16 Weeks 6 days

How far along? 16 weeks 6 days... (17 weeks tomorrow)

Total weight gain: 10 lbs. turns out I was wrong and to date I've gained the EXACT amount of weight that I did with Isabella.  My doctor said it's a little more weight then the average person...but since I lost all the weight the last time..not to worry about what I gain.

Maternity clothes? You bet!!!

Sleep: Still bad....I wake up every hour to use the bathroom...get my body pillow....tend to my 2 year old....or just plain stare at the wall.   I'm very tired.

Cravings: My cravings have actually gone away for right now.

Best moment this week: Hearing my little one's heart beat.  I don't think I'll ever not love that sound.
Movement: Every once in a blue moon....but still nothing consistent.  Surprises me actually.

Gender: Sticking with girl for now.  My daughter insists she is having a little sister, no matter how many times I tell her she could have a brother.  My doctor told me yesterday that the heart beat is in range for a girl if you go according to the old tales.  We find out in 3 weeks!

Labor Signs: None!!!

Belly Button in or out? Still in....but slowly diappearing just like with Bella.

What I miss: Sleep....and a hoagie.

Weekly Wisdom: Don't have any this week really.

Milestones:  A third of the way through my 2nd trimester!

Favorite Moments: Just looking at my growing belly, knowing there is a very little person in there.
 
 

How can life possibly get any better?

Well...I never thought this day would come this quickly.  I mean, people tell you that your kids grow fast, but my goodness this is too fast.  I just enrolled my daughter in preschool.  Yep.....a church in the area has a 2 1/2 year old class and my little princess makes the cut off.  So....I filled out the form, wrote the check and it's in the mail. 

I have to say...part of it is a little bit depressing.  After all...I want my little baby to stay a baby.  But fact of the matter is that she isn't a baby anymore.  She sees the kids getting on the school bus every morning and says "I go to school too mommy?"  So...when the opportunity came up, how could I deny my child a chance to get some education and make some friends?  I couldn't.

Through this, there has been a lot of discussion with some friends and family.  Is she really ready? Is it worth the money for her to just meet other kids? Who will take her?  I came to the following conclusion for what is best for my daughter and my family.  (I am a firm believer that you must do what is good for you and your child, regardless of what other people think you should do)

Although I am a full time working mommy, my Isabella is not in daycare.  I am blessed to have a wonderful friend and two loving mothers who watch over her while my hubby and I are at work.  That being said, she doesn't get much interaction with other kids other then an hour at church on Sunday mornings.  We have enrolled her in soccer and swim class, but since they are both "parent and child" classes, she doesn't really get the opportunity to interact with the other kids.  She tends to cling to us.

I want my child to be well rounded.  She is amazing at playing by herself.   I see her imagination run wild before my very eyes and it makes me happy to see that she is being creative and that she can entertain herself so easily.  However, I do feel she needs to learn to work with others and  I personally feel the more I push that off, the harder it will be to teach her.  So...that was the first reason why we decided to send her.

Second....an extra year of having someone educate her can never hurt.  I feel that going to school for a few hours twice a week will help her attention span and help her learn to follow instruction.  Again, because she isn't in daycare, there is really no set schedule.  So teaching her to be able to sit in a structured environment for two hours will be good.

Third...with a new baby coming in the fall, I feel this will give Bella something of her own.  She will have something that the new baby can't do or that the new baby won't interfere with.  I am hoping that it will help with any sort of jealousy issues (although I definately expect there to be jealousy of the new baby.)

Finally...I am looking forward to helping her find something to take to show and tell....packing her "healthy" snack.....hanging her artwork on the fridge......and hearing her sing the new song she learned.  I'm excited to send her on her first nature walk or her first field trip to pick pumpkins.  I'm looking forward to a christmas tree covered with homemade ornaments.  I'm looking forward to baking cupcakes for her class to eat in celebration of her birthday.

I tell people who have babies that it only gets better with time and here I am telling it to myself.  Watching her grow does get better everyday and today is no different.  I'm sitting here with a heart that is overflowing with joy and I just don't see how it could possibly get any better.  Then again...all I have to do is look down and see my growing belly and I know the joy is only just beginning.

Reunited a month later.....

Exactly one year ago my company changed locations.  I work for a rather small company so when it came to packing and unpacking...well there was two of us to do the job.  My co-worker (who happens to be one of my best friends) spent the weeks before the move packing the office as well as our storage facility.  When it came to moving day...the movers came and each of us took a location.  I had the new office directly people where to go and she took the new office...making sure everything got packed.  The two of us worked great together.  We were in and every single box was unpacked within two days.  That's a miracle and a half.

Within just a few days of being at the new office, this wonderful girl named Taryn came into my office.  She said she worked for the company down the hall.   They too were a small company and she was often left alone to run things.  She just came to introduce herself and welcome us to the building.  I knew instantly we would become friends... and we did.

About a few weeks ago..I went down the hall to deliver some mail that we had gotten of theirs and she wasn't there.  Her boss informed me that she had been in a skiing accident and had broken her back.  I literally almost cried right there in front of him.  I made sure to email her immediately to see if she needed anything.  I was just heart broken.  Above all else...I prayed.  A broken back is very serious.

Well...after a month of being out...Taryn just walked in my office.  I literally ran out of my office and gave her a huge hug.  She told me all about what happened and oh.my.gosh has she been through a lot.

I'm so grateful to have her back but more grateful that she is walking and is recovering just fine..without any complications.  She still has some pain so prayer is still needed, but my friend is back.  That wonderful smiling face that I have grown so used to seeing everyday is finally back.  I thank God for bringing such a sweet person in my life and for bringing her healing.

13 weeks....Hello Second Trimester!

How far along? 13 weeks


Total weight gain: 5 lbs.  (obviously feeling better and able to eat)  Although...compared to my first pregnancy..doing MUCH better on weight.  5lbs for the first trimester with this one...15 with my daughter.

Maternity clothes? Same as before....using them for the most part...but still trying to hold on to what is left of my "non-maternity" wardrobe.

Sleep: horrible....which doesn't say anything good about the next 6 months.
Cravings: never got my donuts...but honestly right now..fresh fruit!  I can not get enough fresh strawberries.

Best moment this week:  Well...this week has definately had it's ups and downs.  I have to say I actually have two best moments.  One...we finally heard the baby's heartbeat....and I melted.    The second doesn't come from the pregnancy...it comes from my 2 year old.  I got a random kiss and an "I love you" just for the heck of it.  Love that girl!!!
Movement: Sometimes...but nothing consistent.

Gender: I still think it's another girl...but we won't find out until the end of May/beginning of June.

Labor Signs: None!!!

Belly Button in or out? Still very much in although I swear my belly button is getting bigger.  Like...I just may be able to fit a nickel in it.

What I miss: My breath.  I remember being easily out of breath in the beginning of my pregnancy with Isabella and this one is no different in that regard.

Weekly Wisdom: The ailments that come along with pregnancy can really stink, but the outcome is definately worth it.

Milestones: I made it to the 2nd TRIMESTER!!!!!! Woooo Hooo!!!!

Favorite Moments: When I'm driving to work and I remember that I'm not alone.  And when my mom rubs my ever growing belly and says "Hi baby...Gram loves you!"
 
(no pictures this week...again.....not much of a difference...really.  It seems as though I've leveled out for now.)

Healing is In Your Hands...Christy Knockels

Today marks week 12 for me.  Yep..officially 3 months and although I have felt significantly better lately...this morning has not been so great.  Even though I'm not thru with morning sickness (and am starting to face the fact that I never will be done) I can only think about a wonderful song that I heard a few months back.

I was driving home from work one day when this song played on the radio.  During the time, I was in the midst of the worst morning/noon/night sickness.  I had NEVER in my entire life been that sick and honestly didn't know if I was going to make it through.  This song spoke to me then and has brought me to tears ever since.

Although I was struggling withy my own issues, I know that there are people out there suffering much worse things than me.  So to those of you reading...I hope you find some encouragement in this song...no matter where you are in life.

P.S. - I felt the baby kick last night....and for some reason...it made throwing up this morning just a little bit easier.

10 week update

How far along? 10 weeks (well tomorrow)
Total weight gain: Surprisingly nothing.  I must have lost a bit of weight being sick because when I had my first appointment on March 1st, I was at my "pre-pregnancy" weight.

Maternity clothes? In them for the most part.  Even though I have not gained any weight, my stomach suggests otherwise.  I heard this happened with the second, but didn't think it would happen that fast.  I can get away with a few things that are not maternity, but they are not as comfortable at the end of the day.

Sleep: Some nights are good, some nights are bad.  Depends on the 2 year old more than the baby in my belly.
Cravings:  Donuts from Duck Donuts and sadly...that's in the OBX.  That and my grandmother's pizza bread (which I hope my sister will make one day)
Best moment this week: I took Bella to swim classs and on the way out we ran into some people we have not seen for a while.  The woman immediately asked if that was a "baby bump."  I was very happy to have someone notice that I was pregnant...and not just fat.
Movement: At times I think yes, but I think it's a bit too early for me to feel movement.
Gender: Well....I initially thought boy....but the other day I got a strong feeling it was a girl.  We will have to wait and see.
Labor Signs: Thank God NO!  That would not be good.
Belly Button in or out? Still very much in.
What I miss: Days without throwing up.

Weekly Wisdom: Don't be afraid to ask for help.

Milestones: I'm not quite as sick as I was a few weeks ago.

Favorite Moments: When my hubby wants to "hold" the baby at night and simply holds my belly as we lay in bed. 

This was taken at 8.5 weeks, but I have not changed much from then.

My Crazy Week

Well....this week has been one of "those" weeks.  Yep...the kind that you wish away, hoping in despiration that it will just end so things can get back to normal. 

I am in fact pregnant.  (I am announcing it here, however I'm still not ready to make it facebook public.)  Horray!  After 9 months of trying...and several blood tests later...we are finally expecting baby number 2.  We couldn't be happier.  However and that's a big HOWEVER....I'm sick.  Oh so sick.  Like...never been this sick in my entire life!  I've missed several days of work and my poor husband has been doing everything while I just lay in bed.  I've gotten drugs from the doctor....those didn't work...so I had to go back and get more.  I now feel like the most medicated pregnant lady ever, but as long as I can function right?

Anyways....my husband and I are very excited to extend our family and are looking forward to meeting our little one in October of this year.

On top of me being pregnant and sick....my poor husband hurt his knee playing soccer on Tuesday night.  So...he is off work for the rest of the week..is hobbling around and I had to get him in to see my boss (who is an orthopaedic surgeon)  My boss sent us for an MRI last night (which graciously my father in law took Phil to) I'm staring at the cd right now, which hold the results, just hoping it's good news.

So..now that my husband can't do much around the house and neither can I.....I'm contimplating hiring a cleaning lady because my house is well....a MESS! 

So....all in all...I'm ready for this week to be over.

Before I go....I'll leave you all with a glimpse of our new addition, which I think is a boy. Not too much right now...but that little white spec is actually a heart that is beating at 120bpm which is exceptional.

(I'd just like to say I am almost entering my 8th week and my pants are already getting tight.  I know they say with your second, things happen quicker..but I really didn't expect it to be this fast)