21 Weeks

21 weeks!

How far along? 21 weeks and 0 days

How far to go? 133 days to go
Due Date: February 24, 2014 ( will C-section a week earlier)
 
Baby? Butternut Squash 10.5 in. Sally probably weighs about 1 pound now.  Baby could  be described as the size of a small doll.  Sally should have eyebrows, eyelashes and maybe some hair on her head.  She can perceive light and dark. She can hear my voice and heart beat, my stomach noises. She is also having fun learning about her new experience of touch. 
 
Maternity Clothes:  maternity pants and maternity shirts, leggings and regular shirts.     I need to go get a few things. 
 
Stretch Marks:  not yet that I can see!

Pregnancy Symptoms: I can feel my pulse all over the place, achiness in my lower abdomen, backache, bigger appetite, breathlessness, big belly, hot flashes, little indigestion

Sleeping:  I am sleeping with the Boppy pillow to my right and a smaller pillow to my left. 
I only sleep with one blanket and sometimes I don't even use that.  I get so hot at night. I like to sleep in tank tops. This week I have had a few nights where I got the urge to "nest" and woke up in the middle of the night and got to work. 

Best feeling this week: Sally seemed more active and I could feel her more. 
 
Movement: Yes, Sally moves with light little kicks and stuff.  Sometimes they are hard to differentiate from other things going on in your body.  I think I have felt hiccups a couple of times, too. 
 
Cravings/Aversions: I really wanted the ready bake cookies, mandarin oranges, Froot Loops

Belly Button: In...but belly...sticking way out!
 
What I miss:   Honestly, margaritas and sushi  
 
What am I looking forward to:   Seeing what Sally looks like and what she and her sister have in common.  Will they have anything in common?  Will they look anything alike?  Will Sally resemble her mommy more than her daddy?  Who knows?!?!?!

Scary Scary Spider

Today, my niece Ashleigh, Ava and I went to the Spirit Halloween store to look at costumes for Miss Ava.  Poor thing had no idea what was in store.  Ashleigh was holding her and there was this huge (fake) spider that jumped out at her.  She was terrified.  She jumped and started crying pitifully.  Then all she wanted was mama.  She wouldn't let Ashleigh hold her from that moment on.  I felt so bad for her.  I couldn't snap a picture of the scary, scary spider and thought it would be cruel to torture her just for a photo op.  So, this is a picture less post.  From that moment on, Miss Ava was Miss Grumpy.  She wanted only mommy and she desperately needed some serious cuddling and nap time.  I hope when we walk around with the kids on Halloween she can handle all the spooky things.  She has me a little worried after the episode with the spider.  Poor little thing!

I have never met a Pumpkin I didn't like

 

Hodges Family Farm and Pumpkin Patch

 

 

Oh, what a fantastic day!  We got to visit a pumpkin patch with grandpa and grandma.  Grandpa took these amazing pictures!  We had so much fun!  We were quite pleased, not to mention, surprised at how cooperative our little pumpkin was. 

 Ava was so adorable (if I do say so myself) with the sunflowers.  We have a few pictures of her trying to eat those.  I don't have those or even half the pictures on here because my dad took like 156 pictures. Haha!  But we had to keep pushing them away from her mouth.  There are a couple where they tickled her and she looked like she was about to sneeze. 

 

 

 

 We couldn't believe how well she sat on top of this pumpkin unassisted.  She was having so much fun showing off for grandma and grandpa.  She was clapping and blowing kisses during these pictures. 

 

 We also got a few super cute pictures of the 3, I mean 4, of us. I keep forgetting I have my own little pumpkin growing inside me.  Although, how could I forget?  I look as big as a barn!  Anyway, Curtis and Ava look adorable.   

 

 

I feel incredibly blessed.  Blessed that we were able to do this today and that I  have a dad who takes such great pictures and parents who are so willing to go on little jaunts with us so we can capture the sweet moments and begin making memories!  I feel blessed that we had the means to be able to get ourselves to the pumpkin patch and pay for our pumpkins.  I know that sounds  silly but I forget the simple things so much that God and His kindness has blessed us with.  Most of all, I am blessed to have a healthy, happy family.  Thank you God for all the kindness You have showered on us. 

20 weeks HALF WAY THERE!

How far along? 20 weeks and 0 days ITS THE HALF WAY POINT!


How far to go? 20 weeks and 0 days

Due Date: February 24, 2014 ( will C-section a week earlier)

Size of baby? Mango (6.5 inches and .10 oz.) also could be about the length of an eggplant

Maternity Clothes: maternity pants and maternity shirts, leggings and regular shirts.

Stretch Marks: not yet that I can see!

Pregnancy Symptoms: I can feel my pulse all over the place, achiness in my lower abdomen, backache, bigger appetite, breathlessness, big belly, hot flashes, some dizziness, light headaches, pronounced veins, exhaustion

Sleeping: I am sleeping with the Boppy pillow to my right and a smaller pillow to my left.
I only sleep with one blanket and sometimes I don't even use that. I get so hot at night. I like to sleep in tank tops.

Best feeling this week: Being able to eat food and not pay for it later.

Movement: Yes, but Miss Sally moves few and far between.  It worries me sometimes because I start thinking something is wrong.  However, it is probably too early to be feeling her constantly. I will try and save my concerns for around 28 weeks where the kick counting needs to be starting ( I think).  But, in the meantime, I will just hope and pray that I will start feeling her more and more and the kicks I get won't be questionable. 

Cravings/Aversions: SWEETS!  Texas Roadhouse green beans, mashed potatotes and brown gravy.

Belly Button: In...but belly...sticking way out! Someone asked me today if I was expecting.  I told her I was.  She asked me how far along I was.  I told her 20 weeks and she said I was so small.  I love that girl!  Quite frankly, I think I look as big as a barn in the front and back. 

What I miss: I still miss My grandpa and I always will. I also miss being able to shove whatever I want in my mouth.  I miss sleeping on my belly. 

What am I looking forward to:   I am still trying to get a vision for Sally's room.  I have no idea what to do.  I am also anticipating meeting this sweet girl, of course.  The reality is setting in that there is another baby on the way.

I have had days recently where I am not sure I can handle 2 little ones.  Ava wears me out, but I am trying to chalk it up to being exhausted from the pregnancy.  I know God can give me the strength to do this!

Ava is 10 Months Old!!!!

 



I know you can do the math, but Ava will be a year old in 2 more months!  Where has the time gone?  You blink and so much about them changes....it's insane.

It's hard to believe another month has flown by.  A lot has happened this month.  We found out that Ava was going to be a Big Sis to another little girl that we are going to call Sally Jean.  We had to say goodbye to the best grandpa and great grandpa ever as he was welcomed into Jesus' arms.  Those two things have been a lot to take in during her 10th month. 

She did remarkably well as we traveled through the night to say goodbye to grandpa and even was in good spirits when we arrived at the hospital at about 3 am.  She didn't do as well the next two nights, however, because were were sleeping in the same room with her and we were so exhausted that we went to bed at the same time as she did.  Trying to put her in the pack n play and us get into our bed at the same time was not happening for her because she could see us.  So, for 2 nights, she ended up in our bed with us.  Needless to say, she was well rested, but we were NOT!  The last night we were in Ohio, Curtis put her to bed at her normal time and then left the room so she could have a chance to settle down and go to sleep like she normally does at home.  That worked like a charm and we finally got some sleep ourselves.  She did great on the way home and we all stopped at  Bob Evans.  After we ate breakfast, Ava, Jack and Maddie took  pictures next to this wagon that was all decorated for Halloween and Fall. 

 

 

 

There have been more temper tantrums this month than there has been ever before.  We are also getting a little attitude at times.  She is one determined little thing.  And so stubborn. I have NO idea where she gets those character traits from.  Most of the time I tell her "No!" she just smiles and keeps going like I don't even exist. She loves getting into the cabinets.  She is allowed in one cabinet-the tupperware cabinet.  But other than that, the others are off limits.  We have got to buy hardware for our cabinets and drawers (I know...FINALLY, right?) so we can put safety locks on those suckers.  Anyway, she loves the tupperware drawer, but those other drawers have become more and more intriguing, especially since mommy won't let her in them. 

Here she is making a mess and having fun with the tupperware cabinet:

 

One day I took her to Target and we didn't have her grocery cart cover because I had washed it the day before and it was drying.  I was miserable without that thing.  She was buckled in the cart but that did not matter.  She stood herself up and turned herself around.  She was so naughty!  I swore to never leave that cover at home.  The next time we went shopping, I brought the cover and it didn't matter.  She has also discovered she can stand up and turn around with that thing, too. 

 

 

Ava can clap her hands, attempt to blow kisses ( but she rarely will for me) and is perfecting her hand wave.When she waves at you now, she will often say "Hiya!" Which we think is her way of saying hi!  She is so funny in the morning when I get her.  For the past 10 months, our furry brother, Winston, has come with me in the mornings to greet her with a "Good Morning Sunshine!" and then he gives her a little lick. She looks for him instantly now and waves at him.  She seems disappointed when he doesn't come which has happened a few times because  he doesn't always make it to the other side of the baby gate before I shut it.  It is so cute.  She loves that dog...oh, and the cat.  The cat is so mean to her.  He will sit somewhere in close proximity to her and let her get super close to him and then he dashes off.  She usually looks somewhat astonished at how fast he is and little sad, too.  She saw her first horse up close and it came up to her to pet.  Mommy, of course, pet the horse, but Ava just looked.  She wasn't too sure of touching it....it was SO BIG! 

 

 

Eating with Ava has become obnoxious!  Let me rephrase that: Feeding Ava has become obnoxious.  Those are the times of days I get the most frustrated.  She has become more and more picky.  She is so easily distracted...hopefully she is not ADD.  You know the teacher in me worries about these kinds of things.  She insists on rubbing her face, then her eyes, then her hair when I am feeding her, which leads to bathtime almost after every feeding ( or it should, but typically she just gets one HUGE wipe down with some baby wipes) Who has time to bathe a child 2-3 times per day?  If the mess is absolutely horrendous...like I can't pick her up, its so bad, she will get a bath.  And even then, I still find food caked in very odd places.  Places where food should not be. 

 

She is eating some chunkier things like cooked carrots, peaches, and some meat.  But that is about all the new stuff she has had.  I am funny about giving her big people food and I don't really know what my hold up is...just nerves I guess.  She is drinking from her juice cup a little bit better, but still she mostly likes to gnaw on the nipple and hold it upside down and shake it.  Her newest game is throwing it on the floor and seeing how many times mommy will pick it up and give it back to her to do all over again.  I am shocked she still likes to play this game, because I usually pick it up once (2 times at the most)  and  then I take the juice away.  She really enjoys her snack foods-puffs, yogurt melts, veggie sticks, little crunchies, Cheerios, and Rice Krispy's. 

 

 

 

She is extremely active and busy.  Everyone who watches her comments on how busy she is.  Haha! Believe me...I KNOW!!!!  She loves to discover and find new interesting things to get into.  I have realized that this age is a very tiring age and she isn't even walking.  Holy Cow! 

 

 

 

Things I have loved about this month:

• She will play for a few minutes and then crawl over to me to check in and love on me
• She likes to clap her hands when certain songs come on that she recognizes
• She bounces up and down when she is trying to dance
• She says mamamamam when she crawls to me...so I think she is saying mama. 
• She has the funniest smiles and gets so happy over the silliest things
• She laughs when we laugh even though she has no clue what we are laughing about
• She can  actually stand and enjoy my singing
• She throws fits over things we do every day, multiple times per day-like diaper changes
• She is fighting me on those headbands and starting to show her independence there
• She still loves cuddling with her mommy and daddy
• She has no fear of anything- people, places, animals (except for maybe that horse)
• She says "Hiya" when she waves



19 weeks

How far along? 19 weeks and 0 days

How far to go? 21 weeks and 0 days

Due Date: February 24, 2014 ( will C-section a week earlier)
 
Size of baby? Mango (6.5 inches and .10 oz.) also could be about the length of an eggplant
 
Maternity Clothes:  maternity pants and maternity shirts, leggings and regular shirts.    
 
Stretch Marks:  not yet that I can see!

Pregnancy Symptoms: I can feel my pulse all over the place, achiness in my lower abdomen, backache, bigger appetite, breathlessness, big belly, hot flashes

Sleeping:  I am sleeping with the Boppy pillow to my right and a smaller pillow to my left. 
I only sleep with one blanket and sometimes I don't even use that.  I get so hot at night. I like to sleep in tank tops.

Best feeling this week: This pregnancy is getting more and more real. 
 
Movement: YES!  I have been feeling Sallie(y) a tiny bit today and yesterday during church.  I notice it when I lay down.  It has to be her.  I always second guess myself, but there was some movement this morning that couldn't have been anything else.  It felt like Ava felt, just lighter because she is still so small.  It made me giggle!  I love that feeling!  I had been praying that God will allow me to feel her, and yesterday I thought I had but wasn't sure.  Then, eventually, I just prayed that He would basically slap me across the face with it...that there would be no question that was her.  What an amazing feeling and what an amazing miracle!  Thank you, God!
 
Cravings/Aversions: Mandarin Oranges are so good to me right now!  I am loving Froot Loops and carbohydrates, too.  As usual, my liking for sweets far outweighs my liking for healthy food. 
 
Belly Button: In...but belly...sticking way out!
 
What I miss:   I still miss My grandpa and I always will. I also miss feeling in shape. 
 
What am I looking forward to:   Figuring out what we are going to do Sallie(y)'s room like.  I have some ideas that I am excited about and am hoping God gives me the grace to be crafty and thrifty. 
 

18 weeks

 IT'S GIRL #2!!!!   We are going to name her Sallie (Sally) Jean.  That is my grandmothers first and middle name and 1) after recent events it seemed appropriate to name her this 2) I have always loved my grandma's name and 3) Curtis heard this was my grandma's name and liked it and so it just seems right. 

The day of my doctor's appointment was bittersweet.  The day before the appointment we found out that my 91 year old (almost) sweet and funny grandpa had an aortic aneurysm and it had ruptured.  He made it to the hospital and we were hopeful that was a good sign.  He made it through a 5+ hour surgery with one or 2 complications but ended the surgery at a stable condition.  He made it through the night and we were very happy with that, but the doctor did say that the next 20 hours after surgery were crucial.  The morning of my appointment, we hadn't heard any bad news so I was feeling good about the state my grandpa was in.  I remember thinking, "God is just not ready for him!" :)  Curtis and I went to Krispy Kreme with Miss Ava and headed out to our appointment.  The ultrasound went well.  The first shot we got was off Miss Sallie(y)'s parts.  It was a good thing we wanted to know what she was because there would have been no mistaking it or missing it.  It was in full view immediately.  We saw other things, but it was a harder ultrasound to make out.  Miss thang has herself upside down, so her behindy is up.  We hardly got a profile picture of her and the pictures we have of her face are freaky.   During the ultrasound and appointment we found out my grandfather was not doing good.  We decided it would be best to start heading to Ohio.  We still had to pack and get an oil change and got on the road around 3 pm.  Ava was a trooper through it all.  By the time we were on 35 and about an hour away from my grandparents house (around 2:00 am), my mom called to say that the doctor called and my grandpa did not have much time.  We rerouted to Ohio State Medical Center.  We got there in time to hold his hand and talk to him and tell him goodbye (About 2:45 am).  He passed about an hour (not even that) after we left (at 4:20 am-Saturday, Sept 21, 2013).  We like to think he was waiting on us.  I know he is with Jesus and I know he is ok.  He will be greatly missed, but we have many a story to remember him by.  He was such a character.  I think he will LOVE that we are naming girl #2 after his wife of 72 years.  I wish Sallie (y) would have been able to meet him and know him.  My girls would have LOVED him!!!



 
 
How far along? 18 weeks and 4 days
 
Size of baby? Mango (6 inches and .5 lbs)
 
Maternity Clothes:  maternity pants and maternity shirts, leggings and regular shirts.    
 
Stretch Marks:  hopefully still not!

Pregnancy Symptoms: More energy!!! achiness in my lower abdomen, backache, more hungry and thirsty, breathlessness, big belly

Sleeping:  I sleep  with my boppy as my support on my right side and Curtis as my support on the left side...haha.  As I am typing, it is 2:47 am.  So, obviously I can't sleep.  This early morning, I have transferred Ava's newborn, 0-3, and 3 month clothing to Sallie (y)'s dresser. 
 
Best feeling this week: Energy so I can play, play, play with big sister.
 
Movement: Not yet... :( my patience is running thin.
 
Cravings/Aversions: Lately, I have been hungry and wanted anything to eat.  Yesterday, the mention of English muffins was brought up and so I wanted that with some butter spread over it very badly.  I enjoyed eating those.  I bought some mandarin oranges in a fruit cup at the store and have enjoyed those.  Ate 2 yesterday, so I am fast approaching needing more.  I still am into the sweets ( like chocolate brownies from Ghirardelli mix and I admit I do eat a bit of the batter...I know, I know!)
 
Belly Button: In...but belly...sticking way out!
 
What I miss:  My grandpa. 
 
What am I looking forward to: Baby kicking me!  I love that feeling and remember missing that when Ava was here.  There is nothing like feeling that little miracle inside you.  

Although the day we found out what we were having was more sad than happy, we are so thankful to have found out 1) the baby looks to be developing like she should and there was nothing that alarmed the ultrasound technician 2) that we were able to found out what we are having and 3)  we made it in time to say goodbye to grandpa.  During the appointment my uterus was right where Jan suspected it to be and I got my flu shot!