28 week update!

Baby size: About 2.5 pounds and almost 15 inches. Um... growth spurt?

How far along: 28 weeks... last trimester! Can't believe it. I think pregnancy must go by WAY faster with a toddler. 

Weight gain: 9 pounds

Sleep: Wellllll... last update it was a sinus infection that was keeping me up. This time it's a sick toddler. I remembered what it was like to have a newborn the other night. Thanks for the reminder, Landon. Oh, and ya. I'm also still up 

Food cravings:  Still nothing really... although there was one day this week that I desperately wanted CHOCOLATE. of any kind. I'm not sure if this means I have a calcium deficiency, but milk just wasn't going to cut it.

Symptoms:

Hormonal: I mean, I know hormones are always crazy when one is pregnant, but I've been exceptionally grumpy/emotional this week. I'm sure lack of sleep has contributed. My poor, poor Randy. (He is a saint, though.)

Ligament pain: Yup. I know. It's just gonna stick around for the next three months.

Headaches: Not sure if it's because of my lack of sleep, stuffed sinuses, or what... but they've been bad this week. 

Shortness of breath: Oh, you know, still just loving it.

Exercise:  Same! Although I've noticed it's getting a bit harder on my legs... I'm guessing because of the growing baby putting weight on them? ;)

Movement: Insane. Child.

What I’m looking forward to: my glucose test! ... not really.

What I miss: Sleeping through the night without waking up to pee 53 times. I realize this sounds extreme. So maybe it's not quite 53. But it's a LOT. I've stopped counting.

I got a free 3D ultrasound at an ultrasound school here in town this past week, and it was so much fun to get a little peek at our growing baby! The quality on the ultrasound was pretty bad, though, so when they first pulled up his picture, I was like, um. He doesn't have a nose. Ha. Can't wait to see what this little guy looks like! (they DID verify he has a nose by the end of the ultrasound, btw)

To be honest, it's been a long past couple weeks (not related to pregnancy... except maybe the crazy hormones!). My poor little man has been sick with so many different viruses over the last few weeks, including his random seizure, and it starts to take a toll after a while. I feel so bad for him dealing with all this sickness, and we've all been having a tough time sleeping! 

But I'm not complaining. I've been thanking the Lord over and over, particularly after the seizure scare, for giving us our little Landon. There's nothing like the fear of losing something to make you realize just how much it means to you (cliche but true). And after hearing about the tragedy in CT this weekend, my heart is so grateful to have a sweet baby boy to love on and snuggle with tonight. We aren't promised tomorrow. But God has given us today, and I am so, so thankful for it - even the fussy, tiring, overwhelming moments it included! And I am grateful for this tiny baby growing and kicking (even if it is my ribs!) inside of me.

28 weeks with Landon on the left... 28 with Colton on the right!

26 Week Pregnancy Update

So... for the 26-week update.

Baby size: A pound and two-thirds and fourteen inches long. 

How far along: 26 weeks

Total weight gain: 9 pounds

Sleep: Worse. Bad cold and a sinus infection... that's really all that needs to be said.

Food cravings:  My mama's home cooking!

Symptoms:

Ligament Pain – Getting out of bed in the morning is starting to get uncomfortable... and yes, I know this gets worse.

Sciatica - It's been a lot more intense this week... I've had to do a lot of stretches.

Shortness of breath – It has been awful this week. Not sure if my sickness is contributing to it, but I feel like I can't take a good, deep breath. Makes going to sleep so hard!

Exercise:  Haven't worked out as much since I've been sick (and Randy won't let me!), but still getting a few days in a week. It actually helps my sciatica.

Movement: Still crazy little man in there.

What I’m looking forward to: Breathing normally again!!!

What I miss: Breathing normally. Did I mention breathing normally?

I will be so glad when we're all feeling well again! Landon has had a rough go of it, and taking care of a sick toddler while feeling yucky yourself is no fun. 

I love watching Landon kiss Colton (aka: my tummy) and feeling and seeing Colton go crazy when his daddy talks to him! Grateful, as always, for this gift God has blessed us with.

And... here is the comparison pic (pregnant with L on the right)... I still can't believe how much lower I'm carrying this time! 

24 Week Pregnancy Update!

So... I actually kept a real pregnancy journal with Landon, but I thought it would be fun to keep track of it online this time... mostly so I will remember. I have an awful memory these days. 

Baby size: Over a pound, and almost a foot long. About as long as an ear of corn!

How far along: 24 weeks

Hard to believe I only have 16 weeks to go! Which, by the way, totally proves that pregnancy is 10 months instead of 9. I do realize that we get two "free" weeks, but seriously, who came up with the idea that pregnancy is 9 months?! 4 weeks x 10 months = 40 weeks, people. .... yeah. Okay. Moving on.

Total weight gain: Depends on who you're talking to. Doctor says 3, I say 8. I lost five and gained them back when I stopped feeling so sick, so in my mind, that's weight gain. But the docs say to start with your pre-pregnancy weight. Whatever. Baby's growing. :) My midwife is super awesome and doesn't stress about the weight gain, she just emphasizes that I eat right. [I may or may not have indulged in some Christmas cookie ice cream tonight. It's Friday.]

Sleep: It has been so much better lately! I'm still waking up occasionally for potty breaks, but if I limit my water intake after dinner, it really helps. 

Food cravings: Nothing, really... except maybe Mexican... but I crave Mexican when I'm not pregnant, too.

Symptoms:

Heartburn – It's not strong at all... just notice it after a big meal.

Ligament Pain – I've been pretty crampy/achy this week. It started getting bad around the same time with Landon, so I guess my babies just decide to go through growth spurts at the same time!

Sciatica: Way worse than it was with Landon, and it's especially aggravated after I work out. Just doing exercises and dealing with it!

Shortness of breath – It's not as bad as it was with Landon since I'm carrying lower, but I especially notice after I eat that it's harder to catch my breath, particularly if I'm sitting and squishing all my insides. :) 

Exercise:  I've still been able to keep going to the gym 4-5 days a week. Randy is home a lot these days, so he's able to watch Landon for me. I'm so thankful! It really helps my energy levels and is great prep for labor. 

Movement: This little guy is super active... like his older brother. But I absolutely love this part of pregnancy... it makes it so much more real! And... admission... super hard to concentrate in church when your tummy is jumping. :) 

What I’m looking forward to: Not being in the awkward stage of pregnancy - I feel like wearing a shirt that says: "Even though I may have eaten too much last night, this is NOT a food baby."

What I miss: My clear(er) complexion! Actually, I started really breaking out after the elections. So... maybe I should blame all those darn politics instead of hormones.

Overall, though, I am feeling well and have a lot more energy than I did. I think Landon is probably grateful that I'm not lying on the couch all day and am actually feeding him occasionally. Just kidding. Sort of. 

We are so thankful to God for this gift of pregnancy. I never cease to be amazed at the miracle of life growing inside of me. So thankful for the Lord's protection and sustaining grace.

So I went back to my previous pregnancy pics and thought it would be interesting to compare. One thing is certain: With Landon, I had a sweet tan from our cruise the week before! Ha.

Mommy thoughts

It's been an interesting last few weeks. Not because of my pregnancy - that's actually been great, minus the occasional congestion/indigestion/shortnessofbreath/roundligamentpain/exhaustion/gagreflex... you know. ;) I do really love this stage of being pregnant, though - not too uncomfortably big, sweet little baby kicks and punches, etc. I am carrying so much lower this time - baby Colton uses my bladder as a trampoline. For Landon, it was my ribs. So... it's either bruised ribs or continual potty breaks. Haven't quite decided on a favorite yet. Nightly routine: pee, climb into bed. "Randy, I gotta go to the bathroom." "You just went." Pee, climb back into bed. "Um... I gotta go again." "Are you serious?" Pee, climb back into bed. "Randy... um... really... I have to go again." No answer. Pee, climb back into bed, pray that baby will move his feet somewhere else. Fall asleep, wake up at some ungodly hour, pee, stumble back into bed... you get the picture. It's quite laughable - but not really. So... don't.

Anyway... back to the last few "interesting" weeks. I don't know if that was quite the right word choice. Before I was a mommy, when I said "interesting" it was just that. Now... it's maybe a combination of super frustrating/hilariously exhausting/completely laughable/emotionally psychotic. Anyway. One day, out of the blue, Landon decided that sleep was for the birds. He started fighting naps and bedtime - and we're not talking 30 minutes. Two hours is more like it - if we were lucky. It alternated between talking or screaming - no rhyme or reason. Nothing changed (other than cutting some new teeth, darn them). Throw in some pregnancy hormones and you have a puddle of tears. Not Landon, me. [You can take this moment to pray for my hubby.]

I know this might sound crazy, particularly to those of you who don't have babies yet, but I have really struggled giving this situation over to God. Landon is crazy, insane, never stops going, but he has been a good sleeper since he was just a few months old. [I imagine this has something to do with the fact that he uses all the energy he has during the day and can do nothing except fall into bed, completely exhausted]. So then, one day, he decides to forget sleep. Like went from 14 hours to 10. And this mommy likes control, particularly when it comes to sleep. Those two factors don't mesh. But... the important part is that I have a gracious, loving Heavenly Father who knows exactly what I need to learn. And He will use some crazy random things to teach us those lessons. [For other moms, it may be something else that drives them insane. That's why there's apples and oranges, pears and tangerines. Now you all know one of my major flaws. But that's okay. You can pray for me better. :)]

So what have I learned? (Um... or what am I still learning?) One, I'm super impatient. Way more than I ever thought. This is not encouraging, but in another sense, it's good for me to see areas where I need Jesus to change me! Two, I can't control anything. Yup, I already knew that in my head - but I'm in a situation where I'm experiencing it firsthand. There really is absolutely no way to make a baby sleep... as much as I want to. Three, coming to the end of myself pushes me closer to God. And that's exactly where I need to be. Four, my strength is found in God ALONE. Not going to lie... it's hard being pregnant and tired and dealing with an overtired toddler. Thankfully, Randy has been home a lot these days, and I am so grateful for that. But ultimately, there is no where to turn for strength but my Jesus. He promises it fully and freely. And finally, I can apply the Gospel in every single situation, including this one. Jesus is so everlastingly patient with me and all my many shortcomings. He has willingly given Himself for me and sacrificed His life - and I'm upset because my day is messed up because my toddler doesn't sleep? His example is really all I need.

I know. Most of you are probably laughing at me by this point. Seems pretty dumb to stress over a kid sleeping, huh? And I guess it is. But sometimes God takes those crazy things we want to have control over, makes us realize we don't actually have control, and molds us more into His likeness.

Ironically, I think we are over this stage -- or getting there. The time change seemed to actually help him (weird, I know). I remember when he was a colicky newborn thinking that I would never ever ever have a child that didn't wince in pain every time he ate. Um... guess what? I do. When I'm in the middle of a stage, I feel like it's never going to end. So I'm learning to tell myself that THIS WILL PASS. And I get Randy to tell me that, too. He has handled Landon and my tears beautifully. I'm pretty sure every other guy in the world would look at me like I'm crazy and take a three-hour drive. Randy takes Landon, tells me to go to the gym and work my frustration out, and wears him out so he'll sleep. :)

And a huge thank you to my mom. I called her almost every day for three weeks, some days in hyperventilating tears, and she listened, loved, sympathized, and prayed. Never made fun of me, never told me I was screwing up, never told me I was being too emotional. I guess having seven kids makes her a pretty awesome veteran. :)

Anyway. That's all for now. Pretty random, I know. Just wanted to share some of my mommy moments. It helps me to write and be able to come back and read these - because I know there will be other moments I'll need to remind myself that we did make it through alive. :)

And for the record... I wouldn't trade being a mommy to my little Landon for anything. As frustrated as I get over silly things like sleep, I will never, ever tire of those sweet baby kisses and hugs, our nightly reading and snuggles, and all the precious moments God has so graciously given us. Rachel Jankovic, one of my favorite writers/bloggers, has a quote about mothering that has been on my heart a lot over this past month:

Give your life for theirs every day, joyfully. Lay down pettiness. Lay down fussiness. Lay down resentment about the dishes, about the laundry, about how no one knows how hard you work.

Stop clinging to yourself and cling to the cross. There is more joy and more life and more laughter on the other side of death than you can possibly carry alone.

first trimester recap

Well, since it's finally out and official, I decided I would recap the last 14 weeks or so... mostly so I can remember. ;) Because (yes, I know you shouldn't start a sentence with because when it's a fragment - oh well), quite frankly, my brain has turned into a pile of mush. Example: I was throwing away trash bags in our big garbage can outside today, and guess what went along with it? My cell phone. It took me about 4 hours to realize this, and the smell on my cover still remains. Upgrade next month!

Anyway, back to the topic at hand. We are so, so excited about baby #2. I truly feel blessed and so incredibly thankful to God giving us this sweet little miracle. I was going to be all fun and creative when I told Randy, but I actually just ran to him with the pregnancy test with HUGE eyes and my hand over my mouth. This is what happened when I got pregnant with Landon, except that I was panicking that time. And this time I wasn't. :) Randy said, "Are you sure? You should take another one." So I did. This is also what happened last time. Randy is a little confused about two pink lines. Anyway, Baby Bean and Landon will be about 26 months apart, and I'm so glad they'll be close in age. I know I'll be crazy mama for a bit, but there's no way to get around that one! Well, maybe, I guess - if you hid in the bedroom all day. That doesn't typically help babies, and actually, I guess it does make you crazy mama. Moving on.

This pregnancy hasn't been much different from my pregnancy with Landon, other than the morning sickness being a bit worse - okay, a lot worse. I seem to be a lot more sensitive to smells, and considering that I'm still changing Landon's diapers, that hasn't worked out so well for either of us. Thankfully, little man doesn't seem to bothered when he finds me throwing up - he just dies giggling. I'm glad someone gets a kick out of it. The nausea has actually kicked up a notch the last couple of weeks (I mean, really?), and I've had to take Zofran on desperate occasions. That stuff is amazing. I think I've been a bit more emotional this time, too - I pretty much sit and cry every time I watch a Baby Story. Or when I think about a Baby Story. My energy levels are a lot better than they were with Landon - and considering I'm chasing around a toddler all day, I am so thankful! But that doesn't mean I don't take naps when I can. Shoot, I took naps before I was pregnant. I can't even begin to describe the love I have for sleep. So why, you ask, do I have kids? Because they are worth every single second of that lost sleep! (Okay, admission: I've totally forgotten what it's like to get up with a baby every 3 hours in the middle of the night. But it's still worth it. And I'm still alive.)

I think the question I've gotten the most this pregnancy is, "So you want a girl this time??" I guess people assume that since I have a boy, I automatically am going to want a girl this time. But I'm actually kind of leaning towards boy... and I've had an intuition all along that it's a boy. Yes, that could totally be wrong, I realize that. But I would absolutely love to give Landon a little brother! Plus, I have all the clothes, the toys, AND I'm an expert at changing boy diapers... you know. But I will truly be happy with whatever God blesses us with. I know that's cliche, but it's true.

Landon doesn't really have an opinion on the new baby coming our way. As long as he's getting fed, he's cool. We ask him where the baby is, and he points to his stomach. Or Daddy's. Or mine. I'm sure the concept will come to him eventually.

As for my baby bump, I haven't gained any weight yet (I've only lost it due to lovely morning sickness), but that hasn't stopped that little baby bump from growing! It really is amazing how something so little can affect so much. I can't say I love hormones. I can't say Randy loves hormones. In fact, I'm pretty sure that most of the time he hates them. But he is incredibly amazing and I couldn't ask for a sweeter husband to share this journey with! (although, some days, I wish he could get a little taste of what it feels like to have the need to puke, cry, laugh, sleep, and hyperventilate all at the same time)

These pictures are our sweet little baby at around 6 weeks, 9 weeks, and 12 weeks. So tiny. But yep... we are in love already.