22 Weeks!

Wow. A lot has changed since my last pregnancy update post at 20 weeks. As you already know, our precious baby boy has been diagnosed with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS). It was a real shock to hubs and I and certainly not something I had ever read about in my "What to Expect When You're Expecting" book. But I will say that God has been faithful to us and has given us the strength we've needed to process and accept the diagnosis and begin planning for the tough journey ahead of us.

As I think I mentioned earlier, we are treating this pregnancy the same was we did with LO. I'm looking forward to the joys ahead of us. I've already felt a LOT of movement from our little guy on a daily basis, and it's getting to where hubs can feel it, too. I think it's only a matter of time before we can get LO to feel it as well. I can't even imagine what her reaction will be!

Enough rambling... here we go!

Week and day: 22 weeks

Belly Button in or out: Still in.

Wedding rings on or off: SO still on. Random note to self: I really need to get them cleaned by our jeweler. They sparkle so pretty when he cleans them!

Food cravings: Meat. Ya, pretty much any kind of meat these days. I've eaten chicken, steak, sausage -- even hot dogs! ((GASP!!)) I also get random cravings for water -- and drink it like I've been stuck on a deserted island for 3 weeks! Weird.

Food aversions: None. Still no sweet tooth, though.

Nausea: None! Woot!!! But, let's talk about this heartburn stuff. It is NOT fun. I never had heartburn until I was pregnant with LO. And I really haven't had any this time around until the past 2 weeks or so. Everything seems to give me heartburn: pizza, chicken -- even water! Ugh. I got me some Tums all up over the house.

Energy level: It's about the same as usual. Always wish I had more of it! I had a REALLY rough day last Thursday. It was almost an out-of-body experience. It was all I could do to BREATHE -- and even that wore me out. It was really strange having breathing problems and weird chest pains that I've never experienced before. But ultimately I think it was just my body saying "PLEASE give me a break!! Just a few hours! PLEASE?! I need some "time off" from the craziness to recoup and recover from a difficult 2 weeks!" The next evening, when hubs came home, I reintroduced myself to him as his wife since the person I was all day Thursday was NOT the real me. I'm guessing I need to do a better job of taking care of myself. We've got a long and difficult journey ahead of us!

Weight gain: Right now I'm sitting at 9 pounds. Not too bad for 22 weeks, but I'm sure I'll start packing it on big time sooner rather than later!

Mood:Anxious. I'm looking forward to meeting our son in about 18 weeks, but I am very anxious about the journey we will begin once he's here. I'm leaving it all in God's hands, but, being the planner that I am, it's so hard to not have any idea what lies around the corner. God is faithful -- He will see us through whatever comes our way!

Maternity clothes: A necessity at this point (see pic below if further clarification is needed).

Size of baby: About 11 inches in length and weighs almost a full pound! He's getting so big!

Baby's changes: His lips, eyelids, and eyebrows are becoming more distinct, and he's even developing tiny tooth buds beneath his gums. His eyes have formed, but his irises (the colored part of the eye) still lack pigment. Inside his belly, his pancreas — essential for the production of some important hormones — is developing steadily.

Next appointment: July 15th for our regular OB appointment. We'll also have another appointment with the Pediatric Cardiologist next month, but that one hasn't been scheduled yet. We'll also have an appointment at MUSC in Charleston, SC, around 32 weeks, which will be in September.

Here it is... my 22 week pic. Yes, I'm wearing lounge clothes again, and yes, it appears that I'm in the same pants as my 20 week pic. Did I mention I like my lounge clothes? Oh, and HOW HUGE AM I!? I'm just over halfway there, and I feel like a COW!

Shopaholic

I've been going CRAZY with online shopping lately. Most of it has been for LO's birthday, but a lot of it was just 'cause I had a coupon or there was a sale or some other semi-legitimate reason for me to spend money. Check out some of my latest purchases:

A birthday gift for LO. She's really into "hiding" lately and we just know she'll love having this to play with.Another birthday gift. The cute little pink preschool backpack from Pottery Barn with her name embroidered on it. She will be starting 2-day, morning-only preschool in the Fall.


A few indulgences (all on sale!) for LO:





And not to leave mommy out of the shopping spree:

Did I mention I also scored more loot during a trip to Old Navy Friday morning? More fun stuff for LO and a couple of maternity tanks for mommy. Good times!

Miscellaneous Thoughts

Please pardon the randomness of this post. I have a variety of things going through my head right now and felt like I should give you all the joy of taking a peek inside my head (you're welcome!).

• LO's 2nd birthday party is a mere FOUR WEEKS away! I'm so excited for her but at the same time am trying to grasp the fact that my teeny, tiny baby girl is already a toddler -- well on her way to being a big girl! Ack! When did that happen!? Planning for this party is already SO much different than planning her 1st birthday. I guess that's probably normal, right? Last year, I sent her invitations out SIX WEEKS before her party! Whaa? Ya, seriously. I spent months planning every single detail of her party, choosing the perfect presents and finding just the right "1st Birthday Princess" hat for her to wear. This time around, I'm going way low-key. I did create her Elmo party invitations myself (I'll share them here after they're sent out so you can see how cute they were!), and I'm planning to make her Elmo cake myself (that one should be interesting). But for the most part, it'll be a laid-back party, focusing on the last year of our precious daughter's wonderful life, and the extraordinary impact she's had on those who love her.


• I feel like hubs and I have settled into the news about our baby boy's diagnosis of Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. It was such a HUGE SHOCK the first few hours, days -- really, since we've heard the news. I wasn't sure "life" was going to return to any semblance of "normal" after that bombshell, but I'm happy to say hubs and I are dealing with it the best we can, and we certainly know God is with us and helping us through it. We're grateful we found out when we did so we can make all the necessary arrangements for the baby's delivery and first surgery. I won't lie, though -- it has taken away some of the joy and excitement I was feeling about this pregnancy before we heard the news. But I don't plan to do anything differently. I hope to have as similar a pregnancy with our son as I did with LO. We know God will give us the strength we need to handle each and every step on this journey.


• What is it with people who don't respond to emails? I mean, seriously, I understand people are busy with work, life, family, etc. But when you email someone essentially an invitation to a certain event, and they don't even respond with a "yes", "no", or "I got your email but don't know for sure if I can make it or not" response, really, what's up with that!? I have to say that is a HUGE pet peeve of mine and it's been happening a LOT lately with both close friends and some of my family. It is so simple and easy to hit "Reply" and type a few words to indicate whether or not you'll be joining the festivities. I'm not looking for a dissertation on why you can or can't attend -- just the simple human decency of a response. Really, is that too much to ask?


• I was totally bummed (although not surprised) to hear the "big announcement" Monday night about Jon & Kate getting divorced. I know, people are tired of hearing about all their drama, but any time I hear about a family going through divorce -- especially one with children involved -- it really breaks my heart. God designed marriage to be between one man and one woman for a lifetime. I see no reason why (if they truly love their children) they wouldn't do EVERY SINGLE THING in their power to work out their differences. Sorry to get so personal on my views here, but hey, it IS my blog so I can share my opinion any ol' time I want to!


• The June recipe on my Betty Crocker calendar is Peanut Butter Truffle Brownies. YUM!! I'm planning to make them tomorrow for a family pot-luck we're having on Sunday afternoon. I'll have to let you all know how wonderful they turn out, but until then, here's a pic:

• I am totally stoked that Big Brother starts on July 7th. This is one of those reality shows I get sucked into every year. I'm ready for some random distraction I can count on each week. Bring on the crazies!

Smile!

This picture brings a smile to my face every time I look at it. It doesn't matter what I'm thinking or feeling, or in what circumstances I find myself in. Just a quick glance at this photo (currently my desktop wallpaper) helps me to know that everything is going to be okay.

The Diagnosis

This is the hardest blog post I've ever had to write. It's been almost a week that hubs and I have been reeling with the information that was provided to us, and I'm writing about it here in a genuine and sincere attempt to ask for your prayers as we head into the difficult journey that lies ahead.

On Monday, June 15th, hubs, LO and I headed to my 20-week ultrasound appointment with the anticipation of seeing images of our little boy. The ultrasound seemed relatively normal, measuring this and that, listening to the heartbeat, watching our son squirm around in his safe little home.

We waited what seemed like forever for the doctor to come in for the quick "any questions?" discussion, where we would say no, we're good to go.

Unfortunately, the doctor said something to us about not having very clear images of the baby's heart, and that she wanted us to visit a specialist who had more advanced equipment that could capture the pictures of the heart that were needed. She told us not to worry, that 9 times out of 10 it's nothing, don't be concerned, etc.

Miraculously I was able to heed her advice and not worry about the appointment that had been scheduled for us on Thursday, a good 3 days later. I was surprised to get a call not long after we left the 20-week appointment to tell us there was availability for us to come Tuesday, the very next day, for the appointment with the specialist. We jumped on it, just so we could hurry up and get our peace of mind back.

On Tuesday, June 16th, hubs and I left LO with Mona and met at the specialist's office for our ultrasound appointment. We were taken back and the technician started the ultrasound. She did some of the same measurements they had done the day before, and I patiently waited for her to give us an "all clear."

To my utter shock and horror, I vividly remember her muttering the phrase "I won't pretend that every is okay..." as she was trying to coerce the baby to move into the right positions so she could get a look at exactly what was going on. She left the room and brought the specialist, Dr. Greig, back in with her, and had him continue with the ultrasound. He was focusing on our son's heart, although all we could see was the black and white image surrounded with red and blue blotches that apparently indicated blood flow.

The doctor then dropped a completely unexpected bomb on us which we were not prepared to handle. He told us that it appeared our son had Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS) and a Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD). We were in utter disbelief. We had never heard of either of these conditions and immediately wanted to know what the impact would be for our unborn son.

We left the ultrasound room and waited for the specialist in a tiny little room where he would come in and explain a bit more about these conditions. It felt like an eternity in that little room, our minds racing and buzzing with all of the "what ifs" and "how did this happen" etc.

The doctor finally came in and explained to us that HLHS is one of the most complex and rare congenital heart conditions in which the left side of the heart is critically underdeveloped. With HLHS, the left side of the heart can't effectively pump blood to the body, so the right side of the heart must pump blood both to the lungs and to the rest of the body. Without treatment, hypoplastic left heart syndrome is FATAL, usually within the first few days of life.

The doctor attempted to provide 4 options to us, the first of which was termination of the pregnancy. I wouldn't even let him get the words out of his mouth before interrupting to tell him that wasn't an option. The next option was called "comfort care" where the baby is born and you do basically nothing but hold and love him until he passes, within the first few days of his life. Again, NOT an option. The third option was a heart transplant, in which case it would be very unlikely to find a new heart for our son within the first few days of his life. The final option was the ONLY option for us. It involves a three-step surgical procedure designed to create normal blood flow in and out of the heart, allowing the body to receive the oxygen-rich blood it needs. It is by no means a permanent "fix" to the problem, but rather a way to surgically reconstruct the heart to make it more likely to perform the functions of a regular heart.

As you might imagine, we were completely devastated at the diagnosis, and for the next 24-48 hours, we were totally numb as we both attempted to digest the information and wrap our minds around what was in store for us. We felt totally deflated, and the joy and anticipation of the pregnancy and of expecting a new baby were completely lost.

We struggled through the first week, telling only immediate family and a few close friends about our situation. It was a very difficult and trying time, most of which I spent researching HLHS on the Internet, finding both uplifting, positive information as well as deflating, disappointing, heart wrenching information.

So finally today arrives, Monday, June 22nd. We had our appointment with a Pediatric Cardiologist, Dr. Horne. While we weren't expecting the diagnosis to change, we were hopeful that he wouldn't find any additional problems with the baby or his heart. Dr. Horne did confirm the diagnosis of HLHS and confirmed the baby would need the 3 surgeries in order to live.

While we are still reeling with the information and are devastated to learn that our baby has a serious and rare heart defect, we are trusting in God for His hand of healing and protection on our son. We know He is able to do more than we could ever ask or imagine, and will continue to trust in Him throughout this journey.

Thank you in advance for your thoughts and prayers as we face an uncertain future. I will update the blog as often as possible/necessary throughout this process. I don't have another appointment scheduled until July 15th, so there hopefully won't be much of anything to share about the baby and his heart problem, but I will also continue to post about the fun and random things that happen to us and our precious LO. Can you believe she'll be TWO in just over a month? I'll be working on party details soon, so you can look forward to hearing more about that, too!

Thanks again for your thoughts and prayers!!!

Random Moments of Joy

Hubs and I have had a rough couple of days. And it's only the beginning. But I thought it would be a good idea to share some joy and focus on the positive things in life. Right now the most positive thing in our lives is our precious LO. Here are some random moments with her that have brought us joy.

She was supposed to be eating her breakfast, but was distracted by something on the TV. I know this picture isn't great, but she was literally frozen in place for several moments with her arms up in tiny fists. Her concentration was hilarious:


Earlier this week we rode to work with daddy so he could pick up some things he needed. LO and I waited for him in the car, where she found the way-too-oversized sunglasses I had bought for her a few weeks ago. Here she is being her darling little self:



Thursday night, we decided LO needed a "time out for fun" and we headed to a local indoor fun park. It started with dinner at Johnny Rockets (YUM! Smoke House Single for mommy: Cheddar cheese, thick bacon, crispy onion rings & "Smoke House" barbecue-ranch sauce. Delish!), then it was time to play! LO enjoyed the little carousel most of all. She's been talking about the horses all day!



At the end of the fun park experience, LO got to choose some cheesy toys with her whopping 89 tickets. We ended up with a star flapper thingy, a red plastic maraca, a stuffed "Cars" toy and a bracelet. Here she is showing off her "loot" before we left:

We are so very blessed to have LO in our lives. God is so good!

 

Update

Hello, friends. I know it's been several days since I've posted, and I'm sorry for that. Unfortunately, hubs and I received some devastating news earlier this week and are reeling with the reality of it all. So much information to process, so overwhelming, feelings of helplessness and fear.

I will share our news with you dear readers once I am able to. In the meantime, I cannot help but ask for your prayers as hubs and I face an uncertain future.

Eyelid Laceration

My poor child. We spent Sunday afternoon at the Emergency Room after LO had a bit of an accident that morning. Hubs and I were "volunteering" in the Toddler Nursery at our church during the morning worship service. There was one particular child that was all up in LO's business the entire morning--wanting every toy she was playing with, all but sitting on her lap during snack time, wandering into the way while LO was on the swings, etc. She eventually "gently urged" (read: pushed) LO into a table because she wanted the mat LO was standing on. LO hit the table -- head first -- and ricocheted onto the floor, bumping her head a second time. I picked up the offender and moved her out of the way while hubs rushed to LO's rescue. Immediately he noticed the bleeding gash over her right eye. We put a cold wet paper towel on it, grabbed a baggy of ice and headed out.

I called my mom, who happens to be a NICU nurse at a nearby hospital. She said to keep the ice on it to help prevent swelling and that it probably wouldn't need stitches. We stopped by the hospital where she works so she could see it for herself, and because LO was asking to see her Mona.

My mom looked at it and decided it might actually need a stitch or two, and recommended we take LO downtown to another hospital that is equipped with a pediatric emergency unit. We loaded LO up and were on our way. I kept trying to apply the ice for a minute or two at a time even though LO had a fit each time. I hated doing it but I knew it was in her best interest.

We arrived at the ER, checked in, and waited about 10 minutes before we were moved to the Pediatric ER waiting area. We were the only ones in there. Whew! I figured it couldn't be that busy on Sunday morning! A few minutes later, we were taken back to a small room with a crib, were given a tiny little gown for LO, and were seen by a nurse. It was a good 30 minutes before the doctor made his appearance.

He looked it over, we discussed the options, and we decided to let them put some numbing stuff on her eye for 20 minutes so the doctor could get a better look at the laceration, and possibly, if needed, put a few stitches in. After 20 minutes, hubs went looking for the nurse. She said the stuff needed to stay on 30 minutes.

Okay. Fine.

We waited another 30 minutes (keep in mind LO had 2 band-aids over her eye holding this numbing stuff in place, and had to do our best to keep it from oozing into her eye, causing who-knows-what kind of damage if it were to get into her eye) before the doctor and his team of 3 or 4 nurses came in to help hold my precious baby girl down while the doctor took a look at her injury. I was there to hold her hand and whisper in her ear (over her ear-piercing cries) that everything was gonna be okay.

The doctor ultimately decided the laceration was relatively superficial and wouldn't require any stitches. His diagnosis required us to simply put some Neosporin on the gash twice a day for the next 3-4 days.

Sweet.

We will end up paying in the neighborhood of $1,000 for a 3-hour trip to the Emergency Room so a doctor could prescribe Neosporin for our daughter's laceration.

Ultimately, our peace of mind is well worth it. I would've hated myself if we had just taken her home only to find out 2 days later that the wound was infected, needed stitches, and she'd need a round of antibiotics to clear it up.

Here's a pic of our precious girl at the hospital:

20 Weeks!

We're half-way there! It's still so hard to believe how quickly this pregnancy has progressed! Although, I'm pretty sure these last 20 weeks -- especially the last 8 or so -- will most definitely drag out like crazy! Ack!

Week and day: 20 weeks

Belly Button in or out: Still in.

Wedding rings on or off: SO still on.

Food cravings: Chicken and cheeseburgers! So much for my old vegetarian lifestyle!

Food aversions: None. I still don't have a big sweet tooth, which is so totally strange for me.

Nausea: None! Woot!!!

Energy level: It's about the same as usual. Always wish I had more of it!

Weight gain: I'm guessing about 1o pounds, but I'll find out for sure tomorrow.

Mood: Really, really excited!

Maternity clothes: I'm in 'em. Pants, capris, shorts, bathing suits, etc. Still wearing some regular tops since I don't have any reason not to!

Size of baby: He weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now and is around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom and about 10 inches from head to heel — the length of a banana!

Baby's changes: He's swallowing more these days, which is good practice for his digestive system. He can suck a thumb, yawn, stretch and make faces.

Next appointment: June 15th - tomorrow! Looking forward to seeing some new pics of our little guy!

Here it is... my 20 week pic. Sorry for the lounge clothes... I was too lazy to dress up for the photo! Ha!

Jackpot!

Last weekend, hubs, LO and I headed over to the baby furniture store to see about getting the baby's furniture. Since our original order could not be officially placed (unfortunately the awesome store is going out of business), we were able to select a set from the floor displays. It worked out in our benefit because we were able to get several items we need for the baby's room at about a 30% discount!

We ended up with the Munire Urban lifetime crib and 5-drawer dresser, a mattress and a new glider/rocker combo with ottoman. While the sales associate was writing up our order, I happened to notice -- SO at the almost last minute! -- they DID have the Jungle Tales crib bedding on display as well! I was SO surprised! I was able to get the 6-piece set, lamp AND mobile! I was totally stoked! So the only items we still want as far as room decor goes is the 3-piece wall hanging and the night light! What a deal!

I'm sort of at a standstill right now because I can't put the baby's room together yet. Hubs and I have been in discussions to have the carpet replaced throughout the house. It's gonna run us about $1,500 (did I mention hubs is in the process of building a deck, too!?) and ultimately, I'm just not sure it'll be worth it. I'm gonna look into the idea of having all of the carpets super-cleaned, removing all the furniture from all the rooms, etc., having them spot treated, etc. so that they're basically like-new. I'm guessing this will run us about $500. I think this is a decent compromise that requires slightly less effort (and money)! Once the carpets are either cleaned or replaced, I can start setting up the room. The walls are already painted a lovely cream color, I already purchased the window treatments, and we've just about got the room emptied out of miscellaneous junk.

It's hard to believe we'll be 20 weeks next Sunday! This pregnancy is flying by -- perhaps more so than the first one because this time I have LO around to keep me busy and entertained!

Bummed Out!

I just found out that the retail store where we purchased the baby's bedroom furniture is going out of business. I hate this because it's a really great store, with awesome, well-priced merchandise and is owned by a wonderful Christian family. I'm further bummed because the bedroom furniture we ordered a mere two weeks ago apparently cannot and will not be "officially" ordered. So unless we find another store that sells this line of furniture, I may need to choose new stuff instead of the lovely Bonavita Metro collection in Licorice (a black finish) we ordered. Here it is again, just to look at and sigh...

On the bright side, I may have found another option. It's the Urban collection by Munire. Check it:


It's very similar to the Metro line, but it unfortunately doesn't come in the dark black finish. This pic is Espresso, which still looks a lot like Cherry to me.

Oh, well. We should know more by this weekend about what our options are and what we decide to do.

Surprise!

Wow! You guys really surprised me! I set you guys up and almost all of you agreed you liked the SAME bedding set I already fell in love with! It's the Jungle Tales set:

I will admit that this photo makes the nursery out to be VERY busy, which ours will not at all be. We'll have the crib bedding stuff, a valence, a lamp, a night-light, a mobile and the three little wall hangings. But we ain't goin' crazy with all those dots everywhere! No diaper stacker (in my experience those things are useless!) nor a hamper (again, useless) nor the wall border. No monkey rug, either, since the baby's room is carpeted -- although I do think it is a cute rug!

Probably because I think the monkey rug is so cute, I've decided on which Angel Dear blankie I'll have for the baby. LO is hooked on the brown teddy bears, and this little guy is gonna get monkeys!


Is it wrong that I'm already working on a baby registry at only 18 weeks? I'm such a planner, and I can't help that I'm so stinkin' excited about adding a baby boy to our family mix. Plus, I love shopping for stuff that I (hopefully) won't end up paying for! I already told hubs our baby registry will be lean and mean this time around. A couple of towels, a blue blanket and some diapers is about all we're in need of! Should be fun!

Jungle Fever

Out of sheer joy and excitement, I have already started looking for the perfect nursery ensemble for our son's room. For some reason, I'm not in a "slap-a-crap-load-of-blue-up-all-over-the-place" kind of mood. For LO's room, we went with the Clothes Line bedding by Kidsline. It was simple, not too "pink-y" and was just perfect for our precious girl. So for this boy, I'm not planning to go overboard with a butt-load of BLUE everywhere. For some reason, I think I've got jungle fever! I like the idea of animals as a theme for our little boy's room.

So, I've found three options that I'm considering. Now, I haven't spent a TON of time researching the available options out there, so I'm sure I'll probably come across other ideas I like as we get closer to my due date. But for now, I thought I'd present these three options and allow my blog reader(s?) to voice their thoughts/opinions. Of course I do have my favorite of these three, but I'll wait until after you weigh in to share!

Option 1: Jungle 123 by Kidsline


Option 2: Jungle Tales by Nojo


Option 3: Jackson by Cocalo


Thoughts? Comments? This inquiring mind wants to know!

18 Weeks!

Okay, honestly, it just doesn't seem like there are big enough changes from week to week to justify posting a weekly pregnancy update. So, I think I'm gonna just stick to the even weeks and provide these updates every other week instead!

Week and day: 18 weeks and 1 day

Belly Button in or out: Totally still IN. I don't expect it to pop out--ever.

Wedding rings on or off: SO on. Starting to get a little bit tight first thing in the morning but then not so bad the rest of the day. I have noticed a little rash on my finger under the rings so I'm guessing they're rubbing a lot more during the day. I really don't look forward to having to take them off because LO was close to 4 months old before I was able to put them back on!!

Food cravings: Still craving chicken--especially BBQ and Buffalo-style--but now I've added a bit of a sweet tooth. Hubs, LO and I went out for dinner with some great friends and their little 2-1/2 year old son Saturday night, and we stopped at Marble Slab Creamery afterward. Hubs, LO and I split a Swiss Chocolate ice cream with mini chocolate chips mixed in. It was DIVINE! We're planning to run by there again tonight for more, and will probably end up with a quart or two to bring home! Yum!

Food aversions: None, really. I haven't had big issues with foods, smells or anything specific with this pregnancy, which has been really nice!

Nausea: Pretty much over it completely (knock on wood!). I did have a nasty stomach bug or food poisoning last Thursday and was MISERABLE the entire day. I was puking and stuff and it was awful! So glad it was temporary!

Energy level: Haven't been able to find it since I was 14 years old!

Weight gain: At last check, I've gained a total of 6 pounds so far. I'm sure this will start increasing all too soon!

Mood: Really excited!

Maternity clothes: I'm desperate. I've been wearing some of the maternity clothes I bought when I was pregnant with LO, but now I'm either sick of some of them or they don't fit. I'm planning to hit up Gap and Old Navy tomorrow when I can save an extra 10% with my Gap Silver card! Thank goodness for the 1st Tuesday of every month! :)

Size of baby: Right now, he's about 5 1/2 inches long and weighs almost 7 ounces.

Baby's changes: He's busy flexing his arms and legs — movements that I've already begun feeling! I can't wait for hubs and LO to be able to feel this little guy moving around!

Next appointment: June 15th - the big 20 week ultrasound appointment! Should have some more pics of our little guy to share after this appointment!

Other: We DID purchase the Bonavita Metro crib and tall dresser in the Licorice (black) finish last weekend. The baby's room is painting and ALMOST all of the junk in his room has found a new place to stay or has been donated. Hubs is pushing along on the deck -- he plans to be done by the end of the month. Also, we're really looking forward to a beach trip next week with some of our dear friends! Life is good and we are so thankful to be so blessed!

Okay, so here's the 18 week photo... Sorry to be so lame by taking the pic with my cell phone instead of my awesome Nikon D60.

17 Weeks!

Better late than never, right? Not too much has changed, which is why I haven't been in too big a hurry to post this... :)

Week and day: 17 weeks and 3 days

Belly Button in or out: Totally still IN. I don't expect it to pop out--ever.

Wedding rings on or off: SO on. Starting to get a little bit tight first thing in the morning but then not so bad the rest of the day.

Food cravings: Buffalo chicken tenders! I NEVER ate buffalo-style or spicy anything before this pregnancy. You should have seen hubs' face when I said I was craving buffalo chicken--it's one of his favorites! I think his heart leaped in his chest! Buffalo chicken tenders are totally delish!

Food aversions: Nothing really. I don't have a huge sweet tooth and I've had little to no desire to bake goodies over the past 2+ months. For those of you who know me, this is SO not normal.

Nausea: Pretty much non-existent at this point, and I am VERY grateful for that!

Energy level: Eh. It's not too bad. Could always use MORE energy, though. Maybe one day I'll figure out how to bottle up LO's energy and use it myself!

Weight gain: As of last week, I was up to 6 pounds! Not too shabby!

Mood: Waaaay excited that we're having a BOY! I can't wait to start buying tiny blue clothes! And LO is looking forward to having a baby brother, although she still wants to name him "Sticker." LOL!

Maternity clothes: I'm all about them. Pants are almost a must right now. Tops are negotiable -- I'm wearing some maternity tops and some regular ones.

Size of baby: Right now, he/she is about the size of a Beanie Baby! About 5 inches long and close to 5 ounces!

Baby's changes: His delicate skeleton is continuing to harden from cartilage to bone. This week he starts developing body fat, which keeps him comfy and warm after he's born.

Next appointment: June 15th - the big 20 week ultrasound appointment! Should have some more pics of our little guy to share after this appointment!

Other: We DID purchase the baby's furniture last Saturday. It'll take 10-12 weeks, so I'm glad we ordered it when we did. I absolutely LOVE it! We've also started painting his room (ugly white walls are going to be a nice cream-y shade). Hubs is making SERIOUS progress on the deck he's building, which will be nice to have it done by mid-June. Oh, and although it's not necessarily related to the baby, I am SO PROUD of LO for sleeping in her "big girl bed" since Friday night. She has done awesome and has totally surprised me! She's taking better naps now than she was before in her crib. I am SO blessed!

Okay, I'm totally lame, but I'm not including a 17 week picture. I figure not much has changed and I'm planning to post an 18 week pic on Sunday, so you'll just have to wait on that one!

Big Day!!!

Today has been a very big day in our household. For starters, LO slept in her "big girl bed" for the very first time last night! She was absolutely amazing. She played with a little toy piano for about 5 minutes, then quiet. We checked in on her before we went to bed and she was out cold in her crib, snuggled nicely under her blanket. We were SHOCKED! She did wake up around 3AM crying, and hubs went in to check on her. She was standing by the door (closed, of course) like she wasn't sure what to do next. Hubs helped her back into her bed, handed her teddy and a paci, and she was out in no time.

The pic above was taken as she watched daddy carry the front rail of her bed away. She said, "Oh, cooool!"

This is her "fake sleeping" in her new big girl bed! She was SOOOO excited!!!

Here she is striking a pose for mommy!

We celebrated her major milestone accomplishment with breakfast at Cracker Barrel -- usually one of mommy's favorites but very disappointing this morning. I've been feeling nauseous since we ate and haven't been able to eat anything other than a few crackers this afternoon. ((sigh)) I guess I need to remember that I am pregnant, with a BOY, who happens to be my husband's offspring. If you knew what I know about my husband's childhood, you'd know we've got our work cut out for us once TO arrives.

So speaking of TO... I think we've found "the one." You know, the perfect furniture to outfit our son's bedroom (still SO weird to type that!). We had narrowed it down to two options: Munire Majestic or Bonavita Metro.

This is the Munire Majestic convertible lifetime crib (we'd also get the 5-drawer dresser, not pictured here):


And the Bonavita Metro collection:

While I haven't seen the Metro collection in person yet (we're going this afternoon to check out the floor model), I'm leaning heavily towards that option. It's just such a clean and contemporary design and I really am in love with it! Doesn't it look just gorgeous converted into a full-size bed? I think any teenage boy would be grateful to have such a luxury!


There's a pretty good chance we'll be ordering TO's furniture this afternoon, which is a GOOD THING because they say it takes anywhere from 10 to 12 weeks to arrive!

Woot!

It's Official...

Guess we're gonna need one of these:

Hubs, LO and I are SO incredibly excited to find out we're expecting a baby boy!

We Know! We Know!

So we had our 16-week check-up appointment this morning. It was pretty much just supposed to be blood pressure, weight (hurray for only 6 lbs. so far!) and a quick listen to the baby's heartbeat with the fetal doppler.

However...

The nurse practitioner (NP) had a hard time finding the baby's heartbeat with the fetal doppler. I wasn't too worried about it, since we use a fetal doppler at home and had just listened to the baby the other day. In fact, I thought it was humorous how the NP went about her process of finding the heartbeat with the doppler. I was going to offer a few suggestions (silly me!) when she mentioned that if we can't find the heartbeat with the doppler, she'll want to send me back for a quick ultrasound just to be sure everything is okay. Naturally, I chose to keep quiet.

So, although we weren't scheduled for another ultrasound until 20 weeks, we were able to have one today.

The most awesome news??? Our baby is just fine! Great heartbeat, perfect growth, everything looks fine, etc. There are no problems.

((whew!!!))

The second most awesome news??? We were able to find out if we're having a boy or a girl! Woot!

Oh, unfortunately I can't share the news here on the blog until after we've told our family and a few close friends. Guess you'll have to stop back by tomorrow to find out! :)

Our New Deck

As I mentioned yesterday, hubs is in the midst of building a 500 sq. ft. deck in our tiny, measly little backyard. We decided because the yard is so small, has an obnoxious hill and leads right into a retention pond, it just isn't "livable" space where we can spend time with LO outdoors. Right now we're stuck hanging out in our front yard while all the neighbors drive by and see me in my lounge clothes sunning on a blanket in the grass. Something I'd definitely prefer doing in the privacy of our backyard.

So, we decided it made sense to put in a deck in the backyard we could use as our own semi-private getaway spot, PLUS it'll add some serious resale value to the house when we decide to sell. And of course, my super-handy husband has been working on this monstrosity all by his lonesome. Did I mention how amazing he is!?

Anywho, I thought I'd show you guys what it looked like before he got started:

He's made some serious progress, and has just about completed the framing. Laying the actual decking boards is next on his list - he ordered over $1,000 in wood yesterday and it should be here today for him to get started. Do you realize how large 500 sq. ft. is? I didn't, at least not until I went outside and saw the framing work he's completed:

I'm SO very proud of all he's accomplished and I know he's planning to have this whole thing knocked out by the end of June. It's absolutely shocking how capable this man is. I love him to pieces and can't wait for our (growing) family to spend quality time together outside on this beautiful deck.

I'll post more pictures as this project progresses.

A Day of Bullet Points

Today I'm happy because:

• LO woke up in a good mood
• We're having lunch with my mom and sisters at Olive Garden - one of my favs
• LO's Jibbetz should be here Monday - I'm trying to be patient
• My good friend found out yesterday she's having a baby GIRL (already has a 2-1/2 year old boy and is due with her baby girl just 4 weeks before me)
• LO will now watch Sesame Street while I take a shower and typically doesn't get into anything she shouldn't (knock on wood)
• Hubs is making some serious progress on our 500 sq. ft. deck. (Note to self: I should post some progress pictures...)
• I listened to my baby's heartbeat the other day with our rented fetal doppler. Such peace of mind and utter joy to hear!
• We have our 16 week appointment tomorrow.
• Our ultrasound appointment is a mere 27 days away. We should be able to find out if we're expecting a boy or girl!
• If it's warm enough after LO's nap, we're planning to head to the pool for the first time this summer! Woot!
• I've progressed from an unexpected love of BBQ chicken to an even more unexpected craving for Buffalo chicken! NEVER been a fan but am craving it like a crazy person!
• I've finally gotten over my incessant need for comments on my blog posts and am happy and content to just share my thoughts/life with the blogging community with no expectations from my readers. I really just enjoy it now!
• Our beach trip with 2 of my favorite couples and their kids is only about 3 weeks away. Woot!

What makes YOU happy today?

16 Weeks!

Week and day: 16 weeks and 1 day

Belly Button in or out: Totally still IN. I don't expect it to pop out--ever.

Wedding rings on or off: SO on. Starting to get a little bit tight first thing in the morning but then not so bad the rest of the day.

Food cravings: BBQ chicken! Any kind of chicken! I should be clucking by now based on how much chicken I've eaten over the past 3-4 weeks. Seriously.

Food aversions: Nothing really. I don't have a huge sweet tooth and I've had little to no desire to bake goodies over the past 2+ months. For those of you who know me, this is SO not normal.

Nausea: Almost gone completely! Very rarely hits me. I think all that chicken is keeping my tummy happy!

Energy level: Energy schmenergy. I didn't have much before this pregnancy, and certainly don't have too much now. ((sigh)) Wish it would pick up a bit and I'm still slightly hopeful it will.

Weight gain: Not sure. I'm guessing about 5 pounds but I'll find out for sure at my next appointment on Wednesday.

Mood: Stoked! We've made progress cleaning out our spare bedroom to turn into the baby's room. I've got a ton of miscellaneous "stuff" I need to go through and/or find a new home for, but it'll happen over time. Oh, and I'm also WAY excited that I was able to successfully install the ceiling fan with lighting kit all by myself in the baby's room! Hubs was quite impressed and surprised! Woot!

Maternity clothes: I'm so wearing some now. I still have jeans that fit okay, but when I sit down, they dig into my tummy and that does not make for a happy pregnant lady. I'm in my maternity pants most of the time, and still have a few maternity tops I'm in to.

Size of baby: Right now, he/she is about the size of an avocado: 4 1/2 inches long (head to rump) and 3 1/2 ounces.

Baby's changes: His (or her!?) legs are much more developed, his head is more erect than it has been, and his eyes have moved closer to the front of his head. His ears are close to their final position, too. The patterning of his scalp has begun, though his locks aren't recognizable yet. He's even started growing toenails. And there's a lot happening inside as well. For example, his heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, and this amount will continue to increase as the baby continues to develop.

Next appointment: May 20th - check-up only.

Other: I'm counting down the days until our next appointment on June 15th. We SHOULD be able to find out if we're expecting a boy or girl! Woot!

Okay, as promised... here's a belly shot of my big ol' pregnant self (please pardon how dark it came out -- not enough time to fix it!). I'm SO depressed at how huge I look this early, but I've heard you "pop" sooner with subsequent pregnancies. I know I'll end up looking like a heifer before this child arrives, but I'm okay with that, because nothing is as important as welcoming this healthy baby boy/girl into our world!

4-1/2 Weeks

Have I mentioned that in less than 4-1/2 weeks I will have reached the HALFWAY point of my pregnancy?? I am astonished at the mere thought of it! Seems like just yesterday we were anxiously awaiting the results of the HPT. Now we have just over 4 weeks before we'll know if our tiny one is a boy or girl! I cannot wait to find out.

My number one priority is a HEALTHY baby. And I'm happy to say that either way -- boy or girl -- I'll be ecstatic, for different reasons. I think it would be awesome to have a boy. We'd have a perfectly balanced family, and hubs would have a son to do all that fun "father-son" stuff. On the other hand, I know LO would most likely have a lot more fun growing up with a little sister. They could share stuff, play dress-up together, etc. It's a win-win situation.

But before then, I do have a regular ol' non-ultrasound appointment next Wednesday. We get to hear the baby's heartbeat, although that's not an overly unusual occurrence since we've rented a fetal doppler for at-home use throughout this pregnancy (as we did with LO). So we have the convenience and peace of mind of listening to TO any ol' time we want!

Oh, and just for the record, I'm planning to start posting belly pics (totally and completely clothed, of course!) on Sundays when I do my weekly pregnancy update posts. I'm so ashamed of how HUGE I already think I look, and I can't even imagine the fact that I haven't even started to pack on the 2nd and 3rd trimester baby weight yet! ACK!

Party On, Dude!

There is just over 2 months until LO's 2nd birthday. How much planning have I done?

Zero.

For those of you who know me well, this is SO not like me. I'm sure most of you are thinking, "What's wrong with this woman? She has like 11 weeks to plan a 2-year-old's birthday party! What's the big deal??"

Well, let's just say LO's 1st birthday invitations went out 6 weeks before the party. I started working on the party plans in January -- a good 6 months prior to her birthday! Crazy, right?

This time around, I was almost 100% set on an Elmo-themed birthday party. She loves the little red guy, right? Well, I was talking with my friend Joelle about her twin girls' 1st birthday party after seeing some of the pictures she shared on Facebook. It was so adorable and just had a pretty color scheme and used some monograms here and there. No "theme" per se, which I thought was just adorable. She made a GREAT point that she knew the girls were going to want to choose Barbie or Dora or some other character-type parties when they were older, so for now (read: they're too little to demand a specific party theme), she's doing what she wants to do, resulting in cute and classic party themes.

I might take a page from Joelle's playbook and do something more "generic" for LO's 2nd birthday party. Whatever I decide to do, I need to get on it SOON! There's no telling what other stuff will take up my time in the next few months (pool season, preparing for baby #2, etc.) so I've GOT to get on the ball!

Easy and Delicious

I can't help but share this awesome recipe. It is THE EASIEST crock-pot chicken recipe I know of, and it is sooooooooooooooo good! I hope my friend CM doesn't mind me sharing this recipe with you, but I just KNOW you'll love this as much as I do!

Creamy Crock-Pot Chicken

Ingredients:
2-4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 envelope dry onion soup mix
1 can cream of mushroom soup
8-16 oz. sour cream

Directions:

1. Rinse chicken with cold water; pat dry.

2. Place onion soup mix, cream of mushroom soup and sour cream in a lightly greased slow cooker.

3. Mix ingredients well, adding a dash or two of salt and pepper. Add chicken to slow cooker, covering it with the soup mixture.

4. Cook for approximately 4 hours on High or 6 hours on Low.

5. Serve over mashed potatoes (or rice) and enjoy!


[NOTE: Sorry for the horrible cell phone pic AND for the fact that I forgot to take a picture of dinner plated and looking all pretty. Yes, this picture is of the leftovers! I also served with applesauce (not pictured). :)]

Bon appétit!

Mine!!!

I'm a stay at home mom. Life is good. However, my daughter gets very little interaction with other kiddos her age. The only time she gets to socialize is when we take her to church. Every Sunday morning, for approximately 2-1/2 hours, she gets to hang out with anywhere from 1 to 4 other one- and two-year-olds. It's really great!

Or at least I thought it was.

Just recently, our daughter has miraculously learned the word "mine." Mind you, she did NOT learn that at home, or at a daycare or anywhere else. She learned it from another little person in her class. The proof is that when we mention said child's name to LO, she responds by saying, "mine!" Yet when we mention names of other kids in the class, she simply repeats their names with a smile.

This is VERY frustrating. And quite frankly, it's getting out of control! Every single thing in our house has now been deemed, in LO's opinion, to be "mine!" It's driving hubs and I C-R-A-Z-Y!!! This is not something we approve of, and it's killing me to have to keep reprimanding her (including time-outs) for repeatedly saying this horrible, useless word over and over again.

I hate to admit it, but I know this is just the first of what will be MANY poor habits she picks up from other kids at the church nursery or at her preschool once she starts this fall.

((sigh))

Get Active!

Okay, so I know it's probably not in my best interest to sit around on the couch all day, snacking and eating whatever sounds good and not making any effort to move my body whatsoever (besides the occasional trip to the cupboard or refrigerator, of course!). I have NO desire to pack on 30+ pounds with this pregnancy, but I also have NO desire to turn into a gym rat in order to avoid said weight gain.

Enter EA Sports Active.
I happened to see a brief segment on Ellen today where she and Alison Sweeney had a bit of an Active "dual" against each other and the game piqued my interest. Now, I already have a Wii and the Wii Fit, but do I use the Wii Fit? Nooooooooooooooo! Of course not! But when I saw this segment, I thought that this definitely looks like something I can get in to!

I did some preliminary research and wasn't able to find any strict warning that this fitness program is not advised for pregnant women. Plus, it's customizable so I'm guessing I can do more of the "low impact" type workouts and stay away from anything that seems like too much (especialy considering I've been a couch potato for the past 20+ months).

Anywho, I'm 99% sure I'm gonna give this bad boy a try and see if it can't help keep me from gaining a zillion pounds with this pregnancy. I'll keep you all posted on how it goes! Maybe one day I'll even consider a video blog post (vlog?) -- if I decide to get all fancy on ya'll!

15 Weeks!

I'm taking a page from my friend Joelle's blog and am going to (try to remember to) post weekly updates as my pregnancy progresses. I hope you all enjoy this little insight into how TO ("Tiny One") is impacting our lives, how I'm feeling, and what we're up to as we ready our household for baby #2!

Week and day: 15 weeks

Belly Button in or out: Totally IN. My belly button never popped out when I was pregnant with LO, and I don't expect it to this time, either.

Wedding rings on or off: SO on. But I know it's only a matter of time before they'll end up around my neck as my fingers continue to expand.

Food cravings: BBQ chicken! Crazy since until about 3 weeks ago I was a total vegetarian. I'm not eating any other kind of meat -- just chicken. And it's yuuuuummmmm.

Food aversions: Peanuts. Sweet stuff like brownies, cookies, cake, etc. -- which is CRAZY coming from me!

Nausea: Finally starting to ease up. Still hits occasionally, but not near as bad as it was during the first trimester. Whew!

Energy level: As if I had any energy before getting pregnant, right? Ha! I'm doing okay I guess. Always wish there was MORE energy for me to do more fun stuff with LO.

Weight gain: Only 3-4 lbs. That will start to increase (dramatically) in no time!

Mood: Excited! Looking forward to getting the house ready for our new arrival!

Maternity clothes: Hate to admit it, but I have been throwing a pair of maternity jeans and capris into the mix as needed. Also washed some maternity shirts over the weekend because I'm NOT a fan of tight tops that accentuate my growing belly -- I prefer loose, comfy clothing!

Size of baby: About 4 inches long (crown to rump) and weighing in at about 2 1/2 ounces. Basically, about the size of an apple.

Baby's changes: He/She is busy moving amniotic fluid through her nose and upper respiratory tract. His/Her legs are growing longer than his/her arms now, and he/she can move all of his/her joints and limbs. Although his/her eyelids are still fused shut, he/she can sense light.

Next appointment: May 20th - check-up only.

Other: I am so very grateful and blessed to have this baby in our lives! I'm busy cleaning out our back bedroom/junk room so I can continue with my "To Do" list to get that room ready for this baby. I'm also looking forward to June 15th when we go for our 20 week ultrasound and (hopefully) find out if we're having a boy or girl! Woot!

Freebies!

Okay, I am absolutely miserable! Why, you ask? Because I have been eating out at restaurants for lunch and dinner for an entire week!

I like to go out to eat, and never really thought I'd tire of it. But guess what?! I DID!

The reason for all of this dining out is simple: freebies! I've signed up for a variety of "birthday clubs" at several restaurants and I've been cashing in like a fiend these past few days.

Some examples? Let me tell you...

• One FREE scoop of ice cream from Baskin-Robbins
• $5 off any order at McAlisters Deli
• FREE gourmet burger from Red Robin
• FREE dessert from Logan's Roadhouse
• FREE dessert from LongHorn Steakhouse
• FREE buffet from Ryan's

If any of these restaurants are in your neighborhood, you should consider signing up for their Birthday Clubs or eClubs. You'll get an occasional email from them about specials n' stuff, but you'll also get some awesome freebies for your birthday!

YUM!

Return to Sender

I'm so totally bummed to report that the crocs I ordered the other day were a no-go. I actually bought two pairs (pair?) -- the ones I posted about yesterday and a pair of the regular ol' crocs you see everywhere. Both of them were about a half size too big, and since they don't come in half-sizes, they both had to go back.

I'm totally hating it! Anyone have any suggestions on some super-comfy alternatives to the flip flop that a pregnant woman wouldn't mind wearing? I'm desperate for some new summer shoe wear!

Thanks, all!

Party Time!

Happy Birthday to me! I can no longer say I'm "just 30." Now it's "I'm in my 30s." Sounds SO much older, doesn't it?

Oh, well.

I'm waiting on the UPS man to deliver one of my presents to myself. I know I'll be LIVING in flip-flops this summer (as I do every summer), but I decided I wanted to try something a little different so I wouldn't get too terribly bored. Enter the crocs Malindi Flat Slingback:
Hopefully they're as comfy as they are cute! My other gift to myself is some more McBlooms Extremely Rich Cream. If you haven't tried this stuff, you have NO idea what you're missing. It smells divine (also comes in fragrance-free, but really, you don't want to miss out on it's light and beautiful scent), and it makes your skin SO stinkin' soft you wouldn't believe it!!
Have a great day!

Progress!

So we've been talking to LO about her future little brother or sister (whom she still refers to as "sticker"), but every time we mention the word "baby" she goes and finds her little baby doll:
I decided it was time to clarify things so I named her baby doll "Lucy." I referred to the doll as Lucy several times and now she knows when I ask to find Lucy, that means to go get her baby doll.

The great thing about this is that now when we mention her baby brother or sister, she knows we're not referring to her baby doll.

On to step 2: I explained to her that her baby brother or sister is in mommy's tummy. This concept seemed to elude her for a few days. Finally, last night, I asked her, "Where's your baby brother or sister?" And what did she do?? She pointed to mommy's tummy and even gave my belly a kiss!

SUCCESS!!!

She'll be just 22 months old in a few weeks, but she's already starting to understand that there's another baby in the equation and that she'll be a big sister one day soon. I know she has no concept of time, but I'm sure that it'll all start to make more sense as she sees mommy's tummy continue to grow bigger and bigger ((sigh)). This is such an exciting journey!!!

A Bit Behind On My Posting...

Hi, blogland! Sorry I've been so scarce in my posting lately. I'm working a (legitimate) part-time job from home but have been averaging a bit over my 20 hours. Plus, keeping up with LO while carrying TO ("Tiny One" - in case you forgot!) has kept me occupied more than you would believe!

Hubs, LO and I are QUITE excited about the additional family member we're expecting Nov. 1st (or much sooner if he/she cooperates with mommy!). Although I'm currently at 14 weeks, I neglected to post some pictures from our 12-week ultrasound. I am absolutely FLOORED at the 4D images we received. We were able to watch in real-time in 4D as our tiny one moved around, flailed his/her arms and legs, and fought the hiccups! It was amazing!

I'm happy to report that the nausea is easing up and my energy level is starting to pick up again (whew!). The 2nd trimester with LO was the BEST and I'm hopeful for the same with TO. Guess we'll have to wait n' see!

I'll try to keep my posting a bit more regular and often than it's been in the past few months. I won't lie, though -- your comments are what keep me going!