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!
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!!!
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.
I have nausea all the time but not really throwing up (only when brushing my teeth - - yuck). I am really tired. I find myself falling asleep while watching tv before 10 pm - - which is not normal for me. After my blood test as my doctor's visit, she prescribed a progesterone supplement pill for me because I was low, just like I was with Emmalyn.
It seems like the kids are always headbutting my belly or jumping and climbing on me - which I do not like.
I have been able to keep my weight basically where I was when I got pregnant, which I feel good about.
I don't have have any strong aversions or cravings... I wanted popsicles... It's hard to drink water because it just doesn't sound good. I'm not too keen on meats but it's not as bad as last time.
I definitely have a stronger sense of smell.
I've had some a couple zits and a cold sore pop out. Not fun.
I'm definitely dealing with round ligament pains, which is the worst!
I get up in the middle of the night to go potty more than normal.
I need to eat often - but it can be just a little food like crackers sometimes. I feel like eating will help me feel not as sick but it doesn't seem to be working like that.
Traveling for work...look at that tired face! Yikes.
Blowing bubbles with our neighbor Michael
Playing goalie
Cute little spectator/cheerleader
It was hot so we went for Hawaiian snow cones after the game
The flowers had grown so big that it was time to pull them and reclaim my sidewalk
Snacks and drinks at the park
The bruising after my blood draw
Sweetly sleeping princess
We went to Castle Montessori's fall family party
It's football season!
We love Emmalyn's teacher (she used to be Maxwell's) - Mrs. Cynthia!!
Emmalyn's assistant teacher - Miss Cassie
Ready for a soccer game with her team - the Herding Cats! It's nice to be inside for her games.
Listening to Coach Stephen
Best part of the game - snacks
working hard, building up a sweat at his game
We went to Oktoberfest in McKinney with my friend Michelle and her son, Jack, and Husband, Shawn.
He was NOT happy that mom made him dance with the German dancers
This old post was stuck in my "drafts" on my blog. I've already printed my blog books for 2013, so I'm just going to throw it in and it can be a flashback...
At this point I am 16 weeks pregnant.
Last week I hit the point that it was uncomfortable to sleep on my stomach. :( such a sad moment... plus I went for a massage with Shannon and had to do the prenatal massage. While it was nice, I would have rather had a normal massage.
I think I felt the baby move! (It's hard to tell completely but now that I'm more familiar with what it feels like, I'm pretty sure.)
I have had a horrible cough that is slowly getting better. It's been awful to have such a bad cough...bladder control is a friend who has left me. :( Plus sometimes I cough so much it leads to throwing up.
The nausea is basically gone!!! But unfortunately, due to this cough, it means I am still throwing up. My Biggest issue is just being tired and not wanting to do anything. Most food still doesn't sound good.
I really need to exercise but have zero motivation.
I wore my maternity levis because I didn't have any clean clothes. They were comfy but a little big. I am still able to fit into my clothes but haven't totally told everyone so some shirts I am now avoiding.
I lost the bottom half of my belly button - it's so weird!
I've gained a lb and a half. I had a dr. visit and it took a while to find the heartbeat (it's a little baby!) and it was nice because I wasn't nervous or freaked out like during my last pregnancy. I thought I'd have to wait until 20 weeks but my doctor surprised me and said let's schedule your ultrasound in a wk and a half! So we are going to find out at 18 weeks - right before we go to Utah!!
Pregnancy Week 17: I let the cat out of the bag... I put it on facebook and it's out there...a few people at work knew but now I'm really sharing!
We realize that our days as a family of 3 are numbered. So, we are making the most of the time we have left and really trying to spent a good deal of time with Max doing fun things. Here's what we were up to from 4-1-14 through 4-11-14.
We took Max to dinner at Gatti Town (sort of like a Chuck E Cheese aimed at a little older kid) and played games and ate pizza.
Max driving a race car with dad's help on the gas pedal.
I found it so interesting that he reached out for the gear shift on his own without us telling him what to do. We both drive automatics - how did he know to do that?
Video - Oh man...I am extremely pregnant!!! Here's me at 36 weeks and 4 days.
The sweetest thing happened when we were leaving Gatti Town. We had been looking with Max at what he could redeem his tickets for and he noticed these playground balls. Well, we didn't have close to enough tickets to get the balls but he was trying to play with them. A mom and her two kids were watching Max try, unsuccessfully, to get the balls out of the cage they were in. We talked Max into getting a sucker, which was nearly as great in his eyes. True to his typical behavior, he also picked one out for Momma. :)
Anyway, we were leaving the restaurant and I heard someone calling to us. I turned around and it was the little boy that had been watching Max try to get the ball. He had a red ball in his hands and came up to us and asked if he could give the ball to Max. It was so sweet! We, of course, said yes. I wish I had someone awesome to give this sweet, generous boy in return but didn't have anything worthy of his generous gift. I gave him my sucker and Peter gave him the game card we were using that still had some tokens and tickets left on it.
Max was so excited and my heart was so touched! Peter shared with me that when we were looking at the prizes he heard the two kids talking to their mom and overhead that they had about 1000 tickets together (the balls were like 500 tickets). These sweet kids had taken their precious tickets and chosen to spend half of them to buy the ball for the little boy that had wanted it but didn't have enough tickets to have it. I hope to raise such sweet generous kids that can get joy out of making others happy versus having the toys for themselves.
Max didn't want to give up the ball and even brought it with him at bedtime when he got his few minutes on the iPad.
Side view of the belly (holy cow - how do I stretch that far?! Since I'm so short this poor baby had no where to go but out.)
Front view
Video - We egged Max on to run out in a downpour to catch the rain. :)
The storm turned nasty and dropped some serious hail. That's not snow on my lawn - it's hail. (Just a few miles away the hail was golf ball size - yikes!) Spring in Texas brings crazy, and sometimes scary, weather!
We played outside with bubbles...
We rode scooters/bikes...
He's got the best lashes! I'm jealous!
Love that smile!
We played with chalk...
We made pancakes together...
While we were mainly focused on Max, we did do a few things for the coming baby.
I didn't get a picture, but Max captured this in one of the pictures he took with my phone - We have her crib up, the bedding is all washed, and we have some decorations on the wall. Baby sister's space in our master bedroom is official!
We attended an Infant CPR and Safety class at the hospital. It was really good to review the infant CPR and choking procedures. The safety stuff was not as helpful because it was all info we are familiar and comfortable with. We also got the car seat installed and checked.
We got a hair cut (and suckers)...
Max did AWESOME at holding still and being good during the hair cut. He wouldn't move until the hair stylist would tell him to, even when it was an awkward position - she was amazed at how well he did. He was sure to share a sucker with Momma. (I didn't tell him he had to share his dum dum suckers with me, he's always done it on his own.)
We went out to breakfast at McDonalds and played in the play area. Max loved his pancakes and orange juice.
We played catch with daddy...
(Momma took some time for herself and got a pedicure, prenatal massage and her hair done over the past few weeks - - gotta get that pampering in before there's no time for it!)
We went to dinner after swimming lessons...
Another picture of me, courtesy of Max. 37 weeks and 5 days.
We played soccer with daddy. The weather has finally started to act like spring which means we have been outside more. Unfortunately, I haven't had much energy to actually "play" with Max and spend more time just watching him play. Peter's been great at picking up my slack - thanks babe!
Video - Max and Peter kicking the ball
Notes from this time frame:
April 1 - I had one of my weekly Dr's visits. She didn't check me this time, so I don't know if I am dilated or effaced however the results of my tests came back and apparently I tested positive for Strep B. This is a bacteria that can be a big deal if I was going to deliver vaginally however since I will have a c-section they will already be giving me antibiotics which will protect the baby.
April 5 -
All about Max at 2 yrs 9 months!!!
He loves going to Kindermusik class and swimming lessons each week. He has done amazing with potty training and hasn't had any accidents. He only wears a diaper during naps and bedtime. He is so polite, fun and smart. He knows his alphabet (and can sing the song the traditional way or the way they sing it on the show Super Why). He can count up to 29 and can also count backwards from 10 to 0. He can count to 10 in Spanish. He knows all of his letter sounds and knows a lot of sight words. (I should really try to count and see how many he knows.) He can finally push the pedals on a trike! Right now he is really into the cartoon "Pocoyo", or Pocoyoo as he calls it. He loves to sing and singing is now a part of our bedtime routine.
He is so considerate and when I cough, he asked if my belly hurts (because I was sick a few weeks ago with an awful cough that caused me extreme pain and he was aware of this). He's been more cuddly with me lately and has even let me put him to bed a few times. Not only that but when he's woken up from a nap or in the morning he's called for ME a few times to come and get him. Remember, this boy is a daddy's boy! These are things usually reserved for Peter.
He likes to talk on the phone but gets bored after about a minute and really he only cares about being able to hang up on people. He will constantly ask you if he can hang up if you are letting him talk to someone. He likes watching sports on TV and jeopardy. (Don't ask why he likes jeopardy, but he does.) When we ask him what Baby Sister's name is, he will say Emmalyn. We had only mentioned this name to him as part of a list of names. (For example - is her name "Camille", is her name "Olivia", is her name "Emmalyn"?) But the last few times he's been very quick to respond that her name is Emmalyn when all we say is "What is Baby Sister's name?" So, perhaps that means it's the right name for our baby girl! Max used to say "six" when you'd ask him what her name was. We just need to decide how to spell it - Emmalynn, Emilyn, Emelynn, etc...the choices are endless!
All about me at 37 weeks 1 day (April 5) -
I am so uncomfortable and have been pretty grumpy for the past few days. It really seems unreal that we are going to have a baby! I don't want my life to change. It's like I am already feeling the impending loss of current relationship I have with Max and I often want to wake him up when he's sleeping at night or during his naps on the weekend because I want to spend more time with him - of course I don't do it though. As far as my symptoms go, I don't look too bloated and have just had minor swelling on my feet. It was worse last time. I am hungry at night though and usually have my first dinner around 7 or 8 and then I have another dinner/snack at 10 or 11. It's a bad habit that's going to be hard to stop when the baby comes! I am craving soda and am really making no effort to eat healthy at this point. If it sounds good, I go for it. I have to get up to pee all through the night. As mentioned above, we don't have the baby's name completely decided on. We talk about it nearly every night and keep going through the name book but don't feel like we absolutely know what her name is going to be at this point. I have only minor nesting urges going on...it would be nice if it kicked in a little more! At this point I've gained 24 lbs (weigh 204) since getting pregnant - not too bad but more than the goal my doc set for me (15 - 20 lbs) at the beginning. (warning - TMI coming up but I want to remember when these pregnancy milestones happened so skip the next sentence if you don't want to read the personal/gross pregnancy stuff!) I think I lost the mucus plus today but I'm not 100% positive because it wasn't like it was last time but I don't know what else it could have been.
37 weeks and 2 days - - - Peter and I agree that she might be dropping because it looks like I am carrying lower.
37 weeks and 5 days - Had another weekly Dr visit today where she checked me but again, nothing was happening. 0% dilated and effaced. At this point with Max, things were definitely happening. I think I was like 2 cm and 80% effaced (I'd have to look back at the blog to be sure...you can do the work if you care that much - -let me know what you find). I asked her what she thought the baby would weigh and she guessed that the baby would be in the high 7 lbs or even 8 lbs. I hope not - I thought Max's weight, just under 7 lbs, was perfect. I really love my doctor. She is a perfect match for me and I look forward to my visits and getting to talk with her. She has a very busy practice and sometimes that means I may wait for awhile to be seen but it's worth it because I know when she is with me that I am going to get all of her attention and as much of it as I need. I feel like we've got a great connection and that she truly knows and cares about me. It's really comfortable to have a relationship like that with someone who plays such a key role in this life changing experience of bringing a child into the world.
This baby is still moving just not as much. She has the hiccups all the time and gives me heartburn at night. I have eaten so many more tums with this pregnancy compared to the first - - signs of a baby with a head of hair? I am so nervous about the impending birth and really waffle between wanting to be done and wanted to keep things the way they are. Max is still sweet and asking if my belly hurts each time I cough. I have random contractions but nothing consistent or with any pattern. I am much more aware of my contractions this time.
Wife, Mom, and Career Woman. Trying to succeed at all three. Enjoy cruising, time with friends and family, and sleeping. Busy life doesn't leave time for as much fun as in the past but that's okay, it's still a good life.
