24 Weeks

How far along: 24 Weeks

Baby’s size: ~12 inches and ~1.5 lbs (the size of an eggplant)

Maternity clothes: Oh, yes.

Sleep: Can't get enough! Beginning to feel tired a lot and REALLY struggling to get up in the mornings. 

Best moment of this week: Blake FINALLY felt her kicking last night! I've felt it for about 9 or 10 weeks now, but she has become very strong lately. Blake was finally patient enough last night to wait a few minutes with his hand on my belly, and she kicked her daddy for the first time. :) 

Miss anything: This is going to sound bad, but I would KILL for a margarita lately. Oh, and an extra cup of coffee or two in the mornings!

Food cravings: Mexican food, Mexican food, and more Mexican food! Plus sweets, soda, and strawberries - stereotypical girl, huh?

Queasy or sick?: Occasional headaches when I get tired, but not really!

Have you started to show yet?: Um...I'm huge. And have SO MUCH left to go! :/

Gender: Girl!

Belly button in or out: Out...very, very out.

Wedding rings on or off: On - this was never an issue with me while pregnant with Carter, so I'm hopeful that it won't be an issue now. 

Happy or moody most of the time: Mostly happy - I've found myself being a little more moody in the mornings or when I get tired. And I get annoyed...quickly...I sometimes feel bad for my morning classes. I'm just not a morning person.

Looking forward to: Hosting Carter's birthday party this weekend (HOW is he already TWO?!!) and being done with work! 5 more weeks!!!

22 Weeks

How far along: 22 weeks. 

Baby’s size: ~10 inches, 1 pound.

Total Weight Gain: 9 pounds to date. (How a 1-pound baby causes nearly double digit weight gain is BEYOND me!)

Maternity clothes: YES. I can no longer do any regular pants unless they are athletic shorts or stretchy leggings.

Sleep: Sleep has been fine - I'm not uncomfortable yet, but I get really hot at night and am up frequently. 

Best moment of this week: Buying the first of many coordinated outfits for my kiddos to wear this summer/fall. They are light blue gingham with little crabs on them - she got a bubble and he got some shorts that will go with a red Polo. :) 

Miss anything: My old clothes...we put aside some money for me to go shopping this weekend because all of my maternity clothes from Carter were cold-weather, and it's been 85 lately. I've been surviving by rotating two different pairs of pants and a handful of shirts, but I need more to make it through.

Movement: TONS. Constant. I have been really trying to get Blake to feel her because she's getting so strong, but the minute he puts his hand on my belly, she stops. He must have a calming influence on her.
Food cravings: Mexican food - I've eaten more nachos and tacos lately than I care to think about!

Queasy or sick?: Nope!  
Have you started to show yet?: YES! I feel HUGE already, but I know I'm only going to get bigger.

Gender: GIRL! :) 

Belly button in or out: Officially out.

Wedding rings on or off: On.

Happy or moody most of the time: Becoming moodier...I have felt lots of ups and downs lately. 

Looking forward to: Wrapping up the school year (7 more weeks!) and putting together her nursery! My mom bought some of her bedding at Pottery Barn Kids this weekend, but I have lots of old little boy stuff to move out of her room before I can really piece it together. At this point, it's a baby storage land. 

20 Weeks: It's A...

20 weeks, 5 days

How far along: 20 weeks. 

Baby’s size: ~8 inches, 11 ounces or about the size of a banana.

Maternity clothes: Some...definitely had to bust out the maternity pants this week. Part of me is sad, part of me is thrilled to be comfortable again! I can still get away with most tops, but I'm starting to need camisoles underneath some that are getting short.

Sleep: Yes, please! Sleeping like a champ in our new house now that we got a fan going for white noise. Where has THAT trick been all my life?!!

Best moment of this week: TIE - moving into our new house last weekend AND finding out the gender all in a 24-hour period!

Miss anything: Comfortably sleeping on my stomach and being able to work out without getting sciatic nerve pain and shin splints. :(

Movement: TONS. And loving every minute!
Food cravings: Sweets, baked cheetos, and soda, mostly. Oh, and turkey dogs. Weird, I know.

Queasy or sick?: Nope! 
Have you started to show yet?: YES! Really, REALLY showing now.

Gender: We got official confirmation last weekend...and it's 100% BABY GIRL! (Lord, help me!)

Belly button in or out: Starting to pop out...

Wedding rings on or off: On.

Happy or moody most of the time: Mostly happy. 

Looking forward to: Putting together her nursery! The painters started today, and I went with gray and lavender (official name: wisteria) in her room. Three walls are gray, and one is a lavender accent wall. I was nervous, but it came out SO cute! Can't wait to start looking for bedding, art, etc. I have SO many ideas, but I am trying not to spend a fortune, too. Pinterest, here I come! :)

Bit the Bullet Today...

...and busted out the maternity pants. I've been squishing poor little baby E into my normal pants for the last two or three weeks and holding some of them together with a hair rubber band. Swallowed my pride this morning as I hit 19 weeks and brought the maternity clothes out of the attic. Sad day, but man, I'm comfy! :) We find out baby E's gender (officially!) in exactly 48 hours...I cannot wait!!!!

18 Weeks

Other than the sonogram picture a month ago, I haven't really posted anything about my pregnancy so far...sorry #2! So, I decided to steal this from another pregnant's friend blog rather than just rambling...something tells me this won't be the first time I apologize for not being as diligent about documenting baby #2. Second child problems already?

How far along: 18 weeks. 

Baby’s size: ~6 inches, 6 ounces or about the size of a sweet potato.

Maternity clothes: Not yet - but close! (I'll post a "bump" picture at some point, but I have ZERO desire to take one currently.)

Sleep: Rough...frequent trips to the bathroom, lots of lying awake and staring at the ceiling...having a hard time shutting the brain off at night...

Best moment of this week: Laying on the dock at the lake in 80-degree weather while the little one was kicking up a STORM! It was amazing! I think he/she is going to be a huge lake fan!

Miss anything: I've finally started to look pregnant, so I am about to start missing some of my normal clothes...oh, and dresses! So many of my spring dresses have natural waists, and they just don't look right on me anymore. Oh well, time to go shopping! :) 

Movement: I thought I was crazy, but I started to feel movement at about 14 weeks. I'm feeling it a LOT now...doesn't feel so much like kicks, though. It feels kind like a little goldfish is swimming in my belly. I feel it the best after drinking some ice water and lying still...little one goes wild!
Food cravings: Not too much other than carbs - bagels, cereal, pasta, oatmeal, etc. Oh, and chocolate-chip ANYTHING.

Queasy or sick?: No nausea anymore, but I do still have occasional migraines/headaches if I don't sleep well or get enough caffeine.  
Have you started to show yet?: YES! I really started popping out last week, and after a weekend away at the lake (with LOTS of eating involved), there is no denying it anymore. I actually had a (somewhat offensive) student come up to me in class yesterday and say, "You look REALLY pregnant today." Um...thanks?

Gender: We think we know, but we'll get 100% confirmation next week! Can't wait!

Belly button in or out: In…but stretching!

Wedding rings on or off: On

Happy or moody most of the time: I say happy...Blake may disagree. Definitely moody in the mornings...sorry, babe! 

Looking forward to: SO MUCH! Getting the "official" gender confirmation next week, moving into our new house (also next week!), started to go shopping for this little one, picking a name!  

Our Littlest Valentine

We loved getting to see this little one move and kick and squirm this morning! Everything looked perfect and healthy, and he/she is growing right on track. What a special day! We are BLESSED and can't wait until August!!!!

20 Months: 7 Things I Want to Remember

I am home with Carter this afternoon as he has (yet another) cold/cough, etc. and since he is napping, I decided to chronicle seven of the things I am LOVING about his age and things I want to remember when he is older.

1) Instead of saying "more" (which he used to say perfectly), he now says "mon" with a little Jamaican accent to it. Love.
2) The answer to ANY question not related to bedtime or a diaper change is, "Yeah," with a little Canadian twist. Example - Last night, I asked Carter if he had eight heads and lived in Asia...response? "Yeah!" So fun to mess with him. :)
3) Every night after he gets out of the bath, he runs down the hallway, grabs my hand, and says "Beh!" This is his way of asking to go play/wrestle on Mommy and Daddy's bed. We do somersaults, tackle each other, and just wear his little naked booty out before bed. It is far and away my favorite time of the whole day.
4) He has a mild obsession with fruit snacks, or "cack acks" as he calls them. Don't ever ask this child what he wants to eat because you'll get the same answer every time.."Cack acks! Cack acks!"
5) One of his favorite things to do is put Emma in her crate with a teddy bear and make her go "night night." The funny part is that when he stands at her crate door and calls her name, Emma actually obeys him! Cesar Milan would be proud of the little pack leader.
6) This kid is STILL obsessed with being outside, and the evolution of this word has come a long way. What started as "asa" became "ousigh" and is now "outdies." Getting closer, buddy, getting closer.
7) He is a MAJOR animal lover - current favorites are turtles (actually said correctly!), fish ("kish"), cats ("kitties"), and ducks ("duhs"). He loves to go feed the ducks that live in our neighborhood pond, and we make frequent trips to pet stores to see the others. Easy way to kill an hour with this guy. We are even considering buying him a goldfish for his second birthday - cheap and exciting, right? :)

This kid is AWESOME. Love you, buddy!