15 weeks

We had a wonderful Christmas!! It was so relaxing!! We had chili dinner at my mom's on Christmas Eve and opened a few presents there.  Christmas morning, the boys slept in until 7:30 which gave Dale and I time to make cinnamon rolls, bacon, and coffee before the festivities began.  The boys loved opening presents and spent the rest of the day playing with their new toys.  Clark's favorite gift was a skateboard and Kannon's was his Caitlin and Conner motorized trains.  Dale and I made appetizers (brie en croute and sherried mushrooms) and my aunt and uncle came over with a scratch-made lasagna.  We stayed in pajamas the whole day! 

On Saturday, I drove to Burnet, TX to visit my grandmother.  We had a wonderful time playing with her poodles and checking out the Colorado River.  It was cold and rainy but the boys enjoyed every minute!

 Kannon refuses to smile in photos---most of the time, this is what we get!

In baby news, I have started feeling baby flutters.  They are pretty irregular but if I am laying in bed and really concentrating, I can feel the baby fluttering away.  Baby also got its first Christmas gift--some Aden & Anais swaddle blankets from my family.  I can't wait until June to use them! I have a midwife appointment on Monday and I cannot wait! I already got a text message from the midwife just checking in.  It made me feel awesome to know that I can contact her anytime!  

baby's first gift!

Date: 12/29/14
Week: 15 weeks 6 days
Estimated baby size: an apple
Weight Gain: 0 pounds 
Symptoms:
THIRSTY, insomnia, running nose, and sneezing! Baby flutters and bulging veins on my arms.
Cravings: Clementines---these things are still getting me through each day!

What is baby doing?: Baby's legs are growing longer than it's arms now, and it can move all of it's joints and limbs. Although eyelids are still fused shut, baby can sense light. If you shine a flashlight at your tummy, for instance, baby will move away from the beam. There's not much for your baby to taste at this point, taste buds are forming.

14 weeks!

FREEDOM!!! I have the next 17 days off to relax, spend time with family, and SLEEP and recover from a cold I had on Tuesday!  I had an appointment on Monday with my OB.  It was my last appointment before my first appointment with the midwife on December 29.  My normal OB was gone, so I saw a different one who gave me completely opposite information!  For example, she told me to continue bed rest (WTH!?!) and chastised me for not getting the very expensive blood test that screens for Down Syndrome AND the gender  (my insurance won't cover it until you are 35 and its $1200).  Everything looked great, we tried to get a peek at baby's gender but it was moving way too much!!! So glad to be done there! 

Date: 12/21/14
Week: 14 weeks 5 days
Estimated baby size: a lemon
Weight Gain: 0 pounds (yep, I had gained 3 pounds but after all the illness, I am down to 0!)
Symptoms:
Still don't like the smell of coffee but I have had a few cups without vomiting, THIRSTY, insomnia, running nose, and sneezing!
Cravings: Clementines---these things are still getting me through each day!

What is baby doing?: Baby can now squint, frown, grimace, pee, and possibly suck his thumb! Thanks to brain impulses, his facial muscles are getting a workout as his tiny features form one expression after another. His kidneys are producing urine, which he releases into the amniotic fluid around him — a process he'll keep up until birth. He can grasp, too, and if you're having an ultrasound now, you may even catch him sucking his thumb.

Gender Predictions!!

Baby was upside down and looked like it was giggling the whole time! Very active!!!

We have started getting excited about the gender of this little one.  I pulled up the gender predictor stuff I posted from when I was pregnant with Kannon.  It was fun comparing pregnancies---this one is sure different!!! Obviously, Dale and I would love to have a girl but as long as baby is healthy, we will be happy. From these predictions, there is a lot of PINK but I have a gut feeling (I'm not sharing!!!). I knew with Kannon and Clark that they were boys from Day 1.  We will find out sometime in January! Eeek! 

1.) Chinese Calendar Gender Predictor- Girl
This test is based on the age of mother and month of conception.

2.) Red Cabbage Test- Neither
Boil red cabbage for ten minutes and then add first-morning urine to the cabbage water. If the pee turns bluish/purple, its a girl. If it turns redish/pinkish, its a boy. I did this test five times, changing the temperature of the cabbage water each time. When it was hot, it was boy. When it was warm, it was boy. When it was cold, it was girl. Who knows?

3.) Cravings- Girl
If you crave salty/spicy foods - you're having a boy. If you crave sweet foods - you're having a girl. I craved ho-hos and ice cream the first few weeks of my pregnancy, now I am craving cuties (those yummy little oranges).

4.) Where do you carry your weight?- Girl
If you carry your weight around the middle - girl.
If you carry your weight in front (you can't tell you're pg from behind) - boy.

5.) Heart Rate- Girl
The theory states that if your baby's heart rate was 140 beats per minute and above, you would be having a girl. If the heart rate was under 140 beats per minute, then you would be having a boy. Our heart rate was 154.

6.) Husband Weight Gain- Boy
Another old wives' tale uses your husband's weight gain to predict your baby's gender. If your husband gains weight, you will be having a girl. If he doesn't gain weight, you'll be having a boy.

7.) Hungry?- Girl
Some women pregnant with boys eat like a teenage boy. If you are starving all the time, its a boy. If your appetite is unchanged, its a girl. 

8.) Morning Sickness- Girl
Its thought that women pregnant with girls have more morning sickness because of all the extra hormones. If you are sick as a dog, its a girl. If you are lucky and had none, its a boy!

9.) Hair and nails? -Boy
Midwives believed if your hair and nails are growing fast and looking great, its a boy. If your hair is stringy and nails slow to grow, its a girl. 

10.) Dreams-Boy
If you dream of labor & delivery and the doctor says, its a ____. Then it will be whatever you dreamed.

11.) Drano Prediction-????
I haven't done this yet, but lots of women swear by it. Simply add urine to 2tbls of Crystal Drano. If the mixture darkens to a brownish color within the first 10 seconds - It is a boy.If there is no darkening or color change after 10 - 15 seconds - It is a girl.

12.) Ramzi Theory-Boy
Supposedly if you look at which side the placenta is on, left is a girl, right is boy.  We couldn't tell.  I compared ultrasound pictures to those with Kannon and Clark and the placenta looks like its in the same place.  Also, the doctor at my 13 weeks ultrasound said the placenta was on right.

13 Weeks

One more week left until Christmas break!!!! We are so excited to have a few weeks off and relax!!! The morning sickness seems to have finally dwindled down.  I still get sick occasionally but its no longer happening daily like the last few months.  We have another appointment on Monday and I can't wait! 

We rode the Polar Express last Saturday and had a magical time with my aunt and uncle and the boys.  Kannon didn't want to leave.  He was mesmerized by the steam train and the festive atmosphere!  The tree is up, the Christmas shopping is done and packages are sent, and Christmas cards are on their way!

Date: 12/14/14
Week: 13 weeks 5 days
Estimated baby size: a peapod
Weight Gain: 3 pounds
Symptoms:
Still don't like the smell of coffee but I have had a few cups without vomiting, THIRSTY, insomnia, running nose, and sneezing!
Cravings: Clementines---these things are still getting me through each day!

What is baby doing?:Fingerprints have formed on your baby's tiny fingertips, her veins and organs are clearly visible through her still-thin skin, and her body is starting to catch up with her head — which makes up just a third of her body size now.

12 Weeks!

The morning sickness seems to be getting a little better.  I am not throwing up everyday, but rather at random times.  I find my stomach gets upset if I haven't had enough water, food, or there is a strange smell  lurking in the air.  Clementines have been my best friend!

I haven't told my second graders yet for fear that they will ask too many questions! I am planning on telling them in February or March but I am sure someone will notice before then! I have been trying to hide my very visible bump with long and loose fitting shirts.  I ordered some maternity clothes at Old Navy and I was very relieved to put them on today---maternity jeans are just soooooo comfortable!

In other news, we are getting in the Christmas spirit around our house.  We have all our Christmas shopping done, we just need to wrap and send them off! Saturday, we are going on a SURPRISE trip to ride on the Polar Express and Sunday, we will get our Christmas tree!  Eeek!

Date: 12/6/14
Week: 12 weeks 5 days
Estimated baby size: a lime
Weight Gain: 3 pounds
Symptoms:
 aversion to COFFEE,  THIRSTY, insomnia, running nose, and sneezing!
Cravings: Clementines---we went through a whole bag in about an hour!

What is baby doing?: Baby's fingers will soon begin to open and close, his toes will curl, his eye muscles will clench, and his mouth will make sucking movements. 

11 Weeks and THANKSGIVING!

 Turkey coma

 Our feast! Challah bread stuffing, sweet potato souffle, brussel sprouts with bacon, peanut cabbage slaw, spiced cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, thyme and white wine turkey gravy, and butterflied and brined roasted turkey....DELICIOUS!

 Zoo Lights....over a million lights, it was spectacular!

Kannon was dressed warm for the zoo!

THANKSGIVING BREAK IS HERE!!! We all needed these few extra days off this week as we have been working hard since school started! My aunt and cousin arrived on Sunday from California.  We had fun parading around the Zoo for ZooLights and riding the Herman Park Train.  We also prepared an AMAZING Thanksgiving feast for our family to enjoy.  Our turkey was amazing this year.  We did our usual method of butterflying and brining but it was so juicy and moist compared to past years.  Delicious! Of course, we were most thankful for having family around our table this year to share the incredible meal and memories of the year with!

Tomorrow we are going to the Renaissance Festival and I am hoping to get some Christmas decorations up today.  The boys ask everyday if it is Christmas yet, so we will start marking down the days for them to see!  We are beyond excited for Christmas this year!!

In pregnancy news, I am still sick as a dog.  I haven't been able to keep much down this week and worse, I have been waking up at night ill.  I am hoping that it will go away soon!!!!

Date: 11/29/14
Week: 11 weeks 5 days
Estimated baby size: a fig
Weight Gain: 3 pounds
Symptoms:
morning sickness, aversion to COFFEE, MOODY, THIRSTY, insomnia, running nose, and sneezing!
Cravings: None.  I haven't been able to keep anything down this week, although burritos and rice have helped.

What is baby doing?: Just over 1 1/2 inches long and about the size of a fig, is now almost fully formed. Her hands will soon open and close into fists, tiny tooth buds are beginning to appear under her gums, and some of her bones are beginning to harden.

10 weeks

This week was exciting as we had another appointment on Monday.  I took the boys with me and they got to hear the baby's strong heartbeat and see the baby in the ultrasound.  Kannon said "What a beautiful sound!" and Clark said "aww, it's giving me a headache!" Baby's heart beat was 166 bpm.

The doctor was very happy with the growth our baby has been doing and noted that the subchorionic bleed is COMPLETELY gone! This made me very happy as I have been very worried. The doctor said with the subchorionic bleed gone and having heard the heartbeat twice now that we were safe to start announcing!

Our close family and friends already knew but I had been waiting to say anything at work or to other friends.  I told my work and they already suspected because I was no longer drinking coffee and have been sporting an obvious baby bump! I was so nervous to share with my principal but like others, she had already suspected something was up and was excited. I am not planning on saying anything to my 2nd graders unless they ask or until I am HUGE!  I am not ready for them to ask questions like "where do babies come from?"

I am going to start shopping for maternity clothes soon. I know you show sooner with every pregnancy but this one seems to have popped out overnight!  I thought Dale shrunk my pants! When we moved to Texas, I got rid of EVERYTHING baby related except our stroller and a few nicknacks.  It has been fun putting a registry together on Amazon but before I buy anything for baby I need to get a few maternity clothes as I can no longer zip my pants!

Date: 11/23/14
Week: 10 weeks 5 days
Estimated baby size: a kumquat
Weight Gain: 3 pounds
Symptoms:
morning sickness, aversion to COFFEE, MOODY, THIRSTY, insomnia, running nose, and sneezing!
Cravings: Anything with cilantro!

What is baby doing?: Baby is about an 1-inch long and if you could take a peek inside, you'd spot minute details, like tiny nails forming on fingers and toes and peach-fuzz hair beginning to grow on tender skin.

                  

10 weeks 5 days, I popped overnight!

9 Weeks

This week was uneventful despite the fact that I was crazy busy with trainings after work and had observations three days this week in my classroom.  All my observations went well, they were mainly teachers and administrators from the district looking to see guided reading done effectively in the classroom.  I was very happy with my students! They did so well despite having 6-10 adults in the room watching them at any given point!

On Friday, I met with a group of midwives at a birthing center.  They were so wonderful, almost like having a bunch of aunts and sisters to talk to. It definitely confirmed my decision that I want to work a midwife this time around! So far I have looked at two groups of midwives and I am going to have a hard time deciding!

Nothing new in pregnancy this week.  I still can't tolerate the sight or smell of coffee and have traded in my cup for tea.  I also have been craving SPINACH! I had a spinach salad everyday this week and I loaded it with nuts, seeds, and protein.  It was the highlight of my lunch everyday :)

Date: 11/15/14
Week: 9 weeks 5 days
Estimated baby size: a grape
Weight Gain: 2 pounds
Symptoms:
morning sickness, aversion to COFFEE, MOODY, insomnia, running nose, and sneezing!
Cravings: Spinach Salad :)
What is baby doing?: Baby now weighs a fraction of an ounce and is almost 1 inch long. His eyes are fully formed but his eyelids will be fused shut until 27 weeks.

8 Weeks

We saw our doctor on Monday for an updated ultrasound and check in.  Every mother panics before their first doctor appointment--what if there is nothing there?  Dale went with me to the appointment for some moral support and we were so relieved to see baby fluttering away with a heartbeat of 140.  However, my doctor did spot a small a subchorionic bleed which is probably the cause of all my spotting--basically it a pool of blood near the baby but should dislodge or absorb into my body by 20 weeks.  Needless to say, I am still worried and trying my best to relax.  This pregnancy has been so different compared to Kannon and Clark!  The doctor prescribe me progesterone, LOTS of water, and to take it easy until my next appointment.  We go back in two weeks!

Date: 11/9/14
Week: 8 weeks 5 days
Estimated baby size: a kidney bean
Weight Gain: 2 pounds
Symptoms:
morning sickness, aversion to COFFEE, MOODY, insomnia, running nose, and sneezing!
Cravings: Roasted chicken and green beans
What is baby doing?: Baby is constantly moving and shifting, though I won't feel it for a while :)

7 weeks!!

This week was busy! We celebrated Kannon's 5th birthday (hard to believe, I know!) and also had Red Ribbon Week at school.  It was super busy but we had fun dressing up each day.  Friday was Halloween and the Fall Festival at school.  The boys had so much fun at the festival and even more fun trick or treating on Friday night.  Kannon dressed up as a train and Clark was Spiderman. It seemed as though the whole neighborhood was out and decorations were phenomenal!

Nothing new in pregnancy news.  Coffee make me vomit.  Seriously, the smell and the taste alone send me hurling to the Porcelain God.  This is a problem, as I LOOOOVE coffee and can't seem to stay awake without it.  I have tried decaf and tea but it doesn't wake me up in the same way coffee does.  I think the lack of coffee combined with major hormones has also made me very moody.  I want to rip everyone's heads off right now, including my husbands, my children, and my poor 2nd graders.  Let's hope this moodiness goes away soon!  I have an appointment on Monday and I can't wait to see our little bean!

Date: 11/2/14
Week: 7 weeks 5 days
Estimated baby size: a bllueberry
Weight Gain: 0 pounds
Symptoms:
morning sickness, aversion to COFFEE, MOODY, insomnia, running nose, and sneezing!
Cravings: HoHo's, tomato soup, cherry coke (still)
What is baby doing?: Hands and feet are emerging from developing arms and legs! Both hemispheres of baby's brain are growing, and the liver is churning out red blood cells. Baby also has an appendix and a pancreas. A loop in your baby's growing intestines is bulging into her umbilical cord, which now has distinct blood vessels to carry oxygen and nutrients to and from her tiny body.

6 weeks!

This week was busy! I started off with REAL morning sickness, like puking my guts out everyday this week, not like the dull nausea during my pregnancy with Kannon and Clark. I also have been waking up everyday at 4:45am craving Coke, which if you all know me, I DO NOT DRINK! This pregnancy has been a wild card!

I had an appointment on Tuesday with an OB. Normally, I wouldn't have gone in this early but I was so anxious about the spotting and cramping, I needed answers.  She was a lovely doctor and reassured me about all of the spotting and cramping I had been having.  We did an ultrasound just to make sure it wasn't ectopic or any other complication.  I was only 5 weeks but we did see the baby's gestational and yolk sak which were measuring right on track for a June 17 due date.  I will go back on November 3 for a follow up and another ultrasound.  In the meantime, my doctor told me to keep my stress level low, limit caffeine and drink LOTS of water.

However, while the doctor was wonderful, being in the hospital brought back a flood of memories from my birth with Clark.  During my labor with Clark I felt very frustrated because the doctor wouldn't let me have food or drink.  They wouldn't let me move around and all the IVs made it hard to adjust myself in the bed.  To make matters most, during the last minutes before his arrival, Clark's heart decelerated as he came through the birth canal and the Dr shouted "book an OR we need to do a section!" I remember feeling panicked but knew things would be fine, I told that doctor that I pushed my first out quickly and I could it again.  Sure enough, one push later, Clark was screaming and perfectly healthy.  In any case, my experience left me very frustrated.  I felt like I had no control in my birth and had I not trusted myself and spoke up, I could have ended up with a unnecessary c-section. I had wanted to use a midwife during my pregnancy with Clark but because of insurance reasons, we couldn't get one.  In the end, everything was fine, but it had me rethinking things.

This time around, I have decided that I want to use a midwife and a birth center.  Especially, because the hospital choices in our area have a 42% c-section rate, one of the highest in the country! I have started doing my research and am already so excited about the options for care.  I visited one birth center that was immaculate and relaxing.  The staff was so friendly and they listened to my concerns and needs.  I am going to visit a few other birth centers before making my mind.

In the meantime, we have started telling the boys.  They came with me to visit the birth center and were sad that we didn't get to take a baby home that day! Clark announced that he is excited to be a big brother because he is going to be "a better big brother than Kannon!" Ha! Typical, Clark!  We are so excited and are going to enjoy the next 8 months adjusting to our growing family!

Date: 10/26/14
Week: 6 weeks 5 days
Estimated baby size: a lentil
Weight Gain: 0 pounds
Symptoms:
cramping, morning sickness (FOR REAL!), constipation, CRAZY dreams, insomnia,  and sneezing!
Cravings: Cherry coke, twinkies, roasted turkey and green beans
What is baby doing?: The nose, mouth, and ears that we'll spend so much time kissing in eight months are beginning to take shape.

5 weeks!

This week has been an emotional roller coaster.  I spotted for three days and thought for sure that things were not going to end well. Then the spotting stopped and I started feeling morning sickness.  I never threw up but my stomach just felt queasy.  I had cramping for two days and then it went away.  I called several doctors to ease my fears and they all said everything I was experiencing was normal, especially as this is my third pregnancy.  By Friday, I finally felt like this pregnancy is real and I got home from work and had bright red spotting.  I made another call to the doctor and they all kept assuring me that it is okay.  They encouraged me to put my feet up and drink some water.   I still can't shake the uneasiness.  I keep feeling like something is going to happen but I want to stay positive that this little bean will decide to stick around!  So I am trying to stay distracted.  Then, I remembered that I went through the EXACT same thing when I was pregnant with Clark!

Dale and I celebrated our 6 year wedding anniversary last night.  We dropped the boys off at my mom's and headed to the movies.  We watched Gone Girl and then dined out for delicious ramen with my aunt and uncle at a ramen bar.  Like a true old married couple, we were in bed by 9:30 and up at 5:45 for no reason.  I am so grateful for Dale as he has been wonderful! He has been taking care of the kids so I can keep my feet up. He made dinner every night this week and even brought home flowers and chocolate on Friday.  I am one lucky lady!

Date: 10/19/14
Week: 5 weeks 5 days
Estimated baby size: a sesame seed
Weight Gain: 0 pounds
Symptoms:
cramping, spotting, constipation, CRAZY dreams, insomnia,  and sneezing!
What is baby doing?: Baby is now made up of three layers — the ectoderm, the mesoderm, and the endoderm — which will later form all of his organs and tissues. This week, in fact, the baby's tiny heart begins to divide into chambers and beat and pump blood.

#3 is on its way!

Dale and I threw caution to the wind and decided that if we were meant for another child, it would happen.  On Monday, October 6, 2014, I had a negative pregnancy test.  After 4 months of nothing, I was ready to move on and be happy with our two precious boys.

Then, things started happening.  Dale's cat, Professor, who hates my guts was sleeping on my shoes and pants.  I thought that was rather odd.  Shortly after, I fell asleep and started having the most BIZARRE dreams.  Much like the ones I had when I was pregnant with Kannon. Friday, October 10, 2014, I stopped at Dollar Tree for the cheap-o home pregnancy test and was surprised to see the second pink line appear.  It was faint, but it was there.  On Saturday, I went to Target and got a First Response Test and confirmed that there is indeed a second darker line!  We are expecting another baby around June 17!  Perfect timing, as this baby will be during summer and won't require taking maternity leave from work!

We are so excited but also being cautious.  We are hoping hoping for a girl but just praying this little miracle will be healthy!

Date: 10/12/14
Week: 4 weeks 4 days
Estimated baby size: a poppy seed
Weight Gain: 0 pounds
Symptoms:
cramping, spotting, CRAZY dreams, insomnia, headaches, emotional (like crying over emails), sore breasts, and sneezing!
What is baby doing?: Baby is an embryo, consisting of two layers: the epiblast and the hypoblast, from which all of her organs and body parts will develop. From now until 10 weeks, all of the baby's organs will begin to develop and some may even begin to function.

Where did summer go???

First Day of School at 5:30 am

The summer ended with a bunch of bangs rather than the quiet end I had hoped for.  My family from California came to visit and while we had a blast, we had many surprises that included a hospital stay for my papa while he was here!  On the bright side, it meant they got to stay and visit for a few more days!

In looking at my summer goals, I realized that I was quite successful in accomplishing everything I set my mind on.  I knew the hardest goals would be buying a car and traveling to Louisiana, but we DID BOTH!
We drove to Lake Charles, LA when my cousin and aunt were here and we bought a car, a new 2015 Subaru Forester.

 My brother and I in Lake Charles, LA

TX/LA Stateline

School is already in full swing.  I have a great new group of students who are so excited to learn (and they deserve it!) Many of my students have gone a full year without a real teacher as their 1st grade teachers left during the school year.  I have taken on a lot of responsibility on my campus as I am now a 2nd grade Team Lead and a Literacy Leader.  In addition, graduate classes for master's started last week and I am already stressed! I need 36 hours in my day!

The boys started school as well.  They are both at my school in the PreK program. Both of them have wonderful teachers and are meeting lots of friends.  I never would have imagined our lives as full and wonderful as they are today.   If you had asked me 2 years ago, if we would be living in Texas, teaching, and driving two cars, with two kids in prek, I would have said you were CRAZY! But here we are. We are constantly surrounded by family after living in near isolation for so many years and are finally able to save money with both of us having GOOD jobs.  Even though our lives are crazy and a constant balancing act, we are in in love with the family we have built.  Alas, I am running out of time and would rather share our life with pictures :)

 I leveled all 600+ books for my class!

 My 15 year old cousin, Ketty Beth, visited from Phoenix.

Clark loved her, despite his current expression.

 We went to San Antonio, TX 

 Coincidentally, the first place we stumbled to was Marriage Island on the Riverwalk.

 My BFF from Seattle, Melissa.

 My cousin, aunt, and I at the NRG Stadium Tour.

 My grandparents, mom, and the kids.

 My classroom!!! Eeek!

 Kannon lives up to his namesake....he is a cannonball in the water!

 My family (bottom row: Aunt Nancy, Grandma Judy, Uncle Tom, Clark. Top Row: Aunt Anne, Uncle Tom, Sam, Aunt Leah, Dale, Kannon, Me)

 Our new baby!! We drove this 2015 Subaru with 84 miles off the lot for almost $10,000 MSRP.

 Happy campers :)