Friday, November 16, 2012

The First 3 Months

As cliche as it sounds; how has it been 3 months since Harrison was born??? Seriously, time is so weird. The days are long but the months are fast.

Garrett and I had set out on this journey of having a 2nd child saying we wanted another kid, not a baby. We would deal with the baby stage. We didn't think we were fans of the baby stage. Connor was so difficult as a newborn that we thought we would just be in survival mode. I'm pleased to say that we are thoroughly enjoying the newborn stage this time. Harrison is such a different baby than Connor was. I feel rested most of the time & I don't feel emotionally drained from the constant soothing during the day. He even sleeps in his own bed (for the most part).

Breastfeeding is going well; too well actually. We've tried giving him bottles but he'll just freak out after a half an ounce or so. For the most part this is fine. I don't work outside the home but I would like to get out on my own for a few hours every now & then.

Connor adores his little brother. I can't wait to see them actually play together.

Here are a few photos of our first 3 months for those of your who haven't seen them on facebook.





Thursday, September 6, 2012

Harrison's birth story

Harrison Deryk Beslow was born 3 weeks ago today on August 16th, 2012. Here is his birth story.

Preparations:

Harrison's birth story begins the day before on 8/15/12. I was 40 weeks and 3 days pregnant at this point. I was not at all expecting to go past my due date. My water had broken at exactly 40 weeks with Connor so I was getting a little antsy at 3 days overdue. I had a checkup with the doctor that morning at 10:30. He checked my cervix and found me to be 1 cm & 50% effaced w/ the cervix still far back (I'd been the same for the past 2 1/2 weeks). We discussed that I very well could be looking at an induction. We decided to induce the following day due to Garrett's work schedule. He is a contract worker & gets no paid time off so our plan was for him to take little to no time off of work. He works 4 10s with Thursday, Friday & Saturday being his days off. I know that not everyone would take the induction but I felt comfortable with that option. I was scheduled to go in the following morning at 5:30 to start cervadil (a medication to help soften the cervix). I dropped Connor off at my parents house that evening & went home to clean up a few things. Garrett & I finished packing up the bag with last minute things, I took a shower & we went to bed. 

Early/Active Labor:

At 4:15 it was time to get up, drink some coffee & head into the hospital. Since I was scheduled to come in, I got to skip triage. I was checked into a room & 2 very kind & funny nurses got me settled. They both tried to get my IV started but I have very tricky veins. By that point it was shift change time & my new nurse came in. She was able to get the IV in! Third times the charm. Around 8:00 the on call doctor came in & checked me (loved her, she was so friendly & calm). We were all surprised to find that I was 4 cm & 70% effaced. I hadn't had any noticeable contractions over the last day but obviously something was changing my cervix. She said there was definitely no need for cervadil & we were going straight to a small dose of pitocin. She figured he would be born by dinner time. I thought she was crazy given how long Connor take to come out. We let my doula, Kate, know that she would be needed a lot sooner than originally thought. As a background, my plan was to go as long as possible (hopefully all the way) without an epidural. I'd had such a rotten experience with it last time (spinal headache that left me in bed for a week) that I wanted to avoid it if at all possible. My nurse came in & started my pitocin drip at 9:00. Almost immediately I started feeling contractions but they didn't hurt at this point. Fairly quickly (and still on a pretty low dose of pitocin) I was in a good pattern of contracting every 2-3 minutes. Around 9:30 or 10:00 Harrison had a few heart rate dips after contractions. They had me get off the birth ball & everything went back to normal. However, because of the drops in heart rate they wanted me to remain on the monitors for the remainder of labor. I was checked again at 11:00 and was 5 cm & 80% effaced. The doctor wanted to break my water but I was hoping to keep it intact as long as possible. I know that the contractions are much more painful once your water breaks. Since I was making progress we decided to wait & be checked again in a few hours. I stayed on my feet for the majority of the next 4ish hours & continued to have contractions. They still weren't painful; just a lot of tightening & pressure. When the doctor came back to check me at 2:45 I had just gotten into bed. I felt a snap (like a rubber band) right below my belly button. At first I'd thought it was a kick but I quickly realized that it had felt different than any kick I'd felt. I decided to shift my position to see if my water had broken. Sure enough I felt a gush of fluid. I told the doctor I thought my water had broken, she checked me & found that to be true. I was 7 cm at this point. I don't remember how effaced I was. I'm so glad I let my water break on its own because the contractions certainly picked up in intensity almost immediately. 

Transition:

Kate had me get on the ball at this point. Contractions were getting more and more painful. Most of the pain was associated to the intense pressure of him getting lower & lower. I felt like my bottom was being broken in half. The atmosphere in the room was significantly more subdued at this point. We had been watching TV & chatting through early labor. I started to get really warm so Kate went & got ice chips & cold rags. Those were a life saver. She rubbed my back which was very soothing too. The contractions got to a point where I was having to verbalize to get through them. Kate reminded me to keep my voice low (instead of screaming & hyperventilating). This keeps the body open and prevents you from tensing up (slowing down progress). Without her constant reminders I would never have made it through without screaming for medication. My nurse could tell things had changed so she decided to check me (this was around 4:50). She said I was 7 1/2 to 8. I then had a super intense contraction & decided to ask for the epidural. If it was going to hurt this bad for 2 1/2 more centimeters I just couldn't do it. All of a sudden I had a contraction that gave me an intense urge to push. Really it wasn't an urge, my body did the pushing, I had no choice. I felt his head "down there". I believe I yelled that I felt his head "right there." Anesthesia came in just as my nurse was checking me again. I was fully dilated and he was coming. I actually felt relieved that there was no time for the epidural. First of all, with the way the contractions had changed there was absolutely NO WAY that I would've been able to sit up & remain still for the epidural to be administered. Second, it had been my goal to get through labor without it. I had known (when I was still sitting on the ball) that I was close. Being told I had only made 1/2 of a cm of progress after 2 very painful hours took away that confidence. Yet, there I was, not 5 minutes later being told I was fully dilated. 

Delivery:

The nurse sent the anesthesiologist out & yelled for the doctor to come in. The doctor came in & I distinctly remember her asking if she had time to put her cap over her hair. I don't think she did. They didn't even get to break the bed down. At this point I was laying on my left side gripping the bed rails for dear life & I was screaming. None of the nice low sounds I was able to make earlier. These were bloody murder, "get this child out of me now" screams. The nurse & doctor wanted me to roll to my back & pull my legs back. This was so incredibly physically difficult. It took my nurse & Garrett to help me. Once I was on my back, I gave a few more good pushes and he was out. He was born at 4:59; less than 10 minutes after I had been told I was 7 1/2 cm. As soon as he was out I said, "I never have to do that again." (We're planning on just having the 2 boys). It felt so good to have him out. They placed him on my chest & I fell in love immediately. All that fear of not being able to love another child as much as I love Connor vanished. I had a 2nd degree tear that required a few stitches. We got him weighed & took a few guesses as to how big he was. I think I guessed 8lb 11oz. Everyone else guessed lower. I was the closest. He ended up being 8lb 15.6 oz. Just shy of 9 pounds. Guess he used those extra 4 days to pack on the weight. He was 21 inches long. I nursed him soon after & he's been a great eater ever since. Family came to visit a few hours later. 

Postpartum: 

I was able to get out of bed quickly & with very little pain. My legs weren't shaky like they had been after I got up with Connor. I felt like I was on top of the world. The first night was actually quite restful. Harrison slept well & I actually got a few hours myself. We went home a little over 24 hours after Harrison had been born & things have gone quite smoothly since. Overall I am overjoyed with how labor went. I really can't imagine it having gone any smoother. Kate was absolutely crucial during my labor. If you want a pain med free birth I absolutely recommend a doula. She was just awesome!

We've posted a few photos on facebook so if you're friends with me you can see them there. I'll post the first photo we put up & plan to put up a few more soon now that I have my photography software up & running on the new computer.


Sunday, August 5, 2012

39 weeks. I'm still here plugging along.

Group B Strep test came back negative! No antibiotics during labor! At my last appointment (38 weeks 3 days) I was 1.5 centimeters dilated & 50% effaced. Baby's head is also, very, very low. Based on the position of my cervix the doctor expected I would be at least another week from that day. I'm not putting too much stock in what he says, I know things can change quickly. He said the same thing just 2 days before Connor was born.

How far along are you? 39 weeks. 1 week exactly until my due date
Current cravings? Croissant sandwiches
Belly button in or out? It's usually sticking out.

Gender? Boy!
Any milestones? I've been full term for 2 weeks now. This baby can come at any time.
Other symptoms? Constant pelvic pain. I'm getting really slow & tired too. This summer heat isn't exactly helping. I'm happy for warm weather, I just wish WA homes had AC so I could escape easily.
Anything different between this pregnancy & last? Can't think of anything at the moment.
What I miss? Sleeping soundly.
What I’m looking forward to? Baby being here

Working on any projects? One more clear coat & the rocking chair should be done.
If baby came now, we would be prepared enough. There are little projects that would be nice to have completed but they certainly aren't necessary. Right now, I'm trying to rest as much as possible & spend time with my little boy.

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

36 week update


It's been weird not having regular access to a computer. When I was working I was at a computer 8 hours a day. Now, even though we have a computer in the house, I am obviously using it a lot less. I thought I'd jump on though & update before I completely fell out of the habit. Staying home is going well so far. I'm trying to find my groove; making sure enough gets done but giving myself enough rest before the baby gets here.


How far along are you? 36 weeks + 2 days. That's only 3 weeks & 5 days 'till my due date.

Current cravings? I'm still eating a lot of nectarines
Belly button in or out? It's usually sticking out.
Gender? Boy!

Any milestones? I'm down to appointments every week. I'm in that last month.Crazy how fast things go. They'll be testing me for Group B Strep bacteria at my appointment this week. It's a normal bacteria that is harmless to mom but can be harful to baby. If I test positive I'll have to have a course of antibiotics while in labor. I didn't have it with Connor, we'll see what happens this time.

Other symptoms? Constant pelvic pain. I'm getting heartburn too when I lay down at night.
Anything different between this pregnancy & last? I do not remember the pelvic pain being this bad last time.
What I miss? Being able to reach my legs to shave them in the shower.
What I’m looking forward to? Baby being here
Working on any projects? Finishing up on the rocking chair. We're refinishing it from it's original oak finish & painting it a light blue color. One more coat of paint & some clear coat & we'll be done.
I need a few more baby/mom care essentials & to finish setting up the nursery but I think that can all be done before baby is here (as long as he doesn't show up super early).

I want to get some meals made & frozen before baby comes but we'll see if that happens or not.


Monday, June 25, 2012

33 weeks

How far along are you? 33 weeks + 1 day. (6 weeks & 6 days to go) 

Current cravings?  Nectarines have been really good this past week. I wish summer fruit was always this good.


Belly button in or out? Definitely flat, sometimes sticking out.


Gender? Boy!

Any milestones?  I have less than 50 days to go. Not sure if that’s a milestone but it sure makes it feel close. I have 48 days to go as of this morning.

Other symptoms? Connor & I caught a cold this week. It’s not very fun but I’ve certainly had worse colds. There is also definitely a baby head in my pelvis. I can feel it when I walk. Doctor confirmed at my appointment last week that he has indeed dropped.

Anything different between this pregnancy & last?  I have a mixture of anxiety & excitement about Connor becoming a big brother. He loves babies & seems excited about the baby coming but I still worry about the adjustment. I’m sure we’ll have some struggles but we’ll take those as they come.

What I miss? Not waddling to the bathroom 2 or 3 times per night.    

What I’m looking forward to? My last day of work is THIS Friday. This is my last Monday & I’m so excited.   


Working on any projects? Pouf I was working on is pretty much done. Just a little more knitting & then it needs to be stuffed & finished up.

I went out & bought new bedding this weekend. We had a mishmash of items that never was anything too exciting. I finally bought some quality pieces & it feels so good to climb into a nice, well-made bed.

There is basically a never ending to-do list that will get even longer once the baby is here. I better get crackin’.
 

Monday, June 18, 2012

32 weeks

How far along are you? 32 weeks + 1 day

Current cravings?  Cream puffs. The little frozen ones. It’s a good thing they need to stay frozen & I have to defrost each serving or we would have a serious problem.


Belly button in or out? Definitely flat, sometimes sticking out.


Gender? Boy!

Any milestones?  None that I can think of. Although, saying that I have less than 8 week to go makes it feel really close.

Other symptoms? Pelvic pain. Sleeping is getting difficult. I’m rolling over multiple times a night to get comfy. Movement is different than it was a few weeks ago. It’s still very frequent but he definitely has less room to give forceful kicks. Mostly I’m feeling pushing & stretching. I’m feeling when he has hiccups too.

Anything different between this pregnancy & last?  I’m pretty sure this pelvic pain didn’t start until Connor dropped (around 34 weeks). This little guy might have dropped a little this last week. I definitely feel him lower down in my pelvis.

What I miss? I miss the days when my bladder wasn’t a pillow.   

What I’m looking forward to? My last day of work. Less than 2 weeks! I’m also looking forward to Connor meeting his baby brother for the first time. He loves babies & he seems really excited for him to come.  


Working on any projects? Unpacking still; although things are getting better. I’ve also got a list going of everything I need to do before he gets here. My mom, Connor & I are taking a trip to Montana the Sunday after my last day of work. Once I get back, that to-do list is going to be attacked.

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

30 weeks

How far along are you? 30 weeks + 2 days

Current cravings? Avocados!


Belly button in or out? Definitely flat, sometimes sticking out.


Gender? Boy!

Any milestones?  Um, how am I already in the 30’s? I’m 75% done!

Other symptoms? Pelvic pain. Sleeping is getting difficult. I’m rolling over multiple times a night to alleviate the hip pain.

Anything different between this pregnancy & last?  I’m pretty sure this pelvic pain didn’t start until Connor dropped (around 34 weeks). This one hasn’t dropped yet but I wouldn’t be surprised if he did sooner rather than later.

What I miss? I miss the days when my bladder wasn’t a pillow.   

What I’m looking forward to? My last day of work. I have so many projects I want to get done around the house. I’m just ready to be done. I’m counting my blessings that I get to stop working though; I just wish it was here now. 3 ½ weeks to go! 


Working on any projects? Unpacking still. I unpacked a HUGE box last night so I felt good about that. I wish it was happening sooner but I just try to remind myself that I’m growing a baby 24 hours a day. It’s not going to happen as fast as if I wasn’t pregnant. More tonight! Also, Garrett has completed the media center?? (not sure what to call it). Both TV’s are mounted with no cords in sight. At first I was nervous that he was putting holes in my brand new walls but he did a great job. Now all of the components are hidden away in a closet (accessible from both the living room & bedroom TV’s) and no cluttery cords in either room. All hidden away, nice & neat.
 

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

29 weeks

How far along are you? 29 weeks + 2 day

Current cravings? This week it was biscuits w/ butter & peach jam. Also, jalapeno chips dipped in cottage cheese. Yum.


Belly button in or out? Depending on baby’s position it’s an outie but most of the time it’s still really shallow.


Gender? Boy!

Any milestones?  Nothing that I can think of.

Other symptoms? A little more pelvic pain has set in this week, especially when rolling over at night or getting up to pee.

Anything different between this pregnancy & last?  No new stretch marks yet. I had those starting at 23 weeks w/ Connor. Guess my skin hasn’t had to stretch yet because it’s already pre-stretched

What I miss? Sleeping on my back.

What I’m looking forward to? Being finished unpacking. Downstairs is looking pretty good but still has some work to do. Upstairs is still a disaster.


Working on any projects? Moving into the house is a project all by itself. On Sunday I worked for a while on Connor’s bed. We’ve had quite a bit of rain the last week so it’s been hard to set up spray painting.
L  

Monday, May 21, 2012

28 weeks

We spent the first night in our new house last night. It felt kind of like sleeping in a hotel. Everything is new, my routine didn't feel the same, the bathroom is in a different spot when I had to get up in the middle of the night, etc. I know I’ll get used to it (obviously, I do at every new house). Garrett & his dad started in the early afternoon by bringing our bed over. By the time I got there it was already put together. It’s nice to have the bed put together properly. For the last 2 ½ months we’ve been sleeping on the mattress on the floor at my parents’ house. It was getting tricky to pull myself out of bed. Then my parents came over & helped us put together the new couch. Yes, put together. It’s from Ikea but we LOVE it. It’s the Karlstad 2+3 sectional. It has tons of seating & is super comfy, all while looking super stylish. Now, I need to decide where everything will go in my kitchen. Even though I love experimenting in the kitchen, I hate the pressure of choosing which cabinets will hold which items. I also need some food items to put in said kitchen. My fridge has 2 cases of pop & 2 mostly destroyed pizzas. Need to shop. Basically, it’s going to be a little bit before I feel settled. I’m just hoping its several weeks before this little baby boy arrives. I'd like to spend the last part of July & first part of August just having fun with Connor.

How far along are you? 28 weeks + 1 day

Current cravings? Nothing in particular


Belly button in or out? Depending on baby’s position it’s an outie but most of the time it’s still really shallow.


Gender? Boy!

Any milestones?  We’ve moved into the house that our little boy will come home to. Also, after failing my 1 hour glucose test (did this w/ Connor too) I went on to pass the 3 hour test. I’m also down to appointments every 2 weeks. Wow, I’m in the home stretch.

Other symptoms? Icky hip pain last night while sleeping. Thankfully this has not been every night. I think it just had to do with my restless night of sleep being in the new house.    

Anything different between this pregnancy & last?  I didn’t move when I was pregnant with Connor. This time I’ve moved 3 times! It’s tough, but worth it.

What I miss? The weekend. It’s Moanday, boo. But that is one less Monday that I’ll have to work. Bring on July!

What I’m looking forward to? Not having my house look like a bomb went off. I'm also looking forward to our washer & dryer arriving on Thursday. They're pretty :)


Working on any projects? Finishing up Connor’s bed. It didn’t like being moved so there are a few spots of touching up to do. It’s supposed to rain until Friday which doesn’t make for very good spray painting conditions. Connor slept on his big boy mattress on the floor last night. Guess he’ll be doing that until we can finish up the bed. Aside from the smudges & scratches that moving caused, the bed is looking great.

Now I need to find lampshades for the lamps I refinished (I think they need another coat of clear coat) & get started on my other finds (desk & chair + rocking chair that I’ve inherited from my mom). The rocking chair has been sanded & mostly primed. Just need to prime the bottom & get started on painting it.

We also need to finish moving into the house & finish some paint touch ups where the blasted painters tape failed. I hate that stuff.
 

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

27 weeks, & more house info!

We closed on our house last week 5/11/2012. It’s such an amazing feeling to be done! It feels a little surreal that we can actually come & go from the house whenever we want. We’ve been busy getting it ready to move in. Sealing grout & tile, painting, lots of trips to Home Depot & Lowes. Our garage door opener is being installed tomorrow afternoon. We have a few more areas to paint & then we’ll be ready to start moving things in. We do have a few pieces of furniture & a washer/dryer that needs to be bought too.
How far along are you? 27 weeks + 2 days.

Current cravings? Nothing in particular


Belly button in or out? Depending on baby’s position it’s an outie but most of the time it’s still really shallow.


Gender? Boy!

Any milestones?  3rd trimester! How am I already 2/3 of the way done??

Other symptoms? I’ve popped again. I remember thinking at 18 weeks I had popped & yet I popped again last week. I went from “that girl is probably pregnant” to “that girl is DEFINITELY pregnant”.   

Anything different between this pregnancy & last?  My back is hurting so much more this time. Boo.

What I miss? My kitty. We’ll have her back soon.  

What I’m looking forward to? Now that we’ve closed (yay!!), I’m looking forward to getting into the house; but also being done w/ work. I can’t wait. It’s so hard to focus on work when the weather is nice, my back hurts & there’s a house to put together. Let the nesting begin!


Working on any projects? Right now we’re working on getting the house painted (don’t worry, there’s plenty of ventilation & we’re using low VOC paint.) We’re also working on re-doing a bed for Connor. My mom found a metal bunk bed at a garage sale for $100. It has a few chips & scuffs but we’re sanding it down & will spray paint it a “titanium silver” by Rustoleum color. I’m planning on having a lose theme of vehicles (cars, trains, boats, planes, submarines, etc.) in Connors room & I think the industrial look of the bed will play right in. I also have a few other pieces that I’ve picked up from craigslist or garage sales that I’m refinishing. They’ll have to wait a bit as they’re not essential to functioning in our new place. We want to move into the new house w/ a new bed for Connor. Everything new at once. Hopefully it’ll work.
 

Monday, April 30, 2012

25 weeks

How far along are you? 25 weeks + 1 day

Current cravings? Cup of Noodle. I know, lots of sodium, but it tastes so GOOD.

Belly button in or out? Shallow w/ the top poking out sometimes.

Gender? Boy! Garrett & I are pretty sure he has a name too! I’m excited & can’t wait to meet him.

Any milestones? I was able to feel the baby’s back through my stomach. I made Garrett feel it too. He thought it was weird.

Other symptoms? Back pain & sleepy.

Anything different between this pregnancy & last? It’s going by really quickly this time. I have less than 15 weeks left! It’ll be here before I know it.

What I miss? Being able to bend over to pick things up easily.

What I’m looking forward to? Closing on our house! I’m pretty sure this will be my top answer until it happens. We’ve moved up our closing date by a week! The house is ahead of schedule & we’re ready to move in. The yard is finished too. Less than 2 weeks & we’ll own it!

Working on any projects? I didn’t work enough on my pouf this week. I’m hoping to finish this week. We did purchase (at a garage sale) a big boy bed for Connor & a desk for me. It’s a vintage desk that will need some TLC but I think it will be awesome once it gets a good sanding, coat of fun paint & updated hardware. We’ll be painting the bed we bought for Connor too.

Monday, April 23, 2012

24 weeks along

How far along are you? 24 weeks + 1 day



Current cravings? I woke up at, probably, 3AM last night craving a hamburger. Maybe I need more protein/iron?



Belly button in or out? Shallow w/ the top poking out sometimes.



Gender? Boy! Garrett & I are pretty sure he has a name too! I’m excited & can’t wait to meet him.


Any milestones? 24 weeks is considered “viability”. If our little boy is born at this point, there is a chance he can survive outside the womb. Of course I don’t want him coming until August but it’s nice to know that there is a chance should anything happen.


Other symptoms? Well, the hip pain from last week hasn’t showed up again at all. Just back pain for now.



Anything different between this pregnancy & last? Minor panic attacks about how I’m going to be able to handle 2 by myself.


What I miss? Not having to pull myself out of bed or chairs.



What I’m looking forward to? Closing on our house! I’m pretty sure this will be my top answer until it happens. Our backsplash was installed (still needs to be grouted) & it looks amazing! I’m so happy w/ our choice of backsplash. Carpet is in too. I’m really happy w/ our choice of color there too. & because we upgraded the carpet & the pad it is nice & soft/squishy.


Working on any projects? I’m 2/3 of the way done w/ the pouf. Then I’ll need to get the filling & finish it up. I was able to purchase the $25 chair this weekend. I’ll make sure to post before & after pictures.

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

23 weeks a little late.

How far along are you? 23 weeks + 3 days. A little late but Monday was crazy & I stayed home with a sick boy yesterday.



Current cravings? Croissant sandwiches



Belly button in or out? Shallow w/ the top poking out sometimes.



Gender? Boy! We thought we had a name decided on for a boy long ago. We’ve recently been exploring other options & now I’m completely confused as to what this child will be named.



Any milestones? I got to see my belly moving from the outside this week. I’m looking forward to watching it until August.



Other symptoms? I woke up with a sore hip during the night. I remember this from Connor & was kind of hoping it wouldn’t show up this time. Boo.



Anything different between this pregnancy & last? I’m super boring. I can’t think of anything for this category this week.


What I miss? Sleeping through the night without having to pee 3 times.



What I’m looking forward to? Closing on our house! Visited again & the granite was installed. It looks SO GOOD. I’m so glad we changed colors at the last minute. We also looked at some paint colors for the house & I’m super excited to get in there and start making it our own.



Working on any projects? My pouf is coming along! I’m about halfway through the knitting portion. Then it’ll be time to start on the blanket. I also have a list going of things we’ll need to purchase for the new house.



I am in the middle of negotiating a pickup time for 2 vintage chairs I found on craigslist. One is $25 and the other is $35. Both will need to be reupholstered but getting them so cheap will help. Plus, they’ll be a quality piece of furniture when I’m done with them.

Friday, April 13, 2012

New sockies

Gah! Look what my littlest bug will be wearing!!!



So cute.

Babysteals.com had these at 62% off. I really couldn't resist :)

Monday, April 9, 2012

22 weeks

How far along are you? 22 weeks + 1 day

Current cravings? Mango-a-go-go smothies from Jamba Juice

Belly button in or out? Shallow w/ the top poking out sometimes.

Gender? Boy!

Any milestones? I don’t think so.

Other symptoms? Back pain has been pretty bad today.

Anything different between this pregnancy & last? I’m super boring. I can’t think of anything for this category this week.

What I miss? Sleeping through the night without having to pee 3 times.

What I’m looking forward to? Closing on our house! I visited again this weekend. The floor line is fixed! My super deep bathtub is installed. Trim & stair railing are installed. The mantel has also been installed; just needs to be painted. We have a really pretty pergola that we didn’t realize would be over our garage. I can’t wait to plant wisteria!

Working on any projects? My pouf is coming along! Julia taught me how to pick up dropped stitches (the bane of my knitting existence) so now I think I can actually finish a project without having holes in it! I’m excited to get the baby blanket started too. I thought I should do the pouf first since it has simpler stitches. I needed to get used to knitting again.

Monday, April 2, 2012

21 Weeks plus gender reveal

We had our anatomy scan on Wednesday. I was so nervous going into it. I just didn’t know what my feelings would be when they let us know boy or girl. I thought I might be sad if it was a boy because it would mean saying goodbye to ever having a daughter. I kind of thought we wanted a girl. You know, one of each. When the tech said boy it was all perfectly clear. I could see our future vacations & playing at the park together. I could see Connor & his little brother being the best of friends. I absolutely love the bond I have with Connor & can’t wait to have it again with this baby. I think I wanted a girl because I thought I should want a girl. I am so thrilled to be the mother of 2 boys & I know that I don’t need one of each to make our family complete.

How far along are you? 21 weeks + 1 day.

Current cravings? Cheese

Belly button in or out? Shallow

Gender? See above. We’re having a little boy!!!

Any milestones? Finding out we’re having a little boy & that he looks perfectly healthy.

Other symptoms? I’m feeling more & more kicks. Love it!

Anything different between this pregnancy & last? Nothing to note today.

What I miss? Not having to roll out of bed.

What I’m looking forward to? Closing on our house! We went for a visit this weekend. The hardwood floors are in. Can I just say that we did a fantastic job picking them out?! I love them! The cabinets are in too & look awesome. There’s a little hiccup with the hardwood/carpet line that should hopefully be fixed. This just in, Garrett texted and said the hardwood/carpet line is being fixed!

Working on any projects? Finding out that we’re having a boy has given me the chance to pick out colors for some baby projects. I bought some yarn to knit a blanket & my mom & I picked out yarn for her to crochet a blanket. I’m really excited about the colors we’ve chosen. I’ve also purchased some yarn to make a giant “pouf” for the living room. An extra pop of color (it’s a really nice mustard color) that will act as some extra seating. I’d like to make some for the boys’ rooms too but I’ll have to wait & finish the first one before I buy more yarn.

20 Weeks

Happy Hunger Games! Garrett & I saw it this weekend 3/24. We thought it was awesome! The best book to movie adaptation I’ve seen. The action was great! The acting was great! I cried twice; once during the reaping & again when Rue died. There were a few inner monologue emotions I would’ve liked to see portrayed better but I knew what was going on since I’d read the book.

We took Connor to Great Wolf Lodge this weekend with some friends of ours that have a son who’s Connor’s age. They had tons of fun playing in the water & playing in the hotel room. We ended up leaving a little earlier than originally planned on Saturday because Connor was so cold. The water park is kept at 84 degrees but he’s such a little skinny boy that there is absolutely no fat to keep him warm.

How far along are you? 20 weeks + 1 day. More than halfway done!!

Current cravings? I was just reading an old post where I talked about baked cheese sticks. Now I’m having a hankering for those.

Food aversions? I’m doing pretty well in this department.

Gender? We find out in 2 days!!!

Any milestones? Half way done!

Other symptoms? Nothing that I haven’t already mentioned.

Anything different between this pregnancy & last? Nothing to note at this time.

What I miss? Having a drink with dinner.

What I’m looking forward to? I can’t wait for Wednesday to find out if we’re having a little boy or a little girl.

19 Weeks

This week has been full of changes. Garrett took a part time job to boost our savings so he’s been gone some of the evenings. He’s really missing Connor so we’re not sure how long we’ll have him keep with this. We’re hoping to have all debts paid off using this extra money plus they offer benefits to their part time employees. He’s keeping with it for now & we’ll decide down the road a little ways if the negatives are outweighing the positives or vice versa.

How far along are you? 19 weeks + 2 day.

Current cravings? Do naps count?

Food aversions? Nope.

Gender? I keep picturing a baby girl but a boy would be nice too.

Any milestones? Nothing really.

Other symptoms? I’m finally to my pre-pregnancy weight.

Anything different between this pregnancy & last? I feel like I have nowhere to start as far as getting ready for this baby to come. At this point I’m just waiting for our house to be done (2 months!!). Then I can feel like I have some control. Right now it’s just a waiting game; which is good because we still have a few thousand dollars to save before we can close. I’m just anxious to get everything organized.

What I miss? Sleeping through the night. Won’t be doing that for a while. (still this!)

What I’m looking forward to? Finding out if there is a little boy or a little girl in there. Hunger Games is this weekend! I’m also looking forward to our Great Wolf Lodge getaway this Friday! Connor will have a blast!

18 Weeks

We took a drive to our house yesterday. It’s sure coming along. The siding is done & painted. They’re beginning to drywall. Connor had a blast playing in the mud, rocks & construction mess. Can you say boy??? He was very sad to leave but I let him know that soon the house would be ours & we would be there every day. Of course it won’t be as messy/fun for a little boy to play in but he doesn’t need to know that yet. We paid the last bit of our earnest money yesterday. It’s amazing how much money you can pull out of your budget when you simply try. It sure makes me feel dumb for wasting money in the past. Of course staying with mom & dad helps too.

Onto the survey:

How far along are you? 18 weeks + 1 day. Inching closer to halfway done!

Current cravings? Nothing in particular.

Food aversions? Nope.

Gender? Who the heck knows?? I just want to schedule that ultrasound so I can find out! I found out during the 18th week with Connor. I wish the scheduling would work out so I could find out this week w/ this baby. It won’t be until 19 ½+ weeks. Boo.

Any milestones? A few days ago I was in bed & feeling a few taps. I put my hand down on the lowest part of my tummy & felt that 1st little kick from the outside. This morning the same thing happened but I felt it 7 times in a row! I love little baby kicks!

Other symptoms? Springing forward does not agree with this tired pregnant lady.

Maternity clothes? I think it’s time to retire this question. Yes, I’m wearing maternity clothes.

Anything different between this pregnancy & last? It’s getting trickier to find a comfortable position to hold Connor in. Didn’t have to worry about that last time.

What I miss? Sleeping through the night. Won’t be doing that for a while.

What I’m looking forward to? Finding out if there is a little boy or a little girl in there. Also looking forward to THE HUNGER GAMES!!! Less than 2 weeks!

17 Weeks

We got our conditional loan approval this week for the new house. This makes me feel a little more at ease that we’ll actually move into our house & not have it fall through & move into a cramped apartment. We just had tenants move into our town house & they signed a 27 month lease. We wouldn’t be getting back into that house anytime soon if this deal falls through. I try not to stress though. I know we’ll live somewhere, hah! Living with my parents is going pretty well. We’re a little cramped in our small bedroom but it’s only for a few months & it allows us to save more money per month towards our down payment/baby necessities. Garrett is also starting a part time job this month which will bring in even more money.

Well, onto the survey…

How far along are you? 17 weeks + 1 day. How am I this far already??

Current cravings? Trader Joe’s Honey Goat Cheese. It is to DIE for. (mmm, still this)

Food aversions? Everything sounded gross on Saturday. I felt like I was in 1st tri all over again. I’m doing better today though.

Gender? Leaning towards girl???

Any milestones? I had my quad screen blood draw on Saturday. We’ll get the results back soon. Hopefully all looks normal. I’ve been feeling more distinct taps in my tummy the last few days. I love it! To me the kicks are the first glimpse at their little personality. Connor was always very active. I felt him early & I felt him often. Guess what?? That kid hasn’t stopped moving since. This baby seems a little more subdued. It’s possible that I’m jumping to conclusions but I think Connor was moving like crazy at this point.

Other symptoms? Lots and lots of peeing. I thought this was supposed to die down a bit during 2nd tri.

Maternity clothes? Maternity pants all the way! Most pre-pregnancy shirts are ok right now, although some are getting a little short.

Anything different between this pregnancy & last? It’s fun having Connor understand that there is a baby in my tummy. He gives the baby kisses & hugs. Very sweet.

What I miss? Margaritas.

What I’m looking forward to? Finding out the gender (I want to know SO badly) & feeling big, consistent kicks.

16 Weeks

I've determined that I'm mostly posting these for documentation for myself to look back on so I'm just going to post the rest of them all at once so I'm caught up.

How far along are you? 16 weeks + 1 day

Current cravings? Trader Joe’s Honey Goat Cheese. It is to DIE for.

Food aversions? I’m doing a lot better in this department.

Gender? Leaning towards girl???

Any milestones? Not really. Just a few more baby taps & rolls but they’re still few & far between.

Other symptoms? Back pain is kicking in again. Boo.

Maternity clothes? Maternity pants all the way! Most pre-pregnancy shirts are ok right now.

Anything different between this pregnancy & last? Still no weight gain. I don’t know how much I’d gained by this point with Connor but I think it was at least 4 or 5. I’m still down 2.

What I miss? Sleeping soundly.

What I’m looking forward to? Finding out the gender & feeling big, consistent kicks.

Monday, March 26, 2012

14 & 15 weeks

Ok, I'm going to try & bang these out there this week so we can get current. I'm 20 weeks as of yesterday so hopefully by next Monday we'll be up to date.

14 Weeks

What a weekend. We had about 6 different house showings this weekend. We’re trying to get our place rented so we’re not paying 2 mortgages. Totally wouldn’t be happening. Luckily yesterday we found 2 good options. Their appointments kind of over-lapped a little bit so they knew there was a little competition. We picked a couple & were able to get the amount we had originally been asking for the place. This will all but cover our mortgage which is really the only thing we were concerned about. We’re not trying to make any money here, just trying to keep both properties floating. Their lease starts March 1st & our home doesn’t close until mid-May so we’ll be living w/ my parents for a few months. This will allow us to save even more towards our down payment. So much moving for 1 pregnant lady!

On Sunday we took our parents to see the model of our house that’s being built. It was nice for them to be able to see it. They all seemed to think it was quite nice. I was glad to see it again too. It’s hard to remember sometimes what we’re working towards. I panic about finances & think we’ll be just fine in our tiny little townhouse. It was a good reminder. Plus, I feel a little better now that I know our house is being rented out for the amount we needed. We got a nice long lease from them too.

How far along are you? 14 weeks + 1 day

Current cravings? Maple & Brown Sugar Mini Wheats. Connor has decided they’re his favorite cereal now too.

Food aversions? It’s getting better. I can’t think of anything specific off the top of my head. Mostly it’s a texture thing at this point. It might be something I normally like but if the texture is off, yuck.

Gender? This whole week I’ve been thinking girl. I have to remind myself that it might be a boy & to not get too attached to the idea of a girl. I really do love my boy so I wouldn’t love a boy less & I would love for Connor to have a brother. I think it would just be mourning the idea of having a daughter as this will likely be our last baby.

Any milestones? I’ve felt a few little baby taps in my tummy this week! It’s nothing consistent but it’s definitely not gas or muscle twitches. These are different. It’s so exciting & I can’t wait for them to be bigger & more consistent.

Other symptoms? Thanks to my low immune system I caught the “cold of death” this last week. I’m finally on the mend but it was a tough one. This has also been the week of “baby using my bladder as trampoline.” I can handle peeing 1-2 times per night but I’ve woken up as many as 5 times in one night during this past week. I’m hoping it was due to the increased water I was drinking to wet my dry mouth from breathing through my mouth due to the above mentioned cold. Hopefully when that is all gone I can go back to normal peeing.

Maternity clothes? Maternity pants all the way! Most pre-pregnancy shirts are ok right now.

Anything different between this pregnancy & last? Nothing much that I haven’t already covered.

What I miss? Sleeping soundly.

What I’m looking forward to? Finding out the gender. I hate when I have to refer to the baby as “it” or “the baby”, I much prefer saying he or she.


& now 15 weeks

How far along are you? 15 weeks + 1 day

Current cravings? Cottage cheese & cauliflower + ranch. Oh, & baked mozzarella sticks that I make using sting cheese wrapped in wonton wrappers, spray w/ PAM & sprinkle w/ salt. I bake them at 400 for 15 minutes. Yum!

Food aversions? It comes & goes. Yesterday I was all excited to eat lasagna, garlic bread & broccoli. It all tasted horrible & I could hardly eat any of it. I made up for it though by eating a banana split.

Gender? Who the heck knows?! I just want to find out already!

Any milestones? Not really. Just a few more baby taps & rolls but they’re still few & far between.

Other symptoms? I must have peed 4 times before I fell asleep last night. Ridiculous!

Maternity clothes? Maternity pants all the way! Most pre-pregnancy shirts are ok right now.

Anything different between this pregnancy & last? I swear I never peed this much when I was pregnant with Connor.

What I miss? Sleeping soundly.

What I’m looking forward to? Finding out the gender & feeling big, consistent kicks.

Friday, March 16, 2012

12 & 13 Weeks

We are caught up with Dexter now. Now we have to wait until the next season starts THIS FALL! Holy cow, I will have a hard time waiting.

Also, another holy cow! to tell you about. We’re buying a house. We realized since moving back that 4 people are going to be so cramped in our little 2 bedroom townhouse. It’s a fine house for a couple, can maybe squeak by w/ 1 kid but it’s just not going to work for the 4 of us. There’s no room to set up a computer or a sewing machine. There’s nowhere to put guests. Obviously kids can share rooms but being that the rest of the living space is quite small we’re really too cramped & on top of each other all the time. We’ll leave the townhouse as a rental & move into the new house. We’re really excited to have our new 5 bedroom house built! There’s plenty of room for everyone to have their own room + a guest room, a sewing/craft room/office & there’s a nice little computer nook. There will be hardwood floors throughout much of the main level. And, I’ll finally have a soaking tub in my master bath & a WALK IN CLOSET! Ok, can you tell I’m excited!? Nervous but excited. It won’t be ready until May which is fine. Baby doesn’t come until August. Looks like I’ll be eating my words about saying I would “never move again while pregnant.” Oops. Never say never. I’ll be approximately 28 weeks pregnant at the time of closing. Guess someone else will be lifting the boxes.

Anyway, onto the baby info. I had my 2nd OB appointment Monday the 23rd. I got the results from my ultrasound that I’d had a few weeks back. Everything looked normal & I have a new due date of August 12th. So, these updates will be on Sundays (maybe Mondays since I tend to write them at work. Shame on me) from now on.

How far along are you? 12 weeks + 1 day. I’m almost out of the 1st trimester. Depending on which doctor you talk to some will call you in the 2nd trimester at 12 weeks (because all of the baby’s major systems have been formed at this point) & some like to divide it into 3 equal parts. I’ll call myself in the 2nd trimester for sure at 13 weeks 3 days.

Current cravings? Homemade nachos w/ no meat. Garrett is getting tired of them.

Food aversions? Quite a bit. I’m still not eating tons but it is getting better I think.

Gender? I have no idea. I’d be super happy with either.

Any milestones? I reached 12 weeks which is when the risk of miscarriage goes down significantly. I heard the baby’s heart beat on the Doppler last Monday for the first time. Very exciting.

Other symptoms? Horrible sleep, which makes my 1st tri exhaustion even worse.
Maternity clothes? I’m pretty much in all maternity pants. I’ve popped out quite a bit this week & they are comfy. Mostly regular shirts though.

Anything different between this pregnancy & last? I’m pretty sure my mind was more consumed with being pregnant last time. I think my plate is just much fuller this time around so it gets pushed to the back of my mind. We’ve had a lot going on lately so I suppose that’s understandable.

What I miss? Sleeping soundly

What I’m looking forward to? Feeling the baby flop, kick & punch + finding out the gender.


and now 13 weeks!

How far along are you? 13 weeks + 1 day

Current cravings? Belgian waffles. We have the most amazing mix for them so they’re super easy for nights I don’t feel like cooking.

Food aversions? Getting a little better. I’m still pretty picky & haven’t gained any weight yet. Still down 2 pounds from pre-pregnancy weight.

Gender? This week I’m thinking girl. This is about the time I had a pretty clear idea that Connor was a boy, & I was right. My mother-in-law is pretty certain it’s a girl too. Only time will tell. Of course I’d be super happy with another boy but I guess it would be nice to have 1 of each.

Any milestones? This is the week I’m out of my 1st trimester. Let the 2nd trimester begin!

Other symptoms? Horrible sleep & crazy pregnant lady freak-outs. Hello, I’m pregnant & buying a house & quitting my job. SO MANY CHANGES! Also, I’m loving the clear skin pregnancy gives me. Last time it lasted all the way through when I was done nursing Connor.

Maternity clothes? Mostly maternity pants but I forgot to wash my ONE pair of work pants this weekend so I got out my pre-pregnancy work pants. Thankfully with the weight loss it makes up for the bump taking up extra room. I just shimmy the band down below my tummy & I’ve been ok today.

Anything different between this pregnancy & last? Nothing much that I haven’t already covered.

What I miss? Sleeping soundly. Also, a nice glass of wine every now & then. Not that I was a boozer by any stretch of the imagination but it was nice every once in a while.

What I’m looking forward to? Feeling the baby flop, kick & punch + finding out the gender.

Thursday, March 15, 2012

10 & 11 weeks combined

How far along are you? 10 weeks! Double digits!

Current cravings? Sour candy. Woman cannot live on candy alone so I eat other things cause I know I should.

Food aversions? I’ve hated the idea of lettuce for 3 or 4 weeks now.

Gender? I have no idea. I’d be super happy with either.

Any milestones? I’m ¼ of the way through this pregnancy. Crazy!

Other symptoms? This girl is tired! Plus I burp a lot. And I pee 2 times per night now.

Maternity clothes? Sometimes but most of my pre-pregnancy clothes still fit well enough. Work pants will be too small soon though.

Anything different between this pregnancy & last? We aren’t panicking about money as much. The last few months have been tight because of getting out of a terrible lease but we’re in a better place this time around. Plus, I’m going to get to be a stay at home mom. I’ve always wanted that & am so excited.

What I miss? Having the energy to stay up past Connor’s bedtime & work on something for me. Now my “for me” time is vegging in bed watching Dexter.

What I’m looking forward to? Feeling the baby move. I especially love when you can see the whole belly move around. Also, Garrett & I have talked about maybe going to Great Wolf Lodge w/ Connor some weekend soon. We think he would have fun & it would be nice to relax, just the 3 (and ½) of us.

And.....11 Weeks

Garrett & I have been watching old Dexter episodes. We were caught up through season 4 but stopped watching because Connor got too aware for us to have it on while he was awake. We’ve got him on a consistent bedtime now so it’s more feasible to fit in an hour long show before we have to crash too. Season 5 is SO GOOD. We only have 2 episodes left. I’m hoping to fit them in tonight (even if we have to stay up a little late).

The big news from this week was our winter storm. It started snowing Saturday afternoon & pretty much didn’t stop until yesterday evening. Nice little 4 day vacation for me as it was not feasible to get Connor all the way to my parents’ house (who have worse snow & a nasty hill) & then to work. Connor & I had fun playing in the snow, losing a mitten (it’ll be interesting seeing where it was buried), watching movies, crocheting, naps & Connor learning a lot of 2 word phrases. He’s been a little slower on the talking front. I know he has it all up in his brain but he’s just a little slower than lots of kids. His doctor wasn’t concerned & said he could tell he had it going on in his head he just was taking his time. So since doc wasn’t concerned, I wasn’t either. It’s been really neat watching him put more & more words together & I’m glad I was at home with him when he really started doing it. The snow is starting to melt today so roads are improving but now it’s supposed to get windy. We have a lot of snow melting which means saturated ground plus a lot of weak trees from Thursday’s freezing rain in many parts. Add wind to that & I’m sure we’ll have quite a few power outages. I’ll get ready for lots of downed tree claims Monday morning when I get back to work.


How far along are you? 11 weeks + 1 day. The weeks just keep ticking by. I’m trying to savor this pregnancy since it’ll probably be my last.

Current cravings? Pepsi Max. However, I’m steering clear since it has twice the caffeine of regular pepsi.

Food aversions? Ugh, everything has been gross for the last week. I’ve actually lost weight at this point (about 3 pounds under pre-pregnancy weight)

Gender? I have no idea. I’d be super happy with either.

Any milestones? Not really. My 2nd appointment is coming up on Monday.

Other symptoms? Nothing tastes good. I can’t sleep. Thankfully 1st trimester ends very shortly so I’m hoping to turn a corner.

Maternity clothes? I wear some maternity jeans just because I bought them & they’re another option (plus they’re super comfy) but I can still wear my regular clothes. I haven’t worn work clothes all week because of the nasty weather so I guess I should try those on this weekend to make sure I have something to wear on Monday. The snow should be cleared by then so I’ll be expected to wear regular office clothes.

Anything different between this pregnancy & last? I NEVER lost weight during my first pregnancy. I seemed to be hungry enough to only gain. I gained 35 pounds total & would really like to stay lower than that this time.

What I miss? Liking food.

What I’m looking forward to? I’m really looking forward to feeling the baby. That was my favorite part when pregnant w/ Connor. I’m also looking forward to getting some energy back & whipping our house into shape. I’m also hoping to hear the baby’s heartbeat on the doppler at my appointment on Monday. It might not happen though. I know doctors will hold off because sometime the dopplers just don’t pick anything up this early & they don’t want to alarm mothers. We’ll see though, I’m hopeful but not expecting it.

Monday, March 12, 2012

9 weeks

How far along are you? 9 weeks 4 days

Current cravings? Ugh. Nothing in particular. I guess if it sounds good I’ll eat it but a lot of things sound gross.

Food aversions? Lots of things.

Gender? I have no idea. I’d be super happy with either.

Any milestones? First ultrasound was last Thursday (when I was actually 9 weeks). It was so awesome to see our little bean wiggling around in there. Heart was beating strong at 167 bpm.

Other symptoms? Always sleepy, nausea, back pain is starting to kick in again already. Belly bloat in the evenings. My tummy below my belly button in starting to get fuller & it’s the same morning & night plus I can’t suck it in. Guess it’s the start of my real bump. It sure came faster this time. I remember my lower abdomen getting bigger around 11or 12 weeks last time.

Maternity clothes? I’ve worn maternity jeans a few times but still fit in my pre-pregnancy jeans. My work pants still button but I can tell their days are numbered. I need to get some maternity slacks soon.

Anything different between this pregnancy & last? Sleep is harder. I’m not necessarily uncomfortable but I keep tossing & turning. I don’t remember this last time.

What I miss? Not feeling gross every evening.

What I’m looking forward to? Getting completely unpacked & feeling the baby move.

Friday, March 9, 2012

8 weeks

We told our families (& a lot of our friends/coworkers know too.) They really liked the books we made for them with the announcement at the end. My mom took it to church with her the next day & was showing it to everyone. I think everyone is thoroughly excited to have another little one coming.

How far along are you? 8 weeks

Current cravings? Sour candy. Egg salad sandwich or deviled eggs sound pretty good too.

Food aversions? Lots of things.

Gender? For some reason I’d be really surprised if we were told girl. Maybe it’s because I’m used to the idea of being the mother to a boy.

Any milestones? I had my first doctor’s appointment. My uterus seems to measuring exactly where it should be so that is a good sign. I also got my first ultrasound scheduled for next Thursday. Hoping to see a little heartbeat.

Other symptoms? Nausea if I don’t eat soon enough or eat the wrong thing. I am so tired. I fell asleep on the couch last night at 7:30. This isn’t good since we’re moving this weekend & there is a TON still left to do. I just don’t have the energy to do it. Never again will I move while pregnant.

Maternity clothes? I did go out and purchase a nice large haul of new maternity clothes Monday night. I’m currently wearing the maternity leggings. All leggings should be maternity leggings. So much comfier that being cut off in the middle.

Anything different between this pregnancy & last? I keep doubting my ability to love this next child as much as I love Connor. I hear it’s possible though.

What I miss? I miss having the energy to stay awake.

What I’m looking forward to? First ultrasound & getting back into our Everett house.

Thursday, March 8, 2012

7 weeks

How far along are you? 7 weeks

Current cravings? Pecan tarts. Good thing I’ll get some on Saturday!

Food aversions? Not really. I definitely know what doesn’t sound good though when Garrett suggests dinner options.

Gender? I am thinking boy. I think I’d be really happy with another boy. Obviously I’d be happy with either though.

Any milestones? I think the baby is growing arms & legs this week (or maybe it was last week???)

Other symptoms? Nausea here & there. Soooooo tired. My nose is stuffed up when I try to sleep. It makes breathing difficult. So as if that doesn’t wake me up enough on its own, Garrett has to wake me up when I snore. I think I was a little mean to him last night when he woke me up. Do NOT wake up a pregnant lady.

It’s getting a little trickier to hide the little bean. Even though the baby is only the size of a blueberry my stomach is noticeably rounder than it was in November. Probably a combination of bloat, organs being pushed up & being a 2nd time mom are to blame. Good thing we’re telling our family this weekend before they have a chance to ask any embarrassing questions. That’s what every girl wants, to have to reply, “no, I’m not pregnant, I’ve eaten too many Christmas treats.”

Maternity clothes? Not yet. I believe Julia is getting me a gift card to Motherhood Maternity so it’ll be a little harder to resist purchasing when I have free money in my hand.

Anything different between this pregnancy & last? I’m getting a sneak peak at what it’s like to have 2 kids. Last time if I was tired, I would lie on the couch or go to bed super early. This time I have a sweet, energetic boy to take care of. Definitely a little trickier in that regard but he’s a good distraction from the exhaustion. Work however is not a good distraction. I sit here feeling exhausted all.day.long.

What I miss? A nose that remembers how to breath.

What I’m looking forward to? First ultrasound. I have my first doctor appointment on 12/27/11 so hopefully they’ll schedule an ultrasound soon after.

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

6 weeks along

How far along are you? 6 weeks today!

Current cravings? Hot dog with sharp cheddar & I would really like some more mushroom ravioli.

Food aversions? Nothing really

Gender? Garrett & I came up with a boy name that we both really like & I can now totally see us having another boy now. I’d be happy either way.

Any milestones? None really for the baby but Happy Birthday to me. I’m now a ripe old 24. Note the sarcasm.

Other symptoms? Still the usual tired & sore boobs etc. But man, these crazy pregnancy dreams have GOT to simmer. They’re driving me crazy.

Maternity clothes? Nope. I look forward to them though.

Anything different between this pregnancy & last? I’ve had very little nausea this time around. I’m still pretty early in that respect but I’m pretty sure I felt sicker last time.

What I miss? Normal person sleep. I just want some average person dreams. Not creepy, vivid, weird dreams. I’m either awake w/ a super stuffy nose or I’m dreaming weird dreams.

What I’m looking forward to? Telling our parents & going to bed tonight.

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

5 weeks

These last few days have been stressful for us. We’re breaking a lease early because of several reasons (mostly the landlords have failed to keep the house safe) & this included us paying a huge lease break fee. We could’ve pushed to be let out of it for legal reasons but there would’ve been so much more drama & court dates & blah that we just wanted to get out. So, right before Christmas we’re paying a huge fee so the place can be listed. Then we have to wait & hope that the place would be rented to someone else so we wouldn’t have to pay another month’s rent. We received an email from our landlords yesterday saying that there had been NO applications put in. I promptly freaked out. Our tenants are moving out of our Everett house January 1st. I did NOT want to pay a mortgage & rent at the same time. Well thankfully Garrett got a call from the agent that has been showing the house & she said there have been 2 applications & there’s one more showing today. She thinks this showing today will be the last one because a lease will most likely be signed very soon. I was so happy. I just want to be done with this place. I’m still a smidge nervous because the lease hasn’t actually been signed but I’m feeling better. Now we just need to wait until payday. We’re still poor from paying the huge fee & switching health insurance & dental bills all in the same week. I can’t wait until January for things to be back to normal. I’m trying to stay as calm as possible for the baby’s sake but it’s been tricky.

How far along are you? 5 weeks + 1 day

Current cravings? Nothing really in the last few days. Ginger Ale has been good when my tummy is on the edge.

Food aversions? Nothing in particular but it is getting harder to find something that sounds good.

Gender? I’m guessing girl at this point but who knows.

Any milestones? Not that I can think of.

Other symptoms? Sleepy , bloated, sore boobies, some nausea, snotty, bad sleep. I got sick this week too so some of the symptoms could’ve been from being sick. This flu season has kicked my butt.

Maternity clothes? Not yet.

Anything different between this pregnancy & last? I haven’t come up with a nickname for the baby yet. We aren’t going to tell the name until our little one is born (did this w/ Connor too). I always knew the nickname for our first would be Frankly (long story). I made the decision that the next one would be an adverb as well. I’ll decide soon.

What I miss? Pepsi Max. That stuff is my kryptonite. It tastes like full calorie Pepsi but has 0 calories. Of course it has double the caffeine of regular Pepsi hence why I’m missing it.

What I’m looking forward to? Moving back to our Everett house (just a little over 3 weeks!!) & getting the kids’ room painted & put together. Yup, they’ll be sharing a room once little one isn’t waking up every 2 hours to eat. We’ll have the baby in our room for the first few months & then they’ll be together.

Ten Things Tuesday

1. Garrett is starting a part time job at Starbucks this week. It’s not like he enjoys the idea of working an extra 20 hours a week but the extra money will be nice. There are a lot of things to buy in the next several months.

2. I’m getting super excited for Hunger Games! Just a few more weeks.

3. Snow in March makes me sad. I’m ready for warm weather & sandals & pretty pedicures & shorts.

4. Trader Joe’s Thai Lime & Chili Cashews are pretty darn good. Spicy, but good.

5. Now it’s sunny. Still cold though.

6. I’m so excited to see Connor as a big brother.

7. I haven’t washed my hair with shampoo for over a week. And guess what?...It’s not dirty. I’ve been using regular, cheap Suave conditioner. I’ve always had frizzy, course, & wavy hair. After reading a few blog entries lately from women who have used this system to take care of their curly hair I decided to give it a try. What did I have to lose? If it was worse I’d just go back to my regular shampoo/conditioner routine. It hasn’t really been long enough for me to decide if I like it or not. However, the one thing I was most scared about was whether my hair would be greasy or not. It’s not!

8. My mom found a recipe for homemade fruit gummies on pinterest recently. She made a batch last night & I’m excited to see how they turned out when I get home from work.

9. Our favorite, little Chinese restaurant closed this week. We’re sad to see them go.

10. Wow I’m tired today. Today is one of those days I could TOTALLY use a nap.

Monday, March 5, 2012

4 Weeks/Finding out

4 Weeks (and 5 days)

I’m going to attempt to keep this blog updated during this pregnancy like I did last time. Obviously my hands are a little fuller this time around but I think this child deserves my best attempt. I’ll start off by saying we found out December 3, 2011. I was 4 weeks 2 days (according to my last period). This was our first month trying so I was very anxious to see if it worked. A little too anxious for our first month I suppose; but that’s one of my character flaws. When I want something, I want it NOW! I tried to remind myself that God has his perfect timing & I even prayed that if it wasn’t the perfect timing that he would ease my desire a little. That helped calm me down & made me realize I have a perfect little son & if we’re meant to have another it would happen when God wanted it to. Well, I guess now is the perfect time. I kept expecting to get my period since I’d had a few negative tests (even though I felt the same as I did when pregnant w/ Connor). I was starting to feel like I was really a crazy person for making up symptoms when I wasn’t even pregnant. When I got to cycle day 31 I decided to test again. I usually have 26 day cycles so 31 days (even coming off my IUD, which was removed in the middle of October) was an unusually long cycle. Lo & behold, 2 pink lines! We are so happy. Of course Garrett wished we could’ve “tried” a little longer, he enjoyed that stage (such a man).

Onto the survey:
How far along are you? 4 weeks 5 days

Current cravings? Last night I craved a cheeseburger. This never happens but it was SO good. Complete w/ melted cheese and homemade pickled jalapenos. Today my body is asking for VEGGIES, lots of them, and maybe another cheeseburger.

Food aversions? Nothing really. Certain things sound undesirable but nothing sends me running for the bathroom yet.

Gender? I’m kind of thinking girl at this point & Garrett thinks it’s a boy. I honestly will be happy with either though. I have such a special bond with my boy that I know I’ll love a boy or a girl. It doesn’t matter. Guess we’ll find out in 14 or so weeks.

Any milestones? Finding out I’m pregnant

Other symptoms? I’m so sleepy. Last night I went to bed at 9:30. I’ve been sneezing like a nerd during allergy season. Vivid dreams have made an appearance again causing me to toss & turn most of the night. All I can think is that sleep will be harder to come by the farther along I get. I just want to get as much sleep as I can while I still have a child who sleeps through the night consistently. Bloating, OMG!! I haven’t been this bloated since…I was pregnant last time (one of my big clues that I was indeed pregnant despite some negative tests).

Maternity clothes? Not yet. I’m thankful to currently have a pair of jeans & a pair of slacks that were a little big prior to getting pregnant. It gives me a little extra room for this stupid bloat that makes me look 4 months pregnant instead of 1 (making it hard to hide from friends and family. We aren’t announcing until Christmas. We thought it would be a pretty cool Christmas present).

Weight gain? 0.8 pounds of water retention, hoping that goes away soon but I’m not holding my breath.

Anything different between this pregnancy & last? We told right away when pregnant with Connor. This time we’re waiting a few weeks so we can tell at Christmas. It feels kind of special to have this little secret & I can’t wait to see the surprised look on the Grandparent’s faces. They don’t think we’re trying until January. It also seems less “real”. Somehow it seemed reasonable that Garrett & I could have 1 baby but having 2 seems unreal. Maybe it’s the fact that I already have 1 sweet little boy to hold my attention.

What I miss? Caffeine; I was a hardcore caffeine junky. I was trying to cut back while we were TTC but didn’t make as big of an effort as I could have. I’m still feeling a little withdrawal. Fourth day without caffeine though! I can do this.

What I’m looking forward to? Telling our parents & talking about it with Connor. We’re staying pretty quiet around him because he’s gotten pretty good at repeating & we would really like to keep it hush-hush until Christmas.

Monday, January 30, 2012

There's a reason I haven't updated w/ quilt status in awhile

I've been busy making something even better.







A baby!


Due August 12th 2012.


I've been doing a weekly survey & will post all of them soon. We're very excited to be adding to our family.