Waiting for our baby....

Last weekend, Chase and I went down to Arkansas to party with friends and family.  We decided to wait to find out if our baby is a he or a she until this party.  It was so hard not peeking, but I can say that neither one of us knew ahead of time!   

My cousin, Amy, was our secret keeper.  She ordered the cake and had it iced so that we couldn't tell until we cut into it.  :)  

It's a.....

GIRL!!!

 

 

We are delighted to announce that we are having a little girl!!  We couldn't be happier! 

In these photos, I'm at 21 weeks.

 

This week I started my 22nd week of pregnancy.  I can't believe I'm over half way through our pregnancy!  I'm just happy and so grateful that our little M&M is healthy! 

 

 

 

What's new this week?  Well not too much!  She's getting bigger and stronger, and all organ systems are completed.  She's been kicking since week 18, but her wiggling is definitely getting more frequent.  You can see her moving if you stare it my belly long enough.   It's like having an alien inside your stomach...  Speaking of my belly, our baby isn't the only one getting bigger....my belly is getting HUGE!  I know it's only going to get bigger, but it just seems so big now.   Some days I just feel really fat, but on other days...I feel more beautiful than ever.  My body has changed so much to prepare for our little M&M.   I'm just glad I can pretty much eat what I want now as the morning sickness has mostly passed.   I've only had 1 bout of it over the last 4 weeks (while I was on a house call...of course).  

Next week is Chase's thesis defense.  Say a prayer for him on Thursday that he'll pass...and know what to do after!  He has a job offer, but we just aren't sure about it.  We could use God's wisdom.  

Peace and Love, y'all!

WOYWW

Wow!  It's been forever since I played along with Julia at The Stamping Ground's WOYWW!   What have I been up to?  Well....just being pregnant and working full time has taken up most of my crafting time!  The first trimester was pretty rough because morning sickness (that lasted all day) for the first 13 to 14 weeks.  But I'm now 18 weeks along and feeling much better.  I can almost always keep down food, and I can pretty much eat what I want (that's healthy for baby of course).   Most of my crafty projects lately have been all digital.  I'm trying to keep up with a weekly Project Life this year after all there are so many changes happening this year! 


Here's a layout for PL.  I used a kit by Jen Wright Designs called Salt Life.  It's a beach themed kit, but I liked the colors so I wanted to use it for a non-beachy layout :)  I think I used a PL template by Julie Billingsley and font by Darcy Baldwin (now both retired designers).

Here's another layout I made this last week with a kit by Erica Zane and template by Cindy Schneider.  This kit had a fox theme, but I loved the colors so I just had to find a way to use it :)

I've also been trying to document every week of my pregnancy in a Smash Journal.  I love the Smash journal format because it's no pressure!  I can write in question for my doctor, slap in a picture, and do whatever!    :)

 I'm a little behind with it too.  I'm all the way to week 18, but I didn't hardly journal at all for Weeks 16 or 17.  I guess I need to so some catch-up!

 

Well!  Thanks for popping by!   I'm going to try to pop by a couple of blogs today before I have to head off to work.  

Thanks for visiting!

Peace and Love, Y'all!

Weeks 13-14, a light in the darkness

Pregnancy Update:

The weeks are just flying by! And that's a great thing, because I'm still vomiting a lot!  As of the end of this week I'll be about 15 weeks along in my pregnancy.  By all accounts now, the baby and I have made it through the first trimester!   I'm starting to show just a little bump now.    You'd have to know me well to recognize it, but I've put on about 5 pounds.  Sometimes I'm not really sure how I managed to gain any weight, because I don't feel like I've been eating more calories.  I still loose the occasional meal (and every other breakfast).  Breakfast and I are not pals.

The good news about reaching the 2nd trimester is my energy is starting to return.  As of today...I almost feel normal as far as energy goes.  I actually felt like doing more than just sleep after work.  That in itself is pretty exciting.

Over last weekend, I actually had enough energy to weed a flower bed.  There were a lot of weeds (and some of them were taller than me...), but I got it done.  Chase might have pulled up 1 particularly stubborn weed for me...

Even though over all I'm feeling better...the picture above is probably 40% of mornings.  Just hand me a bowl and leave me alone in the mornings...

Even though my doctor assures me listening with the doppler unit and using the ultrasound to glimpse the baby is not dangerous for the baby, I still only let myself listen to the baby once a week....and peek with the ultrasound once every 2 months.   I admit...I took a peek earlier this week.  Our ultrasound unit isn't fabulous, but I was able to find our little jumping bean.   The baby is very wiggly, and I was able to make out a tiny little face, cute dancing arms, and bouncing feet.  It was AWESOME to see my tiny dancer even if the detail on the US wasn't the best.  In the snapshot above, you can see 2 arms and the baby's noggin (with shadows of facial features).  I can't wait for my next real ultrasound!  We'll find out if the I can call the baby...a he...or a she :)




Other Ponderings about Children
Chase and I got an update this week on another child we care about: one of our former fosters.  I can't say too much about it, but Chase and I might be...or might not be... taking him into our home again.  If we do...there's a good chance he'll stay forever.   We'll still trying to pray and determine what God's will is for us and this little boy.  


As I sat outside on back patio, enjoying the low humidity on this summer day... I found my myself placing my hands over my growing belly.  I love this little baby wholeheartedly.  I'm scared.  I'm excited.  I can't wait to hold this baby in my arms, kiss her/his little face, tickle her/his toes, and love her/him for the rest of my life.  This must be how most mother's feel to some level.  Sure there are probably some with more fear...more anxiety, but I think most love the little baby. 

When I tell people, we are also foster parents...and that we don't intend to stop just because we're starting our bio family as well, the reactions are always mixed.  We get a lot of questions like...

Do you worry about foster children hurting the baby? Aren't foster children troubled?  Are you crazy?  Babies are ton of work; how can you even think of fostering with a newborn?

I can't say those thoughts don't run through my brain occasionally.  But here's the truth.  If we don't help them, will you?  If we don't step up to the plate, who will?  Yes.  There will be risk, because even the closest, most loving of siblings don't always get along.  Yes.  Foster children have a little more water under the bridge, and they can have some behaviors associated with that.  Yes.  It will be very difficult.  Isn't motherhood to biological children also difficult?  AND foster children are still just children.  They crave the things that your own kids crave more than anything else: someone to love them unconditionally.  I'm sure some of the foster children we will meet will have deep, deep scars.  But, honestly...it's not my job to heal them.  It's my role as a foster mom to love them and to provide a healing environment.  God is the healer.


One of the biggest reasons, I think we are still going to foster...is because it breaks my heart into tiny pieces.  I can't turn my back on these children.   I want to help them so badly in whatever capacity we can.  Truly, as much pain as foster parenting brings...turning my back on them hurts more.

Anyway... who knows what we'll do!  Maybe take a long term foster...maybe stick with respite.  Regardless of how, I know we'll do something to help.

Peace and Love, y'all!

Little blob, big future

Sorry for the radio silence for over a month now!   I've not been feeling the greatest, but in the best way possible.   I found out recently that we will be adding a new family member soon...and not in the way that I usually blog about.   Our little bundle of joy is due January 2, 2015.  So that means I'm about 13 weeks pregnant.  Last month, we went in for the first ultrasound just to confirm the date and make sure everything was looking good.  I've had some right sided pain since week 3 that I had been concerned about.  Unfortunately, doctors (veterinarians included) make the worst patients.   Since the day I found out, I've had a running list of statistics of complications in early pregnancy, miscarriage rates, and all the things that can hurt the baby.  During my first appointment with my own doctor, my family practice doc (who is awesome) took one look at me and said ..."So let's start with your questions..."   

Just for fun and the thought that maybe my experience can help first time moms relax...Here's a summary of my experience with my first pregnancy.

Weeks 3-4 - Awesome. I'm still reveling in the fact that I'm pregnant.  I felt great if not a little tired. I think I might have thrown up 1 time 1 morning.  I remember thinking ...Is this morning sickness?  More on that later... I really had time to just enjoy the thought and start making some crochet projects for baby.  Within a week of testing positive, I also made an appointment with my doctor.  The first visit with the doc was mostly just answering all my questions, and bloodwork.  They drew a lot of blood for all sorts of tests :)   Everything was all normal, except for trace ketones in my urine.  The doctor says that's probably normal too since my metabolism is changing.  The only other signs I experienced were very mild cramps like my period was coming and a pinching pain on my right side.  The right sided sharp pain had me a little stressed about a possible ectopic pregnancy (even though I have NONE of the risk factors). 

Week 5- cramps are starting to dissipate, but I still have that pinching pain.  The doctor said it's probably round ligament pain.   

Week 6 - Like clockwork...as soon as week 6 rolled around the vomiting began.  I have no idea why they call it morning sickness when it lasts ALL DAY.   The miserable nauseated feeling never fully goes away...  During this week, I spent the first 3 days puking my guts out and exhausted.  Soon, I figured out that I HAVE TO EAT...even when I don't think I can keep it down.  If I get the tiniest bit hungry...the vomiting starts.  So I started eating small snacks almost constantly.  My favorites: apple sauce, apples, jello, saltines, bananas.   When I'm home, I ate bowls of cereal like it was my job!  Favorite cereals: Fruity Pebbles, Marshmallow Mateys, Cheerios, and Raisin Nut Bran.   I wouldn't say I'm having cravings, but I have aversions to most food.   So if I feel like eating something, I eat it.

Week 7-12 - All day NVP (nausea and vomiting of pregnancy) continued.  I started getting up in the middle of the night to use the restroom.  Most of that weird cramping is gone.  I still get the hiccups EVERY SINGLE DAY.

Here's a picture from Week 11.  That week, I just barely started showing a tiny baby bump.   My clothes started to fit just a bit too tight.  I went out with Chase to pick out some stretchy skirts. I'm really glad maxi skirts and dresses are in style!

So you want to know what the first trimester feels like.... Well this picture pretty much sums it up.   I keep big bowls strategically placed around the house in case I don't make it to the bathroom.   Anything can set me off...a commercial from a former favorite restaurant, the smell of Chase cooking my favorite food, opening the refrigerator, just sitting there doing nothing.     I'm just so tired all the time!  I let the house get really, really dirty.   Well....today the team from MaidPro came by to help me out.  I finally broke down and hired a cleaning service.  AND I can say it was well worth it.  My house feels and looks so much better!

Anyway!  I'm so happy to be able to share my big news with everyone.  Lol...we're still not putting it on my husband's wall though...so be careful not to tag him on Facebook :)


Peace and Love, y'all!