Spring & Summer Adventures: AZ & Kansas

The BIG MOVE. Finally in KS with Lola and all of our belongings..phew

Golf Adventure with Jaclyn and Jeremy in Payson, Arizona at the Rim

 Jaclyn and I enjoyed the food on the 9th hole and driving the carts of course

Our Grand Canyon Trip...Beautiful!

30 Weeks Pregnant!

I am 30 weeks pregnant today and........










                               WAIT FOR IT......

Baby K is the size of a head of cabbage!

Aside from having a BUSY week and being kind of exhausted, I am feeling really good! I do feel like Baby K has had a growth spurt in the past two weeks (yes people, it is possible to gain 7 lbs. in 1.5 weeks). He has been moving so much. Patrick and I have enjoyed watching my belly move around from the outside and transform as he changes positions, kicks and squirms. It's absolutely incredible and I cannot wait for our next ultrasound so we can see what position he is in. When our doctor was listenening to the heartbeat this week she couldn't even figure out which way he was lying as she said she felt limbs everywhere and he was squirming non stop. Baby K is an active one!

We met our Lawrence Doctor, Dr. Mercado on Tuesday and absolutely adore her! It was a sigh of relief for both Patrick and I as we were really sad to leave our Scottsdale doctor who made 1st and 2nd trimester a breeze. Dr. Mercado is great though and she said all is looking well with Baby K. My belly size is measuring right at 29/30 weeks and his heart beat is perfect in the 140s. We will have our first ultrasound in a loong time on Tuesday the 5th..yay! Pictures coming soon hopefully!

Patrick and I are feeling more settled in Kansas. We have both started working...alot...and Child Birth/Care Classes started at LMH this week. On Wednesday we had our first of five child birth classes with about 15 other couples who are all having babies in September or August (potential new friends for Baby K and us :)! On Thursday, I roped my parents (Grandma & Grandpa) and Aunt Kylie into attending an Infant CPR class with me.  They were such troopers! If, God forbid, we ever had to help a choking infant, we all now know how to give CPR. We also now know how to properly install a car seat, baby proof a house, etc. etc. Baby K truly has the best and most prepared grandparents/aunts ever!

Goodbye, Scottsdale..Hello, Kansas!

We made it to Kansas safe and sound! After two days and 21 hours of driving we are happy to be here and are finally getting settled into the new Fritzel/Koester household with our 6 new roommates :)Sorry I have not updated the blog in awhile..our computer has been packed up and life has been a bit hectic to say the least.

All is well in baby news.  My final doctor's appointment in Scottsdale went great. I had my Gestational Diabetes test which came back normal and baby's heart beat is strong and he is moving all the time (although the movements are becoming a little bit less pronounced as he grows bigger and has less and less space in my belly). It is fun to guess where his head/arms/legs are though as it becomes easier to distinguish one from another. We also already had our first Lawrence doctor's appointment and met with the nurse practitioner, picked our doctor, etc. So far all is going well and the transitions have been seamless! I am officially 27 weeks pregnant, in my 3rd trimester. A lot of my 3rd trimester symptoms have been the same as my 2nd trimester symptoms aside from some crazy leg pains and Restless Leg Syndrome which hit me like a ton of bricks this week and has made sleeping very difficult (I know Patrick will agree as I have been fidgeting and squirming all the time). Aside from these minor setbacks, pregnancy is wonderful, especially surrounded by our Kansas family and friends and we are feeling so blessed!

Here are some photos from some of our May adventures..it was a busy month! More to come as soon as I locate our camera cord in one of our boxes......:)

 25 Weeks Pregnant at the Grand Canyon! It was breathtaking. I cannot wait to go back when I can hike and raft!

 Last golf trip in Arizona: Payson, AZ at The Rim

Jaclyn and I "golfing" or....driving the cart and tanning

Kylie at her KU Graduation! Congrats, sister! So happy I could make it!

I'll leave you with a photo of Lola on her first ever 21 hour road trip.  She did not love it but did better than we expected and is very happy that Kansas has not shortage of grass and bugs.

There's No Place Like Home

Well folks, as most of you already know, Patrick and I have made the decision to move back to Kansas! We want nothing more for our Baby K than for him to grow up surrounded by family and friends in the place we have always called home (and the built-in babysitters won't hurt :) We love Phoenix and will miss our friends/jobs here dearly but feel this is the best decision for our growing family.  Official moving day is June 1st. If all goes according to plan, we will be rolling into Kansas on June 3rd with a Uhaul full of furniture, one drugged up kitty and a baby bump. A big THANK YOU goes out to my parents who will be welcoming us into their home this summer. Yes, the Fritzel household is going to be a full one this June and July with Cindy+Tim, Pat+Molly, Ruby+Tyson & Becca+Patrick (Kylie - do you want me to just go ahead and add your name to the list? I know you won't be able to stay away)! It's a comical situation really and I CANNOT WAIT!

Starting to get really excited/nervous/anxious!! We have a lot of packing up and organizing left to do but both Patrick and I will be taking one glorious week off of work (starting this Friday yay) so let the moving begin! We have also planned a last minute trip to see the Grand Canyon and I am heading to Kansas this weekend for 48 hours to see little sister Kylie graduate from KU!!! Woohoo!

Baby Shower!!

My coworkers here at FireSky Resort in Scottsdale threw me a surprise Baby Shower/Goodbye Party at work this week! It is going to be so bittersweet leaving as I only started my job a little over 6 months ago and have loved every minute of it. Here are some pics of the surprise party..it was perfect! Sorry they did not turn out well as I didn't even have my phone or camera (it was a true surprise)! they had me going that a big client was checking in for a site visit so I was scrambling around trying to check site rooms/meeting space only to find the whole gang waiting for me in one of our suites with cake, pregnancy champagne (non-alcoholic of course) adorable decorations and gifts! It was a wonderful celebration!

 Lynn+Me+Jaclyn..yes, I work with my best friend, Jaclyn. It's going to be really hard to leave!!!

 Adorable decorations Tory made for the party. They say "There's No Place Like Home"

 Red Velvet Cake from "Nothing Bundt Cakes"=one of the reasons we rented a 16' truck for moving day so I can take this bakery back to Kansas with us.

Cake and Baby K presents!! Such a sweet surprise!!

23 Weeks!

I am a little over 23 weeks pregnant and it has probably been the most enjoyable time of my pregnancy so far!  Baby K is moving so frequently and Patrick can even feel him on a pretty regular basis. He loves to squirm for us right before bed and when I am sitting in front of my computer at work. I find myself missing it when he is not moving. I am feeling really good with lots of energy and am definitely showing but no real back pain or swelling yet (thank goodness - please hold off)!  Here is my official 23 week pic taken at work:) Had to inves in some maternity pants and I must say.. I LOVE them. I don't think I will every go back. I feel like every day is pajama day!

Baby K weights a little over 1 POUND and is the size of a MANGO/PAPAYA/BANANA (take your pick)! His sense of movement is developing and he can hear sounds from the ouside world. The tiny blood vessels in his lungs are growing, preparing him for his first breaths and his face is almost fully formed (minus the fat). Next doctor's appointment is in about 2 weeks. I get tested for Gestational Diabetes and but not another sonogram until mid-June.

Here are my first ever "Mom to Be" Mother's Day Flowers from my wonderful husband! Happy Mother's Day to my wonderful mother's/grandmother's/aunts/sisters/etc!!

Sisterly Bonding in LA

My sister Kylie and I decided to jet set to L.A. this past Easter weekend for a little girl's getaway. We had both never been and were lucky enough to rub elbows with a few of our favorite celebs. Any Modern Family fans out there? We rode in an elevator with "Mitchell' from Modern Family and got an awesome back shot of him obviously not wanting to be seen:

We also spotted David Cook being interviewed by Entertainment Tonight and ate dinner right across from Jessica Alba who is, by the way, about as far along in her pregnancy as I am! No pictures as we were in a darkly lit restaurant and we felt bad disturbing her. 

We did all of the cheesey tourist stuff including riding on the top level of a double decker bus down Hollywood Blvd. and fighting through a crowd of about 90 tourists for a picture with the Michael Jackson star on the Walk of Fame. Overall a pretty great trip at 5 months pregnant!!

 It's funny in some photos I look sooo pregnant while in others..not so much. I think this picture was taken after we ate our way through the Farmer's Market at the Grove....

 Judy Garland's handprints in celebration of KANSAS

Kodak Theater!

 Sistah Love! We missed you Sistah # 3 (Molly :))

Easter on Rodeo Drive



Royal Wedding...........

So I'm just as sick of hearing about the Royal Wedding as the next person (although it was nice to have something to watch on TV at 4am this morning when I couldn't sleep) but I had to post a picture in celebration of William and Kate's big day because Patrick and I hear all the time that we resemble them as a couple:)

Hmm I wonder if our Baby K will resemble the "Royal Baby." YIKES!

Happy Birthday, Tyson Rand Fritzel!

My sister-in-law and brother welcomed their second child, Tyson Rand Fritzel, into the world today! So excited for the entire family and already in LOVE with this adorable baby boy. Welcome to the world, Tyson! Cannot wait to hold you in our arms in May. Congrats to the proud Mom and Dad (Pat and Molly). We love you and wish we could be there to celebrate!!!

Although my brother definitely did his fair share of scaring me during Tyson's birth by texting me about all of the blood and screaming during Molly's labor (teasing of course), having a new nephew has made us even more excited for Baby K to arrive. The 20 week mark came and passed on Friday so I am officially halfway through my pregnancy..yay! I also think I finally "popped." People are starting to notice my baby bump and I had to retire several work outfits this week. Dresses are too short and pants DO NOT fit. Thank goodness for TJ Maxx.  It is crazy how I changed literally overnight. I think I even startled Patrick.  Here is a photo of me at 20 weeks! Feeling really good - I have still been able to work out several times per week and no bad heartburn or any other symptoms as of yet (fingers crossed). Looking forward to my sister's visit this coming week and LA!! 

19 Weeks!

My parents, aunts/uncles & grandparents are all in Phoenix this week! It has been wonderful having everyone in town. I even took some time off to do some preliminary baby shopping with my mom.  Here is a photo of me parking in my first ever "reserved for expectant mothers" parking spot! Ahh it's the little things in life but this really excited me. And for those that say I do not look pregnant yet..my back hurts like heck and my legs have been killing me so I deserved that front row spot!

In Baby K news..I starting feeling our baby move about a week ago! Now that I know what I'm looking for, I feel him fluttering all the time. It kind of feels like popcorn popping and it is really noticeable right after I eat :) It makes me want to eat more and more just to give him a workout!  Baby K is growing rapidly and is now the size of an heirloom tomato. His sensory development is in overdrive right now and areas in his brain are developing for sight, hearing, smell, taste, etc. Baby K can hear my voice but no one elses..in a few weeks he will be able to hear his dad for the first time!

First Photo Shoot

We finally had our long awaited first ultrasound!!! Everything went perfectly and it was such a special and  remarkable day. Words cannot express seeing our baby for the first time.  The ultrasound technician and doctor said he looks good and is growing right on track. We even saw his lips, nostrils and chin which is pretty rare this early in the pregnancy. We got to sit and watch him for about 10 minutes while the technician took photos and measurements and it was so strange to see him squirm around and then settle down for a nap! Here are photos of our Baby K at 17 weeks and about 3 days. Oh and the technician knew the gender immediately but, of course, we have requested to be surprised! Also, my due date has officially been pushed back a few days to September 6, 2011!

Here is a face shot! Baby K is looking a little bit like skeletor but doesn't have a lot of fat this early in the game.