Saturday, December 24, 2016

17 weeks


How far along?: 17 weeks and 2 days

Movement?: There has been several questionable times where I'm pretty sure it was the baby. With Ellie I didn't for sure feel movement till week 22/23, due to an anterior placenta (it was muffling babies movement for a long time). It's very possible what I felt was baby, but I'm not 100% sure yet.

Total weight gain/loss?: At my last appointment on the 13th, I had only gained 3 pounds all together so far. I started at the same weight I did as when I got pregnant with Ellie, and have gained weight at a much slower rate this time.

Currently craving: Mexican food! This one has stayed consistent the whole pregnancy. And a current thing is pretty much anything with peppermint. Then other food and drinks come and go.

Anything make you sick or queasy?: Coffee sounded so gross for the first month (and I drank it pretty much every day prior), now I'm loving it again (hello peppermint mochas). Cleaning/rinsing out tupperwear that was previously holding food- ugh!

Maternity clothes?: Only a couple shirts so far! Some of my pants are a little uncomfortable to be in while playing with Ellie on the floor or bending down however.

Belly button in or out?: It's been pushed out a little from it's previous state.

Stretch marks?: No new ones! The marks I got when pregnant with Ellie arrived mostly towards the end and have stayed around for the most part since, but lightened up a bit.

Obsessing over: Finding out the gender! January 19th can't come soon enough!

Sleep: I was an avid tummy and back sleeper, with side sleeping every once in awhile before pregnancy. Therefore, it was quite annoying when I needed to get in the habit of side sleeping and it would take me awhile to fall asleep or go back to sleep. Now, I'm back to instantly falling asleep. And I take a little nap often, while Ellie naps.

Feeling: I was sooo tired all the time during the first couple months, queasy off and on all day for no reason and had a ton of food aversions. But now, during second trimester I am relived of pretty much all those lame symptoms. Do have some hip aches/pains off and on (implementing yoga again into routine will hopefully relieve some). Feeling mostly grateful to be carrying this bundle of love.

Working on: Patience. There are so many things to be patient about...my next routine OB appointment, finding out the gender, decorating the nursery, and of course meeting this little thing!

Thinking about: How Ellie is going to adjust to a baby around. She loves her play babies and real babies, but it could be a whole new story living with a sibling.

Favorite moment from this week: Telling Ellie more about baby and how she's going to be a big sister. And of course making our baby announcement public. Feeling the love!


THE NEWS!

September 24, 2016
          I got up early, while Steven got ready for work, to take a pregnancy test before he headed off for the day. The main reason I decided to take a test was because I had been dealing with a sore throat and head cold for the last few days and wanted to take some meds...but knew there were some I needed to refrain from if I was pregnant. I was however a couple days late for my period as well, so I figured it wouldn't be too early to test.
As soon as I put the test down and started the timer, I was staring that thing down. My heart started racing. At first I thought there was just one line, and then...a faint second line appeared!!!! WE ARE PREGNANT!!! I walked into our bedroom with a big smile on my face. Steven and I made eye contact right away and he got a big smile on his face as well, and his jaw dropped. He said "Are you serious?!" Wow!" We both laughed, hugged and kissed. We both were so surprised and happy. He also added "You are one fertile lady!" And I replied with, "Back at ya!" (haha). So far we have been able to get pregnant each time within the first month of trying. That doesn't happen for a lot of people, especially several times in a row. We did know though that it was still very early on and anything could happen. We told some immediate family and some very close friends.

October 13, 2016
          First OB appointment was today! I was so anxious going into it and was glad Steven could be there with me. At one point while we waited I started to cry with tears of fear. I told him I was preparing for the worst. He responded with "It will be, what it will be. We'll be okay" and he held my hand. Thankfully we had the ultrasound first thing and once we got into the ultrasound room, and all ready for the tech, my eyes were glued to the screen. After a few seconds of her doing her thing, we saw the smallest baby you ever did see (it looked a cocoon) AND a heartbeat! That was such a relief and such a joy to see! At the appointment it was roughly estimated to be week 7. However, the baby was measuring smaller; about 6 weeks.  First due date given was June 1st, but then was changed to June 5th. Just ended up seeing one of the nurses during this visit and getting my blood drawn as well.

Symptoms thus far:
-Lots and lots of fatigue, food aversions and queasiness/nausea (but no throwing up!)
-Some very mild cramps

November 3, 2016
          Today I had another appointment and got to see the PA. She did an annual check up and since there was an ultrasound machine in the actual patient room, she said we could look at baby for the fun of it! Yes, please! The (ancient) machine was angled more towards her, and Steven and I couldn't really see the screen good. The screen also had two lines going through it, so when she actually got a shot of the baby, they were in the way a bit. At first Steven and I couldn't tell if there was a heartbeat, but the PA saw it and recorded it. She played it back with audio and it was a joy listening to. Still measuring on the smaller side, so the June 5th due date was given again.

Symptoms at this point:
-Decreased fatigue, food aversions and queasiness/nausea
-Increased cramps, by A LOT. There were several days in a row I was have menstrual type cramps, lasting basically all day. I never had cramps like this when pregnant with Ellie, nor even when I wasn't pregnant. There was no spotting accompanying them, but I was getting concerned. We were on a trip in Vegas while these were happening and we were walking on average, 10 miles a day. Previous to this trip, I had been so couch ridden, that this level activity was a lot. So that movement, plus my body stretching to grow baby could be reason for these cramps. (Never called doctors office, but should have to calm nerves, or even be seen earlier than next scheduled appt.)
-Emotional - in the getting sentimental department. I already would feel overwhelming love for Ellie before I got pregnant, but now when I say "I love you" to her, I get so choked up! And even just looking at Steven and Ellie, separately and them together, I feel so blessed!

I had been wanting to announce in between this appointment and the next to everyone. But when I had those crazy cramps, I became worried and withheld announcing. (I know anything can happen still, at any point.)

December 13, 2016
          I was more than ready today to see my doctor for my scheduled OB appointment, due to the symptoms and lack there of as listed above. Plus, so much time had passed between my last appointment!! When I told doctor what I had been experiencing, she responded with "okay, we'll be checking out baby's heartbeat today." And as soon as she put the doppler on my belly, we heard the heartbeat! I was so glad she didn't have to search for it! It sounded lovely. ( I swear I could listen to that little, fast, thing all day!) The doctor also talked to me about due date. She said, even though the ultrasounds were showing me measuring smaller, she would like to go off the first date given, June 1st. I was certainly okay with that! On the way home I was getting choked up and did shed several happy tears. I finally felt okay talking about baby with everyone.

With bumping my due date back up, that bumped up how far along I was...by almost a week. Instead of being almost 15 weeks along, I was now almost 16 weeks along! The news was bursting out of me. Though, I took too long ordering the balloon I wanted Ellie to hold in the announcement picture and it seemed to take forever in getting here. SO, all that said, it made for an even later announcement.
We also didn't really talk about baby much in front of Ellie, because she is VERY verbal and recalls so much. She did bring it up shortly after we talked about it with her the first time and we realized we needed to stop. She was bound to spill the beans in public! Now we're talking about it with her and so far it seems exciting for her ; ). She says "baby tummy. Big sister!" - it's the sweetest thing!



Wednesday, December 21, 2016

In (very) early June of 2017...


We will be welcoming baby number 2!!!

We are beyond excited to finally share the news with everyone! And as you can tell, Ellie seems pretty excited about it, too! ; ) This week marks us at 17 weeks along! Due date of June 1st! 
I would have shared this great news earlier, but I was experiencing some new, semi-worrisome, symptoms in between my last two appointments - which were spaced out far, due to a couple trips we took. And also most of my other symptoms decreased, by a lot. All of which could be normal...I however didn't want to announce in between those appointments and then need to have the news unannounced. BUT I heard the babies heart beating beautifully at my last appointment and the doctor didn't have any concerns. Then, the ballon Ellie is holding took longer to arrive. So all that said, the news was postponed for a little. 

There will be another post in the next few days with more details. Just wanted to get this amazing news out! 

Monday, December 5, 2016

Family photos November 2016

We didn't have a professional photographer do our family photos this year. But we did ask a close friend to take some for us, and I wanted to share what we got! We're quite happy with them. Thanks Andrew!



These two candid photos are priceless, all Ellie

Saturday, December 3, 2016

November photo favorites

Last month was filled with times of fun and thanksgiving, and literally ; ). We also joined some family on a Vegas/Disneyland trip! There were lots of busy days, but it was great spending morning - night with family. And this post includes photos from that Vegas/Disneyland trip we took. There aren't a ton of photos...it seemed, but this post is filled with more photos than the typical one. 
We are blessed with great family and some great friends. November was definitely a month of thanksgiving. 

^^ If you can believe it or not, this was her first trip to the library! Working on being quite. Ha



VEGAS...


View from our hotel room in The Excalibur, day-above, night-below


^^ Not a real person in costume (what you would expect in Vegas), but a guy built of legos


^^ Ellie was a trooper and took about 40min-hour long naps in the stroller 
(compared to her 2.5-3 hour long naps 99.9% of time in crib)

^^ Ceiling in the Bellagio hotel lobby, blown glass flowers



^^ Cousins! Ellie would get so excited when she'd see Ava. "AVVVA!"

^^ Another angle of our hotel. Got to say we were staying in a castle!


^^ Super grainy picture of our night at Tournament of Kings in the basement of our hotel, 
but a fun night none the less


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DISNEYLAND...

^^ What happens when your carseat can't be angled anymore and your head keeps falling forward! Improvise head support!

^^ Ellie's FIRST Disneyland ride; Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin. 
She wasn't too sure at first, as you can tell, but it got better.


^^ Right when I took this photo on the Jingle (Jungle) Cruise, 
Ellie was making elephant noises after seeing them

^^ Disneyland was all dolled up for Christmas and it was beautiful, especially at night


^^ After the nights fireworks show, Main St. had (fake) snow!


^^ She was a monkey quite often ; )



^^ Fun and happiness captured in a photo




^^ Minnie is ready to eat! haha. Ellie's really been into buckles lately


^^ Our Friendsgiving with people we are so grateful to have in our lives!


^^ One of our friends taught Ellie the olive on your finger trick and she loves it



^^ The day after Thanksgiving I got the Christmas boxes out and Ellie was begging me to "open it!" (the Christmas tree box). And of course I did! I had been holding out weeks before Thanksgiving!

^^ Ellie loves this little people Nativity of hers that she got last year for Christmas

^^ "Nap time" with daddy. These pretend naps are only about 5 seconds and then 
she sits up and says "awake!!"

^^ Sporting daddy's sunglasses