need, which I thought I would never say. But we have like 4-5 unused cupboards and 3 open drawers, oh and awesome counter space! Needless to say, I love it! I also love that we have so much extra storage space! We have 4 huge linen closets and big closets in all 3 bedrooms.

I feel so lucky that my mom was able to be here also to help us move. She helped us so much it was unreal. We went to turn our keys into our old place and came back and the place was almost totally unpacked and decorated so cute! I sure have an amazing mom. We were 100% unpacked and set up after just 3 days here. Here are some of the pictures of my moms awesome work

And one of the best parts of this is the view of our backyard from our living/dining room windows

So far we really like living on post too, which we thought we wouldn't, why it took us so long to move here. oh and another favorite part, back to a one story! I hate stairs, I need to remind myself that anytime we move again

Big fat baby update

Ok I have so much updating to do with this baby, mostly picture wise cause I've gotten like 5 ultrasounds so far. And sorry if you're not good with ultrasounds. My whole family, like mom, and sister, dad I think can't make out any of my ultrasound haha I don't get it. I've always been good at making them out though.

This is the second one. The first was at the ER at 6 weeks so not a lot to see. Anyways. This is at 7w6d

This is at 11w2d. Baby is laying upside down and the head is on the left if you can make it out.

Also 11w2d. You can see the arm. The hand is the big white blog. And you can see little body and legs

This is 12w2d baby looks like a total alien here! Its upside down kinda and slanted.

Everything so far is going pretty good with this pregnancy. I never have really gotten too sick. Well I get sick all the time but never really have thrown up. The only downside is I have hives everywhere always. And an unknown something all over my boobs and belly that make me want to die not only of itchiness but pain. The doctor has no idea what it is. So frustrating. She chalks it up to me being a very allergic person. Allergic to what? I don't know, assume being pregnant cause thats when it all started. Doctor has me on Benadryl and Zyrtec which leaves me knocked out. So I'm either in sheering pain all day or am the living dead. Moving on haha

This is at 15w5d you can see a little bit of babys profile.

I love this one but it's hard to see. Baby had both the hands on the face

And it's a boy!!! We just found out yesterday and could not be more excited!! We were both shocked. Us and most our whole family thought it was a girl. It's took like 15 min just to see him. He was curled up in a ball for so long and even after had his hand all over his face it was so cute!! I'm glad I make him such a cozy home haha. We're so in love already and so excited!

Johan Michael is due December 29th. Hes the first boy second grandchild for my mom and dad and first grand baby for Alexs parents. Everyone is so excited! Like seriously it still feels so surreal ahhh I'm just so excited!!

May part 1

May was a super fun month. On the 3rd my entire family came to visit! which includes my mom, dad, brother, sister in law, 2 sisters, and my brand new niece! I was so excited to finally meet her, she is so perfect!

We had such a fun weekend! Went out to eat a few times and saw the Avengers. But the reason they came down was because on May 5th Alex got baptized! And was baptized by my dad and my mom and sister Tanna both gave talks. They were both soo good. Had me crying haha

We told my family about a week and half before they actually came out. It was just gonna be my parents coming for a visit but then we told them why we wanted them to come out an they were soooo shocked. We didn't tell anyone but Alex had been taking discussions since January. Actually we told then about the baptism the same time we told them we were pregnant again so that was exciting! Luckily the whole family was able to come! We weren't expecting it so it was so fun!

Stella loved her uncle Alex. She seriously would not stop looking at him

He's gonna be such a good dad :)

April

On April 5th we had some visitors come! Alex's mom and boyfriend came from Arizona to stay for the long weekend. We had a lot fun, went out to my favorite place, Miyabi, which is by far the best hibachi I have ever had. We also went to Raleigh I think the first day they got here. I was lame and didn't take any pictures and I'm so bad at remembering everything, but it was fun! Haha

April 13th we celebrated our 5 year anniversary!(of togetherness, not marriage). 5 years earlier we went on a casual first date to In n' Out( which PS I am craving so bad right now!) and went to the movies and saw disturbia. So for our anniversary we went out to Red Robin then went home and watched a movie. And again I was lame and didn't take any pictures.

Just a few days later, on the 17th, we found out some exciting stuff. We found out I was pregnant! Yes, again, and exactly 4 weeks to the day after my miscarriage. I went to the doctor the same day and did a blood test and found our "for sure" the next day.
We waited until as week, or less, later, after I had my first dr appointment to tell out family.

And the even better news is, I'm still pregnant! Haha. We are so blessed,and so excited! I'm so glad to be out of the first trimester, can't even tell you what a stress bucket I was everyday. It seriously wore on my emotions.
But I am now 13 weeks today and am due on December 29th :)
We are a happy bunch over here.

March

March started out as a really good month. On the 2nd, after much research and test drivings over a couple weeks time we finally bought a new car! I hate to sound like a salesman but really this car is amazing so if your in the market, look into this! We bought a 2012 Hyundai Elantra. It's the north American number 1 car or the year and has the highest safety ratings. And it's pretty great looking as well!

We love it!

Then on March 5th, a month that started off good got better! We found out we were expecting!

We were so excited! Nobody But maybe 2-4 people knew we had been trying since about mid 2010. Not even our parents knew I think. So this was very exciting news for us!
We were so excited we told all of our families and friends that day.
I loved calling everyone and telling them, it was so fun!
About a week and a couple days later we had our first doctors appointment and our due date was set for November 12, 2012!

On March 20th we were so excited cause my brother and sister in law were on their way to the hospital in Arizona to be endured to have their first sweet baby and our first niece.
About an hour after they left for the hospital, I started bleeding, and it looked like we were on our way to the hospital ourselves.
We got to the ER and had to wait a good 5 hours. Worst wait of our lives. I finally got in and then the tests started. As much as I wanted to deny it, I knew what was happening, yet no one would tell me. After about 45 min there and about an hour and a half of the worst pain ever I went to the bathroom and found out I had lost our baby. All I wanted to do after that was go home. But apparently even after that they still have tests to do. After 8 hours in the hospital we finally went home. Empty.

4 hours after we got home out sweet baby niece Stella Jane was born

Most beautiful baby ever, no?

The next couple weeks were the hardest ever. But seriously I am so grateful and so blessed to have the husband I do. Anytime I cried, no matter how often I cried he stopped whatever he was going and just held me. He also took me on a couple surprise daycations.

He took me to the beach a couple days after. It was too cold to swim but it was so nice just walking around and relaxing

Then a few days after that we went to Charlotte. We went to this mega amazing theater with huge seats and a full bar and restaurant. We felt do weird only ordering a diet coke and popcorn haha. We saw the hunger games for the 2nd time. Love that movie.

Oh and probably the most important part of our 2.5 hour trip to Charlotte was jack in the box! Haha which I could seriously go for now. Too bad it's so far away, yet probably for the better haha.

So to sum up the month of March. Well I dont know, It had the highest highs and the lowest lows. I guess that about sums it up.