Transparency

Hello, All! Kendall and Little Miss (Insert cute name we have picked out here) with a pregnancy and life update! I have been threatening to Todd, for quite some time, that this blog post was coming. When I first brought up my topics of choice to him, I asked if he thought I was sharing too much. (For some of you, it might seem as though I am and already have.) But Todd totally loved my ideas. He and I are one in the same... the same kind of weird... the same sense of humor. (At the beginning of our relationship, his friends would even say that we walked and carried ourselves the same way. YIKES!)

Today's blog topics, like last time, are very open. I really want to be transparent and completely real with all of you. One thing that I tell my kids every year is that I will be 100% real with them, 100% of the time, through the good and bad. And that is what I want to do with you, my friends and family. I want you to experience this pregnancy along with Todd and I. We want you all to be a part of our life as a family!

So, boobs.This was the first topic I had planned to write about for this blog post. I knew this is something that would happen, though I probably wasn't as prepared as I should have been. It seemed as though over night my boobs evolved, developed a mind of their own, and were of a massive, monstrous persuasion. It was as if parts were expanding, while others were growing in surface area. Not to mention stretch marks. They were, and are still, seeking vengeance on someone who's done them horribly wrong. Probably on the person who has caused them to hurt for... oh five months now. Let's not even start talking about the bra issue... I should have invested in a new one a long time ago as my boobs, I'm pretty sure, are eating their way out of the cups, the sides, and straps of my current good bra. Driving on a bumpy road? Forget it. These bad boys can't be contained.

In other news, my ever-expanding stomach is itchy. Only on the right side, though. Yes, I am applying lotion like crazy, but my skin is angry. Do I wear my pants up over my stomach? Do I wear them down below? Which will cause less itching? Do I wear a fitted shirt? Should I just walk around with nothing covering my belly? Do I wear my shirt up, or down? It's a mess.
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Finally, some small bits of life with Todd and Bean! Bean has a name... and I am completely obsessed with it. I struggle not to call her by her name in front of our friends and family. If you are familiar with any of the insane nicknames I call Todd, you will be pleased to know that I already have cute variations of her name and nicknames to call her by! But... I'm not allowed to share any of those with you!

We are currently at 24 weeks and 1 day pregnant! I have felt movements since about 18 weeks. Even though those were very small and not very frequent, it has been fun to feel her active time increase and to feel her kicks getting stronger. If I focus on my belly long enough, I can sometimes see my stomach react to her swings and jabs. Todd has felt her twice now. I make him (yes... make him) come sit by me and put his hand on my stomach. She'll be going crazy and usually, at this point, he doesn't feel anything, but there have been two swift kicks that he has gotten to feel. Some strong part of her -- maybe her feet -- are pretty low, down below my bellybutton! Two walls of our nursery are painted. I am getting there slowly but surely! I will share pictures once there is more to see. We do, however, have her bedding in and her dresser (which we will use the top of for a changing table), and her crib is ordered! I am so excited to start getting her room all put together!

Lastly, keep sending positive vibes to Todd and I! I have four days of school left with kids, and Todd has three. I always have anxiety about those last days because that's when the kids try to act a fool. If you know me at all, you know that I like order and control! We will power through, though, and soon enough I will be able to wear shorts and a T-shirt every day. And I won't have to question whether or not I need to wear a shirt up or down.

-Kendall and Bean

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