Calling all mothers to be.

I have found the answer.

....to our desire for slushy drinks at least :) It's sooo awesome and works great! Buy it!

11 Weeks!

I'm finally 11 weeks pregnant and the 1st trimester is almost over! YAY! I feel like I can finally begin to breathe again. This little baby has been very easy on me. Just this week I've started having major food aversions to almost everything - not really getting sick, but almost everything we have in the house that I think of eating ends up looking and tasting like squash (not literally, but I hate squash so it's about the same). Almost the only thing that even sounded good even a little bit was Wendy's chicken sandwhiches. And I never eat Wendy's! Silly baby!

I can tell that I'm carrying this baby higher than I carried Adrian. I've thanked the Lord for this often this week - hopefully the middle/end of this pregnancy will not be as painful as Adrian's was.  I'm looking forward to hopefully feeling the baby in the next week or two (I first felt Adrian at 13 weeks).  

I have my 2nd appointment this week on Thursday. I'm looking forward to hearing the baby again on the doppler and hearing that everything is still going okay.

2 more weeks until the 2nd trimester - yay!

A big day for Adrian!

This morning, my little man (14 months) came up to me while I was cleaning up breakfast. 

He signed "more" (which he's started using for everything - quickly replacing his previously favorite sign "please"), and said, "joosh" (juice)?

He has said this word before, mostly when I ask him if he wants some juice, he'll repeat the last word of the sentence. He doesn't get it often, but he's had a tough week with teething and so he's been able to have a little that's extremely watered down so he gets enough fluids. Adrian is good at signing and we rarely have to question what he needs or wants, but he's yet to ask for something verbally.

We were SO PROUD! I quickly filled up his cup with a little juice and gave it to him. He drank it happily while we stood over him glowing with pride :)

We love you, baby boy!

10 Weeks Pregnant!

Dear Little One,

This week I am 10 weeks far along with you. You are still being easy on me - no sickness or nausea yet! I have felt a little loss of appetite which is strange...I hardly find any food that sounds good when I finally feel hungry. Lately I've been resorting to goldfish and cucumbers or tomatoes. 

You are the size of a prune this week. Sometimes I wonder if I can feel you. I feel something that certainly feels like it could be you, but my logic tells me it's still too early.

I heard your heartbeat on our home doppler this week at 9weeks6days. It was strong and around 140 to 160s beats per minute. It set my mind at ease to hear it. 

Even though I can't "feel" your personality through your movements yet, I feel that because this pregnancy is so different from my pregnancy with Adrian, you are so much different than him. Such a different personality in your prune-sized self.  We love you deeply, sweet baby.

May 17th Again

Every May 17th, I write. It's been a habit (not optional at first) of mine since the first May 17th.

Looking back at last years posts, I can see that the 12 year mark and the realization that my little boy would never know his Papa was hitting me pretty hard. 

This year, the realization is still with me and the sadness sets in as it does every year, but my heart is not as heavy. 

The memories are starting to fade and I don't feel so desperate to cling to them. I feel a little more of my identity peel away from it...letting the relief of age and forgiveness free me from the hurt. This year I feel, and see, Grace. 

Thank you, Lord.

By next year, I will have two precious little ones filling every vein of my heart and my life and though yes, I wish they knew their Papa, I am happy that they're here. 

I'm thankful for my life and for the sweet husband that comes home to us every day and I'm thankful for the joy-drenched days we have.

The Lord is FAITHFUL!

 Thank you for reading!

Adrian Loves Music

This is how we spend a large part of our family time lately - drumming and singing with Adrian. He LOVES it.

9 Weeks Pregnant!

Well, Little One, we only have one month left of the 1st trimester!

This week, I went to Tiffany's Wedding and felt pretty good other than being tired. By the end of the wedding though, my stomach felt like it was stretching and I was exhausted. Still no sickness! My Mom surprised me with gummy bears and sprinkles when I arrived at her house (my current cravings).

This week, you are the size of a green olive. I told your Daddy that I almost feel like I can feel you move sometimes but I know I really can't yet. I'm very anxious to feel you though! I've been a little more emotional and weepy lately...mostly just crying for no reason or sobbing when there is a reason :)

Your daddy and I really feel like you are a girl. It's just a "feeling" but we felt the same way when we didn't yet know that your brother was a boy. Either way, we are very very excited about meeting you! We already have your name picked out and pray for you by both your boy name and your girl name often. You are already deeply loved, sweet child.

Here's my belly at 9 weeks.

8 Weeks Pregnant

Hi sweet little baby!

This week, you are the size of a raspberry. I can't wait until you are a lime or a mango or something else so I can feel you...but only 4 more weeks until we reach the 2nd trimester!

Your daddy was really sweet to us last night. I was craving BBQ ribs...a favorite food of mine anyways, but they sounded SO good last night especially. You, little baby, have had me wanting strange things like a bowl of sprinkles, lemon cupcakes, authentic gummy bears and similar things like that...so your daddy decided we should have at least one craving indulged. So he went to Applebees around 11pm to get them for us and of course they were delicious!

I've been trying to eat healthy despite all these sugary cravings. I have NOT given in to the longing for sprinkles and gummy bears although I'm sure I'll have to have some before you're born. Already, you're different from your brother :) The midwife suggested I eat small meals every two hours so I've been altering my diet a bit to accommodate that. It's been pretty easy and could be another reason why I haven't felt very sick.

I love you sweet baby! I can't wait to meet you!

Sweet stuff

Dear Adrian,
Today, I put you down for your nappy nap and you laid your head on my shoulder, cuddling your cozy in your mouth.
I sang "you are my sunshine" to you because you love that song.
Then, you hummed along.
So, we swayed, and hugged, and sang before I put you down for your nap.

That was a sweet moment, son. I love you.

Love, your mama

1st Doctor's Appointment for Mini Ghees

I had my first prenatal appointment today for Mini Ghees. It was very long and drawn out with a lot of questions: "no, I've never had herpes or a heart attack" over and over again. But that's okay.

I got to see the wonderful midwife who delivered Adrian (lots of prayers that she will be able to deliver this one as well). She ordered a surprise ultrasound to see our little one! I've never had an internal ultrasound before and it was very clear and exciting. 

I cried of course.

Mini Ghees was bumping around inside with a sweet precious beating heart with a heartbeat of 150 - Nice and strong. It was really amazing to be able to see him/her so young and definitely put some of my fears to rest. 

Right now I'm feeling tired...I have a feeling the baby is a girl, but that's not a preference, just a feeling. Either way would be really exciting and I can't wait to know whether Adrian will have a baby brother or sister!

Nick had to leave the appointment early for work so he wasn't there for the ultrasound, but he was very excited to see the picture when I got home. He had me text it to his phone immediately. We're very excited parents! Thank you for your prayers for our sweet little one.

7 Week Bump

This week I am 7 weeks pregnant with Mini Ghees. I've been feeling pretty good for being pregnant, mostly just tired and a little sore from the stretching and growing pains. 

This week I've been a little more nauseous which has been welcome...I'm finally starting to feel pregnant! 

My cravings so far have been lemonade and dark chocolate...we'll see if it lasts :)

 

I started showing about 2 weeks ago but figured I'd take a quick picture this week. I'm not as small as I was when I got pregnant with Adrian so I'm not super excited about taking a lot of pictures of myself, but I know I'll regret it if I don't!

So, here's my baby #2 bump!

Still don't know if there's one or two in there...but I'm thinking only one! My first appointment is this Thursday and I'm very excited.

This week, baby is the size of a blueberry. Sweet baby blueberry.