19 Weeks and ALMOST Half-Way There

How far along: 19 weeks and 5 days

Maternity clothes: Yes and no.  I wore some of those pants that I was able to zip last week to work this week.  They still fit, but now they just fit ok. I have a feeling that the band (the gift from above that allows you to wear regular pants while covering up the fact that your pants are unzipped!) is going to be getting some serious use.  More people are able to tell I'm pregnant which is good.  I like rocking a little bump.  Notice I said little! I hate the stage where you just look like you've had one too many doughnuts and everyone is afraid to mention you've  gained some LBs.

Stretch marks: Nope, but who knows what happens after a 2nd baby.

Sleep: It's ok.  I'm really over sleeping on my side.  I have found myself on my stomach more and more when I wake up in the middle of the night.  Still waking up around 2AM.  It's kind of annoying.  But I am able to get comfortable so I really can't complain.

Best moment last week: We had a really good, but busy weekend.  We went to two kiddie parties and visited Santa Claus.  It was great to have some good family time.  As Christmas draws near I keep thinking how different our life will be a year from now.  It makes me cherish these days and also loo forward to our family's future.

Movement: Yes and I'm feeling more movement each day.  I was rocking C tonight and she kept kicking her big brother as if to say hi.  Earlier in the evening C put his head on my belly and snuggled there for a while.  I think he was listening to his sissy.

Food cravings: Nothing too crazy.  I've been extra hungry so I think there is a growth spurt upon us.  I'm trying to eat healthy, but the holidays make it so hard!  I've been walking to help fight the holiday bulge, but people keep bringing doughnuts to work.  I need some self control or an intervention!! Or maybe just an apple.

Gender: GIRL

I officially have bought the child some girly clothes!!  I went to Carter's to get C some jeans and spent about a hour bouncing from the boy section to the girl section.  It was kind of fun to not be limited by a "side."  I got a little navy dress and a seafoam green legging outfit.  No pink yet and I'm totally ok with that.  

Labor signs: Zilch, thank goodness.

Belly button - in or out? Out almost immediately. Bleh.  One of my least favorite parts of pregnancy.

What I miss: Wine.  School has been rough lately. The kids are bouncing off the wall and there have been some high blood pressure days.  My nonpregnant self usually remedies those days with some pinot grigio, but now I'm settling for grapefruit juice in a wine glass!  It still feels fancy!

What I am looking forward to: Christmas break!!!  SO CLOSE!!  We are having some family visit and going to LR.  It's going to be busy, but oh so fun.  

Milestones: Making it to Christmas break and getting to spend some QT with my boys!

Oh Boy!! It's A Girl!

ow far along: 18 weeks and 4 days

Maternity clothes: Still mixing regular clothes and maternity clothes.  I unpacked some winter clothes today and found a few old pair of pants that I could still zip.  I was pretty pumped about that.  I am in that weird stage where maternity clothes do not look just right and regular are getting a little tight.  Again the leggings and dress look is my best friend.

Stretch marks: Nope.  Fingers crossed!

Sleep: I am sleeping a little bit better.  I have figured out my pillow arrangement which makes sleeping easier.  C has been teething so he has been waking at odd hours, poor guy.  He slept over at grandma's this weekend so we could get some sleep.  I was able to sleep in on Sunday until 9:00.  It.  Was. Heavenly.  I had so much energy all day that I was able to get winter clothes unpacked, the house straightened, and had some great family time with J and C.  Sleep is not overrated!

Best moment last week: We found out that we are having a GIRL!  We were both shocked and a little nervous when the tech told that we are having a daughter.  Whoa!  It looks crazy when I type it out.  We are all boy in this house, so the pink thing will be an adjustment.  Lucky for us we have time.  After our appointment we went and got C a pink balloon.  He loved his balloon, but I know that he is too little to truly understand that our family is growing.  We got to share the news with our family which was fun.  Everyone is very excited for a little girl to join our family.  

Another great moment this week happened when C started giving kisses goodnight.  That sweet boy has been giving kisses and hugs during the day that melt my heart for a while now.  But the other night I laid him in his crib and he stood up and grabbed me for a hug.  Then he planted a big ole kiss on his mama.  And he did it the night after that and the night after that.  Let's just say I was a big ball of mush and it is now the BEST part of my day.

One more great moment:  Jeremy and I had a nice date night on Saturday.  We went to Fish Bites (one of our favorites) and had fun just being adults.  We then came back to the house and had cocktails and mocktails while watching football and just hanging out.  It was good to just spend time with my hubby.  However we did spend an amount of time looking a C pics, talking about our baby girl and growing little boy, and throwing around girl names,  I'm grateful to have nights like that with my best friend.

Movement: Yes, the girl has moves!  She is a dancer for sure.  During her ultrasound she was always in motion.  It was hard to get some pictures with our tiny dancing shaking it all about.  

Food cravings: Still loving my red berry cereal.  I also had a craving for lemon bars and spaghetti.  And cold sandwiches have sounded good as well.  I'm not having as bad heart burn in week's past so I've been enjoying mealtime this week, thankfully.

Gender: GIRL

I'm struggling with the idea of a lot of pink, but excited to go to the "other" side of the baby clothing store.  Plus I am excited to work on a girly nursery!

Labor signs: Zilch, thank goodness.

Belly button - in or out? Out almost immediately. Bleh.

What I miss: Running.  I was able to run on the treadmill this week for about 5 minutes.  It felt great, but I wished I could have done more without that baby bouncing on my bladder.  Walking on the treadmill is boring, but running passes the time better.  

What I am looking forward to: Christmas vacation, decorating the tree, family visits!

Milestones: Starting to get organized around the house to prep for this baby!

A Humble Attempt to Document

So Baby #2 is due May 7th!  We are excited and scared at the same time.  We are one kid closer to becoming outnumbered.  I had all intentions to blog sooner, but life with a 20 month old moves pretty fast.  These days my down time is spent napping.  So here's to trying to keep up with a weekly updated blog!

How far along: 17 weeks and 1 day

Maternity clothes: Yes, but still able to mix in "regular" clothes.  I have been able to get into my regular pants up until now.  I am using the band to wear pants that can't, AHEM, button.  Thankfully leggings and boots are in.

Stretch marks: Nope thankfully.

Sleep: I fall asleep while watching TV every night, wake up to take my contacts out, and then try to go back to sleep.  I'm having trouble getting comfortable at night. I have found that sleeping on my left side with a body pillow is the best position. I drink a ton of water during the day and begin limiting water after dinner, so the nightly bathroom trips aren't so frequent.  I just wish I could sleep in!  C wakes up around 5:45-6 everyday so those late night naps are helpful.

Best moment last week: Knowing that I am on Thanksgiving break for a couple days.  Looking forward to time with family and friends.  My parents are coming in Friday so that will be lots of fun.

Movement: I have felt a flutter or two. Jeremy even felt one the other night.

Food cravings: Smart Puffs Cheese Puffs(baked and no artificial anything)  OMG so good!  C loves them too so J has to buy us each our own bag.  I haven't been hungry for dinner so around 10:30 every night I get hungry for Special K Red Berry cereal.  Weird craving: cherry cough drops.  I don't have a cold and don't have any need for them so I am refraining.

Gender: Don't know yet, though I have my suspicions.  Will find out next week

Labor signs: Zilch, thank goodness.

Belly button - in or out? Out almost immediately. Bleh.

What I miss: A big cup of Starbucks Peppermint Mocha.  I'm really working to limit caffeine.  I also miss wine and sushi.  My guilty pleasures.

What I am looking forward to: Finding out what we are having and watching C meet his new sibling.

Milestones: Getting past the worst of my nausea and starting to feel a bit more energy.

It's Ok To Not Be Ok

I heard this song tonight and was extemely struck by the words.  I have been struggling with a few things lately.  Who isn't?  There are times when the days are long and the work seems endless.  I have been putting crazy pressures on myself and in the process have beaten myself up for not being enough.  It's ok to not be the perfect mom, wife, teacher, etc..  I wasn't created to be perfect.  I was created to be me.  I make mistakes and that's ok.  I struggle and that's ok.  I shed tears when things are hard and feel hopeless at times and that is ok.  I must remember that perfection isn't my life's goal.  I must remain true to myself and remember that life isn't always rosey.  Struggles makes people stronger so this rough patch in my life is me getting stronger.  Thankfully my struggles will pass and I will be no worse for the wear.  My struggles are nothing compared to what others are going through.  I am painfully aware of that when watching the news.  It coul always be worse and I am blessed.   I'm not perfect and must remember that sometimes it's ok to not be ok....

this to myself?"
Losing my mind on a tiny error,
I nearly left the real me on the shelf.
No, no, no, no, no...

Don't lose who you are in the blur of the stars!
Seeing is deceiving, dreaming is believing,
It's okay not to be okay.
Sometimes it's hard to follow your heart.
Tears don't mean you're losing, everybody's bruising,
Just be true to who you are!


Brushing my hair, do I look perfect?
I forgot what to do to fit the mold, yeah!
The more I try the less it's working, yeah
'Cause everything inside me screams
No, no, no, no, no...

Don't lose who you are in the blur of the stars!
Seeing is deceiving, dreaming is believing,
It's okay not to be okay.
Sometimes it's hard to follow your heart.
But tears don't mean you're losing, everybody's bruising,
There's nothing wrong with who you are!

Yes, no's, egos, fake shows, like whoa!
Just go and leave me alone!
Real talk, real life, good love, goodnight,
With a smile that's my own!
That's my own, no...

No, no, no, no, no...

Don't lose who you are in the blur of the stars!
Seeing is deceiving, dreaming is believing,
It's okay not to be okay...
Sometimes it's hard to follow your heart.
Tears don't mean you're losing, everybody's bruising,
Just be true to who you are!
Yeah yeah yeah

 By Jesse J

Cooper Is One! Let's Have Some Fun!

When the time came to plan Cooper's First Birthday Party I just admit that I was clueless!  In a Pinterest world it is very easy to feel bad about yourself and lack of crafting abilities.  I mean seriously HOW DO PEOPLE HAVE TIME TO COME UP WITH THAT STUFF? I digress...anyways, my brilliant husband came up with the idea of a Dr. Suess themed party.  As a teacher I knew that I could take this idea and run with it.  With the help of (ahem) Pinterest and Etsy I found my inspiration.  Once the theme was decided I began printing, cutting, and pasting anything red, blue, or white that I could get my hands on.  It was a labor of love and creating a Suessical land for my little guy's big day was my absolute pleasure.  A special bonus was when my mom came in for the party and helped decorate the house for the big day. I wanted the day to be special and a true celebration of our past year as a family of three.  I can gladly say that it was just that.  Our house was full of friends and love.  Sweet Coop was a delight and enjoyed playing with his buddy Cam and chowing on a little cake.    

Our 1 year old guy

Coop loves books so all his friends brought him some new books.

Treat Table complete with Chocolate Rock Blocks 

Everyone signed Oh The Places You Go and a framed photo with sweet birthday messages for Coop

My best friend, Cam

More Suess Snacks
Yes, those are green eggs

Cooper's Banner of Monthly Pictures
This turned out so cute and is a treasure that it was worth all those monthly photo sessions.

About to open presents

What is it mama?

A happy guy on his special day

Opening presents from all my friends
I felt the love!

Those presents were great and all, but I'm outta here.  Where is my cake?

Waiting for my cake

I am not so sure about this...

Getting the hang of this cake thing with the help my mom and dad

YUM!

It's good to be me!
And YES that is my birthday suit and (Suess) tie!

Telling all my guests goodbye and thanks for a great time

Birthday Party Sucess!
Now it's naptime!

A