Takin' on Texas: 2021

Jan 4, 2018 - Week 26

I did not pass my first glucose testt and so I have to go back in and do the longer test.

The kids like watching the weekly videos from the "what to expect" app and hearing how big the baby is (papaya, ear of corn, eggplant, etc) and learning about the baby. They are both so interested and excited.

Emmalyn wanted to write a note to the baby so she had her dad help her. It was filled with "I love you's" and sweet things like that. Maxwell likes to come up to me and push on my belly to find where the baby is at and then he gets excited when he thinks he's found him.

It's time to get started on things for prepping. I've put everything off until the new year

We still have no name, we are not registered at the hospital, and I haven't thought about things like a car seat or gotten out clothes. I still need to switch kid's rooms, etc. Ugh - there's so much to do!

December 22 - 2017 24 weeks

Last week (23 weeks) saw my belly move when the baby moved for the first time.
I've had more energy - - - many nights I'm up past 10 (and sometimes even make it to 11:30!)
I've only had to do a tums in the middle of the night twice so far this pregnancy.
I'm certainly starting to feel uncomfortable more now. It's been no more sleeping on belly for weeks.
The kids are so excited and focused on the baby...
Emmalyn always asks if he's awake. She's felt him move once and it shocked her :) They both want to feel him move but because his movements are unpredictable, they lose interest in waiting pretty quickly. They both like to hug and kiss the baby.
Emmalyn still says his name is Maxwell Jr but this week she added that he could also be named "Charlie Brown". She's so into being a big sister and taking care of the baby.
Always lots of questions...she was shocked this week when she asked if he was wearing pjs (it was bedtime) and I said he was naked. She thought that was hilarious. She wishes there was a hole in my belly so she could see and poke the baby.
It's nice because I've gotten quite a few compliments from people when they see me and say I look great and am super cute pregnant. I don't remember that happening much before. I still have my maternity clothes from last 2 but they are all XL so while I can wear them, they aren't flattering and just make me look bigger than I am. I get the compliments when I'm wearing the few new clothes I've bought that are smaller sizes. It makes me want to go get more so I look better but I don't want to spend the money.

12/22
Emmalyn Update:
Emmalyn is the absolute best and the absolute worst. She will be so tender and loving - say things like when we are cuddling in the morning "mom, I wish we could cuddle forever" and "I love you so much" but then she's also started throwing big fits. Throwing things like her shoes, stomping her feet, and running way when she's supposed to go on time out (in which she screams and cries for 20 minutes). She's loving soccer. Each day when she wakes up she asks if she has school that day, do I have work that day, and what does she have (meaning other activities) that day. If it's the weekend and neither of us have work or school, she goes "yay! that means we can hang out together". She is singing all the time and has an amazing memory for songs and melodies.

Maxwell Update:
Maxwell is so whiny and resistant especially when it comes to food. Feel like all the kid wants to eat is mac n cheese and pizza. It's so annoying at dinner time. We got him a sonic care toothbrush after his last dentist appt and it's made a huge difference in the cleanliness of his teeth. So great!!!

10-30 pregnancy update

At week 10: I told Brittany that I was pregnant
At week 11: I met with an ultrasound specialist. They did an ultrasound. It's early, but he think it's a boy, no sign of downs. We also did blood test for genetic testing to make sure everything else is okay (and will also tell us the sex of the baby). Since I'm so old (ha!) this testing is recommended due to the higher risks of complications for babies with an old momma.
I felt the baby move! It just feels like something moving in my belly, not distinguishable.
Week 12: On Monday, we got a call with results from the blood test, there are no sign of chromosome issues, and confirmed it's a boy!

With that good news, we went home and we decided to tell the kids.
We took a video and told them they were going to have a little baby brother. Their reactions were so cute. Emmalyn was over the moon!! Max came over and asked if he gave me a hug would it make the baby happy?? He immediately gave suggestions for what we could name the baby. It was super sweet.

The kids both are so excited. They are asking lots of questions. Max wants to give the baby kisses nearly every day. Emmalyn asks questions as we are doing daily things...we are showering so she asks :will the baby use baby conditioner? where will the baby shower?" or "where will the baby sleep?" She did NOT like that I said he would sleep in her bed and she'd get a new bed.

The kids have been very attached lately...lots of cuddling.

Max asked if the baby can hear and I said yes so he got close to my belly and loudly said "I love you baby".

About week 12 really started to notice a lessening of nausea and basically gone by 13 weeks.

I feel like I started looking pregnant about 13 weeks.

At week 15, Peter felt baby move for the first time.

How's my second trimester so far? (I'm just at 17 weeks) I'm just exhausted...always tired. still falling asleep watching tv before 10 pm. I could take a nap at any time... also overwhelmed and negative about everything.
Now I am getting winded when going up stairs.
I have no real aversions anymore but like to eat like a child (mac n cheese, pasta, bread, pizza, etc.) My cravings have been frozen lemonade, pizza rolls, I love pickles (and one day I DID have pickles and also ice cream) it's hard for me to drink enough water. I also want to drink soda so badly! I've been adding a little bit of Simply Lemonade to my water to give it a little flavor. I have no energy - hard to get excited about baby. The thought of what it means and the extra work just overwhelms me. I have had a few minor headaches.
Just this week I am breaking out with zits
My hair is thinner and not stopping falling out - - so much for that pregnancy perk.

KIDS update:
Emmalyn - waking up often in 5 am hour last few weeks and not tired anymore. She likes a light on when she goes to sleep. In the morning she asks 3 questions, "What do I have today?" "Are you going to work today?" "Whose choice is it?" (we go back and forth whether she picks her clothes or I do)
She still is clingy when I drop her off at school (after first week she hasn't been super excited to go but she does like it).
On 10/17 when counting she said "16" she has skipped it FOREVER. like always. BIG DAY
She scored her first goal on Saturday at soccer!
Maxwell had eye dr. appt last week and his doctor said that if things stay like this that next summer, when he has next appt, he can probably stop wearing his glasses. He will still will be minorly blurry in that one eye but it won't affect anything and his vision won't get worse. He can wear his glasses only a few hours a day now but we will still have him do it all day. He likes playing goalie at soccer.

October 7 2017 - Vacation to Los Angeles

We took a trip a short trip to Los Angeles to see Aunt Julianne and go to Disneyland!

These kiddos are pros at flying

First - - -the comedy of getting there. We were in our rental car, stuck in Los Angeles traffic. Bumper to Bumper. All of a sudden, we pull forward and the trunk of our rental flies open and our suitcases go sliding out of the car onto the street! Thank goodness traffic was slow. Luckily the people behind us were able to stop and avoid hitting our stuff. So Peter jumps out of the car to try and get everything shoved back into the trunk of our SUV. Well, the trunk won't shut. We are stuck in the middle of the road, people honking at us, with a trunk hatch that won't shut. It was nuts. After a few minutes it finally worked but boy was that stressful. So glad none of our stuff got ran over.

We finally make it to Universal Studios where we were meeting up with Aunt Jules for a quick visit to the Harry Potter section. She was so awesome and got us in. Well, this time the "comedy" was that I left my phone at the metal detectors when we walked in. I was focused on watching the kids and just completely forgot to get my phone that was sitting there. BUT I didn't realize it until like 30 minutes later. We were at the wand store where Aunt Julianne was treating Emmalyn and Maxwell to wands (so kind) and I went to get my phone to take a picture and it wasn't there. I freaked out!! Peter went back to try and see if it might still be there (I really hoped it wasn't stolen...). Long story short, we were so lucky and security had the phone and was able to give it back to us. SOOOOO Stressful!!

Working some spells with his wand

Learning how to cast a spell

The next day was....Disneyland!!!

Spoiled little girl, enjoying her sucker for breakfast

It's so exciting to be able to take them to Disneyland! Aunt Jules was our hostess and got us in, plus we were accompanied by a Disney employee the whole day so we never had to sit in line for rides, food, to see the princess, anything! It was pretty awesome (especially for a pregnant momma!).

Not quite tall enough, so we sat out this ride together. I couldn't do most of the rides so we were good waiting buddies.

Maxwell and Aunt Jules. They were ride partners and he loved it. I was impressed that he went on every ride we went to (I wasn't sure how he would do because we haven't ever taken him to a theme park).

Not quite happy

Aunt Jules is the best!

Ice Cream while we watched the parade

Emmalyn got to meet a lot of the princesses. She was so sweet (and sort of shy). I was impressed with how nice and unique each princess was.

Peter pan!

We got some snacks and found some shade. :)

Disneyland with 4 adults (including our guide) and 2 children is the way to go! Lots of people to help. Also, having the guide with us who knew the shortcuts and where every bathroom was is worth its weight in gold, especially with a little girl with a small bladder.

On the jungle cruise

Since Emmalyn wasn't fully into the other princesses she got to meet, we asked her who she would really like to see and she said Moana. Our guide got on her walkie talkie to find out where Moana was and made it happen. It was truly magical because we didn't have to wait in the long line, got to go right up and have a long private visit with Moana.

Once Emmalyn warmed up to her, she was in heaven! They talked about Halloween and Emmalyn invited Moana over to our house.

Emmalyn chose to get this little Pua pig from the Moana movie.

Waiting while everyone else went on another ride. It was good for us to get these waiting breaks.

Dinner!

After this we drove home. We had done all the rides we wanted to at Disneyland AND also hit up California Adventure. Having our guide allowed us to move through the parks so quickly. It was so amazing and we were all exhausted by the time we got home!