Peanut is the size of Something...

Week 22: Papaya or Spaghetti Squash

Well, it seems that there is some question about the actual size of this baby, depending on which site you visit. Plus The Bump seems to be dropping the ball on the week-by-week updates from here on out... such a shame. SO here is MY summary - Peanut can hear me when I talk/sing/burp/hiccup/etc. He weighs approximately 1 lb. and is about 1 ft. long from head-to-toe. Peanut is currently working on his aerobic exercises, which seem to involve lots of kicking and punching. From what I've been told, he sleeps 12-14 hrs. each day, but I'm not so sure about that - unless maybe he continues his exercises as he sleeps.

 

Life Update:

• We have hot water again!! WOOHOO!!! <~ almost made me late for work; it felt so good that I didn't want to get out of the shower!!
• I have a cold/sinus infection/ SOMETHING that's making my head weigh much more than normal, creating unbelievable pressure in my face, giving me nose bleeds and headaches, and generally making me feel kind of BLAH!
• I have no idea what this kid is going to be named. NO CLUE AT ALL!
• Unless someone happens to know someone that would love to be a nanny for Landen and ultimately Peanut, then we have no choice but to start him in daycare... something Keith and I both dread, an idea we both loath, and something that in all reality we cannot even come close to affording on my salary... we are pretty much out of options.

 

Pregnancy Stuff:

1. How far: 22 weeks 0 days
2. Total weight: -4 lbs
3. Baby bump: You bet!
4. Fundal height: I can't figure out how to do this measurement on myself, so I'll just have to wait until my next appointment
5. Maternity clothes: Yep and I no longer have a choice in this matter.
6. Movement: YEAH! All the time, around the clock!
7. Cravings: Not really much of anything... though the stuff I do want to eat is strictly bland stuff
8. Aversions: Stinky stuff, ONIONS, and sweets
9. Symptoms: Stomach and back cramps, dizzy/lightheaded, headaches, sciatic pains down both my legs, sudden need to run to the potty (thanks to strategically aimed kicks/punches to my bladder), slightly dumber than normal, moody/emotional ::SORRY::, very tired
10. Sleep: I've been having a hard time getting comfortable + I wake up 354218614 times during the night = not great
11. Gender: Still a boy
12. Belly button: It's still in
13. What I miss: Being able to easily reach the floor when I drop something...
14. What I look forward to: Keith and Landen being able to feel Peanut kicking and wiggling. Choosing a name for Peanut. Bedtime.
15. Concerns: My health, childcare, having 2 children under the age of 2!
16. 
    

    Blessings: My family. Friends.
17. Picture: I thought I would share my little monkey and my hubby this week... I am running a little late on the Halloween picture. O well.



He LOVES his stuffed animals



Peanut is the size of a Banana

Week 21: Banana 

Baby gulps down several ounces of amniotic fluid every day, both for hydration and nutrition and to practice swallowing and digesting. And, these days, those taste buds actually work! Studies show that after birth, babies are most interested in tastes they've already experienced through amniotic fluid. Meaning, think about what you want your future child to eat as you prepare your own lunch.

Life Update: We got to spend Sunday lunch with my family, celebrating my grandmother's 90th birthday! It is so amazing to think about how much has happened in her lifetime. I mean, 1921, when she was born was BEFORE the great depression and BEFORE WWII; not to mension home televisions, microwaves, computers, cell phones, etc. WOW! What is even more amazing, is that she still has a wonderfully clear mind and can remember stuff like it just happened yesterday! She is an awesome, God fearing woman, and I am so blessed to have her in my life!

ALSO, because of my grandmother's birthday party, I got to see my sister. Seeing how we are both pregnant and living 3 hours away from each other, it's been a while since we were last together.

PLUS, combining all different senarios (highchair acrobatics, bed falls, climbing on random objects, general clumsiness, etc) Landen managed to hit is head 9 times on Saturday! Good grief! I think he must be part cat to have the ability to continue life as normal.

AND, our water heater died on Sunday... COLD SHOWERS! =(

Pregnancy Stuff:

1. How far: 21 weeks 0 days
2. Total weight: -4 lbs
3. Baby bump: You bet! I am 10 weeks behind my sister, she looks like she is 10 weeks behind ME! I blame this on the fact that this is her 1st child. See for yourself in the picture.
4. Fundal height: I can't figure out how to do this measurement on myself, so I'll just have to wait until my next appointment
5. Maternity clothes: Well, I believe I no longer have a choice in this matter. BUT I did get some maternity khaki pants this weekend (courtesy of my birthday money) and I am really excited about them because I now have 3 pairs of pants to rotate between church and work!
6. Movement: YEAH! I am not sure what happened over this past week, but this child must be doing aerobics 24/7!
7. Cravings: Not really much of anything... though the stuff I do want to eat is strictly bland stuff
8. Aversions: Stinky stuff, ONIONS, and sweets
9. Symptoms: Stomach and back cramps, headaches, sciatic pains down both my legs, sudden need to run to the potty (based primarily on direct bladder kicks/punches), slightly dumber than normal, moody/emotional ::SORRY::, very tired, STRANGE DREAMS, and I do believe the floor is getting further and further away by the day.
10. Sleep: It's ok, strange dreams + aches & pains + life = not great but it is manageable
11. Gender: Still a boy
12. Belly button: It's still in
13. What I miss: You know when you're in the car and something rolls in to the floor board and you just pick it up like it's no big deal? I miss that!
14. What I look forward to: Keith and Landen being able to feel Peanut kicking and wiggling. Choosing a name for Peanut. Bedtime. THE WATER HEATER WORKING AGAIN!
15. Concerns: My health, childcare options, having 2 children under the age of 2!, Landen being able to climb up & down his highchair...ugh!
16. Blessings: My family. Getting to celebrate my grandmother's 90th birthday!! Friends. This weather; it is BEAUTIFUL outside!
17. Picture: Like I said, my sister is 31 weeks and I am 21 weeks, but I look like I am further along... o well! Maybe she's just taller so she has more vertical room to expand!? lol.

Peanut is the size of a Cantaloupe

Week 20: Cantaloupe

Baby's digestive system is busy creating meconium (a tarry black substance made of swallowed amniotic fluid, digestive secretion and dead cells), which will fill the first diaper after birth. And, speaking of the diaper situation... baby's genitals are now fully formed! 

Doctor's Report: Blood pressure is ok. Baby seems to be doing just fine - Heart rate is 150ish BPM. I am still limited on what I can do: no lifting things (I CAN lift Landen OCCASSIONALLY), no prolonged standing, no running, and generally no pushing myself... blah. Sounds exciting, right? But I know it will all be worth it! The next time I go to the doctor (4 weeks), I will start having UltraSounds every 4 weeks! <~ Perk of having a high risk pregnancy... gotta look for the silver lining!

General Pregnancy Stuff:

1.     How far along: 20 weeks 1 day

2.     Total weight gain: -4 (I gained 3 lbs)

3.     Baby bump: Yes. And if you tell me that I look like I am due any minute, must be carrying twins/triplets, or anything else along those lines… please be prepared for a punch or a kick from yours truly (the apparent beached whale).

4.     Fundal height: I’m measuring at 21 weeks which is still a normal range… TAKE THAT, you rude people mentioned in #3!

5.     Maternity clothes: Of course. The rubber band trick does still work though!

6.     Movement: More often at night, and I can only feel Peanut moving in my lower abdomen and pelvic floor (pleasant I know)… probably because the placenta is still covering up the front of my belly.

7.     Cravings: Bland stuff and MILK!

8.     Aversions: Still Spicy foods, meats (for the most part), sweets, and random stuff that I don't realize sounds terrible until I am presented with it...

9.     Symptoms: Serious cramping, headaches, TIRED, back aches, sciatic pains...

10. Sleep: Did you see #9

11. Gender: definitely a boy!

12. Belly button: In

13. What I miss: Being independent… it’s hard to be independent when you can’t pick things up!

14. What I'm looking forward to: Figuring out a name for Peanut

15. Concerns: My health for the duration of this pregnancy, my job (in relation to this pregnancy), Landen thinking I don't love him as much because I can't pick him up much or play with him as much.

16. Blessings: Peanut is healthy, I am allowed to hold Landen occasionally, so far the restrictions have been working to keep me off bed rest!!, Our friends bringing us dinner (huge help physically, emotionally, and financially!)!

!)!

We made it to a new week! (Peanut is the size of a Mango)

We survived! Last week, well, it was not good. Let's recap: (not for the faint of heart, or little eyes...)

1. Landen was sick - Tuesday doctor appointment - double ear infection, sinus infection, and a cold
2. Landen got worse before getting better - Wednesday staying home - fever hovered in the 103-104*F range and he was SUPER needy/pitiful/fussy/SICK! + absolute refusal of any and all food & drink
3. ER Trip - Wednesday night... ugh - High fever + refusal of food/drink = extreme dehydration
4. Home at last - Thursday morning - After several rounds of IV fluids, a full night in the ER, a catheter, medicine, fever breaking, and 25 hours since most recent wet diaper... He peed!! Yippy! We come home and sleep! Day #2 of missing work.
5. Nightmare - Thursday night - I make my way to the restroom (a frequent occurance with me being pregnant and all) only to discover blood, a substantial amount of it! I panic! => Call the after hours line and speak to the On Call doctor who assures me that it is good news that I am not having major cramping, but that I need to lay flat (no propping) and rest until morning; at which point I have to see my doctor and get an ultrasound.
6. Doctor's Office - Friday morning - I go to the Ultrasound office (scared to death might I add). The ladies were super nice and led me to a separate waiting room. Then, rather than the regular U/S Tech, a specialist came to get me and performed my U/S (she is an MD, PhD). After doing multiple measurements, scans, and other things (of which I don't know what exactly they were) we learned that Peanut is totally fine!! Ultimately, we still don't know the cause of the bleeding. Strict bedrest through the weekend.

Week 19: Mango

Vernix caseosa, a greasy white substance made of lanugo, oil and dead skin cells (yum) now coats baby's skin, shielding it from the amniotic fluid. (Picture yourself after a nine-month bath, and the need for protection makes sense.) You might actually get to see the vernix at birth, especially if baby is premature.

Doctor's Report: Bedrest through the weekend and Monday. Back to work on Tuesday, with some restrictions: no lifting (not even 21lb. Landen... BOO!), rest as much as possible, do not push myself, don't stand/walk for extended periods of time.

General Pregnancy Stuff:

1. How far along: 19 weeks 1 day
2. Total weight gain: -7 (lost another 2lbs)
3. Baby bump: Yes, and if I don't know you then don't touch it... that's just weird!
4. Maternity clothes: Of course. The rubber band trick does still work though!
5. Movement: I have felt some bumps and knocks, but with the placenta completely covering the front of my uterus I'm not going to feel as much as I otherwise would.
6. Cravings: Bland stuff and MILK!
7. Aversions: Spicy, meats (for the most part), sweets, and random stuff that I don't realize sounds terrible until I am presented with it...
8. Symptoms: Elevated blood pressure, unexplained bleeding, cramping (i.e. feels like a charley-horse but it's in my stomach), headaches, fingers and feet beginning to swell (nice and early this time), TIRED, back aches, sciatic pains...
9. Sleep: Ha!
10. Gender: In case there were ANY questions, Fridays ultrasound reconfirmed that Peanut is most definitely a boy!
11. Belly button: In
12. What I miss: You have no idea how hard it is to NOT pick up Landen!! It's torcher... :(
13. What I'm looking forward to: Figuring out a name for Peanut
14. Concerns: My health for the duration of this pregnancy, my job (in relation to this pregnancy), Landen thinking I don't love him as much because I can't pick him up or play with him as much.
15. Blessings: Peanut is healthy, Landen is recovering, I'm not on permanent bed rest, Our friends bringing us dinner (huge help physically, emotionally, and financially!)!

Peanut is the size of a Sweet Potato!

Week 18: Sweet Potato

Your fetus has become amazingly mobile (at least compared to you), passing the hours yawning, hiccuping, rolling, twisting, kicking, punching, sucking and swallowing. And, baby's finally big enough that you'll be able to feel those movements soon.

Baby is approx 5.6 inches from head to bottom, but approx 10 inches from head to toe!!

I don't think I ever realized just how ugly a sweet potato is, until I compare my little baby boy to one... yikes!

Life with a Toddler Stuff:

1. We took the front of Landen's crib off, to convert it to a toddler bed. He thought it was the coolest thing EVER!! We wanted to get him accustom to sleeping in a big boy bed one step at a time (crib -> converted crib -> full-on, brand-new toddler bed for Christmas), so that once Peanut gets here there will be no feelings of baby taking Landen's bed away from him.       ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~     The transition is going well, we decided to convert the bed first thing Saturday morning so he could have his naps during the day in his converted bed. This worked really well because when he woke up his room was lit enough from the daylight that he wasn't scared or confused by the change.
2. Landen is so funny trying to adjust to going to sleep at night in his convert bed. He knows he can get in and out, so he does. Even if he is so sleepy that he can't stand up, he will come in our doorway/his doorway/his room/the hall sqat down holding his bear with his head down and cry until we guide him back to his bed. Other times, he will come out of his room, crying with paci in mouth, bear in tow, and just walk around until he sees either Keith or myself; at which point he simply turns around (still crying, paci in mouth, bear in tow) and returns to his room. He's so cute.
3. For some time now, Landen will have "happy feet" - where he dances and stomps his little feet. Lately, rather than truely having "happy feet" he stomps just one foot, and not just to music. He stomps everything! Landen has been stomping leaves, sidewalk chalk drawings, shoes, string... everything! It's really funny to watch.
4. Landen is getting to be more advanced in his communication skills:
• when he's hungry - he goes to his highchair and says "up"
• anytime he wants to get up or down from something he says "up"
• if something falls/drops or gets thrown/kicked he says "uh oooo"
• he points to the snack cabinet if he wants a snack
• touches & stands next to the refridgerator when he wants his cup
• shakes/nods his head in response to questions
• says "ya ya ya" to answer yes to something exciting
• points to his head/foot/leg/nose/ear/mouth/eyes/arms/hand/belly button/diaper when asked - and will point to mommy & daddy's head/foot/leg/nose/ear/mouth/eyes/hands/belly button
• shakes his head to food when he's full
• recognizes and points to birds/ cats/ dogs/ trees/ cars/ trucks/ road/ paci/ bear/ zebra/ lion/ penguin/ giraffe/ hippo/ elephant/ rhino/etc when asked
• says "baw" for ball
• says "Oh" for Dumbo toy
• says "Buh" for book
• says momma and dadda
• says "ap-puh" for apple
• says "byebye" and waves
• gives kisses/blows kisses on command - to family members, stuffed animals, and the baby in the mirror
• says "deh" for deck
• says "ay" as he puts a phone to his ear
• says "brrrrmmmmmm" as he pushes his cars and trucks around
5. All of the sudden, Tuesday night, Landen decided that he is scared of the dark! If his little musical nightlight thing goes off (which it DOES after 15 min) before he is asleep, he will start screaming. To test this out, in hopes to verify it was a fear of the dark and nothing else, I conducted an experiment: I put him in the bed with me and used the dimmer remote to turn the lights down. As it started getting pretty dark, Landen squeaked a little. By the time the lights were completely out, he was crying. As soon as I turned the lights back on, all squeaking and crying subsided. He is infact afraid of the dark.
6. Landen is sick. We are going to the doctor today. He has had a cold for 2-3 weeks now, and starting running a fever yesterday. Last night he began coughing alot and with his door closed and his humidifier going, I could hear him breathing from the hallway... poor kid. UPDATE: We went to the doctor this morning... Landen has a double ear infection, sinus infection, AND a cold (I didn't know it was possible to have a sinus infect AND a cold!?!)! Ugh. I feel so bad for the little guy! :(

Pregnancy Stuff:

1. How far along: 18 weeks 0 days
2. Total weight gain: -5 lbs
3. Baby bump: Yep. 
4. Maternity clothes: Yep.
5. Movement: Occasionally I can feel a little flutter... :)
6. Cravings: Milk, cheese, juice, pasta, & cheese puffs (?)  
7. Aversions: Sweet stuff, smelly stuff, FISH, and random stuff  
8. Symptoms: Tired, headaches, sciatic pain, my blood pressure and heartrate were up a little this weekend, stomach/back cramps, and moody (I was stuck in traffic and almost started crying... seriously)
9. Sleep: can I PLEASE get some sleep!? 
10. Gender: It's a boy!!
11. Belly button: In
12. What I miss: laying on my tummy and letting Landen climb all over me. 
13. Best moment(s) of this week: playing with Landen, taking a bubble bath 
14. What I'm looking forward to: When Keith and Landen get to feel Peanut kick/move.
15. Concerns: Developing Pre-eclampsia again. Childcare for Landen (and eventually Peanut)! Non-existant Maternity Leave for me.

Peanut is the size of an Onion

Week 17: Onion

Baby's skeleton is hardening, changing from rubbery cartilage to bone, and fat is finally accumulating around it. The umbilical cord is getting thicker and stronger, and those little fingers and toes are now topped by one-of-a-kind prints.

Pregnancy Stuff:

1. How far along: 17 weeks 0 days
2. Total weight gain: -5 lbs
3. Baby bump: Yep. 
4. Maternity clothes: Yep.
5. Movement: Occasionally I can feel a little flutter.
6. Cravings: Milk, cheese, peanut butter, spinach dip, Stix (even though I JUST ate there this weekend), juice...  
7. Aversions: Mostly sweet stuff... WHAT?!?!  
8. Symptoms: Tired, hungry, heartburn, stomach/back cramps, and moody
9. Sleep: I wish
10. Gender: It's a boy!!
11. Belly button: In
12. What I miss: My ability to complete things without screwing it up... no.brain.what-so-ever. 
13. Best moment(s) of this week: Seeing peanut on the U/S
14. What I'm looking forward to: When Keith and Landen get to feel Peanut kick/move.
15. Concerns: Childcare for Landen (and eventually Peanut)! Non-existant Maternity Leave for me. Developing Pre-eclampsia again.

Update: Landen looks less like a unicorn than before... the blue bump is downsizing. He rebusted his lip yesterday while pitching a fit about nap time... poor kid! My nose, still hurts, but isn't as swollen and most of the bruising is across the bridge and under my eyes. I can pretty well cover it with makeup to the point that I look more tired than anything (unless you see me makeup-less).

Today has been a good day :)

just another Manic Monday....

Somedays are just OFF. Today is definitely one of those. Could be resulting in part by the wacky weekend, partly pregnancy hormones, and then partly just plain Monday... Here it goes; it's a long one:
Friday Night -

Landen has a cold = snot everywhere, fussy, snorting and SNORING. He has trouble calming down, clearly a direct result of difficulty swallowing with a non-functioning nose combined with a slight fever and inability to use his paci/lay horizontal for lack of air flow.

He get overly tired... but can't sleep

In an attempt to calm him down and pacify the paci-less child, we put him in the bed with us and try cuddling. In my sadly mistaken opinion, cuddling constitutes a relaxing and comfortable state of peace. WRONG! Landen viewed this attempt as intolerable straight-jacket restriction of all sense of freedom. In his attempt to break free from this torturous state, Landen leans himself forward to gain enough momentum for his backward full-body-arching head butt to break himself loose. Which in and of itself WOULD have elicited said freedom from my arms (especially seeing how the straight-jacket like restriction was merely a figment of his perception); BUT this violent revolt was directly taken out on my nose! He did in-fact break free while also quite possibly breaking mommy dearests nose! At which point I have no recollection of what happened to said child, for the unbelievable pain/tears/jumbling of words/etc led to daddy removing child from mommy's presence...

Saturday-

Saturday is our day to FINALLY celebrate my birthday! Bruising, swelling, and all!

We take Landen to my parents house so Keith and I can get some wonderful Stix lunch, and it was, some WONDERFUL Stix lunch! YUM! While we were there, it occurred to us that we don't really know how to have date conversations... I mean, we know what's going on in each other's lives (duh!), we always talk about Keith's school/my work/Landen/groceries/chores... What do people talk about?! Anyway, it was a great meal date! :)

As we were leaving the restaurant, my mom sent me a text saying that Landen was asleep. SO... in our freedom from the child and actual free time, we got adventurous: we went to the Dollar Tree... ha! Seriously though, I really wanted to get Landen some big fat crayons and I knew they had them for cheap. Then we decided to watch a movie, (and with movie tickets being priced slightly above outrageous) we went for some Netflix. FYI: I should never be allowed to choose a movie. ever.

After the worst, stupidest, Norwegian (with English Subtitle), B list (if that), movie... we went to pick up Landen.

As it turns out, our little snot producing climber face planted off my parent's ottoman while we were watching the previously mentioned movie... They didn't tell us, even once we got there to pick him up, they didn't even say a word until I looked at my poor child, and ASKED... upon looking at him, I noticed something didn't seem right - other than the constant flow of snot and drool - no, my child is now part unicorn... how on EARTH did he get a horn in the middle of his forehead? well, diving off the ottoman and face planting on the hardwood, of course. no big deal.

Anyway, we watched part of the Alabama game at my parents house and then retreated back to our place to ::hopefully:: put our 3 foot walking germ to bed. no luck. Landen eventually ended in our bed = mommy gets no sleep for fear of: a) daddy rolling over child during the night, b) Landen somehow slamming into mommy's already swollen discolored nose.

Sunday-

The booger monster seemed to be feeling a little better. He and daddy went to church, while mommy attended church online.... I didn't want to deal with walking in public as the sleep deprived pregnant women with broken nose holding on to the boogery unicorn. I simply could not handle encountering anyone from the "awkwardly intense busybody club" species, a species that I highly doubt will EVER make it onto the endangered species list.

After church, Keith's brothers came over to celebrate my birthday... Keith's mom was sick so (due to the unbelievably short list of medicine approved for pregnant women) we avoided any additional germs by staying home. Lunch was great. We had fun. Nothing beats family fun.

Then Landen, in an apparent effort to keep up with the rest of the weekend, through his sippy cup over the outside baby gate and took a dive OVER one of our baby gates landing face down on the gate and deck... ugh! Blood. Everywhere. Screaming baby. Frantic Daddy/Uncles. No missing teeth. No serious damage. BIG FAT BUSTED TOP LIP on my sweet snotting/drooling/whimpering Unicorn of a child.

After that (and all the cleaning up involved) we went to our small group Bible study... broken child in tow. It went well, Landen played and fell asleep in the car on the way home. Happy ending after all.

Monday-

O Monday........ I may be a little grateful to be out of the disaster-prone weekend... but wait it's the work week.

Make-up-ing a broken nose is anything but pleasant. Off to a good start.

Then there's people: Don't you just love how people always ask how your weekend/day/night/whatever was? I mean, we all know that politely you should say, "O, it was great! How was yours?" I know that no one actually deserves to be bombarded with the true answer to this... but MAN I definitely ran it through my head a few times before actually saying, "It was pretty good. Thanks."

Then as I am beginning to get my head screwed on (somewhat) straight, I get cornered. in the bathroom. by none other than Ms. Busybody herself, no not the one at Michael's; the one in the 12th floor women's bathroom. the one who not only begins to discuss pregnancy weight distribution, proceeded by a very detailed account of HER L&D experiences, but continues to tell me that I look extremely tired and therefore really should start taking care of myself if i want this pregnancy to go well. excuse me, DO I KNOW YOU!? No. Go away.

Thank goodness for blogging, to really allow the truth to come out.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

By the way:  How on earth does ANYONE make use of the following items without feeling completely inhumane?!?!?!

Thrifty Thursday

As most people know, I love doing crafty things AND I love being thrifty --- ergo, If I can make it for cheaper then why buy it for more? This does have it's limits though: If it's extremely time/energy consuming... it MAY not be worth it.


All this said, I found 2 pretty awesome blogs via Pinterest that I think could be VERY useful to me and any mom around!


The first is Mommy x 3 = Insanity - written by an Alabama mom of 3


The Second is Homemade Mamas - written by three stay-at-home moms from Illinois



Both are very well written, useful, and fun! Check them out!


Thrifty Project for this week: Baby Wipes

There are actually recipes for these on BOTH Mommy x 3 = Insanity & Homemade Mamas which can be found Here & Here




I'll let you know how my baby wipes turn out!

Peanut is the size of an Avocado (Revised)

Week 16: Avocado



Watch what you say... tiny bones forming in baby's ears mean the little one can now pick up your voice. Eyebrows, lashes and hair are starting to fill in, and taste buds are forming. And, if you're interested, an ultrasound might be able to determine gender.


General Update: Keith was sick over the weekend, so we weren't able to celebrate my birthday as planned. He is feeling better, but is still not back to his normal energetic self. Despite that, Keith went to the store in the middle of the night last night to get me a bouquet of flowers (WITH sunflowers! My FAVORITE), starbursts, and a sweet card!! He is SUCH a thoughtful, wonderful husband!

Doctor's Appointment: My blood pressure is staying under control (124/72); Peanut's heartrate is strong and healthy (160 bpm). Peanut is 5 inches long and weighs 5 oz, with head on my right side and feet on my left side. Next appointment is November 1st.
I was signing in at the doctor's office and I could not, for the life of me, figure out the date... IT WAS MY BIRTHDAY! I should know what day it was!! <- Pregnancy makes me stupid!!

Pregnancy Stuff:

1. How far along: 16 weeks 0 days 16 weeks 1 day
2. Total weight gain: I'll know this afternoon :) -5 lbs
3. Baby bump: Yep. No doubt about it.
4. Maternity clothes: Most of the stuff I'm wearing these days falls under the Maternity catagory...
5. Movement: Occasionally I can feel a little flutter.
6. Cravings: Milk, Lemon Pie, Stix Favorite = Japanese-side Steak meal… Keith took me to Zaxby’s Friday after work to quench one of my cravings!
7. Aversions: Diapers, Bacon, Bratwursts’ (YUCK!), Hamburgers, Onions, etc.  
8. Symptoms: So tired!, thirsty, hungry, emotional, MOODY, nosebleeds, and tummy/back cramps, headaches
9. Sleep:  Have I ever gotten a good night's sleep? I can't remember.
10. Gender: HOPEFULLY we will know this afternoon!!! IT'S A BOY!!!
11. Belly button: In
12. What I miss: Energy, my brain, etc. - I lose, forget, misunderstand, & screwup EVERYTHING!!!
13. Best moment(s) of this week: Getting to eat Zaxby’s, Landen saying, “Uh Oh”, watching Alabama annihilate Florida… ROLL TIDE!!  
14. What I'm looking forward to: THIS AFTERNOON’s doctor appointment and ultrasound!!  Choosing a name
15. Concerns: Childcare for Landen (and eventually Peanut). Non-existant Maternity Leave for me. Developing Pre-eclampsia again.

My last day to be 26...

So, since today is my last day to be 26 I have answered 26 questions about myself... A-Z if you will (borrowed from Ashley J)

A. Age: 26… for one last day!
B. Bed size: Queen
C. Chore that you hate: Hanging clothes
D. Dogs: I grew up with dogs… Gretchen (black dachshund), Prissy (a VERY prissy Pomeranian), and Fluffy (my little fluff-ball Pomeranian – Sweetest dog ever!)  
E. Essential start to your day: BREAKFAST 
F. Favorite color: Green
G. Gold or Silver: Yes
H. Height: 5’5” (I round up)
I. Instruments you play: I CAN play the piano, violin, and clarinet… but NOT well!! I am an expert at playing pots-n-pans with Landen, though!
J. Job title: MOM, wife, administrative  assistant, artist, etc
K. Kids: Landen (16 months) and  “Peanut” (still cookin’ ETA March 2012)
L. Live: Birmingham, AL
M. Mother’s name: Lanelle
N. Nicknames: Adri, Age
O. Overnight hospital stays: Yep!  Pneumonia, TERRIBLE Stomach virus, Kidney Stones, and Landen’s Birthday (clearly the most rewarding of all)
P. Pet peeves: Constant tapping, snorting, people who refuse to do their jobs…
Q. Quote from a movie: “Hakuna matata”
R. Right or left handed: Right handed.
S. Siblings: 1 sister, 5 brother-in-laws
T. Time you wake up: About 5:45… well, that’s when I get up anyways
U. Underwear: What?
V. Vegetable you hate: Eggplant
W. What makes you run late: Everything
X. X-Rays you’ve had: Haha! You name it… it has probably been x-rayed (or included in an x-ray of something else)
Y. Yummy food that you make: lasagna, peppermint bark, etc
Z. Zoo animal: Zebra

Peanut is the size of a Naval Orange!

Week 15: Naval Orange

Continuing the march towards normal proportions, baby's legs now out-measure the arms. And, finally, all four limbs have functional joints. Your fetus is sqirming and wiggling like crazy down in the womb, though you probably still can't feel the movements.

Pregnancy Stuff:

1. How far along: 15 weeks 1 days
2. Total weight gain: -4 lbs
3. Baby bump: Yep. Although, the bump has risen!! Weird, I know! I was actually able to wear my jeans this weekend with them BUTTONED, no rubber band needed!!
4. Maternity clothes: See #3! Still wearing maternity pants and some maternity tops. MOST of my regular person shirts are still fitting
5. Movement: Occasionally I can feel a little flutter.
6. Cravings: Milk, French Fries, Spinach Dip, Lemon Pie, Zaxby’s Zalad, Cheese Cake Factory Favorite = Chicken Piccata and Plain Cheese Cake, Stix Favorite = Japanese-side Steak meal…. Oh if only I had unlimited food funds to actually purchase these awesome meals….
7. Aversions: Bacon, Bratwursts’ (YUCK!), Hamburgers, Onions, etc.  
8. Symptoms: So tired!, thirsty, hungry, emotional, MOODY, nosebleeds, and tummy/back cramps
9. Sleep: I would love to go to sleep RIGHT NOW! I keep waking up every 1-2 hours for NO APARENT REASON…. Ugh!
10. Gender: OK, so Keith did the pencil test and there is a chance that it MAY have swung in a circle, which would lead to the belief that this baby is girl, BUT Keith was a little impatient/uninterested/wobbly so I am not fully convinced that this was an accurate reading.
11. Belly button: In
12. What I miss: Having a brain! I’ll start talking, and completely forget where I’m going with the conversation OR I will be unable to finish the sentence because I just cannot get the stinkin’ words to come out!!!
13. Best moment(s) of this week: Getting to meet Keith’s granddad! Landen FINALLY getting over having a fever!!!  
14. What I'm looking forward to: When Keith and Landen get to feel Peanut kick/move. My next apointment, when we get to have the UltraSound done - and hopefully Peanut will cooperated long enough for us to know if it is a HE or SHE!
15. Concerns: Childcare for Landen (and eventually Peanut). Non-existant Maternity Leave for me. Developing Pre-eclampsia again.

Wednesday!

Disclaimer: I am a little emotionally drowning at the time... there is a chance that some of falling-apartedness may or may not be related to pregnancy hormones.

Well, it's Wednesday! Which means..... WE ARE HALFWAY TO THE WEEKEND!! WOOHOO!

I say this, not because I want to seem like I am wishing my life away from one weekend to the next, but because this week has been ROUGH!

• My mom, who usually keeps Landen while I'm at work (and keith's in school) has been sick... terrible for her & highly inconvenient for us!
• Landen is still running a fever... yep! This is day # 7 for fever running. I think that one of these days he will wake up as the love-child of tylenol and motrin... talk about a gooey mess!
• With my mom unable to keep our fever monster, we have had to go to some desparate measures...
• Keith skipping class meetings (NOT GOOD FOR GRAD SCHOOL)
• Leaving Landen with various family members... even while THEY are working (from home)
• Depending on Keith's brothers to pick up and drop off Landen at "school"... it's a scary thought that gives me chills
• Calling a Thomas-Family friend, who is in town visiting her mother (who had surgery) to take care of OUR child two of the days she is in town... Bless her! She is going to help us!!
• Keith and I have come to the conclusion, much to our own disappointment, that we HAVE to find some full-time childcare. This presents a problem (or 500)...
• the cost of childcare is ABSURD!! I mean, i can't work without having childcare, but we will altogether have to forfiet food/housing/necessities in order to pay for said childcare
• The only childcare facility that we have visited thus far that meets my (mom, elementary teacher, OCD about a few things...) standards actually costs MORE than my total weekly income....
• I hate the idea of my child not being cared for by me, or a family member who loves him to a somewhat similar level as me (or Keith, of course)
• Whatever childcare we DO find, will also be needed for Peanut... at which point the cost will entirely wipe out all of our income, savings, and hope for food/shelter/necessities for the rest of our lives... okay, maybe that's a little exagerated, BUT STILL!
• I am so tired that I am beginning to think there MAY be a sloth or slug somewhere in my genetic line...
• Sleep is something that I not only need and want, but it is something that is proving to do little more than irritate me as I wake up 62768436541 times during the night, have crazy nightmare-ish dreams, and cannot get comfortable
• I am SERIOUSLY craving a Zaxby's House Zalad, with the fried chicken dipped in hot sauce and with ranch dressing... is your mouth watering like mine is? Ok, you can get one too, IF you bring me one!!! and NO i don't want to know how many calories are in this delectible heaven of a meal!

On a lighter note, I feel that I should share some pictures of my sweet, teething, DROOLING, fever monster... It's been a while

And... Yes! Landen's FAVORITE place to play and sit and dance and everything else... is on our coffee table!

"Hey"



You can't hear it, but he is saying, "bbbbbrrrrrrrmmmmmmm
bbbbbbbrrrrrrrmm," as he pushes his car.



Check out that big'ole toothy, drooling smile -> you'd have no idea

he has a fever and is rediculously fussy!

How big are YOUR lemons?

Week 14: Lemon (Food Comparison)

Your adorable little fetus is busy with thumb sucking, toe wiggling, and (not so cute but equally amazing) making urine and breathing amniotic fluid as the liver, kidneys and spleen continue to develop. Lanugo (thin, downy hair) is growing all over the body for warmth.

So, I realize this food comparison thing has peaches as being smaller than lemons, but peaches around here can get pretty large... and lemons? well, they just aren't that big.

This past week:

• Monday: EXTREMELY VIVID DREAM - I dreamed that I'm having twins  ::YIKES::
• Tuesday: Doctor's apointment - Just ONE baby! Every thing looks good! Next appt is on my birthday.
• Wednesday: Believe it or not, I felt Peanut flutter (not strong enough to catagorize as a kick or punch) for the first time!!
• Thursday: Got in the car to come to work... car wouldn't crank.... NO GAS! Thanks, Keith. On the bright side, Keith and I got to carpool = more time together :)
• Friday: We spent the wee hours of Friday morning in the Children's Hospital ER. Landen had a high fever, was limp, and not responding normally. He's doing a little better, but he is STILL running a fever... sick babies are just plain pitiful!
• Saturday: Keith's mom kept Landen. Keith and I went to the Alabama Game! Keith had never been to UA, much less one of the games. It was so much fun! It's nice to have a date every now and then
• Sunday: Slept through the 8am service, so we went to the 9:30am service at Church, where we are continuing the "At the Movies" series. It's so awesome to see God's truth in everyday life. Went to small group Bible study... Our small group is such a blessing! It is so inspiring and rejuvinating to fellowship, worship and study with them!
• Monday: Keith took Landen to the doctor. Apparently he is having a long, drawn-out, adverse reaction to his MMR vaccine. He is still running a fever, extremely fussy, and just not himself.

Pregnancy Stuff:

1. How far along: 14 weeks 0 days
2. Total weight gain: -3 lbs
3. Baby bump: Yep. Landen actually tried to push my stomach out of his way when he wanted to climb in my lap. Ha!
4. Maternity clothes: Maternity pants. MOST of my regular person shirts are still fitting
5. Movement: Occasionally I can feel a little flutter. Bonus of not being a 1st pregnancy: recognizing feelings/sensations for what they are!
6. Cravings: Milk, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Mustard Greens, Nachos, French Fries - This baby is not seeming to have the same healthy-food taste bud that Landen had...
7. Aversions: HOTDOGS!, Litter Cake (not that I ate it, but I read about it and almost got sick), onions, meat
8. Symptoms: Tired, SOME nausea, thirsty, hungry, emotional, uncontrollable nose bleeds, tummy/back cramps
9. Sleep: I would love to go to sleep RIGHT NOW! :)
10. Gender: Well, I tried the stupid pencil test and you know what it did? NOTHING. Not a stinking thing. I guess we just have to be patient.
11. Belly button: In
12. What I miss: Definitely my brain! I keep using the wrong words in a sentence, good thing everyone I know has a good sense of humor!! Example: What I MEANT to say, "She is so lucky that she was able to do that!" What I ACTUALLY said, "She is so ugly that she was able to do that!" OOPS!!! Again, I AM SO SO SOOOOOO SORRY!! Luckily she knows I would NEVER SAY THAT, and that she is beautiful (inside and out). It ended up being the laugh of the office for the rest of the day.
13. Best moment(s) of this week: Feeling Peanut flutter. Having a Roll Tide date with Keith.
14. What I'm looking forward to: When Keith and Landen get to feel Peanut kick/move. My next apointment, when we get to have the UltraSound done - and hopefully Peanut will cooperated long enough for us to know if it is a HE or SHE!
15. Concerns: Childcare for Landen (and eventually Peanut). Non-existant Maternity Leave for me. Developing Pre-eclampsia again.

WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS BLOG!! ---> now it seems better?!?

Please help!! I don't know what is wrong with this crazy blog.... what does it mean when is says:
Given URL is not allowed by the Application configuration.


I have tried having NO links, I have tried removing pictures, I have even retyped the dang blog....

whatever...

Peanut is the size of a Peach!

Week 13: Peach (Food Comparison)


 

Your fetus, about 2.9 inches long and weighs about .81 ounces, is forming teeth and vocal cords... savor this, their non-functional phase. Baby is approaching normal proportions, with a head now only one third the size of the body. Intestines are in the process of moving from the umbilical cord to baby's tummy. (Much more convenient.)

Doctor's Report: I had my doctor's appointment yesterday. I have lost weight. Peanut's heart rate was 156 bpm. My next appointment is on October 4 (my birthday), at which point I will have my next ultrasound and hopefully find out if Peanut is a boy or a girl! YAY!

General Baby Posts:
How Far Along? 13 weeks 0 days

Total weight gain: I'm in the negative! Nothing like good ole' fashion nausea!

Baby Bump? yeah... it's obvious I'm pregnant. Carrying Landen is getting weird... neither of us knows quite where to position his leg when he's on my hip.

Maternity Clothes: yep! Well, maternity pants. I can still wear regular tops.

Cravings: milk, juice, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, mustard greens 

Aversions: onions, smelly things, meats (for the most part) 

Symptoms: tired, headaches (Ugh... MIGRANE), occasional nausea, extra potty trips during the night, not sleeping well, tummy cramps,  thirsty, and a little moody

Sleep: dreams are weird... and progressively getting weirder, waking up multiple times for no reason, 1-2 potty trips during the night

Gender: don't know... I KEEP FORGETTING TO DO THE PENCIL TEST.

Belly Button in or out? definitely in

What I miss: I don't know? My brain?

Best moment(s) this week: Painting, spending time with Keith and Landen, walking in the beautiful weather!

What I'm looking forward to: hearing Peanut's heart beat this afternoon.

Concerns: My non-existant maternity leave and getting pre-eclampsia again!

Life:

- Landen went to the park with his daddy on Saturday (I had a migrane and stayed home). He got into an ant bed, and the ants took no pity on him... :( The poor thing has welps on his feet and legs.

- Landen's 15 mos appointment was Friday. He is 21.5 lbs, 31 inches tall, and his big ole' noggin is 19 inches around.

- Keith and I started our small group Bible study on Sunday night. We are reading The Relationship Principles of Jesus by Tom Holladay. I am only 1 day into the reading, but it seems like it's going to be pretty awesome.

- I started reading 1 Chronicles. WHOA. Maybe God teaches us patience through reading books like Chronicles (& Numbers for that matter)... I did happen to notice that there is a well known warrior named Nimrod (1 Chronicles 1:10)... You may not get anything from that, but it flat cracks me up! Can't you imagine being afraid of the Mighty, Fiersom Nimrod? Ha!

- Okra that is frozen cooks differently than Okra that is NOT frozen... issues with fried okra

O Happy Day!

It's Friday!

Pinterest.com is becoming one of my new best friends

I have begun following an absolutely hilarious blog: Grasping for Objectivity

I only have to work until 1:30pm, and then I get to spend the rest of the day with the other man in my life... LANDEN!!

Morning sickness has hidden it's ugly head for the past 3 days!

AND...

I am superexcited about some Alabama Football this weekend!


Life update:

- 2 Kings is complete and I am now entering into the realm of reading 1 Chronicles... I've never read it before but I hear it's not the most action packed book in the Bible. Hopefully, I will be able to focus on God and his awesomeness rather than the lacking adventure... We shall see!

- Landen is 15 months old... he is working on tooth number 13! I KNOW, it's absurd! He makes a "bbrrrrrrrrrrrrmmmmmmmmbbbbrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrmmmmmmmmm" sound anytime he sees or plays with a car. The fact that he, not only, can put his head on the floor and look through/between his legs... but can throw a ball between his legs with his head still on the floor is the coolest thing in the world to him.

- The University of Montevallo is having RUSH this weekend, and I am SERIOUSLY hoping I can make it down there to support (and bring some food) to my Chi O's down there... we shall see

- Keith and I have been visiting Church of the Highlands for the past couple weeks. I thoroughly miss our Sunday School crew at SMBC, but I am loving the intense worship experience at the Highlands. Total mixed feelings.

- I have my OB appt on Tuesday, September 13... can't wait to hear Peanut's heartbeat again and be told that everything looks good and seems normal ::high hopes and finger's crossed::

- We got Landen a car seat... forward facing... Nothing shy of a Blessing. They are really stinkin' expensive, BUT we managed to find left over gift cards to Bed,Bath,&Beyond and Buy,Buy,Baby (from our wedding and Landen's baby registries) to combine with a 20% off coupon... and VIOLA!! We paid NOTHING! (actually we had $19 remaining on the BBB gift card). FYI Buy,Buy,Baby will price match any item. Thank you Walmart for your low(er) prices! God is good and provides a means before we even know the need!

Happy Friday. Happy Weekend!

Peanut is the size of a Plum!

Week 12: Plum (Food Comparison)

Your baby is now the size of a plum!
As you move into the second trimester, baby shifts into the growth and maturation stage. After weeks in the critical development stage, almost all of baby's systems are fully formed.
Doctor's Report: NO MORE HORMONE SUPPLIMENTS!!! YAY!

General Baby Posts:

How Far Along? 12 weeks 0 days

Total weight gain: I'll answer this after my next doctor's appt

Baby Bump? yeah... it's fairly obvious I'm pregnant. Carrying Landen is getting kind of weird... neither of us knows quite where to position his leg when he's on my hip.

Maternity Clothes: yep! Well, maternity pants. I can still wear regular tops.

Cravings: milk, juice, Cinnamon Toast Crunch

Aversions: onions, smelly things, meats (for the most part) 

Symptoms: tired, headaches, nausea (getting better), extra potty trips during the night, not sleeping well, tummy cramps,  thirsty, and my skin is broken out, a little moody

Sleep: dreams are weird... really weird, waking up multiple times for no reason, 1-2 potty trips during the night, did I mention waking up 15 times during the night for no reason?

Gender: don't know... I'm thinking about doing the pencil test

Belly Button in or out? definitely in

What I miss: I would say sleep, but in all honesty over the past 2 years, I could probably count the number of nights I have gotten uninterupted on one hand... what was that like?

Best moment(s) this week: finishing hormone suppliments! Playing with Landen in the puddles... rain can be so much fun! Watching Alabama win! Watching Landen drive his "car" in circles around our house... LONG WEEKEND with Keith and Landen!

What I'm looking forward to: hearing Peanut's heart beat. Landen's 15 mos appointment on Friday to see how much he's grown!

Concerns: same as last week... and getting pre-eclampsia again!
Pictures: no new pictures today